She was very eager to introduce him to her particular friend, the wooden-legged Captain Littlefield; but there was so much confusion and so many passengers for the Truefelt House bus, that the Camerons decided to ride over in one of the carryalls. So Mr. Cameron's introduction to Ozias was postponed. With their bags they got into a rather creaking old vehicle driven by a boy whom Carolyn already knew as Tommy Trivett, and who was about the age--and almost the gangling length--of Chet Gormley at Sunrise Cove. She begged the privilege of having Prince with her on the front seat, and he finally managed to scramble in by himself over the front wheel and squat down between his little mistress and Tommy Trivett. "Old Oly Littlefield," drawled the youthful driver, "says this dog o' yourn oughter be shot." "Oh--ee! he wouldn't be so wicked, would he?" gasped Carolyn. "Says he's dang'rous to be runnin' at large. Says he'll carry the marks of the dog's teeth to his grave. And if he gits hydrophoby the Town of New Shoreham'll hafter pay damages to his heirs an' assigns, for ever an' ever, amen!" "My!" said Carolyn, "you sound just like you were in church, don't you? But if Mr. Oly Littlefield runs mad 'cause Prince bit his wooden leg, do you s'pose he'll be much diff'rent from what he us'ally is? Mr. Captain Littlefield says his Cousin Oly is most always mad." "He! he!" chuckled Tommy Trivett. "Ozy ought to know. Ozy has summered and wintered him now a good many years. If I'd been your dog, I'd ha' nipped a piece out o' Oly's sound laig--that's what I'd've done." Carolyn May looked sideways at the not altogether prepossessing Tommy. "Well," she said, with evident relief in her tone, "you're not my dog, are you?" CHAPTER XVII RENEWED ACQUAINTANCE Mr. Cameron's stay at the Truefelt House was brief enough. He returned to New York by boat and train on Sunday evening. Nevertheless he found time for a serious conversation with the new clerk of the hotel. "This chance for the wife and baby to be here, Bassett, is providential," the newspaper editor said. "I hope the summer on the island will do them a world of good. But when the season closes--" "I've got that on my mind," groaned Joe Bassett. "Very true, Mr. Cameron, I shall be just as much at sea, then, as ever. If I could once get into something that would be steady and make us a living! Of course I thank you for the chance on the _Beacon_ that you gave me. I know I am not fitted for that sort of work. I might try for a situation as clerk at some winter resort hotel." "You might," agreed Mr. Cameron gravely. "I do not feel that I can advise you. What I have to speak to you about is a telephone call that came for you after you left the _Beacon_ offices the other day." "Yes? Of what nature was the call? I thought I had settled all my affairs as far as they could be settled before accepting Ben's offer here," and the young man flushed.