wait awhile, an' if that West boy don't come, we'll start off
somewhere, 'cause I'd rather walk than stay 'round here."

"Don't you s'pose the captain of the steamboat would let us go back, if
we should tell him
what made us come here? I'm sure my mother would pay him when we got
home," said Ned.

"Do you s'pose she'd have money enough? You know it would cost much as
two or three
dollars apiece."

"Course she's got enough. Why, sir, if she wanted as much as twenty
dollars she could
get it, my mother could."

"Then let's go right down to the steamboat an' see if they'll take us,
- you are a sensible
little chap," and Joe started to his feet; but he stopped, suddenly, as
a second thought came to him. "It wouldn't do to go, 'cause the man
that stole you is waitin' round there, prob'ly, an' he'd catch you
sure."

"Oh, dear, I'd forgot all about him," said the child.

Joe made no reply; seated on a pile of boards, with his chin in his
hands, he gave himself up to the most gloomy reflections, so hopeless
did the case, seem. He had remained in this sorrowful attitude some
moments, with Ned silent by his side, when both were startled by a
shout: