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There's nothin' like mindin' yer own bizzness. Same time," added John after a short pause, "that's no reason why, as a sea-farin' friend o' mine used to say, a man shouldn't keep his weather-eye open, d'ye see?"
"But I hed ter wait eight months fer the luck. Hev ye ever been sea-farin' down in them waters, off the West Indies?" "No." "Well, they're all studded over with little islands cays, they call 'em down thare; an' it's in among them thet the buccaneers hide away, an' sorter rest up after a cruise.
"So I heard unendin' experiences of men who had gone to sea. And at night I read everything I could get touchin' on, an' appertainin' to, sea-farin'. In my mind I've sailed the seven seas, charted unknown waters, went through all the perils I tell 'bout. Yes, sir, I don't dispute I'm a hi-mighty liar," he repeated, sighing and shaking his head.
My fingers is to the bone day an' night." "He'll be gone a year purty nigh." "Well, the harder you works, the quicker the time'll pass by. Theer's nuthin' to grizzle at. Sea-farin' fellers must be away most times. But he'm a good, straight man, an' you'm tokened to en, an' that's enough.
Turning round he addressed himself once more to the ascent of the cone, on the sides of which the whole excursion party now straggled and struggled, remarking, as he panted along, that hill-climbing among ashes and cinders didn't "come easy to a sea-farin' man."
"But sailors have to be nimble, miss," he returned, buckling a strap unmoved. "Who tol' ye I were once a sea-farin' man?" "I guessed it." As he appeared indisposed to say more on the subject she asked: "Did you sail with Captain Wegg?" "Partly, miss. Dan's already now. Don't jerk the bit, fer his mouth's tender an' it makes him balky. Ef he balks jest let him rest a time, an' then speak to him.
"But what is the name of the house that sends you?" asked Miss Jessie. "That I am not allowed for to tell," said the boy-of-business, firmly. "A mercantile house in the city, I suppose," said Kate. "What sort o' house it may be is more than a sea-farin' man like me knows, an' of course it's in the city.
"Now, Mark, here comes the Moral: "Oh, cruel be ye, sea-farin' men, Oh, cruel be your lives, A-robbing of the house-carpenters, And a-taking of their wives!" The shouts and laughter which greeted the conclusion of Miss Lavender's song brought Dr. Deane into the room. He was a little alarmed lest his standing in the Society might be damaged by so much and such unrestrained merriment under his roof.
"No. I never happened on Cap'n Am'zon when I was sea-farin'. And he ain't never been to Cardhaven to my knowledge." "Never been here?" murmured Lawford Tapp more than a little surprised. "Wasn't he born and brought up here?" "No. Neither was Cap'n Abe. The Silts flourish, as ye might say or, useter 'fore the fam'ly sort o' petered out down New Bedford way.
I was ten year old when my uncle died, and father left sea-farin', and kem home to the farm to live. Before that we'd lived in different places, movin' round, like. We was at sea a good deal, sailin' with father when he went on pleasant voyages, to the West Indies, or sich. But sence then I ain't ben away much. I don't seem to find no pleasanter place than the old farm, somehow."
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