"No, I’m done," replied the young machinist.
He was thoroughly disgusted with the man’s mean manner, though he did not object to paying for what they had had.
But Mont entered readily into conversation. He had eyed Max Pooler keenly from his arrival, and noticed every action of the man. He briefly related the particulars of what had happened on the river. For obvious reasons he did not mention how either Jack or he had fallen into such a position, nor did he mention any names.
"Awful! terrible! truly remarkable!" were Max Pooler’s comments. "But did you see ’em?" he continued, in a tragic whisper.
"See whom?" asked Jack, who was somewhat taken back by this sudden change in the man’s manner.
"Why, the ghost in the falls," replied Max Pooler, earnestly, "It is the spirit of a man who went over one night."
"We did not see it," he replied. "Besides, I don’t believe in them."
"Oh, but this is a ghost sure, I’ve seen him myself many a time in the moonlight."
"Maybe you saw the man go over, and imagined the rest," suggested Mont. "Did you know him?"
"Oh, no!" replied Max Pooler, starting. "No, indeed, I only heard it was so. But the ghost is there. Sometimes it comes on the island!"
"The man must be a little off on this subject," thought Jack, as he watched Max Pooler’s manner.
"I guess there is too much water here to allow of any spirits," said Mont, by way of a joke.
"Never mind, I know what I know," replied Max Pooler, with a shake of his head. "You were mighty lucky to get through safely."
"I’ll admit that," returned Jack, rising from the table.
Mont also arose, and looked first at the man and then at the girl.
"If you tell me what we owe you, I’ll pay it," he said.
Meg was silent. Had she had her own way she would have charged nothing.
"Everything considered, I guess it’s worth a quarter apiece," said Max Pooler. "Provisions are frightfully high."
"I’m well satisfied," replied Mont; and taking out his purse, he withdrew a half dollar, and handed it over. "I am very much obliged to you," he added to Meg.
Max Pooler’s eyes sparkled as they rested upon the shining silver. He grasped the coin eagerly, and after examining it, stowed it carefully away in his bosom.
There was a pause. Now that he had their money, the owner of the island was evidently anxious to have them take their departure. Both Jack and Mont wished to see more of this old man, but neither could frame a plausible excuse for remaining.
