“I ought to, but seeing it’s you, I’ll let you up after I’ve passed half of them.”
“That means two hours, anyhow.”
“More likely three; they are all big ones, so we can only take one at a time.”
“H’m! I suppose I must be thankful you don’t hold me for the twenty. Seen Afraid-of-his-wife this morning? I want him to take these friends of mine down the rapids.”
“No—hold on, here he comes,” added the canal-master, peering from his window toward the American side.
“We’re in luck all around,” smiled the skipper, as, having thanked the master, he led the boys along the park-like reservation surrounding the canals.
His companions gave him no heed, however, their attention being engrossed by the tall, bronze-faced man, clad in trousers and coat fully a dozen sizes too big for him, who was approaching.
“Howde, chief,” greeted the skipper. “I want you to take these boys down the rapids.”
“Five dollar,” grunted the redskin, after eying his prospective passengers for several moments.
“If I were chief of police, I’d arrest you for a robber,” returned Captain Perkins. “You’ll get two dollars.”