"Not a bite!" he protested. And he winked. "Ah, well," he yielded, "might as well, I 'low. Really, now, I is jus' a bit peckish the night."
"No; no report o' sickness on Amen," Skipper James repeated, resuming his conversation, as before.
"Quite sure about that?"
"Well, sir," Skipper James replied, his gray eyes twinkling, "I asked ol' Jack Hulk, an' he said, 'All well on Amen Island. The Lord's been wonderful easy on us this winter. I'd almost go so far as t' say,' says he, 'that He've been lax. We've had no visitation o' the Lord,' says he, 'since the fall o' the year. We don't deserve this mercy. I'm free t' say that. We isn't been livin' as we should. There's been more frivolity on Amen Island this winter than ever afore in my time. It haven't been noticed so far,' says he. 'That's plain enough. An' so as yet,' says he, 'we're all well on Amen Island.'"
The Doctor grinned.
"What's the ice on Ships' Run?" said he.
"'Tis tumbled, sir. The bread's at your elbow, sir."
"Thank you. Dogs?"
"No, sir. Ships' Run's jammed with floe ice. A man would have t' foot it across. You bound over, sir?"