"
Abner made no answer, but walked to the side of the vessel, looked over,
and satisfied himself that this last statement was correct.
"Capt'n Jabe," said he, turning to the other, "we can't sail much, can
we, with that thing hangin' there?"
"Well, now, Abner," replied the captain, "we are not sailin' at the
present time,--we are driftin'; for it is my idee to drop anchor as soon
as we get to Simpson's Bar, and this tide is bound to carry us over it
if we wait long enough, so we must keep soundin', and not slip over
without knowin' it."
"It strikes me," said Abner, "that we should save a lot of trouble if we
should put the anchor out and let it hang; then, when we come to the
bar, she'll ketch and fetch us up without our havin' it on our minds."
"You see, gents," said Captain Jabe to us, "Abner don't pretend to be no
sailor, but he's got his idees about navigation, for all that."
Abner took no notice of this remark. "Capt'n," said he, "does these
gents want to turn in?"
"Not till they have had some breakfast," replied Captain Jabe, and we
assented.
"All right," said Abner, "I'll tackle the grub," and, opening the door
of the grocery store, he went inside. In a few minutes he reappeared.
"Capt'n," said he, in a voice which he intended to be an aside, "are you
goin' to count 'em as mealers, or as if they was visitin' the family?"
Captain Jabe laughed.
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