The pair of calamity prophets broke off their lament over the declining fisheries and greeted him almost jovially.
"Hello, Cap'n!" cried one.

"What's the south shore doin' over here in this flood ?" "What's the matter, Cap'n ?" demanded the other.

"Broke loose from your moorin's, have you?
Did you ever see such a night in your life ?" The man in the ulster shook hands with each of his questioners, removing a pair of wet, heavy leather gloves as he did so.
"Don't know's I ever did, Dan," he answered.

"Couldn't see much of this one but its color--and that's black.

I come over this mornin' to attend to some business at the court-house--deeds to some cranberry bog property I just bought--and Judge Baxter made me go home with him to dinner.