own it, mates, I ain't locked the do' after me, sence it never come in my head no critter would sneak in to do no mischief. Off I goes and stays down thar a-watchin' that grumpy sea and a-lookin' fer twenty minutes, it might be, and then I turns in agin, and locks the do' and goes up fer another mindin' of my light."
"Sure you didn't see anybody suspicious hanging around outside?" Turner put in.
"Nary a soul has I seen except that Hank Thomas thar over by the settlement, and I ain't considerin' him suspicious."
Hank, present, becoming the center of interest, turned very red and began to mutter. His companions' glances, however, were cast in jest rather than in earnest.
"I went up to mind the light," proceeded Buffum, "and then I come down and set by my lamp, and my rheumatism bein' worse fer walkin' on my legs, I took some painkiller to ease 'em."
At this several fishermen winked at one another.
"And then I did a thing I ain't never recollec' doin' befo'. I dozes off in my chair."
