y actually encounter
some resistance to drive them back. They do this partly to show their
independence and importance. But Mr. George was not one of this sort.

So Rollo would not go upon the bridge.

"Then let us go out on the forecastle," said Waldron. He pointed, as he
spoke, to the forecastle, which is a small raised deck at the bows of a
steamer, where there is an excellent place to see.

"No," said Rollo, "I will not go on the forecastle either. Uncle
George's rule for me on board ship is, that I may go where I see other
gentlemanly passengers go, and nowhere else. The passengers do not go on
the forecastle."

"Yes," said Waldron, "there are some there now."

"There is only one," said Rollo, "and he has no business there."

During the progress of this conversation the boys had sat down upon the
upper step of a steep flight of stairs which led down from the promenade
deck to the main deck. They could see pretty well where they were, but
not so well, Waldron thought, as they could have seen from the
forecastle.

"_I_ think we might go on the forecastle as well as not," said Waldron,
"even according to your own rule. For there is a passenger there."

"I think it is doubtful," said Rollo.

"Well," said Waldron, "we'll call it doubtful. We will draw lots for
it."

So saying, Waldron put his hand in his pocket, and, after fumbling about
there a minute or two, took it out, and held it before Rollo with the
fingers shut, so that Rollo could not see what was in it.

"Odd or even?" said Waldron.

Rollo looked at the closed hand, with a smile of curiosity on his face,
but he did not answer.

"Say odd or even," continued Waldron. "If you hit, that will prove that
you are right, and we will not go to the forecastle; but if you miss,
then we _will_ go."

Rollo hesitated a moment, not being quite sure that this was a proper
way of deciding a question of right and wrong. In a moment, however, he
answered, "Even."

Waldron opened his hand, and Rollo saw that there was _nothing_ in it.

"There," said Waldron, "it is odd, and you said even."

"No," said Rollo, "it is not either even _or_ odd. There is nothing at
all in your hand."

"Well," said Waldron, "nothing is a number, and it is odd."

"O Waldron!" said Rollo, "it is not any number at all. Besides, if it is
a number, it is not odd--it is even."

"Yes," said Waldron, "it is a number, for you can add it, and subtract
it, and multiply it, and divide it,