The air was exceeding clear, and the green outlines of the hills rose sharp against the blue sky.
Winthrop stood a minute on one of the rocks at the water's edge to look, and then stepped from that to the one where his boat was moored, and began to undo the chain.
"Are you going down after those people ?" said the voice of Rufus behind him.

It sounded in considerable disgust.
"What do you advise ?" said Winthrop without looking up.
"I would see them at the bottom of the river first!" "Bad advice," said Winthrop.

"It would be a great deal harder to go after them there." "Do you know what effect your going now will have ?" "Upon them ?" "No, upon you." "Well -- no," said Winthrop looking at the river; "I shall have a pull up, but I shall hardly hear any news of that to- morrow." "It will make them despise you!" "That would be rather an effect upon them," said Winthrop, throwing the loosened chain into the boat's head and stepping in himself; -- "as it strikes me." "I wish you would take my advice," said Rufus.
"Which ?" said his brother.
"Let them alone!" "I will," said Winthrop; "I mean that." "You are excessively provoking!" "Are you sure ?" said Winthrop smiling.

"What do you propose that I should do, Rufus ?" "Send Sam Doolittle in your place." "Willingly; but it happens that he could not fill my place.
You must see that." "And are you going to bring up their baggage and all ?" "I must know the sum of two unknown quantities before I can tell whether it is just equal to a boat-load." Rufus stood on the shore, biting his lip.

The little boat was silently slipping out from between the rocks, after a light touch or two of the oars, when Asahel came bounding down the road and claimed Winthrop's promise for a place in it.
"You don't want this child with you!" said Rufus.
But Winthrop gave one or two pushes in the reverse direction and with great skill laid the skiff alongside of the rock.
Asahel jumped in triumphantly, and again slowly clearing the rocks the little boat took the tide and the impulse of a strong arm at once, and shot off down the stream.
They kept the mid-channel, and with its swift current soon came abreast of the high out-jutting headland behind which the waters turned and hid themselves from the home view.