“It looks very fine, indeed,” praised George.

“I offer such rarities only to certain gentlemen of quality,” said the peddler; “but,” and he made a wide gesture, “things are not what they were, and I am scantily furnished with money just now.” He bent toward George. “If you fancy such a thing you shall have it at a small price.”

But George shook his head.

“Have you examined it well?” The peddler got up and stood with his broad back to the lieutenant, his head lowered toward George and his face away from the firelight. “It is a surprising watch in more ways than one. Look; could anything be finer?” So saying he snapped open the heavy case and bent still nearer to the young New Englander.[108] Then his voice sank lower and he whispered:

[108]

“What ship?”

“The ‘Nancy Breen,’” in the same tone.

“Does the other,” and a twitch of a mouth corner indicated the lieutenant, “bear you company?”

“No.”

“Oh, very well,” said the peddler, his voice lifting plainly, and his manner that of a man rebuffed. “If you have no need of it, why, then, all’s said and done.”

So saying he stuffed the watch into his pocket, rebuttoned the flap, sat down upon his end of the settle once more and began staring fixedly into the fire.

“I suppose,” spoke Lieutenant Camp, after a few moments of silence, “that you pick up many quaint and curious things in your journeyings here and there.”

The peddler gave him no very tolerant look and replied, shortly:

“Ay, that I do, sir.” Then with a bending of his brows and a shake of his bald head, he continued: “But I always make shift to mind my own business, young sir.”

[109]The lieutenant sat up stiff upon the settle. “Do you mean to infer that I do not, my man?” demanded he.

[109]

The peddler turned squarely upon him and looked him in the face.

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