"I s'pose so. Wish't you knowed the big bug Carolyn's goin' picnickin' with, today. They say he's got plenty o' money." "Who are those people?" asked Bassett curiously. "I dunno. He's a mighty st'arn lookin' old guy. I'm so desp'rit, Mr. Bassett, I'm near 'bout tempted to tackle him on my own hook nex' time I see him talkin' to Car'lyn May. And his wife's so stuck on that baby o' yourn--" "Good heavens, Barzilla! I can't make profit because those people are interested in little Laird," cried Bassett in something like horror. It seemed his wife's opinion and his own were much alike on this point. The two young men, having tramped across the island with their gear, on approaching the lane leading up to the cottage on the bluff saw the hotel carriage standing in the highroad. Carolyn and Edna had come home from the picnic. The moneyed man sat on the front seat beside the driver. "There he is now!" exclaimed Barzilla. "And they say he's so rich that two thousand wouldn't be a fleabite to him." "You don't realize how tender the financial skin of the wealthy may be. It sometimes seems that the more money a man has the more he groans over a fleabite." But Bassett gazed at the man in the carriage with keen scrutiny. When Barzilla again glanced at him the former hotel clerk had pulled the peak of his tarpaulin over his face and did not look again in the direction of the carriage. Indeed, taking a short-cut path over the roadside ditch, he headed toward the house without further word. The fisherman approached the carriage with curiosity. Carolyn had run up for Baby Laird and he was now crowing and kicking in the lady's arms. Carolyn was saying to their host: "We're awf'ly obliged, Edna and me, for the picnic. It was one of the very nicest parties I was ever to." "Yes," agreed Edna, who was suddenly tongue-tied. "We never would have seen so much of this island if it hadn't been for you," continued Carolyn May. "And I think it is an awfully interesting place, don't you, sir?" "If you mean that it is as dead as a doornail, and therefore an ideal place for a vacation, I agree with you," said her friend, grimly smiling. "Have you ever sailed around the island--seen it from all sides?" "Oh, no, sir. Barzilla's going to take us out in his _Snatch It_ some day when he isn't swordfishin'. But he hasn't got to it, yet. Why! here's Barzilla now." "The baby's father, Henry," the lady whispered. Baby Laird was putting out his arms to the broadly-smiling fisherman who could not fail to be a favourite with the little man. "You've a fine baby here," said Carolyn's friend. "I cal'late we have," replied Barzilla, coming nearer to the carriage. "Your servant, Marm." The invalid bowed. "The little girl says you are a swordfisher," continued the man, who never found any other man too uninteresting to talk to--on his vacations! "I am," agreed Barzilla. "Got the last double-ender ever built in this port." "Is it still a paying business?"