Part 20 (1/2)
”Maybe Sam Rover was drowned.”
”Oh, don't say that!”
”Bah! Don't be chicken-hearted, Flapp.”
”I--I--didn't mean to--to--kill him.”
”I know you didn't. Just the same that is a dangerous river. The current is swift and it's full of rocks.”
”You're making me feel very uncomfortable.”
”Oh, don't worry. Those Rover boys are like cats--each has nine lives.
Sam Rover will be hot-footed after you before you know it.”
”Have you got that money with you, Baxter?”
”To be sure I have. I never travel without a wad.”
”Then let me have some.”
”You won't need it, if we are to travel together.”
”We may become separated,” urged Lew Flapp. He did not altogether trust his companion.
”Well, I reckon that's so, too. I'll let you have twenty-five dollars.
When that's gone you can come to me for more. But remember one thing: you've got to help me to down the Rovers.”
”I'll help you to do that. But--but--”
”But what?”
”We mustn't go too far.”
”Oh, you leave that to me. You've heard how they treated my father, haven't you?”
”They say d.i.c.k Rover was kind to him.”
”Bah! That's a fairy story.”
”But your father says the same--so I have been told.”
”The old man is out of his head--on account of that fire. When he gets clear-headed again he won't think d.i.c.k Rover--or any of the Rovers, for the matter of that--is his friend.”
There was another pause.
”Where do you propose to go to?”
”Philadelphia, on a little business first, and then to Pittsburg, and to that place where they have their houseboat.”