When Judah returned with the bucket of clams he found his guest and prospective boarder just where he had left him. "Well, by Henry, Cap'n Sears!" he exclaimed. "Still at the same old moorin's, eh? Been anchored right there ever since I sot sail?" "Not exactly, Judah. Pretty nearly, though." "Sho! Kind of dull music for you, I'm afraid. Whoa, you lop-sided hay-barge! Stand still till I give you orders to move, will ye! That's what I warned you, Cap'n Sears; not much goin' on around here. You'll be pretty lonesome, I guess likely." "Oh, I guess I can stand it, Judah. I haven't been lonesome so far." "Ain't, eh? That's good. Well, I got my clams; now I'll steer this horse into port and come back and get to work on that chowder. Oh, say, Cap'n Sears; I see Sary and told her you was cal'latin' to stay here for dinner." "Did you? Much obliged. What did she say?" "Say? She said a whole lot. Wanted to know how in time you got up here. 'You didn't let him _walk_ all that great long ways, Judah Cahoon?' she says. 'I ain't altogether a fool, be I?' says I." Mr. Cahoon paused to search his pockets for a match. "What answer did she make to that?" asked the captain. Judah grinned. "Wa--ll," he drawled, "she said, 'Perhaps not--altogether.' 'Twan't much, but it was enough of the kind, as the feller said about the tobacco in the coffee pot. Oh, say, that reminds me, Cap'n Sears; there was somebody else talkin' about you. I--whoa, you camel, you! Creepin', crawlin', jumpin'---- Well, go ahead, then! I'll tell you the rest in half a shake, Cap'n. Git dap!" Horse, cart and driver jogged and jolted into the barn. After a brief interval Mr. Cahoon reappeared, carrying the clam bucket. They entered the kitchen together. Then the captain said: "Judah, you said some one beside Sarah was talkin' about me. Who was it?" "Hey? Oh, 'twas Emeline Tidditt, her that's keepin' house for Judge Knowles. She says the old judge is gettin' pretty feeble. Don't cal'late he'll last out much longer, Emeline don't. Says it's nothin' but just grit and hang-on that keeps him alive. He's a spunky old critter, Judge Knowles is, 'cordin' to folks's tell. Course I don't know him same as some, but I cal'late he's a good deal on the general build and lines of a man name of George Dingo that I run afoul of one time to a place called Semurny--over acrost. You know Semurny, don't ye, Cap'n? One of them Med'terranean port 'tis." "Smyrna, do you mean?"