“Of course it may,” said Pleasant; “and then they ship again and get more. And the best thing for ’em, too, to ship again as soon as ever they can be brought to it. They’re never so well off as when they’re afloat.”

“I’ll tell you why I ask,” pursued the visitor, looking up from the fire. “I was once beset that way myself, and left for dead.”

“No?” said Pleasant. “Where did it happen?”

“It happened,” returned the man, with a ruminative air, as he drew his right hand across his chin, and dipped the other in the pocket of his rough outer coat, “it happened somewhere about here as I reckon. I don’t think it can have been a mile from here.”

“Were you drunk?” asked Pleasant.

“I was muddled, but not with fair drinking. I had not been drinking, you understand. A mouthful did it.”