“Wher’ ye goin’, Ma’am?  Wher’ ye want to be kerried?”

“We are going to Gay-Head Light-house; but my”—­

“Ga’ed Light?  I kin kerry ye there fust-rate, and cheap too;—­kerry ye there for two dollars!”

“My husband has already spoken”—­

“Wat! t’ ole Ransom?  Wy, he a’n’t got nothin’ but a weelbarry.”  And Caleb, returning at the same moment with a somewhat perplexed air, corroborated this statement by saying,—­

“This man has no carriage, but will get us one in a short time.”

“But this boy,” retorted Mysie, “says he has a carriage, and will carry us to Gay Head for two dollars.”

“You hear that, ole feller?—­they’re a-goin’ with me!” crowed triumphant Youth at disconcerted Mannikin, who nevertheless rapidly proceeded to pile the luggage upon his barrow and trundle it away.

This coup d’etat was checked by Caleb, but afterward allowed, upon discovering that Youth’s carriage was still reposing in his father’s stable, “jist up here”; and Mannikin was consoled by being allowed to earn a quarter of a dollar by transporting the luggage to that destination.  The procession at once set forth, including Dave, who strolled in the rear, softly whistling, and apparently totally unconcerned, yet all the while alive with feline watchfulness.

Arrived at the stable, the travellers were requested to wait there while Youth went to find his father and “borry a wip.”

At these last words, a “subtle smile, foreboding triumph,” broke over Dave’s composed features, as he muttered,—­

“Reckin you’ll need one ’fore you reach Ga’ed Light.”

The coast clear, Dave became a little more communicative, expatiated upon the dangers and discomforts of the road, the incapacity of Youth’s horse, and the improbability that his father would ratify the bargain, concluding by offering to “do the job himself in good shape for four dollars,” which offer was held in abeyance until we should learn the result of Youth’s interview with his father.

In the mean time, a matron suddenly made her appearance in the barn, with a hospitable entreaty that “the woman and child” would come up to the house and warm themselves; and Caleb strongly advocating the Idea, Mysie and the Baron proceeded houseward.

About half-way they encountered Paterfamilias, hastening with Youth toward the barn, and to him Matron at once recapitulated the affair, concluding with mentioning the stipulated price.  At this Pater turned, with thunderous brow, toward Youth; but Matron interposed, with womanly tact,—­

“You can do jest as you like, you know, about lettin’ him go; but Dave’s in the barn.”

“Dave in my barn!  Wat in thunder’s he doin’ there?  Yes, go, boy,—­go for nothin’, if they ask you to, sooner than let that”—­