u going
back up the Kentucky, Mr. Jarvis?"

"This raft was bargained fur before it started. All I've got to do is
to turn it over to its new owners today, go to the bank an' get the
money. Then me an' this lunkhead, Ike, my nephew, both bein' of an
inquirin' mind, want to do some sight-seein', but I reckon we'll start
back in about two days in the boat that you see tied to the stern of the
raft."

"Would you take a passenger in the boat? It's a large one."

Samuel Jarvis pursed his lips.

"Depends on who it is," he replied. "It takes a lot o' time, goin' up
stream, to get back to our start, an' a cantankerous passenger in as
narrow a place as a rowboat would make it mighty onpleasant for me an'
this lunkhead, Ike, my nephew. Wouldn't it, Ike?"

Ike grinned and nodded.

"The passenger that I'm speaking of wouldn't be a passenger altogether,"
said Colonel Kenton. "He'd like to be one of the crew also, and I don't
think he'd make trouble. Anyway, he's got a claim on you already.
Having fished him out of the river, where he was unconscious, it's your
duty to take care of him for a while. It's my son Harry, who wants to
get across the mountains to Virginia, and we'll be greatly obliged to
you if you'll take him."

Colonel Kenton had a most winning manner. He already liked Jarvis,
and Jarvis liked him.

"I reckon your son is all right," said Jarvis, "an' if he gits
cantankerous we kin just pitch him overboard into the Kentucky. But I
can't undertake sich a contract without consultin' my junior partner,
this lunkhead, my nephew, Ike Simmons. Ike, are you willin' to take
Colonel Kenton's son back with us? Ef you're willin' say 'Yes,' ef
you ain't willin' say 'No.'"

Ike said nothing, but grinned and nodded.

"The resolution is passed an' Harry Kenton is accepted," said Jarvis.
"We start day after tomorrow mornin', early."

Breakfast was finished and Colonel Kenton rose and thanked them.
He still said nothing about pay. But after he and Harry had entered
the town, he said:

"You couldn't have better friends, Harry. Both the man and boy are as
true as steel, and, as they have no intention of taking part in the war,
they will just suit you as traveling companions."

They spent the larger part of that day in buying the boy's equipment,
doing it as quietly as possible, as the colonel wished his son to depart
without attracting any notice. In such times as those secrecy was much
to be desired. A rifl