He was looking out to sea.

He spoke first: "Hello!" he said.

"You're up ahead of time, aren't you?
It isn't six yet." Atkins grinned.

"No," he answered, "'tain't! not quite.

But sence Ezry cleared out I've been a kind of human alarm clock, as you might say.
Feelin' all right, are you ?" "Yes, thank you.