"Oh, good evening," replied Captain Jack, recognizing the bearded man whom he had refused admittance to the "Farnum."
"Pretty stupid town, isn't it, Captain!" asked the stranger, holding out his hand, which Jack Benson took.
"As lively as we thought it would be," Hal rejoined. "We just came ashore to stretch ourselves a bit. Thought we might lay a course to an ice-cream soda, too, but failed."
"These fishermen don't have such things," smiled the stranger. "They are content with the bare necessities of life, with a little grog and tobacco added. Speaking of grog, would you care to try the best this town has, gentlemen?"
"Thank you," Jack answered, politely. "We've never either of us tasted the stuff, and we don't care to begin."
"Drop into the drug-store and have a cigar, then?"
"We don't smoke, either, thank you," came from Hal.
"You young men are rather hard to entertain in a place like this," sighed the stranger, but his eyes twinkled.
"We are just as grateful for the intention," Jack assured him.
"Tell you what I can do, gentlemen," proposed the stranger, suddenly.
"I might invite you down to my shack for a little while, and show you
my books and some models of yachts and ships that I've been collecting.
I'm quite proud of my collection in that line. Won't you come?"