trousers. Captain Bannister sailed the "Hoppergrass" quarter of a
mile below the beach, put about, and came back in time to pick
them up when they returned in the tender. Mr. Daddles was
interested in the idea of a clam-chowder. He had already noticed
the funny little noise which the clams made, as their shells
opened and shut.

"It seems rather hard-hearted to make them into a soup," he
observed, "when they sing all the time like that."

The Captain was not troubled by the song of the clams, however.

"Here, Jimmy," he said, "you take the wheel while I shuck them
clams."

"Do what to 'em?" asked Mr. Daddles.

"Shuck 'em," the Captain replied.

Mr. Daddles still looked puzzled.

"Take 'em out of the shells," explained Jimmy.

While the Captain worked over the clams, he had an oil-stove
lighted down in the cabin, and he tried out some pork. Ed Mason
hunted up a pail of fresh milk and some crackers, while I washed
and peeled the potatoes. In about half an hour the dinner was
ready. The Captain brought up the steaming kettle of chowder, and
from it we filled our bowls. We also had coffee and bread and
butter, and some of the mince turnovers which Ed Mason had