Arthur was inclined to doubt this statement; but Uncle Phin was so positive, that he tried to believe it. The truth was that, on the only two railroad journeys he had ever taken in his life, Uncle Phin’s tickets had been bought and paid for without his knowledge, and handed to the conductor by Mr. Dustin, together with the others for his little party. Then a conductor’s check had been stuck in the old man’s hat-band, and he had ridden unquestioned to his journey’s end. Thus he was led to believe that railroads were built, and cars run upon them, for the free accommodation of all who were compelled by a hard fate to move restlessly from place to place, and he felt very grateful for the kindness thus extended.
“But Brace Barlow said we could sell the Ark for enough money to carry us the rest of the way when we got here, you told me so, yourself,” said Arthur, “and what did he mean if it isn’t going to cost anything?”
“Why, Honey, he mean to pay fer de grub we mus hab while we is a trabblin, an fer de candies and picshur books, what de boy in de kyars hans roun. You is jes nacherly ’bleeged to pay fer dem, ob cose. Yo fader allus done dat,” answered the old man.
“Then we will have to sell the Ark to-morrow, I suppose,” said Arthur, looking regretfully about the rude little cabin that had been so pleasant a home to him.
“To be shuah, Honey. We jes drap a bit furder down de ribber, inter de bizness place ob de city, fust ting in de mornin. Den we sell de boat, an take to de kyars what’s boun fer ole Ferginny, an maybe by to-morrer night we is all safe an soun at Dalecourt.”
“How much do you think we will get for the boat?”
“I don know per zackly, Honey. It’ll be cordin ter de deman fer boats. Maybe five dollar, maybe ten. Depens on what dey is er fetchin,” replied Uncle Phin, whose ideas as to the value of this sort of property were of the vaguest description.
As their backs were turned to the cabin window that was nearest the shore, neither Arthur nor Uncle Phin knew that, during this conversation, an evil-looking face was peering in at them, and that its owner was an attentive listener to all that they said.
Now, as they looked up, startled by an uneasy growl from Rusty, who had just detected the stranger’s presence, and sprang barking toward the window, the face was hastily withdrawn, and appeared no more.