Grandma, struggling
with the wind, had not heard them. She entered the Ark, however, cheerful
though panting.
"Bijonah Keeler," said she, in accents of real affection, "I wouldn't
have you out in that wind for no money--not for no money, nor our
teacher, neither. Why, no stronger than she is now, it 'ud take the
breath right out of our teacher's body! Why, ef it hadn't been for the
cargo I had on board, pa," continued Grandma, naturally falling into the
same train of ideas we had followed, while watching her battle with the
elements, "I should 'a' slipped moorin's, sure!"
A casual listener might have smiled at this, in view of Grandma's
substantial physique.
Presently she said, as though the thought had just struck her; "I hope
fisherman's got back to Wallen Harbor, pa."
"And if he ain't, ma," replied Grandpa Keeler, sententiously, "he'll know
what it is to be out in a squall! but I reckon he's looked out for
himself."
The old Captain's face grew graver; his eyes, in that closed room, which
had grown so suddenly dark, took on an intensely solemn look. He did not
attempt the narration of any stormy adventures of old. Perhaps the scenes
of the past rose too vividly before his eyes.
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