“No doubt of it,” said the colonel. “I’ve heard about you, and I’ve been looking out for you for three or four days. You’ve been a precious long time getting up the river. Doctor Walker told me about you—saw you down at Brewer’s—and he had a message for your folks which he was going to telegraph when he got to Sanford.”
“I suppose he has sent the telegram by this time,” said Phil.
“Oh, yes,” replied the colonel. “He got here the middle of the week, caught the boat, and went right on. But you fellows will have to stay here till Wednesday. There won’t be no boat till then.”
The boys looked at each other in consternation. This was Saturday, and a delay of three days in this place seemed a grievous thing to them.
“You needn’t look so long-faced about it!” exclaimed the colonel. “You can’t go on, and you might as well be satisfied. Here’s a good hotel, where you can be comfortable and live well at a reasonable price. You got safe to my place, and you’re all right. When the time comes I’ll start you off and fix everything straight for you. You needn’t give yourselves any more trouble about anything. You couldn’t be in a better place than this. Here’s the finest air, the best accommodations, and the prettiest stretch of water in all Florida. All you’ve got to do is to enjoy yourselves. If you want to know anything, just come to me.—Bob!”
At this last word, which was shouted in a stentorian voice, a well-dressed negro boy came running to the colonel.
“Bob,” said he, “take this party to Number six and Number seven,—two in one room and two in the other.—Now, you’d better go and fix yourselves up. Supper will be ready in half an hour.”
When the boys had washed and dressed themselves and put on the white shirts they had brought in their valises, they looked quite neat and presentable, while Adam, who shared Phœnix’s room,—for this establishment was conducted on democratic principles,—came in afterward, and put himself into the best order possible, combing and curling his hair as carefully as if he had been an old-time dandy.
When the boys went into the large central room of the hotel, they found the colonel at his desk, for he was his own clerk, and they entered their names on the register.
“What are your charges, colonel?” asked Phœnix, who was the last one at the desk.