Then the eldest, much elated, asked derisively, "Why, don't you know?" And then he said, instructively: "He's been about here for ever so long a time; but he went away last year, and I haven't seen him for a great while. He's the most wonderful man you ever saw,--tells such splendid stories,--all about shipwrecks, pirates, savages, Chinamen, bear-hunts, bull-fights, and everything else that you can think of. I call him the 'Ancient Mariner,' but that isn't his right name. He's Captain Hardy; but he looks like an ancient mariner, as he is, and I got the name out of a book. Some of the fellows call him 'Old Father Neptune.'" "What a funny name!" cried Fred. "What do they call him Father Neptune for?" inquired Alice. "Because," answered William, looking very wise,--"because, you know, Neptune, he's god of the sea, and Captain Hardy looks just like the pictures of him in the story-books. That's why they call him Old Father Neptune." By this time the old man had come quite near, and William, suddenly leaving his companions, dashed ahead to meet him. "O Captain Hardy, I'm so glad to see you!" exclaimed the little fellow, as he rushed upon him. "Where did you come from? Where have you been so long? How are you? Quite well, I hope,"--and he grasped the old man's hand with both his own, and shook it heartily. "Well, my lad," replied the old man, kindly, "I'm right glad to see you, and will be right glad to answer all your questions, if you'll let them off easy like, and not all in a broadside"; and as they walked on up the path together, William's questions were answered to his entire satisfaction. Then they came presently to Fred and Alice, who were introduced by William, very much to the delight of Fred; but Alice was inclined to be a little frightened, until the strange old man spoke to her in such a gentle way that it banished all timidity; and then, taking the hand which he held out to her, she trudged on beside him, happy and pleased as she could be. The party were not long in reaching the gate leading up to the house of William's father. A large old-fashioned country-house it was, standing among great tall trees, a good way up from the high-road; and William asked his friend to come up with them and see his father, "he will be so delighted"; but the old man said he "would call and see Mr. Earnest some other time; now he must be hurrying home." "But this isn't your way home, Captain Hardy,--is it?" exclaimed William, much surprised. "Why, I thought you lived away down below the village." "So I did once," replied the old man; "that is, when I lived anywhere at all; but you see I've got a new home now, and a snug one too. Look down there where the smoke curls up among the trees,--that's from my kitchen." "But," said William, "that's Mother Podger's house where the smoke is."