"I kinder thought that Morton feller might be round this evenin'," Captain Phineas would yawn in a dispirited tone, when twilight had deepened and the familiar figure failed to make its appearance above the crest of the hill. "Ain't it Tuesday? He most always comes Tuesdays." "Tuesdays, Thursdays, an' Saturdays you can pretty mortal sure bank on him," Captain Benjamin would reply. "If he's comin' to-night, he better be heavin' into sight, for it's damp an' I'll have to be turnin' in soon." "Mebbe he was delayed by somethin'," suggested Captain Jonas. "We'll not give him up fur a spell longer. He told me he'd fetch me some tobacco, an' he always does as he promises." Zenas Henry smoked in silence. "I sorter wish he would appear," he presently put in, between puffs at his pipe. "There was somethin' I wanted to ask him about that durn motor-boat." "You don't mean to say that boat's out of order again, do you, Zenas Henry?" questioned Abbie. "No, oh, no! 'Tain't out of order exactly. But the pesky propeller is kickin' up worse'n ordinary. It's awful taxin' on the patience. I'd give a man everything I possess if he'd think up some plan to rid me of that eel grass." "Why don't you set Willie on the job?" asked Captain Benjamin. "Ain't I told Willie over an' over again about it?" Zenas Henry replied, turning with exasperation on the speaker. "Ain't I hinted to him plain as day--thrown the bait to him times without number? An' ain't he just swum round the hook an' gone off without so much as nibblin' it? The thing don't interest him, it's easy enough to see that. He don't like motor-boats an' ain't got no sympathy with 'em, an' he don't give a hang if they do come to grief. In fact, I think he rather relishes hearin' they're snagged. I gave up expectin' any help from him long ago." With a frown he resumed his smoking. "Where's Delight?" Captain Phineas asked, scenting his friend's mood and veering tactfully to a less irritating topic. "That's so! Where is the child?" rejoined Captain Jonas. "She was round here fussin' with them roses a minute ago." "That ain't her over toward the pine grove, is it?" queried Captain Benjamin. "I thought I saw somethin' pink a-movin' among the trees." "Yes, that's her an' Bob Morton with her, sure's you're alive!" Captain Phineas ejaculated with pleasure. "You'll get your tobacco now, Jonas, an' Zenas Henry can ask him about the boat." "Can you see has he got a bundle?" piped the short-sighted Captain Jonas anxiously. "Yep!" "Then he ain't forgot the tobacco," was the contented comment. "He don't generally forget. He's a mighty likely youngster, that boy!" "An' friendly too, ain't he?" put in Captain Benjamin. "There's nothin' he wouldn't do for you." "He's the nicest chap ever I see!" Captain Phineas echoed. "Don't you think so, Zenas Henry?" The answer was some time in coming, and when it did it was deliberate and was weighted with telling impressiveness: