In about half an hour
up came Perkins, with a large fish in one hand and a lump of clay
in the other. I now understood the mystery. He carefully imbedded
the fish in a thin layer of clay, placed it on the coals, and then
went down to the shore to wash his hands. On his return he found
me watching the fire.
"`Ho, ho, Mr. Enos!' said he, `you've found me out; But you won't
say nothin'. Gosh! you like it as well I do. Look 'ee there!'--
breaking open the clay, from which arose `a steam of rich distilled
perfumes,'--`and, I say, I've got the box-lid with that 'ere stuff
in it,--ho! ho!'--and the scamp roared again.
"Out of a hole in the rock he brought salt and the end of a loaf,
and between us we finished the fish. Before long, I got into the
habit of disappearing in the afternoon.
"Now and then we took walks, alone or collectively, to the nearest
village, or even to Bridgeport, for the papers or a late book. The
few purchases we required were made at such times, and sent down in
a cart, or, if not too heavy, carried by Perkins in a basket.
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