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"If they sue to recover, what'll you do?" ventured Tanner

hesitatingly.

"God knows!" answered Schofield and laughed bitterly. "I haven't

got a thing on earth but the Charming Lass, an' this year I

haven't caught enough fish to pay for my new mains'l. My credit

is still good at Bill Boughton's, but that's all."

"But the cottage--"

"That is my mother's, and they could never get that. If they sue

and I lose they must take the Lass, and after they've subtracted

the judgment from the sale price I suppose I'll get the

rest--maybe enough to buy a second-hand sloop."

"Yes, but that isn't the worst part of it, Code. As soon as they

bring suit they will attach the schooner, so that even if the

trial doesn't come up for weeks you still can't use her, and will

have to sit around idle or go hand-lining in your dory. And you

know what that means with winter comin' on."