"He's got to find a vessel bound for that port, an' then coax the cap'n into givin' him a passage, all of which takes time. It don't stand to reason, Sonny, that he'll get there, an' your messages can be sent in a reg'lar letter, for of course your father wrote you an' me 'bout the same time he telegraphed to the inspector. It seems to me everything has come 'round jest as we'd like to have it, an' you're to stay here with us!"
"But how am I to get the letter, if father wrote one?" the lad asked anxiously, and Uncle Zenas replied:
"Don't you fear but that it'll be sent out here to you. The inspector is bound to come again before long, for he jest the same as said so, an' all we've got to do is enjoy ourselves—that is, when Cap'n Eph can toddle 'round once more, an' I'm able to move about without most killin' myself."
This conversation had been carried on with Uncle Zenas sitting on the stairs where he could look into the keeper's room, for he had refused to go back to the kitchen, or allow any one else to do so, until the medals had been hung in the watch-room according to his instructions.
Now, however, he made ready to set about the work of getting dinner, and astonished his comrades by declaring that when he had cooked the best meal possible from the stores on hand, it should be served in the keeper's room, regardless of the additional labor such an arrangement would entail.
"You'll have to lug everythin', even to the dishes, up here, an' carry 'em back again!" Captain Eph exclaimed, and Uncle Zenas replied:
"I wouldn't care if the whole outfit was to be taken inter the lantern, it should be done. I'd like to know, Ephraim Downs, if we're ever likely to have so much reason for a thanksgivin' dinner as we've got this day?"
"You're right, Uncle Zenas, you're right, an' seein's how the only way we can celebrate is by eatin', get to work, an' if dinner ain't ready till midnight, we'll turn to all the heartier for havin' waited so long."
"You'll have to bring up the table an' the dishes, Sammy," the second assistant said in a tone of authority, and Mr. Peters replied with a grin:
"I reckon that won't be any very hard job; but if you're countin' on my luggin' you too, the plan won't work, for nothin' short of a derrick would answer on sich a job as that."