The colonel listened to what Phil told him, and then, after looking at them all with a steady glance, he said:
“Got no money, hey?”
The boys wished he would not speak so loud and clear, for there were several persons in the room, and Phœnix answered,—
“We’ve got some, but not enough.”
“How much have you got?” asked the colonel.
The treasurer then explained that, owing to their having been very long on the way, and also having to pay more for boat-hire, food, etc., than they had expected, and to hire Indians, they had only about seventeen dollars left. They had hoped to have enough to take them to Enterprise or Sanford, where Adam thought that some of the steamboat captains would take them on board, and let them pay for their passage when they got to Jacksonville.
“I don’t believe they’d do it,” said the colonel. “They’re too sharp for that sort of thing. You haven’t enough to pay your way from here anywhere, or to stay here. Are you sure of money when you get to Jacksonville?”
“Oh, yes,” said Phil, promptly. “If that telegram was sent on I expect there are funds waiting there for us now, and if there isn’t, or if there shouldn’t be enough, we’ll telegraph, and they’ll send us all we need.”
The colonel rubbed his head.
“Well,” said he, “you can stay here till Wednesday, all four of you, for I suppose you still count Adam Guy in your party, and I’ll make out your bill at my regular rates, and I’ll make it out to you,” pointing to Phil; “and when you get home—you needn’t do it before—you can send me the amount.”