"You won't want the hull o' this for ballast, I guess, Winthrop, this arternoon," remarked Mr. Cowslip. "You'll have to leave some of it 'long o' me."
"Can't it all go?" said Elizabeth.
"It would be too much for the boat," said Winthrop.
"If 'twouldn't for you," — Mr. Cowslip remarked in a kind of aside.
"Isn't there another boat?"
"There is another boat," said Mr. Cowslip — "there's mine — but she's up stream somewheres; comin' along, I guess, but she won't be here time enough for your purposes."
It was necessary to make a selection. The selection was made, and two stout trunks were successively borne down to the shore by the hands of Winthrop and Mr. Cowslip and stowed in the boat's bow. The two girls had walked down and stood looking on.
"But I haven't got any books!" said Elizabeth suddenly when she was invited to get in herself. "Won't the book-box go?"
"Is it that 'ere big board box?" inquired Mr. Cowslip. "Won't do! It's as heavy as all the nation."
"It will not do to put anything more in the boat," said
Winthrop.