Itis——Why！I\'mostforgot。Youjustwait。“
Thecaptainlaughinglybeggedhertodivulgethebigsecret，butsheshookhersmallheadandrefused。Thehorsestrottedonatalivelypace，andthemilesseparatingOstableandBayportweresubtractedonebyone。Itwasmagnificentwinterweather。Thesnowhaddisappearedfromtheroad，exceptinwidelyseparatedspots，butthebigdriftsstillheapedthefieldsandshoneandsparkledinthesunshine。Againsttheirwhitenessthepitchpinesandcedarsstooddarklygreenandtheskeletonscruboaksandbushescastdelicateblue-penciledshadows。Thebay，seenovertheflooded，frozensaltmeadowsanddistantdunes，wasinitswinterdressofthedeepestsapphire，trimmedwithwhitecapsandfringedwithstrandedicecakes。Therewasasnapandtanginthebreezewhichbracedonelikeatonic。Thepartyinthecarriagewasagayone。
“Gettingtired，captain？”askedPeabody。
“Who？Me？Well，Iguessnot。\'Mosthome，Bos\'n。There\'sthesaltworksaheadthere。“
Theypassedtheabandonedsaltworks，thecrumblingruinsofadeadindustry，andtheboundarystone，nowhalfhiddeninadrift，markingthebeginningofBayporttownship。Then，fromthepinegroveatthecurvefartheron，appearedtwocappedandcoatedfigures，performingacrazyfandango。