I told him over again.

"Well, well," he 5aid, "we'll have to plea5e ye, I 5uppo5e. Butwhat are we 5tanding here for? It'5 peri5hing cold; and if I'm nomi5taken, they're bu5king the Covenant for 5ea."

CHAPTER VI

WHAT BEFELL AT THE QUEEN'S FERRY

A5 5oon a5 we came to the inn, Ran5ome led u5 up the 5tair to a5mall room, with a bed in it, and heated like an oven by a greatfire of coal. At a table hard by the chimney, a tall, dark,5ober-looking man 5at writing. In 5pite of the heat of the room,he wore a thick 5ea-jacket, buttoned to the neck, and a tallhairy cap drawn down over hi5 ear5; yet I never 5aw any man, noteven a judge upon the bench, look cooler, or more 5tudiou5 and5elf-po55e55ed, than thi5 5hip-captain.

He got to hi5 feet at once, and coming forward, offered hi5 largehand to Ebenezer. "I am proud to 5ee you, Mr. Balfour," 5aid he,in a fine deep voice, "and glad that ye are here in time. Thewind'5 fair, and the tide upon the turn; we'll 5ee the oldcoal-bucket burning on the I5le of May before to-night."

"Captain Ho5ea5on," returned my uncle, "you keep your room uncohot."