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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/6572.txt b/6572.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..647c5e8 --- /dev/null +++ b/6572.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7062 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Haste and Waste, 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: Haste and Waste + +Author: Oliver Optic + +Posting Date: February 12, 2013 [EBook #6572] +Release Date: September, 2004 +First Posted: December 28, 2002 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HASTE AND WASTE *** + + + + +Produced by Avinash Kothare, Charles Franks and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + + + + + + + +HASTE AND WASTE + +OR + +THE YOUNG PILOT OF LAKE CHAMPLAIN + +A STORY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE + +BY + +OLIVER OPTIC + + + + +BIOGRAPHY AND BIBLIOGRAPHY + +William Taylor Adams, American author, better known and loved by +boys and girls through his pseudonym "Oliver Optic," was born July +30, 1822, in the town of Medway, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, about +twenty-five miles from Boston. For twenty years he was a teacher in +the Public Schools of Boston, where he came in close contact with boy +life. These twenty years taught him how to reach the boy's heart and +interest as the popularity of his books attest. + +His story writing began in 1850 when he was twenty-eight years old +and his first book was published in 1853. He also edited "The Oliver +Optic Magazine," "The Student and Schoolmate," "Our Little Ones." + +Mr. Adams died at the age of seventy-five years, in Boston, March +27, 1897. + +He was a prolific writer and his stories are most attractive and +unobjectionable. Most of his books were published in series. Probably +the most famous of these is "The Boat Club Series" which comprises +the following titles: + +"The Boat Club," "All Aboard," "Now or Never," "Try Again," "Poor +and Proud," "Little by Little." All of these titles will be found in +this edition. + +Other well-known series are his "Soldier Boy Series," "Sailor Boy +Series," "Woodville Stories." The "Woodville Stories" will also be +found in this edition. + + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE SQUALL ON THE LAKE + + +"Stand by, Captain John!" shouted Lawry Wilford, a stout boy of +fourteen, as he stood at the helm of a sloop, which was going before +the wind up Lake Champlain. + +"What's the matter, Lawry?" demanded the captain. + +"We're going to have a squall," continued the young pilot, as he +glanced at the tall peaks of the Adirondacks. + +There was a squall in those clouds, in the judgment of Lawry +Wilford; but having duly notified the captain of the impending danger +to his craft, he did not assume any further responsibility in the +management of the sloop. It was very quiet on the lake; the water was +smooth, and the tiny waves sparkled in the bright sunshine. There was +no roll of distant thunder to admonish the voyagers, and the youth at +the helm was so much accustomed to squalls and tempests, which are of +frequent occurrence on the lake, that they had no terrors to him. It +was dinner-time, and the young pilot, fearful that the unexpected +guest might reduce the rations to a low ebb for the second table, was +more concerned about this matter than about the squall. + +Captain John, as he was familiarly called on board the +_Missisque,_ which was the name of the sloop, was not a man to +be cheated out of any portion of his dinner by the approach of a +squall; and though his jaws may have moved more rapidly after the +announcement of the young pilot, he did not neglect even the green-apple +pies, the first of the season, prepared with care and skill by +Mrs. Captain John, who resided on board, and did "doctor's" duty at +the galley. Captain John did not abate a single mouthful of the meal, +though he knew how rapidly the mountain showers and squalls travel +over the lake. The sloop did not usually make more than four or five +miles an hour, being deeply laden with lumber, which was piled up so +high on the deck that the mainsail had to be reefed, to make room for +it. + +The passenger, Mr. Randall, was a director of a country bank, +journeying to Shoreham, about twenty miles above the point where he +had embarked in the _Missisque_. He had crossed the lake in the +ferry, intending to take the steamer at Westport for his destination. +Being a man who was always in a hurry, but never in season, he had +reached the steamboat landing just in time to see the boat moving +off. Procuring a wherry, and a boy to row it, he had boarded the +_Missisque_ as she passed up the lake; and, though the sloop was +not a passenger-boat, Captain John had consented to land him at +Shoreham. + +Mr. Randall was a landsman, and had a proper respect for squalls and +tempests, even on a fresh-water lake. He heard the announcement of +Lawry Wilford with a feeling of dread and apprehension, and +straightway began to conjure up visions of a terrible shipwreck, and +of sole survivors, clinging with the madness of desperation to broken +spars, in the midst of the storm-tossed waters. But Mr. Randall was a +director of a country bank, and a certain amount of dignity was +expected and required of him. His official position before the people +of Vermont demanded that he should not give way to idle fears. If +Captain Jones, who was not a bank director, could keep cool, it was +Mr. Randall's solemn duty to remain unmoved, or at least to appear to +remain so. + +The passenger finished the first course of the dinner, which Mrs. +Captain John had made a little more elaborate than usual, in honor of +the distinguished guest; but he complained of the smallness of his +appetite, and it was evident that he did not enjoy the meal after the +brief colloquy between the skipper and the pilot. He was nervous; his +dignity was a "bore" to him, and was maintained at an immense +sacrifice of personal ease; but he persevered until a piece of the +dainty green-apple pie was placed before him, when he lacerated the +tender feelings of Mrs. Captain John by abruptly leaving the table +and rushing on deck. + +This hurried movement was hardly to be regarded as a sacrifice of +his dignity, for it was made with what even the skipper's lady was +compelled to allow was a reasonable excuse. + +"Gracious!" exclaimed Mr. Randall, as the tempting piece of green-apple +pie, reeking with indigenous juices was placed before him. + +At the same moment the bank director further indicated his +astonishment and horror by slapping both hands upon his breast in a +style worthy of Brutus when Rome was in peril. + +"What's the matter, squire?" demanded Captain John, dropping his +knife and fork, and suspending the operation of his vigorous jaws +till an explanation could be obtained. + +"I've left my coat on deck," replied Mr. Randall, rising from his +chair. + +"It's just as safe there as 'twould be on your back, squire," added +the skipper. + +"There's six thousand dollars in the pocket of that coat," said the +bank director, with a gasp of apprehension. "Where's my coat?" +demanded he. + +"There it is," replied Lawry Wilford, pointing to the garment under +the rail. "We had a flaw of wind just now, and it came pretty near +being blowed overboard." + +"Gracious!" exclaimed Mr. Randall, as he clutched the coat. "I'm too +careless to live! There's six thousand dollars in a pocket of that +coat." + +"Six thousand dollars!" ejaculated Lawry, whose ideas of such a sum +of money were very indefinite. "I should say you ought not to let it +lie round loose in this way." + +"I'm very careless; but the money is safe," continued the director. + +"Stand by, Captain John!" suddenly shouted Lawry, with tremendous +energy, as he put the helm down. The squall was coming up the lake in +the track of the _Missisque_; a dull, roaring sound was heard +astern; and all the mountain peaks had disappeared, closed in by the +dense volume of black clouds. The episode of the bank director's coat +had distracted the attention of the young pilot for a moment, and he +had not observed the rapid swoop of the squall, as it bore down upon +the sloop. He leaped over the piles of lumber to the forecastle, and +had cast loose the peak-halyard, when Captain John tumbled up the +companionway in time to see that he had lingered too long over the +green-apple pie, and that one piece would have been better for his +vessel, if not for him. + +"Let go the throat-halyard!" roared he. "Down with the mainsail! +down with the mainsail!" + +Lawry did not need any prompting to do his duty; but before he could +let go the throat-halyard, the squall was upon the sloop. Mr. Randall +had seized hold of the rail, and was crouching beneath the bulwark, +expecting to go to the bottom of the lake, for he was too much +excited to make a comparison of the specific gravities of pine boards +and fresh water, and therefore did not realize that lumber would +float, and not sink. + +The squall did its work in an instant; and before the bank director +had fairly begun to tremble, the rotten mainsail of the +_Missisque_ was blown into ribbons, and the "flapping flitters" +were streaming in the air. Piece after piece was detached from the +bolt-rope, and disappeared in the heavy atmosphere. The sloop, in +obedience to her helm, came about, and was now headed down the lake. +The rain began to fall in torrents, and Mr. Randall was as +uncomfortable as the director of a country bank could be. + +"Go below, sir!" shouted Captain John to the unhappy man. + +"Is it safe?" asked Mr. Randall. + +"Safe enough." + +"Won't she sink?" + +"Sink? no; she can't sink," replied the skipper. "The wu'st on't's +over now." + +The fury of the squall was spent in a moment, and then the fury of +Captain John began to gather, as he saw the remnants of the sail +flapping at the gaff and the boom. The _Missisque_ and her cargo +were safe, and not a single one of the precious lives of her crew had +been sacrificed; but the skipper was as dissatisfied as the skipper +of a lake sloop could be; more so, probably, than if the vessel had +gone to the bottom, and left him clinging for life to a lone spar on +the angry waters, for men are often more reasonable under great than +under small misfortunes. + +"Why didn't you let go that throat-halyard?" said he, as he walked +forward to where the young pilot stood. + +"I did," replied Lawry quietly. + +"You did! What was the use of lettin' it go after the squall had +split the sail? Why didn't you do it sooner?" + +"I did it as soon as I saw the squall coming down on us." + +"Why didn't you see it before then?" growled Captain John. + +"I told you the squall was coming half an hour ago. Why didn't you +come on deck, and attend to your vessel?" + +"Don't be sassy," said Captain John. + +"I'm not the skipper of this craft. If I had been, that sail would +have been safe. I told you the squall was coming, and after that I +did the best I could." + +"You ain't good for nothin' 'board a vessel. I thought you knew +enough to take in sail when you saw a squall comin'." + +"I should have taken in sail long ago if I had thought the captain +didn't know enough to come on deck when there was a squall coming +up," replied Lawry. + +"I don't want nothin' more of you." + +"And I don't want anything more of you," added Lawry smartly. "I've +got almost home." + +"What do you s'pose I'm goin' to do here, eighty mile from +Whitehall, with the mainsail blowed clean out?" snarled Captain John, +as he followed Lawry. + +"Mind your vessel better than you have, I hope." + +"Don't be sassy, boy." + +"You needn't growl at me because you neglected your duty. I did +mine. I was casting off the halyards when the squall came." + +"Why didn't you do it before? That's what I want to know." + +"I had no orders from the captain. Men on board a vessel don't take +in sail till they are told to do so. When I saw the squall coming, +half an hour ago, I let you know it; that was all I had to do with it." + +"I don't want you in this vessel; you are too smart for me," +continued Captain John. + +"I'll leave her just as soon as we get to Port Rock," said Lawry, +sitting down on the rail. + +The rain ceased in a few moments, and the skipper ordered the jib, +which had before been useless, to be set. At the invitation of Mrs. +Captain John, Lawry went below and ate his dinner, to which he felt +himself entitled, for he was working his passage up from Plattsburg. +By the time he had disposed of the last piece of green-apple pie on +board, the _Missisque_ was before Port Rock, which was the home +of the young pilot, and he saw his father's ferry-boat at the shore +as he came on deck. + +"Will you put me ashore here, Captain John?" asked Lawry. + +"Yes, I will; and I'm glad to get rid of you," replied the captain +testily. + +"I think I will land here, also," added the bank director. "Now you +have lost your sail, I'm afraid you won't get along very fast." + +"I don't expect I shall. I sha'n't get to Shoreham till to-morrow +morning with this wind. I'm sorry it happened so; but that boy didn't +mind what he was about." + +"The captain didn't mind what he was about," added Lawry. "He +needn't lay it to me, when it was all his own fault." + +"I will cross the lake, and get a horse at Pointville, so that I +shall be in Shoreham by five o'clock," continued the bank director. + +Captain John ordered one of the men to pull Mr. Randall and Lawry +ashore in the boat, and in a few minutes they were landed at Port Rock. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE PORT ROCK FERRY + + +Lawrence Wilford was a full-fledged water-fowl. From his earliest +childhood he had paddled in Lake Champlain. His father had a small +place, consisting of ten acres of land with a small cottage; but it +was still encumbered with a mortgage, as it had been for twenty +years, though the note had passed through several hands, and had been +three times renewed. John Wilford was not a very sagacious nor a very +energetic man, and had not distinguished himself in the race for +wealth or for fame. He wanted to be rich, but he was not willing to +pay the price of riches. + +His place was a short distance from the village of Port Rock, and +John Wilford, at the time he had purchased the land and built his +house, had established a ferry, which had been, and was still, his +principal means of support; for there was considerable travel between +Port Rock and Pointville, on the Vermont side of the lake. + +The ferryman was a poor man, and was likely to remain a poor man to +the end of his life. Hardly a day passed in which he did not sigh to +be rich, and complain of the unequal and unjust distribution of +property. He could point to a score of men who had not worked half so +hard as he had, in his own opinion, that had made fortunes, or at +least won a competence, while he was as poor as ever, and in danger +of having his place taken away from him. People said that John +Wilford was lazy; that he did not make the most of his land, and that +his ferry, with closer attention to the wants of passengers, might be +made to pay double the amount he made from it. He permitted the weeds +to grow in his garden, and compelled people to wait by the hour for a +passage across the lake. + +John Wilford wondered that he could not grow rich, that he could not +pay off the mortgage on his place. He seldom sat down to dinner +without grumbling at his hard lot. His wife was a sensible woman. She +did not wonder that he did not grow rich; only that he contrived to +keep out of the poorhouse. She was the mother of eight children, and +if he had been half as smart as she was, prosperity would have smiled +upon the family. As it was, her life was filled up with struggles to +make the ends meet; but, though she had the worst of it, she did not +complain, and did all she could to comfort and encourage her +thriftless husband. + +The oldest son was as near like his father as one person could be +like another. He was eighteen years old, and was an idle and +dissolute fellow. Lawrence, the second son, inherited his mother's +tack and energy. He was observing and enterprising, and had already +made a good reputation as a boatman and pilot. He had worked in +various capacities on board of steamers, canal-boats, sloops, and +schooners, and in five years had visited every part of the lake from +Whitehall to St. Johns. + +Speaking technically, his bump of locality was large, and he was as +familiar with the navigation of the lake as any pilot on its waters. +Indeed, he had occasionally served as a pilot on board steamers and +other vessels, which had earned for him the name of the Young Pilot, +by which he was often called. But his business was not piloting, for +there was but little of this work to be done. Unlike his father, he +was willing to do anything which would afford him a fair +compensation, and in his five years of active life on the lake he had +been a pilot, a deck-hand, a waiter, and a kitchen assistant on board +steamers, and a sailor, helmsman, and cook on board other craft. He +picked up considerable money, for a boy, by his enterprise, which, +like a good son with a clear apprehension of domestic circumstances, +he gave to his mother. At the time of his introduction to the reader, +Lawry had just piloted a canal-boat, with movable masts, from +Whitehall to Plattsburg, and was working his passage home on the +"_Missisque_. + +"Captain John feels bad about the loss of his sail," said Mr. +Randall, as the sloop's boat pulled off from the shore. + +"Yes, he does; but it was his own fault," replied Lawry. "He paid +too much attention to his dinner at the time." + +"That's true; he was very fond of the green-apple pies." + +"Well, they were good," added the young pilot. + +"I'm sorry he lost his sail." + +"It wasn't worth much, though it was a bad time to lose it." + +"He lost his temper, too. I wanted to land on the other side, but +the captain was so cross I didn't like to ask him when we were so +close to this shore. Your father is the ferryman, I believe." + +"Yes, sir." + +"Will you ask him to take me over?" + +"He's going right over in the large boat, for there's a team waiting +for him," replied Lawry, pointing to a horse and wagon, the owner of +which had sounded the horn just as the passengers from the boat landed. + +"Ask him to be as quick as possible, for I'm in a hurry," added the +bank director. + +"Won't you come into the house, sir?" + +"No, I will sit down under this tree." + +Lawry went into the house, where the family were at dinner, the meal +having been delayed by the absence of the ferryman on the other side +of the lake. The youth was greeted coldly by his father, and very +warmly by his mother. + +"I'm glad you've got home, Lawry, for Mr. Sherwood has been after +you three times," said Mrs. Wilford, when the young pilot had been +duly welcomed by all the family. + +"What does he want?" asked Lawry. + +"His little steamboat is at Port Henry, and he wants you to go up +and pilot her down." + +"The _Woodville?_" + +"Yes, that's her name, I believe." + +"Well, I'm all ready to go." + +"Sit down and eat your dinner. + +"I've been to dinner." + +"Mr. Sherwood wanted you to go up in the _Sherman_; but it is +too late for her, and he may go in the night boat." + +"I'm ready when he is. Father, there is a gentleman outside who +wants to go over the lake; and there is a team waiting in the road," +continued Lawry. + +"They must wait till I've done my dinner," replied the ferryman. +"Who is the gentleman?" + +"Mr. Randall; he is a director in a bank, and has six thousand +dollars with him." + +"I suppose so; every man but me has six thousand dollars in his +pocket. Where's he going to?" + +"To Shoreham, and he wants to get there by five o'clock, if he can." + +"What's he traveling with so much money for?" + +"I don't know. It is in his coat pocket, and it would have gone +overboard if it hadn't been for me." + +The ferryman finished his dinner in moody silence. He seemed to be +thinking of the subject always uppermost in his mind, his thoughts +stimulated, no doubt, by the fact that his expected passenger carried +a large sum of money on his person. + +"Mr. Randall is in a hurry, father," interposed Lawry, when the +ferryman had sat a good half-hour after his son's arrival. + +"He must wait till I get ready. He's got money, and I haven't; but +I'm just as good as he is. I don't know why I'm poor when so many men +are rich. But I'm going to be rich, somehow or other," said he, with +more earnestness than he usually exhibited. "I'm too honest for my +own good. I'm going to do as other men do; and I shall wake up rich +some morning, as they do. Then I sha'n't have to go when folks blow +the horn. They'll be willing to wait for me then." + +"Don't keep the gentleman waiting, father," added Mrs. Wilford. + +"I'm going to be rich, somehow or other," continued the ferryman, +still pursuing the exciting line of thought he had before taken up. +"I'm going to be rich, by hook or by crook." + +"This making haste to get rich ruins men sometimes, husband; and +haste makes waste then." + +"If I can only get rich, I'll risk being ruined," said John Wilford, +as he rose from the table and put on his hat. + +He looked more moody and discontented than usual. Instead of +hastening to do the work which was waiting for him, he stood before +the window, looking out into the garden. Mrs. Wilford told him the +gentleman would be impatient, and he finally left the house and +walked down to the ferry-boat. + +"I wonder what your father is thinking about," said Mrs. Wilford, as +the door closed behind him. + +"I don't know," replied Lawry; "he don't seem to be thinking that +people won't wait forever for him. I guess I'll go up to Mr. +Sherwood's, and see when he wants me." + +"You must fix up a little before you go," replied the prudent +mother. "They are very grand people up at Mr. Sherwood's, and you +must look as well as you can." + +"I'll put on my best clothes," added Lawry. + +In half an hour he had changed his dress, and looked like another +boy. Mrs. Wilford adjusted a few stray locks of his hair, and as he +put on his new straw hat, and left the house, her eye followed him +with a feeling of motherly pride. He was a good boy, and had the +reputation of being a very smart boy, and she may be pardoned for the +parental vanity with which she regarded him. While he visits the +house of Mr. Sherwood, we will follow his father down to the ferry, +where the bank director was impatiently waiting his appearance. + +After the shower the sun had come out brightly, and the wind had +abated so that there was hardly breeze enough to ruffle the waters of +the lake. It was intensely warm, and Mr. Randall had taken off his +coat again, but he was careful to keep it on his arm. At the approach +of the ferryman he went into the boat, where he was followed by the +vehicle that had been waiting so long for a passage across the lake. + +John Wilford pushed off the boat with a pole, and trimmed the sail, +which was the motive power of the craft when there was any wind. The +ferry-boat was a large bateau, or flatboat, the slope at the ends +being so gradual that a wagon could pass down over it to the bottom +of the boat. This inclined plane was extended by a movable platform +about six feet wide, which swung horizontally up and down, like a +great trap-door. When the ferry-boat touched the shore, this platform +was let down upon the ground, forming a slope on which carriages were +driven into and out of the bateau. + +The wind was very light, and the clumsy craft moved very slowly--so +slowly that the passage promised to be a severe trial to the patience +of Mr. Randall, who hoped to reach Shoreham by five o'clock. He was +not in a very amiable frame of mind; he was angry at the delay in +starting, and he was vexed because the wind would not blow. He walked +nervously from the forward platform to the after one, with his coat +still on his arm. + +"We shall not get over to-night," said he impatiently, as he stopped +by the side of the ferryman, and threw his coat down upon the +platform, while he wiped the perspiration from his brow. + +"Yes, I guess we shall," replied John Wilford. + +"I'll give you a dollar if you will land me at Pointville by three +o'clock." + +"I can't make the wind blow, if you would give me a hundred dollars." + +"Can't you use the pole or the oars?" said the bank director +petulantly; "you kept me waiting half an hour before you started." + +"I couldn't help that," replied John Wilford. + +Mr. Randall walked to the forward platform, fretting with impatience +at the indifference of the ferryman. He stood for a few moments +gazing at the Vermont shore, and appeared to be engaged in estimating +the distance yet to be accomplished. The calculation was not +satisfactory, and the bank director's wrath was on the increase. With +hasty step he walked aft again. + +"I think we shall have more wind in a minute," said John Wilford, as +he stepped down from the platform and adjusted the sheet. + +"If we don't, I shall go crazy," replied Mr. Randall. + +When he had placed one foot on the platform, by some means the drop, +true to its name, went down and splashed in the water. The bank +director stepped back in season to save himself from a cold bath or a +watery grave, as the case might be. + +"My coat! save my coat!" shouted Mr. Randall, as the garment rolled +off the platform into the water. + +"Why didn't you hold on to it?" said John Wilford. + +"Save my coat! There is six thousand dollars in the pocket," groaned +the unhappy bank director. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS + + +Within half a mile of the ferryman's cottage, at Port Rock, was the +summer residence of Mr. Sherwood, who, two years before, had become +the husband of Bertha Grant, of Woodville. The scenery in the +vicinity was beautiful, and the mansion commanded a splendid view of +the Adirondack Mountains and of the lake. + +Mr. Sherwood was an enthusiastic admirer of the scenery of Lake +Champlain. His constant visits at Woodville had given him a taste for +aquatic sports, in which he was disposed to indulge on a larger scale +than ever had been known at Woodville. He had been remarkably +fortunate in his financial operations, and was already a wealthy man. +Though he did not retire from active business, he had taken a +partner, which enabled him to spend a part of his time during the +summer at his country house on the lake. + +Mr. Grant had gone to Europe a second time, to be absent during the +summer, and Miss Fanny and Fanny Jane had accepted Bertha's +invitation to spend a few weeks at Port Rock. A splendid time had +been promised them by Mrs. Sherwood, who had made extensive +preparations for their visit. The arrangements included a novelty +which offered a very brilliant prospect to the party, and excited the +imagination even of the older ones to the highest pitch. + +This novelty was nothing less than a miniature steamboat, which had +already been christened the _Woodville_, in honor of the home of +the owner's lady. She was a splendid little craft, and as perfect in +her machinery and appointments as any steamer that ever floated. She +was a side-wheel boat, sixty feet in length, by twelve feet beam. +Forward there were a regular wheel-house, a small kitchen, and other +rooms usually found in a steamer. Abaft the wheels there were a +saloon and two staterooms. Of course all these apartments, as well as +the cabin below, were very contracted in their dimensions; but they +were fitted up in the most elegant style. + +The _Woodville_ had cost a great deal of money; but her owner +expected to realize a full return for it in the enjoyment she would +afford him, his wife, and their friends. She had been sent up the +Hudson, and through the canal to Whitehall, and thence to Port Henry, +where she had arrived on the day before Lawry Wilford's return to +Port Rock. + +On board of the little steamer there is an old friend of our +readers. He may be found in the engine-room; and as he rubs up the +polished iron of the machinery, he is thinking of Fanny Jane Grant, +with whom he escaped from the Indians in Minnesota, and whom he +expects on board with Mr. Sherwood's party. The young man, now +sixteen years of age, is the engineer of the _Woodville_. Though +he has been but two years learning the trade of machinist, he is as +thoroughly acquainted with every part of a marine-engine as though he +had spent his lifetime in studying it. + +The engine of the _Woodville_ was built at the works where +Ethan French was learning his trade, and he had been employed in its +construction. As he was a frequent visitor at Woodville, he had +petitioned for the situation he now held. At first, Mr. Sherwood was +not willing to trust him; but Ethan's employers declared that he was +a man in everything but years, and was fully competent to manage the +engine, and even to build one after the designs were made. He had +come up from New York in the steamer. He had seen Mr. Sherwood at +Port Henry, on his arrival, and had been ordered to have the boat in +readiness to start on the following morning, when the family would be +passengers. + +Mr. Sherwood had already selected Lawry Wilford as the pilot of the +_Woodville_. He was small in stature, and would look better in +the wheel-house than a full-grown man. He had often met the young +pilot, and had been greatly pleased with his energy and decision. +Lawry had been employed by Miss Fanny several times to row her on the +lake; and he had served her so faithfully that her influence was not +wanting in procuring for him the situation. + +Lawry, not yet informed of the honorable and responsible position +which had been awarded to him, walked up to Mr. Sherwood's house. He +had heard Miss Fanny speak of the _Woodville_, while in the boat +with him, and had listened with delight to her enthusiastic +description of the beautiful craft. He was quite as anxious to see +her as any of the party who were more directly interested in her. + +"Can I see Mr. Sherwood?" asked Lawry. + +"He has gone away," replied the man. + +"Where has he gone?" + +"To Port Henry; he went in the carriage, and is coming back in the +new steamboat." + +"Has he got a pilot?" continued Lawry anxiously. + +"I don't know; he expected you, I believe; but when you didn't come +back, he couldn't wait any longer. I heard him say he could pilot her +himself, and I suppose he is going to do so." + +"I'm sorry I didn't see him; I have but just got home," replied Lawry. + +He wanted to pilot the beautiful little steamer up from Port Henry. +He wanted to see her; wanted to make her acquaintance, for she +promised to be the belle of the lake. He was sorry to lose the +chance, for it might prove to be a valuable one to him. Mr. Sherwood +was very liberal, and he hoped he would not engage another pilot. It +was no use to complain, and Lawry walked back to the ferry, where he +could see the steamer when she arrived. When he reached the landing-place, +the ferry-boat was about halfway across the lake, and his +attention was attracted by the strange movements of those on board of +her. His father was laboring at the steering-oar with a zeal which +indicated that some unusual event had occurred. The ferry-boat was +thrown up into the wind, and while Lawry was waiting to ascertain +what the matter was, his father leaped into the water. + +It was now evident to Lawry that something serious had happened, and +he sprang into the small keel-boat, used for conveying foot-passengers +across the lake, which was fastened to a stake on the shore. Taking +the oars, he pulled with all his might toward the ferry-boat. He +was a stout boy, and handled his oars very skillfully; but before + he could reach the scene of the excitement, his father had +returned to the bateau. + +"There's your coat," said John Wilford. + +Mr. Randall seized the garment with convulsive energy, and with +trembling hands felt for the pocketbook in which the six thousand +dollars had been kept. + +"It is gone!" gasped he; and he seemed ready to sink down in the +bottom of the boat when he discovered his loss. + +"Gone!" exclaimed John Wilford. + +"What's the matter?" asked Lawry. + +"I've lost my pocketbook with six thousand dollars in it," groaned +the bank director. + +"How did you lose it?" demanded Lawry. + +"That drop came down and let my coat into the lake; but I don't see +how my pocketbook could get out of the coat." + +"I don't believe the money was in the pocket," added the ferryman. + +"Yes, it was," persisted Mr. Randall. + +"I don't see how it could fall out of the pocket," said John Wilford. + +"Nor I; but the money is gone," answered the bank director, with a +vacant stare. "I'm ruined!" + +"Well, I can't help it. I've done all I could for you. I tried to +save it; and if I get the rheumatism for a month or two, it will be a +bad job for me." + +"Wasn't the pocketbook in the pocket when you picked up the coat?" +asked Mr. Randall, walking up to the ferryman. + +"How should I know?" replied John Wilford. "I gave you the coat just +as I found it." + +"I don't believe the pocketbook would sink," added the director. +"There was nothing but paper in it." + +"Of course it wouldn't sink, then," interposed the owner of the +vehicle in the ferry-boat. + +"I don't think it would," said Mr. Randall. + +"I know it wouldn't," protested the stranger. "I dropped my +pocketbook into the lake once, and it floated ten minutes before I +could get it again." + +"Then it must be floating about on the water," added Lawry. "I will +try to find it." + +"I'll go with you," said Mr. Randall. + +They got into the boat, and Lawry pulled about the spot where the +coat had fallen into the water for half an hour without discovering +the pocketbook. + +"I suppose I must give it up," sighed the director. + +"I'm sure it's not on the water," replied Lawry. + +"Do you suppose it would sink?" + +"I don't know; the gentleman in the ferry-boat says it wouldn't." + +"Stop a minute, boy, and I will soon find out," continued the +unfortunate loser of the money. + +He took all the money and papers out of his wallet, and stuffed it +with pieces of newspaper which Lawry gave him. Having thus prepared +the wallet, which he said was of the same material as the lost +pocketbook, he placed it on the surface of the water, holding his +hand underneath to save it, in case the trial should result +differently from his anticipations. It floated, and he removed his +hand from under it to exhibit his confidence in the law he had tested. + +"That's plain enough," said he. "My pocketbook hasn't gone to the +bottom." + +"It certainly has not," replied Lawry. + +"Then where is it?--that's the next question." + +"Are you sure it was in your pocket when you got into the ferry-boat?" + +"Just as sure as I am that I sit here." + +"You were very careless about your coat on board of the sloop." + +"I know I was." + +"I don't see how a man could throw down his coat with six thousand +dollars in the pocket," said Lawry. + +"I know I'm careless; but I'm so used to carrying money that I don't +think much about it. I always carry it in a pocket inside of my +vest," continued the director, putting his hand in the place +indicated; "but this is a new vest, and hasn't any such pocket. +Things don't look all right to me. Is the ferryman your father?" + +"Yes, sir; he is." + +"Well, the money's gone," added Mr. Randall. "We will go back to the +ferry-boat." + +"Did you find it?" asked John Wilford, as the bank director stepped +into the bateau. + +"No; but I'm certain it has not gone to the bottom." + +"Where is it, then?" + +"I don't know; can you tell me?" + +Mr. Randall looked at the ferryman very sharply. His manner +indicated that he had some suspicions. + +"How can I tell you?" replied John Wilford. + +"The money was in the coat pocket when you picked it up in the +water--I know it was." + +"Do you mean to say I took it out?" demanded the ferryman angrily. + +"If you didn't, I don't see what has become of it." + +"Do you mean to accuse my father of stealing?" said Lawry indignantly. + +"I don't accuse him of anything; but here are the facts, and you can +all see for yourselves." + +"You throw your coat down anywhere. It would have gone overboard +from the sloop if I hadn't saved it; and it won't do for so careless +a man as you are to accuse anybody of stealing your money," added +Lawry angrily. + +"Very likely you lost it out of the pocket before you got into the +ferry-boat." + +"Never mind him, Lawry. I haven't got his pocketbook," interposed +the ferryman. + +"I know you haven't, father; and it makes me mad to hear him accuse +you of stealing it." + +"Mr. Randall, if you think I've got your money, I want you to +satisfy yourself on the point at once," continued John Wilford, +turning to the director. + +"I hope you haven't." + +"But you think I have. Search me, then." + +Greatly to the indignation of Lawry, Mr. Randall did search the +ferryman; turned out his pockets, and examined every part of his wet +garments. The pocketbook was not upon his person; and the loser, in +spite of the laws of specific gravity, which he had just +demonstrated, was almost compelled to believe that his money had gone +to the bottom of the lake. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE STEAMER "WOODVILLE" + + +Mr. Randall, now that his money was lost, declared that he had no +business in Shoreham, and it was useless for him to go there. The six +thousand dollars belonged to his bank, and, having an opportunity to +put this sum in circulation, where it would be "kept out" for several +weeks, he was making this journey to accomplish the business. He +facetiously remarked that it was likely to be kept out longer than +was desirable. + +Lawry was so sure Mr. Randall had dropped the pocketbook on the +shore before he got into the ferry-boat, that he insisted upon +returning to Pork Rock and having the ground searched. Though the +bank director was satisfied that the pocketbook was safe in his +possession when he entered the bateau, he was willing to return, +since the object of his journey had been defeated, and Lawry pulled +him back to the landing-place. The ground under the tree, and over +which Mr. Randall had walked while waiting for the ferryman, was +carefully examined, but the lost pocketbook could not be found. + +The bank director had very little to say after he left the ferry-boat; +but he was very thoughtful, as a man who had lost six thousand +dollars might reasonably be. After the search on shore was completed, +he walked off toward the village without mentioning his intentions, +but he looked as though he purposed to do something. + +"What's the matter, Lawry?" asked Mrs. Wilford, who had been +watching the movements of Mr. Randall and her son from the window, as +she came out of the house. + +"The gentleman has lost his money--six thousand dollars," replied +Lawry. + +"Lost it!" exclaimed Mrs. Wilford, recalling the conversation with +her husband at dinner. + +"His coat fell overboard, and the pocketbook dropped out." + +"Fell into the lake," added she, with a feeling of relief. + +"Yes; father swam out and got the coat, but the money was gone." + +Mrs. Wilford returned to the house. Perhaps she had some misgivings, +and felt more than before that those who make haste to be rich are +often ruined; but she said nothing. Lawry was perplexed at the +disappearance of the money. Mr. Randall had proved that a pocketbook +with nothing but paper in it would not sink within a reasonable time. +If the lost treasure had fallen into the water, he would certainly +have found it. If it had been dropped on shore or in the ferry-boat, +it would not have disappeared so strangely. + +Lawry was so positive that the pocketbook was still in the ferry-boat, +or on the shore, that he renewed the search, and carefully scrutinized +every foot of ground between the house and the landing-place, but +with no better success than before. By this time the ferry-boat, +which had been favored by a good wind during the last half-hour, +returned. + +"What do you suppose became of that pocketbook, father?" asked +Lawry, as he stepped into the boat. + +"I don't know. I don't believe he lost any pocketbook," replied John +Wilford. + +"He says he did, and I saw it myself." + +"Perhaps you did, but I don't believe there was any six thousand +dollars in it. If there had been, he wouldn't have thrown it about as +he did." + +"He says there was six thousand dollars in the pocketbook." + +"I don't believe it. It's a likely story that a man would throw down +his coat, with all that money in the pocket, on the drop. In my +opinion it's some trick to cheat his creditors out of their just due." + +"It don't seem possible." + +"That's the truth, you may depend upon it. That's the way men make +money." + +Lawry was by no means satisfied with this explanation. He went into +the boat, and carefully searched every part of it. His father watched +him with considerable interest, declaring that it was useless to look +for what had not been lost. + +"You had better go up and see Mr. Sherwood now," said Mr. Wilford. + +"I have been up, and he was not at home." + +"You better go again, then." + +"He has gone to Port Henry after the new steamer." + +"Has he got a pilot?" + +"Not that I know of." + +"He can't get one at Port Henry," said the ferryman. + +"I suppose he is going to pilot her himself." + +"He will pilot her on the rocks, then. He don't know anything about +Lake Champlain. Why don't you row up the lake till you meet the boat?" + +"I was thinking of doing so, but I can't keep this money out of my +mind." + +"Why need you trouble yourself about that?" demanded the father +impatiently. + +"It was lost in your boat, and I am very anxious that it should be +found. I'm sure Mr. Randall thinks you've got it." + +"Well, he searched me, and found out that I hadn't got it--didn't +he?" added Mr. Wilford, with a sickly smile. + +"I don't like to have you suspected of such a thing, and for that +reason I want to find the money." + +"You can't find it, and I tell you he hasn't lost any money. He's +going to cheat the bank or his creditors out of six thousand dollars." + +"I don't believe he would do such a thing as that." + +"We have looked everywhere for the money, and it can't be found. +It's no use to bother any more about the matter. It's gone, and +that's the end of it--if he lost it at all. You have looked all over +the ferry-boat, and it isn't there. If it had been floating in the +lake, you couldn't help seeing it. Now, you better take your boat and +row up the lake till you meet the steamer." + +"I'm going pretty soon." + +"Better go now. I'm going up after a drink of water. If you don't go +pretty soon, you will be too late to do any good on board the +steamer," said Mr. Wilford, hoping, if he left the spot, his son +would depart also. + +Lawry hauled in the rowboat, ready to embark; but, before he did so, +he made one more search in the bateau for the pocketbook. The timbers +of the ferry-boat were ceiled over on the bottom, leaving a space for +the leakage between the inner and the outer planking. Near the mast +there was a well, from which, with a grain-shovel, the water was +thrown out. Lawry examined this hole, feeling under the planks, and +thrusting the shovel in as far as he could. This search was +unavailing, and he gave it up in despair. As he stepped on shore, his +curiosity prompted him to look under the platform outside of the boat. + +The pocketbook was there! + +In a space between the planks, a foot above the surface of the +water, and the same distance from the side, the pocketbook was thrust +in. It could not be seen from the inside of the boat, nor from the +platform; and it could not have got there of itself. + +Lawry's face turned red, and his heart bounded with emotion, for the +situation of the pocketbook pointed to but one conclusion. It had +been placed there by his father, who had evidently taken it from the +pocket of the coat, and concealed it, either before or after the +garment had fallen into the water. He was appalled and horrified at +the discovery. He knew that his father was discontented with his lot; +that he was indolent and thriftless; but he did not think him capable +of committing a crime. + +He reached under the platform, and took the pocketbook from its +hiding-place. It was perfectly dry; it had not been in the water. +John Wilford had probably taken it from the coat pocket, and after +thrusting it into the aperture beneath the drop, had let the platform +fall into the water for the purpose of dislodging the coat, and +making it appear that the money had been lost in the lake. + +The pocketbook seemed to burn in Lawry's fingers, and he returned it +to the place where he had found it; for he was confused, and did not +know what to do. He stood, with flushed face and beating heart, on +the shore, considering what course he should take. He could not think +of exposing his father's crime, on the one hand, or of permitting him +to retain the money, on the other. + +After long and painful deliberation, he decided to take the +pocketbook, follow Mr. Randall, and return it to him, telling him +that he had found it under the drop of the boat. He was about to +adopt this course when his father came out of the house, and walked +down to the ferry-boat. + +"Not gone yet?" said Mr. Wilford. + +"No, sir; that money has troubled me so much that I could not go," +replied Lawry. + +"What's the use of bothering your head about that any longer?" added +the father petulantly. + +"It troubles me terribly." + +"Let it go; it can't be found, and that's the end of it." + +"But it can be found." + +"Why don't you find it, then?" + +"I have found it, father!" + +"What!" + +"It's in a crack under the platform," replied Lawry. + +"You don't mean so!" exclaimed the ferryman. + +"It's no use to talk round the barn, father; the pocket-book is just +where you put it." + +"Where I put it? What do you mean, Lawry?" + +"There it is in the crack under the drop, a foot above the water. It +did not wash in there of itself. Oh, father!" + +Lawry, unable longer to control his feelings, burst into tears. + +"What are you crying about, Lawry? Do you think I hid the pocketbook?" + +"I know you did, father," sobbed Lawry. + +"Do you accuse me of stealing?" demanded Mr. Wilford, with a weak +show of indignation. + +"I don't accuse you of anything, father; but there it is." + +"You mean to say that I stole it?" + +"Oh, father!" + +"Stop your whining, Lawry! What possessed you to poke round after +what did not concern you? Now, shut up, and go off about your +business." + +"You will not keep it, father?" + +"I haven't got it. If you have found it, I suppose there is time +enough to think what is best to be done." + +"I don't want any time to think of it," replied Lawry; and before +his father could prevent him, he took the pocketbook from its place +of concealment. + +"What are you going to do with it?" demanded Mr. Wilford. + +"I'm going to find Mr. Randall, and give it back to him, as quick as +I can." + +"What's the use of doing that?" + +"Because it's the right way to do." + +"That isn't the way to get rich." + +"But it's the way to keep honest." + +"Give it to me, Lawry." + +"What are you going to do with it, father?" + +"That's my business." + +"I shall give it back to the owner." + +"No, you won't, Lawry. Do you want to get me into trouble--to have +me sent to jail?" + +"If I give it back to Mr. Randall, there will be no trouble." + +"Lawry, I've been poor and honest long enough. I'm going to do as +other men do. I'm going to get rich." + +"By keeping this money?" exclaimed the son. + +"You needn't talk any more about it; I put the money where you found +it." + +"I know you did." + +"Give it to me." + +"I will not, father, if you mean to keep it." + +"I do mean to keep it. Do you think I have run all this risk for +nothing? Give me the pocketbook." + +"Don't think of such a thing as keeping it, father," pleaded Lawry. + +"I'm going to be rich," replied the father doggedly. + +"You know what mother said about making haste to be rich: 'Haste +makes waste.'" + +"It will make waste if you don't give me the pocket-book." + +"Mr. Randall will not be satisfied till he gets his money, and you +will certainly be found out." + +"No, I shall not be found out. I'll go to New York and change off +the money this very night." + +"But only think of it, father. You will be a thief. You never will +have a moment's peace as long as you live." + +"I never did have, and I shall not be any worse off," said Mr. +Wilford coldly. "There comes your steamer. She hasn't got any pilot +on board; I know by the way she steers. You had better go and see to +her, for she is running right for the Goblins." + +Lawry glanced at the _Woodville_, as she appeared rounding a +point, two miles distant. + +"If you will go and find Mr. Randall, I will give you the +pocketbook, father," replied Lawry. + +"Well, I guess you are right, Lawry, and I'll do it." + +"He has gone up to the village," added Lawry, as he handed the money +to his father. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +HASTE AND WASTE + + +Lawry, satisfied that his father had come to his senses, and would +restore the pocketbook to Mr. Randall, hastened into the boat, and +pulled toward the _Woodville_. He was afraid Mr. Sherwood had +been too venturesome in attempting to pilot the little steamer in +waters with which he was entirely unfamiliar; but he hoped for the +best, and rowed as hard as he could, in order to give him timely +warning of the perils which lay in the path of the beautiful craft. + +About half a mile above the landing at Port Rock there was a +dangerous ledge, called the Goblins, some of whose sharp points were +within a foot of the surface of the water when the lake was low. They +were some distance from the usual track of steamers, and there was no +buoy, or other mark, on them. The _Woodville_ was headed toward +the rocks, as the ferryman had said, and it was impossible for Lawry +to get within hailing distance of her before she reached them. He +pulled with all his strength, and had hoped to overhaul her in season +to avert a catastrophe. + +Occasionally, as he rowed, he looked behind him to observe the +course of the steamer. She was almost up to the Goblins, while he was +too far off to make himself heard in her wheel-house. He was appalled +at her danger, and the cold sweat stood on his brow, as he saw her +hastening to certain destruction. He could no longer hope to reach +her, and he ceased rowing. + +Standing up in his boat, he waved his hat, and made other signs to +warn the imprudent pilot of his danger. With one of the oars he tried +to signify to him that he must keep off; but no notice was taken of +his warning. On the forward deck of the little craft stood three +ladies, who, taking the boatman's energetic gestures for friendly +salutations, were waving their handkerchiefs to him. + +"Hard aport your helm!" shouted Lawry. + +Mr. Sherwood sounded the whistle, evidently taking the shout as a +cheer of congratulation at his safe arrival. + +"Keep off!" roared Lawry. + +Again the whistle sounded, and the ladies waved their handkerchiefs +more vigorously than before. The young pilot was in despair. The +_Woodville_ was going at full speed directly upon the rocks, +whose sharp points would grind her to powder if she struck upon them. + +"Hard aport!" repeated Lawry desperately. + +Once more the supposed cheer was answered by the whistle and the +waving of the ladies' handkerchiefs, and still the fairy craft dashed +on toward the rocks. + +"By gracious! she's on them, as sure as the world!" exclaimed Lawry +to himself, hardly able to breathe. + +He had hardly uttered the words before he heard the crash which +announced the doom of the _Woodville_. Her sharp bow slid upon +the ledge, and she suddenly stopped in her mad flight. + +Lawry bent on his oars again, horrified by the accident. He pulled +as he had never pulled before. A moment or two after the steamer +struck, he was startled by a succession of shrill shrieks from the +ladies, and he turned to see what had happened. The _Woodville_ +had filled, rolled off the rock, and sank in deep water, leaving her +passengers floating helplessly on the lake. The upper half of her +smokestack was all that remained in sight of the beautiful craft +which three minutes before had been a thing of beauty. + +The young pilot did not pause an instant to contemplate the scene of +destruction. He saw only the helpless persons struggling for life in +the water, and he renewed his labors with a vigor and skill which +soon brought him to the sufferers. Mr. Sherwood was supporting his +wife; but both of them were nearly exhausted. Lawry helped Bertha +into the boat, and told her husband to hold on at the rail. + +Ethan French, with his arm around the waist of Fanny Jane, was +holding on at the smokestack, where also the fireman of the boat was +supporting himself. + +"Where is Fanny?" gasped Mr. Sherwood. + +"I'm afraid she has gone down," replied Ethan French. "I saw her +just there a moment since." + +"I see her!" said Lawry, as he dived into the lake. + +Fanny, exhausted by her struggles, had sunk, and Lawry, with a +strong arm, bore her to the surface again; but she was too large and +heavy for him, and he could not support her. + +Before the arrival of the boat, Ethan was in the act of transferring +his helpless burden to the arms of the fireman, that he might go to +the assistance of Miss Fanny; and, as soon as Lawry appeared, he swam +out to help him. With the aid of the young engineer, the exhausted +lady was lifted into the boat. Fanny Jane was next taken in, but +there was no room for any more. + +Though Miss Fanny was in a worse condition than the other ladies, +she still had her senses; and none of the party was in danger. Mr. +Sherwood, Ethan, and the fireman were still in the water, holding on +at the rail of the boat. Lawry took the oars and pulled toward the +ferry-landing. + +"Thank God, we are all safe!" said Mr. Sherwood. + +"Some of us must have been drowned if Lawry had not come to our +assistance," added Miss Fanny. "I had given up, and was sinking to +the bottom. My senses were leaving me, when I felt his grasp on my +arm." + +"You have done bravely, Lawry," added Bertha. + +But the party did not feel much like talking. They were all grateful +to God, who had, through the agency of the young pilot, saved them +from their perilous situation. When the boat reached the landing-place, +the ladies were conducted to the cottage of John Wilford, +where everything was done by Mrs. Wilford to promote their comfort. +Lawry hastened up to Mr. Sherwood's house to procure the carriage, +which had fortunately just returned from Port Henry, and the party +were soon conveyed to their home. + +Dry clothing and a little rest soon restored Mr. Sherwood and the +ladies to their wonted spirits, and all of them wished to see their +brave deliverer. He was sent for, and presented himself to the ladies +in the drawing-room. Lawry, anxious to learn the condition of the +ladies after their cold bath, and their terrible fright, had followed +the carriage up to the house, and was telling the coachman the +particulars of the catastrophe when he was summoned to the presence +of the family. + +Never was a young man more earnestly and sincerely thanked for a +brave and noble deed; and Mr. Sherwood hinted that something more +substantial than thanks would be bestowed upon him. + +"Thank you, sir; I don't need anything more," replied Lawry, +blushing. "What will be done with the steamer, now?" he asked. + +"I have got enough of her," said Mr. Sherwood. "She has given me a +shock I shall never forget." + +"I don't think it was the fault of the boat, sir," suggested Lawry. +"I did all I could to have you keep off the rocks." + +"We all thought you were crazy, you shook so in your boat." + +"I was trying to warn you of your danger." + +"Was that what you meant? We thought you were cheering the +_Woodville_." + +"I saw you were going on the rocks, and I shouted and made signs for +you to keep off." + +"You certainly did all you could for us, both before and after the +accident," added Mr. Sherwood. "When did you get home, Lawry?" + +"To-day noon, just after you went to the house for me. I came right +up to see you; but I found you had gone." + +"Yes; I was so impatient to get that little steamer up here, that I +couldn't wait any longer." + +"And what a waste your haste has made!" laughed Mrs. Sherwood. +"There is our fine little steamer at the bottom of the lake." + +"She may lie there, for all me," added Mr. Sherwood. + +"I should not dare to put my foot on board of her again," said Miss +Fanny. + +"Nor I," chimed in Fanny Jane. + +"She isn't to blame, Mr. Sherwood," interposed Ethan French. "She +worked as though she had been alive." + +"No steamer could stand such a thump on the Goblins," added Lawry. + +"I don't blame the boat, of course," replied Mr. Sherwood; "but this +adventure has cured me of my love for steamboating. I don't want to +see another one." + +"Shall you let the _Woodville_ lie there?" asked Lawry. + +"She's a wreck now, stove in and ruined." + +"But she can be raised and repaired, and be as good as ever, or +nearly so," continued Lawry. + +"She is good for nothing to me now. I will give her to any one who +wants her." + +"There are plenty who will want her," said Lawry. + +"It will cost them a fortune to raise and repair her--almost as much +as she is worth, if she is to be used as a plaything. But I have come +to the conclusion that she is a dangerous machine for me, and I don't +want anything more to do with her. I came very near drowning my wife +and my friends with her; and this fills me with disgust for the boat +and for myself." + +"Just now you spoke of a reward for what I had the good luck to do +for you, Mr. Sherwood," continued Lawry. + +"I did; and you may be assured I shall never forget your noble +conduct," replied Mr. Sherwood warmly. + +"If you are going to give the _Woodville_ away, sir--" + +"Well, what?" asked Mr. Sherwood, as the young pilot paused. + +"I don't know as I ought to say what I was going to say." + +"Say it, Lawry, say it," added Mr. Sherwood kindly. + +"You said you would give the steamer to any one who wanted her," +continued Lawry, hesitating. + +"And you want her?" laughed the wealthy gentleman. + +"Yes, sir; that is what I was going to say." + +"Then she is yours, Lawry; but I might as well give you the fee +simple of a farm in Ethiopia. I don't feel as though I had given you +anything, my boy." + +"Indeed you have, sir! I feel as though you had made my fortune for +me; and I am very much obliged to you, sir." + +"I don't believe you have anything to thank me for, Lawry. As I +understand it, the _Woodville_ lies on the bottom of the lake, +with her bow stove in, and her hull as useless as though the parts +had never been put together. The engine and the iron and brass work +are worth a good deal of money, I know; but it will cost all they +will bring to raise them." + +"I don't think the steamer is ruined, sir. I hope you are not giving +her away believing that she is not worth anything," said Lawry. + +"I don't think she is worth much." + +"I think she stove a great hole in her bow, and that is all that +ails her. If we can get her on the ways, she can be made as good as +ever she was in a week." + +"Whatever her condition, Lawry, she is yours. I will give you a bill +of sale of her at once." + +Mr. Sherwood executed the paper in due form, affixed the stamp, and +gave the document to the young pilot. + +"I can hardly help weeping when I think of the beautiful little +steamer," said Mrs. Sherwood. "She was a perfect little fairy. How +elated we were as we moved up the lake in her! What fine times we +were promising ourselves on board of her! Now the dear little craft +lies on the bottom of the lake, broken and spoiled!" + +"I shouldn't dare to put my foot in her again," added Miss Fanny. "I +shudder when I think of her." + +"I shudder when I think of you, Fanny. You were sinking when Lawry +dived down after you," said Mr. Sherwood. + +"We ought all to be grateful to God for His mercy in saving us," +added Fanny Jane. + +"I trust we are grateful to Him; and I am sure we shall never forget +what Lawry has done to-day," responded the gentleman. + +"Never!" exclaimed Fanny warmly. + +"It was all my fault," continued Mr. Sherwood. "I am ashamed of +myself, and disgusted with the boat." + +"The boat is not to blame, sir," said Ethan French. "She behaved +like a lady." + +"I know she is not to blame. It was my silly impatience. I was in +such a hurry to try the steamer that I could not wait for a pilot. +Bertha, do you know what your father used to say to me when I was in +a hurry?" + +"I don't know; but I have heard him say that you were too impatient +for your own good." + +"'Haste and Waste' was his maxim, when I was not disposed to wait +the natural development of events. By neglecting this precept, I have +nearly sacrificed the lives of my best friends. Lawry, if you are +going to be a steamboat man, let me give you this maxim for your +government--'Haste and Waste.'" + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE SHERIFF'S VISIT + + +Lawry put the bill of sale of the _Woodville_ in his pocket, +and felt like a steamboat proprietor; for the fact that his steamer +lay at the bottom of the lake did not seem to lessen her value. She +was in a safe place, and there was no danger of her "blowing up" or +drifting away from him. The haste of Mr. Sherwood had been "a +windfall" to him, though Lawry would not willingly have purchased the +steamer at the peril of so many precious lives. He was ready to +accept the moral and prudential deductions from the catastrophe, and +really believed that the rich man's maxim was a safe and valuable one. + +In his own limited experience, Lawry could recall many instances +where haste had made waste; but the foolish conduct of Mr. Sherwood +in attempting to navigate the _Woodville_ in water with which he +was totally unacquainted was the most impressive example of the worth +of the proverb, and he felt that the steamer, in his own possession, +would always mean "haste and waste" to him. + +"I have often heard my father speak of the folly of unconsidered +action and blind haste," said Bertha. "He lost a valued friend in the +steamship _Arctic_, which was sunk, and hundreds of lives +sacrificed, by running at full speed in a dense fog. In her case, +haste was not only a terrible waste of property, but of life." + +"That will be worth remembering, Lawry, when you are in command of a +steamer," added Mr. Sherwood. + +"I don't think I ever shall be in such a position," replied Lawry +modestly. + +"I am afraid you never will be on board of the _Woodville_." + +"I'm pretty sure she can be raised, though I may not have the means +to do it myself," continued Lawry. + +"You shall have all the means you want, my boy," replied Mr. +Sherwood. "We owe you a debt of gratitude which we shall never be +able to pay, and if you want anything, don't fail to call upon me." + +"If you need any help, Lawry, I'm with you," said Ethan French. + +"Thank you; I dare say I shall want all the help I can get," +answered Lawry, as he took his leave of the family. + +"I'm the owner of a steamboat!" thought he. "I'm a lucky fellow, and +I shall make my fortune in the _Woodville_. I can take out +parties, or I can run her on a day route from Burlington up the lake; +and there is towing enough to keep me busy all summer." + +Excited by the brightest visions of the future, he came in sight of +his father's cottage. It looked poorer and meaner than it had ever +looked before; and perhaps he thought it was hardly a fit abode for a +steamboat proprietor. When he saw the tall mast of the ferry-boat, +with the sail flapping idly in the wind, he was reminded of the +events which had occurred on board of her that afternoon. It was +mortifying to think that his father had even been tempted to steal; +but he was rejoiced to know that he had been induced to return the +six thousand dollars to the owner. + +Lawry had not seen his father since he left the landing-place to +board the _Woodville_. He was not at the house when the party +landed, after the catastrophe, and Lawry was glad he was not there, +for his absence assured the anxious son that he had gone in search of +Mr. Randall. Amid the exciting events which had followed the painful +discovery that his father intended to steal the six thousand dollars, +the young pilot had not thought of the matter, for his mind was +entirely relieved by Mr. Wilford's promise to give up the money. + +Lawry went into the house; his father had not yet returned, and his +mother asked him a hundred questions about the steamboat disaster, as +she set the table for supper. When the meal was ready, Mrs. Wilford +went to the door and blew a tin horn, which was intended to summon +the ferryman to his tea. + +"I think father has not got back yet," said Lawry. + +"Where has he gone?" + +"Up to the village, I believe," replied Lawry, who had determined +not to tell his mother of the great temptation to which his father +had almost yielded. + +"What has he gone up there for?" inquired Mrs. Wilford, who perhaps +saw in the anxious looks of her son that something had been concealed +from her. + +"He had a little business up there," answered the young pilot. "I +think we had better not wait for him, for he may not be back for some +time. I haven't shown you this paper, mother," he continued, wishing +to draw off her attention from his father, as he handed her the bill +of sale of the _Woodville_, and seated himself at the table. + +"What is it, Lawry?" + +"It is a bill of sale of the little steamer." + +"A what?" demanded Mrs. Wilford, as she paused with the teapot +suspended over a cup. + +"A bill of sale of the new steamer." + +"What, the one that was sunk?" + +"Yes; Mr. Sherwood has given her to me, just as she lies." + +"Humph! He might as well have given you a five-acre lot at the +bottom of the lake. What in the world can you do with a steamboat +smashed to pieces and sunk?" + +"I can raise her." + +"You may as well think of raising the Goblins on which she sank." + +"She can be raised, mother." + +"Perhaps she can, but you can't raise her." + +"I shall try, at any rate," replied Lawry confidently. + +The conversation was interrupted by the arrival of the ferryman. The +son cast an anxious glance at his father, as the latter took his +accustomed place at the table. A forced smile played about the lips +of Mr. Wilford; but Lawry interpreted it as an effort to overcome the +sense of humiliation his father must feel at having his dishonest +intentions discovered by his son. + +"Well, Lawry, I found him," said Mr. Wilford. + +"Did you? I'm very glad you did," replied the son. + +"Who?" asked Mrs. Wilford. + +"The bank man--the one that lost the money," replied the ferryman. + +"What did you want of him?" + +"We found his money after he had gone." + +"Did you? I'm so glad! And neither of you said a word to me about it." + +"I gave it back to him, and it's all right now." + +Unhappily, it was not all right; and the ferryman had scarcely +uttered the words before a knock was heard at the door. Without +awaiting the movements of Mrs. Wilford, who rose from the table to +open the door, the visitors entered. Mr. Wilford turned deadly pale, +for the first person that passed the threshold was the sheriff, whose +face was familiar to the ferryman. He was followed by Mr. Randall and +a constable. + +Lawry's heart sank within him when he saw who the visitors were. He +feared that his father, in spite of his statement to the contrary, +had been led to appropriate the six thousand dollars. It was a moment +of agony to him, and he would have given his right, title, and +interest in the sunken steamer for the assurance that his parent was +an honest man. + +"I come on rather unpleasant business, Mr. Wilford," the sheriff +began; "but I suppose I may as well speak out first as last." + +"Goodness! what can you want here!" exclaimed Mrs. Wilford. + +"Don't be alarmed, Mrs. Wilford," said the sheriff. "It may be all +right, for what I know. Mr. Randall, here, has lost a large sum of +money, and he thinks he has been robbed. I'm sure I hope it's all +right." + +"Why, husband!" ejaculated Mrs. Wilford; "didn't you just say--" + +"I didn't say anything," interposed the ferryman. + +Lawry was quite as pale as his father. He would rather have been +accused of the crime himself than had it charged upon his father; he +would rather have gone to prison himself than had him dragged away on +such an infamous accusation. The sheriff's encouraging words that it +might be all right, had no force or comfort for him. Lawry knew that +his father was guilty, and he was in despair. + +Mrs. Wilford had only heard that the money was lost, at first; and +then, from her husband, that it had been found and restored to the +owner. It was plain that he had told her a falsehood; that if he had +found the money, it was still in his possession. The case was too +plain to need much reflection. Mr. Randall and the sheriff knew less +than the ferryman, less than his wife and his son; but in the good +woman's estimation, it was far worse to be guilty than it was to be +detected. + +It would be difficult to fathom the motives which induced John +Wilford to tell his wife and son that the money had been restored to +the owner. Perhaps he had some plan by which he hoped to escape +detection and punishment for his crime; or it may be that he told the +falsehood to satisfy Lawry for the present moment. His calculations, +whatever they may have been, were exceedingly stupid and ill +digested. There was an utter want of skill and judgment in his +operations. He was not a strong-minded man, and his guilt seemed to +have paralyzed his weak faculties. His failure to be rich in the path +of dishonesty was even more signal than his honest but weak efforts +in a legitimate business. + +"What did he just say?" asked the sheriff, whose attention was +attracted by Mrs. Wilford's words, but more by the sharp manner of +her husband as he interrupted her. + +"What is your business with me?" demanded the ferryman of the +sheriff, earnestly. + +"What did he say?" repeated the sheriff. + +"If my husband has been doing anything wrong, I'm sorry for it," +replied Mrs. Wilford. + +"Mr. Randall thinks he has taken his money," added the sheriff. "If +you can tell me what your husband just said, it might throw some +light on the matter." + +"Oh, husband!" cried the poor wife, throwing herself into a chair +and weeping bitterly. + +"Mr. Randall knows I haven't taken his money," protested the +ferryman stoutly. + +"Don't cry, marm," said the sheriff, moved by the distress of the +afflicted wife. "Nothing has been proved yet, and for all I know, +your husband may be as honest as any man in Essex County." + +"I've always been an honest man, and I always expect to be," added +the culprit. "I haven't got the money. If any of you think I have, +why don't you do something about it--not try to frighten my wife?" + +Mr. Wilford was searched by the sheriff and constable, but the money +was not upon his person. The house was then carefully examined, but +with no different result. + +"Do you know anything about this business, Lawry?" said the sheriff, +when the search was completed. + +"I don't think he had anything to do with it," interposed Mr. +Randall. "The boy helped me look for the pocketbook, and behaved very +handsomely; but I didn't like the looks of his father." + +"What did your father say just before we came?" asked the sheriff. + +Lawry was stupefied with grief and shame. He knew not what to say, +and he dropped his head upon the table, and sobbed like a little child. + +"Things look bad, Mr. Wilford. Your wife and Lawry know more than +they are willing to tell," continued the officer. + +"You have scared them half out of their wits," replied the ferryman, +trying to smile. + +"It isn't likely we can find out anything here," said the constable. +"If he has got the money, he has hid it round the house somewhere." + +Adopting this suggestion, the officers, followed by Mr. Randall, +left the cottage to examine the vicinity. The constable was a shrewd +man, and for a country locality, quite distinguished as a thief-taker. +The shower early in the afternoon had left the ground in +condition to receive the tracks of every individual who had been near +the ferry. + +The sharp officer examined all the marks in the earth, and finally +followed the footsteps of John Wilford, through a corn-field, above +the cottage. + +Mrs. Wilford and Lawry wept as though their hearts would break, +while the ferryman, trembling with apprehension, paced the kitchen. + +"What are you crying for?" said he impatiently. + +"Oh, John!" sobbed his wife. + +"Nothing has been proved." + +"Yes, there has. You told me you had given the money to Mr. Randall." + +"You told me you would restore it to the owner, when I gave you the +pocketbook," added Lawry. + +"Lawry, if you say a word about it, you shall go to jail with me," +said Mr. Wilford angrily. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +"THE FERRYMAN'S CRIME" + + +Mr. Wilford, in spite of his faults and peculiarities, was a kind +father, and never before had been heard to utter such terrible words +as those which had just passed his lips. It was a consolation to +Lawry and his mother to believe that the words were only a threat +which was never intended to be executed, and only made to awe the +youth into silence. It was needless; for, right or wrong, the son +would have died rather than betray his father. + +John Wilford's operations in hiding the money were as transparent as +his efforts to quiet the suspicions of his family. The constable +followed his tracks in the soft ground of the corn-field till he came +to a stump in one corner of the lot. It was decayed and hollow, and +in one of the cavities the pocketbook was discovered. Mr. Randall +laughed for joy when it was handed up to him. Its contents were +undisturbed, and not a dollar of the money was missing. The party +walked back to the house, having been absent less than half an hour. +The ferryman was just coming out as they entered the gate. + +"I hope you are satisfied," said he, confident that the officers +would never think of crossing the corn-field in search of the lost +treasure. + +"I'm satisfied, Mr. Wilford," said the sheriff. + +"Don't you think it is a mean thing to come here and accuse me of +robbing one of my passengers?" continued the ferryman. + +"I don't think so." + +"In my opinion, Mr. Randall hasn't lost any money. I don't believe a +man would throw his coat down anywhere if there was six thousand +dollars in the pocket." + +"But the money was lost, whether you believe it or not," interposed +the bank director, irritated by this charge. + +"I've heard of such a thing as men losing money to cheat their +creditors, or something of that sort," added the ferryman. + +"Don't talk so, husband," said Mrs. Wilford, who, with Lawry, had +come out of the house when they heard the voice of the sheriff, +anxious to learn the result of the search. + +"Don't you think that's mean, to accuse a man of cheating his +creditors, after you have stolen his money?" retorted Mr. Randall. + +"What right have you to say I stole your money?" demanded Mr. +Wilford, with a show of intense indignation. + +"Because you did." + +"Can you prove it?" + +"I think I can." + +"No, you can't. I don't believe you lost any money. It's only a +trick to cheat the bank or your creditors." + +"We shall see." + +"Don't talk so, husband," repeated Mrs. Wilford. + +"Keep still, wife. When a man hasn't done anything, it's hard to be +charged with stealing six thousand dollars. They can't prove anything." + +"Yes, we can, Mr. Wilford," interposed the sheriff. "It becomes my +duty to arrest you, though I would rather have done it when your +family were not present." + +"Arrest me! What for?" exclaimed John Wilford. "You can't prove +anything." + +"Yes, we can," replied the sheriff. + +"What can you prove?" + +"I think it would be better for you not to talk so much," added the +sheriff, in a low tone. "Come with me, and I will do my duty as +quietly as possible." + +"Come with you! What for?" said Mr. Wilford, in a loud tone. "I +didn't steal the money." + +"It's a plain case. It's no use for you to deny it any longer." + +"But I didn't." + +"We have found the money, just where you put it." + +"Found--what!" stammered the guilty man. + +"Oh, husband!" groaned Mrs. Wilford. + +"Oh, father!" sobbed Lawry. + +"I'm sorry, Mrs. Wilford," said the kind-hearted officer; "but it's +all as plain as daylight. He took the money and hid it in a stump in +the corn-field, where we found it." + +"What shall we do?" cried Mrs. Wilford. + +"It's a bad business, marm, but I can't help it. I must do my duty." + +Mr. Wilford leaned on the garden-fence, with his gaze fixed upon the +ground. He could not look the loved ones in the face, after the crime +he had committed. The smaller children, who had been at play around +the house, were now gathered about the group, unable fully to +comprehend the terrible misfortune which had befallen them; though, +as they gazed on Lawry and their mother, they could not help +realizing that something very sad had happened. + +"I'm ready to go with you," said John Wilford to the sheriff, for +the scene was too affecting and humiliating. + +"Oh, husband, why did you do it?" exclaimed Mrs. Wilford, as she +grasped one of his arms, clinging to him like a true woman, in spite +of his shame and infamy. + +"I don't know why I did it. I was crazy. I wanted to be rich," +replied the unhappy man. + +"I wish you had given back the money, as you said you did." + +"I wish I had now." + +"Can nothing be done?" continued Mrs. Wilford, appealing to the +sheriff. "Must he go with you?" + +"He must; my duty is as plain as it can be." + +The poor woman suggested various expedients to avoid the fearful +consequences; she appealed to the bank director, and begged him not +to prosecute her husband. Mr. Randall, though he had been greatly +irritated by the cruel insinuations of the culprit, was not a +malignant man; and he was disposed to grant the petition of the +disconsolate wife. He had recovered his money, and had no malice +against the ferryman. But the sheriff declared that no such +arrangement could be tolerated. The matter had been placed in his +hands, and, as a sworn officer of the law, he should be obliged to +arrest the offender. + +In vain Mrs. Wilford pleaded for her husband; in vain Lawry pleaded +for his father; the sheriff, kind and considerate as he had shown +himself to be, was inexorable in the discharge of his duty. There was +no alternative; and John Wilford must go to jail. The poor wife, when +she found that her tears and her pleadings were unavailing, submitted +to the stern necessity. She insisted that her husband should be +allowed to change his dress, which the sheriff readily granted; and +in a short time the culprit appeared in his best clothes. It was a +sad parting between him and his family, and even the ferryman wept as +he passed out from beneath his humble roof, not again to come beneath +its friendly shelter for many, many weary months. + +Mrs. Wilford and Lawry were stunned by the heavy blow. The light of +earthly joys seemed suddenly to have gone out, and left them in the +gloom and woe of disgrace. There was nothing to be said at such a +time, and they sobbed in silence, until the sound of the ferry-horn +roused Lawry from his lethargy of grief. Some one wished to cross the +lake, and had given the usual signal with the tin horn, placed on a +post for the purpose, at the side of the road. + +"There is no ferryman here now," said Mrs. Wilford gloomily. + +"I will go, mother," replied Lawry. + +"It may be many a day before your father comes back," added Mrs. +Wilford, as she wiped away her tears. "It is a great deal worse than +a funeral." + +"We can't help it, mother, and I suppose we must make the best of it." + +"I suppose we must; but I don't know what we are going to do." + +"We shall do well enough, mother. I will attend to the ferry; but +poor father--" + +Lawry, finding he could not speak without a fresh flow of tears, +hastened out of the house. There were two wagons waiting for him; and +when they were embarked in the boat, he pushed off, and trimmed the +sail for the gentle breeze that was blowing up the lake. The +passengers asked for his father; but Lawry could only tell them that +he had gone away: the truth was too painful for him to reveal. He +returned to his desolate home when he had ferried the wagons over the +lake. There was nothing but misery in that humble abode, and but +little sleep for those who were old enough to comprehend the sadness +and shame of their situation. + +Before morning the news of John Wilford's crime had been circulated +through the village of Port Rock and its vicinity. Some knew that the +ferryman was lazy and thriftless, and wondered he had not robbed +somebody before. Others had always regarded him as a person of no +sagacity or forethought, but did not think he would steal. Many +pitied his family, and some said that Lawry was "as smart as two of +his father," and that his mother and the children would be well +provided for. + +The intelligence went to the mansion of Mr. Sherwood, and there it +touched the hearts of true friends. Though none of them knew much +about the ferryman and his family, yet for Lawry's sake they were +deeply interested in them. + +After breakfast Mr. Sherwood went down to the ferry-house; and the +young pilot, with many tears and sobs, told him the whole of the sad +story of his father's crime. The rich man was full of sympathy, but +nothing could be done. He volunteered to be the culprit's bail, and +to provide him with the best counsel in the State. But John Wilford +was guilty, and nothing could wipe out this terrible truth. + +Mr. Sherwood did all he had promised to do; but the ferryman, after +he had been examined and fully committed for trial, declined to +furnish bail, declaring that he did not wish to be seen at Port Rock +again. At the next session of the court, two months after his +committal, he pleaded guilty of the robbery and was sentenced to +three years' imprisonment in the penitentiary at Sing Sing. + +After the sentence the prisoner was permitted to see his family for +the last time for many months. It was a sad and touching interview; +but from it Lawry and his mother derived much consolation. John +Wilford was penitent; he was truly sorry for what he had done, and +declared that, when he had served out his time, he would be a better +man than he had ever been before. It was comforting to the mother and +son to know that the wanderer was not hardened and debased by his +crime and the exposure; and they returned to their home submissive to +their lot, sad and dreary as it was. + +From the day his father had been arrested, Lawry felt that the care +of the family devolved upon him. His older brother was away from +home, and was indolent and dissipated. The ferry and the little farm +must be cared for, as from them came the entire support of his mother +and his brothers and sisters. Though he was oppressed by the burden +of sorrow which his father's crime cast upon him, he did not yield to +despair. + +Half a mile below the ferry-landing he could see the smokestack of +the _Woodville_ projecting above the water. She was his property; +and if she had seemed to be a prize to him before the calamity had +fallen upon his father's household, she was doubly so now. As he +crossed the ferry, he gazed up at the Goblins, with less of exultation, +but more of hope, than before. In his opinion, as he expressed it to his +mother, there was "money in her." Mrs. Wilford was in great tribulation +lest the man who now held the mortgage upon the little farm should +insist upon being paid, as there was now no hope that, the debtor, in +prison, would be able to do anything. Lawry told her that the steamboat +would enable them to pay all claims upon his father. + +Mrs. Wilford had but little confidence in her son's schemes, but she +did not discourage them; and Lawry racked his brain for expedients to +accomplish the task he had imposed upon himself. He had no money, and +he was too proud to ask Mr. Sherwood for the assistance which that +gentleman would so gladly have rendered. Ethan French came down to +see him every day, and the prairie boy was so kind and considerate +that they soon became fast friends. + +"When are you going to work on the steamer, Lawry?" asked Ethan. "I +suppose you don't feel much like meddling with her yet." + +"I don't; but she ought to be raised as soon as possible," replied +Lawry. "I am going to work upon her right off. I went down to see how +she lies this morning, and I have got my plans all laid." + +"Have you?" + +"I have." + +"Do you think you can get her up?" + +"I know I can." + +"Well, how are you going to do it?" inquired Ethan. + +"Do you know Mr. Nelson, over at Pointville? I suppose you don't. +Well, he is a great oil man; he has got some oil-wells down on the +St. Johns River. He is getting together all the barrels and hogsheads +he can find, to send down to his works. He has as many as a hundred +at his place in Pointville. I'm going to borrow a lot of these casks, +if I can, and raise the _Woodville_ with them." + +"How are you going to manage with them?" asked Ethan, deeply +interested in the plan. + +"Sink them round the boat, and fasten them to her hull, till there +is enough to float her." + +"But how are you going to sink them?" + +"There's some one to go over the ferry," replied Lawry, as a blast +of the tin horn was heard. "If you will go over with me, I will tell +you all about it, and we will call and see Mr. Nelson while we are at +Pointville." + +Ethan embarked with his friend, and when the boat started the +subject was resumed. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +RAISING THE "WOODVILLE" + + +Ethan French, during the two years he had been a resident of the +State of New York, had been an earnest and diligent student. His mind +was even more improved than his manners. His taste for mechanics had +prompted him to study the various subjects included in this science, +and as he stood by his companion, the pilot, he talked quite +learnedly about the specific gravity of wood and iron, about +displacement, buoyancy, and similar topics. + +"The hull of the steamer--that is, the woodwork--will not float +itself, but it will sustain considerable additional weight," said he. + +"Yes, I understand all that," replied Lawry. "If there had been no +iron in the _Woodville_ she would not have gone down." + +"The iron in her engines is seven or eight times as heavy as the +same bulk of water. Its weight carried the hull down with it." + +"Then we must put down empty casks enough to float the engine," +added Lawry. + +"No; the woodwork of the hull will hold up a portion of the weight +of the engine, and we must furnish buoyancy enough to sustain the +rest of it." + +"It will not take a great many casks, then--will it?" + +"Not a great many; but the difficulty is to get them down to the +bottom, and fasten them to the hull." + +"I can do that," replied Lawry confidently. + +Ethan approved the method, and promised to ascertain what weight +each of the casks would sustain in the water, when he had obtained +their dimensions. The ferry-boat reached the other side of the lake, +and the young men went to see Mr. Nelson, the owner of the casks. He +did not wish to use the hogsheads till October, and was willing they +should be employed for the purpose indicated, if Lawry would give him +security for their safe return. + +"Mr. Sherwood will do that for you, Lawry," said Ethan. + +"That's a good name," added the oil speculator. "If he will +guarantee the safe return of the casks, that is all I ask. I wonder +if Mr. Sherwood don't want some shares in the Meteor Oil Company." + +"I don't know; I'll ask him," replied Ethan. + +"If you will, I won't charge you anything for the use of the casks," +added Mr. Nelson. + +Mr. Sherwood was consulted in the evening. He was very willing to +furnish the required security for the use of the oil-casks, but he +did not seem to have the same confidence in the "Meteor" which Mr. +Nelson exhibited, though he promised to consider the matter. + +It required three days to complete the preparations for raising the +_Woodville_. All the ropes and rigging in the neighborhood, +including many hay-ropes and clothes-lines, had been collected; the +oil-casks had been conveyed over the lake in the ferry-boat, and +secured within a "boom" composed of four long timbers, lashed +together at the ends, forming a square, which was moored close to the +Goblins; and a raft had been built, upon which the operations were to +be conducted. + +Mr. Sherwood had offered to furnish as many men as could be employed +to assist in the work; but the young engineers had so arranged their +plans that no help was needed. At sunrise in the morning the boys ran +down to the Goblins in the ferry-boat, which was necessary for the +transportation of sundry heavy articles. The raft was already there, +moored in the proper place for commencing the labors of the day. The +engineers were deeply interested in the operations before them, for +there was a difficult problem to be solved, which required all their +skill and ingenuity; and Lawry felt that his future prosperity and +happiness depended upon the success of the undertaking. + +Their plans and their machinery were yet to be tried, and there was +a degree of excitement attending the execution of the project which +was as agreeable as it was stimulating to their enthusiastic natures. +People had laughed at the idea of two boys raising a steamer burdened +with heavy machinery, and both of them felt that their reputations +were at stake. + +"Now, Lawry, we shall soon find out what we can do," said Ethan, as +they made fast the ferry-boat to the raft. + +"I know what we can do," replied the young pilot confidently. "If +the casks will float her, she shall come to the top of the water +before to-morrow night. Now, Ethan, the first thing is to get a rope +under her." + +"That's easy enough." + +"It's all easy enough, if you only believe in yourself." + +A rope of six fathoms in length was selected from the mass of +rigging on the raft, and a stone just heavy enough to sink the line +attached to the middle of it. Lawry took it in the wherry, sculled to +the stern of the sunken steamer, and dropped it into the water. He +then carried one end to Ethan, on the raft, while he returned with +the other in his boat, which he moored to the opposite side of the +_Woodville_. The middle of the rope was kept on the bottom of +the lake by the stone, while the two ends were carried forward by the +boys until the bight was drawn under the keel of the steamer, as far +as her position on the rocks would permit it to go. Lawry's end was +made fast around the smokestack, and Ethan's to the raft. + +One of the hogsheads was next floated out of the boom enclosure, and +hauled upon the raft, Lawry adjusted the hogshead slings to the cask. +In the middle of the raft an aperture had been left, large enough for +a hogshead to pass through, over which a small derrick had been +built. A stone post, about the length of the casks, and just heavy +enough to sink one of them, had been brought down on the bateau. This +"sinker," as the young engineers called it, had been weighed, and it +exactly conformed to the requirement of Ethan's figures; it was just +sufficient to overcome the flotage power of the cask. + +"Now, keep cool, Ethan, and we shall find out whether your figures +are correct, or not," said Lawry. + +"Figures won't lie," replied Ethan; "I know they are correct, and +that hogshead will go to the bottom as quick as though it were made +of lead." + +"We shall soon see," added Lawry, as he placed a couple of skids +across the "well." "Now we must place the sinker on those skids." + +By the aid of the derrick, which was provided with a rude windlass, +constructed by Ethan, the stone post was hoisted up, and then dropped +down on the skids. The sinker had been rigged with slings, and the +hogshead was attached to it by a contrivance of Lawry, upon which the +success of the operation wholly depended, and which it will be very +difficult to describe with words. The sinker would carry the cask to +the bottom of the lake, where its buoyancy was to assist in bringing +the steamer to the surface of the water; but it was necessary, after +the cask had been sunk and fastened to the hull, to detach it from +the sinker; and this had been a problem of no little difficulty to +Lawry, who managed the nautical part of the enterprise. + +Fastened to the slings on the sinker was a rope ten fathoms in +length. A loop was formed in this line, close to the sinker, and the +bight passed through the slings on the hogshead. The loop was then +laid over the two ropes, one of which was fast to the sinker, and the +other was the unattached end of the line, and "toggled" on with a +marline-spike. If the young reader does not quite understand the +process, let him take a string, with one end fastened to a flatiron; +double it, and pass the loop--which sailors call a _bight_--upward +between the thumb and forefinger; bring the loop down to meet +the two parts of the string on the palm of the hand; then take the +two lines into the loop, and put a pencil under the two parts drawn +through the loop. The flatiron will correspond to the stone sinker, +and the thumb to the slings on the hogshead. Lift up the flatiron, so +that the weight will bear on the thumb; then pull out the pencil, and +the iron will drop. + +The marlinespike was thoroughly greased, and a small line attached +to the head of it, so that it could be easily drawn out of the loop, +when the cask had been secured to the hull of the steamer. + +"There, we are all right now," said Lawry, after he had tried the +marlinespike several times to satisfy himself that it could be easily +drawn from its place. "Now we will make fast the rope which runs +under the keel to the hogshead." + +"Here it is," added Ethan. + +"We want to have the cask under the guard of the steamer when we get +it down." + +"That will be easy enough." + +"Perhaps it will; but I'm afraid the rope will bind on the keel." + +"If it does, we must take the raft round to the other side of the +_Woodville_, and pass it round the windlass; we can haul it up +in that way." + +"That will take too much time. I think you and I both will be strong +enough to haul the cask into place." + +"Now, give us a turn at the windlass, Ethan," said Lawry, when he +was ready. + +"Aye, aye," replied Ethan, as he turned the crank, and raised the +sinker and the cask, so that the skids which supported them could be +removed. + +"Lower away!" added Lawry, highly excited; and the sinker began to +descend into the water, carrying with it the hogshead. "That works +first-rate. Now hold on till I get hold of the other end of the +guide-rope." + +Lawry jumped into the wherry, and sculled round to the other side of +the sunken steamer, where he detached the end of the line passing +under the keel from the smoke-stack, where it had been secured. He +hauled on the rope till he got it clear of the stone with which it +had been sunk. + +"Lower away!" shouted Lawry. + +"Lower, it is," answered Ethan. + +"Slowly," added the pilot, as he hauled in the rope. + +"It is going to the right place. I can see it in the water." + +"Hold on!" cried Lawry; and the wherry was so unsteady beneath him +that it was with great difficulty he "kept what he had got" on the +rope. + +In order to overcome this disadvantage he passed the rope around the +smokestack. + +"I have it now!" shouted he. "This gives me a splendid purchase;" +and he hauled in the rope, bringing the hogshead chock up to the hull +of the sunken craft. + +"We are growing wiser every moment," laughed Ethan. + +"So we are. Lower away, slowly. That's it," said Lawry. "Lower away." + +"The sinker is on the bottom," replied Ethan. + +"All right; can you see the hogshead?" + +"Yes; you have hauled it completely under the guard. The water is as +clear as crystal," answered Ethan. + +"Hold on a moment till I make fast this line!" + +Thus far the experiment had been entirely successful, and Lawry's +bosom bounded with emotion. The plan for raising the _Woodville_ +was his own, though he had been greatly assisted by Ethan, who had +designed and constructed the derrick and windlass, thus diminishing +the labor of the enterprise. The young pilot felt like a conqueror +when he had placed the first cask in position. + +Sculling the wherry back to the raft, he pulled the string attached +to the toggle, and drew it out of the noose. + +"Hoist away," said he. + +"Hoist, it is," replied Ethan, as he took hold with him. + +"All right!" shouted the young nautical engineer. "I feel like +giving three cheers," he added. + +"So do I; and we'll do it, when we get the sinker on the raft." + +The stone post came up "in good order and condition," and the skids +were placed under it, to keep it in position for the sinking of the +second hogshead. The three cheers were given with a will, and they +came from the hearts of the boys. They had labored patiently for +three days in gathering the material and constructing the machinery +for the raising of the steamer, and their first success was a real joy. + +"Breakfast-time," said Lawry, as the horn sounded from the ferry-house. + +"I don't want any breakfast," answered Ethan. "I don't feel as +though we could spare the time for eating." + +"Haste and waste," added Lawry, laughing. "We have got a great deal +of hard work to do, and we must keep our strength. For my part, I'm +hungry." + +"I'm not; and I'm so interested in this job that I don't like to +leave. We ought to have brought our breakfast down with us." + +"I don't think we shall make anything by driving the work too hard. +We must keep cool, and do it well. Besides, I'm liable to be called +off a dozen times a day." + +"What for?" + +"To take people over the ferry." + +"Oh, bother!" exclaimed Ethan impatiently. "Have we got to leave the +work to paddle everybody that comes along over the lake?" + +"We have," said Lawry. "I must look out for the family now." + +There was a good wind, and the boys returned to the ferry-house in +the bateau. Before they had finished their breakfast, the ferry-horn +sounded, and Lawry was obliged to take a team over to Pointville +before the work could be resumed. Ethan was rather impatient under +this delay; but he was too kind-hearted to make any unpleasant remark +which would remind his friend of his father's crime. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +BEN WILFORD'S PLAN + + +While Lawry was ferrying the team over the lake, Ethan occupied +himself in making a long-handled boat-hook, which might be useful in +the operation of raising the steamer. While he was thus engaged, a +young man, about eighteen years of age, coarsely dressed, and with a +very red face, came down the road and stopped at the place where he +was at work. + +"What you making?" asked the young man. + +"A boat-hook," replied Ethan. + +"Do you belong here?" continued the stranger nodding his head toward +the ferry-house. + +"No; I'm only helping Lawry Wilford for a few days." + +"The old man's got into hot water, they say." + +"Yes." + +"Well, he was always preaching to me about doing the right thing; +and now he's fallen off the horse-block himself," added the young +man, with a slight chuckle. + +"It's bad for Mr. Wilford and his family." + +"That's so. Where's Lawry now?" + +"He has gone over with the ferry-boat." + +"I reckon Lawry has to run the machine now." + +"He has to run the ferry-boat." + +"Well, he knows how. Lawry's smart--he is. I suppose you don't know +me." + +"I do not." + +"I'm Lawry's brother; and that makes it that Lawry is my brother." + +"Then you are Benjamin Wilford?" + +"That's my name; but Ben Wilford sounds a good deal more natural to +me. I heard the old man had got into trouble, and I came up to see +about it, though I'm out of a job just now, and couldn't do anything +better. I hear that Lawry owns a steamboat, and I didn't know but +he'd want some help. Where is she?" + +"She's on the bottom, out there by the Goblins," answered Ethan, +pointing to the raft. "We are at work raising her." + +"Can you get her up, do you think?" + +"Yes; I have no doubt we shall have her at the top of the water by +to-morrow night." + +"I've come just in time, then," added the young man. "I think I know +something about a steamboat." + +Ethan did not like the looks of Lawry's brother. His bloated face +was against him, and the young engineer, without knowing anything +more about him than his swaggering manner and red face revealed, +wished he had stayed away a few days longer. + +"I'll go in and see the old woman, and get some breakfast; then I'll +go up with you and see what you are doing," said Ben Wilford. + +"We are going up as soon as Lawry comes back," answered Ethan, +pointing to the ferry-boat. + +The dissolute young man, who had just been discharged from his +situation as a deck-hand on one of the steamers, for intemperance and +neglect of duty, sauntered into the house; and the fresh breeze soon +brought the impatient Lawry to the shore. + +"Lawry, we have got some help," said Ethan. + +"Who?" + +"Your brother has just come." + +"Ben?" asked the young lad, a troubled expression gathering on his +face. + +"Yes; he has gone into the house to get his breakfast." + +"I'll go in and see him," added Lawry, who did not seem to be at all +pleased with the news of his brother's arrival. + +It is a sad thing for a brother to behave so badly that he cannot be +welcome at his own home. + +Mrs. Wilford shook hands with Benjamin as he entered. She was glad +to see him, and her mother's heart went out toward him; but she was +filled with doubts and fears. The young man only laughed while his +mother wept at the story of the father's crime. He sat down to his +breakfast, and declared that he had come home to take care of the +family. + +"I hope you are able to take care of yourself, Benjamin," replied +his mother, as she glanced at his bloated face. + +"I always did that, mother. The old man and I couldn't agree very +well, but I reckon you and I can get along together. Lawry, how are +you?" continued the returned wanderer, as his brother entered the room. + +"Very well; how are you, Ben?" answered Lawry, as he shook hands +with his brother. + +"First-rate. How about the steamboat, Lawry?" + +"She's all right; or, she will be, when we get her up." + +"Do you think you can raise her?" + +"I know we can." + +"Well, I heard all about her up in the village, and I have come home +to help you. I know all about steamboats, you know." + +"What did you leave your place for?" + +"The captain and I couldn't agree. I'm going to run an opposition +line." + +"Are you?" + +"I am; bet your life I am." + +"Where will you get your boats?" + +"Don't want but one; and they say your boat is the finest little +craft that ever floated on the lake." + +"She is, without a doubt." + +"Well, we can take some money out of the captain's pocket, at any +rate. We'll make a fortune out of your boat, Lawry, if we get her up." + +"I shall get her up by tomorrow night." + +"I'll help you, Lawry." + +"We don't need any help at present. I must go now, for Ethan is +waiting for me." + +"Who's Ethan?" + +"Ethan French; he is the engineer of the steamer," answered the +young pilot, moving toward the door. + +"Hold on a minute, Lawry, and I'll be ready to go with you. I can +show you how to do the business." + +"I know now." + +"You're smart, Lawry; but you're not so old as I am." + +"I'm old enough to do this job." + +"You haven't seen so much of steamboats as I have." + +"Now, Benjamin, you mustn't interfere with Lawry's work," interposed +Mrs. Wilford. "He knows what he is about." + +"I'm not going to interfere with him; I'm only going to help him." + +"If you really want to help me, I'll tell you what you can do," said +Lawry. + +"What's that?" + +"You can run the ferry." + +"Run the ferry!" exclaimed Ben. "Why, I know more about steamboats +than you and your engineer put together. Do you suppose I'm going to +run a ferry-boat when there's a job of this sort on hand?" + +"You can help more in this way than in any other," persisted Lawry. + +"Run a ferry-boat!" sneered Ben; "that isn't my style." + +"We don't need any help on the steamer." + +"Yes, you do. At any rate, I'll go down and see what you are about." + +"What's that rock for?" he demanded, pointing to the sinker which +lay on the skids. + +"To sink the casks with," replied Ethan; and he explained the +process by which the hogsheads were attached to the hull of the +_Woodville_. + +"Well, Lawry, if you had been studying seven years to get up the +stupidest thing that could be thought of, you could not have got up a +more ridiculous idea than this," said Ben, laughing contemptuously. + +"How would you raise her?" asked Lawry quietly. + +"Well, I wouldn't do it in this way, I can tell you. If you want me +to take this job in hand for you, I'll do it. You might as well try +to raise the Goblins as the steamer in this way." + +"It is very easy to condemn the method," added Ethan indignantly; +"but it isn't so easy to find a better one." + +"You say you don't want any help from me," said Ben. + +"If you can tell me any better way, I should like to hear it," +replied Lawry. + +"If you want me to raise your steamer, say the word." + +"Let me know how you intend to do it, first," persisted Lawry. "It's +easier to talk than it is to do." + +"You're smart, Lawry; but you can't raise that steamer with those +casks in seven years." + +"I'll have her on the top of the water by to-morrow night," said the +young pilot. + +"No, you won't." + +"You see! But we must go to work, Ethan." + +"That's just my idea," said the engineer. + +"Then you don't want me to do the job?" added Ben. + +"No, I think not," replied Lawry, rather coldly. + +"I think my way is the best." + +"Perhaps it is; but I don't know what your way is." + +"I'll tell you, Lawry, for I don't like to have you waste your time +and strength doing nothing; besides, we want the steamer as soon as +we can get her, or the season will be over." + +"What do you mean by we, Ben?" asked Lawry quietly. + +"Why, you and me, of course. I know something about steamers, and +perhaps I should be willing to go captain of your boat, if you ever +get her into working order." + +"Perhaps you would," answered Lawry. + +"Of course you mean to use the boat for the benefit of the family, +now the old man is jugged and can't do anything more for them." + +"To be sure I do." + +"I'm willing to do my part. You can be the pilot, and the other +fellow can be the engineer." + +"And we can both of us have the privilege of obeying your orders," +laughed Lawry. + +"Well, I shouldn't be likely to interfere with you; your place would +be in the wheel-house." + +"And yours in the cabin, Captain Wilford. I can't stop to talk about +this now. There comes Ethan with the cask." + +"You might as well stop this foolish work first as last," sneered +the would-be captain of the _Woodville_. "I was going to tell +you how to raise her." + +"Go on; we'll hear you, and work at the same time," said Ethan. + +"I should get two of those canal-boats, having about eight feet +depth of hold," continued Ben. + +"Where would you get them?" demanded Lawry. + +"Get them? Hire them, of course. You can get plenty of them at Port +Henry." + +"Have you any money in your pocket?" + +"They wouldn't cost more than a hundred dollars." + +"I haven't got even fifty dollars," said Lawry. + +"They would trust you on the security of your steamer." + +"I don't want to be trusted for any such purpose. What would you do +with your canal-boats when you had got them?" asked Lawry. + +"I would moor one on each side of the steamer, put a couple of +timbers across them, pass a chain under the bow and stern of the +sunken hull, and make fast to the timbers. Then I would let the water +into the canal-boats, and sink them down to the rails. When I got +them down as deep as I could, I would tighten the chains, till they +bore taut on the timbers. Do you understand it, Lawry?" + +"Certainly; I know all about the plan," replied the young pilot, +with a smile. + +"I don't believe you do," said Ben incredulously. "What would you do +next?" + +"Pump the water out of the two canal-boats, which would take about +two days' time." + +"You could rig extra pumps." + +"Three of us, with three pumps, couldn't pump them out in two days." + +"Well, the job is done when you have pumped them out." + +"When you get the water out of the boats, you will have raised the +steamer but three or four feet at most." + +"Six feet, at least, for the canal-boats will come up where they +were before." + +"No; they won't; the weight of the steamer will press them down two +or three feet." + +An excited discussion followed upon this question; but Lawry and +Ethan carried their point. It was plain that the buoyant powers of +the two boats, as the water was pumped but of them, would raise the +steamer three or four feet, leaving her suspended half-way between +the surface and the bottom of the lake. Lawry wanted the aspirant for +the captaincy of the _Woodville_ to tell him what he would do +next, for she could not be repaired while she was under water; but +Ben was "nonplussed" and unable to answer. + +"I can finish that job for you," said Lawry. + +"She could be moored on the ways, and then hauled up." + +"Perhaps she might, but I should rather put her on the ways from the +top of the water. When I got her three feet from the bottom, I should +move her toward the shore till she grounded." + +"What then?" asked Ben. + +"I should sink the canal-boats again, pump them out once more, and +thus raise her three feet more; but it would take about three days +every time we lifted her three feet. Ben, I think we could get her to +the top of the water in about a fortnight by your plan. By mine, I +shall have her up by to-morrow night." + +"I'll bet you won't; or in a month, either. You know too much, +Lawry," said Ben. + +"I don't bet; but you shall see her at the ferry-landing by seven +to-morrow evening if you are there." + +The older brother, finding himself only a cipher on the raft, had +consented to run the ferry in the afternoon, when the horn sounded; +and the pilot and engineer were thus enabled to continue their labor +without interruption. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +HARD AT WORK + + +When Lawry and Ethan returned to the Goblins in the afternoon, they +were delighted to find that the casks, all of which had been placed +under the guards abaft the wheel, had actually produced an effect +upon the steamer. The smokestack stood up more perpendicularly, +indicating that the stern had been lifted from the bottom. Ethan was +sure that the casks would bring the _Woodville_ to the surface; +but a very serious difficulty now presented itself. + +About two-thirds of the length of the steamer's keel rested on a +flat rock, whose surface was inclined downward toward the body of the +lake, leaving the third next to the stern unsupported, under which +the ropes had been easily drawn to retain the casks in their places. +Of course it was impossible to draw any lines under the forward part +of the keel, which rested on the flat rock, and it was necessary to +devise some means for securing the casks to this portion of the hull. + +"I have it," said Lawry. + +"What is it?" + +"We must sink more casks under the stern." + +"But that will bring one end up, and leave the other on the rock." + +"That isn't what I mean. If we put, say, two more hogsheads under +the stern, they will raise it so we can get the ropes under the +forward part of the hull." + +"I understand; you are right, Lawry," replied Ethan. + +When they returned to the ferry-house, they found Mr. Sherwood and +the ladies there, who had come down to ascertain what progress had +been made in the work. Ben Wilford had freely expressed his opinion +that the enterprise would end in failure. + +"Those boys know too much; that's all the trouble," said Ben. + +"I was in hopes they would succeed in their undertaking," added Mr. +Sherwood. + +"So was I, sir; but there's no chance of their doing anything. I +know something about steamboats, for I've been at work on them for +three years." + +"And you are quite sure they will fail?" asked Mr. Sherwood. + +"Just as sure as I am of anything in this world. I told them what +the trouble would be; but they know so much they won't hear me. I +told them how it ought to be done." + +"Here they come; they can speak for themselves," said Mr. Sherwood. +"How do you get along, Lawry?" + +"First-rate, sir." + +"Indeed! Your brother thinks you are going to make a failure of the +job." + +"Perhaps we are, sir; but we don't believe it yet--do we, Ethan?" + +"We don't." + +"Lawry, wouldn't you be willing to sell out your interest in the +_Woodville_ at a small figure?" laughed Mr. Sherwood. + +"No, sir!" + +"Your brother, who seems to be a person of some experience in such +matters, thinks you will not be able to raise the steamer. If that is +likely to be the case, I don't want you to waste your time and +strength for nothing. I should be glad to employ some men to raise +the _Woodville_ for you." + +"Thank you, sir. You are very kind," replied Lawry. + +"If you like, we will ride down to Port Henry to-night, and employ a +man to do the job." + +"I think we shall succeed, sir." + +"What's the use of talking, Lawry?" interposed Ben. "You'll not get +her up in seven years." + +"Don't you think you had better give it up, Lawry?" asked Mr. +Sherwood. + +"Not yet, sir." + +"What do you think, Lawry? Hadn't you better let me employ a man to +do the work?" + +"Ethan and I can do it very well, sir." + +"Perhaps you can; but we wish to have the steamer in working order +as soon as possible, and we may hasten the joy by employing men of +experience to do it." + +"Haste and waste," said Lawry, laughing. "Mr. Sherwood, I am +satisfied we can raise the _Woodville_. We don't want any help. +If we don't get her up by to-morrow night, I will let some one else +take hold; but it will cost a heap of money." + +"It shall not cost you anything, Lawry. I haven't half paid the debt +of gratitude I owe you." + +"Oh, never mind that, sir! I only want one more day." + +"You are very confident, my boy, and I hope you will succeed," added +Mr. Sherwood, as he turned to depart. + +"Take him up, Lawry," said Ben. "Let him raise her. He will do it at +his own expense, and perhaps he will give me the job." + +"Not to-night." + +"You are a fool, Lawry!" exclaimed Ben. + +"Perhaps I am. Time will tell." + +"He offered to pay for raising her, and you wouldn't let him do it!" + +"He has made me a present of the steamer as she lies; and I don't +ask anything more of him." + +"Take all you can get, Lawry. That's the only way to get along in +this world." + +Ethan slept with his fellow workman at the cottage that night, and +at daylight in the morning they were on their way to the Goblins. At +breakfast-time two casks had been sunk under the bow of the steamer, +for they had become so familiar with the work that it was carried on +with greater rapidity than at the first. + +At breakfast they were laughed at again by Ben Wilford; but they +chose to keep still, made no replies, and gave no information in +regard to the progress of the work. At the earnest request of Lawry, +seconded by Mrs. Wilford, Ben consented to run the ferry that day, +and the young engineers took their dinners with them when they went +down to the Goblins. They were full of hope, and confidently expected +to return to the landing at night with the _Woodville_. + +At eleven o'clock four more hogsheads had been placed under the +guards. The steamer swayed a little in the water; the stern had risen +about two feet; and it was evident that she was on the point of +floating. The boys were intensely excited at the bright prospect +before them. + +"Lawry, the work is nearly done," said Ethan. + +"That's so; I think a couple of those barrels will finish it," +answered the young pilot. "I see two anchors at her bow." + +"Yes, there are two anchors and about forty fathoms of small +chain-cable on board of her." + +"I see them; and I think we had better fish them up." + +"That's a good idea." + +With the long boat-hook which Ethan had made, the cables were hauled +up and coiled away on the raft, which had been placed over the bow of +the sunken vessel. When the chains, which were bent onto the anchors, +were hauled taut, the sinker rope, still in the block, and wound on +the windlass of the derrick, was made fast to one of them, and the +anchor drawn up. The operation was then repeated on the other anchor. + +"Hurrah! hurrah!" shouted Lawry, as they began to turn the windlass. +"She's coming up." + +"Hurrah!" repeated Ethan, and the faces of both boys glowed with +excited joy, as the sunken vessel followed the anchor up to the +surface of the water. + +It was necessary to move the raft, and the anchor was hauled out +over the top of the bulwarks. The _Woodville_ rose till her +plank-sheer was even with the surface of the water. The boys shouted +for joy; they were almost beside themselves with the excitement of +that happy moment. They had conquered; success had crowned their +labors. + +"The job is done!" cried Lawry. + +"That's so! Where is your brother now?" exclaimed Ethan. + +"We have got her up sooner than I expected. I move you we have our +dinner now." + +"I don't feel much like dinner." + +"I do." + +"What is to be done next?" + +"We must get her up a little farther out of the water. We can easily +get some more casks under her now; but let us have some dinner first." + +They sat down on a timber on the raft, and ate the dinner they had +brought with them. They could not keep their eyes off the steamer +during the meal, and they continued to discuss the means of +completing the work they had begun. + +After dinner the labor was renewed with redoubled energy. Four more +casks were attached to the bow, and four removed from the stern; the +effect of which was to lift the bow out of the water, while the deck +at the after part was again submerged. This was Lawry's plan for +ascertaining the extent of the injury which the hull had received. It +now appeared that, when the _Woodville_ struck the Goblins, she +had slid upon a flat rock, while a sharp projection from the reef had +stove a hole, not quite three feet in diameter, just above her keel. + +"Now we must stop this hole," said Lawry; "and we may as well do it +here as anywhere." + +"That's just my idea," responded Ethan. "There's a painted floor-cloth +in the kitchen, which will just cover it. I will get it." + +"Have you any small nails on board?" + +"Plenty of them." + +The kitchen and the engineer's storeroom were now out of water, so +that Ethan had no difficulty in procuring the articles needed in +stopping up the hole. A couple of slats were placed over the aperture +to prevent the floor-cloth from being forced in by the pressure of +the water. Both of the boys then went to work nailing on the carpet, +which was new and very heavy. The nails were put very close together, +and most of them being carpet-tacks, with broad heads, they pressed +the oilcloth closely down to the wood-work. It was not expected +entirely to exclude the water; but the leakage could be easily +controlled by the pumps. + +Several of the casks were now removed from the bow to the stern, +until the hull sat even on the water. All the heavy articles on deck, +including the contents of the "chain-box," were transferred to the +raft, and the laborers were ready to commence the long and trying +operation of pumping her out. It was now six o'clock, and it was +plain that this job could not be finished that night. The wind was +beginning to freshen, and there were indications of bad Weather. +Lawry had at first intended to move the _Woodville_ up to the +ferry-landing as soon as she floated; but Ethan, for certain reasons, +which were satisfactory to his fellow laborer, wished to pump her out +where she was; and it was found to be a very difficult thing to tow +her up to the ferry in her water-logged condition. + +It was not safe to leave her, with the prospect of a heavy blow, so +near the Goblins, and they carried out the anchors in the wherry, and +with the assistance of the capstan on the forward deck heaved her out +into a secure position. The _Woodville_ was safe for the night, +and the supper-horn was sounding at the ferry-house. Nearly exhausted +by their severe exertions, the boys returned to the cottage. + +"I'm so glad that you have done it!" exclaimed Mrs. Wilford, when +they went in to supper. + +She had been a deeply interested observer of the operations of the +young engineers, and her heart had bounded with emotions of joy, in +unison with theirs, when she saw the steamer rise to the surface of +the lake. + +"I knew we should do it, mother," replied Lawry. "Where is Ben?" + +"I don't know where he is. He went away just after dinner, and I +haven't seen him since," added the mother. + +"But I saw the ferry-boat go over in the middle of the afternoon." + +"I know you did." + +"But who went over with her?" + +"I did," answered Mrs. Wilford quietly. + +"You, mother?" + +"Yes, Lawry; there was no one else to go, unless I called you, and I +couldn't bear to take you away from your work. I've been over in the +ferry times enough to know how to manage the boat." + +"Ben said he would take care of the ferry." + +"He doesn't always do as he promises," said Mrs. Wilford sadly. + +Lawry thought it was very kind of his mother to run the ferry-boat, +rather than disturb him at his work; but he did not like to have her +do such labor. When he went out after supper, he found the wind was +still quite fresh, and he was afraid that some accident might happen +to the steamer in the night. If the casks got loose, she would sink +again. While he and Ethan were talking about it, Ben Wilford returned +home; and it was evident from his looks and actions that he had been +drinking too much. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +ME. SHERWOOD AND PARTY + + +"Well, Lawry, I don't see the steamer at the ferry-landing," said +Ben Wilford. "You know, you promised to have her up here to-night; +but I knew you wouldn't." + +"We thought we wouldn't bring her up to-night," replied Lawry coldly. + +"I knew you wouldn't, my boy. You didn't keep your promise." + +"And you didn't keep yours." + +"I didn't make any. If I'd promised to fetch that steamer up, she'd +been here." + +"You promised to run the ferry, and you left it." + +"No, I didn't, Lawry. Don't you talk so to me. You know too much," +added Ben angrily. "You never will raise that steamer in two thousand +years." + +"There she is," replied Lawry quietly, as he pointed in the +direction of the Goblins. + +Ben looked at her; he did not seem to be pleased to find her on the +top of the water. His oft-repeated prophesy had been a failure, and +Lawry was full as smart as people said he was. + +"Humph!" said he. "She isn't much of a steamboat if those barrels +brought her up." + +"There she is; and I have done all I promised to do." + +"What are you going to do next, Lawry?" + +"I'm going to pump her out next." + +"You'd better do it pretty quick, or she'll go to the bottom again," +added Ben, as he walked into the house. + +"There comes Mr. Sherwood, with the ladies," said Lawry, as he +glanced up the road. + +"I congratulate you, boys," said Mr. Sherwood, as he grasped Lawry's +hand. "We gave three cheers for you on the hill, when we saw that you +had raised the _Woodville_." + +"Thank you, sir. We worked pretty hard, but we were successful." + +"You have done bravely," said Mrs. Sherwood. "We thought, from what +your brother said last night, that you would fail." + +"Ethan and I didn't think so." + +"I suppose you wouldn't sell very cheap to-night, Lawry," added Mr. +Sherwood. + +"No, sir; the _Woodville_ is a gift, and I should not be +willing to sell her at any price." + +"Well, Lawry, I am as glad as you are at your success. Do you want +any help yet?" + +"No, sir; we are just going on board of her to stay overnight, for +we are afraid the heavy wind will do mischief." + +"I wouldn't do that. You must rest to-night." + +"I'm afraid something will happen if we don't look out for her." + +"Are you going to pump her out to-night?" + +"We may begin pretty early in the morning," said Lawry, with a smile. + +"Haste and waste, my boy. If you stay on board of her to-night, and +get sick, you will not make anything by your labor." + +"If the wind goes down, we shall sleep ashore as usual. I don't +think it blows quite so hard as it did." + +"I don't," added Ethan. + +"Boys, you mustn't overdo this thing," added Mr. Sherwood seriously. + +His wife whispered to him just then. + +"Yes, Bertha," he continued. "I'll tell you what I'm going to do, +Lawry. I have four men at work for me. I can spare them one day, and +they shall pump out the _Woodville_ for you." + +"You needn't object," interposed Mrs. Sherwood. + +"Indeed you must not, Lawry," added Miss Fanny. "I am afraid you +will both be sick if you work so hard." + +"We can easily pump her out ourselves," said Ethan. + +"You needn't say a word, Ethan," added Fanny Jane. + +"I suppose we shall have to submit," replied Lawry, laughing. "We +can't oppose the ladies." + +"Just as you say, Lawry," said Ethan. + +"You shall have the men to-morrow, boys. Now you must go to bed, and +not think of the steamer till morning," continued Mr. Sherwood. + +As the wind seemed to be subsiding, the boys went into the house; +and though it was not quite dark, they "turned in," tired enough to +sleep without rocking. Ben was at his supper, in no pleasant frame of +mind. He was dissatisfied with himself, and with his brother, who had +succeeded in his undertaking contrary to his prophecy. He was envious +and jealous of Lawry. Now that his father was away, he thought he +ought to be the chief person about the house, being the oldest boy. + +"I'm not going to stay at home, and be a nobody," said he angrily. + +"We don't wish you to be a nobody," replied his mother. + +"Yes, you do; Lawry is everybody, and I'm nobody." + +"You've been drinking, Benjamin." + +"What if I have! I'm not going to stay here, and play second fiddle +to a little boy." + +"What are you talking about, Benjamin? Lawry has not interfered with +you. He will treat you kindly and respectfully, as he treats +everybody." + +"He don't mind any more what I say than he does the grunting of the +pigs." + +"What do you want him to do?" + +"I want him to pay some attention to what I say," snarled Ben. "I +suppose he thinks that steamboat belongs to him." + +"Certainly he does," replied Mrs. Wilford. + +"I don't." + +"Don't you? Whom does it belong to, then?" + +"I'm not a fool, mother; I know a thing or two as well as some +others. Lawry is not of age." + +"Neither are you." + +"I know that, but I'm older than he is." + +"You are old enough to behave better." + +"How do you expect me to be anybody here, when I have to knock under +to my younger brother? I say the steamer don't belong to Lawry any +more than she does to me. I have just as much right in her as he has." + +"What do you mean by talking so, Benjamin? You know that Mr. +Sherwood gave the steamer to Lawry, and the bill of sale is in +Lawry's name." + +"I don't care for that! she's just as much mine as she is his, and +he'll find that out when she gets to running. Lawry's a minor, and +can't hold any property; you know that just as well as I do." + +"What if he is? I think he will be permitted to hold the steamboat, +and run her." + +"I don't think so. I was talking with Taylor, who holds the mortgage +on this place, and he don't think so," added Ben, in a tone of triumph. + +"What did he say?" + +"Well, he means to attach the steamboat on the note he holds against +father." + +"He will not do that!" replied Mrs. Wilford. + +"He says so, anyhow." + +"He will foreclose the mortgage on the place if he wants to get his +money." + +"The place will not sell for enough to pay his note, and he knows +it. No matter about him--the steamboat belongs to father, just as +much as the ferry-boat does; and I think I ought to have something to +say about her." + +"If you want to do anything for the family, why can't you run the +ferry-boat, Benjamin?" + +"And let Lawry run the steamboat? Not if I know myself!" replied +Ben, with savage emphasis. "He may run the ferry-boat, and I'll run +the steamer." + +"That would be neither fair nor right. The steamer belongs to Lawry, +and I will never consent that he shall be turned out of her." + +"I don't want to turn him out of her. I'll take charge of her, and +he may go pilot; that's all he's good for." + +"You mean that you'll be captain?" + +"That's what I mean." + +"I don't think Lawry will want any one to be captain over him. + +"If I don't run that steamer, nobody shall!" said Ben angrily, as he +rose and left the house. + +"Good evening, Mrs. Wilford," said Mr. Sherwood. "Has Lawry gone to +bed?" + +"Yes, an hour ago." + +"Is he asleep?" + +"I suppose he is." + +"All right, then." + +"What in the world are you going to do with such a crowd of men, Mr. +Sherwood?" + +"I'm going to help the boys finish their job. Ethan told me they had +stopped the leak, and it only remained to pump out the steamer. I am +going to do this job; and I have men enough to finish it in a couple +of hours." + +"I should think you had," added Mrs. Wilford. + +"I have gathered together all the men I could find. Don't say a word +to the boys, if you please. I intend to surprise them. They will find +the steamer free of water in the morning." + +"You are very kind, Mr. Sherwood, to take so much trouble." + +"The boys have worked so well that they deserve encouragement. May I +take the ferry-boat to convey my men up to the steamer?" + +"Certainly, sir." + +Mr. Sherwood encouraged the men to work well by the promise of extra +pay; and the laborers seemed to regard the occasion as a grand +frolic. They exerted themselves to the utmost, and the buckets flew +along the lines, while the pumps rolled out the water in a continuous +flow. As the steamer, relieved of the weight that pressed her down, +rose on the surface of the lake, it was only necessary to lift the +water from below and pour it upon the deck, from which it would run +off itself. + +The job did not last long before such a strong force; and in two +hours the work of the bailers was done. Ethan had fully described the +method by which the hole in the hull of the _Woodville_ had been +stopped; but Mr. Sherwood had some doubts in regard to the strength +of the material, and he went below to examine the place. Lawry and +his fellow laborer had had no opportunity to test the strength and +fitness of the work they had done, while the boat was full of water. + +On examination, Mr. Sherwood found several small jets of water +streaming through the seams between the planks, outside of the canvas +carpet, which he stopped with packing from the engineer's storeroom. +The braces which the boys had put over the hole kept the oilcloth in +position, and when the packing had been driven into the open seams +with a chisel and mallet, hardly any water came in around the +aperture. The boys were warmly commended by their partial friend for +the skill they had displayed in stopping the leak; and some of the +men, who were familiar with vessels, that the steamer would not +leak ten strokes an hour. + +It was therefore safe to leave her; and Mr. Sherwood was satisfied that +the boys would not find the water up to the bottom of the cabin floor +in the morning. He carefully examined every part of the steamer to +assure himself that everything was right before he left her. The +pumps were tried again, just before they embarked for home, but they +yielded only a few strokes of water. + +The party returned to the landing, and Mr. Sherwood cautioned the +men not to make any noise as they passed the cottage, fearful that +the boys might be awakened and the delightful surprise in store for +them spoiled. But Lawry and Ethan, worn out by the fatigue and +excitement of the day, slept like logs, and the discharge of a +battery of artillery under their chamber window would hardly have +aroused them from their slumbers. The men went to their several +homes, and all was quiet at the ferry. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +FROM DESPONDENCY TO REJOICING + + +Ben Wilford made his way to the deck of the steamer, and in the +darkness stumbled against the cables, with which the boat was +anchored. He was bent on mischief, and he unstoppered the cables, +permitting them to run out and sink to the bottom of the lake. The +wind was blowing, still pretty fresh, from the west, and the steamer, +now loosened from her moorings, began to drift toward the middle of +the lake. + +"They'll find I'm not a nobody," whined he. "She'll go down in the +deep water this time." + +The drunken villain then stumbled about the deck till he found the +lines which kept the hogsheads in place under the guards. Groaning, +crying, and swearing, he untied and threw the ropes overboard. Some +of the casks, relieved of the pressure on them by the removal of the +water from the interior of the hull, came out from their places and +floated off. Ben rolled into the wherry again, and with the boat-hook +hauled the others out. Satisfied that he had done his work, and that +the _Woodville_ would soon go down in the middle of the lake, he +pulled as rapidly as his intoxicated condition would permit toward +the ferry-landing. + +"They'll find I'm not a nobody," he repeated, as he rowed to the +shore. "They can't raise her now; and they'll never see her again." + +Intoxicated as he was, he had not lost his sense of caution. He knew +that he had done a mean and wicked action, which it might be +necessary for him to conceal. As he approached the landing, he wiped +his eyes, and choked down the emotions that agitated him. He tried to +make no noise, but his movements were very uncertain; he tumbled over +the thwarts, and rattled the oars, so that, if those in the cottage +had not slept like rocks, they must have heard him. He reeled up to +the house, took off his shoes, and crept upstairs to his room. He +made noise enough to wake his mother; but Lawry and Ethan were not +disturbed. + +The wretch had accomplished his work. He was satisfied, as he laid +his boozy head upon the pillow, that the _Woodville_ was even +then at the bottom of the lake, with a hundred feet of water rolling +over her. It was two o'clock in the morning; but the vile tipple he +had drank, and the deed he had done, so excited him that he could not +sleep. He tossed on his bed till the day dawned, and the blessed +light streamed in at the window of the attic. + +"Four o'clock!" shouted Lawry, as the timepiece in the kitchen +struck the hour. "All hands ahoy, Ethan!" + +His enthusiastic fellow laborer needed no second call, and leaped +out of bed. Ben was still awake, and the lapse of the hours had in +some measure sobered him. + +"It's a fine day, Ethan," said Lawry. + +"Glad of that. How long do you suppose it will take to pump her out?" + +"All day, I think; but we are to have four men to help us. I was +considering that matter when I went to sleep last night," replied +Lawry. "I was thinking whether we could not rig a barrel under the +derrick so as to get along a little faster than the pumps will do it. + +"Perhaps we can; we will see." + +"Where is your steamer?" asked Ben, rising in bed. + +"We anchored her near the Goblins," replied Lawry. + +"She isn't there now," added Ben. + +"How do you know?" demanded the pilot. + +"I've been sick, and couldn't sleep; so I got up and went outdoors. +She isn't where you left her, and I couldn't see anything of her +anywhere." + +"Couldn't see her!" exclaimed Ethan. + +"I knew very well she wouldn't stay on top of the water. Casks +wouldn't keep her up," said Ben maliciously. + +Lawry rushed out of the room to the other end of the house, the +attic window of which commanded a full view of the lake. As his +brother had declared, the _Woodville_ was not at her anchorage +where they had left her; neither was she to be seen, whichever way he +looked. + +"She is gone!" cried he, returning to his chamber. + +"Of course she is gone," added Ben. + +"I don't understand it." + +"She has gone to the bottom, of course, where I told you she would +go. You were a fool to leave her out there in the deep water. She has +gone down where you will never see her again." + +"It was impossible for her to sink with all those casks under her +guards," said Ethan. + +"I guess you will find she has sunk. I told you she would. If you +had only minded what I told you, she would have been all right, Lawry." + +Both of the boys seemed to be paralyzed at the discovery, and made +no reply to Ben. They could not realize that all the hard labor they +had performed was lost. It was hard and cruel, and each reproached +himself because they had not passed the night on board of the +steamer, as they had purposed to do. + +"Well, it's no use to stand here like logs," said Lawry, "If she has +sunk, we will find out where she is." + +"I reckon you'll never see her again, Lawry. Those old casks leaked, +I suppose, and when they were full of water the steamer went down +again; or else they broke loose from her when the wind blew so hard." + +"It didn't blow much when we went to bed. What time did you come +home, Ben?" + +"I don't know what time it was," he answered evasively. + +"Come, Ethan, let's go and find out what the matter is," continued +Lawry, as he led the way downstairs. + +Mrs. Wilford was not up, but she was awake, and was anticipating +with great satisfaction the pleasure of the surprise which awaited +the boys, when they discovered that the steamer had been freed from +water. They left the house, and went down to the ferry. The +_Woodville_ certainly was not where they had left her; not even +the top of her smokestack could be seen peering above the water to +inform them that she still existed. + +"Well, Lawry, we may as well go out to the place where we left her. +If she has sunk, we may be able to see her," said Ethan. + +They got into the boat; but one of the oars was gone. Ben had lost +it overboard when he landed, and it had floated off. There was +another pair in the woodshed of the house, and Lawry went up for +them. As he entered the shed, he met his mother, who had just risen, +and gone out for wood to kindle the fire. The poor boy looked so sad +and disconsolate that his long face attracted her attention. + +"What's the matter, Lawry?" she asked. + +"The steamer has sunk again," replied the son. + +"Sunk again!" exclaimed his mother. + +"She is not to be seen, and Ben says she has gone down." + +"Ben says so?" + +"Yes; he told us of it before we came down. We are going to look for +her now," answered Lawry. + +What Lawry had said excited the suspicion of his mother, as she +thought of the malicious words of her older son on the preceding +evening. She was excited and indignant; she feared he had executed +the wicked purpose which she was confident he had cherished. She went +into the house, and upstairs to the room where Ben still lay in bed. + +"Benjamin, what have you done?" demanded she. + +"I haven't done anything. I'm a nobody here!" replied the inebriated +young man, with surly emphasis. + +"What did you mean last night when you said that you should run that +steamer, or nobody should?" asked Mrs. Wilford. + +"I meant just what I said. You and Lawry both said I shouldn't run +her--and she has gone to the bottom again; she'll stay there this +time." + +"Oh, Benjamin!" said his mother, bursting into tears. "How could you +be so wicked?" + +"Did you think I'd stay round here, and be a nobody?" growled the +wretched young man. + +"Did you sink that steamer?" + +"What if I did?" + +"Oh, Benjamin!" + +"You needn't cry about it. Next time, you'd better not try to make a +nobody out of me." + +"Don't you think I've had trouble enough, without trying to make +more for me?" sobbed the distressed mother. + +"If you had told Lawry to give me the charge of the steamer, he +would have done it," whined Ben. + +"I shouldn't tell him any such thing!" replied Mrs. Wilford +indignantly. "A pretty captain of a steamboat you would make! You are +so tipsy now you can't hold your head up!" + +"I'm as sober as you are." + +Mrs. Wilford knew that it was useless to talk to a person in his +condition, and she left him to sleep off the effect of his cups if he +could, after the evil deed he had done. Full of sympathy for Lawry, +under his great affliction, she left the house, and hastened down to +the landing, to learn, if possible, the condition of the +_Woodville_. Lawry and Ethan were in the wherry, returning to +the shore, when she reached the landing. + +"Hurrah! hurrah!" shouted both of the boys, in unison, as Mrs. +Wilford came in sight. + +"What now?" asked the anxious mother. + +"She's safe, mother! She has not sunk," replied Lawry. + +"Where is she? I don't see her anywhere," added Mrs. Wilford, +scanning the lake in every direction. + +"Over on the other side," replied Lawry. + +"What's the reason she didn't sink?" continued his mother. + +"The casks kept her up, of course. We want something for breakfast +and for dinner, mother, for she is so far off we can't come home till +we have pumped her out, and I won't leave her again till I am sure +she's all right." + +"What shall I do about the ferry, mother?" asked Lawry. "Will Ben +run the boat to-day?" + +"Don't trouble yourself about the ferry, Lawry. If Benjamin won't +take care of it, I will." + +"I don't want you to do it, mother." + +"I think your brother will run the boat; at any rate, you needn't +give it a thought." + +Mrs. Wilford was quite as happy as the boys to find that the steamer +was not at the bottom of the lake again; and she returned to the +cottage with a light heart, when she had seen the wherry leave the +shore. + +From the deepest depths of despondency, if not despair, the young +engineers had been raised to the highest pinnacle of hope and joy +when the _Woodville_ was discovered on the other side of the +lake. She had drifted in behind a point of land, and could not be +seen from the ferry. They had gone out to the place where she had +been anchored, near the Goblins; and while they were gazing down into +the deep water in search of her, Ethan happened to raise his eyes and +saw her on the other side of the lake. What a thrill went through his +heart as he recognized her! And what a thrill he communicated to +Lawry when he pointed her out to him! + +"Why, the casks are all gone!" exclaimed Ethan. + +"All gone!" replied Lawry. + +"She must be aground," added Ethan; "but she sets out of water a +great deal farther than when we left her." + +"We shall soon find out what the matter is," continued Lawry. "She +is safe, and on the top of the water; that's enough for me at the +present time." + +"What does this mean?" he exclaimed. + +"I don't know. The water couldn't have run out of her without some +help," replied Ethan. + +"I don't understand it," added Lawry. "The casks are all gone, and +the steamer has been pumped out. Somebody must have done this work." + +"That's true," said Ethan. "Somebody has certainly been here." + +"There's no doubt of that; but I can't see, for the life of me, what +they wanted to set her adrift for." + +"Nor I; they were good friends to pump her out for us, whoever they +were. In my opinion, Mr. Sherwood knows something about this job." + +"But slipping the cables looks just as though they intended to have +her smashed up on the shore," added Lawry. "The anchors are not here, +and, of course, they are on the bottom of the lake. I don't see +through this business." + +"Nor I, either; but one thing we can see through; the steamer is +safe, with the water all pumped out of her. We may as well go to +work, and get her over to the ferry." + +This was good counsel, and without losing any more time in attempts +to fathom what was dark and strange, they commenced the labors of the +day. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +GETTING UP STEAM + + +A survey of the position of the _Woodville_ showed that she was +slightly aground at the stern; but Ethan was confident that a few +turns of the wheels would bring her off. The boys then tried the +pumps; but after less than a hundred strokes they refused to yield +any more water. They then carefully examined every part of the +interior below the decks. + +"She's all right," said Lawry. "What shall we do now?" + +"Get up steam," replied Ethan. "I have a couple of hours' work to do +on the engine; but we will start the furnaces at once." + +"Can't I make the fire?" asked Lawry. + +"Yes, if you know how." + +"You can show me. I don't know much about steam-boilers and engines." + +"We will get our dry wood out of the wherry, and I will help you +start the fire. While I am at work on the engine, you will have to +overhaul your steering-gear, and see that it is all right. The chains +and pulleys will need to be oiled." + +Lawry got into the wherry, and threw the dry wood on deck. Ethan had +not expected to kindle the fires till night, when he hoped the water +would be below the furnaces. It was a grateful surprise to be able at +once to go to work on the engine. He was enthusiastic in his fondness +for machinery, and that of the _Woodville_ was his particular pet. + +After he had tried the valves on the boiler, and assured himself +that it contained the proper supply of water, the fires were started +in the furnaces. There was plenty of wood and coal on board, though +the former was so wet that it would not burn without some assistance, +which was furnished by the dry fuel brought off in the wherry. In a +little while the furnaces were roaring with the blaze from the wood, +and the coal was shoveled in. Ethan, having dried a quantity of the +wet packing, commenced rubbing down and oiling the machinery. He was +in his element now, and never was a young man in a higher state of +keen enjoyment. + +While he was thus engaged, Lawry overhauled the steering apparatus, +rubbed down the wheel, oiled the pulleys, and satisfied himself that +everything was in working order. The situation and the work were in +the highest degree exhilarating. It was not labor to clean and adjust +the gear; it was a pleasure such as he had never realized from the +most exciting sports. He could hardly repress the rapture he felt +when he saw the black smoke from the pine wood pouring out of the +smokestack. + +"This is my steamer," said he to himself. "I am the owner of her." + +The thought made him laugh with joy. He stood up at the wheel, and +though he could not turn it, because the rudder was fast in the sand, +he knew exactly how he should feel when he stood in this position +with the _Woodville_ gliding swiftly over the bright waters of +the lake. + +The steering-gear was in perfect order, so far as he could judge +without using it, and Ethan was still busy at the engine. Lawry could +not deny himself the pleasure of a survey of the steamer, for the +purpose of admiring her comforts and conveniences. He walked up and +down the main-deck, entered the saloon and the cabin, visited the +forehold, and opened the doors of the various apartments forward of +the paddle-boxes. It is true, everything was in a state of "confusion +worse confounded." Carpets were soaked with water, curtains were +drabbled and stained, sofas and chairs upset in the cabin and saloon; +while in the kitchen and storerooms, shelves and lockers had been +emptied, and their contents strewed in wild disorder about the +apartments. + +But Lawry knew how order could be brought out of chaos, and the +derangement of furniture and utensils did not disturb him. It would +be a delightful occupation to restore harmony to these shelves and +lockers, to bring order and neatness out of the confusion which +reigned in every part of the steamer. When he had completed his +survey, he went to the engine-room, and offered his services to Ethan +for duty in his department. As the engineer had nothing for him to +do, he returned to the kitchen, and busied himself in putting things +to rights there, foreseeing that this apartment would soon be needed. +He made a fire in the galley, in order to dry the room more speedily, +and then occupied his time in picking up the tins and the kettles, +and putting them in their places. + +While he was examining the lockers and shelves, he found part of a +leg of bacon, and some potatoes, which had been left from the stores +used by the crew on the passage from New York up to the lake. There +were coffee and tea in the canisters, sugar in the buckets, butter +and salt in the boxes; though all these articles had been more or +less soaked in the water, depending upon the tightness of the vessels +that held them. There was a good fire in the stove, and a bright +thought entered Lawry's excited brain; he and his companion would +breakfast on fried ham and potatoes, flanked with hot coffee! + +Lawry was a cook of no mean accomplishments, and he immediately went +to work in carrying out his brilliant idea. Somehow, it is a singular +fact that boys have a special delight in "getting up something to +eat" in the woods, on the water, and generally in all out-of-the-way +places. A dinner at Parker's or Delmonico's is not to be compared +with baked potatoes and roasted ears of corn in the woods, or with +fried fish and potatoes in a boat or on an island. The young pilot +was no exception to the common rule, and in a state of rapture known +only to the amateur cook of tender years, he put on the teakettle, +pared and sliced the potatoes, and put a quantity of the brown mud +from the canister into the coffeepot. + +Things were hissing and sizzling on the stove in the most +satisfactory manner, and Lawry presided over the frying-pan with a +grace and dignity which would have been edifying in a professional +cook. While the ham was cooking, he wiped the dishes with a cloth he +had dried at the fire, and set the table on the broad bench at the +end of the kitchen. The meat and the potatoes were "done to a turn," +but the coffee had a suspicious look, owing to the absence of the +fish-skin, or other ingredient, for settling it. The contents of the +basket brought from home were tastily disposed in dishes on the +table, and breakfast was ready. We will venture to say that, in spite +of the disadvantages under which this meal was prepared, many +steamboat men have sat down to a less satisfactory banquet. + +Lawry, chuckling with delight at what he had done, rang the hand-bell +he found in the kitchen, at the door. If Ethan had smelled the +savory viands in the course of preparation for him, he had made no +sign; but he was probably too busy to heed anything but the darling +engine he was so affectionately caressing with handfuls of packing +and spurts of oil. + +"What's that bell for, Lawry?" shouted he. + +"Breakfast's ready," replied Lawry. + +"I wouldn't stop to eat now--would you?" + +"Things will be cold if you don't." + +"Cold?" laughed Ethan. + +"Yes--cold. What's the use of having a kitchen if you don't use it?" + +"You're a good one!" shouted Ethan. "Why didn't you tell me what you +were about?" + +"I didn't want to spoil your appetite." + +"You are a first-rate fellow, Lawry. Your breakfast looks tip-top, +and I shall do full justice to it; but I must go and look at the +boiler and the fires before I eat." + +They sat down to breakfast when Ethan had returned and washed the +smut from his face and hands. Lawry poured out the coffee, and helped +his companion to ham and potatoes. The engineer ate with good relish. + +"Your ham and potatoes are first-rate, Lawry; but I've seen better +coffee than this," said he. + +"I had nothing to settle it, and there is no milk on board." + +"We had some fish-skin, and there is plenty of condensed milk on +board," replied Ethan. + +The coffee was subjected to a new process, and the condensed milk +prepared for use. By the time the substantials of the feast had been +discussed, some pretty good coffee was ready for them. The boys ate +their breakfast with a zest they had never known before. + +"Ethan!" exclaimed Lawry. + +"What, Lawry?" + +"Hold me down!" shouted the proprietor of the _Woodville_. + +"What's the matter?" + +"Hold me down! I shall go up if you don't. I can't hold in any +longer. I'm so tickled, I feel as though I should fly away." + +"Don't do it," laughed Ethan. "But I must go and look after the +engine, or we may both go up, in a way that won't suit us;" and Ethan +hurried down into the fire-room. + +After taking a turn up and down the deck, Lawry curbed down his +superfluous enthusiasm, and returned to the kitchen, where he +extinguished the fire in the galley, and put away the dishes and +kettles which had been used in getting breakfast. By this time Ethan +had finished his work on the engine, and the steam gage indicated a +sufficient pressure to work the machinery. + +"All ready, Lawry!" shouted he. + +"Is everything all right?" + +"Yes, as good as new. Now, if you will go into the wheel-house, we +will see what she will do." + +"Hurrah!" shouted Lawry. + +He pulled the bell for starting her, and with a thrill of delight he +heard the wheels splashing in the water; and the great splurges began +to roll up on the shore. + +"Does she move?" asked Ethan, through the speaking-tube which +communicated with the engine-room. + +"No, she sticks fast," replied Lawry. "Give her a little more of it." + +The wheels of the steamer turned rapidly for a moment, and the +_Woodville_ slid off the ground into deep water. + +"Hurrah!" shouted Lawry, as he rang the bell to stop her. "She's all +right now," he added, through the tube. + +"Go ahead, then," replied the engineer. + +"As soon as I make fast the wherry astern." + +Before he went to the wheel-house he sounded the pumps again, and +visited the forehold to examine the oilcloth over the aperture in the +bow. There was but little water in the well, and the canvas carpet +was faithful to its duty. There was nothing to fear, though Lawry +couldn't help fearing. + +"Are you all ready, Ethan?" called the pilot through the tube. + +"All ready; but don't you think we had better hoist the flags, and +go over in good style?" responded the engineer. + +"Aye, aye." + +The small American flag and the union jack, which had been taken +from the poles the night before, and deposited in the locker of the +wherry, were displayed, and Lawry returned to his post. + +The pilot rang his bell to start, and the wheels turned slowly as +Ethan opened the valve. The _Woodville_ moved off from the +shore, and Lawry's heart bounded as though it had been part of the +engine. He grasped the spokes, and heaved the wheel over; the +beautiful craft obeyed her helm. + +"Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!" shouted Lawry, at the mouth of the +speaking-tube. + +"Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!" echoed back from the engine-room. + +Lawry stood at the wheel, looking through the open window in front +of him. It was his hour of triumph. As he gazed at the shore, he saw +the ferry-boat start out from the landing. There was no vehicle in +her, and as the steamer approached nearer to her, he saw that Mr. +Sherwood and the ladies were on board of her. They were coming out to +welcome and congratulate Ethan and himself upon the triumphant +success of the enterprise. Mrs. Wilford was with them, and Ben held +the steering oar. + +Lawry informed his friend, through the tube, of the approach of the +party. The ladies in the ferry-boat were waving their handkerchiefs, +and Mr. Sherwood was swinging his hat. + +"Whistle, Lawry!" shouted the engineer, as the pilot informed him +what was taking place. + +"Hurrah!" shouted the pilot, as he pulled the string. + +As the _Woodville_ came up to the bateau, Lawry rang to stop, +and, swinging his hat out the window, gave three cheers all alone, +while the ladies waved their handkerchiefs in reply. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +CAPTAIN LAWRY + + +The bateau ran up to the steamer, and Ben made her fast at the +forward gangway. Mr. Sherwood still cheered, and the ladies continued +to wave their handkerchiefs. + +"Won't you come on board?" said Lawry to the party. + +"I shall, for one," replied Mr. Sherwood. + +"I'm afraid of her," added Miss Fanny. + +"There is nothing to fear, ladies. She is safe, and we are running +her very slowly," continued the young pilot. + +"Lawry knows where the rocks are," said Mrs. Wilford, "and I'll +warrant you there is no danger." + +With some misgivings, the ladies, who had suffered by the +catastrophe when the _Woodville_ was wrecked, permitted themselves +to be handed to the deck of the steamer. + +"I congratulate you on your success, Lawry," said Mr. Sherwood, as +he stepped on board after the ladies. "You have worked bravely, and +succeeded nobly;" and he grasped the hand of the pilot. + +"Thank you, sir. I knew I could raise her, if I had fair play. I +don't know but you are sick of your bargain, sir, in giving her to me." + +"By no means, Captain Lawry," replied the rich man, laughing. "If +the ladies succeed in overcoming their terror of steamboats, I +suppose I can charter the boat for our party when we wish to use her." + +"She's at your service always, sir," replied Lawry. + +"Oh, I shall take her on the same terms that others do. When I use +her, I shall pay you." + +"That wouldn't be fair, sir. I couldn't take any money from you for +the use of her," added Lawry, blushing. + +"We will not talk about that now. When she is in condition for use, +we will consider these questions. How did you find her this morning?" +asked Mr. Sherwood, with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. + +"We found the water all pumped out of her; and we didn't know what +to make of it," answered Lawry. + +All the visitors burst out laughing, and heartily enjoyed the +astonishment and confusion of the young pilot. + +"I don't understand it," exclaimed Lawry. + +"The fairies, knowing what a good boy you are, Lawry, must have +pumped her out for you," said Miss Fanny. + +"Perhaps they did." + +Mr. Sherwood then explained what he had done the preceding night, +and the reason why he had done it. Ben Wilford, after fastening the +ferry-boat at the stern of the steamer, had come on deck, and +listened to the explanation. He saw in what manner his malice had +been defeated, and he looked very much dissatisfied with himself and +everybody on board. + +"You were very kind, Mr. Sherwood, to take so much trouble upon +yourself," said Lawry. + +"It was no trouble at all; it was a great pleasure to me. But I +don't understand how the steamer happened to be on the other side of +the lake." + +"I supposed the persons who bailed her out set her adrift. The casks +were all knocked out from under the guards, and they are scattered +all along the shore." + +"Before my men left her last night, I went all over the boat to +satisfy myself that everything was right. I examined the cables very +carefully, and I am sure they were well stoppered at twelve o'clock, +when we went on shore." + +"I fastened the cable myself, and I don't think she could have +broken loose herself." + +Ben Wilford listened in sullen silence to this conversation, and his +mother could hardly keep from crying as she thought of the guilt of +her oldest son. She was not willing to tell Lawry what his brother +had done, fearful that his indignation would produce a quarrel where +brotherly love should prevail. She believed that Ben had attempted, +while under the influence of liquor, to sink the _Woodville_, +and that he would not do such a thing in his sober senses. + +Neither Lawry nor Mr. Sherwood could explain in what manner the +steamer had broken from her moorings and the oil-casks been removed +from their fastenings; so they were obliged to drop the matter, +congratulating themselves upon the present safety of the boat. + +"We will go ashore with you, Captain Lawry, when you are ready," +said Mr. Sherwood, after the question had been disposed of in this +unsatisfactory manner. + +"Captain Lawry!" sneered Ben. + +"Certainly; he is the captain of the steamer--isn't he?" laughed Mr. +Sherwood. + +"It sounds big for a boy," growled Ben. + +"He will make a good captain." + +Ben turned and walked away, disgusted with the idea. + +"I'm ready, sir," said Lawry. + +"Where are you bound next, Captain Lawry?" asked Mr. Sherwood. + +"I'm going to fish up the anchors we lost, and then to pick up the +oil-casks," replied Lawry. + +"Where do you intend to keep your steamer?" + +"I hadn't thought of that, sir." + +"You will need a wharf." + +"We need one; but I think we shall have to get along without one." + +"Where would be a good place to have one?" + +"The deepest water is just below the ferry-landing. We could get +depth enough for this boat by running a pier out about forty feet. +Ethan and I can build some kind of a wharf, when we have time." + +Mr. Sherwood said no more about the matter, and Ben landed the +visitors in the ferry-boat. The _Woodville_ then ran down to the +Goblins, and towed the raft out to the spot where the anchors lay. A +boat grapnel was dragged over the spot, the cables hooked, and the +anchors hauled up with the derrick on the raft, from which they were +transferred to the steamer. + +Having obtained these necessary appendages of the steamer, they +returned to the landing for the ferry-boat, in which they intended to +load the oil-casks, and convey them to Pointville. Ben was at the +landing when she arrived, and without any invitation, stepped on +board the ferry-boat, and thence to the steamer. + +"Don't you want some help, Lawry?" asked Ben. + +"Yes; we should be glad of all the help we can get," replied Lawry +pleasantly. + +"Well, I'll help you." + +"We have a good deal of hard work to do to-day," added the pilot. "I +would like to get the boat on the ways at Port Henry to-night." + +"That can be done easy enough." + +Ben Wilford seemed now to have adopted a conciliatory policy, but it +was evidently done for a purpose. When the _Woodville_ reached +the Goblins, he worked with good will in loading the ferry-boat, +which was towed over to Pointville, and her cargo discharged. The +casks, which had drifted over to the eastern shore of the lake, were +then picked up, and landed at the same place. The man who had carted +them down to the shore was engaged to convey them back to the barn of +the oil speculator. It was noon by the time this work was all +accomplished; and the _Woodville_ again crossed the lake, and +came to anchor in the deep water above the ferry-landing, as close to +the shore as it was prudent for her to lie. Ethan banked his fires, +and the boys went on shore to dinner, one at a time; for after the +experience of the preceding night they would not leave the steamer +alone for a single moment. + +After dinner, Mr. Sherwood, who appeared to be as much interested in +the little steamer as though she had not changed her ownership, came +on board again, accompanied by the ladies. It had before been decided +that the carpets should be taken up, the muslin curtains removed, and +such portions of the furniture and utensils as had been injured by +the water should be conveyed on shore to be cleaned, and put in +proper order for use. In this labor Mr. Sherwood's party and Mrs. +Wilford assisted, and by the middle of the afternoon everything had +been removed. Ben Wilford aided very zealously, and his mother +hopefully concluded that he was sorry for what he intended to do, and +wished to remove any suspicion of evil intentions on his part. + +The _Woodville_ was now going down to Port Henry, where the +repairs on her hull were to be made, and the pilot and engineer were +to remain on board. Ben promised faithfully to run the ferry during +Lawry's absence; and, cheered by the party on the shore, the +_Woodville_ departed for her destination. She ran at half speed, +but reached the port before sunset. The next morning she went on the +ways, and her repairs commenced. During that time Ethan was +constantly employed on the engine, and when the steamer was restored +to her native element there was not a suspicion of rust on the +machinery. + +Lawry was also as busy as a bee all the time, scrubbing the floors, +cleaning the paint, and polishing the brass-work. When the boat was +ready to return to Port Rock, she was in condition to receive her +furniture. She was launched early in the morning, and Ethan proceeded +at once to get up steam. Both of the boys were in the highest state +of expectancy and delight; and when Lawry struck the bell to start +her, he was hardly less excited than when he had done so for the +first time after the water had been pumped out of her. All the +bunting was displayed at the bow and stern, and the _Woodville_ +now plowed the lake at full speed. Her happy owner realized that she +was good for ten miles an hour, which, for so diminutive a craft, was +more than he had a right to expect. + +"Hello!" shouted Lawry to himself, as the steamer approached the +ferry-landing; "what's that?" + +In the deep water which the young pilot had indicated as the best +place for a wharf, a pier was in process of erection. A score of +bridge-builders were sawing, hammering, and chopping, and Mr. +Sherwood stood in their midst, watching their operations. The +structure was not complete, but the mooring posts were set up, so +that the _Woodville_ could be made fast to them. Mr. Sherwood +and the workmen gave three cheers as the steamer approached. + +"Run her up here, Lawry!" shouted his wealthy friend. "Aye, aye, sir." + +"You have taken this job out of my hands, sir," said Lawry, as he +glanced at the wharf. + +"Yes; I thought I could do it better than you could, as your time +will be fully occupied." + +"I think I should have found time enough to do what I intended; but +of course I couldn't have built any such wharf as this." + +"It is none too good." + +"But I ought to pay for it out of the money I may earn with the boat." + +"Never mind that, Lawry," added Mr. Sherwood. + +The young captain explained what had been done during his absence, +and informed his interested friend that the steamer was in condition +to receive her furniture. + +"Shall you have her ready for a trip by to-morrow?" asked Mr. +Sherwood. + +"Yes, sir." + +"Because I have taken the liberty to engage her, in your name, for +several parties." + +"You are very kind, sir," replied Lawry. + +"Have you fixed upon any price for her?" + +"Ethan and I were talking over the matter. We shall need some help +on board, and that will cost money. Coal is pretty high up here on +the lake." + +"Well, how much did you intend to charge for her by the day, or the +hour?" + +"We thought about three dollars an hour," replied Lawry, with much +diffidence. + +"Three dollars an hour! You are too modest by half," laughed Mr. +Sherwood. "Make it five, at least. I told the parties I engaged for +you that the price would not be less than fifty dollars a day." + +"I'm afraid I shall make money too fast at that rate," added Lawry. + +"No, you won't. It will cost a great deal of money to run the boat. +What do you pay your engineer?" + +"I don't know, sir; we have made no bargain yet." + +"If Ethan does a man's work, you must pay him a man's wages. I +suppose he wants to make his fortune." + +"What do you think he ought to have?" asked Lawry. + +"Three dollars a day," replied Mr. Sherwood promptly. "I dare say +Ethan would not charge you half so much; but that is about the wages +of a man for running an engine in these times." + +"I am satisfied, if that is fair wages; though it is a great deal +more than I ever made." + +"Engineers get high wages. Then you want a fireman." + +"I can get a boy, who will answer very well for a fireman." + +"I think not, Lawry. You need a man of experience and judgment. He +can save his wages for you in coal. The man whom I employed as a +fireman is just the person, and he is at the village now." + +"What must I pay him, sir?" + +"Two dollars a day. Then your parties will want some dinner on +board, and you will need a cook, and two stewards. A woman to do the +cooking, and two girls to tend the table, will answer your purpose. +You can obtain the three for about seven dollars a week; but your +passengers must pay extra for their meals, and you need not charge +the expenses of the steward's department to the boat." + +"If you expect to succeed, Lawry, you must do your work well. Your +boat must be safe and comfortable, and your dinners nice and well +served. You will want two deck-hands. Your expenses, including coal, +oil for machinery, and hands, will be about twenty dollars a day. If +you add repairs, of which steamboats are continually in need, you +will run it up to twenty-five dollars a day." + +"That will leave me a profit of twenty-five dollars a day," added +Lawry, delighted at the thought. + +"If you are employed every day, it will; but you cannot expect to do +anything with parties for more than two months in the year." + +"I can get some towing to do; and I may make something with +passengers." + +"Parties will pay best in July and August, and perhaps part of +September; but you must be wide-awake." + +"I intend to be." + +"I advise you to get up a handbill of your steamer, announcing that +she is to be let to parties by the day, at all the large ports on the +lake. There are plenty of wealthy people, spending the summer in this +vicinity, who would be glad to engage her, even for a week at once." + +"Will you write me a handbill, Mr. Sherwood?" + +"Yes, and get it printed." + +"Thank you, sir." + +"The _Woodville_ is engaged to me for to-morrow," added Mr. +Sherwood. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE NEW CAPTAIN + + +Lawry was bewildered by the magnificence of the arrangements +suggested by Mr. Sherwood; but if the _Woodville_ was to be +employed in taking out parties of genteel people, nothing less +magnificent would answer the purpose. His influential friend, it +appeared, had already exerted himself to procure employment of this +kind for the steamer, and the proprietor of the beautiful craft was +not only willing to conform to his ideas, but was grateful for the +kindly interest he manifested in the prosperity of the enterprise. + +Mrs. Wilford had engaged a cook, and two girls for the steward's +department; the fireman was sent for; and two boys were employed as +deck-hands. + +Now, Lawry thought it was quite necessary that his crew should be +trained a little before any passengers were received on board, and +after Mr. Sherwood and his party had gone home, the fires were +revived, and a short trip down the lake determined upon. As soon as +there was steam enough for the purpose, the pilot, now the captain, +rang his bell to back her, and the deck-hands were instructed in +getting the fasts on board. Ben Wilford, who was standing on the +wharf, cast off the hawsers, and then jumped aboard, himself. The +bells jingled for a few moments, and then the _Woodville_ went +off on her course. + +"This is all very fine," said Ben. + +"First-rate," laughed Lawry. + +"What am I to do?" demanded Ben, rather gruffly. + +"You?" said the pilot. + +"Everybody seems to have something to do with her except me." + +"What do you want to do?" + +"I suppose you think I'm not fit for anything." + +"I had an idea that you would stay at home, and run the ferry-boat." + +"Did you?" sneered Ben. + +"Some one must do that; and of course I can't now." + +"Hang the ferry-boat!" + +"It must be run, or we shall forfeit the privilege." + +"I shall not run it, whatever happens." + +"I don't see how I can." + +"Lawry, I don't think you are using me right," added Ben sourly. + +"Why, what have I done?" + +"You've got this boat, and though you know I'm a steamboat man, you +don't say a word to me about taking any position on board of her." + +"I don't know what position there is on board for you, unless you +take a deck-hand's place." + +"A deck-hand!" + +"That is what you have always been." + +"Do you think I'm going to be bossed by you?" + +"Ben, if you will tell me just what you want, I shall understand you +better," said Lawry, rather impatiently. + +"You know what I want. There is only one place in the boat I would +be willing to take." + +"You mean captain." + +"Of course I do." + +"I intended to be captain myself." + +"I thought you were going to be pilot of her." + +"So I am; and captain, too." + +"Then you mean to leave me out entirely." + +"Ben, I don't want to have any row; and I won't quarrel with my +brother; but I don't think it is quite fair for you to ask so much of +me." + +"Don't I know all about a steamboat?" + +"Can you pilot one up and down the lake?" + +"Well, no; I never did that kind of work." + +"Can you run an engine?" + +"No; and you can't, either. The captain doesn't have to be a pilot, +nor an engineer." + +"What must he do, then?" + +"He must look out for everything, make the landing, and see that the +people on board are comfortable." + +"I intend to do all that." + +"How can you do it, and stay in the wheel-house?" + +"I shall not stay there all the time. The deck-hands know how to +steer. I want to do what's fair and right, Ben. The steamer was given +to me; and I don't exactly like to have any one to boss me on board." + +"The captain don't have much to do with the pilot, and I sha'n't +boss you." + +"Suppose the question should come up, whether or not the boat should +take a certain job; who would decide the question--you or I?" + +"I'm the oldest, and I think I ought to have the biggest voice in +the matter." + +"But the boat is mine," added Lawry, with emphasis. + +"As to that, she is just as much mine as she is yours." + +"I'm willing to do what's fair and right; but I shall not have any +captain over me in this boat," replied Lawry. + +"Lawry, you are my brother," said Ben angrily; "but I don't care for +that. You set yourself up above me; you make me a nobody. I won't +stand it!" + +"I don't set myself up above you, Ben." + +"Yes, you do. You offered me the place of deck-hand!" + +"I didn't ask you to take any place. I'll tell you what I will do, +Ben. I'll talk with mother and Mr. Sherwood about the matter, and if +they think you ought to be captain of the _Woodville_, you shall +be." + +"Mr. Sherwood don't know everything." + +"I think he would know what is right in a case like this." + +"He thinks you are a little god, and I know what he would say." + +"I will do as mother says, then." + +"What do women know about these things?" + +"I don't think Mr. Sherwood or mother would like it if I should give +up the command of this boat to any one." + +"Let them lump it, then," replied Ben, as he rushed out of the +wheel-house, incensed beyond measure at Lawry's opposition to his +unreasonable proposal. + +Captain Lawry was sorely disturbed by the conduct of his brother. He +could not enjoy his pleasant position at the wheel, and he put the +steamer about, heading her toward Port Rock. + +"Lawry," said Ben, returning to the wheel-house, "I want you to tell +me what you are going to do. I'm older than you, and I have seen more +steamboating than you have. I think it's my right to be captain of +this boat." + +"I don't think so." + +"I don't want to jaw any more about it." + +"I'm sure I don't." + +"All I've got to say is, that if I don't run this boat no one will." + +"What do you mean by that, Ben?" demanded Lawry. + +"No matter what I mean. I'm going to have what belongs to me. Once +for all, am I to be captain, or not?" + +"No," replied Lawry firmly. + +Ben went out of the wheel-house, and the pilot did not see him again +till after the _Woodville_ reached her wharf. Lawry was sadly +grieved at the attitude of his brother; and if Ben had been a +reliable person, fit for the position he aspired to obtain, he would +have yielded the point. But the would-be captain was an intemperate +and dissolute fellow, as unsuitable for the command as he would have +been for the presidency of a bank. + +Early on the following morning the supplies for the _Woodville_ +were taken on board, and at eight o'clock everything was in readiness +for the reception of Mr. Sherwood's party. The steam was merrily +hissing from the escape-pipe; Ethan was busy, as he always was, in +rubbing down the polished parts of the engine, and Lawry was walking +up and down the forward deck. Quite a collection of people had +assembled on the unfinished wharf and the shore to witness the +departure of the steamer. As Captain Lawry paced the deck, there was +a slight commotion in the crowd, and three persons passed through, +making their way to the deck. One of them was the sheriff who had +arrested the ferryman a few days before. He was followed by Mr. +Taylor, his father's creditor, and Ben Wilford. + +"I'm sorry to trouble you, Lawry," said the official; "but I suppose +I must do my duty." + +"What's the matter, sir?" asked Lawry. "What have I done?" + +"Nothing, my boy. I think this is rather mean business; but I can't +help it," replied the sheriff, as he produced certain documents. +"Your father owes Mr. Taylor a note of nine hundred and fifty +dollars, on which the interest has not been paid for two years, +making the debt ten hundred and sixty-four dollars." + +"But the place is mortgaged for that," replied Lawry. + +"I have just foreclosed the mortgage; and now I must attach this +steamboat." + +"Attach it!" groaned Lawry. + +"Such are my orders; your father's place would hardly sell for +enough to pay the debt." + +"But this boat is mine," pleaded Lawry. + +"You are a minor, Lawry; and your father is entitled by law to all +your earnings, as you have a claim on him for your support. I can't +stop to explain this matter. The steamer is in my possession now, +subject to the decree of the court. I shall appoint a person to take +charge of her and run her for the benefit of the parties in interest." + +"That's too bad!" exclaimed Lawry. + +"I know it is; but I can't help it," replied the sheriff. "I shall +appoint your brother, and from this time he has full control of her." + +It was evident even to Lawry, who had not been informed of his +brother's worst intentions, that Ben was at the bottom of this +conspiracy. Such was indeed the truth. Mr. Taylor was a young man who +had recently inherited a large fortune, which, it was plain, would +soon be squandered, for he was both intemperate and reckless. Ben had +helped him home one night after a drunken carousal, which had been +the beginning of an intimacy between them, for the younger tippler +was not one to neglect an opportunity to secure a wealthy friend. + +They had talked together about the _Woodville_ on several +occasions, and Ben had suggested in what manner he might obtain the +debt due him. On the night before the visit of the sheriff to the +steamer, the malignant and jealous brother had repeated to his +dissipated patron the story of his grievances--that he was a "nobody" +at home, and that Lawry wanted to make a deck-hand of him. Though not +a badly disposed man in the main, Taylor listened with interest and +sympathy to the exaggerated and distorted narrative, and the plan by +which Ben was to be put in possession of the steamer was matured. + +The creditor went to a lawyer, one of his boon companions, who was +quite willing to make business for himself; and he had looked up the +law and arranged the facts, by which he expected to hold the steamer. +Doubtless it was a very ingenious scheme, and perhaps it is +unfortunate that the case never came to trial, for it involved some +interesting legal points. Thus far the design had been carried out, +and Ben was in command of the steamer, as an employee of the sheriff. + +"I won't be as hard with you, Lawry, as you were with me," said Ben, +as he walked up to Lawry in the wheel-house, to which he had +retreated to hide his confusion. + +"This is your work, Ben," replied the youth bitterly. + +"I was bound to have the command of this steamer, and I have got +it," added Ben, with malignant triumph. + +"I know you have; you put Mr. Taylor up to this, or he never would +have done it." + +"Don't snarl about it, Lawry; the thing is done, and you can't help +yourself. The sheriff has given me the command of the boat." + +"And he has attached the place. Mother will be turned out of house +and home!" cried Lawry, unable to repress his tears. + +"No, she won't; that will be all right." + +"Oh, Ben! How could you do it?" + +"You drove me to it. It is all your fault, Lawry; so you needn't +whine about it. Don't make a fuss; here comes Taylor." + +"I don't want to see him," said Lawry, moving toward the door. + +"Don't go off; I'm going to take Taylor and his friends up the lake, +to give them a sail." + +"The boat is engaged to Mr. Sherwood, to-day." + +"I can't help it; he will not have her to-day. Come, Lawry, be a +man. I won't be as hard with you, I say, as you were with me. I don't +ask you to be a deck-hand. You shall be the pilot still." + +"No, I won't." + +"Won't you?" + +"I will not," said Lawry firmly, as he dried his tears. "The boat is +engaged to Mr. Sherwood, and he has invited a party to go with him. +They were to start at nine o'clock, and they will be down here soon." + +"Can't help it. I promised to take Taylor and his friends out, and +they are all here now. There are the stores for his party," replied +Ben, as a couple of men brought a large basket on board, from the top +of which protruded the necks of a demijohn and several bottles. + +"I shall not go with that party," added Lawry. + +"But I want a pilot," said Ben. + +"What's the trouble, Wilford?" demanded Taylor. + +"Let me tell him you will go, Lawry?" whispered Ben. "He may be hard +on you if you don't." + +"I will not. I must see Mr. Sherwood at once." + +"What's the matter?" asked Ethan. + +Lawry was explaining what had happened, when Ben came down with +Taylor. + +"I shall not go in her till I have seen Mr. Sherwood," added Lawry, +as he finished his brief statement. + +"Then I shall not," said Ethan. + +"I can steer her myself," said Ben to Taylor. + +"Certainly you can." + +"Mr. Sherwood will be down soon, and we must be off before he gets +here." + +"Go up, and start her then," added Taylor. + +Without noticing Lawry and Ethan, Ben rushed up to the wheel-house, +and ordered the deck-hands to cast off the fasts, which was done. He +knew how to steer a boat, and understood the bells, having had +considerable experience on board the large steamers. He rang to back +her, supposing Ethan was at his post in the engine-room. + +She did not back, and he rang again, but with no better success than +before. + +"Back her!" shouted he, through the speaking-tube. + +There was no answer; and, filled with anger, the new captain rushed +down to the engine-room to "blow up" the engineer. He found Ethan on +the main-deck. + +"What are you doing there?" demanded Ben. "Don't you hear the bells?" + +"I heard them," replied Ethan quietly. + +"Why don't you start her, then?" + +"I've nothing to do with her." + +"Don't you run that engine?" + +"I don't." + +"What do you mean?" + +"I mean that I will have nothing to do with the engine as things are +now." + +Ben raved and stormed at Ethan; then he tried to coax him to take +his place; but the engineer was as firm as the pilot had been. Taylor +offered him ten dollars if he would run the engine that day; but he +positively refused. The new captain then went down to the fire-room, +where the man in charge of the furnaces was promoted to the position +of engineer. + +"Now we can go it," said Ben. + +"No; don't start her," said the sheriff. + +"Why not?" + +"I am responsible for the safety of this boat, and she shall not go +with neither pilot nor engineer." + +Taylor and the new captain swore terribly; but the sheriff was +immovable. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE EXCURSION TO WHITEHALL + + +Lawry was no lawyer, and was therefore unable to form an opinion in +regard to the legality of the steps by which the _Woodville_ had +been taken from him. It was an accomplished fact, and he was as +disconsolate as though he had lost his best friend. He went on shore, +and until the peremptory order of the sheriff was given, he expected +to see the steamer shoot out from the wharf and disappear beyond the +point, in charge of another person than himself. + +He had refused to pilot the steamer under the new order of things, +not because he wished to be spiteful to his brother, but because he +was smarting under a sense of injustice, which unfitted him for the +duty. Though he did not comprehend the legal measures which had been +taken, he felt that there was something wrong. The _Woodville_ +belonged to him, not to his father; and though he was willing to give +all his earnings for the support of the family, and even to pay off +the mortgage on the place, he felt that it was not right to take the +steamer from him. + +He stood on the wharf, paralyzed by the calamity which had overtaken +him. He wanted to do something, but he did not know what to do. The +sheriff, by his caution, had defeated the plans of the new captain, +and Lawry was waiting to see what would happen next. He wished to see +Mr. Sherwood, and he would have hastened up to his house if he could +have endured the thought of losing sight of the steamer even for a +moment. Ethan was still on deck, for though he refused to run the +engine, he felt it to be his duty to stand by and see that no +accident happened, for the steam was up, and the fireman was an +unskillful person. + +Ben Wilford and Taylor were disappointed and chagrined at their +failure to get off. They stormed and swore, till it was apparent that +storming and swearing would not start the steamer. The sheriff +positively refused to let the boat depart without a competent pilot +and engineer. + +"What shall we do, Wilford?" said Taylor. "Can't you persuade your +brother to take hold again?" + +"He's as obstinate as a mule; but I'll try," replied Ben. + +"Offer him twenty dollars for his day's work," added Taylor. + +"I may be able to compromise with him, if you're willing." + +"Anything you please, if you can make him and the other fellow go +with us." + +"Lawry, Mr. Taylor will give you twenty dollars if you will pilot +the steamer to-day," said Ben. + +"I wouldn't go for a hundred," replied the young pilot. "I won't go +with you at any rate." + +"Don't be so obstinate, Lawry." + +"I engaged the boat to Mr. Sherwood, and I will not go with anybody +else." + +"Mr. Sherwood won't care when he finds out that you are not to +blame. You can't resist the law, and it isn't your fault." + +"Ben, I wouldn't do what you have done for all the steamers on the +lake. You have got this man to attach the property, and take the +house away from mother, just because you wanted to be captain of this +steamer." + +"What's the use of talking about that, Lawry?" replied Ben +impatiently. "I'm going to be captain of this steamer, anyhow; and +the sooner you make up your mind to it, the better it will be for you." + +"I can't help myself." + +"I know you can't, and for that reason you had better submit with a +good grace. If you will take your place in the wheel-house, Mr. +Taylor will remove the attachment." + +"Will he?" + +"I will," replied Taylor. + +"And put everything where it was before?" asked Lawry. + +"Of course I am to be captain, and Mr. Taylor is to have the boat +to-day," added Ben. + +"Mr. Taylor can't have her to-day," said Lawry firmly. "I engaged +her to Mr. Sherwood, and if anybody has her to-day, he must. That's +all I want to say about it now." + +The young pilot turned on his heel and walked away. His brother and +the creditor were conspirators, and he wanted nothing to do with +them. He might have been less resolute, if he had not seen Mr. +Sherwood's carriage stop at the head of the wharf. + +"Are you all ready, Lawry?" asked Mr. Sherwood. + +The poor boy could make no reply; he burst into tears, and turned +away from his kind friend. + +"What's the matter, Lawry?" demanded Mr. Sherwood. + +"I suppose he feels bad, sir," interposed the sheriff. "The boat has +been attached for his father's debts." + +"For his father's debts!" exclaimed the rich gentleman. + +The officer gave him a full explanation of the case. + +"This will never do," added Mr. Sherwood indignantly. "This boat is +Lawry's property in his own right." + +"I think not," added Taylor. "Here's my lawyer; he can explain the +matter to you." + +"No explanation is needed," replied Mr. Sherwood. + +"The boy is a minor," said the legal gentleman. + +"He may need a guardian, nothing more, to enable him to hold the +property." + +"Perhaps you are more familiar with the law than I am, Mr. +Sherwood," said the legal gentleman pompously. "You gave this boat to +the boy." + +"I did." + +"While she lay at the bottom of the lake she was worth nothing. She +was an abandoned wreck. If you had any property at all in her, it was +subject to the salvage. Lawry Wilford raised her. I suppose you are +willing to believe that the boy's father is entitled to his earnings?" + +"I grant that." + +"Well, sir, whatever the boy earned in the way of salvage belongs to +his father; and we sue to recover that." + +"This is a ridiculous suit!" exclaimed Mr. Sherwood. + +"Perhaps it is, sir, but we shall hold the boat, subject to the +decision of the court." + +Mr. Sherwood was vexed and perplexed; for, whether the claim could +be substantiated or not, the _Woodville_ could be held until a +decision was reached. Lawry then took him aside, and told him what +his brother had done, in order to make himself captain of the steamer. + +"Is that it, Lawry? I'm more sorry for your brother's sake than I am +for yours. I pity him, because he has been capable of doing so mean a +thing. Don't distress yourself, my boy. We will make this all right +in the course of ten minutes." + +"But they have taken the steamer away from me, and given her up to +Ben, who is to take charge of her." + +"Never mind, Lawry. They shall give her back to you," replied the +rich man, as he walked up to the lawyer. "How much is your claim +against Mr. Wilford?" + +"One thousand and sixty-four dollars," answered the legal gentleman. + +"Will you take my draft or check for the amount?" + +"No, sir." + +"I see you are not disposed to be accommodating." + +"We intend to have the first sail in this steamer," sneered Taylor. + +"I intend you shall not," said Mr. Sherwood. + +Unfortunately he had not money enough with him to discharge the +claim against the ferryman, which, as it was a just debt, whatever +might be said of the means taken to recover it, he had decided to +pay, rather than give bonds for the steamer, and contest the +attachment. He had invited several gentlemen to accompany him up the +lake in the _Woodville_, who were now on the wharf, and from +them he borrowed enough to make up the sum required. The money was +given to Mrs. Wilford, with instructions to go to a certain lawyer +and employ him to see that the mortgage on the house and land was +properly canceled. + +"When we get our money, the attachment on the boat can be dissolved, +not before," said the lawyer. "Mr. Sheriff, the debt is not paid yet." + +"I will put the money in your hands, if you desire," added Mr. +Sherwood to the sheriff. + +"I am satisfied. You may go where you please with the boat, and as +soon as you please," replied the official. + +"She will not go till this claim is settled, Mr. Sheriff," +remonstrated the legal gentleman. + +"She may go now," responded the officer. "Ben Wilford, your services +will not be needed. Now, gentlemen, we will go up to the village and +settle the bills." + +The lawyer protested that the attachment could not be removed till +the debt had been paid, but the sheriff was willing to take the +responsibility of releasing the boat. + +"All aboard, Lawry!" shouted Mr. Sherwood. + +"I didn't expect you to do this, sir," said the young pilot; "but I +will pay you every dollar, if the steamer ever earns so much." + +"We will talk about that some other time, my boy. We are all ready +to be off now." + +Lawry, with a light heart, sprang to his place in the wheel-house; +Ethan was already at his post in the engine-room, and the ladies and +gentlemen of the party hastened on board. + +"Put that basket ashore," said Lawry to the deckhands, as he pointed +to the "stores" of the party. + +The basket was tumbled on the wharf, to the imminent peril of the +glassware it contained. Ben Wilford stood on the pier, leaning +against one of the posts to which the steamer was fastened. He looked +sour and disappointed. + +"Cast off the bow-line," said Lawry, when all was ready. + +At this moment Ben jumped on board. + +"Stop her!" said Mr. Sherwood sharply, as Lawry rang the bell to +back her. + +"What's the matter, sir?" asked the pilot. + +"Young man," said Mr. Sherwood, stepping up to Ben Wilford, "you +will oblige me by going on shore." + +"What for?" demanded Ben crustily. + +"We do not need your company." + +"But I want to go." + +"I do not wish you to go." + +"I think it is rather steep for you to tell me I can't go in my +brother's boat." + +"Steep as it may seem, you can't go," added Mr. Sherwood firmly. + +"Can't I go, Lawry?" continued Ben. + +"It is not for him to say. I have engaged this boat for my party to-day, +and, beyond his crew, it is not for him to say who shall go." + +"I'm going, anyhow," replied Ben stubbornly. + +"No, you are not." + +"Yes, I am! if you want to fight, I'm all ready." + +"Young man, you wanted to be captain of this boat; you have made a +mistake." + +"No, I haven't. You and Lawry can't make a nobody out of me." + +"You will do it yourself." + +"You see." + +"Will you go on shore?" + +"No, I won't." + +The sheriff stood on the wharf with Mrs. Wilford, waiting to see the +departure of the _Woodville_. Ben's mother begged him to come on +shore; but he was in that frame of mind which seemed to make +opposition a necessity to him. "Do you want any assistance, Mr. +Sherwood?" asked the sheriff, as he stepped on deck. + +The reckless young man would have been very glad to have Mr. +Sherwood put his hand upon him, for it would have afforded him an +opportunity to revenge himself for his disappointment. It was another +thing to raise his hand against an officer of the law, and he +sullenly walked up the gangplank when that formidable individual +intimated his readiness to relieve the boat of her unwelcome passenger. + +"Haul in the plank, and cast off the bow-line," said Lawry. + +He rang the bell to back her, and when her bow pointed out from the +shore, the stern-line was cast off, and she moved slowly away from +the wharf. + +"I'm sorry your brother behaves so badly, Lawry," said Mr. Sherwood, +after the steamer started. + +"It makes me sick to think of it, sir," replied the pilot. "I'm +really afraid of him, for I don't know what he will do next." + +"Do your duty, faithfully; that is all you need do." + +"I feel almost sorry I didn't let him be captain, when I think the +matter over." + +"He is not fit to be captain; and you did quite right in not +consenting to it. I'm sorry for you, Lawry, and sorry for your +mother, for he must be a sore trial to both of you." + +"If he wasn't my brother I wouldn't care," added Lawry, restraining +the tears. + +"Never mind it, my boy; we won't say anything more about it. Let us +hope your brother will grow better." + +"I hope he will, sir." + +The _Woodville_ was now going at full speed up the lake. The +party on board consisted of twenty-four ladies and gentlemen, most of +whom were summer visitors at Port Rock. They were delighted with the +beautiful little craft, and glad to know that she could be obtained +for pleasure-parties during the summer. They wandered about the deck, +saloon, and cabin till they had examined every part of her, and then +they gave themselves up to the enjoyment of the sail, and of the +magnificent scenery on the borders of the lake. They seated +themselves on the forward deck, and Lawry pointed out the objects of +interest as the steamer proceeded; and in this occupation he forgot +the conduct of Ben, and was as happy as the happiest of the party +before him. The ladies and gentlemen sang songs and psalm tunes, in +which the sweet voice of Fanny Jane Grant was so prominent that Ethan +was once enticed from the fascinating engine which occupied all his +thoughts. + +In the meantime, Mrs. Light was busy with the dinner. Captain Lawry +was a little uneasy on this subject, for it was out of his line of +business. In the middle of the forenoon he gave the wheel to one of +the deck-hands, and went down into the kitchen to satisfy himself +that this important matter was receiving due attention. The cook was +so confident and enthusiastic that he was quite sure she would +realize the expectations of the passengers. In the cabin he found the +girls busy at the tables. Both of them had seen service in hotels, +and there was no danger of a failure in their department. At one +o'clock dinner was on the table, and the young captain went down +again to assure himself that it was all right. + +"Come, Lawry, can't you dine with us?" said Mr. Sherwood, when the +bell had been rung. + +"I can't leave the wheel, sir." + +"But don't you want some dinner?" + +"I'll have my dinner when we get to Whitehall. Haste makes waste, +you know; and if I should be in a hurry to eat my dinner we might get +aground, or be smashed up on the rocks." + +"I suppose you are right, Lawry, and I will do the honors of the +table for you," laughed Mr. Sherwood. + +The dinner was not only satisfactory, but it was warmly praised; and +Mrs. Light was made as happy as the captain by the enthusiastic +encomiums bestowed upon her taste and skill in the culinary art. + +The _Woodville_ reached Whitehall at two o'clock, where the +party went on shore to spend an hour. While they were absent Lawry +and all hands had their dinner, the cabins and the deck were swept, +and everything put in order. Quite a number of people visited the +little steamer while she lay at the pier; and a gentleman engaged her +to take out a party the next Saturday, with dinner for twenty-four +persons. When Mr. Sherwood returned, he had let her for another day. + +At three o'clock the _Woodville_ started for Port Rock. The +party were still in high spirits, and the singing was resumed when +the wheels began to turn. On the way down, she stopped at +Ticonderoga, while her appearance so delighted a party of +pleasure-seekers that she was engaged for another day, and a dinner +for twenty spoken for. + +"Lawry, you must have an engagement-book, or you will forget some of +your parties," said Mr. Sherwood, who stood by the pilot, in the +wheel-house, when the steamer started. + +"I have put them all down on a piece of paper, sir. I will get a +book when I go to Burlington." + +"Which will be to-morrow. I had engaged her for four days when you +came up with her from Port Henry; but I'm afraid we shall work you +too hard." + +"No fear of that, sir. I only hope I shall be able to pay you that +money you advanced this morning." + +"Don't say a word about that. Let me see: you are engaged in +Burlington to-morrow, to me the next day, and in Whitehall on the +following day." + +"I will get a book and put them down, sir." + +"But you must be in Burlington by eight o'clock tomorrow morning." + +"We can run up to-night." + +"You will get no sleep if you run all night." + +"I think we shall want another fireman." + +"You will: for in order to keep your engagements you will +occasionally have to run nights." + +At eight o'clock the _Woodville_ landed her passengers at Port +Rock, and as the gentlemen went ashore, they gave three cheers for +the little steamer and her little captain. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +BURLINGTON TO ISLE LA MOTTE + + +On his way home, Mr. Sherwood went to the ferry-house and satisfied +himself that the mortgage on the place had been canceled. Mrs. +Wilford was profuse in the expression of her gratitude to him for his +kindness to the family, and hoped that Lawry and his father would be +able to pay him back the whole sum. + +"Mrs. Wilford, so far as gratitude and obligation are concerned, the +balance is still largely against me. Millions of dollars would not +pay the debt I owe to your son." + +"Oh, Lawry don't think anything of that, sir!" + +"But I do. Madam, if your son had been five minutes later than he +was when the little steamer went down, Miss Fanny Grant would +certainly have been drowned, and my wife would doubtless have shared +her fate. And when I think that this exposure of their precious lives +was my own fault; that my wife and her sister had nearly perished by +my foolish haste and recklessness, I feel like giving every dollar I +have in the world to Lawry. You don't understand this matter as I do, +Mrs. Wilford." + +"I didn't think you were in any great danger." + +"Miss Fanny would certainly have been drowned; and I don't think it +would have been possible for me to save my wife, for I was nearly +exhausted when Lawry came. Now, Mrs. Wilford, do you suppose I shall +mind one, two, or ten thousand dollars, where my brave deliverer is +concerned? In one word, I will never take a dollar which I have +expended for Lawry or the family. Your son is a manly and independent +boy, and I don't like to hurt his feelings; so I shall not say +anything about this money at present." + +"Lawry is a good boy," said Mrs. Wilford proudly. + +"He is worth his weight in gold. I am sorry your oldest son is not +more like him." + +"I don't know what to think of Benjamin." + +"Where is he now?" + +"I don't know; I haven't seen him since the steamer left, this +morning." + +"Lawry is a good deal troubled about the ferry-boat." + +"He needn't be." + +"Can you hire a man to run the boat?" + +"Yes; I can get a boy who will do it for half a dollar a day, and be +glad of the chance. I will engage one." + +"Lawry goes to Burlington to-night to take out a party to-morrow." + +"To-night?" + +"Yes; he must be there by eight in the morning." + +Mrs. Wilford thought her son was having a hard time with the +steamer; but she knew he would be satisfied as long as he was doing +well. Mr. Sherwood, assured that there was nothing at home to detain +the young pilot, left the house. Lawry soon after entered; but he had +not time to tell his mother the particulars of his first trip on the +_Woodville_. He could remain but a few moments, while the hands +were "coaling up," from a cargo of coal deposited on the wharf that +day, by the order of Mr. Sherwood. + +At nine o'clock everything was ready for the departure. The fireman +grumbled at being called upon to work at night; but Lawry promised to +get another man to keep watch as soon as he could. It was a long +day's work for all hands. When the young captain had gone to the +wheel-house to start the boat, Mr. Sherwood rushed down the wharf, +and jumped aboard. + +"I was afraid I should be too late," said he, as Lawry met him on +the main-deck. "I have been all over the village to find you another +fireman, and I have succeeded in getting you a first-rate one--an old +hand at the business." + +"Thank you, sir; you are taking a great deal of trouble for me." + +"There's another thing I quite forgot; I didn't pay you for the trip +nor the dinners. Here is the money." + +"I can't take it, Mr. Sherwood," protested Captain Lawry. + +"But you must take it; if you don't I can't engage the boat again." + +"Not from you, sir." + +"I am more interested than any other person in your success with the +steamer, and I insist that you take the money." + +"I owe you for this cargo of coal, now." + +"That was a present from Miss Fanny Grant." + +"She is very generous." + +"Generous! If she doesn't do more than that for you, I shall be +ashamed of her. By the way, captain, she paid the bill for repairing +the steamer at Port Henry." + +"Indeed!" exclaimed Lawry, who had intended to discharge this debt +with the first money he earned. "She is very kind. I don't deserve so +much from her and you." + +"More, my boy. We haven't done anything at my house but talk about +you for a week. Now, you must be reasonable. We intended to give you +a good start. Miss Grant wishes to put an upright pianoforte in the +saloon. There is just room for it at the end of the stateroom on the +starboard side. When that is put in, we shall let you alone. Now, +Lawry, take this money; if you don't, I shall be offended." + +"I don't like to do so," pleaded Lawry. "It makes me feel mean." + +"It need not; take it, Lawry, for you will want money to provision +your boat in the morning." + +Captain Lawry took it, though it seemed to burn his fingers. + +"Now, my boy, you shall have your own way. I will force nothing more +on you, except what I fairly owe you, and you shall make your fortune +without any help or hindrance from anybody." + +"I owe you now---" + +"Silence, Lawry!" laughed Mr. Sherwood. "There comes your second +fireman." + +As the man came down the gangplank, he handed Mr. Sherwood a long +package, done up in brown paper. + +"One thing more, Lawry," said his munificent friend, as he led the +way to the engine-room, which was lighted by a lantern. "Will you let +me put this sign up over the front windows in the wheel-house?" + +"Certainly, sir. What is it?" + +"It is the motto of the steamer, and fully explains how I lost the +boat," replied Mr. Sherwood, as he unrolled the package. + +It was a small sign, about three feet in length, elegantly painted +and gilded, on which was the motto: + +HASTE AND WASTE. + +"While you were at Port Henry, repairing the boat, I went up to +Burlington, where I ordered this to be done. It came down to-day, and +I want it put up in the wheel-house, where it will be constantly +before your eyes, as the best axiom in the world for a steamboat man. +It will be the history of the _Woodville_ to you, and I hope you +will always act upon it, never running your boat above a safe speed, +nor leave your wharf when it is imprudent to do so." + +"I shall be very glad to have those words always before me," replied +Lawry. + +"When you are ready to go, captain, we are," said Mr. Sherwood. + +"I'm all ready, sir." + +Lawry turned, and to his astonishment saw Mrs. Sherwood and Miss +Fanny, who had been looking over his shoulder at the pretty sign. + +"We are going with you, Captain Lawry," added Mr. Sherwood; "that +is, if you won't charge us anything for our passage." + +"I am very happy to have you as passengers," stammered Lawry. + +"We are so much in love with your boat, Lawry, that we could not +stay away from her," added Mrs. Sherwood. + +"And her captain," said Miss Fanny. + +Lawry was good for nothing at complimentary speeches, and he went +aft to give the girls directions to light up the cabin and the two +staterooms for the accommodation of his unexpected passengers. + +"Where's Fanny Jane?" asked Ethan, when Mr. Sherwood had gone to the +wheel-house to put up the motto. + +"She is going to keep house for us while we are gone," replied Miss +Fanny mischievously. "You were so unsocial to-day she would not come +with us." + +"I had to look out for the engine," pleaded Ethan. + +"That was not the reason, Ethan," interposed Mrs. Sherwood. "You +behaved splendidly." + +"If you were twenty, instead of sixteen, Ethan, I should say you +were in love with Fanny Jane," laughed Miss Fanny. + +"Oh, nonsense!" exclaimed Ethan, blushing beneath his smutty face. +"I like her, and after what we went through out West, I don't think +it is very strange I should." + +"You are right, Ethan. She is a good girl, and I hope you will like +her more, rather than less." + +"The saloon is ready for you, ladies," said Lawry, interrupting this +pleasant conversation--very pleasant to Ethan, for without entering +into an analysis of the young engineer's feelings, it is quite +certain he thought a great deal of the companion of his wanderings in +Minnesota; but fortunately he is not the hero of this book, and this +interesting suggestion need not be followed out any further. + +The little captain conducted the ladies to the saloon, and then +hastened to the wheel-house, where Mr. Sherwood, by the light of a +lantern in the hands of one of the boys, had screwed up the sign. + +"Haul in the plank!" shouted Lawry, "Cast off the bow-line." + +The _Woodville_ backed till she was dear of the wharf, and then +went ahead. Lawry knew the lake by night as well as by day, and he +was perfectly at home at the wheel, not withstanding the darkness +that lay in the steamer's path. One of the deck-hands was a boy of +sixteen, who had served in a similar capacity on board the lake +steamers, and was a good wheelman, though he knew nothing of the +navigation of the lake, and steered only by the directions given him +from time to time. Captain Lawry called this hand, and gave him the +wheel, with orders to run for a certain headland several miles distant. + +The young captain went below with Mr. Sherwood, to make his +arrangements for the night. The second fireman had already been +installed in the fire-room by Ethan, and the first had gone forward. +A portion of the forehold of the steamer had been fitted up for the +accommodation of the crew. It contained four berths, and was well +ventilated by a skylight in the forecastle. In building the boat, Mr. +Sherwood had insisted upon having everything put into her that was to +be found in larger craft; and these quarters for the hands were now +very convenient, if not indispensable. + +Lawry gave one of these berths to the first fireman, and +appropriated the other to the use of the second and the two deck-hands. +The second boy was gaping fearfully on the forward deck, and +was quite delighted when the captain told him he might turn in. On +the starboard side of the steamer, forward of the wheels, were two +very cunning little staterooms, the corresponding space on the port +side being occupied by the kitchen and storerooms. One of these was +for the engineer, and the other for the captain. Abaft the wheels, on +each side, was a small stateroom, one of which had been designed for +the captain. Both of these rooms had been appropriated to the cook +and the two waiter girls. Mrs. Light, in the apartment of the +commander, was quite delighted with her accommodations; but Mr. +Sherwood declared that she deserved a princely couch for the good +dinner she had served that day. + +The two staterooms to be occupied by the passengers were taken out +of the space that would otherwise have been park of the saloon, and +were entered by doors on each side of the passageway leading to it. +They were beautiful little rooms, though ladies in full crinoline +might have been somewhat perplexed at their contracted dimensions. +They were elegantly furnished, and Miss Fanny declared that her room +made her think of the fairy palaces for little people, of which she +had read in her childhood. There were twelve berths in the lower +cabin, but these were not needed. + +Having disposed of his crew for the night, Lawry returned to the +wheel-house, where he was soon joined by his passengers, who spent an +hour with him before they retired. At half-past ten they went to +their rooms, and Lawry was alone. Not a sound was to be heard except +the monotonous clang of the engine, and the lake was as silent in the +gloom as though the shadow of death was upon it. There was a +solemnity in the scene which impressed the young pilot, even +accustomed as he was to the night and the silence. He was worn out by +the labors and the excitement of the day, but he could not resist the +inspiration which came from the quiet waters and the gloomy shores. + +The _Woodville_ sped on her way, and at midnight she was +approaching the steamboat wharf at Burlington. Lawry rang to "slow +down," and informed Ethan that the boat was close to the wharf. The +"fires were drawn," and in a few moments more the steamer was made +fast to the wharf. After satisfying himself that everything was +secure on board, the exhausted pilot went to his stateroom, and was +soon fast asleep. Ethan followed him, after instructing the first +fireman to get up steam early in the morning. + +Both the pilot and the engineer slept till seven o'clock; but when +they came out of their rooms, blaming themselves for sleeping so +late, they found the decks washed down, the cabins in order, steam +up, and breakfast ready. Those who had "turned in" early had +faithfully performed the duties belonging to them, as they had been +instructed the evening before. Mrs. Light, who was steward as well as +cook, had been to the market, and purchased the supplies for +breakfast and dinner. Mr. Sherwood and the ladies had risen early, +and taken a walk, which gave them a keen appetite for the excellent +breakfast prepared for them. The passengers insisted that Captain +Lawry should sit at the head of the table with them, as this was the +proper place for the commander of the steamer. + +During his walk Mr. Sherwood had purchased three blank books, and a +double slate, for which Lawry, agreeably to the arrangement that +nothing more should be forced upon him, paid the cash on the spot, to +the great amusement of the ladies. The memoranda of each trip, +including the time of arrival and departure, and of reaching or +passing the principal points on the lake, were to be entered on the +slate in the wheel-house, and afterward copied into the largest of +the blank books. These were called the log-slate and the log-book. +The second was the engagement-book, and the third an account-book, in +which the receipts and expenses of the steamer were to be kept. + +After breakfast Mr. Sherwood assisted his young friend in opening +these books, and explained to him the best method of keeping his +accounts. By this time the party for the day's excursion had begun to +arrive. The ladies and gentlemen were friends of Mr. Sherwood, and he +and his wife and Miss Fanny were to join them. A small band had been +provided for the occasion, consisting of six pieces. + +Precisely at eight o'clock the _Woodville_ left the wharf, amid +the inspiring strains of the "Star-spangled Banner," performed by the +band. The scene was in the highest degree exhilarating; and the +little captain was the happiest person on board, where all was +merriment and rejoicing. The boat was to go down the lake as far as +Isle La Motte, where the party would spend a couple of hours on +shore, and return by six o'clock in the afternoon. This program was +carried out to the letter, without any accident, or any nearer +approach to one than a thunder-shower and squall. When the little +captain saw the tempest coming down upon him, he put the boat about +and run her up into the teeth of the squall. The ladies and gentlemen +saw the commotion on the water, and some of them were very much +alarmed; but the _Woodville_, under the good management of +Lawry, did not careen a particle, being headed into the wind. + +In three minutes it was over, the steamer returned to her former +course, and the party wondered that she made no more fuss about it. +While the rain continued, the excursionists were compelled to remain +in the saloon; but they were full of glee, after their terror had +subsided, and the shower was hardly regarded as a detriment to the +pleasure of the trip. + +At the appointed hour the _Woodville_ was at the wharf in +Burlington. Before the party left the boat, they met in the saloon, +and passed a vote of thanks to the little captain, in which the +dinner, the steamer, and her commander were warmly praised. It was +written out, a copy was given to Lawry, and it was to be published in +the Burlington papers. While the boat was stopping at the wharf, Mr. +Sherwood went up to a printing office, where he had left an order for +a job in the morning, and returned bringing with him a few copies of +the handbill, which was to announce the _Woodville_ more generally +to the public. It was posted in various parts of the steamer, and read +aloud with mischievous delight by Miss Fanny. It was printed in colors, +ornamented with a cut of a steamer, and read as follows: + +MOST DELIGHTFUL EXCURSIONS ON THE LAKE! + +THE NEW AND SPLENDID MINIATURE STEAMER + +_WOODVILLE_, + +Captain Lawrence Wilford, + +With elegant and luxurious accommodations for thirty passengers, is +now ready to convey pleasure-parties to any part of the lake. + +Breakfasts, dinners, and suppers provided on board; and the tables +will be supplied with the best the market affords. + +Apply by letter, or otherwise, to + +CAPTAIN LAWRENCE WILFORD, + +Port Rock, N. Y. + +By seven o'clock the _Woodville_ was under way for Port Rock. +Lawry gave the helm to one of the deck-hands, and went below to make +some entries in his account-book. He had been paid, that day, fifty +dollars for the boat, and thirty dollars for dinners. Mrs. Light had +expended twenty-six dollars for provisions and groceries, but he +still had one hundred and twenty-eight dollars. It was a large sum of +money for a boy of fourteen to have, and he counted it with a pride +and pleasure which made him forget the fatigue of his severe labors. + +At half-past ten the steamer was moored to her wharf at Port Rock. +Mr. Sherwood and the ladies bade the little captain good-night, and +went home. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +TEN THOUSAND IN GOLD + + +It was fortunate for Lawry that he was able to sleep well in the +midst of the excitement in which he lived; otherwise his bodily frame +must have yielded to the pressure to which it was subjected. He did +not wake till seven the next morning, which invigorated his powers +and prepared him for the duties of another day. As soon as he turned +out, he went up to see his mother, and gave her a hundred dollars of +the money he had earned, reserving the balance for the expenses of +the boat. + +At nine Mr. Sherwood and his party came on board. It had been his +intention to visit Ticonderoga; but business letters which he found +waiting his arrival the evening before compelled him to change his +destination to Burlington. + +Just before the party appeared, Ben Wilford had been seen lounging +about the wharf. He had complained bitterly to his mother of the +treatment he had received from Lawry, and did not seem to be +conscious that he had ever been engaged in a base and mean conspiracy +against the peace and happiness of the whole family. Mrs. Wilford had +spoken plainly to him, which had only increased his irritation. The +little steamer was a sore trial to him, for she was the indication of +Lawry's prosperity. + +Ben had fully persuaded himself into the belief that he, and not +Lawry, ought to be captain of the _Woodville_. She was a family +affair, and he could not regard his brother as the actual owner of +her. He had imagination enough to understand and appreciate the +pleasure of being in command of such a fine craft. His conspiracy had +signally failed; in his own choice phrase, Mr. Sherwood "carried too +many guns for him," and it was useless to contend against money. + +The envious brother had so far progressed in his views as to believe +that a subordinate position in the _Woodville_ was better than +no position at all. He had heard of the fine times the parties had on +board of her, of the splendid dinners, and the inspiring music; and +he was very anxious to have a situation in her. He was afraid of Mr. +Sherwood, and dared not again take his place boldly on board. At a +favorable moment, when Lawry and the deck-hands were employed on the +after part of the deck, he slipped down the plank and into the +forecastle, concealing himself in the berth of one of the firemen. +This trick might insure him a passage with the excursion-party, if +nothing more. + +When the ladies and gentlemen had all arrived, the boat left the +wharf, and commenced her voyage down the lake. After she had gone a +couple of miles Ben Wilford came out of his hiding-place, and +proceeded directly to the wheel-house, feeling that he had nothing to +fear from his kind-hearted brother, and hoping to conciliate him +before Mr. Sherwood discovered that he was on board. He entered the +open door of the wheel-house as coolly as though he belonged there. + +"Ben!" exclaimed the little captain, when he saw him. "I didn't know +you were on board." + +"I didn't mean you should till I got ready," replied Ben. + +"I don't know as Mr. Sherwood will like it when he sees you," added +Lawry. + +"If you like it, he will." + +"I'm sure I've no objection to your going with me." + +"I knew you hadn't." + +"But the steamer belongs to Mr. Sherwood to-day." + +"Don't you want some help, Lawry? Mother thinks you are working +rather too hard." + +"I don't think I shall hurt myself," answered Lawry, laughing; and +he was really pleased to find Ben in such good humor. "I don't see +that you can help me any." + +"I can steer." + +"So can Rounds," replied Lawry, referring to the deckhand whom he +called to the wheel when he left his post. + +"Lawry, you are my brother--ain't you?" + +"Of course I am." + +"And I am your brother--am I not?" + +"Without a doubt you are." + +"Then there are two good reasons why we should not quarrel." + +"I'm very sure I don't wish to quarrel, Ben," added Lawry earnestly. + +"And I'm just as sure I don't," continued Ben. "This is a splendid +little boat, and we might make a first-rate thing of it. I still +think I ought to be captain of her; but I won't quarrel about that +now. I'll take any place you have a mind to give me." + +This was certainly very kind and condescending on the part of the +elder brother, after what had occurred; and Lawry really felt happy +in the excellent spirit which Ben appeared to manifest. + +"You might give me a chance as mate, if you like," added Ben, as he +perceived the smile on his brother's face. + +"I will speak to Mr. Sherwood about it." + +"What do you want to speak to him for? Don't you own this boat?" + +"I do; but he has been very kind to me, and I want to take his +advice when I can. I wish you hadn't got into that scrape the other +day." + +"What scrape?" + +"Why, causing the boat to be attached for father's debts." + +"I didn't mean anything by it, Lawry," answered Ben, in apologetic +tones. "You must acknowledge that you provoked me to it." + +"How, Ben?" + +"I can't get it out of my head that I ought to be captain of this +boat. I think it would be a good deal better for you, Lawry. Just +look at it one minute! You are a pilot, and you have to leave the +wheel to see to everything on board. You ought to have nothing to do +but to navigate the steamer; while I, as captain, could take the +money, see to the dinners, and keep the deck and cabins in good order." + +"We get along very well," replied Lawry. + +"But it will wear you out in a month. Mother is afraid you will kill +yourself, running the boat night and day." + +"If you were captain I should have to be in the wheelhouse all the +time, just the same." + +"Well, I don't insist on it, Lawry," replied Ben, with becoming +meekness. "I was only saying what would be best for all concerned." + +"I will talk with Mr. Sherwood." + +"Whatever you say, he will agree to. Now, give me the wheel, Lawry, +and you go and see your passengers." + +Ben took hold of the wheel, and the young pilot involuntarily +released his grasp on the spokes. The older brother was certainly in +a very amiable frame of mind, and it was perfectly proper to +encourage him; but there was no more need of a mate than there was of +another captain. Rounds, as the older of the two deck-hands, now +performed the duties of that office. There was no freight to be +received and discharged, which the mate superintends; and there was +nothing for him to do but attend to the gangplank and the mooring +lines, and see that the decks were washed down when required. + +Lawry was not quite willing to leave the wheel in charge of his +brother, for he was painfully conscious that he could not always be +trusted. Ben was not often in so pliable a frame of mind, and the +little captain could not help suspecting that he had some object in +view which was not apparent, for he had twice declared, that if he +was not captain of the _Woodville_ no one should be. He was not +prepared to believe that Ben would run the boat on the rocks, or set +her on fire; but he deemed it prudent to keep his eye on him, and on +the course of the steamer. + +Ben steered very well, and Lawry left the wheel-house. At the door +he met Mr. Sherwood, just as that gentleman had discovered who was at +the helm. + +"How's this, Lawry? Have you got more help?" asked his friend. + +"I didn't know Ben was on board till we were two miles from the +wharf. I hope you don't object, sir." + +"Certainly not, Lawry. If you are satisfied, I have no reason to be +otherwise." + +"Ben talks very fair this morning; and I'm sure I don't want to +quarrel with him." + +"Of course not." + +"He still thinks he ought to be captain, and that it would be better +for me;" and Lawry stated his brother's argument. + +"That's all very pretty," replied Mr. Sherwood. "If you wish to give +your brother the command of your steamer, it is not for me to +interpose any objection." + +"But I want to follow your advice." + +"I think you had better let things remain as they are, for the +present, at least. Do as you think best, Lawry. I don't want to +influence you." + +This conversation took place near the door of the wheel-house, and, +though the parties had not so intended, Ben heard every word of it. + +"Do as you think best, Lawry," continued Mr. Sherwood. + +"I want to do what you think is best, sir." + +"You know my opinion. Your brother's habits--I am sorry to say it--are +not good. I should not be willing to trust him. You cannot place +much confidence in a young man who is in the habit of getting drunk. +I don't want to hurt your feelings, Lawry, but I must be frank with +you." + +Ben ground his teeth with rage, as he listened to this plain +description of himself, and, in accordance with his usual practice in +such cases, vowed to be revenged upon the man who had traduced him, +which was his interpretation of Mr. Sherwood's candid statement of +the truth. + +"I think you are right, sir," replied Lawry, realizing that Ben was +not fit for the command of the _Woodville_, even if he was +disposed to give it to him. + +"Lawry, I have been compelled to change this excursion into a +partial business trip. I am going to buy the surplus-gold of a bank +in Burlington, and you must leave me there and go on to Port Kent. On +your return, you can stop for me," continued Mr. Sherwood. "What is +your engagement for to-morrow." + +"At Whitehall, sir." + +"Capital! You can convey my gold through, so that I can take the +morning train at Whitehall for New York." + +"If we get back to Port Rock by six, we can reach Whitehall by +twelve." + +"Well, that is sooner than I wish to arrive," added Mr. Sherwood +thoughtfully. "I shall have ten thousand dollars in gold with me, +which, at the present rate, is worth about twenty-five thousand +dollars in currency. It would be a great temptation to any rogues, +who might find out the specie was on board. How would it do to start +from Port Rock at midnight?" + +"It will do just as well, sir." + +"Then I shall reach Whitehall just in time for the train. But, +Lawry, I see that you must have another pilot on board." + +"I think I can get along, sir." + +"You will wear yourself out. You have run a portion of the last two +nights, and this arrangement will make the third." + +"I can sleep just as well at Port Rock as at Whitehall. To-morrow +will be Saturday, and my engagements for Monday and Tuesday are at +the upper end of the lake, so that I shall have no more night work at +present. I can stand it well enough." + +"I'm afraid it will be too much for you; but if you have to engage +an extra pilot, you must raise your price to sixty dollars a day." + +"I think we shall need another engineer at the same time. Ethan has +just as hard a time of it as I do." + +"You had better raise your price; people will not object." + +"I was thinking, sir, that Ben would make a good pilot. He is a good +wheelman, and it wouldn't take him long to learn the courses on the +lake." + +Mr. Sherwood shook his head. + +"Would you be willing to trust him with the boat?--go to sleep +yourself, while he is at the helm?" asked he. + +"I think I would, after he had learned the navigation." + +"He is your brother, Lawry, and I don't like to say anything to +wound you; but I feel that your brother is not a reliable person. You +must be very prudent. Even a trifling accident, resulting from +mismanagement, might ruin your business; for people will not expose +their lives needlessly. If Ben will run the ferry the rest of the +year, keep sober, and behave well in every respect, you might make a +pilot of him, or even captain, another season." + +Doubtless this was good advice, and the little captain had so much +confidence in his friend and benefactor that he could not help +adopting it. Mr. Sherwood went into the cabin again, without any +conversation with the subject of his severe but just comments. Lawry +was on the point of leaving the hurricane-deck, where he had talked +with his adviser, when he noticed that the boat was headed toward the +shore, and in a moment more would be aground in the shoal water off +Barber's Point. He rushed into the wheel-house, and found that Ben +had abandoned the helm. Grasping the wheel, the pilot brought her up +to her course, and then turned to his brother. + +"What do you mean, Ben, by leaving the wheel?" demanded Lawry, +filled with indignation at his brother's treachery. + +"Don't talk to me," growled Ben. + +"The boat would have been aground in a minute more." + +"I wish she was." + +"What's the matter, Ben?" + +"I thought you were my brother; but you are not." + +"I'm sorry to hear you talk so; and I didn't think you would do so +mean a thing as to run the boat ashore." + +"I'll do anything now. I heard what Sherwood said to you, and what +you said to him. I didn't think you would let any man talk about your +brother as he did. Do you suppose I would let any man talk like that +about my brother? I'll bet I wouldn't! I'd knock him over before the +words were out of his mouth." + +"Why, what did he say, Ben?" + +"What did he say! Didn't you hear what he said? Didn't he tell you I +was a drunken fellow, and couldn't be trusted?" + +"Well, he certainly did," replied Lawry moodily. + +"And you heard him! And you didn't say a word!" said Ben furiously. + +"What could I say when Mr. Sherwood spoke only what I know is true?" + +"Then you think I'm a drunken fellow, and can't be trusted?" +demanded Ben, with an injured look. + +"Don't you drink too much sometimes?" + +"No, I don't! I drink what I want; but no one ever saw me the worse +for liquor. Who says I can't be trusted?" + +"When I gave you the wheel, at your own request, you left it, and +the boat would have been ashore in another minute. Does that look as +though you could be trusted?" added Lawry. + +"That was because you wouldn't trust me. I was mad." + +"One who would expose the lives of twenty or thirty persons when he +got mad ought not to be trusted." + +"Lawry, you are no longer my brother. You and your mother, and +Sherwood here, have been trying to put me down, and make a nobody of +me. You can't do it. I'm your enemy now. You have made me mad, and +you must take the consequences. I'll burn or smash this boat the +first chance I get! As for Sherwood, I'll teach him to talk about me!" + +The angry young man rushed out of the wheel-house. If Mr. Sherwood +had heard his insane threats he would probably have insisted that he +should be immediately put on shore; but Lawry did not think his +brother capable of the madness of malice his speech indicated; he was +in a passion, and when he cooled off he would be reasonable again. + +Ben sat down on the forecastle where the pilot could see him, and +nursed his wrath till the _Woodville_ arrived at Burlington. He +was in deep thought all the time, and did not heed the singing or +other amusements of the party on board, who were enjoying themselves +to the utmost. Apparently with no perception of his own faults and +shortcomings, he regarded himself as a deeply injured young man. His +mother and his brother had turned against him, and were persecuting +him to the best of their ability. He had come on board to gain his +purpose by conciliation; he had failed, and, in his own view, there +was nothing left for him but revenge. + +The boat touched at Burlington, and to the great relief of Lawry, +his brother followed Mr. Sherwood on shore. At three o'clock the +_Woodville_ returned from Port Kent with the happy excursionists. +While the steamer lay at the wharf, waiting for Mr. Sherwood, many +persons, moved by curiosity to inspect the beautiful craft, came +aboard; and whenever she stopped, she had plenty of visitors of this +description. Among them Lawry saw his brother, accompanied by two +men, who, from the remarks they made, were evidently familiar with +the machinery and appointments of steamers. + +Mr. Sherwood presently appeared attended by a bank messenger with +the precious coin he had purchased at 2.44, the telegraphic quotation +from New York for that day. + +"Where shall I put this gold. Captain Lawry?" asked Mr. Sherwood. + +"I don't know, sir; I'm really afraid of it," replied the captain +nervously. "Can't you carry it in your pockets?" + +"It weighs about thirty-seven pounds," laughed Mr. Sherwood. "I will +lock it up in my stateroom. I shall sleep on board to-night, and it +will be safe enough after we leave the wharf, for no one but you and +me knows there is any specie on board." + +The man of gold went aft with the coin, which was contained in two +bags. + +"I suppose I can go home with you--can't I, Lawry?" asked Ben, as +the little captain started for the wheel-house. + +Lawry could not refuse this request, though his brother was +evidently a little excited by the liquor he had drank. He hoped Ben +had not heard anything about the treasure on board; for he feared +that revenge, if not dishonesty, might prompt him to commit a crime. + +The visitors were warned ashore, and the _Woodville_ departed +for Port Rock, where she arrived at about six o'clock. The +excursion-party went on shore, after the usual compliments to the +steamer and her commander. + +"Now, Lawry, I must go up to the house for my valise; but I will +return in an hour," said Mr. Sherwood, whose carriage was waiting for +him at the head of the wharf. + +"But the gold, sir?" whispered Lawry anxiously. + +"You or Ethan may watch the stateroom till I return, if you please; +but there is no danger here. You must turn in at once, Lawry, so as +not to lose your sleep." + +"I shall be gone four or five days, this time, and I must go home +after some clean clothes." + +"Very well; I will get Ethan to keep his eye on the stateroom," +replied Mr. Sherwood; and Lawry ran up to the cottage. + +Ethan, who had ordered the fires to be banked in furnaces, and was +letting off the superfluous steam, consented to watch the room +containing the gold. Rounds, the deckhand, and the first fireman +turned in, that they might be ready for duty at midnight, when the +boat would start for Whitehall. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +CAPTURED AND RECAPTURED + + +Unfortunately for Ben Wilford, he had heard Mr. Sherwood inform +Lawry of his intentions in regard to the purchase and transportation +of the gold. Before the _Woodville_ reached Burlington, the +dissolute young man had resolved to obtain the money if possible, +prompted partly by revenge, and partly by the desire to possess so +large a sum, with which he could revel in luxury in some distant +party of the country. It must be confessed that this resolve to +commit a crime was not simply an impulse, for the young man who leads +a life of indolence and dissipation is never at any great distance +from crime. Ben had been schooling himself for years for the very +deed he now determined to do. + +With more energy and decision, Ben was, in other respects, the +counterpart of his father. His moral perceptions were weak, and the +dissolute life he led had not contributed to strengthen them. He was +the antipode of Lawry, who had been more willing to listen to the +teachings of his mother. + +Ben had resolved to commit a crime, but he had not the skill or the +courage to do it alone. When he went on shore at Burlington, he met +two of his former boon companions, with whom he had often tippled, +gambled, and caroused. One of them had been a fireman, and the other +a deck-hand, on board a steamer with Ben, and he knew them +thoroughly. By gradual approaches he sounded them, to ascertain their +willingness to join him in the robbery. The gold converted into +currency would give them seven or eight thousand dollars apiece, and +the temptation was sufficiently strong to remove all prudential +obstacles. + +While the _Woodville_ was absent on her trip to Port Kent, the +details of the robbery had been settled. The confederates sat on the +corner of the wharf and arranged their plans, which were mainly +suggested by the one who had been a fireman. The scheme was to be +executed while the boat lay at Port Rock, and the two men whom Lawry +had seen with his brother were his associates in the intended crime. +Ben had concealed them in the forehold of the steamer. While the +excursion-party were going on shore at the gangway abaft at the +wheels, and all hands had gone aft to witness their departure, Ben +had called them from their hiding-place, and sent them on the wharf, +where he soon joined them. From a point near the head of the pier, +where they were not observed, they waited till Mr. Sherwood and Lawry +had gone, and all was quiet on board of the steamer. + +"Now is our time," said Ben nervously; for he was not familiar +enough with crime to be unmoved by the desperate situation in which +he had placed himself. + +"Is the coast clear?" asked the fireman. + +"Yes," replied Ben, whose teeth actually chattered with apprehension. + +"Who is there on board now?" + +"No one but the engineer and the fireman, except two boys," answered +Ben. "They were all going to turn in as soon as they got to the wharf." + +"The firemen are both men, but I reckon they won't fight; all the +rest are boys." + +"One fireman and two boys have turned in by this time," added Ben. + +"Then there is no one up but the engineer and one fireman?" + +"No." + +"Where is the gold, Ben?" + +"In the starboard saloon stateroom." + +"All right; have your pistols ready, but don't use them, for it will +be bad for us if we have to kill any one." + +The party walked down to the _Woodville_. All was still on +board of her, except the sound of escaping steam. Ethan stood sentry +at the door of the stateroom containing the gold, and the man on +watch in the fire-room was busy reading a newspaper. It was not +sunset yet, but the crew of the _Woodville_ had been worked so +hard for three days that those off duty could sleep without an opiate. + +"Put on that hatch," said the fireman, who became the leading spirit +of the party, as he pointed to the companion-way of the forehold, +where the hands slept. + +Ben obeyed the order without making any noise, and then the party +went aft, where Ethan was keeping guard over the treasure. + +"Good evening, Ethan," said Ben, with more suavity than he was in +the habit of using. + +"Good evening," replied the engineer. + +"Haven't turned in yet?" continued Ben. + +"No." + +"Going to start at midnight, I hear." + +"Yes." + +"Some friends of mine wanted to look over the boat; I suppose I can +show them through." + +"I don't know; Captain Lawry can tell you," answered Ethan, who did +not like Ben, and was not favorably impressed by the appearance of +the other men. + +Ben walked aft into the saloon, followed by his companions. Ethan +was sitting in a chair by the side of the stateroom door. The fireman +passed round behind, and suddenly fell upon him, throwing him on the +floor and pinioning his arms to his back. + +"What are you about?" cried Ethan, struggling to release himself. +"Help! help!" + +"Stop his mouth!" said Ben fearfully. + +Vainly poor Ethan endeavored to shake off his assailants; his arms +were tied together behind him, and a handkerchief stuffed into his +mouth. In this condition he was lashed to a stanchion, so that he +could move neither hand nor foot. + +The commotion of this outrage attracted the attention of Mrs. Light +and the two waiter-girls, who were employed in the lower cabin. The +fireman exhibited a pistol to them, drove them below again, and +threatened to shoot them if they made any noise. A similar +demonstration quieted the fireman, and compelled him to return to the +fire-room. + +"The job is done," said Baker, the leader of the enterprise. + +"But we haven't got the money," added Flint, the deckhand. + +"We don't want that yet. It is safe where it is. Now both of you to +your stations," continued Baker; and he went down into the fire-room. + +Ben's station was in the wheel-house, Flint's at the fasts, and +Baker's at the engine, as it appeared from their subsequent +movements; and it was evident, from the operations in progress, that +the villains intended to make their escape in the steamer. Baker +stopped the hissing steam which was going to waste, and compelled the +fireman to renew the fires. + +"Be lively!" shouted Ben, from the wheel-house, as he discovered +Lawry on the shore, hastening back to the steamer with his bundle of +clothes. + +"All ready!" replied Baker, finding there was steam enough to start +the boat. + +Flint had already cast off the fasts, without waiting for orders, +and was standing on the forecastle, as impatient to be off as a man +can be who is engaged in the commission of a crime. + +Ben rang the bell to back her; the wheels turned, but as the stern-line +had been cast off, her bow was not carried out from the wharf. +By this time Lawry had discovered that the _Woodville_ was in +motion. He was astonished and alarmed, though he was far from +surmising that his boat had been captured by robbers. Running with +all his speed, he reached the head of the wharf just as the boat had +backed far enough to permit Ben to see him, and for him to see that +Ben was at the wheel. Then he realized that his brother was engaged +in another conspiracy. + +Notwithstanding his extensive knowledge of "steam-boating" in +general, Ben Wilford was a very unskillful pilot. If he had +understood the management of a boat half as well as Lawry, the +nefarious scheme might have been successful. He saw his brother; he +did not wish to have him come on board, for Lawry might be so +obstinate as to induce one of his dissolute companions to fire at +him. He rang the bell to stop her, and then to go ahead, at the same +time putting the helm hard aport. + +The _Woodville_ went forward, and as she met the helm her bow +came round, and she was headed out into the middle of the lake. As +she went ahead, her stern swept in a circle within a few feet of the +wharf, just as Lawry, breathless with haste and alarm, reached the +end of the pier. The little captain knew nothing of the state of +things on board, except that his brother Ben was at the wheel, which, +however, was a sufficient explanation to him. The _Woodville_ +was going, and he could not let her depart without him. Dropping his +bundle, he leaped to the plankshear, grasping the rail with both +hands. Jumping over the bulwark, he stood on the guard from which +opened the windows of the saloon. + +Neither of the three conspirators were in a situation to see this +movement on the part of Lawry. Ben was too much occupied in +steering--for he was not a little fearful of getting aground in some +shoal water between the ferry and the wharf--to notice anything; but +as soon as he had obtained his course, he looked for his brother on +the pier. He was not there; but Ben did not suspect that he was on +board the _Woodville_. Baker, who knew just enough about an engine to +stop and start it, was working the valves with the bar; and he could +think of nothing else. Doubtless he was conscious by this time that +he had "taken a big job," in assuming the control of the engine. + +Lawry was bewildered by the situation. When his feet struck the +deck, his first impulse was to rush up to the wheel-house, and +confront the difficulty as the case might require. He started to +carry out his purpose, when he happened to look through one of the +saloon windows, and discovered Ethan, with the handkerchief in his +mouth, tied to the stanchion. Deeply as he sympathized with his +friend in his unpleasant position, he was still cheered by the sight, +for it assured him that the engineer had been faithful to his duties, +and was not a party to the conspiracy. + +The little captain went round and entered the saloon by the door, +without being seen by either of the conspirators. He removed the gag +from Ethan's mouth, and proceeded to unfasten the cords with which he +was bound. + +"What does all this mean, Ethan?" demanded Lawry, in excited tones, +and almost crying with vexation. + +"Hush! Do they know you are here?" asked the engineer. + +"I think not; I don't know." + +"Keep still, then. They are after the gold." + +"Who are they?" + +"Ben and two other fellows. I don't know them." + +"We'll stop this thing very quick," said Lawry. + +"They are armed with pistols, and threatened to shoot all hands. Be +careful, Lawry, or you will get a bullet through your head." + +"What shall we do?" demanded the young pilot. + +Ethan was an accomplished strategist. He led the way to the lower +cabin, where the terrified women had been driven by the ruffians. + +"If any of those men ask for me, tell them I got loose, jumped +overboard, and swam ashore," said Ethan. + +"Law sake!" exclaimed the cook. + +"Don't tell them I am here, at any rate." + +"I won't. Massy sake! What are we comin' to?" + +"Don't be alarmed; we will take care of these villains before we +have done with them," added Ethan. + +"Hush! There's some one coming," said one of the girls; and the +heavy tread of a man was heard on the deck above them. + +Ethan and Lawry had only time to crawl into one of the berths, where +Mrs. Light covered them with bedclothes, before Flint came down into +the cabin. + +"See here; we haven't been to supper, and we want some," said the +ruffian, as he descended the steps. + +"What are you goin' to do with us?" demanded Mrs. Light. + +"Don't be scart; we won't hurt you," replied Flint. + +"But where you goin'?" + +"Up to Whitehall. When we get there, you can go where you please. +Now, get us some supper; the best there is on board--beefsteak and +coffee." + +"Well, I suppose I can get you some supper; but I don't like such +carryin's on," replied Mrs. Light. + +Flint left the cabin, after he had given his order. On his way +forward he looked into the saloon, and discovered that their prisoner +was missing. Search was immediately instituted; but Mrs. Light, as +instructed by Ethan, declared that he had got loose and swam ashore; +she had seen him through the stern-lights. The rascals finally +accepted this explanation, after searching on deck for him. + +Mrs. Light went to the kitchen to get supper for the rogues, while +the girls set the table. The cook presently returned to the cabin, +and told Ethan where each of the robbers was stationed; but being +unarmed, there seemed to be no way of making an attack upon them +where the ruffians could not rally to the support of each other. + +"We must settle this business down here, Lawry," said Ethan, when +they had come out of their hiding-places. + +"They will have to come to supper one at a time," added the little +captain. + +"Exactly so; and this will be the safest place to do the job. We +want a rope," added the engineer, with a businesslike air. + +"I'll fetch you a rope," said Mrs. Light. + +"Do; bring me the small heave-line, on the guard by the saloon doors." + +The cook went on deck, and after a visit to the kitchen, returned to +the cabin with the line indicated under her apron. In about half an +hour supper was ready for the villains, and one of the girls informed +Baker, who was still on duty in the engine-room, that it was waiting +for them. The engineer called Flint, and told him, as the boat was +out in the middle of the lake, the engine would need nothing done to +it, and directed him to stand at the door, so that the fireman below +should not attempt to defeat their plans. He then went to the cabin +for his supper. + +Ethan and Lawry had concealed themselves behind the curtains of a +tier of berths, directly in the rear of the chair where Baker was to +sit at the table. In his hand Ethan held the heave-line, at one end +of which Lawry had made a hangman's noose. Mrs. Light and the girls +had been instructed to rattle the chairs, make as much noise as they +could, and otherwise engage the attention of the robber, as soon as +he sat down to the table. + +Baker came down the stairs, and one of the girls began to rattle the +chairs, Mrs. Light to move a pile of plates, and the other girl to +arrange the dishes on the table. "Will you have some coffee?" +demanded Mrs. Light, without giving him time to notice anything in +the cabin. + +"Of course I will," growled Baker. + +"Shall I give you some beefsteak?" asked one of the girls. + +"I'll help myself." + +"If you want some fried eggs I'll get some for you," added the cook, +rattling the dishes again. + +Baker was not permitted to say whether he would have any fried eggs +or not, for at that moment Ethan crept from his concealment, whatever +noise he made being drowned by the clatter of the dishes and the +rattling of the chairs. Stealing up behind Baker, who was intent only +on beefsteak and coffee, he slipped the hangman's noose over his +head, and hauled it tight. The robber attempted to spring to his +feet, but Ethan hauled him over backward on the floor. At the same +time Lawry threw the end of the line over a deck beam, extended +across the skylight, and began to "haul in the slack." + +The villain attempted to cry out; but the sound only gurgled in his +throat. He grasped the rope with both hands; but the choking already +received had taken away his strength, and he was unable to make any +successful resistance. While Lawry kept the rope so taut that Baker +could not move, Ethan tied his hands behind him, though the man's +struggles were fierce, and the engineer was obliged to use a rolling-pin, +supplied by Mrs. Light, before the conquest was complete. The +ruffian was securely bound and gagged; but the cook and the girls had +nearly fainted while the struggle was going on. + +Baker, thus gagged and bound, was rolled into one of the lower +berths. He had been nearly choked to death by the rope, and several +hard knocks he had received on the head had rendered him partially +insensible, so that he was not in condition to make any further +resistance. Ethan had taken possession of his pistol, and, as a +matter of precaution, threatened to blow out his brains if he made +any noise. + +"Massy sake!" groaned Mrs. Light. "I never did see! You've taken my +breath all away!" + +"Don't make a noise," said Ethan. + +"I couldn't have struck that man as you did," added Lawry. + +"If you had been through what I have, out West, it would come easier +to you," replied the engineer. "We must go through the whole of it +once more." + +One of the girls was then sent to call Flint, and directed to assure +him that such was the order of Baker, who had gone to the wheel-house +for a moment, and would immediately return to the engine-room. The +deck-hand was too much in a hurry for his supper to question the +order, and went directly to the cabin. The noise made by Mrs. Light +and the girls prevented him from hearing the heavy breathings of +Baker, and he was an easier victim than his companion in crime had +been. He was choked, gagged, bound, and his pistol taken from him. By +this time these two ruffians, if they could think at all, could not +help believing that the way of the transgressor is hard. + +From regard to the feelings of Lawry, Ethan decided that Ben should +not be subjected to this harsh treatment. He was still in the +wheel-house, not suspecting that his nefarious scheme had been wholly +defeated. + +The work was accomplished, and the pilot and engineer went on deck. +Ethan repaired to his post and stopped the engine. Ben half a dozen +times demanded, through the speaking-tube, what the matter was; but +receiving no answer, he came down himself to ascertain the cause of +the sudden stoppage of the boat. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +THE LITTLE CAPTAIN AND HIS MOTTO + + +As Ben Wilford, fearful that some accident to the machinery would +defeat his criminal enterprise, entered the engine-room on one side, +Lawry left it at the other. As the little captain went forward, he +heard a noise in the forecastle, and saw that the companionway was +closed and fastened. Releasing the firemen and deck-hands confined +there, he directed them to follow him to the wheel-house, where he +explained to them what had happened. + +"What are you stopping for?" demanded Ben Wilford, before he +discovered that Baker was not present. + +"I think it is about time to go back, now," replied Ethan, holding +one of the pistols in his hand. + +"How came you here, Ethan?" exclaimed Ben, starting back with +astonishment when he saw who was in charge of the engine. + +"I run this machine, and this is the right place for me," replied +Ethan coolly. + +"Where's Baker?" + +"He's safe; if you mean the man you left in charge of the engine." + +Ben was bewildered by the present aspect of affairs. It was clear +that there had been a miscarriage somewhere; but he was unable to +tell how or where the scheme had failed. Before he could decide what +step to take next, Captain Lawry rang the bell to go ahead. + +"Who rang the bell?" asked Ben. + +"Captain Lawry." + +"Is he on board?" + +"He is," replied Ethan, as he started the engine. "Ben Wilford, you +have got about to the end of your rope." + +"What do you mean?" + +"You have done a job which will send you to Sing Sing for the next +ten years." + +"No, I haven't," said Ben, backing out of the engine-room. + +"Stop where you are," interposed Ethan, peremptorily, as he raised +his pistol. + +"Two can play at that game," added Ben. + +"Two can; but two won't. Drop your hands, or I'll fire!" + +Ben obeyed; he had felt that the game was up the moment he saw Ethan +at his post, and he had not the courage to draw his pistol upon one +who had shot two Indians in one day. + +"Sit down there," continued Ethan, pointing to the bench in the +engine-room, and the culprit took his seat with fear and trembling. + +"What shall I do?" groaned the wretched young man, as he thought of +the consequence of his crime. + +"Jump overboard and drown yourself. That would save your friends a +great deal of trouble," replied Ethan. "Give up your pistol!" + +Ben gave it up, and began to plead with Ethan to let him escape, +declaring that it would kill his mother, and Lawry never would get +over it, if he was sent to the penitentiary. Though the engineer +dreaded the day when his friend would be compelled to testify in +court against his own brother, he would not yield to the culprit's +entreaties, and did not intend that he should escape the penalty of +his crime. + +When the _Woodville_ reached her wharf, having been absent but +little more than an hour, Mr. Sherwood and the ladies were on the +wharf. While Ethan was working the engine with the bar, Ben slipped +out of the room. The engineer saw him, and gave the alarm; but he +could not leave his post at that moment. As soon as the boat was +moored, search was made; but Ben could not be found. He certainly was +not on board. + +Mr. Sherwood was astonished when he was told what had occurred. He +sent his coachman after the sheriff at once, and directed that the +search for Ben Wilford should be renewed. The stateroom was found +locked, as he had left it, and the gold undisturbed. Mrs. Light and +the girls, the firemen and the deck-hands, had their own stories to +tell, to all of which Mr. Sherwood listened very patiently. + +"You have done well, Lawry," said he. "You have saved my gold." + +"It was Ethan, sir, that did the business. I don't believe I could +have done anything alone," replied the little captain. + +"Lawry did his share," added Ethan, with due modesty. + +"I'm sure they both fit like wildcats in the cabin," said Mrs. +Light. "I was e'en a'most scart to death." + +When the sheriff came, he took Baker and Flint into custody, and +sent the constable who had come with him to find Ben Wilford. The two +robbers in the cabin were in bad condition. The choking they had +received had been a terrible shock to their nerves, which, with the +hard knocks given by Ethan with the cook's rolling-pin, had entirely +used them up, and there was neither fight nor bravado in them. Flint +said they had been induced to engage in the enterprise by Ben +Wilford; that they intended to proceed to the vicinity of Whitehall +in the _Woodville_, where the instigator of the affair had +declared his purpose to burn the boat. From this point they were +going to the West, disposing of the gold in small sums as they +proceeded. + +The two robbers were marched off by the sheriff; but nothing was +heard of Ben for two hours, when the boy who ran the ferry-boat, +returning from Pointville, informed Mrs. Wilford that he had gone +over with him. The constable followed, as soon as he heard in what +direction the fugitive had gone. He was not taken that night, and the +search was renewed the next day, but with no better result. It was +afterward ascertained that he had crossed the country to the +railroad, and taken a night train. Having worked his way to New York, +he shipped in a vessel bound to the East Indies. + +It cannot be denied that Lawry and his mother, and even Mr. +Sherwood, were glad of his escape, though he was more guilty than the +two men who had been captured and were afterward tried and sent to +Sing Sing. The little captain and the engineer of the _Woodville_ +were warmly congratulated upon the safety of the steamer, when it was +known that Ben intended to burn her in revenge for having been made +a "nobody"; but Mr. Sherwood declared that, if the boat had been +destroyed, he would have built another, and presented her to Lawry +and Ethan, for he was too much interested in the steamboat experiment +to have it abandoned. + +Mrs. Wilford trembled when she learned that the robbers had been +armed with pistols. Many laughed as they, listened to the account of +the choking operation in the cabin, and everybody was satisfied with +the result. + +Lawry and Ethan were too much excited to sleep that night, though +they turned in at ten o'clock. At midnight the fireman on duty called +them, and the steamer soon started for Whitehall with Mr. Sherwood +and his gold, where she arrived in season for the morning train. As +the party did not start till nine o'clock, the exhausted pilot and +engineer obtained a couple of hours' sleep, while the steamer lay at +the wharf, which enabled them to get through the day without sinking +under its fatigues. + +The following day was Sunday; and though Lawry and Ethan went to +church in the forenoon, as both of them were in the habit of doing, +the day was literally a day of rest to them, and there was a great +deal of "tall sleeping" done. On Monday morning, at six o'clock, the +boat went to Ticonderoga, arriving in good season to keep her +engagement. + +Our limits do not permit us to follow Captain Lawry and the +beautiful little steamer any farther. The young pilot has redeemed +the fairy craft from the bottom of the lake, and overcome all +obstacles in his path to prosperity. He was not again disturbed by +the envy and jealousy of his brother. He was sad when he thought of +his father in prison, and Ben an exile, banished by his misdeeds; but +their errors only made him the stronger in the faith he had chosen, +that fidelity to principle is the safest and happiest course, under +all circumstances. + +Lawry had all the business he could do with the _Woodville_. On +the following week, another pilot and another engineer were obtained, +and the price raised to sixty dollars a day, in conformity with the +suggestion of Mr. Sherwood. This was especially necessary, as, during +the bright moonlight evenings, in the latter part of the month, the +_Woodville_ was employed every night in taking out parties. The +boat lay hardly an hour at a time at the wharf. The money came in so +fast that Mrs. Wilford was bewildered at the riches which were +flowing in upon them. By the advice of Mr. Sherwood the money was +invested in government stocks; but he resolutely refused to accept +payment for what he had advanced on the place or for the boat. + +Early one evening, after Lawry had landed Mr. Sherwood's party at +Port Rock, he started for Burlington, where he had an engagement on +the following day. Half a mile above the wharf, he came up with a +schooner, which on examination proved to be the _Missisque_. It +was a dead calm, and her new mainsail hung motionless from the gaff. +The little captain had not seen her skipper since the day on which +the old sail had been blown from the bolt-ropes by the squall; and he +ran the Woodville alongside of her, in order "to pass the time of +day" with him. + +"How are you, Captain John?" shouted the young pilot. + +"Why, Lawry! How are you?" replied the skipper of the sloop. + +"What are you doing here?" continued Lawry. + +"Waitin' for a breeze of wind. I had a good freight promised to me +if I got to Burlington by to-morrow morn-in', but I guess I sha'n't +quite fetch it." + +"Rounds, heave a stern-line to the sloop, and make fast to her," +added Lawry to his mate. + +"Oh, thank ye, Lawry," replied the grateful skipper. + +"You and your wife must take supper with me." + +"Well, Lawry, I always knowed you was smart," said Captain John. + +"If I didn't get that mainsail down," laughed Lawry. + +"Oh, never mind the mainsail, Lawry," added the skipper, blushing. +"I was a leetle riled that time, and it wan't your fault." + +"I think the green-apple pies made the mischief. Mrs. Light makes +very nice ones, and we will have some for supper," continued Lawry, +as he conducted his guests to the cabin, where they sat down at the +table. + +Captain John and his wife were bewildered at the splendors which +surrounded them, and at the grandeur of Captain Lawry; but they +passed a pleasant evening on board till ten o'clock, when the +_Woodville_ cast off her "tow" in Burlington Bay. + +The upright piano, the gift of Miss Fanny, had been placed in the +saloon, and its sweet strains added to the enjoyment of every party +that employed the steamer. Ethan French, now relieved of part of his +duties by the employment of a second engineer, was never in better +humor than when Fanny Jane, seated at this instrument, sang the songs +she had sung to Wahena and himself on the lake island in Minnesota. + +In September, the business of the _Woodville_, as an excursion +boat, began to fall off, and by the middle of the month it was at an +end. The season had been very profitable, and Lawry's account-book +showed that the boat had been employed forty-one days, besides nine +evenings, the net profits of which were nearly fifteen hundred +dollars, all of which was in the bank, or invested in government +securities. + +While Captain Lawry was considering the practicability of running +the _Woodville_ between certain places on the lake as a passenger-boat, +he was startled by receiving a huge government envelope, containing a +liberal offer for the use of his steamer as a despatch boat on southern +rivers. An army officer, of high rank, who had been a member of one +of the excursion parties in August, had been delighted with the +performance of the little craft, and had spoken to Captain Lawry on this +subject; but the matter had been quite forgotten when the offer came. Mr. +Sherwood and Mrs. Wilford were consulted, and an affirmative answer +returned. Ethan was delighted at the prospect of going South, for +he desired to visit the scene of hostilities, and, if possible, to be +employed in active operations. + +The _Woodville_ went in October, and returned in April, when +the war was finished. Of Captain Lawry's voyage out and back, and his +adventures far up in the enemy's country, we have no space to speak; +but the steamer and her little commander gave perfect satisfaction. + +In June, when the _Woodville_ had been thoroughly repaired and +painted, after her hard service at the South, there was a demand for +her as an excursion boat; and it continued through the season. With +one of Mr. Sherwood's parties, in July, there was an eminent member +of the State Government, who was greatly pleased with Lawry's past +history, as well as with his agreeable manners, and his close +attention to his business. Through this gentleman, an effort, warmly +seconded by Mr. Randall, the bank director, was made to obtain the +pardon of John Wilford. It was successful, and the ferryman returned +to his home a wiser and a better man. + +He was astonished at the operations of his son, and surprised at the +prosperity which had attended his family during his absence. The +cottage had been enlarged, repaired, painted, and partly refurnished. +It was a new home to him; and, profiting by the experience of the +past, he resumed his labor as a ferryman, striving to be contented +with his lot. + +Ethan French does not tire of his pet, the engine of the +_Woodville,_ though it must be acknowledged that he has a +divided heart when Fanny Jane is on board. + +Mrs. Wilford, her confidence in her "smart boy" fully justified, and +rejoicing in the prosperity which attends him, is still happy and +contented in doing a mother's whole duty to her large family of +little ones, hoping that all of them will "turn out" as well as her +second son. + +During the _Woodville's_ second business season, she was +employed by a party of wealthy gentlemen, for a week, in going round +the lake. She had descended the Richelieu to St. Johns, from which +the party ran up to Montreal for a day, returning to the boat in the +evening. Though the time for which the boat was engaged was not up +till the next evening, some of the gentlemen were very anxious to be +in Burlington on the following morning, and insisted that the steamer +should immediately proceed up the river on her return. It was a very +dark and foggy night, and Lawry declined to start, declaring that he +could not run with safety to the boat and passengers. + +The party continued to insist upon their point, adding that if he +was a competent pilot there could be no difficulty in complying with +their wishes. They were gentlemen of wealth and influence, and the +little captain did not like to disoblige them. He argued the question +with them, and pointed to the motto in the wheel-house. They laughed +at him and his motto. There was to be a "trot" between two celebrated +horses, at Burlington, and they were too anxious to witness the race +to be entirely reasonable. + +Captain Lawry was firm, and the gentlemen were angry and indignant. +While they were debating the question in excited tones, another +steamer left the wharf, bound up the river. Her departure seemed to +spoil the young pilot's argument. The party tried to hail the steamer +in the fog, wishing Lawry to put them on board of her; but her people +did not hear their demand, or would not stop for them, and the party +were highly incensed at what they called the obstinacy of Lawry. + +"Haste and waste, gentlemen," replied the little captain. "The river +is narrow and crooked, and there is great danger of getting aground +if I attempt to run in this fog." + +"That other steamer has gone, and if she can run, you can, if you +know your business," replied one of the gentlemen. + +"I'm very sorry; but I don't think we should gain anything by +starting now," added Lawry. + +Finding it was useless to insist any longer, the party took supper, +and turned in, when their anger had partially subsided. The little +captain did not retire that night; he "planked the deck," and watched +the weather. It was a seven hours' run to Burlington, and the "trot" +was to come off at nine o'clock in the forenoon. He still hoped that +he should be able to satisfy his unreasonable party. + +At midnight the wind chopped round to the westward, and blew the fog +over. At one o'clock the _Woodville_ was going up the river at +full speed. At three o'clock she came up with the steamer which had +started from St. Johns four hours before, hard and fast aground. She +hailed the little _Woodville_, and requested assistance. Lawry +took a hawser on board, and gave her a few pulls; but she was too +hard on the sand to be started, and he was compelled to abandon her. +The commotion caused by these operations awoke some of the gentlemen +in the cabin of the _Woodville_, and they came on deck to learn +the occasion of it. + +"What's the trouble, Captain Lawry?" asked one of them. + +"Haste and waste," replied the young pilot sententiously. + +"What do you mean?" + +"Nothing, only the boat which left St. Johns four hours before us is +aground, and can't get off." + +"Well, haste and waste does mean something, after all," laughed the +speaker. + +The gentlemen went to bed again; the _Woodville_ continued on +her course, and when the party came on deck, at seven in the morning, +she was in sight of Burlington. Of course, the excursionists were +delighted to be able to attend the "trot." At four o'clock in the +afternoon, the steamer which had grounded reached Burlington. Some of +Lawry's party came on board in the evening to settle their accounts +with the boat. They were gentlemen, and they acknowledged their +error, and apologized for the strong language they had used. + +"Well, gentlemen, I am very glad you are satisfied," said Lawry, as +he put their money in his pocket. "I shall still believe in and +follow my motto--HASTE AND WASTE." + + +THE END + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Haste and Waste, by Oliver Optic + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HASTE AND WASTE *** + +***** This file should be named 6572.txt or 6572.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/6/5/7/6572/ + +Produced by Avinash Kothare, Charles Franks and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: Haste and Waste + +Author: Oliver Optic + +Release Date: September, 2004 [EBook #6572] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on December 28, 2002] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HASTE AND WASTE *** + + + + +Produced by Avinash Kothare, Charles Franks +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + +HASTE AND WASTE + +OR + +THE YOUNG PILOT OF LAKE CHAMPLAIN + +A STORY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE + +BY + +OLIVER OPTIC + + + + +BIOGRAPHY AND BIBLIOGRAPHY + +William Taylor Adams, American author, better known and loved by +boys and girls through his pseudonym "Oliver Optic," was born July +30, 1822, in the town of Medway, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, about +twenty-five miles from Boston. For twenty years he was a teacher in +the Public Schools of Boston, where he came in close contact with boy +life. These twenty years taught him how to reach the boy's heart and +interest as the popularity of his books attest. + +His story writing began in 1850 when he was twenty-eight years old +and his first book was published in 1853. He also edited "The Oliver +Optic Magazine," "The Student and Schoolmate," "Our Little Ones." + +Mr. Adams died at the age of seventy-five years, in Boston, March +27, 1897. + +He was a prolific writer and his stories are most attractive and +unobjectionable. Most of his books were published in series. Probably +the most famous of these is "The Boat Club Series" which comprises +the following titles: + +"The Boat Club," "All Aboard," "Now or Never," "Try Again," "Poor +and Proud," "Little by Little." All of these titles will be found in +this edition. + +Other well-known series are his "Soldier Boy Series," "Sailor Boy +Series," "Woodville Stories." The "Woodville Stories" will also be +found in this edition. + + + + +CHAPTER I + + +THE SQUALL ON THE LAKE + + +"Stand by, Captain John!" shouted Lawry Wilford, a stout boy of +fourteen, as he stood at the helm of a sloop, which was going before +the wind up Lake Champlain. + +"What's the matter, Lawry?" demanded the captain. + +"We're going to have a squall," continued the young pilot, as he +glanced at the tall peaks of the Adirondacks. + +There was a squall in those clouds, in the judgment of Lawry +Wilford; but having duly notified the captain of the impending danger +to his craft, he did not assume any further responsibility in the +management of the sloop. It was very quiet on the lake; the water was +smooth, and the tiny waves sparkled in the bright sunshine. There was +no roll of distant thunder to admonish the voyagers, and the youth at +the helm was so much accustomed to squalls and tempests, which are of +frequent occurrence on the lake, that they had no terrors to him. It +was dinner-time, and the young pilot, fearful that the unexpected +guest might reduce the rations to a low ebb for the second table, was +more concerned about this matter than about the squall. + +Captain John, as he was familiarly called on board the +_Missisque,_ which was the name of the sloop, was not a man to +be cheated out of any portion of his dinner by the approach of a +squall; and though his jaws may have moved more rapidly after the +announcement of the young pilot, he did not neglect even the green-apple +pies, the first of the season, prepared with care and skill by +Mrs. Captain John, who resided on board, and did "doctor's" duty at +the galley. Captain John did not abate a single mouthful of the meal, +though he knew how rapidly the mountain showers and squalls travel +over the lake. The sloop did not usually make more than four or five +miles an hour, being deeply laden with lumber, which was piled up so +high on the deck that the mainsail had to be reefed, to make room for +it. + +The passenger, Mr. Randall, was a director of a country bank, +journeying to Shoreham, about twenty miles above the point where he +had embarked in the _Missisque_. He had crossed the lake in the +ferry, intending to take the steamer at Westport for his destination. +Being a man who was always in a hurry, but never in season, he had +reached the steamboat landing just in time to see the boat moving +off. Procuring a wherry, and a boy to row it, he had boarded the +_Missisque_ as she passed up the lake; and, though the sloop was +not a passenger-boat, Captain John had consented to land him at +Shoreham. + +Mr. Randall was a landsman, and had a proper respect for squalls and +tempests, even on a fresh-water lake. He heard the announcement of +Lawry Wilford with a feeling of dread and apprehension, and +straightway began to conjure up visions of a terrible shipwreck, and +of sole survivors, clinging with the madness of desperation to broken +spars, in the midst of the storm-tossed waters. But Mr. Randall was a +director of a country bank, and a certain amount of dignity was +expected and required of him. His official position before the people +of Vermont demanded that he should not give way to idle fears. If +Captain Jones, who was not a bank director, could keep cool, it was +Mr. Randall's solemn duty to remain unmoved, or at least to appear to +remain so. + +The passenger finished the first course of the dinner, which Mrs. +Captain John had made a little more elaborate than usual, in honor of +the distinguished guest; but he complained of the smallness of his +appetite, and it was evident that he did not enjoy the meal after the +brief colloquy between the skipper and the pilot. He was nervous; his +dignity was a "bore" to him, and was maintained at an immense +sacrifice of personal ease; but he persevered until a piece of the +dainty green-apple pie was placed before him, when he lacerated the +tender feelings of Mrs. Captain John by abruptly leaving the table +and rushing on deck. + +This hurried movement was hardly to be regarded as a sacrifice of +his dignity, for it was made with what even the skipper's lady was +compelled to allow was a reasonable excuse. + +"Gracious!" exclaimed Mr. Randall, as the tempting piece of green-apple +pie, reeking with indigenous juices was placed before him. + +At the same moment the bank director further indicated his +astonishment and horror by slapping both hands upon his breast in a +style worthy of Brutus when Rome was in peril. + +"What's the matter, squire?" demanded Captain John, dropping his +knife and fork, and suspending the operation of his vigorous jaws +till an explanation could be obtained. + +"I've left my coat on deck," replied Mr. Randall, rising from his +chair. + +"It's just as safe there as 'twould be on your back, squire," added +the skipper. + +"There's six thousand dollars in the pocket of that coat," said the +bank director, with a gasp of apprehension. "Where's my coat?" +demanded he. + +"There it is," replied Lawry Wilford, pointing to the garment under +the rail. "We had a flaw of wind just now, and it came pretty near +being blowed overboard." + +"Gracious!" exclaimed Mr. Randall, as he clutched the coat. "I'm too +careless to live! There's six thousand dollars in a pocket of that +coat." + +"Six thousand dollars!" ejaculated Lawry, whose ideas of such a sum +of money were very indefinite. "I should say you ought not to let it +lie round loose in this way." + +"I'm very careless; but the money is safe," continued the director. + +"Stand by, Captain John!" suddenly shouted Lawry, with tremendous +energy, as he put the helm down. The squall was coming up the lake in +the track of the _Missisque_; a dull, roaring sound was heard +astern; and all the mountain peaks had disappeared, closed in by the +dense volume of black clouds. The episode of the bank director's coat +had distracted the attention of the young pilot for a moment, and he +had not observed the rapid swoop of the squall, as it bore down upon +the sloop. He leaped over the piles of lumber to the forecastle, and +had cast loose the peak-halyard, when Captain John tumbled up the +companionway in time to see that he had lingered too long over the +green-apple pie, and that one piece would have been better for his +vessel, if not for him. + +"Let go the throat-halyard!" roared he. "Down with the mainsail! +down with the mainsail!" + +Lawry did not need any prompting to do his duty; but before he could +let go the throat-halyard, the squall was upon the sloop. Mr. Randall +had seized hold of the rail, and was crouching beneath the bulwark, +expecting to go to the bottom of the lake, for he was too much +excited to make a comparison of the specific gravities of pine boards +and fresh water, and therefore did not realize that lumber would +float, and not sink. + +The squall did its work in an instant; and before the bank director +had fairly begun to tremble, the rotten mainsail of the +_Missisque_ was blown into ribbons, and the "flapping flitters" +were streaming in the air. Piece after piece was detached from the +bolt-rope, and disappeared in the heavy atmosphere. The sloop, in +obedience to her helm, came about, and was now headed down the lake. +The rain began to fall in torrents, and Mr. Randall was as +uncomfortable as the director of a country bank could be. + +"Go below, sir!" shouted Captain John to the unhappy man. + +"Is it safe?" asked Mr. Randall. + +"Safe enough." + +"Won't she sink?" + +"Sink? no; she can't sink," replied the skipper. "The wu'st on't's +over now." + +The fury of the squall was spent in a moment, and then the fury of +Captain John began to gather, as he saw the remnants of the sail +flapping at the gaff and the boom. The _Missisque_ and her cargo +were safe, and not a single one of the precious lives of her crew had +been sacrificed; but the skipper was as dissatisfied as the skipper +of a lake sloop could be; more so, probably, than if the vessel had +gone to the bottom, and left him clinging for life to a lone spar on +the angry waters, for men are often more reasonable under great than +under small misfortunes. + +"Why didn't you let go that throat-halyard?" said he, as he walked +forward to where the young pilot stood. + +"I did," replied Lawry quietly. + +"You did! What was the use of lettin' it go after the squall had +split the sail? Why didn't you do it sooner?" + +"I did it as soon as I saw the squall coming down on us." + +"Why didn't you see it before then?" growled Captain John. + +"I told you the squall was coming half an hour ago. Why didn't you +come on deck, and attend to your vessel?" + +"Don't be sassy," said Captain John. + +"I'm not the skipper of this craft. If I had been, that sail would +have been safe. I told you the squall was coming, and after that I +did the best I could." + +"You ain't good for nothin' 'board a vessel. I thought you knew +enough to take in sail when you saw a squall comin'." + +"I should have taken in sail long ago if I had thought the captain +didn't know enough to come on deck when there was a squall coming +up," replied Lawry. + +"I don't want nothin' more of you." + +"And I don't want anything more of you," added Lawry smartly. "I've +got almost home." + +"What do you s'pose I'm goin' to do here, eighty mile from +Whitehall, with the mainsail blowed clean out?" snarled Captain John, +as he followed Lawry. + +"Mind your vessel better than you have, I hope." + +"Don't be sassy, boy." + +"You needn't growl at me because you neglected your duty. I did +mine. I was casting off the halyards when the squall came." + +"Why didn't you do it before? That's what I want to know." + +"I had no orders from the captain. Men on board a vessel don't take +in sail till they are told to do so. When I saw the squall coming, +half an hour ago, I let you know it; that was all I had to do with it." + +"I don't want you in this vessel; you are too smart for me," +continued Captain John. + +"I'll leave her just as soon as we get to Port Rock," said Lawry, +sitting down on the rail. + +The rain ceased in a few moments, and the skipper ordered the jib, +which had before been useless, to be set. At the invitation of Mrs. +Captain John, Lawry went below and ate his dinner, to which he felt +himself entitled, for he was working his passage up from Plattsburg. +By the time he had disposed of the last piece of green-apple pie on +board, the _Missisque_ was before Port Rock, which was the home +of the young pilot, and he saw his father's ferry-boat at the shore +as he came on deck. + +"Will you put me ashore here, Captain John?" asked Lawry. + +"Yes, I will; and I'm glad to get rid of you," replied the captain +testily. + +"I think I will land here, also," added the bank director. "Now you +have lost your sail, I'm afraid you won't get along very fast." + +"I don't expect I shall. I sha'n't get to Shoreham till to-morrow +morning with this wind. I'm sorry it happened so; but that boy didn't +mind what he was about." + +"The captain didn't mind what he was about," added Lawry. "He +needn't lay it to me, when it was all his own fault." + +"I will cross the lake, and get a horse at Pointville, so that I +shall be in Shoreham by five o'clock," continued the bank director. + +Captain John ordered one of the men to pull Mr. Randall and Lawry +ashore in the boat, and in a few minutes they were landed at Port Rock. + + + + +CHAPTER II + + +THE PORT ROCK FERRY + + +Lawrence Wilford was a full-fledged water-fowl. From his earliest +childhood he had paddled in Lake Champlain. His father had a small +place, consisting of ten acres of land with a small cottage; but it +was still encumbered with a mortgage, as it had been for twenty +years, though the note had passed through several hands, and had been +three times renewed. John Wilford was not a very sagacious nor a very +energetic man, and had not distinguished himself in the race for +wealth or for fame. He wanted to be rich, but he was not willing to +pay the price of riches. + +His place was a short distance from the village of Port Rock, and +John Wilford, at the time he had purchased the land and built his +house, had established a ferry, which had been, and was still, his +principal means of support; for there was considerable travel between +Port Rock and Pointville, on the Vermont side of the lake. + +The ferryman was a poor man, and was likely to remain a poor man to +the end of his life. Hardly a day passed in which he did not sigh to +be rich, and complain of the unequal and unjust distribution of +property. He could point to a score of men who had not worked half so +hard as he had, in his own opinion, that had made fortunes, or at +least won a competence, while he was as poor as ever, and in danger +of having his place taken away from him. People said that John +Wilford was lazy; that he did not make the most of his land, and that +his ferry, with closer attention to the wants of passengers, might be +made to pay double the amount he made from it. He permitted the weeds +to grow in his garden, and compelled people to wait by the hour for a +passage across the lake. + +John Wilford wondered that he could not grow rich, that he could not +pay off the mortgage on his place. He seldom sat down to dinner +without grumbling at his hard lot. His wife was a sensible woman. She +did not wonder that he did not grow rich; only that he contrived to +keep out of the poorhouse. She was the mother of eight children, and +if he had been half as smart as she was, prosperity would have smiled +upon the family. As it was, her life was filled up with struggles to +make the ends meet; but, though she had the worst of it, she did not +complain, and did all she could to comfort and encourage her +thriftless husband. + +The oldest son was as near like his father as one person could be +like another. He was eighteen years old, and was an idle and +dissolute fellow. Lawrence, the second son, inherited his mother's +tack and energy. He was observing and enterprising, and had already +made a good reputation as a boatman and pilot. He had worked in +various capacities on board of steamers, canal-boats, sloops, and +schooners, and in five years had visited every part of the lake from +Whitehall to St. Johns. + +Speaking technically, his bump of locality was large, and he was as +familiar with the navigation of the lake as any pilot on its waters. +Indeed, he had occasionally served as a pilot on board steamers and +other vessels, which had earned for him the name of the Young Pilot, +by which he was often called. But his business was not piloting, for +there was but little of this work to be done. Unlike his father, he +was willing to do anything which would afford him a fair +compensation, and in his five years of active life on the lake he had +been a pilot, a deck-hand, a waiter, and a kitchen assistant on board +steamers, and a sailor, helmsman, and cook on board other craft. He +picked up considerable money, for a boy, by his enterprise, which, +like a good son with a clear apprehension of domestic circumstances, +he gave to his mother. At the time of his introduction to the reader, +Lawry had just piloted a canal-boat, with movable masts, from +Whitehall to Plattsburg, and was working his passage home on the +"_Missisque_. + +"Captain John feels bad about the loss of his sail," said Mr. +Randall, as the sloop's boat pulled off from the shore. + +"Yes, he does; but it was his own fault," replied Lawry. "He paid +too much attention to his dinner at the time." + +"That's true; he was very fond of the green-apple pies." + +"Well, they were good," added the young pilot. + +"I'm sorry he lost his sail." + +"It wasn't worth much, though it was a bad time to lose it." + +"He lost his temper, too. I wanted to land on the other side, but +the captain was so cross I didn't like to ask him when we were so +close to this shore. Your father is the ferryman, I believe." + +"Yes, sir." + +"Will you ask him to take me over?" + +"He's going right over in the large boat, for there's a team waiting +for him," replied Lawry, pointing to a horse and wagon, the owner of +which had sounded the horn just as the passengers from the boat landed. + +"Ask him to be as quick as possible, for I'm in a hurry," added the +bank director. + +"Won't you come into the house, sir?" + +"No, I will sit down under this tree." + +Lawry went into the house, where the family were at dinner, the meal +having been delayed by the absence of the ferryman on the other side +of the lake. The youth was greeted coldly by his father, and very +warmly by his mother. + +"I'm glad you've got home, Lawry, for Mr. Sherwood has been after +you three times," said Mrs. Wilford, when the young pilot had been +duly welcomed by all the family. + +"What does he want?" asked Lawry. + +"His little steamboat is at Port Henry, and he wants you to go up +and pilot her down." + +"The _Woodville?_" + +"Yes, that's her name, I believe." + +"Well, I'm all ready to go." + +"Sit down and eat your dinner. + +"I've been to dinner." + +"Mr. Sherwood wanted you to go up in the _Sherman_; but it is +too late for her, and he may go in the night boat." + +"I'm ready when he is. Father, there is a gentleman outside who +wants to go over the lake; and there is a team waiting in the road," +continued Lawry. + +"They must wait till I've done my dinner," replied the ferryman. +"Who is the gentleman?" + +"Mr. Randall; he is a director in a bank, and has six thousand +dollars with him." + +"I suppose so; every man but me has six thousand dollars in his +pocket. Where's he going to?" + +"To Shoreham, and he wants to get there by five o'clock, if he can." + +"What's he traveling with so much money for?" + +"I don't know. It is in his coat pocket, and it would have gone +overboard if it hadn't been for me." + +The ferryman finished his dinner in moody silence. He seemed to be +thinking of the subject always uppermost in his mind, his thoughts +stimulated, no doubt, by the fact that his expected passenger carried +a large sum of money on his person. + +"Mr. Randall is in a hurry, father," interposed Lawry, when the +ferryman had sat a good half-hour after his son's arrival. + +"He must wait till I get ready. He's got money, and I haven't; but +I'm just as good as he is. I don't know why I'm poor when so many men +are rich. But I'm going to be rich, somehow or other," said he, with +more earnestness than he usually exhibited. "I'm too honest for my +own good. I'm going to do as other men do; and I shall wake up rich +some morning, as they do. Then I sha'n't have to go when folks blow +the horn. They'll be willing to wait for me then." + +"Don't keep the gentleman waiting, father," added Mrs. Wilford. + +"I'm going to be rich, somehow or other," continued the ferryman, +still pursuing the exciting line of thought he had before taken up. +"I'm going to be rich, by hook or by crook." + +"This making haste to get rich ruins men sometimes, husband; and +haste makes waste then." + +"If I can only get rich, I'll risk being ruined," said John Wilford, +as he rose from the table and put on his hat. + +He looked more moody and discontented than usual. Instead of +hastening to do the work which was waiting for him, he stood before +the window, looking out into the garden. Mrs. Wilford told him the +gentleman would be impatient, and he finally left the house and +walked down to the ferry-boat. + +"I wonder what your father is thinking about," said Mrs. Wilford, as +the door closed behind him. + +"I don't know," replied Lawry; "he don't seem to be thinking that +people won't wait forever for him. I guess I'll go up to Mr. +Sherwood's, and see when he wants me." + +"You must fix up a little before you go," replied the prudent +mother. "They are very grand people up at Mr. Sherwood's, and you +must look as well as you can." + +"I'll put on my best clothes," added Lawry. + +In half an hour he had changed his dress, and looked like another +boy. Mrs. Wilford adjusted a few stray locks of his hair, and as he +put on his new straw hat, and left the house, her eye followed him +with a feeling of motherly pride. He was a good boy, and had the +reputation of being a very smart boy, and she may be pardoned for the +parental vanity with which she regarded him. While he visits the +house of Mr. Sherwood, we will follow his father down to the ferry, +where the bank director was impatiently waiting his appearance. + +After the shower the sun had come out brightly, and the wind had +abated so that there was hardly breeze enough to ruffle the waters of +the lake. It was intensely warm, and Mr. Randall had taken off his +coat again, but he was careful to keep it on his arm. At the approach +of the ferryman he went into the boat, where he was followed by the +vehicle that had been waiting so long for a passage across the lake. + +John Wilford pushed off the boat with a pole, and trimmed the sail, +which was the motive power of the craft when there was any wind. The +ferry-boat was a large bateau, or flatboat, the slope at the ends +being so gradual that a wagon could pass down over it to the bottom +of the boat. This inclined plane was extended by a movable platform +about six feet wide, which swung horizontally up and down, like a +great trap-door. When the ferry-boat touched the shore, this platform +was let down upon the ground, forming a slope on which carriages were +driven into and out of the bateau. + +The wind was very light, and the clumsy craft moved very slowly--so +slowly that the passage promised to be a severe trial to the patience +of Mr. Randall, who hoped to reach Shoreham by five o'clock. He was +not in a very amiable frame of mind; he was angry at the delay in +starting, and he was vexed because the wind would not blow. He walked +nervously from the forward platform to the after one, with his coat +still on his arm. + +"We shall not get over to-night," said he impatiently, as he stopped +by the side of the ferryman, and threw his coat down upon the +platform, while he wiped the perspiration from his brow. + +"Yes, I guess we shall," replied John Wilford. + +"I'll give you a dollar if you will land me at Pointville by three +o'clock." + +"I can't make the wind blow, if you would give me a hundred dollars." + +"Can't you use the pole or the oars?" said the bank director +petulantly; "you kept me waiting half an hour before you started." + +"I couldn't help that," replied John Wilford. + +Mr. Randall walked to the forward platform, fretting with impatience +at the indifference of the ferryman. He stood for a few moments +gazing at the Vermont shore, and appeared to be engaged in estimating +the distance yet to be accomplished. The calculation was not +satisfactory, and the bank director's wrath was on the increase. With +hasty step he walked aft again. + +"I think we shall have more wind in a minute," said John Wilford, as +he stepped down from the platform and adjusted the sheet. + +"If we don't, I shall go crazy," replied Mr. Randall. + +When he had placed one foot on the platform, by some means the drop, +true to its name, went down and splashed in the water. The bank +director stepped back in season to save himself from a cold bath or a +watery grave, as the case might be. + +"My coat! save my coat!" shouted Mr. Randall, as the garment rolled +off the platform into the water. + +"Why didn't you hold on to it?" said John Wilford. + +"Save my coat! There is six thousand dollars in the pocket," groaned +the unhappy bank director. + + + + +CHAPTER III + + +SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS + + +Within half a mile of the ferryman's cottage, at Port Rock, was the +summer residence of Mr. Sherwood, who, two years before, had become +the husband of Bertha Grant, of Woodville. The scenery in the +vicinity was beautiful, and the mansion commanded a splendid view of +the Adirondack Mountains and of the lake. + +Mr. Sherwood was an enthusiastic admirer of the scenery of Lake +Champlain. His constant visits at Woodville had given him a taste for +aquatic sports, in which he was disposed to indulge on a larger scale +than ever had been known at Woodville. He had been remarkably +fortunate in his financial operations, and was already a wealthy man. +Though he did not retire from active business, he had taken a +partner, which enabled him to spend a part of his time during the +summer at his country house on the lake. + +Mr. Grant had gone to Europe a second time, to be absent during the +summer, and Miss Fanny and Fanny Jane had accepted Bertha's +invitation to spend a few weeks at Port Rock. A splendid time had +been promised them by Mrs. Sherwood, who had made extensive +preparations for their visit. The arrangements included a novelty +which offered a very brilliant prospect to the party, and excited the +imagination even of the older ones to the highest pitch. + +This novelty was nothing less than a miniature steamboat, which had +already been christened the _Woodville_, in honor of the home of +the owner's lady. She was a splendid little craft, and as perfect in +her machinery and appointments as any steamer that ever floated. She +was a side-wheel boat, sixty feet in length, by twelve feet beam. +Forward there were a regular wheel-house, a small kitchen, and other +rooms usually found in a steamer. Abaft the wheels there were a +saloon and two staterooms. Of course all these apartments, as well as +the cabin below, were very contracted in their dimensions; but they +were fitted up in the most elegant style. + +The _Woodville_ had cost a great deal of money; but her owner +expected to realize a full return for it in the enjoyment she would +afford him, his wife, and their friends. She had been sent up the +Hudson, and through the canal to Whitehall, and thence to Port Henry, +where she had arrived on the day before Lawry Wilford's return to +Port Rock. + +On board of the little steamer there is an old friend of our +readers. He may be found in the engine-room; and as he rubs up the +polished iron of the machinery, he is thinking of Fanny Jane Grant, +with whom he escaped from the Indians in Minnesota, and whom he +expects on board with Mr. Sherwood's party. The young man, now +sixteen years of age, is the engineer of the _Woodville_. Though +he has been but two years learning the trade of machinist, he is as +thoroughly acquainted with every part of a marine-engine as though he +had spent his lifetime in studying it. + +The engine of the _Woodville_ was built at the works where +Ethan French was learning his trade, and he had been employed in its +construction. As he was a frequent visitor at Woodville, he had +petitioned for the situation he now held. At first, Mr. Sherwood was +not willing to trust him; but Ethan's employers declared that he was +a man in everything but years, and was fully competent to manage the +engine, and even to build one after the designs were made. He had +come up from New York in the steamer. He had seen Mr. Sherwood at +Port Henry, on his arrival, and had been ordered to have the boat in +readiness to start on the following morning, when the family would be +passengers. + +Mr. Sherwood had already selected Lawry Wilford as the pilot of the +_Woodville_. He was small in stature, and would look better in +the wheel-house than a full-grown man. He had often met the young +pilot, and had been greatly pleased with his energy and decision. +Lawry had been employed by Miss Fanny several times to row her on the +lake; and he had served her so faithfully that her influence was not +wanting in procuring for him the situation. + +Lawry, not yet informed of the honorable and responsible position +which had been awarded to him, walked up to Mr. Sherwood's house. He +had heard Miss Fanny speak of the _Woodville_, while in the boat +with him, and had listened with delight to her enthusiastic +description of the beautiful craft. He was quite as anxious to see +her as any of the party who were more directly interested in her. + +"Can I see Mr. Sherwood?" asked Lawry. + +"He has gone away," replied the man. + +"Where has he gone?" + +"To Port Henry; he went in the carriage, and is coming back in the +new steamboat." + +"Has he got a pilot?" continued Lawry anxiously. + +"I don't know; he expected you, I believe; but when you didn't come +back, he couldn't wait any longer. I heard him say he could pilot her +himself, and I suppose he is going to do so." + +"I'm sorry I didn't see him; I have but just got home," replied Lawry. + +He wanted to pilot the beautiful little steamer up from Port Henry. +He wanted to see her; wanted to make her acquaintance, for she +promised to be the belle of the lake. He was sorry to lose the +chance, for it might prove to be a valuable one to him. Mr. Sherwood +was very liberal, and he hoped he would not engage another pilot. It +was no use to complain, and Lawry walked back to the ferry, where he +could see the steamer when she arrived. When he reached the landing-place, +the ferry-boat was about halfway across the lake, and his +attention was attracted by the strange movements of those on board of +her. His father was laboring at the steering-oar with a zeal which +indicated that some unusual event had occurred. The ferry-boat was +thrown up into the wind, and while Lawry was waiting to ascertain +what the matter was, his father leaped into the water. + +It was now evident to Lawry that something serious had happened, and +he sprang into the small keel-boat, used for conveying foot-passengers +across the lake, which was fastened to a stake on the shore. Taking +the oars, he pulled with all his might toward the ferry-boat. He +was a stout boy, and handled his oars very skillfully; but before + he could reach the scene of the excitement, his father had +returned to the bateau. + +"There's your coat," said John Wilford. + +Mr. Randall seized the garment with convulsive energy, and with +trembling hands felt for the pocketbook in which the six thousand +dollars had been kept. + +"It is gone!" gasped he; and he seemed ready to sink down in the +bottom of the boat when he discovered his loss. + +"Gone!" exclaimed John Wilford. + +"What's the matter?" asked Lawry. + +"I've lost my pocketbook with six thousand dollars in it," groaned +the bank director. + +"How did you lose it?" demanded Lawry. + +"That drop came down and let my coat into the lake; but I don't see +how my pocketbook could get out of the coat." + +"I don't believe the money was in the pocket," added the ferryman. + +"Yes, it was," persisted Mr. Randall. + +"I don't see how it could fall out of the pocket," said John Wilford. + +"Nor I; but the money is gone," answered the bank director, with a +vacant stare. "I'm ruined!" + +"Well, I can't help it. I've done all I could for you. I tried to +save it; and if I get the rheumatism for a month or two, it will be a +bad job for me." + +"Wasn't the pocketbook in the pocket when you picked up the coat?" +asked Mr. Randall, walking up to the ferryman. + +"How should I know?" replied John Wilford. "I gave you the coat just +as I found it." + +"I don't believe the pocketbook would sink," added the director. +"There was nothing but paper in it." + +"Of course it wouldn't sink, then," interposed the owner of the +vehicle in the ferry-boat. + +"I don't think it would," said Mr. Randall. + +"I know it wouldn't," protested the stranger. "I dropped my +pocketbook into the lake once, and it floated ten minutes before I +could get it again." + +"Then it must be floating about on the water," added Lawry. "I will +try to find it." + +"I'll go with you," said Mr. Randall. + +They got into the boat, and Lawry pulled about the spot where the +coat had fallen into the water for half an hour without discovering +the pocketbook. + +"I suppose I must give it up," sighed the director. + +"I'm sure it's not on the water," replied Lawry. + +"Do you suppose it would sink?" + +"I don't know; the gentleman in the ferry-boat says it wouldn't." + +"Stop a minute, boy, and I will soon find out," continued the +unfortunate loser of the money. + +He took all the money and papers out of his wallet, and stuffed it +with pieces of newspaper which Lawry gave him. Having thus prepared +the wallet, which he said was of the same material as the lost +pocketbook, he placed it on the surface of the water, holding his +hand underneath to save it, in case the trial should result +differently from his anticipations. It floated, and he removed his +hand from under it to exhibit his confidence in the law he had tested. + +"That's plain enough," said he. "My pocketbook hasn't gone to the +bottom." + +"It certainly has not," replied Lawry. + +"Then where is it?--that's the next question." + +"Are you sure it was in your pocket when you got into the ferry-boat?" + +"Just as sure as I am that I sit here." + +"You were very careless about your coat on board of the sloop." + +"I know I was." + +"I don't see how a man could throw down his coat with six thousand +dollars in the pocket," said Lawry. + +"I know I'm careless; but I'm so used to carrying money that I don't +think much about it. I always carry it in a pocket inside of my +vest," continued the director, putting his hand in the place +indicated; "but this is a new vest, and hasn't any such pocket. +Things don't look all right to me. Is the ferryman your father?" + +"Yes, sir; he is." + +"Well, the money's gone," added Mr. Randall. "We will go back to the +ferry-boat." + +"Did you find it?" asked John Wilford, as the bank director stepped +into the bateau. + +"No; but I'm certain it has not gone to the bottom." + +"Where is it, then?" + +"I don't know; can you tell me?" + +Mr. Randall looked at the ferryman very sharply. His manner +indicated that he had some suspicions. + +"How can I tell you?" replied John Wilford. + +"The money was in the coat pocket when you picked it up in the water-- +I know it was." + +"Do you mean to say I took it out?" demanded the ferryman angrily. + +"If you didn't, I don't see what has become of it." + +"Do you mean to accuse my father of stealing?" said Lawry indignantly. + +"I don't accuse him of anything; but here are the facts, and you can +all see for yourselves." + +"You throw your coat down anywhere. It would have gone overboard +from the sloop if I hadn't saved it; and it won't do for so careless +a man as you are to accuse anybody of stealing your money," added +Lawry angrily. + +"Very likely you lost it out of the pocket before you got into the +ferry-boat." + +"Never mind him, Lawry. I haven't got his pocketbook," interposed +the ferryman. + +"I know you haven't, father; and it makes me mad to hear him accuse +you of stealing it." + +"Mr. Randall, if you think I've got your money, I want you to +satisfy yourself on the point at once," continued John Wilford, +turning to the director. + +"I hope you haven't." + +"But you think I have. Search me, then." + +Greatly to the indignation of Lawry, Mr. Randall did search the +ferryman; turned out his pockets, and examined every part of his wet +garments. The pocketbook was not upon his person; and the loser, in +spite of the laws of specific gravity, which he had just +demonstrated, was almost compelled to believe that his money had gone +to the bottom of the lake. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + + +THE STEAMER "WOODVILLE" + + +Mr. Randall, now that his money was lost, declared that he had no +business in Shoreham, and it was useless for him to go there. The six +thousand dollars belonged to his bank, and, having an opportunity to +put this sum in circulation, where it would be "kept out" for several +weeks, he was making this journey to accomplish the business. He +facetiously remarked that it was likely to be kept out longer than +was desirable. + +Lawry was so sure Mr. Randall had dropped the pocketbook on the +shore before he got into the ferry-boat, that he insisted upon +returning to Pork Rock and having the ground searched. Though the +bank director was satisfied that the pocketbook was safe in his +possession when he entered the bateau, he was willing to return, +since the object of his journey had been defeated, and Lawry pulled +him back to the landing-place. The ground under the tree, and over +which Mr. Randall had walked while waiting for the ferryman, was +carefully examined, but the lost pocketbook could not be found. + +The bank director had very little to say after he left the ferry-boat; +but he was very thoughtful, as a man who had lost six thousand +dollars might reasonably be. After the search on shore was completed, +he walked off toward the village without mentioning his intentions, +but he looked as though he purposed to do something. + +"What's the matter, Lawry?" asked Mrs. Wilford, who had been +watching the movements of Mr. Randall and her son from the window, as +she came out of the house. + +"The gentleman has lost his money--six thousand dollars," replied +Lawry. + +"Lost it!" exclaimed Mrs. Wilford, recalling the conversation with +her husband at dinner. + +"His coat fell overboard, and the pocketbook dropped out." + +"Fell into the lake," added she, with a feeling of relief. + +"Yes; father swam out and got the coat, but the money was gone." + +Mrs. Wilford returned to the house. Perhaps she had some misgivings, +and felt more than before that those who make haste to be rich are +often ruined; but she said nothing. Lawry was perplexed at the +disappearance of the money. Mr. Randall had proved that a pocketbook +with nothing but paper in it would not sink within a reasonable time. +If the lost treasure had fallen into the water, he would certainly +have found it. If it had been dropped on shore or in the ferry-boat, +it would not have disappeared so strangely. + +Lawry was so positive that the pocketbook was still in the ferry-boat, +or on the shore, that he renewed the search, and carefully scrutinized +every foot of ground between the house and the landing-place, but +with no better success than before. By this time the ferry-boat, +which had been favored by a good wind during the last half-hour, +returned. + +"What do you suppose became of that pocketbook, father?" asked +Lawry, as he stepped into the boat. + +"I don't know. I don't believe he lost any pocketbook," replied John +Wilford. + +"He says he did, and I saw it myself." + +"Perhaps you did, but I don't believe there was any six thousand +dollars in it. If there had been, he wouldn't have thrown it about as +he did." + +"He says there was six thousand dollars in the pocketbook." + +"I don't believe it. It's a likely story that a man would throw down +his coat, with all that money in the pocket, on the drop. In my +opinion it's some trick to cheat his creditors out of their just due." + +"It don't seem possible." + +"That's the truth, you may depend upon it. That's the way men make +money." + +Lawry was by no means satisfied with this explanation. He went into +the boat, and carefully searched every part of it. His father watched +him with considerable interest, declaring that it was useless to look +for what had not been lost. + +"You had better go up and see Mr. Sherwood now," said Mr. Wilford. + +"I have been up, and he was not at home." + +"You better go again, then." + +"He has gone to Port Henry after the new steamer." + +"Has he got a pilot?" + +"Not that I know of." + +"He can't get one at Port Henry," said the ferryman. + +"I suppose he is going to pilot her himself." + +"He will pilot her on the rocks, then. He don't know anything about +Lake Champlain. Why don't you row up the lake till you meet the boat?" + +"I was thinking of doing so, but I can't keep this money out of my +mind." + +"Why need you trouble yourself about that?" demanded the father +impatiently. + +"It was lost in your boat, and I am very anxious that it should be +found. I'm sure Mr. Randall thinks you've got it." + +"Well, he searched me, and found out that I hadn't got it--didn't +he?" added Mr. Wilford, with a sickly smile. + +"I don't like to have you suspected of such a thing, and for that +reason I want to find the money." + +"You can't find it, and I tell you he hasn't lost any money. He's +going to cheat the bank or his creditors out of six thousand dollars." + +"I don't believe he would do such a thing as that." + +"We have looked everywhere for the money, and it can't be found. +It's no use to bother any more about the matter. It's gone, and +that's the end of it--if he lost it at all. You have looked all over +the ferry-boat, and it isn't there. If it had been floating in the +lake, you couldn't help seeing it. Now, you better take your boat and +row up the lake till you meet the steamer." + +"I'm going pretty soon." + +"Better go now. I'm going up after a drink of water. If you don't go +pretty soon, you will be too late to do any good on board the +steamer," said Mr. Wilford, hoping, if he left the spot, his son +would depart also. + +Lawry hauled in the rowboat, ready to embark; but, before he did so, +he made one more search in the bateau for the pocketbook. The timbers +of the ferry-boat were ceiled over on the bottom, leaving a space for +the leakage between the inner and the outer planking. Near the mast +there was a well, from which, with a grain-shovel, the water was +thrown out. Lawry examined this hole, feeling under the planks, and +thrusting the shovel in as far as he could. This search was +unavailing, and he gave it up in despair. As he stepped on shore, his +curiosity prompted him to look under the platform outside of the boat. + +The pocketbook was there! + +In a space between the planks, a foot above the surface of the +water, and the same distance from the side, the pocketbook was thrust +in. It could not be seen from the inside of the boat, nor from the +platform; and it could not have got there of itself. + +Lawry's face turned red, and his heart bounded with emotion, for the +situation of the pocketbook pointed to but one conclusion. It had +been placed there by his father, who had evidently taken it from the +pocket of the coat, and concealed it, either before or after the +garment had fallen into the water. He was appalled and horrified at +the discovery. He knew that his father was discontented with his lot; +that he was indolent and thriftless; but he did not think him capable +of committing a crime. + +He reached under the platform, and took the pocketbook from its +hiding-place. It was perfectly dry; it had not been in the water. +John Wilford had probably taken it from the coat pocket, and after +thrusting it into the aperture beneath the drop, had let the platform +fall into the water for the purpose of dislodging the coat, and +making it appear that the money had been lost in the lake. + +The pocketbook seemed to burn in Lawry's fingers, and he returned it +to the place where he had found it; for he was confused, and did not +know what to do. He stood, with flushed face and beating heart, on +the shore, considering what course he should take. He could not think +of exposing his father's crime, on the one hand, or of permitting him +to retain the money, on the other. + +After long and painful deliberation, he decided to take the +pocketbook, follow Mr. Randall, and return it to him, telling him +that he had found it under the drop of the boat. He was about to +adopt this course when his father came out of the house, and walked +down to the ferry-boat. + +"Not gone yet?" said Mr. Wilford. + +"No, sir; that money has troubled me so much that I could not go," +replied Lawry. + +"What's the use of bothering your head about that any longer?" added +the father petulantly. + +"It troubles me terribly." + +"Let it go; it can't be found, and that's the end of it." + +"But it can be found." + +"Why don't you find it, then?" + +"I have found it, father!" + +"What!" + +"It's in a crack under the platform," replied Lawry. + +"You don't mean so!" exclaimed the ferryman. + +"It's no use to talk round the barn, father; the pocket-book is just +where you put it." + +"Where I put it? What do you mean, Lawry?" + +"There it is in the crack under the drop, a foot above the water. It +did not wash in there of itself. Oh, father!" + +Lawry, unable longer to control his feelings, burst into tears. + +"What are you crying about, Lawry? Do you think I hid the pocketbook?" + +"I know you did, father," sobbed Lawry. + +"Do you accuse me of stealing?" demanded Mr. Wilford, with a weak +show of indignation. + +"I don't accuse you of anything, father; but there it is." + +"You mean to say that I stole it?" + +"Oh, father!" + +"Stop your whining, Lawry! What possessed you to poke round after +what did not concern you? Now, shut up, and go off about your +business." + +"You will not keep it, father?" + +"I haven't got it. If you have found it, I suppose there is time +enough to think what is best to be done." + +"I don't want any time to think of it," replied Lawry; and before +his father could prevent him, he took the pocketbook from its place +of concealment. + +"What are you going to do with it?" demanded Mr. Wilford. + +"I'm going to find Mr. Randall, and give it back to him, as quick as +I can." + +"What's the use of doing that?" + +"Because it's the right way to do." + +"That isn't the way to get rich." + +"But it's the way to keep honest." + +"Give it to me, Lawry." + +"What are you going to do with it, father?" + +"That's my business." + +"I shall give it back to the owner." + +"No, you won't, Lawry. Do you want to get me into trouble--to have +me sent to jail?" + +"If I give it back to Mr. Randall, there will be no trouble." + +"Lawry, I've been poor and honest long enough. I'm going to do as +other men do. I'm going to get rich." + +"By keeping this money?" exclaimed the son. + +"You needn't talk any more about it; I put the money where you found +it." + +"I know you did." + +"Give it to me." + +"I will not, father, if you mean to keep it." + +"I do mean to keep it. Do you think I have run all this risk for +nothing? Give me the pocketbook." + +"Don't think of such a thing as keeping it, father," pleaded Lawry. + +"I'm going to be rich," replied the father doggedly. + +"You know what mother said about making haste to be rich: 'Haste +makes waste.'" + +"It will make waste if you don't give me the pocket-book." + +"Mr. Randall will not be satisfied till he gets his money, and you +will certainly be found out." + +"No, I shall not be found out. I'll go to New York and change off +the money this very night." + +"But only think of it, father. You will be a thief. You never will +have a moment's peace as long as you live." + +"I never did have, and I shall not be any worse off," said Mr. +Wilford coldly. "There comes your steamer. She hasn't got any pilot +on board; I know by the way she steers. You had better go and see to +her, for she is running right for the Goblins." + +Lawry glanced at the _Woodville_, as she appeared rounding a +point, two miles distant. + +"If you will go and find Mr. Randall, I will give you the +pocketbook, father," replied Lawry. + +"Well, I guess you are right, Lawry, and I'll do it." + +"He has gone up to the village," added Lawry, as he handed the money +to his father. + + + + +CHAPTER V + + +HASTE AND WASTE + + +Lawry, satisfied that his father had come to his senses, and would +restore the pocketbook to Mr. Randall, hastened into the boat, and +pulled toward the _Woodville_. He was afraid Mr. Sherwood had +been too venturesome in attempting to pilot the little steamer in +waters with which he was entirely unfamiliar; but he hoped for the +best, and rowed as hard as he could, in order to give him timely +warning of the perils which lay in the path of the beautiful craft. + +About half a mile above the landing at Port Rock there was a +dangerous ledge, called the Goblins, some of whose sharp points were +within a foot of the surface of the water when the lake was low. They +were some distance from the usual track of steamers, and there was no +buoy, or other mark, on them. The _Woodville_ was headed toward +the rocks, as the ferryman had said, and it was impossible for Lawry +to get within hailing distance of her before she reached them. He +pulled with all his strength, and had hoped to overhaul her in season +to avert a catastrophe. + +Occasionally, as he rowed, he looked behind him to observe the +course of the steamer. She was almost up to the Goblins, while he was +too far off to make himself heard in her wheel-house. He was appalled +at her danger, and the cold sweat stood on his brow, as he saw her +hastening to certain destruction. He could no longer hope to reach +her, and he ceased rowing. + +Standing up in his boat, he waved his hat, and made other signs to +warn the imprudent pilot of his danger. With one of the oars he tried +to signify to him that he must keep off; but no notice was taken of +his warning. On the forward deck of the little craft stood three +ladies, who, taking the boatman's energetic gestures for friendly +salutations, were waving their handkerchiefs to him. + +"Hard aport your helm!" shouted Lawry. + +Mr. Sherwood sounded the whistle, evidently taking the shout as a +cheer of congratulation at his safe arrival. + +"Keep off!" roared Lawry. + +Again the whistle sounded, and the ladies waved their handkerchiefs +more vigorously than before. The young pilot was in despair. The +_Woodville_ was going at full speed directly upon the rocks, +whose sharp points would grind her to powder if she struck upon them. + +"Hard aport!" repeated Lawry desperately. + +Once more the supposed cheer was answered by the whistle and the +waving of the ladies' handkerchiefs, and still the fairy craft dashed +on toward the rocks. + +"By gracious! she's on them, as sure as the world!" exclaimed Lawry +to himself, hardly able to breathe. + +He had hardly uttered the words before he heard the crash which +announced the doom of the _Woodville_. Her sharp bow slid upon +the ledge, and she suddenly stopped in her mad flight. + +Lawry bent on his oars again, horrified by the accident. He pulled +as he had never pulled before. A moment or two after the steamer +struck, he was startled by a succession of shrill shrieks from the +ladies, and he turned to see what had happened. The _Woodville_ +had filled, rolled off the rock, and sank in deep water, leaving her +passengers floating helplessly on the lake. The upper half of her +smokestack was all that remained in sight of the beautiful craft +which three minutes before had been a thing of beauty. + +The young pilot did not pause an instant to contemplate the scene of +destruction. He saw only the helpless persons struggling for life in +the water, and he renewed his labors with a vigor and skill which +soon brought him to the sufferers. Mr. Sherwood was supporting his +wife; but both of them were nearly exhausted. Lawry helped Bertha +into the boat, and told her husband to hold on at the rail. + +Ethan French, with his arm around the waist of Fanny Jane, was +holding on at the smokestack, where also the fireman of the boat was +supporting himself. + +"Where is Fanny?" gasped Mr. Sherwood. + +"I'm afraid she has gone down," replied Ethan French. "I saw her +just there a moment since." + +"I see her!" said Lawry, as he dived into the lake. + +Fanny, exhausted by her struggles, had sunk, and Lawry, with a +strong arm, bore her to the surface again; but she was too large and +heavy for him, and he could not support her. + +Before the arrival of the boat, Ethan was in the act of transferring +his helpless burden to the arms of the fireman, that he might go to +the assistance of Miss Fanny; and, as soon as Lawry appeared, he swam +out to help him. With the aid of the young engineer, the exhausted +lady was lifted into the boat. Fanny Jane was next taken in, but +there was no room for any more. + +Though Miss Fanny was in a worse condition than the other ladies, +she still had her senses; and none of the party was in danger. Mr. +Sherwood, Ethan, and the fireman were still in the water, holding on +at the rail of the boat. Lawry took the oars and pulled toward the +ferry-landing. + +"Thank God, we are all safe!" said Mr. Sherwood. + +"Some of us must have been drowned if Lawry had not come to our +assistance," added Miss Fanny. "I had given up, and was sinking to +the bottom. My senses were leaving me, when I felt his grasp on my +arm." + +"You have done bravely, Lawry," added Bertha. + +But the party did not feel much like talking. They were all grateful +to God, who had, through the agency of the young pilot, saved them +from their perilous situation. When the boat reached the landing- +place, the ladies were conducted to the cottage of John Wilford, +where everything was done by Mrs. Wilford to promote their comfort. +Lawry hastened up to Mr. Sherwood's house to procure the carriage, +which had fortunately just returned from Port Henry, and the party +were soon conveyed to their home. + +Dry clothing and a little rest soon restored Mr. Sherwood and the +ladies to their wonted spirits, and all of them wished to see their +brave deliverer. He was sent for, and presented himself to the ladies +in the drawing-room. Lawry, anxious to learn the condition of the +ladies after their cold bath, and their terrible fright, had followed +the carriage up to the house, and was telling the coachman the +particulars of the catastrophe when he was summoned to the presence +of the family. + +Never was a young man more earnestly and sincerely thanked for a +brave and noble deed; and Mr. Sherwood hinted that something more +substantial than thanks would be bestowed upon him. + +"Thank you, sir; I don't need anything more," replied Lawry, +blushing. "What will be done with the steamer, now?" he asked. + +"I have got enough of her," said Mr. Sherwood. "She has given me a +shock I shall never forget." + +"I don't think it was the fault of the boat, sir," suggested Lawry. +"I did all I could to have you keep off the rocks." + +"We all thought you were crazy, you shook so in your boat." + +"I was trying to warn you of your danger." + +"Was that what you meant? We thought you were cheering the +_Woodville_." + +"I saw you were going on the rocks, and I shouted and made signs for +you to keep off." + +"You certainly did all you could for us, both before and after the +accident," added Mr. Sherwood. "When did you get home, Lawry?" + +"To-day noon, just after you went to the house for me. I came right +up to see you; but I found you had gone." + +"Yes; I was so impatient to get that little steamer up here, that I +couldn't wait any longer." + +"And what a waste your haste has made!" laughed Mrs. Sherwood. +"There is our fine little steamer at the bottom of the lake." + +"She may lie there, for all me," added Mr. Sherwood. + +"I should not dare to put my foot on board of her again," said Miss +Fanny. + +"Nor I," chimed in Fanny Jane. + +"She isn't to blame, Mr. Sherwood," interposed Ethan French. "She +worked as though she had been alive." + +"No steamer could stand such a thump on the Goblins," added Lawry. + +"I don't blame the boat, of course," replied Mr. Sherwood; "but this +adventure has cured me of my love for steamboating. I don't want to +see another one." + +"Shall you let the _Woodville_ lie there?" asked Lawry. + +"She's a wreck now, stove in and ruined." + +"But she can be raised and repaired, and be as good as ever, or +nearly so," continued Lawry. + +"She is good for nothing to me now. I will give her to any one who +wants her." + +"There are plenty who will want her," said Lawry. + +"It will cost them a fortune to raise and repair her--almost as much +as she is worth, if she is to be used as a plaything. But I have come +to the conclusion that she is a dangerous machine for me, and I don't +want anything more to do with her. I came very near drowning my wife +and my friends with her; and this fills me with disgust for the boat +and for myself." + +"Just now you spoke of a reward for what I had the good luck to do +for you, Mr. Sherwood," continued Lawry. + +"I did; and you may be assured I shall never forget your noble +conduct," replied Mr. Sherwood warmly. + +"If you are going to give the _Woodville_ away, sir--" + +"Well, what?" asked Mr. Sherwood, as the young pilot paused. + +"I don't know as I ought to say what I was going to say." + +"Say it, Lawry, say it," added Mr. Sherwood kindly. + +"You said you would give the steamer to any one who wanted her," +continued Lawry, hesitating. + +"And you want her?" laughed the wealthy gentleman. + +"Yes, sir; that is what I was going to say." + +"Then she is yours, Lawry; but I might as well give you the fee +simple of a farm in Ethiopia. I don't feel as though I had given you +anything, my boy." + +"Indeed you have, sir! I feel as though you had made my fortune for +me; and I am very much obliged to you, sir." + +"I don't believe you have anything to thank me for, Lawry. As I +understand it, the _Woodville_ lies on the bottom of the lake, +with her bow stove in, and her hull as useless as though the parts +had never been put together. The engine and the iron and brass work +are worth a good deal of money, I know; but it will cost all they +will bring to raise them." + +"I don't think the steamer is ruined, sir. I hope you are not giving +her away believing that she is not worth anything," said Lawry. + +"I don't think she is worth much." + +"I think she stove a great hole in her bow, and that is all that +ails her. If we can get her on the ways, she can be made as good as +ever she was in a week." + +"Whatever her condition, Lawry, she is yours. I will give you a bill +of sale of her at once." + +Mr. Sherwood executed the paper in due form, affixed the stamp, and +gave the document to the young pilot. + +"I can hardly help weeping when I think of the beautiful little +steamer," said Mrs. Sherwood. "She was a perfect little fairy. How +elated we were as we moved up the lake in her! What fine times we +were promising ourselves on board of her! Now the dear little craft +lies on the bottom of the lake, broken and spoiled!" + +"I shouldn't dare to put my foot in her again," added Miss Fanny. "I +shudder when I think of her." + +"I shudder when I think of you, Fanny. You were sinking when Lawry +dived down after you," said Mr. Sherwood. + +"We ought all to be grateful to God for His mercy in saving us," +added Fanny Jane. + +"I trust we are grateful to Him; and I am sure we shall never forget +what Lawry has done to-day," responded the gentleman. + +"Never!" exclaimed Fanny warmly. + +"It was all my fault," continued Mr. Sherwood. "I am ashamed of +myself, and disgusted with the boat." + +"The boat is not to blame, sir," said Ethan French. "She behaved +like a lady." + +"I know she is not to blame. It was my silly impatience. I was in +such a hurry to try the steamer that I could not wait for a pilot. +Bertha, do you know what your father used to say to me when I was in +a hurry?" + +"I don't know; but I have heard him say that you were too impatient +for your own good." + +"'Haste and Waste' was his maxim, when I was not disposed to wait +the natural development of events. By neglecting this precept, I have +nearly sacrificed the lives of my best friends. Lawry, if you are +going to be a steamboat man, let me give you this maxim for your +government--'Haste and Waste.'" + + + + +CHAPTER VI + + +THE SHERIFF'S VISIT + + +Lawry put the bill of sale of the _Woodville_ in his pocket, +and felt like a steamboat proprietor; for the fact that his steamer +lay at the bottom of the lake did not seem to lessen her value. She +was in a safe place, and there was no danger of her "blowing up" or +drifting away from him. The haste of Mr. Sherwood had been "a +windfall" to him, though Lawry would not willingly have purchased the +steamer at the peril of so many precious lives. He was ready to +accept the moral and prudential deductions from the catastrophe, and +really believed that the rich man's maxim was a safe and valuable one. + +In his own limited experience, Lawry could recall many instances +where haste had made waste; but the foolish conduct of Mr. Sherwood +in attempting to navigate the _Woodville_ in water with which he +was totally unacquainted was the most impressive example of the worth +of the proverb, and he felt that the steamer, in his own possession, +would always mean "haste and waste" to him. + +"I have often heard my father speak of the folly of unconsidered +action and blind haste," said Bertha. "He lost a valued friend in the +steamship _Arctic_, which was sunk, and hundreds of lives +sacrificed, by running at full speed in a dense fog. In her case, +haste was not only a terrible waste of property, but of life." + +"That will be worth remembering, Lawry, when you are in command of a +steamer," added Mr. Sherwood. + +"I don't think I ever shall be in such a position," replied Lawry +modestly. + +"I am afraid you never will be on board of the _Woodville_." + +"I'm pretty sure she can be raised, though I may not have the means +to do it myself," continued Lawry. + +"You shall have all the means you want, my boy," replied Mr. +Sherwood. "We owe you a debt of gratitude which we shall never be +able to pay, and if you want anything, don't fail to call upon me." + +"If you need any help, Lawry, I'm with you," said Ethan French. + +"Thank you; I dare say I shall want all the help I can get," +answered Lawry, as he took his leave of the family. + +"I'm the owner of a steamboat!" thought he. "I'm a lucky fellow, and +I shall make my fortune in the _Woodville_. I can take out +parties, or I can run her on a day route from Burlington up the lake; +and there is towing enough to keep me busy all summer." + +Excited by the brightest visions of the future, he came in sight of +his father's cottage. It looked poorer and meaner than it had ever +looked before; and perhaps he thought it was hardly a fit abode for a +steamboat proprietor. When he saw the tall mast of the ferry-boat, +with the sail flapping idly in the wind, he was reminded of the +events which had occurred on board of her that afternoon. It was +mortifying to think that his father had even been tempted to steal; +but he was rejoiced to know that he had been induced to return the +six thousand dollars to the owner. + +Lawry had not seen his father since he left the landing-place to +board the _Woodville_. He was not at the house when the party +landed, after the catastrophe, and Lawry was glad he was not there, +for his absence assured the anxious son that he had gone in search of +Mr. Randall. Amid the exciting events which had followed the painful +discovery that his father intended to steal the six thousand dollars, +the young pilot had not thought of the matter, for his mind was +entirely relieved by Mr. Wilford's promise to give up the money. + +Lawry went into the house; his father had not yet returned, and his +mother asked him a hundred questions about the steamboat disaster, as +she set the table for supper. When the meal was ready, Mrs. Wilford +went to the door and blew a tin horn, which was intended to summon +the ferryman to his tea. + +"I think father has not got back yet," said Lawry. + +"Where has he gone?" + +"Up to the village, I believe," replied Lawry, who had determined +not to tell his mother of the great temptation to which his father +had almost yielded. + +"What has he gone up there for?" inquired Mrs. Wilford, who perhaps +saw in the anxious looks of her son that something had been concealed +from her. + +"He had a little business up there," answered the young pilot. "I +think we had better not wait for him, for he may not be back for some +time. I haven't shown you this paper, mother," he continued, wishing +to draw off her attention from his father, as he handed her the bill +of sale of the _Woodville_, and seated himself at the table. + +"What is it, Lawry?" + +"It is a bill of sale of the little steamer." + +"A what?" demanded Mrs. Wilford, as she paused with the teapot +suspended over a cup. + +"A bill of sale of the new steamer." + +"What, the one that was sunk?" + +"Yes; Mr. Sherwood has given her to me, just as she lies." + +"Humph! He might as well have given you a five-acre lot at the +bottom of the lake. What in the world can you do with a steamboat +smashed to pieces and sunk?" + +"I can raise her." + +"You may as well think of raising the Goblins on which she sank." + +"She can be raised, mother." + +"Perhaps she can, but you can't raise her." + +"I shall try, at any rate," replied Lawry confidently. + +The conversation was interrupted by the arrival of the ferryman. The +son cast an anxious glance at his father, as the latter took his +accustomed place at the table. A forced smile played about the lips +of Mr. Wilford; but Lawry interpreted it as an effort to overcome the +sense of humiliation his father must feel at having his dishonest +intentions discovered by his son. + +"Well, Lawry, I found him," said Mr. Wilford. + +"Did you? I'm very glad you did," replied the son. + +"Who?" asked Mrs. Wilford. + +"The bank man--the one that lost the money," replied the ferryman. + +"What did you want of him?" + +"We found his money after he had gone." + +"Did you? I'm so glad! And neither of you said a word to me about it." + +"I gave it back to him, and it's all right now." + +Unhappily, it was not all right; and the ferryman had scarcely +uttered the words before a knock was heard at the door. Without +awaiting the movements of Mrs. Wilford, who rose from the table to +open the door, the visitors entered. Mr. Wilford turned deadly pale, +for the first person that passed the threshold was the sheriff, whose +face was familiar to the ferryman. He was followed by Mr. Randall and +a constable. + +Lawry's heart sank within him when he saw who the visitors were. He +feared that his father, in spite of his statement to the contrary, +had been led to appropriate the six thousand dollars. It was a moment +of agony to him, and he would have given his right, title, and +interest in the sunken steamer for the assurance that his parent was +an honest man. + +"I come on rather unpleasant business, Mr. Wilford," the sheriff +began; "but I suppose I may as well speak out first as last." + +"Goodness! what can you want here!" exclaimed Mrs. Wilford. + +"Don't be alarmed, Mrs. Wilford," said the sheriff. "It may be all +right, for what I know. Mr. Randall, here, has lost a large sum of +money, and he thinks he has been robbed. I'm sure I hope it's all +right." + +"Why, husband!" ejaculated Mrs. Wilford; "didn't you just say--" + +"I didn't say anything," interposed the ferryman. + +Lawry was quite as pale as his father. He would rather have been +accused of the crime himself than had it charged upon his father; he +would rather have gone to prison himself than had him dragged away on +such an infamous accusation. The sheriff's encouraging words that it +might be all right, had no force or comfort for him. Lawry knew that +his father was guilty, and he was in despair. + +Mrs. Wilford had only heard that the money was lost, at first; and +then, from her husband, that it had been found and restored to the +owner. It was plain that he had told her a falsehood; that if he had +found the money, it was still in his possession. The case was too +plain to need much reflection. Mr. Randall and the sheriff knew less +than the ferryman, less than his wife and his son; but in the good +woman's estimation, it was far worse to be guilty than it was to be +detected. + +It would be difficult to fathom the motives which induced John +Wilford to tell his wife and son that the money had been restored to +the owner. Perhaps he had some plan by which he hoped to escape +detection and punishment for his crime; or it may be that he told the +falsehood to satisfy Lawry for the present moment. His calculations, +whatever they may have been, were exceedingly stupid and ill +digested. There was an utter want of skill and judgment in his +operations. He was not a strong-minded man, and his guilt seemed to +have paralyzed his weak faculties. His failure to be rich in the path +of dishonesty was even more signal than his honest but weak efforts +in a legitimate business. + +"What did he just say?" asked the sheriff, whose attention was +attracted by Mrs. Wilford's words, but more by the sharp manner of +her husband as he interrupted her. + +"What is your business with me?" demanded the ferryman of the +sheriff, earnestly. + +"What did he say?" repeated the sheriff. + +"If my husband has been doing anything wrong, I'm sorry for it," +replied Mrs. Wilford. + +"Mr. Randall thinks he has taken his money," added the sheriff. "If +you can tell me what your husband just said, it might throw some +light on the matter." + +"Oh, husband!" cried the poor wife, throwing herself into a chair +and weeping bitterly. + +"Mr. Randall knows I haven't taken his money," protested the +ferryman stoutly. + +"Don't cry, marm," said the sheriff, moved by the distress of the +afflicted wife. "Nothing has been proved yet, and for all I know, +your husband may be as honest as any man in Essex County." + +"I've always been an honest man, and I always expect to be," added +the culprit. "I haven't got the money. If any of you think I have, +why don't you do something about it--not try to frighten my wife?" + +Mr. Wilford was searched by the sheriff and constable, but the money +was not upon his person. The house was then carefully examined, but +with no different result. + +"Do you know anything about this business, Lawry?" said the sheriff, +when the search was completed. + +"I don't think he had anything to do with it," interposed Mr. +Randall. "The boy helped me look for the pocketbook, and behaved very +handsomely; but I didn't like the looks of his father." + +"What did your father say just before we came?" asked the sheriff. + +Lawry was stupefied with grief and shame. He knew not what to say, +and he dropped his head upon the table, and sobbed like a little child. + +"Things look bad, Mr. Wilford. Your wife and Lawry know more than +they are willing to tell," continued the officer. + +"You have scared them half out of their wits," replied the ferryman, +trying to smile. + +"It isn't likely we can find out anything here," said the constable. +"If he has got the money, he has hid it round the house somewhere." + +Adopting this suggestion, the officers, followed by Mr. Randall, +left the cottage to examine the vicinity. The constable was a shrewd +man, and for a country locality, quite distinguished as a thief- +taker. The shower early in the afternoon had left the ground in +condition to receive the tracks of every individual who had been near +the ferry. + +The sharp officer examined all the marks in the earth, and finally +followed the footsteps of John Wilford, through a corn-field, above +the cottage. + +Mrs. Wilford and Lawry wept as though their hearts would break, +while the ferryman, trembling with apprehension, paced the kitchen. + +"What are you crying for?" said he impatiently. + +"Oh, John!" sobbed his wife. + +"Nothing has been proved." + +"Yes, there has. You told me you had given the money to Mr. Randall." + +"You told me you would restore it to the owner, when I gave you the +pocketbook," added Lawry. + +"Lawry, if you say a word about it, you shall go to jail with me," +said Mr. Wilford angrily. