As soon as Captain Chinks landed, he was greeted by Ben, his nephew, who was doubtless glad to see him.
"I s'pose you are tired of waiting—ain't you, Ben?" asked the captain, who wore a troubled expression.
"Not a bit on't. I've been makin' five dollars a day, right along, takin' parties out to sail," replied Ben, with a cheerful grin; "but I had to pay a boy half a dollar a day to help me."
"That's pretty well."
"Why didn't you come down afore?"
"Because I didn't hear anything from St. John; and things are a little mixed up to Camden."
"Mixed! Why, I thought everything had come out fust rate. You got the Skylark and the stuff back as slick as a whistle."
"Who told you so?" demanded the captain, with a startled look.
"Why, Little Bobtail. He's here in the Skylark, and said you sent him."
Bobtail certainly had not said any such thing. Ben had inferred it from what Mr. Hines had stated. It was not prudent to talk of these matters in the midst of so many people, and the captain and his nephew hastened on board of the Eagle.