"I should not have come for a horse if I had not wished to get home," said Mellen, impatiently. "Get one out at once, Benson; I am in great haste." "'Taint a decent night to put a dog out o' doors," returned the fisherman; "it's a good deal mor'n likely you'd get swamped in the marsh, if I let the hoss go." "Nonsense!" exclaimed Mellen. "I know this part of the country too well for that. There is no more risk than in this room." The old man's obstinacy was roused, and he had a full share of that unpleasant quality when he chose to call it into action. "Mebby you know more about it than I do," he grumbled; "but I've lived here a goin' on thirty years, and ort to be acquainted with this coast, and I say I ain't a going to risk my critters sich a night. If there ain't no danger 'taint fit to send any horse out in a storm like this anyhow." "I can't stand arguing here," Mellen began, but the old man unceremoniously interrupted him. "Where do you want to go?" he asked. "Over to Piney Cove." "Mr. Mellen's place! Why it's good three miles, and he ain't to hum, nor hasn't been, nigh on to two years." "Don't you know me, old friend?" exclaimed Mellen throwing back his cloak. The old fisherman rose in astonishment, while his married daughter, who kept his house and owned the flock of children, called out: "Why, pa, if it ain't Mr. Mellen!" "I thought I knowed your voice, but couldn't make out who it belonged to; but Californy ain't so nigh as some other places," said the fisherman. "So you've got back! Wal, wal! You've been gone a good while." "So you can't wonder at my impatience when I find myself so near home," said Mellen. "In course, in course," replied the old man. "But, dear me, you'll have to wait till Jake comes in, and I expect he'll grumble awful at having to start out agin." "I will pay him his own price----" "Oh, you allays was freehanded enough, I'll say that, Mr. Mellen. But sit down by the stove; Jake'll come in a few minutes. Mebby you'd try a cup of tea?" But Mr. Mellen refused the proffered hospitality, and though he walked up to the fire, neither sat down or paid much attention to the questions the old man hazarded. As Mellen stood there, though his restless movements betrayed great impatience, there was little trace of it visible in his face, whose cold pride seldom revealed the emotions which might be stirring at his heart. He was dressed in his sea clothes, which hung about him in wet masses. His face was bronzed by the exposure of a long sea voyage, but he was still a man of imposing presence, and retained his old, proud manner so thoroughly, that even the old man in his fever of curiosity, felt the same hesitation at questioning him too far which had always awed the villagers when Mr. Mellen formerly dwelt among them.