"They did," answered Shadrach Mellick. "Reckon I can carry one more," he added. "But yeou'll have to pay me. These boys are paying me ten dollars for the trip."
"How much do you want?" demanded Isaac Pludding.
"About a dollar, I guess."
"It's enough, but I'll go you," answered the stout man, and prepared to climb into the big sleigh.
As soon as Isaac Pludding appeared, Dave held a whispered conversation with Roger and some of the others. Now he turned to Shadrach Mellick.
"Excuse me, Mr. Mellick, but we don't propose to take another passenger," he said, decidedly. "At least, not this man."
"No?"
"No, sir. We hired this sleigh for ourselves alone."
"And paid part of the money to bind the bargain," added Phil.
"What! do you mean to say I can't ride if I want to?" cried the stout man, as unreasonable as he had been on the train.