"Stop that heifer!" shouted a man, who was chasing the animal.
Noddy headed her off, and she darted away in another direction. Our refugee was interested in the case at once; for he could not permit any horned beast to circumvent him. He ran as though he had not run before that evening, and brought the wayward animal up in a corner when the man came to his assistance.
"You are a smart boy," said the drover.
"That's so," puffed Noddy, modestly.
"If you haven't got nothin' better to do, I'll make it wuth your while to help drive these cattle down to the keers," added the man.
As Noddy had nothing better to do, he at once accepted the offer, without even stipulating the price. They started the heifer again, and she concluded to join the drove which was in the adjoining street. It was no easy matter to drive the animals, which were not accustomed to the ways of the city, through the streets, and Noddy won a great deal of credit for the vigor and agility with which he discharged his duty. They reached the ferry boat, and crossing, came to the "keers," into which the young drover assisted in loading the cattle.
His employer gave him a quarter of a dollar, which hardly came up to Noddy's expectations; for it seemed to him like working very hard, and winning very little for it. The man asked him some questions about his home. Noddy told as much of the truth as suited his purpose, and concluded by saying he wanted to get to Boston, where he could find something to do.
"O, you want sunthin to do—do ye?" replied the drover. "Well, I'll give you your victuals, and what clothes you want, to help me drive."
This was not exactly Noddy's idea of "work and win," and he told the drover he wanted to go to sea.
"I'll tell you what I'll do. You may go down to Brighton, and help take keer of the cattle in the keers, and I'll take keer of you on the way."