His hat was tilted, too; his broad red face shone with pleasure; the world was a good place to him, full of information.
At last the questions came to an end; it seemed a pity, but there was really nothing left to ask, since it appeared that the Skipper was unmarried and had no relations.

But now the Skipper's own turn had come, and quietly, with just enough show of interest to be polite, he began the return game.

"You have been at sea a large part of your life, Senor Pike ?" "Oh, yes! yes! I'm well used to the sea.

That is--off and on, you know, off and on.

I was mate on a coasting schooner, saw a good deal that way, you know; like the sea first-rate, but my wife, she won't hear to my going off nowadays, and there's the farm to 'tend to, stock and hay, var'ous things, var'ous things; all about it, my sea-going days are over, yes, yes! Pleasant place, though, pleasant place, though the strength going out of my legs makes it troublesome by times, yes, yes! Been in these parts before, you said?
Oh, no! said you hadn't; beg your pardon! Pleasant part of the country! good soil, good neighbours." "Fine country, I should suppose!" said the Skipper; "and as you say, sir, the persons agreeable for knowledge.