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diff --git a/24775.txt b/24775.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d12118b --- /dev/null +++ b/24775.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8598 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Up the River, by Oliver Optic + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Up the River + or, Yachting on the Mississippi + +Author: Oliver Optic + +Release Date: March 7, 2008 [EBook #24775] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK UP THE RIVER *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from scans of public domain material produced by +Microsoft for their Live Search Books site.) + + + + + + +[Illustration: "The little steamer rushed madly into the opening." +Page 293.] + + + + +THE GREAT WESTERN SERIES + + + + +UP THE RIVER + +OR + +YACHTING ON THE MISSISSIPPI + + + +BY + +OLIVER OPTIC + + +AUTHOR OF "YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD" "THE ARMY AND NAVY SERIES" "THE +WOODVILLE SERIES" "THE STARRY FLAG SERIES" "THE BOAT CLUB +STORIES" "THE LAKE SHORE SERIES" "THE UPWARD AND +ONWARD SERIES" "THE YACHT CLUB SERIES" +"THE RIVERDALE STORIES" ETC. + + +_WITH EIGHT ILLUSTRATIONS_ + + +BOSTON +LEE AND SHEPARD PUBLISHERS +NEW YORK CHARLES T. DILLINGHAM +1882 + +COPYRIGHT, +1881, +BY WILLIAM T. ADAMS. + +BOSTON STEREOTYPE FOUNDRY, +NO. 4 PEARL STREET. + + + +TO MY YOUNG FRIEND + +MINNIE ETHEL ADAMS, + +This Book + +IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED. + + + + +THE GREAT WESTERN SERIES. + + +GOING WEST; OR, THE PERILS OF A POOR BOY. + +OUT WEST; OR, ROUGHING IT ON THE GREAT LAKES. + +LAKE BREEZES; OR, THE CRUISE OF THE SYLVANIA. + +GOING SOUTH; OR, YACHTING ON THE ATLANTIC COAST. + +DOWN SOUTH; OR, YACHT ADVENTURES IN FLORIDA. + +UP THE RIVER; OR, YACHTING ON THE MISSISSIPPI. + + +LEE AND SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +UP THE RIVER is the sixth and last of "The Great Western Series." The +events of the story occur on the coast of Florida, in the Gulf of +Mexico, and on the Mississippi River. The volume and the series close +with the return of the hero, by a route not often taken by tourists, to +his home in Michigan. His voyaging on the ocean, the Great Lakes, and +the Father of Waters, is finished for the present; but the writer +believes that his principal character has grown wiser and better since +he was first introduced to the reader. He has made mistakes of +judgment, but whatever of example and inspiration he may impart to the +reader will be that of a true and noble boy, with no vices to disfigure +his character, and no low aims to lead him from "the straight and +narrow path" of duty. + +The author has a copy of his first book before him as he writes. On the +title-page is this line: "A Tale of the Mississippi and the +South-West." The preface, dated 1852, contains this passage: "In the +summer of 1848, the author of the following tale was a passenger on +board of a steamboat from New Orleans to Cincinnati. During the +passage--one of the most prolonged and uncomfortable in the annals of +western river navigation--the plot of this story was arranged. Many of +its incidents, and all of its descriptions of steamboat life will be +recognized by the voyager on the Mississippi." Since that time the +author has travelled on the upper waters of the great river. + +His last book, by a coincidence at the present time, also relates to +the Mississippi. Nearly a generation has passed away between the first +and the last; and the latter is the writer's seventy-fifth book. The +author has endeavored to make his works correct in facts and +descriptions, as well as in moral tendency; and in the preparation of +them he has travelled over fifty thousand miles by sea and land. + +To his young friends,--some of the earlier of whom are now middle-aged +men and women, with boys and girls of their own, reading the same books +their fathers and mothers read a quarter of a century ago,--to his +young friends the author again returns his sincere and hearty thanks +for the favor they have bestowed upon his numerous volumes. + +DORCHESTER, MASS., +June 1, 1881. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + PAGE +CHAPTER I. +IN CAPTAIN BOOMSBY'S SALOON 11 + +CHAPTER II. +FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS 23 + +CHAPTER III. +ADIEU TO THE BOOMSBYS 34 + +CHAPTER IV. +NICK BOOMSBY HAS ASPIRATIONS 47 + +CHAPTER V. +THE STRANGE MOVEMENT OF THE ISLANDER 59 + +CHAPTER VI. +A LIVELY CHASE 71 + +CHAPTER VII. +A FOG OFF THE FLORIDA COAST 81 + +CHAPTER VIII. +A PORT IN A STORM 93 + +CHAPTER IX. +A VISIT FROM AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE 104 + +CHAPTER X. +INTELLIGENCE OF THE ISLANDER 116 + +CHAPTER XI. +DIFFICULT NAVIGATION 127 + +CHAPTER XII. +THE CALAMITY ON FRENCH REEF 138 + +CHAPTER XIII. +A NIGHT LOST IN THE STORM 149 + +CHAPTER XIV. +LOOKING FOR THE ISLANDER 160 + +CHAPTER XV. +A PARTIAL SOLUTION OF THE MYSTERY 172 + +CHAPTER XVI. +ACROSS THE GULF OF MEXICO 184 + +CHAPTER XVII. +THE SYLVANIA IN AMBUSH 196 + +CHAPTER XVIII. +HOW NICK BOOMSBY MANAGED HIS CASE 208 + +CHAPTER XIX. +A SEARCH FOR THE LOST TREASURE 220 + +CHAPTER XX. +THE THEORY AND THE FACTS 231 + +CHAPTER XXI. +UP THE MISSISSIPPI 242 + +CHAPTER XXII. +THE ISLANDER IN A BAD FIX 253 + +CHAPTER XXIII. +AN EMBARRASSING SITUATION 265 + +CHAPTER XXIV. +A CREVASSE ON THE MISSISSIPPI 277 + +CHAPTER XXV. +SAILING ACROSS THE FIELDS 289 + +CHAPTER XXVI. +A DESPERATE STRUGGLE WITH THE RUSHING WATERS 301 + +CHAPTER XXVII. +THE PLANTER AND HIS FAMILY 312 + +CHAPTER XXVIII. +A DISTINGUISHED PASSENGER 324 + +CHAPTER XXIX. +UP THE RIVER FOR MANY DAYS 335 + +CHAPTER XXX. +UP ANOTHER RIVER AND HOME AGAIN 347 + + + + +UP THE RIVER; + +OR, + +YACHTING ON THE MISSISSIPPI. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +IN CAPTAIN BOOMSBY'S SALOON. + + +"I don't think it's quite the thing, Alick," said my cousin, Owen +Garningham, as we were walking through Bay Street after our return to +Jacksonville from the interior of Florida. + +"What is not quite the thing, Owen?" I inquired, for he had given me no +clue to what he was thinking about. + +"After I chartered your steamer for a year to come here, and go up the +Mississippi River--by the way, this river is called 'The Father of +Waters,' isn't it?" asked Owen, flying off from the subject in his +mind, as he was in the habit of doing. + +"Every schoolboy in this country learns that from his geography," I +replied. + +"Happily, I was never a schoolboy in this country, and I didn't find it +out from the geography. If the Mississippi is the Father of Waters, can +you tell me who is the mother of them?" + +"The Miss'ouri." + +"O, ah! Don't you feel faint, Captain Alick?" added Owen, stopping +short on the sidewalk, and gazing into my face with a look of mock +anxiety. + +"Not at all; I think I could swallow a burly Briton or two, if the +occasion required." + +"Don't do it! It would ruin your digestion. But it strikes me those two +rivers are but one." + +"I think so, too, and they ought to be. Father and mother--man and +wife--ought to be one," I answered, as indifferently as I could. "But +something was not quite the thing; and if there is anything in this +country that is not quite the thing, I want to know what it is." + +"When I chartered the Sylvania to come down here, and then go up the +'Father of Waters,' it isn't quite the thing for your father to declare +the whole thing off at this point of the cruise," replied Owen. "I was +going to have a jolly good time going up the river." + +"You may have it yet, for I have given you a cordial invitation to go +'up the river' with me; and I mean every word I said about the matter," +I added, in soothing tones. + +"But your father says the charter arrangement is ended, and you may go +where you like in your steamer." + +"And I concluded at once to carry out all the arrangements for this +trip, just as we made them at Detroit," I replied. "I have invited the +Shepards and the Tiffanys to join us, and everything will go on just as +it did before, except that you will not pay the bills." + +"Which means that, if I join you at all, I shall not be myself," +returned Owen, with a look of disgust. "In other words, I shall not be +my own master, and I must go where my uncle and you may choose to take +me." + +"Not at all; we are going up the Mississippi simply because that is the +route you selected, and because I desire to carry out your plan of +travel to the letter," I replied, rather warmly. "I don't think I could +do anything more to meet your views than I have done." + +"You are as noble, grand, magnanimous, as it is possible for any fellow +to be, Alick; but that don't make me any more willing to be under +obligations to you every day of my life." + +"You need feel under no obligations to me." + +"Ah, but I do, you see; and I still think it was not just the thing to +break away from the written agreement we made," continued Owen, unable +to conceal his vexation. + +"I think you ought not to say another word in that line of remark, +Owen. A contract to do anything fraudulent is void from the beginning. +Do you remember for what purpose you chartered the Sylvania?" + +"If you won't say another word about it, Alick, I won't!" exclaimed my +cousin, extending his hand to me, which I immediately grasped. + +"I won't, unless you drive me to it," I replied. "I have not reminded +you of what occurred while we were coming South, and I never will, for +I think Carrington was the villain of the drama, and not you." + +"You are right, Alick; and you are the best fellow that ever lived!" +protested Owen. "But I would like to pay my share of the expenses of +the cruise from this day, as I have done before. I shall feel better +about it if I do." + +"I will speak to my father about that. I am sure I don't object to your +paying your share," I answered. "I am willing to carry out the +agreement just as we made it; but my father takes a different view of +the subject." + +"I know he does, and I can't blame him," replied Owen. "He means simply +to say that his son shall be under no obligations to me, after what has +happened." + +"Let us say nothing more about this matter, Owen," I added; "it is not +a pleasant topic to me, any more than it was to him." + +"When do we sail, if I sail with you, Alick?" he asked. + +"To-morrow morning; and we should be on board to-night, ready for an +early start, for we have to conform to the tide on the bar at the mouth +of the river. The Tiffanys will go with us, but the Shepards have not +yet accepted the invitation I gave them." + +"I am going to Colonel Shepard's house now, and I will find out whether +they are going or not," said Owen, as we came to a street leading to +St. James's Square, where Colonel Shepard's house was located. + +"And I will drop into Captain Boomsby's saloon," I added. + +"The beast Boomsby! Why do you go there, Alick?" demanded Owen, with a +look of disgust and astonishment in his face. + +"I lived with him for years, and I will just say good-by to him, for I +may never see him again. I hope I never shall, at any rate. He has +abused and wronged me, but I am willing to forgive him if he will only +keep out of my way." + +"'Pon my word, I believe you would forgive a man if he blew your brains +out, Alick?" + +"If it were a matter of brains, I couldn't do it; but if I had heart +enough left, I would try to forgive him if he was sorry for what he had +done." + +"You forgave me, and it is easy enough for you to do the same with +Beast Boomsby," added Owen, as he turned up the street to his +destination. + +I had been made the victim of a plot, and taught to believe that my +father, Sir Bent Garningham, was dead. The little steamer Sylvania was +my own property, for I had earned it by saving the lives of her +original owner and his family. Pike Carrington, my father's solicitor +in England, had induced the son of my father's younger brother to make +an attempt to get me "out of the way." + +The villain had acted more for his own interest than for that of my +cousin. They had called in my old enemy Captain Parker Boomsby, and +sent him to Florida in one steamer, while Owen went with me in the +Sylvania. My friend Robert Washburn, the mate of the steam-yacht, had +discovered the plot, and we had been on our guard night and day to meet +any treachery. + +Captain Boomsby claimed me and all that I had, when he learned that my +father was dead. He had done his best to obtain the steam-yacht, but +his unfortunate habit of drinking too much whiskey had defeated his +plan. In his attempt to destroy me he had taken the life of the +solicitor. + +On our voyage, "going South," we had encountered a heavy gale in the +Gulf of St. Lawrence. Owen Garningham, my cousin, had been swept from +the hurricane-deck of the Sylvania by the raging sea. At the risk of my +own, I had saved his life. This act had conquered him, and he no longer +took any interest in the plan to destroy me, if he had ever thought of +anything so bad as this. He became my strong friend, and had no further +desire to rob me of my father's estate, or to obtain the title, for +which he cared more than I did. + +The Shepards were a family we first met at a regatta in Portland +Harbor. Owen had become deeply interested in Miss Edith, the daughter, +and, at his invitation, the family had come most of the way to Florida +in the steamer. We had been up the Ocklawaha River to Lake Griffin, and +up the St. Johns as far as any steamer could go. My father, who had +left me at college in Montomercy, to attend to his affairs in England, +had been called to India on business. His absence was the opportunity +for the conspirators, and they destroyed our letters. + +When I learned that my father was not dead, I had written to him. He +had followed me up the St. Johns, and appeared in time to save me from +the bullet of one of Captain Boomsby's agents. He learned the whole +truth from me, and at once cancelled the charter by which my cousin +Owen was to have the use of the steamer for a year, one half of which +had now expired. + +The Tiffanys were father and daughter, whom the crew of the Sylvania +had saved from a fire at St. Augustine. The gentleman was an intimate +friend of my father, who requested him to see me when he visited this +country. His daughter Margie, if not as pretty as Edith Shepard, +interested me more. As arranged before we left Detroit, we were to go +up the Mississippi River. The Tiffanys had accepted the invitation to +join us, for they were tourists for pleasure and observation. + +My father was an English baronet, succeeding to the title and estates +by the death of an elder brother. He had served in the army for many +years, and had attained the rank of major. He was better pleased to be +called by his military than by his family title, in this republican +land. But he was too proud to allow me to continue in the employ of my +cousin, though he did not object to his nephew as a passenger when I +desired it. He left everything to me to manage as I pleased after he +had cancelled the charter agreement. With this abstract of previous +events my readers will be prepared to understand what is to follow. + +Captain Boomsby's saloon was on Bay Street. He had a bar for the white +and respectable customers on that street, and another in the rear for +negroes. I was never even tempted to drink any intoxicating beverages; +and when he became a rumseller, I thought my tyrant had found his +proper level. His son Nick tended the front bar, while he waited upon +the negroes, who imbibed the cheapest corn-whiskey and apple-brandy by +the tumbler-full at a dram. + +When I went into the saloon Captain Boomsby was seated in the rear of +the room, where he had a view of both bars. He was at least half "full" +himself. He was badly bloated, and his face was red and almost +honeycombed with toddy-blossoms. + +"Well, Sandy, what do you want now?" demanded the saloon-keeper, when I +came into his presence. He did not call me "Alick," as others did, but +still used the name by which I had been known when he took me from the +poor-house in the State of Maine. + +"Nothing, Captain Boomsby; only we sail to-morrow, and I thought I +would say good-by to you, for I may never see you again," I replied. + +"I never want to see you no more," growled he. "You've always behaved +bad ever since I fust knowed you, and you will come to some bad end +yet." + +"I hope not," I said, seating myself. + +"You sartin will. I took care on you when you was little, and done +everything I could for you; but you have worked agin me from the fust." + +As I seated myself I saw a customer come up to the front bar. He had a +package, which he laid upon the counter while he poured out his dram. + +"I don't think it's any use for you and me to talk over these things," +I added, turning my eyes from the counter to the bloated face of my +former tyrant. "We shall not be likely to agree in regard to matters in +the past." + +"You know just as well as I do that the steam-yacht you sail in +rightfully belongs to me," he added. + +"I think not. If she belongs to anybody besides myself, it must be to +my father." + +"That man ain't your father any more'n I am." + +At that moment a rather rough-looking man came into the saloon, walked +far enough back to look into the negro bar, and then retreated. + +"I think it has been fully proved that Major Garningham is my father," +I replied. + +I had scarcely spoken the words, as the rough-looking visitor was +retreating without any dram, when Nick made a flying leap over the +counter, and rushed out at the street door. The gentleman with the +package had his eyes upturned to the ceiling, in the act of draining +the tumbler in which he had elaborately stirred up the fiery mixture. + +[Illustration: "Nick rushed out at the street door." _Page 22._] + +When Nick went over the counter the customer was startled. He saw, at +the same moment I discovered the fact, that the package he had laid +upon the counter was missing. He rushed out of the saloon like a crazy +man. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS. + + +"What on airth does all that mean?" said Captain Boomsby, rising with +difficulty from his chair, and walking towards the front door. + +"I'm sure I don't know," I replied. "I saw Nick leap over the counter +as though he had found a mocassin-snake behind it." + +"Don't say nothin' about mocassins here, for you scart my wife out of +her seven senses once afore," said the captain, savagely, as he stopped +and looked at me. + +He had set a trap to have such a snake bite me in his house; but I was +not thinking of that when I named the venomous reptile. This event, and +the quantity of his own vile fluids he consumed, made him sensitive on +the subject of snakes. I was afraid he would soon see more of them than +he could manage. + +"What made Nick run out so quick, and what did Peverell follow him for, +without payin' for his liquor?" continued Captain Boomsby, when he had +properly admonished me in regard to the snakes. + +"I don't know, sir," I replied. "Who was the man that followed Nick?" + +"That was Peverell." + +"Who is Peverell?" I asked. "What does he do?" + +"He is the messenger, I believe they call him, of the First National +Bank of Florida." + +"That explains it all, then," I added, beginning to understand the +situation. + +"I don't see nothin'. What explains it all?" demanded the captain, +testily. + +"Peverell had a package when he came in. He put it on the counter +before he poured out his dram," I explained. "When Nick went over the +counter the package was gone. If Peverell is the messenger of a bank, I +have no doubt the bundle contained money in bank notes." + +"Creation! You don't! But what made Nick go over the bar so like a +hoppergrass?" exclaimed the saloon-keeper. + +"I don't know. I can only understand what I saw." + +"If Nick's got that bundle of money, he's smart," added Captain +Boomsby. + +"Do you think it was smart to steal it, captain?" I asked, mildly. + +"How big a package was it, Sandy?" replied my tyrant, turning away from +the moral question. + +"It was at least two inches thick." + +"Creation! Then there ain't less than a thousand dollars in it!" + +"Let us hope that Nick did not take it," I added. + +"Well, you go out, Sandy, and see where Nick's gone. I can't leave both +bars without anybody to look out for 'em, for them niggers will come in +and steal the liquor as quick as they will chickens." + +I was interested to know the meaning of what I had seen in the saloon, +and I went out into Bay Street. A crowd of men were rushing towards a +narrow street leading down to the river. I followed them, and, near the +landing-place of the Charleston steamers, I saw a colored policeman lay +violent hands on the rough-looking person who had walked into the +saloon, looked into the negro bar, and then retreated. + +Nick was on the spot, hatless and coatless, almost as soon as the +policeman had grabbed his victim. Mr. Peverell was only a moment +behind. By this time I had framed an explanation of what had transpired +in the saloon which satisfied me for the moment, whether it was correct +or not. While Peverell was concocting his beverage--and he had seemed +to me to be very dainty and particular in the preparation of it--he had +almost turned his back upon the package on the counter. + +I was not bestowing any particular attention upon the rough-looking +visitor, but I had seen him pass close by the bank messenger. I +concluded that he had snatched up the package on the counter, and +retreated with it from the saloon. Nick had either seen the man take +the bundle, or had discovered that it was missing. No one could have +taken it but the person who was passing out of the door. On the impulse +of the moment the young bar-tender had leaped over the counter to +pursue the thief. + +Of course a crowd quickly collected around the robber and the +policeman, with Nick and the messenger in the inner circle. The bank +official was very much excited, and I judged that the package contained +a considerable sum of money. Nick was hardly less disturbed. I was +interested enough to run all the way to the pier, and work myself into +the centre of the crowd before it had become very compact. + +"Dat's jes like you, Buckner," said the policeman, as soon as he could +obtain breath enough to speak,--and he had not quite enough when he did +speak. "I done cotch you doin' dat same ting before." + +"Doing what thing, you black spider?" demanded Buckner, who appeared to +be greatly astonished at his arrest. + +"You done stole someting," protested the guardian of the peace. "What +did you run for if you don't steal someting?" + +"I didn't steal anything! I run because the rest of you did, to find +out what the matter was," replied Buckner, stoutly. "What did I steal, +you black Lazarus?" + +"Donno what you 'tole. I 'pose dis gemman can told what you 'tole," +replied the policeman, turning to Peverell. + +"He stole a package of bank bills I laid on the counter; that is what +he stole! And there was four thousand dollars in the package, too," +gasped the messenger. + +"Did you see me take the package?" demanded Buckner, indignantly. + +"I did not; but you were the only person that came into the saloon and +left it while I was there," replied Peverell, sharply; and it was +evident that he had no doubt at all in regard to the guilty person. + +"I didn't touch your package! I didn't see any package! I didn't go +near you, or even know you were in the saloon!" protested Buckner, +vehemently. "I'm a poor man, I know, and it is hard enough for me to +get a living; but I never stole the value of a penny in my life." + +"But I saw him take it!" broke in Nick, with almost as much earnestness +as Buckner or Peverell, though he had no special interest in the +animated discussion. "The moment he tried to get out of the saloon, I +jumped over the counter and went for him." + +"That's so!" added Peverell, with increasing energy. "But we are +wasting time. Why don't you search your prisoner, and get the package? +If he stole it, he has the package now." + +"Search me as much as you like!" replied Buckner, warmly. + +"Search him!" "Overhaul him!" "Clean him out!" shouted the crowd, who +were working themselves up to a fever-heat over the case. + +"He's thrown it away before this time," suggested Nick. + +"He couldn't have thrown it away without some one seeing him do it," +replied Peverell. "Did any one see him throw it away?" + +"No! no!" shouted the bystanders. + +I had seen Buckner running down the middle of the narrow street, with +the officer, Nick, Peverell, and others, within a few feet of him. It +would have been almost impossible for him to get rid of the bundle in +any way without being observed. + +"He might have thrown it into the river," again suggested Nick. + +"He done don't go widin twenty yards ob de riber; and he done don't +frow no package in de riber when I don't see him. Dis chile hab his +four eyes open all de time," added the policeman. + +"Search him!" "Turn him inside out!" shouted the crowd again. + +"Search me all you like!" cried Buckner, pulling out both the pockets +of his pants, and throwing up his arms in readiness to submit to the +operation. "I haven't got the package, and I never saw it." + +"How big was de package, Mr. Peverell?" asked the officer, as he +proceeded to examine the clothing of the prisoner. + +"It was the size of a bank-bill, and about two inches thick," replied +the messenger, very anxiously. + +"I don't find noffin like dat on dis yere prisonder," said the officer, +when he had felt his man all over. + +"You won't find nothing if you search me all day and all night," +protested Buckner; and there was something like a proud dignity in his +manner, though he was not a good-looking man. + +But it is possible to be honest without being handsome; and rogues +assume virtues they do not possess. Certainly, the valuable package was +not concealed upon the person of Buckner. The only alternative was, +that he had thrown it away,--cast it into some hole, or pitched it into +the river. + +"There can be no doubt this is the man that took the package from the +counter, for no one else came near me while I was in the saloon," +reasoned Peverell, whose vehemence had calmed down, and given place to +a deep anxiety. + +"I've said all I have to say, and you can do what you like with me; but +I will make it hot for some of you before you see the end of this +business," said Buckner, doggedly. "I'm a poor man, but I'm not to be +trodden on, any more than a nigger is!" + +By this time the crowd had scattered to make a search in the holes and +in the water for the missing package. + +"What were you doing in the saloon?" asked the messenger, in a mild +tone. + +"I went in there to see if I could find a man to help me take up a +couple of trunks to the St. James," replied Buckner. "I looked into the +nigger bar, and then came out. I saw there was a man at the front bar; +but I took no notice of him, and didn't see any package." + +"Before you had reached the door, this young man had jumped over the +counter, and was chasing you. He was sure you had taken the package; +and no one else could have taken it," added Peverell, warming up again. + +"But I didn't take it, and that's all I have to say about it," answered +Buckner, decidedly. + +"I saw him take it!" repeated Nick, with emphasis. "He must have thrown +it into the river." + +The policeman led his prisoner away to the lockup, while all the rest +of us followed up the search for half an hour. The messenger said the +bills were done up between two tin slabs of the size of the notes, and +inclosed in brown paper. Some searched on the pier, and some went out +in boats,--but no package could be found. The search was given up, and +I went back to the saloon with Nick and Peverell. + +Captain Boomsby's son told his father all about the affair from +beginning to end. He was putting the whiskey-bottle back into its place +under the counter, when he heard Buckner's step as he approached the +front door. He looked up, saw that the package was gone, and that the +departing visitor had it. "That was all he knew about it." + +"But you said you saw Buckner take it," said Peverell. + +"I saw him take it out of the saloon," replied Nick. + +The circumstances pointed very strongly, to say the least, to Buckner +as the guilty one. I had learned all I wanted to know, and was trying +to say good-by to Captain Boomsby, when Peeks, the steward of the +Sylvania, came into the saloon with a telegraphic dispatch in his hand. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +ADIEU TO THE BOOMSBYS. + + +Mr. Peverell, the bank messenger, called at the saloon on his way back. +Doubtless he was not a little concerned about meeting the officers of +the bank, after the loss of so large a sum of money. By this time they +had heard the news, for it was flying all over the city. He looked very +much troubled, as well he might. + +"It seems very strange to me," said Peverell, after he had discussed +the robbery for a while. "Nobody came into the saloon while I was there +but Buckner. I saw him come in, but I took no further notice of him; +and I hadn't the least idea that anything was wrong till I saw Nick +leap over the counter. I can't see how anybody else could have taken +the package; and it is just as hard to tell what became of it." + +"I haven't the least doubt but what he threw it into the river," added +Nick Boomsby. + +"I don't see how he could have done it without anybody seeing him," +replied the messenger. "There were plenty of men standing about the +pier." + +"There seems to be something the matter here," interposed Peeks, coming +up to me at this moment with the telegraphic despatch in his hand. "I +am sorry to disturb you, Captain Alick." + +"It is none of my affairs," I added, hoping the despatch contained no +bad news from home. + +"I have a message from Detroit informing me that my father is very +sick," added Peeks, opening the despatch. "My mother wants me to come +home as quick as I can." + +"I am sorry your news is so bad, Mr. Peeks; but there is only one thing +for a son to do in such a case," I replied, full of sympathy for our +steward. "I hardly know how I shall get along without you; but I cannot +ask you to remain under such circumstances." + +"I am sorry to leave, Captain Alick, especially for such a reason. My +health has been entirely restored by this cruise, and I would not leave +you if I didn't get a cent for my work, though I have been well and +promptly paid. My father has considerable property, and my mother is +old and feeble. I am afraid I shall not be able to join you again, for +if my father dies, as the doctors say he must, I shall have to look out +for his affairs at home. But I have no time to lose, for I must take +the train for the North this afternoon." + +I paid him the balance of wages due him, and we parted with a hearty +shake of hands. His going disturbed me not a little, for he was both +skilful and faithful, and his services had been invaluable, when I had +so many passengers on board the Sylvania. He left the saloon, and for +some minutes I forgot the exciting events of the day. + +If we were to sail on our next cruise, as had been arranged, the next +morning, I must look up a competent steward. But the Florida season was +over, and I anticipated no trouble in finding one. + +By this time there was quite a crowd collected in the saloon, and for +half an hour longer the robbery was talked over. Nothing new was +brought out. Buckner had taken the package from the counter, Nick had +pursued him, and the money was not found. They could not get beyond +these facts, or beyond these apparent facts, for things are not always +as they seem. + +Peverell left when he found he could get no further in his +investigation, and then for a time there was a lively business done at +both bars of the saloon. The negroes had come into the front room to +hear what was said, and they could not leave till each of them had +imbibed all the cheap whiskey he could get into one of Captain +Boomsby's thick-bottomed tumblers. Nick was just as busy at the front +bar. I could not help looking at him as he dealt out the dangerous +fluids--doubly dangerous after passing through Captain Boomsby's hands. +I doubted whether he had any ambition to become anything better than a +bartender. He was about my age, but not half so robust, for, being an +only son, his father and mother humored him, and never compelled him to +do anything like hard work, as they had me. + +Nick was dressed in rather cheap, but flashy, clothes, and wore an +enormous glass diamond in his shirt front. At the present time he +seemed to be doing his dirty work in a very mechanical manner, as +though he were thinking of something else. He had to ask every customer +twice over what he wanted, and even then gave him the wrong bottle. + +But the rush of business was soon over. Captain Boomsby came out of the +negro bar, and Nick joined him in the rear of the front saloon. The +father looked at the son, and the son looked at the father, and then +both of them looked at me, as though they did not care to say anything +in my presence. + +"I suppose I shall have to go to court, father," said Nick, "and I +guess I had better go up stairs and slick up a little." + +"You look well enough as you be," replied the elder Boomsby. + +"If I am going into the court, I want my best clothes on. Besides, +father, you said I might go out this afternoon," replied Nick, who +evidently had other views in his head than the court. "Mother had just +as lief tend bar this afternoon as not." + +"I s'pose she had, but I don't want her in the bar when I can help it," +added the captain, whose marital relations had become decidedly +unpleasant, as I had learned from observation. + +"Well, Captain Boomsby, I must say good-bye to you again," I +interposed, not caring to wait for the father and son to settle the +question between them. + +I offered my hand and he took it; but I don't think he was inclined to +weep at my departure. I thought that Nick looked at me with more than +usual interest, and when I took him by the hand to say good-bye to him, +he pressed my hand warmly. Before, when I had met him, he was hardly +disposed to speak to me at all. He and his mother kept the old sores +open. + +"I have never been on board of your steamer yet, Captain Alick," said +he, with a sort of ghastly grin, which I could not understand. "I +wanted to get out this afternoon to make a visit to her." + +"She can be seen by everybody who chooses to visit her, and I shall be +glad to see you on board of her," I replied. "All hands are on shore +now, except Cobbington, who is acting as ship-keeper. He will show you +all over the Sylvania, if I am not on board." + +"Where are you going from here in her?" asked Nick. + +"We shall run down the coast of Florida, then across the Gulf of +Mexico, and then up the Mississippi," I replied. + +"I wish I was going with you," added Nick. + +I did not wish he was going with me, and so I said nothing. I had taken +leave of the captain and his son, and was about to depart when Mrs. +Boomsby came into the saloon from the front entry. + +"You here, Sandy," said she, bestowing a look of disgust upon me. + +"I leave early to-morrow morning, and I dropped in to say good-bye. I +will say the same to you, Mrs. Boomsby," I added, moving towards the +door. + +"You needn't trouble yourself to say good-bye to me, for sakes knows I +don't keer whether I ever see you again or not," replied the amiable +lady, with a frown on her countenance which was enough to prevent me +from saying anything more. I bowed and moved towards the door. + +"I s'pose you think you are mighty grand, sailin' about in a steam +yacht; but you'll come to a bad end yet," continued Mrs. Boomsby. + +That was just what her husband had said to me, and I concluded they had +talked the matter over again. I did not wait to hear any more. I +entered the saloon on a friendly mission; I had forgiven my worst +enemies,--I could conceive of none worse than the Boomsbys,--and I was +not willing to have any words with the most virulent one of the family. +I walked out of the saloon. I heard some further uncomplimentary +allusions to myself as I closed the door behind me; but I believed that +was the last I should ever see of any of the Boomsby family. + +I walked up to Colonel Shepard's house, and found all the family, as +well as Owen there. They were evidently engaged in the discussion of +some topic of interest when I entered. I had come up to press their +acceptance of the invitation I had given them to continue the yachting +excursion with me up the Mississippi; but before I had time to say +anything about it, Owen told me the Shepards had concluded to decline +the invitation. I was rather taken aback by this announcement, for the +party were exceedingly pleasant company, and I knew that Margie Tiffany +would enjoy being with her friend, Edith Shepard. + +"You have treated us exceedingly well, Captain Alick, on board of the +Sylvania, and we shall all be grateful to you as long as we live, for +all the pleasure you have afforded us," said Colonel Shepard. + +"I shall be greatly disappointed, sir, if your family do not go with +us," I answered, wondering at his decision. "We can accommodate you +very well, and the more the merrier, you know." + +"You forget that I am the owner of a steam yacht like the Sylvania," +continued Colonel Shepard, smiling. "I expected to send her to New +York, but I concluded not to do so until we were ready to go +ourselves." + +"I knew that the Islander was still here, and she can take you anywhere +you wish to go as comfortably as the Sylvania; but I should be very +glad to have you continue to be our passengers." + +"As you have your father with you now, I think you will get along very +well without us," laughed the colonel. "I only wish I had you and your +crew to run the Islander for me." + +"Thank you; you are very kind, sir. I am afraid we shall not be able to +leave the Sylvania. But where are you going?" + +"It is still an open question whether we proceed directly to New York, +cruise awhile in the vicinity of Florida, or go with you. I am not +quite willing to leave the State until I have pulled in a few more +red-fish, black bass, and other fish such as we caught in Indian +River." + +"I suppose you don't propose to take Captain Boomsby with you as +captain of the Islander. You remember that he came to Florida in +command of her," I added. + +"I don't propose to take any such person. I retain the captain and crew +I engaged to take the Islander to New York," replied Colonel Shepard. +"Captain Blastblow has seen service in a yacht, and has commanded a +steamer." + +"I have no doubt he is entirely competent." + +"I think he is, or I would not trust my family to his care. While we +were up the St. Johns, he put the Islander in first-rate condition. He +has had her boiler and machinery overhauled, and declares she has the +best engine he ever saw in a steamer. I went down to see her as soon as +we arrived. He has engaged a steward, waiters, and others, and I think +we shall be ready to sail as soon as you are," continued the colonel. + +"We are off early to-morrow morning," I added. + +"Captain Blastblow told me at noon he should be ready to sail to-night. +I expect a letter to-day from New York, and that will enable me to +decide where we go." + +I soon took my leave, for I had to engage a steward before night. I was +amazed at the decision of Colonel Shepard, and I could not help +thinking he had some motive for his course which did not appear on the +surface. I decided to call upon my father on my way to the wharf, for +he was staying at the Carlton with the Tiffanys. I had gone but a few +steps before Owen caught up with me. + +"I want you to understand, Alick, that I am not concerned in this +business," said he, in a deprecatory tone. "I had no idea what the +colonel intended to do until I went to his house this afternoon." + +"O, I don't blame you for it, Owen," I replied. + +"But I think they would have gone with us if I had held the charter of +the vessel as before," he added. + +"I think that need make no difference. I suppose you will go in the +Islander now," I continued, laughing, for I did not think he would be +able to break away from Miss Edith. + +"I don't know, Alick. To tell the truth, I have had no invitation to go +in the Islander; and without one I surely shall not go in her." + +This seemed to me to be a little odd, and I was thinking of it when we +came to the Carlton, where I found my father on the piazza. We told him +the whole story. To my astonishment, he said he was glad to hear it. I +told him Owen had no invitation to go in the Islander. + +"And he will have none," added my father, bluntly. "Owen, if you accept +any such invitation, should one be given, the Sylvania will part +company with the Islander as soon as we get out of the river." + +"That is very odd, uncle Bent," answered Owen. + +"I have a very great respect for Colonel and Mrs. Shepard; and what he +has done, probably by the counsel of his wife, removes the only doubt I +had of him. Owen, you are a perfect spoon! It is not quite proper that +you and Miss Edith should be spooning all the time, night and day; and +to my mind, Colonel Shepard has decided to go in his own yacht to +prevent this thing, as well as to retain his own self-respect. I dare +say he is no longer willing to be the guests, with his whole family, of +Alick or yourself. That's the whole of it. It is better for you to +visit the young lady occasionally than to spend weeks or months with +her in a little steam-yacht." + +I thought my father was rather severe upon my cousin, and I determined +to speak to him about the matter when we were alone. I told my father +that Peeks had been obliged to leave, and that I must look up a steward +at once. + +He told me I need not go far to find one, and recommended me to give +the place to Cobbington. I had not thought of such a thing, and I +hastened on board to consider the matter. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +NICK BOOMSBY HAS ASPIRATIONS. + + +When I reached Market Wharf I found that the Islander had hauled out +into the stream from the wharf where she had been undergoing repairs. +Captain Blastblow had certainly done his work well. The twin sister of +the Sylvania had been painted, and she looked as though she had just +come out of the ship-yard for the first time. She was moored off the +yacht-club house, and the American flag was flying at her peak, as +though she had just gone into commission. + +I earnestly hoped that Colonel Shepard would conclude to make the trip +up the Mississippi, for I was very confident we should enjoy yachting +on the great river much more in company with the Islander, and the +pleasant party on board of her, than we could alone. + +I took a shore boat to board the Sylvania, for as this was our last +chance on shore for the present, all hands had been allowed to spend +the day in the city. Cobbington declared that he did not care to see +any more of the city, where he had passed so many miserable days, and +had volunteered to remain on board as ship-keeper. + +Miles Cobbington had come to the south as an invalid, and having no +means, he had picked up a precarious living by hunting, fishing, and +doing such odd jobs of work as he could find. When I came across him he +was hungry, and without a place to lay his head. With good living on +board the Sylvania, and with his mind relieved of all anxiety about his +daily food and shelter, he had picked up wonderfully during the month +of our trip up the river. + +"Well, Miles, how do you get on?" I asked as I ascended the gangway. + +"First-rate, Captain Garningham. I haven't been so happy for years as I +am now," he replied with a cheerful smile. "I begin to think I may live +for some years yet." + +"I hope you will live for many years yet," I replied. "Mr. Peeks has +been on board this afternoon, has he not?" + +"Yes, sir; and I am very sorry to have him leave for such a reason," +said Cobbington, with a look of genuine sympathy. + +"I believe he attended to putting all our provisions and stores on +board." + +"Yes, captain; we stowed away everything last night, and we are ready +to leave as soon as you give the word." + +"We can't go without a steward," I added, glancing at Cobbington to see +if I could find any suggestion in his face. But he looked entirely +blank. + +"The steamers here are hauling off, now, and I should say you would +have no difficulty in finding one," he replied. + +"Do you think you can readily find another good waiter?" I asked. + +"I could find a hundred of them in half an hour," he replied. + +"Then I wish you to find one as soon as the crew come on board. I want +one to take your place in the fore-cabin." + +"To take my place!" exclaimed Cobbington, looking aghast at me. "Then +you are going to discharge me. What have I done?" + +"You have done lots of things, and done them well. You will take Mr. +Peeks's place as steward, at the same wages he received," I replied, +unwilling to hurt his feeling a moment longer. + +"Thank you, Captain Garningham," added Cobbington, his thin face +suddenly wreathed in smiles. "I suppose you understand what you are +doing, captain." + +"I think I do; but I will add that it was my father who suggested your +name for the position." + +"I am very grateful to him for doing so, and to you for giving me the +place. I think I can do the work to your satisfaction, for I have had +considerable experience in this sort of business." + +I gave him such directions as he needed, and then called a shore boat. +As the Islander was likely to be our consort during the whole, or a +part, of the cruise up the Mississippi, I thought I would pay her a +visit, and become better acquainted with her officers. My uniform +procured me a ready recognition on her deck. Captain Blastblow was a +man of forty, with a bald head and red whiskers. He treated me very +politely, though I thought I could see something like contempt in his +manner, possibly at the idea of a young fellow like me presuming to +hold a position equal to his own. + +The captain took considerable pains to bring it into the conversation +that he had been a seaman all his life, that he had come on board +through the hawse hole, and had not crawled in at the cabin window. He +made a slurring remark about fresh-water sailors, and informed me that +he had been around Cape Horn and the Cape of Good Hope. He had been an +ensign in the navy during "the late unpleasantness," and had served in +the Gulf of Mexico in the blockade fleet. + +"When do you sail, Captain Blastblow?" I inquired. + +"I don't know: but I have my orders to be ready to go at a moment's +warning at any time after daylight to-morrow morning," replied the +captain of the Islander. + +These instructions seemed to be entirely consistent with what Colonel +Shepard had said, that his departure and destination depended upon the +letters he expected to receive by the afternoon mail. I looked over the +steamer, and found her as neat as a new pin in every part. The officers +and crew had put on a new uniform, and I found that they had steam up +on board. + +I found no one that I knew on her deck, and the captain introduced me +to the mate, the engineers, and the steward. I thought there was a +little irony in his words as he did so; but I took no notice of this +circumstance. I could see that he believed he was a thoroughly +competent captain, and that he had some doubts in regard to my ability +to fill the position I occupied on board of the Sylvania. I was willing +that the future should settle all such questions; but I had the vanity +to believe, though I did not say so, that I could handle the Sylvania +as well as he could the Islander. + +We parted as the best of friends should part, and when I had seated +myself in the boat, I could not help thinking I should like to see him +handle his vessel in such a storm as I had seen on Lake Superior. In a +few moments I was landed on Market Wharf, and walked up to the +post-office to inquire if there were any letters for me. I learned that +the northern mail had not arrived. It was often several hours behind +time, for the railroads in Florida were in very bad condition. + +Colonel Shepard was there, very impatient at the non-arrival of his +letters. He told me, if he had to go to New York, he should sail in the +Islander on the next tide. If his business did not call him north at +once, he should sail with us the next morning. + +The colonel went over to the Carlton, and I was about to go with him, +when Nick Boomsby came up to me. He was dressed in his best clothes, +and he was as good a representative of the idiotic swell as I had ever +met. + +"When do you sail, Captain Alick?" he asked, as though the question was +one of vital importance to him personally. + +"To-morrow morning, about seven o'clock, unless some change is made in +the arrangements," I replied, wondering what possible interest he could +have in the sailing of the steamer. + +"Alick, you and I were always good friends," he continued. + +"Not always, though I don't mind that now," I added, not willing that +the exact truth should be sacrificed, even by my silence. + +"I am getting a little tired of this place, and I want to be out of it. +I know we didn't always agree when we were little children; but I don't +believe you think of these things now." + +"I have not the least ill-will towards you, Nick." + +"I am right glad to hear you say so. The old man never will let up on +you, I suppose. But I told him he was a fool, and that he had better +let you alone." + +Perhaps it was good advice, but I did not believe he ever gave it to +his father, though he was capable of any disrespect. I waited to learn +what he was driving at, though the fact that he had said he wished he +was going with me on the cruise came to my mind in this connection. + +"I am tired of the sort of life I am leading," continued Nick. + +"I don't blame you," I added, with the utmost sincerity, though I had +not supposed he had any soarings above the sphere of a bar-tender. + +"What can I do? The old man won't let me do anything else beside tend +bar. It is mean business, and I'm bound to get out of it." + +I thought Nick's view of the situation was very commendable, though I +did not see how he was to break away from his father, if the latter was +not willing he should do so. + +"The only way I can do it is to run away," added Nick. + +"I can't advise you to do that," I replied. + +"I am eighteen years old, and I am able to take care of myself. The old +man don't give me any wages, and it's hard work for me to get a suit of +clothes out of him when I need it. Which would you rather do if you +were in my place,--sell whiskey, and very likely become a drunkard +yourself, or run away, and become an honest and respectable man?" + +It was a hard question, and I declined to answer it, for I was +unwilling to be responsible to any degree for anything that Nick +Boomsby might do. I knew him too well. + +"If you will take me to New Orleans on your steamer, I will work my +passage, and be everlastingly obliged to you besides," persisted Nick, +coming all at once to the point. + +"No, Nick, I shall not do anything to provoke your father, or give him +just cause to complain of me. So far as your leaving your present +business is concerned, you must settle that for yourself," I replied, +firmly. + +I refused all his entreaties to be allowed to go in the Sylvania. I +told him that the relation between his father and myself would not +permit me to do anything to assist him. He seemed to be reconciled to +my decision, and was as pleasant as possible. He asked me about the +Islander, and I told him all I knew about her. I inquired what had been +done about the robbery. Nothing more had been done, but everybody was +satisfied that Buckner was the guilty person, and the police were still +searching for the missing package. Nick was going on board of the +Sylvania next, and I wrote on a card a request to Cobbington to show +him over the vessel. + +While we were talking the mail arrived. Colonel Shepard rushed to the +post-office, and I was talking to him while the mail was in process of +sorting and distribution. Nick stood by me all the time, and listened +to all that we were saying. At last Colonel Shepard received his +letters. He opened one of them with feverish haste. + +"All right! I go with you, Captain Alick!" exclaimed the colonel, +evidently as much delighted as a child would have been. "I will follow +you up the Mississippi. What time do you sail, Captain Alick?" + +"At seven; that will bring us to the bar at about the right time," I +replied. + +"I must send word on board to Captain Blastblow to be ready at that +time." + +The colonel appeared to be searching his pockets for a piece of paper, +and I handed him one of my blank cards. He wrote something on it, and +intimated that he wanted to find some one by whom he could send it on +board of the Islander. + +"I am just going on board of the Sylvania, and I will leave it on board +of the Islander as I pass her," interposed Nick. + +Colonel Shepard asked me if I knew the young man, and I told him I did. +He gave him the card, and Nick hastened off in the direction of the +boat-club building. I wondered if he was not intending to look for a +passage to New Orleans in the Islander. It was not impossible, and I +determined that my late passengers should not be burdened with his +company. + +I went to the Carlton, and found that my passengers had decided not to +go on board of the Sylvania till the next morning, and had ordered an +early breakfast. There was to be some sort of a social occasion in the +parlors that evening, and my father and his friends wished to be +present. I went on board of the steamer. On my way I looked in at the +window of Captain Boomsby's saloon, and saw that Nick was there +peddling out whiskey to thirsty customers. He had not concealed himself +on board of the Islander; and I had told Colonel Shepard to be on the +lookout in the morning, to assure himself that he had no more +passengers than he wanted. I was quite sure I had blocked Nick's +wheels, so far as running away in either of the steam-yachts was +concerned. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE STRANGE MOVEMENT OF THE ISLANDER. + + +Cobbington had engaged the additional waiter. His name was Reel +Bendick, as he spelled it out to me; and he seemed to be an intelligent +and docile man. He was to wait on the table in the fore-cabin, while +Tom Sands was to continue in the after-cabin, where he had always been +assisted by the steward, and on great occasions by Washington Gopher, +the accomplished cook who had come all the way from Detroit. + +With these exceptions our crew remained the same as before. + +Since our return from up the St. Johns, everything about the Sylvania +had been put in perfect order for sea. Moses Brickland, the engineer, +had overhauled the machinery and the boiler, and we had a full supply +of coal in the bunkers. I went all over the vessel, and assured myself +that everything was in order. + +"I suppose there is no doubt about our leaving in the morning, is +there, Captain Alick?" asked Bob Washburn, the mate, as we seated +ourselves in the captain's cabin, after we had both been all over the +deck and the cabins. + +"Of course I don't know anything more about that than you do, but I +think there cannot be much doubt of it," I replied. "We shall have no +passengers but my father, the Tiffanys, and my cousin." + +"Does Owen Garningham go with us, Alick?" asked Washburn, with +astonishment. + +"He told me this afternoon he had no invitation to go in the Islander, +and my father said he would have none," I replied. + +"Then your father thinks there has been too much spooning on board," +added Washburn, laughing. + +"Probably Colonel Shepard thinks so too, and that may be the reason why +he decided to go in the Islander instead of in the Sylvania." + +"I should think it would be better to separate Owen and Miss Edith +until each shall have a chance to make up his mind." + +"Owen seems to be very much attached to Miss Edith, and their being +together all the time may result in something very serious. He is a +young fellow of twenty, and I doubt if he knows his own mind; he is +fascinated by a pretty face." + +"There is no doubt of that; and the face is as pretty a one as I ever +saw," added Washburn, with emphasis. + +"My father says Owen's mother is very rich, and that she is more afraid +he will fall into some entangling alliance of this sort, than she is of +his becoming a drunkard, or becoming a bad man," I continued, recalling +some of the conversations my father had had with me. + +"They say Colonel Shepard is rich enough to satisfy even an English +nabob," suggested the mate. + +"I suppose Owen's mother expects him to marry a duchess," I replied. "I +saw her when I was in England; but she had no love for me, and I have +no doubt she wished I had never turned up." + +"I should say that Edith Shepard was good enough for any fellow, even +if he were an earl or a duke," said Washburn, shrugging his shoulders. + +"Luckily it is none of our affair, though my sympathies are all with +Owen," I added. "I wonder if Nick Boomsby came on board this +afternoon," I continued, willing to change the subject. + +I called Cobbington into our room, and was informed that Nick had been +on board, and had been treated with distinguished consideration. + +"Did he say anything about going with us, Cobbington?" I asked. + +"He only said he should like to go with us, but you would not allow him +to do so, and he had given up all thought about it," replied the new +steward. "Besides, he said he was the important witness in a law-case +that would come up to-morrow morning." + +"I don't believe he would stay for the law-case if I would give him a +berth on board," I added. + +I related the particulars of the robbery of the messenger, and +Cobbington commented on them at some length. I found that he knew the +messenger, and had not a very high respect for him. He had his doubts +whether there was any four thousand dollars in the transaction. It +looked more to him as though the messenger had arranged the affair so +that he could appropriate the money to his own use. Cobbington had +worked with Buckner, who was a poor man, and had come to Florida, like +himself, to save his life. + +"Why did Nick jump over the counter, and chase Buckner, then? Nick says +he saw Buckner take the package from the counter, and run out at the +front door," I added. + +"I don't know anything about the matter, except that I would trust +Buckner farther than I would Peverell," persisted the steward. "A bank +messenger that means to be honest don't go into a bar-room and put four +thousand dollars down on the counter; not every day in the week, at +least. I don't believe Buckner took the package; if he had it would +have been found on him when the policeman caught him." + +We could not get ahead any further than those on shore had in solving +the mysterious disappearance of the treasure. At an early hour I turned +in, and Washburn soon followed me. After dark I cautioned the +anchor-watch not to let any person come on board. I was afraid that +Nick Boomsby would try to become a stowaway on board of the steamer, +and thus give his father an additional grudge against me. But I soon +went to sleep and forgot all about Nick. + +I was up at five in the morning. Before I washed my face and made my +toilet, I went on deck to take a look at the weather, as I generally +did at sea, or when we were on the point of sailing. It was cloudy and +thick; but I thought it probable that it would clear off as the day +advanced. The smoke was pouring out of the smoke-stack of the Islander, +as well as of the Sylvania. If the weather was not bad enough to make +me think of delaying our departure, it was still not so pleasant as I +desired for a start. + +I dressed myself, and looked the vessel over again. Our party would +breakfast before they came on board, and we had nothing to do yet but +look after ourselves. At six o'clock we took our morning meal. As soon +as it was cleared away, I ordered the anchor up, and we ran in to +Market Wharf to take on board our passengers. + +Before we reached the wharf I saw a boat board the Islander; but she +was too far off for me to determine who was in the craft. It was still +only half-past-six, and I did not expect our passengers for half an +hour or more. I went on shore to walk through the market. It seemed +very odd to me to find all sorts of green things, such as green peas, +cucumbers, spinach, new turnips, carrots, and most other vegetables, +which I had not been in the habit of seeing till July and August. But +we had been eating such things, including strawberries, for a month, +and many of them all winter in the West Indies. + +"The Islander is under way," said Washburn, as I sauntered along the +wharf. + +"Probably she is going to run in for her passengers, as we have done," +I replied. + +"She don't seem to be headed for the wharf, but down the river," added +the mate. + +I went on board, and then to the hurricane deck, where I could obtain a +good view of her. I was confident that her passengers had not gone on +board of her, for we had seen nothing but a boat with two persons in it +go alongside the Islander. The party consisted of four persons, and two +of them were ladies. They could not have gone on board of her without +our seeing them. + +"It don't look as though she was running in to a wharf," said Washburn, +joining me on the hurricane deck. + +"Very likely she is taking a little run down the river so that her new +captain can see how she works," I added, without a suspicion that +anything was wrong about our twin sister. "It isn't seven yet, and she +is taking a little turn before she goes up to the wharf." + +"Of course it is all right," replied Washburn. "Her captain is as salt +as a barrel of brine, and knows all about steamers." + +We waited fifteen minutes longer, till I heard a clock strike seven, +but the Islander continued on her course down the river. I knew she had +been ordered to be ready to sail at seven, and I did not suppose +Captain Blastblow would willingly fail to be on time. While I was +watching the movements of our consort, the baggage of our party arrived +at the end of the wharf, and, a few minutes later, a carriage came +bringing our passengers. + +I had no more time to study the affairs of the Islander. My father, Mr. +Tiffany and Miss Margie were in the carriage, and I was permitted to +help the young lady out, and escort her to the deck. I was a little +afraid of my father calling me a "spoon," and I was careful not to +overdo myself in politeness. + +"How long before you sail, Captain Alick?" asked my fair companion. + +"Immediately," I replied. "The Islander has already gone, but I think +she must return." + +"May I go into the pilot-house, captain?" + +"Certainly; I shall be delighted to have you there." + +"How much I shall miss Edith!" exclaimed Miss Margie, as I gave her the +best seat in the pilot-house. "I think it is a great pity that we could +not all go together in the same steamer." + +"I should have been very glad to have the Shepards on board," I +replied. "I suppose Colonel Shepard prefers to sail in his own yacht, +as I think I should if I were in his place. But we shall be within hail +of each other most of the time, and you can visit Miss Edith about +every day after we get into the Mississippi River." + +"I am told the Mississippi is a very large river," mused Miss Margie. +"Can you see across it, Captain Alick?" + +"No doubt of it," I answered, laughing. "It is not more than a mile +wide, as a rule. You must be thinking of the Amazon, which is a hundred +and fifty miles wide near its mouth. Vessels must get out of sight of +land in crossing it, near the ocean." + +"We are all on board, Alick, except Owen," said my father, coming into +the pilot-house. "He should not keep us waiting." + +"Perhaps he has decided to go in the other steamer," I suggested. + +But I had hardly spoken the words before Owen came on board. He did not +seem to be in despair at his separation from his "bright particular +star," and was in excellent humor when he joined us in the pilot-house. + +"Where are the rest of your party, Owen?" I asked. + +"Merciful hotandsplosh! Haven't you found out yet that they are going +on the Islander?" demanded Owen. + +"I haven't seen them go on board of her yet," I added. + +"They took a carriage to the wharf near the boat-house, and I took one +to come here," replied Owen. "They must be on board of her by this +time." + +"I think not. The Islander has gone down the river," I answered, as I +ordered the fasts to be cast off. + +I backed the Sylvania on the stern line to clear her from the wharf, +and then rang to go ahead. Our voyage around Florida had actually +begun, and I was duly exhilarated by the fact. The Islander had gone +around the bend of the river, and I could see only her masts and +rigging. The wind was blowing fresh from the southwest, and I was not a +little astonished to see that her crew were shaking out her +fore-topsail. This did not indicate that her captain intended to return +to the wharf for his passengers. + +"Colonel Shepard and his family must have gone on board of her at least +a quarter of an hour before seven, Owen," I said, unable to account for +the movements of the Islander in any other way. + +"But they did not leave the colonel's house till five minutes of +seven--at the same time I started to come here," replied Owen. "What +has happened? What is the matter?" + +"I don't know that anything is the matter," I replied. "The Islander +got under way about half-past six, and I supposed she was going to take +a turn on the river before she went up to the wharf. Instead of that +she has been moving steadily down the river since she got up her +anchor; and there she is, three or four miles on her way to the ocean." + +"Sylvania, ahoy!" shouted some one on the shore. + +On the pier, near the club-house, were the Shepard party; and it was +the colonel who had hailed us. They seemed to be quite as much +astonished as we were. I ran the steamer up to the wharf. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +A LIVELY CHASE. + + +In a few minutes our bow and stern lines were fast to the wharf where +the Shepards were waiting for their steam-yacht. Owen leaped ashore +before the vessel was fairly alongside, though he had not yet come to a +full comprehension of what had happened. He knew something was the +matter, but he could not tell what it was. + +As soon as the Sylvania was made fast I went on shore. Colonel Shepard +seemed to be bewildered, for Owen had just told him the Islander had +gone down the river. The rest of the family were quite as much +astonished as the husband and father. Chloe, the colored servant, was +actually wringing her hands, as though she feared another conspiracy +was about to be developed. + +"Where is the Islander, Captain Alick?" asked the colonel, as I +presented myself before him. + +"She has gone down the river; and the last I saw of her, she was +shaking out her fore-topsail," I replied. + +"But what does that mean?" added Colonel Shepard, with a frown. + +"I'm sure I don't know, sir. She got under way about half-past six. I +supposed Captain Blastblow was about to take a turn or two in her +before he ran up to the wharf. It is now quarter-past seven, and the +Islander is still making her way down the river. You can see her across +the land, though only her spars are in sight." + +I pointed out the tapering masts of our consort--if she was to be our +consort--in the distance. Presently she disappeared behind a forest of +pine. + +"I don't understand it at all," said the perplexed owner of the stray +yacht. "What does Captain Blastblow mean by treating me in this manner, +when I ordered him to be at this wharf precisely at seven?" + +"I can't explain it, sir," I replied. "There is clearly some +misunderstanding about the matter." + +"You saw me write the card at the post-office last night, Captain +Alick: and I sent it off by the young man who was with you." + +"Yes, sir; Nick Boomsby took the card; and I have no doubt he delivered +it, for he came on board of the Sylvania towards night. + +"I think Captain Blastblow intends to return soon," I added, for I +could not think of any explanation of his singular conduct. I certainly +could not reason out any plausible occasion for such a violation of his +orders as that in which he seemed to be engaged. + +"Perhaps he has run off with the yacht, and intends to become a pirate, +or something of that sort," suggested Gus Shepard. + +"Nonsense, my son! The Islander is not an armed vessel, and Captain +Blastblow is not a pirate," replied Colonel Shepard. "Do you suppose +anything was out of order on board of the steamer, Captain Alick?" + +"It is possible; but if such was the case, the captain would hardly +have gone so far down the river," I replied. "If the Islander had +needed any more repairs, Captain Blastblow would have remained in +Jacksonville and attended to them." + +"Perhaps he wishes to become better acquainted with the vessel before +he takes her to sea," added the colonel. + +"He might have done that yesterday. He would not have waited until you +were ready to sail, and then gone off on an experimental cruise," I +answered. + +"An experimental cruise!" exclaimed Owen. "What a terrible expression. +I hope Captain Blastblow don't use such expressions. If he does, he has +gone out to sea where he can have room enough to unsnarl his tongue." + +"Captain Blastblow is an American, and he is used to such little +trials," I replied. + +"What shall be done?" asked Colonel Shepard. + +"I think you had better go on board of the Sylvania, with your baggage, +and we will stand down the river," I replied, promptly, for I had kept +this idea in my mind for some time. "We can at least follow the +Islander, and when we come up with her you can go on board of her." + +"Are you sure you can overtake her, Captain Alick?" asked Colonel +Shepard, with a smile, as though he had some doubts in regard to the +relative speed of the two steam-yachts. "Captain Blastblow is confident +that he can outsail the Sylvania." + +"I don't say that he cannot; but if he does, he has learned a new trick +in handling her," I answered, with energy. "I have sailed the Sylvania +against the Islander on the Great Lakes more than once, and have not +found the time when I could not beat her." + +"Her new captain claims to be a very skilful man in handling steamers," +added the colonel. + +"If you and your family will come on board, sir, I will do the best I +can to overtake the Islander, and ascertain what the conduct of her +captain means. If we have anything like fair play, we shall overhaul +the Islander sometime to-day," I continued, confidently. "We are both +well down in the water, with our coal-bunkers and water-tanks full. She +is nearly an hour ahead of us now, and her captain was hurrying her all +he could." + +Owen was delighted with the decision of Colonel Shepard when he +accepted my invitation. He had regained his divinity, and he conducted +her on board of the Sylvania, while the colonel assisted Mrs. Shepard. +Owen escorted Miss Edith to the pilot-house, and her mother went down +into the cabin, for the morning was rather raw and chilly. Margie took +her dear friend to her heart, and hoped the Sylvania would never +overtake the Islander. + +"You must let the other steamer keep ahead, Captain Alick," said +Margie, as I took my place at the wheel, when the baggage had been put +on board. + +"That would be treason to the Sylvania and treason to Colonel Shepard," +I replied, as I rang the bell to start the steamer. + +I knew the river well enough to go ahead confidently, and I had given +the chief-engineer a hint as to what I expected of him. In a few +minutes, the little steamer was buzzing along at the rate of eleven +miles an hour. The only thing I feared was fog, and there seemed to be +great banks of it off in the direction of the mouth of the river. + +"Mr. Washburn," I called through the windows in front of me. + +"On deck, sir," replied the mate. + +"Call all hands, and set the fore-topsail." + +"Ay, ay, sir," responded Washburn; and I knew there would be no lack of +zeal on his part when we came to an out-and-out race. + +All hands usually consisted of the two deck hands; but Ben Bowman, the +second fireman, and the cabin-waiter were available when there was any +extra work to be done. Buck Lingley and Hop Tossford, the deck hands, +were sent aloft by the mate to loose sails, while the others manned the +halyard and the braces. In a very short time the topsail was drawing +full, and the speed of the vessel was sensibly increased. + +"Mr. Washburn!" I called again. + +"On deck, sir," responded the mate. + +"Set the foresail." + +The crew made quick work of it. + +"Now the mainsail, Mr. Washburn," I continued. + +The wind was quite fresh, and the fore and aft sails caused the steamer +to heel over considerably when the puffs came, as they generally do in +a south-westerly breeze. + +"You will tip us over, Captain Alick!" cried Miss Margie, who had not +been at sea in the Sylvania. + +"I won't do anything of the kind, Miss Tiffany," I replied, with a +laugh. "I shall not drown myself for the sake of drowning you, I am +very sure. Mr. Washburn!" + +"On deck, sir." + +"Set the fore to'gallant sail." + +"Ay, ay, sir," chuckled the mate, who understood that I meant business +by this time. + +"Pray, which is the fore top-gallant sail, Captain Alick?" asked Miss +Margie. + +"It is the highest sail we set on the foremast, though larger vessels +have a royal above that, then a skysail," I replied. "Mr. Washburn!" + +"On deck, sir." + +"Now give us the fore squaresail, and run up the jib." + +The last order was to set the main gaff-topsail; and then we had all +sail on. We turned the bend of the river just after the last sail had +been set, which gave us the wind over the starboard quarter. I was +confident we were making twelve knots an hour, and the skilful firing +of Philander Perkins soon made her do even better than this. The water +fairly roared at the bow as the vessel cut through it. The young ladies +in the pilot-house ceased to talk, and Miss Margie held on at the wheel +with both hands. It was lively sailing, but there was no danger, and I +told the fair maiden so many times. + +[Illustration: "Then we had all sail on." _Page 78._] + +We all kept a sharp lookout for the Islander, but as yet we saw nothing +of her. She had, at least, ten miles the start of us, and it was likely +to be a long chase, if she continued on her course. I wanted very much +to get a sight of her when we reached the bar at the mouth of the St. +Johns, so as to determine what course she took. + +No progress whatever had been made in solving the problem of the +Islander's sudden departure without her owner and passengers. We could +not imagine any motive on the part of her captain for his singular +conduct. My father and Colonel Shepard talked about the matter all the +time; but in the absence of any data they could not get ahead a +particle. + +In an hour and a half by the watch we were in sight of the bar. The +weather looked thick and nasty outside, and there was not the slightest +sign of the Islander. But we were still in the river, and our view to +the north and south was obstructed by the trees and shrubs on the +shores. It was plain enough to me by this time that Captain Blastblow +had no intention of returning to Jacksonville for his passengers. + +I kept the Sylvania on her course over the bar, and, as it was full +tide, I had no fear of taking the bottom. We kept on our course till we +had made a good offing. Though the fog had not settled down near the +bar, vast piles of it were floating in the air. The question now was +whether the Islander had gone to the north or the south. I had given +the wheel to Hop Tossford, and I was using the glass very industriously +in all quarters of the horizon. + +"Sail, ho!" shouted Buck Lingley, who had taken his station on the cap +of the foremast. + +"Where away?" I shouted, sticking my head out the side window of the +pilot-house. + +"Right on the starboard beam," replied Buck. + +As the fog lifted a minute later I got a glimpse of the sail. + +"It is the Islander!" I shouted, not a little excited. "She is going to +the southward." + +"I can't understand it," said Colonel Shepard, shaking his head. "Does +Captain Blastblow mean to run away with the vessel?" + +No one could tell what he meant. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +A FOG OFF THE FLORIDA COAST. + + +The Sylvania was close-hauled, and I gave out the course south +south-east. This was the navigation to take the steamer around the +peninsula into the Gulf of Mexico, though we intended to put in at Key +West, in order to see the place. Washburn noted the departure on the +log slate in the pilot-house, and, as it was necessary for us to run by +our dead reckoning, the log was heaved every hour. In a short time we +were buried in the fog, and kept our steam-whistle going at the proper +intervals. + +The young ladies soon deserted the pilot-house, for we were obliged to +keep the front windows open, and the air was cold and moist. Owen left +with them, and my father and Colonel Shepard soon took their places. +The owner of the Islander was still too much excited to keep still. He +tried to see through the fog; but he might as well have attempted to +look through a rocky hill. + +"How far ahead do you think the Islander is now, Captain Alick?" asked +the Colonel. + +"About eight miles, I should judge, unless Captain Blastblow has +succeeded in getting more speed out of the Islander than any one else +ever could," I replied at once, for I had estimated the distance +before. + +"Do you really think you are gaining on her?" + +"I have no doubt of it," I replied, confidently. "They hurried the +Islander down the river; and when both vessels are doing their best the +Sylvania gains about a knot an hour on the Islander. I have tried this +with her when she had a sailing-master on board who knew all about her, +and had sailed her hundreds of miles. I don't believe Captain Blastblow +can do any better with her than Captain Braceback; and I used to beat +him every time." + +"I dare say you are quite right, Captain Alick," added Colonel Shepard. +"It is reasonable to suppose that a man who is used to a vessel can do +better with her than a stranger." + +"I got only a glimpse of the Islander when the fog lifted for a moment, +and saw only her spars and sails," I continued. "I have had +considerable experience in judging of distances on the water. I should +like to have you ask the others on board how far off they think the +other steamer was when we saw her." + +The colonel liked the suggestion, and he was so much interested in the +question that he wished to have the best information he could obtain. I +called Washburn first. No one but Hop Tossford at the wheel had heard +the conversation, and they could not be influenced by my opinion of the +matter. The mate said seven miles. Buck Lingley made it nine miles, and +then Ben Bowman was summoned. + +"Just about eight miles, I should say," replied Ben, when the question +was put to him. + +"No two of them agree, though they do not differ widely," said the +Colonel, when all who had seen the Islander had answered. + +"Ben Bowman has had more experience than all the rest of us put +together," I added. "But, Colonel, if you will average all the answers, +you will find the result is just eight miles. We may be all wrong. +Captain Blastblow talks louder than the rest of us, but when he beats +the Sylvania in a fair stand-up run, I wish you would let me know it, +if I don't find it out before you do." + +I felt almost absolutely certain of the ground I stood on, for I had +tried this same issue when the result was almost a case of life and +death with me. The Sylvania had been built after the Islander, and her +constructor had an opportunity to improve on her model. Our engine was +a little more powerful than that of the other yacht, and a defect in +the lines of the latter had been corrected in building ours. But the +fact of our superior speed had been several times demonstrated by +actual trial, and the improvements in our model and machinery only +explained what had been proved. It was of course possible that Captain +Blastblow had some "knack" of getting more speed out of a steamer than +I had; but I was willing to believe, in this case, only what was fairly +proved. + +"We may miss the Islander in this fog," continued Colonel Shepard, +peering anxiously through the fog. + +"We may, sir," I replied. "There is nothing to prevent her from coming +about and running back to Jacksonville." + +"What if she should do that?" asked the owner of the stray yacht. + +"We are in the dark as to the intentions of her captain; and everything +depends upon them," I answered. + +"What can his intentions possibly be?" inquired the colonel, knitting +his brow, as he recurred once more to the well-worn topic for at least +the twentieth time. + +"It is quite impossible to conjecture his motives. He has either made a +mistake in regard to his instructions, or he means to run away with the +Islander." + +"What mistake could he have made in regard to his instructions?" +demanded the colonel, who had not admitted the possibility for an +instant of any mistake. "Last night I wrote his instructions to be +ready to sail at seven, and sent them off to him by the young man who +was with you." + +"Did you write seven this morning, sir?" I asked. + +"I think I did, though I should not be willing to swear to it," replied +the colonel, looking a little blank at the idea of such a mistake. + +"If you simply said seven, he may have taken it to mean seven this +evening," I suggested. + +"He could not have thought we intended to go down the river and cross +the bar in the night." + +"I should say not; but Captain Blastblow is a very brilliant man, and +has been around Cape Horn and the Cape of Good Hope so many times that +he ought to know what he is about," I replied, letting out a little of +my pique at the commander of the Islander for his implications against +me. + +"Allowing that I wrote 'seven P.M.,' or that I did not write either +morning or evening, what is Captain Blastblow doing down here?" +demanded Colonel Shepard, warmly. + +"If he understood that you were not to sail till this evening, he may +have brought the Islander out here to try her, and enable him to get +accustomed to her ways before he took on board his passengers. That is +all the explanation I can suggest, but I don't think it will hold +water. He knows very well, for he has been around Cape Horn several +times, that if he comes out here in a fog, he may not be able to get +back to Jacksonville in time to take you on board to-night, or even +to-morrow or next day." + +"If Captain Blastblow had any doubt in regard to my orders, he could +have sent one of his men up to my house, and ascertained just what I +intended," said the owner, rather wrathfully. + +"That is what I should have done; but Captain Blastblow has had more +experience than I have," I replied, with a smile. + +"Did you notice anything unusual about the Islander, or the conduct of +those on board of her, when you saw her this morning, Captain Alick?" +continued the colonel. + +"Nothing at all, sir. A boat went off to her a few moments before she +weighed her anchor," I answered. "There were two persons in the boat +when it went alongside the Islander, but only one returned to the shore +in it. I concluded some one of her officers or crew had remained ashore +over night, and came off in a shore boat. I did not think of the boat +till you asked the question." + +"I don't see that the boat throws any light on the transaction," mused +the owner. "We don't know who was in the boat, though if we were in +Jacksonville, we could easily ascertain." + +"I don't have any idea that we shall know anything about this matter +until we overhaul the Islander," I added. "We can guess for the next +week, but we are as likely to guess wrong as right." + +"I can't help being considerably disturbed about this mysterious +conduct of Captain Blastblow; but I do not see that we are likely to be +any wiser in regard to it, as Captain Alick says, till we see the +captain," replied the colonel. "We have got to make the best of it, and +be patient till we learn more. What do you think of it, Major +Garningham?" + +"I don't think it is possible to form an intelligent opinion without +further information in regard to the facts," replied my father. "I am +more inclined to believe that Captain Blastblow has made a mistake of +some kind, than that he means anything wrong. It would be worse than +folly for him to attempt to run away with the steam-yacht, for he is +sure to be discovered and punished." + +"If it is a mistake or a misunderstanding, it is a very queer one. But +I am not disposed to worry about the matter, and I shall try to +reconcile myself to the situation," replied Colonel Shepard, struggling +to laugh off his anxiety for the safety of his yacht. + +I think it was the want of her, more than the value of the craft, that +troubled and vexed him. He was a very wealthy man, and if she was lost +entirely to him, it would hardly impair his fortune. + +"We shall do the best we can to solve the problem, and overhaul the +Islander," I continued; "but, after all, we may miss her. If Captain +Blastblow has made a blunder, or there is any misunderstanding, he must +soon discover it. If he has only come out here for a trial trip, and +should happen to pass us in the fog without our seeing him, he knows +the Sylvania will put into Key West. If he gets back to Jacksonville, +and finds that you have left in our steamer, he will return at once, +and find us at our anchorage in port." + +"When shall you reach Key West, Captain Alick?" asked the colonel. + +"If we have good weather, it is a run of from forty-two to forty-five +hours. If this fog continues, it will take longer than that, for the +navigation is not all plain sailing," I replied. + +"And you think you can overtake the Islander in about eight hours?" + +"I think so, sir; but I can't say that we shall come near enough to see +or hear her in this fog," I answered. "I think you had better make your +party comfortable on board of the Sylvania, and leave the rest of the +matter to me and my officers." + +"I am confident that is the better way for you; and I am sure Alick +will do all he can both to make you and your family comfortable in the +cabin, and to find your runaway vessel," added my father. + +Colonel Shepard yielded to this advice, and I went down into the +after-cabin with all the passengers to arrange about the staterooms and +berths. Our involuntary guests declared that they were very sorry to +make so much trouble, and especially to disturb our arrangements on +board. Both my father and I assured them they made no trouble, and that +we were not at all disturbed by their presence, inasmuch as we had +invited them to take the cruise in the Sylvania, and were glad to have +them on board. + +I had made a diagram of the cabin, and assigned rooms and berths to all +the passengers, when I supposed they were to sail with us. I proceeded +to arrange our guests in accordance with this plan. + +"Let me have a berth in the fore-cabin, Alick," said Owen to me in a +whisper. + +"There is no need of that, Owen," I replied. "There is room enough for +all of you in this cabin, and some to spare. Colonel and Mrs. Shepard +will occupy the port stateroom, as before, when they have sailed with +us," I continued, consulting my diagram. + +The colonel protested that he would not occupy the best stateroom; but +I insisted, and went on giving out the apartments. + +"Miss Edith and Miss Margie will take the starboard stateroom." + +Both of them screamed with delight at this disposition of them, and +Margie declared that I was a "dear, good little Captain Alick," though +I was bigger in stature than her father. I had given the two larger +rooms to those who were to double-up in them; and of the two remaining +rooms, I gave one to my father and the other to Mr. Tiffany. Owen and +Gus were assigned to the two berths next to the rooms, which left two +others for Chloe and the steward. The curtains drew out in front of the +berths, so that the spaces within them were almost the same as +staterooms. All were satisfied. I gave orders to Cobbington to provide +tables for all. Leaving the passengers to arrange their baggage in +their new quarters, I returned to the deck. + +The fog was as dense as ever, and we could not see more than a ship's +length ahead. Ben Bowman was on the top-gallant forecastle, and Buck +Lingley on the fore-yard, keeping the lookout. We were driving the +steamer in spite of the fog, and I had some hope that we might soon get +a sight of the chase, or at least hear the sound of her whistle. