3. Chapter III.—The Conscript.
Philander Reed hadn't three hundred dollars,
being a dead-broken Reed, so he must either become
one of the noble Band who are Coming, Father Abraham,
three hundred thousand more, or skeddadle
across the St. Lawrence River to the Canada Line.
As his opinions had recently undergone a radical
change, he chose the latter course, and was soon
Afloat, afloat, on the swift-rolling tide. “Row, brothers,
row,” he cried, “the stream runs fast, the
Seargeant is near, and the 'Zamination's past, and I'm
a able-bodied man.”
Landing he at once imprinted a conservative kiss
on the Canada Line, and feelingly asked himself,
“Who will care for Mother now? But I propose
to stick it out on this Line if it takes all Summer.”
