Part 32 (2/2)
”That is my idea, sir. I must do something.”
”I am sorry I cannot help you at present.”
In a few minutes more Ralph was on his way to Glen Arbor, as a fis.h.i.+ng resort a mile above Eastport was called. He was to put in half a day there, and the balance of the time around Eastport itself. That done, the entire territory for five miles about Mr. Dunham's store would be billed.
Ralph set out in a very thoughtful frame of mind. He was wondering what the following week would bring forth. Would he strike other work, or be forced to remain idle?
Ralph knew a number of fishermen at Glen Arbor, who let out boats to the summer tourists, and while he was among them he met one, Bill Franchard, who gave him some information that was a delightful surprise.
”Hallo, Ralph Nelson,” sang out Franchard, on seeing him. ”What brings you here?”
”I'm distributing circulars, Bill,” returned the boy. ”How is the boating season?”
”Very good just now; better than I expected.”
”You haven't got an opening for me?” asked Ralph, quickly.
”Why, ain't you working?”
”This job ends to-day.”
”Well, I dunno.” Franchard scratched his head. ”I do need somebody most every day for the _Minnie_. I take out the _Ariel_, and Bob the _Was.h.i.+ngton_, and very often I can't let the _Minnie_ go out--not when they want a skipper for the sloop.”
”I would like the job,” replied Ralph, promptly.
”Tell you what I'll do, Ralph. I'll give you a dollar and a half a day for your services every day I can use you, and that will be at least four or five days a week, even if it ain't the whole six.”
”I'll take the job, and thank you,” said the boy, reflecting that even four days' work would bring in six dollars, as much as he had before earned, while a full week's work would mean nine dollars.
”All right. I know I can trust you with the sloop, even if she is kind of mulish at times.”
”She needs constant watching, that's all. When can I come on?”
”Most likely Monday morning. There was a man coming to see me about her this morning. If he--here he comes now.”
Franchard referred to a well dressed gentleman who was walking toward the dock, accompanied by a young gentleman and a young lady.
The gentleman, whose name was Larkins, entered into conversation with Franchard, and then turned to Ralph.
”Do you think you can sail that sloop all right, my lad?”
”I know that I can, sir,” returned Ralph, confidently.
”He knows small boats as well as I do, sir,” put in Franchard. ”His father was a boatman before him, and he used to row when he was only five years old.”
”Then I will take the _Minnie_ for Monday and Tuesday, sure, and possibly for Wednesday, too,” said Mr. Larkins, and the bargain was settled on the spot.
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