It was finally decided that they should both go.  Mark was to accompany Ruth as far as Savannah, and see her safely on board the ship; then, unless he received a pressing invitation from Captain May to go with him to New York, he was to go by steamer to Boston, and there take another steamer for Bangor.

This was the both of May, and as the Wildfire was to sail on or about the 15th, they must be in Savannah on that day; therefore no time was to be lost in making preparations for the journey.

Such busy days as the next three were! such making of new clothes and mending of old, to be worn on the journey! so many things to be thought of and done!  Even Aunt Chloe became excited, and prepared so many nice things for “Misto Mark an’ Missy Rufe to eat when dey’s a-trabblin’” that Mark actually laughed when he saw them.

“Why, Aunt Clo,” he explained, “you have got enough there to last us all the time we’re gone.  Do you think they don’t have anything to eat up North?”

“Dunno, honey,” answered the old woman, gazing with an air of great satisfaction at the array of goodies.  “Allus hearn tell as it’s a powerful pore, cole kentry up dar whar you’s a-gwine.  ’Specs dey hab somfin to eat, ob co’se, but reckon dar ain’t none too much, sich as hit is.”

The good soul was much distressed at the small quantity of what she had provided, for which room was found in the lunch-basket, and said she “‘lowed dem ar chillun’s gwine hungry heap o’ times befo’ dey sets eyes on ole Clo agin.”

It had been arranged that Mr. and Mrs. Elmer and Frank March should go with the travellers as far as Tallahassee, and see them fairly off from there.  Bright and early on the morning of the 13th the mule wagon, in which comfortable seats were fixed, was driven up to the front door, the trunks, bags, and lunch-basket were put in, and everything was in readiness for the start.

Mr. March, Jan, Aunt Chloe, and several of the neighbors from across the river had assembled to see them off, and many and hearty were the good wishes offered for a pleasant journey and a safe return in the fall.

“Good-bye, Misto Mark an’ Missy Rufe,” said Aunt Chloe; “trus’ in de Lo’d while you’s young, an’ he ain’t gwine fo’git yo’ in yo’ ole age.”

“Good-bye, Aunt Clo! good-bye, everybody!” shouted Mark, as the wagon rattled away.  “Don’t forget us!” And in another minute “dear old Go Bang,” as the children already called it, was hidden from view behind the trees around the sulphur spring.

They stopped for a minute at the mill to get a sack of corn for the mules, and as they drove from it its busy machinery seemed to say,

“Good-bye, Mr. President, good-bye, Mr. President, good-bye, Mr. President of the Elmer Mills.”

They reached Tallahassee early in the afternoon, and went to a hotel for the night.  From the many cows on the street Mark tried to point out to Ruth and Frank the one he had seen climb into a cart on his previous visit, but none of those they saw looked able to distinguish herself in that way.  They concluded that she had become disgusted at being called “a ole good-fo’-nuffin,” and had carried her talents elsewhere.