Mr. Callahan delivered his passenger at the Minot back door and departed, looking grumpy. Then Mr. Cahoon took his turn. "Well, Cap'n Sears," he said, eagerly, "you seen him." "Yes, Judah, I saw him." "Um-hm. Pretty glad to see you, too, wan't he?" "I hope so." "Creepin' prophets, don't you _know_ so? Ain't he been sendin' word by Emmeline Tidditt that he wanted to see you more'n a million times?" "Guess not. So far as I know he only wanted to see me once." "No, no, no. You know what I mean, Cap'n Sears.... Well--er--er--you seen him, anyway?" "Yes, I saw him." "Um-hm ... so you said." "Yes, I thought I did." "Oh, you did--yes, you did.... Um-hm--er--yes." So Judah, too, was obliged to do without authentic information concerning Judge Knowles's reason for wishing to meet Sears Kendrick. He hinted as far as he dared, but experience gained through years of sea acquaintanceship with his former commander prevented his doing more than hint. The captain would tell just exactly what he wished and no more, Judah knew. He knew also that attempting to learn more than that was likely to be unpleasant as well as unprofitable. It was true that his beloved "Cap'n Sears" was no longer his commander but merely his lodger, nevertheless discipline was discipline. Mr. Cahoon was dying to know why the judge wished to talk to the captain, but he would have died in reality rather than continue to work the pumps against the latter's orders, expressed or intimated. Judah was no mutineer. CHAPTER VI Sears put in a disagreeable day or two after his call upon the judge. He was dissatisfied with the ending of their interview. He felt that he had been foolishly soft-hearted in promising to call at the Fair Harbor, or, to consider for another hour the preposterous offer of management of that institution. He must say no in the end. How much better to have said it then and there. Fifteen hundred a year looked like a lot of money to him. It tempted him, that part of the proposition. But it did not tempt him sufficiently to overcome the absurdities of the remaining part. How could _he_ manage an old woman's home? And what would people say if he tried?