"That seems easy enough. Do you know how far it is to St. Louis, Mr. Slocum?"
"There you have me, lad. I ain't much on reckonin' distances."
"I have heard your father say, Robert, that it is about three hundred miles from here to the city. I don't like to have you go so far from me."
"I've got Clip to take care of me, mother," said Bob, humorously.
"I'll take care of Massa Bob, missis," said Clip, earnestly.
"I suppose I ought to feel satisfied with that assurance," said Mrs. Burton, smiling, "but I have never been accustomed to think of Clip as a guardian."
"I'll guardian, him, missis," promised Clip, amid general laughter.
After dinner, in company with Mr. Slocum, Bob and Clip went on board the ferry-boat, and made a thorough examination of the craft, with special reference to the use for which it was intended.
"You expect to harvest fourteen hundred bushels?" inquired Mr. Slocum.
"Yes; somewhere about that amount."