It was well into the night before the dancing ceased and the people scattered to their homes. The boys went with their host, who indicated some rugs on the floor where they might spread their beds. The rugs were fine, silky, and delightfully soft.
“Gee! Sid,”—and Raymond stooped to examine the beautiful rug before placing his blankets on it,—“if mother was here I’ll bet that rug would go with her when she left, if she had to carry it herself.”
“She’d just go wild over them, Ray. They’re finer than anything she’s got.”
“Heck! Sid, why can’t we buy one to take home to her?”
“I’m afraid it would be pretty heavy to pack, with the load we’ve already got,” said Sidney doubtfully. “I’d just love to do it, though, it would please her so.”
“We haven’t got much of a load, Sid, and these rugs are not heavy, they’re so fine and thin. And one would be as good as another blanket. We ought to have more bedding, anyway, as we go higher up.”
“Well, we’ll see in the morning if we can strike a bargain with that fellow. I’ve got to get to sleep now, I’m dead tired. I’m glad we don’t have a dance every night.”
In the morning, when the boys had eaten and wished to depart, Sidney took a piece of bread, and opening their knapsacks, showed that they contained no food, at the same time holding the bread up inquiringly. Their host understood at once that they wished to buy food, and brought two or three loaves of black bread. Then Sidney held four rubles out on his open hand, motioning toward their beds to indicate that he wished to include that accommodation as well as the food. The man took two rubles from the four, and bowed in assent.
There still remained the rug which the boys wished to buy, and Sidney picked up the finer of the two pieces of carpet and held it up, saying, “How much?”
The man considered for a few moments, and held a short consultation with his wife, after which he extended his hands with the fingers all open.