Here were bags of potatoes
and of meal, a few loaves of bread, some tin cans and crockery,
pieces of cloth, and coils of rope and small parcels of groceries.
I went ashore in the boat to help the two men to unload her, and
when this was done there was the work of bringing back to the
Falcon what things were to be exported or given in exchange for
goods received.
When the last load was brought on board some ingenuity was required
to strike a just balance in the accounts, for in this primitive
community actual money, though well appreciated, was of less
consequence than money's worth, and the system of barter which
Captain Flett necessarily adopted was very difficult of adjustment.
However, my schooling was of some service to him in striking a
balance, and at nightfall the business was agreeably settled.
The next day was the Sabbath, and in the morning Captain Flett
appeared on deck dressed in his finest clothes of blue cloth, and
wearing a very respectable soft felt hat over his neatly-brushed
hair. The mate, Jerry, and I were also apparelled in our Sunday
best. After breakfast we went ashore in the dinghy, and the four of
us made our way in a body up to the Manse.
The room in which service was held was barely large enough to admit
so great an addition to its weekly congregation, but we were
permitted to take front seats near the chair occupied by the
minister, who thus was able not only to exchange occasional
civilities with the captain, but also to help himself to a frequent
pinch from the old man's snuffbox.
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