"Father says--'Daddy-professor,' you know is what I call him. He says if
we had not always been traveling when I was not at school, I should have
known you long ago. He thinks very highly of my mother's people."

"I wanter know!"

"He says you are the 'salt of the earth'--that is his very expression."

"Yes. We're pretty average salt, I guess," admitted Cap'n Abe. "I never
seen your father but once or twice. You see, Louise, your mother was a
lot younger'n me an' Am'zon."

"Who?"

"Cap'n Am'zon. Oh! _I_ ain't the only uncle you got," he said, watching
her narrowly. "Cap'n Am'zon Silt----"

"Have I another relative? How jolly!" exclaimed Louise, clasping her
hands.

"Ye-as. Ain't it? Jest," Cap'n Abe said. "Ahem! your father never
spoke of Cap'n Am'zon?".

"I don't believe daddy-prof even knew there was such a person."

"Mebbe not. Mebbe not," Cap'n Abe agreed hastily. "And not to be
wondered at. You see, Am'zon went to sea when he was only jest a boy."

"Did he?"