"Plenty of freight offered me," said the skipper coolly. "Plenty to go down-stream too."
"But it's highly important I should know what you're going to do," said Garth with increasing heat.
Captain Jack cocked a wary eye at the sky, and spat. "No water in the river," he said at length.
"Then you're not going," said Garth.
"Didn't say so," said Captain Jack. "May rain shortly, and bring her up an inch or so."
The sky was clear and speckless as an azure bowl. "Do you mean I've got to wait around here indefinitely on the bare chance of its raining?" demanded Garth.
"Told the Bishop I'd bring you up," said Captain Jack in his detached way. "Reckon I can't break my word to the Church."
"Well, why didn't you say so in the beginning?" said Garth, wondering if this was a joke. "When will you be starting?"
"Oh, to-morrow, maybe," said the skipper without suspecting the least humour in the situation; "or Thursday—or Friday; whenever I can get the boys together. You just stay around and I'll let you know."
With this Garth was forced to be content.