The captain looked at his watch. "Well, maybe 'twas a little more'n a
minute," he admitted.

Master Bartlett sauntered up to take part in the conversation.

"I got here twenty minutes ago," he observed, grinning, "and you wasn't
here then, Cap'n Dan'l. I was wonderin' what had become of ye."

Daniel seized the opportunity to change the subject.

"Anybody been in since you came?" he asked, addressing Sam.

"No, nobody special. Abel Calvin was in to see if you wanted to buy some
beach plums for puttin' up. He said he had about a bushel of first-rate
ones, just picked."

"Beach plums! What in time would I want of beach plums? I don't put up
preserves, do I? Why didn't he go to the house?"

"I asked him that, myself, and he said 'twa'n't no use."

"No use! What did he mean by that?"

"Well, he said--he said--" Sam seemed suddenly to realize that he was
getting into deep water; "he said--he said somethin' or other; I guess
I've forgot what 'twas."

"I guess you ain't. WHAT did he say?"