“Well, what’s to hinder you?”
“Has the boat got there?”
“Got where?”
“Why, to Baker’s Court.”
“Look here, young feller, what are you givin’ me? Where is Baker’s Court, anyhow?”
“It’s where Tom an’ Bob live in New York, of course.”
“We’ve just come from there. Now, when the boat stops again take a sneak, do you hear? Go over to the forward end where you can see when she is in the dock, if you’re so dumb you can’t tell whether she’s movin’ or not.”
Josiah obeyed meekly, and when the steamer entered the slip on the opposite side of the river he took very good care to follow the passengers; but, a short time later, deeply regretted having done so.
The streets were thronged with vehicles to a greater extent than he had ever seen the streets at home, even when a circus was in town; and no one appeared to have a care whether he was crushed beneath the feet of the horses, or forced to remain on the sidewalk.
It was this apparent selfishness which struck the boy from the country more forcibly than anything he had experienced since his departure from home.