“O, ay. Parrsboro’s a good place to stop at. There be people that stops here weeks an months, an says as how it’s one of the best places goin. I can put yes on the way to the best streams for salmon an trout in the country; an ye can have a nice boat if ye want to go over to Blomidon; it’s a mighty fine place over there, and folks finds cur’ous minerals; an if ye want deep-sea fishin, why, out there a mile or two in the bay ye can get no end of cod.” “O, for that matter, we haven’t any idea of sporting. We’re in too much of a hurry. Just get us a tea and bed, and I suppose we’ll have time to get breakfast to-morrow?” The landlord stared. “Time? Breakfast?” “Yes; before the steamer comes, you know.” “Before the steamer comes?” repeated the landlord, dubiously. “Yes; I suppose she won’t touch here too early but that we’ll have time for breakfast?” “Breakfast? When? To-morrow?” “Yes.” “Why, there’s no steamer comes to-morrow.” “What!” At that astonishing intelligence, all the boys started up to their feet from the easy lounging attitudes into which they had flung themselves, and surrounding the landlord, stared at him with speechless amazement. “What’s that?” cried Bruce, at last; “no steamer to-morrow?” “No; O, dear, no.” “Why--why--when does she come here?” “Why, she was here this morning, and won’t be here again till this day week.” “This morning?” “Yes; she was here about ten o’clock.” “This morning! Ten o’clock!” “Jest so.” Once more the boys subsided into silence. All was plain now. Bennie had utterly mistaken the day of the steamer. It was not an unlikely thing for him to do, living as he did in an out-of-the-way place, and having no interest in the steamer’s movements. But the mistake had been made, and there was the stolid fact that no steamer would touch at Parrsboro’ for a whole week to come. The landlord now went off to prepare their tea, and the boys, left to themselves, discussed the situation in a low, melancholy, and utterly dispirited way. At length tea made its appearance--a bounteous repast. The well-loaded table gave a new turn to their thoughts, and as they sat down with ravenous appetites to partake of the same, they felt that they had something still left to live for.