ll get the fat kettle over an' the fry-cage ready. Amiel brought me
a likely cod. 'Tain't been out o' the water two hours."

"I love fish," confessed Louise, following him to the kitchen door.

"Lucky you do, if you're going to stay a spell on Cape Cod. For that's
what you'll eat mornin', noon, and night. Fish and clams, an' mebbe a
pot o' baked beans on a Saturday, or a chicken for Sunday's dinner. I
don't git much time to cook fancy."

"But can't this woman who comes to do the work cook for you?"

"She can't cook for me," snorted Cap'n Abe. "I respect my stomach too
much to eat after Bet Gallup. She's as good a man afore the mast as
airy feller in Cardhaven. An' that's where she'd oughter be. But
never let her in the galley."

"Oh, well," Louise said cheerfully. "I'm a dab at camp cooking myself,
as I told you. Uncle Amazon and I will make out--if he comes."

"Oh! Ah! 'Hem!" said Cap'n Abe, clearing his throat. He stooped to
pick up a dropped potlid and came up very red in the face. "You
needn't borrow any trouble on that score, Cap'n Am'zon's as good a cook
as I be."

Only twice did Cap'n Abe make forced trips into the shop. The supper
hour of Cardhaven was well established and the thoughtful housewives
did not seek to make purchases while the fat was hot in Cap'n Abe's
skillet. One of these untimely customers was a wandering child with a
penny. "I might have waited on him, Cap'n Abe," Louise declared.

"Land sakes! so you might," the storekeeper agreed. "Though if he'd
seen you behind my counter I reckon that young 'un of 'Liathel
Grummet's would have been struck dumber than nature made him in the
fust place."

The other customer was a gangling, half-grown youth after a ball of
seine twine and the girl heard him say in a shocked whisper to Cap'n
Abe:

"Say! is it true there's one o' them movin' picture actresses goin' to
stop here with you, Cap'n Abe? Ma heard so."

"You tell your ma," Cap'n Abe said sternly, "that if she keeps on
stretchin' her ears that a-way, she'll hear the kambuoy over Bartell
Shoals in a dead calm!"

Cap'n Abe's bald poll began to shine with minute beads of perspiration.
He looked over the bib of his voluminous apron like a bewhiskered gnome
very busy at some mysterious task. Louise noticed that his movements
about the kitchen were remarkably deft.

"All hands called!" he called out at length. "I'm about to dish up."

"Shall I put on another plate, Cap'n