"Uncle Zenas is so he can 'tend to the cookin' all right, sir; but he can't amble 'round very lively. Cap'n Eph is likely to be lame quite a spell yet."
"Who is the stranger in the doorway?" and the inspector looked curiously toward the tower.
"He's a sailor we picked up day before yesterday, sir; drifted here in a dory."
"Been doing more work as life-savers, have you?" the inspector asked in such a kindly tone that Sidney decided he had not come out to find fault.
By this time the officer had stepped ashore and was going toward the tower; but, observing that Mr. Peters remained behind, he called:
"I want to see you and Captain Downs together, Mr. Peters, and we may as well attend to the Department's business first. Come in, please."
"Now there is trouble brewin'," Mr. Peters whispered to Sidney, "an' it must be mighty serious, for this is the first time the inspector ever wanted me around when he was overhaulin' Cap'n Eph's accounts."
MATINICUS.