But this time it was Mary-'Gusta who interrupted.
"Cap'n Gould," she said, "please ask him what time it was yesterday afternoon when he saw the cat run off with the chicken." Bacheldor did not wait to be asked.
"'Twas quarter-past four yesterday afternoon," he declared.

"I know the time." "I don't see what the time's got to do with it," put in Shadrach.
"But it's got everything to do with it," urged Mary-'Gusta.

"Honest truly it has." "Oh, it has, eh?
Why ?" "'Cause--'cause--Ask him if he's sure ?" Again Abner did not wait.

"Course I'm sure," he replied.

"I told Isaiah Chase--yes, and I told that young-one, too--that I looked at the clock just afore I looked out of the window and see the critter in the very act.