CHAPTER 4SIGNS OF THE TIMES
Young Mr. Litton overtook Willow just as the latter was approaching the neighborhood of Pudge Oliver’s place.
He said, “Tom, the time has come for us to settle down for a little while.”
“Sure, I knew that, I knew that,” answered Willow. “We’ll settle down here in a harbor full of reefs open to the wind, with a steer called the Dead Man for an anchor to windward. Ain’t that the plan?”
“That’s the advantage of having had you with me so long, Willow,” said Litton. “You know what’s in my mind—and that’s a great thing for me.”
“Me?” said Willow. “I don’t know what’s in your mind, and I don’t wanta know. I ain’t such a fool that I wanta know the future. I’d rather keep hopin’ about it.”
“The first thing,” said Litton, “is to get a place to stay here in town—some
