"On the whole," said Mr. George, "I do not see but that the currents of great rivers are an advantage, for there is always a much greater quantity to come down than to go up. The heavy products that grow on the borders of the rivers are to come down, while comparatively little in quantity goes up. So the benefit, on the whole, which is produced by the flow of the water, may be greater than the injury." "What do they do with the rafts," said Rollo, "when they get them down the river?" "They break them up," said Mr. George, "and sell the timber in the countries near the mouth of the river, where but little timber grows." By this time, Mr. George and Rollo had finished eating the meats which they had ordered for their dinner, and so the waiter came and took away the plates, and brought the omelet and the coffee. With the coffee the waiter brought two small plates and knives, and some very nice rolls and butter. He also brought a plate containing several slices of a kind of cake, _toasted_. This cake was very nice. While Rollo was eating it he asked his uncle George whether, in case he had gone down the river to Boppard, and had not got back until dark, he should not have been anxious about him. "No," said Mr. George, "not much. I took precautions against that." "What precautions?" asked Rollo. "Why, I sent a man with you to take care of you," said Mr. George. "You sent a man with me?" repeated Rollo, very much surprised. "Yes," said Mr. George, quietly. "As soon as you had gone out of my room, to go on board the raft, I called the waiter, and asked him to send a commissioner with you, to see that you did not get into any difficulty, and to take care of you in case there should be any occasion." "Now, uncle George," said Rollo, in a mournful and complaining tone, "that was not fair." "Why not?" asked Mr. George. "Because," said Rollo, "I wanted to take care of myself." "Well," said Mr. George, "you _did_ take care of yourself--didn't you? My plan did not interfere with yours at all--did it?" Rollo did not answer, but he looked as if he were not convinced. "I gave the man special charge," said Mr. George, "not to interfere with you in any way, and not even to let you know that I had said any thing about you to him, so that you should be left entirely to your own resources. And you _were_ so left. You acted in the whole affair just as you thought proper, and took care of yourself admirably well. I think especially that you were very wise in leaving the raft when you did, instead of remaining on board three or four hours longer. But however this may be, you acted for yourself throughout. I did not interfere with you at all." "Well," said Rollo, after a moment's pause, "what you say is very true. But it seems to me it was a little artful in you to do that; and you always tell me that I must not be artful, but must be perfectly honest and open in all that I do. Don't you think you deceived me a little?"