over the deck with the thirteen children, and looking down into the
big hole where they kept the shiny coal, and exploring the little
house on the deck, the Round Fat Rosy Woman and her Husband With the
Red Shirt and the Pipe had a talk together.

"We must send him back home," said she, "or his folks'll be scared out
of their wits."

The man took a few puffs on his pipe, which always seemed to help him
in thinking, then replied,

"We might let him off at the Landing it's up the towpath a piece. We
kin find someone to give him a lift."

"That's the best plan," she agreed, "there's the Ruralfree'livery
now."

And she pointed to the shore where the horse and wagon of the postman
were coming up the road.

"What ho, Hi! Heave to!" she called, raising her hands to her mouth
and shouting through them just like a man, "here's a passenger for
you, first class."

"Mr. Ruralfree'liv'ry" shook his whip at them, then hollered "Whoa!"
and stopped the old horse; and Jib hollered "Whoa!" and stopped his
mules, right at the Landing.

Then Marmaduke said "Goodbye." It took him some time, for there was
the Man With the Red Shirt and the Pipe; and the Round Fat Rosy Woman;