At length he took counsel with Narcissus Swiggs
and unfolded his desire.
Mr. Swiggs listened sleepily, and as soon as his master had done gave
him a month's notice.
"What the devil's the use of that?" Captain Barker asked.
"I thought you weren't satisfied, that's all."
"If I weren't, I should kick you out without half these words.
You've been thinking of yourself all this while."
"I mostly does."
"Then don't, while I'm talking." And Captain Barker explained his
scheme a second time.
"No use," pronounced Mr. Swiggs at the close, shaking his head
ponderously.
"Why not?"
Mr. Swiggs swept his hand before him, summing up the whole landscape
with one majestic semicircle.
"Where is your soil?" he asked. "And where is your water?
Springs?"--he paused a couple of seconds--"There ain't none. All
that mortal man can do, I does."
"And what is that?"
"I does without."
"But the marsh behind us--"
"Salt."
"Narcissus Swiggs, you have been in my service twenty years."
"Twenty-three."
"During that time you have once or twice argued with me. I ask you,
as a Christian man, to tell me truly what you got by it."
"Naught."
"Just so. On this occasion, however, I've listened with great
patience to all your objections--"
"Not a tithe of 'em.
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