“No,” said Fred; “a fellow ought to depend on himself, and trust to luck. It wouldn’t be any fun at all to stop at taverns and pay for meals and lodging, just like ordinary travelers. And then, if people saw I had money to pay for things, they wouldn’t believe I was going to seek my fortune.”
“Why, do we want them to know that?” said I.
“I do,” said he.
“That isn’t the way the boys in the stories do,” said I.
“And that’s just where they missed it,” said Fred; “or would, if they lived nowadays. Don’t you see that everybody that wants anything lets everybody know it? When I’m on my travels, I’m going to tell every one what I’m after. That’s the way to find out where to go and what to do.”
“Won’t some of them fool you,” said I, “and tell you lies, and send you on the wrong road?”
“A fellow’s got to look out for that,” said Fred, knowingly. “We needn’t believe all they say.”
“What must we take in our bundles?” said I.
“I’m going to take some cookies, and a Bible, and a tin cup, and a ball of string, and a pint of salt,” said Fred.
“What’s the salt for?” said I.