"Will you take me with you, Massa Bob?" asked Clip, eagerly.
"I will, if I go, Clip."
"Golly, won't that be fine!" said the delighted Clip. "How long will you stay, Massa Bob?"
Clip supposed Bob intended a pleasure trip, for in his eyes pleasure was the chief end of living. But Bob was more practical and business-like. He had an idea which seemed to him a good one, though as yet he had mentioned it to no one.
"Get out the boat, Clip," he said, "and we'll go aboard. I want to see if the boat will be large enough for my purpose."
Clip laughed in amusement.
"You must think you'self mighty big, Massa Bob," he said, "if you think there isn't room on that boat for you an' me."
"It would certainly be large enough for two passengers like ourselves, Clip," answered Bob, smiling; "for that matter our rowboat is large enough for two boys, but if I go I shall carry a load with me."
Clip was still in the dark, but he was busying himself in unloosing the rowboat, according to Bob's bidding. The two boys jumped in, and a few strokes of the oars carried them to the ferry-boat. Fastening the flat-bottomed boat, the two boys clambered on deck.
Bob found the boat in good condition. It had occurred to him that it had been deserted as old and past service, and allowed to drift down the creek, but an examination showed that in this conjecture he was mistaken. It was sufficiently good to serve for years yet. This discovery was gratifying in one way, but in another it was a disappointment. As a boat of little value, Bob could have taken possession of it, fairly confident that no one would interfere with his claim, but in its present condition it was hardly likely to be without an owner, who would appear sooner or later and put in his claim to it.