"To take people over the ferry."

"Oh, bother!" exclaimed Ethan impatiently. "Have we got to leave the
work to paddle everybody that comes along over the lake?"

"We have," said Lawry. "I must look out for the family now."

There was a good wind, and the boys returned to the ferry-house in
the bateau. Before they had finished their breakfast, the ferry-horn
sounded, and Lawry was obliged to take a team over to Pointville
before the work could be resumed. Ethan was rather impatient under
this delay; but he was too kind-hearted to make any unpleasant remark
which would remind his friend of his father's crime.




CHAPTER IX


BEN WILFORD'S PLAN


While Lawry was ferrying the team over the lake, Ethan occupied
himself in making a long-handled boat-hook, which might be useful in
the operation of raising the steamer. While he was thus engaged, a
young man, about eighteen years of age, coarsely dressed, and with a
very red face, came down the road and stopped at the place where he
was at work.