"I am Mr. Dane," continued the gentleman, "and am over here with a party of friends, and we wish you to take us across the bay to Bristol to-morrow. Can you do it?"
"Do you wish to be simply taken over, or over and back?" asked Budd, as spokesman for the firm.
"Just landed there. We are from that side, and thought, instead of going around by either Newport or Providence, we would get you to set us over," explained Mr. Dane.
"What time do you wish to go, and how many are there in the party?" asked Budd, with a prompt business air.
"Six, with myself; and we would prefer not to go until afternoon, leaving here, say, about two o'clock."
Budd consulted with his partner; then he said:
"Yes, we can take you over."
"What are the charges?" inquired Mr. Dane, as though the proposed trip depended greatly upon them.
"Three dollars for the party," answered Budd.
"That is fifty cents each, and is much less than it will cost us to go around," Mr. Dane commented to himself.