I
can make them keep their mouths shut. I'll show you later why we'll
need just those kind of men."

The Cap'n took these orders with dogged resignation.

"Next day you'll start with Bodge and charter a packet in Portland
for a pleasure cruise--you needin' a sniff of salt air after bein'
cooped up on shore for so long. Report when ready, and I'll come along
with men and esteemed relative."

"It sounds almighty complicated for a plot," said the Cap'n. In his
heart he resented Hiram's masterfulness and his secretiveness.

"This ain't no timber-land deal," retorted Hiram, smartly, and with
cutting sarcasm. "You may know how to sail a ship and lick Portygee
sailors, but there's some things that you can afford to take advice
in."

On the second day Cap'n Sproul departed unobtrusively from Smyrna,
with the radiant Mr. Bodge in a new suit of ready-made clothes as
his seat-mate in the train.

Smyrna perked up and goggled its astonishment when Hiram Look shipped
his pet elephant, Imogene, by freight in a cattle-car, and followed
by next train accompanied by various tight-mouthed members of the
Smyrna fire department and Colonel Gideon Ward.

Cap'n Sproul had the topmast schooner _Aurilla P. Dobson_ handily
docked at Commercial Wharf, and received his crew and brother-in-law
with cordiality that changed to lowering gloom when Hiram followed
ten minutes later towing the placid Imogene, and followed by a
wondering concourse of men and boys whom his triumphal parade through
the streets from the freight-station had attracted. With a
nimbleness acquired in years of touring the elephant came on board.

Cap'n Sproul gazed for a time on this unwieldy passenger, surveying
the arrival of various drays laden with tackle, shovels, mysterious
boxes, and baled hay, and then took Hiram aside, deep discontent
wrinkling his forehead.

"I know pretty well why you wanted Gid Ward along on the trip. I've
got sort of a dim idea why you invited the Hecly fire department;
and perhaps you know what we're goin' to do with all that dunnage
on them trucks. But what in the devil you're goin' to do with that
cust-fired old elephant--and she advertisin' this thing to the four
corners of God's creation--well, it's got my top-riggin' snarled."

"Sooner you get your crew to work loadin', sooner you'll get away
from sassy questions," replied Hiram, serenely, wagging his head at
the intrusive crowd massing along the dock's edge. And the Cap'n,
impres