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +A PORT IN A STORM. + + +"Washburn, you have a long head; can you make anything of the +situation, for I suppose you know all about it?" I asked, as I joined +the mate on the forecastle. + +"I know what I have heard about the pilot-house and on the forecastle," +replied Washburn. + +"I have not been able to make anything out of it, so far," I continued. + +"I can't believe that the captain of the Islander means to run away +with her. I don't believe this is a trial trip, as you suggested, for +the captain would not have come out into this fog on such an errand," +added Washburn. "On the whole, I must believe it is a blunder on the +part of the captain of the consort. But I think we are not likely to +find out anything definite about the case until we overhaul the +Islander. All we have to do is to keep moving to the southward, and +keep a sharp lookout for the chase. It is useless to bother one's +brains over questions that cannot be answered." + +"When I saw the Islander, she was well in shore," I added. "If she +takes a notion to come about, and run back to the St. Johns, we may +miss her." + +"And she may drop into St. Augustine," said the mate. + +"I don't see any reason why she should," I replied. "Captain Blastblow +knows that the party are bound up the Mississippi River. He knows the +Sylvania is, at any rate; and he would not have headed to the southward +if he had not intended to make the same trip, always supposing he has +misunderstood his instructions." + +"By six o'clock to-night, if everything holds as it is, we ought to +overhaul the Islander, if we don't miss her in the fog, and Captain +Blastblow don't do any better in her than any one else has ever done," +continued Washburn. "But the wind is freshening, Captain Alick." + +"Yes; and the barometer indicates that we are to have a bad day of it," +I replied, looking at the white caps that rolled up to windward of the +steamer. + +The wind was gusty and savage. The steamer heeled well over to port +under the heavy press of sail we were carrying. But I did not care much +how hard it blew, if it would only carry off the fog, as I believed it +would do soon. + +By half-past ten I found it necessary to take in the fore square-sail +and the fore top-gallant sail, for I was afraid the heavy weight of +canvas would strain the foremast. This relieved the steamer for a time; +but the wind had increased to a gale, and had hauled more to the +southward. Half an hour later we took in the fore topsail and the main +gaff-topsail, so that nothing but our fore and aft sails remained. The +log at eleven indicated that we were making twelve knots, and it was +about time for us to be up with St. Augustine light, but we could not +see it in the fog. Suddenly we heard a fog-horn on our starboard bow. + +I rushed into the pilot-house and rang the gong. The engineer +immediately stopped the engine, and the roar of escaping steam +followed. I was afraid we might run down some of the small craft that +go in and out of St. Augustine. + +"Sail, ho!" shouted Ben Bowman, on the top-gallant forecastle. "I see +her; she is a pilot-boat." + +A moment later I saw a sail-boat, in which were three men. There was a +number on her sail, which indicated that she was a pilot-boat. She had +evidently heard our whistle, and had came out in the rough sea to take +us into St. Augustine, if we were bound into that port. I directed the +wheel man to port the helm, so as to throw the Sylvania up into the +wind under the stern of the pilot-boat. + +"How came you up there, captain?" demanded one of the men in the boat, +and all of them looked amazed. + +"We are bound to the southward, coming down from St. Johns bar," I +replied. "How does St. Augustine bear from here?" + +"Due east," answered the spokesman of the trio. + +"Look out for your reckoning, Washburn," I added, turning to the mate. + +"Twenty minutes of twelve," added Washburn, consulting the chronometer. +"This is exactly where we ought to be at this time," and he made the +entry on the log-slate. + +"Haven't you been over this course before to-day?" asked the spokesman +of the pilot. + +"Not to-day," I answered, perceiving what it was that bewildered the +pilots. They had evidently seen the Islander, and supposed the +Sylvania was the same steamer. + +"We came out here after a steamer we heard whistling in the fog," +continued the speaker. "We got near enough to hail her; and if this is +not the same steamer, she is as near like the other as one pea is like +another." + +"She is the twin sister of this vessel. Did you see who was on board of +her?" I inquired. + +"I saw no one but the captain, and he said he was bound south, and was +not going into St. Augustine." + +"Did he tell you where he was bound?" + +"He didn't say a word about it, but kept on his course." + +"Good-day," I added, as I told Hop to ring the speed-bell. + +We filled away again, and were soon going through the water at our +former speed. The pilot-boat was almost swamped in the heavy sea, and I +have no doubt her crew were a little out of sorts after coming out for +a vessel and getting nothing for their pains. + +"That's good as far as it goes," said Washburn, when we were on our +course again. "We are sure now that the Islander has not gone into +port." + +"And we are sure the Islander is not a great way ahead of us," I added. + +"Just seven miles," replied the mate, glancing at the log-slate. "I +could stick a pin in the chart at exactly the point where she is." + +"But it may be that Captain Blastblow has not blown his blast entirely +in vain, and may have been able to get more speed out of the Islander +than anybody else has," I suggested. + +"But the pilots said she was only half an hour or so ahead of us. She +got off at least an hour ahead of us; and if we have not been gaining +on her, she ought to be about ten miles ahead," argued Washburn. I was +willing to accept his logic, for we had been over the reasoning times +enough to understand the case in precisely the same way. + +"The fog is lifting, sir," reported the second engineer, who was doing +voluntary duty on the top-gallant forecastle. + +This was agreeable news, and all hands directed their gaze to the point +where the Islander was believed to be. The gale was increasing in force +every moment. Though I had no fears for the safety of the vessel, I +knew how fearfully so small a steamer as the Sylvania leaped and rolled +in a heavy gale, and I was not a little concerned about the comfort of +my passengers. We had had a very thorough trial of her pitching and +rolling in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and I did not like to subject the +Shepards and the Tiffanys to any unnecessary discomfort. + +"We are going to have a regular muzzler, Washburn," I said, after +glancing at the barometer again. + +"There isn't any doubt about that," he replied, laughing. "I wish we +had no ladies on board." + +"I was thinking of that myself, and I will go down into the cabin, and +talk the matter over with our passengers," I replied. "Of course if we +give up the chase of the Islander, we are not likely to come near her +again. But Colonel Shepard and his family may decide that question." + +I left the pilot-house and went aft. Though we were but a few miles +from the land, there was a tremendous sea raging, and the Sylvania was +pitching violently. I went down into the cabin and found the passengers +trying to keep their places on the transoms. They were all exceedingly +good-natured about the situation. Owen was making jokes, and the young +ladies were laughing at them. Cobbington and Tom Sands had put the +guards on the table, and were doing what they could to prepare for +dinner. + +"Why do you shake up the Sylvania so fiercely, Alick?" asked Owen. + +"She is behaving very prettily just now; but I came down to tell you +that it is likely to blow, and kick up an uncomfortable sea," I +replied, looking at Mrs. Shepard, who seemed to be the most tried by +the situation. + +"But I had an idea that it was blowing already," added Owen. + +"So it is, in a mild way," I answered. + +"If this is only in a mild way, what will it be when it blows harder?" +asked Mrs. Shepard, nervously. + +"It will be worse than it is now," I replied. + +"Do you think we are in any danger, Captain Alick," inquired the lady, +looking very anxiously into my face. + +"I do not think we are in any danger," I added. "But it is going to +blow a great deal harder than it does now." + +"What will it do then, Captain Alick?" asked Miss Edith. + +"The Sylvania is small, and she will pitch and roll a great deal more +than she does now. Mr. Garningham has been in her during a very heavy +gale, and he can tell you something about it." + +"She stands up straight, and rolls quite over, so that we shall all be +pitched against the ceiling of the cabin," added Owen, maliciously. +"Then she goes down under the brine, quite out of sight of any one +supposed to be on the top of the waves. The water may come down into +this cabin like a young Niagara." + +"Then there must be very great danger," said Mrs. Shepard. + +"No great danger, madam, but I fear you will be very uncomfortable," I +answered. + +"But can't we stop till the weather is better?" + +"We shall find no port it will be safe to enter in this weather, +madam," I replied. "If it were fine weather, we might run into Mosquito +Inlet; but that is seven hours' run from here." + +"We shall all have our brains knocked out if we go on in this way," +groaned Mrs. Shepard. "Can't you do something to make us more +comfortable, Captain Alick?" + +"I can make you all quite comfortable in less than an hour," I +answered. "But our business just now is to overtake the Islander; and +if we delay the voyage we may never see her again." + +"Plague on the Islander!" exclaimed the lady. + +"I don't think there is any particular danger, ladies," interposed my +father. "It is altogether a matter of comfort." + +"I don't want to have my brains knocked out," added Miss Edith. + +"If we keep on we may know who has brains and who has not," laughed +Owen. + +"I'm sure those who want to be thumped about in this manner haven't any +brains," continued Mrs. Shepard. "What can you do, Captain Alick?" + +"We have just passed the entrance to St. Augustine harbor. We could run +back, and make a port there," I replied. + +"Then do it, for mercy's sake," said the lady, as a heavy sea rolled +the steamer down to her gunwale. + +"I should certainly have suggested doing so, if we had not been in +chase of the Islander." + +"That need not make any difference, Captain Alick." + +"The gale may last all night as well as all day, Alick," added my +father. "We are sailing for pleasure, and there is no pleasure in being +beaten about in this manner. I think you had better put about and get +us into smooth water." + +I went on deck rather disappointed at the result of the conference, for +I was interested in the chase. I ordered the jib and mainsail to be +taken in, and the helm to be put down. The fog had lifted to the +northward and westward of us, so that I could see St. Augustine light +and the pilot-boat. We took up one of the pilots, and in less than half +an hour we were anchored under the lee of the town, where the water was +as smooth as that of a mill-pond. + +Our party were not inclined to land, and we spent a pleasant afternoon +on board, in spite of the storm. We could see that it was blowing +almost a hurricane outside, and were quite contented to be at anchor. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +A VISIT FROM AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE. + + +I could not help thinking of the Islander as we lay at anchor off the +pier in St. Augustine. As I looked at the angry billows outside, I +understood what kind of a time Captain Blastblow was having. But if he +handled his vessel well, and kept out of the breakers, I had no doubt +he would come out of the trial all right. The wind had hauled still +more to the southward, and even to the east of south. I was confident +that the Islander, having the wind nearly dead ahead, would not make +much headway against such a fierce wind. + +About two o'clock in the afternoon, when we had finished our dinners, +both in the after and the forward cabin, I saw a boat put off from the +shore. The person in the stern sheets had a familiar look, though I did +not recognize him till he came on deck. + +"I hope you are quite well, Captain Garningham," said he, advancing +towards me with extended hand. + +It was Cornwood, who had been with us up the St. Johns in the double +capacity of guide and pilot, to say nothing of a third capacity as +conspirator. While I could not prove it, I was satisfied that he was +employed by Captain Boomsby to get me out of the way in some mild +manner. He had caused a drunken mulatto to be employed as a waiter in +the fore-cabin, who was another of the conspirators. But both of them +had been foiled; though, if my father had not arrived at the scene of +action when he did, I might not have been privileged to tell my story. +The waiter had been sentenced to a term as a convict, though Cornwood +had been his counsel. + +I thought it was rather impudent of Cornwood to come on board of the +Sylvania after what had happened; but brass and impudence were the +principal elements of his stock-in-trade. He seemed to have as much +assurance as though his relations had been entirely pleasant with me. +He was a man of decided ability, though not as a lawyer. He knew more +about Florida than any other man I had met; and I had never known him, +in the month of my intimacy with him, to be ignorant of any subject, +from the navigation of an interior lake or river to the scientific name +of a plant or animal. In spite of the harm he had intended to do me, +through his agent, I had a great respect for his ability. + +"You found it rough outside, Captain Garningham," said Cornwood, when +he had disposed of the commonplace introductories. + +"Too rough for the ladies; and I came in here to find a smoother sea," +I replied. + +"The storm won't last long, as it comes from the southward," he added. + +"When did you leave Jacksonville, Mr. Cornwood?" I asked, for I thought +I had seen him in the street the day before. + +"I came up in the morning boat," he replied. "It is getting to be very +dull in Jacksonville, and I thought I might find something to do here, +for fishing and hunting parties often come to St. Augustine without +stopping at the city." + +"We had some thought of trying the fish at Indian River as we went +along; but circumstances do not allow us to stop, and we shall run +direct for Key West. Was there anything new in regard to the robbery of +the bank messenger this morning?" + +"I heard nothing. But your friend, Captain Boomsby, is in great +trouble," said Cornwood, smiling, as though the saloon-keeper's +trouble, whatever it was, could not produce a deep impression on his +late employe. + +"What is the matter with the captain?" I asked, with interest. + +"His son Nick has disappeared." + +"Nick disappeared!" I exclaimed, not a little astonished. + +"He cannot be found, though his father searched from six o'clock this +morning till the time I left." + +"When did his father first miss him?" + +"It appears that Nick tended bar till after midnight. The old man was +too full to sit up any longer, and he left Nick to close the bar. The +captain says his son did not sleep in the house last night, and he has +no idea when or where he went." + +"Very likely he left in the first train this morning," I suggested, +recalling all that had passed between Nick and me the day before. + +"No, he didn't, for his father went to the station, and passed through +the train just before it started. He did not leave by railroad, or come +up the river in the Hampton, or I should have seen him." + +"Nick has something like sharpness, and he knew he could not get off on +the morning train. But he could have walked to Baldwin between the time +he closed the bar and nine o'clock, and taken the train there," I +added. + +"I don't believe Nick walked twenty miles: he is too lazy to do +anything of the kind," added Cornwood, with a smile of incredulity. +"But he is not a great loss to his father; and he may make his way when +he is thrown on his own resources. There was another piece of news in +Jacksonville this morning." + +"What was that?" I inquired. + +"But I suppose you know more about this matter than any one in the +city. It was said that Colonel Shepard's yacht, in which he was going +to New Orleans, left without him or his family. Is that a fact?" + +"It is true, to the letter," I replied. "I took the colonel and his +family on board of the Sylvania, and they are in the cabin now." + +"That's very odd--that Captain Blastblow should leave without his +passengers," added Cornwood. "What does it mean?" + +"That is more than any one on board of the Sylvania can explain." + +"Was there any money on board of the yacht--I forget her name, though I +have heard you mention it several times?" + +"The Islander: she is the twin-sister of the Sylvania, and as near like +her as one pin is like another," I answered. "I am not aware that there +was any money on board of her; and I should say there was not, for the +passengers had not sent their baggage on board." + +"Does any one know where she is gone?" + +"She is bound to the south, for we saw her off St. Johns' bar headed in +that direction. The pilots off the St. Augustine light saw her to-day +noon. We were chasing her when our passengers desired to get out of the +heavy sea." + +"I should think Colonel Shepard would have some idea of the motives of +Captain Blastblow." + +"He has no more idea than I have, and I have none. We are inclined to +believe that the captain misunderstood his orders, for Colonel Shepard +was in doubt whether or not he should be able to go up the Mississippi +with us. When the mail got in yesterday afternoon, he wrote a card with +his instructions to Captain Blastblow on it, and sent it off to the +Islander by Nick Boomsby, who happened to be talking to me in the +post-office at the time." + +"Sent it off by Nick Boomsby," repeated Cornwood; but he did not appear +to be astonished. "How came Nick to be about at that time?" + +I told my late guide and pilot all that passed between me and the son +of my ancient enemy, to which he listened with deep interest. He seemed +to be engaged in earnest thought all the time, as though Nick's +movements had some meaning to him, though not a particle to me. I told +him I was in Captain Boomsby's saloon to say good-by to him at the time +the robbery of the messenger occurred. He questioned me very minutely +in regard to the affair, and I told him all I knew about it. + +"Buckner sent for me to act as his counsel; but I thought I could make +more by coming down here," added Cornwood. "I lost one case a few days +ago, and I don't care to lose another yet awhile." + +Cornwood laughed as he alluded to his defence of Griffin Leeds, the +mulatto employed by him to do his bidding on our excursion to the +interior. + +"Have you any doubt that Buckner is the man who robbed the messenger of +the four thousand dollars?" I asked, rather to bring him out than +because I valued his opinion in a detective case. + +"Not the slightest in the world; but I should not be surprised to learn +that he gave Nick a hundred dollars, or something of that sort, to +clear out at just this time," replied Cornwood, easily. + +"I don't see how that could have been," I protested. "Nick could not +have seen Buckner after the money was stolen, unless he visited him in +the lock-up." + +"That was easily enough done." + +"But some officer would have heard what passed between them. Besides, +Buckner had no money, for none was found upon him when he was +arrested." + +"Buckner hid the money, but he stowed away enough to see him through +the trial. As the case now stands, they can't convict the man, for Nick +was the most important witness. He saw Buckner take the money. I have +no doubt Buckner will be discharged to-day," said Cornwood, +confidently. + +"Was that the reason you would not act as his counsel?" I asked, for +the late pilot's statements seemed to be contradictory. + +"What you have told me, Captain Garningham, entirely changes my +opinion. You were present, and you have told me exactly how the affair +happened. I supposed Peverell saw Buckner take the package. That makes +all the difference in the world in a court of law. No one saw Buckner +take the money, according to your evidence, except Nick. The supposed +robber was arrested down the wharf; he was searched, all the holes and +corners, including the river, were searched for the package, but it +could not be found. What evidence is there that Buckner took it?" + +"I don't see any, except that of Nick Boomsby; and he don't tell his +story twice alike," I replied. "But, if Buckner did not take the money, +I can't see who did take it. I saw the messenger lay the package on the +counter; and the next thing I saw was Nick leaping over the counter." + +"I don't say that Buckner did not take the package; on the contrary, I +believe he did take it; only there is not evidence enough to convict +him without Nick," argued Cornwood. "If I had known that Nick was to be +out of the way, I certainly should have taken the case, for a man who +has stolen four thousand dollars can afford to pay the lawyer well who +gets him out of the scrape." + +I was disgusted with this logic, though it was perfectly consistent +with all I knew of the man. I did not care to say anything more about +the case. + +"After hearing your version of the affair, Captain Garningham, I am +inclined to return to Jacksonville this afternoon, and offer my +services to the prisoner. When he gets out of jail he will have money +enough to pay me handsomely," chuckled the lawyer; "but perhaps I can +do something better if I can recover Colonel Shepard's lost +steam-yacht." + +"Do you think you can recover it?" I asked, curiously. + +"I am quite confident I can. I suppose you will sail as soon as the +weather will permit?" continued Cornwood. + +"We shall. As I said, I am convinced that Captain Blastblow has simply +misunderstood his orders. I think he will proceed directly to New +Orleans, possibly touching at Key West." + +"He will certainly put in at Key West; but he will probably be from ten +to twenty hours ahead of the Sylvania, and he will not wait for you. I +should like to see Colonel Shepard." + +I called the colonel up from the cabin, and as it was raining in +torrents, I conducted him and the lawyer to my stateroom. + +"For two hundred dollars--I can't work for nothing, and find myself, +though I should be glad to do so for Colonel Shepard--I will recover +and return your yacht to you at Key West, or at some point this side of +there; half down to pay my expenses, and half when the Islander is +delivered to you," said Cornwood. + +"I haven't much confidence in you, Mr. Cornwood, and I don't care to +advance any money to you," replied the owner of the lost steamer. + +"Quite natural, colonel. I will do it without any advance. But in half +an hour it will be too late to do anything," replied Cornwood, not at +all repelled by the colonel's lack of confidence in him. "I must be in +Cedar Keys to-morrow night; and I must be in Jacksonville this evening +in order to do it. I shall get to Key West Sunday morning, and find the +Islander there." + +The plan was considered at length, and finally the colonel assented to +it, and wrote the instructions for Cornwood. He hastened on shore. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +INTELLIGENCE OF THE ISLANDER. + + +It rained very hard all the rest of the day and all night, and it +continued to blow heavily until the next morning. It was not till noon +that the ocean looked quiet enough to induce us to take ladies to sea +again, after the experience of the day before. We had lost twenty-four +hours, and if the Islander had not put in at some inlet, or made a lee +under Cape Canaveral, was half way to Key West. It was useless to think +of overtaking her on the passage, unless she had spent a day in +Mosquito Inlet. + +Colonel Shepard's letter was addressed to Captain Blastblow, though it +was an open one, directing him to await the arrival of the Sylvania at +Key West. I had no faith in Cornwood; but I was willing to believe he +thought he could intercept the Islander at Key West, or he would not +have gone on a "wild-goose chase" at his own expense. If he recovered +the steam-yacht he would get two hundred dollars for his services; if +he failed, he would get nothing. So far as I could see, no risk was +incurred by the colonel in allowing the Floridian to go on this +mission. + +The weather was delightful after we got outside of the harbor of St. +Augustine. The wind was west, and the air was as balmy as summer. We +placed easy-chairs on the quarter-deck for the ladies. The long swells +of the ocean gave a steady and regular roll to the vessel. The party +declared that the sail was "perfectly delightful," and they did not see +how the sea could be so angry and savage as it had been the day before. + +The mate noted the departure from St. Augustine light at half-past +twelve. I had a chart laid out on my table in the stateroom, on which I +had marked the route of the vessel to Key West, with the courses and +distances, in red ink. It was our rule to heave the lead every hour, +though the Sylvania made a regular average of ten knots an hour when +she was not hurried. When we came to a point of land, or any opening in +the coast, we could tell what it was. + +According to the Coast Pilot, which was always kept on the shelf, by +the side of the binnacle, it was eighty-five miles to Cape Canaveral. +In just eight hours and a half, if we made our ordinary speed, we +should be abreast of this cape. We kept as close to the coast as the +depth of water would permit, for there were no shoals or other dangers +to fear. If we went out far enough, we should have the current of the +Gulf Stream against us. + +As soon as we were fairly on our course I began to think over the +mission of Cornwood. I had no doubt that he was a rascal. I considered +whether or not it would be possible for him to do me or Colonel Shepard +any harm, on the one hand, or any good on the other. He had received no +money, and was to receive none until he earned it. + +He was to arrive at Key West on Sunday morning. The Sylvania would not +be likely to reach the same port before Sunday noon. If the Islander +had kept on her course during the twenty-four hours we had been at +anchor, she would be likely to reach Key West on Saturday afternoon. I +did not know that she had any occasion to put in there at all; if she +had, she was not likely to remain there many hours. If the Islander had +not put in at any port during the storm, Cornwood would not arrive at +his destination until after she had departed. + +The interesting question was whether she had or had not made a port in +the storm. If I had had no ladies on board, I should not have thought +of such a thing as going into St. Augustine on account of the bad +weather. Captain Blastblow, according to his own statement, was a +thorough seaman, and, judging by my own feelings, it was not probable +that he had made a port. + +But I was not quite satisfied on this point, and I had not so much +confidence in the captain of the Islander as he seemed to have in +himself. Our chart indicated only one port where he could have gone in, +and that was Mosquito Inlet, which had hardly water enough at high tide +to allow the Islander to run through the narrow passage that leads from +Hillsboro River out into the ocean. The inlet is sixty-five miles from +St. Augustine light. + +The town of New Smyrna is two or three miles up Hillsboro River, +between which and St. Augustine and Jacksonville a small steamer plies +regularly. I had about made up my mind to run up the inlet as far as +the depth of water would permit, and see if I could find any one who +could give me any information in regard to the Islander. I had hardly +reached this conclusion when I was called to dinner. I was to dine in +the cabin, and I told the party what I intended to do. + +"I don't care to have you delay your voyage for me, Captain Alick," +replied Colonel Shepard. + +"We started out to catch the Islander, and I am as anxious to do it as +you are," I added. + +"I suppose you wish to get rid of us," interposed Miss Edith. + +"Not at all; after I invited you to make the trip with us, and was +anxious to have your company, I shall not be in haste to get rid of +you. On the contrary, it must be that you wish to get rid of me, or you +would not have chosen to go in the Islander." + +"Forgive me, Captain Alick; I did not mean it," replied the fair +maiden. "But we are so comfortable and so happy that we shall be in no +haste to get out of the Sylvania." + +"Isn't there danger in going into such a place, Alick," asked my +father. + +"I think not, sir," I answered. "I have a chart with the soundings on +it, and I am sure I can run into the inlet in the day-time; and it will +not be dark at seven, when we get there." + +No further objection was raised to my plan. Just before the time set +for reaching the point off the inlet, all hands were on the lookout for +it. From my chart I learned that the inlet, on account of the shifting +sand, had moved to the southward about a quarter of a mile. For a +considerable distance on each side of the narrow channel leading into +the inlet and river, there were breakers, such as we had seen on the +coast of North Carolina, and at various points south of it. + +Washburn was the first to discover the opening, and point it out to me. +I looked on the shore for a couple of wrecks whose positions were laid +down on the chart; but I could not find them. The shoals were caused by +the sand brought out of the inlet by the current of the river. The bar +changed with every storm; but I could plainly see the channel, for its +waters were less disturbed and broken by the rollers from the sea. + +"It looks a little risky," said Washburn, shaking his head. + +"I think not; the tide will be high in about an hour, and that will +give about eight feet and a half on the shoalest places," I replied. "I +don't think we are drawing over eight feet now." + +"Eight and a half, sure. We might scrape over the bottom an hour from +now; but we shall stick as sure as we run into that narrow channel. The +worst place is just on the edge of the breakers." + +"Sail on the port bow, sir," said Ben Bowman. + +It was a small schooner, which I thought might be a fisherman. She was +headed directly for the narrow channel. As we were nearly up with the +opening, I rang for the engineer to stop and back her. But the little +schooner had to beat up, and as she was still about two miles off, I +was soon tired of waiting for her. I rang to go ahead again, and headed +the Sylvania in a direction to intercept the schooner. A few minutes +brought us within hail of her. + +"Schooner ahoy!" shouted Washburn. + +[Illustration: "'Schooner ahoy!' shouted Washburn." _Page 122._] + +"On board of the steamer!" replied the skipper of the craft. + +"Where are you bound?" demanded the mate. + +"Into New Smyrna. We have been out fishing." + +"When did you leave the town?" + +"This morning, at four o'clock. Be you the steamer that tried to get +into the inlet yesterday?" asked the skipper, as we were now within +easy talking distance of him. + +"Did a steamer try to get in yesterday?" + +"Of course, or I wouldn't say so. But it was not full tide by two +hours, and she stuck in the sand about as soon as she got in between +the shoals." + +"What did she do then?" + +"She waited till the tide lifted her and then she backed out, and +hooked it to the southward as fast as she could. We were at anchor +inside of the inlet, and saw the whole of it. She looked just like this +craft. Plenty of fresh fish on board?" + +At my request Cobbington bought a considerable quantity of sheeps-head +and cavallo. The only fish we had on board was shad, and we had eaten +that so much during the past month that we were tired of it. These +fresh fish were therefore a great treat, as we found next morning. + +We started the engine again, satisfied that the Islander had not gone +into Mosquito Inlet. I gave the information to Colonel Shepard. + +"Then Mr. Cornwood will not be likely to intercept the Islander at Key +West," said he. + +"Not unless she put in at some other port, though I know of none where +she could have made a harbor until after the storm was over. But she +may stop over at Key West a day or two," I replied. "It all depends +upon what Captain Blastblow understands his instructions to be." + +"Cornwood took the train at Jacksonville for Cedar Keys this morning, +and will be there this afternoon. He will reach Key West on Sunday +morning," added the colonel. + +"We shall be there only a few hours later; and if the weather is +favorable we may get there as soon as the messenger you sent." + +"I do not see that we can help the matter. If Cornwood don't get to Key +West in season to intercept the Islander, he will lose his two hundred +dollars, and my runaway craft will continue on her way to New Orleans." + +This was all that either of us could make of it, and all we could do +was to wait till we got to Key West for further information. If the +Islander was twenty-four hours ahead of us, it was useless to attempt +to overhaul her. The Sylvania was a great deal more comfortable for the +passengers when she went along at her ordinary rate than when she was +forced up to twelve knots an hour; and I was not disposed to hurry her +on a useless mission. My passengers appeared to be enjoying themselves +all the time. I could not see how they could help being happy. + +Some of them were reading books from the library I had started at +Detroit, and replenished in several places on the route to the South. +Others were playing various games. Mr. Tiffany and my father could play +chess all day long, and most of the night. The meals were served as +elaborately as at a first-class hotel, and we had everything from the +market that could be supplied in the summer in the northern states. I +was decidedly of the opinion that our passengers had nothing to worry +about, unless Colonel Shepard could be excused for worrying about his +steamer. + +At eight o'clock the first watch went on duty, in charge of Washburn, +who was as competent to handle the vessel as I was. He had the chart, +with the courses and distances marked on it. When I left the +pilot-house, Cape Canaveral, or rather the light on it, was in sight. +At nine o'clock we were just abreast of it, which proved that our dead +reckoning was correct. From this point the course was south by east, +one hundred and five miles. + +As soon as the Sylvania was on her new course, I left the pilot-house, +where I had gone at nine, and turned in. I had slept all the night +before, and the laughter of the younger of the passengers on the +hurricane-deck above me did not permit me to sleep. But I heard Colonel +Shepard call his daughter away at ten, and then I went to sleep. I +could not tell how long I had slept when the stopping of the steamer +waked me. + +"What schooner is that?" shouted Washburn, from the pilot-house. + +I was on deck soon enough to hear the reply. + +"The Violet, New Orleans to New York," came from the vessel hailed. + +"Did you see a small steamer about the size of this one?" asked +Washburn. + +"We passed one about three hours ago. She looked enough like you to be +the same vessel." + +"Thanks," shouted Washburn, as he rang the bell to go ahead. + +I looked at my watch, and found it wanted but a few minutes of twelve, +and I went into the pilot-house. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +DIFFICULT NAVIGATION. + + +"Three hours ago, which means that the Islander is about thirty miles +ahead of us," said Washburn, when I went into the pilot-house. + +"She must have put in somewhere, and it was not at Mosquito Inlet," I +replied. "I don't quite understand it." + +"I think I do," added Washburn, as he called in Buck Lingley and gave +him the wheel. + +He led the way to the chart on the shelf, upon which a light was cast +from the binnacle. He pointed out Matanzas Inlet, at the southern point +of Anastasia Island, and fifteen miles south of St. Augustine. + +"She went into that inlet," said Washburn. + +"But there isn't water enough in it to float the Islander," I replied. + +"I think she did not go in far, if at all. The wind was off shore +yesterday, and under the lee of the land there is no sea of any +consequence, except what is caused by the rollers. If the captain of +that schooner has given the time correctly, it shows that the Islander +went to sea about an hour and half before we did. That will put her +thirty miles ahead of us," Washburn explained; and his reasoning seemed +to be correct. + +"The Islander put in somewhere, or she would have been two hundred and +forty miles farther on the way to Key West than we are," I added. "She +did not stand off to sea, as there was not the least need of that, for +the wind has been off shore since we came out of the St. Johns." + +"I am confident we are right. Now the question is, shall we chase her?" +asked Washburn. "She is thirty miles ahead of us; and we have nearly +three hundred and fifty miles to make to reach Key West." + +"There is no wind to-night to help us, and it will take as much coal to +get the two extra knots out of the Sylvania as it will to make the +ordinary and regular ten knots an hour, to say nothing of the wear and +tear of boiler and machinery," I replied, musing. + +"But the Islander will get to Key West before Cornwood does, if she +puts in there, and we may miss her altogether." + +"I should like to get near enough to her to watch her movements," I +added. "I think if we crowd the Sylvania for six or seven hours we +shall get a sight of her. I am inclined to hurry her." + +"I am decidedly in favor of it, for she may escape her owner altogether +if we don't follow her up." + +"Eight bells! All the port watch!" called Buck Lingley, who had been +relieved at the wheel. + +I went on deck, and when Ben Bowman came up I told him I wanted him to +give the vessel all the steam she would carry. There was a light breeze +from the westward, but not enough to help the speed of the steamer, and +we did not put on any sail. I took my place at the wheel while Hop +Tossford was the lookout on the topgallant forecastle. + +In a short time the screw began to buzz, and when Buck and Dyer Perkins +went below, after heaving the lead, the Sylvania was making eleven +knots. I expected her to do better than this. At four o'clock in the +morning, when the starboard watch were called, we were off Indian River +Inlet. Nothing had been said about trying the fish since we left +Jacksonville. There was not water enough in Indian River to float the +steamer, and I gave up all thought of renewing the exciting sport we +had had in these waters when we came over from the St. Johns. At four +o'clock I turned in and slept till eight. + +I found the barometer had been dropping again, and the wind came from +the eastward, which was not a good way to have the wind while we were +off the coast. While I was eating my breakfast, the Sylvania came up +with Jupiter Inlet, where Washburn changed the course to south, +three-quarters east. The log-slate showed that we had made eleven and a +half knots. I figured up the distances, and concluded that the Islander +must be about twelve miles ahead of us. I did not give the other +steamer the credit of making more than ten knots an hour. + +The wind had freshened considerably since I left the deck early in the +morning, and I ordered all sail to be set. Soon after the log showed +that we were making twelve knots, which was about the best speed we had +ever made. We kept her going at this rate till noon, and I had the +wheel during the time. In the course of the forenoon we had visits from +all the passengers, but the wind was raw and cold, and they did not +remain long on deck. + +"Sail, ho!" shouted Hop Tossford, from the topgallant forecastle. + +"Where away?" I asked, looking ahead, though as it was not clear I saw +nothing distinctly. + +"Sharp on the weather bow," replied the lookout. + +I looked in the direction indicated, and could just make out a sail. I +examined it through the glass, and was satisfied it was the Islander. I +had calculated that we ought to be up with her by noon; but it was +evident to me that her captain had been hurrying her, as I did not +anticipate he would do. I soon assured myself that she was not on the +same course as the Sylvania. She was headed at least a point more to +the westward. We had on all the sail it was prudent to carry, and Ben +Bowman declared the engine was doing its best. + +"We have been gaining on her every hour," I said to the mate. "If we +keep on we shall overtake her in a few hours, though she is making her +best speed." + +"But she is going more to the westward than we are," added Washburn, +looking at the chase through the glass. + +"I think she is making a mistake, for I should not care to be mixed up +among those shoals if it comes on bad weather; and it looks like it +now." + +"The wind is hauling more to the southward, and I shall look for a fog +before night." + +We kept on our course as laid down in the Coast-pilot, without regard +to the Islander. I called the passengers at two in the afternoon, when +we again changed our course to south, quarter west, to show them the +Islander. She was still headed a point farther to the westward than we +were. As our course from this point to Key West was on the +circumference of a quarter-circle, I supposed Captain Blastblow only +intended to take the shortest way by keeping inside of us, and I did +not alter anything. But I was confident that he would have to run +outside again in order to avoid the shoals of Virginia and Biscayne +Keys. I had studied the chart carefully every day, and had found places +where there was not more than four, or even more than two, feet of +water at low tide, as it was at this time. + +At four o'clock the Islander was not more than a mile to the south of +us, though she was two miles nearer shore than we were. We were abreast +of the light-house at Cape Florida, and I expected to intercept the +Islander when she came out from the dangerous shoals, rendered doubly +dangerous by the threatening weather. But the other steamer gave no +indications of changing her course, and I soon saw her close to the +light-house. + +"She seems to be behaving very strangely, Captain Alick," said the +mate, as we were watching her from the pilot-house. + +"It seems to me that she is losing time. There are shoals and rocks +just to the southward of her," I replied. + +"There she goes about!" exclaimed Washburn, as she pointed her bow to +the eastward. "I think we had better take in all the sail we carry, for +we have only a mile of southing to make while the other steamer makes +two miles of easting." + +All hands were called for this duty, for the wind was coming heavier +and heavier every minute. The mate and the four men made quick work of +it. The Islander carried no sail, though her people must have seen the +Sylvania two hours before. + +"I am glad Captain Blastblow has come to his senses, and is standing +out from the shore," I added. "About five miles to the eastward of the +line of Keys, which form part of a circle, from Cape Florida to Pickle +Reef, more than forty miles, is a series of reefs and rocks. There is a +passage between the reefs and the Keys, through which vessels of light +draught may pass. But I believe in having plenty of sea room when the +weather looks as it does now." + +When we were abreast of Cape Florida the Islander suddenly put up her +helm, and stood off to the south-west. This movement indicated that she +had no intention of coming any nearer to the Sylvania. I was perplexed +at this change of course, because I could hardly conceive of such a +thing as Captain Blastblow taking the inside route in that threatening +weather. There was nothing to protect his vessel from the heavy seas, +and in some places he would have hardly water enough to float the +Islander. + +In about another hour Fowey Rocks were between the two vessels. There +was no way of getting out of the inside passage except that by which he +went in, or at the southerly end of the series of reefs. + +"It looks to me just as though the Islander wanted to keep out of our +way," said Washburn, when we had settled the question as to what the +Islander intended to do. + +"That had not occurred to me before," I replied. "Why should she try to +avoid us?" + +"That's what bothers me. I can't see the least reason for such conduct +on the part of her captain," added the mate. + +"It looks to me like very risky business to go into such a place as +that with a south-east gale threatening," I continued, as I went to the +shelf to find a chart of the Florida reefs, which I had carefully +studied. "There is one place where the Islander will have only six feet +of water at low tide, perhaps seven and a half or eight at this time of +tide. I think she will have to get in behind one of the Keys, and +anchor to wait for the tide to rise." + +"I hope nothing will happen to the Islander. I suppose Captain +Blastblow knows what he is about, and probably has a pilot for the +inside of the reefs," said Washburn. + +"If it was good weather, it would be another thing, and I should not +have hesitated to follow him, for we have the Coast Pilot, and the best +charts of the Coast Survey." + +"It is getting to be very rough out here," added Washburn, as the +Sylvania began to roll heavily in the billows that swept in from the +open sea. Our passengers were taking their afternoon naps, but they +soon found out that we were in an angry sea. I went into the cabin to +comfort them. Mrs. Shepard wanted to know if we could not put in at +some port, as we had done on Thursday. + +"There is no port we can enter before we reach Key West, madam. With +the wind as it is now, and blowing hard, I am afraid to go any nearer +the reefs than we are now." + +"I hear that a great many vessels are wrecked on the Florida Reefs," +added the lady. + +"That is quite true, Mrs. Shepard; and for that reason I shall not +approach them any nearer than we are now. As long as we have plenty of +sea room, I do not apprehend any particular danger." + +The rain began to fall about six, and the weather was so thick we could +no longer see the Islander. The last time we had seen her she must have +been some miles farther to the northward than the Sylvania, and I was +satisfied that Captain Blastblow had not gained anything by going +inside of the reefs. As I made it out from the chart, he had twice been +obliged to go to the eastward over two miles, in order to keep in the +deepest water. I suspected that he had been aground, and had to wait +for the tide; for at dark, when we saw the steamer for the last time, +we were at least five miles farther south. + +"We will keep her going as briskly as the heavy sea will permit, until +about midnight; and then we will ease off till daylight. Then I think +we shall get another sight of the Islander," I said to the mate, as he +was about to turn in at eight. + +"I don't think there is any danger of her getting ahead faster than we +do," replied the mate, with a yawn. "I believe I shall sleep well, if I +don't get pitched out of my berth." + +He was leaving the pilot-house, when the distant report of a gun came +to our ears. I concluded at once that the Islander was in trouble. