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new silver dollar。 If a dollar in his eyes was smaller than a cart…wheel； it
wasn't so very much smaller。 I redeemed my pencil…case from the treasurer
of the Centipedes； and felt that I was getting on in the world。
It was at this time I was greatly cast down by a letter from my father
saying that he should be unable to visit Rivermouth until the following
year。 With that letter came another to Captain Nutter； which he did not
read aloud to the family； as usual。 It was on business； he said； folding it up
in his wallet。 He received several of these business letters from time to
time； and I noticed that they always made him silent and moody。
The fact is； my father's banking…house was not thriving。 The unlooked…
for failure of a firm largely indebted to him had crippled 〃the house。〃
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When the Captain imparted this information to me I didn't trouble myself
over the matter。 I supposed…if I supposed anything…that all grown…up
people had more or less money； when they wanted it。 Whether they
inherited it； or whether government supplied them； was not clear to me。 A
loose idea that my father had a private gold…mine somewhere or other
relieved me of all uneasiness。
I was not far from right。 Every man has within himself a gold…mine
whose riches are limited only by his own industry。 It is true； it sometimes
happens that industry does not avail； if a man lacks that something which；
for want of a better name； we call Luck。 My father was a person of
untiring energy and ability； but he had no luck。 To use a Rivermouth
saying； he was always catching sculpins when everyone else with the same
bait was catching mackerel。
It was more than two years since I had seen my parents。 I felt that I
could not bear a longer separation。 Every letter from New Orleans…we got
two or three a month…gave me a fit of homesickness； and when it was
definitely settled that my father and mother were to remain in the South
another twelvemonth； I resolved to go to them。
Since Binny Wallace's death； Pepper Whitcomb had been my fidus
Achates； we occupied desks near each other at school； and were always
together in play hours。 We rigged a twine telegraph from his garret
window to the scuttle of the Nutter House； and sent messages to each other
in a match…box。 We shared our pocket…money and our secrets…those
amazing secrets which boys have。 We met in lonely places by stealth； and
parted like conspirators； we couldn't buy a jackknife or build a kite
without throwing an air of mystery and guilt over the transaction。
I naturally hastened to lay my New Orleans project before Pepper
Whitcomb； having dragged him for that purpose to a secluded spot in the
dark pine woods outside the town。 Pepper listened to me with a gravity
which he will not be able to surpass when he becomes Chief Justice； and
strongly advised me to go。
〃The summer vacation；〃 said Pepper； 〃lasts six weeks； that will give
you a fortnight to spend in New Orleans； allowing two weeks each way for
the journey。〃
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I wrung his hand and begged him to accompany me； offering to defray
all the expenses。 I wasn't anything if I wasn't princely in those days。 After
considerable urging； he consented to go on terms so liberal。 The whole
thing was arranged； there was nothing to do now but to advise Captain
Nutter of my plan； which I did the next day。
The possibility that he might oppose the tour never entered my head。 I
was therefore totally unprepared for the vigorous negative which met my
proposal。 I was deeply mortified； moreover； for there was Pepper
Whitcomb on the wharf； at the foot of the street； waiting for me to come
and let him know what day we were to start。
〃Go to New Orleans？ Go to Jericho I〃 exclaimed Captain Nutter。
〃You'd look pretty； you two； philandering off； like the babes in the wood；
twenty…five hundred miles； 'with all the world before…you where to
choose！'〃
And the Captain's features； which had worn an indignant air as he
began the sentence； relaxed into a broad smile。 Whether it was at the
felicity of his own quotation； or at the mental picture he drew of Pepper
and myself on our travels
I couldn't tell； and I didn't care。 I was heart…broken。 How could I face
my chum after all the dazzling inducements I had held out to him？
My grandfather； seeing that I took the matter seriously； pointed out the
difficulties of such a journey and the great expense involved。 He entered
into the details of my father's money troubles； and succeeded in making it
plain to me that my wishes； under the circumstances； were somewhat
unreasonable。 It was in no cheerful mood that I joined Pepper at the end of
the wharf。
I found that young gentleman leaning against the bulkhead gazing
intently towards the islands in the harbor。 He had formed a telescope of his
hands； and was so occupied with his observations as to be oblivious of my
approach。
〃Hullo！〃 cried Pepper； dropping his hands。 〃Look there！ Isn't that a
bark coming up the Narrows？〃
〃Where？〃
〃Just at the left of Fishcrate Island。 Don't you see the foremast peeping
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The Story of a Bad Boy
above the old derrick？〃
Sure enough it was a vessel of considerable size； slowly beating up to
town。 In a few moments more the other two masts were visible above the
green hillocks。
〃Fore…topmasts blown away；〃 said Pepper。 〃Putting in for repairs； I
guess。〃
As the bark lazily crept from behind the last of the islands； she let go
her anchors and swung round with the tide。 Then the gleeful chant of the
sailors at the capstan came to us pleasantly across the water。 The vessel lay
within three quarters of a mile of us； and we could plainly see the men at
the davits lowering the starboard long…boat。 It no sooner touched the
stream than a dozen of the crew scrambled like mic