Part 26 (1/2)
Andy, too, an' don't want nuthin' more to do with yer! Well, I don't blame him. Now ye can both go back to Pine Run an' go to work.”
”How can a fellow get back if he hasn't the price of a ticket?” asked Chet, in a hopeless fas.h.i.+on, although he could scarcely keep from laughing.
”Go to work an' earn money, I tell yer! I have to do it, an' you ain't no better nor I be.”
”Have you been working?”
”O' course I've been working.”
”Then you won't even give me ten cents for some bread and coffee?”
”No. Go to work--it will do yer good.”
”Will you tell me about Andy?”
”Well, if ye want to know so awful bad, Andy has gone back to Pine Run.
He has found out the errors o' his ways, an' has sent fer me to take care o' him. I don't think he'll be a-runnin' away ag'in very soon.”
”Too bad! too bad!” And the mischievous Chet placed a handkerchief to his eyes.
”It's wot a boy gits when he won't mind his uncle,” went on Josiah Graham, stiffly. ”After this I guess he'll toe the mark! It's a pity you ain't got n.o.buddy to bring you to your senses.”
”Maybe you'd like to take me under your care?” suggested Chet, with a most woe-begone look on his face.
”No--I got my hands full with Andy. Here is my train, so I can't talk to yer no longer. Go to work an' earn somethin' to eat, an' the price o' a railroad ticket.” And then Josiah Graham swung himself aboard the train, which pulled out from the station a moment later.
”Oh, Chet, how could you do it!” roared Andy, when the chums were alone.
”I thought I'd split, listening to the talk!”
”Wouldn't even give a fellow the price of a meal,” returned Chet, coolly. ”Well, I rather think he'll be surprised when he gets back to your cabin and finds everything locked up.” And then he, too, laughed heartily over the trick that had been played on Andy's s.h.i.+ftless relative.
CHAPTER XVII
AN ENCOUNTER WITH ICEBERGS
”Off at last, Chet!”
”Yes, and your Uncle Si didn't stop you, either!” responded Chet, with a broad grin.
”If only we could have seen him when he got to the cabin!” exclaimed Andy. ”I'll wager he was mad!”
”Well, boys, it will be a long while before you see the United States again,” remarked Barwell Dawson as he came up. ”So use your eyes for all they are worth.”
”Just what we are doing,” answered Andy.
The _Ice King_ had cast off her lines quarter of an hour before, and a steam tug had headed her out of the harbor of Rathley. Now, under the steam of her own powerful engines, she was heading straight out into the Atlantic Ocean.
It was an ideal day, and the boys were in the best of spirits, even though they were leaving their native land for the first time. Chet was full of the hope that in some manner he would hear something about the missing whaler and his father.