“You can only carry just so much,” replied Tanker Ike. “But don’t worry. I was only asking just for fun. I reckon we’ll make out all right.”
“Were you really shipwrecked?” asked Mabel, interestedly turning to Jack.
“Well, yes,” he admitted, for he disliked to talk about himself.
“Oh, do tell me about it, please. I love to hear real stories of adventure.”
“And tell her how you knocked out Jerry Chowden,” put in Sam. “Say, maybe we’ll meet him out here. He went West, you know.”
“I hope not,” responded Jack, and then he told Mabel of his ocean cruise.
“Everybody hold on tight now,” cautioned Mr. Blender about an hour later, as he set the brake of the wagon and called back a warning to the driver of the freight vehicle.
“Why?” asked Jack.
“There’s a bad hill just ahead, and I’ve got more of a load on than I usually carry. But I guess we’ll make it all right,” and he gathered the reins in a firmer grip and braced himself on the seat.