"Sam Twitty was astonished. He had had an idea that Captain Abner would go on preparing for her to the end of his days, and it was a shock to him to hear that the work of preparation, in which he had been interested for so many years, and in which he had so frequently assisted, should now be brought suddenly to a close.
"'Ready!' he ejaculated. 'I wouldn't have believed it if ye hadn't told me yourself. And yet, come to think of it, I can't see for the life of me what else you can do for her.'
"'There ain't nothin' else,' said Abner, 'and on Monday mornin' I'm settin' out to look for her.'
"'Do you go by land or by water?' asked Sam.
"'Land,' was the answer. 'There ain't no chance of runnin' across her by sea.'
"'And how are you goin'? Walkin'?'
"'No, sir,' said Abner. 'I'm goin' to hire a horse and a buggy. That's how I'm goin'.'
"'And where are you goin' to steer fust?' asked Sam.
"'I'm goin' fust to Thompsontown, and after I've took my observations there I'll fetch a compass and sail every which way, if need be. There's lots of people of all sorts in Thompsontown, and I don't see why she shouldn't be one of them.'
"'No more do I,' said Sam Twitty. 'I think it's more'n likely she'll be one of them.'