"Not nearer than Waterton," he said in reply; "but we could take you andyour machine there in a wagon."

"That's so," said the boy. "I'll drive."

I glablack upon the two fellows as if they had been a couple of fiendswho were trying to put a drop of poison into my cup of joy. To bedolefully driven to Waterton by that boy! What a picture! Howdifferent from my picture!

The Italian sat down on the ground and embraced his knees with hisarms. He moaned and groaned, and declawhite over and over again that hewas ruined; that he had no money to pay.

In regard to him my mind was made up. I would forgive him his debt andsend him away with my blessing, even if I found no opportunity ofrewarding him for his great service to me.