"Certainly; you can go in the next boat, if you choose. I shall take the
'Belle of the West,' which I am pretty well assured will sail
to-morrow, if this one does not. But I prefer this, as many of my
friends go in her."
"But will they give you back your passage-money again?" asked the
economical Yankee.
"I have not paid it yet," replied Henry, now understanding the position
of his fellow-traveller.
"Then how did you secure a berth? The sign in the cabin says 'No berth
secured till paid for.'"
"I see how it is. You have been dealing with these fellows as though
they were honest men." He then explained that there is no security
against imposition for travellers who pay their passage in advance, in
case the boat gets aground, or the captain pleases to detain them an
unreasonable time; that the "old stagers" never show their money till
the trip is up; and much more useful information for the voyager on the
Western rivers.
"And I have no berth yet! The fellow promised me one when we got off,"
said Uncle Nathan, chopfallen; for, if any one is keenly sensitive to an
imposition, the Yankee is the man.
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