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + + +"THE FERRYMAN'S CRIME" + + +Mr. Wilford, in spite of his faults and peculiarities, was a kind +father, and never before had been heard to utter such terrible words +as those which had just passed his lips. It was a consolation to +Lawry and his mother to believe that the words were only a threat +which was never intended to be executed, and only made to awe the +youth into silence. It was needless; for, right or wrong, the son +would have died rather than betray his father. + +John Wilford's operations in hiding the money were as transparent as +his efforts to quiet the suspicions of his family. The constable +followed his tracks in the soft ground of the corn-field till he came +to a stump in one corner of the lot. It was decayed and hollow, and +in one of the cavities the pocketbook was discovered. Mr. Randall +laughed for joy when it was handed up to him. Its contents were +undisturbed, and not a dollar of the money was missing. The party +walked back to the house, having been absent less than half an hour. +The ferryman was just coming out as they entered the gate. + +"I hope you are satisfied," said he, confident that the officers +would never think of crossing the corn-field in search of the lost +treasure. + +"I'm satisfied, Mr. Wilford," said the sheriff. + +"Don't you think it is a mean thing to come here and accuse me of +robbing one of my passengers?" continued the ferryman. + +"I don't think so." + +"In my opinion, Mr. Randall hasn't lost any money. I don't believe a +man would throw his coat down anywhere if there was six thousand +dollars in the pocket." + +"But the money was lost, whether you believe it or not," interposed +the bank director, irritated by this charge. + +"I've heard of such a thing as men losing money to cheat their +creditors, or something of that sort," added the ferryman. + +"Don't talk so, husband," said Mrs. Wilford, who, with Lawry, had +come out of the house when they heard the voice of the sheriff, +anxious to learn the result of the search. + +"Don't you think that's mean, to accuse a man of cheating his +creditors, after you have stolen his money?" retorted Mr. Randall. + +"What right have you to say I stole your money?" demanded Mr. +Wilford, with a show of intense indignation. + +"Because you did." + +"Can you prove it?" + +"I think I can." + +"No, you can't. I don't believe you lost any money. It's only a +trick to cheat the bank or your creditors." + +"We shall see." + +"Don't talk so, husband," repeated Mrs. Wilford. + +"Keep still, wife. When a man hasn't done anything, it's hard to be +charged with stealing six thousand dollars. They can't prove anything." + +"Yes, we can, Mr. Wilford," interposed the sheriff. "It becomes my +duty to arrest you, though I would rather have done it when your +family were not present." + +"Arrest me! What for?" exclaimed John Wilford. "You can't prove +anything." + +"Yes, we can," replied the sheriff. + +"What can you prove?" + +"I think it would be better for you not to talk so much," added the +sheriff, in a low tone. "Come with me, and I will do my duty as +quietly as possible." + +"Come with you! What for?" said Mr. Wilford, in a loud tone. "I +didn't steal the money." + +"It's a plain case. It's no use for you to deny it any longer." + +"But I didn't." + +"We have found the money, just where you put it." + +"Found--what!" stammered the guilty man. + +"Oh, husband!" groaned Mrs. Wilford. + +"Oh, father!" sobbed Lawry. + +"I'm sorry, Mrs. Wilford," said the kind-hearted officer; "but it's +all as plain as daylight. He took the money and hid it in a stump in +the corn-field, where we found it." + +"What shall we do?" cried Mrs. Wilford. + +"It's a bad business, marm, but I can't help it. I must do my duty." + +Mr. Wilford leaned on the garden-fence, with his gaze fixed upon the +ground. He could not look the loved ones in the face, after the crime +he had committed. The smaller children, who had been at play around +the house, were now gathered about the group, unable fully to +comprehend the terrible misfortune which had befallen them; though, +as they gazed on Lawry and their mother, they could not help +realizing that something very sad had happened. + +"I'm ready to go with you," said John Wilford to the sheriff, for +the scene was too affecting and humiliating. + +"Oh, husband, why did you do it?" exclaimed Mrs. Wilford, as she +grasped one of his arms, clinging to him like a true woman, in spite +of his shame and infamy. + +"I don't know why I did it. I was crazy. I wanted to be rich," +replied the unhappy man. + +"I wish you had given back the money, as you said you did." + +"I wish I had now." + +"Can nothing be done?" continued Mrs. Wilford, appealing to the +sheriff. "Must he go with you?" + +"He must; my duty is as plain as it can be." + +The poor woman suggested various expedients to avoid the fearful +consequences; she appealed to the bank director, and begged him not +to prosecute her husband. Mr. Randall, though he had been greatly +irritated by the cruel insinuations of the culprit, was not a +malignant man; and he was disposed to grant the petition of the +disconsolate wife. He had recovered his money, and had no malice +against the ferryman. But the sheriff declared that no such +arrangement could be tolerated. The matter had been placed in his +hands, and, as a sworn officer of the law, he should be obliged to +arrest the offender. + +In vain Mrs. Wilford pleaded for her husband; in vain Lawry pleaded +for his father; the sheriff, kind and considerate as he had shown +himself to be, was inexorable in the discharge of his duty. There was +no alternative; and John Wilford must go to jail. The poor wife, when +she found that her tears and her pleadings were unavailing, submitted +to the stern necessity. She insisted that her husband should be +allowed to change his dress, which the sheriff readily granted; and +in a short time the culprit appeared in his best clothes. It was a +sad parting between him and his family, and even the ferryman wept as +he passed out from beneath his humble roof, not again to come beneath +its friendly shelter for many, many weary months. + +Mrs. Wilford and Lawry were stunned by the heavy blow. The light of +earthly joys seemed suddenly to have gone out, and left them in the +gloom and woe of disgrace. There was nothing to be said at such a +time, and they sobbed in silence, until the sound of the ferry-horn +roused Lawry from his lethargy of grief. Some one wished to cross the +lake, and had given the usual signal with the tin horn, placed on a +post for the purpose, at the side of the road. + +"There is no ferryman here now," said Mrs. Wilford gloomily. + +"I will go, mother," replied Lawry. + +"It may be many a day before your father comes back," added Mrs. +Wilford, as she wiped away her tears. "It is a great deal worse than +a funeral." + +"We can't help it, mother, and I suppose we must make the best of it." + +"I suppose we must; but I don't know what we are going to do." + +"We shall do well enough, mother. I will attend to the ferry; but +poor father--" + +Lawry, finding he could not speak without a fresh flow of tears, +hastened out of the house. There were two wagons waiting for him; and +when they were embarked in the boat, he pushed off, and trimmed the +sail for the gentle breeze that was blowing up the lake. The +passengers asked for his father; but Lawry could only tell them that +he had gone away: the truth was too painful for him to reveal. He +returned to his desolate home when he had ferried the wagons over the +lake. There was nothing but misery in that humble abode, and but +little sleep for those who were old enough to comprehend the sadness +and shame of their situation. + +Before morning the news of John Wilford's crime had been circulated +through the village of Port Rock and its vicinity. Some knew that the +ferryman was lazy and thriftless, and wondered he had not robbed +somebody before. Others had always regarded him as a person of no +sagacity or forethought, but did not think he would steal. Many +pitied his family, and some said that Lawry was "as smart as two of +his father," and that his mother and the children would be well +provided for. + +The intelligence went to the mansion of Mr. Sherwood, and there it +touched the hearts of true friends. Though none of them knew much +about the ferryman and his family, yet for Lawry's sake they were +deeply interested in them. + +After breakfast Mr. Sherwood went down to the ferry-house; and the +young pilot, with many tears and sobs, told him the whole of the sad +story of his father's crime. The rich man was full of sympathy, but +nothing could be done. He volunteered to be the culprit's bail, and +to provide him with the best counsel in the State. But John Wilford +was guilty, and nothing could wipe out this terrible truth. + +Mr. Sherwood did all he had promised to do; but the ferryman, after +he had been examined and fully committed for trial, declined to +furnish bail, declaring that he did not wish to be seen at Port Rock +again. At the next session of the court, two months after his +committal, he pleaded guilty of the robbery and was sentenced to +three years' imprisonment in the penitentiary at Sing Sing. + +After the sentence the prisoner was permitted to see his family for +the last time for many months. It was a sad and touching interview; +but from it Lawry and his mother derived much consolation. John +Wilford was penitent; he was truly sorry for what he had done, and +declared that, when he had served out his time, he would be a better +man than he had ever been before. It was comforting to the mother and +son to know that the wanderer was not hardened and debased by his +crime and the exposure; and they returned to their home submissive to +their lot, sad and dreary as it was. + +From the day his father had been arrested, Lawry felt that the care +of the family devolved upon him. His older brother was away from +home, and was indolent and dissipated. The ferry and the little farm +must be cared for, as from them came the entire support of his mother +and his brothers and sisters. Though he was oppressed by the burden +of sorrow which his father's crime cast upon him, he did not yield to +despair. + +Half a mile below the ferry-landing he could see the smokestack of +the _Woodville_ projecting above the water. She was his property; +and if she had seemed to be a prize to him before the calamity had +fallen upon his father's household, she was doubly so now. As he +crossed the ferry, he gazed up at the Goblins, with less of exultation, +but more of hope, than before. In his opinion, as he expressed it to his +mother, there was "money in her." Mrs. Wilford was in great tribulation +lest the man who now held the mortgage upon the little farm should +insist upon being paid, as there was now no hope that, the debtor, in +prison, would be able to do anything. Lawry told her that the steamboat +would enable them to pay all claims upon his father. + +Mrs. Wilford had but little confidence in her son's schemes, but she +did not discourage them; and Lawry racked his brain for expedients to +accomplish the task he had imposed upon himself. He had no money, and +he was too proud to ask Mr. Sherwood for the assistance which that +gentleman would so gladly have rendered. Ethan French came down to +see him every day, and the prairie boy was so kind and considerate +that they soon became fast friends. + +"When are you going to work on the steamer, Lawry?" asked Ethan. "I +suppose you don't feel much like meddling with her yet." + +"I don't; but she ought to be raised as soon as possible," replied +Lawry. "I am going to work upon her right off. I went down to see how +she lies this morning, and I have got my plans all laid." + +"Have you?" + +"I have." + +"Do you think you can get her up?" + +"I know I can." + +"Well, how are you going to do it?" inquired Ethan. + +"Do you know Mr. Nelson, over at Pointville? I suppose you don't. +Well, he is a great oil man; he has got some oil-wells down on the +St. Johns River. He is getting together all the barrels and hogsheads +he can find, to send down to his works. He has as many as a hundred +at his place in Pointville. I'm going to borrow a lot of these casks, +if I can, and raise the _Woodville_ with them." + +"How are you going to manage with them?" asked Ethan, deeply +interested in the plan. + +"Sink them round the boat, and fasten them to her hull, till there +is enough to float her." + +"But how are you going to sink them?" + +"There's some one to go over the ferry," replied Lawry, as a blast +of the tin horn was heard. "If you will go over with me, I will tell +you all about it, and we will call and see Mr. Nelson while we are at +Pointville." + +Ethan embarked with his friend, and when the boat started the +subject was resumed. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + + +RAISING THE "WOODVILLE" + + +Ethan French, during the two years he had been a resident of the +State of New York, had been an earnest and diligent student. His mind +was even more improved than his manners. His taste for mechanics had +prompted him to study the various subjects included in this science, +and as he stood by his companion, the pilot, he talked quite +learnedly about the specific gravity of wood and iron, about +displacement, buoyancy, and similar topics. + +"The hull of the steamer--that is, the woodwork--will not float +itself, but it will sustain considerable additional weight," said he. + +"Yes, I understand all that," replied Lawry. "If there had been no +iron in the _Woodville_ she would not have gone down." + +"The iron in her engines is seven or eight times as heavy as the +same bulk of water. Its weight carried the hull down with it." + +"Then we must put down empty casks enough to float the engine," +added Lawry. + +"No; the woodwork of the hull will hold up a portion of the weight +of the engine, and we must furnish buoyancy enough to sustain the +rest of it." + +"It will not take a great many casks, then--will it?" + +"Not a great many; but the difficulty is to get them down to the +bottom, and fasten them to the hull." + +"I can do that," replied Lawry confidently. + +Ethan approved the method, and promised to ascertain what weight +each of the casks would sustain in the water, when he had obtained +their dimensions. The ferry-boat reached the other side of the lake, +and the young men went to see Mr. Nelson, the owner of the casks. He +did not wish to use the hogsheads till October, and was willing they +should be employed for the purpose indicated, if Lawry would give him +security for their safe return. + +"Mr. Sherwood will do that for you, Lawry," said Ethan. + +"That's a good name," added the oil speculator. "If he will +guarantee the safe return of the casks, that is all I ask. I wonder +if Mr. Sherwood don't want some shares in the Meteor Oil Company." + +"I don't know; I'll ask him," replied Ethan. + +"If you will, I won't charge you anything for the use of the casks," +added Mr. Nelson. + +Mr. Sherwood was consulted in the evening. He was very willing to +furnish the required security for the use of the oil-casks, but he +did not seem to have the same confidence in the "Meteor" which Mr. +Nelson exhibited, though he promised to consider the matter. + +It required three days to complete the preparations for raising the +_Woodville_. All the ropes and rigging in the neighborhood, +including many hay-ropes and clothes-lines, had been collected; the +oil-casks had been conveyed over the lake in the ferry-boat, and +secured within a "boom" composed of four long timbers, lashed +together at the ends, forming a square, which was moored close to the +Goblins; and a raft had been built, upon which the operations were to +be conducted. + +Mr. Sherwood had offered to furnish as many men as could be employed +to assist in the work; but the young engineers had so arranged their +plans that no help was needed. At sunrise in the morning the boys ran +down to the Goblins in the ferry-boat, which was necessary for the +transportation of sundry heavy articles. The raft was already there, +moored in the proper place for commencing the labors of the day. The +engineers were deeply interested in the operations before them, for +there was a difficult problem to be solved, which required all their +skill and ingenuity; and Lawry felt that his future prosperity and +happiness depended upon the success of the undertaking. + +Their plans and their machinery were yet to be tried, and there was +a degree of excitement attending the execution of the project which +was as agreeable as it was stimulating to their enthusiastic natures. +People had laughed at the idea of two boys raising a steamer burdened +with heavy machinery, and both of them felt that their reputations +were at stake. + +"Now, Lawry, we shall soon find out what we can do," said Ethan, as +they made fast the ferry-boat to the raft. + +"I know what we can do," replied the young pilot confidently. "If +the casks will float her, she shall come to the top of the water +before to-morrow night. Now, Ethan, the first thing is to get a rope +under her." + +"That's easy enough." + +"It's all easy enough, if you only believe in yourself." + +A rope of six fathoms in length was selected from the mass of +rigging on the raft, and a stone just heavy enough to sink the line +attached to the middle of it. Lawry took it in the wherry, sculled to +the stern of the sunken steamer, and dropped it into the water. He +then carried one end to Ethan, on the raft, while he returned with +the other in his boat, which he moored to the opposite side of the +_Woodville_. The middle of the rope was kept on the bottom of +the lake by the stone, while the two ends were carried forward by the +boys until the bight was drawn under the keel of the steamer, as far +as her position on the rocks would permit it to go. Lawry's end was +made fast around the smokestack, and Ethan's to the raft. + +One of the hogsheads was next floated out of the boom enclosure, and +hauled upon the raft, Lawry adjusted the hogshead slings to the cask. +In the middle of the raft an aperture had been left, large enough for +a hogshead to pass through, over which a small derrick had been +built. A stone post, about the length of the casks, and just heavy +enough to sink one of them, had been brought down on the bateau. This +"sinker," as the young engineers called it, had been weighed, and it +exactly conformed to the requirement of Ethan's figures; it was just +sufficient to overcome the flotage power of the cask. + +"Now, keep cool, Ethan, and we shall find out whether your figures +are correct, or not," said Lawry. + +"Figures won't lie," replied Ethan; "I know they are correct, and +that hogshead will go to the bottom as quick as though it were made +of lead." + +"We shall soon see," added Lawry, as he placed a couple of skids +across the "well." "Now we must place the sinker on those skids." + +By the aid of the derrick, which was provided with a rude windlass, +constructed by Ethan, the stone post was hoisted up, and then dropped +down on the skids. The sinker had been rigged with slings, and the +hogshead was attached to it by a contrivance of Lawry, upon which the +success of the operation wholly depended, and which it will be very +difficult to describe with words. The sinker would carry the cask to +the bottom of the lake, where its buoyancy was to assist in bringing +the steamer to the surface of the water; but it was necessary, after +the cask had been sunk and fastened to the hull, to detach it from +the sinker; and this had been a problem of no little difficulty to +Lawry, who managed the nautical part of the enterprise. + +Fastened to the slings on the sinker was a rope ten fathoms in +length. A loop was formed in this line, close to the sinker, and the +bight passed through the slings on the hogshead. The loop was then +laid over the two ropes, one of which was fast to the sinker, and the +other was the unattached end of the line, and "toggled" on with a +marline-spike. If the young reader does not quite understand the +process, let him take a string, with one end fastened to a flatiron; +double it, and pass the loop--which sailors call a _bight_-- +upward between the thumb and forefinger; bring the loop down to meet +the two parts of the string on the palm of the hand; then take the +two lines into the loop, and put a pencil under the two parts drawn +through the loop. The flatiron will correspond to the stone sinker, +and the thumb to the slings on the hogshead. Lift up the flatiron, so +that the weight will bear on the thumb; then pull out the pencil, and +the iron will drop. + +The marlinespike was thoroughly greased, and a small line attached +to the head of it, so that it could be easily drawn out of the loop, +when the cask had been secured to the hull of the steamer. + +"There, we are all right now," said Lawry, after he had tried the +marlinespike several times to satisfy himself that it could be easily +drawn from its place. "Now we will make fast the rope which runs +under the keel to the hogshead." + +"Here it is," added Ethan. + +"We want to have the cask under the guard of the steamer when we get +it down." + +"That will be easy enough." + +"Perhaps it will; but I'm afraid the rope will bind on the keel." + +"If it does, we must take the raft round to the other side of the +_Woodville_, and pass it round the windlass; we can haul it up +in that way." + +"That will take too much time. I think you and I both will be strong +enough to haul the cask into place." + +"Now, give us a turn at the windlass, Ethan," said Lawry, when he +was ready. + +"Aye, aye," replied Ethan, as he turned the crank, and raised the +sinker and the cask, so that the skids which supported them could be +removed. + +"Lower away!" added Lawry, highly excited; and the sinker began to +descend into the water, carrying with it the hogshead. "That works +first-rate. Now hold on till I get hold of the other end of the +guide-rope." + +Lawry jumped into the wherry, and sculled round to the other side of +the sunken steamer, where he detached the end of the line passing +under the keel from the smoke-stack, where it had been secured. He +hauled on the rope till he got it clear of the stone with which it +had been sunk. + +"Lower away!" shouted Lawry. + +"Lower, it is," answered Ethan. + +"Slowly," added the pilot, as he hauled in the rope. + +"It is going to the right place. I can see it in the water." + +"Hold on!" cried Lawry; and the wherry was so unsteady beneath him +that it was with great difficulty he "kept what he had got" on the +rope. + +In order to overcome this disadvantage he passed the rope around the +smokestack. + +"I have it now!" shouted he. "This gives me a splendid purchase;" +and he hauled in the rope, bringing the hogshead chock up to the hull +of the sunken craft. + +"We are growing wiser every moment," laughed Ethan. + +"So we are. Lower away, slowly. That's it," said Lawry. "Lower away." + +"The sinker is on the bottom," replied Ethan. + +"All right; can you see the hogshead?" + +"Yes; you have hauled it completely under the guard. The water is as +clear as crystal," answered Ethan. + +"Hold on a moment till I make fast this line!" + +Thus far the experiment had been entirely successful, and Lawry's +bosom bounded with emotion. The plan for raising the _Woodville_ +was his own, though he had been greatly assisted by Ethan, who had +designed and constructed the derrick and windlass, thus diminishing +the labor of the enterprise. The young pilot felt like a conqueror +when he had placed the first cask in position. + +Sculling the wherry back to the raft, he pulled the string attached +to the toggle, and drew it out of the noose. + +"Hoist away," said he. + +"Hoist, it is," replied Ethan, as he took hold with him. + +"All right!" shouted the young nautical engineer. "I feel like +giving three cheers," he added. + +"So do I; and we'll do it, when we get the sinker on the raft." + +The stone post came up "in good order and condition," and the skids +were placed under it, to keep it in position for the sinking of the +second hogshead. The three cheers were given with a will, and they +came from the hearts of the boys. They had labored patiently for +three days in gathering the material and constructing the machinery +for the raising of the steamer, and their first success was a real joy. + +"Breakfast-time," said Lawry, as the horn sounded from the ferry-house. + +"I don't want any breakfast," answered Ethan. "I don't feel as +though we could spare the time for eating." + +"Haste and waste," added Lawry, laughing. "We have got a great deal +of hard work to do, and we must keep our strength. For my part, I'm +hungry." + +"I'm not; and I'm so interested in this job that I don't like to +leave. We ought to have brought our breakfast down with us." + +"I don't think we shall make anything by driving the work too hard. +We must keep cool, and do it well. Besides, I'm liable to be called +off a dozen times a day." + +"What for?" + +"To take people over the ferry." + +"Oh, bother!" exclaimed Ethan impatiently. "Have we got to leave the +work to paddle everybody that comes along over the lake?" + +"We have," said Lawry. "I must look out for the family now." + +There was a good wind, and the boys returned to the ferry-house in +the bateau. Before they had finished their breakfast, the ferry-horn +sounded, and Lawry was obliged to take a team over to Pointville +before the work could be resumed. Ethan was rather impatient under +this delay; but he was too kind-hearted to make any unpleasant remark +which would remind his friend of his father's crime. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + + +BEN WILFORD'S PLAN + + +While Lawry was ferrying the team over the lake, Ethan occupied +himself in making a long-handled boat-hook, which might be useful in +the operation of raising the steamer. While he was thus engaged, a +young man, about eighteen years of age, coarsely dressed, and with a +very red face, came down the road and stopped at the place where he +was at work. + +"What you making?" asked the young man. + +"A boat-hook," replied Ethan. + +"Do you belong here?" continued the stranger nodding his head toward +the ferry-house. + +"No; I'm only helping Lawry Wilford for a few days." + +"The old man's got into hot water, they say." + +"Yes." + +"Well, he was always preaching to me about doing the right thing; +and now he's fallen off the horse-block himself," added the young +man, with a slight chuckle. + +"It's bad for Mr. Wilford and his family." + +"That's so. Where's Lawry now?" + +"He has gone over with the ferry-boat." + +"I reckon Lawry has to run the machine now." + +"He has to run the ferry-boat." + +"Well, he knows how. Lawry's smart--he is. I suppose you don't know +me." + +"I do not." + +"I'm Lawry's brother; and that makes it that Lawry is my brother." + +"Then you are Benjamin Wilford?" + +"That's my name; but Ben Wilford sounds a good deal more natural to +me. I heard the old man had got into trouble, and I came up to see +about it, though I'm out of a job just now, and couldn't do anything +better. I hear that Lawry owns a steamboat, and I didn't know but +he'd want some help. Where is she?" + +"She's on the bottom, out there by the Goblins," answered Ethan, +pointing to the raft. "We are at work raising her." + +"Can you get her up, do you think?" + +"Yes; I have no doubt we shall have her at the top of the water by +to-morrow night." + +"I've come just in time, then," added the young man. "I think I know +something about a steamboat." + +Ethan did not like the looks of Lawry's brother. His bloated face +was against him, and the young engineer, without knowing anything +more about him than his swaggering manner and red face revealed, +wished he had stayed away a few days longer. + +"I'll go in and see the old woman, and get some breakfast; then I'll +go up with you and see what you are doing," said Ben Wilford. + +"We are going up as soon as Lawry comes back," answered Ethan, +pointing to the ferry-boat. + +The dissolute young man, who had just been discharged from his +situation as a deck-hand on one of the steamers, for intemperance and +neglect of duty, sauntered into the house; and the fresh breeze soon +brought the impatient Lawry to the shore. + +"Lawry, we have got some help," said Ethan. + +"Who?" + +"Your brother has just come." + +"Ben?" asked the young lad, a troubled expression gathering on his +face. + +"Yes; he has gone into the house to get his breakfast." + +"I'll go in and see him," added Lawry, who did not seem to be at all +pleased with the news of his brother's arrival. + +It is a sad thing for a brother to behave so badly that he cannot be +welcome at his own home. + +Mrs. Wilford shook hands with Benjamin as he entered. She was glad +to see him, and her mother's heart went out toward him; but she was +filled with doubts and fears. The young man only laughed while his +mother wept at the story of the father's crime. He sat down to his +breakfast, and declared that he had come home to take care of the +family. + +"I hope you are able to take care of yourself, Benjamin," replied +his mother, as she glanced at his bloated face. + +"I always did that, mother. The old man and I couldn't agree very +well, but I reckon you and I can get along together. Lawry, how are +you?" continued the returned wanderer, as his brother entered the room. + +"Very well; how are you, Ben?" answered Lawry, as he shook hands +with his brother. + +"First-rate. How about the steamboat, Lawry?" + +"She's all right; or, she will be, when we get her up." + +"Do you think you can raise her?" + +"I know we can." + +"Well, I heard all about her up in the village, and I have come home +to help you. I know all about steamboats, you know." + +"What did you leave your place for?" + +"The captain and I couldn't agree. I'm going to run an opposition +line." + +"Are you?" + +"I am; bet your life I am." + +"Where will you get your boats?" + +"Don't want but one; and they say your boat is the finest little +craft that ever floated on the lake." + +"She is, without a doubt." + +"Well, we can take some money out of the captain's pocket, at any +rate. We'll make a fortune out of your boat, Lawry, if we get her up." + +"I shall get her up by tomorrow night." + +"I'll help you, Lawry." + +"We don't need any help at present. I must go now, for Ethan is +waiting for me." + +"Who's Ethan?" + +"Ethan French; he is the engineer of the steamer," answered the +young pilot, moving toward the door. + +"Hold on a minute, Lawry, and I'll be ready to go with you. I can +show you how to do the business." + +"I know now." + +"You're smart, Lawry; but you're not so old as I am." + +"I'm old enough to do this job." + +"You haven't seen so much of steamboats as I have." + +"Now, Benjamin, you mustn't interfere with Lawry's work," interposed +Mrs. Wilford. "He knows what he is about." + +"I'm not going to interfere with him; I'm only going to help him." + +"If you really want to help me, I'll tell you what you can do," said +Lawry. + +"What's that?" + +"You can run the ferry." + +"Run the ferry!" exclaimed Ben. "Why, I know more about steamboats +than you and your engineer put together. Do you suppose I'm going to +run a ferry-boat when there's a job of this sort on hand?" + +"You can help more in this way than in any other," persisted Lawry. + +"Run a ferry-boat!" sneered Ben; "that isn't my style." + +"We don't need any help on the steamer." + +"Yes, you do. At any rate, I'll go down and see what you are about." + +"What's that rock for?" he demanded, pointing to the sinker which +lay on the skids. + +"To sink the casks with," replied Ethan; and he explained the +process by which the hogsheads were attached to the hull of the +_Woodville_. + +"Well, Lawry, if you had been studying seven years to get up the +stupidest thing that could be thought of, you could not have got up a +more ridiculous idea than this," said Ben, laughing contemptuously. + +"How would you raise her?" asked Lawry quietly. + +"Well, I wouldn't do it in this way, I can tell you. If you want me +to take this job in hand for you, I'll do it. You might as well try +to raise the Goblins as the steamer in this way." + +"It is very easy to condemn the method," added Ethan indignantly; +"but it isn't so easy to find a better one." + +"You say you don't want any help from me," said Ben. + +"If you can tell me any better way, I should like to hear it," +replied Lawry. + +"If you want me to raise your steamer, say the word." + +"Let me know how you intend to do it, first," persisted Lawry. "It's +easier to talk than it is to do." + +"You're smart, Lawry; but you can't raise that steamer with those +casks in seven years." + +"I'll have her on the top of the water by to-morrow night," said the +young pilot. + +"No, you won't." + +"You see! But we must go to work, Ethan." + +"That's just my idea," said the engineer. + +"Then you don't want me to do the job?" added Ben. + +"No, I think not," replied Lawry, rather coldly. + +"I think my way is the best." + +"Perhaps it is; but I don't know what your way is." + +"I'll tell you, Lawry, for I don't like to have you waste your time +and strength doing nothing; besides, we want the steamer as soon as +we can get her, or the season will be over." + +"What do you mean by we, Ben?" asked Lawry quietly. + +"Why, you and me, of course. I know something about steamers, and +perhaps I should be willing to go captain of your boat, if you ever +get her into working order." + +"Perhaps you would," answered Lawry. + +"Of course you mean to use the boat for the benefit of the family, +now the old man is jugged and can't do anything more for them." + +"To be sure I do." + +"I'm willing to do my part. You can be the pilot, and the other +fellow can be the engineer." + +"And we can both of us have the privilege of obeying your orders," +laughed Lawry. + +"Well, I shouldn't be likely to interfere with you; your place would +be in the wheel-house." + +"And yours in the cabin, Captain Wilford. I can't stop to talk about +this now. There comes Ethan with the cask." + +"You might as well stop this foolish work first as last," sneered +the would-be captain of the _Woodville_. "I was going to tell +you how to raise her." + +"Go on; we'll hear you, and work at the same time," said Ethan. + +"I should get two of those canal-boats, having about eight feet +depth of hold," continued Ben. + +"Where would you get them?" demanded Lawry. + +"Get them? Hire them, of course. You can get plenty of them at Port +Henry." + +"Have you any money in your pocket?" + +"They wouldn't cost more than a hundred dollars." + +"I haven't got even fifty dollars," said Lawry. + +"They would trust you on the security of your steamer." + +"I don't want to be trusted for any such purpose. What would you do +with your canal-boats when you had got them?" asked Lawry. + +"I would moor one on each side of the steamer, put a couple of +timbers across them, pass a chain under the bow and stern of the +sunken hull, and make fast to the timbers. Then I would let the water +into the canal-boats, and sink them down to the rails. When I got +them down as deep as I could, I would tighten the chains, till they +bore taut on the timbers. Do you understand it, Lawry?" + +"Certainly; I know all about the plan," replied the young pilot, +with a smile. + +"I don't believe you do," said Ben incredulously. "What would you do +next?" + +"Pump the water out of the two canal-boats, which would take about +two days' time." + +"You could rig extra pumps." + +"Three of us, with three pumps, couldn't pump them out in two days." + +"Well, the job is done when you have pumped them out." + +"When you get the water out of the boats, you will have raised the +steamer but three or four feet at most." + +"Six feet, at least, for the canal-boats will come up where they +were before." + +"No; they won't; the weight of the steamer will press them down two +or three feet." + +An excited discussion followed upon this question; but Lawry and +Ethan carried their point. It was plain that the buoyant powers of +the two boats, as the water was pumped but of them, would raise the +steamer three or four feet, leaving her suspended half-way between +the surface and the bottom of the lake. Lawry wanted the aspirant for +the captaincy of the _Woodville_ to tell him what he would do +next, for she could not be repaired while she was under water; but +Ben was "nonplussed" and unable to answer. + +"I can finish that job for you," said Lawry. + +"She could be moored on the ways, and then hauled up." + +"Perhaps she might, but I should rather put her on the ways from the +top of the water. When I got her three feet from the bottom, I should +move her toward the shore till she grounded." + +"What then?" asked Ben. + +"I should sink the canal-boats again, pump them out once more, and +thus raise her three feet more; but it would take about three days +every time we lifted her three feet. Ben, I think we could get her to +the top of the water in about a fortnight by your plan. By mine, I +shall have her up by to-morrow night." + +"I'll bet you won't; or in a month, either. You know too much, +Lawry," said Ben. + +"I don't bet; but you shall see her at the ferry-landing by seven +to-morrow evening if you are there." + +The older brother, finding himself only a cipher on the raft, had +consented to run the ferry in the afternoon, when the horn sounded; +and the pilot and engineer were thus enabled to continue their labor +without interruption. + + + + +CHAPTER X + + +HARD AT WORK + + +When Lawry and Ethan returned to the Goblins in the afternoon, they +were delighted to find that the casks, all of which had been placed +under the guards abaft the wheel, had actually produced an effect +upon the steamer. The smokestack stood up more perpendicularly, +indicating that the stern had been lifted from the bottom. Ethan was +sure that the casks would bring the _Woodville_ to the surface; +but a very serious difficulty now presented itself. + +About two-thirds of the length of the steamer's keel rested on a +flat rock, whose surface was inclined downward toward the body of the +lake, leaving the third next to the stern unsupported, under which +the ropes had been easily drawn to retain the casks in their places. +Of course it was impossible to draw any lines under the forward part +of the keel, which rested on the flat rock, and it was necessary to +devise some means for securing the casks to this portion of the hull. + +"I have it," said Lawry. + +"What is it?" + +"We must sink more casks under the stern." + +"But that will bring one end up, and leave the other on the rock." + +"That isn't what I mean. If we put, say, two more hogsheads under +the stern, they will raise it so we can get the ropes under the +forward part of the hull." + +"I understand; you are right, Lawry," replied Ethan. + +When they returned to the ferry-house, they found Mr. Sherwood and +the ladies there, who had come down to ascertain what progress had +been made in the work. Ben Wilford had freely expressed his opinion +that the enterprise would end in failure. + +"Those boys know too much; that's all the trouble," said Ben. + +"I was in hopes they would succeed in their undertaking," added Mr. +Sherwood. + +"So was I, sir; but there's no chance of their doing anything. I +know something about steamboats, for I've been at work on them for +three years." + +"And you are quite sure they will fail?" asked Mr. Sherwood. + +"Just as sure as I am of anything in this world. I told them what +the trouble would be; but they know so much they won't hear me. I +told them how it ought to be done." + +"Here they come; they can speak for themselves," said Mr. Sherwood. +"How do you get along, Lawry?" + +"First-rate, sir." + +"Indeed! Your brother thinks you are going to make a failure of the +job." + +"Perhaps we are, sir; but we don't believe it yet--do we, Ethan?" + +"We don't." + +"Lawry, wouldn't you be willing to sell out your interest in the +_Woodville_ at a small figure?" laughed Mr. Sherwood. + +"No, sir!" + +"Your brother, who seems to be a person of some experience in such +matters, thinks you will not be able to raise the steamer. If that is +likely to be the case, I don't want you to waste your time and +strength for nothing. I should be glad to employ some men to raise +the _Woodville_ for you." + +"Thank you, sir. You are very kind," replied Lawry. + +"If you like, we will ride down to Port Henry to-night, and employ a +man to do the job." + +"I think we shall succeed, sir." + +"What's the use of talking, Lawry?" interposed Ben. "You'll not get +her up in seven years." + +"Don't you think you had better give it up, Lawry?" asked Mr. +Sherwood. + +"Not yet, sir." + +"What do you think, Lawry? Hadn't you better let me employ a man to +do the work?" + +"Ethan and I can do it very well, sir." + +"Perhaps you can; but we wish to have the steamer in working order +as soon as possible, and we may hasten the joy by employing men of +experience to do it." + +"Haste and waste," said Lawry, laughing. "Mr. Sherwood, I am +satisfied we can raise the _Woodville_. We don't want any help. +If we don't get her up by to-morrow night, I will let some one else +take hold; but it will cost a heap of money." + +"It shall not cost you anything, Lawry. I haven't half paid the debt +of gratitude I owe you." + +"Oh, never mind that, sir! I only want one more day." + +"You are very confident, my boy, and I hope you will succeed," added +Mr. Sherwood, as he turned to depart. + +"Take him up, Lawry," said Ben. "Let him raise her. He will do it at +his own expense, and perhaps he will give me the job." + +"Not to-night." + +"You are a fool, Lawry!" exclaimed Ben. + +"Perhaps I am. Time will tell." + +"He offered to pay for raising her, and you wouldn't let him do it!" + +"He has made me a present of the steamer as she lies; and I don't +ask anything more of him." + +"Take all you can get, Lawry. That's the only way to get along in +this world." + +Ethan slept with his fellow workman at the cottage that night, and +at daylight in the morning they were on their way to the Goblins. At +breakfast-time two casks had been sunk under the bow of the steamer, +for they had become so familiar with the work that it was carried on +with greater rapidity than at the first. + +At breakfast they were laughed at again by Ben Wilford; but they +chose to keep still, made no replies, and gave no information in +regard to the progress of the work. At the earnest request of Lawry, +seconded by Mrs. Wilford, Ben consented to run the ferry that day, +and the young engineers took their dinners with them when they went +down to the Goblins. They were full of hope, and confidently expected +to return to the landing at night with the _Woodville_. + +At eleven o'clock four more hogsheads had been placed under the +guards. The steamer swayed a little in the water; the stern had risen +about two feet; and it was evident that she was on the point of +floating. The boys were intensely excited at the bright prospect +before them. + +"Lawry, the work is nearly done," said Ethan. + +"That's so; I think a couple of those barrels will finish it," +answered the young pilot. "I see two anchors at her bow." + +"Yes, there are two anchors and about forty fathoms of small chain- +cable on board of her." + +"I see them; and I think we had better fish them up." + +"That's a good idea." + +With the long boat-hook which Ethan had made, the cables were hauled +up and coiled away on the raft, which had been placed over the bow of +the sunken vessel. When the chains, which were bent onto the anchors, +were hauled taut, the sinker rope, still in the block, and wound on +the windlass of the derrick, was made fast to one of them, and the +anchor drawn up. The operation was then repeated on the other anchor. + +"Hurrah! hurrah!" shouted Lawry, as they began to turn the windlass. +"She's coming up." + +"Hurrah!" repeated Ethan, and the faces of both boys glowed with +excited joy, as the sunken vessel followed the anchor up to the +surface of the water. + +It was necessary to move the raft, and the anchor was hauled out +over the top of the bulwarks. The _Woodville_ rose till her +plank-sheer was even with the surface of the water. The boys shouted +for joy; they were almost beside themselves with the excitement of +that happy moment. They had conquered; success had crowned their +labors. + +"The job is done!" cried Lawry. + +"That's so! Where is your brother now?" exclaimed Ethan. + +"We have got her up sooner than I expected. I move you we have our +dinner now." + +"I don't feel much like dinner." + +"I do." + +"What is to be done next?" + +"We must get her up a little farther out of the water. We can easily +get some more casks under her now; but let us have some dinner first." + +They sat down on a timber on the raft, and ate the dinner they had +brought with them. They could not keep their eyes off the steamer +during the meal, and they continued to discuss the means of +completing the work they had begun. + +After dinner the labor was renewed with redoubled energy. Four more +casks were attached to the bow, and four removed from the stern; the +effect of which was to lift the bow out of the water, while the deck +at the after part was again submerged. This was Lawry's plan for +ascertaining the extent of the injury which the hull had received. It +now appeared that, when the _Woodville_ struck the Goblins, she +had slid upon a flat rock, while a sharp projection from the reef had +stove a hole, not quite three feet in diameter, just above her keel. + +"Now we must stop this hole," said Lawry; "and we may as well do it +here as anywhere." + +"That's just my idea," responded Ethan. "There's a painted floor-cloth +in the kitchen, which will just cover it. I will get it." + +"Have you any small nails on board?" + +"Plenty of them." + +The kitchen and the engineer's storeroom were now out of water, so +that Ethan had no difficulty in procuring the articles needed in +stopping up the hole. A couple of slats were placed over the aperture +to prevent the floor-cloth from being forced in by the pressure of +the water. Both of the boys then went to work nailing on the carpet, +which was new and very heavy. The nails were put very close together, +and most of them being carpet-tacks, with broad heads, they pressed +the oilcloth closely down to the wood-work. It was not expected +entirely to exclude the water; but the leakage could be easily +controlled by the pumps. + +Several of the casks were now removed from the bow to the stern, +until the hull sat even on the water. All the heavy articles on deck, +including the contents of the "chain-box," were transferred to the +raft, and the laborers were ready to commence the long and trying +operation of pumping her out. It was now six o'clock, and it was +plain that this job could not be finished that night. The wind was +beginning to freshen, and there were indications of bad Weather. +Lawry had at first intended to move the _Woodville_ up to the +ferry-landing as soon as she floated; but Ethan, for certain reasons, +which were satisfactory to his fellow laborer, wished to pump her out +where she was; and it was found to be a very difficult thing to tow +her up to the ferry in her water-logged condition. + +It was not safe to leave her, with the prospect of a heavy blow, so +near the Goblins, and they carried out the anchors in the wherry, and +with the assistance of the capstan on the forward deck heaved her out +into a secure position. The _Woodville_ was safe for the night, +and the supper-horn was sounding at the ferry-house. Nearly exhausted +by their severe exertions, the boys returned to the cottage. + +"I'm so glad that you have done it!" exclaimed Mrs. Wilford, when +they went in to supper. + +She had been a deeply interested observer of the operations of the +young engineers, and her heart had bounded with emotions of joy, in +unison with theirs, when she saw the steamer rise to the surface of +the lake. + +"I knew we should do it, mother," replied Lawry. "Where is Ben?" + +"I don't know where he is. He went away just after dinner, and I +haven't seen him since," added the mother. + +"But I saw the ferry-boat go over in the middle of the afternoon." + +"I know you did." + +"But who went over with her?" + +"I did," answered Mrs. Wilford quietly. + +"You, mother?" + +"Yes, Lawry; there was no one else to go, unless I called you, and I +couldn't bear to take you away from your work. I've been over in the +ferry times enough to know how to manage the boat." + +"Ben said he would take care of the ferry." + +"He doesn't always do as he promises," said Mrs. Wilford sadly. + +Lawry thought it was very kind of his mother to run the ferry-boat, +rather than disturb him at his work; but he did not like to have her +do such labor. When he went out after supper, he found the wind was +still quite fresh, and he was afraid that some accident might happen +to the steamer in the night. If the casks got loose, she would sink +again. While he and Ethan were talking about it, Ben Wilford returned +home; and it was evident from his looks and actions that he had been +drinking too much. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + + +ME. SHERWOOD AND PARTY + + +"Well, Lawry, I don't see the steamer at the ferry-landing," said +Ben Wilford. "You know, you promised to have her up here to-night; +but I knew you wouldn't." + +"We thought we wouldn't bring her up to-night," replied Lawry coldly. + +"I knew you wouldn't, my boy. You didn't keep your promise." + +"And you didn't keep yours." + +"I didn't make any. If I'd promised to fetch that steamer up, she'd +been here." + +"You promised to run the ferry, and you left it." + +"No, I didn't, Lawry. Don't you talk so to me. You know too much," +added Ben angrily. "You never will raise that steamer in two thousand +years." + +"There she is," replied Lawry quietly, as he pointed in the +direction of the Goblins. + +Ben looked at her; he did not seem to be pleased to find her on the +top of the water. His oft-repeated prophesy had been a failure, and +Lawry was full as smart as people said he was. + +"Humph!" said he. "She isn't much of a steamboat if those barrels +brought her up." + +"There she is; and I have done all I promised to do." + +"What are you going to do next, Lawry?" + +"I'm going to pump her out next." + +"You'd better do it pretty quick, or she'll go to the bottom again," +added Ben, as he walked into the house. + +"There comes Mr. Sherwood, with the ladies," said Lawry, as he +glanced up the road. + +"I congratulate you, boys," said Mr. Sherwood, as he grasped Lawry's +hand. "We gave three cheers for you on the hill, when we saw that you +had raised the _Woodville_." + +"Thank you, sir. We worked pretty hard, but we were successful." + +"You have done bravely," said Mrs. Sherwood. "We thought, from what +your brother said last night, that you would fail." + +"Ethan and I didn't think so." + +"I suppose you wouldn't sell very cheap to-night, Lawry," added Mr. +Sherwood. + +"No, sir; the _Woodville_ is a gift, and I should not be +willing to sell her at any price." + +"Well, Lawry, I am as glad as you are at your success. Do you want +any help yet?" + +"No, sir; we are just going on board of her to stay overnight, for +we are afraid the heavy wind will do mischief." + +"I wouldn't do that. You must rest to-night." + +"I'm afraid something will happen if we don't look out for her." + +"Are you going to pump her out to-night?" + +"We may begin pretty early in the morning," said Lawry, with a smile. + +"Haste and waste, my boy. If you stay on board of her to-night, and +get sick, you will not make anything by your labor." + +"If the wind goes down, we shall sleep ashore as usual. I don't +think it blows quite so hard as it did." + +"I don't," added Ethan. + +"Boys, you mustn't overdo this thing," added Mr. Sherwood seriously. + +His wife whispered to him just then. + +"Yes, Bertha," he continued. "I'll tell you what I'm going to do, +Lawry. I have four men at work for me. I can spare them one day, and +they shall pump out the _Woodville_ for you." + +"You needn't object," interposed Mrs. Sherwood. + +"Indeed you must not, Lawry," added Miss Fanny. "I am afraid you +will both be sick if you work so hard." + +"We can easily pump her out ourselves," said Ethan. + +"You needn't say a word, Ethan," added Fanny Jane. + +"I suppose we shall have to submit," replied Lawry, laughing. "We +can't oppose the ladies." + +"Just as you say, Lawry," said Ethan. + +"You shall have the men to-morrow, boys. Now you must go to bed, and +not think of the steamer till morning," continued Mr. Sherwood. + +As the wind seemed to be subsiding, the boys went into the house; +and though it was not quite dark, they "turned in," tired enough to +sleep without rocking. Ben was at his supper, in no pleasant frame of +mind. He was dissatisfied with himself, and with his brother, who had +succeeded in his undertaking contrary to his prophecy. He was envious +and jealous of Lawry. Now that his father was away, he thought he +ought to be the chief person about the house, being the oldest boy. + +"I'm not going to stay at home, and be a nobody," said he angrily. + +"We don't wish you to be a nobody," replied his mother. + +"Yes, you do; Lawry is everybody, and I'm nobody." + +"You've been drinking, Benjamin." + +"What if I have! I'm not going to stay here, and play second fiddle +to a little boy." + +"What are you talking about, Benjamin? Lawry has not interfered with +you. He will treat you kindly and respectfully, as he treats +everybody." + +"He don't mind any more what I say than he does the grunting of the +pigs." + +"What do you want him to do?" + +"I want him to pay some attention to what I say," snarled Ben. "I +suppose he thinks that steamboat belongs to him." + +"Certainly he does," replied Mrs. Wilford. + +"I don't." + +"Don't you? Whom does it belong to, then?" + +"I'm not a fool, mother; I know a thing or two as well as some +others. Lawry is not of age." + +"Neither are you." + +"I know that, but I'm older than he is." + +"You are old enough to behave better." + +"How do you expect me to be anybody here, when I have to knock under +to my younger brother? I say the steamer don't belong to Lawry any +more than she does to me. I have just as much right in her as he has." + +"What do you mean by talking so, Benjamin? You know that Mr. +Sherwood gave the steamer to Lawry, and the bill of sale is in +Lawry's name." + +"I don't care for that! she's just as much mine as she is his, and +he'll find that out when she gets to running. Lawry's a minor, and +can't hold any property; you know that just as well as I do." + +"What if he is? I think he will be permitted to hold the steamboat, +and run her." + +"I don't think so. I was talking with Taylor, who holds the mortgage +on this place, and he don't think so," added Ben, in a tone of triumph. + +"What did he say?" + +"Well, he means to attach the steamboat on the note he holds against +father." + +"He will not do that!" replied Mrs. Wilford. + +"He says so, anyhow." + +"He will foreclose the mortgage on the place if he wants to get his +money." + +"The place will not sell for enough to pay his note, and he knows +it. No matter about him--the steamboat belongs to father, just as +much as the ferry-boat does; and I think I ought to have something to +say about her." + +"If you want to do anything for the family, why can't you run the +ferry-boat, Benjamin?" + +"And let Lawry run the steamboat? Not if I know myself!" replied +Ben, with savage emphasis. "He may run the ferry-boat, and I'll run +the steamer." + +"That would be neither fair nor right. The steamer belongs to Lawry, +and I will never consent that he shall be turned out of her." + +"I don't want to turn him out of her. I'll take charge of her, and +he may go pilot; that's all he's good for." + +"You mean that you'll be captain?" + +"That's what I mean." + +"I don't think Lawry will want any one to be captain over him. + +"If I don't run that steamer, nobody shall!" said Ben angrily, as he +rose and left the house. + +"Good evening, Mrs. Wilford," said Mr. Sherwood. "Has Lawry gone to +bed?" + +"Yes, an hour ago." + +"Is he asleep?" + +"I suppose he is." + +"All right, then." + +"What in the world are you going to do with such a crowd of men, Mr. +Sherwood?" + +"I'm going to help the boys finish their job. Ethan told me they had +stopped the leak, and it only remained to pump out the steamer. I am +going to do this job; and I have men enough to finish it in a couple +of hours." + +"I should think you had," added Mrs. Wilford. + +"I have gathered together all the men I could find. Don't say a word +to the boys, if you please. I intend to surprise them. They will find +the steamer free of water in the morning." + +"You are very kind, Mr. Sherwood, to take so much trouble." + +"The boys have worked so well that they deserve encouragement. May I +take the ferry-boat to convey my men up to the steamer?" + +"Certainly, sir." + +Mr. Sherwood encouraged the men to work well by the promise of extra +pay; and the laborers seemed to regard the occasion as a grand +frolic. They exerted themselves to the utmost, and the buckets flew +along the lines, while the pumps rolled out the water in a continuous +flow. As the steamer, relieved of the weight that pressed her down, +rose on the surface of the lake, it was only necessary to lift the +water from below and pour it upon the deck, from which it would run +off itself. + +The job did not last long before such a strong force; and in two +hours the work of the bailers was done. Ethan had fully described the +method by which the hole in the hull of the _Woodville_ had been +stopped; but Mr. Sherwood had some doubts in regard to the strength +of the material, and he went below to examine the place. Lawry and +his fellow laborer had had no opportunity to test the strength and +fitness of the work they had done, while the boat was full of water. + +On examination, Mr. Sherwood found several small jets of water +streaming through the seams between the planks, outside of the canvas +carpet, which he stopped with packing from the engineer's storeroom. +The braces which the boys had put over the hole kept the oilcloth in +position, and when the packing had been driven into the open seams +with a chisel and mallet, hardly any water came in around the +aperture. The boys were warmly commended by their partial friend for +the skill they had displayed in stopping the leak; and some of the +men, who were familiar with vessels, that the steamer would not +leak ten strokes an hour. + +It was therefore safe to leave her; and Mr. Sherwood was satisfied that +the boys would not find the water up to the bottom of the cabin floor +in the morning. He carefully examined every part of the steamer to +assure himself that everything was right before he left her. The +pumps were tried again, just before they embarked for home, but they +yielded only a few strokes of water. + +The party returned to the landing, and Mr. Sherwood cautioned the +men not to make any noise as they passed the cottage, fearful that +the boys might be awakened and the delightful surprise in store for +them spoiled. But Lawry and Ethan, worn out by the fatigue and +excitement of the day, slept like logs, and the discharge of a +battery of artillery under their chamber window would hardly have +aroused them from their slumbers. The men went to their several +homes, and all was quiet at the ferry. