"So I was informed," said 'Liathel politely. "But I didn't jest know whether you was thinkin' of settin' up for yourself around here? If you be, and if you do, I'd like to sell you a pair of late shoats I got. You'll want a pig or two to help eat your table scraps. An' my wife, Miz Grummit, has some yearling fowls she'd be glad to dispose of if you was calc'latin' to keep hens." "Whatever!" gasped Cap'n Jonah. "Do you folks think I'm an open market for all the surplus of this here town? I ain't no idee of keeping pigs, nor yet poultry. I'm obleeged to you, but you ain't got a thing I'm in need of, I do assure you." "All right, Cap'n. No offense meant. No offense taken. Ye-ip, Buck! Ye-ip, Bright!" The long whip snapped again. The placid steers, chewing their cuds and swaying their bodies rhythmically, plodded on up the white road. Cap'n Jonah watched the sunshine sparkle in the pool that had dripped from the load of seaweed. He shook his head. "Whatever!" he said, repeating his favorite ejaculation. "This here determination to turn a penny is the curse o' the Cape, just as it always was. I bet even the preachers think in terms of dollars and cents. "And they are going to pester me purty nigh to death about my fortune. I can see that, as the feller said when he saw stars. Now them ile sheers! I swan to man! I b'lieve I could make a bit on them, let alone turn 'em over. Get thee behind me, Satan! Whew!" and the captain removed his hat and passed the silk handkerchief over his brown face. "Whatever! I don't wonder there's so many sharks an' dogfish at loose ends--an' pea-an'-shell game men, too," and he chuckled. "The sucker-fish must bite more voracious than any other kind. "'Hem! Here's a feller might tell me if that's so." He saw the tall figure of Helmford approaching. The usual smile upon the young government employee's face had a rueful cast just now. He answered Cap'n Jonah's hail, however, with equal cordiality and, like every other passer-by, stopped to pass the time of day. "This is one large day--and plenty of it, Captain," he said. "How do you feel?" "I fare pretty well," responded Cap'n Jonah; "only there's somethin' in the j'ints of my knees that makes 'em creak like a wood snatch block when I try to swing 'em. How air you, Mr. Helmford?" "Why, Captain Hand, I'm like to be cast out into the cold world. The Cardhaven Inn closes for the season, and I don't know where I'm to look for a boarding place." "Sho!" exclaimed the old mariner. "Aren't boardin' places plenty 'round here?" "In the summer--yes. Almost everybody takes boarders. But the women are not so ready to take in a stranger during the winter. It makes too many menfolk around the house. Then there is the heating to be considered, as well as extra food, when fresh vegetables and even a plentiful supply of fresh fish are not available." "I see, I see," agreed the captain. "Codfish and potaters don't suit the city appetite, eh?"