Part 50 (1/2)
”And shall you sail right away to a foreign country!” said Dexter, from his nest up in the willow.
”Why, how can you sail away to another place without a mast and sail, stoopid!” cried Bob.
”If you call me stupid,” said Dexter sharply, ”I'll come and punch your head.”
”Yah! Yer can't get at me.”
”Can't I? I could swim across in a minute, and I would, if it wasn't for wetting my clothes.”
”Yah!” cried Bob scoffingly. ”Why, I could fight yer one hand.”
”No, you couldn't.”
”Yes, I could.”
”Well, you'd see, if I came across.”
”But yer can't get across,” laughed Bob. ”I know of a capital mast.”
Dexter looked sulky.
”It's part of an old boat-hook my father found floating in the river. I shall smooth it down with my knife if I can't borrow a spokeshave.”
”And what'll you do for a sail?” said Dexter, his interest in the expedition chasing away his anger.
”Oh, I shall get a table-cloth or a sheet. Sheets make beautiful sails.
You just hoists 'em up, and puts an oar over the stern to steer with, and then away you go, just where you like. Sailing along in a boat's lovely!”
”Ever been in a boat sailing?” asked Dexter.
”No; but I know it is. That sailor told me. He says when you've got all sail set, you just cruises along.”
”Do you?”
”Yes. I know; and I mean to go some day; but it's no use to be in a jolly hurry, and you ought to have a mate.”
”Ought you?”
”Yes, so as he could steer while a chap went to sleep; because sometimes you'd be a long way from the sh.o.r.e.”
Dexter sat very thoughtful and still, dreaming of the wonders of far-off places, such as could be reached by Bob Dimsted and his companion, the impracticability of such a journey never once occurring to him. Bob had been about all his life free to go and come, while he, Dexter, seemed to have been always shut up, as it were, in a cage, which had narrowed his mind.
”Some chaps would be glad of such a chance,” said Bob. ”It'll be a fine time. My, what fis.h.i.+ng I shall have!”
”Shall you be gone long!” said Dexter, after a time.
”Long? Why, of course I shall; years and years. I shan't come back till I've made a fortune, and am a rich man, with heaps of money to spend. Some chaps would be glad to go.”
”Yes, of course,” said Dexter dreamily.
”I want to get a mate who isn't afraid of anything. Dessay we should meet lions sometimes, and big snakes.”