human
No more use for them until next summer, and there’s no knowin’ who of us will be alive to use ’em then!
gpt
That’s so,
human
I’ve got rocks enough to stock a cabinet, and only one valise, that was full when I came, said Joe, kneeling before said valise, with his arms full of
gpt
To ballast a ship, you’d better say, added Ben, laughing.
human
What do you want that rubbish for?
gpt
Hands off, Vandal! Avaunt! You’ll smash that infant star-fish! cried Joe.
human
I’ve tramped miles and risked my neck getting these together, and now you call them rubbish! Avaunt, I say!
gpt
Tents down!
human
Yes, sir, answered Joe, placing the
gpt
as Ben called it, in an old jacket, and tying the bundle with fish-line.
human
There, I’m all right; I’ll take this in my hands. There’ll be room enough in my trunk when we get back to school.
gpt
You’ll have your labour for your pains. You’ll throw the whole lot over the back-yard fence, or your mother or sisters will for you, before many weeks.
human
Nay, nay! You haven’t half looked at the things; or, worse still, are no judge, boy. Mr. Bernard said they were good specimens.
gpt
All right--carry them home; but if your folks are like mine the things will disappear. I got a lot of snakes once, the prettiest fellows you ever saw, and had them in a wire box; but no one would go near my room to clear it up, and because I wouldn’t throw them away, my sisters hired a fellow to drop the box in the pond. Wasn’t I angry?
human
That’s different; I don’t much blame them, said Joe.
gpt
Nobody will bother my collection. There, my luggage is ready.
human
So is mine, said Ralph, who had been sitting on his valise outside, listening to the conversation.
gpt
Where’s Dave?
human
Oh, he went to the shore long ago. There he stands with his spy-glass, watching for the steamboat, as if it would be the most welcome sight in the world; and he doesn’t want to leave any more than we do.--Now, down with the tent! Pull up those stakes, boys. Mine are up. Down she goes! Let’s write our names on the canvas; perhaps we shall get the same tent next year.
gpt
Oh, doesn’t the place look forsaken?
human
I see the smoke!
gpt
Hush, raven! don’t croak. Don’t bring your bad news here. Get down from your watch-tower, and let’s have a game of leap-frog, and forget the steamboat,