She nodded.
"Where's the capt'n?"
She pointed over her left shoulder upwards, placed her two hands out broad from her temples, then made a motion as of lifting and carrying a basket, and displaying goods.
"Humph! humph! gone to Tip-top to sell goods disguised as a peddler!"
She nodded. And before he could put another question a low, soft mew was heard at the door.
"There's 'Stealthy Steve!'—he might walk with hob-nailed high-lows upon a gravelly road, and you would never hear his footfall," said the man, as the door noiselessly opened and shut, a soft-footed, low-voiced, subtle-looking mulatto entered the kitchen, and gave good evening to its occupants.
"Ha! I'm devilish glad you've come, Steve, for hang me if I'm not tired to death trying to talk to this crone, who, to the charms of old age and ugliness, adds that of dumbness. Seen the cap'n?"
"No, he's gone out to hear the people talk, and find out what they think of him."
Hal burst into a loud and scornful laugh, saying: "I should think it would not require much seeking to discover that!"
Here the old woman came forward, and, by signs, managed to inquire whether he had brought her "the tea."