My curiosity was whetted to know whether it was a roast pig or something of a gruesome nature, and I inquired about it.

"I don't know," said Mrs.Stevenson, "whether this is a wedding or a funeral.

Whatever it is, though, captain, our place seems to be at the head of it." The _Spray_ being in the stream, we boarded her from the beach abreast, in the little razeed Gloucester dory, which had been painted a smart green.

Our combined weight loaded it gunwale to the water, and I was obliged to steer with great care to avoid swamping.

The adventure pleased Mrs.Stevenson greatly, and as we paddled along she sang, "They went to sea in a pea-green boat." I could understand her saying of her husband and herself, "Our tastes were similar." As I sailed farther from the center of civilization I heard less and less of what would and what would not pay.