“So Hoppy is going as pilot,” said Captain Jared Higgins; “that’s about the last thing I’d expect from Hoppy Mayo!”
“As I told you,” replied Phil to this, “Captain Mayo said that some people might think it quare that he agreed to it; but you needn’t fear about him, Captain Higgins; he’ll never turn thraitor. Whatever he has in his mind to do I can’t tell you, but from the little he told me I can see that his mind is workin’ hard at some plan to get the betther o’ the inimy. All I know is that he wanted you to have faith in him, an’ anywan who knows Captain Mayo will find that enough.”
“That’s right, Phil; I firmly believe Hoppy will outwit them!” cried Peter Walker.
“This war will beggar the people of Cape Cod, anyway,” growled Captain Jared. “If the President took Governor Strong’s advice there would be no war.”
This was Captain Jared’s great point in his antagonism to the war policy of the national government. His prolonged idleness was having a bad effect on his temper and the gallant old seaman was always ready and willing to argue at any length in support of his views. Not many cared to enter the lists with the captain; but Peter Walker, a strong supporter of the administration and Jared’s foremost opponent, remarked:
“The President has more sense than to listen to such people as Cale Strong, Jared, and there’s lots of people on Cape Cod who don’t think much of the same Cale.”
“Is that so, Peter?” Captain Jared turned fiercely to where Peter sat in his accustomed place. “Everybody knows that you can’t lose much by the war. What is it to you if the British destroy the salt works? You took good care to sell your share in the salt business to Ed. Clark, though I’m not saying that you did so on account of the war. Still, if a man has so little to lose as you have in that way, it don’t seem right for him to find fault with those who suffer most.”
Peter’s goodhumor was proof against this assault. “Well, Jared,” he replied, “I think I gave Ed. quite a good bargain in the matter, and he seemed to be satisfied. What I want to show you is this: Strong received 53 votes at the last election and Dexter got 31. That was the vote of Eastham and it shows that there are thirty voters besides myself who agree with the President of the United States as against Governor Strong.”
“I’m willing to bet that most of the thirty owe you money for horseshoeing!” retorted Captain Jared, “and, anyway, Peter, ’tis easy to tell who they are; they are your cronies who spend most of their time in your shop listening to your rhymes making fun of the neighbors, and enjoying it, too. The fools don’t know that you’ll be after themselves soon!”
Roars of laughter greeted this thrust at Peter and Obed Sparrow cried: