Chapter Thirty Nine (Chowderhead)
Something interesting happened today. Martha bought back a can of soup that had the Captain's picture on it. He is mad but I don't know why. It is a good picture. The Captain wants to destroy the store or the factory, the place where they make it. Carolyn says the Scared One can help the Captain. He doesn't like it but agrees to it anyway.
Claymore is afraid of me and as I run past him and opens the gate for me. He doesn't know that I have my own business to attend to. The Captain and Carolyn seem to think Claymore can help them; I have serious doubts as he has no backbone, not like a terrier.
My playmates like the clam chowder because the Captain's picture is on it, I don't know why that makes a difference but it does to them. Claymore tries to leave but the Captain brings him back so that they can talk to him. He admits to failing, so what else is new?
The older man, a retired seaman, called an Admiral seems nice. The Captain decides he likes him, probably because he says nice things about Captain who has a terribly large ego. Captain is fine with the Admiral until Carolyn says she will leave. He immediately changes his mind. He would do anything for her, doesn't she see that?
Carolyn does something nice for him too; she talks the men out of using Captain's photo. That means strangers won't be coming to Gull Cottage after all. Captain is somewhat hurt when Carolyn insulted him, she assures him that she didn't mean the things she said, she only did that to make the men go away and he seems better. They smile at each other and all is well.