"But first, I would like very much to know how you found out that Blackbeard's ship was not at her anchorage ?" "That's a simple thing," said the man.

"Of course you did not observe, for you could not, that from its eastern point where lies the spring, this island stretches in a long curve to the south, reaching northward again about this spot.

Consequently, there is a little bay to the east of us, across which we can see the anchoring ground of such ships as may stop here for water.

Your way around the land curve of the island was a long one, but the distance straight across the bay is but a few miles.
Upon a hill not far from here there is a very tall tree, which overtops all the other trees, and to the upper branches of this tree my daughter, who is a great climber, frequently ascends with a small glass, and is thus able to report if there is a vessel at the anchorage." "What!" exclaimed Dickory, "that little girl ?" "Oh, no!" said the man; "it is my other daughter, who is a grown young woman." "She is not here now," said the mother.

And this piece of unnecessary information was given in tones which might indicate that the young lady had stepped around to visit a neighbour.
"It is important," said the man, "that I should know if vessels have anchored here, for if they be merchantmen I sometimes do business with them." "Business!" said Dickory.