"Indeed I have," the lad replied, surprised at this sudden turn in the conversation.
"Wa'al, did you ever hear why it had that name?"
"I suppose because it is near the New Jersey town of Barnegat."
"That may be, Sonny; but in the book you've been readin' lately are some verses tellin' how it got the name. Of course they ain't true; but there's a good deal of fun in 'em. Bring me the book an' I'll show you where they are."
Sidney now began to understand that the old keeper was simply trying to divert his mind from thoughts of the message which those on the tender had possibly tried to deliver; but nevertheless he hastened to obey what had sounded very like a command, and Captain Eph opened the volume to the alleged poetry, which is copied below, with the name "Adam Clark" appended as the author:
"In the Bay of Barnegat sailed a jolly, jolly tar, And he watched like a cat o'er the water, Till he spied from the main-top-gallant-forward-mizzen-spar The pretty little light-keeper's daughter.
Then he landed on the land, did this jolly, jolly tar, And he chased her o'er the sand till he caught her, Says he, 'My pretty miss, I've got to have a kiss From the pretty little light-keeper's daughter.'
But she squealed a little squeal at the jolly, jolly tar, And said she didn't feel as if she'd oughter; Then she scooted up the bar and hollered for her ma,-- Oh, the pretty little light-keeper's daughter!
'Sure my name is Barney Flynn,' said the jolly, jolly tar, 'And at drinking Holland gin I'm a snorter.' Then a tub of washing-blue-soap suddenly she threw-- Did the mother of the light-keeper's daughter.
'Now, Barney, git!' she spat, at the jolly, jolly tar; And you bet Barney gat for the water. Thus the place from near and far was named by the ma Of the pretty little light-keeper's daughter."
If Captain Eph had thought that reading the jingle would turn Sidney's thoughts from the possibility that those on the tender had tried to deliver a message from his father, he made a decided mistake; but the lad laughed heartily when he had finished the lines, and then did his best to hide from the old keeper that which was in his mind.
Next morning the wind was blowing quite as fresh as ever; but Captain Eph had not forgotten the determination to go into his own room, and when the routine work had been performed, Mr. Peters was summoned to assist in what promised to be quite a serious task.