“How do you know, Dave?” cried Dick. “Come, when shall we start?”
“Well,” said Dave, looking about him as if in search of a good piece of wood which might prove useful, “I dunno. You lads do as you likes; but if I wanted to go, I sud say as the weather was nicely sattled, and start to-morrow morning.”
The hour was settled, as well as the weather, and after obtaining the requisite permission the lads were punctual to their time, and found Dave waiting in his punt, upon whose thwart he was seated gravely tying a hook on to a stout piece of twisted horse-hair.
“Got everything ready, Dave?” cried Dick.
“Ay, lad; all ready.”
“So are we. Look, Dave,” cried Dick, swinging up the big basket he carried, “pork-pie, bread and cheese, and a lump of bacon, and—”
Dave’s face twitched as he listened, but he did not speak, only waited; till, after waiting awhile to whet the man’s anxiety, Dick added:
“And a big bottle of beer.”
“Oh, I don’t want no beer!” grumbled Dave. “Watter’s good enough for me.”
“Let’s leave it behind, Tom,” said Dick archly. “It will only be heavy in the boat.”