Nat reached down a big brown hand.
“Same here,” he said. “Always glad to shake with a chap as well recommended as you are. Yes, indeed, I mean it. You see, you've got a friend that's a friend of mine, and when she guarantees a man to be A. B., I'll ship him without any more questions.”
“Well, then, good-by. I hope we shall meet again and often. And I certainly thank you for—”
“That's all right. Maybe you'll fish ME out of the drink some day; you never can tell. So long! Git dap, Gen'ral Scott!”
He drove off up the beach, but before he turned the corner of the nearest dune he called back over his shoulder:
“Say, Mr. Ellery, if you think of it you might give my regards to—to—er—the lady that's keepin' house for you.”
Breakfast had waited nearly an hour when the minister reached home. Keziah, also, was waiting and evidently much relieved at his safe arrival.
“Sakes alive!” she exclaimed, as she met him at the back door. “Where in the world have you been, Mr. Ellery? Soakin' wet again, too!”
Ellery replied that he had been for a walk out to the bar. He sat down on the step to remove the borrowed boots. A small rivulet of salt water poured from each as he pulled them off.
“For a walk! A swim, you mean. How could you get in up to your waist if you just walked? Did you fall down?”