Part 18 (1/2)
”No, I didn't, Lawry. Don't you talk so to me. You know too much,”
added Ben angrily. ”You never will raise that steamer in two thousand years.”
”There she is,” replied Lawry quietly, as he pointed in the direction of the Goblins.
Ben looked at her; he did not seem to be pleased to find her on the top of the water. His oft-repeated prophesy had been a failure, and Lawry was full as smart as people said he was.
”Humph!” said he. ”She isn't much of a steamboat if those barrels brought her up.”
”There she is; and I have done all I promised to do.”
”What are you going to do next, Lawry?”
”I'm going to pump her out next.”
”You'd better do it pretty quick, or she'll go to the bottom again,”
added Ben, as he walked into the house.
”There comes Mr. Sherwood, with the ladies,” said Lawry, as he glanced up the road.
”I congratulate you, boys,” said Mr. Sherwood, as he grasped Lawry's hand. ”We gave three cheers for you on the hill, when we saw that you had raised the _Woodville_.”
”Thank you, sir. We worked pretty hard, but we were successful.”
”You have done bravely,” said Mrs. Sherwood. ”We thought, from what your brother said last night, that you would fail.”
”Ethan and I didn't think so.”
”I suppose you wouldn't sell very cheap to-night, Lawry,” added Mr.
Sherwood.
”No, sir; the _Woodville_ is a gift, and I should not be willing to sell her at any price.”
”Well, Lawry, I am as glad as you are at your success. Do you want any help yet?”
”No, sir; we are just going on board of her to stay overnight, for we are afraid the heavy wind will do mischief.”
”I wouldn't do that. You must rest to-night.”
”I'm afraid something will happen if we don't look out for her.”
”Are you going to pump her out to-night?”
”We may begin pretty early in the morning,” said Lawry, with a smile.
”Haste and waste, my boy. If you stay on board of her to-night, and get sick, you will not make anything by your labor.”
”If the wind goes down, we shall sleep ash.o.r.e as usual. I don't think it blows quite so hard as it did.”
”I don't,” added Ethan.