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +THE CALAMITY ON FRENCH REEF. + + +I jumped to the conclusion that the Islander had struck on one of the +shoals I had noticed on the chart, and the heavy sea was pounding her +on the bottom. It could be only a question of time when she would knock +a hole in her bottom and go to pieces. Washburn was wide awake as soon +as he heard the gun, and giving him the wheel, I proceeded to examine +the chart. + +According to the dead-reckoning we ought to be a little to the +southward of French Shoal. While I was satisfying myself in regard to +our position, another gun sounded over the troubled sea. + +"That can't be the Islander's gun," said Washburn. "She has nothing on +board but a little yacht gun, and the piece we heard is a six, if not a +twelve pounder." + +"I think you are right, Bob. The sound came from the leeward. I have no +doubt it is some vessel in distress; and we must do something for her. +Call all hands," I continued, as I took the wheel, and headed the +Sylvania due west by the compass. + +Though it was not foggy, the air was thick, and I could see nothing +ahead. We had a very strong wind on our port quarter, and it was +extremely dangerous to approach the reefs from the windward. In a +moment all hands were on deck, except Moses Brickland, who was required +to take the engine whenever all hands were called on an emergency. I +directed Hop Tossford to take the wheel, and keep her due west. I asked +the mate to fire our little yacht gun, in answer to the signals we had +heard. The moment the report sounded through the vessel I heard Mrs. +Shepard scream. + +I told the chief engineer to give the steamer about half speed, and +hastened into the cabin to satisfy the passengers that nothing had +happened to us, and explain what we were doing. Mrs. Shepard assured us +that we should all be lost; but I told her we would be extremely +careful. + +I asked my father, Colonel Shepard, and Owen to come on deck, leaving +Mr. Tiffany and Gus Shepard to take charge of the ladies. I explained +the situation to them, and while we were talking about it another gun +was heard to leeward. It sounded heavier and nearer than before, and I +was sure the signal was not given by the Islander. + +"It is plain enough that a vessel has gone ashore on one of these +reefs," I said. "I can see nothing ahead, but the gun sounds in this +direction." + +Before the words were fairly out of my mouth, a sky rocket flashed up +directly over our bow. We had rockets on board, and I directed Ben to +discharge one of them. It was followed by another from the vessel in +distress. Then some Bengola lights were fired, and they illuminated the +sea for a mile at least around her. Buck Lingley was sounding, and +reporting no bottom. I told the engineer to give her more steam, for I +feared the people on the unfortunate vessel might be drowning, and a +minute might save a life, if not more. As long as the bright Bengola +light burned, I kept the steamer going at full speed. Most of the +dangerous reefs were marked by beacons, or at least the outer range of +the reef was so marked. + +The sea was very heavy, and Buck Lingley still reported no bottom. He +used a hand lead, which measures twenty fathoms of depth. The Bengola +light soon burned out, and I rang the speed-bell. This reduced our rate +one half. But it seemed to me that we were going altogether too fast, +as the strong south-east gale was driving us towards the reefs. I rang +the gong, and the vessel stopped. + +"And a half seventeen!" shouted Buck. + +"The water is shoaling," said the mate. + +"By the mark ten!" called the leadsman. + +"Get out some rockets and Bengola lights, Washburn," I continued, +nervously. "The people on the wreck don't even give us a light to steer +by." + +"And a half seven!" shouted the leadsman. + +I rang to back her, for she shoaled too rapidly for my nerves. I told +the mate to light a Bengola on the heel of the bowsprit. When he did so +the brilliant light enabled me to see the wreck very distinctly, and +less than a hundred yards from the Sylvania. She was a large bark, with +all her sails furled. Her captain had probably taken in all sail as +soon as the vessel struck the reef. + +The chart informed me there were rocks only a few feet below the +surface of the water. The wreck was headed to the south-west, but this +could not have been the direction in which she was sailing when she +struck the reef. On that course she would have got into trouble before. + +"By the deep seven!" said the leadsman, in loud and shrill tones. + +I rang to go ahead again, and at the same time told the mate to keep +the Bengola lights burning. Ben Bowman was stationed at the end of the +bowsprit that the light might not blind his eyes. I had purchased a +plentiful supply of fireworks in New York for festive occasions, and we +were in no danger of exhausting them, as they had evidently done on the +wreck. + +"Give her about ten turns a minute, Moses!" I called to the engineer +through the speaking-tube. + +"Ten turns a minute!" he replied, to make sure that I had been +understood. + +"Steady, as she is, Hop!" I said to the wheel-man. "If you see anything +like a buoy, stop and back her as quick as you can." + +"Ay, ay, sir," replied the wheelman. + +I went on the hurricane-deck to get a better view of the wreck. It was +hard to stand up in that part of the vessel, for she pitched and rolled +very badly, while she was making so little headway. By holding on at +the railing, I got to a point where I could hug the foremast. The wreck +was very low down, and I concluded that she was full of water. + +"And a half six!" said Buck. + +This was thirty-nine feet of water, and we were in no danger yet. The +waves were beating over the deck of the bark. It was clear enough that +she must go to pieces before morning. Her bulwarks were stove on the +weather side of her; and while I was looking at her the foremast went +by the board. I saw that the step of the mast must have been torn away +by grinding upon the rocks. + +We were within a hundred feet of her stern, and the billows were too +savage to permit of going any nearer. I hastened down to the +pilothouse, rang to stop her, and then to back her. I intended to be +sure that we had full control of the steamer before we went any nearer. +I found that the Sylvania backed well against the head sea, and then I +stopped her screw. + +In an instant I found that the steamer was driving towards the wreck. I +rang to back her again, and readily checked her. + +I saw that the only way I could approach the unfortunate vessel was to +get under her lee. The sea was altogether too rough for our little +quarter boats, though both of them were life-boats. By occasionally +backing the screw, we ran within fifty feet of the wreck, and I could +hear the roar of the gale through the standing rigging of the bark, and +the heavy pounding of the billows against her side. + +"Steamer ahoy!" shouted a man on the taffrail of the vessel. + +"On board the bark!" replied Washburn, on the topgallant forecastle. +"What is the condition of the vessel?" + +"Our forefoot is gone, and we are stove through forward. She is full of +water," replied the man. "She is grinding on the reef, and will go to +pieces in a few hours." + +"How much water have you under your lee?" I shouted. + +"From one to three fathoms," replied the captain of the bark, as we +judged that he was. + +With the utmost care I ran the Sylvania under the lee of the bark; and +I think it must have taken all the tact of Moses Brickland to handle +the engine in accordance with the bells I rang. But as soon as the bow +of the steamer was under the lee of the bark it was in comparatively +smooth water. From the statement of the captain, and the depth of water +he reported, I concluded that one of the sharp spurs of rock was +sticking through her bottom near where her forefoot had been, and that +she was held in this position by the reef. Buck kept on sounding, and +reported four fathoms at the stern of the wreck. Cobbington was now in +charge of the Bengolas, and Washburn was getting the hawsers ready to +make fast to the bark. We put out our fenders, and the mate heaved a +line into the waist of the wreck. Ben Bowman did the same, throwing his +line over the stern. The lines were caught by the seamen on board, and +made fast. + +Though the water was fairly still at the leeward of the bark, I found +that the vessel was rolling badly, and greatly endangering the safety +of the Sylvania. The gale was driving the wreck farther on the reef, +and I feared that the mainmast would go by the board and fall on the +steamer. + +"All aboard that are going!" I shouted at the top of my lungs, as I +stood at the wheel, ready to do whatever an emergency might require. +The two vessels were grinding their sides together, and nothing but our +fenders saved our planks from being torn off. + +The men on board the bark were very slow in seeking safety, and I was +about to repeat my former call, when I saw two women appear on the rail +by the mizzen rigging. Our hands hastened to their assistance, and as +the bark was so low in the water they had no difficulty in getting them +on our hurricane-deck. As soon as they were safely on board, the men +poured in upon us without further delay. There was not one among them +that would leave the wreck until the women were safe. The officers and +seamen brought with them whatever they could carry of their personal +property. One of them returned and cast off the hawsers. + +As soon as the fasts were cast off, I rang to back her; and, bringing +the Sylvania's head up to the wind, I wore her gradually around till +she was headed to the eastward. The sea was white with foam from the +raging billows, and the little steamer leaped like an antelope as she +went ahead on her course. It was impossible to stand up in any part of +her. I ran out about four miles to the eastward, where the steamer was +when we heard the signal-gun from the wreck. We had been absent on our +run to the reef about two hours. We laid our course as before, and I +gave the wheel to Hop Tossford, that I might attend to the wants of the +shipwrecked guests on board. + +The Sylvania was rolling on her new course at a frightful rate, and our +deck was deluged with water every moment. The gale seemed to be +increasing rather than diminishing, and I was not sure how long we +could stand such a tumbling about as we were getting. With no little +difficulty and exertion we got a reefed foresail up, which steadied her +very much. I went down into the cabin, where I had sent the ladies from +the wreck. I found our passengers propped up in such ways as they could +devise to keep from being hurled across the cabin floor at each roll of +the vessel. The strangers seemed to be quite at home, and were relating +their adventures to the other ladies, who were listening with so much +interest that they appeared to have forgotten the Sylvania was laboring +in a very heavy sea. I saw that I was not wanted there. I went on deck, +and found that the sailors from the wreck were stowed away in the +dryest places they could find. + +I invited them all down into the forward cabin, and assigned the mate +to the spare berth there. The others must sleep on the floor, for we +could do nothing better for them. + +"Mr. Mate, where is your captain?" I asked. + +"I don't think he came below, sir. He is feeling very badly about the +loss of his vessel," replied the mate. "I will try to find him." + +He went on deck with me, and we found him coiled away under the +topgallant forecastle. I invited him to come into the pilot-house, and +he followed me thither. + +"I am sorry for your misfortune, Captain," I said, when he had seated +himself abaft the wheel. + +"It is a sorry night for me. My vessel is lost, and I have not the +least idea how it happened," he replied, very sadly. + +I did my best to comfort him. I saw that he was quite as much exhausted +by his mental sufferings as by his physical exertions. I conducted him +to my state-room, and gave him my berth. In a short time he was asleep. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +A NIGHT LOST IN THE STORM. + + +At eleven o'clock we changed the course of the Sylvania to south-west +half-west, which brought the gale nearly on the beam. The wind was +blowing but little, if anything, short of a hurricane. The great +billows struck against the side of the vessel and the house on deck +with tremendous force. It seemed just as though immense boulders were +hurled against the planking that enclosed my state-room, the galley, +and the engine-room. The sea swept over the hurricane-deck, and struck +heavily upon the planks overhead. + +Suddenly I heard a noise over my head, as I stood at the wheel, which +sounded like the report of a heavy cannon. I thought the sea had broken +a hole through. In another instant the steamer was rolling with double +the violence of a few minutes before. + +"What was that noise, Hop?" I asked, when I saw that no water was +pouring down upon us. + +"It was the foresail, sir; it has been blown out of the bolt-ropes," +replied Hop, coolly; and he seemed to be incapable of anything like +fear. "We have lost the reefed foresail, and that is what makes her +roll so much worse than she did five minutes ago." + +Undoubtedly he was right. The sail had steadied her more than we could +have imagined; and now she rolled like a log in a mill-race. The sea +struck the side of my state-room as though a rock weighing a ton had +been cast against it by some giant of the sea or the storm. I was +afraid our house on deck would be carried away by the tempest. + +On board of a large vessel, the loss of a house on deck was a matter of +no serious consequences. It was entirely different with the Sylvania, +for the loss of it would open the hold to the entrance of the sea. The +deluge of water would put out the fire in the furnaces, disabling the +engine. The result must be the loss of the vessel and all on board of +her. I trembled when I thought of it. Another mountain billow struck +the house a little farther aft. I was not willing to wait for another +sea to strike her in what I regarded as her weakest point, and we put +the helm down. We must give up our course for the safety of the vessel. + +The steamer made a terrible plunge as we shifted the helm, but we soon +got her across the sea. Now she pitched instead of rolling. I called to +the engineer, through the speaking-tube, to give her but about half +speed, for it made her labor more heavily to drive her into the seas. I +calculated that this rate of speed would keep her about stationary on +the water. I soon found that she was falling astern. I directed the +engineer to give her more steam. I soon gauged it so that she had +headway enough to keep her up to the seas without forcing her through +them. A sort of equilibrium was established, which gave her an easier +position, though it was by no means an easy one. Her bow rose so that +the deck must have been at an angle of forty-five degrees, and then she +dived down from the top of a big wave at about the same angle. + +Our port and starboard, as well as the masthead light were burning, and +we had closed in the pilot-house, so that we could see nothing ahead. +But I found the steamer was manageable when I had got her head to the +sea, and I sent Hop Tossford to call the mate and Buck Lingley. I could +not tell what might happen, and I felt that all hands should be on +deck. I wondered they had not put in an appearance before. But they +were all used to this sort of thing, for we had been through a tempest +almost as bad in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and several milder ones at +other times. + +The water swashed fore and aft, but no longer pounded against the house +on deck. It poured over the bow, so that it was not safe to put a man +on the lookout there. The only thing we had to fear while we were +lying-to in this manner was a collision with some other vessel. The +water poured into the pilot-house so that we could not keep the windows +open. I sent Buck to the hurricane-deck, with directions to lash +himself to the foremast, and keep under the shelter of the dome of the +pilot-house. When I had done this, and heard Buck on the deck over me, +I felt that I had met the last and most imminent danger of the hour. + +Though the steamer was still laboring heavily against the tremendous +head seas, she appeared to be holding her position in safety. I gave +the helm to Washburn and Ben Bowman, for it required two to move the +wheel promptly in that violent sea, and went to pay a visit to the +cabin, for I supposed the passengers were enduring torments of suspense +and terror. + +On the way I looked into my state-room. The captain of the wrecked bark +appeared to be still asleep, and I did not disturb him. Following one +of the life-lines we always bent on in a gale, I reached the after +companion-way. Like everything in the shape of an opening on deck, it +was securely fastened. But I had a key, and descended the cabin-stairs, +locking the door behind me. Most of the passengers were still up. Some +had retired to their berths, though probably not to sleep. + +My father and Mr. Tiffany were playing chess, and did not seem to be at +all disturbed by the war of the elements. Colonel Shepard was holding +his wife upon a sofa, and Owen and Gus were skylarking in the +after-part of the cabin. + +"Isn't it terrible, Captain Alick?" asked Mrs. Shepard, in trembling +tones. + +"I must say it was about as bad as anything I ever was out in, though +we had it about as bad once on Lake Superior," I replied, as cheerfully +as the occasion required. + +"Do you think there is any danger?" + +"I don't think there is just now," I answered. "The steamer is working +very well at present, much better than she was an hour ago." + +"I thought the water would break through upon us at one time," added +the nervous lady. + +"I was afraid it would. We had our foresail blown out of the +bolt-ropes, and she made bad work of it after that. But we have laid +her to now, and she is behaving as well as any vessel of this size can +in such a sea." + +"When do you suppose it will be over?" asked the lady, anxiously. + +"It is a south-east gale, or rather hurricane, and probably it will not +last long. I shall look for better weather by sunrise, if not before," +I replied, as I left the cabin. + +On my way back to the pilot-house I stopped in at the engine-room. I +found Moses Brickland, seated on his leather-cushioned divan, watching +the movements of the engine. Notwithstanding the uneasy movement of the +vessel the machinery seemed to be working very regularly. + +"How does she go, Moses?" I asked. + +"She has done very well since you headed her up to the sea," he +answered, without taking his gaze from the engine. "At one time I +thought the sea would break in upon us and swamp the fires. It would +have been all up with us then." + +"I felt so myself, and I headed her up to the sea when I saw that it +was no longer safe to keep her on her course. But I suppose you want to +turn in, Moses." + +"I, no; I am perfectly satisfied to keep my place here till morning," +he replied. + +"I want Ben Bowman at the wheel, with Washburn. She steers so hard in +this sea that we need to change hands every hour. But I hope we shall +soon be able to relieve you," I added. + +"I don't have very hard work, and I can stand it very well till +morning." + +I returned to the wheel-house. It was about two bells, or one in the +morning. The tempest had not increased in the last hour, and I hoped we +had seen the worst of it. We were working the engine just enough to +keep the steamer's head up to the sea. The Sylvania behaved so well in +her present position that I dismissed the port watch at two in the +morning; but I could not think of turning in myself while there was any +possibility of trouble ahead. I remained in the pilot-house with +Washburn, while Buck Lingley was on the lookout on the hurricane-deck. +We held our position till about four in the morning, when it was +evident that the gale was breaking, though the sea was still very +heavy. + +"Light on the port quarter," said Buck, at one of the small windows of +the pilot-house in front of his station. + +I rushed over to the port side, but the windows were so covered with +water that I could see nothing. It was raining hard, as it had been +since midnight. I went on deck, grasping a life-line to keep me from +being knocked over by the flood of water that flowed down from the +forecastle. I reached the ladder and went up to the hurricane-deck. + +I supposed the light the lookout had seen was on some vessel. It was at +least ten miles distant; and after a time I satisfied myself that it +was a revolving light. It also flashed, and I was confident it was +eight or ten miles distant. I was rather bewildered, for I had not +expected to find a light in that direction. I hastened down to the +pilot-house to consult the Coast Pilot. I reviewed the course we had +followed after leaving the wrecked bark. By our reckoning we were about +twenty miles to the southward of Carysfort Light when we headed the +steamer to the eastward. + +We had kept the screw turning all the time, and I supposed we had been +making some headway during the five hours we had been on this tack. +What was the light, then? + +We were headed directly into the Bahama Islands, and I knew we had not +gone far enough to place any light in those islands on our port +quarter. The description in the book of Carysfort Light corresponded +with what I had made out by observation. + +"We are about ten miles to the south-east of Carysfort Light," I said +to Washburn, when I had satisfied myself of the fact. + +"Impossible! That would put us about where we were when you called all +hands last night!" exclaimed the mate. + +"The Light is about where it was when we began to go to the southward +at ten last evening," I replied. + +"But we have been going to the southward and eastward for the last five +hours." + +"It does not appear that we have gone at all," I continued, looking +over the pages of the book. "We have been drifting all the time. The +steamer is in the Gulf Stream, and that, with the fierce wind, has +carried her a long distance from where I supposed she was. I find that +in a strong easterly wind the Gulf Stream sets to the westward, and +runs in among the Keys. I have no doubt now that this is the reason why +the bark struck last night on the rocks to the southward of French +Reef." + +"It appears from what you say that we have not carried steam enough to +prevent us from being drifted to the westward as well as to the +northward," added Washburn. + +"That is the fact: we have been drifting about north-northwest. In a +few hours more we should have been on the reef. Ring the speed-bell." + +It was plain enough by this time, when it was almost broad daylight, +that the force of the gale was spent. In less than an hour the wind +subsided entirely, and the wind whirled to the south, then to the west, +and finally settled in the north-west. We made our course to the +southward. The clouds rolled away, and the sun rose bright and +beautiful after one of the hardest nights I had ever known. + +The wind began to freshen from the north-west, and at six o'clock we +had all sail on her. We all wondered what had become of the Islander. +Captain Blastblow was evidently well acquainted with the navigation of +the Florida Reefs, or he would not have taken his vessel through the +dangerous channel he had chosen. But I was too tired to talk much, and +I slept an hour in Washburn's berth until breakfast-time. When I waked, +I found the captain of the bark sitting in a chair in the state-room. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +LOOKING FOR THE ISLANDER. + + +The captain of the bark was a man of about fifty. He was bald, and his +hair and whiskers were sprinkled with gray. I had no doubt that the +violent storm had made an end of his vessel, for the wreck was exposed +to the full fury of the sea, tenfold more violent after we left it than +before. + +"Good morning, Captain; I hope you are quite well this morning," I +began. + +"I am well enough, thank you; but I cannot forget that I have lost my +ship," he replied. "You had a rough night of it on deck; and I don't +think I ever knew a vessel to pitch and roll so badly as this one did." + +"It was a terrible blow, and this is a very small vessel, though she is +as strong as wood and iron could make her. If she had not been well +built, the sea would have taken the house off this deck." + +"I thought it was going to do so as it was. I think she was exceedingly +well handled, or she would have gone to the bottom," continued the +captain. "I have no doubt there are scores of wrecks along the Keys +this morning, and many a good fellow may miss his mess after this." + +I gave him a full account of the storm, and of our being carried so far +out of our course by the wind and the current. I told him that we had +been delayed so long by the wreck and the storm that we probably should +not reach Key West till three or four in the afternoon. + +"I suppose we shall be lucky to get there at all after all that has +happened to us," replied the captain. "What you say about drifting so +far out of your course strikes me as being a little strange." + +"What was the name of your vessel, Captain?--I have not even learned +your name," I continued. I intended to point out to him the way in +which the bark had been lost; but I wanted to know something more about +the voyage of the unfortunate vessel. + +"Captain Mayfield; and the bark was the Olive, of New York, from New +Orleans, with a cargo of cotton from the latter port," replied the +captain. "I owned a third of her myself; but she is well insured, and +so is her cargo. My wife and daughter were with me, and are now in the +after cabin." + +"I think you were fortunate to escape with your lives," I added. + +"I know we were, Captain--I don't know your name any better than you +did mine; and it strikes me that you are a very young fellow to be in +command of a steamer, though she is a very small one." + +"My name is Alexander Garningham, and I am generally called Captain +Alick. I have been on the water most of the time since I was ten years +old, either on the sea or on the great lakes. I have had as rough a +time on Lake Superior as we had last night, if not a rougher." I told +my story as briefly as I could. + +"Your education has not been neglected, Captain Alick," continued +Captain Mayfield. "If you had not managed the Sylvania so well last +night, most of us must have perished; for I have no doubt that the +Olive went to pieces before midnight. She was a well-built vessel, but +rather old. The gale kept forcing her up to the sharp coral rocks, and +she was grinding off her timbers at a very rapid rate when we left her. +If there had been any chance for her I would not have left her. I had +reduced sail at dark, when it began to freshen into a gale. We had the +wind on the beam, and the bark was behaving very well." + +"It began to blow the heaviest about six bells," I added. + +"We did not get the worst of it. We had the foretop-mast staysail, fore +and main topsails, and the spanker set. The Gulf Stream was with us, +and we were making not less than ten knots an hour. I expected soon to +see Carysfort Light. Our course was north, a quarter east, and I had no +doubt I was making it good." + +"I am afraid not." + +"Of course I know now that I did not make it good; but I can't see any +reason why I did not." + +"I can," I interposed. "It was for the same reason that we were drifted +so far to the northward and westward. When the wind comes strong from +an easterly direction the current of the Gulf Stream is partly turned +to the westward." + +"I have read that in the Coast Pilot; but I have been through these +waters so many times without noticing anything of the kind, that I did +not think of it last night. The first hint I had that anything was +wrong was when the Olive struck on the rocks. I knew from the sound of +the crash that she had stove a hole in her bow. She flew back, and then +the wind jammed her on again. I sent hands aloft to furl the topsails, +and others to haul down the jib and take in the spanker. But she drove +on the rocks all the same; and I knew that would be the end of her." + +I invited the captain to visit the cabin, for I thought he would wish +to see his wife and daughter. Our passengers were all at breakfast, and +engaged in talking over the events of the night. Captain Mayfield was +invited to join them, and I advised him to do so, while I went back to +the deck to attend to the wants of the rest of the ship's company of +the Olive. The sailors were all on deck, and the mate was in the +pilot-house with Washburn. Gopher had made provision for feeding the +addition to our passengers. I invited the two mates of the Olive down +into the fore-cabin to breakfast, while the cook and steward were +supplying the sailors on the forecastle. I found that Gopher had been +liberal in his supplies, both as to quantity and quality, for the +wrecked people. + +By eight o'clock breakfast had been served to all on board. I had not +slept above four hours in two nights, though my short nap had refreshed +me a little. Washburn and all the rest of the crew had been on duty +most of the night, and they were very much fatigued. Moses Brickland +had served a double watch, and Ben Bowman had worked like a trooper +most of the night. I decided, as it was pleasant and plain sailing, to +send all hands to their berths, and take the helm myself, with Ben at +the engine; for he declared that he could stand it with only two hours' +sleep a week. Captain Mayfield and his two mates soon joined me in the +pilot-house. I was so sleepy myself that I could not help gaping and +yawning. + +"You've had a hard night of it, Captain Alick, while I have had a whole +night below," said Captain Mayfield. "Myself and my mates have all seen +service in a steamer, and we should be very glad to relieve you." + +"Thank you, Captain. I acknowledge that I am rather worn out; but a +little steamer like the Sylvania has her ways, and is peculiar," I +replied. + +"Let Beach take the wheel, and you shall see whether he can handle +her," persisted Captain Mayfield. + +Beach was the second mate, and I assented. I gave him the course, and +he kept her steady to it. I lay down on the bench abaft the wheel, and +before I knew it I didn't know anything. But I slept only a few +minutes, and when I waked I found the first mate at the wheel. He was +simply trying his hand at it. A little while after the captain took his +turn. We could see the Keys, the spindles and buoys on the reefs, and +it was hardly possible for any mishap to occur on board. + +I asked one of them to help me heave the log, as I had sent all my +ship's company below to make up their sleep, except the second +engineer. Captain Mayfield would not permit me to do anything about it. +He called a couple of his seamen, and went aft to do it. He soon +reported twelve knots, with the remark that he did not suppose the +steamer to be capable of such a high rate of speed. He then begged me +to turn in. He was perfectly familiar with the coast and the soundings. +He sent two of his men on the topgallant forecastle to serve as +lookouts, and declared that the mates should keep the wheel all the +time. I was too sleepy to resist, and I turned in. I was soon fast +asleep. The motion of the vessel was now quite steady, though she rose +and fell upon the long seas. + +It was two o'clock in the afternoon when I woke, for the new captain +would not permit me to be called. Gopher had dined all on board but the +crew, who had turned in before I did. Ben Bowman had waked himself, and +gone to the engine-room to relieve Moses, at eleven. The attentive cook +had a fresh dinner ready for me; and before I had finished it most of +the other sleepers appeared. + +I went to the pilot-house and looked at the log-slate. It had been +faithfully kept during the absence of Washburn and myself. The last +entry was American Shoal, with the time of passing it. + +"Where are we now, Captain Mayfield?" I asked. + +"Do you see that beacon with a big B on the vane?" he said, pointing to +the beacon, which was within fifty yards of the steamer's bow. "That is +the Eastern Sambo, about a dozen sea miles from Key West." + +"You have been making time since I went to sleep." + +"We have logged twelve knots every time," he replied. "We shall have a +head wind after we have passed the Western Sambo, or soon after, and we +must take in sail." + +I directed Washburn to call all hands and take in sail, with the +assistance at the sheets and halyards of the crew of the Olive. + +"Where do you suppose the Islander is about this time?" I asked of +Washburn, after he had taken in sail and squared the yards. + +"She may be at the bottom," replied the mate. + +Captain Mayfield asked me what I meant, and I told him all about the +Islander. + +"Her captain must have understood the navigation, or he would not have +gone inside on such a night as last we had," added Captain Mayfield. "I +don't think you will see the other steamer till you get to Key West, in +little more than an hour." + +"He may have gone to the bottom in the hurricane," I suggested. + +"He could make a harbor in several places; at Tavernier, for instance. +He may even have run through some opening to the other side of one of +the Keys, and been entirely protected from the heavy sea. He had to be +pretty well acquainted in there to do this. Do you know where he +shipped his crew?" + +"At Jacksonville, Florida," I replied. + +"Then very likely he had one or more of the Conchs, or natives, who +come from the Bahama Islands, on board. They are fishermen and +wreckers, and know every inch of bottom all along the reefs. I think +you will see the other steamer as soon as you get to Key West, for I +have no doubt she has got there first, if she was going there at all. +Western Sambo, three, five," continued Captain Mayfield. "Make a note +of it, Mr. Dana." + +After some further conversation with the captain, I was confident the +Islander could not get by Key West without being seen by Cornwood, if +the steamer in which he was to come to Cedar Keys had not been detained +by the storm. Captain Mayfield did not believe the steamer with +Jacksonville passengers on board had been detained, as she had an +inside passage during all the worst of the hurricane. It was probable +that the agent of Colonel Shepard had arrived in the fore-noon, if not +in the morning. + +Our pilot ran the Sylvania about two miles beyond the Western Sambo, +and then headed the vessel to the north-west. He asked me the draught +of the Sylvania, and I gave it to him as nine feet, which was her depth +in the water when her coal-bunkers were full of anthracite coal. The +course was varied considerably to avoid shoal places and reefs; but +Captain Mayfield gave me the sailing directions as we went along, and I +compared them with those in the Coast Pilot. All the passengers had +come on deck when it was announced that we were close in to Key West. +Colonel Shepard was very anxious about the Islander. + +The city of Key West is located on the western end of an island of the +same name. Near it is Fort Taylor, a vast structure built on an +artificial island, and connected with Key West by a long bridge. On a +hill is Whitehead Light, and on the north side of the island are +several observatories. The town, consisting mostly of cottages, is near +these towers. + +When we were off Fort Taylor, we had a full view of the harbor, but the +Islander was not to be seen. + +"There she goes!" exclaimed Washburn, pointing to the north-west. + +She carried no sail; but when I looked through the glass I made out her +rig, though she was four miles away. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +A PARTIAL SOLUTION OF THE MYSTERY. + + +"What does Captain Blastblow mean? Does he mean to run away with the +Islander?" demanded Colonel Shepard, when he realized that his +steam-yacht was again trying to elude him. + +"He must have seen the Sylvania," I replied, very much perplexed by the +conduct of the captain of the Islander. "If he stopped at Key West at +all, he must have seen us before he started." + +"Is it possible to overtake her, Captain Alick?" asked Colonel Shepard, +nervously. + +"As the case now stands, Captain Blastblow is running away from us. He +has some object in view which we cannot comprehend. I have no doubt we +can overtake her, for she can't run in behind any keys, or dodge into +any unfamiliar channels." + +"But I ought not to ask you to pursue her any farther," continued the +owner of the runaway steam-yacht. "I know your party wish to stop here, +and I will not compel them to go any farther." + +"I think we can see all we want to of Key West from the deck," +interposed my father. "At any rate, if we wish to spend any time in Key +West, it will be easy enough to come back here, for we have the whole +summer before us, and the winter, too, if the summer is not long +enough." + +"I have no desire to stop here, and Margie would much rather continue +with her friend, Miss Edith, than stop at this place," added Mr. +Tiffany. "We are all quite interested in solving the problem of the +intentions of the captain of the Islander." + +"We will leave the whole matter to Alick; and whatever he does we will +not complain," said my father. + +"You are very considerate and kind, gentlemen, and I am under very +great obligations to you and to Captain Alick for all the favors you +have extended to me," replied the colonel. + +"If it is left to me we will chase the Islander," I added. "But we must +land our shipwrecked passengers here, and that will take a little time; +and I want a pilot, for I don't like to lose any time in those shoal +waters and crooked channels." + +"Get your boats all ready, Captain Alick, and it won't take five +minutes to land me and my men, and I will put your steamer where you +can get a pilot in two minutes," interposed Captain Mayfield. "I have +no doubt we should have all perished if you had not come to the wreck +at no small peril to your vessel; and I hope the time will come when I +shall have a chance to do something for you." + +"Oh, that's all right," I replied. "I hope I never shall be in a +situation to need such help as we had a chance to give you, Captain +Mayfield." + +I gave the order to clear away the boats, the davits were swung out, +and the falls manned ready to drop them into the water without a +moment's delay. The ship's company of the Olive shook hands with me, +and thanked me very warmly for what the Sylvania had done for them. I +was sorry to part with them so hastily, but the anxiety of the colonel +seemed to admit of no other course. Captain Mayfield ran the steamer +within a hundred yards of the shore by Tift's observatory. He rang to +back her, and as soon as she had lost her headway, the two boats were +dropped into the water, with two hands in each. They were then brought +up to the gangway steps, which had been rigged out for the use of the +ladies, who were all ready to embark. + +We assisted Mrs. Mayfield and her daughter into the stern-sheets of +one, and the captain joined them. The boat shoved off, when the mate +and four of the sailors had stowed themselves away. The captain and the +ladies waved their adieus as soon as Dyer and Hop began to pull. Before +the port boat was off the second mate and the rest of the seamen had +piled into the starboard boat, and both were off at nearly the same +time. + +I saw the seamen in both boats assisting the oarsmen, and the boats +went through the water at a lively rate. Not more than two minutes had +elapsed before the party were all on shore. Several men hastened up to +Captain Mayfield, and I saw him select one of them, who immediately +jumped into the port boat. It was hardly a minute more before the boats +were under the falls. They were rapidly hoisted up, and swung inboard. +The men leaped out of them, and Washburn rang to back the boat into +deeper water. The men secured the boats, and the person sent off went +into the pilot-house. + +I looked at the clock and found we had lost less than ten minutes in +landing the wrecked party, during which time the Islander had made over +a mile. Moses Brickland had been attending to the furnaces while the +boats were absent with the two firemen, and I was sure that he had a +good head of steam on. The pilot was a swarthy person, with long black +hair, and I had no doubt he was a Conch, as Captain Mayfield had +described them to me. He was well dressed in seaman's blue clothes. I +rather liked the looks of the man, and began to feel confidence in him +as soon as I saw him. + +"I am glad to see you, Mr. Pilot," I said, giving him my hand, when I +went into the pilot-house after assuring myself that the boats were +well secured. + +"Thank you, Captain Alick," he replied with a smile. + +"As you seem to know my name, it is no more than fair that I should +know yours," I replied, as good-naturedly as he had spoken. + +"I am called Captain Cayo, but my name is Cazador, which is the Spanish +for 'Hunter.' But it don't make much difference what you call me. Cayo +is Spanish for Key, and people here are so used to the word that they +have given it me for a name. Where are you bound, Captain Alick?" + +"To New Orleans, or rather we are bound to overhaul the little steamer, +just like this one, which left here not more than half an hour before +we arrived," I replied. + +"I should have thought it was the same steamer if I had seen both of +them at the same time," replied Captain Cayo, who had taken the wheel +when he first came into the pilot-house, for he had been engaged to +take the Sylvania through the North-West Channel, as it is called. "You +wish to overhaul the Islander, do you?" + +"Her owner is on board of this steamer, and he is very anxious to get +on board of her," I answered. + +"Very well; if the Sylvania has the speed we will overhaul her, Captain +Alick," added the pilot. + +"Where did you learn my name, Captain Cayo, for you called me by it +before any one had used it on board; and those who came off in the boat +with you invariably call me Captain Garningham?" I inquired, taking up +one of the points which had attracted my attention from the first. + +"I heard you called so by a gentleman who arrived here by the morning +steamer from Cedar Keys." + +"Who was the gentleman?" I asked, with interest. + +"I don't remember his name, if I heard it at all." + +"What time did the Islander get to Key West?" + +"Not more than two hours before the Sylvania. I went on board of her to +offer my services as pilot. The captain did not want a pilot, for he +had a Conch on board who used to live in the city." + +"Then this man is now piloting the Islander through this channel?" + +"I suppose he is; but I don't think he is a pilot, for he is taking the +steamer a long way to the eastward of the bar-buoy. She went pretty +near a shoal with only five feet of water on it. I shall make one +sea-mile in going five compared with the course of the Islander." + +"I am very glad to hear it. What sort of a looking-person was it that +came in the morning-boat from Cedar Keys?" I asked. + +The pilot described Cornwood as though he were a novelist. Of course I +had no difficulty in supposing it was he. In order to get the most +reliable intelligence from the pilot, I told him all about the abrupt +departure of the Islander from Jacksonville without her owner and his +family. I stated my belief that Captain Blastblow was avoiding us, and +that he had put to sea as soon as he discovered the Sylvania headed in +for Key West. I told him the sudden departure of the other steamer was +a great mystery to her owner and all the rest of us. + +"I am sure I don't know anything about the matter, Captain Alick. I +don't believe the Islander intended to stop at the city, for the man +from Cedar Keys----" + +"His name is Cornwood," I interposed. + +"Cornwood went off in a boat and hailed the Islander. She would not +stop till he flourished a letter. I was out in my boat looking for any +craft that wanted a pilot, and I was close aboard of her. When she +stopped I climbed aboard on one side while Cornwood got aboard on the +other side. Instead of delivering the letter to the captain, he said it +was for a person supposed to be on board. The captain indulged in +strong talk; but Cornwood made some statement I did not hear, which +seemed to satisfy him. The steamer came to anchor just outside of Fort +Taylor. When the captain told me he did not want a pilot, I left the +steamer. As I pulled away, I saw that a sharp lookout was kept over the +stern of the Islander, which I can understand now, if I could not +then." + +"You don't know whether or not Cornwood delivered any letter to the +captain of the Islander?" I inquired, with deep interest. + +"Very likely he did, but not while I was on board. I pulled up the +harbor, and landed the other side of the Lazaretto. Before I reached +the shore I saw Cornwood and a swellish-looking fellow rowing to the +same landing-place. Cornwood was talking very earnestly to the swell, +and continued to do so after they got ashore." + +"What did the swell look like?" I asked, wondering who he could be, for +I had seen all the crew of the Islander, and could remember no one that +looked like a swell. + +Captain Cayo gave a minute description of the person; but it would have +applied as well to one swell as to another. + +"Did you see anything more of Cornwood and this swell?" I asked, +somewhat excited over the narrative, and hoping to get some clue to the +conspiracy for running off the Islander. + +"Cornwood and the young fellow took a seat on a bench near the +landing-place, and talked for a full hour. Before they got through I +had a sight of this steamer coming up by the West Sambo. I passed quite +near them, on my way up the hill to the lighthouse, to see if I could +make out your steamer. As I did so, I heard Cornwood call the other +fellow Nick." + +"Nick!" I exclaimed, looking at Washburn. + +"That explains it all," added the mate. + +"What does it explain?" asked the pilot, who seemed to be quite as much +interested in the case as Washburn and myself were. + +"It explains another story I have not told, and which I did not suppose +had anything to do with this matter of the running off of the +Islander." + +I related the affair of the robbery of the messenger of the bank, +giving all the details of the case, including the unexplained +disappearance of Nick Boomsby. The case looked as plain as day to +Washburn and myself. Nick had taken possession of the package of money, +and concealed it somewhere under the counter; and doubtless there were +holes and corners enough there where it could be put without its being +seen by his father. He wanted to get out of Jacksonville as soon as +possible after the robbery. He had applied to me, with his pathetic +story about being compelled to sell whiskey, and wanted to be taken as +a passenger in the Sylvania. + +"Nick had the card written by Colonel Shepard, which he delivered the +night before we sailed," said Washburn. + +"I should like to know what was written on that card," I added. + +"Probably it was nothing more than an intimation from the colonel that +he should be ready to sail the next morning. He had not room enough on +a card to go into the particulars," answered Washburn. "You saw him +write the card, Alick." + +"There was not more than a line or two on it, for it was done in half a +minute, signature and all." + +"Captain Blastblow had steam up in the morning, as directed," continued +Washburn. "Nick observed the writing closely, and wrote a letter such +as he wanted for use the next morning. Captain Blastblow is not to +blame, unless it is for letting Nick deceive him." + +The case looked plain enough now. