They were over the side of the schooner and out in their dories when
more cautious trawlsmen hugged the fo'c'sle. On their third trip,
because of this daring, they caught the city market bare on a Thursday
and made a clean-up.
"I'm told that Saint Peter started this Friday notion because he was
in the fish business," stated Captain Candage, sorting money for the
shares. "All I've got to say is, he done a good job of it."
Mr. Speed, sailing as mate, always found ready obedience.
Smut-nosed Dolph never listened before to such praise as was lavished by
the hungry men over the pannikins which he heaped.
Captain Mayo, casting up accounts one day, was honestly astonished to
find that almost a month had passed since he had landed at Maquoit.
"That goes to show how a man will get interested when he is picked up
and tossed into a thing," he said to Polly Candage.
"You are making real men of them, Captain Mayo!" She added, with a
laugh, "And you told me you were no kind of a hand at making over human
nature!"
"They are doing it themselves."
"I will say nothing to wound your modesty, sir."
"Now I must wake up. I must! There's nothing worth while in the profit
for both your father and myself. I want him to have the proposition
alone. There'll be a fair make for him. I didn't intend to stay here so
long. I guess I sort of forgot myself." He went on with his figures.
"But I knew you could not forget," she ventured, after a pause.
He glanced up and found a queer expression on her countenance. There
were frank sympathy and friendliness in her eyes. He had revolved bitter
thoughts alone, struggling with a problem he could not master. In sudden
emotion--in an unpremeditated letting-go of himself--he reached out for
somebody in whom to confide. He needed counsel in a matter where no man
could help him. This girl was the only one who could understand.
"There may be letters waiting for me in the city--in the big city
where I may be expected," he blurted. "I haven't dared to send any." He
hesitated, and then gave way to his impulse. "Miss Polly, I haven't any
right to trouble you with my affairs. I may seem impertinent. But
you are a girl! Does a girl usually sit down and think over all the
difficulties--when she doesn't get letters--and then make allowances?"