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"I don't know who she is or why she is or who is aboard her," he

told Nellie, after recounting to her the previous visitation of

the schooner. "She reminds me of a nervous old hen keeping track

of a stray chick. Pretty soon I won't be able to curse the

weather without being afraid my guardian will hear me. I say

guardian, and yet I don't know whether she is friendly or merely

fixing up some calamity to break all at once. You know I have

enemies. She may be working for them."

The girl could offer no solution, nor could Bijonah Tanner, who

had witnessed the incident from the forecastle head where he was

smoking and anticipating the wishes of the cod beneath him. He

had walked aft, and the three discussed the mystery.

"Ever see her before, captain?" asked Code.

If there was any man who knew schooners that had fished the Banks

or the Bay of Fundy, it was Bijonah Tanner.

"Don't cal'late I ever did. I've never saw jest that set to a

foregaff nor jest that cut of a jumbo-jib afore."