"You don't seem to think there's anything the matter with him," Uncle Zenas said reproachfully. "That's because you don't know Sammy very well. In all the years I've lived on this 'ere ledge, I never saw him cuttin' up any sich capers as he's flingin' now."
"It looks to me as if he was hunting for a chance to build something, sir. I can't see that he is acting very queerly."
"It's queer for him to be runnin' 'round so when there's no need of it," Captain Eph interrupted. "Sammy don't like work overly well, an' I never saw him do any more than he could help. I'm goin' to know what's the matter, though."
Then the keeper, while descending the ladder, called softly, as if afraid of frightening his first assistant:
"Hello, Sammy, what seems to be the matter with you?"
"With me?" Mr. Peters repeated in astonishment. "What made you think there was anything wrong?"
"What are you runnin' 'round so after?"
"An' why shouldn't I, if the notion strikes me? Are you afraid I'll do any harm to the rocks?"
"Now don't get excited, Sammy; but it kind'er bothers Uncle Zenas an' me to see you runnin' around as if you'd lost your head."
"Don't look, an' then you won't feel so bad," the first assistant said sharply, as once more he attempted to fasten the strips of board in an upright position, and Captain Eph asked impatiently: