"I believe you there," said Bob. "He has already tried to swindle my mother, and he is scheming now to get possession of our ranch. It is partly on that account that I started on this trip down the river."
"Do you carry freight, then?"
"Yes, sir; I carry a thousand bushels of wheat—rather more, in fact—intending to sell them in St. Louis."
"Couldn't you have sent them?"
"Yes, sir; but by taking the wheat to market myself I shall save the heavy expense of freight, and commission for selling."
"You seem to be a smart boy," said Robert Granger, eying Bob with interest.
"I hope you are right," Bob answered, with a laugh.
"My young cousin accompanies you to help, I suppose?"
"He came on board at the last moment, having determined to run away from Aaron Wolverton."
"I wish you could spare him; I should like to take him home to talk over family matters with myself and my lawyer, and we would concert some way of forcing Aaron Wolverton to give up his property. I have some children of my own, who would be glad to make his acquaintance."