`` I should like nothing better than to see it , Captain Boyd , '' said Owen . `` If it is half as wonderful as your tales it will be worth seeing . '' With pretended reluctance Captain Jim dug his life-book out of his old chest and handed it to Owen . `` I reckon you wo n't care to wrastle long with my old hand o ' write . I never had much schooling , '' he observed carelessly . `` Just wrote that there to amuse my nephew Joe . He 's always wanting stories . Comes here yesterday and says to me , reproachful-like , as I was lifting a twenty-pound codfish out of my boat , ` Uncle Jim , ai n't a codfish a dumb animal ? ' I 'd been a-telling him , you see , that he must be real kind to dumb animals , and never hurt 'em in any way . I got out of the scrape by saying a codfish was dumb enough but it was n't an animal , but Joe did n't look satisfied , and I was n't satisfied myself . 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 XXXXX lost Margaret .
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