human
Come--to-morrow is packing-up day, and we’ve got to be up early.--and have all the fun we can before the steamboat swoops down on us.
gpt
Like a wolf on the fold,
human
Oh, that dreadful monster! cried Max.
gpt
If it would only forget to come.
human
Or break its paddle-wheel,
gpt
Humph! exclaimed Jonas, who was already beginning to pack baking-tins and things he did not intend to use.
human
If she doesn’t come in time, you’ll find yourself on short rations, I can tell you. We are on our last barrel of biscuits. Haven’t flour enough for more than one batch of bread; and not a drop of treacle, even if we had the flour, for gingerbread.
gpt
Nor any ginger, even if we had the treacle and flour, added Ben, with a mischievous twinkle of the eye.
human
Of course there is no ginger, Jonas was so generous with that in my tea.
gpt
The coffee’s gone, and the butter-tub is scraped clean.
human
Mercy! cried Dave.
gpt
This is getting melancholy. It’s worse than Mother Hubbard’s bare cupboard.
human
Yes, added Joe with a sigh.
gpt
It’s nothing but a howling wilderness here, and the sooner we get out of it the better. No, I’ll take that back. I’m willing to live on blueberries if everything else gives out. The blueberries are plentiful still.
human
Yes, and the clam-beds are not quite cleaned out,
gpt
A fellow that would starve on the edge of the clam-beds deserves to die.
human
I suppose there are some fish left in the sea too,
gpt
Yes, a few. Very likely those the tide carried off with our baskets, the day we had our freedom, came to life again, and are out of hospital by this time, said Joe.--
human
You can’t scare us, Jonas. We don’t feel a bit afraid of starving.
gpt
No, maybe not, but you’d grumbled well if you didn’t get nothin’ but fish and berries for fare. You would,
human
I suppose we would, said Joe,
gpt
Oh, don’t leave us so soon. This is the last night. Only think--to-morrow we shall scatter on the four winds,
human
Not to meet again till the roll is called in September,
gpt
That sounds pretty bad, but I think we’ll be able to bear it, considering that we are going to our own homes, answered Joe.--
human
But this has been a good time, Ralph--so much better than you or I dreamed possible the day school closed,
gpt
Yes, indeed, it looked gloomy enough then; I couldn’t see the way ahead at all, and I felt that there never would be any more good times for me in the world. I tell you, Joe, I didn’t deserve to have it turn out so. Two or three times to-day I have wondered if I am not dreaming, and if I shall not wake up in the cabin of the _Una_ with that awful sea-sick feeling.
human
But it’s no dream, old fellow, said Joe cheerily.
gpt
You are back among us, and every boy in the crowd was glad enough to see you. Mr. Bernard, too, was as happy as the rest of us.
human
That’s so queer. I thought he would never forgive me. I wonder if my own father will? Joe, will you do me a favour? Will you stop at my home on your way through? I’m going to tell father the whole story, and let him know the worst of it. I want you to go along and keep my courage up.
gpt
Want me for a body-guard, do you?
human
My father is a very strict man, and he hasn’t any patience with anybody that is mean; and that’s just what I was, besides being bad. I don’t mean to excuse myself a bit, whether you are there or not; but if you would stop with me, I’d like it. I want him to see you too, Joe.
gpt
Enough said; I’ll stop. Here’s the tent; walk in. Dave and Ben are already in the bunk. Well, you and I will take the shake-down.
human
We thought you would be waking us up if we slept on the floor, so we crawled in here to be out of the way,
gpt
That’s all right, Dave.--Now, Ralph, you and I have the floor; let the other fellows keep quiet. It isn’t the softest bed I ever saw, but it is a good deal better than that you have had for some nights past.
human
Yes, especially if you haven’t anything you want to hide. I tell you it’s good to be free of that. I’ll never forget what Captain Dare said, and I can say it to myself now.
gpt
Is it possible that we have a _liar_ among us? A _liar_!