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"Yes, well--"

"We’d appreciate that," Anne said, interrupting what she was certain was going to be Martha’s refusal to allow hiave her a confused look, but Anne was fairly convinced it was the boy’s pride speaking up

He walked in with his uneven gait, and she could see now that his leg was severely bowed

"Have you been with the captain long?" she asked

"Ever since he saved h hethat the captain hadthe water into the boithout splashing a single drop

She waited until he was finished to inquire, "The shark?"

He faced her "I was born funny-lookin’, no one wanted me, so they used h she feared she did, and the thought horrified her

"Tossed me in the water I didn’t kno to swiht me later Anyway, I’d thrash about They’d pull h so they could spear it"

She heard Martha gasp As for herself, she thought she ht be ill "And the captain?"

"They were sailin’ by He jurinned mischievously "Then he fired a cannon, blew their boat out of the water Sharks had a feast that day"

"I see" Her story because her father wanted her to begin ain, to attend balls, soirees, and dinners She wasn’t in danger of being eaten

"Will ye be needin’ anythin’ else?" he asked, as though he hadn’t just told her the most horrific story she’d ever heard

"No Thank you"

He doffed his cap and limped from the room Once he left, Martha sank into a chair "You don’t suppose all that was true, do you?"

"Why would he lie?"

"Syood yarn"

Anne crossed her are, Martha, but I can very well see Captain Cri into the sea to save so to fancy the fellow are you?"