ItwasnotCaptainPerez，butMr。Mayohimself，astheysawwhentherubberblanketfastenedacrossthefrontofthebuggywasdroppedandthedriversprangout。Mrs。Snowopenedthedoorforhim。”Hello，Abner！”exclaimedCaptainJerry，asthenewcomerstoppedtoknockthesnowfromhisbootsbeforecomingin，”whathaveyoudonetoPerez？Goin’tokeephimforasteadyboarder？”
ButMr。Mayohadimportantnewstocommunicate，andhedidnotintendtolosetheeffectofhissensationbyspringingitwithoutduepreparation。Hetookoffhishatandmittensandsolemnlydeclinedaprofferedchair。”Cap’nBurgess，”hesaid，”I’vegotsomethin’totellyou——
somethin’awful。Thewholelife-savin’crewbutoneisdrownded，andCap’nEriHedge——”
AnexclamationfromMrs。Snowinterruptedhim。Thehousekeeperclaspedherhandstogethertightlyandsankintoachair。Shewasverywhite。Elsierantoher。”Whatisit，Mrs。Snow？”sheasked。”Nothin’，nothin’！Goon，Mr。Mayo。Goon！”
Thebearerofill-tidings，gratifiedattheresultofhisfirstattempt，proceededdeliberately:”AndCap’nHedgeandLutherDavisareoveratthestationprettynighdead。Ifitwa’n’tfortheCap’n，Luther’dhavegone，too。