The boy returned, and followed his father, and five minutes later Captain March turned in at the gate. His face was no longer placid, but wore a look of annoyance. Medbury, watching him, saw him go away a moment later, hurrying toward the harbor, taking shorter steps than usual, and biting his bearded under lip in his perplexity.
"Seems kind o' mean to bother the old fellow," Medbury said to himself, looking troubled. He shook the feeling off as he added: "I guess it's for his good. Now he'll look up Davis; he's the only man he can get."
As he passed out of his gate, Annie called to him from her doorway. She was smiling.
"I wish you good luck, Tom."
"Thank you, Annie," he replied. "Don't tell about this."
She shook her head and laughed.
"Not till it comes out all right," she promised.
John Davis was sitting in the shipyard watching the carpenters setting up a stern-post for a new vessel, and there the captain found him. Medbury, watching them, saw them go away together; but at the corner of the Shore Road and Main street they separated.
Half-way up High street, Medbury caught up with Davis.
"You're walking fast, John," he said.