But Dannie came up to the Boston man and said: "There's a place in my shoulder that gun juist fits, and it's lonesome without it.

Pass it over." Only the sorely bruised and strained Thread Man knew how glad he was to let it go.
It was Dannie, too, who whispered to the Thread Man to keep close behind him; and when the party trudged back to Casey's it was so surprising how much better he knew the way going back than Jimmy had known it coming out, that the Thread Man did remark about it.

But Jimmy explained that after one had been out a few hours their eyes became accustomed to the darkness and they could see better.

That was reasonable, for the Thread Man knew it was true in his own experience.
So they got back to Casey's, and found a long table set, and a steaming big oyster supper ready for them; and that explained the Thread Man's conference with Mrs.Casey.He took the head of the table, with his back to the wall, and placed Jimmy on his right and Dannie on his left.
Mrs.Casey had furnished soap and towels, and at least part of the Boston man's face was clean.

The oysters were fine, and well cooked.
The Thread Man recited more of the wonderful poem for Dannie's benefit, and told jokes and stories.