You 've got to be mighty careful what you tell them little critters . THEY can see through you . '' While talking , Captain Jim watched Owen Ford from the corner of his eye as the latter examined the life-book ; and presently observing that his guest was lost in its pages , he turned smilingly to his cupboard and proceeded to make a pot of tea . Owen Ford separated himself from the life-book , with as much reluctance as a miser wrenches himself from his gold , long enough to drink his tea , and then returned to it hungrily . `` Oh , you can take that thing home with you if you want to , '' said Captain Jim , as if the `` thing '' were not his most treasured possession . `` I must go down and pull my boat up a bit on the skids . There 's a wind coming . Did you notice the sky tonight ? Mackerel skies and mares ' tails Make tall ships carry short sails . '' Owen Ford accepted the offer of the life-book gladly . On their way home Anne told him the story of lost Margaret . `` That old captain is a wonderful old fellow , '' he said . `` What a life he has led ! Why , the man had more adventures in one week of his life than most of us have in a lifetime . Do you really think his tales are all true ? '' `` I certainly do . I am sure Captain Jim could not tell a lie ; and besides , all the people about here say that everything happened as he relates it . There used to be plenty of his old shipmates alive to corroborate him . He 's one of the last of the old type of P.E. Island sea-captains . They are almost extinct now . ''
CHAPTER 25 THE WRITING OF THE BOOK Owen XXXXX came over to the little house the next morning in a state of great excitement .
Anne Ford Jim Margaret corner fellow life-book miser sea-captains week