"You see," he observed, "if we eat now we shan't hardly know
whether we're late to breakfast or early to dinner."
Barbara was surprised.
"Why, Uncle Jed!" she exclaimed, "I had breakfast ever so long ago!
Didn't you?"
"I had it about the same time you did, I cal'late. But my
appetite's older than yours and it don't take so much exercise; I
guess that's the difference. We'll eat pretty soon. Let's go and
look the place over first."
They landed in a little cove on the beach adjoining the Government
reservation. Jed declared it a good place to make a fire, as it
was sheltered from the wind. He anchored the boat at the edge of
the channel and then, pulling up the tops of his long-legged rubber
boots, carried his passenger ashore. Another trip or two landed
the kettle, the materials for the chowder and the lunch baskets.
Jed looked at the heap on the beach and then off at the boat.
"Now," he said, slowly, "the question is what have I left aboard
that I ought to have fetched ashore and what have I fetched here
that ought to be left there? . . . Hum. . . . I wonder."
"What makes you think you've done anything like that, Uncle Jed?"
asked Barbara.
"Eh? . . . Oh, I don't think it, I know it. I've boarded with
myself for forty-five year and I know if there's anything I can get
cross-eyed I'll do it.
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