In spite of the sunlight and their hopes of rescue, the long hours
passed slowly aboard the _Venture_. There was little to do, and
nothing to eat, though Solon did succeed in making a pot of coffee,
which they drank without sugar or milk. In one respect, however, it
was the most successful day of the _Venture's_ entire cruise; for
during those tedious hours Billy Brackett and Winn accomplished the
object for which it had been undertaken. They sold the raft. In
gazing over his flooded plantation and planning for its future, Mr.
Manton realized that with the subsidence of the waters he would have
immediate use for a large quantity of lumber.
"Why not buy ours?" suggested Winn.
"Why not?" answered Mr. Manton.
Five minutes later the bargain was completed that transferred the
ownership of the _Venture_, and crowned Major Caspar's undertaking with
success. It was such a satisfactory arrangement that they only
wondered they had not thought of it before.
"Here the lumber is, just where I want it, and not a cent of freight to
pay," said Mr. Manton.
"Now you and I can get back to Caspar's Mill, and help your father out
with that contract; and it is high time we were there too," said Billy
Brackett to Winn. "Hello! What's this? The _Psyche_ coming back
again? If it is, young Rankin must be having a fit, for he's black in
the face.
Pages:
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308