“You be soon back,” observed Sammy, putting his head out the shop door. “Likely you be thinkin’ some o’ breakfast by now.”
“I’m thinking of nothing else, Sammy,” replied Poke heartily. “And, Sammy, I want you to do me a favor.”
The boatman immediately looked dubious. He didn’t believe overmuch in doing favors. But Poke’s next action cleared his face. Poke put his hand in his trousers pocket and brought out a bright quarter.
“I’m going to have a race with a fellow at eleven o’clock,” he went on, “and I want this same canoe. See that I get it, will you? And here’s something for your trouble.”
“That be easy,” replied Sammy, “and I’ll not be taken siller for’t.” But he did nevertheless, slipping the quarter into the pocket of his overalls even as he spoke. “Leave it to me, sir, an’ ’twill be here when you come.” He lifted the green canvas canoe and placed it athwart a couple of horses in the shop. “Likely,” he added, “it be in need o’ repairin’.”
Poke just barely got into chapel in time. Afterwards Gil and Jim and Jeffrey were curious to know where he had been.
“I’ve been on the river,” replied Poke. “I thought it would be a good idea to have a sort of dress rehearsal, you see.”
Gil viewed him suspiciously. Finally, “Look here, Poke,” he said, “is this on the level, this race?”
“No, on the river,” replied Poke flippantly, “and you know they’re never quite level.”
“Do you mean,” asked Jeffrey, “that you went down at six o’clock and paddled over the course?”