anations, tending mostly to exculpate
themselves. Then they brought up the fallen mule, fixed the saddle and
looked as if they would not have objected to a small reward.

"Hurry, Ralph!" exclaimed Emmons, tossing them a dime. "We got no time
to lose. Glad there's no bones broken, but you must look sharp."

Ralph remounted and they were soon on the way again. For the next two
or three days they passed through a mostly level country, where great
cotton plantations, with stretches of swamp between, alternated with
broad pine barrens.

In these last the wind sighed mournfully, and the soil looked so poor
that the mountain boy felt that there was a section worse off than his
own steep and gravelly native land.

They arrived in Augusta by way of a ferry across the dirty, narrow
river that flows near the city. The mules were duly delivered to the
proper parties and the two at last felt at leisure to do as they
pleased.

Emmons took Ralph to a soda fountain.

"What will you have?" he asked.

"I don't know; whatever you like," said the boy, once more at sea as to
what he might expect.

When the effervescent liquid foamed and fizzed, Ralph stared in
amazement.

"Must I drink it?" he faltered, noticing the ease with which Emmons
swallowed his.

"Of course, you must. Did you think it was to wash with?"

Ralph afterward averred that it tasted better than it sounded, but
again pondered over the--to him--increasing mysteries of civilization.
They had a late dinner, then made their way to the railroad depot,
where Emmons bought and gave to Ralph his ticket for Savannah by the
train which was to leave in an hour.

"I'll be goin' back to see about the money for them mules," said Emmons
at length. "Well, good by. Swing tight to your cash, and write to us
when ye get to Savanny."

As the foreman took his big beard out of sight somebody out where the
cars were shouted:

"All aboard! All aboard!"

Ralph saw people rushing out and jumping on the train that was on the
point of starting. He suddenly was seized by an idea that he was about
to be left. So he ran out with the crowd and was about to climb into a
drawing room coach, when a trim colored man dressed in blue, who was
standing at the steps, stopped him.

"Let's see your ticket please."

Ralph drew it forth and was about to hurry on in, when the porter
handed it back.

"Dis ain't your train, boy," said he with a somewhat contemptuous
accent. "Dis yer