“Yes, come to-night,” urged Jerry. “We can talk over the boat proposition then.”
“I’ll be there,” replied the Ripper’s skipper, as he put about and went whizzing over the blue waters of the bay.
When the young people entered the gateway they saw Ponto stretched out on the bench in the shade, fast asleep.
“Wait a minute,” said Rose. “I’ll play a trick on him.”
She stole softly up, and, with a long piece of grass tickled the old colored servant on the ear. He put up his hand and sat up with a start.
“I ’clar’ t’ goodness!” he said, “I were jest waitin’ fo’ yo’, an’ I close mah eyes, jest fo’ one little second, but dis atmosphere am so slumberous dat, ’fore I knows it, I’m sort of noddin’.”
“I guess you were more than nodding,” said Olivia. “But why were you waiting for us, Ponto?”
“’Deed an’ I didn’t no mo’ dan nod, Miss Olivia, dat’s what I didn’t. But I’se been waitin’ heah a pow’ful long time, an’ I jest natcherly done gone an’ fell t’ noddin’.”
“But what were you waiting for?” persisted Olivia.
“Dis letter,” replied the colored man. “Massa Seabury done tole me t’ give it t’ one ob de young gentlemen what had de motor boat. He say it come from Cresville, an’ it might be important, so I done set heah waitin’, but I done forgot which young gentlemen he tole me t’ gib it to.”