“Mean!” said Chap. “It made me feel like a boat-thief when we passed them. Let’s have them come along and get the best accommodations they can. We can stow ourselves away anywhere. Overcoats will do for beds, and our bags for pillows. It’s only a three-days’ trip. What do you say?” “I say do it, of course,” answered Phil. “So do I!” said Phœnix, emphatically. Adam listened to all this, and then, with a smile, he said,-- “All right, if you all say so; but you’ll find pretty hard quarters if the boat is crowded and you’ve got no beds.” “Oh, we’ll get along,” said Chap. “Let’s go tell them.” And the three boys jumped out of the wagon, while Pete was heard to make some remarks which seemed to indicate that, without knowing it, he had undertaken to drive a load of idiots to the Winkyminky. The party in the carts seemed much surprised when the wagon stopped, but when the boys came back and made their offer to carry some of the children in the wagon, they were as much pleased as astonished, for they were feeling very much discouraged, having an idea that they were now going to have a pretty bad time on board the steamboat, and that she might even start off without them when the wagon reached her, and all her spare room was occupied. “Much obliged to you,” said the gentleman in the blue shirt, who was the father of the children. “It will help us ever so much if you will take a couple of these girls into your wagon. I’m afraid our horses will give out. We were talking about turning back, for I don’t believe the Winkyminky has got more than two vacant state-rooms.” “Oh, I guess we can all crowd aboard!” said Phil, cheerfully. “At any rate, we’ll try. We did think of going on ahead, but afterward made up our minds it would be better for all of us to go on together.” “It is very kind of you,” said the gentleman, looking steadfastly at the boys. “It is necessary for us to travel on as fast as possible. This outdoor life does not suit my father,” pointing to the old gentleman ahead, “as we hoped it would, and we want to get him to Jacksonville, where he can have more comfortable quarters.” “Why don’t the old gentleman and the ladies get into the wagon?” said Chap. “We can pile into the carts, or walk. I think it is better to walk than to ride over these roads.” This proposition was demurred to, but the boys insisted, and although the old gentleman and his wife declined to leave their seats in the cart, it being difficult for them to get in and out of vehicles, the three ladies and the girls were induced to get into the wagon, which Adam cheerfully vacated to give them more room. The procession now moved on, the gentleman with the blue shirt, who carried a gun, walking with Phil, while Adam and Phœnix walked close behind the wagon, to pick up any of the little girls who might fall out.