Uncle William

ly kick. "Go right along in," he said. "I'll b

ated the walls. It ran along the line of shelves by the fire and covered the bi

about him, smiling. A cat leaped down from the turkey-red lounge a

om him with stately step, she approached the doo

id. "He'll be along in a

, seating herself, began to wa

ward, dashing upon the big leg that entered and

g arm and, seizing her by the tail, swung her clear of his path, landing her on the big loun

ked together the few coals that glowed beneath. "That's all right," he said. "She'll heat up quick." He thrust in some light sticks and pu

. "But I don't dare resk it without. I got hold of the pepper-box last time. Thought it was the salt-same shape. The chowder was hot." He chuckled. "I can see a boat a mile off," he said, lifting the basket of clams to the sink, "but a pepper-box two feet's beyond me." He stood at the sink, rubbing the clams with slow, thoughtfu

t chowder was done he dipped it out with careful hand. The light had lessened, and the little room, in spite of its ruddy glow, was growing dark. Uncle William glanc

a lot of oil on the government, Uncle William," he

t. The boys like to see it, comin' in at night. They've sailed by it a good many year now, and I reckon they'd miss it. It's cur'us how you do miss a thing that's a comfort-more'n you do

" said the young man, drawing up

l good clam chowder." His mouth opened to take in a spoonful, and his ponderous jaws worked slowly. There was nothing gross in the action, but it might ha

aid, chewing slowly, "that e't my chowder. And he was

d. "Just to make

at it would be a big thing for the hotel. He offered me a good deal o' money if I'd go with him-said he'd give me five hunderd a year and keep." The old man chuckled.

ou been

one thing and another, and I sailed a couple of years between there

s pipe and was leaning back, watching the smoke. "You do feel shut

he said, quickly. "I ca

ead. Down below they could hear the surf beating. The wind

have to go down and reef her down," he

is blowing," sa

-though it won't sound so loud up the shore where you be. This is the place for it. A good stiff

are a hermit. Suppose someb

y ca

y n

own

mil

seem to breathe without I have room enough, and it just come over me once, how I should feel if folks crowded down on me too much. So I bought it. I'm what they call around here 'land-poor.'" He said i

e." The young man glanc

ation, knocking the ashes from his pipe. "I'm goin' to make things snug and put dow

at, and taking the lantern from i

lamp fell on the turkey-red. It gl