Mr. Wilks, sure, and he come mighty near getting here in time.’ But then I says again, ’No, I reckon it ain’t him, or else he wouldn’t be paddling up the river.

’ You ain’t him, are you?”

“No, my name’s Blodgett — Elexander Blodgett — Reverend Elexander Blodgett, I s’pose I must say, as I’m one o’ the Lord’s poor servants. But still I’m jist as able to be sorry for Mr. Wilks for not arriving in time, all the same, if he’s missed anything by it — which I hope he hasn’t.”

“Well, he don’t miss any property by it, because he’ll get that all right; but he’s missed seeing his brother Peter die — which he mayn’t mind, nobody can tell as to that —