"Say, Dan, we did a mighty mean thing to sleep here, an' perhaps Mr. Davis had to set up all night. Hustle your clothes on as quick as you know how, so's we can get down-stairs an' tell him we're ashamed of it."
Neither of the boys was feeling any the worse for the painful experience of the previous night, and in a remarkably short space of time they were ready to descend, but not by the stairs.
For the first time in his life Seth enjoyed the pleasure of sliding down the pole to the floor below, and this method of descending served to strengthen certain portions of the air-castles he had built just before falling asleep.
The driver was found grooming one of the horses, and greeted the boys before either could speak, by saying cheerily:
"Well, how are you getting along after your dose of last night?"
"First-rate, sir. We're as well as ever; but feelin' mighty mean to think we used your bed an' kept you up all night."
"You didn't do anything of the kind, lad. We got back about four o'clock, and I found plenty of spare beds for the short nap I wanted. I reckon you lost everything you owned, eh?"
"Yes, sir; but that wasn't very much. My box, brushes, and what we had brought home for breakfast."
"How will you get another outfit?"
"I guess I've got money enough for a second-hand box and brushes; but if I haven't some of the fellers will lend me what's needed, an' I'm goin' now to pick up the things, so's to get back in time to do the shinin' here."