“You're up early, aren't you?”
“Hey? Yes, I guess likely I be.”
“What's wrong? Not sick, are you?”
“No. Course I ain't sick. Say!” Seth seemed to take a sudden interest in the conversation, “you come straight up from the cove, have you?”
“Yes. Why?”
“You ain't been hangin' around outside here, have you?”
“Hanging around outside? What do you mean?”
“Nothin'. Why do you stand there starin' at me as if I was some sort of dime show curiosity? Anything queer about me?”
“No. I didn't know I was staring.” The young man was bewildered by this strange behavior. He was prepared for suspicion concerning his own actions; but Seth seemed rather to be defending himself from suspicion on the part of his helper.
“Humph!” The lightkeeper looked keenly at him for a moment. Then he said: