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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/76585-0.txt b/76585-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f0318b0 --- /dev/null +++ b/76585-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9475 @@ + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 76585 *** + + +[Illustration: WHEN WADE SAW HE COULD NOT ESCAPE, HE LEAPED UPON THE +RAIL, AND THEN JUMPED OVERBOARD.--Page 220.] + + + + + JUST HIS LUCK + + BY + OLIVER OPTIC + + BOSTON + LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO. + + + + + COPYRIGHT, 1877, BY + LEE AND SHEPARD + + COPYRIGHT, 1905, BY + ALICE ADAMS RUSSELL + + ALL RIGHTS RESERVED + + JUST HIS LUCK + + + + +CONTENTS. + + PAGE + CHAPTER I. + PEACHES AND A HORSEWHIP 7 + + CHAPTER II. + SUPPERLESS TO BED 15 + + CHAPTER III. + WHAT HAPPENED IN THE NIGHT 23 + + CHAPTER IV. + LODGINGS AFLOAT 31 + + CHAPTER V. + HOW IT WAS DONE 39 + + CHAPTER VI. + DOWN THE RIVER 47 + + CHAPTER VII. + A STRIKE FOR INDEPENDENCE 55 + + CHAPTER VIII. + THE BATTLE IN THE BOAT 63 + + CHAPTER IX. + CAUGHT IN THE ACT 71 + + CHAPTER X. + A STRAIGHTFORWARD STATEMENT 79 + + CHAPTER XI. + A HUNGRY SKIPPER 87 + + CHAPTER XII. + WADE BROOKS MAKES A TRADE 95 + + CHAPTER XIII. + TWO WRONGS DON’T MAKE A RIGHT 103 + + CHAPTER XIV. + WADE BROOKS’S FRIEND 110 + + CHAPTER XV. + A NEW YORK SAINT 118 + + CHAPTER XVI. + AN UNEXPECTED MEETING 126 + + CHAPTER XVII. + AT THE LODGING-HOUSE 133 + + CHAPTER XVIII. + A NIGHT ADVENTURE 141 + + CHAPTER XIX. + AN EARLY BREAKFAST FOR TWO 149 + + CHAPTER XX. + A LATE DINNER 157 + + CHAPTER XXI. + THE GHOST OF THE STATE-ROOM 165 + + CHAPTER XXII. + CAPT. BENDIG’S PROMISE 173 + + CHAPTER XXIII. + IMMENSE RICHES 181 + + CHAPTER XXIV. + UNWELCOME PASSENGERS 189 + + CHAPTER XXV. + BOUND TO A SICKLY CLIMATE 197 + + CHAPTER XXVI. + ANOTHER UNEXPECTED MEETING 205 + + CHAPTER XXVII. + ESCAPED OVERBOARD 213 + + CHAPTER XXVIII. + THE LORDS OF THE SEA 221 + + CHAPTER XXIX. + CAPT. BENDIG’S BLUNDER 229 + + CHAPTER XXX. + THE SEARCH AND THE ARREST 237 + + CHAPTER XXXI. + A FULL CONFESSION 245 + + CHAPTER XXXII. + EVEN-HANDED JUSTICE 253 + + CHAPTER XXXIII. + THE WAY OF THE TRANSGRESSOR 261 + + CHAPTER XXXIV. + THE EMPLOYMENT OFFICE 269 + + CHAPTER XXXV. + THE BENEVOLENT BROKER 277 + + CHAPTER XXXVI. + THE NEW CASHIER 285 + + CHAPTER XXXVII. + JUST HIS LUCK AGAIN! 293 + + CHAPTER XXXVIII. + HOLDING THE FORTRESS 301 + + CHAPTER XXXIX. + HOW IT WAS IN THE MORNING 309 + + CHAPTER XL. + GATHERING UP THE SWINDLERS 318 + + CHAPTER XLI. + THE TURNING OF THE TIDE 327 + + + + +JUST HIS LUCK. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +PEACHES AND A HORSEWHIP. + + +“There are some peaches worth eating,” said Lon Trustleton to his two +companions, as they passed an orchard of this delicious fruit on the +river road, as it was called. + +“Them’s tip-top,” added Matthew Swikes: “I go for havin’ some on ’em.” + +“So I say,” replied Lon; and he leaped over the fence, followed by +Matt. “Come along, Wade.” + +“No: I’m not going to steal anybody’s peaches,” answered Wade Brooks. + +“Oh, come along!” called Lon, the son of the rich Captain Trustleton, +who lived on the hill near the village of Midhampton. + +“No: I won’t have any thing to do with the scrape. Besides, I have to +go on an errand to the village,” said Wade. + +“See here, Wade Brooks, if you don’t come over here, I’ll break your +skull,” continued Lon Trustleton, shaking his head to emphasize his +words. + +“What for? for not stealing peaches?” added Wade, with a smile at the +absurdity of the idea. + +“You want to set up for a goody; and when any thing is said about +hooking peaches, you blow on Matt and me, that’s the way of it; and if +you don’t come over here I’ll go over there--that’s all.” + +Matt Swikes was already shaking a tree filled with peaches, which +were even more tempting to Wade than to his companions; for he was a +friendless boy, whom no one fed with nice peaches. As the fruit was +fully ripe, a great quantity came down when Matt shook the tree. He +and Lon filled their pockets, and returned to the road as quickly as +possible; for the consequences of stealing peaches were not always +pleasant, though stolen fruit may be the sweetest. + +The first thing that Lon did when he was in the road was to bat Wade +Brooks over the head, as he had promised to do. + +“What are you about, Lon?” demanded Wade Brooks, as he dodged the blow. + +“I told you I’d do it, and I will,” replied Lon, following up his +victim, who tried to escape from him; but in the end he received +several heavy blows. + +“What’s that for, I should like to know?” said the victim, when his +persecutor seemed to be fully satisfied with the punishment he had +inflicted. + +“I told you what it was for, while I was in the orchard. Now, if you +ever say a word about this thing, I’ll give you a broken head that will +last you longer than this one will. I don’t want any fellow canting +where I am.” + +“I didn’t meddle with you,” replied Wade, who thought it a very hard +case to be pounded for not stealing peaches. “If you want to steal +peaches, that is your affair, and not mine.” + +“If you say any thing more about stealing, I’ll give you another dose +now. Can’t a fellow help himself to a few peaches without it’s being +called stealing?” demanded Lon, with a look of injured innocence. + +Wade Brooks did not think it was worth while to discuss the matter any +more in just that manner, and he was silent. He walked behind his two +companions, and wished they had been half a mile or more from him. He +was a nobody, and Lon was the son of a rich man, even Matt Swikes, +though only the son of a poor farmer, was a good deal better off than +he was, though they both lived under the same roof. + +As the party approached the house of Mr. Garlick, who owned the +peach-orchard they had entered, they found its occupant in the road, +with a horsewhip in his hand. By his side stood his two hired men; and +on the grass near him lay a large dog which had a very bad reputation +and very sharp teeth. + +“I think we had better be moving in some other direction,” suggested +Matt Swikes, when he saw the array of force before them. + +He halted as he spoke, and Lon did the same. Wade, who was innocent, +continued on his way till he came up with Mr. Garlick, who, without any +ceremony, gave him several hard cuts on the legs, and each one of the +blows seemed to the victim to take the skin off. + +“I’ll teach you to steal my peaches,” said the exasperated farmer. + +“I did not touch your peaches: I did not get into the field,” pleaded +Wade, who thought it was even harder to be whipped for stealing the +peaches than it had been to be pounded for not stealing them. + +The farmer hit him several times more before Wade got out of the way; +or, rather, till the attention of the persecutor was called to the +other two. Lon and Matt were disposed to make their escape by jumping +over the fence, and retreating in another direction. + +“Stop, there! if you try to run away, I’ll send my dog after you!” +shouted Mr. Garlick. + +The dog was more dangerous than the man: indeed, he was so fierce that +he was kept chained in the daytime, or Lon would not have dared to +enter the orchard. The brute had no discretion in the use of his teeth, +and had never read the law of the State relating to assaults. The +farmer would be careful in the use of the whip; and Lon did not believe +Garlick would dare to strike the son of Captain Trustleton. He put a +bold face on the matter, and continued his walk towards his father’s +house, which was on the same road. + +But Lon under-rated the pluck of the farmer; for, as soon as the boy +was within his reach, he hit him the hardest cut he could administer +with the whip; and, not satisfied with this, he gave him half a dozen +more. The two hired men had placed themselves behind the boys in the +road, so that they could not retreat; and the farmer thrashed them to +his heart’s content. + +“Let me alone!” yelled Lon, and the whip cut his soul as much as the +skin of his legs. + +“I’ll teach you to steal my peaches, you young villains!” roared the +farmer. + +[Illustration: “I’LL TEACH YOU TO STEAL MY PEACHES, YOU YOUNG +VILLAINS!”--Page 11.] + +“My father will give it to you for this!” cried Lon, smarting under the +pain. + +Then Mr. Garlick rested Lon by giving it to Matt. + +“Let me alone,” groaned Matt, writhing under the torture. “I did not +touch your peaches. It was the fellow that has gone ahead.” + +That was the sort of a fellow Matt Swikes was; and a little more of the +whip would do him no harm. + +“I tell you it was the fellow that has gone ahead,” repeated Lon, when +Garlick spelled Matt by turning his attention to the rich man’s son. +“It was Wade Brooks that stole the peaches.” + +“I saw two of them in the orchard; but I don’t know which they were,” +said one of the hired men. + +“They have got peaches in their pockets now,” said the other hired man. + +“Take hold of them, and empty their pockets,” said Mr. Garlick angrily. + +The hired men were stout fellows, and they rather enjoyed the job. They +took the peaches from the pockets of the culprits, and laid them on the +grass as carefully as though they had been little babies; for the fruit +was of the choicest kind on the farm of the owner. + +“That proves that you did steal peaches; and my man saw you take them,” +said Mr. Garlick, out of breath with excitement. “Here, Jacob, run +after that other fellow, and see if he has got any in his pockets.” + +The man obeyed the order. Wade Brooks had not gone far; for he had +halted at a safe distance from the scene to witness, if not to enjoy, +the castigation of his tyrants. He was near enough to hear what was +said, for the farmer spoke as though all the listeners were as deaf as +posts. + +“Come, youngster, give up your peaches,” said Jacob, when he came to +the place where Wade had halted. + +“I haven’t any peaches: I haven’t touched a peach this year,” pleaded +Wade. “You will not find any about me; and I did not go into the +orchard, and Lon Trustleton licked me because I wouldn’t.” + +“I must see for myself,” answered Jacob; and he did see for himself +that the boy spoke the truth. + +“No peaches here; but you had better come up here, and tell the old man +about it yourself. You do not look like one of the boys I saw in the +peach-orchard.” + +“I was not one of them: I wouldn’t steal peaches,” pleaded Wade; and +he felt as though his legs would not have smarted any more if he +had stolen them; and being honest was very poor consolation at this +time. As he approached the place where farmer Garlick was meeting +out justice, he saw the judge give Lon and Matt another dose of the +horsewhip; and he came to the conclusion that he had got off easy, +compared with his more guilty companions. + +Jacob reported that he had found no peaches in the pockets of Wade +Brooks, and that he thought he was not one of the boys he had seen in +the peach-orchard. + +“He is the only one of us that did go into the orchard,” said Lon, +uttering another abominable lie. + +The words were hardly out of his mouth when the farmer gave him half a +dozen cuts with the whip. Lon was so mad, that he swore like a young +pirate: his father used profane language, and why shouldn’t he? + +“Don’t tell me any more lies, you villain!” roared farmer Garlick. +“Don’t tell me that this boy stole all the peaches, when I find he has +none in his pockets, and yours are full of them.” + +“He asked us to keep them for him,” answered Matt, wishing to back +up his friend; but the farmer gave him another dose for the lie he +invented. + +“My boy, I am sorry I struck you with the whip; for I believe you did +not go into the orchard,” said the farmer, turning to Wade.--“Give him +three of the handsomest peaches of the lot.” + +“Lon Trustleton licked him because he would not go into the orchard,” +said Jacob, as he gave Wade the fruit. + +“And he’ll do it again as soon as he gets a chance,” said Wade. + +“That’s so,” added Lon; and the remark cost him half a dozen cuts on +the legs. + +“Now, Wade Brooks, you go along, and I will keep these fellows here +till you are out of sight,” said the farmer. + +Wade went his way; and, when he was out of sight, Garlick told the +thieves he had done with them till they stole some more of his fruit. +It was no use for him to go to law to save his property, and he should +look out for it himself. + +“You have not heard the last of this,” growled Lon, shaking his head in +his wrath. “I will get even with you in some way. This will cost you +more than all the peaches you will raise this year.” + +“It has given me some satisfaction, at any rate, whatever it may cost +me. I want you to understand that a rich man’s son can’t rob me of my +property without something being done.” + +The culprits departed as fast as their smarting legs would permit. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +SUPPERLESS TO BED. + + +Wade Brooks had no long history to be related. He was an orphan, but +not a foundling or any thing of that sort; and there is no chance of +his turning out to be the son of an English baronet or of an American +nabob. He was just what he seemed to be. His father had died a +miserable sot, six months before the peach-orchard was invaded, and was +buried at the expense of the town. Only a year before that event, his +mother had passed away, the victim of a hard lot. But she had not lived +in vain; for she was a good woman, and had left many good principles in +the mind of her son and only child. No stone marked her resting-place +in the churchyard, but her memory was preserved in the heart of her boy. + +Midhampton consisted of a considerable village, with a large farming +territory. Not a few wealthy men who had made fortunes in the city had +homes within its limits, for it was not more than sixty miles from +New York City. On the river road were the residences of several such; +though, after the highway passed the hill, it was bordered by no more +handsome houses. The next dwelling was that of Philip Garlick, a +decided man, who believed that his own property belonged to him. The +next house was that of Obed Swikes, the father of Matthew Swikes. Matt +was a bad boy; but he came honestly by the evil in his nature, for his +father was the meanest man, by all odds, in the town of Midhampton. + +Just beyond Swikes’s house, which was an old, black, and rickety +mansion, was the brook, by the side of which ran a lane down to the +river. At its mouth the little river widened out into quite a bay, at +the head of which were the ruins of the cabin in which Wade’s father +had lived and died. It had been set on fire by some bad boys, it was +thought, and had burned to the ground. It was owned by Obed Swikes, +who had not been able to find another tenant for the shanty in this +out-of-the-way place. + +Wade’s father had been a loafer: he had spent all his time wandering +about the country on foot or in his boat, gunning and fishing for +his living. In this way he made a scanty living, for, when he sold +the product of his trips, he spent most of the money for liquor; and +Wade often had to pick up his own food after his mother died. The old +sail-boat which the sportsman used was still at the creek, as the place +was called. Anybody used it who wished to do so. It had been a good +boat in its day, and had a cuddy forward where the fisherman had often +slept in his wanderings. + +After the death of Wade’s father, Obed Swikes had taken the boy into +his own family. The orphan was twelve years old; and Swikes kept him +at work so that he more than paid his keeping, for the keeping was +about as mean as ever a boy knew. Wade lodged in the garret; and, as +the house was badly out of repair, he was hardly sheltered from the +weather. In the winter he often slept in a snow-bank; and, as his +clothing was very meagre, he suffered a great deal from the cold. + +After Wade parted with his companions, he went to the village to do +his errand. He hurried home, so as to make up the time he had lost in +the peach scrape. He took care to eat the three peaches before he went +into the village, for he knew that Lon and Matt would take them away +from him if they found them in his possession. They were going to the +village, and he might expect to meet them there. + +“Where on airth have you been all this time, Wade Brooks?” demanded +Mrs. Swikes, as he entered the house on his return. “You’ve been gone +over an hour.” + +“I couldn’t get back any sooner,” pleaded Wade; and, as the distance +to the village was two miles, he had made the four miles in very good +time, considering the time of which the bad boys had robbed him. + +“Yes, you could! you’ve been stopping on the way,” continued the old +woman. “I’ve a great mind to give you a hiding for your laziness. We +have to board and clothe you, and you don’t airn your salt. You belong +in the poorhouse; and, if you don’t do better, we shall have to send +you there.” + +But this was only a specimen of the abuse to which the boy was +subjected every day of his life; and, with poor food and little +clothing, he was almost disgusted with his efforts to get along in the +world. If Obed Swikes’s tongue was not as cutting as that of his wife, +he made it up by putting heavy burdens on the boy. He called him from +his bed at daylight in the morning, and kept him at work till into the +night on the farm and about the barn. + +When he had done his errand, he was set to work without any delay, at +digging early potatoes in the garden, which Swikes was to take to the +village to sell in the morning. He worked till dark, and then he was +called to supper. He went into the house hungry as every growing boy +is, and seated himself at the table. The family, consisting of five +persons, had taken the meal an hour before; but Wade was required to +work as long as he could see. + +Wade’s supper was a bowl of milk and a plate of brown bread,--very good +if there had only been enough of it, and if it had not been his diet +every night in the week. The boy did not complain of his food, for he +had often seen the time when he could not get even this. + +“Have you seen any thing of Matthew?” asked Mrs. Swikes, as Wade seated +himself at table. + +“Yes, marm: I saw him and Lon Trustleton as I was going over to the +village,” replied the weary boy; but he was careful not to say any +thing more. He knew it would cost him a pounding if he told the whole +truth. + +“He hain’t been home to his supper yet,” added Mrs. Swikes. “Do you +know where he is, Wade?” + +“No, marm. He didn’t tell me where he was going,” answered Wade. + +But at this moment Matt came into the kitchen to speak for himself. He +was limping, and seemed to be very sore, as well he might be after such +a castigation as he had received. + +“Where have you been, Matthew?” asked his mother, as the stealer of +peaches dragged himself into the room. “What ails you? What makes you +limp and squirm so?” + +Matthew was the only boy of the family: the other children were all +girls; and, for this reason, his parents thought more of him than +of all the others, and did their best to spoil him, and succeeded +remarkably well. Mrs. Swikes was anxious when she saw that something +ailed her son; and her tones were quite tender, compared with those she +had used to Wade. + +“Garlick has been licking me with a horsewhip,” moaned Matt, bursting +into tears, and breaking down completely in the presence of his mother. + +“Lickin’ you! What on airth did he do that for?” demanded the indignant +mother. + +“He said I stole his peaches,” sobbed Matt; “but I didn’t. It was Wade +Brooks that stole ’em, and laid it to Lon and me.” + +Without waiting to investigate this statement, Mrs. Swikes, who was a +great raw-boned woman,--her husband had married her because he thought +she would be able to do a good deal of work,--seized poor Wade, and +dragged him from his chair at the table, upsetting his bowl of milk, +and pitched him on the floor. The boy was an infant in her grasp, and +he did not offer any resistance. The Amazon gazed at her prostrate +victim, while her eyes glowed with hate and rage; then, resorting to a +masculine accomplishment, she savagely kicked him in the ribs. + +“I didn’t steal any peaches,” pleaded Wade, as humbly as the case +seemed to require: “I didn’t touch one of them.” + +“Yes, he did, mother. He told Garlick we did it; and Garlick give him +three peaches for telling,” howled Matt, still blubbering like a baby. + +“Mr. Garlick did give me three peaches, but it was because he licked me +when I did not deserve it,” pleaded Wade. “You can ask Mr. Garlick, and +he will tell you the same thing.” + +“Ketch me asking Garlick any thing about it!” exclaimed Mrs. Swikes +furiously. “I’ll take it out of his hide for licking my boy.” + +Wade was entirely willing she should do this, if she did not take it +out of his own hide, which she was more likely to do. + +“He licked Lon Trustleton too; and, if you ask him, he will tell you +just what I say,” whined Matt. + +Mrs. Swikes seized a green-hide, which was her husband’s wagon-whip, +and began to belabor poor Wade with it. It was a terrible instrument of +torture when applied to a boy’s skin, covered only with a pair of thin +overalls. The boy did not cry out with the pain, for he had found that +it did no good, and, the more he screamed, the worse he got it; but he +could not endure the blows, and he made a spring for the open door. +Mrs. Swikes followed him, and attempted to catch him; but, goaded by +the instinct of self-preservation, he succeeded in getting out of the +way. + +“Stop, you rascal!” shouted the Amazon. “Do you mean to run away from +me? I’ll give you a double dose for this.” + +“What’s the matter now?” demanded Mr. Swikes, coming in from the barn +at this point in the difficulty. + +The angry woman told him what the matter was; and Wade rested while +she was doing so. He did not think it was prudent to run away. He felt +that Mrs. Swikes’s promise would be redeemed, and he wished to make the +penalty as light as possible. The father was as indignant as the mother +had been at the punishment bestowed upon the only male hope of that old +black house; but he was sometimes more reasonable than his wife. In a +low tone he told her she must not lick the boy with a green-hide: they +might have her up before the court for cruelty, as had been the case +with Ethan Small. He would punish the boy. Possibly he had a suspicion +that Wade told the truth, and Matt the lies. But Wade had been whipped +enough, even if the charge against him was true; and he escaped any +further beating, though he was sent to bed without his supper. + +Matt ate his supper, which was a better meal than that provided for +the boy of all work, and he went to bed with a full stomach. The young +villain was not half so badly damaged as he pretended to be. His legs +did smart in the first of it, but he got over this before he reached +his father’s house. + +But Wade’s complaining stomach did not allow him to sleep. He lay till +he thought the family were all asleep; and then he left his garret, and +crept down the stairs, which landed in the back room. All the family +slept on the first floor, and Wade paused at the foot of the stairs +to ascertain if any one was stirring. It was very dark in the back +room, but he heard sounds as of some one creeping across the room. He +retreated up two steps, and then saw the back-door opened. By the light +it let in, he saw Matt go out, and close the door. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +WHAT HAPPENED IN THE NIGHT. + + +For a moment, Wade forgot that he was hungry. Matt was up to something. +He moved as though he was not very lame. Wade opened the door, and +looked to see which way the young rascal went. He saw him take the +river road towards the village. Then Wade made his way to the pantry, +where he found plenty of brown bread, but no butter or any thing else +that was eatable; for Mrs. Swikes did not leave white bread (when there +was any in the house) and pies where they could tempt the boy of all +work. She thought he might be wicked enough to help himself. + +When he had secured all he wanted, he put out the match he had lighted, +and was about to bear his plunder to the garret where he could appease +his hunger without danger, when he heard the door of Mr. Swikes’s +chamber opened. It was next to the kitchen. Poor Wade felt that he +was in a scrape. Taking a few pieces of black bread was a high crime +for him to commit in that house. The pantry was large, and he crawled +behind the door. + +“I’m sure I heard some one in the kitchen,” said Mrs. Swikes; and she +was one of those who often insist upon finding a man in the house. + +“I guess you was dreaming,” replied Mr. Swikes. + +“No, I wasn’t: I heard the floor squeak as it does when any one treads +on it,” persisted the woman. “You’ve got two hundred dollars of money +hid in that closet, and it’s worth coming here arter.” + +“But nobody knows I’ve got it.” + +“Strike a light, and see if it is safe,” continued Mrs. Swikes in the +chamber. + +The farmer did light a candle; and, through a crack of the pantry door, +Wade saw him put his hand in the lower left-hand corner of the closet +over the fireplace. + +“It’s all right,” said Mr. Swikes, when he had completed his +examination: “I don’t believe there is anybody in the house that don’t +belong here.” + +With this he went to bed; but Wade heard them talking together for some +time, and he dared not leave his hiding-place. He thought they would +never go to sleep, after he had waited some time. The door leading to +the cellar-stairs opened from this pantry, or “buttery” as Mrs. Swikes +called it, and Wade saw that he might escape from his hiding-place in +that way; but he was afraid to open the door while the old man and his +wife were awake. + +At last they ceased to talk, and Wade decided to make the attempt to +reach his chamber in the garret. He crept like a mouse to the buttery +door; but before he could come out he saw a form between himself and +a window, creeping into the kitchen from the back room. He could also +see that the back-door was left open. The figure was of about his own +height, and he did not suspect that it was a ghost or any other bird of +the night. He concluded at once that it was Matt Swikes returning from +some mischief-making tour. He knew that Matt did such things, and he +believed that he had burned the shanty by the creek. + +Wade retreated to his former position behind the door of the pantry, +thinking that Matt only intended to pass through the kitchen to his own +room on the other side of the house. But the bad boy had other business +in the kitchen. The door of the farmer’s bedroom was closed, and Wade +had heard him lock it when he shut it. Matt struck a match, which threw +a little light on the subject. Wade watched him with intense interest, +and saw him place a chair before the mantle-piece, and then get up +into it. It was clear enough to the observer by this time, that the +objective point of the bad boy was the closet in which the money was +concealed. + +Wade was filled with something like horror, as he saw Matt open the +door of the closet; and he hoped the little villain’s father would +wake, and discover what he was about. He knew that Matt was a bad boy, +but he had not supposed he was wicked enough to steal his father’s +money. He was on the point of interposing to prevent Matt from doing +so bad a thing, but a noise in the farmer’s chamber prevented him +from doing so. Besides, if he did so, Matt would lay it to him. But it +was evident that the lady of the house had been disturbed again, for +her voice could be heard in the bedroom. Matt took something from the +closet, put it in his pocket, and then stepped down from the chair. He +had put out his match, and Wade could see no more. + +Matt was not a very cunning rogue, for he did not cover his tracks by +removing the chair in which he had stood. As soon as he had obtained +his booty, he retreated from the room by the back-door. He could hardly +have got out of the house before his father came from his chamber with +a candle in his hand. Wade was by this time alarmed for his own safety. +He might be found, and the crime of stealing the two hundred dollars +laid to him. They certainly would do so if he was found out of his room +at this time of night. + +Farmer Swikes looked at the chair before the mantle-piece, and he knew +that he did not leave it there. He stopped to think about the matter +for a moment. That chair could not have been there when he put his hand +in the closet before: if it had been, he would have fallen over it. + +“I am sure I heard somebody in the kitchen,” said Mrs. Swikes, in the +bedroom. + +“This chair wasn’t here when I came out before,” replied Mr. Swikes: +“somebody has been here since I was.” + +“Is the money safe?” asked the woman; and to her this was the great +question. + +The farmer put the chair out of the way, and thrust his hand into +the closet. He felt all about for the old wallet that contained the +treasure. His heart came up into his throat when he missed it. He tried +to think just where he had placed it; but the little cupboard was not +more than six inches deep, and it could not have strayed very far. It +was not there; it was certainly gone. Somebody had stood in that chair, +and reached into the closet for the money. + +“It is gone!” exclaimed farmer Swikes, as soon as he had satisfied +himself of the fact. + +“Gone!” repeated Mrs. Swikes. “Who on airth could have taken it?” + +When she had partially dressed herself, she came out into the kitchen; +and Wade saw on their faces an expression of utter despair. The boy of +all work was satisfied that it would not be prudent for him to step +out, and tell them their son was the thief. It would not be safe for +him to do so, after the experience he had had that day. + +“It would been safer to put the money in the bank,” groaned farmer +Swikes. + +“But who did it? It must be some one that knows about the house took +it,” added Mrs. Swikes. + +“I found that chair under the mantletry-piece,” said the farmer, as he +pointed to the chair he had found directly under the closet. + +“Then it must be somebody that couldn’t reach up to the closet without +gittin’ into a chair,” added the logical Mrs. Swikes. “It was some +boy; and I shouldn’t wonder if it was Wade Brooks. He’s bad enough to +do sich a thing. Run right up to the garret, Obed, and see if he is +there; and, if he is, sarch his pockets, and look all about the bed,” +continued the woman, as she lighted another candle for her husband’s +use on this mission. + +“Oh, dear!” groaned Wade, not audibly, but in spirit. “They’ll find I’m +not there, and it will be all up with me.” + +The farmer went up stairs, and his wife stepped into her chamber for +something as soon as he was gone. Wade took advantage of this momentary +uncovering of the position to open the cellar door; but he did not +trouble himself to close it, for fear that the noise might betray him. +He dared not go down the stairs; for, like every thing about the house, +they were old and rickety, and they would certainly creak when they +were expected not to do so. He was still in a position to hear what was +said in the kitchen. + +“He isn’t there!” groaned Swikes, returning to the kitchen. “He’s gone, +and he may be half way to New York or some other place.” + +“I knew he done it!” exclaimed the female Swikes. + +“He done it because you licked him so in the evening,” groaned Swikes. +“He’s gone and done it now.” + +“But we shall ketch him yet, and get the money back,” replied Mrs. +Swikes, who did not like to be considered as the cause of the loss. + +“You’ll never see nothin’ more of that money,” added Swikes, with a +heavy sigh. “You might been a little easier with him, and let him had +some supper.” + +“He didn’t do it because he was licked, but because he is a bad boy,” +retorted Mrs. Swikes. “I told you I was afraid he was corruptin’ our +boy.” + +“He did it because he was licked with a green-hide; and boys won’t +allus stand every thing,” replied Swikes petulantly. + +“Well, Obed, what are you a-doin’ on? while you stand here scoldin’ me, +that boy is gittin’ away.” + +“What can I do?” + +“Harness your horse, and drive down to the village; you may ketch him, +or hear sunthin’ on him.” + +“What’s all that noise out doors?” said Swikes, as he went to the +window, and threw it wide open. “The bells is ringin’; and I hear folks +in the road yellin’.” + +“There is a fire, as sure as you live!” exclaimed Mrs. Swikes, going to +the window. “I can see the light on’t on the corn-house.” + +Swikes opened the door, and went out to the front of the house. + +“It’s Garlick’s barn, as sure as you was born!” cried Mrs. Swikes. +“Somebody set that barn afire: it didn’t ketch without some help.” + +They passed out of Wade’s hearing. He knew they must go to the front +of the house to see the barn which the woman said was on fire. They +would not be likely to come in for a few minutes; and Wade came out of +the cellar-way, and ran up to his room as fast as he could go, though +he was careful not to make any unnecessary noise. In a moment he had +gathered up all the clothes he had, consisting of a very indifferent +suit he wore in the winter, and made haste to leave the house by the +back door. He had not made up his mind what to do; but he made haste to +leave that house. + +When he got out doors, he was afraid to leave the shadow of the house, +for the fire made it as light as day all around him. He got behind the +corn-house, where he could see the blazing barn: it was burning with +tremendous fury, and in a few minutes there would be nothing left of +it. Wade Brooks could form some idea of the person or persons who set +that fire: he thought he could see a little way into Matt Swikes’s +plans. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +LODGINGS AFLOAT. + + +Wade Brooks felt like an innocent boy; and, being innocent, he was +not willing to accept the penalty of guilt. He was to be a sort of +sacrifice for the sins of Matt Swikes. Behind the corn-house he had +time to think what he should do. He felt that he needed a friend. He +wanted simple justice, which he could not get in the Swikes mansion. +Then it came to him that Mr. Garlick, after he had whipped him for what +he did not do, was sorry for his harshness, and had atoned for it by +giving him three of the handsomest peaches he had ever seen. + +Mr. Philip Garlick was a just man, if he had taken the law into his own +hand. Wade was almost sure that Matt had something to do with burning +that barn. He had left the house in the night after his father and +mother had gone to bed. He had come back again, stolen the wallet from +the closet, and then left again. The fire broke out a short time after +he went out the second time. Perhaps Lon Trustleton was concerned with +him in the wicked deed. If so, they had burned the barn in revenge for +the whipping they had received from Mr. Garlick. + +Wade Brooks was willing to tell Mr. Garlick what he knew about the +movements of Matt Swikes. He was certainly under no obligations to +the Swikeses, and he knew that it was not right to cover up a crime. +He would see Mr. Garlick in the morning, and tell him all he knew +about the business. It was not likely that Matt would be anywhere near +Midhampton in the morning, for it was plain to Wade that he had stolen +the money from the closet to pay his expenses on a runaway trip. + +In fifteen minutes the fire had consumed all the matter in the barn +that would burn, and the light had subsided. Wade deemed it safe for +him to retreat now, and he moved off in the rear of the house. A short +walk brought him to the brook, which reminded him of the old sail-boat +his father had owned. The cuddy would be a good place for him to pass +the rest of the night, for there was some meadow hay in it for a bed. +This was the best arrangement he could think of for the night, and he +hastened to carry out the plan. When he reached the river road, which +he was obliged to cross to get to the creek, he saw several vehicles +approaching. He concluded that they were filled with persons who had +been to the fire, and he concealed himself under some bushes till they +had passed. + +“The fire was set, you may depend upon it,” said a man in a wagon, as +he passed the place where Wade was concealed. + +“I heard that Garlick suspects it was done by Capt. Trustleton’s son +and Swikes’s boy,” said another man in the wagon. + +“I heard that; and also that Garlick had horsewhipped these boys for +stealing his peaches,” added the first speaker. + +The wagon passed on, and Wade heard no more that was said. The truth +was coming out sooner than he expected. Though it was nothing but a +suspicion, it had a correct foundation. He wondered what Swikes and his +wife would say the next day when they heard the news. So far as Wade +knew, Matt’s father and mother had not discovered his absence from the +house. If his mother went to his chamber to tell him about the fire, +and found he was not there, she would naturally suppose he had seen it, +and gone to it. + +Wade crossed the road as soon as the vehicles had all passed, and made +his way to the sail-boat in the creek. He hauled her in, and went on +board of her. For a boat so old, and which had been so much abused +since the death of her owner, she was very dry and tight. The night +was rather chilly, and Wade felt cold in his thin overalls. He dressed +himself in the clothes he had brought from his chamber. Rolling up the +garments he had taken off, he used the bundle for a pillow, and lay +down on the bed of hay. It was not the first time he had slept in the +boat; and, on the whole, he thought it was a better place than the +garret he occupied. + +He closed the door of the cuddy so as to keep out the night air, and +fastened it on the inside, for the hook his father had put on the door +for this purpose was still available. Wade had worked very hard all +the day, to say nothing of the excitement he had passed through; and +he was tired and sleepy. He had eaten the brown bread taken from the +pantry while he was behind the corn-house; for he did not forget at any +time before that he was hungry, or not for more than a few minutes at a +time. He was therefore in good condition to go to sleep, and he did go +to sleep as soon as he was comfortable in his bed of hay. + +It was not more than ten o’clock in the evening when the fire broke +out, and it was not after eleven when Wade went to sleep. He slept +very soundly, as a weary boy should. If any one had pounded on the +half-deck above his head, it would hardly have waked him. After the +fire had burned out all the remnants of Mr. Garlick’s barn, the people +of Midhampton went to their homes; and not even a detail of firemen was +left to watch the smouldering embers. No doubt the people of the town +slept better after they returned to their beds. + +While the fire was still burning, Capt. Trustleton walked over to +the house of Obed Swikes. It was not till the worst of the fire was +subsided, that he appeared; and Wade had gone to the creek. + +“I suppose you have heard the bad news,” said the captain to the +Swikeses, whom he found still in front of the old black house, +watching the dying-out of the fire. + +“No! what bad news?” demanded Swikes, with a start. + +“Haven’t you heard any thing about it?” continued the retired +shipmaster, in evident surprise. + +“Heard about what? I don’t know what you are talking about,” replied +Swikes. + +“I supposed you must have heard it, for it is in everybody’s mouth, and +it has come to me a dozen times since I came out of the house to see +where the fire was,” added Capt. Trustleton, still giving no hint of +the nature of the bad news. + +“What’s in everybody’s mouth? I haven’t been any further from the house +than this; and I hain’t heerd a word about any thing,” said the puzzled +farmer. + +“What on airth is it, Capt. Trustleton?” asked Mrs. Swikes, whose +curiosity had been roused to the highest pitch. + +“It will come hard on you as it did on me when I first heard it,” added +the captain, who did not seem to be very willing to tell the hard news, +or at least to be the first to break it to the Swikeses. “It is said +that your boy and mine are concerned in setting that barn on fire.” + +“Good gracious!” exclaimed farmer Swikes. + +“It’s a wicked lie!” protested Mrs. Swikes. + +“I hope it is, marm; but I confess it looks rather bad for the boys,” +replied Capt. Trustleton. + +“I know it ain’t so!” repeated the woman. “My boy would no more do +such a thing than he would cut his father’s throat. Now I think on’t, +Matthew hasn’t been out of the house to-night. He was so tired that the +noise didn’t wake him, and he has slept through the whole on’t.” + +“Are you sure of it, Mrs. Swikes?” asked the captain with deep +interest; for, if Matt was abed, it might be that his own boy was also +innocent. + +“Of course I’m sure on’t,” replied the mother of the hopeful son. “I +haven’t seen nothin’ on him; and I know I should if he had been about.” + +The heart of the captain sank within him as the hope died out of his +heart. + +“I think you had better look into his chamber, and see whether he is +there,” suggested Capt. Trustleton. + +“I’ll do it this minute; and you’ll find that Matthew hasn’t been out +of the house,” said Mrs. Swikes confidently. + +She led the way into the house by the front door, followed by her +husband and the captain. Matt’s chamber opened out of the front entry; +and his mother, after getting the candle in the kitchen, passed into +the boy’s room. The solution was full of interest to the parents of +both of the bad boys, and the two fathers followed the confident mother +into the apartment of Matt. + +The bed was empty. Capt. Trustleton had expected this result of the +investigation. He was afraid the charge against the boys was true. + +“I was never so astonished in all my life!” exclaimed Mrs. Swikes. “I +was sure Matthew was in his bed. He is a very good boy, and I never +knew him to do any thing wrong.” + +If she spoke the truth, she was almost the only one in town who had +never known Matt Swikes to do any thing wrong. But then, Matt was a +spoiled child. + +“I have had a talk with Garlick; and he says he horsewhipped my boy +and yours for stealing his finest peaches,” said Capt. Trustleton. “He +thinks they set his barn on fire to be revenged on him.” + +“But Matthew said it was Wade Brooks that stole the peaches,” +interposed Mrs. Swikes, “and then laid it to your boy and mine.” + +“Garlick told me about that. It seems that Alonzo and Matthew laid it +to Wade; but the peaches were found on your son and mine.” + +“I declare. I don’t believe my boy would steal peaches, or any thing +else,” persisted the mother of the hopeful son. “But we know that Wade +Brooks will steal, for husband had two hundred dollars in the house, +and he stole it this very night,” continued Matt’s mother. + +“Wade stole it! Are you sure of that?” asked the captain. + +“The money is gone, and so is Wade.” + +“And so is Matthew,” added Capt. Trustleton. + +“You don’t mean to say that you think my son stole the money?” +demanded the mother of Matt indignantly. + +“I think it more likely than that Wade Brooks stole it,” replied the +captain. “This is a bad scrape for the boys, and it may cost them some +years in the penitentiary. I do not know that money will save them. If +it will, it will cost us about a thousand dollars apiece.” + +Farmer Swikes groaned in anguish at the prospect. + +“I am afraid the stealing of the money only shows that the boys are +guilty, and intend to clear out to avoid the penalty of the crime. The +money was stolen to pay the expenses of the journey. Perhaps I shall +find that my boy has robbed me of some money. We had better look these +things fairly in the face, and provide for the worst. I will see you +again in the morning.” + +Capt. Trustleton departed for his elegant house; and he would have +given the whole of it to have his son out of this scrape. The Swikeses +had enough to keep them awake that night. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +HOW IT WAS DONE. + + +Mrs. Swikes hardly closed her eyes on the night of the fire; and half +a dozen times before morning she went to Matt’s room to see whether he +had returned or not. He was not seen again that night. + +When Capt. Trustleton reached his magnificent house, he went to the +chamber of Alonzo to see if he was there. The room was without its +occupant, though it was eleven o’clock. The bed was not tumbled, and +the son had not been into it. The captain was a widower; so that there +was no mother in this beautiful home to worry over the departure of a +son, and to grieve over his error. + +But where were Lon and Matt? The son of the rich man had threatened +Mr. Garlick, and declared that he would “get even with him.” It now +appeared that he had done so. Possibly Garlick believed by this time +that it did not pay to protect his own property in just the way he had +done it, though his barn and the stock it contained were fully insured. +He had an idea that those boys would spend a long term in prison. He +was not sure that the boys had set the fire, and perhaps he could not +prove it; but he was very well satisfied in his own mind, and so were +his two hired men. + +Lon and Matt had agreed to meet near the house of the latter at nine +o’clock in the evening. The Swikeses went to bed in summer as soon as +it was dark, not only to save candles, but to be in condition to get +up as soon as it was light in the morning. Matt had been punctual to +the time; but Lon was half an hour late, for his father was in such a +position that he could not get out of the house any sooner. They were +ready to do the wicked job to which their smarting limbs still prompted +them. But Lon was wise enough to look up the means of retreat before +the battle was fought. + +If they were seen in the vicinity of the burning barn, it would be +evidence against them. The first blaze of light might betray them to +Garlick and his hired men. Perhaps Lon was not a worse boy than his +companion; but he had more genius for mischief, and more calculation in +getting out of a scrape. + +“It won’t do for us to be seen anywhere near the barn when the blaze +begins,” said he, after they had talked it over in the cornfield near +the doomed building. + +“But we can’t do any thing without being near it,” reasoned Matt. + +“We must get out of the way before the people come to the fire; and it +won’t do for us to show ourselves on the river road.” + +“How shall we get home, then?” + +“I’ll tell you the best way to do it,” said Lon, who fathered all the +bright thoughts. “I will go home, and make sure that my father sees +me before I go to bed; and you will do the same with your folks. You +live close by the barn; and you can get out of bed, come over here, and +touch off the fire, and then get back to your room, without being seen.” + +“And where will you be all the time I am doing this?” asked Matt; and +the idea did not strike him as a very bright one. + +“I shall be in my bed, sound asleep, so far as my father may know; +and I shall not go out of the house, or know any thing about the +fire, till to-morrow morning. Then I shall be very much surprised at +breakfast-time when my father tells me that Garlick’s barn has been +burned in the night. I shall ask him what time it was, and all about +it.” + +“That’s all very nice for you,” replied Matt coldly, and without giving +his friend much credit for his inventive genius. + +“Don’t you think that’s a good plan?” asked Lon, with no little +enthusiasm. + +“First-rate for you, but not worth a straw for me,” answered Matt. “You +are going to do nothing at all, and I am to do it all: you are going to +bed, and I am to do the job.” + +“But you live close by the barn, while I live half a mile from it. You +can make the blaze without any risk; and if I am caught it will make it +just as bad as for you.” + +“I’m not going to do the thing all alone, and run all the risk. If that +is the way you mean to manage it, we will give it up, and go home and +go to bed.” + +“I only mentioned that as one way.” + +“It’s no way at all.” + +“Very well, then I will stay with you. But what are we to do when the +blaze breaks out?” asked Lon. + +“We must get out of the way, I suppose,” added Matt vacantly. + +“We must keep clear of the river road. I think we shall have to stay +out all night; and then we shall be sure to be suspected.” + +It was a hard problem to adjust, and Lon beat his brains till he hit on +something that pleased him. + +“If we only had some money, I should be in for going to New York. We +could have a good time for two or three weeks; and by that time your +father and mine could fix up the matter of burning the barn, if they +lay it to us.” + +“They will lay it to us if we clear out,” added Matt. + +“But they can’t prove any thing: and I rather want Garlick to think we +did the job,” added Lon, rubbing his sore legs; “but I don’t want him +to be able to prove it.” + +“I don’t believe he will be able to prove any thing, for the barn is a +long way from his house: and I know his hired men do not live with him, +but over in the village.” + +“If we only had some money, I could fix it all in two seconds,” +continued Lon. “If my father had any about the house, I would help +myself.” + +“Perhaps I can raise some,” suggested Matt, as he thought of the wallet +concealed in the closet over the mantle-piece. + +“If you can, we shall be all right.” + +“You hold on here for three minutes, and I will see what I can do,” +said Matt. + +“How long will you be?” asked Lon. + +“Not more than five or ten minutes.” + +Matt returned to his father’s house; and the events before related +occurred while Wade Brooks was looking through the crack of the pantry +door. Matt obtained possession of the wallet, and went back to the +cornfield. + +“Did you get it?” asked Lon. + +“I did.” + +“How much?” + +“About two hundred dollars,” replied Matt; and we will do him the +justice to say that he trembled all over, he was so agitated by the +crime he had committed. + +“Two hundred dollars!” exclaimed Lon. “That is a big haul.” + +“If it’s too much, I will carry part of it back; for my father will +howl terribly when he finds it is all gone,” replied Matt. + +“The more the better,” added Lon lightly. “Now we are in condition to +do business. My father says no one should ever attempt to do business +without capital; and I shall heed his opinion.” + +Matt did not seem to feel that he was doing more than his share of the +business; but then he had the honor of being a friend of the rich man’s +son, and that was something. + +“Well, now tell us what you are going to do,” said he with deep +interest; so deep that for a time he forgot the crime he had already +committed, in his desire to add another to it. + +“There is no trouble about it now. We can manage it now as easy as you +can fall off a wood-pile. Money makes the mare go; and we can reward +old Phil Garlick for his kindness to us, without making anybody weep +but himself,” rattled Lon; in whose mind there was a vision of a “good +time” in New York, with plenty of theatre, fun, and frolic. + +“Well, why don’t you tell how it is to be done?” said Matt impatiently. + +“I will tell you all about it,” answered Lon, who had no intention of +bothering his companion, and had only delayed the explanation of his +plans because his thoughts were running faster than his words. “In the +first place, the barn is between the road and the river. As soon as we +have got the things ready for the blaze, we will touch them off, and +then make for the river; then we shall meet nobody to molest or make us +afraid.” + +“That’s good,” added Matt approvingly. + +“Of course it is; and there is no such thing as fail about this plan. +We will keep out of sight in the bushes by the river, till everybody in +town has gone to sleep.” + +“Do you mean to stay in that hole till morning?” asked Matt, who did +not like the idea. + +“Not at all; only till the folks are gone. You see, it wouldn’t do to +move about while the people are looking at the fire, for we should be +seen.” + +“But won’t the engines come to the river for water?” suggested Matt. + +“No: the pond at the foot of the hill isn’t half as far from the barn +as the river, and they will take water from that. Nobody will come near +us, you may depend upon that.” + +“Where shall we go after the folks in town have all gone to bed?” asked +Matt. + +“About midnight we will follow the river up to the creek, and go on +board of the old sail-boat. There is a nice little breeze blowing now, +and it would carry us down to the Sound in two or three hours.” + +“Bully for you, Lon!” exclaimed Matt, who was delighted with this plan. + +He had often thought of making a trip to the Sound in this boat; for, +like most boys, he was fond of adventure. In accordance with this plan, +the young villains made their way to the barn. Lon had prepared the +combustibles. He had a slow-match, which was to burn down when they had +placed half a mile or more between themselves and the barn; then it was +to light a bunch of block matches, and this would communicate the fire +to a heap of combustibles under the floor of the barn. Unfortunately, +every thing worked as had been intended, and the boys were in their +hiding-place some time before the fire broke out. Of course no one +would see them in the road, or anywhere near the fire. + +Each kept up the courage of the other; and, if either had been alone, +he would not have had the pluck to do the evil deed. If they had +been alone they might have repented of the crime, and considered the +consequences; but they talked of the trip to New York, and stifled +their consciences with the glories of the excursion to the great city. +It was late in August; and the weather was pleasant, though rather +cool at night. It would be fine sailing on the Sound. At midnight they +walked to the creek, and got into the old boat. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +DOWN THE RIVER. + + +“Now we are all right,” said Lon, as he stepped into the boat. + +“I don’t think any one has seen us,” added Matt, following his +companion. + +“No one could have seen us.” + +“Shall we start now?” + +“Yes: we may as well be moving. It must be twelve o’clock by this +time,” added Lon, as he looked at his watch; but it was so dark he +could not see a figure on the dial. + +“Do you expect to get to New York in this boat, Lon?” asked Matt, as he +seated himself in the stand-room. + +“Of course I do: what’s to prevent? It don’t leak, and there is water +all the way to New York.” + +“But you don’t know how to manage a boat any more than I do,” said +Matt, to whom this seemed to be a difficulty. + +“It is easy enough to manage her; and, if I don’t know how, I can soon +learn,” replied the master spirit of the enterprise. “I have seen how +the thing is done, and I’m pretty sure that I can do it.” + +“But your father would never let you have a boat, or even sail in this +one.” + +“Though he has been to sea for thirty years of his life, he is afraid +of a sail-boat. He says he can handle a ship, but not one of these +little things.” + +“If we are going, why don’t we go?” asked Matt. + +“Because you don’t hoist the sail.” + +“I don’t know any thing about the sail, and I don’t believe I can hoist +it. If Wade Brooks was here, he could do it; and he knows how to sail +the boat, for he learned of his father. I heard some one say that he is +a good boatman.” + +“But Wade Brooks isn’t here; and I am glad he is not,” replied Lon. +“He is a goody; and I’ll half kill him, if I ever see him again, for +telling old Phil Garlick that we licked him for not stealing peaches.” + +Matt went to the sail, and began to fumble it over in the darkness; +but he could make nothing of it. On the whole, he was a rather stupid +fellow, and he was not likely to learn any thing in the dark. He could +not undo the sail; and he gave up the task in a moment in despair. Then +Lon tried his hand, and succeeded in removing the stops. After trying +all the ropes about the mast (for the boat was a sloop), he found the +halyards. By observing what part of the sail moved when he pulled at +these lines, he found which was the peak, and which was the throat +halyard. Giving one to Matt, he heaved on the other; and at last they +managed to get the sail up, though not in very good shape. + +“Now you take an oar, Matt, and shove her out from the shore, while I +mind the helm,” said Lon, as he assumed the duties of skipper. + +There was no wind in the creek; and Matt worked the boat out into the +river with the oar. As soon as she had passed a wooded point, the sail +took the breeze, and the boat heeled over so as to scare Matt half out +of his wits; for he had hardly ever been out in a sail-boat. + +“Mind what you are about, Lon!” exclaimed Matt. “You will upset her, +and then where shall we be?” + +“In the water,” coolly replied Lon. + +“But I don’t want to be in the water.” + +“Nor I either; and I don’t think there is any more danger of it than +there is of the sky falling. The boat is doing very well.” + +The wind was north-west, and the course of the river was about south at +the place where the adventurers embarked; and it was not very difficult +to make the boat go after she felt the breeze. Lon had a tolerable +idea of the handling of the tiller; for he had tried his hand at it in +a stolen sail in this old boat. As long as it was plain sailing, he +was likely to do very well. He experimented with the sail and the helm +till he got the hang of them. When a bend of the river made the course +south-west, he soon learned to haul in the sheet. The wind was so light +that the boat did not make more than two miles an hour, and, as long +as the skipper kept the old craft in the middle of the river, there +was nothing to prevent her from going, and it was not very perilous +navigation. + +“I can handle her first-rate now,” said Lon, when the boat had been +moving about half an hour. “Long before we get to the Sound, I shall +know all about this business.” + +“It will be another thing when we get out of the river, and we have to +go out to sea,” croaked Matt. + +“What odds does it make whether we are in the river, or on the sound? +Both of them are water; and the boat will go as long as she has any +wind.” + +“Suppose the wind comes from the wrong way: what are you going to do +then?” inquired Matt. + +“I know how to do it then. You keep her zigzagging towards the point +where you want to go.” + +“I have heard my father tell about some kind of a bad place which the +steamboats have to go through when they go to New York: how will you +get through that?” And Matt thought he had given Lon a poser this time. + +“That’s Hell Gate; and I don’t intend to go through that, for it’s near +New York; and we can go from there in some other way.” + +Lon was entirely satisfied that he could take the boat as far as the +dangerous place. Matt was getting tired of sailing in the night, +when he could only see where the river was; and the air was cold and +disagreeable. He had on his thin clothes, and was not fitted out for a +sea-voyage in the night. Besides, he was sleepy; for he had not closed +his eyes that night. He gaped till he was in danger of throwing his jaw +out of joint. + +“What ails you, Matt?” asked Lon. + +“I have got about enough of this thing,” replied Matt, with another +fearful gape. “I am tired and sleepy, and I am almost froze.” + +“You can go to sleep if you wish to do so,” replied Lon, who was +dressed in thick clothes, and was quite comfortable in spite of the +chill of the air. + +“I can’t go to sleep while I am shivering with the cold,” replied Matt; +and his whole frame shook as he spoke. + +“Get into the cuddy, then, if you are cold. There was some hay in it +the last time I was in the boat. You can bury yourself in it, and get +warm,” said Lon, afraid that the discomfort of his companion might +wreck the expedition. + +“I don’t want to be in that cuddy when the boat is going,” whined Matt, +his teeth chattering all the time. “Suppose she should hit on a rock, +and sink: what would become of me?” + +“You would be likely to get wet.” + +“I should be likely to get drowned.” + +“Why don’t you stir yourself? you can get warm if you will thrash your +arms, or exercise yourself in some way. Get into the cuddy: there is no +danger of rocks. If we should hit one, it wouldn’t do any harm. We are +not going fast enough to break any thing.” + +Matt was so cold that he was tempted to try the cuddy. He went to the +door, and found that it was fastened. He tried to push it in, and to +pull it out; but it resisted all his efforts. The iron hook on the +inside held it as firm as though the door had been an immovable body. + +“Break it in, if you can’t open it,” said Lon. + +“I can’t break it in: I have tried.” + +“Take one of the oars, and jam it through the board.” + +“I don’t want to spoil the door,” replied Matt. “If it comes on to rain +we shall want it.” + +“But, if you can’t get into the cuddy, what good will it do us if it +does rain?” demanded Lon impatiently; for he did not like Matt’s way of +dealing with difficulties. “Smash it in.” + +“I can’t do it.” + +“Try it and see,” persisted Lon. + +“I tell you I can’t,” snarled Matt. + +“You are nothing but a baby, Matt Swikes,” added Lon, his patience all +gone. “Here, hold this tiller, and I will open that door, or make a +hole through the bottom of the boat.” + +“I don’t know how to steer her,” pleaded Matt. + +“I don’t want you to steer: she will steer herself, if you will hold +this stick just as it is now.” + +Matt took the tiller; and Lon seized the oar, with which he struck a +heavy blow, driving the handle through the door. A second and a third +time he applied this battering-ram to the impediment; and the cuddy +was open to the admission of the runaways. + +“Now you can go in, and stow yourself away in the hay, Matt,” said Lon +triumphantly. + +“You have smashed the door into splinters, so there is nothing to keep +the cold out,” growled Matt, as he gave up the tiller to Lon. + +“You can get in out of the wind, and it will be warmer there than it is +here,” added the skipper. “There is plenty of hay there, and you can +make yourself comfortable.” + +“I will try it,” said Matt, as he moved forward for this purpose. + +We left Wade Brooks in this very cuddy; but, in spite of this +rude onslaught on his abode, he did not make himself known to the +incendiaries. Yet he was still in the cuddy, and understood the +situation perfectly. He had slept soundly up to the time when Lon +battered down the door. He woke in mortal terror. He saw the dim light +through the hole which had been made by the oar. He was afraid the oar +might hit him; and he retreated as far as he could into the bow of the +boat, and stowed himself away between the mast and the stem, or as much +of himself as the space would permit, taking his spare clothes with +him. Lon made so much noise that he did not hear Wade move from his +position. + +Wade had plenty of hay in the bow; and, by the time Matt was ready to +take possession of the cuddy, he was comfortably settled in his new +quarters. As soon as he heard the voices of the persons in the boat, +he knew who they were; but he was not anxious to make himself known, +for he was afraid Lon would take to pounding him. There was room enough +in the cuddy for both of them, and without either knowing the other was +there, unless an accident betrayed his presence. + +Wade Brooks could not help thinking what would happen in the morning +when his fellow-voyagers found that he was in the boat. Lon was a +bully: he was such at school and on the playground. He had treated Wade +like a tyrant. Wade began to think whether he could not do as a plucky +little fellow did at school the winter before,--stand his ground, and +in the end whip the bully. He was in the boat with him, and there was +no chance to escape. He would try it; and he went to sleep thinking how +to do it. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +A STRIKE FOR INDEPENDENCE. + + +Lon heard no more of his companion in crime, and he concluded that he +had gone to sleep; as, in fact, he had almost as soon as he lay down. +When the boat had been moving about an hour, she came into a flatter +country, and the sail had more wind. The “Mud-turtle,” as some of the +boys who used the boat had christened her, was not a bad sailer, in +spite of her name; and, with the freshening wind, she began to move +at a very lively rate through the water. It was a little startling at +first to the green skipper, who thought she must be making ten knots +an hour, when she was doing only four. But he soon became accustomed +to her heeling over, and to the flaws that sometimes struck her with +considerable force. + +But Lon had been up all night; and, when the excitement of managing the +boat had died out, he began to yawn, and to be so sleepy that he could +hardly keep his eyes open; and in the end it became impossible for him +to do so. He wondered that the boat did not come to the Sound; for he +believed he had sailed more than twelve miles, which was said to be +the distance. The time came, before any thing could be seen of the +Sound, when he could stand it no longer. He dropped asleep at the helm; +and more than once the boat broached to for the want of attention to +the helm. The boat had an anchor and plenty of cable, though the wonder +was that some one had not stolen it for a hay-rope. + +Lon roused himself, and came to the conclusion that he would anchor the +boat, and then go to sleep in the cuddy. He ran the “Mud-turtle” up to +the side of the river, and lowered the sail. Then he let go the anchor. +He tied up the sail, and fastened the cable, as he had seen a boatman +do it, and then went into the cuddy. He felt about till he found a +place not occupied by Matt, which was big enough for him to stretch +himself out, and lay down. His feet were but a few inches from those of +Wade; but he had no suspicion that the cuddy contained three persons. +In a moment he was asleep, for the case was more desperate with him +than it had been with Matt. All on board were asleep. + +They all slept like tops till daylight in the morning, when Wade +Brooks was the first to wake, as he had been the first to go to sleep: +besides, this was his usual time to wake, and to get up. He missed the +usual savage call of the farmer or his wife, and on this particular +occasion he was not informed that he was a “lazy fellow.” When he woke +there was light enough in the cuddy for him to see that his companions +were both sleeping very soundly. One of them was on each side of the +door; but there was space enough between them for him to get out of the +cuddy. With the greatest care Wade passed out of the place into the +standing-room. + +If Wade had any doubts before as to who had set the barn on fire, he +had none now. The bad boys had run away by the light of the fire they +had kindled: they had run away. It was for this trip that Matt had +stolen the money from his father; and no doubt he had it in his pocket +at that moment. Wade sat down near the door of the cuddy, where he +could see both of the sleeping conspirators against the peace of the +town of Midhampton. He felt that Lon would pitch into him as soon as he +woke; and he had made up his mind that he would not stand his abuse any +longer. He was no longer in Midhampton--at least, he supposed he was +not, but he could not tell where he was,--and Swikes could no longer +pound him for what he did. He had made up his mind to fight, instead of +allowing Lon and Matt to kick and beat him about as they had been in +the habit of doing. + +When he had reached this conclusion, he felt better. In the bottom of +the boat he found a piece of a birch fish-pole, about half an inch in +diameter, which he trimmed into shape for a club. He made it about two +feet and a half long, and, for the want of something better to do, +he whittled away at it for an hour or more: but he was thinking all +the time how he should meet his tyrant; for such he had always been +to him, and Matt was no better. If there were to be any more “broken +heads,” they should be more equally distributed than formerly. + +Wade wondered where the bad boys were going in the boat; but he could +only suppose they intended to get out of the way after the mischief +they had done, and had no suspicion that they had embarked for a long +voyage, as he would have called that to New York. Then he began to +think what a hard life he had led on the farm of Obed Swikes. Why +should he be starved and frozen, and compelled to work so many hours in +the day? Why should he stay with Swikes when he was so hardly used? Why +should he be constantly lashed by the peppered tongue of Mrs. Swikes? +She told him, every day he lived, that he did not earn his salt, and +she should have to send him to the poorhouse, where he belonged. If he +was of so little use to the Swikeses, why should he stay with them any +longer? He would not. He decided not to return to Midhampton. + +Wade began to think that he was becoming very independent. But it was +better to pick his living out of the swill-barrels of a great city +than it was to eat the bread that was daily begrudged to him, though +he earned four times as much as he received. He knew this by the wages +Swikes paid when he had to hire a man in haying-time. He could get +something to do on a farm, that would enable him to earn his living; +but, whether he could or not, he would no longer submit to be abused +as he had been. He had often heard what a terrible thing it was for a +boy to run away: but the Swikeses had no claim upon him; they were no +relation to him, and they complained that he was a burden to them. He +would relieve them of the burden. He had no master by rights; and he +would be his own master in the future. + +While he was thinking of all these things, he saw Matt moving as though +he intended to wake. He watched him, and made sure that his stick was +where he could use it. But the Swikes did not get up, though it was +clear enough that he was awake; and Wade kept his eye upon him. He sat +where the fugitive could not see him. Matt lay on his back, and seemed +to be reviewing the events of the night before. He put his hand into +his pocket, and drew out the wallet he had stolen from the closet over +the mantle-piece. He took from it the money it contained; and, laying +the wallet on the hay by his side, he proceeded to count the bills, of +which there was a large roll, and they must have been small ones. + +Matt spent a full hour in this pleasing occupation, for those who love +money like to count it. But he seemed to be doing something more than +merely counting it; for he laid off the bills in two piles, and then +counted each of them several times, as though he could not make them +come out right. Finally he put the two packages of bills into separate +compartments of the wallet. + +Wade wondered what he was thinking about, for he lay there musing with +the wallet in his hand. Possibly he was thinking how his father would +miss and mourn over that money. Wade saw him look several times at +his sleeping companion; and the two rolls of bills indicated that he +intended to divide the ill-gotten treasure with Lon. Perhaps he had his +doubts whether it was best for him to do so. He knew what a bully Lon +was. + +Finally Wade saw him pull up the hay from the bottom of the cuddy, and +from his side of the bulkhead he perceived that a narrow board had been +taken from the floor. Looking into the space below, he saw Matt deposit +the wallet under the floor, reaching up so as to place it where the +water in the bottom of the boat could not reach it. He did not restore +the board he had removed, but covered the aperture with hay. Having +done this, he lay down on his bed once more. Wade heard him gape, and +concluded that he intended to take another nap, as Lon did not wake. In +a few minutes he heard him snore as he had done in the night. + +Just out of curiosity, Wade thrust his hand into the space below the +flooring, and felt in the direction Matt had put his hand. He found +the wallet. He drew it out. He took one of the rolls of bills out of +the compartment, and counted the money. One hundred dollars: this was +half of the sum farmer Swikes had mentioned. He counted the other roll: +it was the other half. Two hundred dollars was the sum the farmer had +lost. Here it was: it was in the hands of the boy of all work, whom +the Swikeses had overworked and abused. If Wade could have returned the +money to his tyrants without going to Midhampton, he would have done +it. Though he was accused of stealing it, he was disposed to do the +right thing. + +Worldly-wise people would have said that he was a fool; and the Devil +tempted him with visions of the comforts this large sum would purchase +for the friendless boy; but he was determined to keep it, and have +it restored to its rightful owner as soon as he could, even if he +had to go back to Midhampton to do it. This was the sort of boy Wade +Brooks was. He had the reputation of being a “goody,” and the bad boys +ridiculed him for it; but it was deserved, whether it was applied in +honor or in scorn. + +Wade was tempted to get up the anchor, and run the boat to the shore, +so that he could get away from his wicked companions. Very likely he +would have done so, and walked back to Midhampton, if he had not feared +that the noise he would have to make on the forward deck, over the +heads of the sleepers, would wake them. While he was considering this +plan, Lon Trustleton waked; and, unlike his companion, he did not lie +thinking, but jumped up at once, and went into the standing-room. + +He was startled, and stopped, standing as though he had suddenly +been changed into a statue, when he saw Wade Brooks seated in the +standing-room. He seemed to think it was a ghost, for he could not see +how it was possible for Wade to be in the boat with him when he had not +seen him before. + +“Wade Brooks!” exclaimed Lon, when he had found his tongue. + +“That’s my name,” replied Wade, grasping his stick closely in his hand. + +“How came you here, Wade?” demanded Lon. + +“I guess you can tell better than I can.” + +“None of your lip; but answer my question,” said Lon, who had by this +time recovered his self-possession. + +“I’m willing to answer the question, though it is not a very civil +one,” replied Wade. “I went into the boat to sleep; and, when I woke, +you were beating in the door of the cuddy: that’s all I know about it.” + +“I promised to give you a broken head if I ever saw you again, for what +you said to Garlick;” and Lon made a dig at him. + +That stick flashed in the air, and Lon fell. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE BATTLE IN THE BOAT. + + +Lon Trustleton may be excused for being astonished at the very +remarkable conduct of Wade Brooks, who had never before lifted a finger +against his persecutors. All of a sudden he had struck a blow which +upset his foe as though he had been a baby. But Lon was not badly +damaged, though he saw a numerous body of stars. He picked himself up; +and, as he had plenty of pluck, he rushed upon the object of his wrath, +intending to take the stick from him, and use it over his head. + +But Wade was not asleep; and he was prepared for his assailant. Before +Lon could get hold of him or the stick, another blow fell on his head, +and he staggered back towards the cuddy. The second blow wilted him; +and, though he was very angry, he found it necessary to be prudent. +He stood by the door of the cuddy, with his fists doubled up, and his +chest heaving with the fury of his rage, regarding his enemy with +mingled astonishment and indignation. The noise of the encounter had +waked Matt; and he crawled out of the cuddy to ascertain the cause of +the tempest. + +If Lon had been surprised to see Wade Brooks in the boat, Matt was +still more so. He could not realize how it was possible for him to be +there, for he had seen him go up to his garret to bed the night before. +Both Lon and himself had slept in the cuddy, and certainly the boy of +all work had not been in the standing-room when he retired. A little +reflection led him to the conclusion that Wade could not have been in +the boat during the night. He thought he could explain it: a party had +set out to pursue them, and Wade had followed the boat down the river +on the shore, and had come on board of her in the morning. The water +was very shallow where the boat was anchored, and he could have waded +off to her. + +“Wade Brooks here!” exclaimed he, when he found a tongue. + +“Yes; and he has hit me twice over the head with that stick,” replied +Lon, still eying the enemy with a savage gaze. + +“How came he here? when did he come into the boat?” asked Matt, though +he had settled all these questions in his own mind before he said a +word. + +“He says he went to sleep in the boat last night, and we sailed off +with him,” replied Lon. “Is there any kind of a club in the cuddy, +Matt? We are in for a fight; and I will break that fellow’s head, as I +told you I would.” + +“We are going to divide up the broken heads more than they used to be,” +said Wade coolly; for he had made up his mind for this thing, and he +was ready for whatever might come. + +Matt looked for a stick; but the stock of fish-pole in the boat had +given out when Wade was supplied. Nothing could be found but the pieces +of the door Lon had stove in the night before. These were all small, +and no club was at hand. But Lon picked up the splinters, and began to +hurl them at his foe. He cast them with all his might; and, if any of +them had hit Wade in the head, they would have hurt him. + +“That will do of that,” said Wade, gathering up his stick again. “Don’t +you fling another one of them at me!” + +“Yes, I will! I’ll break your head before I’ve done with you!” replied +Lon; and he picked up what was left of the door, intending to overwhelm +his antagonist in one crushing blow. + +But Wade did not wait for him to get the door in position: he rushed +upon him, and began to belabor him over the shoulders with the stick. +Lon howled with rage and pain, and vainly struggled to get hold of the +stick or his assailant. But Wade was too much for him. As for Matt, he +made for the cuddy as soon as Wade began to press his companion. After +a brief contest, Lon went down under the force of the blows that were +rained upon him. + +“When you want any more, all you got to do is to say so,” said the +conqueror. “I didn’t begin this fight; but I’m going to see the end of +it.” + +“You don’t fight fair,” gasped Lon, using the common argument of the +defeated bully. + +“I fight any way I can. I don’t believe in fighting at all, and I never +did any such thing before in my life,” replied Wade, still holding his +weapon ready for use. “You’ve always hit me just when you had a mind +to, and I have always stood it; but I’m not going to stand it any more. +When you hit me, I’m going to hit back again, whatever comes of it. I +won’t hurt anybody that lets me alone.” + +“Why didn’t you stand by me, Matt Swikes?” demanded Lon, as Matt +crawled out of the cuddy again; which he did not do till Wade had +assumed a more peaceable aspect. + +“I wasn’t going to be hit over the head with that stick,” replied Matt, +seating himself by the door of the cuddy. + +“You’re a coward, Matt Swikes, as you always were; and I have half +a mind to hit you over the head,” added Lon, disgusted with his +companion, and entirely unable to account for his defeat in a battle +with a fellow whom he had always regarded as an insignificant foe. + +“It’s no use to call names: they won’t hurt anybody,” growled Matt, who +could not see why his crony should turn against him. “You’ve licked +Wade Brooks times enough to know how to do it; and I don’t think it is +fair for two of us to set on one fellow.” + +“Not fair, you ninny!” exclaimed Lon, slapping the face of his +companion in crime. + +“What are you hitting me for? I haven’t touched you. You needn’t lick +me because you can’t lick Wade,” whined Matt. “I’ve got about enough of +this thing.” + +“I’ll bet they are looking for you at home about this time,” interposed +Wade; “and the best thing you can do is to go back before you’ve made +the matter any worse.” + +“I’ve half a mind to do it,” replied Matt, who was so much injured in +his feeling by the blow of Lon, that he could not help crying. “I’m not +going off to New York with Lon, to be kicked and slapped as if I wasn’t +nobody.” + +“Shut up, Matt!” said Lon sharply. “What do you mean by telling him +what we are going to do?” + +“I’m not going to do any thing, if I’m to be treated in this way.” + +“Keep still,” continued Lon in a gentler tone. “I was mad, and I didn’t +mean any thing. Don’t mind it, Matt, and I won’t do it again.” + +It was a great deal for Lon to say any thing in the shape of an +apology; and the insulted Matt was appeased at once. He wanted to go +to New York; and he did not like the idea of going home to take the +consequences of setting the barn on fire. Lon seated himself opposite +his companion in crime, as though he had concluded that it was best to +suspend hostilities, at least for the present. + +“I didn’t sleep much last night, and I was out of temper when I got +up,” said Lon, who was willing to make peace, even with Wade Brooks, +rather than give up the expedition, as he was afraid that Matt might be +persuaded to do; and he had all the money, so it was not possible to go +without him. + +“I don’t see what made you turn on me,” replied Matt, wiping the tears +from his eyes. + +“I didn’t mean to do it. The sight of Wade Brooks here in the boat with +us made me mad. But perhaps it is all for the best. Wade knows how to +sail a boat better than I do; and he will do that for us.” + +“No, I won’t,” replied Wade squarely. + +“How came you in the boat, Wade?” asked Matt, as it occurred to him +that this matter had not yet been cleared up. + +“I came on board of her to sleep after the fire,” replied Wade, who was +willing to tell all he knew about almost any subject. + +“What did you want to sleep in the boat for? Why couldn’t you sleep in +your own bed in the house?” + +“There was a good reason for it.” + +Wade considered a moment; and then he concluded to tell the whole story. + +“What was the reason?” asked Matt. + +“I’ll tell you all I know about it; and I know more than you think I +do,” replied Wade, looking Matt sharp in the eye. “You lied to your +mother when you told her I stole the peaches; and she sent me to bed +without any supper. I was so confounded hungry that I could not go to +sleep; and I got up, and went down to the buttery to get something to +eat. I was in there when you got up in that chair, and took the money +out of that closet over the mantle-piece.” + +“What money?” asked Matt, turning pale, and trembling with terror. + +“I guess you know what money as well as I do. The money that was in the +closet. You stole it, and then cleared out.” + +“Do you mean to say that I stole any money, Wade Brooks?” demanded +Matt, making a lame attempt to bluster, which was a failure. + +“That’s just what I mean to say, and I do say it. It’s no use to deny +it.” + +“Let him go on,” added Lon, in a low tone. + +“I deny that I took any money from any closet,” said Matt; “but go on +with your story.” + +“I guess I could prove that you did it, right here, if I had a mind +to,” added Wade. + +He was tempted to do so, and to take the money from his pocket as +evidence of what he asserted; but just then it came into his mind, +that, if Matt knew he had it, he would say he stole it; and, if he went +back to Midhampton, the possession of the two hundred dollars might be +evidence that he did steal it. If he told Mrs. Swikes that her son took +the wallet, she would not believe him. Wade concluded not to say just +yet that he had the plunder. + +“I don’t see what all this has to do with sleeping in the boat.” + +“That’s what I was going to tell you when you broke in on me. After you +took the money, your father came out of the room. Your mother said she +heard somebody in the house, and told your father to see if the money +in the closet was all right. He felt in the closet, and found that it +was gone. In that house they always lay every thing to me, and your +mother said I must have taken it.” + +“If any money was taken, I guess you did,” interposed Matt; and, if he +was caught, he could lay it to him with a full knowledge of the case. + +“You know better, Matt Swikes; but no matter now. Your father went up +to the garret, and found I was not there. Then they were sure I took +the money. I’d been licked once that day for what I didn’t do, and I +couldn’t stand it again. Just then the fire broke out, and your father +and mother went out of the house; and I hooked it out, and after a +while went down to the boat to sleep. I meant to call on Mr. Garlick +this morning, and tell him what I knew about matters and things in +general. That’s why I slept in the boat.” + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +CAUGHT IN THE ACT. + + +Matt looked at Lon, and Lon looked at Matt. There was a general looking +at each other in the boat. + +“Now I’ve told you why I slept in the boat, maybe you will tell me, +Matt, how you happened to be sailing in the ‘Mud-turtle’ so late in the +night,” said Wade Brooks. + +“We only came down here to have a sail. We are going down to the +Sound,” replied Matt, looking at his companion. + +“You said you were bound to New York,” added Wade with a significant +wink. + +“I said that in fun,” laughed Matt. “Of course we shouldn’t think of +such a thing as going to New York in this old boat.” + +“I shouldn’t think you’d go to New York in this boat,” added Wade. + +“We haven’t got any thing to eat, and no money to buy any thing with: +so we couldn’t go if we wanted to,” continued Matt, with a sly wink at +Lon. + +The remark that they had no money was truer than either of them +supposed; but, for the present, Wade kept his own counsel. + +“What were you going to talk with Garlick about, Wade?” asked Lon, who +did not exactly like the looks of this statement. + +“Matters and things in general,” replied Wade. “In the first place, I +was accused of stealing that money; and, as Mr. Garlick seems to be a +fair man, I wanted to talk with him about that. He was fair about the +peaches; and, when he found he was wrong, he owned right up like a man. +I wanted to ask him what he thought I had better do about it. I knew +Matt took the money, for I saw him do it. Then I wanted to tell him +that Matt was out of the house just before the fire; for I thought he +might want to know about that.” + +“What do you mean by that, Wade?” demanded Matt, beginning to shake in +his shoes again. + +“When the fire broke out in that barn, I knew as well as I do now who +touched it off,” added Wade, in a very matter-of-fact manner, rather +than as one who was making grave charges. + +“Who was it, Wade?” asked Matt, so agitated that he could hardly speak. + +“You and Lon, of course; and I guess about all the folks in town know +it by this time. When I was going down to the boat I heard two men in a +wagon talking about it.” + +“That Lon and I set Garlick’s barn on fire!” exclaimed Matt. “It’s the +biggest lie that ever was told!” + +“I guess not,” added Wade. “Your folks will be willing to believe it +when they find you are gone; and they know it by this time.” + +“Are we to be accused of setting that barn on fire because we came down +here to take a sail?” demanded Matt with all the indignation he could +assume. + +“I guess so,” said Wade, with a smile at the thin talk of Matt. + +“Let it drop,” added Lon, who did not believe it was of any use to deny +the charge, if it was all over town. + +“But, if you are going to New York, it is time to be moving,” said Wade +with a chuckle. “Where are we now?” + +“We can’t be a great way from the mouth of the river,” replied Lon, +beginning to hoist the mainsail. + +Wade took hold, and helped him, and did not retain possession of the +stick, for Lon seemed to be entirely peaceful. + +Wade got up the anchor, and then hoisted the jib, which Lon had not +used the night before. The breeze was quite fresh, and the old boat +bounded off on her course at a lively rate. Lon was not timid; but, +when the “Mud-turtle” heeled down till the water began to run in over +the wash-board, it was too trying for his nerves. + +“Won’t you steer her, Wade?” he asked. “I am not much used to a boat.” + +“I see you are not,” laughed Wade, as he took the tiller. “You should +have let off the sheet, or headed her more up into the wind. But where +are we going?” + +“Down to the Sound,” replied Lon. + +“But we are not going to New York without any breakfast, are we?” +inquired Wade, who had eaten a very unsatisfactory supper the night +before, and felt the need of food. + +“We must have something to eat,” added Matt. + +“We will stop and buy something when we see a store on shore,” replied +Lon. “You seem to know every thing, Wade Brooks: do you suppose the +folks in Midhampton are looking for us?” + +“Of course they are. Your father begun last night, I guess.” + +“Do you think they will miss the boat?” + +“Maybe they will; but nobody goes to the creek very often. It will be +just as it happens.” + +“Somebody may have come down here by the railroad to look for us,” +suggested Matt. + +“Very likely,” added Wade, who was not a good comforter on this +occasion. + +Lon and Matt talked the matter over between themselves; and, while they +were doing so, Wade discovered a village ahead. He said nothing, but +run the boat for it. In a short time Lon saw it. A train of cars was +approaching it from the north. + +“We have concluded not to stop at this place to get any thing to eat,” +said Lon. + +“Have you?” added Wade. “Well, I’ve concluded to stop here.” + +“Do you think it is safe to do so?” asked Lon anxiously. + +“It’s safe enough for me: I don’t know how it is with you. If Matt +didn’t steal that money, and if you didn’t set Mr. Garlick’s barn on +fire, it is as safe for you as Midhampton,” replied Wade, with a laugh, +for it amused him to see the guilty ones squirm. + +Lon did not want to talk any more with Wade about the matter. He +persisted in knowing all about the fire and the money, and would not +keep still. He had taken the bit in his teeth, and intended to sail the +boat where he pleased. + +“Let’s go into the cuddy, and keep out of sight,” said Matt. + +Wade smiled again, for he saw that Matt wanted to get his money from +under the floor more than he wanted to keep out of sight. When the +boat came around a bend, the skipper saw a bridge across the river, +just below the village; and he knew that the railroad which crossed it +went to New York. He was not sure that the bad boys did not intend to +abandon the boat, and take the train for the great city. He wished to +go there himself, for he thought he could get work there. But he was +confident, that, whatever Lon intended to do, they would not take any +train to New York, for they would soon find that they had no money to +pay the fare. + +He heard them fumbling about the cuddy, and he knew that Matt could not +find the treasure. But, if the boat was to stop at the town, it was +time to prepare for the landing; and, if she was not to stop, it was +time to look out for the bridge, for the mast seemed to be too tall to +pass under it. If no one on board had any money, it was no use to land +to obtain something to eat. Wade regarded the money in his pocket as +held in trust, and he determined to be hungry for some time before he +spent any of it for provisions. + +Wade run the boat close to the bridge, and found that the mast would +go under it; but he was not quite willing to leave the village till +the question of food had been settled. He was confident the runaways +intended to go to New York in the boat, and he believed they had made +some arrangements to feed themselves on the way. Putting the boat +about, he headed her up the river again. + +Lon and Matt were so busy in the cuddy, that they gave no heed to the +boat, and continued their search for the lost treasure. Of course they +did not find it; and, when they gave up in despair, they had an earnest +conversation, but Wade could not hear a word of it. They did not mean +he should hear it, for it related to him. The conference continued for +a long time; and, finding that it was not likely soon to be ended, Wade +lowered the jib, and made a landing in the upper part of the village. + +As soon as the boat was secured to the shore, Lon came out of the +cuddy, followed by Matt. Both of them looked as though something had +happened. + +“Well, what are you going to do here, Wade?” asked Lon in a sullen tone. + +“If you fellows are going to New York in this boat, this is the place +for you to take in provisions for the cruise,” said Wade good-naturedly. + +“We are not going to New York in this boat,” replied Lon sourly; and +the loss of the treasure had changed the whole face of nature to him. + +“Well, here we are; and, whatever you are going to do, now is the time +to begin it,” added Wade, who stood in the standing-room, putting the +stops on the mainsail. + +“I think so myself,” replied Lon, suddenly springing upon the skipper, +and throwing his arms around his neck, trying to get him on the floor. + +But Wade had found his pluck before; and, as he was a stouter fellow, +Lon soon realized that he was more than an armful for him. But a sharp +struggle ensued, for Lon was fighting for freedom and safety. The money +was gone, and without that they could not go to New York or anywhere +else. They could not even pay for the food for a breakfast. They were +confident that Wade had taken the money from its hiding-place, for the +simple reason that no one else could have taken it. The wallet could +not have taken itself out of the way; and Lon found that it could not +have dropped into any hole, for there was no hole there. Besides, Wade +had suddenly taken the bit into his teeth, and become as independent +as a basket of chips. He had the money, and this was what made him so +unmanageable. + +Matt attempted to assist his companion, but a smart kick from Wade +caused him to retire from the contest. After a sharp struggle, Wade +came down in the bottom of the boat, with Lon under him; and the strife +was ended. All of them were so occupied in the battle, that they did +not notice the approach of two men, who had come from the village on +the railroad, and reached the boat about the time that Lon went under. +Matt was the first to see them. + +“Hold on, Wade,” said he in trembling tones: “here is your father, Lon, +and mine too!” + +But Wade Brooks could not see them, for he was busy in attending to his +prisoner. + +“What are you about, you villain?” called Capt Trustleton in a sharp +tone. “Let him alone.” + +Wade let him up at the sound of this voice. As usual, he was caught +in a doubtful position when he was entirely innocent: it was just his +luck. + +[Illustration: THE BATTLE IN THE BOAT.--Page 78.] + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +A STRAIGHTFORWARD STATEMENT. + + +When Capt. Trustleton reached his elegant abode, after his call at the +house of Obed Swikes, he found, as he had supposed, that Alonzo was not +in his room. Then he examined his desk in the library, where he had +a small sum of money; but it had not been disturbed. The captain was +a man of action; and he lost no time in beginning the search for his +wayward boy. He called his two hired men, and procured the services +of half a dozen others; but he did not call for any officers, for he +wanted to settle the case himself. + +He was confident that the two boys had not come to the village after +setting the fire; for they would have met the people on their way to +it. He came to the conclusion that they had taken to the woods for the +night, and that they would depart by the first train in the morning; +for the loss of Swikes’s money indicated they were well supplied with +funds. He set the men to searching the country between the river and +the road; and, about one o’clock, they came to the creek. One of the +men occasionally used the boat, and he missed it. Looking down the +river, he saw the sail of the “Mud-turtle,” which had not been under +way more than half an hour. The man did not see the captain till two +hours after he made this discovery; for he was following the river +road in his buggy for several miles, thinking it was possible that the +runaways might have walked to the next town. When he learned that the +boat was gone, he gave up the search for that night; but early in the +morning he was at the house of Obed Swikes, and they had taken the +first train for the south, which had arrived just as the boat came to +Rivermouth, the village where the railroad crossed the river. + +The pursuers had not deemed it wise to show themselves, lest the boys +should attempt to escape. They watched the boat, intending to follow +it as soon as they could learn where it was going. When Wade put her +about, and stood up the river, they had followed on the railroad. +As soon as it was made fast to the shore, they were ready to take +possession of the boat and its crew. Capt. Trustleton was not a little +alarmed when he saw the fierce battle that was in progress in the +standing-room. Neither he nor Swikes had expected to find Wade Brooks +with the fugitives, for they were not on good terms the day before; and +certainly their relations did not appear to be any more friendly than +then. + +“What are you choking my boy for, you villain?” demanded Capt. +Trustleton, springing into the boat, catching Wade Brooks by the +collar, and shaking him up very thoroughly. + +Wade thought he could handle the son, but he did not care to contend +with the father. When the captain had shaken him to his heart’s +content, he pitched him over into one corner of the standing-room. +Wade picked himself up, and, stepping upon the forward deck, placed a +respectful distance between himself and the angry father. + +“What on airth are you a-doin’ here, Wade Brooks?” added +Swikes,--“fightin’ too?” + +“Do you want to kill my boy?” demanded Capt. Trustleton. + +“He begun it; and that was the second time he pitched into me to-day,” +pleaded Wade. “I won’t stand it to have him hammer me whenever he takes +a notion to do so.” + +“He pounded me almost to death with a club this morning,” whined Lon, +when he had picked himself up. + +“What did you pitch into him for?” asked his father, who seemed to have +some faith in Wade’s report. + +“He’s always interfering with me,” answered Lon, who was not disposed +to give the true reason for his attack. + +“He interfered with your stealing peaches yesterday, didn’t he?” +demanded the father sternly. + +Lon hung his head; for he saw that his father knew all about the events +of the day before. + +“Now, Wade Brooks, what did you do with the money you stole from the +closet over the mantletry-piece?” said Swikes, coming to the question +that was nearest to his heart. + +“I didn’t steal it,” replied Wade; and he began to wish the wallet was +not in his pocket under the present circumstances: it was just his luck. + +“Who did steal it, then? You was gone from the garret before the fire +broke out; and I knowed you had it when I found you was gone.” + +“Matt took it, and I saw him do it,” replied Wade; but he had no hope +of making the farmer believe what he said. + +“I took it!” exclaimed Matt, with a violent show of indignation. “It’s +an awful lie!” + +“I can’t believe you would take all that money from your own father,” +added Swikes. “It don’t look reasonable to me.” + +“I didn’t do it, father: I wouldn’t do such a thing!” protested Matt, +taking the cue his father gave him. “I didn’t know that you had lost +any money. If anybody took it, Wade Brooks must have done it.” + +“There, Capt. Trustleton! I told you so!” exclaimed Swikes +triumphantly. “I told you my boy wouldn’t do such a thing. He did not +even know that the money was gone.” + +“Perhaps he didn’t know it; but boys who can set a barn on fire out of +spite are not generally too good to tell lies; and, for the present, I +am not inclined to believe what either of them may say,” replied Capt. +Trustleton coldly. + +“Set a barn on fire, father!” exclaimed Lon, apparently as much +astonished as Matt had been. “Who did such a thing, sir?” + +“Mr. Garlick says you and Matthew Swikes did.” + +“Why, father! I hope you didn’t believe such a thing!” protested Lon. + +“I am sorry to say that I did believe it; and I have not changed my +mind much since. What are you doing down here in this boat?” + +“We only came down to take a sail,” replied Lon. + +“That’s all, sir,” added Matt. + +“You selected a strange time to take a sail,” said the captain, looking +his son sharp in the eye, so that Lon hung his head. “Where were you +going to?” + +“Only down to the Sound.” + +“And did you invite Wade Brooks to go with you?” + +“No, sir: he invited himself. We didn’t know he was in the boat till +this morning.” + +“After he stole the money, he went down to the boat to sleep in the +cuddy,” interposed Matt, who was anxious to convict Wade. “He was +asleep in there when we started; and he was as ugly as sin this +morning.” + +“That’s just the way it was done,” added Swikes. + +“I should like to hear the Brooks boy on that subject,” said Capt. +Trustleton. + +“It don’t make no difference what the Brooks boy says. He don’t tell +the truth; and he’s too cunning to tell you that he took the money,” +protested Swikes. + +“How came you in the boat?” inquired the captain, turning to Wade. + +“I’m going to tell the whole truth if I’m killed for it,” replied Wade, +as he stepped down into the standing-room, and seated himself opposite +Capt. Trustleton. + +“Mind you do! and don’t tell me Matthew took the money,” said Swikes. + +“I shall tell you he did, for that’s the truth,” replied Wade. + +Beginning back at the flogging the female Swikes had given him, he +related all that occurred up to the arrival of the two fathers of the +runaways. When he came to speak of the money which Matt was counting in +the cuddy, Swikes was all attention; for he was thinking whether or not +he should ever see it again. + +“You saw Matthew put the wallet under the floor, did you?” asked +Swikes, greatly excited, as he glanced at the cuddy, hoping soon to be +told that it was still there. + +“Yes, sir: that’s what I said,” continued Wade. + +“It’s all a lie, father!” exclaimed Matt. + +“Don’t you say any thing till Brooks has finished,” said Capt. +Trustleton sternly. “Go on, Brooks.” + +“Matt didn’t know I was in the boat. He was back to me, and I sat on +this seat where I am now,” Wade proceeded. “When he had divided the +money into two piles, he put them in different pockets of the wallet. +Pretty soon he pulled away the hay under where he had been sitting, and +took up one of the narrow boards. You see where that one is gone,” and +Wade pointed to the opening in the floor. “I looked in the hole on this +side, and I saw him put the wallet in there. When he had done it, he +lay down, and went to sleep.” + +“But where is the wallet now? Is it in that hole?” demanded Swikes +impatiently, as he rose from his seat to look for the missing treasure. + +“No, sir: it is not there now, for I took it out while both of them +were asleep; and here it is,” replied Wade, taking the wallet from his +pocket, and giving it to the owner. + +“I knew he had it!” incautiously exclaimed Lon. + +“Oh! you did?” said Capt. Trustleton. “How did you know he had it?” + +“I meant that I knew he stole it,” replied Lon, seeing he had been +guilty of a slip of the tongue. + +“No, sir: that was not what he meant,” added Wade. “I will tell you +what he meant before I get through. When we got to this place, Lon told +me they had concluded not to stop here to get any thing to eat; but I +said I had concluded to stop. Then they went into the cuddy, and staid +there half an hour or longer. I saw them pulling away the hay, and I +knew they were looking for the money. As I was bound to stop here, I +made up my mind that they went for the money, meaning to take a train +to New York, and get rid of me. Then they came out of the cabin, and +Lon pitched into me: Matt tried to help him. We were at it when you +came, but I had got the best of it.” + +“Matt didn’t help me as he agreed to do,” said Lon, putting his foot +into it again; for he seemed to believe it was necessary to explain to +his father why he had lost the battle. + +“Then Matthew agreed to help you?” added the captain. “What did he +agree to help you do, my son?” + +“To help me lick Wade Brooks before we left the boat.” + +“They were not so anxious to lick me as they were to get that wallet,” +said Wade. “Lon came at me behind, and tried to pull me down. If he +wanted to lick me, he would have taken that stick, and used it as I +did.” + +“I don’t believe a word of that story!” exclaimed Swikes. + +“If that story is not true, Brooks has more talent for lying than your +boy or mine,” answered Capt. Trustleton. “It is a straightforward +statement.” + +Wade Brooks began to have some hope that he might not be utterly +condemned. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +A HUNGRY SKIPPER. + + +Capt. Trustleton went over the case; but he was unable to convince +Obed Swikes that his boy took the money. He was simply determined not +to accept the explanation. It was a good deal more convenient for him +to believe that Wade Brooks had done the deed. The wallet was in his +possession, and he must have taken it. + +“Open the wallet, Mr. Swikes, and let us see if the money is all +there,” suggested Capt. Trustleton. “You have the wallet; but there may +be no money in it.” + +Swikes was appalled at the very suggestion. He took the wallet from his +pocket, and opened it. His eyes lighted up with joy when he saw the two +rolls of bills. + +“How much was there in the wallet?” asked the captain. + +“Just two hundred dollars,” replied Swikes, as he took the two rolls +of bills from the wallet. “If you will count one of these, I will the +other.” + +The captain took the one handed to him, and proceeded to count it. + +“Just one hundred dollars,” he replied, when he had finished it. + +“And there is just one hundred in this one,” added Swikes. + +“Now, Matthew, why did you divide the money into two parts?” demanded +the captain sharply, as he turned upon Matt. + +“I was going to give half-- I didn’t divide it! I didn’t have the +money. I didn’t know the money was stolen!” protested Matt, recovering +his self-possession a little too late. + +“You were going to give half to Alonzo, was what you began to say,” +added Capt. Trustleton. “Now, Mr. Swikes, I regard this as a plain +case. You find the money divided into two parts, just as Brooks said. +Your boy was surprised into saying he was going to give half, before +he changed his tone. If Brooks stole the money, he had no motive for +dividing it in this way. Let us look at it on another tack. Whether +your boy and mine set fire to Garlick’s barn, I don’t know: if they +did, that was a good reason why they should clear out as they did. We +find these boys here ten miles from home. They say they were going down +to the Sound, two miles farther. We find in the boat nothing to eat. +My boy has no money. Neither of them is fool enough to start on such +a trip without food or money. It is more likely to me that your boy +took the money from the closet, to enable them to pay the expenses of +the trip to New York, than that Brooks took it and my boy is just as +guilty as yours. I don’t want to believe this, but it is forced home to +my mind.” + +“You are hard on my boy, Capt. Trustleton,” said Swikes, shaking his +head. + +“No harder than I am on my own son. I think that both of them have been +bad boys, and it is better for us to look the matter square in the face +than it is to blind our own eyes to the facts. But it is almost time +for that train home; and we can settle the matter just as well there as +here. But what shall be done with this boat?” + +“I suppose Wade Brooks can take it back,” replied Swikes. + +It was settled that Wade should sail the boat back to Midhampton, while +the two fathers and sons returned by the train. + +“And, when he does get back, I mean to have him taken up and sent to +the House of Correction for stealing that money,” said Swikes bitterly. + +“I think if you get the case into court, you will be more likely to +send your own son there. I have no doubt Matthew is the thief,” replied +the captain. “Why do you keep your money in an open closet, and then +tell a boy like Wade Brooks where it is?” + +“I didn’t tell where it was,” added Swikes. + +“How did he know, then?” + +“I didn’t know; I had no idea there was any money in the closet. If you +please, Mr. Swikes, I should like some breakfast before I sail the boat +home,” said Wade very respectfully. + +“You won’t git nothin’ till you git home,” replied the stingy farmer. +“Do you suppose I’m going to spend money to feed you down here?” + +Swikes thought a thing so absurd ought not to be expected of him; and +he did not give it a second thought. + +“I didn’t have any supper last night, as I told you; and I only found +some crusts of brown bread when I got up in the night, and I’m almost +starved,” pleaded poor Wade, whose stomach was protesting violently +against the injustice done to it. + +“I can’t help it. You hadn’t any business to come down here.” + +“I didn’t come of my own accord; and if I hadn’t come, you never would +have got your money again,” added Wade. “I can’t sail the boat back +without something to eat.” + +“Then you may walk back, for I won’t pay your fare on the cars,” said +Swikes, who was by all odds the meanest man in Midhampton. + +“I think it is a hard case, my lad,” interposed Capt. Trustleton; “and +here is a dollar to buy your breakfast.” + +“I thank you, sir! I am very much obliged to you, and I hope that some +time I may be able to do something for you,” said Wade warmly. + +“He don’t need all that money, Capt. Trustleton, and you will spoil the +boy,” growled Swikes, who was disgusted with this prodigality. + +The captain and his son walked towards the station, followed by Matt; +but Swikes lingered behind for some reason. + +“Here, Wade Brooks, give me that dollar,” said the skinflint. “I ain’t +a-going to have no sich waste of money. Here is five cents to buy some +crackers for you; and that’s enough till you git home.” + +“Capt. Trustleton gave the money to me, and I am going to keep it,” +replied Wade stoutly; and he meant what he said. + +“No, you ain’t a-going to keep it nuther! You’ll fool it all away; and +it will pay my fare down and back on the cars. So give it to me this +minute.” + +“I won’t do it, Obed Swikes,” said Wade. “That dollar won’t pay no fare +of yours to-day.” + +“If you don’t give it to me this minute, I’ll shake it out of your +hide!” + +“Shake away! You don’t get that dollar out of me as long as I can hold +on to it.” + +Wade retreated to the stern of the boat, which was out in the deep +water; and Swikes followed him. + +When the boy had gone as far as he could, Swikes attempted to collar +him; but Wade dodged, and his persecutor, who was walking on the seat, +canted the boat so that he lost his balance, and rolled into the river. +But the water was not more than four feet deep; and, when he recovered +his footing, he walked up the steep incline to the shore. Matt saw this +accident to his father, and all the party hastened back. + +“What’s the matter, Mr. Swikes?” asked the captain. + +“That boy pushed me into the water,” replied the miser, blowing the +water out of his mouth, and shaking himself like a water-dog. + +Capt. Trustleton looked at Wade when this charge was made against him; +but the boy offered no defence. + +“What’s the trouble here, Brooks?” asked the captain. + +“Didn’t I tell you that boy pushed me into the water? You needn’t ask +him any thing about it. He’ll lie to you if you do,” snarled Swikes. + +“I don’t think Brooks does all the lying that is done around here,” +added Capt. Trustleton. “I want to hear what Brooks has to say about +it.” + +“I didn’t push him overboard, or touch him,” replied the persecuted boy. + +“Well, he tipped the boat so as to throw me out,” added Swikes. + +“Mr. Swikes tried to make me give him the dollar you let me have; and, +when I told him I wouldn’t give it up, he said he’d shake it out of me. +I told him to shake away, and he tried to grab me. I ran aft, and got +out of his way; and when the boat canted a little it tipped him over.” + +“Served him right,” said the captain. “Don’t you give him the dollar. +The money was for you, and not for him.” + +“You take that boy’s part against me, Capt. Trustleton, and ’tain’t +right to do so.” + +“Yes, it is right, when you treat him worse than a pig. I wonder now +that he didn’t keep your money when he got it into his fist. He could +have run the boat ashore as soon as he got the wallet, and taken the +next train for New York. It is very strange to me that he didn’t do it, +if you use him in this way.” + +Certainly the captain was plain-spoken, and Obed Swikes did not like +his speech; but he was too wet and cold to argue the question, and he +walked towards the station. Wade soon found himself alone in the boat. +He had a dollar in his pocket, which was more money than he had ever +possessed before: it seemed like a vast sum to him. But he was very +hungry, and he soon followed the party to the village. It was but a +small place, consisting of not more than a dozen houses. He found that +there was no tavern, store, or eating-house, in the place: all these +were at the village two miles distant. + +“Isn’t there any place where I can get something to eat?” asked Wade of +the woman who had given him the information. + +“None nearer than the West Village,” she replied. + +“I have had nothing but a few crusts to eat since yesterday; and I have +to sail a boat up to Midhampton, and I can’t do it without something to +eat,” added Wade, in a mournful tone. + +“I will give you something to eat,” said the woman kindly. “I am +willing to feed the hungry, but I am afraid of tramps.” + +“I’m not a tramp yet, marm: I don’t know what I may be. I am willing to +pay for what I eat, for I have some money.” + +The woman took no notice of this remark, but led the way into the +kitchen of her house, which was as neat as wax, and very different in +this respect from that of Mrs. Swikes. She put a great slice of ham +into a pan, and put it on the fire; and in a moment it was hissing and +sizzling, and sending forth a savory odor which tickled the senses of +the hungry boy. When it was nearly done she put some cold potatoes into +the pan, and fried them with the ham. She had already set the table; +and, when the ham was cooked, she asked him to take his seat. She had +coffee, and bread and butter, besides the other viands; and Wade could +not remember when he had had such a nice breakfast. He astonished the +lady by the magnitude of his appetite. He praised the food without +stint; and the hostess was complimented by the quantity he ate. + +When the meal was finished, the good lady would not take a cent of his +dollar; and he thanked her with all his might. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +WADE BROOKS MAKES A TRADE. + + +Wade Brooks felt like a new boy. The breakfast was a meal to be +remembered; for there was nothing like it in the past, and the future +at the house of Obed Swikes was equally blank in prospect. His meals +there were hardly better than the pigs had, and were often short at +that. + +“I hate to go back to the home of Obed Swikes,” said he to himself, +as he walked from the house of the kind lady to the river. “I have to +work like a dog, and sometimes I can’t get enough to eat; and he and +the old woman say I don’t earn my salt. Both of them are growling at me +all the time, and I have no peace of my life. They haven’t any claims +on me; and they say I belong in the poorhouse. I don’t believe I should +be any worse off if I were in the poorhouse. I shouldn’t have to work +any harder, and I couldn’t be fed any worse. But then, I don’t like the +name of it.” + +By the time he reached the river, he had about made up his mind not +to return to the house of Obed Swikes. It was a big thought; and, +seating himself in the standing-room, he gave himself up to it. The +runaways were going to New York, and he had expected to go with them. +He believed he could find work there, and earn his own living. + +But how could he get to New York? He had the old boat, and it was not +more than sixty miles distant. It might take him two days to get there; +but the boat would certainly take him to his destination if he kept her +going. The dollar Capt. Trustleton had given him would supply all the +provision he needed, and even leave him something to spend after he +reached the great city. The question was settled in the boy’s mind. + +Some folks in Midhampton would miss the old boat; but Wade felt that he +had the best right to her, for she had belonged to his father. Hoisting +the mainsail, he stood down the river; and, when he had passed the +bridge, he set the jib. He expected to find a town before he reached +the Sound, where he could buy the food for the cruise; but no such +place appeared. Wade Brooks had heard of the Sound, but he had no clear +idea what it was. He had been to school in the winter since he was old +enough to do so, and had studied geography. He had seen the Sound on +the map, and thought it was like a very wide river. He knew that he +must go west to reach New York, and he had no doubt that he should find +it. + +The wind was fresh and fair, and in less than half an hour the +“Mud-turtle” reached the mouth of the river. The Sound looked like the +trackless ocean to Wade, for at this point he could not see across +it. He did not like the idea of going out on such a broad sea; for he +had never sailed anywhere except on the river, and had never been out +of Midhampton before. But he could keep near the shore, and if a storm +came up he could put in at some of the towns he had seen on the map. + +After he got out of the river, he found a point of land extended over a +mile to the south, and had a light-house at the end of it. He doubled +this cape, and found that a great bay stretched inland. It was seven +or eight miles across the mouth of this bay, and he did not like to +venture out so far. Besides, several vessels and a small steamboat were +bound up the bay, which indicated that there was a large town at the +head of it. + +The water was alive with craft of all sorts farther out in the Sound; +and, if the old sail-boat did break down, there were vessels enough +near to save him. After he had run a couple of miles more, he could see +the town at the head of the bay. He could just discern a light-house +at the point where the bay began to be very narrow; and he headed for +this, as all the other craft were doing. But the wind was dead ahead, +and he had to beat all the way; but it was not more than three miles +from him. + +“What town is that?” asked Wade of a man in a boat loaded with oysters, +which he was rowing towards the town, as the “Turtle” passed near him. + +“That’s the city of Bridgeport,” replied the oyster man. “Don’t you +know where you are?” + +“No, sir, I don’t: I never was here before,” answered Wade, with candor +and simplicity. “I want to go to some place where I can get some +crackers and things to eat.” + +“Where did you come from?” + +“From Midhampton, up the river.” + +“Where are you bound?” + +“To New York.” + +“If you are bound up to town, and will take my boat in tow, I will +pilot you up. It’s a crooked channel up to the city, and you will have +a head wind part of the way,” added the oysterman. + +Wade agreed to this arrangement, and ran the “Turtle” alongside the +oyster-boat. The man passed his painter to the stern of the sail-boat, +and then took his place at the helm. + +“Whose boat is this?” asked the new skipper, as he looked the +“Mud-turtle” over with a critical eye. + +“She belongs to me,” replied Wade. + +“You are rather young to own a boat,” added the oysterman. + +“If she don’t belong to me, I don’t know who owns her.” + +“Where did you get her?” + +Wade had no secrets, and he related the history of the boat. The man +wanted to know something more about the young boatman’s history, and +he kept looking the boat over all the time as he asked question after +question. Wade told his story without any reserve, except that he did +not mention the fire. + +“I don’t see as that man has any claims upon you,” said the pilot. “If +he did not use you well, I don’t blame you for leaving him.” + +“Obed Swikes said I belonged in the poorhouse; and he and his wife kept +saying they should send me there,” added Wade. + +“What are you going to do in New York?” asked Loud; for that was his +name. + +“I expect to find work when I get there.” + +“What are you going to do with this boat?” + +“I don’t know: I hadn’t thought of that,” replied Wade blankly. And he +did not think the boat was of much consequence any way. + +“I think this boat will do me more good than she will you,” said Loud, +feeling his way to the subject that had been uppermost in his mind from +the beginning. + +“It don’t seem to me that I should want to row that load of oysters as +far as you have to go,” replied Wade, though he did not yet see what +the oysterman was driving at. + +“You can’t do any thing with the boat in New York,” added Loud, looking +into the locker astern of the tiller. “She isn’t much of a boat; but +you couldn’t even sell her there, if you wanted to.” + +This was a new idea to the young boatman. It had never occurred to him +before, that there was any value in the old “Mud-turtle,” which had +been used in Midhampton by everybody who wanted her, without hire or +even thanks. He saw that the man wanted to buy her for use in bringing +in his oysters. She was just the thing for that. She was old; but she +was still sound, and scarcely leaked at all. He was a New-England boy, +and he had an instinct for trade; and he made up his mind that Loud +should not get her for nothing. + +“I should say that New York was a better place than this to sell a +boat,” said Wade, when the man began to run down the boat, and to make +it appear that she was useless to her owner. + +“I don’t think so. They have so many nice boats there, that an old +thing like this don’t stand much chance.” + +“If she were only painted up, she would be as nice as any of them,” +replied Wade, who remembered how handsome he thought she was when his +father had put her in first-rate order two or three years before he +died. + +“It would cost a good deal of money to fix her up; and I don’t know as +she is worth it. She will do to bring up oysters from the beds in; and, +if you will sell her for any fair price, I should like to buy her,” +continued Loud, looking her over more carefully than before. + +“I didn’t think of selling her; but I will let her go, if you will give +me what she’s worth,” said Wade, deeming it wise not to appear too +anxious to drive a trade. + +“Well, what will you take for her?” asked Loud, in an indifferent way. + +This was a hard question for Wade to answer; but he recalled a time +when his father talked of selling the boat, and he had heard the +conversation on the subject. Mr. Brooks had asked seventy-five dollars +for the boat; but then she had just been painted and repaired. + +“I will take fifty dollars for her,” replied Wade, after some +hesitation; and this, he thought, would be a good figure at which to +begin the trade. + +“Oh, get out!” exclaimed Loud, with great contempt in his manner. “She +is not worth half that.” + +Wade did not think she was, but he did not say so: that was not the way +to trade. + +“I know my father would not sell her for less than seventy-five; but I +didn’t want to be hard, and I made her cheap to you.” + +“I should think you did,” said Loud with a laugh,--“fifty dollars for +this old tub! I can buy a bigger and better boat here in Bridgeport for +half the money.” + +“Well, if you can, there isn’t any law to keep you from doing so,” +added Wade good-naturedly. + +“This boat will answer my purpose very well; and I thought, as she will +be of no use to you, she might be bought cheap.” + +“And so she can be: what will you give for her?” + +“I made up my mind, if you would let her go for ten dollars, I should +take her; but I didn’t mean to give much more than that for her.” + +“Oh, get out! ten dollars for this boat!” exclaimed Wade: “there is old +iron enough to bring more than that.” + +For an hour they haggled about the price. Wade saw that the oysterman +wanted the boat, in spite of the indifference he tried to assume. Loud +said there was some risk in buying a boat of a boy; but the trade was +finally closed at twenty dollars. When they landed at the city, Loud +went for the money, and paid Wade the cash, requiring him to sign a +receipt for it. + +Wade was glad to have the boat off his hands; and he would have sold +her for ten dollars rather than keep her, if he could have got no more. +Just now, with twenty dollars in his pocket, he was a wealthy young +man; and he felt better off than the rich showman in the place where he +was. But the boat was gone; and the question now was, how he should get +to New York. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +TWO WRONGS DON’T MAKE A RIGHT. + + +While Wade Brooks is resting his mind after the great trade he has +made, let us follow his late companions back to Midhampton. Lon +Trustleton had the feeling that all his fun had been nipped in the bud +by Wade, when he took the money, which was to pay the expenses of the +expedition to New York, from the place where Matt Swikes had put it. +It is true, he blamed Matt for putting the wallet there, and thought +he was a fool for doing so. He ought to have given it to him if he was +afraid to keep it. + +Then Matt had counted the money into parts, evidently to divide with +him. He wondered why he had not given him his share, instead of +sticking it in the bottom of the boat. Lon had no suspicion that Matt +doubted his fairness in the matter, and that he might take all the +funds from him; but this was the reason why Matt had put the money in +what he considered a safe place. + +The captured runaways had no chance to talk together till the train +arrived at Midhampton, about nine o’clock. Capt. Trustleton was in +favor, as before, of looking the facts squarely in the face. If his +son set the barn on fire, he wanted to know it; and though he did not +want the boy sent to prison, or any thing of the kind, he was disposed +to punish him severely for the crime, as well as to pay Mr. Garlick the +loss he had sustained. + +Obed Swikes was glad to get his money back. He was not willing to +believe that Matt had any thing to do with burning the barn; but Capt. +Trustleton insisted upon taking the boys to the house of Mr. Garlick, +and having the matter investigated. Swikes reluctantly consented to the +plan, and they went directly from the station to the farmer’s house. +The boys were left in one room, while their fathers talked the subject +over in another. + +“Here we are, Matt,” said Lon, who did not appear to be at all sorry +for his evil deeds: “our fun has been spoiled by Wade Brooks.” + +“I know it, and now we may be sent to the House of Correction for +burning the barn,” replied Matt. + +“No danger of that,” added Lon. “Your father will not let you be sent +to any such place; and I know mine won’t. They say money will do almost +any thing.” + +“My father will not be willing to pay much money on my account.” + +“Yes, he will: he will pay all that is wanted to keep you out of the +House of Correction,” added Lon. “I am only sorry because we lost the +good time we should have had in New York while the money lasted; and, +when we came home, our folks would be so glad to see us, that they +wouldn’t have said a word.” + +“I don’t know about that; but every thing would have worked first-rate +if it hadn’t been for Wade Brooks, confound him!” + +“Don’t you think we can get hold of that money again, Matt?” asked Lon +in a whisper. + +“I don’t know: very likely I can. My father thinks Wade took it.” + +“Wade will be back in the boat some time to-day; and he may steal it a +second time, you know,” added Lon, with a wink. “We must have that time +in New York, anyhow.” + +“I’m willing, if we only get out of this scrape.” + +“We shall get out of this all right; but don’t you make any blunders +this time, as you did before,” said the cautious Lon. “Don’t answer +any questions till you have thought about it. Stick to it that we had +nothing to do with the fire. Your father does not know that you were +out of the house before the fire; and I’m sure mine didn’t. Say we did +not come out till the fire woke us, and went to the boat after it was +all over. They will not believe Wade’s story, if we only stick to our +text, and you don’t put your foot into it again.” + +While these scamps were preparing for the worst, the trio in the other +room were discussing the guilt of the boys. Capt. Trustleton called for +the evidence that his boy had been concerned in setting the fire. Mr. +Garlick had no evidence, except that he had horsewhipped the two boys, +and Lon had threatened to get even with him. No one had seen the boys +in the vicinity of the barn, either before or after the fire. + +“Do you intend to proceed against the boys on this testimony?” asked +the captain rather sternly. + +“I have not said I should proceed against them.” + +“The boys both denied that they had any thing to do with the fire.” + +“Of course they would deny it,” replied the farmer. + +“You may question them; and, if there is any thing to implicate them, I +shall be willing to do what is right. Before we call them in, there’s +another question which needs a little discussion,” continued Capt. +Trustleton. + +“What’s that?” asked Mr. Garlick curiously. + +“You whipped these boys most unmercifully,” replied the captain. + +“They had no business to burn my barn, if I did,” said the farmer. + +“That’s very true; but two wrongs do not make a right. If you had +not flogged them, you would not have suspected them of burning your +building; and if they did the deed,--which I don’t admit,--they did it +because you whipped them.” + +“You hadn’t no business to lick my boy,” added Swikes. + +“Now, if there is to be any law about the fire, there must be some more +about this flogging,” continued Capt. Trustleton. + +“Do you mean to prosecute me for that, after I have had my property +burned by these boys?” demanded Mr. Garlick. + +“If my boy is prosecuted for burning the barn, I certainly shall +prosecute you for flogging my son.” + +“And I shall do it for licking my boy,” added Obed Swikes, who began to +see his way out of the scrape in the light of the captain’s threat. + +“That looks a little as though you meant to scare me out of it,” added +Garlick. + +“Not at all; and I don’t mean any thing of the kind,” replied the +captain. “If these boys set the fire, they did it under strong +provocation. You had no more right to flog them than I have to flog +you. You took the law into your own hands, and so did the boys; and +you have got the worst of it, Mr. Garlick. I would rather have my barn +burned than my son flogged as you flogged him. I do not believe in +flogging: I saw enough of it on board ship when I was a young man.” + +“You seem to think it was right for your son to burn the barn because I +whipped him for stealing my peaches,” said the farmer. + +“I do not say that; but I have no doubt my son Alonzo, who was never +flogged in his life before so far as I know, thought the burning of the +barn could no more than atone for the flogging you gave him.” + +“I did not say I meant to prosecute the boys,” replied Garlick, who +doubtless found by this time that there were two sides to the question. + +“What I say is not to be considered as a threat. If my boy is taken +before the courts on the charge of firing your barn, I wish the people +to know why he did it, if he did it at all,” answered Capt. Trustleton. +“Now we will examine the boys, one at a time.” + +Lon was called into the room first, and questioned by his father and +the farmer. He adhered to his story so well that he puzzled his father, +who was prepared to see him convicted. Matt told the same story, as +they had agreed beforehand; though a shrewd lawyer would perhaps have +caused them to make more slips than they did. + +“You see there is no evidence, Mr. Garlick, though the whipping can all +be proved,” said Capt. Trustleton. + +“It is a hard case that my property should be burned up by a couple of +boys,” complained Garlick. + +“And it is a hard case that two boys should be flogged as those were; +and I think it is harder than your case,” added the captain. “If each +party is to take the law into his own hands, he is also to do as much +mischief as he thinks will cover the wrong he has suffered.” + +“I suppose I shall get my insurance; but it will not cover the loss +into five or six hundred dollars,” suggested Garlick, with this hint at +a compromise. + +The captain would not take the hint, and said nothing at all about +paying any money to have the matter hushed up; for it was all over town +now. + +The conference closed with nothing done. The captain went to see his +lawyer, and Swikes went home. Mrs. Swikes was delighted to see her son; +and she would not believe that Matt had done any thing wrong. She was +sure that Wade Brooks had taken the money. + +“You must take good care of it, now you’ve got it back,” said the +female Swikes. + +“I’m goin’ to put it just where it was before; and when Wade comes back +to-day, he will never think of looking in the same place for it,” said +Obed Swikes, chuckling at his own cunning, as he put the wallet back +into the closet. + +Matt wanted his breakfast, and so did his father. While Mrs. Swikes +went down cellar to get something, her husband had to see to the horse +in the barn; and Matt was alone in the kitchen for a few minutes. +Placing a chair in front of the fireplace, he reached up, obtained the +wallet, and put it in his pocket. He was not to be cheated out of his +fun by Wade Brooks. He was careful to put the chair in its place this +time; and when his mother came back he was just where she left him. + +When breakfast was ready, farmer Swikes was called. He was in a very +happy frame of mind. His money had been restored; and when Wade +returned he would get that dollar out of him, and it would pay the +fares. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +WADE BROOKS’S FRIEND. + + +Wade Brooks walked along the piers by the water, feeling like a young +man with twenty dollars in his pocket. Presently he came to a steamer +that was larger than any he had seen before; for he had never looked +upon any thing larger than the tug-boat that sometimes came up the +river. She was quite a curiosity to him, and he stopped to examine her. +Then he saw a sign which indicated that the boat was bound to New York. +This would exactly meet his views, for he was going to that great city. +He would go in her if the fare was not so great as to ruin him. + +On inquiry, he found that he could obtain a deck passage for a dollar; +and this would be cheaper than to walk, for he would have to pay for +his food on the way. But the boat did not start till late at night, +and would reach her destination early in the morning. He had time, +therefore, to explore the place, which he did very thoroughly. As he +had never seen even a small city before, he was deeply interested in +this one. + +An noon he came across a restaurant where “meals at all hours” were +served, and he went in. The bill of fare was rather perplexing; for, +though he had twenty-one dollars in his pocket, he was not inclined to +spend it any faster than it was necessary to do so. “Baked Beans, 10 +cents,” seemed to fit his case best; and he made his dinner of this +substantial diet. He wandered about all the rest of the day, and went +on board of the steamer about dark. He was tired after the day’s work, +and the mate told him he might make his bed upon some bales of wool. He +went to sleep; and his slumbers were so sound that he did not even know +when the boat started. He did not wake till the steamer was fast to the +wharf in New York. The sun was shining brightly when he turned out, and +he had no suspicion that the boat had stirred from the place where she +was the night before. + +“What time are we going to start?” asked Wade, when he saw the +good-natured mate about his work. + +“Start? where do you want to go now?” replied the mate, who saw how it +was with the passenger. + +“To New York. I thought you told me the boat would leave last night,” +added Wade. + +“Well, she won’t leave again till to-night,” said the man, with a +laugh. “You must have slept very sound, my lad, for the boat did start +last night: we have been in New York more than an hour.” + +“Is that so?” exclaimed Wade, looking out at the forward part of the +boat. + +“That’s so, my boy; and you must look out sharper than that in New +York, or the swindlers will skin you alive.” + +“I guess I can take care of myself,” said Wade confidently. “I’m much +obliged to you for looking out for me as you have, Mr. Mate.” + +“Take care of yourself, my boy: there are a great many bad places in a +big city like this.” + +Wade Brooks went on shore. He was bewildered by the sights that +met his gaze; and all he could do was to stare at the wonders that +surrounded him. He walked till he thought it was about time for +breakfast, and then he returned to a restaurant he had noticed near the +steamboat-landing. The prices he saw posted at the door of the place +suited him, and he went in. Fish-balls were only ten cents, with bread +and butter: though he found the quantity was hardly up to his standard. +He was not used to high living, and the quality was not so important to +him. It was a good deal better than he had ever had at Obed Swikes’s. + +Opposite to him at the table sat a very seedy-looking man. He wore +black clothes, and had worn them about out. He looked at Wade several +times: he even seemed to be taking his measure. Like Wade, he was +eating fish-balls; but he did not seem to enjoy the meal as did the boy +from the country. + +“You are a stranger in the city,” said the man, after he had looked +Wade over to his satisfaction. + +“Yes, sir: I got here this morning in the steamboat from Bridgeport,” +replied Wade, who did not think it at all strange that the gentleman +should speak to him. + +[Illustration: WADE AND THE “MISSIONARY.”--Page 113.] + +“Do you live in Bridgeport?” continued the seedy individual, as though +he intended to push his inquiries to some extent. + +“No, sir: I never was there till yesterday; and I have always lived in +the country, and worked on the farm,” replied Wade, perfectly willing +to tell all about himself. + +“I see: farmer’s boy; nice healthy occupation,” added the stranger. +“Have you got tired of farming?” + +“No, sir: but I got tired of the way I had to live. The folks where I +worked were meaner than swill-pie; and, when I couldn’t stand it any +longer, I came away.” + +“What’s your name, my boy?” asked the man. + +“Wade Brooks.” + +“My name is Caleb Klucker; and I am one of the missionaries who go +about this great city to look after the sick and the stranger,” replied +the man very solemnly. “You may think my clothing is not very good for +one engaged in such a responsible employment; but I cannot afford to +spend any money on myself, when the sick and needy are so many. I wear +these poor clothes, that more of the hungry may be fed.” + +“Look after the sick and the stranger,” repeated Wade, who did not +clearly understand Mr. Klucker’s business. “Do you find any?” + +“Plenty of them. This very morning I found a poor woman who was sick in +consumption; and I gave her all the money I had, except ten cents to +pay for this miserable meal.” + +“That was doing the handsome thing,” added Wade, who concluded he had +come across one of the saints he had read about, but had never seen. +“Do you find any strangers?” + +“Hundreds who come to the great city with no friends to assist or +advise them,” answered Mr. Klucker with enthusiasm; and Wade thought +his whole soul was in his work. “I have found you, for one.” + +“But I don’t want any help: I think I can take care of myself.” + +“So all these simple-minded country boys think,” added the missionary, +shaking his head. “The temptations of the great city will beset you +behind and before.” + +“Well, sir, I think I can take care of myself in the face of all of +them.” + +“Perhaps you can: you look like a bright, smart boy, who knows more +about the world than most of those who come to the city.” + +Wade thought Mr. Caleb Klucker was a knowing man, and knew what was +what. + +“What are you going to do in this city, Wade?” asked the missionary. + +“I am going to find a place to go to work. If I can get something to +do, I can take care of myself till the cows come home.” + +“Will you let me look at your testimonials?” said Mr. Klucker, in an +off-hand way. + +“My what?” + +“Your testimonials.” + +“I don’t know what you mean. I haven’t got any thing of that sort about +me, as I know of.” + +“I mean your recommendations,--a paper from your minister, or some +other good man, saying that you are a good boy,” Mr. Klucker explained. + +“I haven’t got any. I left, as I told you, in something of a hurry. I +came to Bridgeport in a sail-boat which was my father’s; and I hadn’t +any time to go to the minister for the paper.” + +“You will find it very hard to find a place to work without a +recommendation,” added the missionary, shaking his head very +sorrowfully, as though his heart was touched at the friendless +condition of the youth. “But what did you do with the boat in which you +came to Bridgeport?” + +“I came across a man that wanted to buy her, and I thought she wasn’t +of much use to me, so I sold her,” replied Wade frankly. + +“I suppose you had to sell her for less than half her value,” said +Klucker, who seemed to be much interested in the boat, as well as in +her late owner. + +“She was an old boat, and wasn’t worth much; but I got twenty dollars +for her; and I thought that was doing pretty well with her.” + +“Very well indeed, under the circumstances. I see that you are a +wide-awake young man, and know what you are about,” said Mr. Klucker, +with a patronizing smile. “But I am sorry you have no testimonials, for +you will need them in order to get a place.” + +“I can soon show anybody that wants to hire a hand what I can do,” +replied Wade confidently. + +“But people will not take strange boys into their houses and shops +without testimonials: they are afraid such boys will steal. But I feel +an interest in you, and it is part of my business to look up just such +cases as yours,” added the benevolent Mr. Klucker. + +“I am going to the rooms of our association; and, if you will go with +me, I will see what can be done for you. I am afraid you will be robbed +of your money, and then you will be a beggar about the streets till you +find work.” + +“I guess I can take care of my money,” replied Wade. + +“Twenty dollars is a large sum of money for a boy to have; and there +are a great many wicked people in this great city, who live by +plundering the stranger within its gates. For aught you know, you may +have lost your money now.” + +It was a startling suggestion; and Wade thrust his hand deep down into +his pocket, to see if the money was safe. He drew out an old wallet +which had once belonged to his father, and showed it to his friend. + +“It is all right, you see,” said Wade with a smile. + +“I see the wallet is, but there may be no money in it,” added Mr. +Klucker. + +“Nobody could get the money out of the wallet while it was in my +pocket,” added Wade. + +“Such things are often done; and you had better see that the money is +safe.” + +Wade exhibited the bills with a look of triumph. + +“It isn’t safe for a boy to carry so much money around with him,” +continued the missionary. “There are plenty of sharpers who can get +it away from you so adroitly that you will not know when it is taken. +Don’t you think you had better let me take charge of it for you?” + +“I think I can manage it for myself,” replied Wade, as he restored the +wallet to his pocket. + +“I think you had better put it in our savings bank: you can have a +book, and draw it out as you want it.” + +Wade knew about savings banks; and he liked the idea. Mr. Klucker +conducted his young friend to such a bank, though it did not seem to +be at “the rooms of our association.” A long string of depositors was +at the window where the money was passed in; and they had to wait some +time,--so long that Mr. Klucker’s patience was exhausted. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +A NEW YORK SAINT. + + +“Really, I can’t wait so long,” said the kind friend of Wade Brooks. +“But I know the people in the bank; and, if you will give me the money, +they will do the business at once.” + +This looked like a reasonable plan, and Wade felt quite willing to +adopt it. + +“I haven’t twenty dollars left to put into the bank,” said he, taking +the wallet from his pocket. “I must keep some to pay for what I want to +eat.” + +“You can draw out what you want at any time, and you had better put in +nearly all you have,” suggested Mr. Klucker. + +“I have twenty dollars, all but twenty cents; and I guess I’ll put in +eighteen,” replied Wade. + +“Very well: it will be safe here, and you can get it when you want it,” +said the missionary, in the most encouraging tones. + +Wade gave him the money; and he moved off to the other end of the +banking-room, as though he were going behind the partition that +separated the bank-officers from the public. Wade looked in at the +window to see him, if he could; but he did not appear. The missionary +seemed to be a long time doing the business, and getting his book; and +Wade waited half an hour with what patience he had. All the people +who had been in the line when he came into the room had done their +business, and had gone, though their places were filled by others. + +Wade waited another half-hour; and then the attention of the cashier +was directed to him as one who had waited a long time. Strange as it +may seem, the country boy did not suspect any thing wrong; for one who +had given all his money but ten cents to a poor sick woman, and who +was employed by “our association” to look out for the sick and the +stranger, could not steal his money. + +“What are you waiting for, young man?” called the cashier, from the +window. + +“I am waiting for my book,” replied Wade. + +“What book was that?” + +“Mr. Klucker took my money in there about an hour ago.” + +“Who?” asked the cashier, beginning to take an interest in the matter. + +“Mr. Caleb Klucker. He said he knew you in there, and he would get a +book for me without waiting so long,” answered Wade, who thought it a +little odd that they did not know the name. + +“I don’t know any such person; and I am the only one that takes +deposits,” replied the cashier. “How much money did you give him to +take in here?” + +“Eighteen dollars, sir.” + +“Did any one come in here from the front?” asked the cashier, turning +to the clerks in the office. + +No one had come in from the front, or from anywhere else. One of the +assistants had seen a seedy-looking man pass out at the rear door, +which was little used. + +“I am sorry for you, young man; but it is plain enough that you have +been robbed of your money by a swindler,” said the cashier, shaking his +head. “You will never see your eighteen dollars again.” + +“But Mr. Klucker was a missionary; and he went about looking up the +sick and the stranger,” protested Wade, confounded by the explanation +of his long waiting. + +“Especially for the stranger,” added the cashier, with a significant +smile. “You should have handed your money in at this window, and then +it would have been all right.” + +“I thought this man was a New York saint,” added Wade, with about all +the pluck taken out of him. + +“No: he was a New York sinner.” + +“But he was going to get me a place to work, and I never thought that +he could be a thief.” + +“That is just what he was,” said the cashier, resuming his work. + +“But where shall I find Mr. Klucker?” asked Wade, not yet reconciled to +the loss of his eighteen dollars. + +“You will not find him: he will diligently keep out of your way during +the rest of your stay in New York. You can go to the police; but I +think it will do no good,” answered the cashier, with more indifference +in his manner than a boy who has lost eighteen dollars likes to see. + +Wade Brooks hung round the bank till noon, in the hope that Mr. Klucker +had been slandered by the cashier, and that he would return to restore +his money. But the missionary was not one of that sort of men: when +he got any money into his hands, no matter by what means, he made a +business of holding on to it. He did not show himself again. Wade left +the bank with a heavy heart. Was that the kind of saints they had in +New York? + +The unhappy boy from the country walked down the street, looking at +every man he met, in the hope that he might see the swindler; but he +did not. He continued his walk till he reached the cheap restaurant +where he had eaten his breakfast. He went in, and asked the man at the +counter if he could tell him who the man was that he had met at the +table. + +“His name is Jeremy Diddler,” replied the man, with a coarse laugh. + +“Can you tell me where he lives?” added Wade, glad to learn the name of +the New York saint. + +“He lives on green countrymen most of the time,” laughed the man. + +“But I mean, where is his house?” + +“His house! he don’t have any house except when he is boarded at the +county hotel.” + +“Where is that?” asked Wade blankly. + +“It is on an island in East River; but he is not boarding there just +now,” said the man, winking at a waiter who was listening to the +conversation. + +“Can you tell me where I shall be likely to find him?” asked the +unhappy Wade. + +“I cannot; but you can inquire for him at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, and +they will tell you whether he is there or not,” said the keeper of the +restaurant, winking again at the waiter. + +Wade wanted to know where the Fifth Avenue Hotel was, and was told so +that he could find it. + +“I say, sonny, have you been boarding that dead beat?” inquired the +keeper. + +“Boarding what?” + +“The fellow you have been asking about.” + +“I have not been boarding anybody: I don’t keep a boarding-house. I let +him take eighteen dollars of mine to put in the savings bank, and get +me a book; and I haven’t seen him since. And now I want to find him.” + +“When you do find him, I want you to let me know, for it will be a +thing worth knowing,” laughed the keeper. + +“You needn’t laugh at me,” said Wade, a little hurt, for it seemed +like laughing at a funeral to him, after he had lost all the boat had +brought except two dollars. + +“Served you right, sonny; and, if the lesson you have learned costs you +only eighteen dollars, you bought it cheap,” added the keeper. “Some of +the countrymen who come here lose hundreds of dollars in just the way +you lost your money: so you got off cheap.” + +“It wasn’t my fault, for I thought he was a missionary,” Wade explained. + +“So he is,--a missionary to enlighten countrymen who will trust their +money in the hands of such dead beats,” chuckled the keeper. “You can +inquire at the Fifth Avenue Hotel for him.” + +The man turned to attend to a customer; and Wade retreated into the +street, for being laughed at was almost as bad as being robbed of his +money. Near the restaurant he met a policeman. Klucker had told him +what the man in the uniform was, and had explained to him a great many +other things, in answer to his questions, on the way to the bank. +He told his story to the policeman; but he treated the matter very +lightly, and candidly told him he would never see his money again. But +he went back to the restaurant with him, and went through the form of +asking a great many questions; but nothing came of his investigation. + +Wade tramped up to the bank again. He went in, and asked if Mr. +Klucker, or Mr. Diddler as the keeper of the restaurant had called him, +had been at the place since he left. He had not been there; and the +cashier smiled when he told him so. The poor boy could not see why +everybody, even the policeman, was disposed to laugh at him. He felt +bad enough, without having folks make fun of him. It was no laughing +matter. The man in the restaurant had told him to take a horse-car at +the Astor House, which would carry him to the Fifth Avenue Hotel. He +easily found the horse-cars; but he did not feel able to invest five +cents in a ride, and he decided to walk, using the cars as his guide. + +It was a long tramp, and he stopped so many times on the way to look +up the cars that were marked “Fifth Avenue,” that he did not reach his +destination till the middle of the afternoon. In spite of his gloomy +state of mind, he could not help stopping to admire the squares and the +wonderful buildings, and to gaze upon the vast throng of people that +filled the streets. He was amazed at the hotel, which he had supposed +was something like the tavern in Midhampton. It was a palace, compared +with any thing he had ever seen before. As he had never hesitated to +enter the tavern when he wished to do so, he did not fear to go into +the hotel. + +He was bewildered by the grandeur and magnitude of the establishment. +He paused at the office, and looked at the spruce clerks behind the +counter. He wondered if it would be safe to speak to one of them; +but he saw others do so, and he determined to make the attempt. The +diamonds in their shirt-bosoms were very large; but they could not more +than eat him. + +“Is there a man by the name of Mr. Caleb Klucker stopping here?” he +ventured to ask. + +“Caleb Klucker,” repeated one of the clerks, turning to the other, and +laughing. + +“That is what he said his name was; but another man told me it was +Jeremy Diddler,” added Wade, fearing that he might have given the wrong +name. + +“Jeremy Diddler! Oh, yes, he is always here!” exclaimed the clerk. + +But what was the man laughing at? Wade had said nothing funny, that he +was aware of; and these clerks did not know that he had been gouged out +of eighteen dollars. + +“Do you wish to see Mr. Diddler?” asked the clerk politely. + +“I do want to see him,” replied Wade decidedly. + +The clerk snapped a bell on the marble counter. + +“Show this young man to No. 942,” he added to the servant who answered +it. + +Wade followed him, as told to do. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +AN UNEXPECTED MEETING. + + +Wade followed the servant up the stairs; and this fellow seemed to be +laughing too. What had got into them all? He had done nothing to make +them laugh. The people in the hotel seemed to know Jeremy Diddler, but +not Caleb Klucker. If the fellow was a rogue, as Wade believed he was +by this time, very likely he had two names. + +Wade followed his conductor to the very top of the house; and it seemed +to him he had never been so near heaven before. Then the man led him by +devious winding ways, through long passages and halls, till he thought +he had walked half a mile. + +“How much farther are you going?” asked Wade, unable to forget the +laugh of the clerks and the servant, which seemed to have something to +do with the distance he had travelled. + +“It isn’t more nor a mile furder,” replied the Irish waiter. + +“A mile!” exclaimed Wade, lost in wonder again at the immense size of +the hotel. “It will take us all the rest of the day to get to the room.” + +“Faith, it will, and half of the night.” + +“How many stories high is this hotel?” + +“Only thirteen.” + +“Thirteen!” + +“Yes; and the last place I lived, the house was twenty-one.” + +The fellow chuckled so that Wade was afraid he was lying. He did not +believe any hotel could be twenty-one stories high. + +“Rather high houses,” said he coolly, “but not so high as they might +be. The tavern in Midhampton, where I come from, is thirty-two stories +high.” + +“Spake the truth, man!” + +“I guess my story is as true as yours.” + +“Wait here a minute,” said the man, halting at a narrow passage-way; +and Wade thought it looked very like one he had passed twice before in +his tour in the upper regions of the hotel. “I will go to the room, and +see if the gintleman is within.” + +Wade did wait a minute, then five minutes; and then half an hour. The +laughing seemed to be explained. The clerks had been making game of +him. They had sent him on a wild-goose chase. He did not believe that +Mr. Diddler was in the hotel, though the clerk said he was always +there. He walked through the long passage-way, looking at the numbers +on the doors: there were none as high as 942. Indeed, he could find +none half as big. He kept walking till he came to what he thought was a +closet, with a gas-light burning in it. A man was standing at the door. + +“Are you going down?” asked the man, as Wade looked into the thing. + +“That’s what I want to do,” replied the wanderer, who was wondering +whether he could find his way down. + +“Jump in, then,” added the attendant. + +Wade began to suspect that this was some new trick, and he looked +very cautiously into the closet. Then he concluded that it was not a +closet at all. It had seats all around it like the depot omnibus in +Midhampton, and was carpeted and cushioned like a fine parlor. At a +venture, he concluded to go in, and he seated himself on the velvet +divan. The man closed the door, and pulled a wire rope which ran +through the thing. Then Wade thought the bottom was dropping out of +the concern, but he soon found the whole affair was descending; and in +a minute or two the attendant pulled the wire again, and it stopped. +When the door opened, he found he was near the office where the clerks +had fooled him. He was astonished to see how quick he had come down; +and this was his first experience in an elevator, for he had never even +heard of such a thing. + +“Did you find him?” asked the clerk, when he showed himself in the +office. + +“I didn’t find him,” replied Wade indignantly; “and you knew very well +I should not find him.” + +“I think he was out,” added the clerk, looking very serious now. “Did +you go to No. 542?” + +“No, sir: we went to No. 942, where you sent us.” + +“No,--542. I think the bell-boy did not understand me. Try again; and I +think you will find him this time. You can go up in the elevator.” + +Though Wade was satisfied that the clerk wanted to fool him again, he +thought he would take another ride in that machine. Another bell-boy +was called, and directed to show the young man to 542. + +“And, young man, you must open the door, and go right in. Don’t stop to +knock; for Mr. Diddler owes money to various people, and sometimes he +will not answer when he is summoned. Go in without ceremony.” + +Again the boy from the country ascended to the upper regions of the +hotel: and, without going far, his conductor led him to the room on +the door of which was the number which the clerk had named last. The +bell-boy did not wait, but left him to carry out the instructions he +had received in the office. Wade was in no hurry to open the door. +Perhaps Mr. Klucker, who was not much of a saint after all, might be +ugly: he might show fight. But Wade meant to stick to him till he +had got his money back. Placing his hand on the knob of the door, he +hesitated a moment, and wished he had a club, or something to defend +himself with if the missionary showed fight. + +After he had braced his nerves up to the sticking-point, he turned the +knob, and shoved the door wide open, so that Mr. Klucker could not shut +it before he had time to enter. It was not fastened, as it might have +been, and yielded to the first force he applied. + +If ever Wade Brooks was astonished, it was when he opened that door, +and saw who were in the room. He was prepared to find the New York +saint, and no one else. But in that room, considering the size of it, +saints were scarce, and sinners plenty. At the table in the middle of +the chamber sat two boys, counting a pile of money, or rather the two +piles of money into which they had divided the one. The two boys were +Lon Trustleton and Matt Swikes. + +The reader is not half so much astonished as Wade Brooks was when +he saw his late fellow-voyagers in the “Mud-turtle,” settled in a +room in the Fifth Avenue Hotel; for he knows that the young rascals +had not given up their “good time” in the great city, and that Matt +had obtained possession again of the wallet and its contents. After +breakfast, Matt had looked up his companion in crime; and, when +they had laid their plans, they walked to the next station north +of Midhampton, which was not the way to go to New York direct, and +took a train. As something had been said by Wade about going to New +York, they were afraid of being followed if they went the other way. +By a roundabout route, they reached New York, and had just arrived. +Lon wanted to take charge of the money this time; but the best Matt +would do was to divide, and they had made two piles of the money that +remained after paying their expenses so far. + +Lon had often heard his father speak of the Fifth Avenue Hotel; and as +he saw a stage at the station, with the name upon it, he decided to go +there, though he had no idea what sort of a house it was. The clerk +in the office did not seem to think every thing was regular about the +boys, as they had no baggage; but Lon was well dressed, and they were +willing to pay in advance. He was disposed to make fun of them; and +it was a practical joke on his part, to send the country boy to the +chamber of the new arrivals. + +“Wade Brooks!” exclaimed Lon, as the boy of all work sprang into the +room. “How under the canopy came you here?” + +“I did not expect to find you here,” replied Wade, when he had +recovered from his surprise enough to speak. + +“Then you were not looking for us?” + +“No, I was not: I was looking for another man,” replied Wade. + +“Who?” + +“His name is Jeremy Diddler,” answered Wade, with his usual candor and +simplicity. + +“Jeremy Diddler!” exclaimed Lon, who knew the individual by reputation. +“Are you a fool, Wade Brooks?” + +“I don’t think I am. The man’s other name is Caleb Klucker.” + +“They are making fun of you, Wade,” said Lon. “What have you been doing +since I left you yesterday morning?” + +Wade told the story just as it was,--that he had sold the boat for +twenty dollars, and the money had been taken from him by a fellow whose +name was Jeremy Diddler. Lon laughed outright. + +“Jeremy Diddler is a name given to any one that swindles folks out of +their money, you ninny!” said the more experienced Lon. “I didn’t think +you was such a fool.” + +“Is that it?” added Wade, laughing at his own foolishness, and seeing +now what the clerks had been laughing at. “I’m glad to know it; and I +see that is your name, Lon.” + +“None of your sauce, Wade Brooks,” said Lon, beginning to look savage. + +“I’m not afraid of you now; and I had just as lief fight as not. I see +you and Matt have swindled Obed Swikes out of his two hundred dollars +again; and I think you and he both will fit the meaning you give to the +name. There’s the old wallet on the table; and they can’t say I took it +this time.” + +Lon looked at Matt, and Matt looked at Lon. They did not seem to like +the situation, for Wade had caught them in the act of counting the +money. It was no use to deny it this time; and he had only to tell the +clerk, in order to get them into trouble. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +AT THE LODGING-HOUSE. + + +“Well, Wade Brooks, what are you going to do about it?” demanded Lon, +when he had considered the situation. + +“I don’t know what I shall do about it,” replied Wade; and he spoke the +truth. “You come here to have a time, as I knew you meant to do before.” + +“If you ever tell anybody what you have found out, I’ll flog you within +an inch of your life!” said Lon savagely. + +“I’ll risk it; and, if you want to begin now, I’m ready. It isn’t +likely I shall ever see anybody to speak to about it; but, if you’re +going to lick me, I’ll go out of my way to tell,” said Wade stoutly; +and he was confident, after their experience in the boat, he could +thrash Lon every time. + +“Don’t make a row with him, Lon,” said the more prudent Matt. “Let’s +make trade with him.” + +“What do you mean by a trade?” demanded Lon. + +“He can tell all he knows, if he has a mind to; and then where shall we +be?” replied Matt. + +Lon did not like the idea any better than Matt; and he allowed him to +tell what he meant. + +“You have lost the money you got for the boat, have you, Wade?” asked +Matt. + +“I lost eighteen dollars of it, and I have only a dollar and eighty +cents left; and I shall soon eat that up,” replied Wade gloomily. + +“I will give you ten dollars, and Lon shall give you the same, if you +will agree not to say a word to any one about us, not even to Lon’s +father or mine, if you should happen to see either or both of them,” +said Matt, in soft tones. “That will be twenty dollars, more than you +had before.” + +“Do you mean to give me the money you stole from your father?” asked +Wade. + +“We haven’t any other money,” replied Matt. “We didn’t steal it: who +said any thing about stealing?” + +“You can’t deny that you stole that money from your father; and I don’t +see what he was thinking about, that he didn’t put it in a place where +you couldn’t get it.” + +“Don’t say any thing more about stealing, Wade. That’s not the way to +call it. But say whether you will take up with my offer.” + +“I won’t take up with it: I won’t have any thing to do with any money +you stole. I’m not a thief; and I’ve heard your father say that the +receiver is as bad as the thief,” replied Wade decidedly. + +“I knew it would be so,” added Lon, disgusted with the idea of +compromising with a fellow like Wade Brooks. + +“I don’t want to talk about such a thing;” and the temptation was so +great, that Wade was afraid to think of it. “I guess I’ll be going now.” + +Wade backed out at the open door, and neither of the runaways attempted +to detain him, though Lon repeated his threat. Matt was alarmed; but +Lon thought that the fear of a thrashing which he had promised the boy +of all work would prevent him from saying any thing to the people in +the hotel, though he would be likely to tell the whole truth when they +all went home. + +Wade walked to the elevator, thinking what he should do. He did not +like Lon’s threat; and knew that his father was even then worrying +about his son. When the car came along on its way down, he got into +it, and a moment later he was at the office. He had made up his mind +to leave the hotel without saying any thing more to any one, for he +had been laughed at enough for one day. But the joking clerk was not +inclined to let him escape, at least without a little more quizzing. + +“Did you find your friend, young man?” asked the joker, with a smile +and a wink at his fellow-clerk. + +“Yes, sir; I found him: in fact, I found two of the name I gave you,” +replied Wade readily. + +“I’m glad you did: I thought Mr. Diddler must be in that room if he was +anywhere in the house.” + +“He’s there; and I think his father, whose name is not Diddler, would +like to hear from him.” + +“Did you find that you knew the boys in that room?” asked the clerk, +who had had many doubts in regard to taking them into the house. + +“I knew them both the moment I set eyes on them.” + +“Who are they?” + +“One of them is Matt Swikes, and the other is Lon Trustleton. Both of +them came from Midhampton. Lon threatened to lick me if I said any +thing about them, and I want him to try it on.” + +“Trustleton! Then he must be the son of Capt. Trustleton of +Midhampton,” added the clerk. + +“That’s what he is, every time,” replied Wade, who felt that he had no +right to keep still when these boys were running away with money they +had stolen: besides, he wanted to know about the licking Lon was to +give him. + +“And who are you, young man?” asked the clerk. + +“My name is Wade Brooks; and I used to live in Midhampton.” + +“Does your father live there?” + +“I have no father or mother, or any relations that I know of.” + +“But whom did you run away from?” + +“Nobody has any claim on me; and I am my own master,” replied Wade +decidedly. “Can I get any work about this house? I want something to +do.” + +“Nothing here. Have you told me the truth about the other two boys?” + +“Of course I have; and you’ll find it so, if you look into the matter. +But I’m going now,” continued Wade, moving towards the entrance. + +The clerk did not offer to detain him, and Wade reached the street. It +was no use to do any thing more about the eighteen dollars: he gave +it up, and tried to be as resigned as possible to the heavy loss. It +was just his luck. He began to feel the necessity of something to +eat again, for he had not tasted food since he breakfasted with Mr. +Klucker. But he walked to the place where he had taken his morning +meal, for he thought his money would not last long if he patronized the +restaurants in the Fifth Avenue. + +The keeper asked him some questions about his search for the +missionary; but it was only to make fun of him, and he gave short +answers to him. He spent ten cents upon a plate of baked beans; for +this was one of the cheap dishes, and he could not indulge in chops +and beefsteaks. He wondered where he should pass the night. He had not +been in a bed for two nights, and he was beginning to feel very tired. +He asked the keeper of the restaurant where he could find a cheap +lodging, and was directed to a place where he could get the luxury of +a bed for twenty-five cents. He went to it; and, though it was cheap, +it was better than he had had in the garret of Obed Swikes. There were +six beds in the room; and, as it was only half-past seven, he had the +choice of them. + +“My money is almost gone in one day; but it is just my luck,” said +he to himself as he got into the bed. “It will cost me fifty or sixty +cents a day to live, the best way I can fix it; and it will only +last me a couple of days more. What shall I do then, if I don’t get +something to do?” + +It was a hard question to answer; and, while he was thinking about it, +he went to sleep. He did not wake till daylight in the morning. He saw +that all the other beds were occupied; but he did not care to get up +at that early hour, for he had not to go out to the barn and take care +of the cattle. But he was fully rested, and he could not go to sleep +again. He lay as long as he could; and then got up and dressed himself, +being the first to leave the room. + +The place where he had lodged was a cheap hotel; and he looked at the +bill of fare in the restaurant. He found the prices were about the +same as at the place where he had taken his meals the day before; and +he called for fish-balls,--the cheapest dish on the bill. He got more +of them than at the other place, and he was well satisfied with the +establishment. He even informed the proprietor, who was on duty behind +the counter, that he should patronize his house while he staid in New +York. He thought this announcement, with a compliment which he prefixed +to it, would please the man, as doubtless it did, till a circumstance +appeared which spoiled its effect. + +Wade’s bill was ten cents,--he had paid for his lodging the night +before, as the rule of such places requires,--and he put his hand into +his pocket to take out his wallet. He did take it out; but, to his +intense astonishment, he found there was not a single cent in it: all +the rest of his money was gone. It had evidently been stolen from him +while he was asleep. He had hung his trousers over the head of the bed, +and in the pocket of this garment was his earthly treasure. It was only +one dollar and thirty-five cents, but it was all he had. + +“My money is all gone,” said Wade mournfully. + +“Gone! You mean that you haven’t got any,” said the landlord. + +“But I had a dollar and thirty-five cents when I went to bed in your +house last night, and now I haven’t a single cent.” + +“That has been played on me so many times, that I know all about it. I +should say a hundred such fellows have been robbed in my house within a +year. I don’t believe you had any money,” said the landlord coldly. + +“How could I pay for my lodging if I had not?” asked Wade meekly. + +“You had no business to order breakfast, if you hadn’t the money to pay +for it,” growled the man. + +“I thought I had money, or I should not.” + +“That won’t go down,” added the landlord. + +“It is the truth; but I will come and pay you just as soon as I get +some money.” + +“I guess not,” added the proprietor of the hotel, reaching over the +counter, and snatching Wade’s cap from his head. “When you pay the +bill, you shall have your cap again. You can go now.” + +“I can’t go out without any cap,” protested Wade. + +“You try it, and see if you can’t. I’ll bet a dollar you can; and, if +you don’t do it in half a minute, my right boot will help you on your +way.” + +It was of no use to argue the case with such a man as that; and the +poor boy left the little hotel sadder than he had ever been before in +his life. He had no cap on his head; but no one seemed to notice the +fact. He was near the steamboat-landings; and presently he saw a ragged +boy get a job to carry a bag belonging to a traveller. He took the +suggestion, and, going nearer to the pier, he appealed to every man and +woman he met for a job to carry baggage, and at last he was so lucky as +to get one. He left the bag at a hotel near Broadway; and the traveller +gave him ten cents, with which he considered himself richly paid. + +With the money in his hand,--for he dared not trust it in his +pocket,--he hastened back to the cheap hotel. The landlord gave him his +cap when he handed him his money. + +“I thought you would find some money if I kept your cap,” said he. “I +have half a mind to keep it to punish you for lying to me, and saying +you had no money.” + +“I made the ten cents carrying a bag for a passenger,” pleaded Wade, as +he left the place. + +He went back to the steamboat-landing to see if he could not get +another job. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +A NIGHT ADVENTURE. + + +“Just my luck!” exclaimed Wade, when he was in the street. “Not a +single cent left! To think there should be any one in that little mean +hotel to take a dollar and thirty-five cents from a poor boy like me!” + +But it was no use to complain. He had made ten cents that morning, +and he might do a large business of this kind. But all the passengers +from the steamers had gone to their hotels or elsewhere; and he walked +along to one of the large ferries that bring travellers across from +the railroads on the Jersey shore. He happened to hit quite a crowd +of them, and he began to offer his services. He had spoken to half a +dozen, though without success, when three stout fellows came up to him. + +“Out of this, country!” said one of them, with a threatening +demonstration. “If you don’t get out of this, you will get a crack on +the sconce.” + +He could not exactly see how the fellows knew he was from the country; +but, as it was a fact, he was not disposed to raise any issue on the +question. But he wanted to know by what right they ordered him away +from this locality. He thought he had as good right there as they had. + +“What’s that for?” he asked; and he did not like the idea of fighting +three of them as big as himself. + +“Sure we have the license to carry baggage from this place, and we +won’t let the business be taken from us by no countryman,” replied the +spokesman of the party. + +“You have a license! What’s that?” added Wade. + +“Don’t you know what a license is?” hooted the fellow. “Don’t the city +give us the right to carry baggage from this ferry?” + +“I don’t know. Does it?” + +“Faith, if you’re not out of this in half a minute, we’ll show you how +it is;” and the speaker shook his dirty fists in Wade’s face. + +“If you have a license, of course I won’t meddle with your business,” +replied Wade prudently. “But that’s just my luck.” + +Wade walked up and down the street, looking for a job, but nothing +could he find. He went into shops of every kind: he applied at the +barges and oyster-boats, and went on board of the vessels. No one +wanted a boy. Those whom he addressed would hardly give him a civil +answer; and, if he said any thing after they had given him the usual +short answer, he was driven away with oaths and abuse. + +At noon there was no dinner for him, for he had not a cent to pay for +the meal; and he continued to wander about the city, asking for work, +till the middle of the afternoon, when he was so tired that he could +walk no farther. He was hungry too, but he knew no better where to get +a supper than a dinner. He had been tramping up and down Broadway; and +he came to Union Square, where he was very glad to sit an hour, and +rest himself. + +When he was rested, he walked to the Fifth Avenue Hotel, for he wanted +to know what had become of Lon and Matt. He explored the lower part +of the house, but he saw nothing of his late fellow-voyagers on the +river. They might be in their room; and, when he presented himself at +the elevator, the attendant, who had seen him the day before, did not +object to his taking passage in the car; and in a minute or two he was +at the top of the house. He went to the room which Lon and Matt had +occupied, and knocked; but no one seemed to be in the apartment. What +had become of them? + +He returned to the elevator, which had not yet descended, and took a +seat in the car. He was rather sorry not to find the two runaways, for +he was thinking seriously of returning to Midhampton. It was better to +go back to Obed Swikes’s, and live as he had before, than to starve +in the great city. As it was, he did not see how he could get back. +He could not start on an empty stomach, and expect to walk sixty or +seventy miles. + +“What has become of the two fellows that slept in No. 542?” asked Wade +of the elevator-man. + +“The two that came yesterday? Faith, there has been great looking for +those same boys,” replied the man. “This morning the father of one of +them came to look for them, for the clerk telegraphed to him that his +son was at the hotel; but they couldn’t find them. The bed wasn’t slept +in last night; and they must have left in the evening.” + +Wade thought he understood it. After he had seen them, they were afraid +to stay any longer, and had left soon after he had gone. He couldn’t +make peace with them, and get something to eat. He walked about the +lower part of the hotel, and among other places visited the bar-room. +On the counter he saw some crackers and cheese. He concluded they were +placed there to eat; and, as the man in charge was reading a book at +the farther end of the counter, he helped himself to as much of the +coveted provision as he dared to take. He sat down in a corner, and ate +it. + +He was quite faint with his long fast; and the food, light as it was, +restored him. A servant looked at him half a dozen times, and then +told him loafers were not allowed about the house. Poor Wade had never +considered himself a loafer; and he thought it was a terrible thing to +be called by such a name. He rose from his comfortable seat, and left +the great hotel. He felt that no one could turn him out of the streets, +and he felt more at home there. But it was not pleasant to think of +wandering about the city all night, as he had all day. He thought he +might find some shed or other building where he could sleep on a hard +floor, and that he should be more likely to find such accommodations +near the wharf. He walked to the vicinity of the pier where he had +landed the day before. + +It was nearly night; and he found that all the great buildings which +he had seen open earlier in the day were now closed. But his former +experience in the “Mud-turtle” caused him to look at the various craft +in the river. Plenty of boats would be left open during the night, and +he could leave early in the morning before the owners wished to use +them. He walked along by the side of the water till he saw a handsome +schooner of not more than forty tons, which looked as though she might +give him a resting-place till morning. He waited till it was quite +dark, and then went on board of her. + +He found that she was a very beautiful vessel; and he had no doubt she +was a pleasure-yacht, such as Loud, the purchaser of his boat, had +pointed out to him. The cabin-door was securely locked; and he went +forward to see if there was any way in that part of the vessel to get +under the deck, for the nights were chilly. There was a fore-hatch, but +that was secured by a padlock. Under the foresail there was a skylight, +the sashes on each side of which could be raised when desirable. He +tried one of them, but it was fastened; the other was not, for some +careless steward had neglected his duty. + +Wade Brooks meant to do his duty in all things, and not do any thing +that he knew to be wrong; but the fact that everybody had used the +“Mud-turtle” at will probably gave him the idea that there could be +nothing out of the way in his sleeping on board of this yacht. He +opened the skylight, and climbed down into the space below. When he had +been in the place where he had brought up for a few moments, he could +penetrate the darkness enough to discern the objects the apartment +contained. He saw a stove; and this satisfied him that he was in the +kitchen of the yacht; and Loud had told him that rich men lived in +these boats for weeks and even months. He felt about him to get a +better idea of the place, and happened to put his hand on a match-box +near the stove. It was full of matches, and he lighted one of them in +order to find a good place to sleep. He saw a door which he thought +opened into the cabin; but it was locked. + +But he did not care to go into the cabin: he was content to take a +less inviting part of the craft. On one side of the kitchen he found a +door which was not fastened; and he opened it, lighting another match +to see what the room contained. Though he did not know it, this was +the state-room of the sailing-master. At the other end of it was a +door opening into the cabin. In the state-room was a single berth with +a good deal of space under it. The bed was all made up; but Wade did +not think it was quite the thing for him to get into it, for it looked +very nice and clean. The space under it was good enough for him; and, +lighting a third match, he proceeded to examine it. It seemed to be +filled up with old coats and other garments, which are always useful in +a boat. They made a good bed, and Wade at once buried himself in them. + +It was hardly seven o’clock, but the wanderer was so tired that he +dropped asleep almost as soon as he had stretched himself out. He was +chilly, and he had worried himself into the deepest depths of the pile +of old garments. Though the ripple of the waves as they beat against +the side of the yacht could be heard, there was no other sound to +disturb the sleeper. + +At three o’clock in the morning, though Wade knew not the time, he was +awakened by the sound of voices, and by a great noise on the deck of +the yacht. He was alarmed, for he would not have been caught in the +vessel for a great deal. He would be accused of an attempt to steal, +or something of that kind. It would be “just his luck” to be charged +with some crime which he had never meditated. But to show himself was +to confess that he was on board of the vessel; and all the rest would +follow. He determined to keep still, and trust to his chances to escape +at a favorable time. + +He lay still and listened; and the loudest noise was on the deck. He +was sure they were getting the yacht under way; but he thought it was +very odd for gentlemen who sailed for pleasure to go off in the middle +of the night, as he judged it to be. In a few minutes more, the tipping +of the vessel upon one side assured him that she was under way, as did +the increased splashing of the water against the side of the yacht. As +soon as the vessel was in motion the noise on deck ceased. Wade found +that the door leading into the cabin had been opened, and he realized +that several persons occupied that apartment. He heard the voices of at +least two women, and they seemed to be crying when they spoke. + +Of course Wade was deeply interested in the proceedings, and he +listened with all his might. In a little while he was conscious, from +the talk he heard, that one of the party had been guilty of some crime, +or had done something wrong. They spoke out loud; and the wanderer +beneath the captain’s berth had no difficulty in understanding all that +was said. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +AN EARLY BREAKFAST FOR TWO. + + +Suddenly the flow of conversation in the cabin ceased, and Wade Brooks +heard a heavy step on the stairs that led down from the deck. The talk +appeared to be interrupted by the coming of the owner of the heavy +boots, as though he was not in the confidence of those in the cabin. + +“We are all right now, Mr. Wallgood,” said a man with a voice as heavy +as the sound of the boots. + +“Wallgood,” thought the wanderer. “That is the name of a family in +Midhampton; and a man of that name is the cashier of the Walnut +National Bank.” + +“I wish it were all right, Capt. Bendig,” said one of the ladies, with +a heavy sob. + +“Oh! it is all right, Mrs. Wallgood,” added Capt. Bendig, with as much +gentleness as a rough man like him could assume. “I shall put you on +board of Capt. Crogick’s ship to-day, or at least by to-morrow. I don’t +know exactly where to find him: but he will be on the lookout for me, +as well as I for him; and it will be only a few hours, more or less. I +shall run along the south coast of Long Island till we make out the +ship. I may overhaul him before we get to Fire Island, and I may not +till we reach Montauk. But I must have something to eat; for I lost my +supper in this business last night.” + +“Just my case,” said Wade to himself; and he wished he might be asked +to share the captain’s early meal. + +“Here, Pollish, where are you?” called the captain. + +“Here, sir,” replied the person called for; and he appeared to come by +the door which led from the pantry to the cabin, which was between the +latter and the kitchen. + +“Where is Beafbon?” asked Capt. Bendig. + +“I guess he was on a spree last night, for he was pretty full when he +came on board at twelve o’clock; and he turned in at once,” answered +Pollish, who was the cabin-steward. + +“Call him, and tell him to get me a beefsteak as soon as he can, with +a cup of hot coffee,” added Capt. Bendig. “Have it on the shelf in my +state-room; and tell him if he is more than thirty minutes about it, I +will discharge him as soon as we get back to New York.” + +This was decided enough to show the character of the man; and Wade did +not much like the idea of dealing with him, as he felt that he must +before the cruise was finished; and it appeared now that it might last +two or three days. Wade had slept full eight hours when he woke, and he +was wide awake now. In a few minutes he heard a rattling of the stove +in the kitchen, which was separated from the state-room only by a thin +bulkhead. Capt. Bendig returned to the deck as soon as he had ordered +his breakfast. Wade could tell about every thing that was done on board +by the sounds that came to him. + +“Does that man know about this miserable business?” asked Mrs. +Wallgood, when he had heard the retreating steps of the captain. + +“I suppose he does, though I did not tell him,” replied a man whom Wade +took to be the husband of the lady. + +“I know he does,” added the other female; and Wade had yet to learn who +she was, though the information soon came to him. “He has managed the +whole of this business: he has brought us all to New York, and will put +us all on board of my husband’s vessel.” + +She was the wife of Capt. Crogick, then; and Wade knew that she was the +sister of Mrs. Wallgood, the cashier’s wife. There was something about +the Walnut National Bank that was wrong; and Capt. Trustleton was the +president of the bank. + +“Are you not afraid that this man will betray you?” asked Mrs. Wallgood. + +“No, I am not: he is a strong friend of Capt. Crogick; and he told me +I might trust the life of myself and my wife in his keeping,” answered +Mr. Wallgood. + +“I almost wish he might betray you,” said Mrs. Wallgood, after a pause. + +“Why do you wish that, my dear?” asked the husband, in trembling tones. + +“Because I think the crime is a good deal worse than being found out,” +replied the lady, with considerable spirit. “If I had known what all +this was for, I would not have come with you.” + +“Would you desert me?” demanded the wretched man. + +“You have robbed the bank of a hundred thousand dollars; you have +forfeited your bonds, and disgraced yourself and your wife. I feel that +I no longer owe you any thing.” + +“Do not be so hard upon him, Julia,” pleaded Mrs. Crogick. + +“Your husband led him into the crime,” snapped the wife of the cashier. + +“Neither of them intended to do any wrong. When the captain was in +trouble, your husband helped him. Do not blame him for this,” continued +the shipmaster’s wife. + +“It was not the fault of either of us. Capt. Trustleton drove me to the +wall, by shutting me out from the use of the money of the bank, when +I was willing to pay as good interest as any other man,” argued the +cashier. + +But Wade did not understand much of the talk,--only that Mr. Wallgood +had taken one hundred thousand dollars from the Walnut National Bank +in Midhampton, and he and his wife were running away to escape the +consequences of his crime. The lady did not like the situation, and +would not have come if she had understood the matter. Wade thought she +was right, and did not think a woman was bound to stick to a husband +after he had stolen one hundred thousand dollars; but then, Wade was +not a judge of such matters, and his opinion was not worth much. + +“I can’t get over it!” exclaimed this lady, after silence had prevailed +in the cabin for some little time. “I came to New York, as I supposed, +on a pleasure-excursion, at a moment’s notice; and now it seems as +though this time was chosen because Capt. Trustleton was absent, +looking up his runaway boy. Then it took three hours to tell this +miserable story, and to persuade me that I ought to leave my native +land, perhaps forever, with my husband, who is a defaulter to his bank +for a hundred thousand dollars!” + +Mrs. Wallgood groaned in bitterness of spirit when she had rehearsed +her case; and certainly it was a heavy penalty to be driven from her +home and friends by the crime of her husband. + +“If you wish to desert me in my misfortune, you can do so, Julia,” +groaned the cashier. “You can return to New York in this yacht.” + +“Where is Capt. Crogick’s ship going to?” asked Mrs. Wallgood, as +though this had something to do with the question. + +“She is bound to Leghorn; and we can be as happy in Italy as at home +for a few years, till this trouble blows over,” said Mrs. Crogick. + +“And what are we to live on when we get there?” asked the indignant +lady. + +“We have money enough to live comfortably in Italy,” replied the +cashier. + +“Then you feathered the nest before you went away,” sneered the lady. +“I thought this flight was because you could not pay your debts to the +bank.” + +“Such was the case; but a few thousands more or less will make no +difference to the bank, my dear.” + +But the conversation was interrupted by the appearance of the captain +of the yacht, before whom the members of the party were not inclined +to talk. While the conversation was in progress, Pollish had dropped a +kind of table, which turned up against the bulkhead in the state-room, +and had placed some dishes and a plate of soft bread, with some other +articles, upon it. If Wade could not see the beefsteak when it was +placed on the table, he could smell it; and the odor gave him an +intense longing for a taste of it. He had eaten nothing but the bit of +cracker and cheese in the bar-room of the hotel since his breakfast at +an early hour the day before. + +Wade was in no condition to inhale the odors of a beefsteak without +coveting a taste of it. He envied the burly captain when he sat down +on a stool at the table. The gimballed lamp was burning in the room, +and Wade had a chance to see the awful man with whom by and by, without +much doubt, he had a battle to fight; but the skipper seemed to be in +a hurry, and Wade thought he gobbled up his food like a pig, from the +sounds which came to him from the great chops of the man. He was hardly +more than five minutes at the table, and he rattled the dishes with so +much vigor that Wade thought he would smash half of them. + +When he went out of the state-room, he closed the door leading into the +cabin. Wade saw that the opposite one, leading into a kind of room from +which opened the doors into the forecastle and the kitchen, was also +closed. The circumstances tempted him. His empty stomach goaded him +to action. He was so hungry that he did not stop long to consider the +perils of the situation; but, disengaging himself from the pile of old +garments which had concealed him from those who entered the state-room, +he crawled out, and made a dive at the table. He was glad to see +that the captain had been accredited with a bigger appetite than he +possessed, for there was still at least a pound of steak on the plate. +Wade grabbed the piece, for he could not stop to cut it, even if he had +felt unequal to the task of eating the whole of it. With the steak in +one hand, and two thick slices of bread in the other, he retreated to +his lair; and, from the way he tore and devoured the beef and bread, +his hiding-place was not very different from the den of any other wild +beast. + +He had no more than finished the hearty meal which the food he had +taken furnished, before the captain of the yacht put in his second +appearance. Wade could see the big boots he wore, from his den. He +stood in the middle of the small apartment; and as he did not do +any thing, or even move, Wade concluded that he was thinking about +something. He wondered if he missed the pound of beef and the slices of +bread, and if these were the subject of his present reflections. + +“What time is it now, Capt. Bendig?” asked Mrs. Crogick. + +“About half-past four, marm: it is broad daylight now, and we shall +have a fine day for your excursion.” + +“And where are we now?” + +“We have passed through the Narrows, and I have just headed her to +the eastward. We have a strong breeze; and, if it holds, we can make +Montauk Point by five o’clock this afternoon.” + +The lady seemed to be satisfied, and the captain called for the +steward. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +A LATE DINNER. + + +Wade was positively alarmed when he heard the captain call for the +steward. Was it possible that the skipper had only half finished his +breakfast, and had gone on deck for a few minutes, intending to return +and complete the meal when he had looked out for the course of the +yacht? + +“Pollish!” shouted the captain angrily, when his first call brought no +response; and the second gave no better result. + +Capt. Bendig seemed to be angry, and he stalked out of the room. But +Wade heard his voice a moment later, for he had discovered the steward +asleep in the passage-way. + +“What do you pretend to be asleep for, you rascal you?” demanded the +skipper of the yacht. + +“I was asleep, sir,” replied Pollish. “I have been up all night, and I +was very tired.” + +“Up all night, were you? And why were you up all night?” inquired the +captain sharply. + +“I had to look out for the vessel, you see. I did not know at what +time you and the passengers were coming; and so I staid on deck all +night,” replied Pollish with proper meekness. “I had the cabin lighted +and every thing ready for you since seven o’clock last evening. I +was sleepy; but I was afraid to lose myself for a moment. I know how +particular you are, sir; and I did not leave the deck even for a +minute; and it was so cold on deck I could not go to sleep there.” + +One thing was certain to Wade, if it was not to any one else on board +of the yacht: that Pollish was an abominable liar. It was probable that +he had been on a spree with Beafbon the cook. Wade was entirely willing +to refrain from telling what he knew about the matter for the present; +but he stored up what he had heard for use in the future. Certainly +if this man had been faithful to his duty, and had not left the fore +skylight unfastened, the wanderer could not have obtained admission to +the interior of the vessel. + +“Don’t tell me you were asleep,” said the captain, after he had +listened to the long speech of the steward. “What have you done with my +beefsteak?” + +“With your beefsteak, sir?” and Wade was willing to believe that he was +surprised at the implied charge. + +“That’s what I said! Why don’t you answer me, instead of repeating what +I say? What have you done with my steak?” + +“I have not done any thing with it. I put it on the table, and that is +the last I saw of it,” answered Pollish; and Wade believed he told the +truth, whatever opinion Capt. Bendig had on the subject. + +“I know you put it on the table, and I ate part of it; then I had to go +on deck to look after the course of the vessel. When I came back, the +steak and half of the bread were gone. Tell the truth for once in your +life, and own up that you ate it.” + +“But I didn’t eat it, sir,” protested the steward. + +“Then what has become of it?” demanded the captain sternly. + +“I don’t know, sir. I lay down in the passage while you were eating, +and I didn’t wake again till you called me. I was very tired, sir, +for Beafbon and me had to work very hard in the afternoon to get the +provisions and stores in; and then not to get a wink of sleep, it was +more than I could stand,” protested Pollish. + +“Have any of the hands been below?” + +“Not that I know of, sir: if they did, they had to step over me, for I +lay by the door of your room.” + +“I believe you are lying. But no matter for that now: we will settle it +when this cruise is up. Get me another steak.” + +Pollish was not disposed to argue the matter any further, but hastened +to obey the order. The captain went on deck again, and he seemed to be +very attentive to the management of the vessel. As soon as the second +edition of his breakfast was ready, the captain came down. Wade wished +he would take his meals in the cabin, for he did not like to have him +in the room, though he had the best right there. The wanderer found +it prudent to breathe with the utmost care, lest he should be heard; +but the swash of the sea now made noise enough to overcome any feeble +sounds. He could not help thinking what the consequences would be if +he should happen to cough or sneeze; and he concluded that it would be +more prudent for him to choke to death than to do either. He was very +thankful that he had not a cold in the head or on the lungs. + +Since his stomach had been so thoroughly filled, Wade felt quite +jolly. He did not like his narrow quarters under the berth, but he +was tolerably happy even there. He could not help wondering how the +matter would come out in the end. The captain might not again leave his +breakfast for the accommodation of the passenger; and, in the course of +a day or two, hunger might drive him from his hiding-place, even in the +face of the wrath of the skipper. But it was no use to worry about that +yet; and he did not, though he could not help thinking of the means of +getting out of the scrape when he was discovered. + +Capt. Bendig finished his breakfast, and went on deck. Not till +then did Wade dare to change his position; and he fixed himself as +comfortably as he could. He had nothing to do but think; but his +thoughts were not very profitable to himself or anybody else. While he +was thinking he went to sleep. The motion of the yacht seemed to make +him sleepy. When he woke, he wondered if he snored. He did not know: +he had never slept with any one who could give him the information. He +did not intend to go to sleep in the daytime; for the captain might +come to his room, and hear him. + +At noon, as he judged it was, he recognized sundry savory odors which +assured him the matter of dinner was not to be neglected. The skipper +kept the door of the state-room closed, so that he could not tell what +was going on in the cabin. At any rate, the captain did not dine in +his state-room, and Wade had no chance to lay in another supply of +food. The afternoon was a long one. Wade spent half of it in thinking +how he should get his supper. But in the middle of the afternoon, this +question seemed to be settled for him. He was hungry again, for ten or +twelve hours had elapsed since he had his early breakfast with Capt. +Bendig. + +“Pollish!” called the skipper. + +“Here, sir,” replied the steward, presenting himself at the door of the +state-room from which the captain called him. + +“Get me a steak, with fried potatoes,” added the captain. + +“In the cabin, sir?” + +“No: you know I never take my meals in the cabin when there are +passengers on board. In this room.” + +This was hopeful, at least, for Wade; for he thought there would be a +chance for him to get a piece of bread, if nothing more. It was clear +now that Capt. Bendig had not dined, or even lunched, unless the food +had been carried to him on deck. He placed himself so that he could +look out into the room, for he felt obliged to watch his opportunity. +He saw the steward set the table; and in less than half an hour Pollish +placed a beefsteak on the table, and then passed into the cabin to call +the captain, who was on deck. + +As quick as lightning, Wade sprang out of his den; and, seeing two +slices of sirloin on the table, he took one of them, with a couple of +cuts of bread, and returned to his abode beneath the berth. Burying +himself beneath the old garments, or rather piling them up like a +breastwork in front of him, he proceeded to devour the beef and bread +before the captain came down, or to do as much as possible towards it. + +“I think the ship is in sight, Mr. Wallgood,” said the captain, as +he paused at the door on his way to his room. “There is a large ship +ahead, which is not doing all she can with this lively breeze; and I +think she is the ‘Housatonic.’” + +“Is that the name of the ship we are to cross the ocean in?” asked Mrs. +Wallgood, who spoke as though she was better reconciled to the voyage +than when Wade had heard from her last. + +“That is Capt. Crogick’s ship. I thought we should overhaul her before +night with this breeze,” replied Capt. Bendig. + +He entered his room, and seated himself at the table. Wade promptly +suspended the movements of his jaws. He did not stir; he did not +breathe aloud. For some time Capt. Bendig plied his knife and fork with +vigor, and the waif under his berth could hear the crisp fried potatoes +snap in his teeth. + +“Pollish!” called he at last. + +“Here, sir,” replied the steward, who waited in the passage for further +orders. + +“Where is the cook?” + +“At the galley, sir.” + +“Send him to me.” + +In a moment Beafbon appeared at the door of the state-room; and he +looked so humble that he evidently expected a blowing-up for something. +It was more likely that he supposed it related to his spree the night +before, than to the real cause. + +“Beafbon, how often must I tell you the same thing before you can +understand me?” said the captain, introducing his subject in a proper +manner. + +“I don’t want to be told any thing more than once, captain,” replied +the cook, relieved when he found that he was not sent for on account of +the spree. + +“Good! but how many times have I told you that I wanted more than one +slice of these small sirloins? I don’t eat but two meals a day, and I +want enough.” + +Wade felt that his time had come. + +“But I cooked two for you; and, if you did not get two, it is because +the steward did not bring both of them to you,” protested Beafbon +earnestly. “I mean to obey all orders; and I know you want two of those +small steaks as well as I know my own name.” + +“Pollish again! I think he stole my breakfast this morning too,” added +Capt. Bendig. “What have you done with that other steak, Pollish? for +you have not had time to eat it since I was called, and I have had my +eye on you since I came below.” + +“I haven’t touched the steaks, sir,” pleaded poor Pollish; and Wade +really felt bad to have him falsely charged with the theft; but then, +what was a hungry boy to do? + +“Don’t lie, Pollish! you did the same thing this morning.” + +“No, sir, neither then nor now; and I am willing to take my oath there +were two slices on the dish when I put it on the table,” replied the +steward. + +“Get me another steak, Beafbon: we will settle these matters when we +have more time than now.” + +The captain went on deck to wait for the rest of his dinner. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +THE GHOST OF THE STATE-ROOM. + + +When the other steak was ready, Capt. Bendig came down to attend to it. +By this time Wade had made away with his share of the late dinner; and +he was sure, if the captain was as hungry as he had been, he enjoyed +the meal. As the captain had all he wanted, he could not complain of +Wade; and up to the present time he had not done so. The “Housatonic” +was in sight, and this cruise would soon come to an end. Wade thought +it was possible that he might get back to New York without being +discovered; for the captain seemed to have no use for the old garments +under the berth. + +The captain finished the second edition of his dinner, and then went +into the cabin. The passengers seemed to stay there from the fear +that some passing vessel might see them; at least, Wade wondered that +they did not go on deck when the weather was so fine. Even in his +hiding-place, he could realize the nervousness of the party. + +“I think we shall have to keep moving till after dark,” said Capt. +Bendig, as he passed into the cabin. + +“Why so?” asked Mrs. Wallgood, who seemed to be more inclined to talk +than the rest of the party. + +“It is hardly safe to put you on board of the ship in broad daylight, +when there are so many vessels about,” replied the skipper of the yacht. + +“But no one will know who we are,” suggested the lady. + +“That is very true; but if a vessel should report in New York that +a yacht had transferred several passengers to an outward-bound +ship, somebody would want to know what it all meant; and there are +pilot-boats about here which may know the ship. We can just as well +wait till after dark; and we shall not have to wait long. Besides, +there is a steamer off to the southward of us, that looks like the +revenue-cutter; and these fellows are always poking their noses in +where they are not wanted.” + +“I was rather anxious to get on board of the ship as soon as possible,” +added Mr. Wallgood, with something like a shudder. + +“What is the matter with you?” asked his wife; and Wade thought her +tones were not as kindly as they might have been. + +“I’m not very well. The excitement of this affair seems to take hold +of me,” added the cashier, with another quiver. “I am cold; and my +overcoat has been left behind.” + +“Why didn’t you bring it with you? You knew that we were going upon a +sea-voyage, if I did not,” said the wife; and it was plain enough to +Wade that she was not yet wholly reconciled to the future, even though +it included a residence in Italy. + +“I didn’t think of it. I had enough on my mind, without considering my +bodily comfort.” + +“If that’s all that ails you, I think we can get over that,” interposed +the captain. “I can fit you out with an old coat that will keep you +warm, though it will not be as handsome as you have been in the habit +of wearing.” + +“If it only keeps me warm, that is all I want of it,” replied Mr. +Wallgood, with an audible shiver. + +“We keep a lot of old clothes on board for just such cases as this. The +owner sends all his own old duds to the yacht for this purpose; and I +stow them away under the berth in my state-room. Some of them are very +good coats,” said the captain, as he returned to his room. + +“Just my luck!” exclaimed Wade to himself; and the hope of getting back +to New York without being discovered broke down all at once. + +But there was a chance for him even yet; for he had piled most of the +old garments in front of him, forming a barricade; and the captain +might find the coat he wanted without disturbing or discovering him. + +“Let me see: you are smaller than I am; and I know the size of every +coat in the batch. I think I can fit you as well as an up-town tailor,” +continued the captain, pausing at the door as if to take the measure of +the cashier. + +“I don’t care for the fit, if it only keeps me warm,” said the quaking +defaulter. “Capt. Crogick will let me have one as soon as I get on +board of the ship.” + +Capt. Bendig came into the state-room, and began to pull out the coats +which Wade had arranged to conceal himself. He was a good deal more +particular in making his selection than Wade thought was necessary +under the circumstances. He pulled out one, and examined it; and then +another. He seemed to know exactly what he desired; and he was not to +be satisfied till he found it, though his passenger was shivering all +the time for the want of it. Wade considered this very stupid conduct +on his part, and thought it cruel to let the poor man suffer so long. +At last he had pulled out all the garments which had concealed the +stowaway; and, if he had stooped down, he could not have helped seeing +the intruder. + +“Just my luck!” said Wade, with something like a shudder. “He wants the +coat I am lying on.” + +He had been measuring the captain all the morning; not for the size of +his body, as the skipper did the defaulter, but for the quality of his +temper; and he was sure he was a bully, from the way he treated Pollish +and the cook. He had a good deal of sympathy with the steward, for he +knew he had been misjudged, though he had told some abominable lies. He +even felt, that, if he could keep out of the captain’s clutches till +after dark, he might be able to come out of his hiding-place, and make +friends with Pollish; for that worthy would not care to have him tell +the captain that the yacht was deserted when he came on board of her at +dark the evening before. The steward would have a motive for protecting +him; and he was not human if he did not look out for himself. + +Wade pushed all the garments out to the front of the berth, except the +one he was lying upon; and he would have done the same by that if he +could have done it without making too much noise. But Capt. Bendig had +not yet found the one he wanted. He stooped down, and reached into the +space beneath the berth; and Wade felt his big hand upon him. It was +with the greatest effort that he prevented himself from crying out. + +“What under the light of the moon is beneath this berth?” muttered the +captain, as he evidently felt something that was not wholly in the +woollen-goods line, but without knowing exactly what it was. + +Capt. Bendig began to get down on his knees so that he could see as +well as feel what was under the berth. But it was beginning to be +dark in the room, though it was only four in the afternoon; but the +apartment never had much light. The searcher was not satisfied with his +means of observation; and it is possible he suspected something that +did not belong there was concealed beneath the berth. + +“Pollish!” he called. + +“Here, sir!” replied the steward, who always seemed to be at hand when +he was not asleep. + +“Bring me a light, and don’t be more than a second about it,” said the +captain, with a ripple of excitement in his tones. + +Pollish lighted the lamp that swung on gimbals in the state-room, and +then took it from its place, handing it to the skipper. + +Wade felt that his hour had come, and it was useless to hope for any +thing to turn up in his favor; it was “just his luck,” and he could +only make the best of it. But he saw that nothing was to be made by +being humble and submissive to a man like Capt. Bendig, who was a brute +and a tyrant by nature, though he was doubtless a very good seaman, and +was very attentive to his duty. Wade determined to keep a “stiff upper +lip,” and he hoped he might interest the passengers in his fate. + +With the lamp in his hand, the captain began to stoop down again. He +pulled away the garments he had drawn from their resting-place, so that +he could see under the berth. + +“Is this the coat you want?” asked Wade, tossing the one he had been +lying upon out into the room. + +[Illustration: “IS THIS THE COAT YOU WANT?” ASKED WADE.--Page 170.] + +He had not made up his mind to say just these words when he was +discovered; but they came to him, and they answered his purpose as well +as any thing else. Capt. Bendig was startled by the voice from this +unexpected quarter; and he rose a good deal more hastily than he had +stooped, for he was somewhat stiff in his joints. He even retreated +towards the door of the cabin. Possibly he believed in ghosts; for +he was an ignorant man, and had been at sea all his life. He may have +thought it was some departed spirit he had abused in the flesh while +he was the mate of a ship, returning to “spook” him for his cruelty. +Certainly he was frightened; and Wade was satisfied that his presence +had not been suspected, as he thought before, till he spoke. The +captain may have expected to find a jug of whiskey which the cook or +the steward had concealed there; but he evidently did not calculate +upon finding a human being in his particular sanctum. + +“What’s under that berth, Pollish?” asked the captain; and his +trepidation was apparent in his tones. + +“I don’t know, sir,” replied the steward promptly. + +“Did you hear a voice?” continued Capt. Bendig. + +“I did, sir, very distinctly,” answered Pollish, who seemed to be +disturbed by the sound that had come from under the berth. “It must +be the Devil. But the Devil wouldn’t hide himself under the captain’s +berth on board of the ‘Moonlight.’ He has too many friends on board to +put up with any such accommodations.” + +Pollish meant that the captain was one of them, but he was not so +imprudent as to say so. If the steward had been disturbed by the voice, +he was not alarmed. + +“Who is stowed away under that berth?” demanded Capt. Bendig, as soon +as he realized that the captain of a vessel should not be frightened +at any thing. + +“I don’t know, sir: I haven’t seen anybody about the yacht but those +that belong in her,” replied Pollish, who possibly realized that the +blame was to fall upon him for every thing that was wrong. + +“Have you or Beafbon hid one of your friends in there? If you have, you +will wish you were boarding with the fellow you spoke about just now,” +added Capt. Bendig. + +“I haven’t any friend to hide; and, if I had, what should I put him in +there for, when I could find a better place in the fo’castle?” + +“Well, we will soon know who it is,” continued the skipper, approaching +the berth again with the light. + +“Is this the coat you want?” repeated Wade, as he sprang out into the +room. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +CAPT. BENDIG’S PROMISE. + + +Wade Brooks came out of the space under the berth, with the coat in +his hand; and, as soon as he could get upon his feet, he held out the +garment to the astonished skipper. He was determined not to be abused +if he could help himself, and to put the best face possible upon the +situation. He had not intended to steal, or to do any thing wrong, when +he came on board of the “Moonlight,” which he had just learned was the +name of the yacht. He had never considered a boat like a house, for +his experience with the “Mud-turtle” had misled him. He was wrong, of +course; but then he had many things to learn, though it is half the +battle of life to mean well. + +It is true, also, that he had helped himself to the skipper’s +beefsteaks; but he had a notion that what food a person wanted to eat +was not like other property. Even Mrs. Swikes, mean as she was, would +give almost anybody something to eat; and in Midhampton people never +found any fault if the passerby helped himself to the apples in the +orchard which had fallen from the trees, though it was a crime to +knock them off. + +“Who are you?” demanded Capt. Bendig, as Wade held the coat up +before him; and he retreated a few steps when the boy first made his +appearance. + +“You needn’t be afraid of me: I won’t hurt you,” replied the stowaway, +without answering the direct question. + +“What were you doing under my berth, you rascal?” continued the +captain, rapidly recovering his self-possession. + +“I have been sleeping most of the time there,” replied Wade, smiling as +though earth had no sorrows, and especially as though there were none +in the “Moonlight.” + +“You have, have you?” said Capt. Bendig, beginning to comprehend the +situation; and very probably he did not like it any better because he +had exhibited some signs of alarm in the presence of the steward. + +“How long have you been there?” he asked angrily. + +“Something less than three weeks,” replied Wade, glancing at Pollish, +and determining not to betray him if he could possibly avoid it. + +“Three weeks!” exclaimed the captain. + +“No, sir: I said less than three weeks. I don’t think I could tell +exactly how long I have been in there.” + +“And it was you that took the beefsteaks?” added the captain, with a +heavy frown. + +“Yes, sir. I was willing to divide the meat between us; and I don’t +think I took more than a fair half.” + +“You impudent young puppy!” exclaimed the captain, taken all aback by +the cool manner of the stowaway. “Was it your breakfast, or mine?” + +“Your part was yours, and my part was mine,” replied Wade. + +“That’s more impudence than I ever saw in one boy before. I suppose you +think any thing on board of this vessel belongs to you, and you can +help yourself.” + +“No, sir: I don’t say that,” protested Wade. “I am willing you should +have every thing you want. I don’t wish to be mean.” + +“Oh, you don’t!” + +“No, sir: I am always willing to do the fair thing.” + +“So am I; and, before I have done with you, I shall give you the +biggest thrashing you ever had in your life,” said the captain fiercely. + +“It will be a big licking, then,” added Wade. “I know what a licking +is, as well as almost any fellow of my age.” + +“Who are you? What are you doing on board of this yacht? How did you +get on board of her? Where are you going?” demanded Bendig, who had +begun to wonder where the fellow came from. + +“That’s lots of questions; and I don’t believe I can answer them all.” + +“Who are you? and if you don’t answer me I will tie you up to the +rigging, and give you a flogging!” stormed the captain. + +“Not the least need for the flogging. I am Wade Brooks.” + +“What are you doing on board of this vessel?” + +“Nothing except answering your questions. If you want to hire a hand to +help sail this yacht, I think I could do my duty; and I will promise to +stand by you whenever you want a friend.” + +“How did you get on board of the yacht?” + +“I just came on board of her, the same as any one would.” + +“I don’t believe that. If you had, some one would have seen you. You +are a little loafer,--one of those scalawags that hang about the piers, +looking out for a chance to steal and a place to sleep. I know you; and +I have seen you before, and a lot more just like you. When I have more +time to spare, I shall give you a flogging that will teach you never +again to put your foot on board of the ‘Moonlight.’” + +“If you say you can’t accommodate me, that’s enough; and I never will +go on board of your vessel again, and without troubling you to flog +me,” replied Wade, who did not like the ugly looks of the captain. + +“I will make sure of you by giving you the licking,” added the skipper. + +“If you will do such a thing, of course I can’t help myself. I think +you will make a mistake if you do any thing of that kind: indeed, I +know you will,” said Wade positively. + +“I will give it to you as soon as I have time to attend to the matter,” +added the captain in a savage tone. “When did you come on board?” + +“If I’m to have the flogging, I guess I won’t answer any more +questions,” replied Wade. + +“You will answer them by and by,” continued Capt. Bendig, moving into +the cabin. + +Wade did not like the idea of being flogged, any better than any other +boy of his years would have liked it. It was not pleasant to think of; +and he seated himself in the state-room, and tried not to think of it. +The burden on his mind was, how to get rid of it; for he was determined +not to submit if there was any way to escape it. + +The presence of the boy on board disturbed Mr. Wallgood very much. +He remembered that he had seen the door leading into the captain’s +state-room wide open while he and his wife had talked about the +business of the excursion. If the stowaway had been concealed under +that berth, he might have heard all that was said by his party. + +“He don’t understand it,” said the captain, in reply to the objections +of the defaulter. “He is a wharf-rat, and he hasn’t brains enough to +fit out a mouse, to say nothing of a rat.” + +“I don’t know about that,” added Mr. Wallgood. “He talks like a boy +that knows what he is about.” + +“No: he’s stupid, and hasn’t the least idea what is going on, even +if he heard the whole of the talk. You can speak to him, and satisfy +yourself, if you wish; but I must go on deck, and look out for the +ship.” + +Wade heard all this, and he did not like the idea of being considered +stupid. He felt very sure that he was not stupid. Still he did not care +to tell the cashier of the bank all he knew about the business. He had +often seen Mr. Wallgood in Midhampton, but he was confident that the +defaulter did not know him. Lon Trustleton had pointed the cashier out +to Matt once, or he would not have known him. But, before the man of +money could say any thing to him, Pollish had him on the rack. + +“How came you in this yacht?” demanded the steward, in a tone even more +savage than the captain had used. + +To his inferiors, he was even more of a bully than the skipper of the +yacht; but Wade had no fear of him. + +“You heard what I said to the captain; and I haven’t any thing +different to say to you,” replied Wade, with as much independence as +though he had belonged to the vessel, and had come on board of her in a +perfectly regular manner. + +“None of your lip, or I’ll bat you over the head,” replied Pollish. “I +won’t take any of your sauce, if the captain does.” + +“What will you do?” + +“I’ll bat you over the head! I’ll learn you to steal the beefsteaks, +and then have it laid to me.” + +“All right: if you want to do any thing of that sort, go ahead; and I +shall have something to say to Capt. Bendig, that he will like to hear.” + +“What do you mean by that?” demanded Pollish; and perhaps he did not +feel that his record was as clean as it might be. + +“Bat me over the head; and after that you ask the captain what I meant +by it.” + +“Can’t you tell me now what you mean?” + +“Yes, I can tell you now; and I don’t think you will want to bat me +over the head. It was mean for you to tell the captain that the cook +had been on a spree, when you had been off yourself,” replied Wade, +with no little confidence in his ability to conquer a peace. + +“I wasn’t on a spree,” added Pollish. + +“You told the captain you were on board all the time in the evening and +all night, on the lookout for him; which was all a lie.” + +“How do you know it was?” demanded the steward, deeply interested by +this time. + +“You were not on board at half-past seven, when I came on board: if you +had been, you would have seen me, and would not have allowed me to make +my bed in the captain’s state-room.” + +“How did you get inside of the yacht?” asked Pollish, in a subdued tone. + +“You left the skylight unfastened, and I got in that way. I did not +mean to steal any thing. I was robbed of all the money I had, and +wanted a place to sleep. I didn’t think it would do any harm to any +one if I slept in this vessel.” + +In reply to the steward’s questions he told him as much as he pleased +of his story. + +“I didn’t tell the captain how I got into the yacht, because I knew it +would get you into a scrape,” he added. “All I want is to get out of +the vessel.” + +“You have done me a good turn, my lad; and I won’t forget it. But I +don’t know that I can do any thing to help you. The captain is one of +those men you can’t reason with,” replied Pollish. + +“I don’t care about taking the licking he promised me. Can’t you hide +me in some other place till the yacht gets back to New York?” asked +Wade. + +“I don’t know: I will try,” replied Pollish. + +At this moment Mr. Wallgood called the stowaway, and he went out into +the cabin. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +IMMENSE RICHES. + + +Wade had a full view of the cabin for the first time when the cashier +called him into this apartment. It was very elegantly fitted up; and +he wondered if the beautiful vessel belonged to Capt. Bendig. Pollish +afterwards told him that she was the property of a wealthy gentleman, +and that Capt. Bendig was only the sailing-master. The owner had gone +into the country for a few weeks, and the skipper was making a dollar +on his own account by the present excursion. He was to receive five +hundred dollars for the use of the vessel and for his own services; and +each of the men on board was to have one hundred dollars for his work +and his secrecy, especially for the latter. + +“What is your name, my boy?” asked Mr. Wallgood, when Wade presented +himself in the cabin. + +“Wade Brooks,” replied the stowaway; and he felt sure the cashier had +never even heard the name. + +“I suppose you live in New York.” + +“I lived there yesterday.” + +“Where do you live to-day?” + +“I live here.” + +“But where is your home?” + +“I haven’t any home. My father and mother are both dead.” + +“What are you doing in this vessel?” + +Wade told him how he happened to be in the yacht. All he wanted was to +get back to New York. + +“What are you going to do in New York?” asked Mr. Wallgood. + +“I want to get something to do, so that I can earn my own living.” + +“Have you any money to pay your board till you get work?” + +“Not a cent: I had some money, but it was stolen from me,” replied +Wade, giving the details of his experience. + +“You would like some money, wouldn’t you?” + +“I should; but I don’t want it bad enough to steal it,” replied Wade; +and perhaps he did not mean to cast any reflections on the past conduct +of the cashier. + +“Perhaps you heard something that was said in the cabin early this +morning?” continued the defaulter, beginning to approach the subject +that worried him. + +“Perhaps I did,” replied Wade cautiously. + +“What did you hear?” + +“I didn’t hear much; and perhaps I was too stupid to understand it,” +added Wade, with a chuckle. “But the captain of the vessel has promised +me a licking, and I mean to hold my tongue.” + +The cashier plied him closely with questions; but Wade had made up his +mind to answer none of them, and he did not. + +“I suppose you know the captain is going to put us on board of a ship?” +persisted the defaulter. + +“I don’t know any thing about what he is going to do, except that he +means to give me a licking,” replied the stowaway blankly. + +“I think he is stupid, as the captain said,” added Mrs. Crogick, in a +low tone, though Wade heard what she said. + +“At least you know that we are a party who started in the night from +New York; and you will see that we are all put on board of a ship.” + +“I know what you say about it.” + +“For reasons which I will not explain, for you would not understand +them, we don’t wish to have it known that we have left New York as we +did. Do you think you could keep the secret?” asked Mr. Wallgood; and +by this time he was somewhat excited. + +“I know I could if I tried, and if I got fair play; but, after I have +had a licking, I don’t feel like holding my tongue,” replied Wade, +deeming it best to get an anchor out to windward. + +“I pay all the men on this vessel a hundred dollars to hold their +tongues. I will pay you the same, if you will keep the secret.” + +“One hundred dollars!” exclaimed Wade, who had heard of such a sum +of money, but he did not realize that he could ever possess such an +amount. + +“That is just what I will give you, if you will never in your life say +what has happened on board of this vessel,” added Mr. Wallgood. + +“Shall I have the money to keep?” asked the incredulous boy; and he +had already begun to think of buying a farm in his native town, and +astonishing the natives with his wealth. + +“You shall have the money all for your own; and I will make sure before +I leave the vessel that the captain will not flog you,” continued the +defaulter. + +“I will keep the secret to the end of time, if I am allowed to keep the +money,” said Wade; and he would not have said it if he had thought that +the sum he was to be paid had been stolen from the Walnut National Bank. + +The cashier handed him a roll of bills; and Wade proceeded at once to +count them. It contained the amount mentioned, and he put it into his +pocket. He had hardly done so before the captain came down into the +cabin. + +“What are you doing in here, you young rascal?” demanded the skipper +angrily. “You think you must have a place in the cabin, do you?” + +“I called him in, Capt. Bendig,” interposed Mr. Wallgood. “It is not +his fault that he is here. I have made the same bargain with him that +was made with each of the crew. I have paid him the money.” + +“You have not given that scalawag a hundred dollars, have you?” +exclaimed the captain. + +“I have; and I feel safer now than I did before. I hope you will not +attempt to flog him; for really I don’t think he meant to do any thing +wrong.” + +“He had no business in the yacht; and he won’t tell me how he got on +board of the vessel. He deserves a flogging to teach him better than to +take up his quarters in a gentleman’s yacht.” + +Wade retreated to the state-room, feeling that the cashier could settle +this question better when he was absent than when he was present. The +door was open, and he could hear all that was said. In the end Capt. +Bendig promised not to flog him, after a good deal of pleading on the +part of the defaulter; and this was all Wade cared to hear, though he +could not help listening to something more as long as he staid in the +state-room. + +“That infernal revenue-cutter is coming up this way; and we shall have +to wait till night before we put you on board of the ‘Housatonic,’” +said the captain, as soon as the flogging-question was settled. + +“A few hours will make no difference. She can have no motive for +overhauling the yacht,” replied the cashier. + +“None at all. The bank people could not have known that any thing was +wrong about the establishment before nine or ten o’clock this morning; +and the cutter was not in port last night,” added the captain. + +The party in the cabin seemed to think they were still safe; and they +expressed no fears of the result of the expedition. While Wade sat in +the captain’s state-room, Pollish came in to see him. He closed the +cabin-door, and evidently had something to say. + +“See here, lad, I have a place for you; but it is all my situation is +worth for the captain to find out that I put you into it,” said Pollish +in a whisper. + +“I never will tell him, if he pulls my bones apart for it,” replied +Wade. “You can trust me as long as you live. But I heard the captain +tell the folks in the cabin that he wouldn’t flog me.” + +“Don’t you believe him,” said Pollish earnestly. “He will do any thing +he likes, in spite of his promises. Keep out of sight till the yacht +gets back to New York.” + +“I will take any place you say,” added Wade. + +“In the forecastle you will find a place under the lower berth, as far +forward as you can go, on the starboard side.” + +“I am very much obliged to you, Mr. Pollish; and, when I can do any +thing for you, I shall be very glad to do it,” replied Wade. + +“But the captain may find you there, though I don’t think he will,” +added the steward. + +“If he finds me, I won’t say a word that will do you any harm. But +I think I needn’t go into the place till these people in the cabin +are gone; for the captain promised Mr. Wallgood that I should not be +touched.” + +“There is the place, and you can go into it when you are ready. I think +you had better go and look at it while all the hands are on deck. You +must not let any of the sailors know you are in the place, for they +may blow on you.” + +“I will not;” and Wade went into the forecastle to look at his future +hiding-place. + +It was very close quarters for a boy of his size; and, like the space +under the captain’s berth, it was filled with old clothes. Wade raked +them out, and then prepared the den for his reception when it should be +necessary to use it. He put most of the garments in another place; but +he left enough to form a barricade in front of the aperture, that would +conceal him from the captain and others who might be looking for him. + +We do not like to cast reflections upon the good judgment of Wade and +the steward; but the hiding-place was not well chosen. As Capt. Bendig +had found him under one berth, he would be very likely to look under +all the berths in the yacht when he wanted to find the stowaway. But +Wade did not believe he should have any occasion to use the place, for +the captain had promised not to flog him; and he did not believe he +could do any thing with him except to carry him back to New York. He +would be very glad to go there; for the liberality of the cashier had +made him rich, and he could live a year at least on the vast sum of +money in his possession. He did not care whether school kept, or not. + +He was no longer afraid of the captain, as long as the cabin party +remained on board; for he was confident that the cashier would protect +him for his own safety, if for no other reason. He had wanted to go on +deck, and now he went. He had a place of retreat in case of trouble, +and all he had to do was to crawl into it. It was nearly sunset when he +went up the cabin steps. He saw the ship at least two miles ahead, for +she had been under all sail from the time she had made out the yacht; +and it is probable that she had seen the revenue-cutter, or she would +have shortened sail, and waited for the “Moonlight” to come up. + +At sunset the wind all died out, while the “Housatonic” was still two +miles distant. The cutter was a mile from either vessel. Nothing could +be done; and the ship and the yacht lay where they were all night. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +UNWELCOME PASSENGERS. + + +We left Lon Trustleton and Matt Swikes at the Fifth Avenue Hotel. They +had counted out and divided their ill-gotten treasure. The sudden +appearance of Wade Brooks had disturbed them very much. He had been a +stumbling-block to them, and they were afraid of him. As soon as he had +departed, after he had refused to take any of the stolen money, Lon +tried to put a bold face on the matter; but it was no use. + +“He will tell the clerks in the office that we are here,” said Matt, +when the door had closed behind the intruder. + +“The clerks already know we are here, and he won’t tell them any news,” +replied Lon. + +“Wade will tell them who you are, and they know your father,” continued +Matt. “I think we had better get out of this house as soon as we can.” + +“The people here certainly know my father,” added Lon, musing. “I don’t +know but the clerk would telegraph to my father if Wade told him that I +was here, and that I had left home without his knowledge.” + +“Then we are fools to stop here another minute,” protested Matt warmly. +“I have no doubt that your father knows where you are by this time.” + +“We will go down and get some dinner before we leave; for we have paid +five dollars, and haven’t had any thing yet. My father can’t get here +before eleven o’clock; and we have time enough to keep out of his way. +Let us have one good dinner, if nothing else, before we leave this big +city.” + +“But we shall be caught if we fool with dinners,” Matt objected. + +“We shall be more likely to be caught if we stay in this room. We don’t +have to go down to the office to get to the dining-room.” + +Matt was controlled, as usual, by his friend; and they went to the +dining-room, where they dined upon the best the house afforded; and +this was all they got for the five dollars they had advanced to pay +their bills. They thought it was a dear dinner, but then it was a very +nice one: at least Matt thought so, for he had never eaten a stylish +dinner before; and Lon had to post him in regard to some things. + +When the dinner was finished, Lon led the way down stairs; and, giving +the office a wide berth, they got out of the house without attracting +the attention of any of the clerks. They walked briskly till they had +placed a good distance between themselves and the hotel. + +“Where are we going now?” asked Lon. + +“I’m sure I don’t know. I don’t think we shall be safe in this city, +if we intend to stay here,” replied Matt. + +“We are safe enough. This is a big city, and nobody could find us here.” + +“But we may blunder upon some one that knows us, the next minute. There +are plenty of people from Midhampton in the city every day in the week.” + +“Well, where do you want to go?” + +“I don’t care where I go, if I only get where we are not in danger all +the time.” + +“I’ll tell you what I should like first-rate,” added Lon, musing, as +though he were not sure it was safe to tell what he would like. + +“What is it?” asked Matt, who was ready for any thing that would take +them out of the city, where he did not feel safe a single minute. + +“I should like to go to sea.” + +“To sea!” exclaimed Matt; and this was certainly a bigger idea than he +had ever harbored in connection with the runaway enterprise. + +“That’s the idea.” + +“Do you mean as sailors?” + +“Of course not: I mean as passengers. We have the money to pay for the +voyage. Then, if we are gone two or three months, the folks at home +will be all the more glad to see us; and we shall get off easy.” + +“Where do you think of going?” + +“I don’t know. I heard that the ship ‘Housatonic’ was going to sea +very soon. You know Capt. Crogick, Matt?” + +“I only know that such a man lives in Midhampton when he is at home,” +replied Matt, who was rather pleased with the idea of sailing in a ship +on the ocean. + +“I saw him at his house this week; and he told me he should sail in +a few days. You know he is the brother-in-law of the cashier of my +father’s bank.” + +“Where is he going to?” asked Matt, his interest increasing as Lon +proceeded. + +“He told me, but I have forgotten where it was: it was to some place in +Europe.” + +“Will he take us on board?” + +“I am afraid not; but we must provide for that in some way.” + +“I don’t see how you can provide for it, if he is not willing to take +us.” + +“We needn’t let him see us till we have been out a day or two. We can +do as Wade Brooks did with us. He got into the boat, and went to sleep +there; and when he woke the boat was miles from Midhampton.” + +“Where is his ship? I should like to see it.” + +“I don’t know where she is; but we can easily find her. She is called +the ‘Housatonic.’” + +“Let us find her,” said Matt. “Then if we like the looks of her, and we +find a good chance, we will get on board of her.” + +They went down to the East River, and asked a great many men where +the ship “Housatonic” was; and they soon found her. She was a large +and noble-looking vessel. A steam-tug was waiting to tow her down the +harbor, but she was not quite ready to go. + +“What do you say, Matt? Shall we go on board of her?” asked Lon. + +“I am ready to do so,” replied Matt. + +“We can hide in her, and no one will see us until we are willing to +be seen. But we must have something to eat during the time we hide on +board of her,” said Lon. “The captain knows me; and he will give us a +berth in his cabin, and we shall be all right. He said he should not be +gone more than three months.” + +Matt agreed to every thing that Lon suggested. They went up to a shop +near the pier, and bought as much to eat as would last them a couple of +days, consisting mostly of cakes and crackers. Matt took the bundle; +and without much difficulty, for the officers were busy getting the +ship ready for sea, and took no notice of them, they got on board. They +found the house on deck where the sailors were lodged; and they slipped +into it, and stowed themselves away. They found room enough to coil up +their bodies under the berths where the sailors slept. + +In the course of an hour, the ship was hauled out of the dock, and +proceeded down the harbor, towed by the tug. About dark, the steamer +cast her off; and she continued her course along the south shore of +Long Island. The runaways were not very comfortable in their narrow +quarters; and, as soon as the ship left the pier, some of the sailors +came into the forecastle, and began to stow away their luggage. About +the only place for it was under the bunks; and they jammed in their +bags without regard to the bones of the stowaways. But the latter +braced themselves up, and stood it till a second lot of the crew, +released from duty, came into the house to stow away their effects. +But by this time the tug had left the ship, and she was proceeding +under sail. When the men came to crowd in another lot of bags under the +bunks, Matt could not stand the pressure; and he yelled out like a good +fellow. + +“What’s all this?” cried a half-drunken sailor, as he pulled out all +the bags; and then, seizing Matt by the leg, hauled him out. + +“Let me alone!” screamed Matt, half frightened out of his wits; for he +was afraid the seaman would knock his brains out. + +“What are you doing in there, my little biscuit-nibbler?” demanded the +old salt, as he tossed him rather roughly upon the deck. + +“I’m not doing any thing,” cried Matt. + +“You want to go to sea without paying your passage, do you? Well, my +hearty, we always drown such youngsters; and overboard you shall go,” +said the sailor. But it was plain enough to his companions that he was +only trying to frighten the boy; and he was succeeding very well in his +attempt. + +In a few moments more, Lon was dragged out in the same way; but he +did not yell as Matt had done. He was more disposed to show fight; +and he put the toe of his shoe into the shin of the man who held him. +The seaman dropped him like a hot potato, and Lon rushed out of the +house to the deck. Matt followed his example as soon as he could. They +went forward, and then stowed themselves away under the topgallant +forecastle. Matt had held on to his bundle of provision. The watch +on deck did not see them, and they soon found a safe place. They ate +their supper, and after a while went to sleep on the hard planks of the +deck; for both of them were very tired after the fatigues of the day +and the preceding night. The last lot of sailors who had come into the +house were the mate’s watch; and, as they had to be on duty from twelve +at night, and were all more or less tipsy, they turned in without +troubling themselves any further about the boys. + +It was too cold for boys who had been used to a good bed in the house +to sleep out in the open air, without even an overcoat to cover them. +Before it was time for the mid-watch to come on deck, both of them were +awake and shivering with the cold, though it was an August night. Matt +declared that he could not stand it any longer, and he was going out on +deck, even if they had to be sent on shore for it. Lon was glad enough +to do the same thing, though he was not willing to be the first to +propose it. The sailors of the captain’s watch saw them as soon as they +appeared; and they were reported to the second mate, who had charge of +the captain’s watch. + +“I know the captain, and it will be all right,” said Lon, as soon as +they had told their story to the second mate. + +“He was out on deck a few moments ago, and I am sure he hasn’t turned +in yet. You will find him in the cabin. By the way, are you some of the +passengers that are expected to come on board off here somewhere?” + +“I didn’t know we were expected,” replied Lon. + +The second mate showed them into the cabin. Of course Capt. Crogick was +intensely astonished, and not at all delighted, to see them. The son +of Capt. Trustleton must not see Mr. Wallgood when he came on board. +But he gave them a state-room, and left the matter for the morning to +decide. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +BOUND TO A SICKLY CLIMATE. + + +Capt. Crogick was a good deal more vexed at the appearance of these +unwelcome passengers than he cared to express. He had treated them +well; but he wished they were at the bottom of the sea, or anywhere +except on board of the “Housatonic,” which was to receive the cashier +of the Walnut National Bank the next day. He wondered if the boys were +not sent as spies, to ascertain what was going on on board of the ship; +but, when he figured up his dates, he was satisfied that they were +genuine runaways, as well as the cashier. + +It seemed very strange that these boys should come on board of +his ship just at this time when he was managing the escape of his +brother-in-law. He at once made up his mind to send the young fugitives +back to New York in the “Moonlight.” But Capt. Bendig might convey his +passengers to the ship before he knew the situation; and, if Lon saw +Mr. Wallgood, the whole scheme would be exposed, especially his own +agency in the affair, which was sure to make trouble with his owners. + +Lon and Matt were permitted to sleep in peace for that night, and in +the morning they were invited to the captain’s table to breakfast. It +had been arranged beforehand, that Lon should do the talking; but the +cabin-steward was present most of the time, and nothing was said during +the meal about the presence of the two boys on board. As soon as the +table was cleared away, and they were alone in the cabin, Capt. Crogick +opened the subject. + +“Where do you think of going to, Alonzo?” he asked. + +“Matt and I wanted to take a little voyage,” replied Lon, with a +cheerful smile, as though he was engaged in a perfectly legitimate +business. “We don’t care much where we go to.” + +“Would you like to go to the coast of Africa, where men die off like +sheep with malarial fever?” asked the captain, with a stern expression. + +“No: we don’t care about going to any such place as that,” answered +Lon, his jaw dropping at the question, which seemed to indicate +that the “Housatonic” was bound to such a region as the shipmaster +described. “We don’t want to go to any such place as that. Is your ship +going to the coast of Africa?” + +“We shall certainly go to the coast of Africa,” replied the captain; +but he meant that part of the coast of Africa which borders the Strait +of Gibraltar. “But your way of going to sea is not quite regular. As it +stands now, you are stowaways.” + +“But we will pay our passage,” added Lon. + +“Then you have plenty of money?” + +“We have some money.” + +“Of course your father knows what you are about, Alonzo?” continued the +captain. + +“I can’t say he does.” + +“Then you are runaways, are you?” + +“I suppose that is what you would call us,” said Lon, trying to laugh, +though the captain was very sober and dignified; but it was only +because he was troubled about his expected passengers, who might meet +the president’s son in spite of his efforts to prevent such a meeting. + +“Your father would never forgive me if I took you on a voyage without +his knowledge and consent.” + +“He will never know it. We will not tell him what ship we went in; will +we, Matt?” + +“To be sure we will not,” answered the Swikes, who was ready to indorse +all that his companion said. + +“I think he would find it out, even if I were mean enough to do such +a thing as to leave him to worry for months about you. No, my lads: I +don’t like the idea of taking you to the coast of Africa, where you +would be almost certain to have the fever, and almost as certain to die +with it.” + +“I don’t want to go to any such place,” protested Matt. “I would rather +go to prison than to die with such a disease. Can’t you send us back, +captain?” + +“I may be able to do so: I will see. I may come across some in-bound +vessel that will take you back to New York, if you pay your fare,” +replied the master of the “Housatonic,” pleased with the turn affairs +had taken. + +“I’m sure I don’t want to go to any place where there is sickness,” +added Lon. “But we will pay our fare back if you will put us into +another vessel.” + +“Have you money enough to pay your way back to Midhampton? because, if +you have not, I will lend you some.” + +“I think we have enough, though I don’t know how much it will be,” +added Lon. + +“But you were going to pay your passage to the coast of Africa and +back; and of course you have enough to carry you to New York,” said +the captain, who wished to know something about the finances of the +runaways. + +“I did not suppose the fare to the place where you are going would be +more than forty or fifty dollars,” replied Lon. + +“Exactly so: then you must have at least a hundred dollars apiece; and +that will more than take you back to New York.” + +“We haven’t quite a hundred apiece,” added Lon, giving all the +information Capt. Crogick wished to obtain. + +“You are quite flush for a couple of boys,” said the shipmaster with a +smile. “As your father didn’t know you were coming, Alonzo, I suppose +he did not give you this money.” + +Lon bit his lip; and now for the first time he understood what the +captain was driving at. He wanted to know where he got his money. + +“My father didn’t give it to me; and I did not steal it. It was some +money I have been saving up for years, for I always had plenty of money +to spend,” replied Lon. + +“It takes a good while for a boy to save up a hundred dollars.” + +“I say I have been saving it for years, and for just this thing. You +told me you ran away from home when you were a boy, and went to sea; +and now you are the captain of a ship. Who knows but that I may be the +captain of a ship?” + +“I know you will not. I didn’t run away from a good home such as you +have; and I did not crawl in at the cabin window, as you are trying +to do. I suppose this other boy saved up his money in the same way,” +continued the captain, turning to Matt. + +“Yes, sir, every cent of it,” protested Matt, who was willing to swear +to any thing that Lon said. + +“I don’t know that I ever saw this boy before,” added Capt. Crogick, +fixing his gaze upon Matt; “but, when you tell me he is the son of Obed +Swikes, I know his father never gave him much money to spend.” + +“But I made most of it myself,” added Matt, who realized the full force +of the master’s argument; for it was easier to squeeze milk out of a +paving-stone than to get any money out of his father to spend for fun +and frolic. “I used to pick berries, and sell them. I used to do jobs +for folks about town.” + +“The story is rather thin for both of you. I don’t believe it,” added +Capt. Crogick bluntly. + +“It’s as true as preaching,” said Matt. + +“As true as some preaching, I have no doubt.” + +“Do you think I would lie about it?” demanded Lon, beginning to mount +the high horse he sometimes rode. + +“I rather think you would lie about it when you got into a tight place, +as you are now.” + +“We have told the truth; and it don’t make any difference to me whether +you believe me or not,” replied Lon, when he found it was no use to +attempt to bluff the captain of the “Housatonic.” + +“Be that as it may, I shall not meddle with the matter: I have no time +to attend to it, even if I were disposed to do so. When I get a chance, +I shall send you back to New York; and you can settle it with your +fathers,” added the captain, as he rose from his stool, and went out +upon deck. + +“He smokes the whole thing,” said Lon, as soon as they were alone. + +“I know he does; but what was the use of telling him how much money we +had?” demanded Matt, who was sure his companion had been guilty of very +bad generalship. + +“I didn’t mean to do it; but it will make no difference now, for he is +going off on a long voyage, and he may die of the fever he talks about.” + +“Our fun is spoiled for this time,” added Matt, who seemed to deplore +this as much as being found out. + +“No, it isn’t. We shall return to New York in a day or two. We shall +have a first-rate sail in this ship; and, when we get back, we can take +a steamer for some place where no one will know us, and have a good +time there. We are not licked out yet. Come, let’s go on deck, and see +the fun.” + +They left the cabin; and for a time they enjoyed the movements of the +big vessel, which was rolling along under easy sail, for the captain +was on the lookout for the yacht which was to bring off his passengers. +But they soon wearied of this monotonous life, and wished for something +more active. It was as dull as any thing could be; and they made up +their minds that they could not have stood it for a voyage of four or +five weeks. They saw a great many vessels far to the south of them, +bound to the westward; and they wondered that Capt. Crogick did not run +down to one of them, and send them back, as he said he should do. They +were all ready to return before it was noon; and in the afternoon they +were anxious to do so. + +Towards night, they saw the “Moonlight” astern of the ship, and noticed +that the captain frequently examined her with his glass. Then they made +out the revenue-cutter, and they saw the captain looking at her a great +deal. Lon thought the shipmaster was very anxious about something; +for he would hardly speak a civil word to him, when he asked him a +question. At sunset, when the calm came on, the captain was more gruff +than ever; and he seemed to be very nervous. After dark the cutter +ran alongside of her; and her captain wanted to know what the ship was +doing so near the island. Her papers were examined; but they were found +to be all right. The officer apologized for boarding the “Housatonic;” +and the cutter left her. + +Early in the evening Lon and Matt turned in, for the want of something +better to do. The ship did not move, and every thing was as still as +death. The boys slept very well, better than the captain,--so well that +at daylight they could sleep no more, though they remained in their +berths. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +ANOTHER UNEXPECTED MEETING. + + +Wade Brooks had his supper, by the grace of Pollish, in the kitchen, so +that he was not obliged to appropriate a part of the captain’s meal, as +he had of his breakfast and dinner. At an early hour in the evening, he +turned into a spare bunk in the forecastle; for it was not necessary +for him to seek his hiding-place. He slept well, and he did not wake as +early as the runaways on board of the “Housatonic.” Wade could sleep +twelve hours a night when he had nothing better to do; and he did it on +this occasion. + +Capt. Bendig had not slept as well. He had been on deck half the night, +looking out for an opportunity to communicate with the “Housatonic.” +He had not been in his berth more than an hour at a time; and this was +calculated to make him cross on the following day, for no one feels +good after he has been up half the night. He was on deck at daylight, +when a little breeze came up from the eastward, which was not fair for +the yacht or the ship. But the “Moonlight” was under way as soon as the +breeze swelled her sails. She barely moved, and it would take her some +time to beat up to the “Housatonic.” + +The revenue-cutter was about two miles farther to the westward than she +had been the night before. She seemed to be on a mission of some kind, +and to be determined to remain near this particular locality. If there +had been a good wind, the yacht would have followed the “Housatonic” to +some part of the sea where the cutter could not notice her movements. +But the ship could do nothing in that light head wind, though she had +braced her yards so as to lay a course to the south-east. She had no +perceptible motion as she was seen from the deck of the yacht. + +When the “Moonlight” had been under way half an hour, a boat put off +from the “Housatonic,” and pulled rapidly towards the yacht. In a short +time it came alongside, and Capt. Crogick sprang upon her deck. As +he did so, he cast an anxious glance astern in the direction of the +cutter, but he appeared to think she was too far off to see what he was +about; for doubtless he did not care to have her officers know that he +had boarded the “Moonlight.” + +“Things don’t work well,” said he, when he had satisfied himself in +regard to the revenue-steamer. + +“That’s a fact. What do you suppose that cutter is doing out here?” +asked Capt. Bendig. + +“I don’t know. She boarded me last night; but I am sure she don’t know +what we are about. Did she hail you?” + +“No. She has not been much nearer to the yacht than she is now. It +is very likely she is on the lookout for some smuggler or filibuster. +Those fellows don’t often explain their business.” + +“That’s not all, either,” continued Capt. Crogick. “About six bells +last night, the second mate dug out a couple of stowaways; and who do +you think they are?” + +“I don’t think I could guess,” replied Capt. Bendig. + +“One of them was the son of the president of the bank of which your +passenger is the cashier,” added Capt. Crogick. + +“Whew!” whistled the captain of the “Moonlight.” “That’s bad.” + +“Of course it is; and we must not let these stowaways see the cashier +or any of the family.” + +“That’s so. Last night was a good one for stowaways, for I had one; but +he is nothing but a wharf-rat, I think, that came on board to sleep.” + +“I shall send these two boys back to New York in your yacht; and I have +come on board of you to warn you. When I send them to the ‘Moonlight,’ +you must keep your passengers in the cabin, and then lock these +stowaways up in a state-room, or some other place, where it is not +possible for them to know what is going on.” + +“All right,” replied Capt. Bendig. “We can manage it very well.” + +“There’s no trouble at all about it, if we only understand each other; +but it would have been bad if you had sent Wallgood and his wife on +board of the ship when these two young cubs were on deck; and it would +have been just as bad if I had sent the boys to you. We have the matter +well in hand now, and there is nothing more to fear,” continued the +master of the “Housatonic.” “As soon as I return to the ship, I shall +send these boys to you: so see that every thing is fixed for them. As +soon as you have locked them into a room, send the cashier, his wife +and mine, back in the same boat.” + +“All right. It shall be done; and I will see that nothing goes wrong.” + +Capt. Crogick returned to his boat, and the men pulled back to the ship. + +When he reached the “Housatonic,” he found the stowaways had not yet +turned out, and he sent the steward to call them. They were not sorry +to find a chance to return to New York, and they soon completed their +toilets. They were handed into the boat, and were soon on board of the +“Moonlight.” The cabin of the yacht was closed and locked when they +came on deck. + +Capt. Bendig’s state-room was chosen for their prison, and they were +conducted to it as soon as they came on board. They were taken down by +the fore-hatch, for the door leading from the room into the cabin had +been fastened before. The captain, without any explanations, shoved +them into the room, and locked the door upon them; and there was no +opening by which they could see out of the den, for it was only dimly +lighted by blocks of glass in the deck. + +“What does all this mean?” demanded Lon, as the door was locked upon +them. + +“We are locked in,” replied Matt. + +“I know it; but what is it for?” + +“Perhaps the captain thinks we may get back to the ship.” + +“I understand it,” added Lon, with a sudden flash of intelligence. “The +captain of the ‘Housatonic’ believes we stole the money; and he is +going to send us back to Midhampton by this vessel.” + +“Then the game is all up, and all our fun is spoiled again,” replied +Matt, disgusted with the situation. + +“Here is a good bed; and we may as well turn in, and make the best of +it. By and by, if they don’t let us out, we will smash that door down, +and raise Cain generally,” added Lon, as he stretched himself on the +bed in the berth. + +When he had locked his prisoners into the room, Capt. Bendig hurried +his passengers out of the cabin into the boat that was waiting for +them. All their baggage was put into the boat with them, and in a few +moments more they were on their way to the “Housatonic;” confident that +they were out of danger now, for the cutter was still two miles distant. + +As soon as they were gone, and he had fulfilled his contract with the +master of the “Housatonic,” he gave orders for the yacht to be put +about, and headed to the westward. He hardly gave a second thought to +the prisoners in his state-room. He had no instruction in regard to +them, except to land them in New York. The breeze freshened a little, +and the “Moonlight” began to move through the water at a livelier pace. + +By this time Wade Brooks had slept all he could; and he left his bunk +in the forecastle. When he learned from Pollish that the captain was at +his breakfast in the cabin, he ventured to go on deck. In the distance +he saw the “Housatonic,” standing to the south-west; and Pollish told +him the passengers had gone on board of her. + +“The captain is at his breakfast; but as soon as he is done he will +want to see you, my lad,” said the steward. “You had better get +something to eat while you have a chance to do so; for you may not get +another to-day.” + +Wade was not a fellow to neglect an opportunity of this kind: he went +down to the galley, where Pollish gave him all he could eat. While he +was at his breakfast, he heard a pounding on the door of the captain’s +state-room. Lon and Matt had stood the monotony of the state-room as +long as they could, and the former had put his plan into execution. He +was going to break down the door if no one let them out. + +“Pollish!” shouted the captain. + +“Here, sir,” replied the steward, hastening to the cabin by the door +through the pantry, which was between the cabin and the kitchen. + +“What is that noise?” asked Capt. Bendig, when the steward appeared. + +“The two boys in your state-room, sir,” replied Pollish. “They want to +get out, I suppose.” + +“Let them out, and then give them some breakfast,” added the captain. + +He was very considerate of the ship’s stowaways,--more so than of his +own; but one of the former was the son of a rich man, and that made all +the difference in the world. As the skipper of the “Moonlight” was on +the make, it is not unlikely that he thought he might turn the presence +of the boys on board his vessel to account. He judged that the father +of one of them would be glad to give something handsome to get him +back to his home. It might even pay to take them up the river in the +yacht to their residence; or he could go on shore at Staten Island, and +telegraph to the boy’s father, and then present his bill. But, if the +captain made any such calculations as these, they were upset by his own +folly and breach of faith. + +Pollish obeyed his order, and released Lon and Matt by the door at +which they had been admitted to their temporary prison. + +“Why were we locked up in that room?” demanded Lon, as he confronted +the steward at the open door. + +“I don’t know. You must ask the captain: he did it himself, and he +don’t tell his crew what he does things for,” replied Pollish. + +“We want some breakfast,” growled Lon. + +“You shall have some at once. Come into the kitchen,” said Pollish. + +Lon and Matt followed him. Wade was seated at a table, picking the meat +from the bone of a mutton-chop. Lon looked at him as though he had been +a ghost; and Wade looked at the two runaways with a similar expression +of surprise. + +“By hokey! how came you here, Matt?” demanded Wade, almost overwhelmed +by the sight of him. + +“How came you here?” repeated Matt. + +“I believe you are an evil spirit, Wade Brooks,” added Lon: “you follow +us wherever we go.” + +Pollish deemed it best to inform the captain that the boys knew each +other. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +ESCAPED OVERBOARD. + + +“How in creation came you on board of this vessel, Wade Brooks?” +repeated Matt, when he had found a tongue. + +“How in creation came you on board of this vessel, Matt Swikes?” +demanded Wade. “I thought you meant to stop at that big hotel a while. +Did you spend all your money, and then have to go to sea?” + +“No; we didn’t spend all our money; but we thought we would take a +little cruise at sea,” replied Matt. “But when we heard the ship was +going to the coast of Africa, where they have the fever very bad, we +gave it up; and now we are going back to New York. Have you gone to +work on this vessel?” + +“No, I have not: I wish I could,” replied Wade. + +“The captain says the two young gentlemen are to have their breakfast +in the cabin,” interposed Pollish at this moment. “Won’t you come with +me?” + +Lon thought it was quite proper that they should be invited to the +cabin; and he was ready to follow the steward without wasting a moment +upon such a fellow as Wade Brooks. Pollish led them through the +captain’s room into the cabin, where Capt. Bendig received them very +politely. He gave them places at the table, and told the steward to +bring the best there was on board for their meal. + +“The steward tells me you know that boy we have on board,” said the +captain, when the two guests were seated at the table. + +“Yes, sir: we knew him in Midhampton, where we came from; but we don’t +know any good of him. He ran away from the folks he lived with, and was +charged with stealing two hundred dollars from them. Isn’t that so, +Matt?” replied Lon, who was certainly a swift witness. + +“That’s just the idea I formed of him,” added Capt. Bendig. “But I took +him for a wharf-rat. He stowed himself away on board of the yacht, and +tried to steal a passage; and he did steal my breakfast and part of my +dinner.” + +“I think they would like to see him in Midhampton,” said Lon. + +Pollish was attending to the table, and heard all that was said by the +captain and the two runaways. As soon as he had given the boys their +breakfast, he told Wade what he had heard,--that they said he was a +runaway, and that he was charged with stealing two hundred dollars. + +“The coat fits them, and it don’t fit me,” replied Wade indignantly. +“It was Matt Swikes that stole the money, and both of them ran away +from home. I have no home to run away from.” + +“But the captain is down upon you, and he likes to believe what those +two fellows say. He always believes what suits him best; and, as +soon as you have finished your breakfast, I think you had better put +yourself out of sight,” said Pollish. “And don’t let any of the hands +see you do it.” + +“I will take care,” replied Ward. + +He had about finished the meal, when he received this advice from the +steward. He went to the forecastle; and, having assured himself that +no one was in it, he stowed himself away under the berth, in the place +which the steward had indicated for him. He arranged the old clothes +so as to conceal him from any one who came into the forecastle; but he +had not much faith in his fortress if a thorough search should be made +for him. He lay down, and began to think of the events of the day. The +runaways seemed to be in high favor with the captain: they had his ear. +They had already told bad stories about him, which were all lies; but +he did not care for this if he could only get out of the yacht. He had +an immense sum of money in his pocket; and this time he would take care +not to let any one steal it from him. + +As soon as Capt. Bendig had finished his breakfast, he told Pollish +to call Wade Brooks: he wanted to see him. The steward did call him, +but he did not answer. He went into every part of the yacht; but Wade +did not appear. He reported to the captain that he could not find the +boy. Lon and Matt were with the captain on deck by this time; and they +seemed to be greatly interested in the search. + +“Pollish, I believe you are in league with that boy,” said the captain. +“Now I want him, he can’t be found.” + +“The last time I saw him he was in the kitchen, eating his breakfast,” +replied Pollish. “Then, when I went to look for him, he was not there.” + +“He hasn’t left the vessel; and, if you don’t find him very soon, I +shall see what I can do about it,” added the skipper of the “Moonlight.” + +Pollish visited every part of the yacht again; but, of course, with no +better success than before. By this time the breeze had freshened into +a steady wind, and the “Moonlight” was going along at the rate of four +or five knots an hour. He hoped the yacht would reach New York before +the boy was found; for he was afraid he might tell under pressure how +he got into the vessel, and this would cause him to be discharged. +Pollish reported to the captain that he could not find the stowaway. + +Capt. Bendig called his mate and several of the hands, and directed +them to search the forecastle while he looked through the cabin. The +mate searched the bunks, and the space under them; and, when he came +to the forward one on the starboard side, of course he pulled out the +fugitive. + +By this time the captain had satisfied himself that the boy was not in +the cabin; and he was in his state-room when he was informed by the +mate that Wade had been found. + +“I knew the young scamp could not be far off,” said the captain, and he +followed the mate into the forecastle. “So you have come out of your +hole.” + +“No, sir; I did not: I was pulled out,” replied Wade. + +“You may go on deck,” added the skipper to the mate and the men. + +In a moment more Wade was alone with the captain in the forecastle. He +looked ugly; and the poor boy concluded that the time had come for his +flogging. He did not like the idea of being flogged; and he did not +mean to submit if he could possibly escape. + +“I have you now where I want you,” said Capt. Bendig. + +“Then I suppose you want me in here,” added Wade, for the want of +something better to say. + +“Yes, I want you in here. I promised the gentleman who was fool enough +to give you some money, that I would not flog you for stealing my +breakfast and dinner. I am a man of my word, and I’m not going to flog +you for that; but I’m going to flog you for hiding away when I wanted +you,” said Capt. Bendig, making a spring at the boy. + +Wade dodged, and attempted to get by the skipper and reach the door of +the forecastle, so that he could escape to the deck. But the tyrant, as +he had proved himself to be, caught him by the leg, and held him fast. + +“Now I have you in hand, there is one other thing I have to settle +with you,” said Capt. Bendig, transferring his hold from the leg to the +collar of his prisoner. + +Wade struggled with all his might to get away; but the skipper held +him as in a vise. When the victim struggled, the captain tightened his +grasp, and shook his prisoner, till Wade was glad to hold still. + +“You have a hundred dollars that belongs to me,” said the captain, when +Wade had been still for a moment. + +“It don’t belong to you,” protested Wade; and the fear of losing the +treasure was vastly more terrible than the fear of getting the flogging. + +“Do you think I am going to see a little scalawag like you steal into +this vessel, and get a hundred dollars for it?” demanded the skipper +savagely. “That would be giving you a reward for your rascality.” + +“The gentleman gave me the money because he wanted me to keep still,” +sobbed Wade, exhausted by his violent exertions. + +“I don’t care what he gave it to you for: that job was mine; and all +the pay for it comes to me.” + +“I told him I would keep still if I was allowed to keep the money; and +I won’t without,” said Wade spunkily. + +“I haven’t any time to talk about it: I have said what I mean; and now +will you give me the money, or shall I take it from you?” demanded the +skipper savagely. + +“I won’t give it to you; and it is stealing for you to take it from +me,” protested Wade with all the strength of his lungs. + +The captain did not wait for any thing more: he threw his prisoner on +the floor, and, after a short search through his pockets, found the old +wallet in which Wade had put the money. He took it from him; and, while +his victim was getting up from the floor, he put it in his pocket. At +this moment the mate came to the door. As he opened it, Wade made a +dive through it. + +“Stop him!” shouted the captain. + +But it was too late: Wade had gained the deck. + +“What did you open that door for?” said the skipper angrily. + +“I wanted to report to you that that revenue-steamer is bearing down +upon us, and, for aught I know, means to board us,” replied the mate. + +“Why didn’t you report it before?” + +“I came down here; but you seemed to be busy, and I did not like to +disturb you,” answered the mate with a smile. + +“Is she headed for the yacht?” inquired the captain; and he appeared to +be anxious on the subject. + +“She seems to be doing so.” + +“Do you suppose her people saw the ‘Housatonic’s’ boat carry off those +passengers?” + +“If they used their glasses, they couldn’t well help seeing it,” +replied the mate, who did not seem to be at all troubled about the +matter. “What odds does it make if they did? I suppose the transaction +was all right wasn’t it?” + +“Of course it was. But where is that boy?” + +“He went on deck.” + +Capt. Bendig, afraid that Wade would tell the other two stowaways what +he had seen, hastened on deck to secure him again. He saw the cutter +was headed directly towards the “Moonlight.” Wade stood in the waist, +with both eyes open. The skipper was intent on catching him again, +intending to lock him into his state-room until the cutter had passed, +and then give him the promised flogging. Wade retreated towards the +stern, and then around the mast to the forecastle. + +“Stop, you little villain!” said he. “You will get an extra flogging +for this.” + +When Wade saw he could not escape, he leaped upon the rail, and then +jumped overboard. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +THE LORDS OF THE SEA. + + +Wade Brooks did not take to the water from mere impulse, and because he +saw no other way to escape from the captain of the “Moonlight.” In the +morning, when the cutter seemed to attract some attention on board of +the yacht, he had asked something about her; for he had no more idea of +a revenue-cutter than a baby has. Pollish told him that she was a kind +of missionary vessel, which not only caught the rogues that attempted +to cheat the government, but she assisted vessels in distress, and +looked out for all violations of the laws on the water. If the crew of +a ship mutinied, she was ready to step in, and make the men do their +duty; in a word, she was to serve the government and individuals as +best she could. + +From this description of her, Wade concluded that he ought to find +friends on board of her. He knew that the “Housatonic” was bearing +away a man who had cheated a bank--a national bank--out of a hundred +thousand dollars. He had been robbed of his hundred dollars, and he did +not feel obliged to keep his secret any longer. Though Mr. Wallgood +had treated him very well, still he was a robber of the bank; and, if +his secret was betrayed, he must blame Capt. Bendig for it. He had only +agreed to keep the secret if he was allowed to retain the money, which +Capt. Bendig had not permitted him to do. + +But the skipper had not intended to give him a flogging while the +cutter was so near the yacht, lest the cries of the victim should be +heard on board of her. His only purpose had been to catch Wade, and +lock him up in the forecastle or some other place on board, so that +he could not have a talk with the son of the bank-president. If Lon +Trustleton ascertained that the “Moonlight” had been used to convey the +defaulter on board of a ship, the fact might come to the knowledge of +his owner; and he knew what would follow. His place was his bread and +butter, as much as that of the cook or steward; and it was not easy to +obtain such positions as he held. + +If Capt. Bendig had supposed that Wade Brooks had pluck enough to jump +overboard, he would have handled him more carefully. The stowaway soon +proved himself to be a good swimmer; for he struck out from the yacht, +which sailed away and left him astern of her. But, as soon as the +captain realized the situation, he ordered the yacht to be hove to. + +“Hard down the helm!” he shouted to the man at the wheel. + +But he had hardly given the order before he saw, that, if it was +obeyed, the “Moonlight” would run into the cutter, which was now +just abreast of her. The steamer had “slowed down” some time before. +She immediately stopped her screw, and then backed till she came to a +full stop. Half a dozen of her uniformed seamen were already in one +of her quarter-boats, ready to drop it into the water; but this was +unnecessary, for Wade had swam towards the cutter, and as soon as she +stopped he was alongside of her. He saw the accommodation ladder at her +quarter, and he made for that. A stout quarter-master was at the foot +of the ladder with a rope in his hand; and with his assistance Wade +soon climbed to the deck of the cutter. + +The officer of the deck asked him no questions, but directed one of the +stewards to take him below, and fit him out with dry clothes, and then +bring him on deck again. By this time the “Moonlight” had come about, +and was lying to a short distance from the cutter. The men in the +quarter-boat were ordered to lower away; and an officer was sent in it +to the yacht, which was evidently suspected of doing something out of +the way. Capt. Bendig received the officer in the most courteous manner. + +“Will you explain your object in communicating with that ship?” said +the officer, opening the subject of his visit. + +“Certainly: her captain is an old friend of mine; and, as we were both +becalmed, he paid me a friendly visit,” replied Capt. Bendig. + +“Did you come out here for the purpose of receiving this friendly +visit?” continued the officer. + +“No, sir: I brought off the captain’s wife, if you must know the whole +of it,” said the captain of the “Moonlight.” “She lived in the country, +and did not reach New York in season to come out in the ship. Though +I don’t know any thing about it, I think it is more likely than not +that the owners of the ship objected to his taking her on the voyage +as a passenger, and he did not care to have her come on board before +she left the pier. Of course you will regard what I say as told you in +confidence; for I don’t wish to get my friend the captain into trouble +with his owners.” + +“What sort of cargo did you receive from her?” asked the officer. + +“No cargo at all: the ship is just out of New York,” replied the +captain of the yacht. “Do you think she has smuggled any thing out of +the country?” + +“No; but I have known a vessel to keep her contraband goods on +board till she was ready to sail on another voyage, and then ship +them into some gentleman’s private yacht. I want to seize one such +pleasure-craft,” added the officer. + +“Well, sir, you can make a beginning with the ‘Moonlight,’” laughed +Capt. Bendig, delighted to find that the revenue-officer did not +suspect the true nature of his business with the “Housatonic.” “I think +her owner can fight his own battle as well as any of them.” + +“I don’t say that any thing of this kind has been done; but the +captain of the cutter directs me to ascertain your errand with that +ship,” added the lieutenant. + +“Well, sir, I have told you my errand; and I don’t know that I have +done any thing to violate the laws of the United States,” added Capt. +Bendig, beginning to bluster a little. + +“I don’t know that you have: I came to ascertain. It becomes my duty to +search your vessel,” continued the officer. + +“You can do that as much as you please; and I can tell you in the +beginning that you will find no smuggled goods on board,” said Capt. +Bendig, with more pertness than the occasion required. + +The officer called certain men from his boat, and a thorough search was +made of the “Moonlight.” Her skipper made a great show of opening every +locker, closet, and trunk, where it was possible to conceal a piece of +silk or a box of cigars. Of course nothing was found, and the captain +crowed accordingly. + +“I hope you are satisfied,” said the skipper, when the search was +completed. + +“Entirely satisfied,” replied the courteous officer. “I am very sorry +to have troubled you.” + +“It is not much trouble to me; but I will take care to inform my owner +that his yacht has been searched for contraband goods,” said Capt. +Bendig, who could not resist the opportunity to bully when occasion +offered. + +“Of course you are at liberty to do that, as I am to inform the owners +of the ‘Housatonic’ that you conveyed the captain’s wife on board of +her; and possibly your owner would like to know the fact,” replied the +revenue-officer, who was very much disgusted with the tone and manner +of the captain. + +“You have me there,” said Capt. Bendig, with a coarse grin; “and I +think we had better both hold our tongues.” + +“Just as you please: I don’t often go out of my way to meddle with +private affairs: I have only done my duty in this case, and you can +tell whom you please about it.” + +The officer was really sorry that he found nothing on board of the +yacht, for he was human enough to desire to see such an ill-natured +fellow as the captain of the “Moonlight” get into a scrape. + +“I want you to send that boy you picked up in the water back again to +the vessel from which he escaped,” said the skipper, as the officer was +about to return to his boat. + +“Does he belong to the yacht?” asked the officer. + +“No: he’s nothing but a wharf-rat: he broke into this vessel night +before last, and I owe him a licking for it,” grinned the captain, as +though it would be a pleasant thing for him to bestow the castigation. + +The officer’s sympathies were with the boy; and he was willing to do +any thing in his power to save any human being from falling into the +clutches of such a brute as he saw the master of the “Moonlight” to be. + +“How happened he to fall overboard?” asked the revenue-officer. + +“He didn’t fall overboard: he jumped over.” + +“Well, what made him jump overboard?” + +“To get rid of the licking he deserved, I suppose. He is a young scamp +that ran away from the place in the country where he lived; and I +intend to have him sent back,” replied Capt. Bendig. + +“I will report the matter to the captain, and he will do what he thinks +proper,” added the officer. + +“See here, I don’t want no fooling over this case. I want the boy +sent back at once. You are not the lords of the sea, if you are in a +revenue-cutter. You haven’t any claim on that boy, and I want him sent +back,” blustered Capt. Bendig. + +“Do you know to whom you are talking?” said the officer. “We do not +take any orders from any but the government.” + +“I want the boy; that’s all I’ve got to say about it; and, if you +don’t send him, you’ll have a bone to pick with my owner, who has some +influence in Washington. Some things can be done as well as others.” + +“I will report what you say to the captain of the cutter; and it is +probable that he will not be bullied into sending the boy back,” +replied the officer indignantly. “If you want the boy, you had better +send for him; for I am quite confident the captain will not trouble +himself to send him back, after your insulting message.” + +“You young squirts of officers think you are the lords of the sea; and +you talk to men like me as if we were of no consequence,” growled Capt. +Bendig. + +“I treated you like a gentleman till you proved that you were not one.” + +The revenue-officer went over the side into his boat; but, just as he +was ordering his crew to shove off, he discovered another boat pulling +from the cutter. In a few moments it was alongside of the “Moonlight.” + +“Mr. Wilkins, by order of the captain of the cutter, you will take +possession of this yacht, and hold her till further orders,” said the +officer of the boat, touching his cap to his superior. + +Mr. Wilkins was glad to receive the order. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +CAPT. BENDIG’S BLUNDER. + + +Mr. Wilkins immediately returned to the deck of the “Moonlight,” +attended this time by eight seamen, part of whom had come from the +cutter in the second boat. + +“Well, sir, what do you want now?” demanded Capt. Bendig, as Mr. +Wilkins stepped upon the deck. + +“I am ordered to take possession of this vessel, and to hold her till +further orders,” replied the naval officer. + +“What’s that for?” asked the astonished skipper, taken all aback by the +announcement. + +“I don’t know. I obey orders, and ask no questions about things that do +not concern me.--Stand by to lower the foresail!” added Wilkins to his +men, as soon as they were on the deck of the “Moonlight.” + +“I call this high-handed!” exclaimed the captain; but he was not quite +so crank as he had been. + +“You can call it what you please,” replied the lieutenant of the +cutter, as his men gathered at the foresail halyards. “Lower away!” + +“Can’t you tell me what this is for?” demanded Capt. Bendig, as he +realized that the command of the yacht had passed out of his hands. + +“I cannot. I don’t know, and I don’t care,” answered Wilkins curtly. + +“I don’t understand it,” added Capt. Bendig. + +“Neither do I; but, if anybody understands it, you ought to. I should +judge the order comes on account of some information that boy has +given; but I don’t know any thing about it,” added Wilkins; and he +seemed to enjoy the chagrin of the captain. “No information has been +conveyed to the commander of the cutter by any other person.” + +“Would the captain of the cutter hear what a little scalawag like that +boy has to say?” demanded the skipper of the “Moonlight,” disgusted +with this view of the question. + +“The commander of the cutter knows what he is about; and, if the boy +tells the truth, he will hear him as readily as any other person,” +replied Wilkins. + +The lieutenant of the cutter then ordered his men to anchor the yacht. +When it was done, he took the most comfortable seat he could find, and +gave himself up to the reading of a newspaper. He was perfectly at +home; for the yacht, for the time being, was under his command. He did +not care to talk any more with the captain, or with anybody else. + +Capt. Bendig was utterly cast down. He began to realize that he had +made a blunder in treating the “wharf-rat” in the manner he had. When +he saw the cutter coming, he had gone among the men, and given each +of them fifty dollars of the money he had received for them. He was of +the opinion that this was enough for them, and he proposed to keep the +other fifty himself; for he had made the bargain with the principals, +and the men did not know that one hundred had been paid for each one of +them. + +But, in order to understand the action of the commander of the cutter, +we must return to Wade Brooks, who by this time was clothed in a suit +of dry clothes. The steward, who had him in charge, took good care +of him, and conducted him to the quarter-deck as soon as he was in +condition to see the captain. + +Wade was not a little abashed when he found himself in the presence of +the commander, who was dressed in uniform, and looked like a greater +man than even the captain of the militia company in his native town, +who had always filled him with awe and reverence. He looked at him, and +was glad to find that he did not look a bit like Capt. Bendig. He did +not put on any airs, and actually bestowed a smile upon him. + +“Well, young man, have you been taking a cold bath this chilly day?” +said he, smiling again. + +“The bath was better than the licking,” replied Wade, shrugging his +shoulders. “I hope you don’t think of sending me back to Capt. Bendig, +who is the hardest man I ever met in my life.” + +“That will depend upon circumstances. Do you belong on board of that +yacht?” asked the captain. + +“No, sir: I do not belong to her. If I did, I would drown myself,” +replied Wade, with energy. + +“How happened you to fall overboard?” + +“I didn’t fall over: I jumped over.” + +“What did you do that for?” + +“Because the captain was going to lick me for nothing; and I would not +stand it.” + +“What is your name?” + +“Wade Brooks, sir. What is yours?” + +The captain and an officer near him laughed outright at the simplicity +of the boy; and it was evident that he came from the country. + +“You may call me Capt. Singleton; and that is my name,” said the +captain, when he had recovered his gravity. “Now, Wade Brooks, what was +the captain of the yacht going to flog you for?” + +“For nothing at all. He promised Mr. Wallgood that he would not flog +me for taking his breakfast and part of his dinner. He would not whip +me for this; but he said he should give it to me for hiding in the +forecastle when he wanted to whip me.” + +Capt. Singleton seated himself on a stool, and continued to question +Wade till he had drawn from him his whole history since he came from +Midhampton, and up to the time he went on board of the “Moonlight.” + +“Do you know what the yacht is doing out here?” asked the captain. + +“Yes, sir, I do.” + +“Well, what is she doing out here?” + +“The cashier of the Walnut National Bank in Midhampton has run away +with one hundred thousand dollars; and the yacht came out here to put +him on board of that ship,” replied Wade, pointing to the “Housatonic,” +which was not more than three or four miles distant; for she had +tacked, and was standing up to the north-east. + +“Do you mean that he stole the money?” inquired Capt. Singleton, deeply +interested in the matter. + +“Yes, sir, that’s what I mean. His name is Mr. Wallgood, and he is the +brother-in-law of the captain of the ship. He went on board with his +wife, and the wife of the captain of the ship; and the two women are +sisters.” + +“Are you sure you are telling me the truth?” asked the commander of the +cutter. + +“Dead sure of it, sir; and, if you go to the ship, you will find Mr. +Wallgood on board of her, with his wife and Mrs. Crogick, who is her +sister.” + +“You said that before,” said the captain. + +“The cashier gave the men on the yacht a hundred dollars apiece to +keep still about it; and I don’t know what he gave the captain of the +‘Moonlight,’” continued Wade, not a little excited. “He gave me a +hundred dollars too; but Capt. Bendig took it away from me.” + +“And that’s the reason you are telling about the matter, I suppose,” +added Capt. Singleton. + +“I told Mr. Wallgood I would keep still if I was allowed to keep the +money; and, as the captain did not allow me to keep it, I am willing +to tell all I know about the case,” answered Wade. + +“I see; and the captain of the yacht made a mistake when he took the +money away from you,” laughed the commander. + +“I didn’t mean to meddle with any thing that did not concern me,” said +Wade. + +“Didn’t you say you would not take any of the money the two boys had?” + +“Yes, sir: I wouldn’t have any thing to do with the money Matt Swikes +stole from his father.” + +“But you were willing to take some of the money the cashier stole. How +is this?” asked Capt. Singleton. + +“I didn’t think any thing about it. Do you suppose the hundred dollars +was a part of the money he stole from the bank?” asked Wade, with a +look of anxiety on his face; for this was the first time he had thought +about the subject. + +“I should suppose so, though I know nothing about it.” + +“I had an idea that the hundred thousand dollars he took from the bank +was all fixed up some other way. I heard him tell his wife about it; +but I couldn’t understand it. Somehow he was to get the money when he +got to Italy. At any rate, I didn’t think the money he gave me had any +thing to do with what he stole: if I had, I wouldn’t have taken it.” + +“And you say the two boys are on board of that yacht?” + +“Yes, sir; and one of them is the son of Capt. Trustleton, the +president of the bank,” replied Wade. + +“His son, is he? What did he say when he saw the cashier of his +father’s bank on board of the yacht?” + +“He did not see him. Capt. Bendig locked the two boys into his +state-room till the cashier and his wife had gone on board of the +‘Housatonic.’” + +Capt. Singleton sent the officer to direct Mr. Wilkins to take +possession of the yacht. He wanted her captain to be where he could +find him. He questioned Wade for half an hour longer, and then he sent +a boat to bring Lon Trustleton on board. + +“He will tell you hard stories about me; but they are not true,” said +Wade, when the boat had gone. + +“I will hear what he has to say. Did you tell the president’s son that +the cashier had gone on board of the ship?” asked Capt. Singleton. + +“No, sir: I had no chance, for the captain kept them out of my way. He +took them into the cabin.” + +When Lon Trustleton came on board of the cutter, he looked very much +scared. Mr. Wilkins had put him into the boat in spite of the protest +of Capt. Bendig. + +“If that fellow has been saying any thing bad about me, it is all a +lie,” said Lon, almost as soon as he touched the deck, and saw the +captain and Wade talking together. + +“Never mind that just now, my lad,” interposed the commander. “You will +answer my questions; and be sure you speak the truth. Do you know a +man by the name of Wallgood?” + +“Yes, sir, I do: he is the cashier of the Walnut National Bank, and my +father is president of it,” replied Lon, his face brightening up; for +the question did not seem to affect him in any bad way. + +“Where is Mr. Wallgood now?” inquired Capt. Singleton, in a very +indifferent way. + +“In Midhampton, I suppose.” + +“Have you seen him to-day?” + +“No, sir: of course I haven’t. I have been on the water all day,” +replied Lon, puzzled at the questions put to him. + +“Should you know him if you saw him?” + +“Certainly I should: I used to see him about every day.” + +“That’s all now.--Go ahead,” added the captain to an officer; and the +cutter was headed for the “Housatonic.” + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +THE SEARCH AND THE ARREST. + + +In a few moments the cutter was going through the water at her highest +rate of speed. No doubt Capt. Bendig understood what she was about when +he saw her headed towards the “Housatonic.” Very likely he would have +made an end of Wade Brooks, if he could have laid his hands upon him +at that moment; but Wade was safe for the present. Lon Trustleton was +vexed and perplexed to know the meaning of the strange questions the +commander of the cutter had put to him; and he had no idea where the +steamer was going, though Wade comprehended the matter fully. + +“Where are we going now, Wade Brooks?” asked Lon, after he had tried in +vain to solve the mystery of the situation. + +“You must ask the captain, if you want to know any thing about it,” +replied Wade coldly. + +“You needn’t be so stiff about it.” + +“I don’t run this vessel; and the captain of her hasn’t told me what he +is going to do,” added Wade. + +“I didn’t suppose he had; but the captain of the yacht says you have +been telling him something,” continued Lon. + +“I have told him a great many things; and he has told me some.” + +“I dare say he thinks a good deal of you, Wade Brooks,” said Lon, with +a sneer. + +“I think he is one of the sort that will give a fellow fair play. He +isn’t such a fellow as the captain of that yacht. You made friends with +him; and I don’t believe he was willing to have you leave his vessel,” +said Wade. + +“What makes you think so?” asked Lon, whose curiosity was excited. + +“I think he will take you back to your father, and then charge him a +good price for doing it.” + +Capt. Bendig had protested against his being taken to the cutter; but +he did not know the reason. Lon was satisfied that Wade knew what was +going on, and why he had been sent for. He asked him a great many +questions, all of which he refused to answer. If the captain wanted +him to know what he was about, he could tell him: Wade would not. But +the steamer was going at a rapid rate through the water; and, as the +“Housatonic” was not making more than four knots an hour, the two +vessels were soon within speaking distance. + +“Heave to!” shouted the captain of the cutter as he ran his vessel +under the stern of the “Housatonic.” + +“What do you want now?” demanded Capt. Crogick. + +The commander of the cutter repeated his order, and the master of the +ship did not deem it prudent to disregard it. A boat was lowered from +the cutter; and an officer was sent in it to the ship. + +“What is it now?” asked Capt. Crogick, as the lieutenant came upon the +deck of the “Housatonic.” “You overhauled this ship last night.” + +“I know we did; but this time we want to inquire into another matter,” +replied the officer, whose name was Graves. “Have you any passengers on +board?” + +Capt. Crogick was taken all aback at this question. He had sent his +lady passengers into their state-rooms, and had directed the cashier to +conceal himself elsewhere, so that they should not be seen; and he had +not looked for any trouble in this direction. + +“You visited my ship before, and looked her all over; and you did not +find any passengers,” replied he. + +“You do not answer my question,” replied Mr. Graves. “Have you any +passengers on board?” + +“Did you find any passengers on board when you searched the ship?” +asked the captain. + +“I did not; but I was not looking for passengers then. It seems to be +an easy matter to answer my question, if you are disposed to do so,” +added the revenue-officer. + +“What’s the use of answering it?” said Capt. Crogick, utterly disgusted +with the situation. “You will search my ship just the same.” + +“As you refuse to answer me, I need waste no more time in talking about +my duty.” + +“Is it against the law of the United States to carry passengers?” +demanded the captain. + +“It depends upon who the passengers are.” + +Mr. Graves called several of his men from the boat, and then went into +the cabin. No passengers were in sight; and he began to try the doors +of the state-rooms. He found that most of them were empty; but two were +locked. + +“My wife is in that one; and, if you wish to disturb her, I have no +power to prevent you from doing so,” said Capt. Crogick, in the tones +of injured innocence. + +“I will not disturb her; but I don’t remember to have seen your wife +when I was on board before,” replied the officer; “and you will recall +the fact that I looked into all the state-rooms.” + +“That you didn’t see her, don’t prove that she was not on board,” added +Capt. Crogick doggedly. + +“It don’t prove it; but I should be willing to bet a hat she was not +on board when I visited your ship last time,” said the officer, with a +laugh. “But I am not looking for your wife; and I shall not molest her +in any way. The next room is locked; and my orders are to bring any +passengers except your wife on board of the cutter. I must know who is +in that room.” + +“Well, sir, my wife’s sister is in that room,” added the captain. + +“And who else?” + +“No one else,” answered the captain, as he knocked on the door. + +It was opened by Mrs. Wallgood. She stepped out into the cabin, looking +as disdainfully at the officer as though she had been a tragedy queen. + +“I beg your pardon, madam,” said Mr. Graves. “I am sorry to disturb +you, but the captain of the cutter desires your presence on board of +the vessel.” + +“If the captain of the cutter wishes to see me, he must come where I +am,” replied Mrs. Wallgood, as proudly as though she had been in her +own house. + +“I beg to remind you that he is an officer of the United States,” added +Mr. Graves. + +“I don’t care what he is. If I am to go on board of the cutter, I shall +be taken there by force,” said the lady, with a queenly toss of the +head. + +“Very well, madam; for the present, I will let the matter rest,” added +Mr. Graves, touching his cap to the lady, and retiring from the cabin, +though not till he had examined the interior of the state-room. + +“You will bear witness that I do not oppose you in the discharge of +your duty,” said Capt. Crogick, following him to the deck. + +“Of course you do not: I find no fault with you,” replied Mr. Graves, +who saw that the captain supposed he had given up the search. + +The officer called all his men to the deck, and commenced a search for +the husband of the lady. He returned to the cabin with four of them, +and the place was carefully examined. The officer was familiar with +the business, and had been through the “Housatonic” once before. He +started his men into the between-decks. + +“I was not aware that officers of the United States were in the habit +of molesting lady passengers,” said Mrs. Wallgood, with a withering +sneer. + +“They often do it, madam,” replied Mr. Graves. “I have met a lady with +ten thousand dollars’ worth of smuggled goods on her person. When +ladies engage in questionable transactions, they can hardly be excepted +from interference by the officers of the customs.” + +“Do you charge me with smuggling?” demanded the lady. + +“Certainly not, madam: I charge you with nothing,” answered the +officer, with a pleasant smile. “I only invited you to go on board of +the cutter.” + +“But I will not go.” + +“Very well, madam: I shall simply inform the captain that you decline +his invitation. I dare say that will be the end of the whole matter. I +am sure he will not be so ungallant as to use any compulsion.” + +“Here he is!” shouted the old quarter-master, who was conducting the +search between decks. + +A moment later the veteran appeared leading out the cashier. It seems +that the defaulter had a slight cold in the head, and an unfortunate +sneeze betrayed his presence to the cutter’s men. + +“I am glad to see you, sir,” said the officer. “I must trouble you to +go on board of the cutter.” + +“I think you have made some mistake, for I have no business with the +cutter,” replied Mr. Wallgood: but he was trembling with emotion; and, +in fact, he was altogether too nervous a man to rob a bank, and then +manage his own escape. + +“Are you a passenger in this ship, Mr. Wallgood?” asked the officer. + +“I am a passenger; but my name is not Wallgood,” answered the cashier. + +“Then I beg your pardon for calling you by a wrong name,” added Mr. +Graves. “May I ask your name?” + +“My name is John Simpson.” + +“Excuse me, Mr. Simpson, for the mistake I made. But I shall be obliged +to ask you to visit the cutter, and my boat is waiting for you,” +continued the officer, in the blandest tones. + +“But I am not Mr. Wallgood, and you have mistaken the person you want,” +persisted the cashier. + +“Not at all: my orders are to bring on board the cutter all the +passengers except the captain’s wife,” replied Mr. Graves. “This lady +declines to go, and I shall merely report her refusal to the captain.” + +“But what is your business with me?” asked the defaulter. + +“I have no business whatever with you. I only obey the orders of my +captain; and I know nothing whatever in regard to the matter,” replied +Mr. Graves. “You will oblige me by going into the boat which is at the +accommodation ladder.” + +The cashier objected, but the officer was inflexible. Mr. Simpson had +no business on board of the cutter: he was ill, and it was an exposure +for him to leave the ship. + +“Why don’t you tell him up and down that you won’t go, as I did?” +demanded Mrs. Wallgood. + +“Well, I won’t go, then!” exclaimed the cashier. + +“That is candid and straightforward,” replied the officer. “Here, +Peterson, put this gentleman into the boat,” he added, turning to the +quarter-master. + +Peterson seized him by the collar, and marched him out of the cabin. +Mrs. Wallgood appealed to the captain to resist; but he was too prudent +to meddle with a United States officer. In spite of the lady he was +compelled to get into the boat, which pulled for the cutter. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +A FULL CONFESSION. + + +“Boat ahoy!” shouted Capt. Crogick, as the men began to pull for the +cutter. + +“On board the ship!” replied Mr. Graves. + +“The lady has consented to go to the cutter,” added the captain. + +“She is too late now: if I find the captain of the cutter desires her +presence, I will return for her; but I have the impression that she +will not be needed.” + +“But she does not wish to be separated from her husband,” persisted +Capt. Crogick. + +“Bear my regrets to her; but, as she chose to remain, I prefer to +indulge her for the present; and the captain of the cutter shall decide +whether he desires her presence,” answered the officer, as the boat +passed out of hearing distance. + +“I was not aware that the lady was Mrs. Simpson,” said Mr. Graves to +his prisoner. + +“This is an outrage; and I think I have friends enough at Washington to +see justice done to me,” said the cashier, who found it necessary to +say something to keep his courage up, and to preserve appearances. + +“I certainly hope you will have justice done to you; but I am afraid it +is the very thing you do not want,” answered the officer. + +“I thought you said you knew nothing whatever about the matter; and yet +you treat me as though I were a fugitive from justice,” replied Mr. +Simpson. + +“I do not know with what you are charged, or even that you are charged +with any thing: I only know that you concealed yourself in the ship, +and it cost half an hour to find you. I have generally noticed that +people who have done nothing wrong do not hide from any one; and, on +the other hand, I have observed that those who are guilty are the ones +who hide. That is really all I know about it.” + +The defaulter said nothing more; but he did a deal of heavy thinking +while the boat was going to the cutter. He could not imagine how his +secret had come into the possession of the captain of the cutter. He +had taken pains to cover all his tracks: he had bribed every man in the +yacht, and he was confident that none of them had betrayed him. It was +possible that the cutter had witnessed his removal to the ship; and +he could explain his misfortune in no other way. But he had not many +minutes to think, for the boat was soon alongside the cutter. + +Mr. Simpson was conducted to the deck of the steamer, where Capt. +Singleton stood waiting for him. Neither Wade nor Lon was on deck, for +the captain had required them to stay in the cabin till he had seen the +defaulter. + +“How many passengers did you find in the ship, Mr. Graves?” asked the +captain. + +“Only this gentleman and his wife, besides the captain’s wife. This is +Mr. John Simpson. His wife declined to come, unless I brought her by +force, which I did not care to do without further orders,” answered Mr. +Graves. “After I had started to return, the lady changed her mind, and +wished to come with her husband.” + +“I do not desire her presence. I directed you to bring all the +passengers, so that I might be sure to get the right one,” added the +captain, as he turned to his prisoner. “Take a seat, Mr. Simpson;” and +he placed a camp-stool for him. + +“What is your business with me, captain?” demanded Mr. Simpson, +mustering up all the courage he could assume. + +“I am somewhat curious to know who and what you are; and you will +oblige me by satisfying my curiosity,” said the captain, in the +gentlest of tones. + +“Your officer has given you my name. The captain of that ship is my +brother-in-law; and I was going with him on a voyage for the benefit +of my health. If there is any thing wrong about that, I should like to +know what it is,” said Mr. Simpson. + +“Perfectly right and laudable: the sea often has a good effect upon +invalids; but it seems to me that the way you went on board of the ship +was not quite regular.” + +The cashier gave the explanation which had been agreed upon before. + +“Where do you reside when you are at home, Mr. Simpson?” + +“In Albany; and I am engaged in the grocery business. I am forty-one +years old. I have a wife, but no children. I have been out of health +for the last six months, and”-- + +“Do you know any thing about banking?” interposed the captain. + +“As much as most business men who have dealings with banks.” + +“Well, Mr. Wallgood,--I beg your pardon: Mr. Simpson,--but I have an +idea that you know more of banking than the ordinary man of business.” + +“Why do you call me Mr. Wallgood, when you know that my name is +Simpson?” asked the cashier, who wanted to know with what he was +charged; for it did not seem possible to him that the knowledge of his +defalcation could have come out so far at sea. + +“I have in mind a gentleman of that name,--the cashier of the Walnut +National Bank,--who has just left Midhampton with a hundred thousand +dollars belonging to the bank. He was a man about your size. Do you +know any thing about him, Mr. Simpson?” + +“I don’t know any thing about him,” replied the defaulter, with his +heart in his throat. + +“You must excuse me, Mr. Simpson; but I have a suspicion that this +cashier was brought off from New York in the yacht ‘Moonlight,’ and +put on board of the ship ‘Housatonic.’ Have you seen any thing of him?” + +“There is no such person on board of the ship,” replied Mr. Simpson, +struggling to appear unmoved under this trying ordeal. + +“Just now he is not in the ship; but wasn’t he in the cabin when you +were?” asked the captain quietly, and as though he had not the least +interest in the question. + +“No, sir. No such person is or has been on board of the ship,” +protested the cashier. + +“You will excuse me if I press this matter far enough to satisfy myself +that you are not the person for whom I am in search.” + +“Do you for a moment suppose that I am the one who robbed the bank?” +demanded Mr. Simpson, with all the indignation he could throw into his +tones. + +“You mistake this matter: I said distinctly that I wish to prove that +you are not this person.” + +“That shows that I am under suspicion.” + +“It has that look, Mr. Simpson; but I am willing to take either way you +like, and will prove that you are, or that you are not, the person, as +you may elect.” + +“It is all the same thing,” groaned the defaulter. + +“Very well: then I will try to show that you are not the person. I have +some witnesses to examine; and, as I intend to be as fair as I can, +you may ask them any questions you please,” added the captain, as he +beckoned to a steward, who was waiting near him. + +“Witnesses!” exclaimed the cashier, who did not believe that anybody +who knew him could be on board of the cutter. + +“Call the first stowaway,” added the captain to the steward. “If I find +that you are not Mr. Wallgood, you shall return to the ship; and I will +tow her far enough to make up for the delay to which I have subjected +her.” + +Wade Brooks came on deck clothed in the suit of clothes provided for +him when he came on board. The cashier did not recognize him; for he +had seen him only in the gloom of the cabin. He wondered what that boy +could know about him. + +“Do you know this gentleman, Wade Brooks?” asked the captain, as soon +as the boy came to him. + +“I do, sir. It is Mr. Wallgood, the cashier of the Walnut National +Bank,” replied Wade. + +“How do you know it is, my lad?” + +“Because I often saw him in Midhampton; and I saw him night before last +on board of the ‘Moonlight;’ and I heard him own that he had taken a +hundred thousand dollars from the bank,” replied Wade. + +“I never saw the boy before in my life,” protested the cashier. + +“Yes, you have, sir; and you gave me a hundred dollars to keep still. +And I told you I would keep still if I was allowed to keep the money; +but Capt. Bendig took it from me,” added Wade. + +It was all plain enough to the cashier now. This boy had told the +people of the cutter all about the doings on board of the yacht; and it +appeared that he had listened to the conversation between himself and +his wife. It was no use to hold out any longer. + +“Do you wish to ask this boy any questions, Mr. Simpson?” said Capt. +Singleton. + +“No, none,” replied the cashier despondingly. + +“Bring the other,” added the captain to the steward; and a moment later +came Lon Trustleton. + +“Why, how do you do, Mr. Wallgood?” exclaimed the president’s son. “I’m +sure I didn’t think of seeing you here.” + +“What do you mean by calling that gentleman Mr. Wallgood?” asked the +captain of the cutter. “His name is Simpson.” + +“This gentleman! He is the cashier of my father’s bank; and I think I +ought to know his name, for I see him almost every day in the week,” +replied Lon. + +“I will give it up, captain,” groaned the defaulter, covering his face +with both his hands. “Do with me as you please.” + +“Why, what’s the matter, Mr. Wallgood?” asked Lon, astonished at the +conduct of the cashier. “If you are in trouble, my father will help you +out of it.” + +“I don’t believe he will this time,” said the cashier, unable to +control his emotion. “I have robbed the bank of one hundred thousand! +I may as well speak it out; for there is no longer any hope for me. I +wish I was at the bottom of the sea!” + +Suddenly he made a rush for the side of the vessel. But the captain saw +what he intended to do; and two strong men seized him before he could +leap overboard, and end his wretched life in the watery grave of a +suicide. + +“If you are going to do any thing of that sort, I shall put you in +irons,” said the captain, as the sailors led him back to his seat. “One +thing more. What have you done with the money you took from the bank?” + +“It is on board of the ship,” replied the defaulter with a shudder. + +“Possibly, if you restore it, they may not prosecute you; for that is +the fashion of the times.” + +Mr. Wallgood consented to do this; but, before a boat could be sent +to the “Housatonic,” Capt. Crogick and the cashier’s wife came to the +cutter. They were astounded to hear of the wretched man’s confession; +for they had anticipated nothing so bad as this. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +EVEN-HANDED JUSTICE. + + +The captain of the cutter sent an officer, in charge of Mr. Wallgood, +to the ship, for the effects of the latter, including the money and +credits he had. In half an hour they returned. Capt. Crogick went back +to the “Housatonic,” and proceeded on his voyage, his wife remaining +with him. Mrs. Wallgood laid aside her queenly air, and wept with her +husband at the crushing blow which had overtaken them. Wade really +pitied them, they felt so bad; but it showed him that the way of the +transgressor was hard. + +“What are you going to do with me?” asked Lon Trustleton, after the +cutter had started for the “Moonlight.” + +“I suppose I can’t do better than to send you back to your father; for +I understand that you are a runaway, as well as the cashier of the +bank,” replied the captain. + +“Wade Brooks told you that; and he is the greatest liar in the whole +world,” replied Lon, casting an ugly look at the subject of his remark. +“He has been lying about me all along.” + +“I find he has told me the truth in all things. I think your father +will feel very grateful to him; for he has been the means of arresting +the cashier, and of recovering the money,” added the captain. “He says +the boy with you stole two hundred dollars from his father, divided it +with you, and then you ran away together.” + +“He stole it himself,” said Lon at a venture. + +“I do not intend to try the case between you,” added the captain. “I am +willing to leave it with your father to settle as he thinks best.” + +The cutter continued to go at full speed till she was within a short +distance of the “Moonlight.” Every thing about the yacht was as it had +been, for Mr. Wilkins was still in charge of her. As the water was +perfectly smooth, the captain of the cutter decided to come alongside +of the “Moonlight,” so that he could more conveniently finish the case. +Fenders were put out, and the cutter was made fast to the yacht. + +As soon as the two vessels were secured together, Capt. Bendig came +on board of the cutter. He had been unable to obtain any satisfaction +of Mr. Wilkins; and he judged what had been done, by the movements of +the steamer. He had seen her overhaul the ship, but the two vessels +were too far off for him to observe what had taken place. The first +person he saw when he went over the side of the cutter was the cashier, +sitting with his wife on the quarter-deck. The sad face of the +defaulter was enough to convince him that the worst had transpired. + +“How’s this?” he asked, walking up to the cashier. + +“It is all over: your treachery has ruined me,” replied Mr. Wallgood +bitterly. + +“What do you mean by that?” demanded the skipper of the yacht. + +“You took the money I paid that boy, away from him; and he told the +captain of this cutter the whole story.” + +“What, that wharf-rat?” exclaimed the captain. “I will take it out of +his hide if he did.” + +“That will do no good. It is too late to do any thing now,” groaned the +cashier. “The mischief is done.” + +“See here, you young whelp, did you tell the captain of this cutter who +was on board of the ‘Moonlight’?” said Capt. Bendig, rushing fiercely +at Wade, who was standing near the rail. + +“I did: I told him all I knew about the matter,” replied Wade frankly. + +“You did!” and the captain seized him by the collar, and was about to +chastise him on the spot, when the captain of the cutter ordered his +men to lay hands on the assailant. + +The sailors were not very gentle about it, and the skipper was tumbled +all in a heap into the scuppers. + +“If you attempt any thing of that kind again, I will arrest you, and +put you in irons,” said the captain of the cutter sternly. “You will +find you have enough to do take care of yourself, without meddling +with others.” + +“I shall get even with that young thief somehow, or my name is not +Bendig,” added the skipper, as he picked himself up. “This world isn’t +big enough for both of us till I have given him what he deserves.” + +“What fault have you to find with him?” + +“He broke into the yacht, and then got possession of business secrets, +which he has used to my disadvantage; and I will take it out of his +hide.” + +“If you do, I shall know where to look for you,” replied Capt. +Singleton. “Perhaps this business is a little outside of the strict +line of my duty; but the robbing of a national bank is a matter +for United States officers to deal with, and I shall take the +responsibility. As for you, Capt. Bendig, you are guilty of a grave +offence. You have used the yacht of your owner in assisting a bank +defaulter to escape with his plunder. I don’t think you can settle that +with your owner alone.” + +“I think I can,” replied the skipper. + +“Mr. Wallgood, how much were you to pay this man for his services?” +asked the captain of the cutter, turning to the cashier. + +“That was a private bargain, and it’s none of your business,” +interposed Bendig. + +“I shall tell the whole truth now, wherever it hits; and I don’t think +I am under any obligations to you for taking the money for your crew, +and robbing this boy so that he was tempted to betray me,” added Mr. +Wallgood. + +“Your best way is to tell the whole truth,” said the captain of the +cutter. “This man took the money, knowing it to be stolen from a +national bank; and I think it will appear that he is an accomplice +after the fact.” + +“Me?” exclaimed Capt. Bendig, startled at this view of the case. + +“I am no lawyer; but that is what it ought to be.--How much did you pay +him, Mr. Wallgood?” + +“I gave him five hundred dollars for himself, and one hundred dollars +for each of the men on board of the yacht. I paid the boy the money +myself; but Bendig took it from him, so that he has that also,” replied +the cashier. + +“This money was a part of the plunder; and it must be paid to the bank +again,” continued Capt. Singleton. “Did you give the money to the men, +captain?” + +“I did,” replied the skipper of the “Moonlight;” and he appeared to be +very much embarrassed. + +“Mr. Wilkins, call all hands on board of the yacht,” said the captain +of the cutter to the officer in charge of the “Moonlight.” + +The crew of the yacht were mustered in the waist, and the +revenue-officers proceeded to question them separately. Every one of +them declared that he had received but fifty dollars, and not one of +them knew any thing about the affairs of the cashier. They had been +told that the owners of the ship might object if they knew that she +took passengers. + +“How much money did you pay this man?” asked the captain of the cutter, +returning to the deck of his vessel, where the cashier remained. + +Mr. Wallgood stated the amount as he had before. + +“Capt. Bendig, it seems that you have intended to cheat your own crew +out of one-half of the sum they were to receive for their services,” +continued the captain. “It is easy enough to believe this of you, +after you have robbed this boy of all his share. I will give you about +five minutes to restore to me all the money you have received from Mr. +Wallgood.” + +“All of it?” asked the bewildered skipper. + +“Every cent of it.” + +“But I paid out some money for provisions and stores,” pleaded the +captain of the “Moonlight.” + +“That shall be your loss; but the stolen money must be restored, +without regard to whose pocket it comes out of.” + +“What if I do not do it?” + +“Then I will put you in irons, and hand you over to the first United +States officer I can find in New York.” + +Capt. Bendig concluded to restore all he had; and the cook, steward, +and crew did the same. They could not help themselves: it was stolen +money; and the captain of the cutter took the responsibility. Doubtless +he exceeded the limit of his duty, as he himself declared; but he had +certainly done justice to all as far as it was in his power. + +“Now, Capt. Bendig, you are released; and you may return to your +vessel,” said the captain of the cutter. “If you are not satisfied with +what I have done, you know where to look for me.” + +“You are rough on me, captain.” + +“Not so rough as you are on yourself. If you had not attempted to grasp +more than your fair share of the plunder, and robbed that boy, you +might have got out of it with more money in your pocket. You may go +now.” + +“You won’t mention this little matter to the owner of the ‘Moonlight,’ +will you, captain?” whined Capt. Bendig. “I am a poor man; and, if I +lose my place as the sailing-master of the yacht, I don’t know what I +shall do. I have a family to support; and I don’t want to be out of a +job.” + +“I don’t know your owner; and I don’t make bargains of that sort with +fellows like you.--Cast off the bow-line, Mr. Wilkins.” + +Capt. Bendig returned to the yacht; and his view of the case was so +changed, that it is doubtful whether he even wished to “take it out of +the hide” of Wade Brooks. + +“Where is the other boy?” asked the captain of the cutter; but no one +had seen him. + +“Where is Matt?” asked Wade. “The captain wants him.” + +“He must be in the yacht: I have not seen him since I left her,” +replied Lon. + +Mr. Wilkins was sent to look him up. It was found that he was locked +into Capt. Bendig’s state-room. The skipper intended to make sure of +him, if he could, so as to make some money by robbing him of what he +had, and then making his father pay for restoring him. Matt was glad +enough to get out of the “Moonlight;” for the captain had been rough on +him during the absence of the cutter. + +As soon as he was on board, the revenue-steamer started for New York. +Lon and Matt had a conference as soon as they could get by themselves. +They talked about the future; and they were not quite ready to be sent +back home with a good part of the money they had taken still unspent in +their pockets. They had not had the “good time” they anticipated; but +they could not see how they were to escape from the cutter. + +Some time in the night the cutter anchored off the Battery. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +THE WAY OF THE TRANSGRESSOR. + + +Wade Brooks was hardly satisfied with the situation. He was in great +danger of being sent back to live with Obed Swikes. He had plenty +to eat on the cutter, and he had fared pretty well on board of the +“Moonlight.” He could not endure the idea of returning to his former +comfortless home, where he had been both starved and abused. He dreaded +the cold of winter even more than the hunger of the summer, though it +was both cold and hunger in the winter. He had tried to get work in New +York without success; and he had not a cent of money to buy him a piece +of bread. + +It might be possible for him to escape from the cutter, or from those +who attempted to take him back to Midhampton; but this was only jumping +out of the frying-pan into the fire. The poor boy was sadly perplexed +by the situation. It was cold and hunger if he went back to his former +home, and it was starvation if he did not go there. + +Lon and Matt were troubled in about the same way, though the food +problem did not disturb them. They had money to buy what they wanted to +eat; but Wade had been rich twice, and had three times lost all his +money, for it was “just his luck.” If Lon and Matt went back to their +homes, they had to answer for burning the barn, and taking the money +from the closet over the mantle-piece. If they staid in New York, the +police would by this time be on the lookout for them. If they could get +out of the cutter, and on board of a steamer bound to some place in the +south, they might keep out of sight till their money was all gone; and +then all they had to do was to go home and take the consequences. + +But the consequences did not trouble them much as Lon reasoned, their +parents would be so glad to see them back, that they would let them off +easy. This time they could not charge Wade Brooks with stealing the two +hundred dollars; for he was not in the town when the deed was done. +Even Obed Swikes would be compelled to believe his son was the thief. + +Mr. Wallgood occupied a state-room by himself in the cabin, the door +of which was kept open all night, with a man to watch him, lest he +should repeat the experiment of attempting to jump overboard. The three +stowaways were berthed in the steerage. The strictest watch was kept in +every part of the vessel, and there was no chance for them to get out +of her. + +When the cutter came to anchor in the night, Mr. Wilkins, the first +lieutenant, had been sent on shore by the captain; but no one was +informed in regard to the nature of his mission. At daylight he +returned, bringing with him the morning newspapers. He reported to the +captain as soon as he came on board. + +“The papers of this morning have a full account of the disappearance +of the cashier of the Walnut National Bank of Midhampton,” said Mr. +Wilkins, when the captain asked him into his state-room, where he was +still in bed. “The account says that Capt. Trustleton was in New York +at the time the absence of the cashier was discovered; but he was +telegraphed for, and immediately returned. It appears that the amount +of the defalcation is one hundred and fifty thousand dollars.” + +“But the cashier has but one hundred thousand,” added the captain. + +“I think the fifty thousand was the amount he had taken before he left, +and which made his departure necessary.” + +“Very likely. The boy Brooks told me he heard the cashier say he had +loaned money to the captain of the ‘Housatonic,’ which belonged to the +bank. Did you ascertain where Capt. Trustleton was?” asked the captain. + +“Yes, sir: he is at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, where he arrived in the +midnight train. The papers say he traced the cashier and his wife and +another woman to the night-train for New York, and followed them the +next night, just a day behind. The police were at work on the case +all day yesterday. I wrote a note to Capt. Trustleton, informing him +that his presence was desired on board of the cutter as early in the +morning as possible; and I directed the night clerk to deliver it to +him in person at six o’clock in the morning; and he will be here, I +think, by seven.” + +“Is the father of the other boy with him?” inquired the captain. + +“I think not: the register of the hotel indicates that Capt. Trustleton +is the only guest from Midhampton,” replied Mr. Wilkins. + +“I thank you, Mr. Wilkins, for the thorough manner in which you have +done your work; and I recommend you to turn in.” + +The first lieutenant accepted this advice, and all was still about the +cabin of the cutter again. At six o’clock Wade Brooks had slept all he +could, and turned out. When he went on deck, the watch was washing down +the decks; but he saw no chance to go on shore. Several boats were fast +to the swinging boom; but the officer of the deck stood where he could +see all that was going on. + +At seven he was asked to breakfast at the captain’s table. Lon and Matt +were there also; but the defaulter had not yet left his room, at the +door of which the sentinel still stood. Wade ate a very hearty meal; +for he felt that this one might be the last he would get that day, for +he intended to take French leave as soon as he found a chance to do +so. Before the meal was finished, Mr. Wallgood came out of his room, +looking very pale and haggard, as though he had not slept any during +the night. Wade ended his breakfast, and went on deck. + +When he came out of the cabin, he saw a boat approaching the cutter; +and, as it came nearer, he recognized Capt. Trustleton in the +stern-sheets. He was amazed to see him so early in the morning; and he +concluded that his business related to the cashier, though he could not +see how he should know he was on board of the cutter. The president of +the bank did not know that the defaulter was on board; but Mr. Wilkins +had intimated to him, that the captain of the cutter wished to see him +in relation to the robbery of the bank. + +Mr. Graves was in charge of the deck, and he had been instructed to +admit Capt. Trustleton on board. As soon as he came on deck, the first +person he identified was Wade Brooks. + +“How came you here, Wade Brooks?” asked the visitor, who was as much +astonished to see the boy as the boy was to see him. + +“It would take some time for me to tell the story,” replied Wade; “and +I guess the captain of the cutter wants to see you, sir.” + +“Have you seen any thing of Alonzo, my boy?” inquired the president +anxiously. + +“Yes, sir: Lon and Matt Swikes are at breakfast in the cabin.” + +“Then it seems that you went with my son.” + +“No, sir: I did not. I haven’t had any thing to do with them. Lon and +Matt hid in the ship ‘Housatonic,’ and were found on board. That was +the ship Mr. Wallgood was in.” + +“Mr. Wallgood!” exclaimed Capt. Trustleton. “Have you seen him too?” + +“Yes, sir; and he is in the cabin, eating his breakfast,” replied Wade, +who knew this would be good news to the president of the bank. + +“Is it possible?” + +“It’s so, sir. Mr. Wallgood was going to the coast of Africa in the +‘Housatonic;’ but the cutter found him out, and brought him back, with +all the money he had taken from the bank.” + +“Well, this is good news that I did not expect,” added Capt. Trustleton. + +“Here comes the captain of the cutter, and he will tell you all about +it,” added Wade. + +The president of the bank introduced himself to Capt. Singleton. They +sat down by themselves, and the latter told the whole story. + +“Now, sir, I want to say in conclusion, that you owe the discovery of +the defaulter to the Brooks boy,” said the captain of the cutter; “and +I have found that he told me the truth in all matters.” + +“I will make it all right with him,” said the president. “Wade tells me +that my son and another runaway boy are on board.” + +“Yes, sir; and your son charges Wade Brooks with the stealing of two +hundred dollars.” + +“I know that the charge is false,” replied Capt. Trustleton earnestly. +“The Swikes boy stole the money from his father; and I have no doubt +that my son divided it with him. The Brooks boy was not in Midhampton +when the money was taken. Even the boy’s father believes he is guilty +now.” + +Presently Lon and Matt came on deck; and of course they were surprised +to see Capt. Trustleton there. The father treated his son very sternly, +telling him that he had disgraced himself and his family. For the first +time Lon felt sorry for what he had done. + +“How much of the stolen money have you left?” asked Capt. Trustleton. + +“Not much,” answered Lon evasively. + +“Don’t answer me in that way, Alonzo!” said his father severely. “Tell +me the truth at once.” + +“I have over ninety dollars, and Matt has about the same,” replied Lon, +alarmed at the unusual severity of his father. + +“Give it to me.” Lon obeyed, and gave his wallet to his stern parent. + +“Give me yours, Matthew,” added the captain, turning to Matt. + +Matt was afraid to refuse, and gave up the old wallet he had taken, +with the money it contained. Lon and Matt both protested that they had +no more; but Capt. Trustleton was not satisfied till he had searched +them both. + +“Now, if you attempt to run away again, I will hand you over to the +police, and let you stand your chance of serving out a term in the +penitentiary,” added Capt. Trustleton. + +The cashier was completely overwhelmed when he met the president of +the bank face to face. He trembled like an aspen, though the captain +was more gentle with him than he had been with his son. But he was +determined that the defaulter should pay the penalty of his crime. +He was handed over to the proper officers, and in due time was sent +to Midhampton to be tried for his offence; and was sent to the State +Prison for a term of years, in spite of all the influence that could be +brought to bear in his favor. + +Capt. Trustleton and the three boys landed, and went to the Fifth +Avenue Hotel. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + +THE EMPLOYMENT OFFICE. + + +“Wade Brooks, the captain of the cutter told me you had a hard time on +board of the yacht, and that her captain took away from you the hundred +dollars which Mr. Wallgood had given you,” said Capt. Trustleton, when +they were by themselves at the hotel. + +“Capt. Bendig was pretty rough on me; but then that’s just my luck,” +said Wade, laughing. + +“Since you left your home in Midhampton, I have inquired into your +situation there; and I must say that I do not blame you for leaving +your place,” continued the captain. “I don’t know whether you intend to +return, or not; but here is a sum of money to make good your loss on +board of the yacht.” + +Capt. Trustleton put a roll of bills into the hand of the boy, and +then left him before he had time even to thank him for the gift. He +was going to say that he did not intend to go back to the home of Obed +Swikes; but he had no time to do so. There he stood in front of the +empty chair in which the president of the bank had been seated, with +the roll of bills in his hand. It was in the public reading-room, +where plenty of people were gathered; and he did not observe that some +of them were looking at him. + +“Well, this is _not_ just my luck,” said he to himself. “But I will bet +there is not a man in New York smart enough to get this away from me.” + +Then he could not help asking himself why Capt. Trustleton had given +him this money at this time. Why did he not wait till they got back to +Midhampton? He would not let Matt and Lon go out of his sight for a +single minute, though they had not a cent of money; but he had given +him a pile of bills, and did not seem to care where he went. He did not +quite understand it at first; but, after he had considered it for a +while, he was confident that he got at the captain’s meaning. + +The captain had told him that he should not blame him if he did not +go back to live with Obed Swikes. He did not expect him to go back; +and for this reason he had given him the money at the present time. +Certainly Capt. Trustleton had been very kind to him. He had given +him a dollar once before. It was plain enough what the captain meant. +Then perhaps he did not wish him to go back to Midhampton, for he knew +something about the burning of Garlick’s barn. + +“That’s it! He wants me out of the way!” exclaimed Wade to himself. +“With all these bills in my pocket, I shall not be hungry at present. +He wants me to take myself out of the way, and I’ll do it.” + +Wade held the roll of bills given to him tightly clinched in his fist, +and his hand in his pocket. The bitter experience of a few days before +had made him wise and prudent. He was afraid even to count the money +while so many people were about, though he was very anxious to know how +much he had. He judged by the size of the roll, that it must contain +as much as twenty dollars; but if there were only ten he should be +satisfied, for that would feed and lodge him till he could find a place +to work. + +He walked about the hotel for an hour longer, with the bills still in +his hand. He did not see any thing more of Capt. Trustleton or the two +boys. He wondered what had become of them. He concluded that they had +gone to their room to talk over the events of the last two days. He +wanted to renew his search for a place to work, but he did not like to +go off without saying any thing to Capt. Trustleton. Finally he went to +the office, and asked the clerk where the captain was. + +“He has taken the train for home: he went about an hour ago,” replied +the clerk to his question. + +“All right,” replied Wade; and he was sure now that Capt. Trustleton +did not want him to go back to Midhampton. + +The wanderer wanted to count his money before he left the hotel: if +he did not, he would not be able to tell whether he lost any or not. +Besides, the amount would help him in making his calculations for +the future. He looked about the hotel for a place where he could do +it without being seen. He looked into the reading-room, among other +apartments; and, as it was about eleven o’clock in the forenoon, it was +by this time quite deserted. Fixing himself in a corner, he took the +bills from his pocket. + +It was a pleasing task; for this time it was not stolen money, and +there was no one to take it away from him,--no one that he knew of. The +first note he looked at was a ten-dollar bill; so was the second, and +the third. The figures were so big, that he had to stop to rest his +imagination. Thirty dollars so far! He began to think of buying out +some of the rich men he had heard of in New York. + +Again another ten-dollar bill was turned up, and then another, and +another: in fact, every bill of the pile was of this denomination, and +there were ten of them. One hundred dollars! And then it came to his +mind, that the captain had said that he should make good the loss he +had sustained by the treachery of Capt. Bendig. Wade was almost beside +himself at this extraordinary luck, as he called it; but after a while +he cooled off. He was ten times as much elated this time as he was when +he had the same sum before. The money seemed to be ever so much more +real than before. + +With his hand on the money all the time, he walked about the room, +thinking what he should do next. He wanted a place. He did not think, +because he had money, that he could live without work: he wanted to +earn his own living, and put the money into a savings bank where it +would pay interest; and then he should have something to lean upon +if he got out of occupation, or should be sick, so that he could not +support himself. + +While he was thinking of the matter, he happened to glance at one of +the newspapers that lay on the table. He saw the word “Wants.” He had +seen the same thing in the Midhampton paper; and he knew that people +advertised when they wanted help, as men and women did when they wanted +places. He wondered that he had not thought of this before; for perhaps +this paper contained a score of places which he might obtain. + +He took the newspaper, and sat down in the corner of the room to study +the column of “Wants.” He found plenty of places that he thought he +should like. “Wanted, a young man to drive an express-wagon: good +recommendations required.” He could drive an express-wagon, for +he had done it a great many times; but, unfortunately, he had no +recommendations, good or bad. This was the difficulty which Caleb +Klucker had pointed out to him. He looked at a great many other +advertisements; but all of them required testimonials, as Caleb had +called them. + +He was beginning to take a very hopeless view of the situation, when +his attention was attracted to an advertisement in another column: +“Wanted, a young man with one hundred dollars, to act as cashier in a +restaurant. Good security and good interest given for the money.” + +Wade realized at that moment that he was “a young man with one hundred +dollars.” He did not comprehend what the duties of a “cashier in a +restaurant” were, though he concluded that the principal one must be +to take the payment for meals. He had been to several such places in +Bridgeport and in New York; and he had noticed that a man was employed +to take the money. He had been to school enough to learn his arithmetic +pretty well, and he thought he could make change as fast as any of the +men he had seen doing it. + +Wade fixed in his mind the street and number where applicants for this +desirable situation were required to call; and then he started to find +the place. He inquired of a porter at the door where the street was. It +was a long walk to the place, and he feared that the situation might be +taken up before he could apply for it. It was nearly two hours before +he reached his destination. It was a small office up one flight of +stairs, in an old wooden building. It was called “an employment office.” + +At the side of the door were placards, stating that all sorts of +persons were wanted. “One hundred waiters” were wanted. “Twenty-five +male cooks” were wanted. “One hundred young men were wanted to drive +express-wagons.” “Fifty men as porters were wanted.” “Seventy-five +young men were wanted as clerks in stores.” “One hundred boys were +wanted in all sorts of places.” + +Wade wondered he had not come upon any such place before. He had been +wandering all over the city in search of a place; and here was one +where hundreds of young men and boys were wanted. It was just the place +for him; for, among all these situations, he was sure he could find one +that would exactly suit him, especially as he was not very particular +what kind of work he did. He was willing to be a waiter in a saloon, +an errand-boy, or a clerk: he was even willing to buckle right down to +hard work. + +With his hand on his money, he ascended the stairs, and found the +sign, “Employment Office,” on a door which he opened and entered. The +room he went into was a small office, the walls of which were covered +with “wants” like those he had seen at the street-door. Behind a short +counter was a dapper-looking man with a hook-nose, who smiled sweetly +upon the anticipated customer. He was dressed in plaid clothes, and had +a great diamond in his shirt-bosom which was big enough to qualify him +to be a hotel-clerk. + +“Good-morning, sir: what can we do for you?” asked the man, who called +himself an “employment broker,” and for short reduced the term to +simple “broker.” + +“I want to get a place to go to work,” replied Wade, as intent on +business as the broker. + +“One dollar, if you please,” added the man of places, holding out his +hand to receive the fee. + +“What’s that for?” asked the young man from the country, rather taken +aback by this early demand. + +“For one dollar we register your name; and, as soon as we find a place +that will suit you, we put you into it without any further charge,” +replied the broker. + +“I am willing to give you a dollar if you will get me the place,” added +Wade, who did not think it was just the thing to take the pay before +the work was done; but then, he was “one from the country.” + +“We don’t do business in that way. We can’t keep an office open for +those that want places for nothing: we have been fooled too many times +for that,” said the man, with a knowing wink. “What sort of a place do +you want?” + +“Cashier in a restaurant,” replied Wade confidently. “The paper says, a +young man with one hundred dollars.” + +“Have you the money?” + +“I have.” + +“That’s another thing,” replied the broker. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. + +THE BENEVOLENT BROKER. + + +“Must I pay a dollar before I can find out what sort of a place this +one is?” asked Wade, who concluded that he should not negotiate on this +basis. + +“By no means! certainly not! We do business on correct principles,” +said the employment broker, with the blandest of smiles. “When we raise +any money for a party, we charge him a commission; and that pays our +fee.” + +“What sort of a place is this cashier in a restaurant?” asked Wade, who +wanted to know something more about it. + +“It is one of the most desirable situations in New York City,” answered +the polite broker. “The young man who gets that situation is sure to be +taken in.” + +“Taken in?” repeated Wade, who had his own meaning for this phrase. +“What do you mean by that?” + +“Taken into the business; that is, if he proves to be honest and +reliable. He has to know nothing but how to make change. It is a very +nice place; and the proprietor of it is in a great hurry to obtain a +young man who can fill the bill. He was in here not more than half an +hour ago, and said he wanted some one to take right hold at dinner +to-day.” + +“How much does the place pay?” asked Wade, greatly interested in this +very desirable situation. + +“He did not say how much he was willing to pay; but I suppose about +ten dollars a week; and the party would have his meals free at the +restaurant.” + +Wade thought this was simply magnificent. Ten dollars a week for +sitting at a counter and making change during meal-hours! That was +more than they paid their clerks in the stores in Midhampton. How Obed +Swikes’s eyes would stick out, if he should go down to his former home, +and tell him that he was getting ten dollars a week besides his board +in the great city of New York! + +“The cashier would not sleep at the place, I suppose,” added Wade. + +“That will be just as you and the proprietor can agree. I believe he +has some rooms that he lets to his steady boarders.” + +“And the one that gets this place must lend the man that keeps the +restaurant a hundred dollars?” said Wade, who did not quite understand +this part of the proposed bargain. + +“Precisely so. You see, this cashier will handle hundreds of dollars +every day of the proprietor’s money; and this small loan is merely to +insure the honesty of the person employed. He does this instead of +asking for testimonials; for, between you and me, no one knows who +signs these papers, and I have heard that there are men who will give +anybody a testimonial for a dollar or two,” laughed the knowing broker +in situations. + +Wade saw the point, and thought it was a good idea; for he had no +recommendations, and all the other advertisements required them. + +“I don’t find any fault with the loan,” said Wade, when he had looked +into the subject. + +“I think you said you had the money,” added the man behind the counter. + +“I did say so.” + +“Actually?” queried the broker. + +“I shouldn’t say so if I didn’t have it,” answered Wade, with some +indignation. + +“You will excuse me if I wish to assure myself on this point. You see, +we are so often imposed upon, that we hardly know whom we can trust,” +continued the broker. “It was only yesterday that I had a young man +apply for this place; and, after giving the keeper of the restaurant a +deal of trouble, it turned out that he had no money, and wanted to give +his note for the hundred dollars; and that would have been no guaranty +at all for his honesty.” + +“I mean to speak the truth all the time,” said Wade. + +“I have no doubt you do; but then, you are an entire stranger to me. I +cannot send for the proprietor of the restaurant, and ask him to come +up here under another uncertainty. If you will just satisfy me that +you have the money, I will send for him at once. You see, it is not +very often that a young man of your age has a hundred dollars in his +pocket,” persisted the broker in his blandest tone. + +“I think I can easily satisfy you on that point,” said Wade, as he took +from his pocket his wallet, exhibiting the roll of bills, and turning +over each one so that the man behind the counter could count them as he +did so. + +“That’s enough,” answered the broker, his eyes glowing with +satisfaction. “I see that you are an honest and fair young man, and +very different from most of those who come here. I have a great deal of +sympathy for young men out of employment; but I am sorry to say that a +great many of them are willing to cheat me out of my time and money.” + +“I am not such a fellow!” exclaimed Wade. + +“I know you are not. I see you speak the truth, and are ready to back +up what you say,” added the benevolent broker. “Now, if you will sit +down here for a few minutes, I will go down stairs, and find a boy to +send after the keeper of the restaurant.” + +“I won’t give you all that trouble,” interposed Wade. “I will go to his +restaurant, and see him there, if you will tell me where it is.” + +“That’s no way to do business,” said the broker, shaking his head +with another knowing smile. “I am sorry to say that all these +restaurant-keepers are not as honest as you are, Mr.-- What did you say +your name was?” + +“I didn’t say; but my name is Wade Brooks,” replied the applicant. + +“Some of them are not as honest as they might be, Mr. Brooks,” +continued the broker, who seemed to have his eyes open to dishonesty in +every direction. + +“If he is not an honest man, I don’t know as I want to have any thing +to do with him,” added Wade doubtfully. + +“Oh! he is a perfectly honest and upright man, as the world goes,” +interposed the broker, seeing that he had rather overdone the business. +“You see, if I get him the right sort of a cashier, he is to pay me a +commission for my services. If you go to his place of business, and +engage with him, he may say--though I don’t think he would--that I was +not entitled to the commission, as the arrangements were not made in +my office. A great many very honest men, even members of the church, +take this view of the matter. But the advertisement you saw, and which +brought you here, cost me three dollars; and my commission only amounts +to five dollars.” + +Wade Brooks had brains enough to comprehend this logic; and he thought +the broker was very fair about the matter. He did not see how anybody +could hire an office, pay for advertisements, and do business, for +nothing. + +“I will send for Mr. Flinker”-- + +“Mr. who?” interrupted Wade. + +“Mr. Flinker. Didn’t you ever hear of Flinker’s restaurant?” + +“Never,” replied Wade. + +“I supposed everybody knew it,” added the broker, as though he pitied +the young man for his ignorance. “It is just in the midst of his +dinner-time, and I don’t know that he will be able to come up just at +present.” + +“If you will tell me where it is, I will go there and get my dinner: I +would like to see what sort of a place it is.” + +“That isn’t the right way to do business,” replied the broker, writing +a note with a pencil in a very hurried manner. “I think this note will +bring him at once; and I dare say he will want you to go to work right +off.” + +Wade happened to think, if he broke one of the ten-dollar bills in his +pocket, he would not have a hundred dollars to make the trade with; and +he concluded to let the broker send for the keeper of the restaurant, +who would at least give him his dinner, if he did not set him at work +at once. There was something very pleasing in the idea of beginning his +new duties at once. His hundred dollars would be put on interest also. +The broker left the office, and went down stairs; but he was not absent +more than five minutes. + +“I think he will be here in a few minutes,” said the man of places. “I +believe he has his father in the restaurant for a few days; and if he +has, he will be able to come right off.” + +It was not more than twenty minutes, before a man came into the +office; and the broker introduced him as Mr. Flinker, speaking in the +highest terms of Wade, as though he had known him all his life. He +was sure the young man was honest and smart, and that he was just the +person to be the cashier of a restaurant. Mr. Flinker was very glad +to see him. He had had a great deal of trouble with the cashiers of +his restaurant. They were dishonest, and robbed him of half of his +profits. He would never employ another without some sort of guaranty +of his honesty; and the “dead beats” who had so often imposed upon him +were the very ones who never had a hundred dollars to deposit with the +employer, to insure their good behavior. + +“I will pay you ten per cent for the money,” continued Mr. Flinker. “It +is true, I do not need the money, and would rather not take it if I +could manage the business in any other way.” + +“I am a poor boy, and this hundred dollars is all the money I have in +the world,” said Wade, who was pleased with the fair talk of the keeper +of the restaurant. “I can’t afford to lose it.” + +“Do you think I would rob you of it?” demanded Mr. Flinker, looking as +magnificent as though he had been the president of the Walnut National +Bank. + +“Oh, no, sir! I didn’t mean that,” protested Wade, afraid that he had +offended the high-toned keeper of the restaurant. + +“If you did, I would have nothing more to say to you about this little +matter; for I can’t afford to have my honor doubted.” + +“Excuse me, for I didn’t mean what I said,” added Wade. + +“I see you didn’t; and I pass over the remark,” said the indulgent Mr. +Flinker. + +“But the advertisement said good security would be given for the +money,” persisted Wade, who was not quite willing to drop the subject. + +“Very true; and the note of Francis Flinker is as good as gold; but you +shall have an indorser.” + +Wade understood what this meant; and the keeper of the employment +bureau offered to put his name on the back of the note. + +“You can satisfy yourself about the name of Mr. Flinker, by asking all +the people near his place. He will pay the note any time when you want +the money,” said the man behind the counter. “Then, if he don’t pay it, +I will.” + +Wade reflected. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + +THE NEW CASHIER. + + +Obed Swikes sometimes had money to lend, and Wade had heard him talk +with the neighbors about such matters; and he had listened to many +conversations on such subjects at the stores and in other places. If a +man was able to pay, his note was good. He could easily find out what +people thought of Mr. Flinker near his place. If they all said he was +good, he could safely trust him with his hundred dollars. + +“We might as well draw up the note, and sign it here; for the +restaurant will be full,” suggested Mr. Flinker. + +The broker wrote it, and Mr. Flinker signed it. Then the man behind the +counter indorsed it, and handed the paper to Wade. He read it, and saw +that it was in the usual form. He had learned about notes at school, +and had seen them in the books; and he was sure the note was all right. + +“You can inquire about me in the vicinity of the restaurant; and, if +you find it is all right, I will give you the note, and take the money. +Now we will go to my place of business,” said Mr. Flinker, when the +arrangements were all made. + +Wade was all ready; and he walked beside the proprietor of Flinker’s +restaurant to that establishment. He was conducted through a great many +streets, and turned so many corners, that he did not believe he could +ever find the employment office again, if he wished to do so. But he +felt that he had no further business with that bureau. He was almost +sure of his place, and even expected to be taking the money for the +customers’ dinners in the course of another half-hour. + +At length they came to the establishment. It was rather a large place. +Over the door was a sign with large letters, “Flinker’s Restaurant.” +Bills of fare were stuck up all over the front of the store, and a +great many people were going in and out. It looked like a place that +was doing a very lively business. + +“This is my establishment,” said Mr. Flinker, when they came to the +door. + +“It looks like a big place,” said Wade, delighted to think he was to be +the cashier of such an establishment. + +“It’s not very big,” said the proprietor modestly. “I intend to enlarge +it in the fall, for I own the building.” + +He owned the building! Then what was the use of asking anybody whether +his note was good or not? But Wade determined to make sure on this +point; for he had lost money, and he was not going to run the slightest +risk this time. + +“We will go in, and I will give you some dinner then you can go about +the neighborhood, and ask about my credit among the shop-keepers.” + +“I am all ready for my dinner,” added Wade. + +Mr. Flinker led the way into the restaurant, and took a seat at a +vacant table. He invited Wade to be seated with him, and then tossed +the bill of fare to him. + +“Order what you like best,” said he, in an indifferent sort of a way. + +Wade called for roast chicken and several other articles, though he was +not as hungry as he had sometimes been. + +“Call for every thing you wish,” added Mr. Flinker, in an off-hand way; +and it was evident that he was a liberal man towards his help. + +The proprietor called a waiter, and gave him the order for the dinners +in a haughty tone; and the man in a white apron was certainly very +polite to him. He seemed to be perfectly at home; for, while they were +waiting for the dinner, he got up and walked about the room, speaking +to various persons, though the cashier that was to be could not hear +any thing he said. Then he left the restaurant by a door in the rear, +which Wade thought might lead to the kitchen. Certainly Mr. Flinker +acted as though he was the master of the place, if the “one from the +country” had for an instant suspected that he was not. + +Wade looked at the counter, at which quite a number of people were +seated on high stools, eating oysters variously cooked. At one end +stood an old man who was taking the money for the meals. He seemed to +be very smart for an old man; and Wade concluded that he was the father +of the proprietor. + +The waiter brought the two dinners ordered; and in another minute Mr. +Flinker joined him at the table. Neither of them said much till the +eatables were disposed of; for Wade was too much interested in his +present occupation to care much for any thing else; but he saw what was +going on all the time. He thought his new situation would be all that +he desired. Then he and his future employer had pudding and coffee; and +Wade was forced to admit that it was the best dinner he had eaten for +a long time, if not the best he had ever had. The waiter brought two +checks when the meal was finished. + +Wade didn’t see why the man should bring the proprietor these checks, +as of course he did not have to pay for what he had ordered. Perhaps +Mr. Flinker saw that he looked with some surprise upon these bits of +pasteboard; for he at once explained them. + +“You will take notice of this little circumstance, Mr. Brooks,” said +he. “I require a check to be given to every one that eats at these +tables.” + +“What’s that for?” asked Wade. + +“If I didn’t do it, all the waiters might dine their friends here. The +old gentleman at the counter don’t know that you are with me. Every +one that dines here free carries his check to the cashier; and he is +instructed to pass it without any money. It is a part of the cashier’s +duty to see that every one brings a check to him. If the person is not +to pay, he is the only one that knows any thing about it.” + +“Your father seems to be a very smart man, in spite of his age,” +suggested Wade. + +“He thinks he is smart; and so he is, in a certain way; but he makes +a great many mistakes. Besides, he knows too much for me. I have to +support him; but he orders me around as though I were still a child,” +laughed the proprietor of the restaurant. “He is my father; and of +course I have to humor him.” + +“He has forgotten that you have grown up, I suppose,” added Wade. + +“Very likely. Now you can go out and ask about my credit; and, if you +are not gone more than half an hour, I shall be here when you come +back. You are rather too late for dinner to-day; but you will be on +hand for supper, for my father only stays during the middle of the day.” + +“I will not be gone more than fifteen minutes,” replied Wade, who felt +that the inquiry was nothing but a mere form. + +“Very well: I will be here. I have to go into the kitchen, and lay out +the meats for supper,” added Mr. Flinker. + +Wade left the restaurant with the feeling that his fortune was made. +He was to have ten dollars a week; for that was what the proprietor +had promised him in the course of the conversation at the employment +office. It was the nicest and easiest sort of work he could think of, +and was not at all like the drudgery he had been obliged to do on the +farm of Obed Swikes. He had been unlucky a great many times; but now he +was the luckiest fellow in the world. + +At the corner of the next street, he saw a large provision-store. It +was not unlikely that Mr. Flinker bought his meat at this place. He +went in. Business was dull at this time in the day. He had read the +sign over the door; and he asked for Mr. Wangdon. + +“That’s my name,” replied the elderly man to whom he had put the +question. “What can I do for you?” + +“Do you know Mr. Flinker?” + +“I do: he has been my neighbor for ten years.” + +“Is his credit good?” + +“Flinker’s? He pays cash for every thing, and don’t owe a dollar in the +world,” replied Mr. Wangdon with enthusiasm. + +“Would you take his note for a thousand dollars?” asked Wade, putting +the question as he had heard it done at home. + +“Yes, for ten or twenty thousand dollars, or any other sum that I could +lend him, or sell goods for. He is better than half the banks. Why do +you ask such a question?” + +“A gentleman asked me to make some inquiries about Mr. Flinker.” + +“He is worth more than a hundred thousand dollars, and has no debts. +Every business-man about here will tell you the same thing,” replied +Mr. Wangdon. “And he is one of the best and kindest men in the world.” + +Wade thought so too, though he was glad to have his own opinion of the +keeper of the restaurant confirmed. + +“I am much obliged to you for telling me all this,” added Wade, as he +left the provision-store. + +It would have been better for the boy from the country if he had +told Mr. Wangdon more fully why he asked these questions; but he was +satisfied. It was useless to ask anybody else about Mr. Flinker for +the marketman had told him what all the business-people thought of the +proprietor of the restaurant. He went back; and he had not been absent +more than a quarter of an hour. As he entered the place, he saw Mr. +Flinker talking to his father at the counter; but, as soon as he came +in, the conversation was terminated, and the son took the new cashier +into a retired part of the room. + +“I am all ready for business,” said Wade, with a cheerful smile upon +his face. + +“Then you are satisfied with the inquiries you have made?” added Mr. +Flinker. + +“Perfectly satisfied,” answered Wade, taking his wallet out. + +“If you are not, I am entirely willing to give you more time to look +the matter up; for I want you to feel secure.” + +“I don’t want any thing more. The man that keeps on the corner says you +are worth a hundred thousand dollars, and that you don’t owe a dollar +in the world,” added Wade, thinking that this report would please his +new employer. + +“That’s all true enough; and this note will be the only piece of paper +of the kind with my name upon it in New York, or anywhere else,” +replied Mr. Flinker, as he tossed the note to Wade. + +The “one from the country” read the paper again, and then handed his +hundred dollars to the proprietor of the restaurant, who was worth a +hundred thousand dollars, and did not owe a dollar. + +“By the way, can you find 786 Broadway? I want some one to go up there, +and collect a bill,” added Mr. Flinker. + +Wade was sure he could find it, and started with the bill. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. + +JUST HIS LUCK AGAIN! + + +Mr. Flinker told the new cashier that if he returned by five o’clock, +he would be in season for the supper. The bargain was completed, and he +was the cashier of the great restaurant. If he was minus his hundred +dollars, it was in better hands than his own. In fact, he was glad to +get rid of the money, for he was no longer nervous about its safety. +There were so many sharpers about the great city, that he was glad +to hold the note of such a man as Mr. Flinker for it. None of those +swindlers like Caleb Klucker could rob him of it now. + +With a light heart Wade walked up Broadway, thinking all the time about +the new situation. He had a lively imagination, and he could not help +fancying himself behind that counter in the restaurant, taking in the +checks for meals, and dealing out the change for bills, as he had seen +old Mr. Flinker do it. It was a “soft thing” for a boy who had worked +as hard as he had for the last year. + +Still thinking about it, he arrived at the number in Broadway contained +in his directions. He took out the bill. It was against one Charles +Wadley, for a dinner for six persons at the restaurant. The amount was +four dollars. He found the number given him, but he could find no sign +with Mr. Wadley’s name upon it. The building that was numbered 786 had +a large store on the street. He went into it, but no one knew any thing +about Mr. Wadley. Then he went up stairs, calling at every room to the +top of the house. No one ever heard of such a person as Charles Wadley; +and the janitor was sure there was no such man in the building. + +Wade was determined to do his work in the most thorough manner, and +he went into all the neighboring stores and offices. At last he was +compelled to give it up, and returned to the restaurant; and it was +about five o’clock when he arrived. He went in as though he belonged +there, and looked about for Mr. Flinker. He did not see him, and one of +the waiters followed him up to serve him with whatever he might desire +for his supper. + +“Will you take a seat here?” said the man, pulling out a chair for him. + +“No: I don’t want my supper now,” replied Wade. “Can you tell me where +Mr. Flinker is?” + +“That’s Mr. Flinker behind the counter,” answered the waiter. + +“I know; but the younger Mr. Flinker,” said Wade, who was surprised to +see the old gentleman; for the proprietor had told him his father was +there only in the middle of the day. + +“I don’t know any thing about any young Mr. Flinker; but I dare say +the old gentleman can tell you.” + +Wade did not like to talk to the old gentleman, for he had the feeling +that he would think he was stepping into his place, so he sat down and +waited, hoping the owner of the establishment would soon appear. He +waited for an hour, seated near one of the front windows of the room. +Mr. Flinker the proprietor did not come; and, what was almost as bad, +the old gentleman did not go. + +At last he attracted the attention of the old gentleman, who called a +waiter, and asked him what that boy wanted. It happened to be the same +one that had spoken to Wade. The man told him that the boy wished to +see the young Mr. Flinker. + +“Whom do you want to find?” asked Mr. Flinker, senior. + +“I was waiting for your son,” replied Wade, walking up to the counter. + +“For my son!” exclaimed the old gentleman, with a jolly laugh, as +though he enjoyed a joke. “I think you will have to wait a tremendous +long while for him.” + +“Why so, sir? won’t he be in again to-day?” asked Wade, opening his +eyes very wide. + +“I don’t believe he will.” + +“When will he be in?” + +“Really, I can’t say; but I don’t expect him this year,” chuckled the +old man. + +“You don’t expect him this year!” exclaimed Wade, who could not fathom +the worthy old gentleman’s meaning. + +“No, young man; nor next year either. I may say I don’t expect him at +all.” + +A customer who seemed to be intimate with Mr. Flinker, senior, came up +to the counter, and helped the old man do his laughing. + +“I don’t understand you, sir; and I can’t see what you are laughing +at,” added Wade, very much perplexed and embarrassed. + +“Well, young man, I don’t understand you any better than you understand +me,” laughed the old man. “But what do you want of my son, in case you +find him?” + +“I have come to go to work here.” + +“Oh, you have! And what do you intend to do?” + +“I agreed to come as cashier of this restaurant,” answered Wade; and he +was afraid the old man was trying to play some joke upon him. + +“As cashier! Then you intend to take my place, for I have done that +part of the work for the last forty years, and I feel able to do it a +while longer. Did my son hire you for this place?” + +“He did; and agreed to give me ten dollars a week, and my meals.” + +“Did he, indeed? Then he engaged to give you very good wages,” laughed +the old man; and so did his companion in mischief. + +“I thought so myself; but, as your son offered me that price, I took +him up at once,” added Wade. + +“Oh! I don’t blame you at all for taking him up; and I hope he will pay +you what he agreed.” + +“He told me to go to work to-night, and take the money of the people +who come in to supper,” persisted Wade. + +“I guess not, young man: I take the money myself. I never trust any one +to do that,” said the old man, chuckling again. + +“Your son said you went home in the middle of the afternoon, and were +here only in the middle of the day,” continued Wade, hoping to hit upon +something that would move the old man. + +“I think my son did not know me very well.” + +“But he said he was the owner of this place, and that he only got you +to come in and take the money till he could get a cashier that he could +trust.” + +“That was rather mean of my son, to cut me out of the ownership of my +own property,” said the old man, laughing with his friend. + +“He said he had to support you; but that he did not like to have you +here, because you ordered him around just as if he was still a child,” +said Wade, piling up the testimony as fast as he could. + +“Well, now, if my son talks like that, I shall not like to have him +here; and between you and me, young man, I’ll bet I shall come out of +it best.” + +“I’ll bet you will,” added the friend. + +“He wanted an honest cashier.” + +“And you are the honest cashier, are you?” + +“I am; and gave security for my honesty.” + +“I’m glad you did that; and I hope it will keep you honest as long as +you live.” + +“I wish you would tell me where I can see your son,” said Wade, in +almost pleading tones. + +“I have no son: I never had a son. My boys are all girls,” replied Mr. +Flinker more seriously, when he saw the troubled expression on the +boy’s face. + +“You have no son!” exclaimed Wade; and for the moment the blood in his +veins seemed to be icy cold. + +It was terrible to think of; but he began to feel that he had been +deceived once more. He had lost his money again: it was just his luck. + +“Young man, I don’t understand your case at all,” said Mr. Flinker in a +kinder tone. “I saw you here at dinner with a man; and he paid for the +two meals. You went out, and came in again. You sat down in the corner +together; and then you both went away. That is all I know about you or +the man.” + +“I saw the man talking to you when I came in,” added Wade. + +“True: he did speak to me about the price of meals by the week; and +that was what we were talking about when you came in.” + +“He told me he was the owner of this place, and that you were his +father. I answered his advertisement for a cashier who could furnish a +hundred dollars.” + +“And did you let him have the money?” asked the real proprietor of the +restaurant, opening wide his eyes, as Wade had done before. + +“I did, sir; and it was all the money I had in the world,” replied +Wade, with something like a groan of anguish. + +Wade Brooks related the whole story, from the time Capt. Trustleton +gave him the money to the present moment, producing the note, and the +bill against Charles Wadley, as proof of the truth of the statement. By +this time it was dark, and too late to do any thing about finding the +swindlers. Mr. Flinker called in a policeman, and told him the story. +He had heard of one other case of the same kind. The keeper of the +restaurant and his friend wished Wade to come again in the morning, and +they would make an attempt to find the keeper of the employment office; +for he must be a party to the fraud. + +“Just my luck!” exclaimed Wade, as he went out into the street. “I +didn’t think there was a man in New York smart enough to get that money +away from me. Now I haven’t a cent to pay for a bed or for my supper.” + +He wanted to sit down and cry about it; but he knew that folks would +ask him what the matter was if he did; and so he kept walking, without +having any place to go to. He wandered up to the vicinity of the City +Hall, and occupied one of the seats in the park, till a policeman told +him it was time for him to go home. He wished he had a home to go to; +but he was afraid of the officer, and he resumed his wanderings. He +walked up and down Broadway till he heard the clocks striking twelve. +He was very tired and sleepy, and he wanted to find some place where +he could lie down. He remembered going through a narrow street into +which the back-doors of the Broadway stores opened, where he had seen a +great many large boxes or cases. He could make his bed in one of these; +and it would be better than lying down in the street. + +After a while he found the narrow street, and got into one of the +boxes. He fell asleep there in a few minutes; but a noise woke him +after a while. He kept perfectly still, and listened. Then, in the +gloom of the night, he saw two men bringing things out of the door next +to him. It was a robbery. He wanted to do something. He heard a man +groan inside of the store; for the door was only a few feet from him. +One man went back into the store. Wade sprang upon the other. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. + +HOLDING THE FORTRESS. + + +It was a bold act for a boy of Wade’s years and strength. But he had +every advantage, or he would not have dared to tackle a full-grown man. +The boxes, in one of which he had made his bed, were piled up three +tiers high; and to escape observation, he had made his bed in the upper +one. The end of the pile was like a pair of stairs, as the boxes had +been left for the convenience of the men who had put them in this shape. + +Wade stood on the second tier, about six feet from the pavement. The +robber in the street was stooping down, and appeared to be arranging +the goods brought from the store in convenient shape for carrying them +away. Taking this moment for the act, he jumped down, so that his +cowhide shoes hit the man fairly on the head. He was evidently stunned +by the blow; for he stretched out on the pavement, and did not move. + +But Wade knew there was another, if not two more of them; and his plan +had succeeded so well, that he determined to repeat the movement. He +sprang back to the top of the second tier of boxes as soon as he could +gather himself up. As he rose he picked up a heavy piece of board which +been part of the cover of one of the cases. When he had reached his +perch, he heard rapid footsteps in the store. The burglar inside had +heard the noise, though he must have been in the front part of the +store, for it took him some time to reach the back street. + +The instant he was out of the door, and before he could ascertain what +was the matter with his companion, Wade leaped down upon him, intending +that his feet should hit the man in the head. He did strike the robber +in the head, but he was not stunned like the other; and Wade hit him a +crushing blow with his club, which settled him for the moment. + +The brave boy looked his victims over, and satisfied himself that both +of them were either dead or stunned, for they did not move. The last +one he had overthrown had a dark lantern in his belt, of which Wade +relieved him, and then went into the store. + +He had heard a groan, and he listened for it again. It was some time +before it was repeated, but at length he heard it; and, following in +the direction it led him, he found a man gagged and bound to a post. He +was breathing very heavily as though he was struggling for breath. + +[Illustration: WADE HIT HIM A CRUSHING BLOW WITH HIS CLUB.--Page 302.] + +Wade did not lose a moment in releasing the man, and taking the gag +from his mouth. The victim was so exhausted that he could not speak, +or he pretended to be so; and Wade did not wait for him to do so. +He gathered up the cords with which the man had been tied, and took a +large coil of line that lay on the floor near the post, and returned to +the insensible robbers in the street. With the cords he proceeded to +tie their arms behind them. + +Before he had completed the job, the man from the store joined him, +having partially recovered from the hard usage he had had at the hands +of the burglars. Wade was not content with binding their arms behind +them; he tied their ankles together so that they could not run if they +should suddenly recover the use of their senses. The man from the store +assisted him at the work. While they were thus engaged, they heard the +report of a pistol, and Wade was conscious of a whizzing noise near his +head. + +“There are more of them,” said the man, who seemed to be trembling with +apprehension. “But I have a pistol.” + +“Use it, then, if you see anybody,” replied Wade. + +The man, who was a clerk in the store, looked up and down the street, +and then fired his pistol twice. + +“Very likely there are two more of them; and we had better get into the +store, or we may be shot,” said the clerk. + +“All right; but we will drag these fellows in with us,” replied Wade. + +“We had better lose no time, for a bullet may make an end of us at any +minute.” + +“It won’t take us any longer if we make sure of these men,” added +Wade, as he dragged the first one that had fallen into the store. + +The clerk took hold of the other, but he seemed to lack the strength to +move him; and Wade had to help him. + +“Now shut the door,” continued the active youth, suiting the action to +the word. “Can you fasten it?” + +“I suppose the rascals have spoiled the lock,” replied the clerk. + +But Wade found the key on the floor. The burglars appeared to have +turned it with their nippers, and then pushed it out on the floor, +using false keys to open the door. When he had turned the key, he +saw to his astonishment that there were two great bolts on the door, +besides the lock. These could not have been shoved back without help +from the inside. + +Wade had no time to consider this circumstance, though it was suggested +to him; for it occurred to him just at that moment, that the goods +taken from the store by the first man he had “sat down upon” were still +in the street, and he had forgotten to take them in. He carefully +opened the door, and, seeing that no one was near, he stepped out. He +was just picking up the bundle when another pistol was discharged. He +felt something in his arm, but it was so slight that he did not think +it could be the bullet from the pistol. It did not disable him, and he +made haste to drag the heavy bundle into the store. Then he locked and +double-bolted the door. As he looked over the fastenings, he did not +believe that any robbers could get through that door. + +By this time Wade was pretty well cooled off after the violent +excitement of the affair. He examined the door very carefully by the +aid of the lantern he had taken from the burglar’s belt. Certainly +there was no break in the door by which any one on the outside +could have moved those two heavy bolts. Near the door was a box of +carpenter’s tools. It contained augers, chisels, a mallet, and some +other implements. + +While he was examining the door and its surroundings, he heard the +robbers moving, and went to them to inquire into their condition. To +his surprise he found that the cords of one of them were partly loosed. +The clerk was near him, and no one else could have unfastened them. +Wade made haste to secure him again; and he did it in a more thorough +manner than before. Then he looked over the other one; but his bonds +did not seem to have been tampered with. He saw a revolver sticking out +of the pocket of the man, and he took possession of the toy. + +“Why don’t you use your pistol?” he heard the first one say; and he +could have spoken to no one but the clerk, for the other robber was not +in condition to use a pistol, or any other weapon. + +The words were hardly spoken before the report of a pistol was heard +in the store; but Wade was not hit. He raised his lantern instantly, +and saw the clerk was aiming at him again. The pistol in Wade’s hand +was all cocked, ready for use; but he had never fired a revolver in his +life before. He pointed it at the clerk, and let drive. Probably the +ball did not go within ten feet of the mark; but it terrified the timid +clerk as much as though it had gone through his body. + +“Don’t fire again!” exclaimed the clerk. + +“Drop that pistol, then!” said Wade sharply. The treacherous clerk +obeyed him instantly, and the pistol fell to the floor. + +Wade walked over to him, and picked it up, putting it into his pocket. + +“Then it seems that you are one of the robbers,” said Wade, throwing +the light of the lantern into his face. + +“No, I am not. I could not help it,” pleaded the fellow. + +“Lie down on the floor!” said the defender of the store. + +The clerk obeyed without an instant’s hesitation. + +“Now, my man, if you attempt to do any thing, I will put one of the +bullets in this pistol where it will do the most good,” continued the +brave boy, who was astonished when he thought that he had looked a +pistol full in the face; but then, he had lived faster and learned more +during the last week than in all the rest of his life put together. + +Gathering up a handful of the ropes which had been used to bind the +burglars, he tied the clerk in the same manner as the robbers. He had +not suspected him of being a confederate till the villain fired at him +at the suggestion of the fallen burglar. It was plain enough now, how +the robbers had got in while those two huge bolts were on the door. +Having secured the inside villains, Wade felt that he held the fortress +securely; and he did not believe the accomplices on the outside could +get it away from him. + +He had noticed that most of the stores he passed in the night had one +or more gas-burners lighted. This store was dark as midnight, except +the faint light he made with the dark lantern. He thought it would be +better to follow the fashion of the other stores; and he lighted three +burners, so that he could better find his way about the premises, and +to enable him to watch the robbers to advantage. The light revealed to +him the fact that the place he held was a large jewelry establishment. +At one of the clocks in the front store, he saw that it was half-past +three o’clock. + +When he had satisfied himself on these points, he thought he heard the +robbers talking together. He returned to the rear of the store, and +found that two of the burglars had worked themselves together, and +lay back to back, so that each could use his hands upon the bands of +the other. One had made some progress in untying the rope that bound +together the hands of the other. + +“That’s the game you are up to,” said he, as he seized one of them by +the collar, and dragged him to the other side of the store. + +“See here, my lad, you are meddling with what don’t concern you,” said +this man. “When the people come to the store in the morning, they will +accuse you of being one of us.” + +“Just my luck!” exclaimed Wade Brooks. + +“You can do better, if you will let us loose. I will give you a +thousand dollars on the spot, and a share of the swag,” continued the +burglar. + +“No, I thank you. I would rather be honest than make a thousand dollars +at your trade. That’s the sort of fellow I am,” said Wade. + +At this moment he heard a heavy knocking at the rear door. He at +once concluded that this was some trick of the burglars’ accomplices +outside, to gain admittance; and he prepared himself accordingly. He +did not believe anybody could get ahead of him this time. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX. + +HOW IT WAS IN THE MORNING. + + +“Who’s there, and what do you want?” demanded Wade, in reply to the +summons at the door. + +“Open the door,” said a man on the outside. + +“Not much!” replied the custodian of the fortress. + +“Open the door: I am the private watchman,” added the outsider. + +“If you are, you ought to have been around here about half an hour +ago,” answered Wade, who did not even know what a private watchman was. + +“That’s Bleeker, the private watchman,” interposed the clerk. + +“I don’t care who it is: I won’t let any one in till morning. How do +I know he is not the man who fired the pistol in the street?” argued +Wade. “Besides, I don’t feel much like following your advice, after the +way you have managed this business.” + +The private watchman, if it was he, rapped at the door till he was +tired of it, and then he went off. Wade went his round again, and +examined all his prisoners very carefully. He had them still, and they +were all right. The last one visited was the clerk. + +“Won’t you let me off, my good fellow?” said this one, in a pleading +tone. + +“No, I won’t: you let these robbers in, and you tried to shoot me,” +answered Wade decidedly. + +“I didn’t mean to shoot you. I have a mother who depends on me to +support her; and I don’t know what will become of her.” + +“I’m sure I don’t know,” added Wade; “but you ought to have thought of +that before now.” + +A little later, the knocking at the back-door was renewed; and again +the private watchman--at any rate, it was the same voice--demanded +admittance. Wade made no reply. Then he heard the voices of two other +men, who said they were policemen. + +“I won’t open the door to any one,” said Wade then. “The store has been +broken into, and the robbers have friends on the outside; and I can’t +tell the difference between you and them by the sound of your voices.” + +“Who are you?” asked one of the men outside. + +“I am the fellow that is holding the fort,” answered Wade. + +“The police here want to come in,” added the private watchman. + +“They can’t come in.” + +“Then we will break in the door,” added another. + +“If you do, I’ll empty this pistol into you,” replied Wade. “If you +want to do any thing about it, go and call the man that keeps the +store.” + +“Where is the man that sleeps in the store?” asked the private watchman. + +“He is safe enough, tied hand and foot, so that his business is such he +can’t leave.” + +Wade heard the men talking together, and he was pretty well satisfied +that they were what they represented themselves to be; but, as he was +not sure, he deemed it best not to let them in. It was time to make his +round among the prisoners, and he set about it. He let the light of the +lantern fall upon each, for the gas did not burn very brightly. + +When he came to the one who had proposed to buy out his interest in the +scrape, he renewed his offer. Wade thought the voice sounded like one +he had heard before; and he threw the light on his face. + +“I thought so!” exclaimed he. “You don’t seem to be in the missionary +business just now.” + +It was Mr. Caleb Klucker. + +“I see you know me,” said the swindler; “but I am willing to give you a +chance to make a pile of money.” + +“And I am willing to give you a chance to spend the next ten or twenty +years of your life in the State Prison,” replied Wade. “I am sure we +can’t make a trade on any other terms.” + +Wade left him. By this time the daylight was beginning to come in at +the great windows on Broadway. It was nearly an hour by the clock since +he had had his last talk at the back-door with the private watchman. +The holder of the fortress seated himself in the rear of the store, +and waited patiently for some one to come to his relief. He began to +feel hungry too; and this reminded him that he had had no supper. +He wondered whether he would be charged with being concerned in the +robbery. + +He had promised to go back to the restaurant of Mr. Flinker in the +morning; but he had little hope of ever seeing the hundred dollars he +had lost. Perhaps the jolly old man that kept the eating-house might +give him some breakfast; and that was all he had to hope for. While he +was thinking in this way, he heard noises at the front door: some one +was at work on the locks, and presently the door opened. + +A well-dressed gentleman and three other men entered at the Broadway +door, and two of them were policemen. The person at the head of the +procession was evidently the one that kept the store; and the man with +the policemen was doubtless the private watchman. As they came in, Wade +Brooks rose to show himself. + +“Who are you?” demanded the gentleman at the head of the procession. + +“I am the fellow that is keeping this store at present,” replied Wade. + +“Are you one of those that broke into the store?” + +“No, sir! I found the door open, and I came in.” + +“What has been going on here?” continued the proprietor, gazing sternly +at Wade as though he considered him an intruder. + +“Well, sir, there has been an awful time here,” answered Wade, shaking +his head to emphasize the statement. + +“Has the store been robbed?” + +“That’s more than I know; but I think the fellows that took the job +didn’t get away with any thing.” + +Mr. Maynard, the proprietor, led the way toward the rear of the store, +looking about on both sides of him, evidently anxious to learn the +present condition of the establishment. Presently he came to the bag of +goods which Wade had dragged in from the back street. + +“What’s this?” he asked. + +“I don’t know what’s in it; but I brought it into the store from that +street,” replied Wade, pointing to the one in the rear. + +Mr. Maynard opened the bag, and found it was filled with watches, +chains, and jewelry. He looked about in the vicinity of the counters +and the big iron safe, and found two other bags, both containing the +same kind of goods as the first. Wade had not seen these, for he had +not been behind the counters. + +“Where did you find that bag?” demanded Mr. Maynard. + +“I brought it in from the back street; but I haven’t seen these two +bags till now,” replied Wade. + +“The store has been robbed!” exclaimed the proprietor with a good deal +of excitement. “Where is Steeples?” + +“Steeples? I don’t know him,” said Wade. + +“He is the clerk that sleeps in the store,” added Mr. Maynard. + +“Oh! I know where he is,” answered the boy custodian of the store. +“Come this way, and I will show him to you.” + +Wade led the way to the part of the store where he had put the clerk +after he had bound him, and, throwing the light of his dark lantern on +the face of the recreant employé, enabled the proprietor to recognize +him at a glance. + +“Steeples!” exclaimed Mr. Maynard, as he gazed upon the clerk he had so +lately trusted with all the property in the store. “How is this?” + +But Steeples made no reply to the question, and closed his eyes as +though he could not bear the sight of his employer. + +“This way, if you please, sir, and I will show you something that is +worth seeing,” said Wade, as he led the way to the nearest of the +robbers. “That is one of the fellows that did it.” + +“We know him; but I didn’t think he was up to a job as big as this +one,” said the officer of the police, who was one of the party. + +“Here is another one, sir,” added Wade, leading the proprietor to the +other side of the store. “This is Caleb Klucker.” + +“Who?” asked the officer; and he probably knew the man better than the +boy from the country. + +“His name is Caleb Klucker; and he swindled me out of eighteen +dollars.” + +“This is Crapsy: he is a sneak-thief and general confidence man,” added +the police-officer. “But he has as many names as he has fingers and +toes.” + +“But why is Steeples tied up with the rest of them?” asked Mr. Maynard, +looking towards the place where the clerk lay on the floor. + +“Because he fired a pistol at me, and tried to kill me; and he did it +when the robber on the other side of the store told him to do it,” +replied Wade. + +“But he thought you were one of the robbers,” suggested the owner of +the property. + +“No, he didn’t; for he knows that when I found him gagged, and tied +to a post, I let him loose; and he knew that I had knocked over these +two robbers without any help from him. He knew I was not one of the +thieves; and he would not have fired at me if he had known I was one of +the thieves.” + +“You knocked the robbers over!” exclaimed the officer of the police, +with something like a laugh, in which his companions joined. + +“That’s my remembrance of the matter,” added Wade. + +“Do you mean to say that you, a mere boy, knocked over these two men, +one of whom is an accomplished cracksman, and bound them as we find +them?” demanded the officer, with an incredulous chuckle. + +“That’s just what I mean to say,” replied Wade stoutly. + +“Won’t you tell how it was done?” laughed the police-officer. “We have +had some experience with the thieves of New York.” + +“So have I,” added Wade, as he led the way to the back-door. + +He turned the key, and threw back the bolts. Opening the door, he +related the story as it has already been told. The police were +satisfied that the feat was possible in the way it was described. The +officer then examined the broken heads of the discomfited robbers, and +found plain marks of the heels of the boy’s shoes on both of them. The +“one from the country” recited all the details of the affair with the +utmost minuteness. Mr. Maynard and the officer questioned him very +closely; and they had no alternative but to believe him, because all +the circumstances confirmed what he said. Wade pointed to the box of +tools on the floor of the store. + +“Those are kept down stairs, and no one is allowed to leave them in the +upper store,” said the owner. “Were those used in opening the door?” + +“Not at all, sir: Steeples opened the door for the robbers. I found the +key of the door on the floor; but they could not have got the door open +if those two big bolts had not been shoved back for them,” continued +Wade. “That box of tools was brought up here to fix the door, and make +it look as if it had been cut away. Then Steeples let them gag and bind +him, and he groaned like a sick man, so as to make himself appear all +right; and he was to get a share of the swag, as that fellow calls it.” + +“My partners have said lately that Steeples was living too fast for his +means,” said Mr. Maynard, musing. + +“The boy has the right of it: the robbery could have been carried out +on no other plan,” added one of the officers. + +Not a little to the astonishment of Wade Brooks, he found he was not to +be accused as one of the robbers. But it was _not_ “just his luck.” + + + + +CHAPTER XL. + +GATHERING UP THE SWINDLERS. + + +Later in the morning the partners and clerks of the store came. A +thorough examination of the establishment was made, and it was found +that none of the goods had been carried away. Some of the watches in +the bag which had been conveyed to the street were somewhat injured, +probably by the descent of Wade upon the robber, who was at work on the +bag at the time; but a few hundred dollars would repair all the damage. +The two robbers and Steeples had been ironed and taken away by the +police, who came back as soon as they had committed their prisoners, to +continue the examination. + +Wade Brooks was questioned by Mr. Maynard and his partners till he was +exhausted from the want of food and sleep. The excitement had subsided, +and he felt the effect of his long vigil. He began to feel faint and +sick. + +“I can’t say any thing more,” replied he, sinking into a chair in the +private office of Mr. Maynard. + +“Why, what is the matter, my lad?” asked the senior partner of the +firm, who saw that the brave boy was pale and faint. + +“I am about used up,” said Wade wearily. “I haven’t had any thing to +eat since yesterday noon, and I didn’t sleep more than two or three +hours in that box last night; and I worked hard from the time I got +up till you came in the morning. I had to watch those fellows all the +time, for once one of them nearly got loose.” + +“It was very thoughtless of me not to think that we were keeping you +till after ten o’clock in the morning without your breakfast,” said Mr. +Maynard, hastily seizing his hat. + +“I shouldn’t mind it if I had had any supper last night,” added Wade, +trying to laugh. + +“I shall not forgive myself for not thinking of your wants. Now come +with me, and we will make it right as soon as possible,” said the +senior. + +Mr. Maynard conducted him to Delmonico’s, where he ordered the best +that could be had even at that famous place, and three times as much +as the famished boy could eat. The wealthy jeweller watched him with +genuine interest, as he consumed his beefsteak and potatoes and omelet; +and Wade came to himself before he had half finished the meal. + +“I have to go down to Flinker’s restaurant some time this forenoon,” +said Wade, when he began to feel like himself. “A man robbed me of a +hundred dollars yesterday; and it was every cent of money I had in the +world.” + +Mr. Maynard wanted to know about it; and Wade told his story from the +hour he had left Midhampton down to the time he had made his bed in +the boxes in the rear of the store. The jeweller was interested; and +Wade gave all the names, keeping back nothing. He was musing all the +time upon the story to which he was listening, or something else. + +“I have had a hard time of it since I came to New York, and I don’t +think I am equal to these swindlers you have here. They clean me out +every time.” + +“An officer of the police shall go with you, to the restaurant and the +employment office, and see what can be done; but I don’t think you will +ever see your money again,” added Mr. Maynard. + +“I don’t like to have to sleep in boxes and barrels in the street; and +I shouldn’t have to if I could get something to do. I am willing to +work, and do hard work too.” + +“Don’t trouble yourself any more about that matter, for I shall see +that you have a place,” added Mr. Maynard, in the kindest of tones. + +“Thank you, sir: I shall be very glad to get a place on the smallest +wages; and I will do my best for the man that hires me.” + +When they returned to the store, the senior called the officer of +police, who was still about the premises, looking up the facts in the +case, and told him of Wade’s experience in the employment office. + +“Now, Barnett, I want you to go with the young man, and do what you can +to set him right,” said Mr. Maynard. + +“It is a hard case to find these fellows,” said the officer, “but I +will do the best I can.” + +Mr. Barnett and Wade left the private office together. They walked +along by the counter for some distance, where customers were looking +at the goods. Suddenly Wade pulled the coat of the officer, and turned +square around, evidently so that somebody should not see his face. + +“What’s the matter?” asked the policeman. + +“Do you see the man that is looking into the glass case?” added Wade +greatly excited,--“the man in a frock coat?” + +“I see him.” + +“That is Mr. Flinker!” + +“Do you mean that he is the one who keeps the restaurant?” + +“He is the one that pretended to keep it.” + +“Are you very sure?” inquired the careful officer. + +“He has changed his clothes, and is fixed up more than he was +yesterday; but I know he is the one.” + +Mr. Barnett had so much confidence in the boy, that he immediately +arrested the man, and, in spite of his energetic protest, put the +handcuffs upon him. He was looking at some gold rings when he was +taken; and Wade concluded that he was spending his money upon these +trinkets. + +“You are utterly mistaken in your man, Mr. Officer,” said Mr. Flinker. + +“If you will give me your name and residence, I will try to find out +the truth of what you say,” replied Mr. Barnett. + +“I live in Buffalo,” added the thief. + +“Street and number; and I will telegraph to the police of Buffalo,” +said the business-like officer. + +“I don’t care to frighten my family with any inquiries of the sort you +propose,” replied Mr. Flinker, who evidently did not like the plan +mentioned. + +“Very well, Mr. Flinker: I can tell whether or not you are the man I +want, without disturbing your family in Buffalo,” added Mr. Barnett. + +He called a carriage; and the trio drove to the restaurant. + +“You think the real Mr. Flinker will know this gentleman, don’t you, +Wade?” asked the officer. + +“I am sure he will; for he was talking with him for some time,” +answered Wade. + +And so it proved. The old gentleman was confident he was the man who +had come in with the boy the day before; and he was willing to swear to +his identity. + +“But where have you been all the morning, my lad?” asked the genuine +Mr. Flinker. “The officer who was to look up your case waited two hours +for you; and then we concluded that you were a fraud, and that you had +been making fools of us all.” + +“He has been well employed; and he is no fraud,” interposed Mr. +Barnett. “In my opinion, he is the smartest boy in New York City.” + +“Is that so?” exclaimed the elder Mr. Flinker. “If that is the case, I +don’t know but I can find something for him to do. He wanted to get a +place.” + +“I think he will get a better place than you will be able to give him,” +added the officer. + +“I can’t give him ten dollars a week, and his board; but I will give +him a job, and pay him all he is worth to me.” + +“I am much obliged to you, Mr. Flinker; and, if I find I want a place, +I will come down and hire out with you,” added Wade, who was certainly +very grateful for the offer. + +“I think he will get his ten dollars a week,” said Mr. Barnett. “Now we +will try to find the employment office. You have no idea where it is, +you say.” + +“I only know that it is farther from Broadway than this place is, and +it is over this way,” replied Wade, pointing in the direction he had +come the day before. + +“Perhaps you can tell us where it is, Mr. Flinker,” said the officer, +turning to his prisoner. + +“I know nothing at all about it. You have got hold of the wrong man, +and you will find it so,” replied the swindler. + +“When I do, I will let you know,” laughed Mr. Barnett. “Never mind, +Wade: I know where the place is, from your description.” + +This proved to be the case; for he conducted his party to the +employment office which Wade had visited the preceding day. But the +oily-tongued fellow who had been in attendance was not there. One +with all his qualifications was behind the counter, however; and +the officer opened upon him at once. He knew of no such man as Wade +described. He was the keeper of the office, and he had no person in his +employ. + +“It must have been some other place,” suggested the man behind the +counter. + +Wade was willing to make oath that this was the right place. At this +point in the interview, two officers on this beat, who had been told by +the captain to come to the office, made their appearance. They insisted +that the office was a swindling-shop, and they had looked it up. They +knew the other man, and were sure they could find him in the course of +a day or two. The man in charge and Mr. Flinker were arrested, and sent +to the Tombs. + +The next day the other man was discovered, and the trio were tried for +the swindle, and sent to Sing Sing for a term of years. On Mr. Flinker +was found a roll of bills, which on counting them contained one hundred +dollars. They were on the Walnut National Bank, and Wade was sure they +were the ones taken from him. They were given back to him, and the +boy from the country was rich again. Wade proved to be a good witness +in this case and in the one against the robbers of the jewelry-store. +There were plenty of witnesses to confirm about all his statements; and +he stood the test of the lawyers that defended the burglars very well +indeed, for he told the truth, and only the truth, hit where it might. + +After the arrest of the employment swindlers, Wade went back to the +store of Maynard & Co. As the poor boy went into the private office, it +was plain enough to all that he was used up. The excitement had been +tremendous. He gaped fearfully. + +“I see, my lad, that you are tired out and very sleepy,” said the +senior partner. “Come with me, and I will try to do something for you.” + +Wade followed him out into the store. The ceiling was at least eighteen +feet from the floor. On one side, beginning in the middle and extending +to the rear, was a kind of gallery, ten feet above the floor. Part +of this was partitioned off so as to contain rooms used for various +purposes. Wade followed Mr. Maynard up a flight of stairs that led to +this gallery. In the rear, which was lighted by windows opening into +the back street, were several work-shops for the repair of articles of +jewelry. Passing through these, they came to a room which was fitted +up as a sleeping-apartment. It contained two beds; and every thing +about it was almost as nice as the upper chambers of the hotel Wade had +visited. + +“This was John Steeples’s room,” said Mr. Maynard. “Another clerk used +to sleep in the other bed; but he has been sick for the last week. You +can go to bed here, and sleep till you are rested. If you do not wake, +I will have you called about six o’clock.” + +Mr. Maynard left him, and Wade was soon in bed and fast asleep. He +hardly noticed the apartment, he was so tired. + +At the time stated, Mr. Maynard called him. The store had been closed, +and most of the clerks had left; but the partners were all there. Wade +was conducted to the private office, where the firm were assembled. +Wade wondered “what was up.” + + + + +CHAPTER XLI. + +THE TURNING OF THE TIDE. + + +“Wade,” said Mr. Maynard, “I have made some arrangements for the +present, which I hope will be satisfactory to you.” + +“Any thing you do will suit me, sir,” replied Wade, wondering what was +coming. + +“Here is the pistol which I provided for the use of John Steeples. I +want you to sleep in his room with another man to-night, and till we +can make other plans for the future. I will go with you now to a place +where you can take all your meals at our expense.” + +“Thank you, sir; but now I have got my money back, I am able to take +care of myself. All I want is a place to work,” said Wade, who felt as +independent as a basket of chips, now that he was rich. + +“You shall have a place to work in a few days: you may depend upon +that,” added Mr. Maynard. + +“I can go to the restaurant, where Mr. Flinker said he would give me a +job of some kind, I don’t know what.” + +“We can give you better work and better pay than any restaurant in the +city,” continued Mr. Maynard. “Don’t think any thing more about Mr. +Flinker.” + +“I am willing to do any kind of work; and I have been used to hard +labor for the last year, and to poor living and very little of it. I +don’t expect to live in the parlor,” added Wade. + +“Wade, your conduct, including your modesty, pleases us very much; for +you don’t seem to think that you have done a great service to us,” said +Mr. Maynard; and the other partners could not help laughing at the +simplicity of the boy. + +“I only did what I thought was right,” replied Wade, fixing his gaze +upon the floor. “When I saw those fellows bringing stuff out of the +store in the middle of the night, I knew enough to see that it wasn’t +the thing to do, if I was not brought up in New York.” + +“You did the right thing. Now, have you any idea what the goods the +robbers had packed up to take away with them were worth?” + +“No, sir, I have not; but I shouldn’t wonder if they would foot up to +a thousand dollars, because watches and such things as you keep here +count up pretty fast,” added Wade. + +“We don’t know what they were worth exactly, but it would be more, +rather than less, than twenty thousand dollars.” + +“Creation!” exclaimed Wade, astounded at these figures. + +“Now I will show you where you are to get your meals,” continued the +senior partner. + +Wade followed him to a hotel in the neighborhood, where the jeweller +had made arrangements for him. He had a nice supper, and then returned +to the store, where he was admitted by one of the partners, and +introduced to his room-mate. The latter was one of the clerks; and, +though he could not wholly conceal his contempt for his companion’s +greenness, he treated him very well. No attempt to break into the store +was made that night, and Wade slept like a rock till daylight in the +morning. + +For several days the boy from the country took his meals at the +restaurant, slept in the gallery-chamber, and did such work about the +store as he could find to do. Some of the clerks were disposed to make +fun of him because he was not fashionably dressed; but Wade took no +notice of them. He was kind and obliging to all; and, in spite of his +verdancy, all in the store began to like him. + +He was willing to work, and anxious to do so; and all that troubled him +was, that he had so little to do. He kept his ears and eyes wide open, +and he soon began to learn something about the business. When he could +find nothing else to do, he studied the map of the city, which he found +in the store, so as to learn all about the streets; for he found he was +often sent upon errands, and required to deliver goods. He seldom saw +Mr. Maynard; but the junior partners told him what to do, and gave him +all the good advice he needed. + +When he had been in the store a week, Mr. Maynard sent for him, and he +presented himself in the private office. The senior partner looked very +good-natured, and saluted him very kindly. Wade wondered that nothing +more had been said to him about the kind of work he was to do, for he +had been doing nothing but odd jobs up to this time. He felt now that +he was to have some kind of a position in the establishment, and that +he would have his particular duties assigned to him. + +“Wade, I have been to Midhampton three times since I spoke to you last; +and I have seen Capt. Singleton of the cutter,” said Mr. Maynard. “I +have inquired into your character of all persons I could find who knew +any thing about you.” + +“I suppose Obed Swikes didn’t speak very well of me,” added Wade. + +“He did not; but everybody else did. I had a long talk with Capt. +Trustleton about you, and we went over all the events that occurred +before and at the time of your leaving Midhampton. He was confident +that you were an honest and truthful boy: he was sure you had a good +deal of real grit. I saw your teachers in the day and Sunday school, +and their testimony was all in your favor. In a word, Wade, I am +entirely satisfied with you. What Swikes says against you, under the +circumstances, is rather in your favor than otherwise.” + +“I had to bear all the blame, while I was at his house, for whatever +his son Matt did that was out of the way. Matt was a bad boy,” said +Wade. + +“So I ascertained. Swikes wants to get you back; but I went to the +authorities of the town, and they say he has no claim upon you.” + +“I always said that when I was accused of running away from him. They +said I belonged in the poorhouse; and I would rather have gone there, +if it hadn’t been for the name of the thing.” + +“I have a paper from the overseers of the poor of the town, binding you +over to me until you are of age,” added Mr. Maynard. + +“I like that first-rate; and I begin to feel as though I belonged +somewhere now,” replied Wade, with a cheerful smile. + +“You belong to me for the present; but if you do not like the +arrangement, after you have tried it a while, I shall be glad to +release you from the contract,” added Mr. Maynard. “Now I am going to +tell you what I mean to do with you. We all feel an interest in you, +and desire to make the best of you that we can. It is not altogether +because you have saved a large amount of our property, but because we +think you will become a useful young man to us.” + +“I shall try to do the best I can,” said the grateful boy. + +“Now let me tell you that Steeples was a poor boy like yourself. He did +very well for several years; but at last he got above his business. He +had ten dollars a week, but that was not enough to support him and his +mother; but she was the sufferer, rather than himself. He began to +live too fast; and now we find that he has not been honest for the last +year, for we have been looking over his affairs since the robbery. We +point him out as an example for you to shun.” + +“I don’t think I could ever let the robbers into the store, as he did,” +said Wade. + +“Probably he did not think so when he first got his place. He was +considered a very good boy, or we should not have trusted him as we +did. We shall give you ten dollars a week, and pay your board.” + +“That’s very liberal, as I have no mother to support,” replied Wade, +delighted with the prospect thus held out to him, for his dream of +riches was fully realized in this plan. “But what am I to do?” + +“In the first place, you are to sleep in the store with Ranlet, when +he gets well. We close the establishment at six, and open it at eight. +Between ten and six, one of you must walk about the store all the time. +This will be eight hours, or four for each of you; and you and Ranlet +can divide the time as you please: only, when you have made the plan, +let me know what it is. To make up for this night service, you will not +be asked to do any thing after one o’clock, or before nine o’clock in +the morning. One of you may be out of the store till ten every evening.” + +“What am I to do in the forenoon, sir?” asked Wade. + +“At first you will carry bundles, assist in packing goods, and make +yourself generally useful,” replied Mr. Maynard. “During the holidays, +and at other times when we are very busy, we shall expect you to do all +you can without regard to hours, though you will have plenty of time to +eat and sleep. Let me say, Wade, that you must put on better clothes +than you wear now, and, if you desire it, one of us will go with you +to the tailor’s, and we shall present to you your first suit,” added +Mr. Maynard, with a smile, as he surveyed the primitive garments of the +“one from the country.” + +Wade accepted this kind offer; and in a few days he was as fashionably +dressed as the rest of the employés in the store. In another week +Ranlet was able to return to his duty, and he and Wade divided the time +between them. As his room-mate had friends in the city, it was agreed +that he should be out every evening till ten, while Wade was to sleep +from six till two. This was eight hours for him, and all he needed. +Ranlet was to sleep from two in the morning till eight, and take his +nap in the afternoon if he wanted it. Mr. Maynard thought it was about +an even thing, and approved the plan. + +Then Wade found he had all the afternoon on his hands: and for a few +days he preferred to work during these hours, rather than “loaf,” +but Mr. Maynard suggested that he could go to school at one of the +mercantile academies, and fit himself for business. He took this +advice, and was wholly devoted to his studies. + +In October he was allowed a week’s vacation; and he spent it in a visit +to Midhampton. Even a month of absence had made a wonderful change in +his appearance and manners; and his old friends hardly knew him. He +found that Capt. Trustleton had sent his son to a boarding-school of +the strictest sort, where he had to eat and sleep with his teachers, +and had no time at all to “cut up.” + +Wade went to see Obed Swikes’s folks; but they were not very glad to +see him. The old lady told him he looked like a dandy, and she supposed +he was as “stuck up as any of the rest of them city fellers.” Obed +thought, as he had plenty of money now, he had better pay for his board +for the time he was in the family; but Wade “couldn’t see it.” + +Matt had a terrible sore head since he got back from his excursion to +New York and out to sea. His father had talked a great deal with Capt. +Trustleton about him and Lon. They had been partly spoiled, both of +them, by being humored too much. The captain spoke favorably of the +boarding-school to which he intended to send his own son; but Obed was +too mean to pay the bills, and he thought he could “knock the nonsense +out of Matt” by putting him down to hard work. And he did do it. Since +Matt had stolen his money, the old man’s eyes were opened. It was hard +times with Matt just now; and, if he could have got hold of any money, +he would have lost no time in running away again. But Obed kept his +money in the bank after it had been stolen twice. + +Wade Brooks is now one of the best salesmen in the store of Maynard & +Co.; and he knows that part of the business as well as the partners. +He has followed up his studies so closely that he is a well-educated +man. He is only twenty-two; and there is no doubt that he will soon +be one of the partners of the firm. He has been relieved of the duty +of sleeping in the store; and though he was “one from the country,” +and noted in the beginning for his verdancy, he is now an elegant and +accomplished gentleman; and rumor has it that Mr. Maynard’s youngest +daughter is not wholly indifferent to him. + +Our story is finished. Wade Brooks has come out of all his troubles. He +has been faithful to his employers; he has improved his mind; and he +has studied to make himself perfect in the knowledge of his business. +After his courage and skill had procured him a good situation, the +turning of the tide came to him; and since that time, when things good, +pleasant, and profitable come to him, it is “Just his Luck.” + + + + +TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES: + + + Italicized text is surrounded by underscores: _italics_. + + Perceived typographical errors have been corrected. + + Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been standardized. + + Archaic or variant spelling has been retained. + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 76585 *** diff --git a/76585-h/76585-h.htm b/76585-h/76585-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a8d2d9e --- /dev/null +++ b/76585-h/76585-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,12021 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> +<html lang="en"> +<head> + <meta charset="UTF-8"> + <title> + Just his luck | Project Gutenberg + </title> + <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> + <style> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2 { + text-align: center; + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .51em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .49em; +} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: 33.5%; + margin-right: 33.5%; + clear: both; +} + +hr.tiny {width: 5%; margin-left: 47.5%; margin-right: 47.5%; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0;} +hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} +@media print { hr.chap {display: none; visibility: hidden;} } + +div.chapter {page-break-before: always;} +h2.nobreak {page-break-before: avoid;} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + +td {padding-left: 1em;} +.tdr {text-align: right;} + +.pagenum { + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: small; + text-align: right; + font-style: normal; + font-weight: normal; + font-variant: normal; + text-indent: 0; +} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +.allsmcap {font-variant: small-caps; text-transform: lowercase;} + +.ph1 {text-align: center; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;} + +div.titlepage {text-align: center; page-break-before: always; page-break-after: always;} +div.titlepage p {text-align: center; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5; margin-top: 2em;} + +.caption {font-weight: bold; text-align: center;} + +.x-ebookmaker .hide {display: none; visibility: hidden;} + +img { + max-width: 100%; + height: auto; +} +img.w100 {width: 100%;} + +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; + page-break-inside: avoid; + max-width: 100%; +} + +p.drop-cap { + text-indent: -0.35em; +} +p.drop-cap2 { + text-indent: -0.75em; +} +p.drop-cap:first-letter, p.drop-cap2:first-letter +{ + float: left; + margin: 0em 0.15em 0em 0em; + font-size: 250%; + line-height:0.85em; + text-indent: 0em; +} +.x-ebookmaker p.drop-cap, .x-ebookmaker p.drop-cap2 { + text-indent: 0em; +} +.x-ebookmaker p.drop-cap:first-letter, .x-ebookmaker p.drop-cap2:first-letter +{ + float: none; + margin: 0; + font-size: 100%; +} + +.transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA; + color: black; + font-size:smaller; + margin-left: 17.5%; + margin-right: 17.5%; + padding: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; + font-family:sans-serif, serif; } + +.illowe28_5625 {width: 28.5625em;} +.illowe40_625 {width: 40.625em;} + + </style> +</head> +<body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 76585 ***</div> + +<div class="figcenter hide"><img src="images/coversmall.jpg" width="450" alt=""></div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<figure class="figcenter illowe40_625" id="i_000"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_000.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption class="caption"><p class="caption"><span class="smcap">When Wade saw he could not escape, he leaped upon the Rail, and then +jumped overboard.</span>—Page <a href="#Page_220">220</a>.</p></figcaption> +</figure> +</div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i_001.jpg" alt="title page"></div> +</div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="titlepage"> + +<h1>JUST HIS LUCK</h1> + +<p><small>BY</small><br> +OLIVER OPTIC</p> + +<p><small>BOSTON</small><br> +LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO.</p> +</div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p class="center"> +<span class="smcap">Copyright, 1877, by</span><br> +LEE AND SHEPARD</p> + +<hr class="tiny"> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Copyright, 1905, by</span><br> +ALICE ADAMS RUSSELL<br> +<br> +<span class="smcap">All Rights Reserved</span></p> +<hr class="tiny"> +<p class="center">JUST HIS LUCK</p> +</div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_3">[3]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CONTENTS.</h2> +</div> +<hr class="tiny"> +<table> + +<tr><td class="tdr" colspan="2"> <span class="allsmcap"> PAGE</span></td></tr> +<tr><th colspan="2">CHAPTER I.</th></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Peaches and a Horsewhip</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_7"> 7</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><th colspan="2">CHAPTER II.</th></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Supperless to Bed</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_15"> 15</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><th colspan="2">CHAPTER III.</th></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">What happened in the Night</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_23"> 23</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><th colspan="2">CHAPTER IV.</th></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Lodgings Afloat</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_31"> 31</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><th colspan="2">CHAPTER V.</th></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">How it was done</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_39"> 39</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><th colspan="2">CHAPTER VI.</th></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Down the River</span> </td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_47"> 47</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><th colspan="2">CHAPTER VII.</th></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">A Strike for Independence</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_55"> 55</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><th colspan="2">CHAPTER VIII.</th></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">The Battle in the Boat</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_63"> 63</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><th colspan="2">CHAPTER IX.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_4">[4]</span></th></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Caught in the Act</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_71"> 71</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><th colspan="2">CHAPTER X.</th></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">A Straightforward Statement</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_79"> 79</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><th colspan="2">CHAPTER XI.</th></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">A Hungry Skipper</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_87"> 87</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><th colspan="2">CHAPTER XII.</th></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Wade Brooks makes a Trade</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_95"> 95</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><th colspan="2">CHAPTER XIII.</th></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Two Wrongs don’t make a Right</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_103"> 103</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><th colspan="2">CHAPTER XIV.</th></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Wade Brooks’s Friend</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_110"> 110</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><th colspan="2">CHAPTER XV.</th></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">A New York Saint</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_118"> 118</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><th colspan="2">CHAPTER XVI.</th></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">An Unexpected Meeting</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_126"> 126</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><th colspan="2">CHAPTER XVII.</th></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">At the Lodging-House</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_133"> 133</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><th colspan="2">CHAPTER XVIII.</th></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">A Night Adventure</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_141"> 141</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><th colspan="2">CHAPTER XIX.</th></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">An Early Breakfast for Two</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_149"> 149</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><th colspan="2">CHAPTER XX.</th></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">A Late Dinner</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_157"> 157</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><th colspan="2">CHAPTER XXI.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_5">[5]</span></th></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">The Ghost of the State-Room</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_165"> 165</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><th colspan="2">CHAPTER XXII.</th></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Capt. Bendig’s Promise</span> </td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_173"> 173</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><th colspan="2">CHAPTER XXIII.</th></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Immense Riches</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_181"> 181</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><th colspan="2">CHAPTER XXIV.</th></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Unwelcome Passengers</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_189"> 189</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><th colspan="2">CHAPTER XXV.</th></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Bound to a Sickly Climate</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_197"> 197</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><th colspan="2">CHAPTER XXVI.</th></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Another Unexpected Meeting</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_205"> 205</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><th colspan="2">CHAPTER XXVII.</th></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Escaped Overboard</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_213"> 213</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><th colspan="2">CHAPTER XXVIII.</th></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">The Lords of the Sea</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_221"> 221</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><th colspan="2">CHAPTER XXIX.</th></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Capt. Bendig’s Blunder</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_229"> 229</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><th colspan="2">CHAPTER XXX.</th></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">The Search and the Arrest</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_237"> 237</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><th colspan="2">CHAPTER XXXI.</th></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">A Full Confession</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_245"> 245</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><th colspan="2">CHAPTER XXXII.</th></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Even-handed Justice</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_253"> 253</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><th colspan="2">CHAPTER XXXIII.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_6">[6]</span></th></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">The Way of the Transgressor</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_261"> 261</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><th colspan="2">CHAPTER XXXIV.</th></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">The Employment Office</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_269"> 269</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><th colspan="2">CHAPTER XXXV.</th></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">The Benevolent Broker</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_277"> 277</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><th colspan="2">CHAPTER XXXVI.</th></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">The New Cashier</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_285"> 285</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><th colspan="2">CHAPTER XXXVII.</th></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Just His Luck again!</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_293"> 293</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><th colspan="2">CHAPTER XXXVIII.</th></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Holding the Fortress</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_301"> 301</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><th colspan="2">CHAPTER XXXIX.</th></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">How It was in the Morning</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_309"> 309</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><th colspan="2">CHAPTER XL.</th></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Gathering up the Swindlers</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_318"> 318</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><th colspan="2">CHAPTER XLI.</th></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">The Turning of the Tide</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_327"> 327</a></td></tr> +</table> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">[7]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="JUST_HIS_LUCK">JUST HIS LUCK.</h2> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/decoline.jpg" alt=""></div> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER I.<br> + +<small>PEACHES AND A HORSEWHIP.</small></h2> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap">“THERE are some peaches worth eating,” said +Lon Trustleton to his two companions, as they +passed an orchard of this delicious fruit on the river +road, as it was called.</p> + +<p>“Them’s tip-top,” added Matthew Swikes: “I go +for havin’ some on ’em.”</p> + +<p>“So I say,” replied Lon; and he leaped over the +fence, followed by Matt. “Come along, Wade.”</p> + +<p>“No: I’m not going to steal anybody’s peaches,” +answered Wade Brooks.</p> + +<p>“Oh, come along!” called Lon, the son of the +rich Captain Trustleton, who lived on the hill near +the village of Midhampton.</p> + +<p>“No: I won’t have any thing to do with the scrape. +Besides, I have to go on an errand to the village,” +said Wade.</p> + +<p>“See here, Wade Brooks, if you don’t come over<span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">[8]</span> +here, I’ll break your skull,” continued Lon Trustleton, +shaking his head to emphasize his words.</p> + +<p>“What for? for not stealing peaches?” added +Wade, with a smile at the absurdity of the idea.</p> + +<p>“You want to set up for a goody; and when any +thing is said about hooking peaches, you blow on +Matt and me, that’s the way of it; and if you don’t +come over here I’ll go over there—that’s all.”</p> + +<p>Matt Swikes was already shaking a tree filled with +peaches, which were even more tempting to Wade +than to his companions; for he was a friendless boy, +whom no one fed with nice peaches. As the fruit +was fully ripe, a great quantity came down when +Matt shook the tree. He and Lon filled their pockets, +and returned to the road as quickly as possible; +for the consequences of stealing peaches were not +always pleasant, though stolen fruit may be the +sweetest.</p> + +<p>The first thing that Lon did when he was in the +road was to bat Wade Brooks over the head, as he +had promised to do.</p> + +<p>“What are you about, Lon?” demanded Wade +Brooks, as he dodged the blow.</p> + +<p>“I told you I’d do it, and I will,” replied Lon, +following up his victim, who tried to escape from +him; but in the end he received several heavy +blows.</p> + +<p>“What’s that for, I should like to know?” said +the victim, when his persecutor seemed to be fully +satisfied with the punishment he had inflicted.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">[9]</span>“I told you what it was for, while I was in the +orchard. Now, if you ever say a word about this +thing, I’ll give you a broken head that will last you +longer than this one will. I don’t want any fellow +canting where I am.”</p> + +<p>“I didn’t meddle with you,” replied Wade, who +thought it a very hard case to be pounded for not +stealing peaches. “If you want to steal peaches, +that is your affair, and not mine.”</p> + +<p>“If you say any thing more about stealing, I’ll give +you another dose now. Can’t a fellow help himself +to a few peaches without it’s being called stealing?” +demanded Lon, with a look of injured innocence.</p> + +<p>Wade Brooks did not think it was worth while to +discuss the matter any more in just that manner, and +he was silent. He walked behind his two companions, +and wished they had been half a mile or more +from him. He was a nobody, and Lon was the son +of a rich man, even Matt Swikes, though only the +son of a poor farmer, was a good deal better off than +he was, though they both lived under the same roof.</p> + +<p>As the party approached the house of Mr. Garlick, +who owned the peach-orchard they had entered, they +found its occupant in the road, with a horsewhip in +his hand. By his side stood his two hired men; and +on the grass near him lay a large dog which had a +very bad reputation and very sharp teeth.</p> + +<p>“I think we had better be moving in some other +direction,” suggested Matt Swikes, when he saw the +array of force before them.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">[10]</span>He halted as he spoke, and Lon did the same. +Wade, who was innocent, continued on his way till +he came up with Mr. Garlick, who, without any ceremony, +gave him several hard cuts on the legs, and +each one of the blows seemed to the victim to take +the skin off.</p> + +<p>“I’ll teach you to steal my peaches,” said the exasperated +farmer.</p> + +<p>“I did not touch your peaches: I did not get into +the field,” pleaded Wade, who thought it was even +harder to be whipped for stealing the peaches than it +had been to be pounded for not stealing them.</p> + +<p>The farmer hit him several times more before +Wade got out of the way; or, rather, till the attention +of the persecutor was called to the other two. +Lon and Matt were disposed to make their escape by +jumping over the fence, and retreating in another +direction.</p> + +<p>“Stop, there! if you try to run away, I’ll send my +dog after you!” shouted Mr. Garlick.</p> + +<p>The dog was more dangerous than the man: indeed, +he was so fierce that he was kept chained in +the daytime, or Lon would not have dared to enter +the orchard. The brute had no discretion in the use +of his teeth, and had never read the law of the State +relating to assaults. The farmer would be careful +in the use of the whip; and Lon did not believe +Garlick would dare to strike the son of Captain Trustleton. +He put a bold face on the matter, and continued +his walk towards his father’s house, which +was on the same road.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">[11]</span>But Lon under-rated the pluck of the farmer; for, +as soon as the boy was within his reach, he hit him +the hardest cut he could administer with the whip; +and, not satisfied with this, he gave him half a dozen +more. The two hired men had placed themselves +behind the boys in the road, so that they could not +retreat; and the farmer thrashed them to his heart’s +content.</p> + +<p>“Let me alone!” yelled Lon, and the whip cut +his soul as much as the skin of his legs.</p> + +<p>“I’ll teach you to steal my peaches, you young +villains!” roared the farmer.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowe40_625" id="i_012a"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_012a.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption class="caption"><p class="caption">“<span class="smcap">I’ll teach you to steal my Peaches, you Young Villains!</span>”—Page <a href="#Page_11">11</a>.</p></figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>“My father will give it to you for this!” cried Lon, +smarting under the pain.</p> + +<p>Then Mr. Garlick rested Lon by giving it to Matt.</p> + +<p>“Let me alone,” groaned Matt, writhing under +the torture. “I did not touch your peaches. It was +the fellow that has gone ahead.”</p> + +<p>That was the sort of a fellow Matt Swikes was; +and a little more of the whip would do him no harm.</p> + +<p>“I tell you it was the fellow that has gone ahead,” +repeated Lon, when Garlick spelled Matt by turning +his attention to the rich man’s son. “It was Wade +Brooks that stole the peaches.”</p> + +<p>“I saw two of them in the orchard; but I don’t +know which they were,” said one of the hired men.</p> + +<p>“They have got peaches in their pockets now,” +said the other hired man.</p> + +<p>“Take hold of them, and empty their pockets,” +said Mr. Garlick angrily.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">[12]</span>The hired men were stout fellows, and they rather +enjoyed the job. They took the peaches from the +pockets of the culprits, and laid them on the grass +as carefully as though they had been little babies; +for the fruit was of the choicest kind on the farm of +the owner.</p> + +<p>“That proves that you did steal peaches; and my +man saw you take them,” said Mr. Garlick, out of +breath with excitement. “Here, Jacob, run after +that other fellow, and see if he has got any in his +pockets.”</p> + +<p>The man obeyed the order. Wade Brooks had +not gone far; for he had halted at a safe distance +from the scene to witness, if not to enjoy, the castigation +of his tyrants. He was near enough to hear +what was said, for the farmer spoke as though all +the listeners were as deaf as posts.</p> + +<p>“Come, youngster, give up your peaches,” said +Jacob, when he came to the place where Wade had +halted.</p> + +<p>“I haven’t any peaches: I haven’t touched a peach +this year,” pleaded Wade. “You will not find any +about me; and I did not go into the orchard, and +Lon Trustleton licked me because I wouldn’t.”</p> + +<p>“I must see for myself,” answered Jacob; and he +did see for himself that the boy spoke the truth.</p> + +<p>“No peaches here; but you had better come up +here, and tell the old man about it yourself. You +do not look like one of the boys I saw in the peach-orchard.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">[13]</span>“I was not one of them: I wouldn’t steal peaches,” +pleaded Wade; and he felt as though his legs would +not have smarted any more if he had stolen them; +and being honest was very poor consolation at this +time. As he approached the place where farmer +Garlick was meeting out justice, he saw the judge +give Lon and Matt another dose of the horsewhip; +and he came to the conclusion that he had got off +easy, compared with his more guilty companions.</p> + +<p>Jacob reported that he had found no peaches in +the pockets of Wade Brooks, and that he thought he +was not one of the boys he had seen in the peach-orchard.</p> + +<p>“He is the only one of us that did go into the +orchard,” said Lon, uttering another abominable +lie.</p> + +<p>The words were hardly out of his mouth when +the farmer gave him half a dozen cuts with the whip. +Lon was so mad, that he swore like a young pirate: +his father used profane language, and why shouldn’t +he?</p> + +<p>“Don’t tell me any more lies, you villain!” roared +farmer Garlick. “Don’t tell me that this boy stole +all the peaches, when I find he has none in his +pockets, and yours are full of them.”</p> + +<p>“He asked us to keep them for him,” answered +Matt, wishing to back up his friend; but the farmer +gave him another dose for the lie he invented.</p> + +<p>“My boy, I am sorry I struck you with the whip; +for I believe you did not go into the orchard,” said<span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[14]</span> +the farmer, turning to Wade.—“Give him three of +the handsomest peaches of the lot.”</p> + +<p>“Lon Trustleton licked him because he would not +go into the orchard,” said Jacob, as he gave Wade +the fruit.</p> + +<p>“And he’ll do it again as soon as he gets a +chance,” said Wade.</p> + +<p>“That’s so,” added Lon; and the remark cost him +half a dozen cuts on the legs.</p> + +<p>“Now, Wade Brooks, you go along, and I will +keep these fellows here till you are out of sight,” +said the farmer.</p> + +<p>Wade went his way; and, when he was out of +sight, Garlick told the thieves he had done with them +till they stole some more of his fruit. It was no use +for him to go to law to save his property, and he +should look out for it himself.</p> + +<p>“You have not heard the last of this,” growled +Lon, shaking his head in his wrath. “I will get +even with you in some way. This will cost you +more than all the peaches you will raise this year.”</p> + +<p>“It has given me some satisfaction, at any rate, +whatever it may cost me. I want you to understand +that a rich man’s son can’t rob me of my property +without something being done.”</p> + +<p>The culprits departed as fast as their smarting legs +would permit.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[15]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER II.<br> + +<small>SUPPERLESS TO BED.</small></h2> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap">WADE BROOKS had no long history to be +related. He was an orphan, but not a foundling +or any thing of that sort; and there is no +chance of his turning out to be the son of an English +baronet or of an American nabob. He was just +what he seemed to be. His father had died a miserable +sot, six months before the peach-orchard was +invaded, and was buried at the expense of the town. +Only a year before that event, his mother had passed +away, the victim of a hard lot. But she had not +lived in vain; for she was a good woman, and had +left many good principles in the mind of her son and +only child. No stone marked her resting-place in +the churchyard, but her memory was preserved in +the heart of her boy.</p> + +<p>Midhampton consisted of a considerable village, +with a large farming territory. Not a few wealthy +men who had made fortunes in the city had homes +within its limits, for it was not more than sixty miles +from New York City. On the river road were the +residences of several such; though, after the highway +passed the hill, it was bordered by no more handsome<span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[16]</span> +houses. The next dwelling was that of Philip Garlick, +a decided man, who believed that his own +property belonged to him. The next house was that +of Obed Swikes, the father of Matthew Swikes. +Matt was a bad boy; but he came honestly by the +evil in his nature, for his father was the meanest +man, by all odds, in the town of Midhampton.</p> + +<p>Just beyond Swikes’s house, which was an old, +black, and rickety mansion, was the brook, by the +side of which ran a lane down to the river. At its +mouth the little river widened out into quite a bay, +at the head of which were the ruins of the cabin in +which Wade’s father had lived and died. It had +been set on fire by some bad boys, it was thought, +and had burned to the ground. It was owned by +Obed Swikes, who had not been able to find another +tenant for the shanty in this out-of-the-way place.</p> + +<p>Wade’s father had been a loafer: he had spent all +his time wandering about the country on foot or in +his boat, gunning and fishing for his living. In this +way he made a scanty living, for, when he sold the +product of his trips, he spent most of the money for +liquor; and Wade often had to pick up his own food +after his mother died. The old sail-boat which the +sportsman used was still at the creek, as the place +was called. Anybody used it who wished to do so. +It had been a good boat in its day, and had a cuddy +forward where the fisherman had often slept in his +wanderings.</p> + +<p>After the death of Wade’s father, Obed Swikes<span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[17]</span> +had taken the boy into his own family. The orphan +was twelve years old; and Swikes kept him at work +so that he more than paid his keeping, for the keeping +was about as mean as ever a boy knew. Wade +lodged in the garret; and, as the house was badly out +of repair, he was hardly sheltered from the weather. +In the winter he often slept in a snow-bank; and, as +his clothing was very meagre, he suffered a great +deal from the cold.</p> + +<p>After Wade parted with his companions, he went +to the village to do his errand. He hurried home, so +as to make up the time he had lost in the peach +scrape. He took care to eat the three peaches before +he went into the village, for he knew that Lon and +Matt would take them away from him if they found +them in his possession. They were going to the village, +and he might expect to meet them there.</p> + +<p>“Where on airth have you been all this time, +Wade Brooks?” demanded Mrs. Swikes, as he entered +the house on his return. “You’ve been gone +over an hour.”</p> + +<p>“I couldn’t get back any sooner,” pleaded Wade; +and, as the distance to the village was two miles, he +had made the four miles in very good time, considering +the time of which the bad boys had robbed +him.</p> + +<p>“Yes, you could! you’ve been stopping on the +way,” continued the old woman. “I’ve a great mind +to give you a hiding for your laziness. We have to +board and clothe you, and you don’t airn your salt.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[18]</span> +You belong in the poorhouse; and, if you don’t do +better, we shall have to send you there.”</p> + +<p>But this was only a specimen of the abuse to which +the boy was subjected every day of his life; and, with +poor food and little clothing, he was almost disgusted +with his efforts to get along in the world. If Obed +Swikes’s tongue was not as cutting as that of his +wife, he made it up by putting heavy burdens on the +boy. He called him from his bed at daylight in the +morning, and kept him at work till into the night +on the farm and about the barn.</p> + +<p>When he had done his errand, he was set to work +without any delay, at digging early potatoes in the +garden, which Swikes was to take to the village to +sell in the morning. He worked till dark, and then +he was called to supper. He went into the house +hungry as every growing boy is, and seated himself +at the table. The family, consisting of five persons, +had taken the meal an hour before; but Wade was +required to work as long as he could see.</p> + +<p>Wade’s supper was a bowl of milk and a plate of +brown bread,—very good if there had only been +enough of it, and if it had not been his diet every +night in the week. The boy did not complain of his +food, for he had often seen the time when he could +not get even this.</p> + +<p>“Have you seen any thing of Matthew?” asked +Mrs. Swikes, as Wade seated himself at table.</p> + +<p>“Yes, marm: I saw him and Lon Trustleton as I +was going over to the village,” replied the weary<span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[19]</span> +boy; but he was careful not to say any thing more. +He knew it would cost him a pounding if he told +the whole truth.</p> + +<p>“He hain’t been home to his supper yet,” added +Mrs. Swikes. “Do you know where he is, Wade?”</p> + +<p>“No, marm. He didn’t tell me where he was +going,” answered Wade.</p> + +<p>But at this moment Matt came into the kitchen +to speak for himself. He was limping, and seemed to +be very sore, as well he might be after such a castigation +as he had received.</p> + +<p>“Where have you been, Matthew?” asked his +mother, as the stealer of peaches dragged himself +into the room. “What ails you? What makes you +limp and squirm so?”</p> + +<p>Matthew was the only boy of the family: the +other children were all girls; and, for this reason, his +parents thought more of him than of all the others, +and did their best to spoil him, and succeeded remarkably +well. Mrs. Swikes was anxious when she +saw that something ailed her son; and her tones were +quite tender, compared with those she had used to +Wade.</p> + +<p>“Garlick has been licking me with a horsewhip,” +moaned Matt, bursting into tears, and breaking down +completely in the presence of his mother.</p> + +<p>“Lickin’ you! What on airth did he do that +for?” demanded the indignant mother.</p> + +<p>“He said I stole his peaches,” sobbed Matt; “but +I didn’t. It was Wade Brooks that stole ’em, and +laid it to Lon and me.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[20]</span>Without waiting to investigate this statement, +Mrs. Swikes, who was a great raw-boned woman,—her +husband had married her because he thought she +would be able to do a good deal of work,—seized +poor Wade, and dragged him from his chair at the +table, upsetting his bowl of milk, and pitched him +on the floor. The boy was an infant in her grasp, +and he did not offer any resistance. The Amazon +gazed at her prostrate victim, while her eyes glowed +with hate and rage; then, resorting to a masculine +accomplishment, she savagely kicked him in the +ribs.</p> + +<p>“I didn’t steal any peaches,” pleaded Wade, as +humbly as the case seemed to require: “I didn’t +touch one of them.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, he did, mother. He told Garlick we did it; +and Garlick give him three peaches for telling,” +howled Matt, still blubbering like a baby.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Garlick did give me three peaches, but it +was because he licked me when I did not deserve it,” +pleaded Wade. “You can ask Mr. Garlick, and he +will tell you the same thing.”</p> + +<p>“Ketch me asking Garlick any thing about it!” +exclaimed Mrs. Swikes furiously. “I’ll take it out +of his hide for licking my boy.”</p> + +<p>Wade was entirely willing she should do this, if +she did not take it out of his own hide, which she +was more likely to do.</p> + +<p>“He licked Lon Trustleton too; and, if you ask +him, he will tell you just what I say,” whined +Matt.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[21]</span>Mrs. Swikes seized a green-hide, which was her +husband’s wagon-whip, and began to belabor poor +Wade with it. It was a terrible instrument of torture +when applied to a boy’s skin, covered only with +a pair of thin overalls. The boy did not cry out +with the pain, for he had found that it did no good, +and, the more he screamed, the worse he got it; but +he could not endure the blows, and he made a spring +for the open door. Mrs. Swikes followed him, and +attempted to catch him; but, goaded by the instinct +of self-preservation, he succeeded in getting out of +the way.</p> + +<p>“Stop, you rascal!” shouted the Amazon. “Do +you mean to run away from me? I’ll give you a +double dose for this.”</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter now?” demanded Mr. Swikes, +coming in from the barn at this point in the difficulty.</p> + +<p>The angry woman told him what the matter was; +and Wade rested while she was doing so. He did +not think it was prudent to run away. He felt that +Mrs. Swikes’s promise would be redeemed, and he +wished to make the penalty as light as possible. +The father was as indignant as the mother had been +at the punishment bestowed upon the only male hope +of that old black house; but he was sometimes more +reasonable than his wife. In a low tone he told her +she must not lick the boy with a green-hide: they +might have her up before the court for cruelty, as +had been the case with Ethan Small. He would<span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[22]</span> +punish the boy. Possibly he had a suspicion that +Wade told the truth, and Matt the lies. But Wade +had been whipped enough, even if the charge against +him was true; and he escaped any further beating, +though he was sent to bed without his supper.</p> + +<p>Matt ate his supper, which was a better meal than +that provided for the boy of all work, and he went +to bed with a full stomach. The young villain was +not half so badly damaged as he pretended to be. +His legs did smart in the first of it, but he got over +this before he reached his father’s house.</p> + +<p>But Wade’s complaining stomach did not allow +him to sleep. He lay till he thought the family were +all asleep; and then he left his garret, and crept down +the stairs, which landed in the back room. All the +family slept on the first floor, and Wade paused at +the foot of the stairs to ascertain if any one was +stirring. It was very dark in the back room, but he +heard sounds as of some one creeping across the room. +He retreated up two steps, and then saw the back-door +opened. By the light it let in, he saw Matt go +out, and close the door.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[23]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER III.<br> + +<small>WHAT HAPPENED IN THE NIGHT.</small></h2> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap">FOR a moment, Wade forgot that he was hungry. +Matt was up to something. He moved as +though he was not very lame. Wade opened the +door, and looked to see which way the young rascal +went. He saw him take the river road towards the +village. Then Wade made his way to the pantry, +where he found plenty of brown bread, but no butter +or any thing else that was eatable; for Mrs. +Swikes did not leave white bread (when there was +any in the house) and pies where they could tempt +the boy of all work. She thought he might be +wicked enough to help himself.</p> + +<p>When he had secured all he wanted, he put out +the match he had lighted, and was about to bear his +plunder to the garret where he could appease his +hunger without danger, when he heard the door of +Mr. Swikes’s chamber opened. It was next to the +kitchen. Poor Wade felt that he was in a scrape. +Taking a few pieces of black bread was a high +crime for him to commit in that house. The pantry +was large, and he crawled behind the door.</p> + +<p>“I’m sure I heard some one in the kitchen,” said<span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[24]</span> +Mrs. Swikes; and she was one of those who often +insist upon finding a man in the house.</p> + +<p>“I guess you was dreaming,” replied Mr. Swikes.</p> + +<p>“No, I wasn’t: I heard the floor squeak as it does +when any one treads on it,” persisted the woman. +“You’ve got two hundred dollars of money hid in +that closet, and it’s worth coming here arter.”</p> + +<p>“But nobody knows I’ve got it.”</p> + +<p>“Strike a light, and see if it is safe,” continued Mrs. +Swikes in the chamber.</p> + +<p>The farmer did light a candle; and, through a crack +of the pantry door, Wade saw him put his hand in +the lower left-hand corner of the closet over the fireplace.</p> + +<p>“It’s all right,” said Mr. Swikes, when he had +completed his examination: “I don’t believe there is +anybody in the house that don’t belong here.”</p> + +<p>With this he went to bed; but Wade heard them +talking together for some time, and he dared not +leave his hiding-place. He thought they would +never go to sleep, after he had waited some time. +The door leading to the cellar-stairs opened from this +pantry, or “buttery” as Mrs. Swikes called it, and +Wade saw that he might escape from his hiding-place +in that way; but he was afraid to open the +door while the old man and his wife were awake.</p> + +<p>At last they ceased to talk, and Wade decided to +make the attempt to reach his chamber in the garret. +He crept like a mouse to the buttery door; but before +he could come out he saw a form between himself<span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[25]</span> +and a window, creeping into the kitchen from the +back room. He could also see that the back-door +was left open. The figure was of about his own +height, and he did not suspect that it was a ghost +or any other bird of the night. He concluded at +once that it was Matt Swikes returning from some +mischief-making tour. He knew that Matt did such +things, and he believed that he had burned the shanty +by the creek.</p> + +<p>Wade retreated to his former position behind the +door of the pantry, thinking that Matt only intended +to pass through the kitchen to his own room on the +other side of the house. But the bad boy had other +business in the kitchen. The door of the farmer’s +bedroom was closed, and Wade had heard him lock +it when he shut it. Matt struck a match, which +threw a little light on the subject. Wade watched +him with intense interest, and saw him place a chair +before the mantle-piece, and then get up into it. It +was clear enough to the observer by this time, that +the objective point of the bad boy was the closet in +which the money was concealed.</p> + +<p>Wade was filled with something like horror, as he +saw Matt open the door of the closet; and he hoped +the little villain’s father would wake, and discover +what he was about. He knew that Matt was a bad +boy, but he had not supposed he was wicked enough +to steal his father’s money. He was on the point of +interposing to prevent Matt from doing so bad a +thing, but a noise in the farmer’s chamber prevented<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[26]</span> +him from doing so. Besides, if he did so, Matt would +lay it to him. But it was evident that the lady of +the house had been disturbed again, for her voice +could be heard in the bedroom. Matt took something +from the closet, put it in his pocket, and then +stepped down from the chair. He had put out his +match, and Wade could see no more.</p> + +<p>Matt was not a very cunning rogue, for he did not +cover his tracks by removing the chair in which he +had stood. As soon as he had obtained his booty, he +retreated from the room by the back-door. He could +hardly have got out of the house before his father +came from his chamber with a candle in his hand. +Wade was by this time alarmed for his own safety. +He might be found, and the crime of stealing the +two hundred dollars laid to him. They certainly +would do so if he was found out of his room at this +time of night.</p> + +<p>Farmer Swikes looked at the chair before the +mantle-piece, and he knew that he did not leave it +there. He stopped to think about the matter for a +moment. That chair could not have been there +when he put his hand in the closet before: if it had +been, he would have fallen over it.</p> + +<p>“I am sure I heard somebody in the kitchen,” said +Mrs. Swikes, in the bedroom.</p> + +<p>“This chair wasn’t here when I came out before,” +replied Mr. Swikes: “somebody has been here since +I was.”</p> + +<p>“Is the money safe?” asked the woman; and to +her this was the great question.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[27]</span>The farmer put the chair out of the way, and +thrust his hand into the closet. He felt all about +for the old wallet that contained the treasure. His +heart came up into his throat when he missed it. +He tried to think just where he had placed it; but +the little cupboard was not more than six inches +deep, and it could not have strayed very far. It was +not there; it was certainly gone. Somebody had +stood in that chair, and reached into the closet for +the money.</p> + +<p>“It is gone!” exclaimed farmer Swikes, as soon +as he had satisfied himself of the fact.</p> + +<p>“Gone!” repeated Mrs. Swikes. “Who on airth +could have taken it?”</p> + +<p>When she had partially dressed herself, she came +out into the kitchen; and Wade saw on their faces +an expression of utter despair. The boy of all work +was satisfied that it would not be prudent for him to +step out, and tell them their son was the thief. It +would not be safe for him to do so, after the experience +he had had that day.</p> + +<p>“It would been safer to put the money in the +bank,” groaned farmer Swikes.</p> + +<p>“But who did it? It must be some one that +knows about the house took it,” added Mrs. Swikes.</p> + +<p>“I found that chair under the mantletry-piece,” +said the farmer, as he pointed to the chair he had +found directly under the closet.</p> + +<p>“Then it must be somebody that couldn’t reach +up to the closet without gittin’ into a chair,” added<span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[28]</span> +the logical Mrs. Swikes. “It was some boy; and I +shouldn’t wonder if it was Wade Brooks. He’s bad +enough to do sich a thing. Run right up to the +garret, Obed, and see if he is there; and, if he is, +sarch his pockets, and look all about the bed,” continued +the woman, as she lighted another candle for +her husband’s use on this mission.</p> + +<p>“Oh, dear!” groaned Wade, not audibly, but in +spirit. “They’ll find I’m not there, and it will be +all up with me.”</p> + +<p>The farmer went up stairs, and his wife stepped +into her chamber for something as soon as he was +gone. Wade took advantage of this momentary +uncovering of the position to open the cellar door; +but he did not trouble himself to close it, for fear +that the noise might betray him. He dared not go +down the stairs; for, like every thing about the house, +they were old and rickety, and they would certainly +creak when they were expected not to do so. He +was still in a position to hear what was said in the +kitchen.</p> + +<p>“He isn’t there!” groaned Swikes, returning to +the kitchen. “He’s gone, and he may be half way +to New York or some other place.”</p> + +<p>“I knew he done it!” exclaimed the female +Swikes.</p> + +<p>“He done it because you licked him so in the +evening,” groaned Swikes. “He’s gone and done it +now.”</p> + +<p>“But we shall ketch him yet, and get the money<span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[29]</span> +back,” replied Mrs. Swikes, who did not like to be +considered as the cause of the loss.</p> + +<p>“You’ll never see nothin’ more of that money,” +added Swikes, with a heavy sigh. “You might been +a little easier with him, and let him had some supper.”</p> + +<p>“He didn’t do it because he was licked, but because +he is a bad boy,” retorted Mrs. Swikes. “I +told you I was afraid he was corruptin’ our boy.”</p> + +<p>“He did it because he was licked with a green-hide; +and boys won’t allus stand every thing,” replied +Swikes petulantly.</p> + +<p>“Well, Obed, what are you a-doin’ on? while you +stand here scoldin’ me, that boy is gittin’ away.”</p> + +<p>“What can I do?”</p> + +<p>“Harness your horse, and drive down to the village; +you may ketch him, or hear sunthin’ on him.”</p> + +<p>“What’s all that noise out doors?” said Swikes, +as he went to the window, and threw it wide open. +“The bells is ringin’; and I hear folks in the road +yellin’.”</p> + +<p>“There is a fire, as sure as you live!” exclaimed +Mrs. Swikes, going to the window. “I can see the +light on’t on the corn-house.”</p> + +<p>Swikes opened the door, and went out to the front +of the house.</p> + +<p>“It’s Garlick’s barn, as sure as you was born!” +cried Mrs. Swikes. “Somebody set that barn afire: +it didn’t ketch without some help.”</p> + +<p>They passed out of Wade’s hearing. He knew<span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[30]</span> +they must go to the front of the house to see the +barn which the woman said was on fire. They +would not be likely to come in for a few minutes; +and Wade came out of the cellar-way, and ran up +to his room as fast as he could go, though he was +careful not to make any unnecessary noise. In a moment +he had gathered up all the clothes he had, consisting +of a very indifferent suit he wore in the winter, +and made haste to leave the house by the back +door. He had not made up his mind what to do; +but he made haste to leave that house.</p> + +<p>When he got out doors, he was afraid to leave the +shadow of the house, for the fire made it as light as +day all around him. He got behind the corn-house, +where he could see the blazing barn: it was burning +with tremendous fury, and in a few minutes +there would be nothing left of it. Wade Brooks +could form some idea of the person or persons who +set that fire: he thought he could see a little way +into Matt Swikes’s plans.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[31]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER IV.<br> + +<small>LODGINGS AFLOAT.</small></h2> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap">WADE BROOKS felt like an innocent boy; and, +being innocent, he was not willing to accept +the penalty of guilt. He was to be a sort of +sacrifice for the sins of Matt Swikes. Behind the +corn-house he had time to think what he should do. +He felt that he needed a friend. He wanted simple +justice, which he could not get in the Swikes mansion. +Then it came to him that Mr. Garlick, after +he had whipped him for what he did not do, was +sorry for his harshness, and had atoned for it by giving +him three of the handsomest peaches he had +ever seen.</p> + +<p>Mr. Philip Garlick was a just man, if he had taken +the law into his own hand. Wade was almost sure +that Matt had something to do with burning that barn. +He had left the house in the night after his father +and mother had gone to bed. He had come back +again, stolen the wallet from the closet, and then left +again. The fire broke out a short time after he went +out the second time. Perhaps Lon Trustleton was +concerned with him in the wicked deed. If so, they<span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[32]</span> +had burned the barn in revenge for the whipping +they had received from Mr. Garlick.</p> + +<p>Wade Brooks was willing to tell Mr. Garlick what he +knew about the movements of Matt Swikes. He was +certainly under no obligations to the Swikeses, and +he knew that it was not right to cover up a crime. +He would see Mr. Garlick in the morning, and tell +him all he knew about the business. It was not +likely that Matt would be anywhere near Midhampton +in the morning, for it was plain to Wade that he +had stolen the money from the closet to pay his expenses +on a runaway trip.</p> + +<p>In fifteen minutes the fire had consumed all the +matter in the barn that would burn, and the light +had subsided. Wade deemed it safe for him to retreat +now, and he moved off in the rear of the house. +A short walk brought him to the brook, which reminded +him of the old sail-boat his father had owned. +The cuddy would be a good place for him to pass the +rest of the night, for there was some meadow hay in +it for a bed. This was the best arrangement he +could think of for the night, and he hastened to +carry out the plan. When he reached the river road, +which he was obliged to cross to get to the creek, he +saw several vehicles approaching. He concluded +that they were filled with persons who had been to +the fire, and he concealed himself under some bushes +till they had passed.</p> + +<p>“The fire was set, you may depend upon it,” said +a man in a wagon, as he passed the place where +Wade was concealed.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[33]</span>“I heard that Garlick suspects it was done by +Capt. Trustleton’s son and Swikes’s boy,” said another +man in the wagon.</p> + +<p>“I heard that; and also that Garlick had horsewhipped +these boys for stealing his peaches,” added +the first speaker.</p> + +<p>The wagon passed on, and Wade heard no more +that was said. The truth was coming out sooner +than he expected. Though it was nothing but a +suspicion, it had a correct foundation. He wondered +what Swikes and his wife would say the next day +when they heard the news. So far as Wade knew, +Matt’s father and mother had not discovered his +absence from the house. If his mother went to his +chamber to tell him about the fire, and found he was +not there, she would naturally suppose he had seen it, +and gone to it.</p> + +<p>Wade crossed the road as soon as the vehicles had +all passed, and made his way to the sail-boat in the +creek. He hauled her in, and went on board of her. +For a boat so old, and which had been so much +abused since the death of her owner, she was very +dry and tight. The night was rather chilly, and +Wade felt cold in his thin overalls. He dressed +himself in the clothes he had brought from his chamber. +Rolling up the garments he had taken off, he +used the bundle for a pillow, and lay down on the +bed of hay. It was not the first time he had slept +in the boat; and, on the whole, he thought it was a +better place than the garret he occupied.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[34]</span>He closed the door of the cuddy so as to keep out +the night air, and fastened it on the inside, for the +hook his father had put on the door for this purpose +was still available. Wade had worked very hard all +the day, to say nothing of the excitement he had +passed through; and he was tired and sleepy. He +had eaten the brown bread taken from the pantry +while he was behind the corn-house; for he did not +forget at any time before that he was hungry, or +not for more than a few minutes at a time. He was +therefore in good condition to go to sleep, and he +did go to sleep as soon as he was comfortable in his +bed of hay.</p> + +<p>It was not more than ten o’clock in the evening +when the fire broke out, and it was not after eleven +when Wade went to sleep. He slept very soundly, +as a weary boy should. If any one had pounded on +the half-deck above his head, it would hardly have +waked him. After the fire had burned out all the +remnants of Mr. Garlick’s barn, the people of Midhampton +went to their homes; and not even a detail +of firemen was left to watch the smouldering embers. +No doubt the people of the town slept better after +they returned to their beds.</p> + +<p>While the fire was still burning, Capt. Trustleton +walked over to the house of Obed Swikes. It was +not till the worst of the fire was subsided, that he +appeared; and Wade had gone to the creek.</p> + +<p>“I suppose you have heard the bad news,” said +the captain to the Swikeses, whom he found still in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[35]</span> +front of the old black house, watching the dying-out +of the fire.</p> + +<p>“No! what bad news?” demanded Swikes, with a +start.</p> + +<p>“Haven’t you heard any thing about it?” continued +the retired shipmaster, in evident surprise.</p> + +<p>“Heard about what? I don’t know what you are +talking about,” replied Swikes.</p> + +<p>“I supposed you must have heard it, for it is in +everybody’s mouth, and it has come to me a dozen +times since I came out of the house to see where the +fire was,” added Capt. Trustleton, still giving no hint +of the nature of the bad news.</p> + +<p>“What’s in everybody’s mouth? I haven’t been +any further from the house than this; and I hain’t +heerd a word about any thing,” said the puzzled +farmer.</p> + +<p>“What on airth is it, Capt. Trustleton?” asked +Mrs. Swikes, whose curiosity had been roused to the +highest pitch.</p> + +<p>“It will come hard on you as it did on me when +I first heard it,” added the captain, who did not seem +to be very willing to tell the hard news, or at least +to be the first to break it to the Swikeses. “It is +said that your boy and mine are concerned in setting +that barn on fire.”</p> + +<p>“Good gracious!” exclaimed farmer Swikes.</p> + +<p>“It’s a wicked lie!” protested Mrs. Swikes.</p> + +<p>“I hope it is, marm; but I confess it looks rather +bad for the boys,” replied Capt. Trustleton.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[36]</span>“I know it ain’t so!” repeated the woman. “My +boy would no more do such a thing than he would +cut his father’s throat. Now I think on’t, Matthew +hasn’t been out of the house to-night. He was so +tired that the noise didn’t wake him, and he has +slept through the whole on’t.”</p> + +<p>“Are you sure of it, Mrs. Swikes?” asked the +captain with deep interest; for, if Matt was abed, it +might be that his own boy was also innocent.</p> + +<p>“Of course I’m sure on’t,” replied the mother of +the hopeful son. “I haven’t seen nothin’ on him; +and I know I should if he had been about.”</p> + +<p>The heart of the captain sank within him as the +hope died out of his heart.</p> + +<p>“I think you had better look into his chamber, +and see whether he is there,” suggested Capt. Trustleton.</p> + +<p>“I’ll do it this minute; and you’ll find that Matthew +hasn’t been out of the house,” said Mrs. Swikes +confidently.</p> + +<p>She led the way into the house by the front door, +followed by her husband and the captain. Matt’s +chamber opened out of the front entry; and his +mother, after getting the candle in the kitchen, +passed into the boy’s room. The solution was full +of interest to the parents of both of the bad boys, +and the two fathers followed the confident mother +into the apartment of Matt.</p> + +<p>The bed was empty. Capt. Trustleton had expected +this result of the investigation. He was +afraid the charge against the boys was true.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[37]</span>“I was never so astonished in all my life!” exclaimed +Mrs. Swikes. “I was sure Matthew was in +his bed. He is a very good boy, and I never knew +him to do any thing wrong.”</p> + +<p>If she spoke the truth, she was almost the only +one in town who had never known Matt Swikes to +do any thing wrong. But then, Matt was a spoiled +child.</p> + +<p>“I have had a talk with Garlick; and he says he +horsewhipped my boy and yours for stealing his +finest peaches,” said Capt. Trustleton. “He thinks +they set his barn on fire to be revenged on +him.”</p> + +<p>“But Matthew said it was Wade Brooks that stole +the peaches,” interposed Mrs. Swikes, “and then laid +it to your boy and mine.”</p> + +<p>“Garlick told me about that. It seems that Alonzo +and Matthew laid it to Wade; but the peaches were +found on your son and mine.”</p> + +<p>“I declare. I don’t believe my boy would steal +peaches, or any thing else,” persisted the mother of +the hopeful son. “But we know that Wade Brooks +will steal, for husband had two hundred dollars in +the house, and he stole it this very night,” continued +Matt’s mother.</p> + +<p>“Wade stole it! Are you sure of that?” asked +the captain.</p> + +<p>“The money is gone, and so is Wade.”</p> + +<p>“And so is Matthew,” added Capt. Trustleton.</p> + +<p>“You don’t mean to say that you think my son<span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[38]</span> +stole the money?” demanded the mother of Matt +indignantly.</p> + +<p>“I think it more likely than that Wade Brooks +stole it,” replied the captain. “This is a bad scrape +for the boys, and it may cost them some years in the +penitentiary. I do not know that money will save +them. If it will, it will cost us about a thousand +dollars apiece.”</p> + +<p>Farmer Swikes groaned in anguish at the prospect.</p> + +<p>“I am afraid the stealing of the money only shows +that the boys are guilty, and intend to clear out to +avoid the penalty of the crime. The money was +stolen to pay the expenses of the journey. Perhaps +I shall find that my boy has robbed me of some +money. We had better look these things fairly in +the face, and provide for the worst. I will see you +again in the morning.”</p> + +<p>Capt. Trustleton departed for his elegant house; +and he would have given the whole of it to have his +son out of this scrape. The Swikeses had enough to +keep them awake that night.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[39]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER V.<br> + +<small>HOW IT WAS DONE.</small></h2> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap">MRS. SWIKES hardly closed her eyes on the night +of the fire; and half a dozen times before morning +she went to Matt’s room to see whether he had +returned or not. He was not seen again that night.</p> + +<p>When Capt. Trustleton reached his magnificent +house, he went to the chamber of Alonzo to see if +he was there. The room was without its occupant, +though it was eleven o’clock. The bed was not +tumbled, and the son had not been into it. The +captain was a widower; so that there was no mother +in this beautiful home to worry over the departure +of a son, and to grieve over his error.</p> + +<p>But where were Lon and Matt? The son of the +rich man had threatened Mr. Garlick, and declared +that he would “get even with him.” It now appeared +that he had done so. Possibly Garlick believed +by this time that it did not pay to protect his +own property in just the way he had done it, though +his barn and the stock it contained were fully insured. +He had an idea that those boys would spend a long +term in prison. He was not sure that the boys had +set the fire, and perhaps he could not prove it; but<span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[40]</span> +he was very well satisfied in his own mind, and so +were his two hired men.</p> + +<p>Lon and Matt had agreed to meet near the house +of the latter at nine o’clock in the evening. The +Swikeses went to bed in summer as soon as it was +dark, not only to save candles, but to be in condition +to get up as soon as it was light in the morning. +Matt had been punctual to the time; but Lon was +half an hour late, for his father was in such a position +that he could not get out of the house any sooner. +They were ready to do the wicked job to which their +smarting limbs still prompted them. But Lon was +wise enough to look up the means of retreat before +the battle was fought.</p> + +<p>If they were seen in the vicinity of the burning +barn, it would be evidence against them. The first +blaze of light might betray them to Garlick and his +hired men. Perhaps Lon was not a worse boy than +his companion; but he had more genius for mischief, +and more calculation in getting out of a scrape.</p> + +<p>“It won’t do for us to be seen anywhere near the +barn when the blaze begins,” said he, after they had +talked it over in the cornfield near the doomed +building.</p> + +<p>“But we can’t do any thing without being near +it,” reasoned Matt.</p> + +<p>“We must get out of the way before the people +come to the fire; and it won’t do for us to show ourselves +on the river road.”</p> + +<p>“How shall we get home, then?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[41]</span>“I’ll tell you the best way to do it,” said Lon, who +fathered all the bright thoughts. “I will go home, +and make sure that my father sees me before I go to +bed; and you will do the same with your folks. You +live close by the barn; and you can get out of bed, +come over here, and touch off the fire, and then get +back to your room, without being seen.”</p> + +<p>“And where will you be all the time I am doing +this?” asked Matt; and the idea did not strike him +as a very bright one.</p> + +<p>“I shall be in my bed, sound asleep, so far as my +father may know; and I shall not go out of the +house, or know any thing about the fire, till to-morrow +morning. Then I shall be very much surprised at +breakfast-time when my father tells me that Garlick’s +barn has been burned in the night. I shall +ask him what time it was, and all about it.”</p> + +<p>“That’s all very nice for you,” replied Matt coldly, +and without giving his friend much credit for his +inventive genius.</p> + +<p>“Don’t you think that’s a good plan?” asked Lon, +with no little enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>“First-rate for you, but not worth a straw for +me,” answered Matt. “You are going to do nothing +at all, and I am to do it all: you are going to bed, +and I am to do the job.”</p> + +<p>“But you live close by the barn, while I live half +a mile from it. You can make the blaze without +any risk; and if I am caught it will make it just as +bad as for you.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[42]</span>“I’m not going to do the thing all alone, and run +all the risk. If that is the way you mean to manage +it, we will give it up, and go home and go to bed.”</p> + +<p>“I only mentioned that as one way.”</p> + +<p>“It’s no way at all.”</p> + +<p>“Very well, then I will stay with you. But what +are we to do when the blaze breaks out?” asked +Lon.</p> + +<p>“We must get out of the way, I suppose,” added +Matt vacantly.</p> + +<p>“We must keep clear of the river road. I think +we shall have to stay out all night; and then we +shall be sure to be suspected.”</p> + +<p>It was a hard problem to adjust, and Lon beat his +brains till he hit on something that pleased him.</p> + +<p>“If we only had some money, I should be in for +going to New York. We could have a good time +for two or three weeks; and by that time your father +and mine could fix up the matter of burning the +barn, if they lay it to us.”</p> + +<p>“They will lay it to us if we clear out,” added +Matt.</p> + +<p>“But they can’t prove any thing: and I rather +want Garlick to think we did the job,” added Lon, +rubbing his sore legs; “but I don’t want him to be +able to prove it.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t believe he will be able to prove any +thing, for the barn is a long way from his house: +and I know his hired men do not live with him, but +over in the village.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[43]</span>“If we only had some money, I could fix it all in +two seconds,” continued Lon. “If my father had +any about the house, I would help myself.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps I can raise some,” suggested Matt, as he +thought of the wallet concealed in the closet over +the mantle-piece.</p> + +<p>“If you can, we shall be all right.”</p> + +<p>“You hold on here for three minutes, and I will +see what I can do,” said Matt.</p> + +<p>“How long will you be?” asked Lon.</p> + +<p>“Not more than five or ten minutes.”</p> + +<p>Matt returned to his father’s house; and the +events before related occurred while Wade Brooks +was looking through the crack of the pantry door. +Matt obtained possession of the wallet, and went +back to the cornfield.</p> + +<p>“Did you get it?” asked Lon.</p> + +<p>“I did.”</p> + +<p>“How much?”</p> + +<p>“About two hundred dollars,” replied Matt; and +we will do him the justice to say that he trembled +all over, he was so agitated by the crime he had committed.</p> + +<p>“Two hundred dollars!” exclaimed Lon. “That +is a big haul.”</p> + +<p>“If it’s too much, I will carry part of it back; for +my father will howl terribly when he finds it is all +gone,” replied Matt.</p> + +<p>“The more the better,” added Lon lightly. “Now +we are in condition to do business. My father says<span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[44]</span> +no one should ever attempt to do business without +capital; and I shall heed his opinion.”</p> + +<p>Matt did not seem to feel that he was doing more +than his share of the business; but then he had the +honor of being a friend of the rich man’s son, and +that was something.</p> + +<p>“Well, now tell us what you are going to do,” said +he with deep interest; so deep that for a time he +forgot the crime he had already committed, in his +desire to add another to it.</p> + +<p>“There is no trouble about it now. We can manage +it now as easy as you can fall off a wood-pile. +Money makes the mare go; and we can reward old +Phil Garlick for his kindness to us, without making +anybody weep but himself,” rattled Lon; in whose +mind there was a vision of a “good time” in New +York, with plenty of theatre, fun, and frolic.</p> + +<p>“Well, why don’t you tell how it is to be done?” +said Matt impatiently.</p> + +<p>“I will tell you all about it,” answered Lon, who +had no intention of bothering his companion, and had +only delayed the explanation of his plans because his +thoughts were running faster than his words. “In +the first place, the barn is between the road and the +river. As soon as we have got the things ready for +the blaze, we will touch them off, and then make for +the river; then we shall meet nobody to molest or +make us afraid.”</p> + +<p>“That’s good,” added Matt approvingly.</p> + +<p>“Of course it is; and there is no such thing as fail<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[45]</span> +about this plan. We will keep out of sight in the +bushes by the river, till everybody in town has gone +to sleep.”</p> + +<p>“Do you mean to stay in that hole till morning?” +asked Matt, who did not like the idea.</p> + +<p>“Not at all; only till the folks are gone. You see, +it wouldn’t do to move about while the people are +looking at the fire, for we should be seen.”</p> + +<p>“But won’t the engines come to the river for +water?” suggested Matt.</p> + +<p>“No: the pond at the foot of the hill isn’t half as +far from the barn as the river, and they will take +water from that. Nobody will come near us, you +may depend upon that.”</p> + +<p>“Where shall we go after the folks in town have +all gone to bed?” asked Matt.</p> + +<p>“About midnight we will follow the river up to +the creek, and go on board of the old sail-boat. There +is a nice little breeze blowing now, and it would +carry us down to the Sound in two or three hours.”</p> + +<p>“Bully for you, Lon!” exclaimed Matt, who was +delighted with this plan.</p> + +<p>He had often thought of making a trip to the Sound +in this boat; for, like most boys, he was fond of adventure. +In accordance with this plan, the young villains +made their way to the barn. Lon had prepared +the combustibles. He had a slow-match, which was +to burn down when they had placed half a mile or +more between themselves and the barn; then it was +to light a bunch of block matches, and this would<span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[46]</span> +communicate the fire to a heap of combustibles under +the floor of the barn. Unfortunately, every thing +worked as had been intended, and the boys were in +their hiding-place some time before the fire broke out. +Of course no one would see them in the road, or anywhere +near the fire.</p> + +<p>Each kept up the courage of the other; and, if +either had been alone, he would not have had the +pluck to do the evil deed. If they had been alone +they might have repented of the crime, and considered +the consequences; but they talked of the trip +to New York, and stifled their consciences with the +glories of the excursion to the great city. It was +late in August; and the weather was pleasant, +though rather cool at night. It would be fine sailing +on the Sound. At midnight they walked to the +creek, and got into the old boat.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[47]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER VI.<br> + +<small>DOWN THE RIVER.</small></h2> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap">“NOW we are all right,” said Lon, as he stepped +into the boat.</p> + +<p>“I don’t think any one has seen us,” added Matt, +following his companion.</p> + +<p>“No one could have seen us.”</p> + +<p>“Shall we start now?”</p> + +<p>“Yes: we may as well be moving. It must be +twelve o’clock by this time,” added Lon, as he looked +at his watch; but it was so dark he could not see a +figure on the dial.</p> + +<p>“Do you expect to get to New York in this boat, +Lon?” asked Matt, as he seated himself in the stand-room.</p> + +<p>“Of course I do: what’s to prevent? It don’t +leak, and there is water all the way to New York.”</p> + +<p>“But you don’t know how to manage a boat any +more than I do,” said Matt, to whom this seemed to +be a difficulty.</p> + +<p>“It is easy enough to manage her; and, if I don’t +know how, I can soon learn,” replied the master +spirit of the enterprise. “I have seen how the thing +is done, and I’m pretty sure that I can do it.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[48]</span>“But your father would never let you have a boat, +or even sail in this one.”</p> + +<p>“Though he has been to sea for thirty years of his +life, he is afraid of a sail-boat. He says he can handle +a ship, but not one of these little things.”</p> + +<p>“If we are going, why don’t we go?” asked Matt.</p> + +<p>“Because you don’t hoist the sail.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know any thing about the sail, and I +don’t believe I can hoist it. If Wade Brooks was +here, he could do it; and he knows how to sail the +boat, for he learned of his father. I heard some one +say that he is a good boatman.”</p> + +<p>“But Wade Brooks isn’t here; and I am glad he +is not,” replied Lon. “He is a goody; and I’ll half +kill him, if I ever see him again, for telling old Phil +Garlick that we licked him for not stealing peaches.”</p> + +<p>Matt went to the sail, and began to fumble it over +in the darkness; but he could make nothing of it. +On the whole, he was a rather stupid fellow, and he +was not likely to learn any thing in the dark. He +could not undo the sail; and he gave up the task in +a moment in despair. Then Lon tried his hand, and +succeeded in removing the stops. After trying all +the ropes about the mast (for the boat was a sloop), +he found the halyards. By observing what part of +the sail moved when he pulled at these lines, he found +which was the peak, and which was the throat halyard. +Giving one to Matt, he heaved on the other; +and at last they managed to get the sail up, though +not in very good shape.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[49]</span>“Now you take an oar, Matt, and shove her out +from the shore, while I mind the helm,” said Lon, as +he assumed the duties of skipper.</p> + +<p>There was no wind in the creek; and Matt worked +the boat out into the river with the oar. As soon as +she had passed a wooded point, the sail took the +breeze, and the boat heeled over so as to scare Matt +half out of his wits; for he had hardly ever been +out in a sail-boat.</p> + +<p>“Mind what you are about, Lon!” exclaimed +Matt. “You will upset her, and then where shall +we be?”</p> + +<p>“In the water,” coolly replied Lon.</p> + +<p>“But I don’t want to be in the water.”</p> + +<p>“Nor I either; and I don’t think there is any +more danger of it than there is of the sky falling. +The boat is doing very well.”</p> + +<p>The wind was north-west, and the course of the +river was about south at the place where the adventurers +embarked; and it was not very difficult to +make the boat go after she felt the breeze. Lon had +a tolerable idea of the handling of the tiller; for he +had tried his hand at it in a stolen sail in this old +boat. As long as it was plain sailing, he was likely +to do very well. He experimented with the sail and +the helm till he got the hang of them. When a +bend of the river made the course south-west, he +soon learned to haul in the sheet. The wind was so +light that the boat did not make more than two +miles an hour, and, as long as the skipper kept the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[50]</span> +old craft in the middle of the river, there was nothing +to prevent her from going, and it was not very +perilous navigation.</p> + +<p>“I can handle her first-rate now,” said Lon, when +the boat had been moving about half an hour. +“Long before we get to the Sound, I shall know all +about this business.”</p> + +<p>“It will be another thing when we get out of the +river, and we have to go out to sea,” croaked Matt.</p> + +<p>“What odds does it make whether we are in the +river, or on the sound? Both of them are water; +and the boat will go as long as she has any wind.”</p> + +<p>“Suppose the wind comes from the wrong way: +what are you going to do then?” inquired Matt.</p> + +<p>“I know how to do it then. You keep her zigzagging +towards the point where you want to go.”</p> + +<p>“I have heard my father tell about some kind of +a bad place which the steamboats have to go through +when they go to New York: how will you get through +that?” And Matt thought he had given Lon a poser +this time.</p> + +<p>“That’s Hell Gate; and I don’t intend to go +through that, for it’s near New York; and we can +go from there in some other way.”</p> + +<p>Lon was entirely satisfied that he could take the +boat as far as the dangerous place. Matt was getting +tired of sailing in the night, when he could only see +where the river was; and the air was cold and disagreeable. +He had on his thin clothes, and was not +fitted out for a sea-voyage in the night. Besides, he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[51]</span> +was sleepy; for he had not closed his eyes that night. +He gaped till he was in danger of throwing his jaw +out of joint.</p> + +<p>“What ails you, Matt?” asked Lon.</p> + +<p>“I have got about enough of this thing,” replied +Matt, with another fearful gape. “I am tired and +sleepy, and I am almost froze.”</p> + +<p>“You can go to sleep if you wish to do so,” replied +Lon, who was dressed in thick clothes, and was quite +comfortable in spite of the chill of the air.</p> + +<p>“I can’t go to sleep while I am shivering with the +cold,” replied Matt; and his whole frame shook as +he spoke.</p> + +<p>“Get into the cuddy, then, if you are cold. There +was some hay in it the last time I was in the boat. +You can bury yourself in it, and get warm,” said +Lon, afraid that the discomfort of his companion +might wreck the expedition.</p> + +<p>“I don’t want to be in that cuddy when the boat +is going,” whined Matt, his teeth chattering all the +time. “Suppose she should hit on a rock, and sink: +what would become of me?”</p> + +<p>“You would be likely to get wet.”</p> + +<p>“I should be likely to get drowned.”</p> + +<p>“Why don’t you stir yourself? you can get warm +if you will thrash your arms, or exercise yourself in +some way. Get into the cuddy: there is no danger +of rocks. If we should hit one, it wouldn’t do any +harm. We are not going fast enough to break any +thing.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[52]</span>Matt was so cold that he was tempted to try the +cuddy. He went to the door, and found that it was +fastened. He tried to push it in, and to pull it out; +but it resisted all his efforts. The iron hook on the +inside held it as firm as though the door had been an +immovable body.</p> + +<p>“Break it in, if you can’t open it,” said Lon.</p> + +<p>“I can’t break it in: I have tried.”</p> + +<p>“Take one of the oars, and jam it through the +board.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t want to spoil the door,” replied Matt. +“If it comes on to rain we shall want it.”</p> + +<p>“But, if you can’t get into the cuddy, what good +will it do us if it does rain?” demanded Lon impatiently; +for he did not like Matt’s way of dealing +with difficulties. “Smash it in.”</p> + +<p>“I can’t do it.”</p> + +<p>“Try it and see,” persisted Lon.</p> + +<p>“I tell you I can’t,” snarled Matt.</p> + +<p>“You are nothing but a baby, Matt Swikes,” +added Lon, his patience all gone. “Here, hold this +tiller, and I will open that door, or make a hole +through the bottom of the boat.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know how to steer her,” pleaded Matt.</p> + +<p>“I don’t want you to steer: she will steer herself, +if you will hold this stick just as it is now.”</p> + +<p>Matt took the tiller; and Lon seized the oar, with +which he struck a heavy blow, driving the handle +through the door. A second and a third time he +applied this battering-ram to the impediment; and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[53]</span> +the cuddy was open to the admission of the runaways.</p> + +<p>“Now you can go in, and stow yourself away in +the hay, Matt,” said Lon triumphantly.</p> + +<p>“You have smashed the door into splinters, so +there is nothing to keep the cold out,” growled Matt, +as he gave up the tiller to Lon.</p> + +<p>“You can get in out of the wind, and it will be +warmer there than it is here,” added the skipper. +“There is plenty of hay there, and you can make +yourself comfortable.”</p> + +<p>“I will try it,” said Matt, as he moved forward for +this purpose.</p> + +<p>We left Wade Brooks in this very cuddy; but, in +spite of this rude onslaught on his abode, he did not +make himself known to the incendiaries. Yet he was +still in the cuddy, and understood the situation perfectly. +He had slept soundly up to the time when +Lon battered down the door. He woke in mortal +terror. He saw the dim light through the hole which +had been made by the oar. He was afraid the oar +might hit him; and he retreated as far as he could +into the bow of the boat, and stowed himself away +between the mast and the stem, or as much of himself +as the space would permit, taking his spare +clothes with him. Lon made so much noise that he +did not hear Wade move from his position.</p> + +<p>Wade had plenty of hay in the bow; and, by the +time Matt was ready to take possession of the cuddy, +he was comfortably settled in his new quarters. As<span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[54]</span> +soon as he heard the voices of the persons in the +boat, he knew who they were; but he was not anxious +to make himself known, for he was afraid Lon +would take to pounding him. There was room +enough in the cuddy for both of them, and without +either knowing the other was there, unless an accident +betrayed his presence.</p> + +<p>Wade Brooks could not help thinking what would +happen in the morning when his fellow-voyagers +found that he was in the boat. Lon was a bully: +he was such at school and on the playground. He +had treated Wade like a tyrant. Wade began to +think whether he could not do as a plucky little +fellow did at school the winter before,—stand his +ground, and in the end whip the bully. He was in +the boat with him, and there was no chance to escape. +He would try it; and he went to sleep thinking +how to do it.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[55]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER VII.<br> + +<small>A STRIKE FOR INDEPENDENCE.</small></h2> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap2">LON heard no more of his companion in crime, +and he concluded that he had gone to sleep; as, +in fact, he had almost as soon as he lay down. When +the boat had been moving about an hour, she came +into a flatter country, and the sail had more wind. +The “Mud-turtle,” as some of the boys who used the +boat had christened her, was not a bad sailer, in spite +of her name; and, with the freshening wind, she +began to move at a very lively rate through the +water. It was a little startling at first to the green +skipper, who thought she must be making ten knots +an hour, when she was doing only four. But he +soon became accustomed to her heeling over, and to +the flaws that sometimes struck her with considerable +force.</p> + +<p>But Lon had been up all night; and, when the +excitement of managing the boat had died out, he +began to yawn, and to be so sleepy that he could +hardly keep his eyes open; and in the end it became +impossible for him to do so. He wondered that the +boat did not come to the Sound; for he believed he +had sailed more than twelve miles, which was said to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[56]</span> +be the distance. The time came, before any thing +could be seen of the Sound, when he could stand it +no longer. He dropped asleep at the helm; and more +than once the boat broached to for the want of attention +to the helm. The boat had an anchor and +plenty of cable, though the wonder was that some +one had not stolen it for a hay-rope.</p> + +<p>Lon roused himself, and came to the conclusion +that he would anchor the boat, and then go to sleep +in the cuddy. He ran the “Mud-turtle” up to the +side of the river, and lowered the sail. Then he let +go the anchor. He tied up the sail, and fastened the +cable, as he had seen a boatman do it, and then went +into the cuddy. He felt about till he found a place +not occupied by Matt, which was big enough for +him to stretch himself out, and lay down. His feet +were but a few inches from those of Wade; but he +had no suspicion that the cuddy contained three +persons. In a moment he was asleep, for the case +was more desperate with him than it had been with +Matt. All on board were asleep.</p> + +<p>They all slept like tops till daylight in the morning, +when Wade Brooks was the first to wake, as he +had been the first to go to sleep: besides, this was +his usual time to wake, and to get up. He missed +the usual savage call of the farmer or his wife, and on +this particular occasion he was not informed that he +was a “lazy fellow.” When he woke there was light +enough in the cuddy for him to see that his companions +were both sleeping very soundly. One of them<span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[57]</span> +was on each side of the door; but there was space +enough between them for him to get out of the +cuddy. With the greatest care Wade passed out of +the place into the standing-room.</p> + +<p>If Wade had any doubts before as to who had set +the barn on fire, he had none now. The bad boys +had run away by the light of the fire they had kindled: +they had run away. It was for this trip that +Matt had stolen the money from his father; and no +doubt he had it in his pocket at that moment. Wade +sat down near the door of the cuddy, where he could +see both of the sleeping conspirators against the +peace of the town of Midhampton. He felt that +Lon would pitch into him as soon as he woke; and +he had made up his mind that he would not stand +his abuse any longer. He was no longer in Midhampton—at +least, he supposed he was not, but he +could not tell where he was,—and Swikes could no +longer pound him for what he did. He had made +up his mind to fight, instead of allowing Lon and +Matt to kick and beat him about as they had been +in the habit of doing.</p> + +<p>When he had reached this conclusion, he felt better. +In the bottom of the boat he found a piece of a +birch fish-pole, about half an inch in diameter, which +he trimmed into shape for a club. He made it about +two feet and a half long, and, for the want of something +better to do, he whittled away at it for an hour +or more: but he was thinking all the time how he +should meet his tyrant; for such he had always been<span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[58]</span> +to him, and Matt was no better. If there were to +be any more “broken heads,” they should be more +equally distributed than formerly.</p> + +<p>Wade wondered where the bad boys were going +in the boat; but he could only suppose they intended +to get out of the way after the mischief they had +done, and had no suspicion that they had embarked +for a long voyage, as he would have called that to +New York. Then he began to think what a hard +life he had led on the farm of Obed Swikes. Why +should he be starved and frozen, and compelled to +work so many hours in the day? Why should +he stay with Swikes when he was so hardly used? +Why should he be constantly lashed by the peppered +tongue of Mrs. Swikes? She told him, every day he +lived, that he did not earn his salt, and she should +have to send him to the poorhouse, where he belonged. +If he was of so little use to the Swikeses, +why should he stay with them any longer? He +would not. He decided not to return to Midhampton.</p> + +<p>Wade began to think that he was becoming very +independent. But it was better to pick his living +out of the swill-barrels of a great city than it was +to eat the bread that was daily begrudged to him, +though he earned four times as much as he received. +He knew this by the wages Swikes paid when he had +to hire a man in haying-time. He could get something +to do on a farm, that would enable him to earn +his living; but, whether he could or not, he would no<span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[59]</span> +longer submit to be abused as he had been. He had +often heard what a terrible thing it was for a boy to +run away: but the Swikeses had no claim upon him; +they were no relation to him, and they complained +that he was a burden to them. He would relieve +them of the burden. He had no master by rights; +and he would be his own master in the future.</p> + +<p>While he was thinking of all these things, he saw +Matt moving as though he intended to wake. He +watched him, and made sure that his stick was where +he could use it. But the Swikes did not get up, +though it was clear enough that he was awake; and +Wade kept his eye upon him. He sat where the +fugitive could not see him. Matt lay on his back, +and seemed to be reviewing the events of the night +before. He put his hand into his pocket, and drew +out the wallet he had stolen from the closet over the +mantle-piece. He took from it the money it contained; +and, laying the wallet on the hay by his side, +he proceeded to count the bills, of which there was +a large roll, and they must have been small ones.</p> + +<p>Matt spent a full hour in this pleasing occupation, +for those who love money like to count it. But he +seemed to be doing something more than merely +counting it; for he laid off the bills in two piles, and +then counted each of them several times, as though +he could not make them come out right. Finally he +put the two packages of bills into separate compartments +of the wallet.</p> + +<p>Wade wondered what he was thinking about, for<span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[60]</span> +he lay there musing with the wallet in his hand. +Possibly he was thinking how his father would miss +and mourn over that money. Wade saw him look +several times at his sleeping companion; and the two +rolls of bills indicated that he intended to divide the +ill-gotten treasure with Lon. Perhaps he had his +doubts whether it was best for him to do so. He +knew what a bully Lon was.</p> + +<p>Finally Wade saw him pull up the hay from the +bottom of the cuddy, and from his side of the bulkhead +he perceived that a narrow board had been taken +from the floor. Looking into the space below, he saw +Matt deposit the wallet under the floor, reaching up +so as to place it where the water in the bottom of the +boat could not reach it. He did not restore the +board he had removed, but covered the aperture with +hay. Having done this, he lay down on his bed once +more. Wade heard him gape, and concluded that +he intended to take another nap, as Lon did not +wake. In a few minutes he heard him snore as he +had done in the night.</p> + +<p>Just out of curiosity, Wade thrust his hand into +the space below the flooring, and felt in the direction +Matt had put his hand. He found the wallet. He +drew it out. He took one of the rolls of bills out +of the compartment, and counted the money. One +hundred dollars: this was half of the sum farmer +Swikes had mentioned. He counted the other +roll: it was the other half. Two hundred dollars +was the sum the farmer had lost. Here it was: it<span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[61]</span> +was in the hands of the boy of all work, whom the +Swikeses had overworked and abused. If Wade +could have returned the money to his tyrants without +going to Midhampton, he would have done it. +Though he was accused of stealing it, he was disposed +to do the right thing.</p> + +<p>Worldly-wise people would have said that he was +a fool; and the Devil tempted him with visions of +the comforts this large sum would purchase for the +friendless boy; but he was determined to keep it, +and have it restored to its rightful owner as soon as +he could, even if he had to go back to Midhampton +to do it. This was the sort of boy Wade Brooks +was. He had the reputation of being a “goody,” +and the bad boys ridiculed him for it; but it was +deserved, whether it was applied in honor or in scorn.</p> + +<p>Wade was tempted to get up the anchor, and run +the boat to the shore, so that he could get away from +his wicked companions. Very likely he would have +done so, and walked back to Midhampton, if he had +not feared that the noise he would have to make on +the forward deck, over the heads of the sleepers, +would wake them. While he was considering this +plan, Lon Trustleton waked; and, unlike his companion, +he did not lie thinking, but jumped up at +once, and went into the standing-room.</p> + +<p>He was startled, and stopped, standing as though +he had suddenly been changed into a statue, when he +saw Wade Brooks seated in the standing-room. He +seemed to think it was a ghost, for he could not see<span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[62]</span> +how it was possible for Wade to be in the boat with +him when he had not seen him before.</p> + +<p>“Wade Brooks!” exclaimed Lon, when he had +found his tongue.</p> + +<p>“That’s my name,” replied Wade, grasping his +stick closely in his hand.</p> + +<p>“How came you here, Wade?” demanded Lon.</p> + +<p>“I guess you can tell better than I can.”</p> + +<p>“None of your lip; but answer my question,” said +Lon, who had by this time recovered his self-possession.</p> + +<p>“I’m willing to answer the question, though it is +not a very civil one,” replied Wade. “I went into +the boat to sleep; and, when I woke, you were beating +in the door of the cuddy: that’s all I know about +it.”</p> + +<p>“I promised to give you a broken head if I ever +saw you again, for what you said to Garlick;” and +Lon made a dig at him.</p> + +<p>That stick flashed in the air, and Lon fell.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[63]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER VIII.<br> + +<small>THE BATTLE IN THE BOAT.</small></h2> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap2">LON TRUSTLETON may be excused for being +astonished at the very remarkable conduct of +Wade Brooks, who had never before lifted a finger +against his persecutors. All of a sudden he had +struck a blow which upset his foe as though he had +been a baby. But Lon was not badly damaged, +though he saw a numerous body of stars. He picked +himself up; and, as he had plenty of pluck, he rushed +upon the object of his wrath, intending to take the +stick from him, and use it over his head.</p> + +<p>But Wade was not asleep; and he was prepared +for his assailant. Before Lon could get hold of him +or the stick, another blow fell on his head, and he +staggered back towards the cuddy. The second +blow wilted him; and, though he was very angry, he +found it necessary to be prudent. He stood by the +door of the cuddy, with his fists doubled up, and his +chest heaving with the fury of his rage, regarding +his enemy with mingled astonishment and indignation. +The noise of the encounter had waked Matt; +and he crawled out of the cuddy to ascertain the +cause of the tempest.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[64]</span>If Lon had been surprised to see Wade Brooks in +the boat, Matt was still more so. He could not +realize how it was possible for him to be there, for +he had seen him go up to his garret to bed the night +before. Both Lon and himself had slept in the +cuddy, and certainly the boy of all work had not +been in the standing-room when he retired. A little +reflection led him to the conclusion that Wade could +not have been in the boat during the night. He +thought he could explain it: a party had set out to +pursue them, and Wade had followed the boat down +the river on the shore, and had come on board of her +in the morning. The water was very shallow where +the boat was anchored, and he could have waded off +to her.</p> + +<p>“Wade Brooks here!” exclaimed he, when he +found a tongue.</p> + +<p>“Yes; and he has hit me twice over the head with +that stick,” replied Lon, still eying the enemy with a +savage gaze.</p> + +<p>“How came he here? when did he come into the +boat?” asked Matt, though he had settled all these +questions in his own mind before he said a word.</p> + +<p>“He says he went to sleep in the boat last night, +and we sailed off with him,” replied Lon. “Is there +any kind of a club in the cuddy, Matt? We are in +for a fight; and I will break that fellow’s head, as I +told you I would.”</p> + +<p>“We are going to divide up the broken heads +more than they used to be,” said Wade coolly; for<span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[65]</span> +he had made up his mind for this thing, and he was +ready for whatever might come.</p> + +<p>Matt looked for a stick; but the stock of fish-pole +in the boat had given out when Wade was supplied. +Nothing could be found but the pieces of the door +Lon had stove in the night before. These were all +small, and no club was at hand. But Lon picked up +the splinters, and began to hurl them at his foe. He +cast them with all his might; and, if any of them +had hit Wade in the head, they would have hurt +him.</p> + +<p>“That will do of that,” said Wade, gathering up +his stick again. “Don’t you fling another one of +them at me!”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I will! I’ll break your head before I’ve +done with you!” replied Lon; and he picked up +what was left of the door, intending to overwhelm +his antagonist in one crushing blow.</p> + +<p>But Wade did not wait for him to get the door in +position: he rushed upon him, and began to belabor +him over the shoulders with the stick. Lon howled +with rage and pain, and vainly struggled to get hold +of the stick or his assailant. But Wade was too +much for him. As for Matt, he made for the cuddy +as soon as Wade began to press his companion. +After a brief contest, Lon went down under the +force of the blows that were rained upon him.</p> + +<p>“When you want any more, all you got to do is to +say so,” said the conqueror. “I didn’t begin this +fight; but I’m going to see the end of it.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[66]</span>“You don’t fight fair,” gasped Lon, using the +common argument of the defeated bully.</p> + +<p>“I fight any way I can. I don’t believe in fighting +at all, and I never did any such thing before in +my life,” replied Wade, still holding his weapon +ready for use. “You’ve always hit me just when +you had a mind to, and I have always stood it; but +I’m not going to stand it any more. When you hit +me, I’m going to hit back again, whatever comes of +it. I won’t hurt anybody that lets me alone.”</p> + +<p>“Why didn’t you stand by me, Matt Swikes?” +demanded Lon, as Matt crawled out of the cuddy +again; which he did not do till Wade had assumed a +more peaceable aspect.</p> + +<p>“I wasn’t going to be hit over the head with that +stick,” replied Matt, seating himself by the door of +the cuddy.</p> + +<p>“You’re a coward, Matt Swikes, as you always +were; and I have half a mind to hit you over the +head,” added Lon, disgusted with his companion, and +entirely unable to account for his defeat in a battle +with a fellow whom he had always regarded as an +insignificant foe.</p> + +<p>“It’s no use to call names: they won’t hurt anybody,” +growled Matt, who could not see why his +crony should turn against him. “You’ve licked +Wade Brooks times enough to know how to do it; +and I don’t think it is fair for two of us to set on +one fellow.”</p> + +<p>“Not fair, you ninny!” exclaimed Lon, slapping +the face of his companion in crime.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[67]</span>“What are you hitting me for? I haven’t touched +you. You needn’t lick me because you can’t lick +Wade,” whined Matt. “I’ve got about enough of +this thing.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll bet they are looking for you at home about +this time,” interposed Wade; “and the best thing +you can do is to go back before you’ve made the +matter any worse.”</p> + +<p>“I’ve half a mind to do it,” replied Matt, who was +so much injured in his feeling by the blow of Lon, +that he could not help crying. “I’m not going off +to New York with Lon, to be kicked and slapped as +if I wasn’t nobody.”</p> + +<p>“Shut up, Matt!” said Lon sharply. “What do +you mean by telling him what we are going to +do?”</p> + +<p>“I’m not going to do any thing, if I’m to be +treated in this way.”</p> + +<p>“Keep still,” continued Lon in a gentler tone. “I +was mad, and I didn’t mean any thing. Don’t mind +it, Matt, and I won’t do it again.”</p> + +<p>It was a great deal for Lon to say any thing in the +shape of an apology; and the insulted Matt was +appeased at once. He wanted to go to New York; +and he did not like the idea of going home to take +the consequences of setting the barn on fire. Lon +seated himself opposite his companion in crime, as +though he had concluded that it was best to suspend +hostilities, at least for the present.</p> + +<p>“I didn’t sleep much last night, and I was out of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[68]</span> +temper when I got up,” said Lon, who was willing +to make peace, even with Wade Brooks, rather than +give up the expedition, as he was afraid that Matt +might be persuaded to do; and he had all the money, +so it was not possible to go without him.</p> + +<p>“I don’t see what made you turn on me,” replied +Matt, wiping the tears from his eyes.</p> + +<p>“I didn’t mean to do it. The sight of Wade +Brooks here in the boat with us made me mad. But +perhaps it is all for the best. Wade knows how to +sail a boat better than I do; and he will do that for +us.”</p> + +<p>“No, I won’t,” replied Wade squarely.</p> + +<p>“How came you in the boat, Wade?” asked Matt, +as it occurred to him that this matter had not yet +been cleared up.</p> + +<p>“I came on board of her to sleep after the fire,” +replied Wade, who was willing to tell all he knew +about almost any subject.</p> + +<p>“What did you want to sleep in the boat for? +Why couldn’t you sleep in your own bed in the +house?”</p> + +<p>“There was a good reason for it.”</p> + +<p>Wade considered a moment; and then he concluded +to tell the whole story.</p> + +<p>“What was the reason?” asked Matt.</p> + +<p>“I’ll tell you all I know about it; and I know +more than you think I do,” replied Wade, looking +Matt sharp in the eye. “You lied to your mother +when you told her I stole the peaches; and she sent<span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[69]</span> +me to bed without any supper. I was so confounded +hungry that I could not go to sleep; and I got up, +and went down to the buttery to get something to +eat. I was in there when you got up in that chair, +and took the money out of that closet over the mantle-piece.”</p> + +<p>“What money?” asked Matt, turning pale, and +trembling with terror.</p> + +<p>“I guess you know what money as well as I do. +The money that was in the closet. You stole it, and +then cleared out.”</p> + +<p>“Do you mean to say that I stole any money, Wade +Brooks?” demanded Matt, making a lame attempt to +bluster, which was a failure.</p> + +<p>“That’s just what I mean to say, and I do say it. +It’s no use to deny it.”</p> + +<p>“Let him go on,” added Lon, in a low tone.</p> + +<p>“I deny that I took any money from any closet,” +said Matt; “but go on with your story.”</p> + +<p>“I guess I could prove that you did it, right here, +if I had a mind to,” added Wade.</p> + +<p>He was tempted to do so, and to take the money +from his pocket as evidence of what he asserted; but +just then it came into his mind, that, if Matt knew +he had it, he would say he stole it; and, if he +went back to Midhampton, the possession of the two +hundred dollars might be evidence that he did steal +it. If he told Mrs. Swikes that her son took the +wallet, she would not believe him. Wade concluded +not to say just yet that he had the plunder.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[70]</span>“I don’t see what all this has to do with sleeping +in the boat.”</p> + +<p>“That’s what I was going to tell you when you +broke in on me. After you took the money, your +father came out of the room. Your mother said she +heard somebody in the house, and told your father +to see if the money in the closet was all right. He +felt in the closet, and found that it was gone. In +that house they always lay every thing to me, and +your mother said I must have taken it.”</p> + +<p>“If any money was taken, I guess you did,” interposed +Matt; and, if he was caught, he could lay it to +him with a full knowledge of the case.</p> + +<p>“You know better, Matt Swikes; but no matter +now. Your father went up to the garret, and found +I was not there. Then they were sure I took the +money. I’d been licked once that day for what I +didn’t do, and I couldn’t stand it again. Just then +the fire broke out, and your father and mother went +out of the house; and I hooked it out, and after a +while went down to the boat to sleep. I meant to +call on Mr. Garlick this morning, and tell him what I +knew about matters and things in general. That’s +why I slept in the boat.”</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[71]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER IX.<br> + +<small>CAUGHT IN THE ACT.</small></h2> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap">MATT looked at Lon, and Lon looked at Matt. +There was a general looking at each other in +the boat.</p> + +<p>“Now I’ve told you why I slept in the boat, maybe +you will tell me, Matt, how you happened to be +sailing in the ‘Mud-turtle’ so late in the night,” said +Wade Brooks.</p> + +<p>“We only came down here to have a sail. We +are going down to the Sound,” replied Matt, looking +at his companion.</p> + +<p>“You said you were bound to New York,” added +Wade with a significant wink.</p> + +<p>“I said that in fun,” laughed Matt. “Of course we +shouldn’t think of such a thing as going to New +York in this old boat.”</p> + +<p>“I shouldn’t think you’d go to New York in this +boat,” added Wade.</p> + +<p>“We haven’t got any thing to eat, and no money +to buy any thing with: so we couldn’t go if we +wanted to,” continued Matt, with a sly wink at +Lon.</p> + +<p>The remark that they had no money was truer<span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[72]</span> +than either of them supposed; but, for the present, +Wade kept his own counsel.</p> + +<p>“What were you going to talk with Garlick about, +Wade?” asked Lon, who did not exactly like the +looks of this statement.</p> + +<p>“Matters and things in general,” replied Wade. +“In the first place, I was accused of stealing that +money; and, as Mr. Garlick seems to be a fair man, I +wanted to talk with him about that. He was fair +about the peaches; and, when he found he was wrong, +he owned right up like a man. I wanted to ask him +what he thought I had better do about it. I knew +Matt took the money, for I saw him do it. Then I +wanted to tell him that Matt was out of the house +just before the fire; for I thought he might want to +know about that.”</p> + +<p>“What do you mean by that, Wade?” demanded +Matt, beginning to shake in his shoes again.</p> + +<p>“When the fire broke out in that barn, I knew as +well as I do now who touched it off,” added Wade, in +a very matter-of-fact manner, rather than as one who +was making grave charges.</p> + +<p>“Who was it, Wade?” asked Matt, so agitated +that he could hardly speak.</p> + +<p>“You and Lon, of course; and I guess about all +the folks in town know it by this time. When I was +going down to the boat I heard two men in a wagon +talking about it.”</p> + +<p>“That Lon and I set Garlick’s barn on fire!” +exclaimed Matt. “It’s the biggest lie that ever was +told!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">[73]</span>“I guess not,” added Wade. “Your folks will be +willing to believe it when they find you are gone; +and they know it by this time.”</p> + +<p>“Are we to be accused of setting that barn on fire +because we came down here to take a sail?” demanded +Matt with all the indignation he could assume.</p> + +<p>“I guess so,” said Wade, with a smile at the thin +talk of Matt.</p> + +<p>“Let it drop,” added Lon, who did not believe it +was of any use to deny the charge, if it was all over +town.</p> + +<p>“But, if you are going to New York, it is time to +be moving,” said Wade with a chuckle. “Where +are we now?”</p> + +<p>“We can’t be a great way from the mouth of the +river,” replied Lon, beginning to hoist the mainsail.</p> + +<p>Wade took hold, and helped him, and did not +retain possession of the stick, for Lon seemed to be +entirely peaceful.</p> + +<p>Wade got up the anchor, and then hoisted the jib, +which Lon had not used the night before. The +breeze was quite fresh, and the old boat bounded off +on her course at a lively rate. Lon was not timid; +but, when the “Mud-turtle” heeled down till the +water began to run in over the wash-board, it was too +trying for his nerves.</p> + +<p>“Won’t you steer her, Wade?” he asked. “I am +not much used to a boat.”</p> + +<p>“I see you are not,” laughed Wade, as he took the +tiller. “You should have let off the sheet, or headed<span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[74]</span> +her more up into the wind. But where are we +going?”</p> + +<p>“Down to the Sound,” replied Lon.</p> + +<p>“But we are not going to New York without any +breakfast, are we?” inquired Wade, who had eaten +a very unsatisfactory supper the night before, and +felt the need of food.</p> + +<p>“We must have something to eat,” added Matt.</p> + +<p>“We will stop and buy something when we see a +store on shore,” replied Lon. “You seem to know +every thing, Wade Brooks: do you suppose the folks +in Midhampton are looking for us?”</p> + +<p>“Of course they are. Your father begun last +night, I guess.”</p> + +<p>“Do you think they will miss the boat?”</p> + +<p>“Maybe they will; but nobody goes to the creek +very often. It will be just as it happens.”</p> + +<p>“Somebody may have come down here by the railroad +to look for us,” suggested Matt.</p> + +<p>“Very likely,” added Wade, who was not a good +comforter on this occasion.</p> + +<p>Lon and Matt talked the matter over between +themselves; and, while they were doing so, Wade +discovered a village ahead. He said nothing, but +run the boat for it. In a short time Lon saw it. A +train of cars was approaching it from the north.</p> + +<p>“We have concluded not to stop at this place to +get any thing to eat,” said Lon.</p> + +<p>“Have you?” added Wade. “Well, I’ve concluded +to stop here.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[75]</span>“Do you think it is safe to do so?” asked Lon +anxiously.</p> + +<p>“It’s safe enough for me: I don’t know how it is +with you. If Matt didn’t steal that money, and if +you didn’t set Mr. Garlick’s barn on fire, it is as safe +for you as Midhampton,” replied Wade, with a laugh, +for it amused him to see the guilty ones squirm.</p> + +<p>Lon did not want to talk any more with Wade +about the matter. He persisted in knowing all about +the fire and the money, and would not keep still. +He had taken the bit in his teeth, and intended to +sail the boat where he pleased.</p> + +<p>“Let’s go into the cuddy, and keep out of sight,” +said Matt.</p> + +<p>Wade smiled again, for he saw that Matt wanted +to get his money from under the floor more than he +wanted to keep out of sight. When the boat came +around a bend, the skipper saw a bridge across the +river, just below the village; and he knew that the +railroad which crossed it went to New York. He +was not sure that the bad boys did not intend to +abandon the boat, and take the train for the great +city. He wished to go there himself, for he thought +he could get work there. But he was confident, that, +whatever Lon intended to do, they would not take +any train to New York, for they would soon find that +they had no money to pay the fare.</p> + +<p>He heard them fumbling about the cuddy, and he +knew that Matt could not find the treasure. But, if +the boat was to stop at the town, it was time to prepare<span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[76]</span> +for the landing; and, if she was not to stop, it +was time to look out for the bridge, for the mast +seemed to be too tall to pass under it. If no one on +board had any money, it was no use to land to obtain +something to eat. Wade regarded the money in his +pocket as held in trust, and he determined to be hungry +for some time before he spent any of it for provisions.</p> + +<p>Wade run the boat close to the bridge, and found +that the mast would go under it; but he was not +quite willing to leave the village till the question of +food had been settled. He was confident the runaways +intended to go to New York in the boat, and +he believed they had made some arrangements to feed +themselves on the way. Putting the boat about, he +headed her up the river again.</p> + +<p>Lon and Matt were so busy in the cuddy, that +they gave no heed to the boat, and continued their +search for the lost treasure. Of course they did not +find it; and, when they gave up in despair, they had +an earnest conversation, but Wade could not hear a +word of it. They did not mean he should hear it, +for it related to him. The conference continued for +a long time; and, finding that it was not likely soon +to be ended, Wade lowered the jib, and made a landing +in the upper part of the village.</p> + +<p>As soon as the boat was secured to the shore, +Lon came out of the cuddy, followed by Matt. +Both of them looked as though something had happened.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[77]</span>“Well, what are you going to do here, Wade?” +asked Lon in a sullen tone.</p> + +<p>“If you fellows are going to New York in this +boat, this is the place for you to take in provisions +for the cruise,” said Wade good-naturedly.</p> + +<p>“We are not going to New York in this boat,” +replied Lon sourly; and the loss of the treasure had +changed the whole face of nature to him.</p> + +<p>“Well, here we are; and, whatever you are going +to do, now is the time to begin it,” added Wade, +who stood in the standing-room, putting the stops on +the mainsail.</p> + +<p>“I think so myself,” replied Lon, suddenly springing +upon the skipper, and throwing his arms around +his neck, trying to get him on the floor.</p> + +<p>But Wade had found his pluck before; and, as he +was a stouter fellow, Lon soon realized that he was +more than an armful for him. But a sharp struggle +ensued, for Lon was fighting for freedom and safety. +The money was gone, and without that they could +not go to New York or anywhere else. They could +not even pay for the food for a breakfast. They +were confident that Wade had taken the money from +its hiding-place, for the simple reason that no one +else could have taken it. The wallet could not have +taken itself out of the way; and Lon found that it +could not have dropped into any hole, for there was +no hole there. Besides, Wade had suddenly taken +the bit into his teeth, and become as independent as +a basket of chips. He had the money, and this was +what made him so unmanageable.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[78]</span>Matt attempted to assist his companion, but a +smart kick from Wade caused him to retire from the +contest. After a sharp struggle, Wade came down +in the bottom of the boat, with Lon under him; and +the strife was ended. All of them were so occupied +in the battle, that they did not notice the approach +of two men, who had come from the village on the +railroad, and reached the boat about the time that +Lon went under. Matt was the first to see them.</p> + +<p>“Hold on, Wade,” said he in trembling tones: +“here is your father, Lon, and mine too!”</p> + +<p>But Wade Brooks could not see them, for he was +busy in attending to his prisoner.</p> + +<p>“What are you about, you villain?” called Capt +Trustleton in a sharp tone. “Let him alone.”</p> + +<p>Wade let him up at the sound of this voice. As +usual, he was caught in a doubtful position when he +was entirely innocent: it was just his luck.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowe40_625" id="i_078a"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_078a.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption class="caption"><p class="caption"><span class="smcap">The Battle in the Boat.</span>—Page <a href="#Page_78">78</a>.</p></figcaption> +</figure> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[79]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER X.<br> + +<small>A STRAIGHTFORWARD STATEMENT.</small></h2> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap">WHEN Capt. Trustleton reached his elegant +abode, after his call at the house of Obed +Swikes, he found, as he had supposed, that Alonzo +was not in his room. Then he examined his desk in +the library, where he had a small sum of money; +but it had not been disturbed. The captain was a +man of action; and he lost no time in beginning the +search for his wayward boy. He called his two +hired men, and procured the services of half a dozen +others; but he did not call for any officers, for he +wanted to settle the case himself.</p> + +<p>He was confident that the two boys had not come +to the village after setting the fire; for they would +have met the people on their way to it. He came to +the conclusion that they had taken to the woods for +the night, and that they would depart by the first +train in the morning; for the loss of Swikes’s money +indicated they were well supplied with funds. He +set the men to searching the country between the +river and the road; and, about one o’clock, they +came to the creek. One of the men occasionally +used the boat, and he missed it. Looking down the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[80]</span> +river, he saw the sail of the “Mud-turtle,” which +had not been under way more than half an hour. +The man did not see the captain till two hours after +he made this discovery; for he was following the +river road in his buggy for several miles, thinking it +was possible that the runaways might have walked +to the next town. When he learned that the boat +was gone, he gave up the search for that night; but +early in the morning he was at the house of Obed +Swikes, and they had taken the first train for the +south, which had arrived just as the boat came to +Rivermouth, the village where the railroad crossed +the river.</p> + +<p>The pursuers had not deemed it wise to show +themselves, lest the boys should attempt to escape. +They watched the boat, intending to follow it as soon +as they could learn where it was going. When Wade +put her about, and stood up the river, they had followed +on the railroad. As soon as it was made fast +to the shore, they were ready to take possession of +the boat and its crew. Capt. Trustleton was not a +little alarmed when he saw the fierce battle that was +in progress in the standing-room. Neither he nor +Swikes had expected to find Wade Brooks with the +fugitives, for they were not on good terms the day +before; and certainly their relations did not appear +to be any more friendly than then.</p> + +<p>“What are you choking my boy for, you villain?” +demanded Capt. Trustleton, springing into the boat, +catching Wade Brooks by the collar, and shaking +him up very thoroughly.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[81]</span>Wade thought he could handle the son, but he did +not care to contend with the father. When the captain +had shaken him to his heart’s content, he pitched +him over into one corner of the standing-room. Wade +picked himself up, and, stepping upon the forward +deck, placed a respectful distance between himself +and the angry father.</p> + +<p>“What on airth are you a-doin’ here, Wade +Brooks?” added Swikes,—“fightin’ too?”</p> + +<p>“Do you want to kill my boy?” demanded Capt. +Trustleton.</p> + +<p>“He begun it; and that was the second time he +pitched into me to-day,” pleaded Wade. “I won’t +stand it to have him hammer me whenever he takes +a notion to do so.”</p> + +<p>“He pounded me almost to death with a club this +morning,” whined Lon, when he had picked himself +up.</p> + +<p>“What did you pitch into him for?” asked his +father, who seemed to have some faith in Wade’s +report.</p> + +<p>“He’s always interfering with me,” answered Lon, +who was not disposed to give the true reason for his +attack.</p> + +<p>“He interfered with your stealing peaches yesterday, +didn’t he?” demanded the father sternly.</p> + +<p>Lon hung his head; for he saw that his father +knew all about the events of the day before.</p> + +<p>“Now, Wade Brooks, what did you do with the +money you stole from the closet over the mantletry-piece?”<span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[82]</span> +said Swikes, coming to the question that +was nearest to his heart.</p> + +<p>“I didn’t steal it,” replied Wade; and he began +to wish the wallet was not in his pocket under the +present circumstances: it was just his luck.</p> + +<p>“Who did steal it, then? You was gone from the +garret before the fire broke out; and I knowed you +had it when I found you was gone.”</p> + +<p>“Matt took it, and I saw him do it,” replied Wade; +but he had no hope of making the farmer believe +what he said.</p> + +<p>“I took it!” exclaimed Matt, with a violent show +of indignation. “It’s an awful lie!”</p> + +<p>“I can’t believe you would take all that money +from your own father,” added Swikes. “It don’t +look reasonable to me.”</p> + +<p>“I didn’t do it, father: I wouldn’t do such a +thing!” protested Matt, taking the cue his father +gave him. “I didn’t know that you had lost any +money. If anybody took it, Wade Brooks must +have done it.”</p> + +<p>“There, Capt. Trustleton! I told you so!” exclaimed +Swikes triumphantly. “I told you my boy +wouldn’t do such a thing. He did not even know +that the money was gone.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps he didn’t know it; but boys who can +set a barn on fire out of spite are not generally too +good to tell lies; and, for the present, I am not +inclined to believe what either of them may say,” +replied Capt. Trustleton coldly.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[83]</span>“Set a barn on fire, father!” exclaimed Lon, +apparently as much astonished as Matt had been. +“Who did such a thing, sir?”</p> + +<p>“Mr. Garlick says you and Matthew Swikes +did.”</p> + +<p>“Why, father! I hope you didn’t believe such a +thing!” protested Lon.</p> + +<p>“I am sorry to say that I did believe it; and I +have not changed my mind much since. What are +you doing down here in this boat?”</p> + +<p>“We only came down to take a sail,” replied Lon.</p> + +<p>“That’s all, sir,” added Matt.</p> + +<p>“You selected a strange time to take a sail,” said +the captain, looking his son sharp in the eye, so that +Lon hung his head. “Where were you going to?”</p> + +<p>“Only down to the Sound.”</p> + +<p>“And did you invite Wade Brooks to go with +you?”</p> + +<p>“No, sir: he invited himself. We didn’t know +he was in the boat till this morning.”</p> + +<p>“After he stole the money, he went down to the +boat to sleep in the cuddy,” interposed Matt, who +was anxious to convict Wade. “He was asleep in +there when we started; and he was as ugly as sin +this morning.”</p> + +<p>“That’s just the way it was done,” added Swikes.</p> + +<p>“I should like to hear the Brooks boy on that +subject,” said Capt. Trustleton.</p> + +<p>“It don’t make no difference what the Brooks +boy says. He don’t tell the truth; and he’s too<span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">[84]</span> +cunning to tell you that he took the money,” protested +Swikes.</p> + +<p>“How came you in the boat?” inquired the captain, +turning to Wade.</p> + +<p>“I’m going to tell the whole truth if I’m killed +for it,” replied Wade, as he stepped down into the +standing-room, and seated himself opposite Capt. +Trustleton.</p> + +<p>“Mind you do! and don’t tell me Matthew took +the money,” said Swikes.</p> + +<p>“I shall tell you he did, for that’s the truth,” +replied Wade.</p> + +<p>Beginning back at the flogging the female Swikes +had given him, he related all that occurred up to the +arrival of the two fathers of the runaways. When +he came to speak of the money which Matt was +counting in the cuddy, Swikes was all attention; for +he was thinking whether or not he should ever see it +again.</p> + +<p>“You saw Matthew put the wallet under the floor, +did you?” asked Swikes, greatly excited, as he +glanced at the cuddy, hoping soon to be told that it +was still there.</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir: that’s what I said,” continued Wade.</p> + +<p>“It’s all a lie, father!” exclaimed Matt.</p> + +<p>“Don’t you say any thing till Brooks has finished,” +said Capt. Trustleton sternly. “Go on, +Brooks.”</p> + +<p>“Matt didn’t know I was in the boat. He was +back to me, and I sat on this seat where I am now,”<span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[85]</span> +Wade proceeded. “When he had divided the +money into two piles, he put them in different pockets +of the wallet. Pretty soon he pulled away the +hay under where he had been sitting, and took up +one of the narrow boards. You see where that one +is gone,” and Wade pointed to the opening in the +floor. “I looked in the hole on this side, and I saw +him put the wallet in there. When he had done it, +he lay down, and went to sleep.”</p> + +<p>“But where is the wallet now? Is it in that +hole?” demanded Swikes impatiently, as he rose +from his seat to look for the missing treasure.</p> + +<p>“No, sir: it is not there now, for I took it out +while both of them were asleep; and here it is,” +replied Wade, taking the wallet from his pocket, and +giving it to the owner.</p> + +<p>“I knew he had it!” incautiously exclaimed Lon.</p> + +<p>“Oh! you did?” said Capt. Trustleton. “How +did you know he had it?”</p> + +<p>“I meant that I knew he stole it,” replied Lon, +seeing he had been guilty of a slip of the tongue.</p> + +<p>“No, sir: that was not what he meant,” added +Wade. “I will tell you what he meant before I get +through. When we got to this place, Lon told me +they had concluded not to stop here to get any thing +to eat; but I said I had concluded to stop. Then +they went into the cuddy, and staid there half an +hour or longer. I saw them pulling away the hay, +and I knew they were looking for the money. As I +was bound to stop here, I made up my mind that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">[86]</span> +they went for the money, meaning to take a train to +New York, and get rid of me. Then they came out +of the cabin, and Lon pitched into me: Matt tried +to help him. We were at it when you came, but I +had got the best of it.”</p> + +<p>“Matt didn’t help me as he agreed to do,” said +Lon, putting his foot into it again; for he seemed to +believe it was necessary to explain to his father why +he had lost the battle.</p> + +<p>“Then Matthew agreed to help you?” added the +captain. “What did he agree to help you do, my +son?”</p> + +<p>“To help me lick Wade Brooks before we left the +boat.”</p> + +<p>“They were not so anxious to lick me as they +were to get that wallet,” said Wade. “Lon came at +me behind, and tried to pull me down. If he wanted +to lick me, he would have taken that stick, and used +it as I did.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t believe a word of that story!” exclaimed +Swikes.</p> + +<p>“If that story is not true, Brooks has more talent +for lying than your boy or mine,” answered Capt. +Trustleton. “It is a straightforward statement.”</p> + +<p>Wade Brooks began to have some hope that he +might not be utterly condemned.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">[87]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XI.<br> + +<small>A HUNGRY SKIPPER.</small></h2> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap">CAPT. TRUSTLETON went over the case; but +he was unable to convince Obed Swikes that his +boy took the money. He was simply determined +not to accept the explanation. It was a good deal +more convenient for him to believe that Wade Brooks +had done the deed. The wallet was in his possession, +and he must have taken it.</p> + +<p>“Open the wallet, Mr. Swikes, and let us see if +the money is all there,” suggested Capt. Trustleton. +“You have the wallet; but there may be no money +in it.”</p> + +<p>Swikes was appalled at the very suggestion. He +took the wallet from his pocket, and opened it. His +eyes lighted up with joy when he saw the two rolls +of bills.</p> + +<p>“How much was there in the wallet?” asked the +captain.</p> + +<p>“Just two hundred dollars,” replied Swikes, as he +took the two rolls of bills from the wallet. “If you +will count one of these, I will the other.”</p> + +<p>The captain took the one handed to him, and proceeded +to count it.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[88]</span>“Just one hundred dollars,” he replied, when he +had finished it.</p> + +<p>“And there is just one hundred in this one,” +added Swikes.</p> + +<p>“Now, Matthew, why did you divide the money +into two parts?” demanded the captain sharply, as +he turned upon Matt.</p> + +<p>“I was going to give half— I didn’t divide it! +I didn’t have the money. I didn’t know the money +was stolen!” protested Matt, recovering his self-possession +a little too late.</p> + +<p>“You were going to give half to Alonzo, was what +you began to say,” added Capt. Trustleton. “Now, +Mr. Swikes, I regard this as a plain case. You find +the money divided into two parts, just as Brooks said. +Your boy was surprised into saying he was going to +give half, before he changed his tone. If Brooks +stole the money, he had no motive for dividing it in +this way. Let us look at it on another tack. +Whether your boy and mine set fire to Garlick’s +barn, I don’t know: if they did, that was a good +reason why they should clear out as they did. We +find these boys here ten miles from home. They say +they were going down to the Sound, two miles farther. +We find in the boat nothing to eat. My boy +has no money. Neither of them is fool enough to +start on such a trip without food or money. It is +more likely to me that your boy took the money +from the closet, to enable them to pay the expenses +of the trip to New York, than that Brooks took it<span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">[89]</span> +and my boy is just as guilty as yours. I don’t want +to believe this, but it is forced home to my mind.”</p> + +<p>“You are hard on my boy, Capt. Trustleton,” said +Swikes, shaking his head.</p> + +<p>“No harder than I am on my own son. I think +that both of them have been bad boys, and it is better +for us to look the matter square in the face than +it is to blind our own eyes to the facts. But it is +almost time for that train home; and we can settle +the matter just as well there as here. But what +shall be done with this boat?”</p> + +<p>“I suppose Wade Brooks can take it back,” replied +Swikes.</p> + +<p>It was settled that Wade should sail the boat back +to Midhampton, while the two fathers and sons returned +by the train.</p> + +<p>“And, when he does get back, I mean to have him +taken up and sent to the House of Correction for +stealing that money,” said Swikes bitterly.</p> + +<p>“I think if you get the case into court, you will be +more likely to send your own son there. I have no +doubt Matthew is the thief,” replied the captain. +“Why do you keep your money in an open closet, +and then tell a boy like Wade Brooks where it is?”</p> + +<p>“I didn’t tell where it was,” added Swikes.</p> + +<p>“How did he know, then?”</p> + +<p>“I didn’t know; I had no idea there was any +money in the closet. If you please, Mr. Swikes, I +should like some breakfast before I sail the boat +home,” said Wade very respectfully.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[90]</span>“You won’t git nothin’ till you git home,” replied +the stingy farmer. “Do you suppose I’m going to +spend money to feed you down here?”</p> + +<p>Swikes thought a thing so absurd ought not to be +expected of him; and he did not give it a second +thought.</p> + +<p>“I didn’t have any supper last night, as I told +you; and I only found some crusts of brown bread +when I got up in the night, and I’m almost starved,” +pleaded poor Wade, whose stomach was protesting +violently against the injustice done to it.</p> + +<p>“I can’t help it. You hadn’t any business to come +down here.”</p> + +<p>“I didn’t come of my own accord; and if I hadn’t +come, you never would have got your money again,” +added Wade. “I can’t sail the boat back without +something to eat.”</p> + +<p>“Then you may walk back, for I won’t pay your +fare on the cars,” said Swikes, who was by all odds +the meanest man in Midhampton.</p> + +<p>“I think it is a hard case, my lad,” interposed +Capt. Trustleton; “and here is a dollar to buy your +breakfast.”</p> + +<p>“I thank you, sir! I am very much obliged to +you, and I hope that some time I may be able to do +something for you,” said Wade warmly.</p> + +<p>“He don’t need all that money, Capt. Trustleton, +and you will spoil the boy,” growled Swikes, who +was disgusted with this prodigality.</p> + +<p>The captain and his son walked towards the station,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">[91]</span> +followed by Matt; but Swikes lingered behind +for some reason.</p> + +<p>“Here, Wade Brooks, give me that dollar,” said +the skinflint. “I ain’t a-going to have no sich +waste of money. Here is five cents to buy some +crackers for you; and that’s enough till you git +home.”</p> + +<p>“Capt. Trustleton gave the money to me, and I +am going to keep it,” replied Wade stoutly; and +he meant what he said.</p> + +<p>“No, you ain’t a-going to keep it nuther! You’ll +fool it all away; and it will pay my fare down and +back on the cars. So give it to me this minute.”</p> + +<p>“I won’t do it, Obed Swikes,” said Wade. “That +dollar won’t pay no fare of yours to-day.”</p> + +<p>“If you don’t give it to me this minute, I’ll shake +it out of your hide!”</p> + +<p>“Shake away! You don’t get that dollar out of +me as long as I can hold on to it.”</p> + +<p>Wade retreated to the stern of the boat, which +was out in the deep water; and Swikes followed him.</p> + +<p>When the boy had gone as far as he could, Swikes +attempted to collar him; but Wade dodged, and his +persecutor, who was walking on the seat, canted the +boat so that he lost his balance, and rolled into the +river. But the water was not more than four feet +deep; and, when he recovered his footing, he walked +up the steep incline to the shore. Matt saw this +accident to his father, and all the party hastened +back.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">[92]</span>“What’s the matter, Mr. Swikes?” asked the +captain.</p> + +<p>“That boy pushed me into the water,” replied the +miser, blowing the water out of his mouth, and shaking +himself like a water-dog.</p> + +<p>Capt. Trustleton looked at Wade when this charge +was made against him; but the boy offered no defence.</p> + +<p>“What’s the trouble here, Brooks?” asked the +captain.</p> + +<p>“Didn’t I tell you that boy pushed me into the +water? You needn’t ask him any thing about it. +He’ll lie to you if you do,” snarled Swikes.</p> + +<p>“I don’t think Brooks does all the lying that is +done around here,” added Capt. Trustleton. “I +want to hear what Brooks has to say about it.”</p> + +<p>“I didn’t push him overboard, or touch him,” replied +the persecuted boy.</p> + +<p>“Well, he tipped the boat so as to throw me out,” +added Swikes.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Swikes tried to make me give him the dollar +you let me have; and, when I told him I wouldn’t +give it up, he said he’d shake it out of me. I told +him to shake away, and he tried to grab me. I ran +aft, and got out of his way; and when the boat +canted a little it tipped him over.”</p> + +<p>“Served him right,” said the captain. “Don’t you +give him the dollar. The money was for you, and +not for him.”</p> + +<p>“You take that boy’s part against me, Capt. Trustleton, +and ’tain’t right to do so.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">[93]</span>“Yes, it is right, when you treat him worse than +a pig. I wonder now that he didn’t keep your +money when he got it into his fist. He could have +run the boat ashore as soon as he got the wallet, +and taken the next train for New York. It is very +strange to me that he didn’t do it, if you use him in +this way.”</p> + +<p>Certainly the captain was plain-spoken, and Obed +Swikes did not like his speech; but he was too wet +and cold to argue the question, and he walked +towards the station. Wade soon found himself alone +in the boat. He had a dollar in his pocket, which +was more money than he had ever possessed before: +it seemed like a vast sum to him. But he was very +hungry, and he soon followed the party to the village. +It was but a small place, consisting of not more than +a dozen houses. He found that there was no tavern, +store, or eating-house, in the place: all these were at +the village two miles distant.</p> + +<p>“Isn’t there any place where I can get something +to eat?” asked Wade of the woman who had given +him the information.</p> + +<p>“None nearer than the West Village,” she replied.</p> + +<p>“I have had nothing but a few crusts to eat since +yesterday; and I have to sail a boat up to Midhampton, +and I can’t do it without something to eat,” +added Wade, in a mournful tone.</p> + +<p>“I will give you something to eat,” said the woman +kindly. “I am willing to feed the hungry, but I am +afraid of tramps.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">[94]</span>“I’m not a tramp yet, marm: I don’t know what +I may be. I am willing to pay for what I eat, for I +have some money.”</p> + +<p>The woman took no notice of this remark, but led +the way into the kitchen of her house, which was as +neat as wax, and very different in this respect from +that of Mrs. Swikes. She put a great slice of ham +into a pan, and put it on the fire; and in a moment it +was hissing and sizzling, and sending forth a savory +odor which tickled the senses of the hungry boy. +When it was nearly done she put some cold potatoes +into the pan, and fried them with the ham. She had +already set the table; and, when the ham was cooked, +she asked him to take his seat. She had coffee, and +bread and butter, besides the other viands; and Wade +could not remember when he had had such a nice +breakfast. He astonished the lady by the magnitude +of his appetite. He praised the food without stint; +and the hostess was complimented by the quantity +he ate.</p> + +<p>When the meal was finished, the good lady would +not take a cent of his dollar; and he thanked her +with all his might.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">[95]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XII.<br> + +<small>WADE BROOKS MAKES A TRADE.</small></h2> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap">WADE BROOKS felt like a new boy. The breakfast +was a meal to be remembered; for there +was nothing like it in the past, and the future at the +house of Obed Swikes was equally blank in prospect. +His meals there were hardly better than the pigs +had, and were often short at that.</p> + +<p>“I hate to go back to the home of Obed Swikes,” +said he to himself, as he walked from the house of +the kind lady to the river. “I have to work like a +dog, and sometimes I can’t get enough to eat; and he +and the old woman say I don’t earn my salt. Both +of them are growling at me all the time, and I have +no peace of my life. They haven’t any claims on me; +and they say I belong in the poorhouse. I don’t believe +I should be any worse off if I were in the poorhouse. +I shouldn’t have to work any harder, and I +couldn’t be fed any worse. But then, I don’t like the +name of it.”</p> + +<p>By the time he reached the river, he had about +made up his mind not to return to the house of Obed +Swikes. It was a big thought; and, seating himself +in the standing-room, he gave himself up to it. The<span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">[96]</span> +runaways were going to New York, and he had expected +to go with them. He believed he could find +work there, and earn his own living.</p> + +<p>But how could he get to New York? He had the +old boat, and it was not more than sixty miles distant. +It might take him two days to get there; but the boat +would certainly take him to his destination if he kept +her going. The dollar Capt. Trustleton had given +him would supply all the provision he needed, and +even leave him something to spend after he reached +the great city. The question was settled in the boy’s +mind.</p> + +<p>Some folks in Midhampton would miss the old +boat; but Wade felt that he had the best right to her, +for she had belonged to his father. Hoisting the +mainsail, he stood down the river; and, when he had +passed the bridge, he set the jib. He expected to +find a town before he reached the Sound, where he +could buy the food for the cruise; but no such place +appeared. Wade Brooks had heard of the Sound, +but he had no clear idea what it was. He had been +to school in the winter since he was old enough to do +so, and had studied geography. He had seen the +Sound on the map, and thought it was like a very +wide river. He knew that he must go west to reach +New York, and he had no doubt that he should find +it.</p> + +<p>The wind was fresh and fair, and in less than half +an hour the “Mud-turtle” reached the mouth of the +river. The Sound looked like the trackless ocean to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">[97]</span> +Wade, for at this point he could not see across it. +He did not like the idea of going out on such a +broad sea; for he had never sailed anywhere except +on the river, and had never been out of Midhampton +before. But he could keep near the shore, and if a +storm came up he could put in at some of the towns +he had seen on the map.</p> + +<p>After he got out of the river, he found a point of +land extended over a mile to the south, and had a +light-house at the end of it. He doubled this cape, +and found that a great bay stretched inland. It was +seven or eight miles across the mouth of this bay, +and he did not like to venture out so far. Besides, +several vessels and a small steamboat were bound up +the bay, which indicated that there was a large town +at the head of it.</p> + +<p>The water was alive with craft of all sorts farther +out in the Sound; and, if the old sail-boat did break +down, there were vessels enough near to save him. +After he had run a couple of miles more, he could see +the town at the head of the bay. He could just discern +a light-house at the point where the bay began +to be very narrow; and he headed for this, as all the +other craft were doing. But the wind was dead +ahead, and he had to beat all the way; but it was not +more than three miles from him.</p> + +<p>“What town is that?” asked Wade of a man in +a boat loaded with oysters, which he was rowing +towards the town, as the “Turtle” passed near +him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">[98]</span>“That’s the city of Bridgeport,” replied the oyster +man. “Don’t you know where you are?”</p> + +<p>“No, sir, I don’t: I never was here before,” answered +Wade, with candor and simplicity. “I want +to go to some place where I can get some crackers +and things to eat.”</p> + +<p>“Where did you come from?”</p> + +<p>“From Midhampton, up the river.”</p> + +<p>“Where are you bound?”</p> + +<p>“To New York.”</p> + +<p>“If you are bound up to town, and will take my +boat in tow, I will pilot you up. It’s a crooked +channel up to the city, and you will have a head +wind part of the way,” added the oysterman.</p> + +<p>Wade agreed to this arrangement, and ran the +“Turtle” alongside the oyster-boat. The man passed +his painter to the stern of the sail-boat, and then +took his place at the helm.</p> + +<p>“Whose boat is this?” asked the new skipper, +as he looked the “Mud-turtle” over with a critical +eye.</p> + +<p>“She belongs to me,” replied Wade.</p> + +<p>“You are rather young to own a boat,” added the +oysterman.</p> + +<p>“If she don’t belong to me, I don’t know who +owns her.”</p> + +<p>“Where did you get her?”</p> + +<p>Wade had no secrets, and he related the history +of the boat. The man wanted to know something +more about the young boatman’s history, and he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">[99]</span> +kept looking the boat over all the time as he asked +question after question. Wade told his story without +any reserve, except that he did not mention the +fire.</p> + +<p>“I don’t see as that man has any claims upon you,” +said the pilot. “If he did not use you well, I don’t +blame you for leaving him.”</p> + +<p>“Obed Swikes said I belonged in the poorhouse; +and he and his wife kept saying they should send me +there,” added Wade.</p> + +<p>“What are you going to do in New York?” asked +Loud; for that was his name.</p> + +<p>“I expect to find work when I get there.”</p> + +<p>“What are you going to do with this boat?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know: I hadn’t thought of that,” replied +Wade blankly. And he did not think the boat was +of much consequence any way.</p> + +<p>“I think this boat will do me more good than she +will you,” said Loud, feeling his way to the subject +that had been uppermost in his mind from the beginning.</p> + +<p>“It don’t seem to me that I should want to row +that load of oysters as far as you have to go,” replied +Wade, though he did not yet see what the oysterman +was driving at.</p> + +<p>“You can’t do any thing with the boat in New +York,” added Loud, looking into the locker astern +of the tiller. “She isn’t much of a boat; but you +couldn’t even sell her there, if you wanted to.”</p> + +<p>This was a new idea to the young boatman. It<span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">[100]</span> +had never occurred to him before, that there was any +value in the old “Mud-turtle,” which had been used +in Midhampton by everybody who wanted her, without +hire or even thanks. He saw that the man +wanted to buy her for use in bringing in his oysters. +She was just the thing for that. She was old; but +she was still sound, and scarcely leaked at all. He +was a New-England boy, and he had an instinct for +trade; and he made up his mind that Loud should +not get her for nothing.</p> + +<p>“I should say that New York was a better place +than this to sell a boat,” said Wade, when the man +began to run down the boat, and to make it appear +that she was useless to her owner.</p> + +<p>“I don’t think so. They have so many nice boats +there, that an old thing like this don’t stand much +chance.”</p> + +<p>“If she were only painted up, she would be as nice +as any of them,” replied Wade, who remembered +how handsome he thought she was when his father +had put her in first-rate order two or three years +before he died.</p> + +<p>“It would cost a good deal of money to fix her +up; and I don’t know as she is worth it. She will +do to bring up oysters from the beds in; and, if you +will sell her for any fair price, I should like to buy +her,” continued Loud, looking her over more carefully +than before.</p> + +<p>“I didn’t think of selling her; but I will let her +go, if you will give me what she’s worth,” said Wade,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">[101]</span> +deeming it wise not to appear too anxious to drive a +trade.</p> + +<p>“Well, what will you take for her?” asked Loud, +in an indifferent way.</p> + +<p>This was a hard question for Wade to answer; but +he recalled a time when his father talked of selling +the boat, and he had heard the conversation on the +subject. Mr. Brooks had asked seventy-five dollars +for the boat; but then she had just been painted and +repaired.</p> + +<p>“I will take fifty dollars for her,” replied Wade, +after some hesitation; and this, he thought, would be +a good figure at which to begin the trade.</p> + +<p>“Oh, get out!” exclaimed Loud, with great contempt +in his manner. “She is not worth half that.”</p> + +<p>Wade did not think she was, but he did not say +so: that was not the way to trade.</p> + +<p>“I know my father would not sell her for less than +seventy-five; but I didn’t want to be hard, and I +made her cheap to you.”</p> + +<p>“I should think you did,” said Loud with a laugh,—“fifty +dollars for this old tub! I can buy a bigger +and better boat here in Bridgeport for half the +money.”</p> + +<p>“Well, if you can, there isn’t any law to keep you +from doing so,” added Wade good-naturedly.</p> + +<p>“This boat will answer my purpose very well; and +I thought, as she will be of no use to you, she might +be bought cheap.”</p> + +<p>“And so she can be: what will you give for her?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">[102]</span>“I made up my mind, if you would let her go for +ten dollars, I should take her; but I didn’t mean to +give much more than that for her.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, get out! ten dollars for this boat!” exclaimed +Wade: “there is old iron enough to bring more than +that.”</p> + +<p>For an hour they haggled about the price. Wade +saw that the oysterman wanted the boat, in spite of +the indifference he tried to assume. Loud said there +was some risk in buying a boat of a boy; but the +trade was finally closed at twenty dollars. When +they landed at the city, Loud went for the money, +and paid Wade the cash, requiring him to sign a +receipt for it.</p> + +<p>Wade was glad to have the boat off his hands; and +he would have sold her for ten dollars rather than +keep her, if he could have got no more. Just now, +with twenty dollars in his pocket, he was a wealthy +young man; and he felt better off than the rich +showman in the place where he was. But the boat +was gone; and the question now was, how he should +get to New York.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">[103]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XIII.<br> + +<small>TWO WRONGS DON’T MAKE A RIGHT.</small></h2> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap">WHILE Wade Brooks is resting his mind after the +great trade he has made, let us follow his late +companions back to Midhampton. Lon Trustleton +had the feeling that all his fun had been nipped in +the bud by Wade, when he took the money, which +was to pay the expenses of the expedition to New +York, from the place where Matt Swikes had put it. +It is true, he blamed Matt for putting the wallet there, +and thought he was a fool for doing so. He ought to +have given it to him if he was afraid to keep it.</p> + +<p>Then Matt had counted the money into parts, evidently +to divide with him. He wondered why he +had not given him his share, instead of sticking it in +the bottom of the boat. Lon had no suspicion that +Matt doubted his fairness in the matter, and that he +might take all the funds from him; but this was +the reason why Matt had put the money in what he +considered a safe place.</p> + +<p>The captured runaways had no chance to talk +together till the train arrived at Midhampton, about +nine o’clock. Capt. Trustleton was in favor, as +before, of looking the facts squarely in the face. If<span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">[104]</span> +his son set the barn on fire, he wanted to know it; +and though he did not want the boy sent to prison, +or any thing of the kind, he was disposed to punish +him severely for the crime, as well as to pay Mr. +Garlick the loss he had sustained.</p> + +<p>Obed Swikes was glad to get his money back. He +was not willing to believe that Matt had any thing +to do with burning the barn; but Capt. Trustleton +insisted upon taking the boys to the house of Mr. +Garlick, and having the matter investigated. Swikes +reluctantly consented to the plan, and they went +directly from the station to the farmer’s house. The +boys were left in one room, while their fathers talked +the subject over in another.</p> + +<p>“Here we are, Matt,” said Lon, who did not appear +to be at all sorry for his evil deeds: “our fun has been +spoiled by Wade Brooks.”</p> + +<p>“I know it, and now we may be sent to the House +of Correction for burning the barn,” replied Matt.</p> + +<p>“No danger of that,” added Lon. “Your father +will not let you be sent to any such place; and I +know mine won’t. They say money will do almost +any thing.”</p> + +<p>“My father will not be willing to pay much money +on my account.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, he will: he will pay all that is wanted to +keep you out of the House of Correction,” added +Lon. “I am only sorry because we lost the good +time we should have had in New York while the +money lasted; and, when we came home, our folks<span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">[105]</span> +would be so glad to see us, that they wouldn’t have +said a word.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know about that; but every thing would +have worked first-rate if it hadn’t been for Wade +Brooks, confound him!”</p> + +<p>“Don’t you think we can get hold of that money +again, Matt?” asked Lon in a whisper.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know: very likely I can. My father +thinks Wade took it.”</p> + +<p>“Wade will be back in the boat some time to-day; +and he may steal it a second time, you know,” added +Lon, with a wink. “We must have that time in +New York, anyhow.”</p> + +<p>“I’m willing, if we only get out of this scrape.”</p> + +<p>“We shall get out of this all right; but don’t you +make any blunders this time, as you did before,” said +the cautious Lon. “Don’t answer any questions till +you have thought about it. Stick to it that we had +nothing to do with the fire. Your father does not +know that you were out of the house before the fire; +and I’m sure mine didn’t. Say we did not come out +till the fire woke us, and went to the boat after it +was all over. They will not believe Wade’s story, +if we only stick to our text, and you don’t put your +foot into it again.”</p> + +<p>While these scamps were preparing for the worst, +the trio in the other room were discussing the guilt +of the boys. Capt. Trustleton called for the evidence +that his boy had been concerned in setting the +fire. Mr. Garlick had no evidence, except that he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">[106]</span> +had horsewhipped the two boys, and Lon had threatened +to get even with him. No one had seen the +boys in the vicinity of the barn, either before or after +the fire.</p> + +<p>“Do you intend to proceed against the boys on +this testimony?” asked the captain rather sternly.</p> + +<p>“I have not said I should proceed against them.”</p> + +<p>“The boys both denied that they had any thing to +do with the fire.”</p> + +<p>“Of course they would deny it,” replied the farmer.</p> + +<p>“You may question them; and, if there is any thing +to implicate them, I shall be willing to do what is +right. Before we call them in, there’s another question +which needs a little discussion,” continued Capt. +Trustleton.</p> + +<p>“What’s that?” asked Mr. Garlick curiously.</p> + +<p>“You whipped these boys most unmercifully,” +replied the captain.</p> + +<p>“They had no business to burn my barn, if I did,” +said the farmer.</p> + +<p>“That’s very true; but two wrongs do not make a +right. If you had not flogged them, you would not +have suspected them of burning your building; and +if they did the deed,—which I don’t admit,—they +did it because you whipped them.”</p> + +<p>“You hadn’t no business to lick my boy,” added +Swikes.</p> + +<p>“Now, if there is to be any law about the fire, +there must be some more about this flogging,” continued +Capt. Trustleton.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">[107]</span>“Do you mean to prosecute me for that, after I +have had my property burned by these boys?” +demanded Mr. Garlick.</p> + +<p>“If my boy is prosecuted for burning the barn, I +certainly shall prosecute you for flogging my son.”</p> + +<p>“And I shall do it for licking my boy,” added +Obed Swikes, who began to see his way out of the +scrape in the light of the captain’s threat.</p> + +<p>“That looks a little as though you meant to scare +me out of it,” added Garlick.</p> + +<p>“Not at all; and I don’t mean any thing of the +kind,” replied the captain. “If these boys set the +fire, they did it under strong provocation. You had +no more right to flog them than I have to flog you. +You took the law into your own hands, and so did +the boys; and you have got the worst of it, Mr. +Garlick. I would rather have my barn burned than +my son flogged as you flogged him. I do not believe +in flogging: I saw enough of it on board ship when +I was a young man.”</p> + +<p>“You seem to think it was right for your son to +burn the barn because I whipped him for stealing +my peaches,” said the farmer.</p> + +<p>“I do not say that; but I have no doubt my son +Alonzo, who was never flogged in his life before so +far as I know, thought the burning of the barn could +no more than atone for the flogging you gave him.”</p> + +<p>“I did not say I meant to prosecute the boys,” +replied Garlick, who doubtless found by this time +that there were two sides to the question.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">[108]</span>“What I say is not to be considered as a threat. +If my boy is taken before the courts on the charge +of firing your barn, I wish the people to know why +he did it, if he did it at all,” answered Capt. Trustleton. +“Now we will examine the boys, one at a +time.”</p> + +<p>Lon was called into the room first, and questioned +by his father and the farmer. He adhered to his +story so well that he puzzled his father, who was +prepared to see him convicted. Matt told the same +story, as they had agreed beforehand; though a +shrewd lawyer would perhaps have caused them to +make more slips than they did.</p> + +<p>“You see there is no evidence, Mr. Garlick, though +the whipping can all be proved,” said Capt. Trustleton.</p> + +<p>“It is a hard case that my property should be +burned up by a couple of boys,” complained Garlick.</p> + +<p>“And it is a hard case that two boys should be +flogged as those were; and I think it is harder than +your case,” added the captain. “If each party is to +take the law into his own hands, he is also to do as +much mischief as he thinks will cover the wrong he +has suffered.”</p> + +<p>“I suppose I shall get my insurance; but it will +not cover the loss into five or six hundred dollars,” +suggested Garlick, with this hint at a compromise.</p> + +<p>The captain would not take the hint, and said +nothing at all about paying any money to have the +matter hushed up; for it was all over town now.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">[109]</span>The conference closed with nothing done. The +captain went to see his lawyer, and Swikes went +home. Mrs. Swikes was delighted to see her son; +and she would not believe that Matt had done any +thing wrong. She was sure that Wade Brooks had +taken the money.</p> + +<p>“You must take good care of it, now you’ve got +it back,” said the female Swikes.</p> + +<p>“I’m goin’ to put it just where it was before; and +when Wade comes back to-day, he will never think +of looking in the same place for it,” said Obed +Swikes, chuckling at his own cunning, as he put the +wallet back into the closet.</p> + +<p>Matt wanted his breakfast, and so did his father. +While Mrs. Swikes went down cellar to get something, +her husband had to see to the horse in the +barn; and Matt was alone in the kitchen for a few +minutes. Placing a chair in front of the fireplace, +he reached up, obtained the wallet, and put it in his +pocket. He was not to be cheated out of his fun by +Wade Brooks. He was careful to put the chair in +its place this time; and when his mother came back +he was just where she left him.</p> + +<p>When breakfast was ready, farmer Swikes was +called. He was in a very happy frame of mind. +His money had been restored; and when Wade +returned he would get that dollar out of him, and it +would pay the fares.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">[110]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XIV.<br> + +<small>WADE BROOKS’S FRIEND.</small></h2> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap">WADE BROOKS walked along the piers by the +water, feeling like a young man with twenty +dollars in his pocket. Presently he came to a steamer +that was larger than any he had seen before; for he +had never looked upon any thing larger than the tug-boat +that sometimes came up the river. She was +quite a curiosity to him, and he stopped to examine +her. Then he saw a sign which indicated that the +boat was bound to New York. This would exactly +meet his views, for he was going to that great city. +He would go in her if the fare was not so great as to +ruin him.</p> + +<p>On inquiry, he found that he could obtain a deck +passage for a dollar; and this would be cheaper than +to walk, for he would have to pay for his food on the +way. But the boat did not start till late at night, +and would reach her destination early in the morning. +He had time, therefore, to explore the place, +which he did very thoroughly. As he had never +seen even a small city before, he was deeply interested +in this one.</p> + +<p>An noon he came across a restaurant where “meals<span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">[111]</span> +at all hours” were served, and he went in. The bill +of fare was rather perplexing; for, though he had +twenty-one dollars in his pocket, he was not inclined +to spend it any faster than it was necessary to do so. +“Baked Beans, 10 cents,” seemed to fit his case best; +and he made his dinner of this substantial diet. He +wandered about all the rest of the day, and went on +board of the steamer about dark. He was tired +after the day’s work, and the mate told him he might +make his bed upon some bales of wool. He went to +sleep; and his slumbers were so sound that he did +not even know when the boat started. He did not +wake till the steamer was fast to the wharf in New +York. The sun was shining brightly when he turned +out, and he had no suspicion that the boat had stirred +from the place where she was the night before.</p> + +<p>“What time are we going to start?” asked Wade, +when he saw the good-natured mate about his work.</p> + +<p>“Start? where do you want to go now?” replied +the mate, who saw how it was with the passenger.</p> + +<p>“To New York. I thought you told me the boat +would leave last night,” added Wade.</p> + +<p>“Well, she won’t leave again till to-night,” said the +man, with a laugh. “You must have slept very +sound, my lad, for the boat did start last night: we +have been in New York more than an hour.”</p> + +<p>“Is that so?” exclaimed Wade, looking out at the +forward part of the boat.</p> + +<p>“That’s so, my boy; and you must look out<span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">[112]</span> +sharper than that in New York, or the swindlers will +skin you alive.”</p> + +<p>“I guess I can take care of myself,” said Wade +confidently. “I’m much obliged to you for looking +out for me as you have, Mr. Mate.”</p> + +<p>“Take care of yourself, my boy: there are a great +many bad places in a big city like this.”</p> + +<p>Wade Brooks went on shore. He was bewildered +by the sights that met his gaze; and all he could do +was to stare at the wonders that surrounded him. He +walked till he thought it was about time for breakfast, +and then he returned to a restaurant he had +noticed near the steamboat-landing. The prices he +saw posted at the door of the place suited him, and +he went in. Fish-balls were only ten cents, with +bread and butter: though he found the quantity was +hardly up to his standard. He was not used to high +living, and the quality was not so important to him. +It was a good deal better than he had ever had at +Obed Swikes’s.</p> + +<p>Opposite to him at the table sat a very seedy-looking +man. He wore black clothes, and had worn +them about out. He looked at Wade several times: +he even seemed to be taking his measure. Like +Wade, he was eating fish-balls; but he did not seem +to enjoy the meal as did the boy from the country.</p> + +<p>“You are a stranger in the city,” said the man, +after he had looked Wade over to his satisfaction.</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir: I got here this morning in the steamboat +from Bridgeport,” replied Wade, who did not +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">[113]</span>think it at all strange that the gentleman should +speak to him.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowe28_5625" id="i_112a"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_112a.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption class="caption"><p class="caption"><span class="smcap">Wade and the “Missionary.</span>”—Page <a href="#Page_113">113</a>.</p></figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>“Do you live in Bridgeport?” continued the seedy +individual, as though he intended to push his inquiries +to some extent.</p> + +<p>“No, sir: I never was there till yesterday; and I +have always lived in the country, and worked on the +farm,” replied Wade, perfectly willing to tell all +about himself.</p> + +<p>“I see: farmer’s boy; nice healthy occupation,” +added the stranger. “Have you got tired of farming?”</p> + +<p>“No, sir: but I got tired of the way I had to live. +The folks where I worked were meaner than swill-pie; +and, when I couldn’t stand it any longer, I came +away.”</p> + +<p>“What’s your name, my boy?” asked the man.</p> + +<p>“Wade Brooks.”</p> + +<p>“My name is Caleb Klucker; and I am one of the +missionaries who go about this great city to look +after the sick and the stranger,” replied the man +very solemnly. “You may think my clothing is not +very good for one engaged in such a responsible employment; +but I cannot afford to spend any money +on myself, when the sick and needy are so many. I +wear these poor clothes, that more of the hungry may +be fed.”</p> + +<p>“Look after the sick and the stranger,” repeated +Wade, who did not clearly understand Mr. Klucker’s +business. “Do you find any?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">[114]</span>“Plenty of them. This very morning I found a +poor woman who was sick in consumption; and I +gave her all the money I had, except ten cents to pay +for this miserable meal.”</p> + +<p>“That was doing the handsome thing,” added +Wade, who concluded he had come across one of the +saints he had read about, but had never seen. “Do +you find any strangers?”</p> + +<p>“Hundreds who come to the great city with no +friends to assist or advise them,” answered Mr. +Klucker with enthusiasm; and Wade thought his +whole soul was in his work. “I have found you, for +one.”</p> + +<p>“But I don’t want any help: I think I can take +care of myself.”</p> + +<p>“So all these simple-minded country boys think,” +added the missionary, shaking his head. “The +temptations of the great city will beset you behind +and before.”</p> + +<p>“Well, sir, I think I can take care of myself in +the face of all of them.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps you can: you look like a bright, smart +boy, who knows more about the world than most of +those who come to the city.”</p> + +<p>Wade thought Mr. Caleb Klucker was a knowing +man, and knew what was what.</p> + +<p>“What are you going to do in this city, Wade?” +asked the missionary.</p> + +<p>“I am going to find a place to go to work. If I +can get something to do, I can take care of myself +till the cows come home.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">[115]</span>“Will you let me look at your testimonials?” said +Mr. Klucker, in an off-hand way.</p> + +<p>“My what?”</p> + +<p>“Your testimonials.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know what you mean. I haven’t got any +thing of that sort about me, as I know of.”</p> + +<p>“I mean your recommendations,—a paper from +your minister, or some other good man, saying that +you are a good boy,” Mr. Klucker explained.</p> + +<p>“I haven’t got any. I left, as I told you, in something +of a hurry. I came to Bridgeport in a sail-boat +which was my father’s; and I hadn’t any time +to go to the minister for the paper.”</p> + +<p>“You will find it very hard to find a place to work +without a recommendation,” added the missionary, +shaking his head very sorrowfully, as though his +heart was touched at the friendless condition of the +youth. “But what did you do with the boat in +which you came to Bridgeport?”</p> + +<p>“I came across a man that wanted to buy her, and +I thought she wasn’t of much use to me, so I sold +her,” replied Wade frankly.</p> + +<p>“I suppose you had to sell her for less than half +her value,” said Klucker, who seemed to be much +interested in the boat, as well as in her late owner.</p> + +<p>“She was an old boat, and wasn’t worth much; +but I got twenty dollars for her; and I thought that +was doing pretty well with her.”</p> + +<p>“Very well indeed, under the circumstances. I +see that you are a wide-awake young man, and know<span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">[116]</span> +what you are about,” said Mr. Klucker, with a patronizing +smile. “But I am sorry you have no testimonials, +for you will need them in order to get a +place.”</p> + +<p>“I can soon show anybody that wants to hire a +hand what I can do,” replied Wade confidently.</p> + +<p>“But people will not take strange boys into their +houses and shops without testimonials: they are +afraid such boys will steal. But I feel an interest in +you, and it is part of my business to look up just such +cases as yours,” added the benevolent Mr. Klucker.</p> + +<p>“I am going to the rooms of our association; and, if +you will go with me, I will see what can be done for +you. I am afraid you will be robbed of your money, +and then you will be a beggar about the streets till +you find work.”</p> + +<p>“I guess I can take care of my money,” replied +Wade.</p> + +<p>“Twenty dollars is a large sum of money for a +boy to have; and there are a great many wicked +people in this great city, who live by plundering +the stranger within its gates. For aught you know, +you may have lost your money now.”</p> + +<p>It was a startling suggestion; and Wade thrust his +hand deep down into his pocket, to see if the money +was safe. He drew out an old wallet which had +once belonged to his father, and showed it to his friend.</p> + +<p>“It is all right, you see,” said Wade with a smile.</p> + +<p>“I see the wallet is, but there may be no money in +it,” added Mr. Klucker.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">[117]</span>“Nobody could get the money out of the wallet +while it was in my pocket,” added Wade.</p> + +<p>“Such things are often done; and you had better +see that the money is safe.”</p> + +<p>Wade exhibited the bills with a look of triumph.</p> + +<p>“It isn’t safe for a boy to carry so much money +around with him,” continued the missionary. “There +are plenty of sharpers who can get it away from you +so adroitly that you will not know when it is taken. +Don’t you think you had better let me take charge +of it for you?”</p> + +<p>“I think I can manage it for myself,” replied +Wade, as he restored the wallet to his pocket.</p> + +<p>“I think you had better put it in our savings +bank: you can have a book, and draw it out as you +want it.”</p> + +<p>Wade knew about savings banks; and he liked +the idea. Mr. Klucker conducted his young friend +to such a bank, though it did not seem to be at “the +rooms of our association.” A long string of depositors +was at the window where the money was passed +in; and they had to wait some time,—so long that +Mr. Klucker’s patience was exhausted.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">[118]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XV.<br> + +<small>A NEW YORK SAINT.</small></h2> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap">“REALLY, I can’t wait so long,” said the kind +friend of Wade Brooks. “But I know the +people in the bank; and, if you will give me the +money, they will do the business at once.”</p> + +<p>This looked like a reasonable plan, and Wade felt +quite willing to adopt it.</p> + +<p>“I haven’t twenty dollars left to put into the +bank,” said he, taking the wallet from his pocket. +“I must keep some to pay for what I want to eat.”</p> + +<p>“You can draw out what you want at any time, +and you had better put in nearly all you have,” suggested +Mr. Klucker.</p> + +<p>“I have twenty dollars, all but twenty cents; and +I guess I’ll put in eighteen,” replied Wade.</p> + +<p>“Very well: it will be safe here, and you can get +it when you want it,” said the missionary, in the +most encouraging tones.</p> + +<p>Wade gave him the money; and he moved off to +the other end of the banking-room, as though he +were going behind the partition that separated the +bank-officers from the public. Wade looked in at +the window to see him, if he could; but he did not<span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">[119]</span> +appear. The missionary seemed to be a long time +doing the business, and getting his book; and Wade +waited half an hour with what patience he had. All +the people who had been in the line when he came +into the room had done their business, and had gone, +though their places were filled by others.</p> + +<p>Wade waited another half-hour; and then the +attention of the cashier was directed to him as one +who had waited a long time. Strange as it may +seem, the country boy did not suspect any thing +wrong; for one who had given all his money but ten +cents to a poor sick woman, and who was employed +by “our association” to look out for the sick and +the stranger, could not steal his money.</p> + +<p>“What are you waiting for, young man?” called +the cashier, from the window.</p> + +<p>“I am waiting for my book,” replied Wade.</p> + +<p>“What book was that?”</p> + +<p>“Mr. Klucker took my money in there about an +hour ago.”</p> + +<p>“Who?” asked the cashier, beginning to take an +interest in the matter.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Caleb Klucker. He said he knew you in +there, and he would get a book for me without waiting +so long,” answered Wade, who thought it a little +odd that they did not know the name.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know any such person; and I am the +only one that takes deposits,” replied the cashier. +“How much money did you give him to take in +here?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">[120]</span>“Eighteen dollars, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Did any one come in here from the front?” +asked the cashier, turning to the clerks in the office.</p> + +<p>No one had come in from the front, or from anywhere +else. One of the assistants had seen a seedy-looking +man pass out at the rear door, which was little +used.</p> + +<p>“I am sorry for you, young man; but it is plain +enough that you have been robbed of your money +by a swindler,” said the cashier, shaking his head. +“You will never see your eighteen dollars again.”</p> + +<p>“But Mr. Klucker was a missionary; and he went +about looking up the sick and the stranger,” protested +Wade, confounded by the explanation of his +long waiting.</p> + +<p>“Especially for the stranger,” added the cashier, +with a significant smile. “You should have handed +your money in at this window, and then it would +have been all right.”</p> + +<p>“I thought this man was a New York saint,” +added Wade, with about all the pluck taken out of +him.</p> + +<p>“No: he was a New York sinner.”</p> + +<p>“But he was going to get me a place to work, +and I never thought that he could be a thief.”</p> + +<p>“That is just what he was,” said the cashier, resuming +his work.</p> + +<p>“But where shall I find Mr. Klucker?” asked +Wade, not yet reconciled to the loss of his eighteen +dollars.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">[121]</span>“You will not find him: he will diligently keep +out of your way during the rest of your stay in New +York. You can go to the police; but I think it will +do no good,” answered the cashier, with more indifference +in his manner than a boy who has lost eighteen +dollars likes to see.</p> + +<p>Wade Brooks hung round the bank till noon, in +the hope that Mr. Klucker had been slandered by +the cashier, and that he would return to restore his +money. But the missionary was not one of that sort +of men: when he got any money into his hands, no +matter by what means, he made a business of holding +on to it. He did not show himself again. Wade +left the bank with a heavy heart. Was that the +kind of saints they had in New York?</p> + +<p>The unhappy boy from the country walked down +the street, looking at every man he met, in the hope +that he might see the swindler; but he did not. He +continued his walk till he reached the cheap restaurant +where he had eaten his breakfast. He went in, +and asked the man at the counter if he could tell +him who the man was that he had met at the +table.</p> + +<p>“His name is Jeremy Diddler,” replied the man, +with a coarse laugh.</p> + +<p>“Can you tell me where he lives?” added Wade, +glad to learn the name of the New York saint.</p> + +<p>“He lives on green countrymen most of the time,” +laughed the man.</p> + +<p>“But I mean, where is his house?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">[122]</span>“His house! he don’t have any house except when +he is boarded at the county hotel.”</p> + +<p>“Where is that?” asked Wade blankly.</p> + +<p>“It is on an island in East River; but he is not +boarding there just now,” said the man, winking at a +waiter who was listening to the conversation.</p> + +<p>“Can you tell me where I shall be likely to find +him?” asked the unhappy Wade.</p> + +<p>“I cannot; but you can inquire for him at the +Fifth Avenue Hotel, and they will tell you whether +he is there or not,” said the keeper of the restaurant, +winking again at the waiter.</p> + +<p>Wade wanted to know where the Fifth Avenue +Hotel was, and was told so that he could find it.</p> + +<p>“I say, sonny, have you been boarding that dead +beat?” inquired the keeper.</p> + +<p>“Boarding what?”</p> + +<p>“The fellow you have been asking about.”</p> + +<p>“I have not been boarding anybody: I don’t keep +a boarding-house. I let him take eighteen dollars of +mine to put in the savings bank, and get me a book; +and I haven’t seen him since. And now I want to +find him.”</p> + +<p>“When you do find him, I want you to let me +know, for it will be a thing worth knowing,” laughed +the keeper.</p> + +<p>“You needn’t laugh at me,” said Wade, a little +hurt, for it seemed like laughing at a funeral to him, +after he had lost all the boat had brought except +two dollars.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">[123]</span>“Served you right, sonny; and, if the lesson you +have learned costs you only eighteen dollars, you +bought it cheap,” added the keeper. “Some of the +countrymen who come here lose hundreds of dollars +in just the way you lost your money: so you got off +cheap.”</p> + +<p>“It wasn’t my fault, for I thought he was a missionary,” +Wade explained.</p> + +<p>“So he is,—a missionary to enlighten countrymen +who will trust their money in the hands of such dead +beats,” chuckled the keeper. “You can inquire at +the Fifth Avenue Hotel for him.”</p> + +<p>The man turned to attend to a customer; and +Wade retreated into the street, for being laughed at +was almost as bad as being robbed of his money. +Near the restaurant he met a policeman. Klucker +had told him what the man in the uniform was, and +had explained to him a great many other things, in +answer to his questions, on the way to the bank. +He told his story to the policeman; but he treated +the matter very lightly, and candidly told him he +would never see his money again. But he went +back to the restaurant with him, and went through +the form of asking a great many questions; but +nothing came of his investigation.</p> + +<p>Wade tramped up to the bank again. He went in, +and asked if Mr. Klucker, or Mr. Diddler as the +keeper of the restaurant had called him, had been at +the place since he left. He had not been there; and +the cashier smiled when he told him so. The poor<span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">[124]</span> +boy could not see why everybody, even the policeman, +was disposed to laugh at him. He felt bad +enough, without having folks make fun of him. It +was no laughing matter. The man in the restaurant +had told him to take a horse-car at the Astor House, +which would carry him to the Fifth Avenue Hotel. +He easily found the horse-cars; but he did not feel +able to invest five cents in a ride, and he decided to +walk, using the cars as his guide.</p> + +<p>It was a long tramp, and he stopped so many times +on the way to look up the cars that were marked +“Fifth Avenue,” that he did not reach his destination +till the middle of the afternoon. In spite of his +gloomy state of mind, he could not help stopping to +admire the squares and the wonderful buildings, and +to gaze upon the vast throng of people that filled the +streets. He was amazed at the hotel, which he had +supposed was something like the tavern in Midhampton. +It was a palace, compared with any thing he +had ever seen before. As he had never hesitated to +enter the tavern when he wished to do so, he did +not fear to go into the hotel.</p> + +<p>He was bewildered by the grandeur and magnitude +of the establishment. He paused at the office, and +looked at the spruce clerks behind the counter. He +wondered if it would be safe to speak to one of them; +but he saw others do so, and he determined to make +the attempt. The diamonds in their shirt-bosoms +were very large; but they could not more than +eat him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">[125]</span>“Is there a man by the name of Mr. Caleb +Klucker stopping here?” he ventured to ask.</p> + +<p>“Caleb Klucker,” repeated one of the clerks, turning +to the other, and laughing.</p> + +<p>“That is what he said his name was; but another +man told me it was Jeremy Diddler,” added Wade, +fearing that he might have given the wrong name.</p> + +<p>“Jeremy Diddler! Oh, yes, he is always here!” +exclaimed the clerk.</p> + +<p>But what was the man laughing at? Wade had +said nothing funny, that he was aware of; and these +clerks did not know that he had been gouged out of +eighteen dollars.</p> + +<p>“Do you wish to see Mr. Diddler?” asked the +clerk politely.</p> + +<p>“I do want to see him,” replied Wade decidedly.</p> + +<p>The clerk snapped a bell on the marble counter.</p> + +<p>“Show this young man to No. 942,” he added to +the servant who answered it.</p> + +<p>Wade followed him, as told to do.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">[126]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XVI.<br> + +<small>AN UNEXPECTED MEETING.</small></h2> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap">WADE followed the servant up the stairs; and +this fellow seemed to be laughing too. What +had got into them all? He had done nothing to +make them laugh. The people in the hotel seemed +to know Jeremy Diddler, but not Caleb Klucker. If +the fellow was a rogue, as Wade believed he was by +this time, very likely he had two names.</p> + +<p>Wade followed his conductor to the very top of +the house; and it seemed to him he had never been +so near heaven before. Then the man led him by +devious winding ways, through long passages and +halls, till he thought he had walked half a mile.</p> + +<p>“How much farther are you going?” asked Wade, +unable to forget the laugh of the clerks and the servant, +which seemed to have something to do with the +distance he had travelled.</p> + +<p>“It isn’t more nor a mile furder,” replied the Irish +waiter.</p> + +<p>“A mile!” exclaimed Wade, lost in wonder again +at the immense size of the hotel. “It will take us +all the rest of the day to get to the room.”</p> + +<p>“Faith, it will, and half of the night.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">[127]</span>“How many stories high is this hotel?”</p> + +<p>“Only thirteen.”</p> + +<p>“Thirteen!”</p> + +<p>“Yes; and the last place I lived, the house was +twenty-one.”</p> + +<p>The fellow chuckled so that Wade was afraid he +was lying. He did not believe any hotel could be +twenty-one stories high.</p> + +<p>“Rather high houses,” said he coolly, “but not +so high as they might be. The tavern in Midhampton, +where I come from, is thirty-two stories high.”</p> + +<p>“Spake the truth, man!”</p> + +<p>“I guess my story is as true as yours.”</p> + +<p>“Wait here a minute,” said the man, halting at a +narrow passage-way; and Wade thought it looked +very like one he had passed twice before in his tour +in the upper regions of the hotel. “I will go to the +room, and see if the gintleman is within.”</p> + +<p>Wade did wait a minute, then five minutes; and +then half an hour. The laughing seemed to be +explained. The clerks had been making game of +him. They had sent him on a wild-goose chase. +He did not believe that Mr. Diddler was in the hotel, +though the clerk said he was always there. He +walked through the long passage-way, looking at the +numbers on the doors: there were none as high as +942. Indeed, he could find none half as big. He +kept walking till he came to what he thought was a +closet, with a gas-light burning in it. A man was +standing at the door.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">[128]</span>“Are you going down?” asked the man, as Wade +looked into the thing.</p> + +<p>“That’s what I want to do,” replied the wanderer, +who was wondering whether he could find his way +down.</p> + +<p>“Jump in, then,” added the attendant.</p> + +<p>Wade began to suspect that this was some new +trick, and he looked very cautiously into the closet. +Then he concluded that it was not a closet at all. It +had seats all around it like the depot omnibus in Midhampton, +and was carpeted and cushioned like a fine +parlor. At a venture, he concluded to go in, and he +seated himself on the velvet divan. The man closed +the door, and pulled a wire rope which ran through +the thing. Then Wade thought the bottom was +dropping out of the concern, but he soon found the +whole affair was descending; and in a minute or two +the attendant pulled the wire again, and it stopped. +When the door opened, he found he was near the +office where the clerks had fooled him. He was +astonished to see how quick he had come down; and +this was his first experience in an elevator, for he +had never even heard of such a thing.</p> + +<p>“Did you find him?” asked the clerk, when he +showed himself in the office.</p> + +<p>“I didn’t find him,” replied Wade indignantly; +“and you knew very well I should not find him.”</p> + +<p>“I think he was out,” added the clerk, looking +very serious now. “Did you go to No. 542?”</p> + +<p>“No, sir: we went to No. 942, where you sent us.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">[129]</span>“No,—542. I think the bell-boy did not understand +me. Try again; and I think you will find +him this time. You can go up in the elevator.”</p> + +<p>Though Wade was satisfied that the clerk wanted +to fool him again, he thought he would take another +ride in that machine. Another bell-boy was called, +and directed to show the young man to 542.</p> + +<p>“And, young man, you must open the door, and +go right in. Don’t stop to knock; for Mr. Diddler +owes money to various people, and sometimes he will +not answer when he is summoned. Go in without +ceremony.”</p> + +<p>Again the boy from the country ascended to the +upper regions of the hotel: and, without going far, +his conductor led him to the room on the door of +which was the number which the clerk had named +last. The bell-boy did not wait, but left him to +carry out the instructions he had received in the +office. Wade was in no hurry to open the door. +Perhaps Mr. Klucker, who was not much of a saint +after all, might be ugly: he might show fight. But +Wade meant to stick to him till he had got his money +back. Placing his hand on the knob of the door, he +hesitated a moment, and wished he had a club, or +something to defend himself with if the missionary +showed fight.</p> + +<p>After he had braced his nerves up to the sticking-point, +he turned the knob, and shoved the door wide +open, so that Mr. Klucker could not shut it before +he had time to enter. It was not fastened, as it<span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">[130]</span> +might have been, and yielded to the first force he +applied.</p> + +<p>If ever Wade Brooks was astonished, it was when he +opened that door, and saw who were in the room. He +was prepared to find the New York saint, and no one +else. But in that room, considering the size of it, +saints were scarce, and sinners plenty. At the table +in the middle of the chamber sat two boys, counting +a pile of money, or rather the two piles of money +into which they had divided the one. The two boys +were Lon Trustleton and Matt Swikes.</p> + +<p>The reader is not half so much astonished as Wade +Brooks was when he saw his late fellow-voyagers in +the “Mud-turtle,” settled in a room in the Fifth Avenue +Hotel; for he knows that the young rascals had +not given up their “good time” in the great city, +and that Matt had obtained possession again of the +wallet and its contents. After breakfast, Matt had +looked up his companion in crime; and, when they +had laid their plans, they walked to the next station +north of Midhampton, which was not the way to go +to New York direct, and took a train. As something +had been said by Wade about going to New York, +they were afraid of being followed if they went the +other way. By a roundabout route, they reached +New York, and had just arrived. Lon wanted to +take charge of the money this time; but the best +Matt would do was to divide, and they had made two +piles of the money that remained after paying their +expenses so far.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">[131]</span>Lon had often heard his father speak of the Fifth +Avenue Hotel; and as he saw a stage at the station, +with the name upon it, he decided to go there, +though he had no idea what sort of a house it was. +The clerk in the office did not seem to think every +thing was regular about the boys, as they had no +baggage; but Lon was well dressed, and they were +willing to pay in advance. He was disposed to make +fun of them; and it was a practical joke on his part, +to send the country boy to the chamber of the new +arrivals.</p> + +<p>“Wade Brooks!” exclaimed Lon, as the boy of +all work sprang into the room. “How under the +canopy came you here?”</p> + +<p>“I did not expect to find you here,” replied Wade, +when he had recovered from his surprise enough to +speak.</p> + +<p>“Then you were not looking for us?”</p> + +<p>“No, I was not: I was looking for another man,” +replied Wade.</p> + +<p>“Who?”</p> + +<p>“His name is Jeremy Diddler,” answered Wade, +with his usual candor and simplicity.</p> + +<p>“Jeremy Diddler!” exclaimed Lon, who knew the +individual by reputation. “Are you a fool, Wade +Brooks?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t think I am. The man’s other name is +Caleb Klucker.”</p> + +<p>“They are making fun of you, Wade,” said Lon. +“What have you been doing since I left you yesterday +morning?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">[132]</span>Wade told the story just as it was,—that he had +sold the boat for twenty dollars, and the money +had been taken from him by a fellow whose name +was Jeremy Diddler. Lon laughed outright.</p> + +<p>“Jeremy Diddler is a name given to any one that +swindles folks out of their money, you ninny!” said +the more experienced Lon. “I didn’t think you was +such a fool.”</p> + +<p>“Is that it?” added Wade, laughing at his own +foolishness, and seeing now what the clerks had been +laughing at. “I’m glad to know it; and I see that +is your name, Lon.”</p> + +<p>“None of your sauce, Wade Brooks,” said Lon, +beginning to look savage.</p> + +<p>“I’m not afraid of you now; and I had just as lief +fight as not. I see you and Matt have swindled +Obed Swikes out of his two hundred dollars again; +and I think you and he both will fit the meaning +you give to the name. There’s the old wallet on the +table; and they can’t say I took it this time.”</p> + +<p>Lon looked at Matt, and Matt looked at Lon. +They did not seem to like the situation, for Wade +had caught them in the act of counting the money. +It was no use to deny it this time; and he had only +to tell the clerk, in order to get them into trouble.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">[133]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XVII.<br> + +<small>AT THE LODGING-HOUSE.</small></h2> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap">“WELL, Wade Brooks, what are you going to do +about it?” demanded Lon, when he had considered +the situation.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know what I shall do about it,” replied +Wade; and he spoke the truth. “You come here to +have a time, as I knew you meant to do before.”</p> + +<p>“If you ever tell anybody what you have found +out, I’ll flog you within an inch of your life!” said +Lon savagely.</p> + +<p>“I’ll risk it; and, if you want to begin now, I’m +ready. It isn’t likely I shall ever see anybody to +speak to about it; but, if you’re going to lick me, I’ll +go out of my way to tell,” said Wade stoutly; and +he was confident, after their experience in the boat, +he could thrash Lon every time.</p> + +<p>“Don’t make a row with him, Lon,” said the more +prudent Matt. “Let’s make trade with him.”</p> + +<p>“What do you mean by a trade?” demanded Lon.</p> + +<p>“He can tell all he knows, if he has a mind to; +and then where shall we be?” replied Matt.</p> + +<p>Lon did not like the idea any better than Matt; +and he allowed him to tell what he meant.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">[134]</span>“You have lost the money you got for the boat, +have you, Wade?” asked Matt.</p> + +<p>“I lost eighteen dollars of it, and I have only a +dollar and eighty cents left; and I shall soon eat +that up,” replied Wade gloomily.</p> + +<p>“I will give you ten dollars, and Lon shall give +you the same, if you will agree not to say a word to +any one about us, not even to Lon’s father or mine, +if you should happen to see either or both of them,” +said Matt, in soft tones. “That will be twenty dollars, +more than you had before.”</p> + +<p>“Do you mean to give me the money you stole +from your father?” asked Wade.</p> + +<p>“We haven’t any other money,” replied Matt. +“We didn’t steal it: who said any thing about stealing?”</p> + +<p>“You can’t deny that you stole that money from +your father; and I don’t see what he was thinking +about, that he didn’t put it in a place where you +couldn’t get it.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t say any thing more about stealing, Wade. +That’s not the way to call it. But say whether you +will take up with my offer.”</p> + +<p>“I won’t take up with it: I won’t have any thing +to do with any money you stole. I’m not a thief; +and I’ve heard your father say that the receiver is as +bad as the thief,” replied Wade decidedly.</p> + +<p>“I knew it would be so,” added Lon, disgusted +with the idea of compromising with a fellow like +Wade Brooks.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">[135]</span>“I don’t want to talk about such a thing;” and +the temptation was so great, that Wade was afraid +to think of it. “I guess I’ll be going now.”</p> + +<p>Wade backed out at the open door, and neither of +the runaways attempted to detain him, though Lon +repeated his threat. Matt was alarmed; but Lon +thought that the fear of a thrashing which he had +promised the boy of all work would prevent him +from saying any thing to the people in the hotel, +though he would be likely to tell the whole truth +when they all went home.</p> + +<p>Wade walked to the elevator, thinking what he +should do. He did not like Lon’s threat; and knew +that his father was even then worrying about his +son. When the car came along on its way down, he +got into it, and a moment later he was at the office. +He had made up his mind to leave the hotel without +saying any thing more to any one, for he had been +laughed at enough for one day. But the joking +clerk was not inclined to let him escape, at least +without a little more quizzing.</p> + +<p>“Did you find your friend, young man?” asked +the joker, with a smile and a wink at his fellow-clerk.</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir; I found him: in fact, I found two of +the name I gave you,” replied Wade readily.</p> + +<p>“I’m glad you did: I thought Mr. Diddler must +be in that room if he was anywhere in the house.”</p> + +<p>“He’s there; and I think his father, whose name +is not Diddler, would like to hear from him.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">[136]</span>“Did you find that you knew the boys in that +room?” asked the clerk, who had had many doubts +in regard to taking them into the house.</p> + +<p>“I knew them both the moment I set eyes on +them.”</p> + +<p>“Who are they?”</p> + +<p>“One of them is Matt Swikes, and the other is +Lon Trustleton. Both of them came from Midhampton. +Lon threatened to lick me if I said any +thing about them, and I want him to try it on.”</p> + +<p>“Trustleton! Then he must be the son of Capt. +Trustleton of Midhampton,” added the clerk.</p> + +<p>“That’s what he is, every time,” replied Wade, +who felt that he had no right to keep still when +these boys were running away with money they had +stolen: besides, he wanted to know about the licking +Lon was to give him.</p> + +<p>“And who are you, young man?” asked the +clerk.</p> + +<p>“My name is Wade Brooks; and I used to live in +Midhampton.”</p> + +<p>“Does your father live there?”</p> + +<p>“I have no father or mother, or any relations that +I know of.”</p> + +<p>“But whom did you run away from?”</p> + +<p>“Nobody has any claim on me; and I am my own +master,” replied Wade decidedly. “Can I get any +work about this house? I want something to do.”</p> + +<p>“Nothing here. Have you told me the truth +about the other two boys?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">[137]</span>“Of course I have; and you’ll find it so, if you +look into the matter. But I’m going now,” continued +Wade, moving towards the entrance.</p> + +<p>The clerk did not offer to detain him, and Wade +reached the street. It was no use to do any thing +more about the eighteen dollars: he gave it up, and +tried to be as resigned as possible to the heavy loss. +It was just his luck. He began to feel the necessity +of something to eat again, for he had not tasted food +since he breakfasted with Mr. Klucker. But he +walked to the place where he had taken his morning +meal, for he thought his money would not last long +if he patronized the restaurants in the Fifth Avenue.</p> + +<p>The keeper asked him some questions about his +search for the missionary; but it was only to make +fun of him, and he gave short answers to him. He +spent ten cents upon a plate of baked beans; for +this was one of the cheap dishes, and he could not +indulge in chops and beefsteaks. He wondered where +he should pass the night. He had not been in a bed +for two nights, and he was beginning to feel very +tired. He asked the keeper of the restaurant where +he could find a cheap lodging, and was directed to a +place where he could get the luxury of a bed for +twenty-five cents. He went to it; and, though it +was cheap, it was better than he had had in the garret +of Obed Swikes. There were six beds in the +room; and, as it was only half-past seven, he had the +choice of them.</p> + +<p>“My money is almost gone in one day; but it is<span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">[138]</span> +just my luck,” said he to himself as he got into the +bed. “It will cost me fifty or sixty cents a day to +live, the best way I can fix it; and it will only last +me a couple of days more. What shall I do then, if +I don’t get something to do?”</p> + +<p>It was a hard question to answer; and, while he +was thinking about it, he went to sleep. He did not +wake till daylight in the morning. He saw that all +the other beds were occupied; but he did not care to +get up at that early hour, for he had not to go out +to the barn and take care of the cattle. But he was +fully rested, and he could not go to sleep again. He +lay as long as he could; and then got up and dressed +himself, being the first to leave the room.</p> + +<p>The place where he had lodged was a cheap hotel; +and he looked at the bill of fare in the restaurant. +He found the prices were about the same as at the +place where he had taken his meals the day before; +and he called for fish-balls,—the cheapest dish on +the bill. He got more of them than at the other +place, and he was well satisfied with the establishment. +He even informed the proprietor, who was +on duty behind the counter, that he should patronize +his house while he staid in New York. He thought +this announcement, with a compliment which he +prefixed to it, would please the man, as doubtless it +did, till a circumstance appeared which spoiled its +effect.</p> + +<p>Wade’s bill was ten cents,—he had paid for his +lodging the night before, as the rule of such places<span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">[139]</span> +requires,—and he put his hand into his pocket to +take out his wallet. He did take it out; but, to his +intense astonishment, he found there was not a single +cent in it: all the rest of his money was gone. It +had evidently been stolen from him while he was +asleep. He had hung his trousers over the head of +the bed, and in the pocket of this garment was his +earthly treasure. It was only one dollar and thirty-five +cents, but it was all he had.</p> + +<p>“My money is all gone,” said Wade mournfully.</p> + +<p>“Gone! You mean that you haven’t got any,” +said the landlord.</p> + +<p>“But I had a dollar and thirty-five cents when +I went to bed in your house last night, and now I +haven’t a single cent.”</p> + +<p>“That has been played on me so many times, that +I know all about it. I should say a hundred such +fellows have been robbed in my house within a year. +I don’t believe you had any money,” said the landlord +coldly.</p> + +<p>“How could I pay for my lodging if I had not?” +asked Wade meekly.</p> + +<p>“You had no business to order breakfast, if you +hadn’t the money to pay for it,” growled the man.</p> + +<p>“I thought I had money, or I should not.”</p> + +<p>“That won’t go down,” added the landlord.</p> + +<p>“It is the truth; but I will come and pay you just +as soon as I get some money.”</p> + +<p>“I guess not,” added the proprietor of the hotel, +reaching over the counter, and snatching Wade’s<span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">[140]</span> +cap from his head. “When you pay the bill, you +shall have your cap again. You can go now.”</p> + +<p>“I can’t go out without any cap,” protested Wade.</p> + +<p>“You try it, and see if you can’t. I’ll bet a dollar +you can; and, if you don’t do it in half a minute, +my right boot will help you on your way.”</p> + +<p>It was of no use to argue the case with such a +man as that; and the poor boy left the little hotel +sadder than he had ever been before in his life. He +had no cap on his head; but no one seemed to notice +the fact. He was near the steamboat-landings; and +presently he saw a ragged boy get a job to carry a +bag belonging to a traveller. He took the suggestion, +and, going nearer to the pier, he appealed to +every man and woman he met for a job to carry +baggage, and at last he was so lucky as to get one. +He left the bag at a hotel near Broadway; and the +traveller gave him ten cents, with which he considered +himself richly paid.</p> + +<p>With the money in his hand,—for he dared not +trust it in his pocket,—he hastened back to the +cheap hotel. The landlord gave him his cap when he +handed him his money.</p> + +<p>“I thought you would find some money if I kept +your cap,” said he. “I have half a mind to keep it +to punish you for lying to me, and saying you had +no money.”</p> + +<p>“I made the ten cents carrying a bag for a passenger,” +pleaded Wade, as he left the place.</p> + +<p>He went back to the steamboat-landing to see if +he could not get another job.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">[141]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XVIII.<br> + +<small>A NIGHT ADVENTURE.</small></h2> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap">“JUST my luck!” exclaimed Wade, when he was +in the street. “Not a single cent left! To think +there should be any one in that little mean hotel to +take a dollar and thirty-five cents from a poor boy +like me!”</p> + +<p>But it was no use to complain. He had made ten +cents that morning, and he might do a large business +of this kind. But all the passengers from the +steamers had gone to their hotels or elsewhere; and +he walked along to one of the large ferries that bring +travellers across from the railroads on the Jersey +shore. He happened to hit quite a crowd of them, +and he began to offer his services. He had spoken +to half a dozen, though without success, when three +stout fellows came up to him.</p> + +<p>“Out of this, country!” said one of them, with a +threatening demonstration. “If you don’t get out +of this, you will get a crack on the sconce.”</p> + +<p>He could not exactly see how the fellows knew he +was from the country; but, as it was a fact, he was +not disposed to raise any issue on the question. But +he wanted to know by what right they ordered him<span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">[142]</span> +away from this locality. He thought he had as good +right there as they had.</p> + +<p>“What’s that for?” he asked; and he did not like +the idea of fighting three of them as big as himself.</p> + +<p>“Sure we have the license to carry baggage from +this place, and we won’t let the business be taken +from us by no countryman,” replied the spokesman +of the party.</p> + +<p>“You have a license! What’s that?” added Wade.</p> + +<p>“Don’t you know what a license is?” hooted the +fellow. “Don’t the city give us the right to carry +baggage from this ferry?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know. Does it?”</p> + +<p>“Faith, if you’re not out of this in half a minute, +we’ll show you how it is;” and the speaker shook +his dirty fists in Wade’s face.</p> + +<p>“If you have a license, of course I won’t meddle +with your business,” replied Wade prudently. “But +that’s just my luck.”</p> + +<p>Wade walked up and down the street, looking for +a job, but nothing could he find. He went into shops +of every kind: he applied at the barges and oyster-boats, +and went on board of the vessels. No one +wanted a boy. Those whom he addressed would hardly +give him a civil answer; and, if he said any thing +after they had given him the usual short answer, he +was driven away with oaths and abuse.</p> + +<p>At noon there was no dinner for him, for he had +not a cent to pay for the meal; and he continued to +wander about the city, asking for work, till the middle<span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">[143]</span> +of the afternoon, when he was so tired that he +could walk no farther. He was hungry too, but he +knew no better where to get a supper than a dinner. +He had been tramping up and down Broadway; and +he came to Union Square, where he was very glad to +sit an hour, and rest himself.</p> + +<p>When he was rested, he walked to the Fifth Avenue +Hotel, for he wanted to know what had become +of Lon and Matt. He explored the lower part of +the house, but he saw nothing of his late fellow-voyagers +on the river. They might be in their room; +and, when he presented himself at the elevator, the +attendant, who had seen him the day before, did not +object to his taking passage in the car; and in a +minute or two he was at the top of the house. He +went to the room which Lon and Matt had occupied, +and knocked; but no one seemed to be in the apartment. +What had become of them?</p> + +<p>He returned to the elevator, which had not yet +descended, and took a seat in the car. He was rather +sorry not to find the two runaways, for he was thinking +seriously of returning to Midhampton. It was +better to go back to Obed Swikes’s, and live as he had +before, than to starve in the great city. As it was, +he did not see how he could get back. He could not +start on an empty stomach, and expect to walk sixty +or seventy miles.</p> + +<p>“What has become of the two fellows that slept +in No. 542?” asked Wade of the elevator-man.</p> + +<p>“The two that came yesterday? Faith, there has<span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">[144]</span> +been great looking for those same boys,” replied the +man. “This morning the father of one of them +came to look for them, for the clerk telegraphed to +him that his son was at the hotel; but they couldn’t +find them. The bed wasn’t slept in last night; and +they must have left in the evening.”</p> + +<p>Wade thought he understood it. After he had +seen them, they were afraid to stay any longer, and +had left soon after he had gone. He couldn’t make +peace with them, and get something to eat. He +walked about the lower part of the hotel, and among +other places visited the bar-room. On the counter +he saw some crackers and cheese. He concluded +they were placed there to eat; and, as the man in +charge was reading a book at the farther end of the +counter, he helped himself to as much of the coveted +provision as he dared to take. He sat down in a +corner, and ate it.</p> + +<p>He was quite faint with his long fast; and the +food, light as it was, restored him. A servant looked +at him half a dozen times, and then told him loafers +were not allowed about the house. Poor Wade had +never considered himself a loafer; and he thought it +was a terrible thing to be called by such a name. +He rose from his comfortable seat, and left the great +hotel. He felt that no one could turn him out of +the streets, and he felt more at home there. But it +was not pleasant to think of wandering about the +city all night, as he had all day. He thought he +might find some shed or other building where he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">[145]</span> +could sleep on a hard floor, and that he should be +more likely to find such accommodations near the +wharf. He walked to the vicinity of the pier where +he had landed the day before.</p> + +<p>It was nearly night; and he found that all the +great buildings which he had seen open earlier in the +day were now closed. But his former experience in +the “Mud-turtle” caused him to look at the various +craft in the river. Plenty of boats would be left +open during the night, and he could leave early in +the morning before the owners wished to use them. +He walked along by the side of the water till he saw +a handsome schooner of not more than forty tons, +which looked as though she might give him a resting-place +till morning. He waited till it was quite dark, +and then went on board of her.</p> + +<p>He found that she was a very beautiful vessel; and +he had no doubt she was a pleasure-yacht, such as +Loud, the purchaser of his boat, had pointed out to +him. The cabin-door was securely locked; and he +went forward to see if there was any way in that +part of the vessel to get under the deck, for the +nights were chilly. There was a fore-hatch, but +that was secured by a padlock. Under the foresail +there was a skylight, the sashes on each side of +which could be raised when desirable. He tried one +of them, but it was fastened; the other was not, +for some careless steward had neglected his duty.</p> + +<p>Wade Brooks meant to do his duty in all things, +and not do any thing that he knew to be wrong; but<span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">[146]</span> +the fact that everybody had used the “Mud-turtle” +at will probably gave him the idea that there could +be nothing out of the way in his sleeping on board of +this yacht. He opened the skylight, and climbed +down into the space below. When he had been in +the place where he had brought up for a few moments, +he could penetrate the darkness enough to +discern the objects the apartment contained. He +saw a stove; and this satisfied him that he was in +the kitchen of the yacht; and Loud had told him +that rich men lived in these boats for weeks and +even months. He felt about him to get a better idea +of the place, and happened to put his hand on a +match-box near the stove. It was full of matches, +and he lighted one of them in order to find a good +place to sleep. He saw a door which he thought +opened into the cabin; but it was locked.</p> + +<p>But he did not care to go into the cabin: he was +content to take a less inviting part of the craft. On +one side of the kitchen he found a door which was +not fastened; and he opened it, lighting another +match to see what the room contained. Though he +did not know it, this was the state-room of the sailing-master. +At the other end of it was a door opening +into the cabin. In the state-room was a single +berth with a good deal of space under it. The bed +was all made up; but Wade did not think it was +quite the thing for him to get into it, for it looked +very nice and clean. The space under it was good +enough for him; and, lighting a third match, he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">[147]</span> +proceeded to examine it. It seemed to be filled up +with old coats and other garments, which are always +useful in a boat. They made a good bed, and Wade +at once buried himself in them.</p> + +<p>It was hardly seven o’clock, but the wanderer was +so tired that he dropped asleep almost as soon as he +had stretched himself out. He was chilly, and he +had worried himself into the deepest depths of the +pile of old garments. Though the ripple of the waves +as they beat against the side of the yacht could be +heard, there was no other sound to disturb the +sleeper.</p> + +<p>At three o’clock in the morning, though Wade +knew not the time, he was awakened by the sound +of voices, and by a great noise on the deck of the +yacht. He was alarmed, for he would not have been +caught in the vessel for a great deal. He would be +accused of an attempt to steal, or something of that +kind. It would be “just his luck” to be charged +with some crime which he had never meditated. +But to show himself was to confess that he was on +board of the vessel; and all the rest would follow. +He determined to keep still, and trust to his chances +to escape at a favorable time.</p> + +<p>He lay still and listened; and the loudest noise +was on the deck. He was sure they were getting +the yacht under way; but he thought it was very +odd for gentlemen who sailed for pleasure to go off +in the middle of the night, as he judged it to be. In +a few minutes more, the tipping of the vessel upon<span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">[148]</span> +one side assured him that she was under way, as did +the increased splashing of the water against the side +of the yacht. As soon as the vessel was in motion +the noise on deck ceased. Wade found that the +door leading into the cabin had been opened, and he +realized that several persons occupied that apartment. +He heard the voices of at least two women, and they +seemed to be crying when they spoke.</p> + +<p>Of course Wade was deeply interested in the proceedings, +and he listened with all his might. In a +little while he was conscious, from the talk he heard, +that one of the party had been guilty of some crime, +or had done something wrong. They spoke out +loud; and the wanderer beneath the captain’s berth +had no difficulty in understanding all that was said.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">[149]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XIX.<br> + +<small>AN EARLY BREAKFAST FOR TWO.</small></h2> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap">SUDDENLY the flow of conversation in the cabin +ceased, and Wade Brooks heard a heavy step on +the stairs that led down from the deck. The talk +appeared to be interrupted by the coming of the +owner of the heavy boots, as though he was not in +the confidence of those in the cabin.</p> + +<p>“We are all right now, Mr. Wallgood,” said a man +with a voice as heavy as the sound of the boots.</p> + +<p>“Wallgood,” thought the wanderer. “That is the +name of a family in Midhampton; and a man of +that name is the cashier of the Walnut National +Bank.”</p> + +<p>“I wish it were all right, Capt. Bendig,” said one +of the ladies, with a heavy sob.</p> + +<p>“Oh! it is all right, Mrs. Wallgood,” added Capt. +Bendig, with as much gentleness as a rough man like +him could assume. “I shall put you on board of +Capt. Crogick’s ship to-day, or at least by to-morrow. +I don’t know exactly where to find him: but he will +be on the lookout for me, as well as I for him; and +it will be only a few hours, more or less. I shall run +along the south coast of Long Island till we make<span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">[150]</span> +out the ship. I may overhaul him before we get to +Fire Island, and I may not till we reach Montauk. +But I must have something to eat; for I lost my supper +in this business last night.”</p> + +<p>“Just my case,” said Wade to himself; and he +wished he might be asked to share the captain’s early +meal.</p> + +<p>“Here, Pollish, where are you?” called the captain.</p> + +<p>“Here, sir,” replied the person called for; and he +appeared to come by the door which led from the +pantry to the cabin, which was between the latter +and the kitchen.</p> + +<p>“Where is Beafbon?” asked Capt. Bendig.</p> + +<p>“I guess he was on a spree last night, for he was +pretty full when he came on board at twelve o’clock; +and he turned in at once,” answered Pollish, who was +the cabin-steward.</p> + +<p>“Call him, and tell him to get me a beefsteak as +soon as he can, with a cup of hot coffee,” added Capt. +Bendig. “Have it on the shelf in my state-room; +and tell him if he is more than thirty minutes about +it, I will discharge him as soon as we get back to +New York.”</p> + +<p>This was decided enough to show the character +of the man; and Wade did not much like the idea of +dealing with him, as he felt that he must before the +cruise was finished; and it appeared now that it +might last two or three days. Wade had slept full +eight hours when he woke, and he was wide awake<span class="pagenum" id="Page_151">[151]</span> +now. In a few minutes he heard a rattling of the +stove in the kitchen, which was separated from the +state-room only by a thin bulkhead. Capt. Bendig +returned to the deck as soon as he had ordered his +breakfast. Wade could tell about every thing that +was done on board by the sounds that came to him.</p> + +<p>“Does that man know about this miserable business?” +asked Mrs. Wallgood, when he had heard the +retreating steps of the captain.</p> + +<p>“I suppose he does, though I did not tell him,” +replied a man whom Wade took to be the husband of +the lady.</p> + +<p>“I know he does,” added the other female; and +Wade had yet to learn who she was, though the +information soon came to him. “He has managed +the whole of this business: he has brought us all to +New York, and will put us all on board of my husband’s +vessel.”</p> + +<p>She was the wife of Capt. Crogick, then; and +Wade knew that she was the sister of Mrs. Wallgood, +the cashier’s wife. There was something about the +Walnut National Bank that was wrong; and Capt. +Trustleton was the president of the bank.</p> + +<p>“Are you not afraid that this man will betray +you?” asked Mrs. Wallgood.</p> + +<p>“No, I am not: he is a strong friend of Capt. Crogick; +and he told me I might trust the life of myself +and my wife in his keeping,” answered Mr. Wallgood.</p> + +<p>“I almost wish he might betray you,” said Mrs. +Wallgood, after a pause.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">[152]</span>“Why do you wish that, my dear?” asked the +husband, in trembling tones.</p> + +<p>“Because I think the crime is a good deal worse +than being found out,” replied the lady, with considerable +spirit. “If I had known what all this was +for, I would not have come with you.”</p> + +<p>“Would you desert me?” demanded the wretched +man.</p> + +<p>“You have robbed the bank of a hundred thousand +dollars; you have forfeited your bonds, and disgraced +yourself and your wife. I feel that I no longer owe +you any thing.”</p> + +<p>“Do not be so hard upon him, Julia,” pleaded Mrs. +Crogick.</p> + +<p>“Your husband led him into the crime,” snapped +the wife of the cashier.</p> + +<p>“Neither of them intended to do any wrong. +When the captain was in trouble, your husband +helped him. Do not blame him for this,” continued +the shipmaster’s wife.</p> + +<p>“It was not the fault of either of us. Capt. Trustleton +drove me to the wall, by shutting me out from +the use of the money of the bank, when I was willing +to pay as good interest as any other man,” argued +the cashier.</p> + +<p>But Wade did not understand much of the talk,—only +that Mr. Wallgood had taken one hundred +thousand dollars from the Walnut National Bank +in Midhampton, and he and his wife were running +away to escape the consequences of his crime. The<span class="pagenum" id="Page_153">[153]</span> +lady did not like the situation, and would not have +come if she had understood the matter. Wade +thought she was right, and did not think a woman +was bound to stick to a husband after he had stolen +one hundred thousand dollars; but then, Wade was +not a judge of such matters, and his opinion was +not worth much.</p> + +<p>“I can’t get over it!” exclaimed this lady, after +silence had prevailed in the cabin for some little time. +“I came to New York, as I supposed, on a pleasure-excursion, +at a moment’s notice; and now it seems as +though this time was chosen because Capt. Trustleton +was absent, looking up his runaway boy. Then it +took three hours to tell this miserable story, and to +persuade me that I ought to leave my native land, +perhaps forever, with my husband, who is a defaulter +to his bank for a hundred thousand dollars!”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Wallgood groaned in bitterness of spirit when +she had rehearsed her case; and certainly it was a +heavy penalty to be driven from her home and friends +by the crime of her husband.</p> + +<p>“If you wish to desert me in my misfortune, you +can do so, Julia,” groaned the cashier. “You can return +to New York in this yacht.”</p> + +<p>“Where is Capt. Crogick’s ship going to?” asked +Mrs. Wallgood, as though this had something to do +with the question.</p> + +<p>“She is bound to Leghorn; and we can be as happy +in Italy as at home for a few years, till this trouble +blows over,” said Mrs. Crogick.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">[154]</span>“And what are we to live on when we get there?” +asked the indignant lady.</p> + +<p>“We have money enough to live comfortably in +Italy,” replied the cashier.</p> + +<p>“Then you feathered the nest before you went +away,” sneered the lady. “I thought this flight was +because you could not pay your debts to the bank.”</p> + +<p>“Such was the case; but a few thousands more +or less will make no difference to the bank, my +dear.”</p> + +<p>But the conversation was interrupted by the appearance +of the captain of the yacht, before whom +the members of the party were not inclined to talk. +While the conversation was in progress, Pollish had +dropped a kind of table, which turned up against the +bulkhead in the state-room, and had placed some +dishes and a plate of soft bread, with some other +articles, upon it. If Wade could not see the beefsteak +when it was placed on the table, he could smell +it; and the odor gave him an intense longing for a +taste of it. He had eaten nothing but the bit of +cracker and cheese in the bar-room of the hotel since +his breakfast at an early hour the day before.</p> + +<p>Wade was in no condition to inhale the odors of a +beefsteak without coveting a taste of it. He envied +the burly captain when he sat down on a stool at the +table. The gimballed lamp was burning in the room, +and Wade had a chance to see the awful man with +whom by and by, without much doubt, he had a battle +to fight; but the skipper seemed to be in a hurry,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">[155]</span> +and Wade thought he gobbled up his food like a pig, +from the sounds which came to him from the great +chops of the man. He was hardly more than five +minutes at the table, and he rattled the dishes with +so much vigor that Wade thought he would smash +half of them.</p> + +<p>When he went out of the state-room, he closed the +door leading into the cabin. Wade saw that the +opposite one, leading into a kind of room from which +opened the doors into the forecastle and the kitchen, +was also closed. The circumstances tempted him. +His empty stomach goaded him to action. He was +so hungry that he did not stop long to consider the +perils of the situation; but, disengaging himself from +the pile of old garments which had concealed him +from those who entered the state-room, he crawled +out, and made a dive at the table. He was glad to +see that the captain had been accredited with a +bigger appetite than he possessed, for there was still +at least a pound of steak on the plate. Wade grabbed +the piece, for he could not stop to cut it, even if he +had felt unequal to the task of eating the whole of +it. With the steak in one hand, and two thick slices +of bread in the other, he retreated to his lair; and, +from the way he tore and devoured the beef and +bread, his hiding-place was not very different from +the den of any other wild beast.</p> + +<p>He had no more than finished the hearty meal which +the food he had taken furnished, before the captain +of the yacht put in his second appearance. Wade<span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">[156]</span> +could see the big boots he wore, from his den. He +stood in the middle of the small apartment; and as +he did not do any thing, or even move, Wade concluded +that he was thinking about something. He +wondered if he missed the pound of beef and the +slices of bread, and if these were the subject of his +present reflections.</p> + +<p>“What time is it now, Capt. Bendig?” asked Mrs. +Crogick.</p> + +<p>“About half-past four, marm: it is broad daylight +now, and we shall have a fine day for your excursion.”</p> + +<p>“And where are we now?”</p> + +<p>“We have passed through the Narrows, and I have +just headed her to the eastward. We have a strong +breeze; and, if it holds, we can make Montauk Point +by five o’clock this afternoon.”</p> + +<p>The lady seemed to be satisfied, and the captain +called for the steward.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_157">[157]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XX.<br> + +<small>A LATE DINNER.</small></h2> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap">WADE was positively alarmed when he heard the +captain call for the steward. Was it possible +that the skipper had only half finished his breakfast, +and had gone on deck for a few minutes, intending +to return and complete the meal when he had looked +out for the course of the yacht?</p> + +<p>“Pollish!” shouted the captain angrily, when his +first call brought no response; and the second +gave no better result.</p> + +<p>Capt. Bendig seemed to be angry, and he stalked +out of the room. But Wade heard his voice a +moment later, for he had discovered the steward +asleep in the passage-way.</p> + +<p>“What do you pretend to be asleep for, you rascal +you?” demanded the skipper of the yacht.</p> + +<p>“I was asleep, sir,” replied Pollish. “I have been +up all night, and I was very tired.”</p> + +<p>“Up all night, were you? And why were you up +all night?” inquired the captain sharply.</p> + +<p>“I had to look out for the vessel, you see. I did +not know at what time you and the passengers were +coming; and so I staid on deck all night,” replied<span class="pagenum" id="Page_158">[158]</span> +Pollish with proper meekness. “I had the cabin +lighted and every thing ready for you since seven +o’clock last evening. I was sleepy; but I was afraid +to lose myself for a moment. I know how particular +you are, sir; and I did not leave the deck even for a +minute; and it was so cold on deck I could not go +to sleep there.”</p> + +<p>One thing was certain to Wade, if it was not to +any one else on board of the yacht: that Pollish was +an abominable liar. It was probable that he had +been on a spree with Beafbon the cook. Wade was +entirely willing to refrain from telling what he knew +about the matter for the present; but he stored up +what he had heard for use in the future. Certainly +if this man had been faithful to his duty, and had +not left the fore skylight unfastened, the wanderer +could not have obtained admission to the interior of +the vessel.</p> + +<p>“Don’t tell me you were asleep,” said the captain, +after he had listened to the long speech of the +steward. “What have you done with my beefsteak?”</p> + +<p>“With your beefsteak, sir?” and Wade was willing +to believe that he was surprised at the implied +charge.</p> + +<p>“That’s what I said! Why don’t you answer me, +instead of repeating what I say? What have you +done with my steak?”</p> + +<p>“I have not done any thing with it. I put it on +the table, and that is the last I saw of it,” answered<span class="pagenum" id="Page_159">[159]</span> +Pollish; and Wade believed he told the truth, whatever +opinion Capt. Bendig had on the subject.</p> + +<p>“I know you put it on the table, and I ate part of +it; then I had to go on deck to look after the course +of the vessel. When I came back, the steak and +half of the bread were gone. Tell the truth for once +in your life, and own up that you ate it.”</p> + +<p>“But I didn’t eat it, sir,” protested the steward.</p> + +<p>“Then what has become of it?” demanded the +captain sternly.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know, sir. I lay down in the passage +while you were eating, and I didn’t wake again till +you called me. I was very tired, sir, for Beafbon +and me had to work very hard in the afternoon to +get the provisions and stores in; and then not to get +a wink of sleep, it was more than I could stand,” +protested Pollish.</p> + +<p>“Have any of the hands been below?”</p> + +<p>“Not that I know of, sir: if they did, they had to +step over me, for I lay by the door of your room.”</p> + +<p>“I believe you are lying. But no matter for that +now: we will settle it when this cruise is up. Get +me another steak.”</p> + +<p>Pollish was not disposed to argue the matter any +further, but hastened to obey the order. The captain +went on deck again, and he seemed to be very +attentive to the management of the vessel. As soon +as the second edition of his breakfast was ready, the +captain came down. Wade wished he would take his +meals in the cabin, for he did not like to have him in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_160">[160]</span> +the room, though he had the best right there. The +wanderer found it prudent to breathe with the +utmost care, lest he should be heard; but the swash +of the sea now made noise enough to overcome any +feeble sounds. He could not help thinking what the +consequences would be if he should happen to cough +or sneeze; and he concluded that it would be more +prudent for him to choke to death than to do either. +He was very thankful that he had not a cold in the +head or on the lungs.</p> + +<p>Since his stomach had been so thoroughly filled, +Wade felt quite jolly. He did not like his narrow +quarters under the berth, but he was tolerably happy +even there. He could not help wondering how the +matter would come out in the end. The captain +might not again leave his breakfast for the accommodation +of the passenger; and, in the course of a day +or two, hunger might drive him from his hiding-place, +even in the face of the wrath of the skipper. +But it was no use to worry about that yet; and he +did not, though he could not help thinking of the +means of getting out of the scrape when he was discovered.</p> + +<p>Capt. Bendig finished his breakfast, and went on +deck. Not till then did Wade dare to change his +position; and he fixed himself as comfortably as he +could. He had nothing to do but think; but his +thoughts were not very profitable to himself or anybody +else. While he was thinking he went to sleep. +The motion of the yacht seemed to make him sleepy.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_161">[161]</span> +When he woke, he wondered if he snored. He did +not know: he had never slept with any one who +could give him the information. He did not intend +to go to sleep in the daytime; for the captain might +come to his room, and hear him.</p> + +<p>At noon, as he judged it was, he recognized sundry +savory odors which assured him the matter of +dinner was not to be neglected. The skipper kept +the door of the state-room closed, so that he could not +tell what was going on in the cabin. At any rate, +the captain did not dine in his state-room, and Wade +had no chance to lay in another supply of food. +The afternoon was a long one. Wade spent half of +it in thinking how he should get his supper. But +in the middle of the afternoon, this question seemed +to be settled for him. He was hungry again, for ten +or twelve hours had elapsed since he had his early +breakfast with Capt. Bendig.</p> + +<p>“Pollish!” called the skipper.</p> + +<p>“Here, sir,” replied the steward, presenting himself +at the door of the state-room from which the captain +called him.</p> + +<p>“Get me a steak, with fried potatoes,” added the +captain.</p> + +<p>“In the cabin, sir?”</p> + +<p>“No: you know I never take my meals in the +cabin when there are passengers on board. In this +room.”</p> + +<p>This was hopeful, at least, for Wade; for he +thought there would be a chance for him to get a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_162">[162]</span> +piece of bread, if nothing more. It was clear now +that Capt. Bendig had not dined, or even lunched, +unless the food had been carried to him on deck. +He placed himself so that he could look out into the +room, for he felt obliged to watch his opportunity. +He saw the steward set the table; and in less than +half an hour Pollish placed a beefsteak on the table, +and then passed into the cabin to call the captain, +who was on deck.</p> + +<p>As quick as lightning, Wade sprang out of his den; +and, seeing two slices of sirloin on the table, he took +one of them, with a couple of cuts of bread, and +returned to his abode beneath the berth. Burying +himself beneath the old garments, or rather piling +them up like a breastwork in front of him, he proceeded +to devour the beef and bread before the captain +came down, or to do as much as possible towards +it.</p> + +<p>“I think the ship is in sight, Mr. Wallgood,” said +the captain, as he paused at the door on his way to +his room. “There is a large ship ahead, which is +not doing all she can with this lively breeze; and I +think she is the ‘Housatonic.’”</p> + +<p>“Is that the name of the ship we are to cross the +ocean in?” asked Mrs. Wallgood, who spoke as +though she was better reconciled to the voyage than +when Wade had heard from her last.</p> + +<p>“That is Capt. Crogick’s ship. I thought we +should overhaul her before night with this breeze,” +replied Capt. Bendig.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_163">[163]</span>He entered his room, and seated himself at the +table. Wade promptly suspended the movements of +his jaws. He did not stir; he did not breathe aloud. +For some time Capt. Bendig plied his knife and fork +with vigor, and the waif under his berth could hear +the crisp fried potatoes snap in his teeth.</p> + +<p>“Pollish!” called he at last.</p> + +<p>“Here, sir,” replied the steward, who waited in +the passage for further orders.</p> + +<p>“Where is the cook?”</p> + +<p>“At the galley, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Send him to me.”</p> + +<p>In a moment Beafbon appeared at the door of the +state-room; and he looked so humble that he evidently +expected a blowing-up for something. It was +more likely that he supposed it related to his spree +the night before, than to the real cause.</p> + +<p>“Beafbon, how often must I tell you the same +thing before you can understand me?” said the captain, +introducing his subject in a proper manner.</p> + +<p>“I don’t want to be told any thing more than +once, captain,” replied the cook, relieved when he +found that he was not sent for on account of the +spree.</p> + +<p>“Good! but how many times have I told you that +I wanted more than one slice of these small sirloins? +I don’t eat but two meals a day, and I want enough.”</p> + +<p>Wade felt that his time had come.</p> + +<p>“But I cooked two for you; and, if you did not +get two, it is because the steward did not bring both<span class="pagenum" id="Page_164">[164]</span> +of them to you,” protested Beafbon earnestly. “I +mean to obey all orders; and I know you want two +of those small steaks as well as I know my own +name.”</p> + +<p>“Pollish again! I think he stole my breakfast this +morning too,” added Capt. Bendig. “What have +you done with that other steak, Pollish? for you +have not had time to eat it since I was called, and I +have had my eye on you since I came below.”</p> + +<p>“I haven’t touched the steaks, sir,” pleaded poor +Pollish; and Wade really felt bad to have him falsely +charged with the theft; but then, what was a +hungry boy to do?</p> + +<p>“Don’t lie, Pollish! you did the same thing this +morning.”</p> + +<p>“No, sir, neither then nor now; and I am willing +to take my oath there were two slices on the dish +when I put it on the table,” replied the steward.</p> + +<p>“Get me another steak, Beafbon: we will settle +these matters when we have more time than now.”</p> + +<p>The captain went on deck to wait for the rest of +his dinner.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_165">[165]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXI.<br> + +<small>THE GHOST OF THE STATE-ROOM.</small></h2> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap">WHEN the other steak was ready, Capt. Bendig +came down to attend to it. By this time +Wade had made away with his share of the late dinner; +and he was sure, if the captain was as hungry +as he had been, he enjoyed the meal. As the captain +had all he wanted, he could not complain of Wade; +and up to the present time he had not done so. The +“Housatonic” was in sight, and this cruise would soon +come to an end. Wade thought it was possible that +he might get back to New York without being discovered; +for the captain seemed to have no use for +the old garments under the berth.</p> + +<p>The captain finished the second edition of his +dinner, and then went into the cabin. The passengers +seemed to stay there from the fear that some +passing vessel might see them; at least, Wade wondered +that they did not go on deck when the weather +was so fine. Even in his hiding-place, he could +realize the nervousness of the party.</p> + +<p>“I think we shall have to keep moving till after +dark,” said Capt. Bendig, as he passed into the +cabin.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_166">[166]</span>“Why so?” asked Mrs. Wallgood, who seemed to +be more inclined to talk than the rest of the party.</p> + +<p>“It is hardly safe to put you on board of the ship +in broad daylight, when there are so many vessels +about,” replied the skipper of the yacht.</p> + +<p>“But no one will know who we are,” suggested +the lady.</p> + +<p>“That is very true; but if a vessel should report +in New York that a yacht had transferred several +passengers to an outward-bound ship, somebody +would want to know what it all meant; and there +are pilot-boats about here which may know the ship. +We can just as well wait till after dark; and we +shall not have to wait long. Besides, there is a +steamer off to the southward of us, that looks like +the revenue-cutter; and these fellows are always +poking their noses in where they are not wanted.”</p> + +<p>“I was rather anxious to get on board of the ship +as soon as possible,” added Mr. Wallgood, with something +like a shudder.</p> + +<p>“What is the matter with you?” asked his wife; +and Wade thought her tones were not as kindly as +they might have been.</p> + +<p>“I’m not very well. The excitement of this affair +seems to take hold of me,” added the cashier, with +another quiver. “I am cold; and my overcoat has +been left behind.”</p> + +<p>“Why didn’t you bring it with you? You knew +that we were going upon a sea-voyage, if I did not,” +said the wife; and it was plain enough to Wade that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_167">[167]</span> +she was not yet wholly reconciled to the future, even +though it included a residence in Italy.</p> + +<p>“I didn’t think of it. I had enough on my mind, +without considering my bodily comfort.”</p> + +<p>“If that’s all that ails you, I think we can get +over that,” interposed the captain. “I can fit you +out with an old coat that will keep you warm, though +it will not be as handsome as you have been in the +habit of wearing.”</p> + +<p>“If it only keeps me warm, that is all I want of +it,” replied Mr. Wallgood, with an audible shiver.</p> + +<p>“We keep a lot of old clothes on board for just +such cases as this. The owner sends all his own old +duds to the yacht for this purpose; and I stow them +away under the berth in my state-room. Some of +them are very good coats,” said the captain, as he +returned to his room.</p> + +<p>“Just my luck!” exclaimed Wade to himself; and +the hope of getting back to New York without being +discovered broke down all at once.</p> + +<p>But there was a chance for him even yet; for he +had piled most of the old garments in front of him, +forming a barricade; and the captain might find the +coat he wanted without disturbing or discovering +him.</p> + +<p>“Let me see: you are smaller than I am; and I +know the size of every coat in the batch. I think +I can fit you as well as an up-town tailor,” continued +the captain, pausing at the door as if to take the +measure of the cashier.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_168">[168]</span>“I don’t care for the fit, if it only keeps me warm,” +said the quaking defaulter. “Capt. Crogick will +let me have one as soon as I get on board of the +ship.”</p> + +<p>Capt. Bendig came into the state-room, and began +to pull out the coats which Wade had arranged to +conceal himself. He was a good deal more particular +in making his selection than Wade thought was +necessary under the circumstances. He pulled out +one, and examined it; and then another. He seemed +to know exactly what he desired; and he was not to +be satisfied till he found it, though his passenger was +shivering all the time for the want of it. Wade +considered this very stupid conduct on his part, and +thought it cruel to let the poor man suffer so long. +At last he had pulled out all the garments which +had concealed the stowaway; and, if he had stooped +down, he could not have helped seeing the intruder.</p> + +<p>“Just my luck!” said Wade, with something like +a shudder. “He wants the coat I am lying on.”</p> + +<p>He had been measuring the captain all the morning; +not for the size of his body, as the skipper did +the defaulter, but for the quality of his temper; and +he was sure he was a bully, from the way he treated +Pollish and the cook. He had a good deal of sympathy +with the steward, for he knew he had been +misjudged, though he had told some abominable lies. +He even felt, that, if he could keep out of the captain’s +clutches till after dark, he might be able to +come out of his hiding-place, and make friends with<span class="pagenum" id="Page_169">[169]</span> +Pollish; for that worthy would not care to have him +tell the captain that the yacht was deserted when he +came on board of her at dark the evening before. +The steward would have a motive for protecting +him; and he was not human if he did not look out +for himself.</p> + +<p>Wade pushed all the garments out to the front of +the berth, except the one he was lying upon; and he +would have done the same by that if he could have +done it without making too much noise. But Capt. +Bendig had not yet found the one he wanted. He +stooped down, and reached into the space beneath +the berth; and Wade felt his big hand upon him. It +was with the greatest effort that he prevented himself +from crying out.</p> + +<p>“What under the light of the moon is beneath this +berth?” muttered the captain, as he evidently felt +something that was not wholly in the woollen-goods +line, but without knowing exactly what it was.</p> + +<p>Capt. Bendig began to get down on his knees so +that he could see as well as feel what was under the +berth. But it was beginning to be dark in the room, +though it was only four in the afternoon; but the +apartment never had much light. The searcher was +not satisfied with his means of observation; and it is +possible he suspected something that did not belong +there was concealed beneath the berth.</p> + +<p>“Pollish!” he called.</p> + +<p>“Here, sir!” replied the steward, who always +seemed to be at hand when he was not asleep.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_170">[170]</span>“Bring me a light, and don’t be more than a second +about it,” said the captain, with a ripple of +excitement in his tones.</p> + +<p>Pollish lighted the lamp that swung on gimbals in +the state-room, and then took it from its place, handing +it to the skipper.</p> + +<p>Wade felt that his hour had come, and it was useless +to hope for any thing to turn up in his favor; it +was “just his luck,” and he could only make the best +of it. But he saw that nothing was to be made by +being humble and submissive to a man like Capt. +Bendig, who was a brute and a tyrant by nature, +though he was doubtless a very good seaman, and +was very attentive to his duty. Wade determined +to keep a “stiff upper lip,” and he hoped he might +interest the passengers in his fate.</p> + +<p>With the lamp in his hand, the captain began to +stoop down again. He pulled away the garments he +had drawn from their resting-place, so that he could +see under the berth.</p> + +<p>“Is this the coat you want?” asked Wade, tossing +the one he had been lying upon out into the room.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowe40_625" id="i_170a"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_170a.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption class="caption"><p class="caption">“<span class="smcap">Is this the Coat you want?” asked Wade.</span>—Page <a href="#Page_170">170</a>.</p></figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>He had not made up his mind to say just these +words when he was discovered; but they came to +him, and they answered his purpose as well as any +thing else. Capt. Bendig was startled by the voice +from this unexpected quarter; and he rose a good +deal more hastily than he had stooped, for he was +somewhat stiff in his joints. He even retreated +towards the door of the cabin. Possibly he believed +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_171">[171]</span>in ghosts; for he was an ignorant man, and had been +at sea all his life. He may have thought it was some +departed spirit he had abused in the flesh while he +was the mate of a ship, returning to “spook” him +for his cruelty. Certainly he was frightened; and +Wade was satisfied that his presence had not been +suspected, as he thought before, till he spoke. The +captain may have expected to find a jug of whiskey +which the cook or the steward had concealed there; +but he evidently did not calculate upon finding a +human being in his particular sanctum.</p> + +<p>“What’s under that berth, Pollish?” asked the +captain; and his trepidation was apparent in his +tones.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know, sir,” replied the steward promptly.</p> + +<p>“Did you hear a voice?” continued Capt. Bendig.</p> + +<p>“I did, sir, very distinctly,” answered Pollish, who +seemed to be disturbed by the sound that had come +from under the berth. “It must be the Devil. +But the Devil wouldn’t hide himself under the captain’s +berth on board of the ‘Moonlight.’ He has +too many friends on board to put up with any such +accommodations.”</p> + +<p>Pollish meant that the captain was one of them, +but he was not so imprudent as to say so. If the +steward had been disturbed by the voice, he was not +alarmed.</p> + +<p>“Who is stowed away under that berth?” demanded +Capt. Bendig, as soon as he realized that the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_172">[172]</span> +captain of a vessel should not be frightened at any +thing.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know, sir: I haven’t seen anybody about +the yacht but those that belong in her,” replied Pollish, +who possibly realized that the blame was to fall +upon him for every thing that was wrong.</p> + +<p>“Have you or Beafbon hid one of your friends in +there? If you have, you will wish you were boarding +with the fellow you spoke about just now,” added +Capt. Bendig.</p> + +<p>“I haven’t any friend to hide; and, if I had, what +should I put him in there for, when I could find a +better place in the fo’castle?”</p> + +<p>“Well, we will soon know who it is,” continued +the skipper, approaching the berth again with the +light.</p> + +<p>“Is this the coat you want?” repeated Wade, as +he sprang out into the room.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_173">[173]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXII.<br> + +<small>CAPT. BENDIG’S PROMISE.</small></h2> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap">WADE BROOKS came out of the space under the +berth, with the coat in his hand; and, as soon +as he could get upon his feet, he held out the garment +to the astonished skipper. He was determined +not to be abused if he could help himself, and to put +the best face possible upon the situation. He had +not intended to steal, or to do any thing wrong, when +he came on board of the “Moonlight,” which he +had just learned was the name of the yacht. He +had never considered a boat like a house, for his +experience with the “Mud-turtle” had misled him. +He was wrong, of course; but then he had many +things to learn, though it is half the battle of life to +mean well.</p> + +<p>It is true, also, that he had helped himself to the +skipper’s beefsteaks; but he had a notion that what +food a person wanted to eat was not like other property. +Even Mrs. Swikes, mean as she was, would +give almost anybody something to eat; and in Midhampton +people never found any fault if the passerby +helped himself to the apples in the orchard which<span class="pagenum" id="Page_174">[174]</span> +had fallen from the trees, though it was a crime to +knock them off.</p> + +<p>“Who are you?” demanded Capt. Bendig, as +Wade held the coat up before him; and he retreated +a few steps when the boy first made his appearance.</p> + +<p>“You needn’t be afraid of me: I won’t hurt you,” +replied the stowaway, without answering the direct +question.</p> + +<p>“What were you doing under my berth, you rascal?” +continued the captain, rapidly recovering his +self-possession.</p> + +<p>“I have been sleeping most of the time there,” +replied Wade, smiling as though earth had no sorrows, +and especially as though there were none in +the “Moonlight.”</p> + +<p>“You have, have you?” said Capt. Bendig, beginning +to comprehend the situation; and very +probably he did not like it any better because he +had exhibited some signs of alarm in the presence of +the steward.</p> + +<p>“How long have you been there?” he asked angrily.</p> + +<p>“Something less than three weeks,” replied Wade, +glancing at Pollish, and determining not to betray +him if he could possibly avoid it.</p> + +<p>“Three weeks!” exclaimed the captain.</p> + +<p>“No, sir: I said less than three weeks. I don’t +think I could tell exactly how long I have been +in there.”</p> + +<p>“And it was you that took the beefsteaks?” +added the captain, with a heavy frown.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_175">[175]</span>“Yes, sir. I was willing to divide the meat +between us; and I don’t think I took more than a +fair half.”</p> + +<p>“You impudent young puppy!” exclaimed the +captain, taken all aback by the cool manner of the +stowaway. “Was it your breakfast, or mine?”</p> + +<p>“Your part was yours, and my part was mine,” +replied Wade.</p> + +<p>“That’s more impudence than I ever saw in one +boy before. I suppose you think any thing on board +of this vessel belongs to you, and you can help yourself.”</p> + +<p>“No, sir: I don’t say that,” protested Wade. “I +am willing you should have every thing you want. +I don’t wish to be mean.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, you don’t!”</p> + +<p>“No, sir: I am always willing to do the fair +thing.”</p> + +<p>“So am I; and, before I have done with you, I +shall give you the biggest thrashing you ever had in +your life,” said the captain fiercely.</p> + +<p>“It will be a big licking, then,” added Wade. “I +know what a licking is, as well as almost any fellow +of my age.”</p> + +<p>“Who are you? What are you doing on board of +this yacht? How did you get on board of her? +Where are you going?” demanded Bendig, who had +begun to wonder where the fellow came from.</p> + +<p>“That’s lots of questions; and I don’t believe I +can answer them all.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_176">[176]</span>“Who are you? and if you don’t answer me I will +tie you up to the rigging, and give you a flogging!” +stormed the captain.</p> + +<p>“Not the least need for the flogging. I am Wade +Brooks.”</p> + +<p>“What are you doing on board of this vessel?”</p> + +<p>“Nothing except answering your questions. If +you want to hire a hand to help sail this yacht, I +think I could do my duty; and I will promise to +stand by you whenever you want a friend.”</p> + +<p>“How did you get on board of the yacht?”</p> + +<p>“I just came on board of her, the same as any one +would.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t believe that. If you had, some one would +have seen you. You are a little loafer,—one of those +scalawags that hang about the piers, looking out for +a chance to steal and a place to sleep. I know you; +and I have seen you before, and a lot more just like +you. When I have more time to spare, I shall give +you a flogging that will teach you never again to +put your foot on board of the ‘Moonlight.’”</p> + +<p>“If you say you can’t accommodate me, that’s +enough; and I never will go on board of your vessel +again, and without troubling you to flog me,” replied +Wade, who did not like the ugly looks of the captain.</p> + +<p>“I will make sure of you by giving you the licking,” +added the skipper.</p> + +<p>“If you will do such a thing, of course I can’t +help myself. I think you will make a mistake if<span class="pagenum" id="Page_177">[177]</span> +you do any thing of that kind: indeed, I know you +will,” said Wade positively.</p> + +<p>“I will give it to you as soon as I have time to +attend to the matter,” added the captain in a savage +tone. “When did you come on board?”</p> + +<p>“If I’m to have the flogging, I guess I won’t +answer any more questions,” replied Wade.</p> + +<p>“You will answer them by and by,” continued +Capt. Bendig, moving into the cabin.</p> + +<p>Wade did not like the idea of being flogged, any +better than any other boy of his years would have +liked it. It was not pleasant to think of; and he +seated himself in the state-room, and tried not to +think of it. The burden on his mind was, how to +get rid of it; for he was determined not to submit +if there was any way to escape it.</p> + +<p>The presence of the boy on board disturbed Mr. +Wallgood very much. He remembered that he had +seen the door leading into the captain’s state-room +wide open while he and his wife had talked about +the business of the excursion. If the stowaway had +been concealed under that berth, he might have +heard all that was said by his party.</p> + +<p>“He don’t understand it,” said the captain, in +reply to the objections of the defaulter. “He is a +wharf-rat, and he hasn’t brains enough to fit out a +mouse, to say nothing of a rat.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know about that,” added Mr. Wallgood. +“He talks like a boy that knows what he is about.”</p> + +<p>“No: he’s stupid, and hasn’t the least idea what<span class="pagenum" id="Page_178">[178]</span> +is going on, even if he heard the whole of the talk. +You can speak to him, and satisfy yourself, if you +wish; but I must go on deck, and look out for the +ship.”</p> + +<p>Wade heard all this, and he did not like the idea +of being considered stupid. He felt very sure that +he was not stupid. Still he did not care to tell the +cashier of the bank all he knew about the business. +He had often seen Mr. Wallgood in Midhampton, +but he was confident that the defaulter did not know +him. Lon Trustleton had pointed the cashier out +to Matt once, or he would not have known him. +But, before the man of money could say any thing to +him, Pollish had him on the rack.</p> + +<p>“How came you in this yacht?” demanded the +steward, in a tone even more savage than the captain +had used.</p> + +<p>To his inferiors, he was even more of a bully than +the skipper of the yacht; but Wade had no fear of +him.</p> + +<p>“You heard what I said to the captain; and I +haven’t any thing different to say to you,” replied +Wade, with as much independence as though he had +belonged to the vessel, and had come on board of +her in a perfectly regular manner.</p> + +<p>“None of your lip, or I’ll bat you over the head,” +replied Pollish. “I won’t take any of your sauce, +if the captain does.”</p> + +<p>“What will you do?”</p> + +<p>“I’ll bat you over the head! I’ll learn you to +steal the beefsteaks, and then have it laid to me.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_179">[179]</span>“All right: if you want to do any thing of that +sort, go ahead; and I shall have something to say to +Capt. Bendig, that he will like to hear.”</p> + +<p>“What do you mean by that?” demanded Pollish; +and perhaps he did not feel that his record was +as clean as it might be.</p> + +<p>“Bat me over the head; and after that you ask +the captain what I meant by it.”</p> + +<p>“Can’t you tell me now what you mean?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I can tell you now; and I don’t think you +will want to bat me over the head. It was mean for +you to tell the captain that the cook had been on +a spree, when you had been off yourself,” replied +Wade, with no little confidence in his ability to conquer +a peace.</p> + +<p>“I wasn’t on a spree,” added Pollish.</p> + +<p>“You told the captain you were on board all the +time in the evening and all night, on the lookout for +him; which was all a lie.”</p> + +<p>“How do you know it was?” demanded the steward, +deeply interested by this time.</p> + +<p>“You were not on board at half-past seven, when +I came on board: if you had been, you would have +seen me, and would not have allowed me to make my +bed in the captain’s state-room.”</p> + +<p>“How did you get inside of the yacht?” asked +Pollish, in a subdued tone.</p> + +<p>“You left the skylight unfastened, and I got in +that way. I did not mean to steal any thing. I was +robbed of all the money I had, and wanted a place<span class="pagenum" id="Page_180">[180]</span> +to sleep. I didn’t think it would do any harm to +any one if I slept in this vessel.”</p> + +<p>In reply to the steward’s questions he told him as +much as he pleased of his story.</p> + +<p>“I didn’t tell the captain how I got into the yacht, +because I knew it would get you into a scrape,” he +added. “All I want is to get out of the vessel.”</p> + +<p>“You have done me a good turn, my lad; and I +won’t forget it. But I don’t know that I can do any +thing to help you. The captain is one of those men +you can’t reason with,” replied Pollish.</p> + +<p>“I don’t care about taking the licking he promised +me. Can’t you hide me in some other place till the +yacht gets back to New York?” asked Wade.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know: I will try,” replied Pollish.</p> + +<p>At this moment Mr. Wallgood called the stowaway, +and he went out into the cabin.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_181">[181]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXIII.<br> + +<small>IMMENSE RICHES.</small></h2> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap">WADE had a full view of the cabin for the first +time when the cashier called him into this +apartment. It was very elegantly fitted up; and he +wondered if the beautiful vessel belonged to Capt. +Bendig. Pollish afterwards told him that she was +the property of a wealthy gentleman, and that Capt. +Bendig was only the sailing-master. The owner +had gone into the country for a few weeks, and +the skipper was making a dollar on his own account +by the present excursion. He was to receive five +hundred dollars for the use of the vessel and for his +own services; and each of the men on board was to +have one hundred dollars for his work and his secrecy, +especially for the latter.</p> + +<p>“What is your name, my boy?” asked Mr. Wallgood, +when Wade presented himself in the cabin.</p> + +<p>“Wade Brooks,” replied the stowaway; and he +felt sure the cashier had never even heard the name.</p> + +<p>“I suppose you live in New York.”</p> + +<p>“I lived there yesterday.”</p> + +<p>“Where do you live to-day?”</p> + +<p>“I live here.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_182">[182]</span>“But where is your home?”</p> + +<p>“I haven’t any home. My father and mother are +both dead.”</p> + +<p>“What are you doing in this vessel?”</p> + +<p>Wade told him how he happened to be in the +yacht. All he wanted was to get back to New York.</p> + +<p>“What are you going to do in New York?” asked +Mr. Wallgood.</p> + +<p>“I want to get something to do, so that I can earn +my own living.”</p> + +<p>“Have you any money to pay your board till you +get work?”</p> + +<p>“Not a cent: I had some money, but it was stolen +from me,” replied Wade, giving the details of his +experience.</p> + +<p>“You would like some money, wouldn’t you?”</p> + +<p>“I should; but I don’t want it bad enough to steal +it,” replied Wade; and perhaps he did not mean to +cast any reflections on the past conduct of the cashier.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps you heard something that was said in +the cabin early this morning?” continued the defaulter, +beginning to approach the subject that worried +him.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps I did,” replied Wade cautiously.</p> + +<p>“What did you hear?”</p> + +<p>“I didn’t hear much; and perhaps I was too +stupid to understand it,” added Wade, with a chuckle. +“But the captain of the vessel has promised +me a licking, and I mean to hold my tongue.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_183">[183]</span>The cashier plied him closely with questions; but +Wade had made up his mind to answer none of +them, and he did not.</p> + +<p>“I suppose you know the captain is going to put +us on board of a ship?” persisted the defaulter.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know any thing about what he is going +to do, except that he means to give me a licking,” +replied the stowaway blankly.</p> + +<p>“I think he is stupid, as the captain said,” added +Mrs. Crogick, in a low tone, though Wade heard +what she said.</p> + +<p>“At least you know that we are a party who +started in the night from New York; and you will +see that we are all put on board of a ship.”</p> + +<p>“I know what you say about it.”</p> + +<p>“For reasons which I will not explain, for you +would not understand them, we don’t wish to have +it known that we have left New York as we did. +Do you think you could keep the secret?” asked Mr. +Wallgood; and by this time he was somewhat excited.</p> + +<p>“I know I could if I tried, and if I got fair play; +but, after I have had a licking, I don’t feel like holding +my tongue,” replied Wade, deeming it best to get +an anchor out to windward.</p> + +<p>“I pay all the men on this vessel a hundred dollars +to hold their tongues. I will pay you the same, if +you will keep the secret.”</p> + +<p>“One hundred dollars!” exclaimed Wade, who +had heard of such a sum of money, but he did not +realize that he could ever possess such an amount.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_184">[184]</span>“That is just what I will give you, if you will +never in your life say what has happened on board +of this vessel,” added Mr. Wallgood.</p> + +<p>“Shall I have the money to keep?” asked the incredulous +boy; and he had already begun to think +of buying a farm in his native town, and astonishing +the natives with his wealth.</p> + +<p>“You shall have the money all for your own; and +I will make sure before I leave the vessel that the +captain will not flog you,” continued the defaulter.</p> + +<p>“I will keep the secret to the end of time, if I am +allowed to keep the money,” said Wade; and he +would not have said it if he had thought that the +sum he was to be paid had been stolen from the Walnut +National Bank.</p> + +<p>The cashier handed him a roll of bills; and Wade +proceeded at once to count them. It contained the +amount mentioned, and he put it into his pocket. +He had hardly done so before the captain came down +into the cabin.</p> + +<p>“What are you doing in here, you young rascal?” +demanded the skipper angrily. “You think you +must have a place in the cabin, do you?”</p> + +<p>“I called him in, Capt. Bendig,” interposed Mr. +Wallgood. “It is not his fault that he is here. I +have made the same bargain with him that was made +with each of the crew. I have paid him the money.”</p> + +<p>“You have not given that scalawag a hundred +dollars, have you?” exclaimed the captain.</p> + +<p>“I have; and I feel safer now than I did before. I<span class="pagenum" id="Page_185">[185]</span> +hope you will not attempt to flog him; for really I +don’t think he meant to do any thing wrong.”</p> + +<p>“He had no business in the yacht; and he won’t +tell me how he got on board of the vessel. He deserves +a flogging to teach him better than to take up +his quarters in a gentleman’s yacht.”</p> + +<p>Wade retreated to the state-room, feeling that the +cashier could settle this question better when he was +absent than when he was present. The door was +open, and he could hear all that was said. In the +end Capt. Bendig promised not to flog him, after a +good deal of pleading on the part of the defaulter; +and this was all Wade cared to hear, though he +could not help listening to something more as long +as he staid in the state-room.</p> + +<p>“That infernal revenue-cutter is coming up this +way; and we shall have to wait till night before we +put you on board of the ‘Housatonic,’” said the +captain, as soon as the flogging-question was settled.</p> + +<p>“A few hours will make no difference. She can +have no motive for overhauling the yacht,” replied +the cashier.</p> + +<p>“None at all. The bank people could not have +known that any thing was wrong about the establishment +before nine or ten o’clock this morning; and +the cutter was not in port last night,” added the captain.</p> + +<p>The party in the cabin seemed to think they were +still safe; and they expressed no fears of the result +of the expedition. While Wade sat in the captain’s<span class="pagenum" id="Page_186">[186]</span> +state-room, Pollish came in to see him. He closed +the cabin-door, and evidently had something to say.</p> + +<p>“See here, lad, I have a place for you; but it is all +my situation is worth for the captain to find out that +I put you into it,” said Pollish in a whisper.</p> + +<p>“I never will tell him, if he pulls my bones apart +for it,” replied Wade. “You can trust me as long as +you live. But I heard the captain tell the folks in +the cabin that he wouldn’t flog me.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t you believe him,” said Pollish earnestly. +“He will do any thing he likes, in spite of his promises. +Keep out of sight till the yacht gets back to +New York.”</p> + +<p>“I will take any place you say,” added Wade.</p> + +<p>“In the forecastle you will find a place under the +lower berth, as far forward as you can go, on the +starboard side.”</p> + +<p>“I am very much obliged to you, Mr. Pollish; +and, when I can do any thing for you, I shall be very +glad to do it,” replied Wade.</p> + +<p>“But the captain may find you there, though I +don’t think he will,” added the steward.</p> + +<p>“If he finds me, I won’t say a word that will do +you any harm. But I think I needn’t go into the +place till these people in the cabin are gone; for the +captain promised Mr. Wallgood that I should not be +touched.”</p> + +<p>“There is the place, and you can go into it when +you are ready. I think you had better go and look +at it while all the hands are on deck. You must not<span class="pagenum" id="Page_187">[187]</span> +let any of the sailors know you are in the place, for +they may blow on you.”</p> + +<p>“I will not;” and Wade went into the forecastle +to look at his future hiding-place.</p> + +<p>It was very close quarters for a boy of his size; +and, like the space under the captain’s berth, it was +filled with old clothes. Wade raked them out, and +then prepared the den for his reception when it +should be necessary to use it. He put most of the +garments in another place; but he left enough to +form a barricade in front of the aperture, that would +conceal him from the captain and others who might +be looking for him.</p> + +<p>We do not like to cast reflections upon the good +judgment of Wade and the steward; but the hiding-place +was not well chosen. As Capt. Bendig had +found him under one berth, he would be very likely +to look under all the berths in the yacht when he +wanted to find the stowaway. But Wade did not +believe he should have any occasion to use the place, +for the captain had promised not to flog him; and +he did not believe he could do any thing with him +except to carry him back to New York. He would +be very glad to go there; for the liberality of the +cashier had made him rich, and he could live a year +at least on the vast sum of money in his possession. +He did not care whether school kept, or not.</p> + +<p>He was no longer afraid of the captain, as long as +the cabin party remained on board; for he was confident +that the cashier would protect him for his own<span class="pagenum" id="Page_188">[188]</span> +safety, if for no other reason. He had wanted to go +on deck, and now he went. He had a place of retreat +in case of trouble, and all he had to do was to crawl +into it. It was nearly sunset when he went up the +cabin steps. He saw the ship at least two miles +ahead, for she had been under all sail from the time +she had made out the yacht; and it is probable that +she had seen the revenue-cutter, or she would have +shortened sail, and waited for the “Moonlight” to +come up.</p> + +<p>At sunset the wind all died out, while the “Housatonic” +was still two miles distant. The cutter was a +mile from either vessel. Nothing could be done; and +the ship and the yacht lay where they were all night.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_189">[189]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXIV.<br> + +<small>UNWELCOME PASSENGERS.</small></h2> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap">WE left Lon Trustleton and Matt Swikes at the +Fifth Avenue Hotel. They had counted out +and divided their ill-gotten treasure. The sudden +appearance of Wade Brooks had disturbed them very +much. He had been a stumbling-block to them, and +they were afraid of him. As soon as he had departed, +after he had refused to take any of the stolen money, +Lon tried to put a bold face on the matter; but it +was no use.</p> + +<p>“He will tell the clerks in the office that we are +here,” said Matt, when the door had closed behind +the intruder.</p> + +<p>“The clerks already know we are here, and he +won’t tell them any news,” replied Lon.</p> + +<p>“Wade will tell them who you are, and they know +your father,” continued Matt. “I think we had better +get out of this house as soon as we can.”</p> + +<p>“The people here certainly know my father,” +added Lon, musing. “I don’t know but the clerk +would telegraph to my father if Wade told him that +I was here, and that I had left home without his +knowledge.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_190">[190]</span>“Then we are fools to stop here another minute,” +protested Matt warmly. “I have no doubt that +your father knows where you are by this time.”</p> + +<p>“We will go down and get some dinner before we +leave; for we have paid five dollars, and haven’t had +any thing yet. My father can’t get here before +eleven o’clock; and we have time enough to keep +out of his way. Let us have one good dinner, if +nothing else, before we leave this big city.”</p> + +<p>“But we shall be caught if we fool with dinners,” +Matt objected.</p> + +<p>“We shall be more likely to be caught if we stay +in this room. We don’t have to go down to the +office to get to the dining-room.”</p> + +<p>Matt was controlled, as usual, by his friend; and +they went to the dining-room, where they dined upon +the best the house afforded; and this was all they +got for the five dollars they had advanced to pay +their bills. They thought it was a dear dinner, but +then it was a very nice one: at least Matt thought +so, for he had never eaten a stylish dinner before; +and Lon had to post him in regard to some things.</p> + +<p>When the dinner was finished, Lon led the way +down stairs; and, giving the office a wide berth, they +got out of the house without attracting the attention +of any of the clerks. They walked briskly till they +had placed a good distance between themselves and +the hotel.</p> + +<p>“Where are we going now?” asked Lon.</p> + +<p>“I’m sure I don’t know. I don’t think we shall<span class="pagenum" id="Page_191">[191]</span> +be safe in this city, if we intend to stay here,” replied +Matt.</p> + +<p>“We are safe enough. This is a big city, and +nobody could find us here.”</p> + +<p>“But we may blunder upon some one that knows +us, the next minute. There are plenty of people +from Midhampton in the city every day in the +week.”</p> + +<p>“Well, where do you want to go?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t care where I go, if I only get where we +are not in danger all the time.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll tell you what I should like first-rate,” added +Lon, musing, as though he were not sure it was safe +to tell what he would like.</p> + +<p>“What is it?” asked Matt, who was ready for +any thing that would take them out of the city, +where he did not feel safe a single minute.</p> + +<p>“I should like to go to sea.”</p> + +<p>“To sea!” exclaimed Matt; and this was certainly +a bigger idea than he had ever harbored in +connection with the runaway enterprise.</p> + +<p>“That’s the idea.”</p> + +<p>“Do you mean as sailors?”</p> + +<p>“Of course not: I mean as passengers. We have +the money to pay for the voyage. Then, if we are +gone two or three months, the folks at home will be +all the more glad to see us; and we shall get off +easy.”</p> + +<p>“Where do you think of going?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know. I heard that the ship ‘Housatonic’<span class="pagenum" id="Page_192">[192]</span> +was going to sea very soon. You know Capt. +Crogick, Matt?”</p> + +<p>“I only know that such a man lives in Midhampton +when he is at home,” replied Matt, who was +rather pleased with the idea of sailing in a ship on +the ocean.</p> + +<p>“I saw him at his house this week; and he told +me he should sail in a few days. You know he is the +brother-in-law of the cashier of my father’s bank.”</p> + +<p>“Where is he going to?” asked Matt, his interest +increasing as Lon proceeded.</p> + +<p>“He told me, but I have forgotten where it was: +it was to some place in Europe.”</p> + +<p>“Will he take us on board?”</p> + +<p>“I am afraid not; but we must provide for that +in some way.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t see how you can provide for it, if he is +not willing to take us.”</p> + +<p>“We needn’t let him see us till we have been out +a day or two. We can do as Wade Brooks did with +us. He got into the boat, and went to sleep there; +and when he woke the boat was miles from Midhampton.”</p> + +<p>“Where is his ship? I should like to see it.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know where she is; but we can easily +find her. She is called the ‘Housatonic.’”</p> + +<p>“Let us find her,” said Matt. “Then if we like +the looks of her, and we find a good chance, we will +get on board of her.”</p> + +<p>They went down to the East River, and asked a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_193">[193]</span> +great many men where the ship “Housatonic” was; +and they soon found her. She was a large and noble-looking +vessel. A steam-tug was waiting to tow her +down the harbor, but she was not quite ready to go.</p> + +<p>“What do you say, Matt? Shall we go on board +of her?” asked Lon.</p> + +<p>“I am ready to do so,” replied Matt.</p> + +<p>“We can hide in her, and no one will see us until +we are willing to be seen. But we must have something +to eat during the time we hide on board of +her,” said Lon. “The captain knows me; and he +will give us a berth in his cabin, and we shall be +all right. He said he should not be gone more than +three months.”</p> + +<p>Matt agreed to every thing that Lon suggested. +They went up to a shop near the pier, and bought as +much to eat as would last them a couple of days, +consisting mostly of cakes and crackers. Matt took +the bundle; and without much difficulty, for the +officers were busy getting the ship ready for sea, and +took no notice of them, they got on board. They +found the house on deck where the sailors were +lodged; and they slipped into it, and stowed themselves +away. They found room enough to coil up +their bodies under the berths where the sailors slept.</p> + +<p>In the course of an hour, the ship was hauled out +of the dock, and proceeded down the harbor, towed +by the tug. About dark, the steamer cast her off; +and she continued her course along the south shore +of Long Island. The runaways were not very comfortable<span class="pagenum" id="Page_194">[194]</span> +in their narrow quarters; and, as soon as the +ship left the pier, some of the sailors came into the +forecastle, and began to stow away their luggage. +About the only place for it was under the bunks; +and they jammed in their bags without regard to the +bones of the stowaways. But the latter braced +themselves up, and stood it till a second lot of the +crew, released from duty, came into the house to +stow away their effects. But by this time the tug +had left the ship, and she was proceeding under sail. +When the men came to crowd in another lot of bags +under the bunks, Matt could not stand the pressure; +and he yelled out like a good fellow.</p> + +<p>“What’s all this?” cried a half-drunken sailor, as +he pulled out all the bags; and then, seizing Matt +by the leg, hauled him out.</p> + +<p>“Let me alone!” screamed Matt, half frightened +out of his wits; for he was afraid the seaman would +knock his brains out.</p> + +<p>“What are you doing in there, my little biscuit-nibbler?” +demanded the old salt, as he tossed him +rather roughly upon the deck.</p> + +<p>“I’m not doing any thing,” cried Matt.</p> + +<p>“You want to go to sea without paying your passage, +do you? Well, my hearty, we always drown +such youngsters; and overboard you shall go,” said +the sailor. But it was plain enough to his companions +that he was only trying to frighten the boy; +and he was succeeding very well in his attempt.</p> + +<p>In a few moments more, Lon was dragged out in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_195">[195]</span> +the same way; but he did not yell as Matt had done. +He was more disposed to show fight; and he put the +toe of his shoe into the shin of the man who held +him. The seaman dropped him like a hot potato, +and Lon rushed out of the house to the deck. Matt +followed his example as soon as he could. They +went forward, and then stowed themselves away +under the topgallant forecastle. Matt had held on to +his bundle of provision. The watch on deck did not +see them, and they soon found a safe place. They +ate their supper, and after a while went to sleep on +the hard planks of the deck; for both of them were +very tired after the fatigues of the day and the +preceding night. The last lot of sailors who had +come into the house were the mate’s watch; and, as +they had to be on duty from twelve at night, and +were all more or less tipsy, they turned in without +troubling themselves any further about the boys.</p> + +<p>It was too cold for boys who had been used to a +good bed in the house to sleep out in the open air, +without even an overcoat to cover them. Before it +was time for the mid-watch to come on deck, both of +them were awake and shivering with the cold, though +it was an August night. Matt declared that he could +not stand it any longer, and he was going out on +deck, even if they had to be sent on shore for it. +Lon was glad enough to do the same thing, though +he was not willing to be the first to propose it. The +sailors of the captain’s watch saw them as soon as +they appeared; and they were reported to the second +mate, who had charge of the captain’s watch.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_196">[196]</span>“I know the captain, and it will be all right,” said +Lon, as soon as they had told their story to the +second mate.</p> + +<p>“He was out on deck a few moments ago, and I +am sure he hasn’t turned in yet. You will find him +in the cabin. By the way, are you some of the passengers +that are expected to come on board off here +somewhere?”</p> + +<p>“I didn’t know we were expected,” replied Lon.</p> + +<p>The second mate showed them into the cabin. +Of course Capt. Crogick was intensely astonished, +and not at all delighted, to see them. The son of +Capt. Trustleton must not see Mr. Wallgood when +he came on board. But he gave them a state-room, +and left the matter for the morning to decide.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_197">[197]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXV.<br> + +<small>BOUND TO A SICKLY CLIMATE.</small></h2> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap">CAPT. CROGICK was a good deal more vexed at +the appearance of these unwelcome passengers +than he cared to express. He had treated them well; +but he wished they were at the bottom of the sea, +or anywhere except on board of the “Housatonic,” +which was to receive the cashier of the Walnut +National Bank the next day. He wondered if the +boys were not sent as spies, to ascertain what was +going on on board of the ship; but, when he figured +up his dates, he was satisfied that they were genuine +runaways, as well as the cashier.</p> + +<p>It seemed very strange that these boys should +come on board of his ship just at this time when he +was managing the escape of his brother-in-law. He +at once made up his mind to send the young fugitives +back to New York in the “Moonlight.” But Capt. +Bendig might convey his passengers to the ship +before he knew the situation; and, if Lon saw Mr. +Wallgood, the whole scheme would be exposed, especially +his own agency in the affair, which was sure +to make trouble with his owners.</p> + +<p>Lon and Matt were permitted to sleep in peace for<span class="pagenum" id="Page_198">[198]</span> +that night, and in the morning they were invited to +the captain’s table to breakfast. It had been arranged +beforehand, that Lon should do the talking; but the +cabin-steward was present most of the time, and +nothing was said during the meal about the presence +of the two boys on board. As soon as the table was +cleared away, and they were alone in the cabin, Capt. +Crogick opened the subject.</p> + +<p>“Where do you think of going to, Alonzo?” he +asked.</p> + +<p>“Matt and I wanted to take a little voyage,” replied +Lon, with a cheerful smile, as though he was +engaged in a perfectly legitimate business. “We +don’t care much where we go to.”</p> + +<p>“Would you like to go to the coast of Africa, +where men die off like sheep with malarial fever?” +asked the captain, with a stern expression.</p> + +<p>“No: we don’t care about going to any such place +as that,” answered Lon, his jaw dropping at the +question, which seemed to indicate that the “Housatonic” +was bound to such a region as the shipmaster +described. “We don’t want to go to any such place +as that. Is your ship going to the coast of Africa?”</p> + +<p>“We shall certainly go to the coast of Africa,” +replied the captain; but he meant that part of the +coast of Africa which borders the Strait of Gibraltar. +“But your way of going to sea is not quite regular. +As it stands now, you are stowaways.”</p> + +<p>“But we will pay our passage,” added Lon.</p> + +<p>“Then you have plenty of money?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_199">[199]</span>“We have some money.”</p> + +<p>“Of course your father knows what you are about, +Alonzo?” continued the captain.</p> + +<p>“I can’t say he does.”</p> + +<p>“Then you are runaways, are you?”</p> + +<p>“I suppose that is what you would call us,” said +Lon, trying to laugh, though the captain was very +sober and dignified; but it was only because he was +troubled about his expected passengers, who might +meet the president’s son in spite of his efforts to +prevent such a meeting.</p> + +<p>“Your father would never forgive me if I took +you on a voyage without his knowledge and consent.”</p> + +<p>“He will never know it. We will not tell him +what ship we went in; will we, Matt?”</p> + +<p>“To be sure we will not,” answered the Swikes, +who was ready to indorse all that his companion +said.</p> + +<p>“I think he would find it out, even if I were +mean enough to do such a thing as to leave him to +worry for months about you. No, my lads: I don’t +like the idea of taking you to the coast of Africa, +where you would be almost certain to have the +fever, and almost as certain to die with it.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t want to go to any such place,” protested +Matt. “I would rather go to prison than to die +with such a disease. Can’t you send us back, captain?”</p> + +<p>“I may be able to do so: I will see. I may come +across some in-bound vessel that will take you back<span class="pagenum" id="Page_200">[200]</span> +to New York, if you pay your fare,” replied the master +of the “Housatonic,” pleased with the turn +affairs had taken.</p> + +<p>“I’m sure I don’t want to go to any place where +there is sickness,” added Lon. “But we will pay +our fare back if you will put us into another vessel.”</p> + +<p>“Have you money enough to pay your way back +to Midhampton? because, if you have not, I will +lend you some.”</p> + +<p>“I think we have enough, though I don’t know +how much it will be,” added Lon.</p> + +<p>“But you were going to pay your passage to the +coast of Africa and back; and of course you have +enough to carry you to New York,” said the captain, +who wished to know something about the finances +of the runaways.</p> + +<p>“I did not suppose the fare to the place where you +are going would be more than forty or fifty dollars,” +replied Lon.</p> + +<p>“Exactly so: then you must have at least a hundred +dollars apiece; and that will more than take +you back to New York.”</p> + +<p>“We haven’t quite a hundred apiece,” added Lon, +giving all the information Capt. Crogick wished to +obtain.</p> + +<p>“You are quite flush for a couple of boys,” said +the shipmaster with a smile. “As your father didn’t +know you were coming, Alonzo, I suppose he did not +give you this money.”</p> + +<p>Lon bit his lip; and now for the first time he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_201">[201]</span> +understood what the captain was driving at. He +wanted to know where he got his money.</p> + +<p>“My father didn’t give it to me; and I did not +steal it. It was some money I have been saving up +for years, for I always had plenty of money to +spend,” replied Lon.</p> + +<p>“It takes a good while for a boy to save up a hundred +dollars.”</p> + +<p>“I say I have been saving it for years, and for +just this thing. You told me you ran away from +home when you were a boy, and went to sea; and +now you are the captain of a ship. Who knows but +that I may be the captain of a ship?”</p> + +<p>“I know you will not. I didn’t run away from a +good home such as you have; and I did not crawl in +at the cabin window, as you are trying to do. I suppose +this other boy saved up his money in the same +way,” continued the captain, turning to Matt.</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir, every cent of it,” protested Matt, who +was willing to swear to any thing that Lon said.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know that I ever saw this boy before,” +added Capt. Crogick, fixing his gaze upon Matt; +“but, when you tell me he is the son of Obed Swikes, +I know his father never gave him much money to +spend.”</p> + +<p>“But I made most of it myself,” added Matt, who +realized the full force of the master’s argument; for +it was easier to squeeze milk out of a paving-stone +than to get any money out of his father to spend for +fun and frolic. “I used to pick berries, and sell +them. I used to do jobs for folks about town.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_202">[202]</span>“The story is rather thin for both of you. I don’t +believe it,” added Capt. Crogick bluntly.</p> + +<p>“It’s as true as preaching,” said Matt.</p> + +<p>“As true as some preaching, I have no doubt.”</p> + +<p>“Do you think I would lie about it?” demanded +Lon, beginning to mount the high horse he sometimes +rode.</p> + +<p>“I rather think you would lie about it when you +got into a tight place, as you are now.”</p> + +<p>“We have told the truth; and it don’t make any +difference to me whether you believe me or not,” +replied Lon, when he found it was no use to attempt +to bluff the captain of the “Housatonic.”</p> + +<p>“Be that as it may, I shall not meddle with the +matter: I have no time to attend to it, even if I +were disposed to do so. When I get a chance, I +shall send you back to New York; and you can +settle it with your fathers,” added the captain, as he +rose from his stool, and went out upon deck.</p> + +<p>“He smokes the whole thing,” said Lon, as soon as +they were alone.</p> + +<p>“I know he does; but what was the use of telling +him how much money we had?” demanded Matt, +who was sure his companion had been guilty of very +bad generalship.</p> + +<p>“I didn’t mean to do it; but it will make no difference +now, for he is going off on a long voyage, and +he may die of the fever he talks about.”</p> + +<p>“Our fun is spoiled for this time,” added Matt, +who seemed to deplore this as much as being found +out.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_203">[203]</span>“No, it isn’t. We shall return to New York in a +day or two. We shall have a first-rate sail in this +ship; and, when we get back, we can take a steamer +for some place where no one will know us, and have +a good time there. We are not licked out yet. +Come, let’s go on deck, and see the fun.”</p> + +<p>They left the cabin; and for a time they enjoyed +the movements of the big vessel, which was rolling +along under easy sail, for the captain was on the +lookout for the yacht which was to bring off his passengers. +But they soon wearied of this monotonous +life, and wished for something more active. It was +as dull as any thing could be; and they made up +their minds that they could not have stood it for a +voyage of four or five weeks. They saw a great +many vessels far to the south of them, bound to the +westward; and they wondered that Capt. Crogick +did not run down to one of them, and send them +back, as he said he should do. They were all ready +to return before it was noon; and in the afternoon +they were anxious to do so.</p> + +<p>Towards night, they saw the “Moonlight” astern +of the ship, and noticed that the captain frequently +examined her with his glass. Then they made out +the revenue-cutter, and they saw the captain looking +at her a great deal. Lon thought the shipmaster +was very anxious about something; for he would +hardly speak a civil word to him, when he asked him +a question. At sunset, when the calm came on, the +captain was more gruff than ever; and he seemed<span class="pagenum" id="Page_204">[204]</span> +to be very nervous. After dark the cutter ran +alongside of her; and her captain wanted to know +what the ship was doing so near the island. Her +papers were examined; but they were found to be +all right. The officer apologized for boarding the +“Housatonic;” and the cutter left her.</p> + +<p>Early in the evening Lon and Matt turned in, for +the want of something better to do. The ship did +not move, and every thing was as still as death. +The boys slept very well, better than the captain,—so +well that at daylight they could sleep no more, +though they remained in their berths.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_205">[205]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXVI.<br> + +<small>ANOTHER UNEXPECTED MEETING.</small></h2> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap">WADE BROOKS had his supper, by the grace +of Pollish, in the kitchen, so that he was not +obliged to appropriate a part of the captain’s meal, +as he had of his breakfast and dinner. At an early +hour in the evening, he turned into a spare bunk +in the forecastle; for it was not necessary for him +to seek his hiding-place. He slept well, and he +did not wake as early as the runaways on board of +the “Housatonic.” Wade could sleep twelve hours +a night when he had nothing better to do; and he +did it on this occasion.</p> + +<p>Capt. Bendig had not slept as well. He had been +on deck half the night, looking out for an opportunity +to communicate with the “Housatonic.” He +had not been in his berth more than an hour at a +time; and this was calculated to make him cross on +the following day, for no one feels good after he has +been up half the night. He was on deck at daylight, +when a little breeze came up from the eastward, +which was not fair for the yacht or the ship. But +the “Moonlight” was under way as soon as the +breeze swelled her sails. She barely moved, and it<span class="pagenum" id="Page_206">[206]</span> +would take her some time to beat up to the “Housatonic.”</p> + +<p>The revenue-cutter was about two miles farther to +the westward than she had been the night before. +She seemed to be on a mission of some kind, and to +be determined to remain near this particular locality. +If there had been a good wind, the yacht would have +followed the “Housatonic” to some part of the sea +where the cutter could not notice her movements. +But the ship could do nothing in that light head +wind, though she had braced her yards so as to lay a +course to the south-east. She had no perceptible +motion as she was seen from the deck of the yacht.</p> + +<p>When the “Moonlight” had been under way half +an hour, a boat put off from the “Housatonic,” and +pulled rapidly towards the yacht. In a short time +it came alongside, and Capt. Crogick sprang upon +her deck. As he did so, he cast an anxious +glance astern in the direction of the cutter, but he +appeared to think she was too far off to see what he +was about; for doubtless he did not care to have her +officers know that he had boarded the “Moonlight.”</p> + +<p>“Things don’t work well,” said he, when he had +satisfied himself in regard to the revenue-steamer.</p> + +<p>“That’s a fact. What do you suppose that cutter +is doing out here?” asked Capt. Bendig.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know. She boarded me last night; but +I am sure she don’t know what we are about. Did +she hail you?”</p> + +<p>“No. She has not been much nearer to the yacht<span class="pagenum" id="Page_207">[207]</span> +than she is now. It is very likely she is on the +lookout for some smuggler or filibuster. Those fellows +don’t often explain their business.”</p> + +<p>“That’s not all, either,” continued Capt. Crogick. +“About six bells last night, the second mate dug +out a couple of stowaways; and who do you think +they are?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t think I could guess,” replied Capt. Bendig.</p> + +<p>“One of them was the son of the president of the +bank of which your passenger is the cashier,” added +Capt. Crogick.</p> + +<p>“Whew!” whistled the captain of the “Moonlight.” +“That’s bad.”</p> + +<p>“Of course it is; and we must not let these stowaways +see the cashier or any of the family.”</p> + +<p>“That’s so. Last night was a good one for stowaways, +for I had one; but he is nothing but a wharf-rat, +I think, that came on board to sleep.”</p> + +<p>“I shall send these two boys back to New York in +your yacht; and I have come on board of you to +warn you. When I send them to the ‘Moonlight,’ +you must keep your passengers in the cabin, and then +lock these stowaways up in a state-room, or some +other place, where it is not possible for them to +know what is going on.”</p> + +<p>“All right,” replied Capt. Bendig. “We can +manage it very well.”</p> + +<p>“There’s no trouble at all about it, if we only +understand each other; but it would have been bad<span class="pagenum" id="Page_208">[208]</span> +if you had sent Wallgood and his wife on board of +the ship when these two young cubs were on deck; +and it would have been just as bad if I had sent the +boys to you. We have the matter well in hand +now, and there is nothing more to fear,” continued +the master of the “Housatonic.” “As soon as I +return to the ship, I shall send these boys to you: +so see that every thing is fixed for them. As soon +as you have locked them into a room, send the +cashier, his wife and mine, back in the same boat.”</p> + +<p>“All right. It shall be done; and I will see that +nothing goes wrong.”</p> + +<p>Capt. Crogick returned to his boat, and the men +pulled back to the ship.</p> + +<p>When he reached the “Housatonic,” he found +the stowaways had not yet turned out, and he sent +the steward to call them. They were not sorry to +find a chance to return to New York, and they soon +completed their toilets. They were handed into the +boat, and were soon on board of the “Moonlight.” +The cabin of the yacht was closed and locked when +they came on deck.</p> + +<p>Capt. Bendig’s state-room was chosen for their +prison, and they were conducted to it as soon as +they came on board. They were taken down by the +fore-hatch, for the door leading from the room into +the cabin had been fastened before. The captain, +without any explanations, shoved them into the +room, and locked the door upon them; and there +was no opening by which they could see out of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_209">[209]</span> +den, for it was only dimly lighted by blocks of glass +in the deck.</p> + +<p>“What does all this mean?” demanded Lon, as +the door was locked upon them.</p> + +<p>“We are locked in,” replied Matt.</p> + +<p>“I know it; but what is it for?”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps the captain thinks we may get back to +the ship.”</p> + +<p>“I understand it,” added Lon, with a sudden +flash of intelligence. “The captain of the ‘Housatonic’ +believes we stole the money; and he is going +to send us back to Midhampton by this vessel.”</p> + +<p>“Then the game is all up, and all our fun is spoiled +again,” replied Matt, disgusted with the situation.</p> + +<p>“Here is a good bed; and we may as well turn in, +and make the best of it. By and by, if they don’t +let us out, we will smash that door down, and raise +Cain generally,” added Lon, as he stretched himself +on the bed in the berth.</p> + +<p>When he had locked his prisoners into the room, +Capt. Bendig hurried his passengers out of the +cabin into the boat that was waiting for them. All +their baggage was put into the boat with them, and +in a few moments more they were on their way to +the “Housatonic;” confident that they were out of +danger now, for the cutter was still two miles distant.</p> + +<p>As soon as they were gone, and he had fulfilled his +contract with the master of the “Housatonic,” he +gave orders for the yacht to be put about, and headed +to the westward. He hardly gave a second thought<span class="pagenum" id="Page_210">[210]</span> +to the prisoners in his state-room. He had no instruction +in regard to them, except to land them in New +York. The breeze freshened a little, and the “Moonlight” +began to move through the water at a livelier +pace.</p> + +<p>By this time Wade Brooks had slept all he could; +and he left his bunk in the forecastle. When he +learned from Pollish that the captain was at his +breakfast in the cabin, he ventured to go on deck. +In the distance he saw the “Housatonic,” standing to +the south-west; and Pollish told him the passengers +had gone on board of her.</p> + +<p>“The captain is at his breakfast; but as soon as he +is done he will want to see you, my lad,” said the +steward. “You had better get something to eat +while you have a chance to do so; for you may not +get another to-day.”</p> + +<p>Wade was not a fellow to neglect an opportunity +of this kind: he went down to the galley, where Pollish +gave him all he could eat. While he was at his +breakfast, he heard a pounding on the door of the +captain’s state-room. Lon and Matt had stood the +monotony of the state-room as long as they could, +and the former had put his plan into execution. He +was going to break down the door if no one let them +out.</p> + +<p>“Pollish!” shouted the captain.</p> + +<p>“Here, sir,” replied the steward, hastening to the +cabin by the door through the pantry, which was +between the cabin and the kitchen.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_211">[211]</span>“What is that noise?” asked Capt. Bendig, when +the steward appeared.</p> + +<p>“The two boys in your state-room, sir,” replied Pollish. +“They want to get out, I suppose.”</p> + +<p>“Let them out, and then give them some breakfast,” +added the captain.</p> + +<p>He was very considerate of the ship’s stowaways,—more +so than of his own; but one of the former was +the son of a rich man, and that made all the difference +in the world. As the skipper of the “Moonlight” +was on the make, it is not unlikely that he +thought he might turn the presence of the boys on +board his vessel to account. He judged that the +father of one of them would be glad to give something +handsome to get him back to his home. It +might even pay to take them up the river in the +yacht to their residence; or he could go on shore at +Staten Island, and telegraph to the boy’s father, and +then present his bill. But, if the captain made any +such calculations as these, they were upset by his +own folly and breach of faith.</p> + +<p>Pollish obeyed his order, and released Lon and +Matt by the door at which they had been admitted +to their temporary prison.</p> + +<p>“Why were we locked up in that room?” demanded +Lon, as he confronted the steward at the +open door.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know. You must ask the captain: he did +it himself, and he don’t tell his crew what he does +things for,” replied Pollish.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_212">[212]</span>“We want some breakfast,” growled Lon.</p> + +<p>“You shall have some at once. Come into the +kitchen,” said Pollish.</p> + +<p>Lon and Matt followed him. Wade was seated at +a table, picking the meat from the bone of a mutton-chop. +Lon looked at him as though he had been a +ghost; and Wade looked at the two runaways with +a similar expression of surprise.</p> + +<p>“By hokey! how came you here, Matt?” demanded +Wade, almost overwhelmed by the sight of +him.</p> + +<p>“How came you here?” repeated Matt.</p> + +<p>“I believe you are an evil spirit, Wade Brooks,” +added Lon: “you follow us wherever we go.”</p> + +<p>Pollish deemed it best to inform the captain that +the boys knew each other.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_213">[213]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXVII.<br> + +<small>ESCAPED OVERBOARD.</small></h2> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap">“HOW in creation came you on board of this +vessel, Wade Brooks?” repeated Matt, when +he had found a tongue.</p> + +<p>“How in creation came you on board of this vessel, +Matt Swikes?” demanded Wade. “I thought +you meant to stop at that big hotel a while. Did you +spend all your money, and then have to go to +sea?”</p> + +<p>“No; we didn’t spend all our money; but we +thought we would take a little cruise at sea,” replied +Matt. “But when we heard the ship was going to +the coast of Africa, where they have the fever very +bad, we gave it up; and now we are going back to +New York. Have you gone to work on this vessel?”</p> + +<p>“No, I have not: I wish I could,” replied Wade.</p> + +<p>“The captain says the two young gentlemen are +to have their breakfast in the cabin,” interposed Pollish +at this moment. “Won’t you come with me?”</p> + +<p>Lon thought it was quite proper that they should +be invited to the cabin; and he was ready to follow +the steward without wasting a moment upon such a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_214">[214]</span> +fellow as Wade Brooks. Pollish led them through +the captain’s room into the cabin, where Capt. Bendig +received them very politely. He gave them +places at the table, and told the steward to bring the +best there was on board for their meal.</p> + +<p>“The steward tells me you know that boy we +have on board,” said the captain, when the two +guests were seated at the table.</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir: we knew him in Midhampton, where we +came from; but we don’t know any good of him. +He ran away from the folks he lived with, and was +charged with stealing two hundred dollars from them. +Isn’t that so, Matt?” replied Lon, who was certainly +a swift witness.</p> + +<p>“That’s just the idea I formed of him,” added +Capt. Bendig. “But I took him for a wharf-rat. +He stowed himself away on board of the yacht, and +tried to steal a passage; and he did steal my breakfast +and part of my dinner.”</p> + +<p>“I think they would like to see him in Midhampton,” +said Lon.</p> + +<p>Pollish was attending to the table, and heard all +that was said by the captain and the two runaways. +As soon as he had given the boys their breakfast, he +told Wade what he had heard,—that they said he +was a runaway, and that he was charged with stealing +two hundred dollars.</p> + +<p>“The coat fits them, and it don’t fit me,” replied +Wade indignantly. “It was Matt Swikes that stole +the money, and both of them ran away from home. +I have no home to run away from.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_215">[215]</span>“But the captain is down upon you, and he likes +to believe what those two fellows say. He always +believes what suits him best; and, as soon as you +have finished your breakfast, I think you had better +put yourself out of sight,” said Pollish. “And +don’t let any of the hands see you do it.”</p> + +<p>“I will take care,” replied Ward.</p> + +<p>He had about finished the meal, when he received +this advice from the steward. He went to the forecastle; +and, having assured himself that no one was +in it, he stowed himself away under the berth, in +the place which the steward had indicated for him. +He arranged the old clothes so as to conceal him from +any one who came into the forecastle; but he had not +much faith in his fortress if a thorough search should +be made for him. He lay down, and began to think +of the events of the day. The runaways seemed to +be in high favor with the captain: they had his +ear. They had already told bad stories about him, +which were all lies; but he did not care for this if +he could only get out of the yacht. He had an immense +sum of money in his pocket; and this time he +would take care not to let any one steal it from +him.</p> + +<p>As soon as Capt. Bendig had finished his breakfast, +he told Pollish to call Wade Brooks: he wanted +to see him. The steward did call him, but he did not +answer. He went into every part of the yacht; but +Wade did not appear. He reported to the captain +that he could not find the boy. Lon and Matt were<span class="pagenum" id="Page_216">[216]</span> +with the captain on deck by this time; and they +seemed to be greatly interested in the search.</p> + +<p>“Pollish, I believe you are in league with that +boy,” said the captain. “Now I want him, he can’t +be found.”</p> + +<p>“The last time I saw him he was in the kitchen, +eating his breakfast,” replied Pollish. “Then, when +I went to look for him, he was not there.”</p> + +<p>“He hasn’t left the vessel; and, if you don’t find +him very soon, I shall see what I can do about it,” +added the skipper of the “Moonlight.”</p> + +<p>Pollish visited every part of the yacht again; but, +of course, with no better success than before. By +this time the breeze had freshened into a steady wind, +and the “Moonlight” was going along at the rate +of four or five knots an hour. He hoped the yacht +would reach New York before the boy was found; for +he was afraid he might tell under pressure how he +got into the vessel, and this would cause him to be +discharged. Pollish reported to the captain that he +could not find the stowaway.</p> + +<p>Capt. Bendig called his mate and several of the +hands, and directed them to search the forecastle +while he looked through the cabin. The mate +searched the bunks, and the space under them; and, +when he came to the forward one on the starboard +side, of course he pulled out the fugitive.</p> + +<p>By this time the captain had satisfied himself that +the boy was not in the cabin; and he was in his state-room +when he was informed by the mate that Wade +had been found.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_217">[217]</span>“I knew the young scamp could not be far off,” +said the captain, and he followed the mate into the +forecastle. “So you have come out of your hole.”</p> + +<p>“No, sir; I did not: I was pulled out,” replied +Wade.</p> + +<p>“You may go on deck,” added the skipper to the +mate and the men.</p> + +<p>In a moment more Wade was alone with the captain +in the forecastle. He looked ugly; and the +poor boy concluded that the time had come for his +flogging. He did not like the idea of being flogged; +and he did not mean to submit if he could possibly +escape.</p> + +<p>“I have you now where I want you,” said Capt. +Bendig.</p> + +<p>“Then I suppose you want me in here,” added +Wade, for the want of something better to say.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I want you in here. I promised the gentleman +who was fool enough to give you some money, +that I would not flog you for stealing my breakfast +and dinner. I am a man of my word, and I’m not +going to flog you for that; but I’m going to flog you +for hiding away when I wanted you,” said Capt. +Bendig, making a spring at the boy.</p> + +<p>Wade dodged, and attempted to get by the skipper +and reach the door of the forecastle, so that he could +escape to the deck. But the tyrant, as he had proved +himself to be, caught him by the leg, and held him +fast.</p> + +<p>“Now I have you in hand, there is one other<span class="pagenum" id="Page_218">[218]</span> +thing I have to settle with you,” said Capt. Bendig, +transferring his hold from the leg to the collar of his +prisoner.</p> + +<p>Wade struggled with all his might to get away; +but the skipper held him as in a vise. When the +victim struggled, the captain tightened his grasp, and +shook his prisoner, till Wade was glad to hold still.</p> + +<p>“You have a hundred dollars that belongs to me,” +said the captain, when Wade had been still for a +moment.</p> + +<p>“It don’t belong to you,” protested Wade; and +the fear of losing the treasure was vastly more terrible +than the fear of getting the flogging.</p> + +<p>“Do you think I am going to see a little scalawag +like you steal into this vessel, and get a hundred +dollars for it?” demanded the skipper savagely. +“That would be giving you a reward for your +rascality.”</p> + +<p>“The gentleman gave me the money because he +wanted me to keep still,” sobbed Wade, exhausted +by his violent exertions.</p> + +<p>“I don’t care what he gave it to you for: that job +was mine; and all the pay for it comes to me.”</p> + +<p>“I told him I would keep still if I was allowed to +keep the money; and I won’t without,” said Wade +spunkily.</p> + +<p>“I haven’t any time to talk about it: I have said +what I mean; and now will you give me the money, +or shall I take it from you?” demanded the skipper +savagely.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_219">[219]</span>“I won’t give it to you; and it is stealing for you +to take it from me,” protested Wade with all the +strength of his lungs.</p> + +<p>The captain did not wait for any thing more: he +threw his prisoner on the floor, and, after a short +search through his pockets, found the old wallet in +which Wade had put the money. He took it from +him; and, while his victim was getting up from the +floor, he put it in his pocket. At this moment the +mate came to the door. As he opened it, Wade made +a dive through it.</p> + +<p>“Stop him!” shouted the captain.</p> + +<p>But it was too late: Wade had gained the deck.</p> + +<p>“What did you open that door for?” said the +skipper angrily.</p> + +<p>“I wanted to report to you that that revenue-steamer +is bearing down upon us, and, for aught I +know, means to board us,” replied the mate.</p> + +<p>“Why didn’t you report it before?”</p> + +<p>“I came down here; but you seemed to be busy, +and I did not like to disturb you,” answered the +mate with a smile.</p> + +<p>“Is she headed for the yacht?” inquired the captain; +and he appeared to be anxious on the subject.</p> + +<p>“She seems to be doing so.”</p> + +<p>“Do you suppose her people saw the ‘Housatonic’s’ +boat carry off those passengers?”</p> + +<p>“If they used their glasses, they couldn’t well +help seeing it,” replied the mate, who did not seem +to be at all troubled about the matter. “What odds<span class="pagenum" id="Page_220">[220]</span> +does it make if they did? I suppose the transaction +was all right wasn’t it?”</p> + +<p>“Of course it was. But where is that boy?”</p> + +<p>“He went on deck.”</p> + +<p>Capt. Bendig, afraid that Wade would tell the +other two stowaways what he had seen, hastened on +deck to secure him again. He saw the cutter was +headed directly towards the “Moonlight.” Wade +stood in the waist, with both eyes open. The skipper +was intent on catching him again, intending to +lock him into his state-room until the cutter had +passed, and then give him the promised flogging. +Wade retreated towards the stern, and then around +the mast to the forecastle.</p> + +<p>“Stop, you little villain!” said he. “You will get +an extra flogging for this.”</p> + +<p>When Wade saw he could not escape, he leaped +upon the rail, and then jumped overboard.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_221">[221]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXVIII.<br> + +<small>THE LORDS OF THE SEA.</small></h2> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap">WADE BROOKS did not take to the water +from mere impulse, and because he saw no other +way to escape from the captain of the “Moonlight.” +In the morning, when the cutter seemed to attract +some attention on board of the yacht, he had asked +something about her; for he had no more idea of a +revenue-cutter than a baby has. Pollish told him +that she was a kind of missionary vessel, which not +only caught the rogues that attempted to cheat the +government, but she assisted vessels in distress, and +looked out for all violations of the laws on the water. +If the crew of a ship mutinied, she was ready to +step in, and make the men do their duty; in a word, +she was to serve the government and individuals as +best she could.</p> + +<p>From this description of her, Wade concluded +that he ought to find friends on board of her. He +knew that the “Housatonic” was bearing away a +man who had cheated a bank—a national bank—out +of a hundred thousand dollars. He had been +robbed of his hundred dollars, and he did not feel +obliged to keep his secret any longer. Though Mr.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_222">[222]</span> +Wallgood had treated him very well, still he was a +robber of the bank; and, if his secret was betrayed, +he must blame Capt. Bendig for it. He had only +agreed to keep the secret if he was allowed to retain +the money, which Capt. Bendig had not permitted +him to do.</p> + +<p>But the skipper had not intended to give him a +flogging while the cutter was so near the yacht, lest +the cries of the victim should be heard on board of +her. His only purpose had been to catch Wade, and +lock him up in the forecastle or some other place on +board, so that he could not have a talk with the son +of the bank-president. If Lon Trustleton ascertained +that the “Moonlight” had been used to convey +the defaulter on board of a ship, the fact might +come to the knowledge of his owner; and he knew +what would follow. His place was his bread and +butter, as much as that of the cook or steward; and +it was not easy to obtain such positions as he held.</p> + +<p>If Capt. Bendig had supposed that Wade Brooks +had pluck enough to jump overboard, he would have +handled him more carefully. The stowaway soon +proved himself to be a good swimmer; for he struck +out from the yacht, which sailed away and left him +astern of her. But, as soon as the captain realized +the situation, he ordered the yacht to be hove to.</p> + +<p>“Hard down the helm!” he shouted to the man +at the wheel.</p> + +<p>But he had hardly given the order before he saw, +that, if it was obeyed, the “Moonlight” would run<span class="pagenum" id="Page_223">[223]</span> +into the cutter, which was now just abreast of her. +The steamer had “slowed down” some time before. +She immediately stopped her screw, and then backed +till she came to a full stop. Half a dozen of her +uniformed seamen were already in one of her quarter-boats, +ready to drop it into the water; but this +was unnecessary, for Wade had swam towards the +cutter, and as soon as she stopped he was alongside +of her. He saw the accommodation ladder at her +quarter, and he made for that. A stout quarter-master +was at the foot of the ladder with a rope in +his hand; and with his assistance Wade soon climbed +to the deck of the cutter.</p> + +<p>The officer of the deck asked him no questions, +but directed one of the stewards to take him below, +and fit him out with dry clothes, and then bring him +on deck again. By this time the “Moonlight” had +come about, and was lying to a short distance from +the cutter. The men in the quarter-boat were ordered +to lower away; and an officer was sent in it to +the yacht, which was evidently suspected of doing +something out of the way. Capt. Bendig received +the officer in the most courteous manner.</p> + +<p>“Will you explain your object in communicating +with that ship?” said the officer, opening the subject +of his visit.</p> + +<p>“Certainly: her captain is an old friend of mine; +and, as we were both becalmed, he paid me a friendly +visit,” replied Capt. Bendig.</p> + +<p>“Did you come out here for the purpose of receiving +this friendly visit?” continued the officer.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_224">[224]</span>“No, sir: I brought off the captain’s wife, if you +must know the whole of it,” said the captain of the +“Moonlight.” “She lived in the country, and did +not reach New York in season to come out in the +ship. Though I don’t know any thing about it, I +think it is more likely than not that the owners of +the ship objected to his taking her on the voyage as +a passenger, and he did not care to have her come on +board before she left the pier. Of course you will +regard what I say as told you in confidence; for I +don’t wish to get my friend the captain into trouble +with his owners.”</p> + +<p>“What sort of cargo did you receive from her?” +asked the officer.</p> + +<p>“No cargo at all: the ship is just out of New +York,” replied the captain of the yacht. “Do you +think she has smuggled any thing out of the country?”</p> + +<p>“No; but I have known a vessel to keep her contraband +goods on board till she was ready to sail on +another voyage, and then ship them into some gentleman’s +private yacht. I want to seize one such +pleasure-craft,” added the officer.</p> + +<p>“Well, sir, you can make a beginning with the +‘Moonlight,’” laughed Capt. Bendig, delighted to +find that the revenue-officer did not suspect the true +nature of his business with the “Housatonic.” “I +think her owner can fight his own battle as well as +any of them.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t say that any thing of this kind has been<span class="pagenum" id="Page_225">[225]</span> +done; but the captain of the cutter directs me to +ascertain your errand with that ship,” added the lieutenant.</p> + +<p>“Well, sir, I have told you my errand; and I don’t +know that I have done any thing to violate the laws +of the United States,” added Capt. Bendig, beginning +to bluster a little.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know that you have: I came to ascertain. +It becomes my duty to search your vessel,” continued +the officer.</p> + +<p>“You can do that as much as you please; and I +can tell you in the beginning that you will find no +smuggled goods on board,” said Capt. Bendig, with +more pertness than the occasion required.</p> + +<p>The officer called certain men from his boat, and a +thorough search was made of the “Moonlight.” Her +skipper made a great show of opening every locker, +closet, and trunk, where it was possible to conceal a +piece of silk or a box of cigars. Of course nothing +was found, and the captain crowed accordingly.</p> + +<p>“I hope you are satisfied,” said the skipper, when +the search was completed.</p> + +<p>“Entirely satisfied,” replied the courteous officer. +“I am very sorry to have troubled you.”</p> + +<p>“It is not much trouble to me; but I will take +care to inform my owner that his yacht has been +searched for contraband goods,” said Capt. Bendig, +who could not resist the opportunity to bully when +occasion offered.</p> + +<p>“Of course you are at liberty to do that, as I am<span class="pagenum" id="Page_226">[226]</span> +to inform the owners of the ‘Housatonic’ that you +conveyed the captain’s wife on board of her; and +possibly your owner would like to know the fact,” +replied the revenue-officer, who was very much disgusted +with the tone and manner of the captain.</p> + +<p>“You have me there,” said Capt. Bendig, with a +coarse grin; “and I think we had better both hold +our tongues.”</p> + +<p>“Just as you please: I don’t often go out of my +way to meddle with private affairs: I have only done +my duty in this case, and you can tell whom you +please about it.”</p> + +<p>The officer was really sorry that he found nothing +on board of the yacht, for he was human enough to +desire to see such an ill-natured fellow as the captain +of the “Moonlight” get into a scrape.</p> + +<p>“I want you to send that boy you picked up in +the water back again to the vessel from which he +escaped,” said the skipper, as the officer was about +to return to his boat.</p> + +<p>“Does he belong to the yacht?” asked the officer.</p> + +<p>“No: he’s nothing but a wharf-rat: he broke into +this vessel night before last, and I owe him a licking +for it,” grinned the captain, as though it would be a +pleasant thing for him to bestow the castigation.</p> + +<p>The officer’s sympathies were with the boy; and +he was willing to do any thing in his power to save +any human being from falling into the clutches of +such a brute as he saw the master of the “Moonlight” +to be.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_227">[227]</span>“How happened he to fall overboard?” asked the +revenue-officer.</p> + +<p>“He didn’t fall overboard: he jumped over.”</p> + +<p>“Well, what made him jump overboard?”</p> + +<p>“To get rid of the licking he deserved, I suppose. +He is a young scamp that ran away from the place +in the country where he lived; and I intend to have +him sent back,” replied Capt. Bendig.</p> + +<p>“I will report the matter to the captain, and he +will do what he thinks proper,” added the officer.</p> + +<p>“See here, I don’t want no fooling over this case. +I want the boy sent back at once. You are not the +lords of the sea, if you are in a revenue-cutter. You +haven’t any claim on that boy, and I want him sent +back,” blustered Capt. Bendig.</p> + +<p>“Do you know to whom you are talking?” said +the officer. “We do not take any orders from any +but the government.”</p> + +<p>“I want the boy; that’s all I’ve got to say about +it; and, if you don’t send him, you’ll have a bone to +pick with my owner, who has some influence in Washington. +Some things can be done as well as others.”</p> + +<p>“I will report what you say to the captain of the +cutter; and it is probable that he will not be bullied +into sending the boy back,” replied the officer indignantly. +“If you want the boy, you had better send +for him; for I am quite confident the captain will not +trouble himself to send him back, after your insulting +message.”</p> + +<p>“You young squirts of officers think you are the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_228">[228]</span> +lords of the sea; and you talk to men like me as if +we were of no consequence,” growled Capt. Bendig.</p> + +<p>“I treated you like a gentleman till you proved +that you were not one.”</p> + +<p>The revenue-officer went over the side into his +boat; but, just as he was ordering his crew to shove +off, he discovered another boat pulling from the cutter. +In a few moments it was alongside of the +“Moonlight.”</p> + +<p>“Mr. Wilkins, by order of the captain of the cutter, +you will take possession of this yacht, and hold +her till further orders,” said the officer of the boat, +touching his cap to his superior.</p> + +<p>Mr. Wilkins was glad to receive the order.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_229">[229]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXIX.<br> + +<small>CAPT. BENDIG’S BLUNDER.</small></h2> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap">MR. WILKINS immediately returned to the deck +of the “Moonlight,” attended this time by eight +seamen, part of whom had come from the cutter in +the second boat.</p> + +<p>“Well, sir, what do you want now?” demanded +Capt. Bendig, as Mr. Wilkins stepped upon the deck.</p> + +<p>“I am ordered to take possession of this vessel, +and to hold her till further orders,” replied the naval +officer.</p> + +<p>“What’s that for?” asked the astonished skipper, +taken all aback by the announcement.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know. I obey orders, and ask no questions +about things that do not concern me.—Stand +by to lower the foresail!” added Wilkins to his men, +as soon as they were on the deck of the “Moonlight.”</p> + +<p>“I call this high-handed!” exclaimed the captain; +but he was not quite so crank as he had been.</p> + +<p>“You can call it what you please,” replied the +lieutenant of the cutter, as his men gathered at the +foresail halyards. “Lower away!”</p> + +<p>“Can’t you tell me what this is for?” demanded<span class="pagenum" id="Page_230">[230]</span> +Capt. Bendig, as he realized that the command of the +yacht had passed out of his hands.</p> + +<p>“I cannot. I don’t know, and I don’t care,” answered +Wilkins curtly.</p> + +<p>“I don’t understand it,” added Capt. Bendig.</p> + +<p>“Neither do I; but, if anybody understands it, +you ought to. I should judge the order comes on +account of some information that boy has given; but +I don’t know any thing about it,” added Wilkins; +and he seemed to enjoy the chagrin of the captain. +“No information has been conveyed to the commander +of the cutter by any other person.”</p> + +<p>“Would the captain of the cutter hear what a +little scalawag like that boy has to say?” demanded +the skipper of the “Moonlight,” disgusted with this +view of the question.</p> + +<p>“The commander of the cutter knows what he is +about; and, if the boy tells the truth, he will hear +him as readily as any other person,” replied Wilkins.</p> + +<p>The lieutenant of the cutter then ordered his men +to anchor the yacht. When it was done, he took +the most comfortable seat he could find, and gave +himself up to the reading of a newspaper. He was +perfectly at home; for the yacht, for the time being, +was under his command. He did not care to talk +any more with the captain, or with anybody else.</p> + +<p>Capt. Bendig was utterly cast down. He began +to realize that he had made a blunder in treating the +“wharf-rat” in the manner he had. When he saw +the cutter coming, he had gone among the men, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_231">[231]</span> +given each of them fifty dollars of the money he had +received for them. He was of the opinion that this +was enough for them, and he proposed to keep the +other fifty himself; for he had made the bargain +with the principals, and the men did not know that +one hundred had been paid for each one of them.</p> + +<p>But, in order to understand the action of the commander +of the cutter, we must return to Wade +Brooks, who by this time was clothed in a suit of dry +clothes. The steward, who had him in charge, took +good care of him, and conducted him to the quarter-deck +as soon as he was in condition to see the captain.</p> + +<p>Wade was not a little abashed when he found himself +in the presence of the commander, who was +dressed in uniform, and looked like a greater man +than even the captain of the militia company in his +native town, who had always filled him with awe +and reverence. He looked at him, and was glad to +find that he did not look a bit like Capt. Bendig. +He did not put on any airs, and actually bestowed a +smile upon him.</p> + +<p>“Well, young man, have you been taking a cold +bath this chilly day?” said he, smiling again.</p> + +<p>“The bath was better than the licking,” replied +Wade, shrugging his shoulders. “I hope you don’t +think of sending me back to Capt. Bendig, who is +the hardest man I ever met in my life.”</p> + +<p>“That will depend upon circumstances. Do you +belong on board of that yacht?” asked the captain.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_232">[232]</span>“No, sir: I do not belong to her. If I did, I +would drown myself,” replied Wade, with energy.</p> + +<p>“How happened you to fall overboard?”</p> + +<p>“I didn’t fall over: I jumped over.”</p> + +<p>“What did you do that for?”</p> + +<p>“Because the captain was going to lick me for +nothing; and I would not stand it.”</p> + +<p>“What is your name?”</p> + +<p>“Wade Brooks, sir. What is yours?”</p> + +<p>The captain and an officer near him laughed outright +at the simplicity of the boy; and it was evident +that he came from the country.</p> + +<p>“You may call me Capt. Singleton; and that is +my name,” said the captain, when he had recovered +his gravity. “Now, Wade Brooks, what was the +captain of the yacht going to flog you for?”</p> + +<p>“For nothing at all. He promised Mr. Wallgood +that he would not flog me for taking his breakfast +and part of his dinner. He would not whip me for +this; but he said he should give it to me for hiding +in the forecastle when he wanted to whip me.”</p> + +<p>Capt. Singleton seated himself on a stool, and +continued to question Wade till he had drawn from +him his whole history since he came from Midhampton, +and up to the time he went on board of the +“Moonlight.”</p> + +<p>“Do you know what the yacht is doing out here?” +asked the captain.</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir, I do.”</p> + +<p>“Well, what is she doing out here?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_233">[233]</span>“The cashier of the Walnut National Bank in +Midhampton has run away with one hundred thousand +dollars; and the yacht came out here to put +him on board of that ship,” replied Wade, pointing +to the “Housatonic,” which was not more than +three or four miles distant; for she had tacked, and +was standing up to the north-east.</p> + +<p>“Do you mean that he stole the money?” inquired +Capt. Singleton, deeply interested in the matter.</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir, that’s what I mean. His name is Mr. +Wallgood, and he is the brother-in-law of the captain +of the ship. He went on board with his wife, and +the wife of the captain of the ship; and the two +women are sisters.”</p> + +<p>“Are you sure you are telling me the truth?” +asked the commander of the cutter.</p> + +<p>“Dead sure of it, sir; and, if you go to the ship, +you will find Mr. Wallgood on board of her, with his +wife and Mrs. Crogick, who is her sister.”</p> + +<p>“You said that before,” said the captain.</p> + +<p>“The cashier gave the men on the yacht a hundred +dollars apiece to keep still about it; and I don’t +know what he gave the captain of the ‘Moonlight,’” +continued Wade, not a little excited. “He gave me +a hundred dollars too; but Capt. Bendig took it +away from me.”</p> + +<p>“And that’s the reason you are telling about the +matter, I suppose,” added Capt. Singleton.</p> + +<p>“I told Mr. Wallgood I would keep still if I was +allowed to keep the money; and, as the captain did<span class="pagenum" id="Page_234">[234]</span> +not allow me to keep it, I am willing to tell all I +know about the case,” answered Wade.</p> + +<p>“I see; and the captain of the yacht made a mistake +when he took the money away from you,” +laughed the commander.</p> + +<p>“I didn’t mean to meddle with any thing that did +not concern me,” said Wade.</p> + +<p>“Didn’t you say you would not take any of the +money the two boys had?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir: I wouldn’t have any thing to do with +the money Matt Swikes stole from his father.”</p> + +<p>“But you were willing to take some of the money +the cashier stole. How is this?” asked Capt. Singleton.</p> + +<p>“I didn’t think any thing about it. Do you suppose +the hundred dollars was a part of the money he +stole from the bank?” asked Wade, with a look of +anxiety on his face; for this was the first time he had +thought about the subject.</p> + +<p>“I should suppose so, though I know nothing +about it.”</p> + +<p>“I had an idea that the hundred thousand dollars +he took from the bank was all fixed up some other +way. I heard him tell his wife about it; but I +couldn’t understand it. Somehow he was to get the +money when he got to Italy. At any rate, I didn’t +think the money he gave me had any thing to do +with what he stole: if I had, I wouldn’t have taken +it.”</p> + +<p>“And you say the two boys are on board of that +yacht?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_235">[235]</span>“Yes, sir; and one of them is the son of Capt. +Trustleton, the president of the bank,” replied Wade.</p> + +<p>“His son, is he? What did he say when he saw +the cashier of his father’s bank on board of the +yacht?”</p> + +<p>“He did not see him. Capt. Bendig locked the +two boys into his state-room till the cashier and his +wife had gone on board of the ‘Housatonic.’”</p> + +<p>Capt. Singleton sent the officer to direct Mr. Wilkins +to take possession of the yacht. He wanted +her captain to be where he could find him. He questioned +Wade for half an hour longer, and then he +sent a boat to bring Lon Trustleton on board.</p> + +<p>“He will tell you hard stories about me; but they +are not true,” said Wade, when the boat had gone.</p> + +<p>“I will hear what he has to say. Did you tell the +president’s son that the cashier had gone on board +of the ship?” asked Capt. Singleton.</p> + +<p>“No, sir: I had no chance, for the captain kept +them out of my way. He took them into the cabin.”</p> + +<p>When Lon Trustleton came on board of the cutter, +he looked very much scared. Mr. Wilkins had +put him into the boat in spite of the protest of Capt. +Bendig.</p> + +<p>“If that fellow has been saying any thing bad +about me, it is all a lie,” said Lon, almost as soon as +he touched the deck, and saw the captain and Wade +talking together.</p> + +<p>“Never mind that just now, my lad,” interposed +the commander. “You will answer my questions;<span class="pagenum" id="Page_236">[236]</span> +and be sure you speak the truth. Do you know a +man by the name of Wallgood?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir, I do: he is the cashier of the Walnut +National Bank, and my father is president of it,” +replied Lon, his face brightening up; for the question +did not seem to affect him in any bad way.</p> + +<p>“Where is Mr. Wallgood now?” inquired Capt. +Singleton, in a very indifferent way.</p> + +<p>“In Midhampton, I suppose.”</p> + +<p>“Have you seen him to-day?”</p> + +<p>“No, sir: of course I haven’t. I have been on +the water all day,” replied Lon, puzzled at the questions +put to him.</p> + +<p>“Should you know him if you saw him?”</p> + +<p>“Certainly I should: I used to see him about +every day.”</p> + +<p>“That’s all now.—Go ahead,” added the captain +to an officer; and the cutter was headed for the +“Housatonic.”</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_237">[237]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXX.<br> + +<small>THE SEARCH AND THE ARREST.</small></h2> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap">IN a few moments the cutter was going through +the water at her highest rate of speed. No +doubt Capt. Bendig understood what she was about +when he saw her headed towards the “Housatonic.” +Very likely he would have made an end of Wade +Brooks, if he could have laid his hands upon him at +that moment; but Wade was safe for the present. +Lon Trustleton was vexed and perplexed to know +the meaning of the strange questions the commander +of the cutter had put to him; and he had no idea +where the steamer was going, though Wade comprehended +the matter fully.</p> + +<p>“Where are we going now, Wade Brooks?” asked +Lon, after he had tried in vain to solve the mystery +of the situation.</p> + +<p>“You must ask the captain, if you want to know +any thing about it,” replied Wade coldly.</p> + +<p>“You needn’t be so stiff about it.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t run this vessel; and the captain of her +hasn’t told me what he is going to do,” added Wade.</p> + +<p>“I didn’t suppose he had; but the captain of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_238">[238]</span> +yacht says you have been telling him something,” +continued Lon.</p> + +<p>“I have told him a great many things; and he has +told me some.”</p> + +<p>“I dare say he thinks a good deal of you, Wade +Brooks,” said Lon, with a sneer.</p> + +<p>“I think he is one of the sort that will give a +fellow fair play. He isn’t such a fellow as the captain +of that yacht. You made friends with him; +and I don’t believe he was willing to have you leave +his vessel,” said Wade.</p> + +<p>“What makes you think so?” asked Lon, whose +curiosity was excited.</p> + +<p>“I think he will take you back to your father, and +then charge him a good price for doing it.”</p> + +<p>Capt. Bendig had protested against his being taken +to the cutter; but he did not know the reason. Lon +was satisfied that Wade knew what was going on, +and why he had been sent for. He asked him a +great many questions, all of which he refused to +answer. If the captain wanted him to know what he +was about, he could tell him: Wade would not. But +the steamer was going at a rapid rate through the +water; and, as the “Housatonic” was not making +more than four knots an hour, the two vessels were +soon within speaking distance.</p> + +<p>“Heave to!” shouted the captain of the cutter +as he ran his vessel under the stern of the “Housatonic.”</p> + +<p>“What do you want now?” demanded Capt. +Crogick.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_239">[239]</span>The commander of the cutter repeated his order, +and the master of the ship did not deem it prudent +to disregard it. A boat was lowered from the cutter; +and an officer was sent in it to the ship.</p> + +<p>“What is it now?” asked Capt. Crogick, as the +lieutenant came upon the deck of the “Housatonic.” +“You overhauled this ship last night.”</p> + +<p>“I know we did; but this time we want to inquire +into another matter,” replied the officer, whose name +was Graves. “Have you any passengers on board?”</p> + +<p>Capt. Crogick was taken all aback at this question. +He had sent his lady passengers into their +state-rooms, and had directed the cashier to conceal +himself elsewhere, so that they should not be seen; +and he had not looked for any trouble in this direction.</p> + +<p>“You visited my ship before, and looked her all +over; and you did not find any passengers,” replied +he.</p> + +<p>“You do not answer my question,” replied Mr. +Graves. “Have you any passengers on board?”</p> + +<p>“Did you find any passengers on board when you +searched the ship?” asked the captain.</p> + +<p>“I did not; but I was not looking for passengers +then. It seems to be an easy matter to answer my +question, if you are disposed to do so,” added the +revenue-officer.</p> + +<p>“What’s the use of answering it?” said Capt. +Crogick, utterly disgusted with the situation. “You +will search my ship just the same.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_240">[240]</span>“As you refuse to answer me, I need waste no +more time in talking about my duty.”</p> + +<p>“Is it against the law of the United States to +carry passengers?” demanded the captain.</p> + +<p>“It depends upon who the passengers are.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Graves called several of his men from the +boat, and then went into the cabin. No passengers +were in sight; and he began to try the doors of the +state-rooms. He found that most of them were +empty; but two were locked.</p> + +<p>“My wife is in that one; and, if you wish to disturb +her, I have no power to prevent you from doing +so,” said Capt. Crogick, in the tones of injured innocence.</p> + +<p>“I will not disturb her; but I don’t remember to +have seen your wife when I was on board before,” +replied the officer; “and you will recall the fact that +I looked into all the state-rooms.”</p> + +<p>“That you didn’t see her, don’t prove that she was +not on board,” added Capt. Crogick doggedly.</p> + +<p>“It don’t prove it; but I should be willing to bet +a hat she was not on board when I visited your ship +last time,” said the officer, with a laugh. “But I am +not looking for your wife; and I shall not molest her +in any way. The next room is locked; and my +orders are to bring any passengers except your wife +on board of the cutter. I must know who is in that +room.”</p> + +<p>“Well, sir, my wife’s sister is in that room,” added +the captain.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_241">[241]</span>“And who else?”</p> + +<p>“No one else,” answered the captain, as he +knocked on the door.</p> + +<p>It was opened by Mrs. Wallgood. She stepped +out into the cabin, looking as disdainfully at the officer +as though she had been a tragedy queen.</p> + +<p>“I beg your pardon, madam,” said Mr. Graves. +“I am sorry to disturb you, but the captain of the +cutter desires your presence on board of the vessel.”</p> + +<p>“If the captain of the cutter wishes to see me, he +must come where I am,” replied Mrs. Wallgood, as +proudly as though she had been in her own house.</p> + +<p>“I beg to remind you that he is an officer of the +United States,” added Mr. Graves.</p> + +<p>“I don’t care what he is. If I am to go on board +of the cutter, I shall be taken there by force,” said +the lady, with a queenly toss of the head.</p> + +<p>“Very well, madam; for the present, I will let the +matter rest,” added Mr. Graves, touching his cap +to the lady, and retiring from the cabin, though not +till he had examined the interior of the state-room.</p> + +<p>“You will bear witness that I do not oppose you +in the discharge of your duty,” said Capt. Crogick, +following him to the deck.</p> + +<p>“Of course you do not: I find no fault with you,” +replied Mr. Graves, who saw that the captain supposed +he had given up the search.</p> + +<p>The officer called all his men to the deck, and +commenced a search for the husband of the lady. +He returned to the cabin with four of them, and the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_242">[242]</span> +place was carefully examined. The officer was familiar +with the business, and had been through the +“Housatonic” once before. He started his men into +the between-decks.</p> + +<p>“I was not aware that officers of the United States +were in the habit of molesting lady passengers,” said +Mrs. Wallgood, with a withering sneer.</p> + +<p>“They often do it, madam,” replied Mr. Graves. +“I have met a lady with ten thousand dollars’ worth +of smuggled goods on her person. When ladies +engage in questionable transactions, they can hardly +be excepted from interference by the officers of the +customs.”</p> + +<p>“Do you charge me with smuggling?” demanded +the lady.</p> + +<p>“Certainly not, madam: I charge you with nothing,” +answered the officer, with a pleasant smile. “I +only invited you to go on board of the cutter.”</p> + +<p>“But I will not go.”</p> + +<p>“Very well, madam: I shall simply inform the +captain that you decline his invitation. I dare say +that will be the end of the whole matter. I am sure +he will not be so ungallant as to use any compulsion.”</p> + +<p>“Here he is!” shouted the old quarter-master, +who was conducting the search between decks.</p> + +<p>A moment later the veteran appeared leading out +the cashier. It seems that the defaulter had a slight +cold in the head, and an unfortunate sneeze betrayed +his presence to the cutter’s men.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_243">[243]</span>“I am glad to see you, sir,” said the officer. “I +must trouble you to go on board of the cutter.”</p> + +<p>“I think you have made some mistake, for I have +no business with the cutter,” replied Mr. Wallgood: +but he was trembling with emotion; and, in fact, he +was altogether too nervous a man to rob a bank, and +then manage his own escape.</p> + +<p>“Are you a passenger in this ship, Mr. Wallgood?” +asked the officer.</p> + +<p>“I am a passenger; but my name is not Wallgood,” +answered the cashier.</p> + +<p>“Then I beg your pardon for calling you by a +wrong name,” added Mr. Graves. “May I ask your +name?”</p> + +<p>“My name is John Simpson.”</p> + +<p>“Excuse me, Mr. Simpson, for the mistake I made. +But I shall be obliged to ask you to visit the cutter, +and my boat is waiting for you,” continued the officer, +in the blandest tones.</p> + +<p>“But I am not Mr. Wallgood, and you have mistaken +the person you want,” persisted the cashier.</p> + +<p>“Not at all: my orders are to bring on board the +cutter all the passengers except the captain’s wife,” +replied Mr. Graves. “This lady declines to go, and +I shall merely report her refusal to the captain.”</p> + +<p>“But what is your business with me?” asked the +defaulter.</p> + +<p>“I have no business whatever with you. I only +obey the orders of my captain; and I know nothing +whatever in regard to the matter,” replied Mr.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_244">[244]</span> +Graves. “You will oblige me by going into the boat +which is at the accommodation ladder.”</p> + +<p>The cashier objected, but the officer was inflexible. +Mr. Simpson had no business on board of the cutter: +he was ill, and it was an exposure for him to leave +the ship.</p> + +<p>“Why don’t you tell him up and down that you +won’t go, as I did?” demanded Mrs. Wallgood.</p> + +<p>“Well, I won’t go, then!” exclaimed the cashier.</p> + +<p>“That is candid and straightforward,” replied the +officer. “Here, Peterson, put this gentleman into +the boat,” he added, turning to the quarter-master.</p> + +<p>Peterson seized him by the collar, and marched +him out of the cabin. Mrs. Wallgood appealed to +the captain to resist; but he was too prudent to +meddle with a United States officer. In spite of the +lady he was compelled to get into the boat, which +pulled for the cutter.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_245">[245]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXXI.<br> + +<small>A FULL CONFESSION.</small></h2> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap">“BOAT ahoy!” shouted Capt. Crogick, as the men +began to pull for the cutter.</p> + +<p>“On board the ship!” replied Mr. Graves.</p> + +<p>“The lady has consented to go to the cutter,” +added the captain.</p> + +<p>“She is too late now: if I find the captain of the +cutter desires her presence, I will return for her; but +I have the impression that she will not be needed.”</p> + +<p>“But she does not wish to be separated from her +husband,” persisted Capt. Crogick.</p> + +<p>“Bear my regrets to her; but, as she chose to remain, +I prefer to indulge her for the present; and the +captain of the cutter shall decide whether he desires +her presence,” answered the officer, as the boat passed +out of hearing distance.</p> + +<p>“I was not aware that the lady was Mrs. Simpson,” +said Mr. Graves to his prisoner.</p> + +<p>“This is an outrage; and I think I have friends +enough at Washington to see justice done to me,” +said the cashier, who found it necessary to say something +to keep his courage up, and to preserve appearances.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_246">[246]</span>“I certainly hope you will have justice done to +you; but I am afraid it is the very thing you do not +want,” answered the officer.</p> + +<p>“I thought you said you knew nothing whatever +about the matter; and yet you treat me as though +I were a fugitive from justice,” replied Mr. Simpson.</p> + +<p>“I do not know with what you are charged, or +even that you are charged with any thing: I only +know that you concealed yourself in the ship, and it +cost half an hour to find you. I have generally +noticed that people who have done nothing wrong do +not hide from any one; and, on the other hand, I +have observed that those who are guilty are the ones +who hide. That is really all I know about it.”</p> + +<p>The defaulter said nothing more; but he did a +deal of heavy thinking while the boat was going to +the cutter. He could not imagine how his secret had +come into the possession of the captain of the cutter. +He had taken pains to cover all his tracks: he had +bribed every man in the yacht, and he was confident +that none of them had betrayed him. It was possible +that the cutter had witnessed his removal to the +ship; and he could explain his misfortune in no +other way. But he had not many minutes to think, +for the boat was soon alongside the cutter.</p> + +<p>Mr. Simpson was conducted to the deck of the +steamer, where Capt. Singleton stood waiting for +him. Neither Wade nor Lon was on deck, for the +captain had required them to stay in the cabin till +he had seen the defaulter.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_247">[247]</span>“How many passengers did you find in the ship, +Mr. Graves?” asked the captain.</p> + +<p>“Only this gentleman and his wife, besides the +captain’s wife. This is Mr. John Simpson. His +wife declined to come, unless I brought her by force, +which I did not care to do without further orders,” +answered Mr. Graves. “After I had started to return, +the lady changed her mind, and wished to come +with her husband.”</p> + +<p>“I do not desire her presence. I directed you to +bring all the passengers, so that I might be sure +to get the right one,” added the captain, as he turned +to his prisoner. “Take a seat, Mr. Simpson;” and +he placed a camp-stool for him.</p> + +<p>“What is your business with me, captain?” demanded +Mr. Simpson, mustering up all the courage +he could assume.</p> + +<p>“I am somewhat curious to know who and what +you are; and you will oblige me by satisfying my +curiosity,” said the captain, in the gentlest of +tones.</p> + +<p>“Your officer has given you my name. The captain +of that ship is my brother-in-law; and I was +going with him on a voyage for the benefit of my +health. If there is any thing wrong about that, I +should like to know what it is,” said Mr. Simpson.</p> + +<p>“Perfectly right and laudable: the sea often has a +good effect upon invalids; but it seems to me that +the way you went on board of the ship was not quite +regular.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_248">[248]</span>The cashier gave the explanation which had been +agreed upon before.</p> + +<p>“Where do you reside when you are at home, Mr. +Simpson?”</p> + +<p>“In Albany; and I am engaged in the grocery +business. I am forty-one years old. I have a wife, +but no children. I have been out of health for the +last six months, and”—</p> + +<p>“Do you know any thing about banking?” interposed +the captain.</p> + +<p>“As much as most business men who have dealings +with banks.”</p> + +<p>“Well, Mr. Wallgood,—I beg your pardon: Mr. +Simpson,—but I have an idea that you know more +of banking than the ordinary man of business.”</p> + +<p>“Why do you call me Mr. Wallgood, when you +know that my name is Simpson?” asked the cashier, +who wanted to know with what he was charged; for +it did not seem possible to him that the knowledge +of his defalcation could have come out so far at sea.</p> + +<p>“I have in mind a gentleman of that name,—the +cashier of the Walnut National Bank,—who has +just left Midhampton with a hundred thousand dollars +belonging to the bank. He was a man about +your size. Do you know any thing about him, Mr. +Simpson?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know any thing about him,” replied the +defaulter, with his heart in his throat.</p> + +<p>“You must excuse me, Mr. Simpson; but I have a +suspicion that this cashier was brought off from New<span class="pagenum" id="Page_249">[249]</span> +York in the yacht ‘Moonlight,’ and put on board +of the ship ‘Housatonic.’ Have you seen any thing +of him?”</p> + +<p>“There is no such person on board of the ship,” +replied Mr. Simpson, struggling to appear unmoved +under this trying ordeal.</p> + +<p>“Just now he is not in the ship; but wasn’t he +in the cabin when you were?” asked the captain +quietly, and as though he had not the least interest +in the question.</p> + +<p>“No, sir. No such person is or has been on board +of the ship,” protested the cashier.</p> + +<p>“You will excuse me if I press this matter far +enough to satisfy myself that you are not the person +for whom I am in search.”</p> + +<p>“Do you for a moment suppose that I am the one +who robbed the bank?” demanded Mr. Simpson, +with all the indignation he could throw into his +tones.</p> + +<p>“You mistake this matter: I said distinctly that I +wish to prove that you are not this person.”</p> + +<p>“That shows that I am under suspicion.”</p> + +<p>“It has that look, Mr. Simpson; but I am willing +to take either way you like, and will prove that you +are, or that you are not, the person, as you may +elect.”</p> + +<p>“It is all the same thing,” groaned the defaulter.</p> + +<p>“Very well: then I will try to show that you are +not the person. I have some witnesses to examine; +and, as I intend to be as fair as I can, you may ask<span class="pagenum" id="Page_250">[250]</span> +them any questions you please,” added the captain, +as he beckoned to a steward, who was waiting near +him.</p> + +<p>“Witnesses!” exclaimed the cashier, who did not +believe that anybody who knew him could be on +board of the cutter.</p> + +<p>“Call the first stowaway,” added the captain to +the steward. “If I find that you are not Mr. Wallgood, +you shall return to the ship; and I will tow +her far enough to make up for the delay to which I +have subjected her.”</p> + +<p>Wade Brooks came on deck clothed in the suit of +clothes provided for him when he came on board. +The cashier did not recognize him; for he had seen +him only in the gloom of the cabin. He wondered +what that boy could know about him.</p> + +<p>“Do you know this gentleman, Wade Brooks?” +asked the captain, as soon as the boy came to him.</p> + +<p>“I do, sir. It is Mr. Wallgood, the cashier of the +Walnut National Bank,” replied Wade.</p> + +<p>“How do you know it is, my lad?”</p> + +<p>“Because I often saw him in Midhampton; and I +saw him night before last on board of the ‘Moonlight;’ +and I heard him own that he had taken a +hundred thousand dollars from the bank,” replied +Wade.</p> + +<p>“I never saw the boy before in my life,” protested +the cashier.</p> + +<p>“Yes, you have, sir; and you gave me a hundred +dollars to keep still. And I told you I would keep<span class="pagenum" id="Page_251">[251]</span> +still if I was allowed to keep the money; but Capt. +Bendig took it from me,” added Wade.</p> + +<p>It was all plain enough to the cashier now. This +boy had told the people of the cutter all about the +doings on board of the yacht; and it appeared that +he had listened to the conversation between himself +and his wife. It was no use to hold out any longer.</p> + +<p>“Do you wish to ask this boy any questions, Mr. +Simpson?” said Capt. Singleton.</p> + +<p>“No, none,” replied the cashier despondingly.</p> + +<p>“Bring the other,” added the captain to the steward; +and a moment later came Lon Trustleton.</p> + +<p>“Why, how do you do, Mr. Wallgood?” exclaimed +the president’s son. “I’m sure I didn’t think of seeing +you here.”</p> + +<p>“What do you mean by calling that gentleman Mr. +Wallgood?” asked the captain of the cutter. “His +name is Simpson.”</p> + +<p>“This gentleman! He is the cashier of my father’s +bank; and I think I ought to know his name, +for I see him almost every day in the week,” replied +Lon.</p> + +<p>“I will give it up, captain,” groaned the defaulter, +covering his face with both his hands. “Do with me +as you please.”</p> + +<p>“Why, what’s the matter, Mr. Wallgood?” asked +Lon, astonished at the conduct of the cashier. “If +you are in trouble, my father will help you out of +it.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t believe he will this time,” said the cashier,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_252">[252]</span> +unable to control his emotion. “I have robbed +the bank of one hundred thousand! I may as well +speak it out; for there is no longer any hope for me. +I wish I was at the bottom of the sea!”</p> + +<p>Suddenly he made a rush for the side of the vessel. +But the captain saw what he intended to do; +and two strong men seized him before he could leap +overboard, and end his wretched life in the watery +grave of a suicide.</p> + +<p>“If you are going to do any thing of that sort, I +shall put you in irons,” said the captain, as the sailors +led him back to his seat. “One thing more. +What have you done with the money you took from +the bank?”</p> + +<p>“It is on board of the ship,” replied the defaulter +with a shudder.</p> + +<p>“Possibly, if you restore it, they may not prosecute +you; for that is the fashion of the times.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Wallgood consented to do this; but, before a +boat could be sent to the “Housatonic,” Capt. Crogick +and the cashier’s wife came to the cutter. They +were astounded to hear of the wretched man’s confession; +for they had anticipated nothing so bad as +this.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_253">[253]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXXII.<br> + +<small>EVEN-HANDED JUSTICE.</small></h2> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap">THE captain of the cutter sent an officer, in +charge of Mr. Wallgood, to the ship, for the effects +of the latter, including the money and credits +he had. In half an hour they returned. Capt. Crogick +went back to the “Housatonic,” and proceeded +on his voyage, his wife remaining with him. Mrs. +Wallgood laid aside her queenly air, and wept with +her husband at the crushing blow which had overtaken +them. Wade really pitied them, they felt so +bad; but it showed him that the way of the transgressor +was hard.</p> + +<p>“What are you going to do with me?” asked Lon +Trustleton, after the cutter had started for the +“Moonlight.”</p> + +<p>“I suppose I can’t do better than to send you back +to your father; for I understand that you are a runaway, +as well as the cashier of the bank,” replied the +captain.</p> + +<p>“Wade Brooks told you that; and he is the greatest +liar in the whole world,” replied Lon, casting an +ugly look at the subject of his remark. “He has +been lying about me all along.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_254">[254]</span>“I find he has told me the truth in all things. I +think your father will feel very grateful to him; for +he has been the means of arresting the cashier, and +of recovering the money,” added the captain. “He +says the boy with you stole two hundred dollars +from his father, divided it with you, and then you +ran away together.”</p> + +<p>“He stole it himself,” said Lon at a venture.</p> + +<p>“I do not intend to try the case between you,” +added the captain. “I am willing to leave it with +your father to settle as he thinks best.”</p> + +<p>The cutter continued to go at full speed till she +was within a short distance of the “Moonlight.” +Every thing about the yacht was as it had been, for +Mr. Wilkins was still in charge of her. As the +water was perfectly smooth, the captain of the cutter +decided to come alongside of the “Moonlight,” so +that he could more conveniently finish the case. +Fenders were put out, and the cutter was made fast +to the yacht.</p> + +<p>As soon as the two vessels were secured together, +Capt. Bendig came on board of the cutter. He had +been unable to obtain any satisfaction of Mr. Wilkins; +and he judged what had been done, by the +movements of the steamer. He had seen her overhaul +the ship, but the two vessels were too far off +for him to observe what had taken place. The first +person he saw when he went over the side of the +cutter was the cashier, sitting with his wife on the +quarter-deck. The sad face of the defaulter was<span class="pagenum" id="Page_255">[255]</span> +enough to convince him that the worst had transpired.</p> + +<p>“How’s this?” he asked, walking up to the cashier.</p> + +<p>“It is all over: your treachery has ruined me,” +replied Mr. Wallgood bitterly.</p> + +<p>“What do you mean by that?” demanded the +skipper of the yacht.</p> + +<p>“You took the money I paid that boy, away from +him; and he told the captain of this cutter the whole +story.”</p> + +<p>“What, that wharf-rat?” exclaimed the captain. +“I will take it out of his hide if he did.”</p> + +<p>“That will do no good. It is too late to do any +thing now,” groaned the cashier. “The mischief is +done.”</p> + +<p>“See here, you young whelp, did you tell the captain +of this cutter who was on board of the ‘Moonlight’?” +said Capt. Bendig, rushing fiercely at Wade, +who was standing near the rail.</p> + +<p>“I did: I told him all I knew about the matter,” +replied Wade frankly.</p> + +<p>“You did!” and the captain seized him by the +collar, and was about to chastise him on the spot, +when the captain of the cutter ordered his men to +lay hands on the assailant.</p> + +<p>The sailors were not very gentle about it, and the +skipper was tumbled all in a heap into the scuppers.</p> + +<p>“If you attempt any thing of that kind again, I +will arrest you, and put you in irons,” said the captain +of the cutter sternly. “You will find you have<span class="pagenum" id="Page_256">[256]</span> +enough to do take care of yourself, without meddling +with others.”</p> + +<p>“I shall get even with that young thief somehow, +or my name is not Bendig,” added the skipper, as he +picked himself up. “This world isn’t big enough +for both of us till I have given him what he deserves.”</p> + +<p>“What fault have you to find with him?”</p> + +<p>“He broke into the yacht, and then got possession +of business secrets, which he has used to my disadvantage; +and I will take it out of his hide.”</p> + +<p>“If you do, I shall know where to look for you,” +replied Capt. Singleton. “Perhaps this business is +a little outside of the strict line of my duty; but the +robbing of a national bank is a matter for United +States officers to deal with, and I shall take the responsibility. +As for you, Capt. Bendig, you are +guilty of a grave offence. You have used the yacht +of your owner in assisting a bank defaulter to escape +with his plunder. I don’t think you can settle that +with your owner alone.”</p> + +<p>“I think I can,” replied the skipper.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Wallgood, how much were you to pay this +man for his services?” asked the captain of the cutter, +turning to the cashier.</p> + +<p>“That was a private bargain, and it’s none of your +business,” interposed Bendig.</p> + +<p>“I shall tell the whole truth now, wherever it +hits; and I don’t think I am under any obligations to +you for taking the money for your crew, and robbing<span class="pagenum" id="Page_257">[257]</span> +this boy so that he was tempted to betray me,” added +Mr. Wallgood.</p> + +<p>“Your best way is to tell the whole truth,” said +the captain of the cutter. “This man took the +money, knowing it to be stolen from a national bank; +and I think it will appear that he is an accomplice +after the fact.”</p> + +<p>“Me?” exclaimed Capt. Bendig, startled at this +view of the case.</p> + +<p>“I am no lawyer; but that is what it ought to be.—How +much did you pay him, Mr. Wallgood?”</p> + +<p>“I gave him five hundred dollars for himself, and +one hundred dollars for each of the men on board of +the yacht. I paid the boy the money myself; but +Bendig took it from him, so that he has that also,” +replied the cashier.</p> + +<p>“This money was a part of the plunder; and it +must be paid to the bank again,” continued Capt. +Singleton. “Did you give the money to the men, +captain?”</p> + +<p>“I did,” replied the skipper of the “Moonlight;” +and he appeared to be very much embarrassed.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Wilkins, call all hands on board of the +yacht,” said the captain of the cutter to the officer +in charge of the “Moonlight.”</p> + +<p>The crew of the yacht were mustered in the waist, +and the revenue-officers proceeded to question them +separately. Every one of them declared that he had +received but fifty dollars, and not one of them knew +any thing about the affairs of the cashier. They had<span class="pagenum" id="Page_258">[258]</span> +been told that the owners of the ship might object if +they knew that she took passengers.</p> + +<p>“How much money did you pay this man?” asked +the captain of the cutter, returning to the deck of +his vessel, where the cashier remained.</p> + +<p>Mr. Wallgood stated the amount as he had before.</p> + +<p>“Capt. Bendig, it seems that you have intended to +cheat your own crew out of one-half of the sum they +were to receive for their services,” continued the +captain. “It is easy enough to believe this of you, +after you have robbed this boy of all his share. I +will give you about five minutes to restore to me all +the money you have received from Mr. Wallgood.”</p> + +<p>“All of it?” asked the bewildered skipper.</p> + +<p>“Every cent of it.”</p> + +<p>“But I paid out some money for provisions and +stores,” pleaded the captain of the “Moonlight.”</p> + +<p>“That shall be your loss; but the stolen money +must be restored, without regard to whose pocket it +comes out of.”</p> + +<p>“What if I do not do it?”</p> + +<p>“Then I will put you in irons, and hand you over +to the first United States officer I can find in New +York.”</p> + +<p>Capt. Bendig concluded to restore all he had; and +the cook, steward, and crew did the same. They +could not help themselves: it was stolen money; and +the captain of the cutter took the responsibility. +Doubtless he exceeded the limit of his duty, as he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_259">[259]</span> +himself declared; but he had certainly done justice +to all as far as it was in his power.</p> + +<p>“Now, Capt. Bendig, you are released; and you +may return to your vessel,” said the captain of the +cutter. “If you are not satisfied with what I have +done, you know where to look for me.”</p> + +<p>“You are rough on me, captain.”</p> + +<p>“Not so rough as you are on yourself. If you had +not attempted to grasp more than your fair share of +the plunder, and robbed that boy, you might have +got out of it with more money in your pocket. You +may go now.”</p> + +<p>“You won’t mention this little matter to the owner +of the ‘Moonlight,’ will you, captain?” whined Capt. +Bendig. “I am a poor man; and, if I lose my +place as the sailing-master of the yacht, I don’t know +what I shall do. I have a family to support; and I +don’t want to be out of a job.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know your owner; and I don’t make bargains +of that sort with fellows like you.—Cast off +the bow-line, Mr. Wilkins.”</p> + +<p>Capt. Bendig returned to the yacht; and his view +of the case was so changed, that it is doubtful whether +he even wished to “take it out of the hide” of +Wade Brooks.</p> + +<p>“Where is the other boy?” asked the captain of +the cutter; but no one had seen him.</p> + +<p>“Where is Matt?” asked Wade. “The captain +wants him.”</p> + +<p>“He must be in the yacht: I have not seen him +since I left her,” replied Lon.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_260">[260]</span>Mr. Wilkins was sent to look him up. It was +found that he was locked into Capt. Bendig’s state-room. +The skipper intended to make sure of him, +if he could, so as to make some money by robbing +him of what he had, and then making his father pay +for restoring him. Matt was glad enough to get out +of the “Moonlight;” for the captain had been rough +on him during the absence of the cutter.</p> + +<p>As soon as he was on board, the revenue-steamer +started for New York. Lon and Matt had a conference +as soon as they could get by themselves. They +talked about the future; and they were not quite +ready to be sent back home with a good part of the +money they had taken still unspent in their pockets. +They had not had the “good time” they anticipated; +but they could not see how they were to escape from +the cutter.</p> + +<p>Some time in the night the cutter anchored off the +Battery.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_261">[261]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXXIII.<br> + +<small>THE WAY OF THE TRANSGRESSOR.</small></h2> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap">WADE BROOKS was hardly satisfied with the +situation. He was in great danger of being +sent back to live with Obed Swikes. He had plenty +to eat on the cutter, and he had fared pretty well on +board of the “Moonlight.” He could not endure +the idea of returning to his former comfortless home, +where he had been both starved and abused. He +dreaded the cold of winter even more than the hunger +of the summer, though it was both cold and hunger +in the winter. He had tried to get work in New +York without success; and he had not a cent of +money to buy him a piece of bread.</p> + +<p>It might be possible for him to escape from the +cutter, or from those who attempted to take him +back to Midhampton; but this was only jumping +out of the frying-pan into the fire. The poor boy +was sadly perplexed by the situation. It was cold +and hunger if he went back to his former home, and +it was starvation if he did not go there.</p> + +<p>Lon and Matt were troubled in about the same +way, though the food problem did not disturb them. +They had money to buy what they wanted to eat;<span class="pagenum" id="Page_262">[262]</span> +but Wade had been rich twice, and had three times +lost all his money, for it was “just his luck.” If +Lon and Matt went back to their homes, they had to +answer for burning the barn, and taking the money +from the closet over the mantle-piece. If they staid +in New York, the police would by this time be on +the lookout for them. If they could get out of the +cutter, and on board of a steamer bound to some +place in the south, they might keep out of sight till +their money was all gone; and then all they had to +do was to go home and take the consequences.</p> + +<p>But the consequences did not trouble them much +as Lon reasoned, their parents would be so glad to +see them back, that they would let them off easy. +This time they could not charge Wade Brooks with +stealing the two hundred dollars; for he was not in +the town when the deed was done. Even Obed +Swikes would be compelled to believe his son was +the thief.</p> + +<p>Mr. Wallgood occupied a state-room by himself in +the cabin, the door of which was kept open all night, +with a man to watch him, lest he should repeat the +experiment of attempting to jump overboard. The +three stowaways were berthed in the steerage. The +strictest watch was kept in every part of the vessel, +and there was no chance for them to get out of her.</p> + +<p>When the cutter came to anchor in the night, Mr. +Wilkins, the first lieutenant, had been sent on shore +by the captain; but no one was informed in regard +to the nature of his mission. At daylight he returned,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_263">[263]</span> +bringing with him the morning newspapers. +He reported to the captain as soon as he came on +board.</p> + +<p>“The papers of this morning have a full account +of the disappearance of the cashier of the Walnut +National Bank of Midhampton,” said Mr. Wilkins, +when the captain asked him into his state-room, +where he was still in bed. “The account says that +Capt. Trustleton was in New York at the time the +absence of the cashier was discovered; but he was +telegraphed for, and immediately returned. It appears +that the amount of the defalcation is one hundred +and fifty thousand dollars.”</p> + +<p>“But the cashier has but one hundred thousand,” +added the captain.</p> + +<p>“I think the fifty thousand was the amount he +had taken before he left, and which made his departure +necessary.”</p> + +<p>“Very likely. The boy Brooks told me he heard +the cashier say he had loaned money to the captain +of the ‘Housatonic,’ which belonged to the bank. +Did you ascertain where Capt. Trustleton was?” +asked the captain.</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir: he is at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, where +he arrived in the midnight train. The papers say he +traced the cashier and his wife and another woman +to the night-train for New York, and followed them +the next night, just a day behind. The police were +at work on the case all day yesterday. I wrote a +note to Capt. Trustleton, informing him that his<span class="pagenum" id="Page_264">[264]</span> +presence was desired on board of the cutter as early +in the morning as possible; and I directed the night +clerk to deliver it to him in person at six o’clock in +the morning; and he will be here, I think, by +seven.”</p> + +<p>“Is the father of the other boy with him?” inquired +the captain.</p> + +<p>“I think not: the register of the hotel indicates +that Capt. Trustleton is the only guest from Midhampton,” +replied Mr. Wilkins.</p> + +<p>“I thank you, Mr. Wilkins, for the thorough manner +in which you have done your work; and I recommend +you to turn in.”</p> + +<p>The first lieutenant accepted this advice, and all +was still about the cabin of the cutter again. At six +o’clock Wade Brooks had slept all he could, and +turned out. When he went on deck, the watch was +washing down the decks; but he saw no chance to +go on shore. Several boats were fast to the swinging +boom; but the officer of the deck stood where he +could see all that was going on.</p> + +<p>At seven he was asked to breakfast at the captain’s +table. Lon and Matt were there also; but the defaulter +had not yet left his room, at the door of which +the sentinel still stood. Wade ate a very hearty +meal; for he felt that this one might be the last he +would get that day, for he intended to take French +leave as soon as he found a chance to do so. Before +the meal was finished, Mr. Wallgood came out of his +room, looking very pale and haggard, as though he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_265">[265]</span> +had not slept any during the night. Wade ended +his breakfast, and went on deck.</p> + +<p>When he came out of the cabin, he saw a boat +approaching the cutter; and, as it came nearer, he +recognized Capt. Trustleton in the stern-sheets. He +was amazed to see him so early in the morning; and +he concluded that his business related to the cashier, +though he could not see how he should know he was +on board of the cutter. The president of the bank +did not know that the defaulter was on board; but +Mr. Wilkins had intimated to him, that the captain +of the cutter wished to see him in relation to the +robbery of the bank.</p> + +<p>Mr. Graves was in charge of the deck, and he had +been instructed to admit Capt. Trustleton on board. +As soon as he came on deck, the first person he identified +was Wade Brooks.</p> + +<p>“How came you here, Wade Brooks?” asked the +visitor, who was as much astonished to see the boy +as the boy was to see him.</p> + +<p>“It would take some time for me to tell the story,” +replied Wade; “and I guess the captain of the cutter +wants to see you, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Have you seen any thing of Alonzo, my boy?” +inquired the president anxiously.</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir: Lon and Matt Swikes are at breakfast +in the cabin.”</p> + +<p>“Then it seems that you went with my son.”</p> + +<p>“No, sir: I did not. I haven’t had any thing to +do with them. Lon and Matt hid in the ship ‘Housatonic,’<span class="pagenum" id="Page_266">[266]</span> +and were found on board. That was the ship +Mr. Wallgood was in.”</p> + +<p>“Mr. Wallgood!” exclaimed Capt. Trustleton. +“Have you seen him too?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir; and he is in the cabin, eating his breakfast,” +replied Wade, who knew this would be good +news to the president of the bank.</p> + +<p>“Is it possible?”</p> + +<p>“It’s so, sir. Mr. Wallgood was going to the coast +of Africa in the ‘Housatonic;’ but the cutter found +him out, and brought him back, with all the money +he had taken from the bank.”</p> + +<p>“Well, this is good news that I did not expect,” +added Capt. Trustleton.</p> + +<p>“Here comes the captain of the cutter, and he will +tell you all about it,” added Wade.</p> + +<p>The president of the bank introduced himself to +Capt. Singleton. They sat down by themselves, and +the latter told the whole story.</p> + +<p>“Now, sir, I want to say in conclusion, that you +owe the discovery of the defaulter to the Brooks +boy,” said the captain of the cutter; “and I have +found that he told me the truth in all matters.”</p> + +<p>“I will make it all right with him,” said the president. +“Wade tells me that my son and another runaway +boy are on board.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir; and your son charges Wade Brooks +with the stealing of two hundred dollars.”</p> + +<p>“I know that the charge is false,” replied Capt. +Trustleton earnestly. “The Swikes boy stole the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_267">[267]</span> +money from his father; and I have no doubt that my +son divided it with him. The Brooks boy was not in +Midhampton when the money was taken. Even the +boy’s father believes he is guilty now.”</p> + +<p>Presently Lon and Matt came on deck; and of +course they were surprised to see Capt. Trustleton +there. The father treated his son very sternly, telling +him that he had disgraced himself and his family. +For the first time Lon felt sorry for what he had +done.</p> + +<p>“How much of the stolen money have you left?” +asked Capt. Trustleton.</p> + +<p>“Not much,” answered Lon evasively.</p> + +<p>“Don’t answer me in that way, Alonzo!” said his +father severely. “Tell me the truth at once.”</p> + +<p>“I have over ninety dollars, and Matt has about +the same,” replied Lon, alarmed at the unusual +severity of his father.</p> + +<p>“Give it to me.” Lon obeyed, and gave his +wallet to his stern parent.</p> + +<p>“Give me yours, Matthew,” added the captain, +turning to Matt.</p> + +<p>Matt was afraid to refuse, and gave up the old +wallet he had taken, with the money it contained. +Lon and Matt both protested that they had no more; +but Capt. Trustleton was not satisfied till he had +searched them both.</p> + +<p>“Now, if you attempt to run away again, I will +hand you over to the police, and let you stand your +chance of serving out a term in the penitentiary,” +added Capt. Trustleton.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_268">[268]</span>The cashier was completely overwhelmed when he +met the president of the bank face to face. He +trembled like an aspen, though the captain was more +gentle with him than he had been with his son. But +he was determined that the defaulter should pay the +penalty of his crime. He was handed over to the +proper officers, and in due time was sent to Midhampton +to be tried for his offence; and was sent to +the State Prison for a term of years, in spite of all +the influence that could be brought to bear in his +favor.</p> + +<p>Capt. Trustleton and the three boys landed, and +went to the Fifth Avenue Hotel.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_269">[269]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXXIV.<br> + +<small>THE EMPLOYMENT OFFICE.</small></h2> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap">“WADE BROOKS, the captain of the cutter told +me you had a hard time on board of the yacht, +and that her captain took away from you the hundred +dollars which Mr. Wallgood had given you,” +said Capt. Trustleton, when they were by themselves +at the hotel.</p> + +<p>“Capt. Bendig was pretty rough on me; but then +that’s just my luck,” said Wade, laughing.</p> + +<p>“Since you left your home in Midhampton, I have +inquired into your situation there; and I must say +that I do not blame you for leaving your place,” +continued the captain. “I don’t know whether you +intend to return, or not; but here is a sum of money +to make good your loss on board of the yacht.”</p> + +<p>Capt. Trustleton put a roll of bills into the hand +of the boy, and then left him before he had time +even to thank him for the gift. He was going to +say that he did not intend to go back to the home of +Obed Swikes; but he had no time to do so. There +he stood in front of the empty chair in which the +president of the bank had been seated, with the roll +of bills in his hand. It was in the public reading-room,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_270">[270]</span> +where plenty of people were gathered; and he +did not observe that some of them were looking at +him.</p> + +<p>“Well, this is <i>not</i> just my luck,” said he to himself. +“But I will bet there is not a man in New +York smart enough to get this away from me.”</p> + +<p>Then he could not help asking himself why Capt. +Trustleton had given him this money at this time. +Why did he not wait till they got back to Midhampton? +He would not let Matt and Lon go out of his +sight for a single minute, though they had not a cent +of money; but he had given him a pile of bills, and +did not seem to care where he went. He did not +quite understand it at first; but, after he had considered +it for a while, he was confident that he got +at the captain’s meaning.</p> + +<p>The captain had told him that he should not blame +him if he did not go back to live with Obed Swikes. +He did not expect him to go back; and for this +reason he had given him the money at the present +time. Certainly Capt. Trustleton had been very +kind to him. He had given him a dollar once before. +It was plain enough what the captain meant. Then +perhaps he did not wish him to go back to Midhampton, +for he knew something about the burning of +Garlick’s barn.</p> + +<p>“That’s it! He wants me out of the way!” exclaimed +Wade to himself. “With all these bills in +my pocket, I shall not be hungry at present. He +wants me to take myself out of the way, and I’ll +do it.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_271">[271]</span>Wade held the roll of bills given to him tightly +clinched in his fist, and his hand in his pocket. The +bitter experience of a few days before had made him +wise and prudent. He was afraid even to count the +money while so many people were about, though he +was very anxious to know how much he had. He +judged by the size of the roll, that it must contain as +much as twenty dollars; but if there were only ten he +should be satisfied, for that would feed and lodge +him till he could find a place to work.</p> + +<p>He walked about the hotel for an hour longer, +with the bills still in his hand. He did not see any +thing more of Capt. Trustleton or the two boys. He +wondered what had become of them. He concluded +that they had gone to their room to talk over the +events of the last two days. He wanted to renew +his search for a place to work, but he did not like to +go off without saying any thing to Capt. Trustleton. +Finally he went to the office, and asked the clerk +where the captain was.</p> + +<p>“He has taken the train for home: he went about +an hour ago,” replied the clerk to his question.</p> + +<p>“All right,” replied Wade; and he was sure now +that Capt. Trustleton did not want him to go back to +Midhampton.</p> + +<p>The wanderer wanted to count his money before +he left the hotel: if he did not, he would not be able +to tell whether he lost any or not. Besides, the +amount would help him in making his calculations +for the future. He looked about the hotel for a place<span class="pagenum" id="Page_272">[272]</span> +where he could do it without being seen. He looked +into the reading-room, among other apartments; and, +as it was about eleven o’clock in the forenoon, it was +by this time quite deserted. Fixing himself in a +corner, he took the bills from his pocket.</p> + +<p>It was a pleasing task; for this time it was not +stolen money, and there was no one to take it away +from him,—no one that he knew of. The first note +he looked at was a ten-dollar bill; so was the second, +and the third. The figures were so big, that he had +to stop to rest his imagination. Thirty dollars so far! +He began to think of buying out some of the rich +men he had heard of in New York.</p> + +<p>Again another ten-dollar bill was turned up, and +then another, and another: in fact, every bill of the +pile was of this denomination, and there were ten of +them. One hundred dollars! And then it came to +his mind, that the captain had said that he should +make good the loss he had sustained by the treachery +of Capt. Bendig. Wade was almost beside himself at +this extraordinary luck, as he called it; but after a +while he cooled off. He was ten times as much +elated this time as he was when he had the same sum +before. The money seemed to be ever so much more +real than before.</p> + +<p>With his hand on the money all the time, he walked +about the room, thinking what he should do next. +He wanted a place. He did not think, because he had +money, that he could live without work: he wanted +to earn his own living, and put the money into a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_273">[273]</span> +savings bank where it would pay interest; and then +he should have something to lean upon if he got out +of occupation, or should be sick, so that he could not +support himself.</p> + +<p>While he was thinking of the matter, he happened +to glance at one of the newspapers that lay on the +table. He saw the word “Wants.” He had seen +the same thing in the Midhampton paper; and he +knew that people advertised when they wanted help, +as men and women did when they wanted places. +He wondered that he had not thought of this before; +for perhaps this paper contained a score of places +which he might obtain.</p> + +<p>He took the newspaper, and sat down in the corner +of the room to study the column of “Wants.” He +found plenty of places that he thought he should +like. “Wanted, a young man to drive an express-wagon: +good recommendations required.” He could +drive an express-wagon, for he had done it a great +many times; but, unfortunately, he had no recommendations, +good or bad. This was the difficulty +which Caleb Klucker had pointed out to him. He +looked at a great many other advertisements; but all +of them required testimonials, as Caleb had called +them.</p> + +<p>He was beginning to take a very hopeless view +of the situation, when his attention was attracted to +an advertisement in another column: “Wanted, a +young man with one hundred dollars, to act as cashier +in a restaurant. Good security and good interest +given for the money.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_274">[274]</span>Wade realized at that moment that he was “a +young man with one hundred dollars.” He did not +comprehend what the duties of a “cashier in a restaurant” +were, though he concluded that the principal +one must be to take the payment for meals. He had +been to several such places in Bridgeport and in New +York; and he had noticed that a man was employed +to take the money. He had been to school enough +to learn his arithmetic pretty well, and he thought he +could make change as fast as any of the men he had +seen doing it.</p> + +<p>Wade fixed in his mind the street and number +where applicants for this desirable situation were +required to call; and then he started to find the +place. He inquired of a porter at the door where +the street was. It was a long walk to the place, and +he feared that the situation might be taken up before +he could apply for it. It was nearly two hours +before he reached his destination. It was a small +office up one flight of stairs, in an old wooden building. +It was called “an employment office.”</p> + +<p>At the side of the door were placards, stating that +all sorts of persons were wanted. “One hundred +waiters” were wanted. “Twenty-five male cooks” +were wanted. “One hundred young men were +wanted to drive express-wagons.” “Fifty men as +porters were wanted.” “Seventy-five young men +were wanted as clerks in stores.” “One hundred +boys were wanted in all sorts of places.”</p> + +<p>Wade wondered he had not come upon any such<span class="pagenum" id="Page_275">[275]</span> +place before. He had been wandering all over the +city in search of a place; and here was one where +hundreds of young men and boys were wanted. It +was just the place for him; for, among all these situations, +he was sure he could find one that would +exactly suit him, especially as he was not very particular +what kind of work he did. He was willing +to be a waiter in a saloon, an errand-boy, or a clerk: +he was even willing to buckle right down to hard +work.</p> + +<p>With his hand on his money, he ascended the stairs, +and found the sign, “Employment Office,” on a door +which he opened and entered. The room he went +into was a small office, the walls of which were covered +with “wants” like those he had seen at the +street-door. Behind a short counter was a dapper-looking +man with a hook-nose, who smiled sweetly +upon the anticipated customer. He was dressed in +plaid clothes, and had a great diamond in his shirt-bosom +which was big enough to qualify him to be a +hotel-clerk.</p> + +<p>“Good-morning, sir: what can we do for you?” +asked the man, who called himself an “employment broker,” +and for short reduced the term to simple +“broker.”</p> + +<p>“I want to get a place to go to work,” replied +Wade, as intent on business as the broker.</p> + +<p>“One dollar, if you please,” added the man of +places, holding out his hand to receive the fee.</p> + +<p>“What’s that for?” asked the young man from<span class="pagenum" id="Page_276">[276]</span> +the country, rather taken aback by this early demand.</p> + +<p>“For one dollar we register your name; and, as +soon as we find a place that will suit you, we put you +into it without any further charge,” replied the +broker.</p> + +<p>“I am willing to give you a dollar if you will get +me the place,” added Wade, who did not think it was +just the thing to take the pay before the work was +done; but then, he was “one from the country.”</p> + +<p>“We don’t do business in that way. We can’t +keep an office open for those that want places for +nothing: we have been fooled too many times for +that,” said the man, with a knowing wink. “What +sort of a place do you want?”</p> + +<p>“Cashier in a restaurant,” replied Wade confidently. +“The paper says, a young man with one hundred +dollars.”</p> + +<p>“Have you the money?”</p> + +<p>“I have.”</p> + +<p>“That’s another thing,” replied the broker.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_277">[277]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXXV.<br> + +<small>THE BENEVOLENT BROKER.</small></h2> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap">“MUST I pay a dollar before I can find out what +sort of a place this one is?” asked Wade, who +concluded that he should not negotiate on this basis.</p> + +<p>“By no means! certainly not! We do business +on correct principles,” said the employment broker, +with the blandest of smiles. “When we raise any +money for a party, we charge him a commission; and +that pays our fee.”</p> + +<p>“What sort of a place is this cashier in a restaurant?” +asked Wade, who wanted to know something +more about it.</p> + +<p>“It is one of the most desirable situations in New +York City,” answered the polite broker. “The +young man who gets that situation is sure to be +taken in.”</p> + +<p>“Taken in?” repeated Wade, who had his own +meaning for this phrase. “What do you mean by +that?”</p> + +<p>“Taken into the business; that is, if he proves to +be honest and reliable. He has to know nothing but +how to make change. It is a very nice place; and +the proprietor of it is in a great hurry to obtain a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_278">[278]</span> +young man who can fill the bill. He was in here not +more than half an hour ago, and said he wanted +some one to take right hold at dinner to-day.”</p> + +<p>“How much does the place pay?” asked Wade, +greatly interested in this very desirable situation.</p> + +<p>“He did not say how much he was willing to pay; +but I suppose about ten dollars a week; and the +party would have his meals free at the restaurant.”</p> + +<p>Wade thought this was simply magnificent. Ten +dollars a week for sitting at a counter and making +change during meal-hours! That was more than +they paid their clerks in the stores in Midhampton. +How Obed Swikes’s eyes would stick out, if he should +go down to his former home, and tell him that he was +getting ten dollars a week besides his board in the +great city of New York!</p> + +<p>“The cashier would not sleep at the place, I suppose,” +added Wade.</p> + +<p>“That will be just as you and the proprietor can +agree. I believe he has some rooms that he lets to +his steady boarders.”</p> + +<p>“And the one that gets this place must lend the +man that keeps the restaurant a hundred dollars?” +said Wade, who did not quite understand this part +of the proposed bargain.</p> + +<p>“Precisely so. You see, this cashier will handle hundreds +of dollars every day of the proprietor’s money; +and this small loan is merely to insure the honesty +of the person employed. He does this instead of +asking for testimonials; for, between you and me, no<span class="pagenum" id="Page_279">[279]</span> +one knows who signs these papers, and I have heard +that there are men who will give anybody a testimonial +for a dollar or two,” laughed the knowing broker +in situations.</p> + +<p>Wade saw the point, and thought it was a good +idea; for he had no recommendations, and all the +other advertisements required them.</p> + +<p>“I don’t find any fault with the loan,” said Wade, +when he had looked into the subject.</p> + +<p>“I think you said you had the money,” added the +man behind the counter.</p> + +<p>“I did say so.”</p> + +<p>“Actually?” queried the broker.</p> + +<p>“I shouldn’t say so if I didn’t have it,” answered +Wade, with some indignation.</p> + +<p>“You will excuse me if I wish to assure myself on +this point. You see, we are so often imposed upon, +that we hardly know whom we can trust,” continued +the broker. “It was only yesterday that I had a +young man apply for this place; and, after giving the +keeper of the restaurant a deal of trouble, it turned +out that he had no money, and wanted to give his +note for the hundred dollars; and that would have +been no guaranty at all for his honesty.”</p> + +<p>“I mean to speak the truth all the time,” said +Wade.</p> + +<p>“I have no doubt you do; but then, you are an +entire stranger to me. I cannot send for the proprietor +of the restaurant, and ask him to come up +here under another uncertainty. If you will just<span class="pagenum" id="Page_280">[280]</span> +satisfy me that you have the money, I will send for +him at once. You see, it is not very often that a +young man of your age has a hundred dollars in his +pocket,” persisted the broker in his blandest tone.</p> + +<p>“I think I can easily satisfy you on that point,” +said Wade, as he took from his pocket his wallet, +exhibiting the roll of bills, and turning over each +one so that the man behind the counter could count +them as he did so.</p> + +<p>“That’s enough,” answered the broker, his eyes +glowing with satisfaction. “I see that you are an +honest and fair young man, and very different from +most of those who come here. I have a great deal +of sympathy for young men out of employment; +but I am sorry to say that a great many of them are +willing to cheat me out of my time and money.”</p> + +<p>“I am not such a fellow!” exclaimed Wade.</p> + +<p>“I know you are not. I see you speak the truth, +and are ready to back up what you say,” added the +benevolent broker. “Now, if you will sit down here +for a few minutes, I will go down stairs, and find a +boy to send after the keeper of the restaurant.”</p> + +<p>“I won’t give you all that trouble,” interposed +Wade. “I will go to his restaurant, and see him +there, if you will tell me where it is.”</p> + +<p>“That’s no way to do business,” said the broker, +shaking his head with another knowing smile. “I +am sorry to say that all these restaurant-keepers are +not as honest as you are, Mr.— What did you say +your name was?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_281">[281]</span>“I didn’t say; but my name is Wade Brooks,” +replied the applicant.</p> + +<p>“Some of them are not as honest as they might +be, Mr. Brooks,” continued the broker, who seemed +to have his eyes open to dishonesty in every direction.</p> + +<p>“If he is not an honest man, I don’t know as I +want to have any thing to do with him,” added Wade +doubtfully.</p> + +<p>“Oh! he is a perfectly honest and upright man, as +the world goes,” interposed the broker, seeing that +he had rather overdone the business. “You see, if I +get him the right sort of a cashier, he is to pay me a +commission for my services. If you go to his place +of business, and engage with him, he may say—though +I don’t think he would—that I was not +entitled to the commission, as the arrangements were +not made in my office. A great many very honest +men, even members of the church, take this view of +the matter. But the advertisement you saw, and +which brought you here, cost me three dollars; and +my commission only amounts to five dollars.”</p> + +<p>Wade Brooks had brains enough to comprehend +this logic; and he thought the broker was very fair +about the matter. He did not see how anybody +could hire an office, pay for advertisements, and do +business, for nothing.</p> + +<p>“I will send for Mr. Flinker”—</p> + +<p>“Mr. who?” interrupted Wade.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Flinker. Didn’t you ever hear of Flinker’s +restaurant?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_282">[282]</span>“Never,” replied Wade.</p> + +<p>“I supposed everybody knew it,” added the broker, +as though he pitied the young man for his ignorance. +“It is just in the midst of his dinner-time, and I +don’t know that he will be able to come up just at +present.”</p> + +<p>“If you will tell me where it is, I will go there and +get my dinner: I would like to see what sort of a +place it is.”</p> + +<p>“That isn’t the right way to do business,” replied +the broker, writing a note with a pencil in a very +hurried manner. “I think this note will bring him +at once; and I dare say he will want you to go to +work right off.”</p> + +<p>Wade happened to think, if he broke one of the +ten-dollar bills in his pocket, he would not have a +hundred dollars to make the trade with; and he concluded +to let the broker send for the keeper of the +restaurant, who would at least give him his dinner, +if he did not set him at work at once. There was +something very pleasing in the idea of beginning his +new duties at once. His hundred dollars would be +put on interest also. The broker left the office, and +went down stairs; but he was not absent more than +five minutes.</p> + +<p>“I think he will be here in a few minutes,” said +the man of places. “I believe he has his father in +the restaurant for a few days; and if he has, he will +be able to come right off.”</p> + +<p>It was not more than twenty minutes, before a man<span class="pagenum" id="Page_283">[283]</span> +came into the office; and the broker introduced him +as Mr. Flinker, speaking in the highest terms of +Wade, as though he had known him all his life. He +was sure the young man was honest and smart, and +that he was just the person to be the cashier of a restaurant. +Mr. Flinker was very glad to see him. He +had had a great deal of trouble with the cashiers of +his restaurant. They were dishonest, and robbed +him of half of his profits. He would never employ +another without some sort of guaranty of his honesty; +and the “dead beats” who had so often imposed +upon him were the very ones who never had a +hundred dollars to deposit with the employer, to +insure their good behavior.</p> + +<p>“I will pay you ten per cent for the money,” continued +Mr. Flinker. “It is true, I do not need the +money, and would rather not take it if I could manage +the business in any other way.”</p> + +<p>“I am a poor boy, and this hundred dollars is all +the money I have in the world,” said Wade, who was +pleased with the fair talk of the keeper of the restaurant. +“I can’t afford to lose it.”</p> + +<p>“Do you think I would rob you of it?” demanded +Mr. Flinker, looking as magnificent as though he had +been the president of the Walnut National Bank.</p> + +<p>“Oh, no, sir! I didn’t mean that,” protested Wade, +afraid that he had offended the high-toned keeper of +the restaurant.</p> + +<p>“If you did, I would have nothing more to say +to you about this little matter; for I can’t afford to +have my honor doubted.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_284">[284]</span>“Excuse me, for I didn’t mean what I said,” added +Wade.</p> + +<p>“I see you didn’t; and I pass over the remark,” +said the indulgent Mr. Flinker.</p> + +<p>“But the advertisement said good security would +be given for the money,” persisted Wade, who was +not quite willing to drop the subject.</p> + +<p>“Very true; and the note of Francis Flinker is as +good as gold; but you shall have an indorser.”</p> + +<p>Wade understood what this meant; and the keeper +of the employment bureau offered to put his name on +the back of the note.</p> + +<p>“You can satisfy yourself about the name of Mr. +Flinker, by asking all the people near his place. He +will pay the note any time when you want the +money,” said the man behind the counter. “Then, +if he don’t pay it, I will.”</p> + +<p>Wade reflected.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_285">[285]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXXVI.<br> + +<small>THE NEW CASHIER.</small></h2> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap">OBED SWIKES sometimes had money to lend, +and Wade had heard him talk with the neighbors +about such matters; and he had listened to +many conversations on such subjects at the stores +and in other places. If a man was able to pay, his +note was good. He could easily find out what people +thought of Mr. Flinker near his place. If they +all said he was good, he could safely trust him with +his hundred dollars.</p> + +<p>“We might as well draw up the note, and sign it +here; for the restaurant will be full,” suggested Mr. +Flinker.</p> + +<p>The broker wrote it, and Mr. Flinker signed it. +Then the man behind the counter indorsed it, and +handed the paper to Wade. He read it, and saw +that it was in the usual form. He had learned about +notes at school, and had seen them in the books; and +he was sure the note was all right.</p> + +<p>“You can inquire about me in the vicinity of the +restaurant; and, if you find it is all right, I will give +you the note, and take the money. Now we will go<span class="pagenum" id="Page_286">[286]</span> +to my place of business,” said Mr. Flinker, when the +arrangements were all made.</p> + +<p>Wade was all ready; and he walked beside the +proprietor of Flinker’s restaurant to that establishment. +He was conducted through a great many +streets, and turned so many corners, that he did not +believe he could ever find the employment office +again, if he wished to do so. But he felt that he +had no further business with that bureau. He was +almost sure of his place, and even expected to be +taking the money for the customers’ dinners in the +course of another half-hour.</p> + +<p>At length they came to the establishment. It was +rather a large place. Over the door was a sign with +large letters, “Flinker’s Restaurant.” Bills of fare +were stuck up all over the front of the store, and a +great many people were going in and out. It looked +like a place that was doing a very lively business.</p> + +<p>“This is my establishment,” said Mr. Flinker, +when they came to the door.</p> + +<p>“It looks like a big place,” said Wade, delighted to +think he was to be the cashier of such an establishment.</p> + +<p>“It’s not very big,” said the proprietor modestly. +“I intend to enlarge it in the fall, for I own the +building.”</p> + +<p>He owned the building! Then what was the use +of asking anybody whether his note was good or +not? But Wade determined to make sure on this +point; for he had lost money, and he was not going +to run the slightest risk this time.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_287">[287]</span>“We will go in, and I will give you some dinner +then you can go about the neighborhood, and ask +about my credit among the shop-keepers.”</p> + +<p>“I am all ready for my dinner,” added Wade.</p> + +<p>Mr. Flinker led the way into the restaurant, and +took a seat at a vacant table. He invited Wade to +be seated with him, and then tossed the bill of fare +to him.</p> + +<p>“Order what you like best,” said he, in an indifferent +sort of a way.</p> + +<p>Wade called for roast chicken and several other +articles, though he was not as hungry as he had +sometimes been.</p> + +<p>“Call for every thing you wish,” added Mr. Flinker, +in an off-hand way; and it was evident that he +was a liberal man towards his help.</p> + +<p>The proprietor called a waiter, and gave him the +order for the dinners in a haughty tone; and the man +in a white apron was certainly very polite to him. +He seemed to be perfectly at home; for, while they +were waiting for the dinner, he got up and walked +about the room, speaking to various persons, though +the cashier that was to be could not hear any thing +he said. Then he left the restaurant by a door in +the rear, which Wade thought might lead to the +kitchen. Certainly Mr. Flinker acted as though he +was the master of the place, if the “one from the +country” had for an instant suspected that he was +not.</p> + +<p>Wade looked at the counter, at which quite a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_288">[288]</span> +number of people were seated on high stools, eating +oysters variously cooked. At one end stood an old +man who was taking the money for the meals. He +seemed to be very smart for an old man; and Wade +concluded that he was the father of the proprietor.</p> + +<p>The waiter brought the two dinners ordered; and +in another minute Mr. Flinker joined him at the +table. Neither of them said much till the eatables +were disposed of; for Wade was too much interested +in his present occupation to care much for any thing +else; but he saw what was going on all the time. +He thought his new situation would be all that he +desired. Then he and his future employer had pudding +and coffee; and Wade was forced to admit that +it was the best dinner he had eaten for a long time, +if not the best he had ever had. The waiter brought +two checks when the meal was finished.</p> + +<p>Wade didn’t see why the man should bring the +proprietor these checks, as of course he did not have +to pay for what he had ordered. Perhaps Mr. Flinker +saw that he looked with some surprise upon these +bits of pasteboard; for he at once explained them.</p> + +<p>“You will take notice of this little circumstance, +Mr. Brooks,” said he. “I require a check to be +given to every one that eats at these tables.”</p> + +<p>“What’s that for?” asked Wade.</p> + +<p>“If I didn’t do it, all the waiters might dine their +friends here. The old gentleman at the counter +don’t know that you are with me. Every one that +dines here free carries his check to the cashier; and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_289">[289]</span> +he is instructed to pass it without any money. It is +a part of the cashier’s duty to see that every one +brings a check to him. If the person is not to pay, +he is the only one that knows any thing about it.”</p> + +<p>“Your father seems to be a very smart man, in +spite of his age,” suggested Wade.</p> + +<p>“He thinks he is smart; and so he is, in a certain +way; but he makes a great many mistakes. Besides, +he knows too much for me. I have to support him; +but he orders me around as though I were still a +child,” laughed the proprietor of the restaurant. +“He is my father; and of course I have to humor +him.”</p> + +<p>“He has forgotten that you have grown up, I suppose,” +added Wade.</p> + +<p>“Very likely. Now you can go out and ask about +my credit; and, if you are not gone more than half +an hour, I shall be here when you come back. You +are rather too late for dinner to-day; but you will be +on hand for supper, for my father only stays during +the middle of the day.”</p> + +<p>“I will not be gone more than fifteen minutes,” +replied Wade, who felt that the inquiry was nothing +but a mere form.</p> + +<p>“Very well: I will be here. I have to go into the +kitchen, and lay out the meats for supper,” added Mr. +Flinker.</p> + +<p>Wade left the restaurant with the feeling that his +fortune was made. He was to have ten dollars a +week; for that was what the proprietor had promised<span class="pagenum" id="Page_290">[290]</span> +him in the course of the conversation at the employment office. +It was the nicest and easiest sort of +work he could think of, and was not at all like the +drudgery he had been obliged to do on the farm of +Obed Swikes. He had been unlucky a great many +times; but now he was the luckiest fellow in the +world.</p> + +<p>At the corner of the next street, he saw a large +provision-store. It was not unlikely that Mr. Flinker +bought his meat at this place. He went in. +Business was dull at this time in the day. He had +read the sign over the door; and he asked for Mr. +Wangdon.</p> + +<p>“That’s my name,” replied the elderly man to +whom he had put the question. “What can I do for +you?”</p> + +<p>“Do you know Mr. Flinker?”</p> + +<p>“I do: he has been my neighbor for ten years.”</p> + +<p>“Is his credit good?”</p> + +<p>“Flinker’s? He pays cash for every thing, and +don’t owe a dollar in the world,” replied Mr. Wangdon +with enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>“Would you take his note for a thousand dollars?” +asked Wade, putting the question as he had heard it +done at home.</p> + +<p>“Yes, for ten or twenty thousand dollars, or any +other sum that I could lend him, or sell goods for. +He is better than half the banks. Why do you ask +such a question?”</p> + +<p>“A gentleman asked me to make some inquiries +about Mr. Flinker.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_291">[291]</span>“He is worth more than a hundred thousand dollars, +and has no debts. Every business-man about +here will tell you the same thing,” replied Mr. Wangdon. +“And he is one of the best and kindest men +in the world.”</p> + +<p>Wade thought so too, though he was glad to have +his own opinion of the keeper of the restaurant confirmed.</p> + +<p>“I am much obliged to you for telling me all this,” +added Wade, as he left the provision-store.</p> + +<p>It would have been better for the boy from the +country if he had told Mr. Wangdon more fully +why he asked these questions; but he was satisfied. +It was useless to ask anybody else about Mr. Flinker +for the marketman had told him what all the business-people +thought of the proprietor of the restaurant. +He went back; and he had not been absent +more than a quarter of an hour. As he entered the +place, he saw Mr. Flinker talking to his father at the +counter; but, as soon as he came in, the conversation +was terminated, and the son took the new cashier +into a retired part of the room.</p> + +<p>“I am all ready for business,” said Wade, with a +cheerful smile upon his face.</p> + +<p>“Then you are satisfied with the inquiries you +have made?” added Mr. Flinker.</p> + +<p>“Perfectly satisfied,” answered Wade, taking his +wallet out.</p> + +<p>“If you are not, I am entirely willing to give you +more time to look the matter up; for I want you to +feel secure.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_292">[292]</span>“I don’t want any thing more. The man that +keeps on the corner says you are worth a hundred +thousand dollars, and that you don’t owe a dollar in +the world,” added Wade, thinking that this report +would please his new employer.</p> + +<p>“That’s all true enough; and this note will be the +only piece of paper of the kind with my name upon +it in New York, or anywhere else,” replied Mr. +Flinker, as he tossed the note to Wade.</p> + +<p>The “one from the country” read the paper again, +and then handed his hundred dollars to the proprietor +of the restaurant, who was worth a hundred +thousand dollars, and did not owe a dollar.</p> + +<p>“By the way, can you find 786 Broadway? I +want some one to go up there, and collect a bill,” +added Mr. Flinker.</p> + +<p>Wade was sure he could find it, and started with +the bill.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_293">[293]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXXVII.<br> + +<small>JUST HIS LUCK AGAIN!</small></h2> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap">MR. FLINKER told the new cashier that if he returned +by five o’clock, he would be in season for +the supper. The bargain was completed, and he was +the cashier of the great restaurant. If he was +minus his hundred dollars, it was in better hands +than his own. In fact, he was glad to get rid of the +money, for he was no longer nervous about its safety. +There were so many sharpers about the great city, +that he was glad to hold the note of such a man as +Mr. Flinker for it. None of those swindlers like +Caleb Klucker could rob him of it now.</p> + +<p>With a light heart Wade walked up Broadway, +thinking all the time about the new situation. He +had a lively imagination, and he could not help fancying +himself behind that counter in the restaurant, +taking in the checks for meals, and dealing out the +change for bills, as he had seen old Mr. Flinker do +it. It was a “soft thing” for a boy who had worked +as hard as he had for the last year.</p> + +<p>Still thinking about it, he arrived at the number +in Broadway contained in his directions. He took +out the bill. It was against one Charles Wadley, for<span class="pagenum" id="Page_294">[294]</span> +a dinner for six persons at the restaurant. The +amount was four dollars. He found the number +given him, but he could find no sign with Mr. Wadley’s +name upon it. The building that was numbered +786 had a large store on the street. He went +into it, but no one knew any thing about Mr. Wadley. +Then he went up stairs, calling at every room to the +top of the house. No one ever heard of such a +person as Charles Wadley; and the janitor was sure +there was no such man in the building.</p> + +<p>Wade was determined to do his work in the most +thorough manner, and he went into all the neighboring +stores and offices. At last he was compelled to +give it up, and returned to the restaurant; and it +was about five o’clock when he arrived. He went in +as though he belonged there, and looked about for +Mr. Flinker. He did not see him, and one of the +waiters followed him up to serve him with whatever +he might desire for his supper.</p> + +<p>“Will you take a seat here?” said the man, pulling +out a chair for him.</p> + +<p>“No: I don’t want my supper now,” replied +Wade. “Can you tell me where Mr. Flinker is?”</p> + +<p>“That’s Mr. Flinker behind the counter,” answered +the waiter.</p> + +<p>“I know; but the younger Mr. Flinker,” said +Wade, who was surprised to see the old gentleman; +for the proprietor had told him his father was there +only in the middle of the day.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know any thing about any young Mr.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_295">[295]</span> +Flinker; but I dare say the old gentleman can tell +you.”</p> + +<p>Wade did not like to talk to the old gentleman, +for he had the feeling that he would think he was +stepping into his place, so he sat down and waited, +hoping the owner of the establishment would soon +appear. He waited for an hour, seated near one of +the front windows of the room. Mr. Flinker the +proprietor did not come; and, what was almost as +bad, the old gentleman did not go.</p> + +<p>At last he attracted the attention of the old gentleman, +who called a waiter, and asked him what +that boy wanted. It happened to be the same one +that had spoken to Wade. The man told him that +the boy wished to see the young Mr. Flinker.</p> + +<p>“Whom do you want to find?” asked Mr. Flinker, +senior.</p> + +<p>“I was waiting for your son,” replied Wade, walking +up to the counter.</p> + +<p>“For my son!” exclaimed the old gentleman, with +a jolly laugh, as though he enjoyed a joke. “I think +you will have to wait a tremendous long while for +him.”</p> + +<p>“Why so, sir? won’t he be in again to-day?” asked +Wade, opening his eyes very wide.</p> + +<p>“I don’t believe he will.”</p> + +<p>“When will he be in?”</p> + +<p>“Really, I can’t say; but I don’t expect him this +year,” chuckled the old man.</p> + +<p>“You don’t expect him this year!” exclaimed<span class="pagenum" id="Page_296">[296]</span> +Wade, who could not fathom the worthy old gentleman’s +meaning.</p> + +<p>“No, young man; nor next year either. I may +say I don’t expect him at all.”</p> + +<p>A customer who seemed to be intimate with Mr. +Flinker, senior, came up to the counter, and helped +the old man do his laughing.</p> + +<p>“I don’t understand you, sir; and I can’t see what +you are laughing at,” added Wade, very much perplexed +and embarrassed.</p> + +<p>“Well, young man, I don’t understand you any +better than you understand me,” laughed the old +man. “But what do you want of my son, in case +you find him?”</p> + +<p>“I have come to go to work here.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, you have! And what do you intend to do?”</p> + +<p>“I agreed to come as cashier of this restaurant,” +answered Wade; and he was afraid the old man was +trying to play some joke upon him.</p> + +<p>“As cashier! Then you intend to take my place, +for I have done that part of the work for the last +forty years, and I feel able to do it a while longer. +Did my son hire you for this place?”</p> + +<p>“He did; and agreed to give me ten dollars a +week, and my meals.”</p> + +<p>“Did he, indeed? Then he engaged to give you +very good wages,” laughed the old man; and so did +his companion in mischief.</p> + +<p>“I thought so myself; but, as your son offered me +that price, I took him up at once,” added Wade.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_297">[297]</span>“Oh! I don’t blame you at all for taking him up; +and I hope he will pay you what he agreed.”</p> + +<p>“He told me to go to work to-night, and take the +money of the people who come in to supper,” persisted +Wade.</p> + +<p>“I guess not, young man: I take the money myself. +I never trust any one to do that,” said the old +man, chuckling again.</p> + +<p>“Your son said you went home in the middle +of the afternoon, and were here only in the middle of +the day,” continued Wade, hoping to hit upon something +that would move the old man.</p> + +<p>“I think my son did not know me very well.”</p> + +<p>“But he said he was the owner of this place, and +that he only got you to come in and take the money +till he could get a cashier that he could trust.”</p> + +<p>“That was rather mean of my son, to cut me out +of the ownership of my own property,” said the old +man, laughing with his friend.</p> + +<p>“He said he had to support you; but that he did +not like to have you here, because you ordered him +around just as if he was still a child,” said Wade, +piling up the testimony as fast as he could.</p> + +<p>“Well, now, if my son talks like that, I shall not +like to have him here; and between you and me, +young man, I’ll bet I shall come out of it best.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll bet you will,” added the friend.</p> + +<p>“He wanted an honest cashier.”</p> + +<p>“And you are the honest cashier, are you?”</p> + +<p>“I am; and gave security for my honesty.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_298">[298]</span>“I’m glad you did that; and I hope it will keep +you honest as long as you live.”</p> + +<p>“I wish you would tell me where I can see your +son,” said Wade, in almost pleading tones.</p> + +<p>“I have no son: I never had a son. My boys are +all girls,” replied Mr. Flinker more seriously, when +he saw the troubled expression on the boy’s face.</p> + +<p>“You have no son!” exclaimed Wade; and for +the moment the blood in his veins seemed to be icy +cold.</p> + +<p>It was terrible to think of; but he began to feel +that he had been deceived once more. He had lost +his money again: it was just his luck.</p> + +<p>“Young man, I don’t understand your case at all,” +said Mr. Flinker in a kinder tone. “I saw you here +at dinner with a man; and he paid for the two meals. +You went out, and came in again. You sat down in +the corner together; and then you both went away. +That is all I know about you or the man.”</p> + +<p>“I saw the man talking to you when I came in,” +added Wade.</p> + +<p>“True: he did speak to me about the price of +meals by the week; and that was what we were +talking about when you came in.”</p> + +<p>“He told me he was the owner of this place, and +that you were his father. I answered his advertisement +for a cashier who could furnish a hundred +dollars.”</p> + +<p>“And did you let him have the money?” asked +the real proprietor of the restaurant, opening wide +his eyes, as Wade had done before.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_299">[299]</span>“I did, sir; and it was all the money I had in the +world,” replied Wade, with something like a groan +of anguish.</p> + +<p>Wade Brooks related the whole story, from the +time Capt. Trustleton gave him the money to the +present moment, producing the note, and the bill +against Charles Wadley, as proof of the truth of the +statement. By this time it was dark, and too late +to do any thing about finding the swindlers. Mr. +Flinker called in a policeman, and told him the story. +He had heard of one other case of the same kind. +The keeper of the restaurant and his friend wished +Wade to come again in the morning, and they would +make an attempt to find the keeper of the employment +office; for he must be a party to the fraud.</p> + +<p>“Just my luck!” exclaimed Wade, as he went +out into the street. “I didn’t think there was a man +in New York smart enough to get that money away +from me. Now I haven’t a cent to pay for a bed or +for my supper.”</p> + +<p>He wanted to sit down and cry about it; but he +knew that folks would ask him what the matter was +if he did; and so he kept walking, without having +any place to go to. He wandered up to the vicinity +of the City Hall, and occupied one of the seats in the +park, till a policeman told him it was time for him +to go home. He wished he had a home to go to; +but he was afraid of the officer, and he resumed his +wanderings. He walked up and down Broadway till +he heard the clocks striking twelve. He was very<span class="pagenum" id="Page_300">[300]</span> +tired and sleepy, and he wanted to find some place +where he could lie down. He remembered going +through a narrow street into which the back-doors of +the Broadway stores opened, where he had seen a +great many large boxes or cases. He could make +his bed in one of these; and it would be better than +lying down in the street.</p> + +<p>After a while he found the narrow street, and got +into one of the boxes. He fell asleep there in a few +minutes; but a noise woke him after a while. He +kept perfectly still, and listened. Then, in the gloom +of the night, he saw two men bringing things out of +the door next to him. It was a robbery. He wanted +to do something. He heard a man groan inside of +the store; for the door was only a few feet from him. +One man went back into the store. Wade sprang +upon the other.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_301">[301]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXXVIII.<br> + +<small>HOLDING THE FORTRESS.</small></h2> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap">IT was a bold act for a boy of Wade’s years and +strength. But he had every advantage, or he +would not have dared to tackle a full-grown man. +The boxes, in one of which he had made his bed, +were piled up three tiers high; and to escape observation, +he had made his bed in the upper one. The +end of the pile was like a pair of stairs, as the boxes +had been left for the convenience of the men who +had put them in this shape.</p> + +<p>Wade stood on the second tier, about six feet from +the pavement. The robber in the street was stooping +down, and appeared to be arranging the goods +brought from the store in convenient shape for carrying +them away. Taking this moment for the act, +he jumped down, so that his cowhide shoes hit the +man fairly on the head. He was evidently stunned +by the blow; for he stretched out on the pavement, +and did not move.</p> + +<p>But Wade knew there was another, if not two +more of them; and his plan had succeeded so well, +that he determined to repeat the movement. He +sprang back to the top of the second tier of boxes as<span class="pagenum" id="Page_302">[302]</span> +soon as he could gather himself up. As he rose he +picked up a heavy piece of board which been part of +the cover of one of the cases. When he had reached +his perch, he heard rapid footsteps in the store. +The burglar inside had heard the noise, though he +must have been in the front part of the store, for it +took him some time to reach the back street.</p> + +<p>The instant he was out of the door, and before he +could ascertain what was the matter with his companion, +Wade leaped down upon him, intending that +his feet should hit the man in the head. He did +strike the robber in the head, but he was not stunned +like the other; and Wade hit him a crushing blow +with his club, which settled him for the moment.</p> + +<p>The brave boy looked his victims over, and satisfied +himself that both of them were either dead or +stunned, for they did not move. The last one he +had overthrown had a dark lantern in his belt, of +which Wade relieved him, and then went into the +store.</p> + +<p>He had heard a groan, and he listened for it again. +It was some time before it was repeated, but at +length he heard it; and, following in the direction it +led him, he found a man gagged and bound to a post. +He was breathing very heavily as though he was +struggling for breath.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowe40_625" id="i_302a"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_302a.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption class="caption"><p class="caption"><span class="smcap">Wade hit him a crushing Blow with his Club.</span>—Page <a href="#Page_302">302</a>.</p></figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>Wade did not lose a moment in releasing the man, +and taking the gag from his mouth. The victim was +so exhausted that he could not speak, or he pretended +to be so; and Wade did not wait for him to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_303">[303]</span>do so. He gathered up the cords with which the +man had been tied, and took a large coil of line that +lay on the floor near the post, and returned to the +insensible robbers in the street. With the cords he +proceeded to tie their arms behind them.</p> + +<p>Before he had completed the job, the man from +the store joined him, having partially recovered from +the hard usage he had had at the hands of the burglars. +Wade was not content with binding their +arms behind them; he tied their ankles together so +that they could not run if they should suddenly +recover the use of their senses. The man from the +store assisted him at the work. While they were +thus engaged, they heard the report of a pistol, and +Wade was conscious of a whizzing noise near his +head.</p> + +<p>“There are more of them,” said the man, who +seemed to be trembling with apprehension. “But I +have a pistol.”</p> + +<p>“Use it, then, if you see anybody,” replied Wade.</p> + +<p>The man, who was a clerk in the store, looked up +and down the street, and then fired his pistol twice.</p> + +<p>“Very likely there are two more of them; and we +had better get into the store, or we may be shot,” +said the clerk.</p> + +<p>“All right; but we will drag these fellows in with +us,” replied Wade.</p> + +<p>“We had better lose no time, for a bullet may +make an end of us at any minute.”</p> + +<p>“It won’t take us any longer if we make sure of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_304">[304]</span> +these men,” added Wade, as he dragged the first one +that had fallen into the store.</p> + +<p>The clerk took hold of the other, but he seemed +to lack the strength to move him; and Wade had to +help him.</p> + +<p>“Now shut the door,” continued the active youth, +suiting the action to the word. “Can you fasten +it?”</p> + +<p>“I suppose the rascals have spoiled the lock,” +replied the clerk.</p> + +<p>But Wade found the key on the floor. The burglars +appeared to have turned it with their nippers, +and then pushed it out on the floor, using false keys +to open the door. When he had turned the key, he +saw to his astonishment that there were two great +bolts on the door, besides the lock. These could not +have been shoved back without help from the inside.</p> + +<p>Wade had no time to consider this circumstance, +though it was suggested to him; for it occurred to +him just at that moment, that the goods taken from +the store by the first man he had “sat down upon” +were still in the street, and he had forgotten to take +them in. He carefully opened the door, and, seeing +that no one was near, he stepped out. He was just +picking up the bundle when another pistol was discharged. +He felt something in his arm, but it was +so slight that he did not think it could be the bullet +from the pistol. It did not disable him, and he made +haste to drag the heavy bundle into the store. Then +he locked and double-bolted the door. As he looked<span class="pagenum" id="Page_305">[305]</span> +over the fastenings, he did not believe that any robbers +could get through that door.</p> + +<p>By this time Wade was pretty well cooled off +after the violent excitement of the affair. He examined +the door very carefully by the aid of the lantern +he had taken from the burglar’s belt. Certainly +there was no break in the door by which any one on +the outside could have moved those two heavy bolts. +Near the door was a box of carpenter’s tools. It +contained augers, chisels, a mallet, and some other +implements.</p> + +<p>While he was examining the door and its surroundings, +he heard the robbers moving, and went +to them to inquire into their condition. To his +surprise he found that the cords of one of them were +partly loosed. The clerk was near him, and no one +else could have unfastened them. Wade made haste +to secure him again; and he did it in a more thorough +manner than before. Then he looked over the other +one; but his bonds did not seem to have been tampered +with. He saw a revolver sticking out of the +pocket of the man, and he took possession of the toy.</p> + +<p>“Why don’t you use your pistol?” he heard the +first one say; and he could have spoken to no one +but the clerk, for the other robber was not in condition +to use a pistol, or any other weapon.</p> + +<p>The words were hardly spoken before the report +of a pistol was heard in the store; but Wade was not +hit. He raised his lantern instantly, and saw the +clerk was aiming at him again. The pistol in Wade’s<span class="pagenum" id="Page_306">[306]</span> +hand was all cocked, ready for use; but he had never +fired a revolver in his life before. He pointed it at +the clerk, and let drive. Probably the ball did not +go within ten feet of the mark; but it terrified the +timid clerk as much as though it had gone through +his body.</p> + +<p>“Don’t fire again!” exclaimed the clerk.</p> + +<p>“Drop that pistol, then!” said Wade sharply. +The treacherous clerk obeyed him instantly, and the +pistol fell to the floor.</p> + +<p>Wade walked over to him, and picked it up, putting +it into his pocket.</p> + +<p>“Then it seems that you are one of the robbers,” +said Wade, throwing the light of the lantern into +his face.</p> + +<p>“No, I am not. I could not help it,” pleaded the +fellow.</p> + +<p>“Lie down on the floor!” said the defender of the +store.</p> + +<p>The clerk obeyed without an instant’s hesitation.</p> + +<p>“Now, my man, if you attempt to do any thing, I +will put one of the bullets in this pistol where it +will do the most good,” continued the brave boy, +who was astonished when he thought that he had +looked a pistol full in the face; but then, he had +lived faster and learned more during the last week +than in all the rest of his life put together.</p> + +<p>Gathering up a handful of the ropes which had +been used to bind the burglars, he tied the clerk in +the same manner as the robbers. He had not suspected<span class="pagenum" id="Page_307">[307]</span> +him of being a confederate till the villain fired +at him at the suggestion of the fallen burglar. It +was plain enough now, how the robbers had got in +while those two huge bolts were on the door. Having +secured the inside villains, Wade felt that he +held the fortress securely; and he did not believe +the accomplices on the outside could get it away +from him.</p> + +<p>He had noticed that most of the stores he passed +in the night had one or more gas-burners lighted. +This store was dark as midnight, except the faint +light he made with the dark lantern. He thought +it would be better to follow the fashion of the other +stores; and he lighted three burners, so that he could +better find his way about the premises, and to enable +him to watch the robbers to advantage. The light +revealed to him the fact that the place he held was +a large jewelry establishment. At one of the clocks +in the front store, he saw that it was half-past three +o’clock.</p> + +<p>When he had satisfied himself on these points, he +thought he heard the robbers talking together. He +returned to the rear of the store, and found that two +of the burglars had worked themselves together, and +lay back to back, so that each could use his hands +upon the bands of the other. One had made some +progress in untying the rope that bound together +the hands of the other.</p> + +<p>“That’s the game you are up to,” said he, as he +seized one of them by the collar, and dragged him to +the other side of the store.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_308">[308]</span>“See here, my lad, you are meddling with what +don’t concern you,” said this man. “When the +people come to the store in the morning, they will +accuse you of being one of us.”</p> + +<p>“Just my luck!” exclaimed Wade Brooks.</p> + +<p>“You can do better, if you will let us loose. I +will give you a thousand dollars on the spot, and a +share of the swag,” continued the burglar.</p> + +<p>“No, I thank you. I would rather be honest than +make a thousand dollars at your trade. That’s the +sort of fellow I am,” said Wade.</p> + +<p>At this moment he heard a heavy knocking at the +rear door. He at once concluded that this was some +trick of the burglars’ accomplices outside, to gain +admittance; and he prepared himself accordingly. +He did not believe anybody could get ahead of him +this time.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_309">[309]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXXIX.<br> + +<small>HOW IT WAS IN THE MORNING.</small></h2> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap">“WHO’S there, and what do you want?” demanded +Wade, in reply to the summons at +the door.</p> + +<p>“Open the door,” said a man on the outside.</p> + +<p>“Not much!” replied the custodian of the fortress.</p> + +<p>“Open the door: I am the private watchman,” +added the outsider.</p> + +<p>“If you are, you ought to have been around here +about half an hour ago,” answered Wade, who did +not even know what a private watchman was.</p> + +<p>“That’s Bleeker, the private watchman,” interposed +the clerk.</p> + +<p>“I don’t care who it is: I won’t let any one in +till morning. How do I know he is not the man +who fired the pistol in the street?” argued Wade. +“Besides, I don’t feel much like following your +advice, after the way you have managed this business.”</p> + +<p>The private watchman, if it was he, rapped at the +door till he was tired of it, and then he went off. +Wade went his round again, and examined all his<span class="pagenum" id="Page_310">[310]</span> +prisoners very carefully. He had them still, and +they were all right. The last one visited was the +clerk.</p> + +<p>“Won’t you let me off, my good fellow?” said +this one, in a pleading tone.</p> + +<p>“No, I won’t: you let these robbers in, and you +tried to shoot me,” answered Wade decidedly.</p> + +<p>“I didn’t mean to shoot you. I have a mother +who depends on me to support her; and I don’t know +what will become of her.”</p> + +<p>“I’m sure I don’t know,” added Wade; “but you +ought to have thought of that before now.”</p> + +<p>A little later, the knocking at the back-door was +renewed; and again the private watchman—at any +rate, it was the same voice—demanded admittance. +Wade made no reply. Then he heard the voices of +two other men, who said they were policemen.</p> + +<p>“I won’t open the door to any one,” said Wade +then. “The store has been broken into, and the +robbers have friends on the outside; and I can’t tell +the difference between you and them by the sound of +your voices.”</p> + +<p>“Who are you?” asked one of the men outside.</p> + +<p>“I am the fellow that is holding the fort,” answered +Wade.</p> + +<p>“The police here want to come in,” added the private +watchman.</p> + +<p>“They can’t come in.”</p> + +<p>“Then we will break in the door,” added another.</p> + +<p>“If you do, I’ll empty this pistol into you,” replied<span class="pagenum" id="Page_311">[311]</span> +Wade. “If you want to do any thing about +it, go and call the man that keeps the store.”</p> + +<p>“Where is the man that sleeps in the store?” +asked the private watchman.</p> + +<p>“He is safe enough, tied hand and foot, so that +his business is such he can’t leave.”</p> + +<p>Wade heard the men talking together, and he was +pretty well satisfied that they were what they represented +themselves to be; but, as he was not sure, +he deemed it best not to let them in. It was +time to make his round among the prisoners, and he +set about it. He let the light of the lantern fall +upon each, for the gas did not burn very brightly.</p> + +<p>When he came to the one who had proposed to buy +out his interest in the scrape, he renewed his offer. +Wade thought the voice sounded like one he had +heard before; and he threw the light on his face.</p> + +<p>“I thought so!” exclaimed he. “You don’t seem +to be in the missionary business just now.”</p> + +<p>It was Mr. Caleb Klucker.</p> + +<p>“I see you know me,” said the swindler; “but I +am willing to give you a chance to make a pile of +money.”</p> + +<p>“And I am willing to give you a chance to spend +the next ten or twenty years of your life in the +State Prison,” replied Wade. “I am sure we can’t +make a trade on any other terms.”</p> + +<p>Wade left him. By this time the daylight was +beginning to come in at the great windows on Broadway. +It was nearly an hour by the clock since he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_312">[312]</span> +had had his last talk at the back-door with the private +watchman. The holder of the fortress seated +himself in the rear of the store, and waited patiently +for some one to come to his relief. He began to feel +hungry too; and this reminded him that he had had +no supper. He wondered whether he would be +charged with being concerned in the robbery.</p> + +<p>He had promised to go back to the restaurant of +Mr. Flinker in the morning; but he had little hope +of ever seeing the hundred dollars he had lost. Perhaps +the jolly old man that kept the eating-house +might give him some breakfast; and that was all he +had to hope for. While he was thinking in this way, +he heard noises at the front door: some one was at +work on the locks, and presently the door opened.</p> + +<p>A well-dressed gentleman and three other men +entered at the Broadway door, and two of them were +policemen. The person at the head of the procession +was evidently the one that kept the store; and +the man with the policemen was doubtless the private +watchman. As they came in, Wade Brooks +rose to show himself.</p> + +<p>“Who are you?” demanded the gentleman at the +head of the procession.</p> + +<p>“I am the fellow that is keeping this store at +present,” replied Wade.</p> + +<p>“Are you one of those that broke into the store?”</p> + +<p>“No, sir! I found the door open, and I came in.”</p> + +<p>“What has been going on here?” continued the +proprietor, gazing sternly at Wade as though he +considered him an intruder.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_313">[313]</span>“Well, sir, there has been an awful time here,” +answered Wade, shaking his head to emphasize the +statement.</p> + +<p>“Has the store been robbed?”</p> + +<p>“That’s more than I know; but I think the fellows +that took the job didn’t get away with any +thing.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Maynard, the proprietor, led the way toward +the rear of the store, looking about on both sides of +him, evidently anxious to learn the present condition +of the establishment. Presently he came to the bag +of goods which Wade had dragged in from the back +street.</p> + +<p>“What’s this?” he asked.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know what’s in it; but I brought it into +the store from that street,” replied Wade, pointing to +the one in the rear.</p> + +<p>Mr. Maynard opened the bag, and found it was +filled with watches, chains, and jewelry. He looked +about in the vicinity of the counters and the big iron +safe, and found two other bags, both containing the +same kind of goods as the first. Wade had not seen +these, for he had not been behind the counters.</p> + +<p>“Where did you find that bag?” demanded Mr. +Maynard.</p> + +<p>“I brought it in from the back street; but I +haven’t seen these two bags till now,” replied Wade.</p> + +<p>“The store has been robbed!” exclaimed the proprietor +with a good deal of excitement. “Where is +Steeples?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_314">[314]</span>“Steeples? I don’t know him,” said Wade.</p> + +<p>“He is the clerk that sleeps in the store,” added +Mr. Maynard.</p> + +<p>“Oh! I know where he is,” answered the boy custodian +of the store. “Come this way, and I will +show him to you.”</p> + +<p>Wade led the way to the part of the store where +he had put the clerk after he had bound him, and, +throwing the light of his dark lantern on the face of +the recreant employé, enabled the proprietor to recognize +him at a glance.</p> + +<p>“Steeples!” exclaimed Mr. Maynard, as he gazed +upon the clerk he had so lately trusted with all the +property in the store. “How is this?”</p> + +<p>But Steeples made no reply to the question, and +closed his eyes as though he could not bear the sight +of his employer.</p> + +<p>“This way, if you please, sir, and I will show you +something that is worth seeing,” said Wade, as he +led the way to the nearest of the robbers. “That is +one of the fellows that did it.”</p> + +<p>“We know him; but I didn’t think he was up to +a job as big as this one,” said the officer of the police, +who was one of the party.</p> + +<p>“Here is another one, sir,” added Wade, leading +the proprietor to the other side of the store. “This +is Caleb Klucker.”</p> + +<p>“Who?” asked the officer; and he probably knew +the man better than the boy from the country.</p> + +<p>“His name is Caleb Klucker; and he swindled me +out of eighteen dollars.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_315">[315]</span>“This is Crapsy: he is a sneak-thief and general +confidence man,” added the police-officer. “But he +has as many names as he has fingers and toes.”</p> + +<p>“But why is Steeples tied up with the rest of +them?” asked Mr. Maynard, looking towards the +place where the clerk lay on the floor.</p> + +<p>“Because he fired a pistol at me, and tried to kill +me; and he did it when the robber on the other side +of the store told him to do it,” replied Wade.</p> + +<p>“But he thought you were one of the robbers,” +suggested the owner of the property.</p> + +<p>“No, he didn’t; for he knows that when I found +him gagged, and tied to a post, I let him loose; and +he knew that I had knocked over these two robbers +without any help from him. He knew I was not one +of the thieves; and he would not have fired at me if +he had known I was one of the thieves.”</p> + +<p>“You knocked the robbers over!” exclaimed the +officer of the police, with something like a laugh, in +which his companions joined.</p> + +<p>“That’s my remembrance of the matter,” added +Wade.</p> + +<p>“Do you mean to say that you, a mere boy, knocked +over these two men, one of whom is an accomplished +cracksman, and bound them as we find them?” demanded +the officer, with an incredulous chuckle.</p> + +<p>“That’s just what I mean to say,” replied Wade +stoutly.</p> + +<p>“Won’t you tell how it was done?” laughed the +police-officer. “We have had some experience with +the thieves of New York.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_316">[316]</span>“So have I,” added Wade, as he led the way to +the back-door.</p> + +<p>He turned the key, and threw back the bolts. +Opening the door, he related the story as it has +already been told. The police were satisfied that the +feat was possible in the way it was described. The +officer then examined the broken heads of the discomfited +robbers, and found plain marks of the heels +of the boy’s shoes on both of them. The “one from +the country” recited all the details of the affair with +the utmost minuteness. Mr. Maynard and the officer +questioned him very closely; and they had no alternative +but to believe him, because all the circumstances +confirmed what he said. Wade pointed to +the box of tools on the floor of the store.</p> + +<p>“Those are kept down stairs, and no one is allowed +to leave them in the upper store,” said the owner. +“Were those used in opening the door?”</p> + +<p>“Not at all, sir: Steeples opened the door for the +robbers. I found the key of the door on the floor; +but they could not have got the door open if those +two big bolts had not been shoved back for them,” +continued Wade. “That box of tools was brought up +here to fix the door, and make it look as if it had been +cut away. Then Steeples let them gag and bind him, +and he groaned like a sick man, so as to make himself +appear all right; and he was to get a share of +the swag, as that fellow calls it.”</p> + +<p>“My partners have said lately that Steeples was +living too fast for his means,” said Mr. Maynard, +musing.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_317">[317]</span>“The boy has the right of it: the robbery could +have been carried out on no other plan,” added one +of the officers.</p> + +<p>Not a little to the astonishment of Wade Brooks, +he found he was not to be accused as one of the robbers. +But it was <i>not</i> “just his luck.”</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_318">[318]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XL.<br> + +<small>GATHERING UP THE SWINDLERS.</small></h2> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap2">LATER in the morning the partners and clerks of +the store came. A thorough examination of the +establishment was made, and it was found that none +of the goods had been carried away. Some of the +watches in the bag which had been conveyed to the +street were somewhat injured, probably by the descent +of Wade upon the robber, who was at work on the +bag at the time; but a few hundred dollars would +repair all the damage. The two robbers and Steeples +had been ironed and taken away by the police, who +came back as soon as they had committed their prisoners, +to continue the examination.</p> + +<p>Wade Brooks was questioned by Mr. Maynard and +his partners till he was exhausted from the want of +food and sleep. The excitement had subsided, and +he felt the effect of his long vigil. He began to feel +faint and sick.</p> + +<p>“I can’t say any thing more,” replied he, sinking +into a chair in the private office of Mr. Maynard.</p> + +<p>“Why, what is the matter, my lad?” asked the +senior partner of the firm, who saw that the brave +boy was pale and faint.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_319">[319]</span>“I am about used up,” said Wade wearily. “I +haven’t had any thing to eat since yesterday noon, +and I didn’t sleep more than two or three hours in +that box last night; and I worked hard from the +time I got up till you came in the morning. I had +to watch those fellows all the time, for once one of +them nearly got loose.”</p> + +<p>“It was very thoughtless of me not to think that +we were keeping you till after ten o’clock in the +morning without your breakfast,” said Mr. Maynard, +hastily seizing his hat.</p> + +<p>“I shouldn’t mind it if I had had any supper last +night,” added Wade, trying to laugh.</p> + +<p>“I shall not forgive myself for not thinking of +your wants. Now come with me, and we will make +it right as soon as possible,” said the senior.</p> + +<p>Mr. Maynard conducted him to Delmonico’s, where +he ordered the best that could be had even at that +famous place, and three times as much as the famished +boy could eat. The wealthy jeweller watched +him with genuine interest, as he consumed his beefsteak +and potatoes and omelet; and Wade came to +himself before he had half finished the meal.</p> + +<p>“I have to go down to Flinker’s restaurant some +time this forenoon,” said Wade, when he began to +feel like himself. “A man robbed me of a hundred +dollars yesterday; and it was every cent of money I +had in the world.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Maynard wanted to know about it; and Wade +told his story from the hour he had left Midhampton<span class="pagenum" id="Page_320">[320]</span> +down to the time he had made his bed in the boxes +in the rear of the store. The jeweller was interested; +and Wade gave all the names, keeping back nothing. +He was musing all the time upon the story to which +he was listening, or something else.</p> + +<p>“I have had a hard time of it since I came to New +York, and I don’t think I am equal to these swindlers +you have here. They clean me out every time.”</p> + +<p>“An officer of the police shall go with you, to the +restaurant and the employment office, and see what +can be done; but I don’t think you will ever see +your money again,” added Mr. Maynard.</p> + +<p>“I don’t like to have to sleep in boxes and barrels +in the street; and I shouldn’t have to if I could +get something to do. I am willing to work, and do +hard work too.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t trouble yourself any more about that matter, +for I shall see that you have a place,” added Mr. +Maynard, in the kindest of tones.</p> + +<p>“Thank you, sir: I shall be very glad to get a +place on the smallest wages; and I will do my best +for the man that hires me.”</p> + +<p>When they returned to the store, the senior called +the officer of police, who was still about the premises, +looking up the facts in the case, and told him of +Wade’s experience in the employment office.</p> + +<p>“Now, Barnett, I want you to go with the young +man, and do what you can to set him right,” said Mr. +Maynard.</p> + +<p>“It is a hard case to find these fellows,” said the +officer, “but I will do the best I can.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_321">[321]</span>Mr. Barnett and Wade left the private office +together. They walked along by the counter for +some distance, where customers were looking at the +goods. Suddenly Wade pulled the coat of the +officer, and turned square around, evidently so that +somebody should not see his face.</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter?” asked the policeman.</p> + +<p>“Do you see the man that is looking into the glass +case?” added Wade greatly excited,—“the man in +a frock coat?”</p> + +<p>“I see him.”</p> + +<p>“That is Mr. Flinker!”</p> + +<p>“Do you mean that he is the one who keeps the +restaurant?”</p> + +<p>“He is the one that pretended to keep it.”</p> + +<p>“Are you very sure?” inquired the careful officer.</p> + +<p>“He has changed his clothes, and is fixed up more +than he was yesterday; but I know he is the one.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Barnett had so much confidence in the boy, +that he immediately arrested the man, and, in spite +of his energetic protest, put the handcuffs upon him. +He was looking at some gold rings when he was +taken; and Wade concluded that he was spending +his money upon these trinkets.</p> + +<p>“You are utterly mistaken in your man, Mr. +Officer,” said Mr. Flinker.</p> + +<p>“If you will give me your name and residence, I +will try to find out the truth of what you say,” +replied Mr. Barnett.</p> + +<p>“I live in Buffalo,” added the thief.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_322">[322]</span>“Street and number; and I will telegraph to the +police of Buffalo,” said the business-like officer.</p> + +<p>“I don’t care to frighten my family with any inquiries +of the sort you propose,” replied Mr. Flinker, +who evidently did not like the plan mentioned.</p> + +<p>“Very well, Mr. Flinker: I can tell whether or +not you are the man I want, without disturbing your +family in Buffalo,” added Mr. Barnett.</p> + +<p>He called a carriage; and the trio drove to the +restaurant.</p> + +<p>“You think the real Mr. Flinker will know this +gentleman, don’t you, Wade?” asked the officer.</p> + +<p>“I am sure he will; for he was talking with him +for some time,” answered Wade.</p> + +<p>And so it proved. The old gentleman was confident +he was the man who had come in with the boy +the day before; and he was willing to swear to his +identity.</p> + +<p>“But where have you been all the morning, my +lad?” asked the genuine Mr. Flinker. “The officer +who was to look up your case waited two hours for +you; and then we concluded that you were a fraud, +and that you had been making fools of us all.”</p> + +<p>“He has been well employed; and he is no fraud,” +interposed Mr. Barnett. “In my opinion, he is the +smartest boy in New York City.”</p> + +<p>“Is that so?” exclaimed the elder Mr. Flinker. +“If that is the case, I don’t know but I can find +something for him to do. He wanted to get a +place.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_323">[323]</span>“I think he will get a better place than you will +be able to give him,” added the officer.</p> + +<p>“I can’t give him ten dollars a week, and his board; +but I will give him a job, and pay him all he is worth +to me.”</p> + +<p>“I am much obliged to you, Mr. Flinker; and, if +I find I want a place, I will come down and hire out +with you,” added Wade, who was certainly very +grateful for the offer.</p> + +<p>“I think he will get his ten dollars a week,” said +Mr. Barnett. “Now we will try to find the employment +office. You have no idea where it is, you +say.”</p> + +<p>“I only know that it is farther from Broadway +than this place is, and it is over this way,” replied +Wade, pointing in the direction he had come the day +before.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps you can tell us where it is, Mr. Flinker,” +said the officer, turning to his prisoner.</p> + +<p>“I know nothing at all about it. You have got +hold of the wrong man, and you will find it so,” +replied the swindler.</p> + +<p>“When I do, I will let you know,” laughed Mr. +Barnett. “Never mind, Wade: I know where the +place is, from your description.”</p> + +<p>This proved to be the case; for he conducted his +party to the employment office which Wade had +visited the preceding day. But the oily-tongued +fellow who had been in attendance was not there. +One with all his qualifications was behind the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_324">[324]</span> +counter, however; and the officer opened upon him at +once. He knew of no such man as Wade described. +He was the keeper of the office, and he had no +person in his employ.</p> + +<p>“It must have been some other place,” suggested +the man behind the counter.</p> + +<p>Wade was willing to make oath that this was the +right place. At this point in the interview, two officers +on this beat, who had been told by the captain +to come to the office, made their appearance. They +insisted that the office was a swindling-shop, and +they had looked it up. They knew the other man, +and were sure they could find him in the course of a +day or two. The man in charge and Mr. Flinker +were arrested, and sent to the Tombs.</p> + +<p>The next day the other man was discovered, and +the trio were tried for the swindle, and sent to Sing +Sing for a term of years. On Mr. Flinker was found +a roll of bills, which on counting them contained +one hundred dollars. They were on the Walnut +National Bank, and Wade was sure they were the +ones taken from him. They were given back to him, +and the boy from the country was rich again. Wade +proved to be a good witness in this case and in the +one against the robbers of the jewelry-store. There +were plenty of witnesses to confirm about all his +statements; and he stood the test of the lawyers that +defended the burglars very well indeed, for he told +the truth, and only the truth, hit where it might.</p> + +<p>After the arrest of the employment swindlers,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_325">[325]</span> +Wade went back to the store of Maynard & Co. +As the poor boy went into the private office, it was +plain enough to all that he was used up. The excitement +had been tremendous. He gaped fearfully.</p> + +<p>“I see, my lad, that you are tired out and very +sleepy,” said the senior partner. “Come with me, +and I will try to do something for you.”</p> + +<p>Wade followed him out into the store. The ceiling +was at least eighteen feet from the floor. On +one side, beginning in the middle and extending to +the rear, was a kind of gallery, ten feet above the +floor. Part of this was partitioned off so as to contain +rooms used for various purposes. Wade followed +Mr. Maynard up a flight of stairs that led to +this gallery. In the rear, which was lighted by windows +opening into the back street, were several +work-shops for the repair of articles of jewelry. +Passing through these, they came to a room which +was fitted up as a sleeping-apartment. It contained +two beds; and every thing about it was almost as +nice as the upper chambers of the hotel Wade had +visited.</p> + +<p>“This was John Steeples’s room,” said Mr. Maynard. +“Another clerk used to sleep in the other +bed; but he has been sick for the last week. You +can go to bed here, and sleep till you are rested. If +you do not wake, I will have you called about six +o’clock.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Maynard left him, and Wade was soon in bed +and fast asleep. He hardly noticed the apartment, +he was so tired.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_326">[326]</span>At the time stated, Mr. Maynard called him. The +store had been closed, and most of the clerks had +left; but the partners were all there. Wade was +conducted to the private office, where the firm were +assembled. Wade wondered “what was up.”</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_327">[327]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XLI.<br> + +<small>THE TURNING OF THE TIDE.</small></h2> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap">“WADE,” said Mr. Maynard, “I have made some +arrangements for the present, which I hope +will be satisfactory to you.”</p> + +<p>“Any thing you do will suit me, sir,” replied +Wade, wondering what was coming.</p> + +<p>“Here is the pistol which I provided for the use of +John Steeples. I want you to sleep in his room with +another man to-night, and till we can make other +plans for the future. I will go with you now to a +place where you can take all your meals at our +expense.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you, sir; but now I have got my money +back, I am able to take care of myself. All I want +is a place to work,” said Wade, who felt as independent +as a basket of chips, now that he was rich.</p> + +<p>“You shall have a place to work in a few days: +you may depend upon that,” added Mr. Maynard.</p> + +<p>“I can go to the restaurant, where Mr. Flinker +said he would give me a job of some kind, I don’t +know what.”</p> + +<p>“We can give you better work and better pay than<span class="pagenum" id="Page_328">[328]</span> +any restaurant in the city,” continued Mr. Maynard. +“Don’t think any thing more about Mr. Flinker.”</p> + +<p>“I am willing to do any kind of work; and I have +been used to hard labor for the last year, and to poor +living and very little of it. I don’t expect to live in +the parlor,” added Wade.</p> + +<p>“Wade, your conduct, including your modesty, +pleases us very much; for you don’t seem to think +that you have done a great service to us,” said Mr. +Maynard; and the other partners could not help +laughing at the simplicity of the boy.</p> + +<p>“I only did what I thought was right,” replied +Wade, fixing his gaze upon the floor. “When I saw +those fellows bringing stuff out of the store in the +middle of the night, I knew enough to see that it +wasn’t the thing to do, if I was not brought up in +New York.”</p> + +<p>“You did the right thing. Now, have you any +idea what the goods the robbers had packed up to +take away with them were worth?”</p> + +<p>“No, sir, I have not; but I shouldn’t wonder if +they would foot up to a thousand dollars, because +watches and such things as you keep here count up +pretty fast,” added Wade.</p> + +<p>“We don’t know what they were worth exactly, +but it would be more, rather than less, than twenty +thousand dollars.”</p> + +<p>“Creation!” exclaimed Wade, astounded at these +figures.</p> + +<p>“Now I will show you where you are to get your +meals,” continued the senior partner.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_329">[329]</span>Wade followed him to a hotel in the neighborhood, +where the jeweller had made arrangements for him. +He had a nice supper, and then returned to the store, +where he was admitted by one of the partners, and +introduced to his room-mate. The latter was one of +the clerks; and, though he could not wholly conceal +his contempt for his companion’s greenness, he treated +him very well. No attempt to break into the store +was made that night, and Wade slept like a rock till +daylight in the morning.</p> + +<p>For several days the boy from the country took his +meals at the restaurant, slept in the gallery-chamber, +and did such work about the store as he could find to +do. Some of the clerks were disposed to make fun +of him because he was not fashionably dressed; but +Wade took no notice of them. He was kind and +obliging to all; and, in spite of his verdancy, all in +the store began to like him.</p> + +<p>He was willing to work, and anxious to do so; and +all that troubled him was, that he had so little to do. +He kept his ears and eyes wide open, and he soon +began to learn something about the business. When +he could find nothing else to do, he studied the map +of the city, which he found in the store, so as to +learn all about the streets; for he found he was often +sent upon errands, and required to deliver goods. +He seldom saw Mr. Maynard; but the junior partners +told him what to do, and gave him all the good +advice he needed.</p> + +<p>When he had been in the store a week, Mr. Maynard<span class="pagenum" id="Page_330">[330]</span> +sent for him, and he presented himself in the +private office. The senior partner looked very good-natured, +and saluted him very kindly. Wade wondered +that nothing more had been said to him about +the kind of work he was to do, for he had been doing +nothing but odd jobs up to this time. He felt +now that he was to have some kind of a position in +the establishment, and that he would have his particular +duties assigned to him.</p> + +<p>“Wade, I have been to Midhampton three times +since I spoke to you last; and I have seen Capt. +Singleton of the cutter,” said Mr. Maynard. “I +have inquired into your character of all persons I +could find who knew any thing about you.”</p> + +<p>“I suppose Obed Swikes didn’t speak very well of +me,” added Wade.</p> + +<p>“He did not; but everybody else did. I had a +long talk with Capt. Trustleton about you, and we +went over all the events that occurred before and at +the time of your leaving Midhampton. He was confident +that you were an honest and truthful boy: he +was sure you had a good deal of real grit. I saw +your teachers in the day and Sunday school, and their +testimony was all in your favor. In a word, Wade, +I am entirely satisfied with you. What Swikes says +against you, under the circumstances, is rather in +your favor than otherwise.”</p> + +<p>“I had to bear all the blame, while I was at his +house, for whatever his son Matt did that was out of +the way. Matt was a bad boy,” said Wade.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_331">[331]</span>“So I ascertained. Swikes wants to get you back; +but I went to the authorities of the town, and they +say he has no claim upon you.”</p> + +<p>“I always said that when I was accused of running +away from him. They said I belonged in the poorhouse; +and I would rather have gone there, if it +hadn’t been for the name of the thing.”</p> + +<p>“I have a paper from the overseers of the poor of +the town, binding you over to me until you are of +age,” added Mr. Maynard.</p> + +<p>“I like that first-rate; and I begin to feel as +though I belonged somewhere now,” replied Wade, +with a cheerful smile.</p> + +<p>“You belong to me for the present; but if you do +not like the arrangement, after you have tried it a +while, I shall be glad to release you from the contract,” +added Mr. Maynard. “Now I am going to +tell you what I mean to do with you. We all feel +an interest in you, and desire to make the best of +you that we can. It is not altogether because you +have saved a large amount of our property, but because +we think you will become a useful young man +to us.”</p> + +<p>“I shall try to do the best I can,” said the grateful +boy.</p> + +<p>“Now let me tell you that Steeples was a poor +boy like yourself. He did very well for several +years; but at last he got above his business. He +had ten dollars a week, but that was not enough to +support him and his mother; but she was the sufferer,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_332">[332]</span> +rather than himself. He began to live too +fast; and now we find that he has not been honest +for the last year, for we have been looking over his +affairs since the robbery. We point him out as an +example for you to shun.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t think I could ever let the robbers into +the store, as he did,” said Wade.</p> + +<p>“Probably he did not think so when he first got +his place. He was considered a very good boy, or +we should not have trusted him as we did. We +shall give you ten dollars a week, and pay your +board.”</p> + +<p>“That’s very liberal, as I have no mother to support,” +replied Wade, delighted with the prospect +thus held out to him, for his dream of riches was +fully realized in this plan. “But what am I to do?”</p> + +<p>“In the first place, you are to sleep in the store +with Ranlet, when he gets well. We close the establishment +at six, and open it at eight. Between +ten and six, one of you must walk about the store +all the time. This will be eight hours, or four for +each of you; and you and Ranlet can divide the +time as you please: only, when you have made the +plan, let me know what it is. To make up for this +night service, you will not be asked to do any thing +after one o’clock, or before nine o’clock in the morning. +One of you may be out of the store till ten +every evening.”</p> + +<p>“What am I to do in the forenoon, sir?” asked +Wade.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_333">[333]</span>“At first you will carry bundles, assist in packing +goods, and make yourself generally useful,” replied +Mr. Maynard. “During the holidays, and at other +times when we are very busy, we shall expect you to +do all you can without regard to hours, though you +will have plenty of time to eat and sleep. Let me +say, Wade, that you must put on better clothes than +you wear now, and, if you desire it, one of us will +go with you to the tailor’s, and we shall present to +you your first suit,” added Mr. Maynard, with a +smile, as he surveyed the primitive garments of the +“one from the country.”</p> + +<p>Wade accepted this kind offer; and in a few days +he was as fashionably dressed as the rest of the employés +in the store. In another week Ranlet was +able to return to his duty, and he and Wade divided +the time between them. As his room-mate had +friends in the city, it was agreed that he should be +out every evening till ten, while Wade was to sleep +from six till two. This was eight hours for him, and +all he needed. Ranlet was to sleep from two in the +morning till eight, and take his nap in the afternoon +if he wanted it. Mr. Maynard thought it was about +an even thing, and approved the plan.</p> + +<p>Then Wade found he had all the afternoon on his +hands: and for a few days he preferred to work during +these hours, rather than “loaf,” but Mr. Maynard +suggested that he could go to school at one of +the mercantile academies, and fit himself for business. +He took this advice, and was wholly devoted +to his studies.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_334">[334]</span>In October he was allowed a week’s vacation; and +he spent it in a visit to Midhampton. Even a +month of absence had made a wonderful change in +his appearance and manners; and his old friends +hardly knew him. He found that Capt. Trustleton +had sent his son to a boarding-school of the strictest +sort, where he had to eat and sleep with his teachers, +and had no time at all to “cut up.”</p> + +<p>Wade went to see Obed Swikes’s folks; but they +were not very glad to see him. The old lady told +him he looked like a dandy, and she supposed he +was as “stuck up as any of the rest of them city +fellers.” Obed thought, as he had plenty of money +now, he had better pay for his board for the time he +was in the family; but Wade “couldn’t see it.”</p> + +<p>Matt had a terrible sore head since he got back +from his excursion to New York and out to sea. His +father had talked a great deal with Capt. Trustleton +about him and Lon. They had been partly spoiled, +both of them, by being humored too much. The +captain spoke favorably of the boarding-school to +which he intended to send his own son; but Obed +was too mean to pay the bills, and he thought he +could “knock the nonsense out of Matt” by putting +him down to hard work. And he did do it. Since +Matt had stolen his money, the old man’s eyes were +opened. It was hard times with Matt just now; +and, if he could have got hold of any money, he +would have lost no time in running away again. But +Obed kept his money in the bank after it had been +stolen twice.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_335">[335]</span>Wade Brooks is now one of the best salesmen in +the store of Maynard & Co.; and he knows that part +of the business as well as the partners. He has +followed up his studies so closely that he is a well-educated +man. He is only twenty-two; and there is +no doubt that he will soon be one of the partners of +the firm. He has been relieved of the duty of sleeping +in the store; and though he was “one from the +country,” and noted in the beginning for his verdancy, +he is now an elegant and accomplished gentleman; +and rumor has it that Mr. Maynard’s youngest +daughter is not wholly indifferent to him.</p> + +<p>Our story is finished. Wade Brooks has come out +of all his troubles. He has been faithful to his employers; +he has improved his mind; and he has +studied to make himself perfect in the knowledge of +his business. After his courage and skill had procured +him a good situation, the turning of the tide +came to him; and since that time, when things good, +pleasant, and profitable come to him, it is “Just his +Luck.”</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<div class="transnote"> +<p class="ph1">TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES:</p> + +<p>Perceived typographical errors have been corrected.</p> + +<p>Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been standardized.</p> + +<p>Archaic or variant spelling has been retained.</p> +</div></div> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 76585 ***</div> +</body> +</html> + diff --git a/76585-h/images/cover.jpg b/76585-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f8b54b1 --- /dev/null +++ b/76585-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/76585-h/images/coversmall.jpg b/76585-h/images/coversmall.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c4ad0d9 --- /dev/null +++ b/76585-h/images/coversmall.jpg diff --git a/76585-h/images/decoline.jpg b/76585-h/images/decoline.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c4098e4 --- /dev/null +++ b/76585-h/images/decoline.jpg diff --git a/76585-h/images/i_000.jpg b/76585-h/images/i_000.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9228516 --- /dev/null +++ b/76585-h/images/i_000.jpg diff --git a/76585-h/images/i_001.jpg b/76585-h/images/i_001.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..12e5708 --- /dev/null +++ b/76585-h/images/i_001.jpg diff --git a/76585-h/images/i_012a.jpg b/76585-h/images/i_012a.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..fd3d06f --- /dev/null +++ b/76585-h/images/i_012a.jpg diff --git a/76585-h/images/i_078a.jpg b/76585-h/images/i_078a.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e59b3d8 --- /dev/null +++ b/76585-h/images/i_078a.jpg diff --git a/76585-h/images/i_112a.jpg b/76585-h/images/i_112a.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f2157b7 --- /dev/null +++ b/76585-h/images/i_112a.jpg diff --git a/76585-h/images/i_170a.jpg b/76585-h/images/i_170a.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..bb99e10 --- /dev/null +++ b/76585-h/images/i_170a.jpg diff --git a/76585-h/images/i_302a.jpg b/76585-h/images/i_302a.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..049925b --- /dev/null +++ b/76585-h/images/i_302a.jpg diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. 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