"He ain't never been in jail, Milt," said the storekeeper mildly, and the
assembly broke into an appreciative chuckle. It was well known that on
the last Fourth of July Milt Baker had been shut into the calaboose at
Paulmouth to sober up.

"As I was sayin'," pursued Cap'n Abe reflectively, "Cap'n Amazon went up
country with a Dutchman--a trader, I b'lieve he said the man was--and
they got into a part where the orang-outangs was plentiful."

"Jest as thick as sandpipers along The Beaches, I shouldn't wonder," put
in Cap'n Joab, at last tempted beyond his strength.

"No; nor like mackerel when ye get a full seine-haul," responded the
storekeeper, unruffled, "but thicker'n you'd want sand fleas to be if the
fleas measured up to the size of orang-outangs."

Lawford Tapp burst into open laughter. "They can't catch you, can they,
Cap'n Abe?" he said. "If that brother of yours has gone through one-half
the perils by land and sea I've heard you tell about, he's beat out most
sailors from old Noah down to Admiral Dewey."

Cap'n Abe's brows came together in pronounced disapproval. "Young man,"
he said, "if Cap'n Am'zon was here now ye wouldn't darst cast any
aspersions on his word. He ain't the man to stand for't."

"Well, I'd like to see Cap'n Amazon," Lawford said lightly, "if only for
the sake of asking him a question or two."

"You'll likely get your wish," returned the storekeeper tartly.