If he "drew the long bow"
in relating his adventures, his niece was prepared to excuse the
failing.
There was, too, an explanation of this matter, and one not at all
improbable. The reporter of the _Mercury_ claimed to have taken down
the story of the black man who had fought a shark for the life of his
dog just as it fell from the lips of an ancient mariner. This mariner
might have been Cap'n Amazon Silt himself. Why not? The captain might
have been more modest in relating his personal connection with the
incident when talking with the reporter than he had been in relating
the story to his niece.
Still, even with this suggested explanation welcomed to her mind,
Louise Grayling was puzzled. She went through the entire scrapbook,
skimming the stories there related, to learn if any were familiar. But
no. She found nothing to suggest any of the other tales Cap'n Amazon
had related in her hearing. And it was positive that her uncle had not
read this particular story of the black man and the black dog since
coming to the store on the Shell Road, for Louise had had possession of
the book.
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