“That’s right; but you’d better stay now.”
“On the whole,” thought Andy, “I think I could get something to do if I needed it. I have no doubt I should find the good-natured landlord a pleasanter man to work for than Mr. Brackett; but I must not forget my errand.”
So Andy began to trudge along the road toward Cato. It was rather a lonely road, with only here and there a house, but there were signboards, so that there was no danger of losing the way. Andy took it easy, now and then throwing himself down by the side of the road to rest.
“I’ve got all day before me,” he reflected. “There’s no need to hurry and use myself up.”
So it happened that it took him four hours to accomplish ten miles. By this time he was quite hungry, and would have been glad to come across a hotel. There was none, however, short of Cato, and Andy didn’t think he could wait till then before satisfying his hunger.
It was at this point that he saw approaching him a boy, apparently about his own age, with a shock of bright red hair, a freckled face, and a suit of clothes of unknown antiquity. He, too, had a small bundle, put up in a red cotton handkerchief.
“Must be my twin brother!” thought Andy. “I’ll speak to him.”
The newcomer stared at Andy, but whether he would have spoken is not quite certain, if our hero had not taken the initiative.
“Good-morning, Johnny!” said Andy.
“My name ain’t Johnny; it’s Peter. Who be you?” returned the other.