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + + +FROM DESPONDENCY TO REJOICING + + +Ben Wilford made his way to the deck of the steamer, and in the +darkness stumbled against the cables, with which the boat was +anchored. He was bent on mischief, and he unstoppered the cables, +permitting them to run out and sink to the bottom of the lake. The +wind was blowing, still pretty fresh, from the west, and the steamer, +now loosened from her moorings, began to drift toward the middle of +the lake. + +"They'll find I'm not a nobody," whined he. "She'll go down in the +deep water this time." + +The drunken villain then stumbled about the deck till he found the +lines which kept the hogsheads in place under the guards. Groaning, +crying, and swearing, he untied and threw the ropes overboard. Some +of the casks, relieved of the pressure on them by the removal of the +water from the interior of the hull, came out from their places and +floated off. Ben rolled into the wherry again, and with the boat-hook +hauled the others out. Satisfied that he had done his work, and that +the _Woodville_ would soon go down in the middle of the lake, he +pulled as rapidly as his intoxicated condition would permit toward +the ferry-landing. + +"They'll find I'm not a nobody," he repeated, as he rowed to the +shore. "They can't raise her now; and they'll never see her again." + +Intoxicated as he was, he had not lost his sense of caution. He knew +that he had done a mean and wicked action, which it might be +necessary for him to conceal. As he approached the landing, he wiped +his eyes, and choked down the emotions that agitated him. He tried to +make no noise, but his movements were very uncertain; he tumbled over +the thwarts, and rattled the oars, so that, if those in the cottage +had not slept like rocks, they must have heard him. He reeled up to +the house, took off his shoes, and crept upstairs to his room. He +made noise enough to wake his mother; but Lawry and Ethan were not +disturbed. + +The wretch had accomplished his work. He was satisfied, as he laid +his boozy head upon the pillow, that the _Woodville_ was even +then at the bottom of the lake, with a hundred feet of water rolling +over her. It was two o'clock in the morning; but the vile tipple he +had drank, and the deed he had done, so excited him that he could not +sleep. He tossed on his bed till the day dawned, and the blessed +light streamed in at the window of the attic. + +"Four o'clock!" shouted Lawry, as the timepiece in the kitchen +struck the hour. "All hands ahoy, Ethan!" + +His enthusiastic fellow laborer needed no second call, and leaped +out of bed. Ben was still awake, and the lapse of the hours had in +some measure sobered him. + +"It's a fine day, Ethan," said Lawry. + +"Glad of that. How long do you suppose it will take to pump her out?" + +"All day, I think; but we are to have four men to help us. I was +considering that matter when I went to sleep last night," replied +Lawry. "I was thinking whether we could not rig a barrel under the +derrick so as to get along a little faster than the pumps will do it. + +"Perhaps we can; we will see." + +"Where is your steamer?" asked Ben, rising in bed. + +"We anchored her near the Goblins," replied Lawry. + +"She isn't there now," added Ben. + +"How do you know?" demanded the pilot. + +"I've been sick, and couldn't sleep; so I got up and went outdoors. +She isn't where you left her, and I couldn't see anything of her +anywhere." + +"Couldn't see her!" exclaimed Ethan. + +"I knew very well she wouldn't stay on top of the water. Casks +wouldn't keep her up," said Ben maliciously. + +Lawry rushed out of the room to the other end of the house, the +attic window of which commanded a full view of the lake. As his +brother had declared, the _Woodville_ was not at her anchorage +where they had left her; neither was she to be seen, whichever way he +looked. + +"She is gone!" cried he, returning to his chamber. + +"Of course she is gone," added Ben. + +"I don't understand it." + +"She has gone to the bottom, of course, where I told you she would +go. You were a fool to leave her out there in the deep water. She has +gone down where you will never see her again." + +"It was impossible for her to sink with all those casks under her +guards," said Ethan. + +"I guess you will find she has sunk. I told you she would. If you +had only minded what I told you, she would have been all right, Lawry." + +Both of the boys seemed to be paralyzed at the discovery, and made +no reply to Ben. They could not realize that all the hard labor they +had performed was lost. It was hard and cruel, and each reproached +himself because they had not passed the night on board of the +steamer, as they had purposed to do. + +"Well, it's no use to stand here like logs," said Lawry, "If she has +sunk, we will find out where she is." + +"I reckon you'll never see her again, Lawry. Those old casks leaked, +I suppose, and when they were full of water the steamer went down +again; or else they broke loose from her when the wind blew so hard." + +"It didn't blow much when we went to bed. What time did you come +home, Ben?" + +"I don't know what time it was," he answered evasively. + +"Come, Ethan, let's go and find out what the matter is," continued +Lawry, as he led the way downstairs. + +Mrs. Wilford was not up, but she was awake, and was anticipating +with great satisfaction the pleasure of the surprise which awaited +the boys, when they discovered that the steamer had been freed from +water. They left the house, and went down to the ferry. The +_Woodville_ certainly was not where they had left her; not even +the top of her smokestack could be seen peering above the water to +inform them that she still existed. + +"Well, Lawry, we may as well go out to the place where we left her. +If she has sunk, we may be able to see her," said Ethan. + +They got into the boat; but one of the oars was gone. Ben had lost +it overboard when he landed, and it had floated off. There was +another pair in the woodshed of the house, and Lawry went up for +them. As he entered the shed, he met his mother, who had just risen, +and gone out for wood to kindle the fire. The poor boy looked so sad +and disconsolate that his long face attracted her attention. + +"What's the matter, Lawry?" she asked. + +"The steamer has sunk again," replied the son. + +"Sunk again!" exclaimed his mother. + +"She is not to be seen, and Ben says she has gone down." + +"Ben says so?" + +"Yes; he told us of it before we came down. We are going to look for +her now," answered Lawry. + +What Lawry had said excited the suspicion of his mother, as she +thought of the malicious words of her older son on the preceding +evening. She was excited and indignant; she feared he had executed +the wicked purpose which she was confident he had cherished. She went +into the house, and upstairs to the room where Ben still lay in bed. + +"Benjamin, what have you done?" demanded she. + +"I haven't done anything. I'm a nobody here!" replied the inebriated +young man, with surly emphasis. + +"What did you mean last night when you said that you should run that +steamer, or nobody should?" asked Mrs. Wilford. + +"I meant just what I said. You and Lawry both said I shouldn't run +her--and she has gone to the bottom again; she'll stay there this +time." + +"Oh, Benjamin!" said his mother, bursting into tears. "How could you +be so wicked?" + +"Did you think I'd stay round here, and be a nobody?" growled the +wretched young man. + +"Did you sink that steamer?" + +"What if I did?" + +"Oh, Benjamin!" + +"You needn't cry about it. Next time, you'd better not try to make a +nobody out of me." + +"Don't you think I've had trouble enough, without trying to make +more for me?" sobbed the distressed mother. + +"If you had told Lawry to give me the charge of the steamer, he +would have done it," whined Ben. + +"I shouldn't tell him any such thing!" replied Mrs. Wilford +indignantly. "A pretty captain of a steamboat you would make! You are +so tipsy now you can't hold your head up!" + +"I'm as sober as you are." + +Mrs. Wilford knew that it was useless to talk to a person in his +condition, and she left him to sleep off the effect of his cups if he +could, after the evil deed he had done. Full of sympathy for Lawry, +under his great affliction, she left the house, and hastened down to +the landing, to learn, if possible, the condition of the +_Woodville_. Lawry and Ethan were in the wherry, returning to +the shore, when she reached the landing. + +"Hurrah! hurrah!" shouted both of the boys, in unison, as Mrs. +Wilford came in sight. + +"What now?" asked the anxious mother. + +"She's safe, mother! She has not sunk," replied Lawry. + +"Where is she? I don't see her anywhere," added Mrs. Wilford, +scanning the lake in every direction. + +"Over on the other side," replied Lawry. + +"What's the reason she didn't sink?" continued his mother. + +"The casks kept her up, of course. We want something for breakfast +and for dinner, mother, for she is so far off we can't come home till +we have pumped her out, and I won't leave her again till I am sure +she's all right." + +"What shall I do about the ferry, mother?" asked Lawry. "Will Ben +run the boat to-day?" + +"Don't trouble yourself about the ferry, Lawry. If Benjamin won't +take care of it, I will." + +"I don't want you to do it, mother." + +"I think your brother will run the boat; at any rate, you needn't +give it a thought." + +Mrs. Wilford was quite as happy as the boys to find that the steamer +was not at the bottom of the lake again; and she returned to the +cottage with a light heart, when she had seen the wherry leave the +shore. + +From the deepest depths of despondency, if not despair, the young +engineers had been raised to the highest pinnacle of hope and joy +when the _Woodville_ was discovered on the other side of the +lake. She had drifted in behind a point of land, and could not be +seen from the ferry. They had gone out to the place where she had +been anchored, near the Goblins; and while they were gazing down into +the deep water in search of her, Ethan happened to raise his eyes and +saw her on the other side of the lake. What a thrill went through his +heart as he recognized her! And what a thrill he communicated to +Lawry when he pointed her out to him! + +"Why, the casks are all gone!" exclaimed Ethan. + +"All gone!" replied Lawry. + +"She must be aground," added Ethan; "but she sets out of water a +great deal farther than when we left her." + +"We shall soon find out what the matter is," continued Lawry. "She +is safe, and on the top of the water; that's enough for me at the +present time." + +"What does this mean?" he exclaimed. + +"I don't know. The water couldn't have run out of her without some +help," replied Ethan. + +"I don't understand it," added Lawry. "The casks are all gone, and +the steamer has been pumped out. Somebody must have done this work." + +"That's true," said Ethan. "Somebody has certainly been here." + +"There's no doubt of that; but I can't see, for the life of me, what +they wanted to set her adrift for." + +"Nor I; they were good friends to pump her out for us, whoever they +were. In my opinion, Mr. Sherwood knows something about this job." + +"But slipping the cables looks just as though they intended to have +her smashed up on the shore," added Lawry. "The anchors are not here, +and, of course, they are on the bottom of the lake. I don't see +through this business." + +"Nor I, either; but one thing we can see through; the steamer is +safe, with the water all pumped out of her. We may as well go to +work, and get her over to the ferry." + +This was good counsel, and without losing any more time in attempts +to fathom what was dark and strange, they commenced the labors of the +day. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + + +GETTING UP STEAM + + +A survey of the position of the _Woodville_ showed that she was +slightly aground at the stern; but Ethan was confident that a few +turns of the wheels would bring her off. The boys then tried the +pumps; but after less than a hundred strokes they refused to yield +any more water. They then carefully examined every part of the +interior below the decks. + +"She's all right," said Lawry. "What shall we do now?" + +"Get up steam," replied Ethan. "I have a couple of hours' work to do +on the engine; but we will start the furnaces at once." + +"Can't I make the fire?" asked Lawry. + +"Yes, if you know how." + +"You can show me. I don't know much about steam-boilers and engines." + +"We will get our dry wood out of the wherry, and I will help you +start the fire. While I am at work on the engine, you will have to +overhaul your steering-gear, and see that it is all right. The chains +and pulleys will need to be oiled." + +Lawry got into the wherry, and threw the dry wood on deck. Ethan had +not expected to kindle the fires till night, when he hoped the water +would be below the furnaces. It was a grateful surprise to be able at +once to go to work on the engine. He was enthusiastic in his fondness +for machinery, and that of the _Woodville_ was his particular pet. + +After he had tried the valves on the boiler, and assured himself +that it contained the proper supply of water, the fires were started +in the furnaces. There was plenty of wood and coal on board, though +the former was so wet that it would not burn without some assistance, +which was furnished by the dry fuel brought off in the wherry. In a +little while the furnaces were roaring with the blaze from the wood, +and the coal was shoveled in. Ethan, having dried a quantity of the +wet packing, commenced rubbing down and oiling the machinery. He was +in his element now, and never was a young man in a higher state of +keen enjoyment. + +While he was thus engaged, Lawry overhauled the steering apparatus, +rubbed down the wheel, oiled the pulleys, and satisfied himself that +everything was in working order. The situation and the work were in +the highest degree exhilarating. It was not labor to clean and adjust +the gear; it was a pleasure such as he had never realized from the +most exciting sports. He could hardly repress the rapture he felt +when he saw the black smoke from the pine wood pouring out of the +smokestack. + +"This is my steamer," said he to himself. "I am the owner of her." + +The thought made him laugh with joy. He stood up at the wheel, and +though he could not turn it, because the rudder was fast in the sand, +he knew exactly how he should feel when he stood in this position +with the _Woodville_ gliding swiftly over the bright waters of +the lake. + +The steering-gear was in perfect order, so far as he could judge +without using it, and Ethan was still busy at the engine. Lawry could +not deny himself the pleasure of a survey of the steamer, for the +purpose of admiring her comforts and conveniences. He walked up and +down the main-deck, entered the saloon and the cabin, visited the +forehold, and opened the doors of the various apartments forward of +the paddle-boxes. It is true, everything was in a state of "confusion +worse confounded." Carpets were soaked with water, curtains were +drabbled and stained, sofas and chairs upset in the cabin and saloon; +while in the kitchen and storerooms, shelves and lockers had been +emptied, and their contents strewed in wild disorder about the +apartments. + +But Lawry knew how order could be brought out of chaos, and the +derangement of furniture and utensils did not disturb him. It would +be a delightful occupation to restore harmony to these shelves and +lockers, to bring order and neatness out of the confusion which +reigned in every part of the steamer. When he had completed his +survey, he went to the engine-room, and offered his services to Ethan +for duty in his department. As the engineer had nothing for him to +do, he returned to the kitchen, and busied himself in putting things +to rights there, foreseeing that this apartment would soon be needed. +He made a fire in the galley, in order to dry the room more speedily, +and then occupied his time in picking up the tins and the kettles, +and putting them in their places. + +While he was examining the lockers and shelves, he found part of a +leg of bacon, and some potatoes, which had been left from the stores +used by the crew on the passage from New York up to the lake. There +were coffee and tea in the canisters, sugar in the buckets, butter +and salt in the boxes; though all these articles had been more or +less soaked in the water, depending upon the tightness of the vessels +that held them. There was a good fire in the stove, and a bright +thought entered Lawry's excited brain; he and his companion would +breakfast on fried ham and potatoes, flanked with hot coffee! + +Lawry was a cook of no mean accomplishments, and he immediately went +to work in carrying out his brilliant idea. Somehow, it is a singular +fact that boys have a special delight in "getting up something to +eat" in the woods, on the water, and generally in all out-of-the-way +places. A dinner at Parker's or Delmonico's is not to be compared +with baked potatoes and roasted ears of corn in the woods, or with +fried fish and potatoes in a boat or on an island. The young pilot +was no exception to the common rule, and in a state of rapture known +only to the amateur cook of tender years, he put on the teakettle, +pared and sliced the potatoes, and put a quantity of the brown mud +from the canister into the coffeepot. + +Things were hissing and sizzling on the stove in the most +satisfactory manner, and Lawry presided over the frying-pan with a +grace and dignity which would have been edifying in a professional +cook. While the ham was cooking, he wiped the dishes with a cloth he +had dried at the fire, and set the table on the broad bench at the +end of the kitchen. The meat and the potatoes were "done to a turn," +but the coffee had a suspicious look, owing to the absence of the +fish-skin, or other ingredient, for settling it. The contents of the +basket brought from home were tastily disposed in dishes on the +table, and breakfast was ready. We will venture to say that, in spite +of the disadvantages under which this meal was prepared, many +steamboat men have sat down to a less satisfactory banquet. + +Lawry, chuckling with delight at what he had done, rang the hand-bell +he found in the kitchen, at the door. If Ethan had smelled the +savory viands in the course of preparation for him, he had made no +sign; but he was probably too busy to heed anything but the darling +engine he was so affectionately caressing with handfuls of packing +and spurts of oil. + +"What's that bell for, Lawry?" shouted he. + +"Breakfast's ready," replied Lawry. + +"I wouldn't stop to eat now--would you?" + +"Things will be cold if you don't." + +"Cold?" laughed Ethan. + +"Yes--cold. What's the use of having a kitchen if you don't use it?" + +"You're a good one!" shouted Ethan. "Why didn't you tell me what you +were about?" + +"I didn't want to spoil your appetite." + +"You are a first-rate fellow, Lawry. Your breakfast looks tip-top, +and I shall do full justice to it; but I must go and look at the +boiler and the fires before I eat." + +They sat down to breakfast when Ethan had returned and washed the +smut from his face and hands. Lawry poured out the coffee, and helped +his companion to ham and potatoes. The engineer ate with good relish. + +"Your ham and potatoes are first-rate, Lawry; but I've seen better +coffee than this," said he. + +"I had nothing to settle it, and there is no milk on board." + +"We had some fish-skin, and there is plenty of condensed milk on +board," replied Ethan. + +The coffee was subjected to a new process, and the condensed milk +prepared for use. By the time the substantials of the feast had been +discussed, some pretty good coffee was ready for them. The boys ate +their breakfast with a zest they had never known before. + +"Ethan!" exclaimed Lawry. + +"What, Lawry?" + +"Hold me down!" shouted the proprietor of the _Woodville_. + +"What's the matter?" + +"Hold me down! I shall go up if you don't. I can't hold in any +longer. I'm so tickled, I feel as though I should fly away." + +"Don't do it," laughed Ethan. "But I must go and look after the +engine, or we may both go up, in a way that won't suit us;" and Ethan +hurried down into the fire-room. + +After taking a turn up and down the deck, Lawry curbed down his +superfluous enthusiasm, and returned to the kitchen, where he +extinguished the fire in the galley, and put away the dishes and +kettles which had been used in getting breakfast. By this time Ethan +had finished his work on the engine, and the steam gage indicated a +sufficient pressure to work the machinery. + +"All ready, Lawry!" shouted he. + +"Is everything all right?" + +"Yes, as good as new. Now, if you will go into the wheel-house, we +will see what she will do." + +"Hurrah!" shouted Lawry. + +He pulled the bell for starting her, and with a thrill of delight he +heard the wheels splashing in the water; and the great splurges began +to roll up on the shore. + +"Does she move?" asked Ethan, through the speaking-tube which +communicated with the engine-room. + +"No, she sticks fast," replied Lawry. "Give her a little more of it." + +The wheels of the steamer turned rapidly for a moment, and the +_Woodville_ slid off the ground into deep water. + +"Hurrah!" shouted Lawry, as he rang the bell to stop her. "She's all +right now," he added, through the tube. + +"Go ahead, then," replied the engineer. + +"As soon as I make fast the wherry astern." + +Before he went to the wheel-house he sounded the pumps again, and +visited the forehold to examine the oilcloth over the aperture in the +bow. There was but little water in the well, and the canvas carpet +was faithful to its duty. There was nothing to fear, though Lawry +couldn't help fearing. + +"Are you all ready, Ethan?" called the pilot through the tube. + +"All ready; but don't you think we had better hoist the flags, and +go over in good style?" responded the engineer. + +"Aye, aye." + +The small American flag and the union jack, which had been taken +from the poles the night before, and deposited in the locker of the +wherry, were displayed, and Lawry returned to his post. + +The pilot rang his bell to start, and the wheels turned slowly as +Ethan opened the valve. The _Woodville_ moved off from the +shore, and Lawry's heart bounded as though it had been part of the +engine. He grasped the spokes, and heaved the wheel over; the +beautiful craft obeyed her helm. + +"Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!" shouted Lawry, at the mouth of the +speaking-tube. + +"Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!" echoed back from the engine-room. + +Lawry stood at the wheel, looking through the open window in front +of him. It was his hour of triumph. As he gazed at the shore, he saw +the ferry-boat start out from the landing. There was no vehicle in +her, and as the steamer approached nearer to her, he saw that Mr. +Sherwood and the ladies were on board of her. They were coming out to +welcome and congratulate Ethan and himself upon the triumphant +success of the enterprise. Mrs. Wilford was with them, and Ben held +the steering oar. + +Lawry informed his friend, through the tube, of the approach of the +party. The ladies in the ferry-boat were waving their handkerchiefs, +and Mr. Sherwood was swinging his hat. + +"Whistle, Lawry!" shouted the engineer, as the pilot informed him +what was taking place. + +"Hurrah!" shouted the pilot, as he pulled the string. + +As the _Woodville_ came up to the bateau, Lawry rang to stop, +and, swinging his hat out the window, gave three cheers all alone, +while the ladies waved their handkerchiefs in reply. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + + +CAPTAIN LAWRY + + +The bateau ran up to the steamer, and Ben made her fast at the +forward gangway. Mr. Sherwood still cheered, and the ladies continued +to wave their handkerchiefs. + +"Won't you come on board?" said Lawry to the party. + +"I shall, for one," replied Mr. Sherwood. + +"I'm afraid of her," added Miss Fanny. + +"There is nothing to fear, ladies. She is safe, and we are running +her very slowly," continued the young pilot. + +"Lawry knows where the rocks are," said Mrs. Wilford, "and I'll +warrant you there is no danger." + +With some misgivings, the ladies, who had suffered by the +catastrophe when the _Woodville_ was wrecked, permitted themselves +to be handed to the deck of the steamer. + +"I congratulate you on your success, Lawry," said Mr. Sherwood, as +he stepped on board after the ladies. "You have worked bravely, and +succeeded nobly;" and he grasped the hand of the pilot. + +"Thank you, sir. I knew I could raise her, if I had fair play. I +don't know but you are sick of your bargain, sir, in giving her to me." + +"By no means, Captain Lawry," replied the rich man, laughing. "If +the ladies succeed in overcoming their terror of steamboats, I +suppose I can charter the boat for our party when we wish to use her." + +"She's at your service always, sir," replied Lawry. + +"Oh, I shall take her on the same terms that others do. When I use +her, I shall pay you." + +"That wouldn't be fair, sir. I couldn't take any money from you for +the use of her," added Lawry, blushing. + +"We will not talk about that now. When she is in condition for use, +we will consider these questions. How did you find her this morning?" +asked Mr. Sherwood, with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. + +"We found the water all pumped out of her; and we didn't know what +to make of it," answered Lawry. + +All the visitors burst out laughing, and heartily enjoyed the +astonishment and confusion of the young pilot. + +"I don't understand it," exclaimed Lawry. + +"The fairies, knowing what a good boy you are, Lawry, must have +pumped her out for you," said Miss Fanny. + +"Perhaps they did." + +Mr. Sherwood then explained what he had done the preceding night, +and the reason why he had done it. Ben Wilford, after fastening the +ferry-boat at the stern of the steamer, had come on deck, and +listened to the explanation. He saw in what manner his malice had +been defeated, and he looked very much dissatisfied with himself and +everybody on board. + +"You were very kind, Mr. Sherwood, to take so much trouble upon +yourself," said Lawry. + +"It was no trouble at all; it was a great pleasure to me. But I +don't understand how the steamer happened to be on the other side of +the lake." + +"I supposed the persons who bailed her out set her adrift. The casks +were all knocked out from under the guards, and they are scattered +all along the shore." + +"Before my men left her last night, I went all over the boat to +satisfy myself that everything was right. I examined the cables very +carefully, and I am sure they were well stoppered at twelve o'clock, +when we went on shore." + +"I fastened the cable myself, and I don't think she could have +broken loose herself." + +Ben Wilford listened in sullen silence to this conversation, and his +mother could hardly keep from crying as she thought of the guilt of +her oldest son. She was not willing to tell Lawry what his brother +had done, fearful that his indignation would produce a quarrel where +brotherly love should prevail. She believed that Ben had attempted, +while under the influence of liquor, to sink the _Woodville_, +and that he would not do such a thing in his sober senses. + +Neither Lawry nor Mr. Sherwood could explain in what manner the +steamer had broken from her moorings and the oil-casks been removed +from their fastenings; so they were obliged to drop the matter, +congratulating themselves upon the present safety of the boat. + +"We will go ashore with you, Captain Lawry, when you are ready," +said Mr. Sherwood, after the question had been disposed of in this +unsatisfactory manner. + +"Captain Lawry!" sneered Ben. + +"Certainly; he is the captain of the steamer--isn't he?" laughed Mr. +Sherwood. + +"It sounds big for a boy," growled Ben. + +"He will make a good captain." + +Ben turned and walked away, disgusted with the idea. + +"I'm ready, sir," said Lawry. + +"Where are you bound next, Captain Lawry?" asked Mr. Sherwood. + +"I'm going to fish up the anchors we lost, and then to pick up the +oil-casks," replied Lawry. + +"Where do you intend to keep your steamer?" + +"I hadn't thought of that, sir." + +"You will need a wharf." + +"We need one; but I think we shall have to get along without one." + +"Where would be a good place to have one?" + +"The deepest water is just below the ferry-landing. We could get +depth enough for this boat by running a pier out about forty feet. +Ethan and I can build some kind of a wharf, when we have time." + +Mr. Sherwood said no more about the matter, and Ben landed the +visitors in the ferry-boat. The _Woodville_ then ran down to the +Goblins, and towed the raft out to the spot where the anchors lay. A +boat grapnel was dragged over the spot, the cables hooked, and the +anchors hauled up with the derrick on the raft, from which they were +transferred to the steamer. + +Having obtained these necessary appendages of the steamer, they +returned to the landing for the ferry-boat, in which they intended to +load the oil-casks, and convey them to Pointville. Ben was at the +landing when she arrived, and without any invitation, stepped on +board the ferry-boat, and thence to the steamer. + +"Don't you want some help, Lawry?" asked Ben. + +"Yes; we should be glad of all the help we can get," replied Lawry +pleasantly. + +"Well, I'll help you." + +"We have a good deal of hard work to do to-day," added the pilot. "I +would like to get the boat on the ways at Port Henry to-night." + +"That can be done easy enough." + +Ben Wilford seemed now to have adopted a conciliatory policy, but it +was evidently done for a purpose. When the _Woodville_ reached +the Goblins, he worked with good will in loading the ferry-boat, +which was towed over to Pointville, and her cargo discharged. The +casks, which had drifted over to the eastern shore of the lake, were +then picked up, and landed at the same place. The man who had carted +them down to the shore was engaged to convey them back to the barn of +the oil speculator. It was noon by the time this work was all +accomplished; and the _Woodville_ again crossed the lake, and +came to anchor in the deep water above the ferry-landing, as close to +the shore as it was prudent for her to lie. Ethan banked his fires, +and the boys went on shore to dinner, one at a time; for after the +experience of the preceding night they would not leave the steamer +alone for a single moment. + +After dinner, Mr. Sherwood, who appeared to be as much interested in +the little steamer as though she had not changed her ownership, came +on board again, accompanied by the ladies. It had before been decided +that the carpets should be taken up, the muslin curtains removed, and +such portions of the furniture and utensils as had been injured by +the water should be conveyed on shore to be cleaned, and put in +proper order for use. In this labor Mr. Sherwood's party and Mrs. +Wilford assisted, and by the middle of the afternoon everything had +been removed. Ben Wilford aided very zealously, and his mother +hopefully concluded that he was sorry for what he intended to do, and +wished to remove any suspicion of evil intentions on his part. + +The _Woodville_ was now going down to Port Henry, where the +repairs on her hull were to be made, and the pilot and engineer were +to remain on board. Ben promised faithfully to run the ferry during +Lawry's absence; and, cheered by the party on the shore, the +_Woodville_ departed for her destination. She ran at half speed, +but reached the port before sunset. The next morning she went on the +ways, and her repairs commenced. During that time Ethan was +constantly employed on the engine, and when the steamer was restored +to her native element there was not a suspicion of rust on the +machinery. + +Lawry was also as busy as a bee all the time, scrubbing the floors, +cleaning the paint, and polishing the brass-work. When the boat was +ready to return to Port Rock, she was in condition to receive her +furniture. She was launched early in the morning, and Ethan proceeded +at once to get up steam. Both of the boys were in the highest state +of expectancy and delight; and when Lawry struck the bell to start +her, he was hardly less excited than when he had done so for the +first time after the water had been pumped out of her. All the +bunting was displayed at the bow and stern, and the _Woodville_ +now plowed the lake at full speed. Her happy owner realized that she +was good for ten miles an hour, which, for so diminutive a craft, was +more than he had a right to expect. + +"Hello!" shouted Lawry to himself, as the steamer approached the +ferry-landing; "what's that?" + +In the deep water which the young pilot had indicated as the best +place for a wharf, a pier was in process of erection. A score of +bridge-builders were sawing, hammering, and chopping, and Mr. +Sherwood stood in their midst, watching their operations. The +structure was not complete, but the mooring posts were set up, so +that the _Woodville_ could be made fast to them. Mr. Sherwood +and the workmen gave three cheers as the steamer approached. + +"Run her up here, Lawry!" shouted his wealthy friend. "Aye, aye, sir." + +"You have taken this job out of my hands, sir," said Lawry, as he +glanced at the wharf. + +"Yes; I thought I could do it better than you could, as your time +will be fully occupied." + +"I think I should have found time enough to do what I intended; but +of course I couldn't have built any such wharf as this." + +"It is none too good." + +"But I ought to pay for it out of the money I may earn with the boat." + +"Never mind that, Lawry," added Mr. Sherwood. + +The young captain explained what had been done during his absence, +and informed his interested friend that the steamer was in condition +to receive her furniture. + +"Shall you have her ready for a trip by to-morrow?" asked Mr. +Sherwood. + +"Yes, sir." + +"Because I have taken the liberty to engage her, in your name, for +several parties." + +"You are very kind, sir," replied Lawry. + +"Have you fixed upon any price for her?" + +"Ethan and I were talking over the matter. We shall need some help +on board, and that will cost money. Coal is pretty high up here on +the lake." + +"Well, how much did you intend to charge for her by the day, or the +hour?" + +"We thought about three dollars an hour," replied Lawry, with much +diffidence. + +"Three dollars an hour! You are too modest by half," laughed Mr. +Sherwood. "Make it five, at least. I told the parties I engaged for +you that the price would not be less than fifty dollars a day." + +"I'm afraid I shall make money too fast at that rate," added Lawry. + +"No, you won't. It will cost a great deal of money to run the boat. +What do you pay your engineer?" + +"I don't know, sir; we have made no bargain yet." + +"If Ethan does a man's work, you must pay him a man's wages. I +suppose he wants to make his fortune." + +"What do you think he ought to have?" asked Lawry. + +"Three dollars a day," replied Mr. Sherwood promptly. "I dare say +Ethan would not charge you half so much; but that is about the wages +of a man for running an engine in these times." + +"I am satisfied, if that is fair wages; though it is a great deal +more than I ever made." + +"Engineers get high wages. Then you want a fireman." + +"I can get a boy, who will answer very well for a fireman." + +"I think not, Lawry. You need a man of experience and judgment. He +can save his wages for you in coal. The man whom I employed as a +fireman is just the person, and he is at the village now." + +"What must I pay him, sir?" + +"Two dollars a day. Then your parties will want some dinner on +board, and you will need a cook, and two stewards. A woman to do the +cooking, and two girls to tend the table, will answer your purpose. +You can obtain the three for about seven dollars a week; but your +passengers must pay extra for their meals, and you need not charge +the expenses of the steward's department to the boat." + +"If you expect to succeed, Lawry, you must do your work well. Your +boat must be safe and comfortable, and your dinners nice and well +served. You will want two deck-hands. Your expenses, including coal, +oil for machinery, and hands, will be about twenty dollars a day. If +you add repairs, of which steamboats are continually in need, you +will run it up to twenty-five dollars a day." + +"That will leave me a profit of twenty-five dollars a day," added +Lawry, delighted at the thought. + +"If you are employed every day, it will; but you cannot expect to do +anything with parties for more than two months in the year." + +"I can get some towing to do; and I may make something with +passengers." + +"Parties will pay best in July and August, and perhaps part of +September; but you must be wide-awake." + +"I intend to be." + +"I advise you to get up a handbill of your steamer, announcing that +she is to be let to parties by the day, at all the large ports on the +lake. There are plenty of wealthy people, spending the summer in this +vicinity, who would be glad to engage her, even for a week at once." + +"Will you write me a handbill, Mr. Sherwood?" + +"Yes, and get it printed." + +"Thank you, sir." + +"The _Woodville_ is engaged to me for to-morrow," added Mr. +Sherwood. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + + +THE NEW CAPTAIN + + +Lawry was bewildered by the magnificence of the arrangements +suggested by Mr. Sherwood; but if the _Woodville_ was to be +employed in taking out parties of genteel people, nothing less +magnificent would answer the purpose. His influential friend, it +appeared, had already exerted himself to procure employment of this +kind for the steamer, and the proprietor of the beautiful craft was +not only willing to conform to his ideas, but was grateful for the +kindly interest he manifested in the prosperity of the enterprise. + +Mrs. Wilford had engaged a cook, and two girls for the steward's +department; the fireman was sent for; and two boys were employed as +deck-hands. + +Now, Lawry thought it was quite necessary that his crew should be +trained a little before any passengers were received on board, and +after Mr. Sherwood and his party had gone home, the fires were +revived, and a short trip down the lake determined upon. As soon as +there was steam enough for the purpose, the pilot, now the captain, +rang his bell to back her, and the deck-hands were instructed in +getting the fasts on board. Ben Wilford, who was standing on the +wharf, cast off the hawsers, and then jumped aboard, himself. The +bells jingled for a few moments, and then the _Woodville_ went +off on her course. + +"This is all very fine," said Ben. + +"First-rate," laughed Lawry. + +"What am I to do?" demanded Ben, rather gruffly. + +"You?" said the pilot. + +"Everybody seems to have something to do with her except me." + +"What do you want to do?" + +"I suppose you think I'm not fit for anything." + +"I had an idea that you would stay at home, and run the ferry-boat." + +"Did you?" sneered Ben. + +"Some one must do that; and of course I can't now." + +"Hang the ferry-boat!" + +"It must be run, or we shall forfeit the privilege." + +"I shall not run it, whatever happens." + +"I don't see how I can." + +"Lawry, I don't think you are using me right," added Ben sourly. + +"Why, what have I done?" + +"You've got this boat, and though you know I'm a steamboat man, you +don't say a word to me about taking any position on board of her." + +"I don't know what position there is on board for you, unless you +take a deck-hand's place." + +"A deck-hand!" + +"That is what you have always been." + +"Do you think I'm going to be bossed by you?" + +"Ben, if you will tell me just what you want, I shall understand you +better," said Lawry, rather impatiently. + +"You know what I want. There is only one place in the boat I would +be willing to take." + +"You mean captain." + +"Of course I do." + +"I intended to be captain myself." + +"I thought you were going to be pilot of her." + +"So I am; and captain, too." + +"Then you mean to leave me out entirely." + +"Ben, I don't want to have any row; and I won't quarrel with my +brother; but I don't think it is quite fair for you to ask so much of +me." + +"Don't I know all about a steamboat?" + +"Can you pilot one up and down the lake?" + +"Well, no; I never did that kind of work." + +"Can you run an engine?" + +"No; and you can't, either. The captain doesn't have to be a pilot, +nor an engineer." + +"What must he do, then?" + +"He must look out for everything, make the landing, and see that the +people on board are comfortable." + +"I intend to do all that." + +"How can you do it, and stay in the wheel-house?" + +"I shall not stay there all the time. The deck-hands know how to +steer. I want to do what's fair and right, Ben. The steamer was given +to me; and I don't exactly like to have any one to boss me on board." + +"The captain don't have much to do with the pilot, and I sha'n't +boss you." + +"Suppose the question should come up, whether or not the boat should +take a certain job; who would decide the question--you or I?" + +"I'm the oldest, and I think I ought to have the biggest voice in +the matter." + +"But the boat is mine," added Lawry, with emphasis. + +"As to that, she is just as much mine as she is yours." + +"I'm willing to do what's fair and right; but I shall not have any +captain over me in this boat," replied Lawry. + +"Lawry, you are my brother," said Ben angrily; "but I don't care for +that. You set yourself up above me; you make me a nobody. I won't +stand it!" + +"I don't set myself up above you, Ben." + +"Yes, you do. You offered me the place of deck-hand!" + +"I didn't ask you to take any place. I'll tell you what I will do, +Ben. I'll talk with mother and Mr. Sherwood about the matter, and if +they think you ought to be captain of the _Woodville_, you shall +be." + +"Mr. Sherwood don't know everything." + +"I think he would know what is right in a case like this." + +"He thinks you are a little god, and I know what he would say." + +"I will do as mother says, then." + +"What do women know about these things?" + +"I don't think Mr. Sherwood or mother would like it if I should give +up the command of this boat to any one." + +"Let them lump it, then," replied Ben, as he rushed out of the +wheel-house, incensed beyond measure at Lawry's opposition to his +unreasonable proposal. + +Captain Lawry was sorely disturbed by the conduct of his brother. He +could not enjoy his pleasant position at the wheel, and he put the +steamer about, heading her toward Port Rock. + +"Lawry," said Ben, returning to the wheel-house, "I want you to tell +me what you are going to do. I'm older than you, and I have seen more +steamboating than you have. I think it's my right to be captain of +this boat." + +"I don't think so." + +"I don't want to jaw any more about it." + +"I'm sure I don't." + +"All I've got to say is, that if I don't run this boat no one will." + +"What do you mean by that, Ben?" demanded Lawry. + +"No matter what I mean. I'm going to have what belongs to me. Once +for all, am I to be captain, or not?" + +"No," replied Lawry firmly. + +Ben went out of the wheel-house, and the pilot did not see him again +till after the _Woodville_ reached her wharf. Lawry was sadly +grieved at the attitude of his brother; and if Ben had been a +reliable person, fit for the position he aspired to obtain, he would +have yielded the point. But the would-be captain was an intemperate +and dissolute fellow, as unsuitable for the command as he would have +been for the presidency of a bank. + +Early on the following morning the supplies for the _Woodville_ +were taken on board, and at eight o'clock everything was in readiness +for the reception of Mr. Sherwood's party. The steam was merrily +hissing from the escape-pipe; Ethan was busy, as he always was, in +rubbing down the polished parts of the engine, and Lawry was walking +up and down the forward deck. Quite a collection of people had +assembled on the unfinished wharf and the shore to witness the +departure of the steamer. As Captain Lawry paced the deck, there was +a slight commotion in the crowd, and three persons passed through, +making their way to the deck. One of them was the sheriff who had +arrested the ferryman a few days before. He was followed by Mr. +Taylor, his father's creditor, and Ben Wilford. + +"I'm sorry to trouble you, Lawry," said the official; "but I suppose +I must do my duty." + +"What's the matter, sir?" asked Lawry. "What have I done?" + +"Nothing, my boy. I think this is rather mean business; but I can't +help it," replied the sheriff, as he produced certain documents. +"Your father owes Mr. Taylor a note of nine hundred and fifty +dollars, on which the interest has not been paid for two years, +making the debt ten hundred and sixty-four dollars." + +"But the place is mortgaged for that," replied Lawry. + +"I have just foreclosed the mortgage; and now I must attach this +steamboat." + +"Attach it!" groaned Lawry. + +"Such are my orders; your father's place would hardly sell for +enough to pay the debt." + +"But this boat is mine," pleaded Lawry. + +"You are a minor, Lawry; and your father is entitled by law to all +your earnings, as you have a claim on him for your support. I can't +stop to explain this matter. The steamer is in my possession now, +subject to the decree of the court. I shall appoint a person to take +charge of her and run her for the benefit of the parties in interest." + +"That's too bad!" exclaimed Lawry. + +"I know it is; but I can't help it," replied the sheriff. "I shall +appoint your brother, and from this time he has full control of her." + +It was evident even to Lawry, who had not been informed of his +brother's worst intentions, that Ben was at the bottom of this +conspiracy. Such was indeed the truth. Mr. Taylor was a young man who +had recently inherited a large fortune, which, it was plain, would +soon be squandered, for he was both intemperate and reckless. Ben had +helped him home one night after a drunken carousal, which had been +the beginning of an intimacy between them, for the younger tippler +was not one to neglect an opportunity to secure a wealthy friend. + +They had talked together about the _Woodville_ on several +occasions, and Ben had suggested in what manner he might obtain the +debt due him. On the night before the visit of the sheriff to the +steamer, the malignant and jealous brother had repeated to his +dissipated patron the story of his grievances--that he was a "nobody" +at home, and that Lawry wanted to make a deck-hand of him. Though not +a badly disposed man in the main, Taylor listened with interest and +sympathy to the exaggerated and distorted narrative, and the plan by +which Ben was to be put in possession of the steamer was matured. + +The creditor went to a lawyer, one of his boon companions, who was +quite willing to make business for himself; and he had looked up the +law and arranged the facts, by which he expected to hold the steamer. +Doubtless it was a very ingenious scheme, and perhaps it is +unfortunate that the case never came to trial, for it involved some +interesting legal points. Thus far the design had been carried out, +and Ben was in command of the steamer, as an employee of the sheriff. + +"I won't be as hard with you, Lawry, as you were with me," said Ben, +as he walked up to Lawry in the wheel-house, to which he had +retreated to hide his confusion. + +"This is your work, Ben," replied the youth bitterly. + +"I was bound to have the command of this steamer, and I have got +it," added Ben, with malignant triumph. + +"I know you have; you put Mr. Taylor up to this, or he never would +have done it." + +"Don't snarl about it, Lawry; the thing is done, and you can't help +yourself. The sheriff has given me the command of the boat." + +"And he has attached the place. Mother will be turned out of house +and home!" cried Lawry, unable to repress his tears. + +"No, she won't; that will be all right." + +"Oh, Ben! How could you do it?" + +"You drove me to it. It is all your fault, Lawry; so you needn't +whine about it. Don't make a fuss; here comes Taylor." + +"I don't want to see him," said Lawry, moving toward the door. + +"Don't go off; I'm going to take Taylor and his friends up the lake, +to give them a sail." + +"The boat is engaged to Mr. Sherwood, to-day." + +"I can't help it; he will not have her to-day. Come, Lawry, be a +man. I won't be as hard with you, I say, as you were with me. I don't +ask you to be a deck-hand. You shall be the pilot still." + +"No, I won't." + +"Won't you?" + +"I will not," said Lawry firmly, as he dried his tears. "The boat is +engaged to Mr. Sherwood, and he has invited a party to go with him. +They were to start at nine o'clock, and they will be down here soon." + +"Can't help it. I promised to take Taylor and his friends out, and +they are all here now. There are the stores for his party," replied +Ben, as a couple of men brought a large basket on board, from the top +of which protruded the necks of a demijohn and several bottles. + +"I shall not go with that party," added Lawry. + +"But I want a pilot," said Ben. + +"What's the trouble, Wilford?" demanded Taylor. + +"Let me tell him you will go, Lawry?" whispered Ben. "He may be hard +on you if you don't." + +"I will not. I must see Mr. Sherwood at once." + +"What's the matter?" asked Ethan. + +Lawry was explaining what had happened, when Ben came down with +Taylor. + +"I shall not go in her till I have seen Mr. Sherwood," added Lawry, +as he finished his brief statement. + +"Then I shall not," said Ethan. + +"I can steer her myself," said Ben to Taylor. + +"Certainly you can." + +"Mr. Sherwood will be down soon, and we must be off before he gets +here." + +"Go up, and start her then," added Taylor. + +Without noticing Lawry and Ethan, Ben rushed up to the wheel-house, +and ordered the deck-hands to cast off the fasts, which was done. He +knew how to steer a boat, and understood the bells, having had +considerable experience on board the large steamers. He rang to back +her, supposing Ethan was at his post in the engine-room. + +She did not back, and he rang again, but with no better success than +before. + +"Back her!" shouted he, through the speaking-tube. + +There was no answer; and, filled with anger, the new captain rushed +down to the engine-room to "blow up" the engineer. He found Ethan on +the main-deck. + +"What are you doing there?" demanded Ben. "Don't you hear the bells?" + +"I heard them," replied Ethan quietly. + +"Why don't you start her, then?" + +"I've nothing to do with her." + +"Don't you run that engine?" + +"I don't." + +"What do you mean?" + +"I mean that I will have nothing to do with the engine as things are +now." + +Ben raved and stormed at Ethan; then he tried to coax him to take +his place; but the engineer was as firm as the pilot had been. Taylor +offered him ten dollars if he would run the engine that day; but he +positively refused. The new captain then went down to the fire-room, +where the man in charge of the furnaces was promoted to the position +of engineer. + +"Now we can go it," said Ben. + +"No; don't start her," said the sheriff. + +"Why not?" + +"I am responsible for the safety of this boat, and she shall not go +with neither pilot nor engineer." + +Taylor and the new captain swore terribly; but the sheriff was +immovable. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + + +THE EXCURSION TO WHITEHALL + + +Lawry was no lawyer, and was therefore unable to form an opinion in +regard to the legality of the steps by which the _Woodville_ had +been taken from him. It was an accomplished fact, and he was as +disconsolate as though he had lost his best friend. He went on shore, +and until the peremptory order of the sheriff was given, he expected +to see the steamer shoot out from the wharf and disappear beyond the +point, in charge of another person than himself. + +He had refused to pilot the steamer under the new order of things, +not because he wished to be spiteful to his brother, but because he +was smarting under a sense of injustice, which unfitted him for the +duty. Though he did not comprehend the legal measures which had been +taken, he felt that there was something wrong. The _Woodville_ +belonged to him, not to his father; and though he was willing to give +all his earnings for the support of the family, and even to pay off +the mortgage on the place, he felt that it was not right to take the +steamer from him. + +He stood on the wharf, paralyzed by the calamity which had overtaken +him. He wanted to do something, but he did not know what to do. The +sheriff, by his caution, had defeated the plans of the new captain, +and Lawry was waiting to see what would happen next. He wished to see +Mr. Sherwood, and he would have hastened up to his house if he could +have endured the thought of losing sight of the steamer even for a +moment. Ethan was still on deck, for though he refused to run the +engine, he felt it to be his duty to stand by and see that no +accident happened, for the steam was up, and the fireman was an +unskillful person. + +Ben Wilford and Taylor were disappointed and chagrined at their +failure to get off. They stormed and swore, till it was apparent that +storming and swearing would not start the steamer. The sheriff +positively refused to let the boat depart without a competent pilot +and engineer. + +"What shall we do, Wilford?" said Taylor. "Can't you persuade your +brother to take hold again?" + +"He's as obstinate as a mule; but I'll try," replied Ben. + +"Offer him twenty dollars for his day's work," added Taylor. + +"I may be able to compromise with him, if you're willing." + +"Anything you please, if you can make him and the other fellow go +with us." + +"Lawry, Mr. Taylor will give you twenty dollars if you will pilot +the steamer to-day," said Ben. + +"I wouldn't go for a hundred," replied the young pilot. "I won't go +with you at any rate." + +"Don't be so obstinate, Lawry." + +"I engaged the boat to Mr. Sherwood, and I will not go with anybody +else." + +"Mr. Sherwood won't care when he finds out that you are not to +blame. You can't resist the law, and it isn't your fault." + +"Ben, I wouldn't do what you have done for all the steamers on the +lake. You have got this man to attach the property, and take the +house away from mother, just because you wanted to be captain of this +steamer." + +"What's the use of talking about that, Lawry?" replied Ben +impatiently. "I'm going to be captain of this steamer, anyhow; and +the sooner you make up your mind to it, the better it will be for you." + +"I can't help myself." + +"I know you can't, and for that reason you had better submit with a +good grace. If you will take your place in the wheel-house, Mr. +Taylor will remove the attachment." + +"Will he?" + +"I will," replied Taylor. + +"And put everything where it was before?" asked Lawry. + +"Of course I am to be captain, and Mr. Taylor is to have the boat to- +day," added Ben. + +"Mr. Taylor can't have her to-day," said Lawry firmly. "I engaged +her to Mr. Sherwood, and if anybody has her to-day, he must. That's +all I want to say about it now." + +The young pilot turned on his heel and walked away. His brother and +the creditor were conspirators, and he wanted nothing to do with +them. He might have been less resolute, if he had not seen Mr. +Sherwood's carriage stop at the head of the wharf. + +"Are you all ready, Lawry?" asked Mr. Sherwood. + +The poor boy could make no reply; he burst into tears, and turned +away from his kind friend. + +"What's the matter, Lawry?" demanded Mr. Sherwood. + +"I suppose he feels bad, sir," interposed the sheriff. "The boat has +been attached for his father's debts." + +"For his father's debts!" exclaimed the rich gentleman. + +The officer gave him a full explanation of the case. + +"This will never do," added Mr. Sherwood indignantly. "This boat is +Lawry's property in his own right." + +"I think not," added Taylor. "Here's my lawyer; he can explain the +matter to you." + +"No explanation is needed," replied Mr. Sherwood. + +"The boy is a minor," said the legal gentleman. + +"He may need a guardian, nothing more, to enable him to hold the +property." + +"Perhaps you are more familiar with the law than I am, Mr. +Sherwood," said the legal gentleman pompously. "You gave this boat to +the boy." + +"I did." + +"While she lay at the bottom of the lake she was worth nothing. She +was an abandoned wreck. If you had any property at all in her, it was +subject to the salvage. Lawry Wilford raised her. I suppose you are +willing to believe that the boy's father is entitled to his earnings?" + +"I grant that." + +"Well, sir, whatever the boy earned in the way of salvage belongs to +his father; and we sue to recover that." + +"This is a ridiculous suit!" exclaimed Mr. Sherwood. + +"Perhaps it is, sir, but we shall hold the boat, subject to the +decision of the court." + +Mr. Sherwood was vexed and perplexed; for, whether the claim could +be substantiated or not, the _Woodville_ could be held until a +decision was reached. Lawry then took him aside, and told him what +his brother had done, in order to make himself captain of the steamer. + +"Is that it, Lawry? I'm more sorry for your brother's sake than I am +for yours. I pity him, because he has been capable of doing so mean a +thing. Don't distress yourself, my boy. We will make this all right +in the course of ten minutes." + +"But they have taken the steamer away from me, and given her up to +Ben, who is to take charge of her." + +"Never mind, Lawry. They shall give her back to you," replied the +rich man, as he walked up to the lawyer. "How much is your claim +against Mr. Wilford?" + +"One thousand and sixty-four dollars," answered the legal gentleman. + +"Will you take my draft or check for the amount?" + +"No, sir." + +"I see you are not disposed to be accommodating." + +"We intend to have the first sail in this steamer," sneered Taylor. + +"I intend you shall not," said Mr. Sherwood. + +Unfortunately he had not money enough with him to discharge the +claim against the ferryman, which, as it was a just debt, whatever +might be said of the means taken to recover it, he had decided to +pay, rather than give bonds for the steamer, and contest the +attachment. He had invited several gentlemen to accompany him up the +lake in the _Woodville_, who were now on the wharf, and from +them he borrowed enough to make up the sum required. The money was +given to Mrs. Wilford, with instructions to go to a certain lawyer +and employ him to see that the mortgage on the house and land was +properly canceled. + +"When we get our money, the attachment on the boat can be dissolved, +not before," said the lawyer. "Mr. Sheriff, the debt is not paid yet." + +"I will put the money in your hands, if you desire," added Mr. +Sherwood to the sheriff. + +"I am satisfied. You may go where you please with the boat, and as +soon as you please," replied the official. + +"She will not go till this claim is settled, Mr. Sheriff," +remonstrated the legal gentleman. + +"She may go now," responded the officer. "Ben Wilford, your services +will not be needed. Now, gentlemen, we will go up to the village and +settle the bills." + +The lawyer protested that the attachment could not be removed till +the debt had been paid, but the sheriff was willing to take the +responsibility of releasing the boat. + +"All aboard, Lawry!" shouted Mr. Sherwood. + +"I didn't expect you to do this, sir," said the young pilot; "but I +will pay you every dollar, if the steamer ever earns so much." + +"We will talk about that some other time, my boy. We are all ready +to be off now." + +Lawry, with a light heart, sprang to his place in the wheel-house; +Ethan was already at his post in the engine-room, and the ladies and +gentlemen of the party hastened on board. + +"Put that basket ashore," said Lawry to the deckhands, as he pointed +to the "stores" of the party. + +The basket was tumbled on the wharf, to the imminent peril of the +glassware it contained. Ben Wilford stood on the pier, leaning +against one of the posts to which the steamer was fastened. He looked +sour and disappointed. + +"Cast off the bow-line," said Lawry, when all was ready. + +At this moment Ben jumped on board. + +"Stop her!" said Mr. Sherwood sharply, as Lawry rang the bell to +back her. + +"What's the matter, sir?" asked the pilot. + +"Young man," said Mr. Sherwood, stepping up to Ben Wilford, "you +will oblige me by going on shore." + +"What for?" demanded Ben crustily. + +"We do not need your company." + +"But I want to go." + +"I do not wish you to go." + +"I think it is rather steep for you to tell me I can't go in my +brother's boat." + +"Steep as it may seem, you can't go," added Mr. Sherwood firmly. + +"Can't I go, Lawry?" continued Ben. + +"It is not for him to say. I have engaged this boat for my party to-day, +and, beyond his crew, it is not for him to say who shall go." + +"I'm going, anyhow," replied Ben stubbornly. + +"No, you are not." + +"Yes, I am! if you want to fight, I'm all ready." + +"Young man, you wanted to be captain of this boat; you have made a +mistake." + +"No, I haven't. You and Lawry can't make a nobody out of me." + +"You will do it yourself." + +"You see." + +"Will you go on shore?" + +"No, I won't." + +The sheriff stood on the wharf with Mrs. Wilford, waiting to see the +departure of the _Woodville_. Ben's mother begged him to come on +shore; but he was in that frame of mind which seemed to make +opposition a necessity to him. "Do you want any assistance, Mr. +Sherwood?" asked the sheriff, as he stepped on deck. + +The reckless young man would have been very glad to have Mr. +Sherwood put his hand upon him, for it would have afforded him an +opportunity to revenge himself for his disappointment. It was another +thing to raise his hand against an officer of the law, and he +sullenly walked up the gangplank when that formidable individual +intimated his readiness to relieve the boat of her unwelcome passenger. + +"Haul in the plank, and cast off the bow-line," said Lawry. + +He rang the bell to back her, and when her bow pointed out from the +shore, the stern-line was cast off, and she moved slowly away from +the wharf. + +"I'm sorry your brother behaves so badly, Lawry," said Mr. Sherwood, +after the steamer started. + +"It makes me sick to think of it, sir," replied the pilot. "I'm +really afraid of him, for I don't know what he will do next." + +"Do your duty, faithfully; that is all you need do." + +"I feel almost sorry I didn't let him be captain, when I think the +matter over." + +"He is not fit to be captain; and you did quite right in not +consenting to it. I'm sorry for you, Lawry, and sorry for your +mother, for he must be a sore trial to both of you." + +"If he wasn't my brother I wouldn't care," added Lawry, restraining +the tears. + +"Never mind it, my boy; we won't say anything more about it. Let us +hope your brother will grow better." + +"I hope he will, sir." + +The _Woodville_ was now going at full speed up the lake. The +party on board consisted of twenty-four ladies and gentlemen, most of +whom were summer visitors at Port Rock. They were delighted with the +beautiful little craft, and glad to know that she could be obtained +for pleasure-parties during the summer. They wandered about the deck, +saloon, and cabin till they had examined every part of her, and then +they gave themselves up to the enjoyment of the sail, and of the +magnificent scenery on the borders of the lake. They seated +themselves on the forward deck, and Lawry pointed out the objects of +interest as the steamer proceeded; and in this occupation he forgot +the conduct of Ben, and was as happy as the happiest of the party +before him. The ladies and gentlemen sang songs and psalm tunes, in +which the sweet voice of Fanny Jane Grant was so prominent that Ethan +was once enticed from the fascinating engine which occupied all his +thoughts. + +In the meantime, Mrs. Light was busy with the dinner. Captain Lawry +was a little uneasy on this subject, for it was out of his line of +business. In the middle of the forenoon he gave the wheel to one of +the deck-hands, and went down into the kitchen to satisfy himself +that this important matter was receiving due attention. The cook was +so confident and enthusiastic that he was quite sure she would +realize the expectations of the passengers. In the cabin he found the +girls busy at the tables. Both of them had seen service in hotels, +and there was no danger of a failure in their department. At one +o'clock dinner was on the table, and the young captain went down +again to assure himself that it was all right. + +"Come, Lawry, can't you dine with us?" said Mr. Sherwood, when the +bell had been rung. + +"I can't leave the wheel, sir." + +"But don't you want some dinner?" + +"I'll have my dinner when we get to Whitehall. Haste makes waste, +you know; and if I should be in a hurry to eat my dinner we might get +aground, or be smashed up on the rocks." + +"I suppose you are right, Lawry, and I will do the honors of the +table for you," laughed Mr. Sherwood. + +The dinner was not only satisfactory, but it was warmly praised; and +Mrs. Light was made as happy as the captain by the enthusiastic +encomiums bestowed upon her taste and skill in the culinary art. + +The _Woodville_ reached Whitehall at two o'clock, where the +party went on shore to spend an hour. While they were absent Lawry +and all hands had their dinner, the cabins and the deck were swept, +and everything put in order. Quite a number of people visited the +little steamer while she lay at the pier; and a gentleman engaged her +to take out a party the next Saturday, with dinner for twenty-four +persons. When Mr. Sherwood returned, he had let her for another day. + +At three o'clock the _Woodville_ started for Port Rock. The +party were still in high spirits, and the singing was resumed when +the wheels began to turn. On the way down, she stopped at +Ticonderoga, while her appearance so delighted a party of pleasure- +seekers that she was engaged for another day, and a dinner for twenty +spoken for. + +"Lawry, you must have an engagement-book, or you will forget some of +your parties," said Mr. Sherwood, who stood by the pilot, in the +wheel-house, when the steamer started. + +"I have put them all down on a piece of paper, sir. I will get a +book when I go to Burlington." + +"Which will be to-morrow. I had engaged her for four days when you +came up with her from Port Henry; but I'm afraid we shall work you +too hard." + +"No fear of that, sir. I only hope I shall be able to pay you that +money you advanced this morning." + +"Don't say a word about that. Let me see: you are engaged in +Burlington to-morrow, to me the next day, and in Whitehall on the +following day." + +"I will get a book and put them down, sir." + +"But you must be in Burlington by eight o'clock tomorrow morning." + +"We can run up to-night." + +"You will get no sleep if you run all night." + +"I think we shall want another fireman." + +"You will: for in order to keep your engagements you will +occasionally have to run nights." + +At eight o'clock the _Woodville_ landed her passengers at Port +Rock, and as the gentlemen went ashore, they gave three cheers for +the little steamer and her little captain. