"Never mind that, Mr. Barth."
"But I can pay what I owe."
"You can't pay anything here," laughed the landlord. "We don't charge shipwrecked people anything."
"But I have been here about ten days."
"You can stay ten or twenty more at the same rate, if you will," added Mr. Bennington.
Harvey Barth remonstrated, but the landlord was firm. The physician who had attended him also refused to take a cent from him, and so did all who had done anything for him. He tried to give a dollar apiece to the employes of the hotel who had been kind to him, but not one of them would accept the gift. When Harvey left the room, the two passengers for Rockland asked the landlord who he was; and when informed that he was the only survivor of the Waldo, they changed their tone, and desired his company. They sent for him, and politely offered him a passage with them.
"I don't want to go where I am not wanted," replied Harvey.
"But we shall be delighted to have you go with us," said one of the gentlemen, and the other heartily indorsed the remark.
"I'll pay my share of the expense, if you are really willing to let me go with you."
"We are glad to have you go with us; and as to the expense, we will arrange that when we get to Rockland."