"All right. Haven't you got a fishing-pole at home?"
"Yes, I have a very handsome one; it cost five dollars."
"Then it's rather ahead of mine," said Ben.
"I should say so," remarked Sam, surveying Ben's pole with contempt.
"But I'll bet you can't catch as many fish with it," said Ben promptly. "I don't think it makes much difference to the fish," he added, with a laugh, "whther they are caught with a five-dollar pole or a five-cent one."
"Very likely," said Sam briefly, "but I prefer to use a nice pole."
"Oh, there's no objection," said Ben, "if you fancy it. It doesn't make any difference to me."
"When are you going to work?" asked Sam abruptly.
"I am working every day-that is, I am helping Uncle Job."
"But I suppose you mean to get regular work somewhere, don't you?"
"What's he after, I wonder?" thought Ben. "Maybe I do," he said aloud.
"Perhaps I can throw something in your way," said Sam, in a patronizing way.
"You are very kind," said Ben, who supposed Sam had heard of some business position which he could fill. Our hero decided that perhaps he had misjudged the major's son, and he was prepared to make amends. "If you get me a position, I shall be much obliged."
"The fact is," said Sam, "I should find it convenient to have a boy go about with me, and be at my orders. My Cousin Henry has one, and father says I may engage you."
Ben faced round, and looked steadily at Sam. He felt that he would far rather work for Deacon Pitkin, in spite of his meager table, or toil twelve hours a day in his uncle's shoe-shop, than accept such a place as was now offered him. He penetrated Sam's motive, and felt incensed with him, though he did not choose to show it.
"What are you willing to pay?" asked Ben, in a businesslike tone.
"Five dollars a month and your board," said Sam. "You'll live better than you ever did before in your life, and your duties will be easy."
"What would you want me to do?" asked Ben.
"Why, I would take you with me whenever I went out rowing or fishing. That would be easy enough. Then, in the morning you would black my shoes and keep my clothes well brushed, and go of any errands I had for you. Oh, well, I can't tell you all you would have to do, but you'd have an easy time."
"Yes, I don't think it would tire me out," said Ben. "You'd want me to black your boots?"
"Yes."
"Well, I might agree to that on one condition."
"What is that?"
"That you would black mine."
"What do you mean?" demanded Sam, his face flushing angrily.
"Just what I say."
"Do you mean to insult me?"
"Not a bit; any more than you mean to insult me,"
"Do you dare to propose that I, a gentleman, should black your low-lived shoes?" exclaimed Sam furiously.
"I think you're rather hard on my shoes," said Ben, laughing. "I'll come for four dollars a month, if you'll do that."
"I never heard such impudence," said Sam, in concentrated wrath. "I never was so repaid for kindness before."
"Look here, Sam," said Ben, "I understand just how kind you are. You want the satisfaction of ordering me round, and you can't have it. I decline your offer. I'd rather beg for bread than accept it."
"You may starve, for all me," said Sam. "It's ridiculous for a poor boy to put on such airs. You'll die in the poorhouse yet."
"I won't live there, if I can help it. What! are you going to leave me?"
"I won't condescend to be seen with you."
"Good-by, Sam. I hope you won't have to black your own boots."
Sam did not deign a reply.
"He looks mad," thought Ben. "I'd live on one meal a day rather than let him order me round."
CHAPTER IV
A BRILLIANT CHANCE
The week was over, and Ben persisted in his determination to leave Hampton.
"I'm sorry you are going, Ben," said his Cousin Jennie. "I shall miss you awfully."
As Jennie was the prettiest girl in the village, though she did not inherit any good looks from her plain-looking father, Ben was gratified.
"You'd forget me soon," he said.
"No, I won't."
"Especially when Sam Sturgis comes round to see you."
"I don't want to see him. He's a stuck-up boy, and thinks himself too good to associate with common people."
"He wanted to have me black his boots," said Ben.
"He isn't fit to black yours," said Jennie energetically.
"Oh, yes, he is," said Ben, laughing. "That's where you and I disagree."
"I guess we both mean about the same thing," said Jennie, who saw the point.
Ben's resolve to go to California was modified by an advertisement in a New York daily paper which he saw at the village tavern.
It ran thus:
"Wanted, six boys, from fifteen to eighteen years of age, to fill positions of trust. Ten dollars per week will be paid; but a deposit of fifty dollars is required as a guarantee of honesty. This sum will be repaid at the close of term of service. Address Fitch & Perguson, No.—Nassau Street."
This advertisement looked quite attractive to Ben. He copied it, and showed it to Uncle Job.
"Isn't that a good chance, Uncle Job?" he said. "Just think! Ten dollars a week!"
"You'd have to pay your board out of it," said his uncle.
"I know that, but my board wouldn't cost more than four dollars a week. That would leave me six."
"So it would. I declare it does seem to be a good chance. Maybe they've got all the boys they want."
"Why, you see, uncle, there's a good many boys that couldn't pay the deposit money. That would limit the number of applicants. Now, I have the money, and I guess I'd better write to New York at once about it."
"Maybe you had, Ben."
Ben immediately procured a sheet of paper and wrote to the advertisers, stating that he would like the position, and assuring them of his ability to furnish the required sum. The letter went to New York by the afternoon mail.
Naturally Ben was a little excited and suffered a little from suspense. He feared that all the places would be filled, and such another chance was hardly to be expected again very soon. However, on Monday morning he was gratified by the receipt of the following letter:
"No.—NASSAU STREET, NEW YORK.
"MR. BENJAMIN STANTON: Your letter of yesterday is at hand. Fortunately we have one vacancy, the other places being already filled. We have rejected three applicants for it on account of unsatisfactory penmanship. Yours, however, is up to the mark, and we will engage you on the strength of it. It will be necessary for you to report as soon as possible at our office for duty. We require the deposit on account of the sums of money which you will handle. We do not doubt your honesty, but it seems desirable that you should furnish a guarantee, particularly as we pay a much larger salary than is usually given to young clerks.
"Yours respectfully,
"FITCH & FERGUSON.
"P. S. Your engagement will not commence until the fifty dollars are in our hands."
Ben was quite elated by his success.
"I must start to-morrow morning," he said, "or I shall be in danger of losing the place."
"It seems very sudden,"