Now the ferry between Pattaquasset and Neanticut was--and is, as I trust it will always be--propelled by wind power. No plodding horses to distract one's eyes from the surrounding peace,--no puffing steam to break with its discord the sweet rush of the water,--but a large, flat-bottomed boat, a white sail, and a Yankee steersman. The only evil attendant upon these advantages is, that the establishment cannot be upon both sides at once--and that the steersman, like other mortals, must take his dinner. This time it happened to be breakfast; for having been much interrupted and called for at the hour when he should have taken that refreshment, long Tim declared "he would have it now, and no mistake!" The little fact that two ladies were waiting for him on the other side, did not in the least affect his appetite or his deliberation. "Faith," said her mother when they had waited about a quarter of an hour, "if 'tother wagon should catch up we shouldn't get there first!" Faith laughed and said, "Well, mother!" "Well, child," said her mother cheerfully, while Reuben waved fresh signals to the obdurate ferryman, "I'm sure I don't mind, if you don't." "He's coming out now!" said Reuben,--"or his wife is--and that's just as good." And so it appeared; for a short vision of a red petticoat and blue jacket on the other bank, was followed by the ferryman himself,--the white sail rose up above the little boat, and she floated smoothly over. Then Mrs. Derrick drove carefully across the boat bridge, and long Tim pushed off into the stream. How pretty it was! the winding river above, with its woody banks, and villages, and spires; and its broader bends below, towards the Sound. They were about midway in the stream when Reuben suddenly cried out-- "Look, Miss Faith!"-- And there came the great wagon, at not the slowest possible rate, over the long marsh road. The first sight of the ferryboat and her freight was the signal for a simultaneous shout from the whole wagon load--which long Tim took for a summons to himself. "'Taint no sort o' use hollerin' like _that_," he said, with a little turn of his steering oar; "'cause I aint a goin' back till I get somewheres to go back _from_--nor then neither mabbe. I kin count dollars whar they kint count cents, neow." And 'neow' the little wagon was beyond pursuit,--up the hill from the ferry, on over the farm road, drove Mrs. Derrick--somewhat at the quickest; until the old untenanted house rose just before them, and Reuben sprang down to take the reins and help the ladies out.