And Captain Cy, returning from the town meeting to the Whittaker place,
felt lonesome likewise. Not for the Deacon's reason--he met no one on
the main road, save a group of school children and Miss Phinney, and,
sighting the latter in the offing, he dodged behind the trees by the
schoolhouse pond and waited until she passed. But the captain, his
trouble now heavy upon him, did feel the need of sympathy and congenial
companionship. He knew he might count upon Dimick and Asaph, and,
whenever Keturah's supervision could be evaded, upon Mr. Bangs. But they
were not the advisers and comforters for this hour of need. All the rest
of Bayport, he felt sure, would be against him. Had not King Heman
the Great from the steps of the throne, banned him with the royal
displeasure! "If Heman ever SHOULD come right out and say--" began
Asaph's warning. Well, strange as it might seem, Heman had "come right
out."

As to why he had come out there was no question in the mind of the
captain. The latter had left Mr. Thomas, the prodigal father, prostrate
and blasphemous in the road the previous evening. His next view of
him was when, transformed and sanctified, he had been summoned to the
platform by Mr. Atkins. No doubt he had returned to the barber shop
and, in his rage and under Mr. Simpson's cross examination, had revealed
something of the truth. Tad, the politician, recognizing opportunity
when it knocked at his door, had hurried him to the congressman's
residence. The rest was plain enough, so Captain Cy thought.

However, war was already declared, and the reasons for it mattered
little. The first skirmish might occur at any moment. The situation was
desperate. The captain squared his shoulders, thrust forward his chin,
and walked briskly up the path to the door of the dining room. It was
nearly one o'clock, but Bos'n had not yet gone. She was waiting, to the
very last minute, for her "Uncle Cyrus."

"Hello, shipmate," he hailed. "Not headed for school yet? Good! I
cal'late you needn't go this afternoon. I'm thinkin' of hirin' a team
and drivin' to Ostable, and I didn't know but you'd like to go with me.
Think you could, without that teacher woman havin' you brought up aft
for mutiny?"

Bos'n thought it over.

"Yes, sir," she said; "I guess so, if you wrote me an excuse. I don't
like to be absent, 'cause I haven't been before, but there's only my
reading lesson this afternoon and I know that ever so well. I'd love to
go, Uncle