At the same time he managed somehow to learn all about Winn and his family, the raft and how it happened to be where it was, without giving a single item of information concerning himself in return.
When Winn finally declared that he could eat no more, Mr.Gilder also pushed back his chair, and said: "Now, then, for business.

First, I must tell you that you are in a very serious predicament.

I examined the position of this raft before coming aboard, and arrived at the conclusion that both it and its cargo are in a fair way of becoming a total loss.

As soon as the river falls again, which it is likely to do at any time, the raft will probably break in pieces of its own weight.

In that case you would lose both it and your wheat.