"Who'll pay for that ?" growled the painters.

"I will," said I."With the main-sheet," echoed the captain of the _Bluebird_, close by, which was his way of saying that I was off.

There was nothing to pay for above five cents' worth of paint, maybe, but such a din was raised between the old "hooker" and the _Bluebird_, which now took up my case, that the first cause of it was forgotten altogether.

Anyhow, no bill was sent after me.
The weather was mild on the day of my departure from Gloucester.

On the point ahead, as the _Spray_ stood out of the cove, was a lively picture, for the front of a tall factory was a flutter of handkerchiefs and caps.