oment, broken only by the purr of the powerful machine and the suction of the rubber tires on t

ured Ruth, as if she

, "by saying that it is, at present, Minerva, on the canal. And a boat on the canal is a ca

f the occasion, "but I don't see why a boat on the canal becomes a canal boat any more than a cottage pud

But, speaking seriously, this boat is on the canal, though stri

them often enough when we first came here," said Ruth, with a laugh. "The

ed Tess, overhearing some of the ta

wouldn't it be splendiferous, Tess, if we could have a little one all to

th!" cried Agnes. "But what is this

oda water store on board

your opinion," he went on, speaking directly to R

except for the fact that we have a canal here in

erva," he replie

m, joining at a certain point, so that boats could go from one to the other. Gentory River, which acted as a feeder t

veral stores that sold supplies to the canal boats, and brought his machine to a stop on the bank of the waterway beside the towpath, as it is called fro

here a captain might secure new mules, hire helpers, buy grain for his animals and also victuals for himself and family; for the owners of the c

nautical term," said Mr. Howbridge,

take the boat?"

now, Martha, to show that I was in earnest, there is the craft in question,"

hat?" cried the girl, turning t

ne next to it.

. For it was not a "rusty canaler" they beheld, but a trim craft, a typical houseboat, with a deck covered with a green striped a

vely!" murm

y do you bring us here to show us

owbridge, "I want to k

oice behind the little

ywhere for you!" Neale O'Neil came hurryin

sn't gone against me," Ruth heard her

e began to ta