Bub, after a while, burst out suddenly:

"June, thar, thought you was a raider." The little girl flushed
and the old man laughed.

"So'd you, pap," she said quietly.

"That's right," he said. "So'd anybody. I reckon you're the first
man that ever come over hyeh jus' to go a-fishin'," and he laughed
again. The stress on the last words showed that he believed no man
had yet come just for that purpose, and Hale merely laughed with
him. The old fellow gulped his food, pushed his chair back, and
when Hale was through, he wasted no more time.

"Want to see that coal?"

"Yes, I do," said Hale.

"All right, I'll be ready in a minute."

The little girl followed Hale out on the porch and stood with her
back against the railing.

"Did you catch it?" he asked. She nodded, unsmiling.

"I'm sorry. What were you doing up there?" She showed no surprise
that he knew that she had been up there, and while she answered
his question, he could see that she was thinking of something
else.