"Yes," said his mother.
And Aunt Dorcas added at once, "Certainly, and Lois too. But, Almira, you or I, or both of us, had better go along to take care of them."
Bun said something about the size of Harms's boat, but Aunt Dorcas silenced him with: "Don't I know how many she can carry? Besides, I'm bound to see that quarry blown up, just for this once."
So Bun was put down; but when they all got out in front of the gate an hour or so after breakfast next morning, there was Rube Hollenhouser in front of his gate, and Felix McCue and little Biddy McCue were with him, and right across the street were Mrs. Chittenden and Katy Chittenden and Bill, and Bun said to himself, "If we had my speckled pig and Chittenden's brindled cow, and if Harms took his dog, the boat'd be 'most full."
Aunt Dorcas and Mrs. Chittenden began to think the party was growing pretty large, but there was no need of it; for when they reached the creek, near the bridge, there stood old Harms, and the first word he spoke was:
"I kind o' guessed how it'd be. Mornin', ladies. Glad we've got a good load for both boats. You get in with me, and the boys can handle t'other one."
It was just like Harms. In another minute he remarked: "Git in now, and we'll shove off."
Aunt Dorcas was already in the very front seat of that boat, and Mrs. Chittenden was in the middle, trying to balance herself. She made William sit beside her, and they two made the boat look wider, there was so much extra room on that seat.
The other boat, the one Harms had borrowed, was almost half a size larger, and it had a cargo this time; for Lois Gates and Katy Chittenden were on the front seat, and behind them were Felix and Biddy. Rube was on the rowing seat, and Bun and Jeff were in the stern.