"
As he thus rattled on in cheery fashion, Cap'n Cod gathered up Winn's
wet clothing, preparatory to taking them to the galley to be dried.
Not finding either coat or shoes in the water-soaked pile, he inquired
if the boy had left the raft without them.
"No, sir," replied Winn; "but I took them off, and left them in the
skiff."
"You did! That's bad; for when your friends find the skiff with your
clothes in it, they will be apt to imagine you are drowned. Then
they'll search the river below here for your body, instead of coming
back to look for you. Never mind, though," he added quickly, mistaking
the expression of relief which this suggestion brought to Winn's face
for one of dismay, "we'll soon relieve their anxiety. We'll get a
mule, and put him in here as quick as our show earns his price. Then
we'll go humming down the river faster than any raft that ever drifted.
We may be several days in overtaking them, but I shall be only too
happy to have you remain with us for that length of time, and longer,
too, if you will. I am greatly in need of an assistant to help me run
the show. So if you are willing to take hold and work with us, the
obligation will be wholly on my side."
"Of course I will, sir!" exclaimed Winn, whose spirits were rising as
the difficulties of his situation began to disappear.
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