"I didn't count the time he stopped after a drink of water neither. That
wasn't a real call, but--"

"Oh, it ought to count for somethin'! Call it a ha'f a time. That would
make four times and a ha'f he was here."

Captain Jerry looked suspiciously at his friend's face, but its
soberness was irreproachable, so he said:

"Well, it's kind of slow work, but, as I said afore, it's comin' along,
and I have the satisfaction of knowin' it's all for their good."

"Yes, like the feller that ate all the apple-dumplin's so's his children
wouldn't have the stomach-ache. But say, Jerry, I come out to ask if
you'd mind bein' housekeeper to-day. Luther Davis has been after me
sence I don't know when to come down to the life-savin' station and stay
to dinner. His sister Pashy--the old maid one--is down there, and it's
such a fine day I thought I'd take Perez and Elsie and Mrs. Snow and,
maybe, Hazeltine along. Somebody's got to stay with John, and I thought
p'raps you would. I'd stay myself only Luther asked me so particular,
and you was down there two or three months ago. When Josiah comes back
from school he'll help you some, if you need him."

Captain Jerry didn't mind staying at home, and so Eri went into the
house to make arrangements for the proposed excursion. He had some
difficulty in persuading Mrs. Snow and Elsie to leave the sick man,
but both were tired and needed a rest, and there was a telephone at the
station, so that news of a change in the patient's condition could be
sent almost immediately. Under these conditions, and as Captain Jerry
was certain to take good care of their charge, the two were persuaded