"Why, as I come in--I was a lettle early, knowin' you was here--I heard
as I s'posed Cap'n Abe in the sittin'-room. I saw this letter, sealed
and directed to me, on the dresser there. 'Humph!' says I, 'Who's
writin' billy-doos to _me_, I'd admire to know?' And I up and opened
it and see it's in Cap'n Abe's hand. Just then I heard him behind
me----"

"Heard _who_? Not Cap'n Abe?"

"No, no! This other feller--this Cap'n Am'zon Silt, as he calls
himself. But I _thought_ 'twas Cap'n Abe's step I heard. He says:
'Oh! you've found the letter?' I declare I thought 'twas your uncle's
voice!"

"But it was my uncle's voice, of course," Louise reminded her, much
amused, "Cap'n Amazon Silt is my uncle, too."

"Humph! I s'pose so. Looks to be. If 'tis him. Anyhow," pursued the
jerkily speaking Betty Gallup, "I turned 'round when he spoke spectin'
to see Cap'n Abe--for I hadn't read this letter then--_and there he
warn't_! Instead--of all the lookin' critters! There! you go take a
peek at him and see what you think yourself. I'll put the breakfast on
the table. He's made coffee and the mush is in the double-biler and
the biscuits in the oven are just browning. I reckon he's as handy
'round the kitchen as Cap'n Abe is. Lots of these old sailors be."

"Fancy! an uncle who is a pirate!" giggled Louise and she ran through
the living-room and the dividing hall to the door of the store. First
she saw Cap'n Amazon from the rear. The red bandana swathing his bead,