Mrs. Henry calculated that it would cost Stuyvesant about ten dollars to go from Franconia to New York; so she put ten dollars, in small bills, in Stuyvesant’s wallet, and also a ten dollar bill besides, in the inner compartment of his wallet, to be used in case of emergency. When all these arrangements were made, she told Stuyvesant that he might go and find Beechnut, and get his directions.
Stuyvesant accordingly went in pursuit of Beechnut. He found him sitting on a bench, under a trellis covered with woodbine, at the kitchen door, enjoying the cool of the evening. Malleville was with him, and he was telling her a story. Stuyvesant and Phonny came and sat down upon the bench near to Beechnut.
“So then it is decided that you are to go alone,” said Beechnut.
“Yes,” said Stuyvesant, “and I have come to you to get my directions.”
“Well,” said Beechnut. “I am glad you are going. You will have a very pleasant journey, I have no doubt,—that is, if you have accidents enough.”
“Accidents!” said Stuyvesant. “So you wish me to meet with accidents?”
“Yes,” said Beechnut. “I don’t desire that you should meet with any very serious or dangerous accidents, but the more common accidents that you meet with, the more you will have to amuse and entertain you. If it were only winter now, there would be a prospect that you might be blocked up in a snow storm.”
“Hoh!” said Phonny, “that would be a dreadful thing.”
“No,” replied Beechnut, “not dreadful at all. For people who are on business, and who are in haste to get to the end of their journey, it is bad to meet with accidents and delays; but for boys, and for people who are traveling for pleasure, the more adventures they meet with the better.”
“Accidents are not adventures,” said Phonny.