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +ACROSS THE GULF OF MEXICO. + + +We had arrived at only a partial solution of the mystery, though we had +done enough to relieve Captain Blastblow from any evil intentions in +the premises. What Cornwood's connection with the affair was did not +yet appear. He could not have known that Nick Boomsby was on board of +the Islander, for he had gone to St. Augustine, where we had put in on +account of stress of weather. He could not have known that we intended +to put into St. Augustine, for we had no intention to do so when we +left Jacksonville. + +Possibly Cornwood had put one thing and another together until he +believed Nick had taken the four thousand dollars, and had made his +escape in the Islander. It looked as though Cornwood had some +connection with the robbery, for the Islander had hurried on her way to +New Orleans, if she was bound there, as soon as the Sylvania came in +sight. If he had delivered the letter to Captain Blastblow, the latter +would have remained in Key West until the arrival of her owner, as +instructed by the written message. + +"Cornwood and Nick did a good deal of talking, it appears, while the +Islander was here," said Washburn, "though we don't know what it was +all about." + +"I have no doubt Cornwood took the management of the case at this +point," I replied. "Nick must have forged one letter to induce Captain +Blastblow to start the Islander without her owner and his family; and I +have no doubt Cornwood forged another to make him continue the voyage." + +"I hope we shall know all about the matter in a few hours more," said +Washburn. + +"You understand the entire situation now, Captain Cayo, and see why we +want to overhaul the Islander," I continued. + +"I see the whole of it, and I will do the best I can to outsail the +other steamer; but that depends more on your vessel than on me," +replied the pilot. "Will you let your men heave the log?" + +We had been driving the Sylvania to her utmost, and Ben Bowman reported +that we were making eleven and a half knots, which was doing +exceedingly well in the teeth of a fresh north-west wind. Captain Cayo +went to the westward of the bar-buoy, while the Islander had gone to +the eastward of it more than a mile. I saw that we had gained a mile by +this course, and the Islander was not more than four miles ahead of us. + +I gave the pilot my views of the relative speed of the two vessels, +though I told him that Captain Blastblow might get a higher rate of +speed out of her than any one had done before. + +"We shall soon see which sails fastest," said Captain Cayo. "The +Islander has laid her course for the South-west Pass of the +Mississippi. All you have to do is to follow her. There is our +pilot-boat; and this is as far as we usually take vessels." + +"But I don't care to have you leave us here, Captain Cayo," I replied. +"It is clear enough that the Islander intends to keep out of our way. +She may run in among the Dry Tortugas, and having a pilot on board, she +could easily elude us." + +"She might do that when she finds you are gaining on her, as I see you +are, for we have made half a knot on her since we came out of the +channel. But if we leave the pilot-boat behind, I can't get off the +steamer when you don't want me any longer. Besides, it looks like a +change of weather, and pilots are in demand when it is foggy or blows, +at this season of the year." + +"What sort of weather do you expect next?" I asked. + +"The wind will work round to the south-west, and then it will be +foggy," replied the pilot, scanning the horizon. + +"Can't you go to New Orleans, or remain on board till we meet a steamer +for Key West?" I suggested. + +"I should be very happy to go to New Orleans with you, for there will +be no steamer for Key West for several days. But I am not a pilot for +the Mississippi River, and you will have to pay another just the same +as though I were not on board." + +He named his price, besides expenses; and as it was reasonable, I +accepted it at once. My experience the night before, when I found the +Sylvania was ten miles from where I supposed she was, made me extremely +cautious. I felt entirely competent to take the steamer to the +South-east Pass of the Mississippi; but it was evident that Cornwood +had obtained control of the Islander, acting as the agent of Colonel +Shepard, and that he would not permit the Sylvania to come near her if +he could avoid it. Probably the Conch who had acted as her pilot so far +would understand the channels of the Tortugas, and could easily take +the Islander where I should not care to follow her. + +The pilot-boat lay very nearly in our course, and a boat put off from +her as we approached. Captain Cayo stopped the steamer when the boat +was abreast of her. He jumped upon the rail, and told the oarsmen that +he was going to New Orleans. + +"Now start her, Mr. Mate," said he to Washburn, as he crawled over the +rail to the deck. + +"Now Cornwood will believe the pilot has left you," said Captain Cayo. +"The Islander is still two miles off, and I don't think her people +could see me when I crawled back over the rail." + +It was a dead calm on the Gulf of Mexico, and the Sylvania was still +making eleven and a half knots an hour. I calculated that we had gained +two knots on the Islander, one by taking the shorter course, and one by +outsailing her. + +"I think we had better keep her more to the southward," said Captain +Cayo, after he had taken a survey of the horizon, especially in the +southwest, where a pile of clouds seemed to be gathering. + +"Why to the southward?" I asked. + +"I think the captain of the Islander must see by this time that we are +gaining on him, and that it is only a question of three or four hours +when we shall overhaul her," replied the pilot. "If I were in his +place, I should steer for the Tortugas, and leave you five or ten miles +behind by dodging into some shallow channel. By keeping to the +southward, we shall be in a better position to head her off." + +"I see; and we are almost up with the Tortugas. If we keep to the +southward, we shall be right in her course if she attempts to run for +those islands." + +"Right you are, Captain Alick," added the pilot, as he changed the +course to due west. "There is a breeze coming up from the southward, +which is quite a regular thing towards night. It will blow fresh for +some hours, just about a whole sail breeze. I think you had better get +your sails set, for the one that uses the wind first will make the +most." + +I told the mate to call all hands, and put on every rag of canvas we +could set. Before he had the foretopsail shaken out, the breeze came, +though it was very light. By the time the rest of the sails were set, +it was blowing lively. It was five o'clock in the afternoon, and we +were fairly up with the Tortugas, and at least a mile to the southward +of the Islander. If she attempted to get in among the islands, she must +run across our course, and less than a mile ahead of the Sylvania. We +could easily cut her off. + +"She can't get in among those islands now without running into us," I +said, after I had carefully surveyed the situation. + +"That is as true as preaching," added Captain Cayo, laughing, when he +saw that the other steamer was checkmated if she had intended to resort +to any stratagem to avoid us. "We may as well put the steamer on her +course for the South-east Pass." + +He suited his action to the words. The wind was freshening, and the log +indicated that we were making twelve knots strong. Moses was still +crowding on all the steam the boiler would bear, and I am sure the +yacht never sailed any faster. + +At six I estimated that the Islander was not more than a mile ahead of +us, and another hour would wipe out all the difference. + +"This wind is good for us in one way, and bad in another," said Captain +Cayo, shaking his head after a searching gaze to windward. + +"You mean that we are likely to have some fog," I added. + +"Not only likely to have a fog, but sure of it. It is miles deep to the +southward and westward." + +"Of course the Islander will be able to keep out of the way in a fog; +and we can't help ourselves," I replied, trying to yield as gracefully +as possible to the necessity of giving up our point. + +I had hardly uttered the words before the fog swept down upon us. It +was very dense, and we could not see a ship's length ahead of us; at +about the same time the wind suddenly subsided. We could see nothing of +the Islander, and I had no doubt she had already shifted her course to +the north or the south. + +"The game is all up, Captain Cayo," I said, very mournfully. + +"Up for the present," replied the pilot, as he called through the +speaking-tube for the engineer to stop the steamer. + +Captain Cayo put his head out of one of the front windows of the +pilot-house, and listened attentively for several minutes. I understood +that he had used the speaking-tube instead of ringing the gong, so that +those on board of the Islander should not hear the sound, as they +might, it was now so still. + +"Go ahead," continued the pilot through the tube. "She has headed to +the northward, and we will see what we can do on the same tack." + +The pilot headed the Sylvania to the north. I hoped the wind would +breeze up again and carry off the fog; but there was no indication of +it. Our sails made so much noise, flapping and pounding against the +spars, that I was obliged to order all sail taken in. When we had gone +an hour on the present course, the pilot ordered the engineer to stop +her, as before. Washburn and Ben Bowman were on the top-gallant +forecastle, and they listened with all their might. We all did the +same, but we could not catch a sound of any kind. If the Islander had +been within a mile of us we could have heard the clang of her screw. +She had either stopped her engine, or gone off on some other course. We +went ahead again, headed to the north-west. + +"We might keep this up all night, and not find her," said Captain Cayo, +disgusted with the situation. + +"What had we better do?" I asked. + +"We can't do anything. We can't fight against the fog. Are you sure the +Islander will go to New Orleans if we let her alone?" + +"I feel reasonably sure of it," I replied. "Captain Blastblow evidently +is not engaged in the conspiracy; and I don't believe Cornwood could +induce him to disregard the instructions of his owner. His course +indicates that he intends to go there, only he seems to be determined +to keep out of the way of the Sylvania." + +"I have no doubt Cornwood and Nick Boomsby want to go to New Orleans," +added the pilot. "I don't see why it won't be just as well to pick them +up there as it will be here." + +"But they will not allow themselves to be picked up," I answered. "They +will get ashore as soon as the Islander reaches New Orleans, whether +they get there before or after we do." + +"If I wanted to make sure of the rogues, I should get to New Orleans as +quickly as I could." + +"We should be sure to get there before the Islander," I added. + +"So much the better. When you get there, procure a couple of officers, +and run back down the river till you meet the other steamer. Throw your +officers on board of her, and they will then have no chance to escape. +If we wait here all night, the Islander will make the best of her way +to her destination, while we are waiting for the fog to clear off, and +of course the rogues will put themselves out of sight," said Captain +Cayo. + +"I think it is the surer way to run for New Orleans. I don't know that +we need any officers," I replied. "We can run into the Mississippi, +find some place of concealment, and pounce on the Islander when they +least suspect our presence." + +"I like that plan still better," replied the pilot. + +We agreed upon this course, and the Sylvania was headed for the +South-east Pass of the Mississippi. We gave her full speed, and on +Tuesday afternoon we were off the pass. It was a dull passage. We took +a pilot, and as we had no difficulty in crossing the bar, we were soon +in the river. The whole region was swamps and lagoons, about as +uninteresting as we could expect to find. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +THE SYLVANIA IN AMBUSH. + + +As soon as we were in the river, the Mississippi pilot was discharged, +and we continued on our voyage up the stream. We did not know by which +pass the Islander would come in, and we kept on till daylight in the +morning. We then ran up to the shore, which was covered with small +trees. The place we had chosen was at a bend of the mighty stream, +where we could not be seen until the Islander was close upon us. We +made fast to a tree, and sent Hop Tossford ashore to watch at the bend +for the approach of the other steamer. + +As the water was deep enough for the Islander in whatever part of it +she went, I thought she would come within a few yards of our position, +as that would lead her up stream by the shortest way. Our passengers +had spent their time in the usual manner on the voyage, and one day at +sea was very like any other day when the weather was fine. We had +passed out of the fog before midnight, and the two days on the Gulf had +been as pleasant as possible. Some of them landed on the high bank of +the river where we had made fast; but we required them to keep within +call. + +In the pilot-house we had voted that it was not best to say anything +about Cornwood's relations with Nick, and none of the passengers even +knew that Nick was on board of the Islander. We simply told them that +we had lost the other steamer in the fog, and we were afraid we should +miss the Islander in New Orleans if we delayed to look for her in the +fog. + +The pilot took the spare berth in the fore cabin, and made himself +entirely at home on the steamer, as I desired he should. We had +arranged our plan for the capture of the Islander when she came up the +river; and none of us had any doubts in regard to her coming. Captain +Cayo was to have the duty of taking possession of the person of +Cornwood, and Buck Lingley was to do the same kindness to Nick. Colonel +Shepard was to be close at hand to deal with Captain Blastblow, if he +objected to the proceedings. + +All the forenoon passed away without a sight of the Islander. We dined, +and began to inquire if there was any way by which the Islander could +get to New Orleans without passing the point where we had taken +position. We could find none she was likely to take. We were beginning +to believe our well-laid plan had miscarried, when Ben Bowman, who was +on the lookout for the prize, hastened on board with the intelligence +that the Islander was within four miles of us. + +We had covered our topmasts with green branches to prevent the people +on the Islander from suspecting our presence before she turned the +bend. A little point covered with trees a short distance below us +concealed the hull of the Sylvania, and I was satisfied that she could +not be seen by Cornwood before it would be too late to keep out of our +way. + +"All hands on deck," I said to Washburn, as soon as Ben Bowman had +announced the approach of the runaway steamer. + +"All on deck, sir, except Ben Bowman," returned the mate, as soon as he +had given the call. + +The second engineer had returned to the point to observe and report +upon the movements of the Islander. He informed me that the steamer +seemed to be making the shortest course the bends of the stream would +permit, and she was headed for the point behind which the Sylvania was +concealed. + +I had arranged my plan of operations. Our steamer was headed up the +stream, and held by a single hawser leading to the bowsprit-bitts. We +had passed the rope around the tree, and made the end fast on board, so +that we could let go without any one going on shore to do so. The +strong current of the river would carry the steamer's head away from +the shore, and we had only to dart out alongside the Islander, and make +fast to her. We had rigged out our fenders, so that neither steamer was +likely to be damaged by a collision. + +Ben Bowman and Buck Lingley were to carry a line on board of the prize, +and make fast the instant we came alongside of her. Colonel Shepard was +to get on board of the Islander as quick as he could, and give his +orders to Captain Blastblow. I did not apprehend any difficulty in +carrying out the programme. I was confident that the captain of the +runaway vessel would respect the orders of his owner. We had banked our +fires in the morning, so that the noise of escaping steam need not warn +the Islander of the presence of another steamer. As soon as Ben +reported the runaway within four miles, Moses Brickland had caused the +fires to be replenished, and he calculated upon having a full head of +steam when we were ready to run out from our hiding-place. + +In about half an hour from the time the Islander was discovered, Ben +Bowman came on board. We could hear the clang of her screw by this +time. I stationed Ben at the hawser, and directed him to let go and +haul in the rope as quickly as possible when I gave the word. Buck +Lingley and Landy Perkins were to help him make quick work of it. +Captain Cayo was stationed where he could make a sure thing of the +capture of Cornwood as soon as he leaped on board. + +Nearer and nearer came the Islander to the point. As soon as she showed +her bowsprit beyond it, I was to give the word to cast off. I could see +nothing to prevent the success of the elaborate plan we had made, and I +was satisfied that Colonel Shepard would be in possession of his +steam-yacht within five minutes. + +"Let go and haul in!" I called to Ben Bowman, at the hawser. + +The assistant engineer did not permit an instant to elapse before he +and his two helpers were hauling on the rope with all their might. + +The moment I saw that the hawser was running free, I rang the gong to +go ahead, with the helm hard a-starboard. I heard the screw turn a +couple of times, and then it stopped. I did not quite understand this. +The next thing I saw was Moses rushing on the forecastle. + +"The propeller is fouled in a root or a rope, Alick!" exclaimed he. +"Back her a stroke or two, and it may clear itself." + +I rang to back her as he rushed aft to the engine-room. By this time +the Islander was fairly abreast of us, and I feared that our elaborate +scheme had failed. But we were seventy-five miles from New Orleans, and +there was time enough for as lively a race as ever was seen on the +"Father of Waters." + +I rang again to stop the engine, and then to start it. It went hard, +and I heard some snapping near the stern. It was evident that the screw +had been fouled in a root, and I was afraid it might have been twisted +into the propeller. I stopped the engine again. When I found the screw +did not move freely I ran aft, and found Hop Tossford had climbed over +the stern with a boat-hook in his hand, and was punching in the +direction of the propeller. + +"It's a crocodile!" he exclaimed. "There it goes!" + +I saw the creature rise to the top of the water. Hop was English, and +Englishmen are apt to call all saurians by this name. I should not have +expected to see the real alligator so near the salt water, for I had +heard that only crocodiles proper lived or thrived in salt water. It +may have been one washed out from some bayou by the high water, which +was prevailing at this time, or it may have been the real crocodile. I +did not stop then to reason about this case in natural history; but as +soon as I saw the mangled reptile, which was about ten feet long, on +the surface of the water, I hastened to the pilot-house, and started +the screw again. This time it moved freely, and I concluded that the +saurian had been resting on the blades of the propeller when it began +to turn. + +By this time the Islander had made about a quarter of a mile, as I +judged, against the swift current. But there was now no chance for her +to dodge us. Our fires were in excellent condition, for the fireman had +been forcing them for twenty minutes. + +"A miss hit," said Captain Cayo, coming into the pilot-house, when it +was clear that the capture would not come off immediately. + +"I suppose that alligator went down to drink when we came up to the +bank of the river," I replied. "But he has the worst of it, for the +screw has smashed him." + +I saw the saurian floating motionless down stream, and the screw had +evidently made short work of him. + +"I am sorry the rascal interfered with our affair," added the pilot. + +"The game is not up yet. We shall have an opportunity to learn which is +the faster steamer," I replied. + +"The current must be running five or six miles an hour here," said +Captain Cayo. + +"About five miles an hour is the usual rate of the Mississippi," I +answered. "But it runs just as fast for the Islander as it does for the +Sylvania." + +"That's true; and I doubt if either steamer is making more than six or +seven knots an hour." + +"The Islander is sheering off from us towards the middle of the river, +and that is where she is making her mistake." + +"Why so?" asked the pilot. + +"Because the current is swifter in the middle of the stream than near +the banks, for the friction of the shore has some effect on its flow." + +"That is bringing it down to a fine point," said Captain Cayo, +laughing, for he was entirely unused to river navigation. + +I kept the Sylvania as near the shore as I deemed it prudent to go, +while the Islander went in the middle of the river, as if her captain +desired to avoid falling into any possible trap. The wind was southerly +and quite fresh. I directed the mate to shake out the fore squaresail +and the fore topsail. In twenty minutes, by the clock in the +pilot-house, we were abreast of the Islander, but half a mile from her, +for she was still in the middle of the river. By this time, Captain +Blastblow evidently saw his mistake in not setting his squaresails, for +the wind was blowing about half a gale. + +I put the helm about a half a point nearer to the course of the other +steamer. I immediately noticed that her pilot made a corresponding +change in her helm. Moses kept an eye on her, and understood the game +perfectly. I did not attempt to run any closer to her, for a turn in +the river would soon bring the Sylvania alongside of her. If the vessel +attempted to go any nearer the shore, she would have to stand out again +in order to pass the bend above. In a word, the Islander was cornered. + +Captain Blastblow could not help realizing the situation of the steamer +he sailed. Too late he sent his men aloft to loose the squaresail. +Before they could get the gasket off, I had to port the helm to prevent +striking the other steamer. All our hands were in position to do the +parts before assigned to them. + +I kept a sharp watch upon the actions of the Islander to meet any +change in her course. I saw Captain Blastblow in the pilot-house at the +wheel. He looked very nervous and disturbed, and I did not wonder at +it. + +"Sheer off, or you will be afoul of us!" shouted the captain of the +runaway steamer. + +[Illustration: "Sheer off, or you will be afoul of us!" _Page 206._] + +At the same moment he rang his gong to stop her. I rang mine also the +moment I heard the other. Moses was standing by his lever and wheel, +and I think the Sylvania was stopped before the Islander. Of course we +continued to go ahead under the impulse of the momentum given the two +boats. + +Very cautiously I put the helm to starboard, and in a moment the two +boats touched each other, but without any shock or crash. The two hands +assigned to the duty sprang upon the forecastle of the Islander, and +made fast the rope they carried to the bowsprit-bitts. At the same +instant, Captain Cayo and Buck Lingley leaped into the waist of the +steamer. I saw Cornwood and Nick on the hurricane-deck, though they +began to make their exit as soon as we came alongside. The pilot knew +his men well, and before the Floridian could leave the hurricane-deck, +he had taken him rather unceremoniously by the collar. + +Buck did not know Nick Boomsby, but the simple fact that he was with +Cornwood satisfied him that he was the person he wanted. I saw that +Cornwood began to look magnificent, and to show fight, while Nick acted +like a sick kitten. + +Colonel Shepard hastened to follow the pilot on board, and met Captain +Blastblow coming out of the pilot-house to ascertain what the matter +was. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +HOW NICK BOOMSBY MANAGED HIS CASE. + + +We had hardly accomplished our introductory work before I saw that both +steamers, which we had secured together with a stern as well as a bow +line, had been set back by the rapid current, and had begun to drift +down the river. I rang for the Sylvania to go ahead, and then called +upon Hop Tossford to take the wheel. I did not care to tow the Islander +against the swift current. I satisfied myself that the bow and stern +lines were properly made fast, and then went on board of the other +steamer. + +I found that Colonel Shepard was inclined to let his angry passions +rise, as he saw Captain Blastblow approaching him, for which I could +not very strongly blame him. I had called to him before I went on board +of the Islander, and he had come aft to meet me. I suggested that he +should put Washburn in charge of the vessel until matters had been +explained. He promptly acquiesced, and I sent the mate to the +pilot-house of the prize, with instructions to keep her as near the +right bank of the river as it was prudent to go, and to direct the +wheelman of the Sylvania at the same time. + +"Do I understand you to take the command of the Islander out of my +hands, Colonel Shepard?" demanded Captain Blastblow, as he heard me +instruct Washburn what to do. + +"For the present, yes," replied the colonel, decidedly and sternly, as +though he intended no more mistakes should be made. + +"This is rather sudden, for I haven't the least idea that I have done +anything to displease you," replied the captain, struggling to keep his +temper. + +"What have you been doing with this steamer? What induced you to run +away with her? Why have you taken so great pains to keep away from the +Sylvania?" asked Colonel Shepard, in a severe tone. + +"I have tried to obey my instructions in every particular," replied +Captain Blastblow, apparently more in astonishment than in anger. + +"Have you had any instruction to run away with my steam-yacht?" + +"I certainly had no instructions to run away with her; and I am not +aware that I have done anything of that kind," answered the captain. + +"There has been some mistake, Colonel Shepard," I interposed. "I think +we had better go into the pilot-house and talk it over." + +Without making any reply, both of the belligerents followed me forward. +I was quite as anxious to ascertain what had become of Cornwood and +Nick Boomsby as I was to have Captain Blastblow explain his singular +conduct. I found Captain Cayo on the forecastle, holding his prisoner +by the collar of his coat, while Nick was in the care of Buck, on the +port side of the house on deck. The former seemed disposed to resist, +though he was not willing to risk a conflict with his swarthy captor. + +"What do you mean by laying hands upon me, you rascal?" demanded +Cornwood. + +"Don't use any hard words, Cornwood," added the pilot, coolly. "I obey +my orders, and don't answer any questions." + +"I don't know anything about your orders; and no one had any right to +give you any orders to lay hands on me," foamed Cornwood. + +The prisoner began to demonstrate rather violently; he made a spring at +the throat of the pilot; but the latter was too quick and too strong +for him. They clinched together, and then Cornwood went down upon the +deck. Captain Cayo put his foot on the chest of the prostrate +Floridian, and held him down. + +"I think we had better put a rope around this man's arms," said the +pilot, without taking his eyes from his prisoner. "That would keep him +quiet and well-behaved." + +I picked up a piece of line, and handed it to him. He tipped Cornwood +as carelessly as though he had been a shark, and proceeded to bind his +arms behind him. The Floridian attempted to resist again; but the foot +of the pilot pressed more heavily upon him as he did so, and he found +it impossible to get upon his feet again. + +Captain Cayo drew the arms of the captive up behind him, and quickly +fastened them. Then he took him by the collar, and stood him up on his +feet. Cornwood looked unutterably scornful at me; and I doubt if he +would have made any trouble if I had not been present. Judging by his +looks, he appeared to regard me with intense hatred. I had interfered +with some of his schemes before, and from the particular attention he +bestowed upon me, I came to the conclusion that he considered me the +author of his present misfortune. + +"Why am I treated in this brutal manner?" demanded Cornwood, turning +his gaze from me to Captain Blastblow. + +"I don't know anything at all about it," replied the captain. "There +are several things I don't understand about this business; but I am +willing to be informed." + +"I suppose I owe all this to you, Captain Garningham," added Cornwood, +giving me a savage look. + +"On the contrary, I think you owe it all to yourself," I replied. "If I +remember rightly, you were to detain the Islander at Key West. Instead +of doing this, she runs out of the harbor as soon as the Sylvania comes +in sight." + +"It's none of your business, Garningham. Do you own the Islander?" + +"I think we had better go into the pilot-house and talk the case over," +I added. "We shall soon find out what the matter is." + +I led the way, and we seated ourselves in the pilot-house. I had +indicated this place because I wanted to hear the explanation of the +captain of the Islander. + +"Captain Blastblow, your conduct has astonished me," said Colonel +Shepard, more calmly than he had spoken at first. + +"I am sorry for it, sir, for I have tried to do just as I was +instructed," answered the captain, meekly, and apparently as much +astonished as his owner. "I know my place, and I always expect to do +just what my employer expects of me." + +"I did not expect you to run away with my steam-yacht, when all my +family were waiting to go in her," added the colonel, becoming more +indignant as he rehearsed the incidents of the morning we left +Jacksonville. + +"But your going in the Islander depended on your business; and when I +saw you the morning before we sailed, you could not tell what you would +do. You instructed me to water and provision the vessel, and wait for +further orders. Towards evening, you sent off a card by young Boomsby, +directing me to have steam up and be ready to sail early in the +morning. I was ready to go by six o'clock," answered the captain, +taking from his desk in the pilot-house a package of papers, from which +he selected the card sent off by Nick. "Is it all straight so far?" + +"Entirely: it was just as you say. I received a letter by the afternoon +mail, which assured me a business matter would allow me to be absent +from New York a month or six weeks longer; and I decided to go up the +river with the Sylvania." + +"I didn't ask questions, or inquire into your business. All I had to do +was to obey the orders of my owner," added Captain Blastblow. "I made +sure that everything on board was ready for the voyage before I turned +in that night. By half-past five in the morning we had steam enough on +to sail down the river. It was about half-past six when your friend, +Mr. Boomsby, came----" + +"My friend, Mr. Boomsby!" exclaimed the colonel. "I never even saw my +friend, Mr. Boomsby, that I know of." + +"I only know that you called him your friend yourself," replied Captain +Blastblow. + +"I called him so! How could I call him so when I had no acquaintance +with him?" demanded the owner, with a smile of incredulity. + +"I don't know anything about that," continued the captain, fumbling +over the papers he had taken from his desk. "I learned to read writing +when I was a boy; and that was what you wrote." + +"I never wrote anything of the kind, Captain Blastblow. But never mind +that: go on with your story," added the colonel. + +"I can prove all that I say, sir. Your friend, Mr. Boomsby, as you +called him in your letter, came on board about half-past six, and gave +me your instructions to proceed to New Orleans as soon as I got the +letter." + +"I sent you no such letter, Captain Blastblow," protested Colonel +Shepard. "I never wrote any such letter; some one has been playing a +trick on you." + +"But I have the letter in your own handwriting," pleaded the captain. +"I will read it to you. It is dated at the St. James Hotel, with a +picture of the house, and the heading printed upon it. Here is what it +says:-- + + CAPTAIN BLASTBLOW: + + I have received a despatch which will prevent me from leaving + Jacksonville for a few days. You will proceed to New Orleans as + soon as you get this letter; and I will go there by land with my + family. For reasons I will explain to you some other time, I want + you to keep out of the way of the Sylvania. I have made a bet that + the Islander will get to New Orleans first; and I expect, from what + you said, you will win the bet for me. This letter will be + delivered to you by my friend, Mr. Boomsby, who will take passage + with you; and you will treat him as well as you would me." + + Yours truly, + + P. G. SHEPARD. + +"If those instructions are not as plain talk as any shipmaster could +desire, I should like to know what would be plain," continued Captain +Blastblow, as he finished the reading of the letter. "I hove up the +anchor at once, and rang to go ahead. I was ordered to keep out of the +way of the Sylvania, and I have done my best to avoid her." + +"But I did not write that letter, Captain Blastblow," repeated the +owner; and by this time we were all rather amused at the straightforward +earnestness of the captain of the Islander. "Let me see the letter, +if you please." + +The captain handed him the letter. Colonel Shepard examined it +critically. He shook his head as he did so. + +"I must acknowledge that the writing looks very much like mine," he +said, after he had read it through and examined it in every part. "Who +could have written it?" + +"Nick Boomsby wrote it, without a doubt," I replied. "I went to school +with him, and he was a good penman, though that was about all he was as +a scholar." + +"Is that my friend, Mr. Boomsby?" asked the colonel, laughing heartily. + +"The same person; and he has become a swell of the first magnitude," I +replied. "If I had known, or suspected, before we got to Key West, that +Nick was on board of her, I could have explained the strange conduct of +the Islander, and why she so carefully kept out of our way." + +I gave a full account of the robbery of the bank messenger in the +saloon of Nick's father, dwelling upon the efforts Nick had made to +arrest Buckner. I stated that he had tried to obtain a passage to New +Orleans in the Sylvania, that I had refused to let him go in her, and +had taken care that he did not become a stowaway on board of her. I +added that Nick told me of his intention to run away from his home, and +seek his fortune in some other part of the country. + +"I have no doubt that Nick stole the four thousand dollars the +messenger laid on the counter, and resorted to the trick of forging a +letter to Captain Blastblow, so that he could get the Islander off +ahead of the Sylvania," I continued. + +"But how is it that Cornwood did not stop the Islander at Key West, as +it appears he got on board of her there?" asked Colonel Shepard, deeply +interested in the narrative. + +"I think you will have to ask Cornwood about that," I replied. "I am a +Yankee, and I can guess what he meant." + +"I don't know that I care about any guessing, Captain Alick; but if you +have any theory with a base under it, I should like to hear it," said +Colonel Shepard. + +"I think Cornwood was well assured that Nick was on board of the +Islander when you sent him to intercept the steamer at Key West," I +answered. "Cornwood would not have gone on such a wild-goose chase for +nothing. According to the testimony of Captain Cayo, Cornwood and Nick +had very earnest conversation at Key West." + +"I don't think it's any use to speculate over the case," interposed +Captain Blastblow. "Let us search for the money." + +We all agreed that this was the next thing to do. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +A SEARCH FOR THE LOST TREASURE. + + +The two steamers had passed the bend of the river, and we had gone by +forts Jackson and St. Philip without a word being said of the +historical events which were connected with them. We were too busy with +the inquiry before us to give any attention to the surroundings, though +I could see that our passengers on board the Sylvania were discussing +what they saw on the mighty river. But nothing could have been more +uninteresting than the banks of the river near its delta. + +It was a season of high water, and the low lands beyond the levee on +either side were overflowed. Occasionally we passed a vessel going down +the stream, or a powerful skeleton-tug dragging a ship against the +rapid current. There was little to be seen besides the muddy flow of +the stream all around us, and the fringe of trees that grew on the +levee. + +If the theory we had advanced, and supported by such evidence as we +had, was correct, the four thousand dollars the bank messenger had lost +were on board the Islander. If Nick had taken the package, he had not +left it behind him when he started out on his travels. We went down +into the after-cabin. The captain said Nick had occupied the large +state-room on the starboard side, while Cornwood had taken possession +of the corresponding one on the port side. We found enough of the +effects of each in his state-room to settle the question of his +occupancy of the room. Four thousand dollars was a large sum of money, +and we did not expect to find it lying around loosely in the room of +either. + +Captain Blastblow volunteered to examine Cornwood's state-room, while I +rendered the same service in that of Nick Boomsby. I found a bundle +which contained the runaway's clothing. I searched it thoroughly, but +there was no package of any kind in it. I opened all the drawers and +lockers in the room with no better success. I tore the bed to pieces +and removed the berth sack. The latter was a hair mattress of the best +quality. I looked to see if it had been ripped open in any place, and +then felt of it in every part, but without discovering anything like a +foreign substance in it. + +Under the berth, or rather bedstead, was a considerable space, where a +trunk or other package could be placed. I lighted the lamp in the +state-room, and took it from the gimbals, for it was dark under the +bed. I looked and felt in every part of the space, but I had no better +success. I examined every hole and corner in the state-room, but found +no such package as that for which I was looking. + +"I find nothing that looks like money," I said to Colonel Shepard, who +was watching the operations with deep interest. + +"Blastblow has no better luck in the other state-room. Do you conclude +from this fact that you have been mistaken?" inquired the owner of the +Islander. + +"I do not; I feel morally sure that Nick took that money," I replied, +confidently. + +"You may be mistaken, Captain Alick," added Colonel Shepard, with a +smile. "If he took the package we should be likely to find it in his +room." + +"I grant that I expected to find it here; or a part of the money in +this room, and the rest of it in Cornwood's state-room," I added, +rather warmly. "There are other places where the package could have +been concealed." + +"That is true; but Nick's room was the place where he was most likely +to put it." + +"I think so myself; but Nick has had the advice of Cornwood since the +Islander reached Key West." + +"Cornwood is a cunning rogue, I know." + +"If we had suspected that Nick was on board the Islander, we might have +telegraphed to the police at Key West to arrest him and detain the +steamer," I continued. "I am satisfied that Cornwood would not have +gone to Key West if he had not expected to find Nick on board of the +Islander. At least, he would not have gone without the hundred dollars +he asked to pay his expenses in advance." + +"Your logic seems to be entirely correct, but the facts so far do not +seem to bear out the theory," laughed the colonel. "But I have +recovered my steam-yacht, and I am entirely happy over the result so +far." + +"I have no desire to prove that Nick Boomsby is a thief and a rascal; +on the contrary, I should be glad to have him relieved of the suspicion +that hangs to him just now. Cornwood may have considered that the +state-rooms were the most unsafe places on board of the vessel to +conceal the money, and even Nick himself may have come to this +conclusion before he had seen Cornwood." + +"There is some reason in that," said the colonel. "Everybody in +Jacksonville knew that both yachts were bound to New Orleans. Nick may +have suspected that he would be charged with the robbery. He is old +enough to understand all about the telegraph, and he may have put the +money where it was not likely to be found, or if found, might not +appear to have any connection with him." + +Captain Blastblow had made as thorough a search in the port as I had in +the starboard state-room, and had joined us in the cabin while we were +talking about the matter. He seemed to fall in with our reasoning, and +expressed his satisfaction that he had not been boarded by officers, +who might have suspected him of being concerned in the robbery of the +bank messenger. + +"Cornwood has been on board of the Islander three days now," I said. +"Have you seen much of him, Captain Blastblow, during this time?" + +"Very little indeed. From the time he came on board Sunday, I think I +hardly saw him at all until Monday afternoon. He was in close +conversation with Mr. Boomsby most of the time, the steward said to me. +The first night they sat up till after midnight; and Lonsdale says +there was a good deal of strong talk between them," replied the +captain. + +"Do you know what it was about?" I asked. + +"I haven't the least idea. I inquired how the passengers were getting +on, and Lonsdale told me he thought they were in some kind of a +quarrel." + +"You don't spend any of your time in the cabin, do you, Captain +Blastblow?" asked the owner. + +"I haven't had time even to come into it on this trip, though I intend +to go through it every day, to see that everything is in order. I have +had all I could do the last week to look out for the vessel, with two +heavy gales and plenty of fog," replied the captain. "I had to make a +harbor at Matanzas Inlet, and again at Tavernier's, for I was afraid +this little craft would roll her engine out of her." + +"We kept on through the whole of it Friday night," I added. + +"You were outside of the reef, and you could not make a harbor," +retorted Captain Blastblow. "But I got to Key West two hours before you +did." + +"You did not go to the assistance of a wrecked bark as I did, and land +her ship's company in Key West," I replied. + +The captain of the Islander wanted to know about the wreck; and at +another time I told him all about it. We were too much concerned in +verifying our theory in relation to the robbery in Jacksonville to +agree to any long digression. + +"Is the steward the only person who has been a constant visitor to the +cabin?" I asked. + +"Gibbs, the waiter, did all the work in the cabin; and he must have +seen more of the passengers than even the steward," replied the +captain. + +"Where is Gibbs?" + +"Probably on deck, or asleep in some corner." + +"Perhaps we had better call the steward and waiter," suggested Colonel +Shepard. + +The captain went to the head of the companion-way, and called the +steward. Mr. Lonsdale had not spent much time in the cabin, though he +slept in one of the berths abaft the state-rooms. He confirmed the +statement of the captain that there had been a great deal of earnest +conversation between the Floridian and the "young swell." He never +listened to private conversation, and he had not the remotest idea what +they were talking about. Perhaps Gibbs, the waiter, might know more +about the matter than he did. + +Gibbs was found to be fast asleep on a sofa in the after part of the +cabin. He knew nothing at all about what had happened since the +Islander came into the river, and appeared to be not a little surprised +when he saw the owner and myself. He was a light Mulatto, a very +good-looking fellow, and I judged that he was intelligent. + +"Where are the passengers, Gibbs?" asked Captain Blastblow. + +"I don't know, sir; somewhere about the vessel, I suppose; most likely +asleep in the staterooms," replied the waiter. + +"Where do they spend their time when they are below?" continued the +captain, in an easy and indifferent tone. + +Gibbs answered the question in a very indefinite manner. The passengers +were mostly in their state-rooms, on the sofa, or sitting in the +chairs. + +"Have you noticed them in any particular place in the cabin, except in +their state-rooms, in the chairs, or on the sofas?" I asked, with +considerable energy, for the waiter seemed to be rather stupid and +bewildered, and I thought he needed something to wake him up. + +"Yes, sir; I seen them both on the cabin floor this morning," answered +Gibbs, with more life in his tones and manner than I had seen before. + +"On the floor!" exclaimed Colonel Shepard. "What were they doing on the +floor?" + +"I don't know, sir. I had cleared away the breakfast-dishes, and went +on deck to smoke. I found it a little cool, and I came down again for +my coat," replied Gibbs, talking quite glibly now. "As soon as I came +down stairs, they got up." + +"Where were they at the time?" I inquired. + +"Right under the companion-way, sir." + +"And you could not tell what they were doing on the floor?" + +"No, sir; they were crawling out from under the companion-way when I +saw them." + +We questioned the steward and the waiter for some time longer, but we +got nothing more out of them. We asked the captain to send them on +deck, and to direct Captain Cayo and Buck Lingley not to allow any +person to communicate with their prisoners. + +The companion-way consisted of stairs with steps, but with no risers to +obstruct the light from the stern ports. It was not probable that the +passengers had secreted the bills forming the package in such a place +as this. But we carefully examined every foot of space under the +companion-way. We were about to give up the search in this part of the +cabin, when I felt something under the carpet, beneath the lower step. +I found that a portion of the carpet had been torn up, and I pulled it +over. Reaching it again, I felt the package more distinctly; but I was +disappointed because it seemed to be too small for the one that had +been lost. I drew it out. + +"This can't be it," I said. "It is not more than half the size of the +one the messenger laid on the counter in the saloon." + +"It ought not to be more than half as large," added the colonel. "It +appears that there has been some earnest talk among the passengers of +the Islander. What could this have been about except the division of +the spoils?" + +While he was speaking, I had taken off the paper which inclosed the +package. It was the same color as that I had seen in the saloon. On +removing the covering, I came to the two tin plates, and saw a pile of +money, in bills, between them. + +"Of course there is only one half of the plunder, and Boomsby divided +with Cornwood," said Colonel Shepard. + +"Where is the other half?" I asked, blankly. + +"I have no doubt this half belongs to my friend Mr. Boomsby; and I have +no more doubt Cornwood would have stolen it by the time they got to New +Orleans," added the colonel. + +We concluded that it would not be as easy to find the second half of +the treasure as it had been the first. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +THE THEORY AND THE FACTS. + + +We spent an hour in searching in every nook and corner of the cabin for +the other half of the lost treasure. Cornwood had not been stupid +enough to put it under the companion-way; and Nick had been stupid +enough to let his companion know where he had hidden his own share. As +Colonel Shepard had suggested, it was probable that the Floridian meant +to take it before he went on shore at New Orleans. Cornwood had not +concealed his share of the treasure in the cabin of the Islander, and +we could think of no other place where he was at all likely to deposit +it. + +"I think he has too long a head to hide his money anywhere," interposed +Captain Blastblow. "I should say that any man was a natural fool to +hide his money in a vessel, under such circumstances as these fellows +came on board of the steamer. In my opinion, he has concealed the +money on his person, for you seem to have no doubt that he divided with +the young swell." + +"That looks very reasonable," added Colonel Shepard. "I think if I had +a large sum on board of a vessel, I should provide myself with a +money-belt, and keep the treasure in it at all times." + +"All we have to do is to search him," said Captain Blastblow. "We shall +soon find out whether or not he is a party to the robbery. I suppose +there isn't any doubt about the young swell, as the steward called him, +and which I think is the best description of him." + +"The package, with the two tin plates, precisely answers the +description given of it by the man that lost it," I replied. "But I +doubt whether we have any right to search Cornwood. We are not +officers, and we are now in the State of Louisiana." + +"We have as much right to search him as we had to lay hands on him when +we came alongside of the Islander," replied Colonel Shepard. "I think +we can get at the truth better than any court can. At any rate, he has +taken part in stealing my steam-yacht; and I think I have some hold on +him. If it turns out that he has not the money on him, I have no doubt +I can make it all right with him. I am willing to take the +responsibility." + +"All right. I will help your man bring him down here, for I think we +had better not say anything to Mr. Boomsby until we have settled where +the other half of the money is," said Captain Blastblow. + +"Bring him down here," replied the colonel. + +The captain soon returned with the pilot, having Cornwood between them. +The prisoner seemed to be somewhat bewildered, for no charge had yet +been preferred against him. + +"Mr. Cornwood, you seem to be acting in a different role than that for +which I engaged you at St. Augustine," said Colonel Shepard, when the +pilot had put his prisoner into a chair. + +"It was my intention to place the steamer in your hands by the time you +arrived in Key West," replied Cornwood, with dignity. + +"You gave me a letter when you came on board the Islander at Key West," +said Captain Blastblow, savagely, to the prisoner. + +"I gave you the owner's letter," added Cornwood. + +"No, you didn't! you gave me this letter," continued the captain, +taking a paper from his pocket. "Is this your letter, Colonel Shepard?" + +He gave the letter to his owner. The colonel looked at it and laughed. + +"This is not so good an imitation of my handwriting as the other +letter," he added. "I never wrote a line of this letter. It favors the +theory we have adopted, and I will give it to you." + + CAPTAIN BLASTBLOW. + + DEAR SIR: This letter will be delivered to you by my excellent + friend, Mr. Kirby Cornwood, who has been my companion during my + trip to the interior of Florida, and I commend him to your + acquaintance and good offices. You will give him a state-room on + board of the Islander, for he will make the trip with you to New + Orleans. You will continue to avoid the Sylvania, and in all + matters relating to the steamer you will take the advice of Mr. + Cornwood, in whose fidelity and good judgment I have entire + confidence. + + Very truly yours, + + P. G. SHEPARD. + +"My excellent friend, Mr. Kirby Cornwood!" exclaimed the colonel. "Did +you ever know a man to have so many excellent friends as I have? Why, +they are all willing to sacrifice themselves, and take my steam-yacht +and run her at my expense, and even without my knowledge." + +"You did not write that letter, colonel?" asked Captain Blastblow. + +"Of course I did not," replied the owner, warmly. "Why, the writing is +quite different from that given to you by my friend, Mr. Boomsby." + +"I am afraid I shall not be willing to take any written orders after +this, unless the signature is witnessed by some one I know. I am sure I +did not think of such a thing as a counterfeit letter. But did you send +any letter to me by your excellent friend, Mr. Kirby Cornwood?" asked +Captain Blastblow. + +"I did send a letter to you by him, instructing you to wait at Key West +till my arrival there," replied the colonel. + +"Will you give me that letter, Mr. Kirby Cornwood?" demanded the +captain, addressing the prisoner in a very vigorous manner. + +"I gave you the letter I received from Colonel Shepard. I have no +other," replied Cornwood, doggedly. + +"I don't believe you, when Colonel Shepard says he did not write that +letter." + +"Do you mean to tell me I lie?" cried Cornwood. + +"That's the substance of what I mean," answered the captain, who seemed +to hold the prisoner in utter contempt. + +"You are a coward, or you would not say that to a man with his arms +tied behind him," returned Cornwood, repressing his wrath. + +"You invited me to say it, and I said it; and it wouldn't make any +difference to me whether your arms were tied or not. But I want the +other letter, and I am going to have it. Captain Cayo, we will search +him, and then we shall know whether he has it or not," added Captain +Blastblow. + +The captain and the pilot proceeded at once to execute the threat. +Cornwood leaped from his chair, and began to kick at his two +persecutors. He was boiling with rage, or with some other passion. But +Captain Cayo seized him from behind by the shoulders, and threw him +down before he could do any harm. The captain took from his pocket a +strong cord he had evidently brought down for the purpose, and while +the pilot held him down, tied his ankles together. They then began the +search, examining all his pockets first. They found neither the money +nor the letter. + +"We haven't gone deep enough," said Captain Blastblow, as he thrust his +hand into the inside of Cornwood's shirt. The latter seemed to +understand what this movement meant, and he renewed his struggles in +the most desperate manner. + +Captain Cayo put his foot on Cornwood's chest, as he had done when he +captured the Floridian, and compelled him to lie quiet. Then he threw +up his manacled feet; but I took care of them by sitting down upon his +legs. Captain Blastblow then proceeded with his search. He removed a +portion of the prisoner's clothing above his trousers, and we could not +help seeing the wash-leather belt he wore around his waist. He +unbuckled it, and held it up before us. + +"Now you may take Mr. Kirby Cornwood on deck," said the captain, in a +tone of triumph, as he felt the outside of the pocket-book attached to +the belt. + +"Do you mean to rob me of my money? Have I fallen among thieves?" +demanded Cornwood. + +"No; but we have," replied Captain Blastblow. + +"This is an outrage, and----" + +"Never mind that now; we will hear it another time," interposed the +captain. + +"I protest against----" + +"All right," added the captain, as he seated himself at the +cabin-table. "Go on deck, Mr. Kirby Cornwood, and take the air. It will +do you good." + +The captain handed the money-belt to Colonel Shepard, who opened it, +and took from the pocket a large pile of bank-notes. + +"That looks more like it," said the captain. "I don't believe that +fellow will prosecute us for anything we have done. He belongs in the +Florida state prison, if they have such an institution." + +"I think we had better count the money," I suggested, as I took the +package we had found under the companion-way from my breast-pocket. + +"Yes, count, and see if the rascals made a fair 'divvy' of it," added +the captain. + +Colonel Shepard began to count the bills he had taken from the +money-belt, and I opened the package in my possession. As I did so, I +found the words, "First National Bank of Florida," as if impressed by a +stamp, on the wrapper. The two tin plates, by which I had been able to +recognize the package, were made by cutting off the round ends of a +pair of tins used for doubling papers and tearing off checks or other +papers. I concluded they were a device of the bank messenger, by which +he could square his package. When I had shown these things to the +captain, I proceeded to count the money. + +"Just two thousand dollars," said the colonel, who finished his work +long before I did mine. + +"Nineteen hundred and ninety," I added, when I had finished the count. + +"He may have taken out ten dollars," suggested the colonel. + +"I don't believe Cornwood did, for I found other money in his pockets, +which I did not touch," added Captain Blastblow. + +"Count it over again, Captain Alick," said the colonel. + +I did so, laying off the bills in hundreds, as they amounted to this +sum. My last lot came out right, and I had twenty piles. It made just +two thousand dollars. It was clear now, if it had not been before, that +Cornwood's visit to Key West related to Nick Boomsby, and not to the +detention of the Islander when she arrived there. The equal division of +the money explained the long and rather stormy conversations between +the passengers of the Islander. Cornwood was smart, if he was nothing +else in the way of honesty and uprightness. He had bullied and +persuaded poor Nick Boomsby to give him half the money, and would +probably have stolen the other half before the vessel got to New +Orleans, if we had not captured her on the way. + +I was sorry for Nick Boomsby, for he had been the playmate of my early +years; not so sorry that he had been found out as that he could commit +a crime. But I could hardly wonder at his guilt when I thought of what +his father had done, and what an example he had given his son. I +thought the father was almost, if not quite, as much to blame as the +son. + +"What shall be done with this money?" asked Colonel Shepard, when he +had wrapped up both divisions of the money and the money-belt in one +package. + +"What shall we do with our two prisoners?" I inquired, in answer to the +question. + +"We can hand them over to the police in New Orleans," replied the +colonel. + +"Then we can hand the money also over to them," I added. "Probably the +news of the robbery of the messenger has been in half the newspapers in +the country, and the police of all the large cities will know all about +the case." + +It was finally agreed that my father should keep the money till we +arrived at New Orleans, as he would be in another steamer from the +robbers. Colonel Shepard decided to go on board of the Islander at +once, and his family were assisted to their new quarters. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +UP THE MISSISSIPPI. + + +As soon as we had transferred the family of Colonel Shepard to the +Islander, we unlashed the two vessels, and each stemmed the swift +current of the Mississippi on its own account. I stopped the screw to +allow the other steamer to go clear of the Sylvania, and she went ahead +several lengths before we could recover our headway. I saw Captain +Blastblow waving his adieus to me, as though he intended to run away +from us, notwithstanding his former experience. + +"Let her out, Moses," I called to the engineer through the +speaking-tube. + +The chief engineer understood me perfectly, and I immediately heard the +sound of the coal-shovel in the fire-room. I saw from the smoke issuing +from the smoke-stack of the Islander, that her captain intended to +hurry her. I had beaten her several times to my own satisfaction; and I +was certain that he could not sail her any faster than those who had +handled her on the Great Lakes. I did not like the idea of having the +Sylvania beaten, though I was not much inclined to race for any reason. + +It was Washburn's watch, and I gave him the wheel. I had run the +steamer over on the left bank of the river, and the mate kept her at a +safe distance from the shore. It was soon evident to me that we were +gaining on the Islander. We were overhauling her as we had done many +times before Captain Blastblow had proved that he was a good seaman, as +well as an upright and straightforward man. He had intimated that he +could sail the Islander faster than I could the Sylvania; and I only +desired to show him that he was mistaken. + +While the race was in progress, I went down into the cabin to arrange +about changing the passengers into other quarters. Four of the late +occupants of the cabin, besides Chloe, had gone on board of Colonel +Shepard's yacht, and four were left in the Sylvania. There was a +state-room for each of them, and I proposed that they should arrange +the matter among themselves. But my father insisted that I should do +it myself. I put my father and Mr. Tiffany into the two large +apartments, and Miss Margie and Owen into the two small ones. +Cobbington and the new waiter each had a berth, and there were still +two spare ones. Everybody was entirely satisfied, though I could see +that Owen was very sorry that Miss Edith had moved into the Islander. + +When I went on deck the Sylvania was abreast of the Islander. Both +steamers were tugging hard against the current, and each was carrying +all the steam it was safe to put on. Slowly we walked by the Islander, +and I could not help going aft to see how Captain Blastblow liked the +looks of the stern of the Sylvania. When he saw me, he laughed +pleasantly, and I was convinced there was no bad feeling in his heart. +I had no feeling of personal triumph, for I was satisfied he would have +beaten me if we had exchanged vessels. The superiority was in the +steamer, and not in the management. + +The river presented the same unvarying features, and in the whole of +Plaquemine Parish, which contains the river almost up to New Orleans +and the Delta, there is no land more than ten feet above the level of +the gulf. The water was loaded with a sort of yellow mud, and it was +easy enough to see how the levees had been formed and the Delta +projected far out into the gulf. + +When the water, for any reason, lost its five-mile current, the soil it +contained was deposited on the bottom. As the mighty stream brings its +load of mud down to the gulf, it is left there, and the same force +works it to each side. In this way, though the effect of a century of +accumulations are hardly perceptible, the Delta has been extended +fifteen or twenty miles out into the gulf. + +In this mud, which forms the bars at the mouth of the river, vessels +drawing from sixteen to twenty feet ground; but their keels are driven +through it by strong tugs, or even by the winds acting on the sails. +The State of Louisiana has to look out for its levees almost as +carefully as Holland does for its dikes. Millions have been spent on +them, and every year requires additional expenditures to keep them in +repair. Even New Orleans is four feet below high-water mark, as well as +much of the surrounding country. The levees, created by the deposit of +sediment from the river, and by human labor, are broken through when +the freshets send the water down faster than the flow of the river will +carry it off. + +As I have said before, it was now a season of unusually high water. The +country beyond the levees was covered. Sugar, cotton, and rice +plantations were inundated. Occasionally we could see a group of houses +on a knoll, like an island, but a few inches above the level of the +water. In other places we saw dwellings floating, and others still in +their places, but partly submerged. It all looked to me like a region +in which I should not care to live. + +"We are leaving the Islander a good way behind us," said Washburn, when +I returned to the pilot-house, after my survey of the surrounding +country. + +"She is only about half a mile astern of us," I replied. "I suppose we +shall gain about half a mile an hour on her in this current, when we +drive the Sylvania." + +"It is five o'clock in the afternoon," added the mate, glancing at the +clock. "I estimate that we are all of fifty miles from New Orleans. Do +you intend to run after dark, Alick?" + +"Why not?" I asked, somewhat surprised at the question. + +"I don't think it is quite prudent to do so. The river is very high, +and I would rather see where we are going than go on in the dark," +answered Washburn. + +"The river is over a mile wide, and too deep for snags and sawyers." + +"It is cloudy now, and it will be very dark. We don't run by courses +here, and we may get into trouble in some way, though I confess I can't +see how." + +"We shall get to New Orleans by midnight," I added. + +"What good will it do to get there by midnight? As we approach the city +there will be something to be seen, but our passengers can't see it in +the night. If I understand the matter, we are in no hurry, and it makes +no difference whether we get in to-night or to-morrow noon." + +"I think you are right, Washburn; at any rate it is best to be on the +safe side. We will keep on as far as we can while we have the light, +and then we will look out for a good place to tie up for the night," I +answered. + +I had hardly come to a decision before we saw a large body floating +down the river. We could not make out what it was at first. A bend of +the river swept it over to the side on which we were sailing, and +Washburn headed out for the middle to avoid it. We soon ascertained +that it was an old flatboat, such as come down the great river with a +cargo of coal, lumber, grain, or other merchandise, and is then broken +up, because it will not pay its cost to take it back to the point from +which it started. + +The flatboat came down the stream broadside to, though we saw it make +two or three whirls as it advanced. It had evidently broken loose from +its moorings at or near the city, and was on its way to the gulf on its +own account. After passing the bend, the current began to carry it out +into the middle of the river, and we were obliged to sheer off again to +avoid a collision with it. I breathed easier when I saw it astern of +the Sylvania. + +"I should not like to make that thing out, close aboard of us in the +dark," said Washburn. + +"Would you like to have it drift against you while moored to the +shore?" I asked. + +"I should not; but that would be better than hitting it with full steam +on. But we must haul up in the right place. We needn't choose a place +where the current sets against the shore, as it does at a bend. I +should haul her up on the other side of the river, and then anything +floating on its own hook will be carried away from us," replied +Washburn. + +"The logic is correct, and we will seek such a place as you describe." + +The sight of the flatboat assured me that it was not safe to run in the +night, at least during high water, when the current was bearing off +houses, vessels, and other cumbrous things. Running over a floating log +might disable our propeller, and we should be helpless then. There were +but few great bends in this part of the river, much as the mighty +stream twists about above New Orleans. I kept a lookout for a suitable +place to moor the steamer to the shore. + +The supper-bell had just rung when I saw such a place as I had been +looking for. On the right bank was a point of land where a considerable +bend sent the whole force of the powerful current over to the other +side of the river. I rang the bell to reduce the speed, as I pointed +out the spot to the mate. He ran the nose of the boat up to the bank, +and Buck jumped ashore with a line, with which a hawser was drawn to +the land. It was made fast to a pine-tree, and no other line seemed to +be needed. + +I could see the Islander about two miles down the river. We all went +down to supper except a hand to notify us of danger from any source. I +was not at my meal more than fifteen minutes, for I had dined late. +When I came on deck, the Islander was almost abreast of the Sylvania. +Colonel Shepard was in the pilot-house with the captain, and they +seemed to be in earnest conversation. + +Probably Captain Blastblow had not thought of hauling up for the night +any more than I had when Washburn spoke to me about the matter. I had +no doubt they were discussing the same subject which the mate and I had +disposed of. + +"What are you doing here, Captain Alick?" shouted Captain Blastblow, as +he rang his speed-bell. + +"Waiting for the Islander to come up with us," I replied, laughing, for +I could not be less good-natured than the captain of the Islander. + +"Did you have to tie up to the bank to wait?" asked Captain Blastblow; +and by this time the steamer was working just steam enough to balance +her in the current, so that she was nearly stationary. + +"We are going to lie here to-night," I replied. + +"What for?" + +"Did you meet a flatboat floating down the river about an hour ago?" I +asked, thinking that would furnish sufficient explanation of my action. + +"I did; I ran into it, and smashed in one of its sides so that it +filled with water," answered Captain Blastblow. + +"Then the next man that meets it in the dark cannot see it as well as +you did," I continued. "I don't think it is safe to run in the night +when the river is full of floating logs, flatboats, and other things." + +The captain and the owner of the Islander discussed the subject, though +I could not hear what they said. In a few minutes the captain rang the +gong, and the steamer went ahead at full speed. I hoped no accident +would happen to the Islander, and the chances were in favor of her +reaching New Orleans in safety. But there was not much fun in paddling +through the muddy river in the dark, let alone the prudence of doing +so. My father and Owen came into the pilot-house after supper, and both +of them approved what I had done. + +The Sylvania lay alongside the bank of the stream, held by the hawser, +with her stern a little way out from the shore. At seven o'clock it was +very dark, and I directed the watch I had set for the first part of the +night to rig lanterns at the fore-stay and the topping lift of the +main-boom. I had a quantity of Bengola lights put in the pilot-house, +that we might light up the scene around us, if it should be desirable +to do so. + +[Illustration: "I saw the Islander with a house hanging to her bow." +_Page 252._] + +About nine o'clock I heard the noise of escaping steam, not more than +half a mile distant. Then shouts came from the same direction. I +lighted one of the fireworks, and in the glare I saw the Islander with +a house hanging to her bow. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +THE ISLANDER IN A BAD FIX. + + +The silver light from the Bengola enabled me to see clearly the strange +sight that presented itself to our gaze. Owen was smoking his cigar, +and Washburn and my father were talking about India. The whistle and +the shout from the steamer were the first intimations we had that +anything was wrong. I could see some lights in the gloom that hung over +the river, but nothing to enable me to ascertain the situation, until +the Bengola illuminated the scene. + +It was a strange sight. I could not tell whether the building was a +house or a stable, though it appeared to have too many windows for the +latter. The Islander, it appeared, had run her bow into the structure +up to the pilot-house. The steamer was still working her screw. But the +odd complication floated slowly down the stream towards the bank of the +river opposite the position of the Sylvania. + +"Call all hands!" I said, with energy. "Tell the engineer to stir up +the fires." + +Washburn hastened to execute the orders, and the rest of us watched +with increasing wonder the floating mass, which was every moment +increasing its distance from us. + +"I say, Captain Alick, can you tell me what all that means?" asked Owen +Garningham. "Was the Islander going into that house to spend the +night?" + +"I really can't say whether she was or not; but it is not likely that +the steamer went on shore for a night's lodging in the building," I +replied. + +"I dare say the Islander could not handle herself very well on the +land, if she found any land to get on," added Owen. + +"It is more likely that the house, or whatever it is, was afloat when +the Islander knocked for admission," I continued. + +"If the steamer knocked, the house appears to have opened to her." + +"How is your steam, Moses?" I called through the tube to the engineer. + +"Rather low for working in this current," came back to me through the +tube. + +At that moment the Islander whistled again. I pulled our whistle line, +and found we had steam enough to give a smart reply; but I was not +willing to trust the Sylvania to the rapid river without a full head of +steam. I lighted another Bengola. In its glare I saw that the other +steamer was backing her screw, as probably she had been doing from the +beginning. I judged that the building was about fifty feet long, and, +as it was partly submerged, it presented a large broadside to the rapid +current. + +"I don't see how she got into that scrape, unless she was looking for a +night's lodging," said Washburn. "That building is big enough to be +seen in the dark." + +"Of course Captain Blastblow did not intend to run into it," I added. +"Probably he had not time to get out of the way when he first saw it." + +"But it seems to me I should not go far with such a load before I shook +it off." + +"But don't you see that he can't pull out of the house?" demanded Owen. +"He is stuck fast in her side." + +"They have axes on board the Islander; and I don't think it would take +our crew long to cut her out of that hole," added Washburn. "Why does +she keep whistling? Her captain can imagine that we have not steam +enough to work the Sylvania in such a current." + +"I say, Washy, have you ever been down the Danube?" asked Owen. + +"I never have been. I was never in Europe," replied the mate. + +"I should say this current is quite as swift as that of the Danube at +Vienna; and it makes seven miles an hour there." + +"The ordinary current of the Mississippi is about five miles an hour, +and in such a freshet it must be as much as seven." + +"What is a freshet, Mr. Mate?" + +"An inundation; an overflow of the water; a flood; a----" + +"Cut it short! I understand it perfectly. I never heard it called a +freshet before. Has it anything to do with the fact that this is fresh +water, Washy?" + +"I don't think it has, though I never heard of such a thing as a +freshet in salt water, which could not very well be, since a freshet is +caused by heavy rains and the melting of the snow," replied Washburn. +"You never heard of a freshet before! Where have you been all your +life?" + +"That's an American word, Mr. Washburn," interposed my father. "I never +heard it except in this country." + +At this moment Mr. Tiffany and his daughter joined us in the +pilot-house, after asking if they might come in. I gave them chairs and +explained to them the rather ludicrous situation of the Islander. All +hands were on the forecastle except the chief engineer and Landy +Perkins. I ordered a Bengola to be burned on the top-gallant forecastle +to enable them to see the Islander and its odd burden. + +"Mr. Brickland says he has steam enough," said Landy Perkins, reporting +to me at the pilothouse. + +"All right," I replied. "Buck, cast off the hawser, when I bring her up +to it." + +The end of the fast had been passed around a pine-tree, and made fast +at the bitts, so that we could unmoor without going on shore. I rang to +go ahead; and when the hawser was hauled in, I backed the steamer away +from the bank. I directed the deck hands to keep the fireworks ablaze +that I might see where to steer. I soon discovered the Islander and the +building, and ran for them as fast as possible. As we had the current +with us, we made at least fifteen miles an hour. + +As the Sylvania came nearer to her consort, I could better make out the +condition of things on board of her. The building appeared to be some +kind of a workshop. The Islander had drove her bow through its side. I +concluded that some of the boarding and studding had not been broken +off. The bow had carried them within the structure, and the lower ends +had dropped down on the deck, and thus prevented the vessel from +withdrawing her forward part. + +As we came nearer to her, I had our fenders hung over the port side. We +had two gilded axes slung on the front of the pilot-house, which had +probably never been taken from their resting-places. I told Ben Bowman +to take one of these, and Dyer Perkins the other, for both of them had +had some experience in the woods. I had made up my mind just where the +trouble was. I directed Washburn to go on board of the Islander when we +got alongside of her, and superintend the cutting away of the boards +and joists, with two more men from the other steamer. + +Buck and Hop were to stand by the hawsers by which we were to make fast +to the Islander. As soon as we came up abreast of the consort, I saw +Colonel Shepard and his family on the quarter-deck. They were very much +alarmed at the situation, for Mrs. Shepard was wringing her hands in +terror, and the colonel was trying to comfort her. As soon as our bow +came abreast of the party, Owen made a long leap to the deck of the +Islander. It was a careless trick, and he deserved to fall overboard +for risking his life when there was not the least need of it. As soon +as we were fairly alongside our consort, the deck hands leaped on board +of her with the fasts, and we were soon securely lashed together. + +"Stop your screw, Captain Blastblow!" I shouted, though I realized a +moment later that I had no business to give orders to him, or to +undertake to manage the business of the occasion. + +Washburn leaped on board with his two axe-men, and I heard him politely +ask the captain to send two of his men with axes to assist him. Captain +Blastblow not only stopped the steamer, but he instantly ordered his +mate and another man to do what the mate of the Sylvania desired. + +"I think we had better go ahead, Captain Blastblow," I continued, +trying to be less imperative than before. + +"If you see the way out of this scrape, Captain Alick, I am willing to +do anything you say," replied the captain of the Islander. + +"I think I do see the way out of it; and the best plan is to go ahead, +full steam," I answered. + +I had a theory, though I had had as yet no opportunity to test its +correctness. I called Buck to the wheel, and told him to steer for the +middle of the river. I was afraid if the building struck the bank it +might be tumbled over on the steamers. I went on board of the Islander. +I asked the captain to steer for the middle of the river, and then went +forward into the building. My theory in regard to the boarding and +studding was correct. Washburn was directing the four men, and +assisting them himself, to pull out the boards and joists. They had +little occasion to use the axes after the two steamers began to go +ahead. Backing the Islander had tightened up every piece of lumber that +had been forced in by the bow. The harder the boat pulled back, the +more firmly the joists were held in their places. It was no wonder to +me that the captain had not been able to shake off this unwieldy +burden. + +My first thought, in having the steamers go ahead, was to prevent the +Islander from drawing out of the building while my men were in it, for +they might have been crushed by the swaying of the structure. When we +went ahead, we not only loosened the timbers and boards, so that they +could be removed from their positions, but we prevented the Islander +from coming out of her lodging-place until the hands were in a safe +part of the boat. + +"There, sir, I think she is all clear now," said Washburn. + +I could find nothing to impede the withdrawal of our consort's bow, and +I sent my hands back to the Sylvania, and directed the others to go +abaft the pilot-house of the Islander. I requested Captain Blastblow to +keep his craft going till I rang my gong. I returned to the pilot-house +of the Sylvania, and rang to stop her. The gong of the Islander +followed suit instantly. I waited a minute to notice the effect. I +expected the consort would draw out of her "chancery" at once; but she +did not. I told the mate to see that our hawsers were good for a hard +pull, and he soon reported them fast and strong. + +"Now, back her, if you please, Captain Blastblow," I called to the +Islander. + +At the same time I rang two bells. Both steamers began to back at the +same time. The Islander immediately went clear of the building, which +continued on its way down the river. No crash, or severe wrench, as I +had anticipated, attended the separation of the steamer and its burden. + +"You are all right now, Captain Blastblow!" I shouted, rejoiced that he +had got rid of his incubus. + +"Thank you, Captain Alick, for your assistance; and I think we will lie +up with you," answered the captain of the Islander. + +We cast off the fasts, and the consort followed us up to the place +where we had moored before, and made fast to a tree just below us. +Presently the captain came up to pay us a visit. I inquired about his +prisoners first, and learned that they were under the care of Captain +Cayo in the fore-cabin. + +"Our people seem to think you were looking for a night's lodging in +that floating building, Captain Blastblow," I said. + +"Well, not exactly," added the captain. "We have been very sorry, for +the last hour and a half, while we were dragged down the river by that +building, that we did not follow your example, and hang up for the +night." + +"Where did you pick up that house, captain?" asked Owen. + +"I kept a sharp lookout on the top-gallant forecastle; but none of us +saw the building until it was too late to get out of the way," replied +Captain Blastblow. "Following the example of Captain Alick, I kept as +close to the shore on the port side as possible. About an hour after we +left you, I saw something black loom up before me, and the next instant +we struck her at full speed. The house had floated out of a bayou, I +found, which was the reason we did not see it sooner. It was a building +where they worked on rice. It was stretched across a creek, so that the +rice could be dropped into a boat under it. We have a white man and two +negroes on board that we saved from it." + +After a long talk, in which Captain Blastblow did me the honor to say +that I was a "smart boy," he returned to his craft, and the rest of us +turned in. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +AN EMBARRASSING SITUATION. + + +I was on my feet at daylight; but I found that Moses Brickland and Dyer +Perkins were up before me. They had opened up the fires, drawn the +clinkers from the furnaces, and were now oiling the engine. They had +nearly steam enough to enable us to start up the river. Everything +looked very quiet on board of the Islander, and there was no smoke +issuing from her smoke-stack. + +I jumped ashore, and the first thing I noticed was that the water was +more than a foot higher than it was the night before. It seemed to me +that there must be an inundation above us. I found no one stirring on +board of the consort, and I went on deck. I knocked at the door of the +chief engineer. I told him I intended to get under way in the course of +fifteen minutes, and I did not care to leave the Islander behind. He +got up at once, and called his starboard fireman. + +Without standing on any ceremony, I walked into the captain's +state-room, and told him I should be off in fifteen minutes. I found he +had given no orders about starting, but I assured him his engineer and +fireman were attending to their duty. I bantered him a little, saying I +did not leave him behind for fear he would get into trouble. He was +good-natured about it, and replied that he should sail in the company +of the Sylvania if possible. He admitted that we could outsail him, for +he had done his best to keep up with the Sylvania. + +"How are your prisoners getting along?" I asked, for I had thought more +than once that they might escape while we were hauled up. + +"They were all right last night when I turned in. I looked this place +over, and there is not more than half an acre on this bank that is not +under water," replied the captain. "They could not get away without a +boat." + +We went out on the deck, and found the two quarter-boats were hanging +at the davits. Captain Cayo had charge of the prisoners, and the +fore-cabin was locked every night before they went to their berths. But +the door must have been opened to let the firemen out. I told the +captain that he had better make sure they were safe before we left our +moorings, as it would be easier to find them now than it would be after +we got half way to New Orleans. He went below, and when he came up he +was assured they were on board. + +I had avoided Nick Boomsby since the capture of the Islander, for I +knew he would beg me to get him out of his present trouble. I could not +see my way to do anything of the kind, and therefore I kept out of his +way. I remained on board of the steamer until the engineer reported +that he had steam enough to go ahead, when I returned to the Sylvania. +The fasts were cast off, and by five o'clock we were again stemming the +tide of the mighty river. The current was even stronger than it had +been the day before. I told the engineer to let the steamer go at her +ordinary speed, and the Islander kept very near us. + +The river was covered with lumber, shanties swept from their +resting-places, and other obstructions; but in the daytime we could +easily avoid them. It was half-past seven before any of our passengers +came on deck. We were passing a little village that seemed to be +struggling for existence, for the high water was crowding hard upon its +houses and other buildings. By eleven o'clock we saw several villages, +and some very handsome and romantic estates, though they were mostly +covered with water. + +At noon the city was in plain sight, and soon we had New Orleans on one +side and Algiers on the other. The water was almost up to the top of +the levees. The shores were crowded with steamboats and +sailing-vessels. The former were entirely different from any I had ever +seen before, though for some time after I saw them every day. I had a +map of New Orleans in a large atlas I kept in my room; and I had +decided to make a landing as near as I could to the foot of Canal +Street. I had read that this street had a green, with trees extending +through it. + +I had no difficulty in identifying it when I came to it. At the foot of +it was the customhouse, said to be one of the largest public buildings +in the United States; and I had no difficulty in believing the +statement. In front of it was the broad levee where steamers landed, +and such a forest of them I never saw before. They were packed in like +sardines, and I could find no opening by which I could get to the +shore. + +I found that the decks of the steamers were common ground, and most of +them could only be reached by passing over others. But near the levee I +found a wharf, the lower end of which was under water, at which I +concluded we could lie by paying wharfage. I ran the Sylvania in as far +as I could and made fast. The Islander came up alongside of her, and +was secured to the bow and stern. My father and the Tiffanys concluded +to take up their quarters at the St. Charles Hotel, so that they could +see more of the city. I called a carriage for them; and then the +Shepards decided to follow their example, as they were tired of being +on the water for over a week. + +As soon as they were gone we thought it was time to attend to the +disposition of the prisoners. My father had taken the money with him, +but the hotel was not more than a quarter of a mile from the wharf. I +sent Buck Lingley to assist Captain Cayo, and he was assigned to the +care of Nick Boomsby. + +"Here we are," said Captain Blastblow, after everything had been put in +order on both vessels. "Do you expect to get away from here this +summer?" + +"This summer! I expect to get away from here in two or three days," I +replied, rather startled by the remark of the captain. + +"I think not," he added, shaking his head ominously. + +"Why not?" + +"Are you a lawyer, Captain Alick?" demanded Captain Blastblow, with a +very comical expression on his face. + +"I am no lawyer, not even a sea-lawyer," I answered, wondering what he +was driving at. + +"Neither am I; but it has occurred to me that we might be kept here +longer than we wanted to stay." + +"What do you mean by that?" + +"I was thinking just now that if we had let Cornwood and Boomsby escape +from the steamer last night it would have saved us a world of trouble," +added Captain Blastblow, with a cunning leer and a wink. + +"I don't understand you," I replied, satisfied by this time that he had +found a mare's nest, or there was some kind of trouble ahead. + +"We have two men in the fore-cabin who are charged with robbery." + +"One of them is; the other is an accomplice after the fact," I replied. + +"That sounds as though you had been a lawyer all your life, or at least +since you put on jacket and trousers. An accomplice after the fact! I +suppose that he took part in the robbery after it was all done." + +"It means that Cornwood took the money, knowing it was stolen, and +aided and abetted Boomsby in escaping. In my opinion, he came down to +Key West solely to get part of the money. But no matter for that; what +is to keep us here all summer?" I asked. + +"I presume you mean to hand the robbers over to the police of New +Orleans?" queried Captain Blastblow. + +"That is the only thing we can do, unless we carry them back to +Florida; and I don't care about going back there so soon." + +"Just so. I don't know anything about law; but once I brought in a +fellow in my vessel who had committed a crime in another State. One of +the passengers who knew all about the crime complained of the rascal, +and he was hauled up before a court. It so happened that I knew +something about the matter, and I was summoned as a witness, and the +man was sent to jail. I could identify the man, but no one else could. +They had to send south for a requisition from the Governor of Georgia. +For one reason and another it took two weeks to get it, and I had to +stay home from one trip to Savannah to appear as a witness." + +"And you think we may be kept here as witnesses," I inquired, with no +little anxiety. + +"We are dead sure to be kept here till the Governor of Florida can send +an officer with a requisition for the prisoner. It will take at least +one week for that, and it may take two or three. Somebody must complain +of Boomsby and Cornwood in Jacksonville, and then the governor must be +sure that it is all right. After all this the Governor of Louisiana +must be sure that he is not sending a man off who is not likely to be +guilty." + +The situation looked rather trying to me, and I decided to go on shore +and have a talk with my father about it. As soon as I reached the +customhouse I bought a Picayune, and the first thing I saw in the paper +was "Further Details of the Great Storm." I found that the whole +country above was inundated, and that it was expected the river would +rise still higher. Many railroads could not send out trains, bridges +had been carried away, and many lives had been lost. It was an +appalling state of things. Vast numbers of men were employed in +strengthening the levees above New Orleans. The Missouri River had +risen higher than ever before, and whole villages had been carried away +in the North-western States. + +I found my father in the reading-room of the St. Charles devouring the +contents of a newspaper. He began to give me the startling +intelligence, but I told him I had just read it. I then stated the +situation in relation to our two prisoners. He was alarmed at the +prospect of a long delay, for the heat was intense in the city. +Besides, we were not sure the city itself would not be inundated by the +rising waters. + +My father was as much perplexed as I was. Our business was "Yachting on +the Mississippi," and the idea of being detained two or even three +weeks for the officials of two States to investigate a case that was +plain enough to us was hardly to be endured on the one hand, while we +had no desire to have a crime go unpunished on the other. We were +certainly in a dilemma. We decided to have a conference with the rest +of the party. + +We found them in the ladies' parlor. Mrs. Shepard was fanning herself +vigorously, and I judged that she was in a very unhappy state of mind. +I had seen very little of my passengers during the voyage from +Jacksonville, for the heavy sea which constantly deluged the deck had +kept them in the cabin. I spoke to the colonel's wife, and hoped she +was very well. + +"I am not well at all, Captain Alick," she replied. "My nerves are +shaken all to pieces by the voyage from Jacksonville, and if my husband +owns the Islander for the next twenty years I shall never go to sea in +her again." + +"Indeed, is it so bad as that? But you have not been in the Islander in +any very heavy weather," I added. + +"I was in the Sylvania when I never expected to see land again; and I +shall never forget that terrible time after the shipwreck, for I never +suffered so much in one night, though I have crossed the Atlantic four +times. I am told that you managed the Sylvania very well, and I have no +doubt of it; but it was a terrible storm for such a small vessel. Last +night I wished I was in the Sylvania, for I was very much alarmed when +we were carried down the river by that terrible building." + +"My wife don't feel safe in the city," added Colonel Shepard. "She is +afraid we may be inundated here. She prefers to be on board of the +steamer, and wants to start up the river immediately." + +"I do feel safer on the river than I do on shore," said Mrs. Shepard. +"I heard there was a case of yellow fever in the city." + +"Impossible, so early in the season," replied her husband. + +"At any rate, I don't want to stay here another day." + +The lady was nervous, but she could not help it; and her health seemed +to be falling back under the excitement of the recent trip. + +Our conference resulted in a decision to sail up the river next +morning, taking our prisoners with us. I went back to the wharf, and +informed Captain Blastblow of the wishes of the party. + +Cornwood and Nick seemed to be very well satisfied with their condition +on board. But I wanted to see something of the city if the passengers +did not, and Washburn and I used up the afternoon in going to the +principal points of interest. It would take a whole volume to give my +impressions of New Orleans; but that is no part of my present purpose. +At nine o'clock the next morning our passengers came on board, and we +started up the river. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +A CREVASSE ON THE MISSISSIPPI. + + +When Mrs. Shepard came on board, she seemed to be more composed. She +declared that, when the whole country was under water, she felt better +to be in a boat. During the night the water had risen nearly a foot, +and the citizens were not a little alarmed. Hundreds of laborers were +at work on the levees, and several small crevasses had been made a few +miles above the city. We had engaged a pilot, though rather for the +information he could give us than because we needed him in the +navigation of the river. + +Captain Cayo had taken leave of us, and Colonel Shepard had paid his +bill for services and expenses. I liked the pilot very well; and I was +sorry to lose him. The white man and the negroes rescued from the +floating building stayed on board as long as we remained at the wharf. +It was not easy for them to return to their homes; and they had no +money to pay for their food and shelter. We made up a liberal purse for +them, and divided it equally among them; and they went ashore very +grateful to us for what we had done. Captain Blastblow said they made +more money by coming with us than they could by staying at home. + +At Colonel Shepard's request we "lashed boats" for the sociability of +the thing. We rigged a plank bridge, with a railing to it, so that the +ladies could pass from one steamer to the other without assistance, +though Owen was always ready when the young ladies wished to pass from +one to the other. After this job had been done, I went forward and +found Cornwood at the helm, where I had left the pilot. I was not +exactly pleased to see him at the wheel. After we had left the wharf, +Nick and the Floridian had been permitted to enjoy the liberty of the +deck, for I did not believe they would be likely to attempt to escape +while the country seemed to be covered with water in every direction. + +"What are you doing there, Cornwood?" I asked, as I entered the +pilot-house. + +"The pilot has gone below for some matches, and I offered to take the +wheel while he was absent," replied Cornwood, in the mildest of tones. + +"I will thank the pilot to call a deck-hand when he wants to be +relieved," I replied. + +"You think I mean mischief, I dare say," he added, with his silky +smile; "but you can see that I can do no harm if I desired to, which I +do not. Captain Blastblow is at the wheel of the other steamer." + +At this moment the pilot came in, with a cigar in his mouth, and took +the wheel. + +"Captain Garningham, I should like to have a little talk with you," +said Cornwood. He led the way to a couple of chairs on the forecastle, +which had just been abandoned by the young ladies. + +"Captain Garningham, I have been subjected to such an outrage as I +never before experienced in my life," said the Floridian. + +"I think you cannot greatly wonder at it," I replied. + +"Should you wonder at it if a party were to come on board of the +Sylvania, take you by force, strip you almost to the skin, and rob you +of your money? That is precisely my case, and you say I need not +greatly wonder at it," continued Cornwood, as mildly as he had begun. + +"I think my case would be a little different from what yours was," I +replied. + +"As yet I have not even been informed of the cause of such brutal +treatment. If you had stayed a few hours longer in New Orleans, and had +not treated the men you picked up on the house so liberally, I should +have sought a remedy in a writ of _habeas corpus_." + +"I don't think you were quite ready to adopt such a course as that, for +it would have resulted in having you sent to the calaboose to wait for +a requisition from the Governor of Florida," I answered, laughing at +what I considered the absurdity of the proceeding. "The only reason we +did not hand you over to the police was that we were afraid of being +detained as witnesses." + +"I understand you; and I prefer to fight this battle in some other +State than Louisiana. I shall not try to escape; and I know that Nick +Boomsby will not. If I am not always honest, I am now; and I assure you +I don't know the reason for the savage treatment I received on board of +the Islander; and I will thank you to tell me. In a word, I entreat you +to do so." + +I concluded that Cornwood wanted to prepare for his defence, for I was +satisfied that he understood the charge as well as I did. But he seemed +to be so earnest over the matter that I went over the case for him. + +"When you started from St. Augustine to recover the Islander, you were +satisfied that Nick Boomsby had stolen the four thousand dollars," I +proceeded. + +"On the contrary I was satisfied that Buckner stole it," interposed +Cornwood. + +"I am stating my belief, be it right or wrong. When I told you about +the sailing of the Islander without her owner and his family, you were +satisfied that Nick was on board of her, and that he had the money +stolen from the messenger." + +"Nothing could be farther from the truth; but go on," added the +Floridian. + +"You would not have gone to Key West to stop the Islander at your own +expense." + +"I did go at my own expense," added Cornwood, with a smile. + +"But not to stop the Islander," I added. + +"I admit that I had another mission there. I had been thinking of going +to Key West on business for a week." + +"When you got there you forged a letter to Captain Blastblow, to induce +him to leave before the arrival of the Sylvania," I added. + +"That was a little harmless strategy to enable me to carry out the +purpose for which I went to Key West," added Cornwood, with the +smoothest of smiles. + +"I never heard forgery called by that name before," I replied, with +becoming severity. + +"It was not to obtain money, or any other valuable consideration from +Colonel Shepard that I wrote his name. Why, I could have made two +hundred dollars by detaining the Islander," said the Floridian, with +spirit. + +"Instead of doing what he employed you to do, you sold him out, and let +his steamer go off without him. You were satisfied that Nick had the +four thousand dollars with him, and you were bound to have the half, if +not the whole of it. It looks like a plain case." + +"You are taking an entirely wrong view of the matter, Captain +Garningham," protested Cornwood. "I shall be able to prove in due time +that you are utterly mistaken." + +"Two thousand dollars were found on you, and the same on Nick." + +"I grant that this fact has a suspicious look about it; and I can not +greatly blame you for your course, though the brutality exercised upon +me was entirely unnecessary. Now I will explain the whole matter to you +just as it was; and you will see that you were greatly mistaken." + +"I am ready to hear anything you have to say," I replied. + +"That four thousand dollars is a rather annoying coincidence," he +began. + +"I should think it might be," I added. + +"You quite mistake my meaning. I am willing to admit that I have told +professional lies in the interest of my clients. I am Buckner's +counsel, though I told you to the contrary. He admitted his guilt to +me." + +"Did he, indeed? Did he tell you what he did with the package of bills +after he took it from the counter?" + +"He did: he acknowledged that he was guilty, and told me how it was +done," replied Cornwood, with easy assurance, of which I had seen a +great deal on his part. "Buckner's wife was at the door of the saloon, +and he gave the package to her as he rushed out. She had it under her +shawl before Nick got half way to the door. She went home; and my +client considers it a successful affair. He offered me five hundred +dollars to get him out of the scrape, and that is the fee for which I +am working just now, in part." + +"And he gave you the money, did he?" I asked, hardly able to keep from +laughing in the face of the guileless Floridian. + +"Not he, for his wife started for Kentucky, or some other state, as +soon as she got the money. This is where the unlucky coincidence comes +in. My first business in Key West was to see that Nick did not return +home, as I feared you would compel him to do when you found him on +board of the Islander. My second was to pay four thousand dollars, +which I drew from the First National Bank of Florida Friday morning +before I started for Cedar Keys." + +"O, I see! That was where the four thousand dollars came from," I +exclaimed. + +"Precisely so. I was to pay it into the Marine Court, pending a suit in +which I was interested, against a salvage company." + +"But you did not pay it in." + +"How could I when it was Sunday? I intended to do so the next day. When +I found that Nick did not mean to stop in Key West, I directed Captain +Blastblow to get up his anchor and hurry to New Orleans before the +Sylvania came in. I could not get ashore myself when I had induced Nick +to continue the voyage. The four thousand dollars was a burden to me, +and I asked Nick to take part of it from me to keep till we got to our +destination. The loss of it would ruin me, and I thought it would be +safer in the care of two persons than one. That's the substance of it, +and you can see that it explains the whole affair." + +"I see it does: it makes it all as clear as Mississippi mud," I +replied, laughing heartily. + +"You evidently do not believe the statement I have made," said the +Floridian, looking very much wounded in his feelings. + +"Whether I do or not, Cornwood, we will not quarrel about it," I added, +as good-naturedly as I could. + +"I will show you some documents I have in my valise which will make it +all as clear as the pure waters of Green Cove Springs." + +"I think I will not look at them at present. Has Nick learned this +story by heart?" I inquired. "He used to be a very bungling liar when +we were small boys together; and I don't know whether he has improved +any or not." + +"I think it is rather cruel of you, Captain Garningham, to sport with +my feelings when I have been subjected to such inconvenience and +discomfort by you." + +"I must be candid with you, Cornwood. If I take your statement for the +truth, I judge that you are liable to the state prison, or whatever you +call it in Florida, for what you have done. You know that Buckner is +guilty, but you are engaged in a conspiracy to keep the principal +witness out of court, which makes you virtually an accomplice to the +crime." + +"You forget the duty I owe my client, who has entrusted his sacred +liberty in my keeping." + +"Most of the lawyers I ever knew were honest men, and I don't believe +one of them would resort to such a trick to clear his client. What's +all that?" I exclaimed, as I saw a gathering on the levee of the right +bank of the river. + +"A crevasse in the levee," said the pilot. "It's a bad one, too." + +A steamboat was backing her wheels near the opening, evidently to +prevent being sucked into the breach by the furious current that poured +through it. Quite a number of men were assembled on the levee, but they +seemed to be incapable of doing anything to stop the flow of the water. +When we came abreast of the crevasse, we could see through it to the +country beyond. It was covered with water, which was pouring in through +the breach at a frightful rate. + +"That was done by the crawfish that burrow into the levees, for I see +some of their houses on the top, where they go when it is high-water," +said the pilot. + +Just then a row-boat came to the crevasse, and fearlessly headed into +the opening. In an instant it was swamped, and the two men it had +contained were struggling in the mad current. They held on to their +oars, and were swept rapidly inland. + +"There will be a hundred lives lost by that break," added the pilot. +"There are several plantations on that knoll, and the water is lifting +the houses on it." + +I could see the houses toppling over, half a mile from the levee. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +SAILING ACROSS THE FIELDS. + + +I was appalled at the terrible sight. It was an open country, and there +were few trees to be seen, except around the houses at the plantations. +It looked like an inland sea. I saw the two men struggling in the water +at some distance from the levee. They were evidently trying to touch +bottom with their feet, but the water was over their heads. + +"How deep is the water on that flat, Mr. Pilot?" I asked, not a little +excited at the idea of witnessing such a loss of life as he had +predicted. + +"I should say it was from eight to ten feet deep all the way to those +plantations," he replied. + +"Why don't one of the steamers waiting here go over to the assistance +of those poor people?" I inquired. + +"They can't get through, and they would be swamped if they should try +it. The breach is not more than thirty feet wide, and these boats would +stick till they were torn to pieces. They are so low in the water that +it would put their fires out when they went through and fill their +holds." + +I looked about the decks of both our steamers, and found that all the +passengers were on board of the Islander. I told Ben Bowman, who was on +duty in the engine-room, to put on all the steam she could safely +carry. He assured me he had enough for anything. + +"Look out, Captain Blastblow, if you please, for I am going to cast +off," I called to the Islander. "Keep the ladies in a safe place. All +the Sylvanias on board!" + +I went into the pilot-house, and rang to back the steamer. I kept her +moving until we were in the middle of the river. I had carefully +examined the crevasse, and I judged that the water was not more than +two feet lower on the flat than it was in the river. + +"How deep is the water in the cut, Mr. Pilot?" I asked. + +"Not less than eight feet; and it may be ten. You can't tell." + +I stopped the Sylvania, and then rang to go ahead at full speed. + +"Are you going through the crevasse?" demanded the pilot. + +"I see no difficulty in doing so. Mr. Washburn, see that every opening +in the deck and deck-house is closed and securely fastened." + +"It will be a ticklish business to go through that breach," said the +pilot, shaking his head. + +"Would you let a hundred people drown without doing any thing to save +them?" I asked. + +"Not if I could help it. I am willing to do all I can; but I shouldn't +wonder if your boat made a dive into the mud on the other side of the +levee, and stuck there." + +"If she does we have two life-boats at the davits," I replied. + +The Sylvania soon got up her best speed, and the pilot steered the +steamer for a point just above the crevasse. I closed the windows of +the pilot-house, and directed all hands to go on the hurricane-deck, +except the engineers and firemen. + +"I think you ought to stop the engine, for she will go through quick +enough without any help," suggested the pilot. + +"We must have steerage-way, or we can do nothing," I replied with quick +tones, for we were within a few fathoms of the whirl of waters that +were dashing through the crevasse. I felt the speed of the steamer +increasing, and I firmly grasped the wheel with the pilot. + +"You know this boat better than I do, and this business is a little out +of my line; but I will help you all I can," said the pilot, who seemed +to be fully self-possessed, though he was not used to handling a vessel +like the Sylvania. + +Washburn came into the pilot-house, after seeing that all the openings +were closed, and the ship's company disposed in safe places. + +"I don't think you will have any trouble going through there, Alick," +said the mate. + +"I don't know as you will, but I wouldn't take a river-boat through +such a place unless she was insured for her full value," added the +pilot. + +"No more talking, if you please," I added. + +We had entered the rapid current that swept into the crevasse. It was a +thrilling moment, for the next minute would determine whether the +Sylvania was to be swamped or not. But I had a reasonable degree of +confidence in the vessel. She had always done all I expected of her, +and I could hardly conceive of her disappointing me in this instance. + +The people assembled on the levee uttered a long and deep shout of +warning to us, but we had gone too far to recede even if we had been +disposed to do so. I saw the two men who had been swamped in the small +boat, still buoying themselves up with the oars; and beyond them the +houses tottering over as they were undermined by the rising waters. The +sight of these was quite enough to keep my courage up, and no thought +of doing anything but trying to save those who must perish without +assistance came to my mind. + +The little steamer rushed madly into the opening, with her screw +turning at its most rapid rate. When she had reached the fall she made +a tremendous dive, as it were, burying her bowsprit in the muddy tide. +Tons of the yellow fluid, loaded with sediment, flowed in on the +forecastle and swept aft. I judged by the shock that she struck her +fore-foot into the earth. + +The muddy water swashed up, and entirely covered the windows of the +pilot-house, leaving enough of the soil to make the glass as opaque as +the levee itself. We could not see a thing outside after this volume of +mud was discharged upon the windows. But in another instant I felt the +bow of the steamer rising. The screw was still shaking the vessel, and +I felt that no great injury had been done to her. + +"Open the windows, if you please, Washburn," I said, trying to keep as +cool as possible. + +"We are all right now," added the pilot. "One of our river steamers +would never have come up after that dive." + +I rang the speed-bell as soon as I felt that we were fairly through the +cut in the levee. A yell from the people assured us that we were all +right, if we did not find it out before. + +"I suppose you are not a pilot in these waters!" I continued, turning +to Mr. Bell, for that was his name. + +"Well, hardly, in these waters: at any rate I never took a steamboat +over this ground before. But I reckon I can do it as well as any other +man, for I was raised along here, and I know the lay of the land as +well as the water," replied the pilot. + +The escape of steam from the safety-valve showed me that the engineers +had slowed down, though I could not yet perceive it in the motion of +the vessel. We were approaching the two men on the oars, and I rang to +stop and back her. There was no difficulty in steering the steamer +after we were out of the swiftest of the current, and I left the +pilot-house. + +The Sylvania looked as though she had been buried in yellow mud for a +year, and had just been dug out. The water had all passed out at the +scupper-holes and swinging-ports; but the deck and a considerable +portion of the deck-house were covered with the mud from the water. All +hands except the chief engineer and one fireman had come out of the +hiding-places, and were ready for duty. + +"Clear away the starboard quarter-boat," I called. "Mr. Washburn, you +will pick up those men, and do it as quick as possible, for we are +needed at those plantations." + +The crew got into the boat and lowered it into the water. In a moment +more they were pulling with all their might for the two men, who were +some distance apart. They picked them up, one at a time, and came back +to the Sylvania. They hooked on the falls, and with the help of Ben +Bowman and Hop Tossford, hoisted the boat up to the davits. The two men +rescued from the water seemed to be very much exhausted, and we helped +them on deck. + +The moment the boat was out of the water, I rang to go ahead. I told +Moses to let her run at half speed, for I was afraid she might strike +against some hummock, or other obstruction, and stick in the mud, which +would cause a delay, if nothing worse. I sent Buck to the top-gallant +forecastle with the hand lead, and he reported eleven feet. + +"The ground is low here," said the pilot; "but I think we can carry +eight feet up to the knoll on which the houses stood. They must have +had eight or nine in some parts of it, or the cabins of the niggers +wouldn't have been upset." + +"I think we can hurry her a little along here," I replied, ringing the +speed-bell. + +"By the mark twain," said Buck. + +"He threw the lead into a hole that time," added the pilot. + +"And a half-one," continued Buck. + +"You will hold that all the way till you get to the knoll," said Mr. +Bell. "We are going at a rattling speed." + +"We shall be all right as long as we have eight feet. Our coal bunkers +are pretty well emptied, and I don't know but we could go with seven +and a half. It is plain sailing; but we must feel along when it gets +down to eight and a half," I replied. + +The two men who had been taken from the water came to the forecastle at +this moment. They were covered with yellow mud, and of course they were +wet to the skin. But it was a hot day, and the sun was shining +brightly. When I asked them, they told me they had come from one of the +steamers that had stopped at the levee to render assistance. + +"Eight feet and a half," shouted Buck. + +I rang the speed bell, which soon reduced our rate one-half. Buck still +reported eight and a half. We were within a hundred yards of the +mansion-houses, of which I could see four, the lower parts of which +were under water. We could see the inmates in the second stories. But +the negro cabins were upset and many of them were floating about. It +was evident enough that they had been built on lower ground than the +residences of the planters. The knoll was covered with shade-trees and +shrubs, and the estates were as beautiful as anything I ever looked +upon--that is, what I could see of them above the water. + +"Eight feet!" shouted the leadsman, with energy. + +I rang to stop her, for I could feel a sort of sensation as though the +keel of the Sylvania was making a furrow in the field under us. The +steamer stopped almost as soon as I rang the bell. But as the water was +rising instead of falling, I did not feel at all concerned about her +situation. I immediately ordered both boats to be lowered. Ben and Hop +went off in one, and Buck and Landy in the other. Not far from the +knoll, which could not have been more than three or four feet above the +flat over which we had been sailing, I saw the boat the two men from +the steamer had been swamped in. I told Buck to tow it to the steamer, +and we had it alongside in a few moments. I sent the quarter-boat back +to the rescue of the people in the houses and cabins. The river +steamer's boat was full of water. We drew her under the davits on the +port side, made fast to her, and hauled her out of the water, hoisting +the bow end first, so that the water would run out of her. When both +ends were abreast of the rail of the vessel, we tipped her over, and +entirely freed her of water. I sent Washburn and Dyer Perkins in her to +assist the other two boats. + +Even at this important hour, the abominably dirty condition of the +Sylvania, which had been bathed in mud, actually pained me. Away from +the furious current of the crevasse, the mud settled, and the water was +comparatively clean. Cobbington and the two waiters had been at work +swabbing the quarter-deck, but with no good result. I directed the +engineer to rig the fire-engine, and we soon drowned the decks with +water. This, with the swabs, made clean work. By the time the first +boat came off from the knoll, the Sylvania looked nearly as neat as +when she had left the great river. The hot sun dried the planks about +as soon as they were swabbed. + +In the port-boat, under the direction of Ben Bowman, was a family of +four persons whom I took to be the occupants of one of the mansions. A +gentleman and his wife, with a son and daughter, were the first helped +on board: nearly all the others were negroes. I showed the white people +down into the cabin, and directed Cobbington to do all he could for +their comfort. + +In the course of half an hour we had seventy-two persons whom we +rescued. We were unable to find any more. The three boats had searched +every house which could contain a human being. They had taken men, +women and children from the trees, as well as the houses. We sounded +the whistle vigorously, and then waited for any call. + +There were no more, and I directed the pilot to work back to the levee. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +A DESPERATE STRUGGLE WITH THE RUSHING WATERS. + + +The water had risen so that the Sylvania had swung around and drifted +half-way up to the knoll, or to the houses on the highest part of it. +As soon as we were under way, I had a chance to look over our large +number of passengers. Three-quarters of them were negroes, mostly +house-servants. I was told that the field hands had escaped in another +direction before the water rose high enough to prevent it. The +inundation was only partly due to the crevasse, for the water had +broken in at some unknown point in the rear of the plantations. + +We had taken off the four families that occupied the mansion houses. +They were all highly cultivated people, ladies and gentlemen in the +highest sense of the words. I had conducted them all to the main cabin; +but they were not disposed to remain there. They wanted to see how the +Sylvania was to return to the Mississippi River, and expressed many +doubts as to her being able to make her way through the crevasse +against the strong current. I had some painful doubts myself in this +direction. I had told the engineer about them, and hinted that we +should want all the steam he could carry. But it was only a question of +the power of the engine to force the vessel against the current. There +would be no pitching and plunging, such as we had experienced in coming +the other way. + +We had not long to deliberate upon the matter of our exit from the +fields over which we had been sailing. As the water had risen about a +foot inside of the levee, I considered our chances good of going +through without much difficulty. I went to the wheel, and took a place +by the pilot. I saw that several steamers had arrived during our +absence, and the pilot said they were attached to the levee force, and +had come to close the breach. I could not see how it was to be done, +but I had no time to think of the matter. I rang the gong one stroke +when we were within a hundred yards of the crevasse, as I had arranged +with the engineer to do. + +The Sylvania soon began to shake and quiver as though she were in the +hands of an angry giant, under the pressure of the steam. I had sent +all the passengers to the after part of the vessel, giving the planters +and their families places on the hurricane-deck. I desired to trim her +aft, as we had hardly coal enough in the bunkers to keep the screw +entirely under water. I regarded it as an excellent thing to have so +much "live ballast" on board. I gave Buck and Hop strict orders not to +let a single person come on the forecastle. + +I put Cobbington and Ben Bowman on the hurricane-deck, to keep the +passengers there on the after part. If a few went forward, they would +all do so, for it was the best place to see the operation of the +steamer. By these means I hoped to keep the propeller entirely under +water, and thus get the full benefit of its action on the swift +current. It was still a torrent, but by no means so terrible as when we +had gone through before. + +Moses Brickland had never shaken the Sylvania as he was shaking her +now. He was a prudent young man, and I never had occasion to criticise +what he did. He understood the present situation as well as I did. The +levee force was waiting to close the gap, and thus save many more lives +miles from the scene of its operations. We must get through at once, or +the gap would be closed. The abrupt fall was not more than a foot now, +and I had strong hopes that we could overcome it. + +It seemed to me that the water was rushing through the crevasse at the +rate of twenty miles an hour. The arithmetic of the situation was +therefore all against me. Moses had never run the Sylvania more than +twelve knots an hour, and he was obliged to hurry her to do that. He +had told me he could get fifteen miles an hour out of her on a great +emergency, but he had never been disposed to try it. He had overhauled +the boiler at New Orleans, and reported it in first-rate condition. Yet +I could not, mathematically, see how a vessel going fifteen miles an +hour could stem a current of twenty miles. + +But the force of the current was merely guesswork. It might be twenty, +and it might be no more than ten miles. Mr. Bell agreed with me on the +former figure, while Washburn and Ben Bowman insisted that it was not +more than ten at the present time. If I "split" the difference between +the two estimates, it would leave just the result which the engineer +could obtain on an emergency like the present. + +The Sylvania went into the rapid current, which we began to feel at +fifty yards from the gap. But it did not stop, or even sensibly detain +us, for the water was scattered as soon as it passed through the +opening. We made our course at a right angle with the levee, and kept +the helm firmly against any tendency to "wabble;" for if the swift tide +had struck her on the side, it would have hurled her around in spite of +us. + +At twenty yards from the levee we began to slacken our speed, for here +we got almost the full force of the current. But she still went ahead, +though she quivered as if the struggle would shake her in pieces. Not +one of us said a word in the pilot-house. I directed the helm, for I +was more accustomed to the working of the steamer than any of my +companions. + +The bow went up abreast of the inside of the dike. The Sylvania +trembled like a race-horse after his first heat. We held her head +steadily up to the work, but I could not see that she gained a single +inch. The propeller whirled like a circular saw, such as I had often +observed in the lumber-mills at home. I almost fancied that I could +hear it buzz. + +I watched the edge of the crevasse, but I could not see that we either +gained or lost. For several minutes we struggled against the savage +tide. It was a desperate situation. The people on the levee, now +swelled into a crowd by the arrival of several steamers, were watching +us with intense interest. No one spoke a word. + +"Look out sharp for the helm, Mr. Bell," I shouted, so as to be heard +above the roar of the rushing waters and the clang of the engine. + +I thought he did not respond to my movements with the wheel as promptly +as was necessary. I felt that the least turn to the right or the left +would be fatal to us, for by this time I realized that the situation +was vastly more perilous than when we went into the current before. The +least "wabble" might cause the current to strike her on the side, and +send her over on her beam ends in the vortex below us. + +"Can't you crowd her a little more, Moses," I called through the +speaking-tube. + +"Not much more," he promptly replied. + +"We are not losing anything," said the pilot, holding his breath. + +"Mind the helm," I replied, for I felt that I could not hold her alone. +"If we get the bow half a degree across the current, it is all up with +us." + +"I can hold her alone, but you take the feeling off my hands," he +answered, warmly. + +He meant that I began to move the wheel before he felt the pressure on +his hands, for one steers a vessel very much as he drives a horse, and +depends quite as much upon feeling as upon sight. My feeling was much +quicker than his, and I would not give up the helm to him, but told him +he must watch my movements. + +"We have gained an inch!" exclaimed the pilot. + +"What is an inch going through such a torrent as this?" I replied, +though I felt encouraged by the fact, if it was a fact, for I dared not +look to the right or the left, as he did. + +It seemed to me that the steamer would soon go through the crevasse or +shake herself to pieces in the struggle. The jar and the quivering were +so much increased that I was sure Moses was doing something more than +he ordinarily considered his best. In a few minutes more we had worried +up the little fall, which indicated the difference between the height +of the water on either side of the levee. We had gained several yards, +but I don't think we made more than an inch a minute; and those minutes +seemed like hours. + +Suddenly the Sylvania began to increase her speed through the water, +and I concluded that we had passed the swiftest part of the current. +Washburn informed me that the stern of the steamer was inside of the +cut, and I felt that the battle was won. Still I kept my eyes fixed on +the flagpole forward, in order to hold the vessel in the middle of the +gap. + +"I think we shall fetch it," said Mr. Bell. + +"No doubt of it, if we don't lose our chances by talking about them," I +replied. + +The pilot said no more. I did not want him to abate his zeal until we +were outside of the levee, for it would have been the easiest thing in +the world to lose all we had gained by the struggle of the last hour. +We kept it up half an hour longer. When the bow was outside of the +levee, I was afraid Bell would think we were safe, while it was still +possible to be carried back. But the steamer increased her speed every +moment now, and we were soon out in the broad river. I kept her on her +course, and as soon as she was clear of the treacherous current, she +darted off at a furious speed. + +"All right, Moses!" I shouted through the tube. The next instant I +heard the steam escaping furiously through the safety-valve. I had no +doubt that the chief-engineer felt an intense relief when he heard my +voice the last time, for no money or any consideration short of the +safety of the Sylvania would have permitted him to put on such a press +of steam. + +"Excuse me, Mr. Bell, if I spoke sharply to you, or said anything that +hurt your feelings, for I meant nothing of the kind," I said to the +pilot, when we were in the middle of the river. + +"Don't mention it, captain," he replied, warmly. "I can say, and I +reckon I know something about steamboats, I never saw a boat better +handled than this one has been from first to last. I thought I had only +a boy for a captain, but I find that you understand your business." + +"Thank you, Mr. Bell; you are very kind to say so," I replied, with a +blush. "I think I know the feeling of this vessel's helm rather better +than any one in these parts, and I was a little afraid you might not +see the necessity of keeping her up, without any wabbling." + +"You were right every time, captain. I never handled a craft of the +sort before, and it was quite right for you to trust her to no one but +yourself." + +As soon as we were fairly out in the river, the people on the levees +set up a volley of cheers, which was taken up by the negroes on board. +I saw the Islander had made fast to a steamer a little below the +breach, and I asked the pilot to lay the Sylvania alongside of her. + +"Young man, you are a brave boy," said Colonel Hungerford, the planter +who had first come on board of the steamer. "I was on the point of +telling you before you started back, that you could never get through +that hole; and I was going to tell you of a way by which you could have +got through the lakes and streams into the Bayou la Fourche, and up +that to the Mississippi. But I see you need no advice from me. We are +all very grateful to you." + +"I beg you will not feel under any obligation to us, for we are sort of +sea-knights, roaming about in quest of adventures; and we were very +glad of the opportunity to render you and others any assistance. I +believe you and your family were in no particular danger." + +"I don't know about that, my young captain," replied the planter, +shaking his head. "My mansion is surrounded with verandahs, and the +water was beginning to lift it off its foundations." + +I took my glass and looked at the house. One end of it appeared to be +lifted up. + +"I would not have staid in it two hours more for half the state. I have +been through three inundations before, and I know something about +them," replied the planter. "I hope I shall see more of you." + +As we came up to the Islander, the passengers of both vessels, on board +of her, began to clap their hands. I was embarrassed by this +demonstration, and after asking Washburn to see that we were made fast +to our consort, I sat down in the pilot-house where they could not see +me. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +THE PLANTER AND HIS FAMILY. + + +I was quite exhausted after my efforts and the strain put upon me, and +I was in no humor even to be praised. Some of the negroes our boats +picked up on planks and on their toppling houses might have been +drowned; but I did not believe the people in the mansion-houses were in +any great danger. However, I had never seen an inundation before, and I +may have been mistaken. My father was one of the first to visit me in +the pilot-house. + +"You have done well, Alick," said he; and that was all he did say, for +he was not given to praising any one beyond his desert. "What are you +going to do with all these people?" + +"We can land them, or put them on board of one of the steamers here," I +replied; and I had not thought of the matter before. + +"Mrs. Shepard is very nervous indeed, and is anxious to get away from +this place," continued my father. + +"The Islander might have gone on," I suggested. + +"We could not leave until assured that you did not need the assistance +of the other steamer. We were about to send a line to you and attach it +to one of the steamers. The only trouble was to get a line long enough +and strong enough." + +While we were talking Colonel Hungerford came into the pilot-house. I +introduced him to my father, and the planter indulged in more praise +which I do not care to repeat. He informed me that he had chartered one +of the river steamers to take his servants and those of the other +planters down to Carrollton, a few miles below. + +"I am now going on board of another steamer to inquire if she is bound +up the river, for I have concluded to visit my brother at Baton Rouge. +But I suppose my mansion will not be fit to live in for some weeks to +come, if ever. I desire to know your address, Captain Alick,--excuse +me, but that is what I hear others call you,--that I may communicate +with you at some future time." + +"Quite unnecessary," said my father, with a smile, as though he +suspected the object of the inquiry. + +"But I desire to express my sense of obligation to your son for the +great service he has rendered me and my family," persisted the planter. + +"You have done that already, sir, to my entire satisfaction," I added. + +"You are very strange people, not to allow me to do something." + +"We are decidedly averse to having anything done," replied my father, +laughing, not because anything was funny, but to prevent the southern +gentleman from taking offence at what he said. "My son owns and +commands this yacht, and I dare say he will be glad to have you take +passage in his steamer to Baton Rouge, or any other point on the river +in our route." + +"I shall be most happy to accept your very kind invitation," replied +Colonel Hungerford, promptly. + +By this time the steamer he had engaged to take his "people," as he +called them, like one of the patriarchs of old, came alongside. The +four planters had a consultation, as to what disposition should be made +of the servants, and the business manager of one of them was appointed +to take the entire charge of the party. The other planters were going +to New Orleans, and the same steamer was to convey them there. + +In less than half an hour the boat started, and we restored things to +their former condition on board of the Sylvania and Islander. We lashed +boats again, and restored the bridge from one vessel to the other. All +hands were employed in cleaning up the Sylvania; and I asked Captain +Blastblow not to allow any of his passengers or crew to come on board +till this had been done. He complied with my request, and sent all his +crew on board to help. + +We did not get under way until this was done, as Moses wanted to +overhaul the engine a little, for he declared that such a wrenching as +he had given the machine was enough to start half the nuts and bolts. +My father remained in the pilot-house talking with the planter. But the +subject of their conversation was the inundation. I lay upon the sofa, +resting myself, and rather dreading to meet the people on board the +Islander, for I had been praised enough, and this sort of thing was +becoming more embarrassing. As the hands were drowning the decks again, +Washburn brought the family of Colonel Hungerford into the pilot-house, +which was about the only place for them, unless they went into the +cabin. + +The planter introduced his wife, son and daughter to my father and +myself. In the daughter I saw a very beautiful young lady; the son was +very affable and pleasant, and the father and mother were not less so. +All of them began to express their obligations to me, and I replied as +cheerfully as I could. + +"We shall have a very pleasant party up to Baton Rouge, Colonel +Hungerford," I ventured to say, in order to turn the current of the +conversation. + +"It's no use, Blanche," said the colonel to his daughter, who had been +the last to speak. "Captain Alick won't let you speak of any +obligation, and he won't even give me his address." + +"I don't think he has any address in particular at present," interposed +my father, "unless it be on the high seas or the Great Lakes. I have +not yet made a home in America, as I intend to do. When we have one, we +shall be very glad to have you discharge whatever sense of obligation +you may feel by making us a visit; and we shall judge of the depth of +the obligation by the length of the visit." + +"Upon my word, that would be an odd way to discharge an obligation; and +we should be obliged to stay with you all the year round," replied the +planter. + +The young lady had snapping black eyes; and I saw that she wanted to +say something, but was restrained by the newness of the acquaintance. + +"If we had got out on the river half an hour sooner, we might have +saved imposing ourselves upon your hospitality, for a large steamer +went up then," said Colonel Hungerford. "She stopped a little while at +the crevasse, I am told, but finding she could do no good, she went +on." + +"I am glad she did, as otherwise she would have cheated us out of your +pleasant company," replied my father. + +"You are very kind, Major Garningham," replied the colonel. "I confess +I am greatly interested in your steamer, for I never have seen one like +it before that I can remember." + +Washburn reported that the engine was in order, and that the cleaning +process was finished. I directed the pilot to blow his whistle and go +ahead. In a few minutes we were again stemming the tide of the +Mississippi. The crowd on the levees and the steamers honored us with a +series of rousing cheers, to which the pilot replied with the steam +whistle. + +As soon as we were fairly out of the vicinity of the late exciting +scene, the passengers of the Islander, including Mrs. Shepard, came on +board. They were all presented to the planter and his family, and of +course there was a great deal to say about the inundation, including +the details of the escape of the people on the knoll. I found that the +party were soon the best of friends, and I went into my room to lie +down. I was so tired that I dropped asleep. + +I was awakened by Captain Blastblow coming into my room. He seemed to +be considerably excited; but I was sure he would not be where he was if +any accident had happened to either steamer. + +"Sorry to disturb you, Captain Alick, but this has been a very exciting +time; and while we were all so busy, your two prisoners have taken to +themselves legs or wings, and cleared out," said he, with a lugubrious +gaze at me, as I sat upon the bed. + +"Cleared out!" I exclaimed. "Where have they gone?" + +"That's what bothers me. I kept my eye on them for a good while, but +they behaved so well that I soon forgot all about them as we became so +absorbed in the fate of the Sylvania," replied the captain, blankly. "I +know I ought to have kept an eye on them to the end, and I am to blame. +But it wasn't quite human to mind much about those rascals when we +expected every minute to see your steamer fall back and be swamped. I +had both boats ready to drop into the water." + +"Gone, have they?" I repeated. "Haven't you any idea where they went? +Your steamer was not near the levee, and they would not have gone +ashore there, if it had been." + +"I can only guess where they went. Not long before you got out of that +hole, a large passenger steamer came alongside, and held on at our +bowsprit-bitts awhile. She kept her wheels working all the time, while +I was telling the captain what had happened. I am inclined to think +that Cornwood and Boomsby stepped on board of her before she left. I +found just now that their baggage was gone; and they could easily have +got it out of the fore-cabin while I was talking to the captain. I am +sorry for it, and if it hadn't been for that break, and your running +into that hole, it would not have happened." + +"How far ahead of us is that steamer?" I asked. + +"She must be all of two hours ahead," replied Captain Blastblow. + +"I am sorry we have lost them, but it can't be helped," I added, as I +led the way out into the pilot-house where the passengers were +assembled. I told my father of the escape of the robbers, and asked him +if the money was still safe, meaning the four thousand dollars. + +"It must be, for it was in my trunk in the Sylvania all the time you +were inside of the levee," replied he. "But I will make sure of it." He +went down into the after cabin, and returned with the intelligence that +it was where he had put it. This was some relief; and we dropped the +matter because we could not do anything about the escape of the +rascals. I felt rather cheap about the matter, because I had not +delivered them to the police at New Orleans. + +While I was asleep, my father and Mr. Tiffany had directed Cobbington +to remove their portmanteaus, as they called their trunks, from the +grand state-rooms. They reported to me, and I assigned one of them to +the planter and his wife, and the other to Miss Blanche. They were +delighted with the apartments. Owen insisted upon giving up his room to +Mr. Tiffany; and there were berths enough for my father and my cousin. +Our cabin was about full again. + +I saw that my father was very much pleased with the planter and his +family; and I think one might have gone all over the country to find +people more agreeable. + +Supper was ready by the time the passengers had taken possession of +their rooms and berths. I took the captain's place in the cabin for +this occasion, though I often did so while we were in the river and the +Sylvania was in charge of the pilot. Colonel Hungerford sat next to me +on one side, and I told him all about the robbery of the bank +messenger, and the escape of our prisoners. + +He thought it very probable that they had taken the steamer bound up +the river. + +"Donaldsonville is the next town of any importance; and there we can +telegraph to some place ahead of the steamer, and have the robbers +detained by the police. Does any one remember the name of the steamer?" +asked the colonel. + +Miss Margie Tiffany remembered that it was the Queen of the South. Owen +was so reckless as to say he was glad the prisoners had got away, and +he hoped they would succeed in eluding the police. We were yachting on +the Mississippi, and we could not bother with arresting and holding +prisoners. We had the money they had stolen, and that was enough. + +"We may find the Queen of the South at Donaldsonville when we get +there," continued Colonel Hungerford. "It is seventy-four miles from +St. Charles, which is the nearest post-office to my plantation. When +shall we get there?" + +"Not until early in the morning," I replied. "We can't get along very +fast against this current." + +"The Queen may be there, as she will arrive in the night, waiting for +freight or passengers," replied the planter. "If you will allow me, I +will take charge of the apprehension of those men, for I think I shall +understand it better than you, as I have had considerable experience in +such cases." + +Colonel Hungerford looked slyly at his wife and daughter. I could not +understand the meaning of his expressive communication; but I was +entirely willing he should cause the arrest of the fugitives. