“Captain Hammond,” he said, “you haven't asked me my name.”
“No, I seldom do more'n once. There have been times when I'D just as soon cruise without too big letters alongside my figurehead.”
“Well, my name is Ellery.”
“Hey? WHAT? Oh, ho! ho! ho!”
He rocked back and forth on the seat. The minister's feelings were a bit hurt, though he tried not to show it.
“You mustn't mind my laughin',” explained Nat, still chuckling. “It ain't at you. It's just because I was wonderin' what you'd look like if I should meet you and now—Ho! ho! You see, Mr. Ellery, I've heard of you, same as you said you'd heard of me.”
Ellery smiled, but not too broadly.
“Yes,” he admitted, “I imagined you had.”
“Yes, seems to me dad mentioned your name once or twice. As much as that, anyhow. Wonder what he'd say if he knew his son had been takin' you for a mornin' ride?”
“Probably that it would have been much better to have left me where you found me.”