Page:Cornelia Meigs--The island of Appledore.djvu/187

Rh Johann walked down to the steamer’s gangway, turned back once, then finally stepped resolutely aboard. Yet a little later, when Billy looked back over his shoulder at the  wharf, he saw the boat steaming away and  Johann sitting on his suitcase gazing after her,  an odd and forlorn figure.

“I wonder what’s the matter with him,” Billy thought; but he did not have time to  reflect very deeply upon the matter. He could not wait to inquire whether the hotel  was open; he merely set down his bag and  sped along the beach path toward Captain  Saulsby’s point. He could see the red roof peeping out among the trees, he could even  see some one moving in the garden; therefore  he could not wait. The crooked old willow trees were a mass of new yellow-green, and a  blackbird sang very loud to him as he hurried  through the gap in the wall.

The old sailor was digging in the garden when Billy came swinging down the path. His pipe and a folded newspaper lay upon the bench, he seemed to be working very busily  and to be talking angrily to himself. He greeted Billy as calmly as though they had  parted only the evening before.