There! now it's plain sailin' for dry ground." The old horse, breathing heavily from his exertions, trotted over the stretch of yet uncovered flats and soon mounted the slope of the beach.
The minister prepared to alight.
"Captain Hammond," he said, "you haven't asked me my name." "No, I seldom do more'n once.

There have been times when I'D just as soon cruise without too big letters alongside my figurehead." "Well, my name is Ellery." "Hey?
WHAT?
Oh, ho! ho! ho!" He rocked back and forth on the seat.

The minister's feelings were a bit hurt, though he tried not to show it.
"You mustn't mind my laughin'," explained Nat, still chuckling.

"It ain't at you.

It's just because I was wonderin' what you'd look like if I should meet you and now--Ho! ho! You see, Mr.Ellery, I've heard of you, same as you said you'd heard of me." Ellery smiled, but not too broadly.
"Yes," he admitted, "I imagined you had." "Yes, seems to me dad mentioned your name once or twice.