"I will," said Winthrop; "I mean that."
"You are excessively provoking!"
"Are you sure?" said Winthrop smiling. "What do you propose that I should do, Rufus?"
"Send Sam Doolittle in your place."
"Willingly; but it happens that he could not fill my place.
You must see that."
"And are you going to bring up their baggage and all?"
"I must know the sum of two unknown quantities before I can tell whether it is just equal to a boat-load."
Rufus stood on the shore, biting his lip. The little boat was silently slipping out from between the rocks, after a light touch or two of the oars, when Asahel came bounding down the road and claimed Winthrop's promise for a place in it.
"You don't want this child with you!" said Rufus.
But Winthrop gave one or two pushes in the reverse direction and with great skill laid the skiff alongside of the rock. Asahel jumped in triumphantly, and again slowly clearing the rocks the little boat took the tide and the impulse of a strong arm at once, and shot off down the stream.