120 The Wild-Fowlers 



"I 'm comin' now, genelmen," he 

 said; and forthwith began poling the 

 dingy sloopward, while each of his guests 

 eagerly sought the port side to give him 

 a hand. 



" Good mornin', genelmen; th' best o' 

 th' day teh yer, all on yer, one an' all, 

 says I, Capem Grieb." 



Seth reached out and pulled him aboard 

 the Coot, and Doctor Bradley whipped the 

 dingy anchor rope, very sailorlike, as he 

 thought, to the tiller post, while the fat 

 Corbin affectionately poked the rum flask 

 under the bayman's nose with one hand 

 and slapped him soundly on the shoulders 

 with the other. 



" No licker now fer Capem Grieb, says 

 I," quoth the bayman to Corbin, waving 

 him off; "I never drinks th' stuff afore 

 bre'kfas', nor eny meal 'cept bedtime." 



" Nor does anybody else, Captain," 

 said Seth, slyly winking, " except an old 

 stickler who can't go more than snoring 

 time without his grog. Drink the rum 



