a tremendous salt marsh, all cut up with cricks that nobody can get over without a boat. Jonathan’s is the only house for the whole twenty mile, except the lighthouse buildin’s down at the end. The land company put up a few summer shacks on speculation, but they’re all rickety and fallin’ to pieces.

I knew Jonathan had gone to Bayport, quahaug rakin’, and that his wife was visitin’ over to Wellmouth, so when the _Glide_ crept in towards the beach and I saw a couple of folk by the Crowell house, I was surprised. I didn’t pay much attention to 'em, however, until I was just about ready to put the helm over and stand out into the bay again. Then they come runnin’ down to the beach, yellin’ and wavin’ their arms. I thought one of ’em had a familiar look and, as I come closer, I got more and more sure of it. It didn’t seem possible, but it was—one of those fellers on the beach was Major Cobden Clark.

"Hi-i!" yells the Major, hoppin’ up and down and wavin’ both arms as if he was practicin’ flyin’; "Hi-i-i! you man in the boat! Come here! I want you!"

That was him, all over. He wanted me, so of course I must come. My feelin’s in the matter didn’t count at all. I run the _Glide_ in as nigh the beach as I dared and then fetched her up into what little wind there was left.

"Ahoy there, Major," I sung out. "Is that you?"

"Hey?" he shouts. "Do you know—Why, I believe it’s Snow! Is that you, Snow?"

"Yes, it’s me," I hollers. "What in time are you doin’ way over here?"

"Never mind what I’m doin’," he roared. "You come ashore here. I want you."

If I hadn’t been so curious to know what he was doin’, I’d have seen him in glory afore I ever thought of obeyin’ an order from him; but I was curious. While I was considerin’ the breeze give a final puff and died out altogether. That settled it. I might as well go ashore as stay aboard. I couldn’t get anywhere without wind. So I hove anchor and dropped the mains’l.

"Come on!" he kept yellin’. "What are you waitin’ for? Don’t you hear me say I want you?"

I had on my long-legged rubber boots and the water wa’n’t more’n up to my knees. When I got good and ready, I swung over the side and waded to 

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