Newton," he said, "that this is the river of which
you spoke, and the cliffs seem to drop down just as you said they
would."
The woman smiled.
"Yes," she said, "you've done well with my poor guess, and the
boat must be hidden somewhere near here."
Then she sank down with exhaustion, and the two older children,
unable to walk farther, sank down beside her. But the two who
slept soundly on the shoulders of Long Jim and Tom Ross did not
awaken. Henry motioned to Jim and Tom to remain there, and
Shif'less Sol bent upon them a quizzical and approving look.
"Didn't think it was in you, Jim Hart, you old horny-handed
galoot," he said, "carryin' a baby that tender. Knew Jim could
sling a little black bar 'roun' by the tail, but I didn't think
you'd take to nussin' so easy."
"I'd luv you to know, Sol Hyde," said Jim Hart in a tone of high
condescension, "that Tom Ross an' me are civilized human bein's.
In face uv danger we are ez brave ez forty thousand lions, but
with the little an' the weak we're as easy an' kind an' soft ez
human bein's are ever made to be."
"You're right, old hoss," said Tom Ross.
"Well," said the shiftless one, "I can't argify with you now, ez
the general hez called on his colonel, which is me, an' his
major, which is Paul, to find him a nice new boat like one o'
them barges o' Clepatry that Paul tells about, all solid silver,
with red silk sails an' gold oars, an' we're meanin' to do it.
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