"Ain't never been to one in all my life, Lowise," Cap'n Bill said reflectively.
"No more ain't I," agreed the girl. "But I'm goin' to this one."
"You goin'?" he demanded, his amazement growing.
"Yes. And you're goin' too, Pap."
"Git out!" gasped Cap'n Bill, actually forgetting to pull on his pipe.
"Yes, you are," declared Louise Quigg, nodding her head. "I've got the two half dollars. Beauty will stay and mind the boat. I jest got a taste in my mouth for that circus. Seems to me, Pap, I'd jest die if I didn't see it."
"Lawsy, Lowise!" murmured Captain Bill Quigg, and was too amazed to say anything more for an hour.
The Nancy Hanks got through the lock and the mules picked up the slack of the towrope again at Louise's vigorous suggestion. Inside the hold Sammy and Dot both wondered about the stopping of the boat. Dot was awakened by this.
"Sammy," she murmured, "is it morning? Have we been here all night?"
"I—I guess not, Dot. It can't be morning. Are you hungry?"