nd I feel
as if I'd strained every plank in my hull. Ought to go into dry dock and
refit, I had. I landed in Philadelphy a week ago," he continued. "Quit
the old steamer for good, I have. Me and the skipper had some words and
I told him where he could go. Ho! ho! I don't know whether he went or
not; anyhow, I started for Trumet. Got there and found you'd come into
money and had moved to Scarford and was livin' with the big-bugs. Some
house you've got here, ain't it! Soon's I see it I headed for the back
door. 'A first cabin companion like that's no place for me,' I says. Ho!
ho! Besides, I cal'lated to find Zuby Jane out in the fo'castle here.
Didn't expect to locate you, though, in this end of the ship. How's it
seem to be rich? Ain't got fat on it, have you."

Daniel, amused in spite of his recent ill temper, shook his head.

"Not yet," he answered. "So you've been ashore a week and your wife
doesn't know it? Why didn't you write to her from Philadelphia?"

"Oh, I don't know. Zuby and me's got an understandin' about that, and
other things. There's nothin' like havin' a clear understandin' to make
married folks get along together. We write letters, of course, but we
don't write very often. I'm li'ble to be 'most anywheres on the face of
the earth, and it makes me fidgety to think there's letters chasin' me
round and I ain't gettin' 'em. I say to Zuby, 'Long's you don't hear
from me you'll know I'm all right, and long's I don't hear from you I'll
know the same. We'll write when we feel like it. I'll come home as often
as I can, and when I come I'll fetch you my share of the wages.' That's
our understandin' and it's a good one. We ain't had a fight since we was
spliced; or, if we have, I always stop it right off--stop her part, I
mean. Where IS the old gal, anyhow?"

"She's up in her room, I presume likely."

"Oh, is she? Well, she'll be down in a jiffy. If she ain't I'll go up
and give her a surprise."

"I'll call her, if you give me a chance."

"No, no, you needn't. No 'special hurry. She's waited for three years;
cal'late ten minutes more won't hurt neither of us. Had your supper
yet?"

Daniel smiled grimly. "Not yet," he replied.

"Then she'll be down to get it, of course. I shan't stop her; I'm empty
as a rum bottle four days out of port. You folks eat late, don't you?"

"Sometimes."

"I should think so. What's Zuby doin' up in her room this time of
night?"

"She said she was goin' to change her cloth