“Well?” he asked shortly. “Did you fellers want to see me for anything 'special?”
“Wanted to see what had struck you all to once,” replied Mr. Tidditt. “Bailey says you scared him half to death this forenoon. And you look now as if somebody's ghost had riz and hollered 'Boo!' at you. For the land sakes, Whit, what IS it?”
The captain drew his hand across his forehead.
“Ghost?” he repeated absently. “No, I haven't SEEN a ghost. There! there! don't mind me. I ain't real well to-day, I guess.” He smiled crookedly.
“Don't you want to hear about my vote-grabbin' cruise?” asked Tidditt. “I was flatterin' myself you'd be tickled to hear I'd done so well. Why, even Marcellus Parker says he may vote for you—if he makes up his mind that way.”
Marcellus was a next-door neighbor of Alonzo Snow's. But Captain Cy didn't seem to care.
“Hey?” he murmured. “Yes. Well?”
“WELL! Is that all you've got to say? Are you really sick, Cy? Or is Bos'n sick?”
“No!” was the answer, almost fierce in its utterance. “She isn't sick. Don't be a fool.”
“What's foolish about that? I didn't know but she might be. There's mumps in town and—”