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 yere's a parlor coach fo' Atlanty." "Wh--where is my train then?" asked Ralph, not knowing what to do next. "Ain't made up yet," called the porter as the cars moved away, leaving the lad looking about him rather foolishly. "Made a jack of myself again," said he, as he remembered that the agent had told Emmons when they bought their tickets, that the Savannah train would not leave for an hour. He returned to the waiting room and sat there very quietly until the time was nearly up, then went out and found the proper car without further difficulty. That long night's ride was interesting though tiresome. Ralph tried to count the telegraph poles without understanding much about their uses. The low, level country, the tall trunks of the pines, the ever present negroes, the sparks from the engine, and the occasional interruptions from the conductor, kept him from sleep until long after midnight. Finally, however, he coiled himself up on the seat and knew nothing more until some one shook him by the shoulder. "Is yo' gwine ter stay in yere all day?" asked a voice.