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + + +BURLINGTON TO ISLE LA MOTTE + + +On his way home, Mr. Sherwood went to the ferry-house and satisfied +himself that the mortgage on the place had been canceled. Mrs. +Wilford was profuse in the expression of her gratitude to him for his +kindness to the family, and hoped that Lawry and his father would be +able to pay him back the whole sum. + +"Mrs. Wilford, so far as gratitude and obligation are concerned, the +balance is still largely against me. Millions of dollars would not +pay the debt I owe to your son." + +"Oh, Lawry don't think anything of that, sir!" + +"But I do. Madam, if your son had been five minutes later than he +was when the little steamer went down, Miss Fanny Grant would +certainly have been drowned, and my wife would doubtless have shared +her fate. And when I think that this exposure of their precious lives +was my own fault; that my wife and her sister had nearly perished by +my foolish haste and recklessness, I feel like giving every dollar I +have in the world to Lawry. You don't understand this matter as I do, +Mrs. Wilford." + +"I didn't think you were in any great danger." + +"Miss Fanny would certainly have been drowned; and I don't think it +would have been possible for me to save my wife, for I was nearly +exhausted when Lawry came. Now, Mrs. Wilford, do you suppose I shall +mind one, two, or ten thousand dollars, where my brave deliverer is +concerned? In one word, I will never take a dollar which I have +expended for Lawry or the family. Your son is a manly and independent +boy, and I don't like to hurt his feelings; so I shall not say +anything about this money at present." + +"Lawry is a good boy," said Mrs. Wilford proudly. + +"He is worth his weight in gold. I am sorry your oldest son is not +more like him." + +"I don't know what to think of Benjamin." + +"Where is he now?" + +"I don't know; I haven't seen him since the steamer left, this +morning." + +"Lawry is a good deal troubled about the ferry-boat." + +"He needn't be." + +"Can you hire a man to run the boat?" + +"Yes; I can get a boy who will do it for half a dollar a day, and be +glad of the chance. I will engage one." + +"Lawry goes to Burlington to-night to take out a party to-morrow." + +"To-night?" + +"Yes; he must be there by eight in the morning." + +Mrs. Wilford thought her son was having a hard time with the +steamer; but she knew he would be satisfied as long as he was doing +well. Mr. Sherwood, assured that there was nothing at home to detain +the young pilot, left the house. Lawry soon after entered; but he had +not time to tell his mother the particulars of his first trip on the +_Woodville_. He could remain but a few moments, while the hands +were "coaling up," from a cargo of coal deposited on the wharf that +day, by the order of Mr. Sherwood. + +At nine o'clock everything was ready for the departure. The fireman +grumbled at being called upon to work at night; but Lawry promised to +get another man to keep watch as soon as he could. It was a long +day's work for all hands. When the young captain had gone to the +wheel-house to start the boat, Mr. Sherwood rushed down the wharf, +and jumped aboard. + +"I was afraid I should be too late," said he, as Lawry met him on +the main-deck. "I have been all over the village to find you another +fireman, and I have succeeded in getting you a first-rate one--an old +hand at the business." + +"Thank you, sir; you are taking a great deal of trouble for me." + +"There's another thing I quite forgot; I didn't pay you for the trip +nor the dinners. Here is the money." + +"I can't take it, Mr. Sherwood," protested Captain Lawry. + +"But you must take it; if you don't I can't engage the boat again." + +"Not from you, sir." + +"I am more interested than any other person in your success with the +steamer, and I insist that you take the money." + +"I owe you for this cargo of coal, now." + +"That was a present from Miss Fanny Grant." + +"She is very generous." + +"Generous! If she doesn't do more than that for you, I shall be +ashamed of her. By the way, captain, she paid the bill for repairing +the steamer at Port Henry." + +"Indeed!" exclaimed Lawry, who had intended to discharge this debt +with the first money he earned. "She is very kind. I don't deserve so +much from her and you." + +"More, my boy. We haven't done anything at my house but talk about +you for a week. Now, you must be reasonable. We intended to give you +a good start. Miss Grant wishes to put an upright pianoforte in the +saloon. There is just room for it at the end of the stateroom on the +starboard side. When that is put in, we shall let you alone. Now, +Lawry, take this money; if you don't, I shall be offended." + +"I don't like to do so," pleaded Lawry. "It makes me feel mean." + +"It need not; take it, Lawry, for you will want money to provision +your boat in the morning." + +Captain Lawry took it, though it seemed to burn his fingers. + +"Now, my boy, you shall have your own way. I will force nothing more +on you, except what I fairly owe you, and you shall make your fortune +without any help or hindrance from anybody." + +"I owe you now---" + +"Silence, Lawry!" laughed Mr. Sherwood. "There comes your second +fireman." + +As the man came down the gangplank, he handed Mr. Sherwood a long +package, done up in brown paper. + +"One thing more, Lawry," said his munificent friend, as he led the +way to the engine-room, which was lighted by a lantern. "Will you let +me put this sign up over the front windows in the wheel-house?" + +"Certainly, sir. What is it?" + +"It is the motto of the steamer, and fully explains how I lost the +boat," replied Mr. Sherwood, as he unrolled the package. + +It was a small sign, about three feet in length, elegantly painted +and gilded, on which was the motto: + +HASTE AND WASTE. + +"While you were at Port Henry, repairing the boat, I went up to +Burlington, where I ordered this to be done. It came down to-day, and +I want it put up in the wheel-house, where it will be constantly +before your eyes, as the best axiom in the world for a steamboat man. +It will be the history of the _Woodville_ to you, and I hope you +will always act upon it, never running your boat above a safe speed, +nor leave your wharf when it is imprudent to do so." + +"I shall be very glad to have those words always before me," replied +Lawry. + +"When you are ready to go, captain, we are," said Mr. Sherwood. + +"I'm all ready, sir." + +Lawry turned, and to his astonishment saw Mrs. Sherwood and Miss +Fanny, who had been looking over his shoulder at the pretty sign. + +"We are going with you, Captain Lawry," added Mr. Sherwood; "that +is, if you won't charge us anything for our passage." + +"I am very happy to have you as passengers," stammered Lawry. + +"We are so much in love with your boat, Lawry, that we could not +stay away from her," added Mrs. Sherwood. + +"And her captain," said Miss Fanny. + +Lawry was good for nothing at complimentary speeches, and he went +aft to give the girls directions to light up the cabin and the two +staterooms for the accommodation of his unexpected passengers. + +"Where's Fanny Jane?" asked Ethan, when Mr. Sherwood had gone to the +wheel-house to put up the motto. + +"She is going to keep house for us while we are gone," replied Miss +Fanny mischievously. "You were so unsocial to-day she would not come +with us." + +"I had to look out for the engine," pleaded Ethan. + +"That was not the reason, Ethan," interposed Mrs. Sherwood. "You +behaved splendidly." + +"If you were twenty, instead of sixteen, Ethan, I should say you +were in love with Fanny Jane," laughed Miss Fanny. + +"Oh, nonsense!" exclaimed Ethan, blushing beneath his smutty face. +"I like her, and after what we went through out West, I don't think +it is very strange I should." + +"You are right, Ethan. She is a good girl, and I hope you will like +her more, rather than less." + +"The saloon is ready for you, ladies," said Lawry, interrupting this +pleasant conversation--very pleasant to Ethan, for without entering +into an analysis of the young engineer's feelings, it is quite +certain he thought a great deal of the companion of his wanderings in +Minnesota; but fortunately he is not the hero of this book, and this +interesting suggestion need not be followed out any further. + +The little captain conducted the ladies to the saloon, and then +hastened to the wheel-house, where Mr. Sherwood, by the light of a +lantern in the hands of one of the boys, had screwed up the sign. + +"Haul in the plank!" shouted Lawry, "Cast off the bow-line." + +The _Woodville_ backed till she was dear of the wharf, and then +went ahead. Lawry knew the lake by night as well as by day, and he +was perfectly at home at the wheel, not withstanding the darkness +that lay in the steamer's path. One of the deck-hands was a boy of +sixteen, who had served in a similar capacity on board the lake +steamers, and was a good wheelman, though he knew nothing of the +navigation of the lake, and steered only by the directions given him +from time to time. Captain Lawry called this hand, and gave him the +wheel, with orders to run for a certain headland several miles distant. + +The young captain went below with Mr. Sherwood, to make his +arrangements for the night. The second fireman had already been +installed in the fire-room by Ethan, and the first had gone forward. +A portion of the forehold of the steamer had been fitted up for the +accommodation of the crew. It contained four berths, and was well +ventilated by a skylight in the forecastle. In building the boat, Mr. +Sherwood had insisted upon having everything put into her that was to +be found in larger craft; and these quarters for the hands were now +very convenient, if not indispensable. + +Lawry gave one of these berths to the first fireman, and +appropriated the other to the use of the second and the two deck- +hands. The second boy was gaping fearfully on the forward deck, and +was quite delighted when the captain told him he might turn in. On +the starboard side of the steamer, forward of the wheels, were two +very cunning little staterooms, the corresponding space on the port +side being occupied by the kitchen and storerooms. One of these was +for the engineer, and the other for the captain. Abaft the wheels, on +each side, was a small stateroom, one of which had been designed for +the captain. Both of these rooms had been appropriated to the cook +and the two waiter girls. Mrs. Light, in the apartment of the +commander, was quite delighted with her accommodations; but Mr. +Sherwood declared that she deserved a princely couch for the good +dinner she had served that day. + +The two staterooms to be occupied by the passengers were taken out +of the space that would otherwise have been park of the saloon, and +were entered by doors on each side of the passageway leading to it. +They were beautiful little rooms, though ladies in full crinoline +might have been somewhat perplexed at their contracted dimensions. +They were elegantly furnished, and Miss Fanny declared that her room +made her think of the fairy palaces for little people, of which she +had read in her childhood. There were twelve berths in the lower +cabin, but these were not needed. + +Having disposed of his crew for the night, Lawry returned to the +wheel-house, where he was soon joined by his passengers, who spent an +hour with him before they retired. At half-past ten they went to +their rooms, and Lawry was alone. Not a sound was to be heard except +the monotonous clang of the engine, and the lake was as silent in the +gloom as though the shadow of death was upon it. There was a +solemnity in the scene which impressed the young pilot, even +accustomed as he was to the night and the silence. He was worn out by +the labors and the excitement of the day, but he could not resist the +inspiration which came from the quiet waters and the gloomy shores. + +The _Woodville_ sped on her way, and at midnight she was +approaching the steamboat wharf at Burlington. Lawry rang to "slow +down," and informed Ethan that the boat was close to the wharf. The +"fires were drawn," and in a few moments more the steamer was made +fast to the wharf. After satisfying himself that everything was +secure on board, the exhausted pilot went to his stateroom, and was +soon fast asleep. Ethan followed him, after instructing the first +fireman to get up steam early in the morning. + +Both the pilot and the engineer slept till seven o'clock; but when +they came out of their rooms, blaming themselves for sleeping so +late, they found the decks washed down, the cabins in order, steam +up, and breakfast ready. Those who had "turned in" early had +faithfully performed the duties belonging to them, as they had been +instructed the evening before. Mrs. Light, who was steward as well as +cook, had been to the market, and purchased the supplies for +breakfast and dinner. Mr. Sherwood and the ladies had risen early, +and taken a walk, which gave them a keen appetite for the excellent +breakfast prepared for them. The passengers insisted that Captain +Lawry should sit at the head of the table with them, as this was the +proper place for the commander of the steamer. + +During his walk Mr. Sherwood had purchased three blank books, and a +double slate, for which Lawry, agreeably to the arrangement that +nothing more should be forced upon him, paid the cash on the spot, to +the great amusement of the ladies. The memoranda of each trip, +including the time of arrival and departure, and of reaching or +passing the principal points on the lake, were to be entered on the +slate in the wheel-house, and afterward copied into the largest of +the blank books. These were called the log-slate and the log-book. +The second was the engagement-book, and the third an account-book, in +which the receipts and expenses of the steamer were to be kept. + +After breakfast Mr. Sherwood assisted his young friend in opening +these books, and explained to him the best method of keeping his +accounts. By this time the party for the day's excursion had begun to +arrive. The ladies and gentlemen were friends of Mr. Sherwood, and he +and his wife and Miss Fanny were to join them. A small band had been +provided for the occasion, consisting of six pieces. + +Precisely at eight o'clock the _Woodville_ left the wharf, amid +the inspiring strains of the "Star-spangled Banner," performed by the +band. The scene was in the highest degree exhilarating; and the +little captain was the happiest person on board, where all was +merriment and rejoicing. The boat was to go down the lake as far as +Isle La Motte, where the party would spend a couple of hours on +shore, and return by six o'clock in the afternoon. This program was +carried out to the letter, without any accident, or any nearer +approach to one than a thunder-shower and squall. When the little +captain saw the tempest coming down upon him, he put the boat about +and run her up into the teeth of the squall. The ladies and gentlemen +saw the commotion on the water, and some of them were very much +alarmed; but the _Woodville_, under the good management of +Lawry, did not careen a particle, being headed into the wind. + +In three minutes it was over, the steamer returned to her former +course, and the party wondered that she made no more fuss about it. +While the rain continued, the excursionists were compelled to remain +in the saloon; but they were full of glee, after their terror had +subsided, and the shower was hardly regarded as a detriment to the +pleasure of the trip. + +At the appointed hour the _Woodville_ was at the wharf in +Burlington. Before the party left the boat, they met in the saloon, +and passed a vote of thanks to the little captain, in which the +dinner, the steamer, and her commander were warmly praised. It was +written out, a copy was given to Lawry, and it was to be published in +the Burlington papers. While the boat was stopping at the wharf, Mr. +Sherwood went up to a printing office, where he had left an order for +a job in the morning, and returned bringing with him a few copies of +the handbill, which was to announce the _Woodville_ more generally +to the public. It was posted in various parts of the steamer, and read +aloud with mischievous delight by Miss Fanny. It was printed in colors, +ornamented with a cut of a steamer, and read as follows: + +MOST DELIGHTFUL EXCURSIONS ON THE LAKE! + +THE NEW AND SPLENDID MINIATURE STEAMER + +_WOODVILLE_, + +Captain Lawrence Wilford, + +With elegant and luxurious accommodations for thirty passengers, is +now ready to convey pleasure-parties to any part of the lake. + +Breakfasts, dinners, and suppers provided on board; and the tables +will be supplied with the best the market affords. + +Apply by letter, or otherwise, to + +CAPTAIN LAWRENCE WILFORD, + +Port Rock, N. Y. + +By seven o'clock the _Woodville_ was under way for Port Rock. +Lawry gave the helm to one of the deck-hands, and went below to make +some entries in his account-book. He had been paid, that day, fifty +dollars for the boat, and thirty dollars for dinners. Mrs. Light had +expended twenty-six dollars for provisions and groceries, but he +still had one hundred and twenty-eight dollars. It was a large sum of +money for a boy of fourteen to have, and he counted it with a pride +and pleasure which made him forget the fatigue of his severe labors. + +At half-past ten the steamer was moored to her wharf at Port Rock. +Mr. Sherwood and the ladies bade the little captain good-night, and +went home. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + + +TEN THOUSAND IN GOLD + + +It was fortunate for Lawry that he was able to sleep well in the +midst of the excitement in which he lived; otherwise his bodily frame +must have yielded to the pressure to which it was subjected. He did +not wake till seven the next morning, which invigorated his powers +and prepared him for the duties of another day. As soon as he turned +out, he went up to see his mother, and gave her a hundred dollars of +the money he had earned, reserving the balance for the expenses of +the boat. + +At nine Mr. Sherwood and his party came on board. It had been his +intention to visit Ticonderoga; but business letters which he found +waiting his arrival the evening before compelled him to change his +destination to Burlington. + +Just before the party appeared, Ben Wilford had been seen lounging +about the wharf. He had complained bitterly to his mother of the +treatment he had received from Lawry, and did not seem to be +conscious that he had ever been engaged in a base and mean conspiracy +against the peace and happiness of the whole family. Mrs. Wilford had +spoken plainly to him, which had only increased his irritation. The +little steamer was a sore trial to him, for she was the indication of +Lawry's prosperity. + +Ben had fully persuaded himself into the belief that he, and not +Lawry, ought to be captain of the _Woodville_. She was a family +affair, and he could not regard his brother as the actual owner of +her. He had imagination enough to understand and appreciate the +pleasure of being in command of such a fine craft. His conspiracy had +signally failed; in his own choice phrase, Mr. Sherwood "carried too +many guns for him," and it was useless to contend against money. + +The envious brother had so far progressed in his views as to believe +that a subordinate position in the _Woodville_ was better than +no position at all. He had heard of the fine times the parties had on +board of her, of the splendid dinners, and the inspiring music; and +he was very anxious to have a situation in her. He was afraid of Mr. +Sherwood, and dared not again take his place boldly on board. At a +favorable moment, when Lawry and the deck-hands were employed on the +after part of the deck, he slipped down the plank and into the +forecastle, concealing himself in the berth of one of the firemen. +This trick might insure him a passage with the excursion-party, if +nothing more. + +When the ladies and gentlemen had all arrived, the boat left the +wharf, and commenced her voyage down the lake. After she had gone a +couple of miles Ben Wilford came out of his hiding-place, and +proceeded directly to the wheel-house, feeling that he had nothing to +fear from his kind-hearted brother, and hoping to conciliate him +before Mr. Sherwood discovered that he was on board. He entered the +open door of the wheel-house as coolly as though he belonged there. + +"Ben!" exclaimed the little captain, when he saw him. "I didn't know +you were on board." + +"I didn't mean you should till I got ready," replied Ben. + +"I don't know as Mr. Sherwood will like it when he sees you," added +Lawry. + +"If you like it, he will." + +"I'm sure I've no objection to your going with me." + +"I knew you hadn't." + +"But the steamer belongs to Mr. Sherwood to-day." + +"Don't you want some help, Lawry? Mother thinks you are working +rather too hard." + +"I don't think I shall hurt myself," answered Lawry, laughing; and +he was really pleased to find Ben in such good humor. "I don't see +that you can help me any." + +"I can steer." + +"So can Rounds," replied Lawry, referring to the deckhand whom he +called to the wheel when he left his post. + +"Lawry, you are my brother--ain't you?" + +"Of course I am." + +"And I am your brother--am I not?" + +"Without a doubt you are." + +"Then there are two good reasons why we should not quarrel." + +"I'm very sure I don't wish to quarrel, Ben," added Lawry earnestly. + +"And I'm just as sure I don't," continued Ben. "This is a splendid +little boat, and we might make a first-rate thing of it. I still +think I ought to be captain of her; but I won't quarrel about that +now. I'll take any place you have a mind to give me." + +This was certainly very kind and condescending on the part of the +elder brother, after what had occurred; and Lawry really felt happy +in the excellent spirit which Ben appeared to manifest. + +"You might give me a chance as mate, if you like," added Ben, as he +perceived the smile on his brother's face. + +"I will speak to Mr. Sherwood about it." + +"What do you want to speak to him for? Don't you own this boat?" + +"I do; but he has been very kind to me, and I want to take his +advice when I can. I wish you hadn't got into that scrape the other +day." + +"What scrape?" + +"Why, causing the boat to be attached for father's debts." + +"I didn't mean anything by it, Lawry," answered Ben, in apologetic +tones. "You must acknowledge that you provoked me to it." + +"How, Ben?" + +"I can't get it out of my head that I ought to be captain of this +boat. I think it would be a good deal better for you, Lawry. Just +look at it one minute! You are a pilot, and you have to leave the +wheel to see to everything on board. You ought to have nothing to do +but to navigate the steamer; while I, as captain, could take the +money, see to the dinners, and keep the deck and cabins in good order." + +"We get along very well," replied Lawry. + +"But it will wear you out in a month. Mother is afraid you will kill +yourself, running the boat night and day." + +"If you were captain I should have to be in the wheelhouse all the +time, just the same." + +"Well, I don't insist on it, Lawry," replied Ben, with becoming +meekness. "I was only saying what would be best for all concerned." + +"I will talk with Mr. Sherwood." + +"Whatever you say, he will agree to. Now, give me the wheel, Lawry, +and you go and see your passengers." + +Ben took hold of the wheel, and the young pilot involuntarily +released his grasp on the spokes. The older brother was certainly in +a very amiable frame of mind, and it was perfectly proper to +encourage him; but there was no more need of a mate than there was of +another captain. Rounds, as the older of the two deck-hands, now +performed the duties of that office. There was no freight to be +received and discharged, which the mate superintends; and there was +nothing for him to do but attend to the gangplank and the mooring +lines, and see that the decks were washed down when required. + +Lawry was not quite willing to leave the wheel in charge of his +brother, for he was painfully conscious that he could not always be +trusted. Ben was not often in so pliable a frame of mind, and the +little captain could not help suspecting that he had some object in +view which was not apparent, for he had twice declared, that if he +was not captain of the _Woodville_ no one should be. He was not +prepared to believe that Ben would run the boat on the rocks, or set +her on fire; but he deemed it prudent to keep his eye on him, and on +the course of the steamer. + +Ben steered very well, and Lawry left the wheel-house. At the door +he met Mr. Sherwood, just as that gentleman had discovered who was at +the helm. + +"How's this, Lawry? Have you got more help?" asked his friend. + +"I didn't know Ben was on board till we were two miles from the +wharf. I hope you don't object, sir." + +"Certainly not, Lawry. If you are satisfied, I have no reason to be +otherwise." + +"Ben talks very fair this morning; and I'm sure I don't want to +quarrel with him." + +"Of course not." + +"He still thinks he ought to be captain, and that it would be better +for me;" and Lawry stated his brother's argument. + +"That's all very pretty," replied Mr. Sherwood. "If you wish to give +your brother the command of your steamer, it is not for me to +interpose any objection." + +"But I want to follow your advice." + +"I think you had better let things remain as they are, for the +present, at least. Do as you think best, Lawry. I don't want to +influence you." + +This conversation took place near the door of the wheel-house, and, +though the parties had not so intended, Ben heard every word of it. + +"Do as you think best, Lawry," continued Mr. Sherwood. + +"I want to do what you think is best, sir." + +"You know my opinion. Your brother's habits--I am sorry to say it-- +are not good. I should not be willing to trust him. You cannot place +much confidence in a young man who is in the habit of getting drunk. +I don't want to hurt your feelings, Lawry, but I must be frank with +you." + +Ben ground his teeth with rage, as he listened to this plain +description of himself, and, in accordance with his usual practice in +such cases, vowed to be revenged upon the man who had traduced him, +which was his interpretation of Mr. Sherwood's candid statement of +the truth. + +"I think you are right, sir," replied Lawry, realizing that Ben was +not fit for the command of the _Woodville_, even if he was +disposed to give it to him. + +"Lawry, I have been compelled to change this excursion into a +partial business trip. I am going to buy the surplus-gold of a bank +in Burlington, and you must leave me there and go on to Port Kent. On +your return, you can stop for me," continued Mr. Sherwood. "What is +your engagement for to-morrow." + +"At Whitehall, sir." + +"Capital! You can convey my gold through, so that I can take the +morning train at Whitehall for New York." + +"If we get back to Port Rock by six, we can reach Whitehall by +twelve." + +"Well, that is sooner than I wish to arrive," added Mr. Sherwood +thoughtfully. "I shall have ten thousand dollars in gold with me, +which, at the present rate, is worth about twenty-five thousand +dollars in currency. It would be a great temptation to any rogues, +who might find out the specie was on board. How would it do to start +from Port Rock at midnight?" + +"It will do just as well, sir." + +"Then I shall reach Whitehall just in time for the train. But, +Lawry, I see that you must have another pilot on board." + +"I think I can get along, sir." + +"You will wear yourself out. You have run a portion of the last two +nights, and this arrangement will make the third." + +"I can sleep just as well at Port Rock as at Whitehall. To-morrow +will be Saturday, and my engagements for Monday and Tuesday are at +the upper end of the lake, so that I shall have no more night work at +present. I can stand it well enough." + +"I'm afraid it will be too much for you; but if you have to engage +an extra pilot, you must raise your price to sixty dollars a day." + +"I think we shall need another engineer at the same time. Ethan has +just as hard a time of it as I do." + +"You had better raise your price; people will not object." + +"I was thinking, sir, that Ben would make a good pilot. He is a good +wheelman, and it wouldn't take him long to learn the courses on the +lake." + +Mr. Sherwood shook his head. + +"Would you be willing to trust him with the boat?--go to sleep +yourself, while he is at the helm?" asked he. + +"I think I would, after he had learned the navigation." + +"He is your brother, Lawry, and I don't like to say anything to +wound you; but I feel that your brother is not a reliable person. You +must be very prudent. Even a trifling accident, resulting from +mismanagement, might ruin your business; for people will not expose +their lives needlessly. If Ben will run the ferry the rest of the +year, keep sober, and behave well in every respect, you might make a +pilot of him, or even captain, another season." + +Doubtless this was good advice, and the little captain had so much +confidence in his friend and benefactor that he could not help +adopting it. Mr. Sherwood went into the cabin again, without any +conversation with the subject of his severe but just comments. Lawry +was on the point of leaving the hurricane-deck, where he had talked +with his adviser, when he noticed that the boat was headed toward the +shore, and in a moment more would be aground in the shoal water off +Barber's Point. He rushed into the wheel-house, and found that Ben +had abandoned the helm. Grasping the wheel, the pilot brought her up +to her course, and then turned to his brother. + +"What do you mean, Ben, by leaving the wheel?" demanded Lawry, +filled with indignation at his brother's treachery. + +"Don't talk to me," growled Ben. + +"The boat would have been aground in a minute more." + +"I wish she was." + +"What's the matter, Ben?" + +"I thought you were my brother; but you are not." + +"I'm sorry to hear you talk so; and I didn't think you would do so +mean a thing as to run the boat ashore." + +"I'll do anything now. I heard what Sherwood said to you, and what +you said to him. I didn't think you would let any man talk about your +brother as he did. Do you suppose I would let any man talk like that +about my brother? I'll bet I wouldn't! I'd knock him over before the +words were out of his mouth." + +"Why, what did he say, Ben?" + +"What did he say! Didn't you hear what he said? Didn't he tell you I +was a drunken fellow, and couldn't be trusted?" + +"Well, he certainly did," replied Lawry moodily. + +"And you heard him! And you didn't say a word!" said Ben furiously. + +"What could I say when Mr. Sherwood spoke only what I know is true?" + +"Then you think I'm a drunken fellow, and can't be trusted?" +demanded Ben, with an injured look. + +"Don't you drink too much sometimes?" + +"No, I don't! I drink what I want; but no one ever saw me the worse +for liquor. Who says I can't be trusted?" + +"When I gave you the wheel, at your own request, you left it, and +the boat would have been ashore in another minute. Does that look as +though you could be trusted?" added Lawry. + +"That was because you wouldn't trust me. I was mad." + +"One who would expose the lives of twenty or thirty persons when he +got mad ought not to be trusted." + +"Lawry, you are no longer my brother. You and your mother, and +Sherwood here, have been trying to put me down, and make a nobody of +me. You can't do it. I'm your enemy now. You have made me mad, and +you must take the consequences. I'll burn or smash this boat the +first chance I get! As for Sherwood, I'll teach him to talk about me!" + +The angry young man rushed out of the wheel-house. If Mr. Sherwood +had heard his insane threats he would probably have insisted that he +should be immediately put on shore; but Lawry did not think his +brother capable of the madness of malice his speech indicated; he was +in a passion, and when he cooled off he would be reasonable again. + +Ben sat down on the forecastle where the pilot could see him, and +nursed his wrath till the _Woodville_ arrived at Burlington. He +was in deep thought all the time, and did not heed the singing or +other amusements of the party on board, who were enjoying themselves +to the utmost. Apparently with no perception of his own faults and +shortcomings, he regarded himself as a deeply injured young man. His +mother and his brother had turned against him, and were persecuting +him to the best of their ability. He had come on board to gain his +purpose by conciliation; he had failed, and, in his own view, there +was nothing left for him but revenge. + +The boat touched at Burlington, and to the great relief of Lawry, +his brother followed Mr. Sherwood on shore. At three o'clock the +_Woodville_ returned from Port Kent with the happy excursionists. +While the steamer lay at the wharf, waiting for Mr. Sherwood, many +persons, moved by curiosity to inspect the beautiful craft, came +aboard; and whenever she stopped, she had plenty of visitors of this +description. Among them Lawry saw his brother, accompanied by two +men, who, from the remarks they made, were evidently familiar with +the machinery and appointments of steamers. + +Mr. Sherwood presently appeared attended by a bank messenger with +the precious coin he had purchased at 2.44, the telegraphic quotation +from New York for that day. + +"Where shall I put this gold. Captain Lawry?" asked Mr. Sherwood. + +"I don't know, sir; I'm really afraid of it," replied the captain +nervously. "Can't you carry it in your pockets?" + +"It weighs about thirty-seven pounds," laughed Mr. Sherwood. "I will +lock it up in my stateroom. I shall sleep on board to-night, and it +will be safe enough after we leave the wharf, for no one but you and +me knows there is any specie on board." + +The man of gold went aft with the coin, which was contained in two +bags. + +"I suppose I can go home with you--can't I, Lawry?" asked Ben, as +the little captain started for the wheel-house. + +Lawry could not refuse this request, though his brother was +evidently a little excited by the liquor he had drank. He hoped Ben +had not heard anything about the treasure on board; for he feared +that revenge, if not dishonesty, might prompt him to commit a crime. + +The visitors were warned ashore, and the _Woodville_ departed +for Port Rock, where she arrived at about six o'clock. The +excursion-party went on shore, after the usual compliments to the +steamer and her commander. + +"Now, Lawry, I must go up to the house for my valise; but I will +return in an hour," said Mr. Sherwood, whose carriage was waiting for +him at the head of the wharf. + +"But the gold, sir?" whispered Lawry anxiously. + +"You or Ethan may watch the stateroom till I return, if you please; +but there is no danger here. You must turn in at once, Lawry, so as +not to lose your sleep." + +"I shall be gone four or five days, this time, and I must go home +after some clean clothes." + +"Very well; I will get Ethan to keep his eye on the stateroom," +replied Mr. Sherwood; and Lawry ran up to the cottage. + +Ethan, who had ordered the fires to be banked in furnaces, and was +letting off the superfluous steam, consented to watch the room +containing the gold. Rounds, the deckhand, and the first fireman +turned in, that they might be ready for duty at midnight, when the +boat would start for Whitehall. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + + +CAPTURED AND RECAPTURED + + +Unfortunately for Ben Wilford, he had heard Mr. Sherwood inform +Lawry of his intentions in regard to the purchase and transportation +of the gold. Before the _Woodville_ reached Burlington, the +dissolute young man had resolved to obtain the money if possible, +prompted partly by revenge, and partly by the desire to possess so +large a sum, with which he could revel in luxury in some distant +party of the country. It must be confessed that this resolve to +commit a crime was not simply an impulse, for the young man who leads +a life of indolence and dissipation is never at any great distance +from crime. Ben had been schooling himself for years for the very +deed he now determined to do. + +With more energy and decision, Ben was, in other respects, the +counterpart of his father. His moral perceptions were weak, and the +dissolute life he led had not contributed to strengthen them. He was +the antipode of Lawry, who had been more willing to listen to the +teachings of his mother. + +Ben had resolved to commit a crime, but he had not the skill or the +courage to do it alone. When he went on shore at Burlington, he met +two of his former boon companions, with whom he had often tippled, +gambled, and caroused. One of them had been a fireman, and the other +a deck-hand, on board a steamer with Ben, and he knew them +thoroughly. By gradual approaches he sounded them, to ascertain their +willingness to join him in the robbery. The gold converted into +currency would give them seven or eight thousand dollars apiece, and +the temptation was sufficiently strong to remove all prudential +obstacles. + +While the _Woodville_ was absent on her trip to Port Kent, the +details of the robbery had been settled. The confederates sat on the +corner of the wharf and arranged their plans, which were mainly +suggested by the one who had been a fireman. The scheme was to be +executed while the boat lay at Port Rock, and the two men whom Lawry +had seen with his brother were his associates in the intended crime. +Ben had concealed them in the forehold of the steamer. While the +excursion-party were going on shore at the gangway abaft at the +wheels, and all hands had gone aft to witness their departure, Ben +had called them from their hiding-place, and sent them on the wharf, +where he soon joined them. From a point near the head of the pier, +where they were not observed, they waited till Mr. Sherwood and Lawry +had gone, and all was quiet on board of the steamer. + +"Now is our time," said Ben nervously; for he was not familiar +enough with crime to be unmoved by the desperate situation in which +he had placed himself. + +"Is the coast clear?" asked the fireman. + +"Yes," replied Ben, whose teeth actually chattered with apprehension. + +"Who is there on board now?" + +"No one but the engineer and the fireman, except two boys," answered +Ben. "They were all going to turn in as soon as they got to the wharf." + +"The firemen are both men, but I reckon they won't fight; all the +rest are boys." + +"One fireman and two boys have turned in by this time," added Ben. + +"Then there is no one up but the engineer and one fireman?" + +"No." + +"Where is the gold, Ben?" + +"In the starboard saloon stateroom." + +"All right; have your pistols ready, but don't use them, for it will +be bad for us if we have to kill any one." + +The party walked down to the _Woodville_. All was still on +board of her, except the sound of escaping steam. Ethan stood sentry +at the door of the stateroom containing the gold, and the man on +watch in the fire-room was busy reading a newspaper. It was not +sunset yet, but the crew of the _Woodville_ had been worked so +hard for three days that those off duty could sleep without an opiate. + +"Put on that hatch," said the fireman, who became the leading spirit +of the party, as he pointed to the companion-way of the forehold, +where the hands slept. + +Ben obeyed the order without making any noise, and then the party +went aft, where Ethan was keeping guard over the treasure. + +"Good evening, Ethan," said Ben, with more suavity than he was in +the habit of using. + +"Good evening," replied the engineer. + +"Haven't turned in yet?" continued Ben. + +"No." + +"Going to start at midnight, I hear." + +"Yes." + +"Some friends of mine wanted to look over the boat; I suppose I can +show them through." + +"I don't know; Captain Lawry can tell you," answered Ethan, who did +not like Ben, and was not favorably impressed by the appearance of +the other men. + +Ben walked aft into the saloon, followed by his companions. Ethan +was sitting in a chair by the side of the stateroom door. The fireman +passed round behind, and suddenly fell upon him, throwing him on the +floor and pinioning his arms to his back. + +"What are you about?" cried Ethan, struggling to release himself. +"Help! help!" + +"Stop his mouth!" said Ben fearfully. + +Vainly poor Ethan endeavored to shake off his assailants; his arms +were tied together behind him, and a handkerchief stuffed into his +mouth. In this condition he was lashed to a stanchion, so that he +could move neither hand nor foot. + +The commotion of this outrage attracted the attention of Mrs. Light +and the two waiter-girls, who were employed in the lower cabin. The +fireman exhibited a pistol to them, drove them below again, and +threatened to shoot them if they made any noise. A similar +demonstration quieted the fireman, and compelled him to return to the +fire-room. + +"The job is done," said Baker, the leader of the enterprise. + +"But we haven't got the money," added Flint, the deckhand. + +"We don't want that yet. It is safe where it is. Now both of you to +your stations," continued Baker; and he went down into the fire-room. + +Ben's station was in the wheel-house, Flint's at the fasts, and +Baker's at the engine, as it appeared from their subsequent +movements; and it was evident, from the operations in progress, that +the villains intended to make their escape in the steamer. Baker +stopped the hissing steam which was going to waste, and compelled the +fireman to renew the fires. + +"Be lively!" shouted Ben, from the wheel-house, as he discovered +Lawry on the shore, hastening back to the steamer with his bundle of +clothes. + +"All ready!" replied Baker, finding there was steam enough to start +the boat. + +Flint had already cast off the fasts, without waiting for orders, +and was standing on the forecastle, as impatient to be off as a man +can be who is engaged in the commission of a crime. + +Ben rang the bell to back her; the wheels turned, but as the stern-line +had been cast off, her bow was not carried out from the wharf. +By this time Lawry had discovered that the _Woodville_ was in +motion. He was astonished and alarmed, though he was far from +surmising that his boat had been captured by robbers. Running with +all his speed, he reached the head of the wharf just as the boat had +backed far enough to permit Ben to see him, and for him to see that +Ben was at the wheel. Then he realized that his brother was engaged +in another conspiracy. + +Notwithstanding his extensive knowledge of "steam-boating" in +general, Ben Wilford was a very unskillful pilot. If he had +understood the management of a boat half as well as Lawry, the +nefarious scheme might have been successful. He saw his brother; he +did not wish to have him come on board, for Lawry might be so +obstinate as to induce one of his dissolute companions to fire at +him. He rang the bell to stop her, and then to go ahead, at the same +time putting the helm hard aport. + +The _Woodville_ went forward, and as she met the helm her bow +came round, and she was headed out into the middle of the lake. As +she went ahead, her stern swept in a circle within a few feet of the +wharf, just as Lawry, breathless with haste and alarm, reached the +end of the pier. The little captain knew nothing of the state of +things on board, except that his brother Ben was at the wheel, which, +however, was a sufficient explanation to him. The _Woodville_ +was going, and he could not let her depart without him. Dropping his +bundle, he leaped to the plankshear, grasping the rail with both +hands. Jumping over the bulwark, he stood on the guard from which +opened the windows of the saloon. + +Neither of the three conspirators were in a situation to see this +movement on the part of Lawry. Ben was too much occupied in steering-- +for he was not a little fearful of getting aground in some shoal +water between the ferry and the wharf--to notice anything; but as +soon as he had obtained his course, he looked for his brother on the +pier. He was not there; but Ben did not suspect that he was on board +the _Woodville_. Baker, who knew just enough about an engine to +stop and start it, was working the valves with the bar; and he could +think of nothing else. Doubtless he was conscious by this time that +he had "taken a big job," in assuming the control of the engine. + +Lawry was bewildered by the situation. When his feet struck the +deck, his first impulse was to rush up to the wheel-house, and +confront the difficulty as the case might require. He started to +carry out his purpose, when he happened to look through one of the +saloon windows, and discovered Ethan, with the handkerchief in his +mouth, tied to the stanchion. Deeply as he sympathized with his +friend in his unpleasant position, he was still cheered by the sight, +for it assured him that the engineer had been faithful to his duties, +and was not a party to the conspiracy. + +The little captain went round and entered the saloon by the door, +without being seen by either of the conspirators. He removed the gag +from Ethan's mouth, and proceeded to unfasten the cords with which he +was bound. + +"What does all this mean, Ethan?" demanded Lawry, in excited tones, +and almost crying with vexation. + +"Hush! Do they know you are here?" asked the engineer. + +"I think not; I don't know." + +"Keep still, then. They are after the gold." + +"Who are they?" + +"Ben and two other fellows. I don't know them." + +"We'll stop this thing very quick," said Lawry. + +"They are armed with pistols, and threatened to shoot all hands. Be +careful, Lawry, or you will get a bullet through your head." + +"What shall we do?" demanded the young pilot. + +Ethan was an accomplished strategist. He led the way to the lower +cabin, where the terrified women had been driven by the ruffians. + +"If any of those men ask for me, tell them I got loose, jumped +overboard, and swam ashore," said Ethan. + +"Law sake!" exclaimed the cook. + +"Don't tell them I am here, at any rate." + +"I won't. Massy sake! What are we comin' to?" + +"Don't be alarmed; we will take care of these villains before we +have done with them," added Ethan. + +"Hush! There's some one coming," said one of the girls; and the +heavy tread of a man was heard on the deck above them. + +Ethan and Lawry had only time to crawl into one of the berths, where +Mrs. Light covered them with bedclothes, before Flint came down into +the cabin. + +"See here; we haven't been to supper, and we want some," said the +ruffian, as he descended the steps. + +"What are you goin' to do with us?" demanded Mrs. Light. + +"Don't be scart; we won't hurt you," replied Flint. + +"But where you goin'?" + +"Up to Whitehall. When we get there, you can go where you please. +Now, get us some supper; the best there is on board--beefsteak and +coffee." + +"Well, I suppose I can get you some supper; but I don't like such +carryin's on," replied Mrs. Light. + +Flint left the cabin, after he had given his order. On his way +forward he looked into the saloon, and discovered that their prisoner +was missing. Search was immediately instituted; but Mrs. Light, as +instructed by Ethan, declared that he had got loose and swam ashore; +she had seen him through the stern-lights. The rascals finally +accepted this explanation, after searching on deck for him. + +Mrs. Light went to the kitchen to get supper for the rogues, while +the girls set the table. The cook presently returned to the cabin, +and told Ethan where each of the robbers was stationed; but being +unarmed, there seemed to be no way of making an attack upon them +where the ruffians could not rally to the support of each other. + +"We must settle this business down here, Lawry," said Ethan, when +they had come out of their hiding-places. + +"They will have to come to supper one at a time," added the little +captain. + +"Exactly so; and this will be the safest place to do the job. We +want a rope," added the engineer, with a businesslike air. + +"I'll fetch you a rope," said Mrs. Light. + +"Do; bring me the small heave-line, on the guard by the saloon doors." + +The cook went on deck, and after a visit to the kitchen, returned to +the cabin with the line indicated under her apron. In about half an +hour supper was ready for the villains, and one of the girls informed +Baker, who was still on duty in the engine-room, that it was waiting +for them. The engineer called Flint, and told him, as the boat was +out in the middle of the lake, the engine would need nothing done to +it, and directed him to stand at the door, so that the fireman below +should not attempt to defeat their plans. He then went to the cabin +for his supper. + +Ethan and Lawry had concealed themselves behind the curtains of a +tier of berths, directly in the rear of the chair where Baker was to +sit at the table. In his hand Ethan held the heave-line, at one end +of which Lawry had made a hangman's noose. Mrs. Light and the girls +had been instructed to rattle the chairs, make as much noise as they +could, and otherwise engage the attention of the robber, as soon as +he sat down to the table. + +Baker came down the stairs, and one of the girls began to rattle the +chairs, Mrs. Light to move a pile of plates, and the other girl to +arrange the dishes on the table. "Will you have some coffee?" +demanded Mrs. Light, without giving him time to notice anything in +the cabin. + +"Of course I will," growled Baker. + +"Shall I give you some beefsteak?" asked one of the girls. + +"I'll help myself." + +"If you want some fried eggs I'll get some for you," added the cook, +rattling the dishes again. + +Baker was not permitted to say whether he would have any fried eggs +or not, for at that moment Ethan crept from his concealment, whatever +noise he made being drowned by the clatter of the dishes and the +rattling of the chairs. Stealing up behind Baker, who was intent only +on beefsteak and coffee, he slipped the hangman's noose over his +head, and hauled it tight. The robber attempted to spring to his +feet, but Ethan hauled him over backward on the floor. At the same +time Lawry threw the end of the line over a deck beam, extended +across the skylight, and began to "haul in the slack." + +The villain attempted to cry out; but the sound only gurgled in his +throat. He grasped the rope with both hands; but the choking already +received had taken away his strength, and he was unable to make any +successful resistance. While Lawry kept the rope so taut that Baker +could not move, Ethan tied his hands behind him, though the man's +struggles were fierce, and the engineer was obliged to use a rolling-pin, +supplied by Mrs. Light, before the conquest was complete. The +ruffian was securely bound and gagged; but the cook and the girls had +nearly fainted while the struggle was going on. + +Baker, thus gagged and bound, was rolled into one of the lower +berths. He had been nearly choked to death by the rope, and several +hard knocks he had received on the head had rendered him partially +insensible, so that he was not in condition to make any further +resistance. Ethan had taken possession of his pistol, and, as a +matter of precaution, threatened to blow out his brains if he made +any noise. + +"Massy sake!" groaned Mrs. Light. "I never did see! You've taken my +breath all away!" + +"Don't make a noise," said Ethan. + +"I couldn't have struck that man as you did," added Lawry. + +"If you had been through what I have, out West, it would come easier +to you," replied the engineer. "We must go through the whole of it +once more." + +One of the girls was then sent to call Flint, and directed to assure +him that such was the order of Baker, who had gone to the wheel-house +for a moment, and would immediately return to the engine-room. The +deck-hand was too much in a hurry for his supper to question the +order, and went directly to the cabin. The noise made by Mrs. Light +and the girls prevented him from hearing the heavy breathings of +Baker, and he was an easier victim than his companion in crime had +been. He was choked, gagged, bound, and his pistol taken from him. By +this time these two ruffians, if they could think at all, could not +help believing that the way of the transgressor is hard. + +From regard to the feelings of Lawry, Ethan decided that Ben should +not be subjected to this harsh treatment. He was still in the +wheel-house, not suspecting that his nefarious scheme had been wholly +defeated. + +The work was accomplished, and the pilot and engineer went on deck. +Ethan repaired to his post and stopped the engine. Ben half a dozen +times demanded, through the speaking-tube, what the matter was; but +receiving no answer, he came down himself to ascertain the cause of +the sudden stoppage of the boat. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + + +THE LITTLE CAPTAIN AND HIS MOTTO + + +As Ben Wilford, fearful that some accident to the machinery would +defeat his criminal enterprise, entered the engine-room on one side, +Lawry left it at the other. As the little captain went forward, he +heard a noise in the forecastle, and saw that the companionway was +closed and fastened. Releasing the firemen and deck-hands confined +there, he directed them to follow him to the wheel-house, where he +explained to them what had happened. + +"What are you stopping for?" demanded Ben Wilford, before he +discovered that Baker was not present. + +"I think it is about time to go back, now," replied Ethan, holding +one of the pistols in his hand. + +"How came you here, Ethan?" exclaimed Ben, starting back with +astonishment when he saw who was in charge of the engine. + +"I run this machine, and this is the right place for me," replied +Ethan coolly. + +"Where's Baker?" + +"He's safe; if you mean the man you left in charge of the engine." + +Ben was bewildered by the present aspect of affairs. It was clear +that there had been a miscarriage somewhere; but he was unable to +tell how or where the scheme had failed. Before he could decide what +step to take next, Captain Lawry rang the bell to go ahead. + +"Who rang the bell?" asked Ben. + +"Captain Lawry." + +"Is he on board?" + +"He is," replied Ethan, as he started the engine. "Ben Wilford, you +have got about to the end of your rope." + +"What do you mean?" + +"You have done a job which will send you to Sing Sing for the next +ten years." + +"No, I haven't," said Ben, backing out of the engine-room. + +"Stop where you are," interposed Ethan, peremptorily, as he raised +his pistol. + +"Two can play at that game," added Ben. + +"Two can; but two won't. Drop your hands, or I'll fire!" + +Ben obeyed; he had felt that the game was up the moment he saw Ethan +at his post, and he had not the courage to draw his pistol upon one +who had shot two Indians in one day. + +"Sit down there," continued Ethan, pointing to the bench in the +engine-room, and the culprit took his seat with fear and trembling. + +"What shall I do?" groaned the wretched young man, as he thought of +the consequence of his crime. + +"Jump overboard and drown yourself. That would save your friends a +great deal of trouble," replied Ethan. "Give up your pistol!" + +Ben gave it up, and began to plead with Ethan to let him escape, +declaring that it would kill his mother, and Lawry never would get +over it, if he was sent to the penitentiary. Though the engineer +dreaded the day when his friend would be compelled to testify in +court against his own brother, he would not yield to the culprit's +entreaties, and did not intend that he should escape the penalty of +his crime. + +When the _Woodville_ reached her wharf, having been absent but +little more than an hour, Mr. Sherwood and the ladies were on the +wharf. While Ethan was working the engine with the bar, Ben slipped +out of the room. The engineer saw him, and gave the alarm; but he +could not leave his post at that moment. As soon as the boat was +moored, search was made; but Ben could not be found. He certainly was +not on board. + +Mr. Sherwood was astonished when he was told what had occurred. He +sent his coachman after the sheriff at once, and directed that the +search for Ben Wilford should be renewed. The stateroom was found +locked, as he had left it, and the gold undisturbed. Mrs. Light and +the girls, the firemen and the deck-hands, had their own stories to +tell, to all of which Mr. Sherwood listened very patiently. + +"You have done well, Lawry," said he. "You have saved my gold." + +"It was Ethan, sir, that did the business. I don't believe I could +have done anything alone," replied the little captain. + +"Lawry did his share," added Ethan, with due modesty. + +"I'm sure they both fit like wildcats in the cabin," said Mrs. +Light. "I was e'en a'most scart to death." + +When the sheriff came, he took Baker and Flint into custody, and +sent the constable who had come with him to find Ben Wilford. The two +robbers in the cabin were in bad condition. The choking they had +received had been a terrible shock to their nerves, which, with the +hard knocks given by Ethan with the cook's rolling-pin, had entirely +used them up, and there was neither fight nor bravado in them. Flint +said they had been induced to engage in the enterprise by Ben +Wilford; that they intended to proceed to the vicinity of Whitehall +in the _Woodville_, where the instigator of the affair had +declared his purpose to burn the boat. From this point they were +going to the West, disposing of the gold in small sums as they +proceeded. + +The two robbers were marched off by the sheriff; but nothing was +heard of Ben for two hours, when the boy who ran the ferry-boat, +returning from Pointville, informed Mrs. Wilford that he had gone +over with him. The constable followed, as soon as he heard in what +direction the fugitive had gone. He was not taken that night, and the +search was renewed the next day, but with no better result. It was +afterward ascertained that he had crossed the country to the +railroad, and taken a night train. Having worked his way to New York, +he shipped in a vessel bound to the East Indies. + +It cannot be denied that Lawry and his mother, and even Mr. +Sherwood, were glad of his escape, though he was more guilty than the +two men who had been captured and were afterward tried and sent to +Sing Sing. The little captain and the engineer of the _Woodville_ +were warmly congratulated upon the safety of the steamer, when it was +known that Ben intended to burn her in revenge for having been made +a "nobody"; but Mr. Sherwood declared that, if the boat had been +destroyed, he would have built another, and presented her to Lawry +and Ethan, for he was too much interested in the steamboat experiment +to have it abandoned. + +Mrs. Wilford trembled when she learned that the robbers had been +armed with pistols. Many laughed as they, listened to the account of +the choking operation in the cabin, and everybody was satisfied with +the result. + +Lawry and Ethan were too much excited to sleep that night, though +they turned in at ten o'clock. At midnight the fireman on duty called +them, and the steamer soon started for Whitehall with Mr. Sherwood +and his gold, where she arrived in season for the morning train. As +the party did not start till nine o'clock, the exhausted pilot and +engineer obtained a couple of hours' sleep, while the steamer lay at +the wharf, which enabled them to get through the day without sinking +under its fatigues. + +The following day was Sunday; and though Lawry and Ethan went to +church in the forenoon, as both of them were in the habit of doing, +the day was literally a day of rest to them, and there was a great +deal of "tall sleeping" done. On Monday morning, at six o'clock, the +boat went to Ticonderoga, arriving in good season to keep her +engagement. + +Our limits do not permit us to follow Captain Lawry and the +beautiful little steamer any farther. The young pilot has redeemed +the fairy craft from the bottom of the lake, and overcome all +obstacles in his path to prosperity. He was not again disturbed by +the envy and jealousy of his brother. He was sad when he thought of +his father in prison, and Ben an exile, banished by his misdeeds; but +their errors only made him the stronger in the faith he had chosen, +that fidelity to principle is the safest and happiest course, under +all circumstances. + +Lawry had all the business he could do with the _Woodville_. On +the following week, another pilot and another engineer were obtained, +and the price raised to sixty dollars a day, in conformity with the +suggestion of Mr. Sherwood. This was especially necessary, as, during +the bright moonlight evenings, in the latter part of the month, the +_Woodville_ was employed every night in taking out parties. The +boat lay hardly an hour at a time at the wharf. The money came in so +fast that Mrs. Wilford was bewildered at the riches which were +flowing in upon them. By the advice of Mr. Sherwood the money was +invested in government stocks; but he resolutely refused to accept +payment for what he had advanced on the place or for the boat. + +Early one evening, after Lawry had landed Mr. Sherwood's party at +Port Rock, he started for Burlington, where he had an engagement on +the following day. Half a mile above the wharf, he came up with a +schooner, which on examination proved to be the _Missisque_. It +was a dead calm, and her new mainsail hung motionless from the gaff. +The little captain had not seen her skipper since the day on which +the old sail had been blown from the bolt-ropes by the squall; and he +ran the Woodville alongside of her, in order "to pass the time of +day" with him. + +"How are you, Captain John?" shouted the young pilot. + +"Why, Lawry! How are you?" replied the skipper of the sloop. + +"What are you doing here?" continued Lawry. + +"Waitin' for a breeze of wind. I had a good freight promised to me +if I got to Burlington by to-morrow morn-in', but I guess I sha'n't +quite fetch it." + +"Rounds, heave a stern-line to the sloop, and make fast to her," +added Lawry to his mate. + +"Oh, thank ye, Lawry," replied the grateful skipper. + +"You and your wife must take supper with me." + +"Well, Lawry, I always knowed you was smart," said Captain John. + +"If I didn't get that mainsail down," laughed Lawry. + +"Oh, never mind the mainsail, Lawry," added the skipper, blushing. +"I was a leetle riled that time, and it wan't your fault." + +"I think the green-apple pies made the mischief. Mrs. Light makes +very nice ones, and we will have some for supper," continued Lawry, +as he conducted his guests to the cabin, where they sat down at the +table. + +Captain John and his wife were bewildered at the splendors which +surrounded them, and at the grandeur of Captain Lawry; but they +passed a pleasant evening on board till ten o'clock, when the +_Woodville_ cast off her "tow" in Burlington Bay. + +The upright piano, the gift of Miss Fanny, had been placed in the +saloon, and its sweet strains added to the enjoyment of every party +that employed the steamer. Ethan French, now relieved of part of his +duties by the employment of a second engineer, was never in better +humor than when Fanny Jane, seated at this instrument, sang the songs +she had sung to Wahena and himself on the lake island in Minnesota. + +In September, the business of the _Woodville_, as an excursion +boat, began to fall off, and by the middle of the month it was at an +end. The season had been very profitable, and Lawry's account-book +showed that the boat had been employed forty-one days, besides nine +evenings, the net profits of which were nearly fifteen hundred +dollars, all of which was in the bank, or invested in government +securities. + +While Captain Lawry was considering the practicability of running +the _Woodville_ between certain places on the lake as a passenger-boat, +he was startled by receiving a huge government envelope, containing a +liberal offer for the use of his steamer as a despatch boat on southern +rivers. An army officer, of high rank, who had been a member of one +of the excursion parties in August, had been delighted with the +performance of the little craft, and had spoken to Captain Lawry on this +subject; but the matter had been quite forgotten when the offer came. Mr. +Sherwood and Mrs. Wilford were consulted, and an affirmative answer +returned. Ethan was delighted at the prospect of going South, for +he desired to visit the scene of hostilities, and, if possible, to be +employed in active operations. + +The _Woodville_ went in October, and returned in April, when +the war was finished. Of Captain Lawry's voyage out and back, and his +adventures far up in the enemy's country, we have no space to speak; +but the steamer and her little commander gave perfect satisfaction. + +In June, when the _Woodville_ had been thoroughly repaired and +painted, after her hard service at the South, there was a demand for +her as an excursion boat; and it continued through the season. With +one of Mr. Sherwood's parties, in July, there was an eminent member +of the State Government, who was greatly pleased with Lawry's past +history, as well as with his agreeable manners, and his close +attention to his business. Through this gentleman, an effort, warmly +seconded by Mr. Randall, the bank director, was made to obtain the +pardon of John Wilford. It was successful, and the ferryman returned +to his home a wiser and a better man. + +He was astonished at the operations of his son, and surprised at the +prosperity which had attended his family during his absence. The +cottage had been enlarged, repaired, painted, and partly refurnished. +It was a new home to him; and, profiting by the experience of the +past, he resumed his labor as a ferryman, striving to be contented +with his lot. + +Ethan French does not tire of his pet, the engine of the +_Woodville,_ though it must be acknowledged that he has a +divided heart when Fanny Jane is on board. + +Mrs. Wilford, her confidence in her "smart boy" fully justified, and +rejoicing in the prosperity which attends him, is still happy and +contented in doing a mother's whole duty to her large family of +little ones, hoping that all of them will "turn out" as well as her +second son. + +During the _Woodville's_ second business season, she was +employed by a party of wealthy gentlemen, for a week, in going round +the lake. She had descended the Richelieu to St. Johns, from which +the party ran up to Montreal for a day, returning to the boat in the +evening. Though the time for which the boat was engaged was not up +till the next evening, some of the gentlemen were very anxious to be +in Burlington on the following morning, and insisted that the steamer +should immediately proceed up the river on her return. It was a very +dark and foggy night, and Lawry declined to start, declaring that he +could not run with safety to the boat and passengers. + +The party continued to insist upon their point, adding that if he +was a competent pilot there could be no difficulty in complying with +their wishes. They were gentlemen of wealth and influence, and the +little captain did not like to disoblige them. He argued the question +with them, and pointed to the motto in the wheel-house. They laughed +at him and his motto. There was to be a "trot" between two celebrated +horses, at Burlington, and they were too anxious to witness the race +to be entirely reasonable. + +Captain Lawry was firm, and the gentlemen were angry and indignant. +While they were debating the question in excited tones, another +steamer left the wharf, bound up the river. Her departure seemed to +spoil the young pilot's argument. The party tried to hail the steamer +in the fog, wishing Lawry to put them on board of her; but her people +did not hear their demand, or would not stop for them, and the party +were highly incensed at what they called the obstinacy of Lawry. + +"Haste and waste, gentlemen," replied the little captain. "The river +is narrow and crooked, and there is great danger of getting aground +if I attempt to run in this fog." + +"That other steamer has gone, and if she can run, you can, if you +know your business," replied one of the gentlemen. + +"I'm very sorry; but I don't think we should gain anything by +starting now," added Lawry. + +Finding it was useless to insist any longer, the party took supper, +and turned in, when their anger had partially subsided. The little +captain did not retire that night; he "planked the deck," and watched +the weather. It was a seven hours' run to Burlington, and the "trot" +was to come off at nine o'clock in the forenoon. He still hoped that +he should be able to satisfy his unreasonable party. + +At midnight the wind chopped round to the westward, and blew the fog +over. At one o'clock the _Woodville_ was going up the river at +full speed. At three o'clock she came up with the steamer which had +started from St. Johns four hours before, hard and fast aground. She +hailed the little _Woodville_, and requested assistance. Lawry +took a hawser on board, and gave her a few pulls; but she was too +hard on the sand to be started, and he was compelled to abandon her. +The commotion caused by these operations awoke some of the gentlemen +in the cabin of the _Woodville_, and they came on deck to learn +the occasion of it. + +"What's the trouble, Captain Lawry?" asked one of them. + +"Haste and waste," replied the young pilot sententiously. + +"What do you mean?" + +"Nothing, only the boat which left St. Johns four hours before us is +aground, and can't get off." + +"Well, haste and waste does mean something, after all," laughed the +speaker. + +The gentlemen went to bed again; the _Woodville_ continued on +her course, and when the party came on deck, at seven in the morning, +she was in sight of Burlington. Of course, the excursionists were +delighted to be able to attend the "trot." At four o'clock in the +afternoon, the steamer which had grounded reached Burlington. Some of +Lawry's party came on board in the evening to settle their accounts +with the boat. They were gentlemen, and they acknowledged their +error, and apologized for the strong language they had used. + +"Well, gentlemen, I am very glad you are satisfied," said Lawry, as +he put their money in his pocket. "I shall still believe in and +follow my motto--HASTE AND WASTE." + + +THE END + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Haste and Waste, by Oliver Optic + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HASTE AND WASTE *** + +This file should be named hstws10.txt or hstws10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, hstws11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, hstws10a.txt + +Produced by Avinash Kothare, Charles Franks +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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