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +A DISTINGUISHED PASSENGER. + + +The planter went on deck with me after supper, and we paid our first +visit to the Islander, where we were courteously received by the +Shepards. On our return we went on the hurricane deck to take a look at +the shores, as well as we could see them, for it was almost dark by +this time. + +"Who is your father, Captain Garningham, or, if you will forgive me for +it, Captain Alick?" asked the Colonel. + +"Major Garningham, formerly of the British army," I replied. + +"Yes, yes, I know all that; but what is he?" persisted my new +passenger. + +"I don't know that he is anything in particular just now," I answered, +perplexed by the earnestness of Colonel Hungerford. "He is certainly +neither a soldier nor a sailor, a tinker nor a tailor." + +"Is he an American?" + +"No, sir; he was born in England. His father was Sir Alexander +Garningham, and he is Sir Bent Garningham, Baronet, whose estates and +last residence were at Shalford, Essex." + +"I see," said the passenger. "Then he is a baronet." + +"He is; but he insists upon dropping his title in this country." + +"In my intercourse with him I shall take pleasure in dropping it," +added the planter. "But, Captain Alick,--excuse me if I am too +familiar." + +"I am seldom called by any other name, and I have not the slightest +objection to the name," I interposed. + +"As I was going to say, Captain Alick, I am not a little embarrassed by +the situation. You and your associates have rendered me an important +service, and it would afford me very great satisfaction to acknowledge +it. You are the captain of the steamer, and your father is a very +wealthy man." + +"He is, sir," I replied; for I wished to leave no doubt in his mind on +this subject. + +"Your mate was very efficient. What is he?" + +"He is the son of a distinguished ex-governor of one of the States, and +the nephew of----" + +"Precisely so; I know his uncle very well. I can do nothing for him. +And your two deckhands?" continued the planter. + +"They are the sons of English gentlemen, over here on a vacation, and +their fathers have each an income of over ten thousand pounds a-year," +I added, quietly. + +"Your engineer, whose skill and pluck carried us through the crevasse, +is, I dare say, one of the sons of her Majesty, the Queen of England," +added the passenger, laughing. + +"On the contrary, he is a son of a Michigan farmer, now well to do in +the world," I replied. + +"Of course, he is a millionaire!" + +"O, no, sir, only in comfortable circumstances. He has known what +poverty is, but he has enough to live on now." + +"By the way, Captain Alick, do you happen to have anybody on board who +is not 'well to do,' as you call it?" asked the planter. + +"Ben Bowman, the assistant, who was in the boat that brought off your +family to the steamer, has been a lake sailor, cook and fireman all his +life; and I don't know that he has five hundred dollars in the world. +He sends most of his wages to his mother, and is one of the truest and +bravest men I ever saw." + +I also told him the story of Cobbington and the two firemen. I judged +that he felt very grateful for the service the Sylvania had rendered to +him and "his people," and that he was thinking up some way to reward +her officers and crew for what they had done. + +"The pilot is a Louisiana man, and says he was raised near St. +Charles," I added. + +"His name is Billy Bell, and I know him very well," replied Colonel +Hungerford. "You have a very distinguished and wealthy ship's company, +Captain Alick. I wished to distribute a thousand dollars, more or less, +among them; but I see that such a proposition would be taken as an +insult by some of them." + +"It would be taken as it was intended, not as an insult; but it would +be respectfully declined by the captain, the mate, the two deck-hands, +and perhaps by all the others; for I am sure that no one on board would +be willing to be paid for an act of common humanity," I replied. + +"A strange ship and a strange crew," added Colonel Hungerford. "Perhaps +we shall find some way to get out of it." + +I had just resolved not to assist him in his task, for it was a little +humiliating to have my crew paid for what they had done, when Miss +Blanche and Miss Margie came on the hurricane deck. They were already +fast friends. The English girl began to pour out a volley of questions +about the river and the steamers we saw, and I answered them as well as +I could; but Colonel Hungerford was better acquainted with the scene, +and he took the task upon himself of informing her, leaving Miss +Blanche to ply me with other interrogatories. + +I told her all about the steamer, her going south, our adventures in +Florida, and our yachting on the Mississippi, which had thus far been a +series of adventures. Then she wanted to know who and what my father +was, and I told her all I had just related to her father. + +"Then you will one day be Sir Alexander Garningham, and as a genuine +republican, I shall be under the necessity of hating you, Captain +Alick," said she, mirthfully. + +"Then I promise never to allow myself to be called by that title," I +replied. "I have said as much to my father; and he does not like to be +called by anything but his military title, for he says he has earned +that fighting against the enemies of his queen. But I am a democrat, +and don't believe in any titles. Are you really a Republican, Miss +Hungerford?" + +"I am a republican, but I am also a Democrat." + +"I see! and I am a democrat and also a Republican." + +"I don't think it will be safe for us to talk politics. You may do that +with father." + +"I have told you my story, Miss Hungerford; and now it is no more than +fair that you should tell me yours," I added. + +"I shall be very happy to give you my whole history from my birth to +the present day," replied the fair maiden, laughing. "I was born at St. +Charles, and lived there and in New Orleans until about a year ago, +since which time we have resided most of the time in Baton Rouge." + +"Then your home is not at St. Charles?" + +"Oh, yes! Our home is there, but we have one at the capital of the +state also," said the mischievous girl. + +"I thought you were going to your uncle's in Baton Rouge to stay until +the mansion was repaired." + +"I haven't any uncle in Baton Rouge, or anywhere else," chuckled Miss +Blanche. + +"Your father certainly said he should stay at his brother's in Baton +Rouge," I added, puzzled by the statement. + +"That was just as we girls used to say we were 'going to grandmother's' +when we went to the seminary." + +"Who is your father, Miss Hungerford?" I asked, repeating the question +the planter had put to me. + +"Colonel Hungerford," she answered, naively. + +"Yes, I know; but what is he?" + +"The Governor of Louisiana," replied Miss Blanche, with a merry laugh. + +"The governor!" I exclaimed, appalled to think I had been talking so +familiarly to the chief magistrate of the state. + +"But he won't let any one call him governor when he is not attending to +his official duties, if he can help it. He likes to be a plain citizen +when he is off duty," continued the young lady. "We went down to stay a +few days at the plantation." + +Miss Margie's father called her, and thought it was too damp for her to +be out after dark. We all went below, and the colonel said he must +smoke his cigar. I conducted him to the pilot-house, where Owen and +Miss Edith were spending the evening. My father was there also; and I +took the occasion to introduce our distinguished guest to him again, +with his title in full. + +"So you have found me out, Captain Alick," said his excellency, with a +pleasant laugh, which did much to restore the equilibrium between us. +"That puss of mine has been telling family secrets, and you must +promise not to tell anybody what you have discovered." + +"No one not on board," I replied. + +"Everybody else will know the secret, so that I shall gain nothing. But +we will not quarrel about trifles." + +Everybody on board was tired enough to retire early, and before ten +o'clock we had the deck and pilot-house to ourselves. The watches +continued the same as before. Washburn gave up his berth in our room to +Billy Bell, as we learned to call him, for the captain and mate never +had their watch below at the same time, and we could both occupy the +same bed at different times. The river is a mile wide, and at the +present high stage of the water, there was no difficulty in steering, +under the instructions of the pilot. + +We had a sort of panorama, or diagram of the river, which I had +obtained in New Orleans, arranged on the space between the windows of +the pilot-house, so that we could tell where we were at all times. Ben +Bowman had put the chart on rollers, and it could be wound up from one +end to the other. The only things that were likely to bother us were +the bayous and cut-offs; and the pilot was at hand at any moment he +might be needed. + +We passed no place of importance during the night; and at five o'clock +in the morning we were at Donaldsonville. We made fast to the levee, +and as we were in no hurry, I did not call any of the passengers. I +told Gopher and Cobbington who the planter we had rescued was, that +they might have things in proper condition at the breakfast-table. I +inquired what boats had stopped at the place, and learned that the +Queen of the South had left two hours before. This showed that her +speed did not exceed that of our little fleet. + +I asked if any passengers had landed, and was informed that several had +done so. I thought I would visit the hotels, and see if Cornwood and +Nick were at any one of them. I was about to leave the steamer when the +governor came out of the cabin. He insisted that I should not leave the +vessel, as the rascals might see me. They could not escape from the +place except by boat. He went ashore himself, after I had given him a +full description of the fugitives. + +He returned in a short time, and said a report would come down in the +course of an hour or two. Our party had a merry time at breakfast, and +the meal was as elaborate as the resources of the New Orleans market +and the skill of Gopher could make it. Colonel Hungerford, as he +insisted that we should call him, was in the highest spirits. Before +the meal was over, a gentleman came on board and desired to see the +governor. He was the marshal of the city. No such passengers as had +been described to him had landed. He had telegraphed to Baton Rouge for +the police to search the steamer on her arrival. + +Nothing more could be done, and we started up the river again. We +arrived at the capital of the state at four in the afternoon. We spent +the day in viewing the wonders of the mighty river, the waters of which +were almost up to the top of the levees. The governor said that the +country was inundated for thirty miles, though we could see but little +water except what was between the fringe of the trees on the banks of +the stream. + +It takes the waters about a month to travel from the melting snows on +the north and north-west to the Gulf. At the mouth of the Missouri the +flood rises about twenty-five feet; below the Ohio the rise is +sometimes more than fifty feet, while at New Orleans it seldom exceeds +twelve feet. The greater height, caused by the addition of the waters +of the Ohio to the flood, is reduced in Louisiana by the passage of +much of the flow through the Atchafalaya, La Fourche, and other bayous, +into the Gulf of Mexico. + +On our arrival at the capital, we found that the Queen had not been +searched, for telegraphic communication with points below had been cut +off by the flood. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +UP THE RIVER FOR MANY DAYS. + + +Colonel Hungerford was even more vexed at the failure of the plan to +arrest the fugitives than I was. But Baton Rouge was on the last of the +bluffs that one sees in descending the great river, and above the +region of continuous levees. There was no doubt we could operate from +this region, and secure the capture of the fugitives. + +"How long since the Queen left?" asked the governor, of the man who had +given us the information. + +"She must have been gone nearly three hours," he replied. + +"The fugitives are not likely to leave the steamer before she gets to +Vicksburg, for there is no railroad from any point this side of that +city. It is thirty-five miles from here to Bayou Sara. The steamer may +stop there, and may not," said the governor, musing. "That is the last +place in this State at which she is at all likely to make a landing. I +will telegraph at once." + +Without waiting to see any of our passengers ashore, I went with the +governor to the telegraph office. He sent the dispatch to an official, +directing him to board the steamer, if she did not stop, and arrest the +fugitives, a sufficient description of whom I gave him. When this was +done, Colonel Hungerford had time to attend to the landing of the +party. He insisted that all the passengers should go to his residence +and stay over Sunday with him. Colonel Shepard declined, and declared +that he and his family had no claims upon his hospitality. A +good-natured controversy ensued, and ended in the Colonel and all the +others yielding the point. + +Three carriages started for the residence of the chief magistrate, and +another was awaiting his orders at the levee. By this time a reply came +from the official in Bayou Sara, in which he promised to follow the +instructions of the governor as soon as the steamer came in sight, for +she had not yet appeared. + +"Now, Captain Alick, if you will get into the carriage, I will take you +up to the house," said Colonel Hungerford. + +"You must excuse me, sir, for I have to attend to the affairs of the +vessel," I answered. + +"Must I argue this same question with you, too?" demanded the governor. + +"I hope you will not, for I think it will do no good," I added, +laughing. "Your excellency forgets that I am the captain of the +Sylvania, and a true sailor never gives up his ship." + +"Your ship is all well enough. You must go to my house, and bring Mr. +Washburn with you." + +"Impossible, sir! Our steamer is not a river boat, and she is not a +flat-bottomed craft," I tried to explain. "Her keel does not take +kindly to the levee. I must stay here and look out for her; but I will +call at your house this evening." + +But it was no use to argue the point; the governor persisted, and I +finally compromised with him by agreeing that either Washburn or myself +should be at his house all the time we remained in the place; in other +words, we were to have "watch and watch" in visiting him. I took my +first turn. + +Nothing could be more delightful than the home of the governor, and I +think I never saw so many beautiful residences in a city of the size of +the capital. I had put on my best uniform, and prepared to make a +creditable appearance in the place. Our party were presented to all the +principal people of the city, who called to see the governor and +congratulate him on the escape of himself and his family from the +inundation, news of which had come by the steamer. I tried to keep in a +corner, and talk with Miss Margie and Miss Blanche; but I was dragged +out twenty times to be exhibited as the captain who ran his vessel +through the crevasse, and over the cane-fields of the plantations. + +We had a very large party at tea, and in spite of the embarrassments of +my position, I enjoyed the occasion very much. Before we left the table +the governor received a dispatch informing him that the two fugitives +had been captured on board of the Queen of the South, and committed to +the calaboose, or lockup. Again I felt really sorry for poor Nick +Boomsby, and almost wished that he had escaped, though I could not +justify myself in permitting him to do so. + +On Sunday we all went to church, leaving the Sylvania in charge of a +crew from the Islander, and the whole ship's company, including the +pilot, dined with the governor. The next morning I was astonished to +hear that Cornwood and Nick had arrived, having been brought down in +charge of an officer in the night, and were in prison. Late on Saturday +night I had sent by telegraph to Florida, a condensed account of the +arrest of the robber and his accomplice after the fact, and the +information that the money had been recovered. A reply soon came that +proper officers, with a requisition for the culprits, would be sent at +once for them. + +In the mean time, the prisoners were brought before the court, and the +evidence against them was heard. Cornwood was his own counsel, as well +as Nick's. The testimony was considered strong enough to hold the +fugitives for the requisition. They were sent to the lockup again, and +our party resumed their merrymaking. + +We rode all about the country; we went to dinner parties; and we +reciprocated the hospitalities extended to us by taking the governor +and his friends on several excursions in the two steamers. Mrs. Shepard +improved wonderfully as soon as she realized that the earth beneath her +was solid, and there was no danger of the unruly waters drowning her +while she slept. It was an exceedingly jolly time we had from morning +till night, and sometimes half the latter. + +After we had been at the capital of the state three days, I thought it +was about time to move up the river again; but the Florida officials +had not yet appeared. It was not till the following Saturday that they +arrived. They had been detained in procuring the requisition by the +absence of the governor, and in collecting what evidence they could +obtain. With the officers came Peverell, the bank messenger, from whom +the money had been stolen. + +Another hearing before the court was necessary. The package containing +the four thousand dollars was produced, and identified by Peverell. He +testified as to the manner in which the package had disappeared from +the counter of the saloon. He brought the affidavits of two men who had +seen Nick go off to the Islander just before she sailed, with a bundle +in his hand. + +Captain Blastblow and I testified that the money had been found, in +equal parts, on the prisoners. The plan of Cornwood to get possession +of the whole or half of the money was shown from the manner in which he +had conducted himself, in causing the departure of the Islander from +Key West before the arrival of the Sylvania, though the latter was in +sight when the former left. + +Cornwood attempted to disprove the charges by repeating the silly story +he had told me. He cross-questioned the witnesses, and did his best to +browbeat Peverell. The messenger showed that it was impossible that any +money could have been obtained from the bank while Cornwood was in +Jacksonville between the time the Floridian arrived and departed. But +the court was satisfied with the evidence, and the governor complied +with the requisition. + +Before I left the court-room, I went to Nick to say how sorry I was for +him--sorry that he had done anything to reduce himself to such a +situation. + +"I don't know what made me do it," blubbered Nick, to the great disgust +of his fellow-criminal. "I didn't think of doing it until the minute I +did it. I had been thinking, as I told you at the time, of clearing +out; and the sight of the package of money seemed to show me how it +could be done." + +"What are you talking about, you ninny?" growled Cornwood. "You are +convicting yourself." + +"I don't care anything about that. I won't lie any more about it, for +it ain't no use," replied Nick, sourly. "If it hadn't been for you, I +should have got off all right, Cornwood." + +I concluded that his penitence was not very deep. He told me then how +Cornwood had come on board of the Islander and accused him of taking +the package, and he had been compelled to give him half of it to +prevent him from exposing him. But all he said was no more than we had +reasoned out before, and the confession seemed to be hardly original. + +"You can do something for me, Captain Alick," he continued. "If you +will get me out of this scrape I will never do anything wrong again as +long as I live!" + +"I can do nothing for you," I replied, as gently as I could. + +"They say you are thick with the governor, Alick. If you say the word, +he will let me off," pleaded the culprit. + +"He can do nothing for you any more than I can. You are in the hands of +the law now, and nothing but the law can settle your case, Nick. +Good-by." + +I had hardly uttered the last words before I felt a heavy hand laid +upon my throat, which was followed by a choking sensation. + +"What are you about, Sandy Duddleton?" demanded my ancient enemy. "What +have you been sayin' ag'in my boy? He's a hund'ed times as honest as +ever you was!" + +I thought I should be choked to death; and the instinct of +self-preservation took possession of me. I sprang at the throat of my +old tyrant. He went down upon the floor, and I on the top of him, +before my father or any other person could come to my aid. As he went +down he released his grasp on my throat in his effort to save himself. + +[Illustration: "I sprang at the throat of my old tyrant." _Page 343._] + +"Arrest that person!" cried the justice, in the sternest of tones. + +In another instant two officers had Captain Boomsby in their clutches. +A complaint was made against him for a breach of the peace. The justice +made short work of him; he was sentenced to pay a fine of one hundred +dollars, and to stand committed until paid. It was more money than he +had, and he was sent to jail. As usual, he was more than "half seas +over," as he used to call intoxication when I sailed with him in the +Great West. It appeared that he had followed the officers, but had some +difficulty in finding "his boy." + +In the afternoon the Florida party took a boat down to New Orleans, +intending to return home by the steamer to Cedar Keys. I afterwards +learned that both Nick and Cornwood were convicted, and sentenced to +the penitentiary for three years. Though Cornwood was only an +accomplice after the fact, he was the greater villain of the two. I +never saw either of them again. + +We spent another Sunday in Baton Rouge, and delightful as our sojourn +had been, even Mrs. Shepard thought it was about time to depart. But I +could not leave with my ancient enemy unforgiven. I went to the clerk +of the court and paid Captain Boomsby's fine. He was released from +confinement, and took the next boat down the river. He had the grace to +take my hand, and say good-by before he went; and that was the last +time I ever saw him. + +We had a large crowd on the levee when we left, and we kept our +whistles going till a bend in the river took us out of sight of the +hospitable city where we had enjoyed so much. The water had fallen a +little, but not much. The melting snows of the northern hills had not +yet sent down their full tribute to the Gulf. + +We stopped at Natchez and at Vicksburg, and were very handsomely +treated by the people. But the broad river was the greatest study to +us, for we had visited no end of towns and cities on our long voyage. +We were interested in the numerous islands, hundreds of them. When we +looked at some of them from below, the fresh foliage seemed to form a +regular flight of steps. The pilot explained this appearance. The rapid +current was continually wearing away the upstream end of the island, +and depositing its soil on the other end, in which every year new trees +sprang up; and each step denoted a period in the growth of the wood. + +It was the first day of May when we reached Cairo, at the mouth of the +Ohio, where the waters of the two rivers seemed to be spread out like +an inland sea or lake. We found an excellent hotel there; but Washburn +and I spent what time we had to spare with our friend West, who had +been for a time a student in Somerset College. + +A couple of days more brought us to St. Louis, where we found enough to +interest us for a week. When we were about ready to continue our +voyage, Colonel Shepard came into the pilot-house, where I was seated +with Washburn, and wanted to know how much farther up the river I +intended to go. He had heard me speak of sailing the next morning, and +he thought it was about time for him to leave for New York, by train, +with his family. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +UP ANOTHER RIVER AND HOME AGAIN. + + +Colonel Shepard looked somewhat perplexed, for while we were going "Up +the River," not a word had been said about going "Down the River." +Doubtless all our passengers thought the steamers would have to return +by the way they came, and had taken it for granted that this must be +the case. I had a different view of the matter. + +"Do you mean to go up to Lake Itasca?" asked Colonel Shepard, as he +lighted his cigar, indicating that he meant to have the talk out, and +the future course of the steam yachts decided upon. + +"It would be rather difficult to get over the Falls of St. Anthony," I +replied. "Billy Bell don't know the way up there." + +"Of course you mean to sail around to New York, and from thence to Lake +St. Clair by the way you came?" suggested the colonel. + +"I am happy to say that I don't mean anything of the kind," I answered +with a smile. "I am afraid it would be rather tedious for our +passengers to go over the same route again so soon." + +"I supposed they would cut across the country by railroad and +steamboat. I had intended to go from St. Louis to Pittsburg by boat." + +"I hope you won't give up the voyage so soon," I protested. "I am only +afraid the ladies will be sea-sick again." + +"Give up!" exclaimed the colonel. "Of course there is an end to +navigation in this direction. We can run up the Missouri for a week or +two, up to St. Paul's, or up to Pittsburg; but I do not see the point +of following either of these routes, unless it be the latter, which +will bring us so much nearer to New York." + +"I don't think the Sylvania has any particular business in New York, +and I had not thought of taking her there again," I added. "I can't say +that I should care to descend the Mississippi, cross the Gulf of +Mexico, and follow the coast by the way we came. I am in favor of +variety in our yacht trips." + +"So am I; and for that reason, I am in favor of going to New York by +steamer and railroad from here. I have three weeks more to spare, and +if you wish to go up to St. Paul's or Pittsburg, I am entirely willing +to go with you, Captain Alick." + +"As your plans seem to be different from mine, we ought to have +considered this subject at Cairo, for you have come over two hundred +miles out of your way, if you intend to go to Pittsburg." + +"It makes little difference to me, or to my family, where we go, for we +have enjoyed this trip so much that none of us were in a hurry to bring +it to an end. Mrs. Shepard has entirely recovered from her nervous +debility, and I know she will be sorry when we have to part company." + +"Then you had better allow the Islander to continue in the fleet; and I +promise that you shall not be any farther from New York at any time +than you are now, or at any point where it will take you longer to get +there. More than this, the Islander shall land you twelve miles nearer +New York than Pittsburg." + +"Then I will go with you," replied the colonel. + +"But it will take much longer to go by my way," I added. + +"Will it take more than three weeks longer, Captain Alick?" asked the +owner of our consort. + +"You shall be in New York in half that time, if you wish." + +"I suppose it is no use for me to ask what this marvellous route is to +be!" queried the colonel. + +"Not the least," I replied, decidedly. "No one has said a word as to +where we were going for the last month, or since we decided to go up +the river. Nobody seemed to care." + +"We all took it for granted that the steamers were to return by the way +they came," said Colonel Shepard. "I was talking with your father about +the matter one day, more than a week ago; and he had the same view of +the subject I had." + +"We will sail at nine o'clock to-morrow morning, if you please." + +"Certainly if that is the pleasure of the commander of the fleet," +answered Colonel Shepard. + +I had kept my own counsel so far, and I thought I had better continue +to do so for a while longer. Washburn and I had settled the question, +even before we left Detroit, and had procured all the information +necessary to carry out our plan, for the mate first suggested it. We +had taken in coal sufficient to run the steamer about two days. With +this supply, we drew a little less than eight feet of water, just +enough to sink the propeller. + +Before night I engaged two pilots, one for each steamer, for I was not +sure we could lash boats much longer. At the time appointed all our +passengers were on board, and we backed out from the levee. It was so +much more social to lash boats, that we did so at the request of the +ladies. Recent heavy rains all over the western states had again raised +the river several feet above the level it was when we arrived at St. +Louis. + +"Won't you explain the great mystery to me, Captain Alick?" asked Miss +Margie, as I passed her, seated on the quarter-deck, reading a novel. + +"What great mystery?" I inquired, taking a chair by her side. + +"Why, the mystery of where we are going," she replied, with a +bewitching laugh. "All the passengers are trying to solve the riddle; +and no one has done it yet." + +"What book are you reading, Miss Margie?" I asked. + +"Little Dorrit. What has that to do with it?" said she, looking at me +with surprise. + +"Perhaps nothing; but before I explain to you the great mystery, as you +call it, let me tell you how the book you are reading comes out. You +have got acquainted with Little Dorrit, the Father of the Marshalsea, +and----" + +"Now, stop! I don't want you to tell me how it comes out!" protested +the fair maiden, vehemently. "I wouldn't have you do it for the world. +It would utterly spoil all the pleasure I might have in reading the +book." + +"Is that so? Why shouldn't I explain this great mystery, as well as the +other? I am sure I should deprive you of half the excitement of the +trip if I should tell you beforehand all about it." + +"Then you needn't tell me a word!" And I did not. + +At lunch-time we were in the midst of another great inland sea, at the +mouth of the Missouri. Some of us wished we were going up that great +river, to explore it where there were no towns, or other evidences of +civilization. As that was not our present purpose, we forgot all about +it as soon as we were out of sight of its mouth. Twenty miles more +brought the fleet to another broad expanse of water, in which were +several islands. + +"Adieu to the Mississippi!" I shouted, walking from one end to the +other of the steamer. But I made no further explanation. + +There was a call for maps and guide-books then, succeeded by an anxious +study for a few moments. + +"This is the mouth of the Illinois River!" exclaimed Miss Margie, +rushing up to me. + +"I don't deny it," I replied. To avoid more questions, I went to the +pilot-house. + +"We are making about twelve miles an hour," said the pilot of the +Sylvania. + +"How can that be? The most we could make in the Mississippi was seven +miles against the strong current." + +"The current is the other way here," added the pilot. + +"Do you mean that the stream runs up?" + +"Precisely that," answered the man, laughing at my perplexity. "When +the Mississippi is very high, it flows the water back in the Illinois +for seventy miles. We get a little current here to help us. After a +while, it will really be still water." + +In this part of the river, the stream was full to the top of its banks, +and in some places it overflowed them. The river had furrowed out a +deep channel in the alluvial soil, and at low water, it had tolerably +high bluffs on each side of it. It was almost as wide as the Father of +Waters, where we had left it, at its lower part; but in a few hours the +width began to diminish a little. + +Before night, I had called all hands, and, after unbending the +squaresails, sent down all the yards and top-masts, for I feared that +we might have trouble with the "low bridges," and perhaps with the +trees that overhung the stream in some places. We frequently met river +steamers, and I found by comparison, that our lower masts were not +higher above the surface of the water than the smoke-stacks of the +boats. + +We continued on our course all night, one of the pilots being on duty +all the time. In the morning the appearance of the country was more +picturesque, and we had a delightful day. In the afternoon we passed +through the lake at Peoria, which was a beautiful sheet of water. We +had a current to contend with, and our progress was not so rapid as it +had been the day before. On the following morning we reached the head +of the natural navigation of the river. I went ashore at Peru, and +chartered a canal-boat, and engaged a number of horses and drivers. + +"What now, Captain Alick?" called Colonel Shepard, when I came on board +of the Sylvania, with the Islander made fast to her. + +"Lots of work for a few hours," I replied, directing the mate to call +all hands, for I wished to avoid all delays. + +I found the two steamers were each drawing seven and a half feet of +water. We were about to enter the Illinois and Michigan Canal, +extending from La Salle to Chicago. I had ascertained that it was six +feet deep; and I did not think it was likely to be below that at the +present high stage of water. We had only about a hundred miles between +the steamers and Lake Michigan. + +The government of the United States has already considered the question +of making this canal deep enough to float ordinary lake-craft, so that +gunboats and other war vessels may be sent through from the Mississippi +to the lakes in case of war with our English neighbors. Probably it +will be done some time, but in the interests of commerce rather than +war. + +The steamers, drawing seven and a half feet of water, could not pass +through the canal, which was only six feet deep. But I was not +disturbed by this fact, as I was prepared for it. The year before, when +I had put the Sylvania through a thorough course of repairs, I had +removed everything out of her except her engine and boiler. She had a +considerable quantity of ballast in her, composed of pigs of iron. When +everything was taken out of her, she drew a little less than six feet. + +The canal-boat I had engaged was drawn in between the two steamers, and +we proceeded to load it with cables, anchors and ballast. We rigged a +derrick formed of the foreyards of the vessels, and made as easy work +of it as possible. When, at night, we had taken every movable thing out +of the steamers, they realized all my expectations, for they drew only +six feet. But this was making no allowance for possible shoal places; +and Moses, with the engineer of the Islander, had been at work, while +we were removing the heavy weights from the hold, in detaching the +propellers of the two craft. With our shears, we hoisted them out into +the canal-boat. + +The removal of these heavy weights from the sterns set the vessels on a +more even keel, fore and aft. A western river-steamer draws more water +forward than aft, so that she may be the more easily worked over shoal +places; while a sea or lake vessel is just the reverse. We found that +we were likely to sink the canal-boat, and I was obliged to procure +another. We divided the weight between the two, and then transferred +our spare spars to them. + +Our passengers had been greatly interested in watching the various +operations in progress. It was dark when our heavy labors were +finished. The ship's company and the passengers were to remain on board +during the passage. Though I had told them they could take a train and +be in Chicago in a few hours, they all preferred to remain, to enjoy +the novelty of the canal trip. + +Our passengers were really in no haste to reach their point of +destination, yet they were impatient to be on the move, as is always +the case with the average American traveller. I concluded to start at +once, as the nights were now cheered by a full moon, and I intended to +keep the boats going until they arrived at Chicago. There was nothing +for the engineers and firemen to do on board, and I sent Moses +Brickland and Ben Bowman forward by railroad to several designated +places to engage fresh horses for us. + +Our passengers sat up till midnight on the hurricane-deck, for the +weather was very warm for the season in this latitude, while Washburn +and the deck-hands steered. In the morning our canal drivers said we +had averaged three miles an hour, with two changes of horses. This was +getting along faster than I had expected. I had written to Mr. +Brickland, at Montomercy, informing him when we should arrive at +Chicago, and inviting him and his wife to join us there, and make the +trip home in the steamer. + +The next day was full of interest to our canal travellers. Our strange +craft excited a good deal of interest all along the route. + +When our party came on deck the next morning, they found the steamers +in the canal basin at Chicago. We had made the trip in thirty-four +hours, and had not touched bottom once, so far as I knew. The fleet had +stopped only long enough to change horses at any place. We got the +boats alongside, and sent our party on the way to the hotels, for the +odor of the basin was not that of ottar of roses. + +The engineers went to work on the propellers first, and after resorting +to various expedients, we got them in place. Steam was up by this time, +and we towed the canal boats down to a point near the lake. It required +the whole day to restore our anchors, cables, and ballast to their +places, rig the spars, and bend on the sails. By six o'clock we were in +as good condition as when we entered the Mississippi at the Balize. + +We had hardly finished the work before Mr. and Mrs. Brickland came on +board. They were delighted to see us, and both of them wept when they +realized that Moses and I were alive, well and happy, after our long +voyage. I had sent for our passengers, and when they came on board, I +introduced my foster father and mother to them; and the old people were +very pleasantly received. + +They welcomed my father as one who had come from the other world, for +Mr. Brickland declared he had been unable to realize that he was still +alive, though I had written them to that effect. My father insisted +upon resigning the best state-room to them, though I had intended to +give up my room, while Washburn and I divided the nights between us in +the fore-cabin. + +At dark we were under way, and fortunately we had smooth water, so that +Mrs. Shepard had no cause to complain of the lake. At Mackinaw we +stopped a day to give the party an opportunity to pull in some of the +famous trout of that locality. Off Thunder Bay, where I had once +weathered a gale in the Lake Bird, there was a considerable stirring up +of the waters, and Mrs. Shepard declared that it was worse than the +broad Atlantic; but the last was always the worst to her. She was +delighted with St. Clair River, when we passed through it the next day. +We crossed the Flats by the canal, and stood over to Glinten River. The +region looked very natural to us, after our long absence. In the middle +of the afternoon, we made a landing at the wharf back of Mr. +Brickland's house. + +A considerable crowd had gathered on the pier, for we had been seen by +some one who reported us in town. Those who were acquainted received a +warm welcome. The Shepards insisted upon going to the hotel; and I did +not very strongly object, as we had not sufficient accommodations for +them in the house. They remained there a week, for the springs seemed +greatly to improve the health of the lady. + +The Islander was started on her voyage to New York the day after her +arrival at Montomercy, for the colonel wanted to use her there soon +after his arrival. When his family were ready to depart, I conveyed +them to Buffalo in the Sylvania. The Tiffanys wanted to see more of the +country, and accompanied the Shepards. Owen had decided to go to +England, and Buck Lingley and Hop Tossford felt obliged to go with him, +though their year was not quite up. I landed my passengers in the canal +basin. + +I had not felt so sad since the news came to me of the death of my +father as on this occasion. I parted with Margie Tiffany and her +father--more especially with Margie--with a regret which I cannot +describe. But I was permitted to write to her (and her father) as often +as once a month, and I hope before long to see her in England. + +Buck and Hop had not been gone more than an hour before they +re-appeared with "store clothes" on, and did not look at all like the +excellent sailors they were. Their real names were Richard Lawrence and +Edward Blakeley; and when they appeared in their new dress I called +them by their proper names. They were very sorry to leave the Sylvania, +and I expressed the hope that they would come and spend a summer with +me in a cruise around the Great Lakes. They promised to do it, if +possible. + +Once more we bade them good-by. We staid in Buffalo to see the party +off for New York; and up to this time that was the last I have seen of +them. + +After my father joined our party, I noticed that Owen Garningham was +never himself again. Though he continued to flutter around Miss Edith, +he never seemed to be so well pleased with me as before. Yet I do not +think he had anything against me. I could only attribute the change in +him to the cancelling of the contract for the use of the Sylvania for a +year, though he had said very little about the matter. He parted with +me, I think with real sorrow, and hoped he should see me again before +even another year had passed by. + +I saw my cousin seated in the car by the side of Miss Edith. He sailed +for England in June, but I have no idea how he had the courage to tear +himself away from her. I have no doubt they will be man and wife in due +time, though my father says his mother will never consent to the match. +As soon as the train started we returned to the Sylvania. The two +waiters we had hired in Florida wanted to seek their fortune in New +York, and Colonel Shepard promised to do all he could for them on their +arrival. + +Cobbington returned to Montomercy with my father and myself. He was now +in apparently good health, but he declared that it would cost him his +life to remain in the North over winter. Governor Hungerford wrote to +me, as he had promised to do, during the summer. Before the cold +weather came, I had secured a situation in Baton Rouge for the invalid, +where at the last accounts he was in good health, acting as messenger +for the governor. + +My father and I were so well contented in the home of the Bricklands, +that we remained there the rest of the season. He built a summer +residence on an island in Lake Superior, where we expect to go every +season in the Sylvania. I liked my home in the west too well to think +of giving it up, though I was admitted to the college at Racine in +September, as Washburn was at Brunswick. + +My story is told; but I hope, when I have graduated, to make another +such trip as that in which we circumnavigated twenty-four states, +besides New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, coasted along the whole eastern +shore of the United States, visited the interior of Florida, crossed +the Gulf of Mexico, and sailed "UP THE RIVER," yachting on the +Mississippi. + + * * * * * + +Boston Stereotype Foundry, No. 4 Pearl Street + + + + +LEE & SHEPARD'S + +LIST OF + +JUVENILE PUBLICATIONS. + + * * * * * + +OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS. + +Each Set in a neat Box with Illuminated Titles. + + +Army and Navy Stories. A Library for Young and Old, in 6 volumes. +16mo. Illustrated. Per vol. $1.25 + +The Soldier Boy. +The Sailor Boy. +The Young Lieutenant. +The Yankee Middy. +Fighting Joe. +Brave Old Salt. + + +Famous "Boat-Club" Series. A Library for Young People. +Handsomely Illustrated. Six volumes, in neat box. Per vol. 1.25 + +The Boat Club; or, The Bunkers of Rippleton. +All Aboard; or, Life on the Lake. +Now or Never; or, The Adventures of Bobby Bright. +Try Again; or, The Trials and Triumphs of Harry West. +Poor and Proud; or, The Fortunes of Katy Redburn. +Little by Little; or, The Cruise of the Flyaway. + + +Lake Shore Series, The. Six volumes. Illustrated. In neat box. Per +vol. 1.25 + +Through by Daylight; or, The Young Engineer of the Lake Shore Railroad. + Lightning Express; or, The Rival Academies. +On Time, or, The Young Captain of the Ucayga Steamer. +Switch Off; or, The War of the Students. +Break Up; or, The Young Peacemakers. +Bear and Forbear; or, The Young Skipper of Lake Ucayga. + + +Soldier Boy Series, The. Three volumes, in neat box. Illustrated. +Per vol. 1.50 + +The Soldier Boy; or, Tom Somers in the Army. +The Young Lieutenant; or, The Adventures of an Army Officer. +Fighting Joe; or, The Fortunes of a Staff Officer. + + +Sailor Boy Series, The. Three volumes in neat box. Illustrated. +Per vol. 1.50 + +The Sailor Boy; or, Jack Somers in the Navy. +The Yankee Middy; or, Adventures of a Naval Officer. +Brave Old Salt; or, Life on the Quarter-Deck. + + +Starry Flag Series, The. Six volumes. Illustrated. Per vol. 1.25 + +The Starry Flag; or, The Young Fisherman of Cape Ann. +Breaking Away; or, The Fortunes of a Student. +Seek and Find; or, The Adventures of a Smart Boy. +Freaks of Fortune; or, Half Round the World. +Make or Break; or, The Rich Man's Daughter. +Down the River; or, Buck Bradford and the Tyrants. + + +The Household Library. 3 volumes. Illustrated. Per volume. 1.50 + +Living too Fast. +In Doors and Out. +The Way of the World. + + +Way of the World, The. By William T. Adams (Oliver Optic) 12mo. 1.50 + + +Woodville Stories. Uniform with Library for Young People. Six +volumes. Illustrated. Per vol. 16mo. 1.25 + +Rich and Humble; or, The Mission of Bertha Grant. +In School and Out; or, The Conquest of Richard Grant. +Watch and Wait; or, The Young Fugitives. +Work and Win; or, Noddy Newman on a Cruise. +Hope and Have; or, Fanny Grant among the Indians. +Haste and Waste; or, The Young Pilot of Lake Champlain. + + +Yacht Club Series. Uniform with the ever popular "Boat Club" Series. +Completed in six vols. Illustrated. Per vol. 16mo. 1.50 + +Little Bobtail; or, The Wreck of the Penobscot. +The Yacht Club; or, The Young Boat Builders. +Money Maker; or, The Victory of the Basilisk. +The Coming Wave; or, The Treasure of High Rock. +The Dorcas Club; or, Our Girls Afloat. +Ocean Born; or, The Cruise of the Clubs. + + +Onward and Upward Series, The. Complete in six volumes. Illustrated. +In neat box. Per vol. 1.25 + +Field and Forest; or, The Fortunes of a Farmer. +Plane and Plank; or, The Mishaps of a Mechanic. +Desk and Debit; or, The Catastrophes of a Clerk. +Cringle and Cross-Tree; or, The Sea Swashes of a Sailor. +Bivouac and Battle; or, The Struggles of a Soldier. +Sea and Shore; or, The Tramps of a Traveller. + + +Young America Abroad Series. A Library of Travel and Adventure in +Foreign Lands. Illustrated by Nast, Stevens, Perkins, and others. +Per vol. 16mo. 1.50 + +_First Series._ + +Outward Bound; or, Young America Afloat. +Shamrock and Thistle; or, Young America in Ireland and Scotland. +Red Cross; or, Young America in England and Wales. +Dikes and Ditches; or, Young America in Holland and Belgium. +Palace and Cottage; or, Young America in France and Switzerland. +Down the Rhine; or, Young America in Germany. + +_Second Series._ + +Up the Baltic; or, Young America in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. +Northern Lands; or, Young America in Russia and Prussia. +Cross and Crescent; or, Young America in Turkey and Greece. +Sunny Shores; or, Young America in Italy and Austria. +Vine and Olive; or, Young America in Spain and Portugal. +Isles of the Sea; or, Young America Homeward Bound. + + +Riverdale Stories. Twelve volumes. A New Edition. Profusely +Illustrated from new designs by Billings. In neat box. Per vol. + +Little Merchant. +Young Voyagers. +Robinson Crusoe, Jr. +Dolly and I. +Uncle Ben. +Birthday Party. +Proud and Lazy. +Careless Kate. +Christmas Gift. +The Picnic Party. +The Gold Thimble. +The Do-Somethings. + + +Riverdale Story Books. Six volumes in neat box. Cloth. Per vol. + +Little Merchant. +Young Voyagers. +Dolly and I. +Proud and Lazy. +Careless Kate. +Robinson Crusoe, Jr. + + +Flora Lee Story Books. Six volumes in neat box. Cloth. Per vol. + +Christmas Gift. +Uncle Ben. +Birthday Party. +The Picnic Party. +The Gold Thimble. +The Do-Somethings. + + +Great Western Series, The. Six volumes. Illustrated. Per vol. 1.50 + +Going West; or, The Perils of a Poor Boy. +Out West; or, Roughing it on the Great Lakes. +Lake Breezes. + + +Our Boys' and Girls' Offering. Containing Oliver Optic's popular +Story, Ocean Born; or, The Cruise of the Clubs; Stories of the Seas, +Tales of Wonder, Records of Travel, &c. Edited by Oliver Optic. +Profusely Illustrated. Covers printed in Colors. 8vo. 1.50 + + +Our Boys' and Girls' Souvenir. Containing Oliver Optic's Popular +Story, Going West; or, The Perils of a Poor Boy; Stories of the Sea, +Tales of Wonder, Records of Travel, &c. Edited by Oliver Optic. With +numerous full-page and letter-press Engravings. 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