They enjoyed the situation, as the commercial traveller could see
from their doltish looks.

He was enraged. Here he was, being treated as if he were air and
made fun of! "Confound you fellows! Haven't you even learnt as much
as to give a civil answer to a civil question?" he said angrily.

The fishermen looked backward and forward at one another, taking
mute counsel.

"No, but I tell you what it is! She must come some time," said
the head man at last.

"What 'she'?"

"The steamer, of course. And she generally comes about this time.
Now you've got it!"

"Naturally--of course! But isn't it a little unwise to speak so loud
about it?" jeered the traveller.

The fishermen had turned their backs on him, and were scraping out
their pipes.

"We're not quite so free with our speech here as some people, and
yet we make our living," said the head man to the others. They
growled their approval.

As the stranger wandered on down the harbor hill, the fishermen
looked after him with a feeling of relief. "What a talker!" said