o be counted among his
friends. "He is a fellow," concluded Binney, "who couldn't do a mean
thing if he tried. One thing I like especially about him is that he is
just as careful in his attention to trifles, if they come in the line
of his duty, as he is to big things, and Billy has already had some
pretty important positions too, I can tell you. He is full of fun, and
was the life and soul of the Second Division all the time they were
crossing the plains. Glen knows him better than I do, though, because
they were 'bunkies' together, and from what he has told me I regard
myself as mighty lucky to have the chance of taking a trip in his
company."

"He has told me a good deal about you and Glen on that trip," said
Winn, "but I don't remember hearing anything about his own adventures."

"That's just what makes fellows like him. He is always ready to listen
to what they have to say, or to tell of anything they have done, if it
is worth telling; but he never puts himself forward as one who knows it
all or has done it all and can't be taught anything."

This conversation set Winn to thinking, with the result that in one
instance, at least, he had been too hasty in his conclusions. He had
been somewhat ashamed that his uncle should act the part of showman
with a river panorama, and had supposed that it was done from a desire
to display his own accomplishments. Now he wondered if, after all,
this was not the one delicate and unobtrusive way in which Cap'n Cod's
poor little undertaking could have been saved from a ridiculous and
mortifying failure. He had been inclined to regard his young relative
as rather frivolous; but perhaps there were depths to Billy Brackett's
character that he was not yet wise enough to fathom. He would study it
more carefully hereafter, and how doubly thankful he now was that his
chance to do so had not been lost with the wreck of the _Whatnot_.

Although the interior of the _Venture's_ "shanty" still seemed
unfamiliar to Winn, he could no longer doubt that the raft was his
father's. In the small room that he was to have occupied he now found
most of his own possessions just where he had left them. Among the
things that he was particularly glad thus to find were several changes
of clothing, of which he stood greatly in need.

The "shanty" was in great disorder; but the two boys worked so
faithfully at sweeping, cleaning, and putting things to rights, that by
the time the others returned