The road to success for a young attorney in New York he had found hard and discouraging.

For two years he had trodden it and scarcely earned enough to keep himself alive.

Now he had decided, or practically decided, to give up the attempt, select some small town or village and try his luck there.

East Wellmouth was the one village he knew and remembered with liking.

So to East Wellmouth he had come, to, as Captain Obed described it, "take soundin's and size up the fishin' grounds." "So there you are, Captain," he said, in conclusion.