n the sand with a grunt. Straightening himself, he
glanced at the line of smoke. "_He's_ gone," he said, jerking his thumb
toward it.

"He's gone," assented Uncle William, cheerfully.

Andrew kicked the bundle of nets apart and drew an end toward him,
spreading it along the beach. "He's left _you_ poorer'n he found you,"
he said. His tough fingers worked swiftly among the nets, untying knots
and straightening meshes.

"I dunno 'bout that," said Uncle William. His eyes followed the whiff of
smoke kindly.

"You kep' him a good deal, off and on. He must 'a' e't considerable,"
said Andrew. "And now he's up and lost your boat for you." He glanced
complacently at the _Andrew Halloran_ swinging at anchor. "You'll never
see _her_ again," he said. He gave a final toss to the net.

"Mebbe not," said Uncle William. "Mebbe not." His eyes were on the
horizon, where the gray-blue haze lingered lightly. The blue sky dipped
to meet it. It melted in sunlight. Uncle William's eyes returned to his
nets.

"How you going to get along 'bout a bout?" asked Andrew, carelessly.

Uncle William paused. He looked up to the clear sky. "I shouldn't need
her much more this fall, anyways," he said. "An' come spring, I'll get
another. I've been needin' a new boat a good while."

Andrew grunted. He glanced a little jealously at the _Andrew Halloran_.
"Got the money?" he asked.

"Well, not _got_ it, so to speak," said Uncle William, "but I reckon I
shall have it when the time comes."

Andrew's face lightened a little. "What you countin' on?" he said.

Uncle William considered. "There's the fish. Gunnion hain't settled with
me yet for my fish."

Andrew nodded. "Seventy-five dollars."

"And I've got quite a count of lobsters up to the boardin'-house--"

Andrew's small eyes squinted knowingly. "Out o' season?"

Uncle William returned the look benignly. "We didn't date the
'count--just lumped 'em, so much a catch; saves trouble."

Andrew chuckled. "I've saved trouble that way myself." He made a rough
calculation. "It won't make a hunderd, all told. How you goin' to get
the rest?"

"Mebbe I shall borrow it," said Uncle William. He looked serenely at the
sky. "Like enough _he'll_ send a little suthin'," he added.

"Like enough!" said Andrew.

"He mentioned it," said Uncle William.

"He's gone," said Andrew. He gave a light _p-f-f_ with his lips and
screwed up his eyes, seeming to watch a bubble sail away.

Uncle William smiled. "You