re was a flood!" announced Oily Dave, with an air
of innocence which sat awkwardly upon him, it was so palpably put
on for the occasion. "Fact is, I've been off all day on the cliffs
along the bay shore, looking for signs of walrus and seal on the
ice floes. Then when it got near sunset I just struck inland, so
as to call here on my way home. Who told you there was a flood?"

"I saw it," she answered quietly.

"I hope my lodger is all right," said the old hypocrite, with an
air of concern. "That house of mine ain't well situated for
floods, as most folks know. If I'd got the time and the money I'd
move it up beside Stee Jenkin's hut, which is really in a bootiful
situation."

"I wonder you have not done it before," said Katherine, as she went
up the steps and fetched the tin of tomatoes from the top shelf.

"Ah, there are a good many things that get left undone for want of
time and money!" remarked Oily Dave. "But I'm afraid Mr.
Selincourt has made a big mistake in sending that languid swell of
a Mr. Ferrars here to boss the fishing. A reg'lar drawing-room
party he is and no mistake. Gives himself as many airs as a
turkey-cock in springtime, and seems to think all the rest of the
world was created on purpose to black his boots."

"We don't sell much boot blacking here. Most of the people grease
their boots with fish oil," Katherine said, laughing in spite of
herself, only now her amusement was because she knew Jervis Ferrars
to be in her father's room, where he could hear every word which
was spoken in the store.

"Best thing, too. There is nothing like grease for making leather
wear well. Well, I must be going, though I'm that tired. However
I'll manage the walk is more than I can say;" and Oily Dave heaved
a sigh which this time was not lacking in sincerity.

"Would you like to have one of our boats? Miles will help you to
run it down," Katherine said. It was such a usual thing to lend a
customer a boat that one or two were always handy, and the customer
always understood that the loan was to be returned at his earliest
convenience.

"Thank you, I should be glad! The current will carry me down while
I smoke my pipe. Then I shall be rested enough to cook supper when
I get there," he answered. Then, bidding her good night, he went
out of the store, meeting Miles in the doorway, who went back to
help him to run the boat down into the water.

"Miles, I hope you didn't tell that old fraud that Mr.