“No,” Nelson replied smilingly, “I don’t believe we do. And anyhow, we don’t know just where he is—by this time.”
Which was a good deal nearer the truth than Nelson suspected.
“Well,” said the officer, with a twinkle in his eye, “if you chance to see him again you tell him that his friend Captain Sauder, over to Sanstable, is particularly anxious to see him, will you?”
Nelson promised gravely to do so and the officer stepped ashore.
“Good mornin’,” he said. “I hope you’ll have a fair voyage.”
“Good morning,” Nelson replied. “Thank you.”
Halfway across the float the officer paused, turned and retraced his steps, and Nelson went to meet him.
“Now, I don’t know much about this,” said the officer confidentially, “but you fellers don’t look like a very desperate set to me. So you tell this feller Floyd—if you should happen to meet him, you understand—you tell him that the Cape’s a bit unhealthy just at present; kind of malarial, you know; and maybe he’d be better off across the bay. See what I mean?”
“Yes, I do,” answered Nelson. “And I’m much obliged. And if I should happen to see him I’ll tell him that.”
“You needn’t mention me, of course,” said the other. “It ain’t any of my business. So long.”