"I wonder what he sees that interests him so much?" he thought.
"I say, young man, is this here boat yours?" he asked.
Bob felt under no obligation to answer, but reflecting that there was no good excuse for refusing, he said, briefly: "Wheat."
This clearly was none of the questioner's business, and Bob replied by another question:
"I don't know," said the stranger. "What do you ask?"
"Two dollars and a quarter," answered Bob, naming a price beyond his expectations.
"Come, young feller, you don't seem social. Can't you invite me aboard?"
"I don't think you would be paid for coming," said Bob, more and more unfavorably impressed.
"Oh, I don't mind. My time ain't valuable. I guess I'll come."
The stranger stepped across the gang-plank, which Bob had laid from the boat to the shore, and entered without an invitation. Bob was tempted to order him off, but the intruder appeared much stronger than himself; and while he was alone it seemed politic to submit to the disagreeable necessity of entertaining his unwelcome visitor.
The latter walked from end to end of the boat, examining for himself without asking permission, or appearing to feel the need of any. He opened the bins and counted them, while Bob looked on uneasily.
"I say, young feller, you've got a smart lot of wheat here."
"And you expect to get two dollars and a quarter a bushel?"
"At any rate, you must have two thousand dollars' worth on board."
"I say, that's a pile of money--for a boy."
"I have answered all the questions I am going to," said Bob, indignantly.
"Don't get riled, youngster. It ain't no secret, is it?"
"I don't care about answering all the questions a stranger chooses to put to me."
"I say, young chap, you're gettin' on your high horse."
"What is your object in putting all these questions?"
"The fact is, youngster, I've got a ranch round here myself, and I've got about five hundred bushels of wheat I want to market. Naturally I'm interested. See?"
"About two miles back of the town," answered the stranger, glibly. That lie was an easy one. "I'm thinkin' some of runnin' down to the city to see if I can't sell my wheat in a lump to some merchant. Mebbe I could strike a bargain with you to carry me down."
Bob had even more objection to the new passenger than to the old lady, and he answered stiffly: