Bangs. Or it's 'Cap'n Bangs,' ain't it?"
"They generally call me Cap'n, ma'am, though I ain't been doin' any
active seafarin' for some time."
"I thought as much. Down here on Cape Cod, and givin' orders the way I
heard you afore you come into this room, 'twas nine chances to one you
was a cap'n, or you had been one. Bangs--Bangs--Obed Bangs? Why, that
name sounds kind of familiar. Seems as if--Cap'n Bangs, you didn't use
to know Eben Barnes of Provincetown, did you?"
"Eben Barnes? Cap'n Eben of the White Foam, lost off Cape Hatteras in a
gale?"
"Yes, that's the one. I thought I heard him speak of you. He was my
husband."
Captain Obed Bangs uttered an exclamation. Then he stepped forward and
seized Mrs. Barnes' hand. The lady's hand was not a very small one but
the Captain's was so large that, as Thankful remarked afterward, it
might have shaken hers twice at the same time.
"Eben Barnes' wife!" exclaimed Captain Obed. "Why, Eben and I was
messmates on I don't know how many v'yages! Well, well, well, ma'am, I'm
real glad to see you."
"You ain't so glad as we are to see you--and your friend," observed
Thankful, drily. "Is he a captain, too?"
He didn't look like one, certainly. He had removed his sou'wester,
uncovering a round head, with reddish-gray hair surrounding a bald spot
at the crown. He had a double chin and a smile which was apologetic but
ingratiating. He seemed less frightened than when he first entered the
room, but still glanced about him with evident apprehension.
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