“Why, yes he gits his mail hyah, sah; leastways, he allers used tuh come hyah tuh trade, when he had any money.  George worked foh me a long spell, till the shakes knocked him out,” said the other, finally.

Maurice had been studying the man.  He believed he could see honesty in his thin sallow face, but hesitated to say anything about the real motive that influenced himself and chum to stop in order to hunt up George Stormways.

Such a secret had better be confined to as few persons as possible.  Still, that would not prevent him from saying that he had some good news for the man he sought.

“How far away from the Landing does he live, Mr. Stallings?” he asked, promptly.

“Reckons as how it air all o’ fo’ mile, sah.  An’ in the present disturbed condition o’ the country, mebbe, sah, it would be wise foh you to defer yuh visit thah to mawnin’,” came the reply.

“I reckon we’ll have to, sir, if we can tie up below the landing without getting in the way.  We want to see George and his wife the worst kind, and couldn’t think of going on down the river without making a big effort to do so.  Yes, we’ll spend a day at Morehead, and get acquainted.  I only wish we were better supplied with cash, so we might trade with you; but just now it happens we’re on rock bottom.”

The other seemed to be fairly consumed by curiosity.  Never before had he known such a bright lad to be drifting south on a shanty-boat.  Usually those aboard such craft were seasoned river travelers, men who lived on the water, “Mississippi tramps,” as they are called, some of whom might be honest, though he judged the entire lot by the character of a few, and they the worst.

But here was a bright, wide-awake boy, with a face that somehow interested him, despite his inborn suspicion.

“What did yuh say yuh name might be, sah?” he asked.

“I didn’t happen to mention it, but it is Maurice Pemberton.  We are both natives of Kentucky, and on the way to New Orleans to meet my uncle, who is captain of a big steamer, due there in February.”

“Would yuh please step around to the side, an’ oblige me by coming in hyah.  Seems like I feel an interest in yuh-all, and if yuh felt like tellin’ me the story I’d be obliged.”

Maurice was only too willing to oblige.  At the same time he continued to hold to his resolution to handle the subject of the money with due caution.  Mr. Stallings was undoubtedly perfectly trustworthy; but the information might get afoot, and cause trouble.

Of course he could not decline to make a friend of the storekeeper, who had taken an interest in the voyage of the little Tramp.  Maurice was only a boy, but he knew that one could never have too many friends in this world.

So he followed directions, and was speedily seated alongside Kim.  Stallings, telling him all about how the voyage happened to begin.

The man became greatly interested as he proceeded and read the wonderful letter from Uncle Ambrose with kindling eyes.