"About two years. I've been usin' her as a ferry-boat between Transfer City and Romeo, and I've made a pretty fair livin' at it."
Bob was familiar with the names of these towns, though he had never been so far up the creek.
"I'm afraid you'll have trouble in getting the boat back," he said. "It will make quite an interruption in your business."
"I don't know as I keer so much about that," said Ichabod Slocum, thoughtfully. "I've been thinkin' for some time about packin' up and goin' farther west. I've got a cousin in Oregon, and I reckon I might like to go out there for a year or two."
"Then, perhaps you might like to dispose of the boat, Mr. Slocum," said Bob, eagerly.
"Well, I might," said Ichabod Slocum, cautiously. "Do you know of anybody around here that wants a boat?"
"I might like it myself," was Bob's reply.
"What on airth does a boy like you want of a ferry-boat?" asked Slocum, in surprise.
"I have a plan in my head," said Bob; "and think it would be useful to me."
"There ain't no call for a ferry-boat here," said Ichabod.