"Yep. Ran away from home--like most boys done in them days, for their
mothers warn't partial to the sea--and shipped aboard the whaler _South
Sea Belle_. He tied his socks an' shirt an' a book o' navigation he
owned, up in a handkerchief, and slipped out over the shed roof one
night, and away he went." Cap'n Abe told the girl this with that
far-away look on his face that usually heralded one of his tales about
Cap'n Amazon.

"I can remember it clear 'nough. He walked all the way to New Bedford.
We lived at Rocky Head over against Bayport. Twas quite a step to
Bedford. The _South Sea Belle_ was havin' hard time makin' up her crew.
She warn't a new ship. Am'zon was twelve year old an' looked fifteen.
An' he was fifteen 'fore he got back from that v'y'ge. Mebbe I'll tell
ye 'bout it some time--or Cap'n Am'zon will. He's been a deep-bottom
sailor from that day to this."

"And where is he now?" asked Louise.

"Why--mebbe!--he's on his way here. I shouldn't wonder. He might step
in at that door any minute," and Cap'n Abe's finger indicated the store
door.

There was the sound of a footstep entering the store as he spoke. The
storekeeper arose. "I'll jest see who 'tis," he said.

While he was absent Louise laid aside her hat and made a closer
inspection of the room and its furniture. Everything was homely but
comfortable. There was a display of marine art upon the walls. All the
ships were drawn exactly, with the stays, spars, and all rigging in