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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/76892-0.txt b/76892-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9af422c --- /dev/null +++ b/76892-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7202 @@ + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 76892 *** + + + + + +[Illustration: Illustrated title page.] + + + + + _THE LAKE SHORE SERIES._ + + LIGHTNING EXPRESS; + + OR, + + THE RIVAL ACADEMIES. + + BY + + OLIVER OPTIC, + + AUTHOR OF “YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD,” “THE ARMY AND NAVY STORIES,” + “THE WOODVILLE STORIES,” “THE BOAT-CLUB STORIES,” + “THE STARRY FLAG SERIES,” ETC. + + + BOSTON: + LEE AND SHEPARD, PUBLISHERS. + NEW YORK: + LEE, SHEPARD AND DILLINGHAM. + 1871. + + + + + Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1869, by + WILLIAM T. ADAMS, + In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of + the District of Massachusetts. + + + ELECTROTYPED AT THE + BOSTON STEREOTYPE FOUNDRY, + NO. 19 SPRING LANE. + + + + + TO + + MY YOUNG FRIEND + + _JAMES DEWITT CARSON_ + + This Book + + IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED. + + + + +_THE LAKE SHORE SERIES._ + + + 1. _THROUGH BY DAYLIGHT_; or, The Young Engineer of the Lake Shore + Railroad. + + 2. _LIGHTNING EXPRESS_; or, The Rival Academies. + + 3. _ON TIME_; or, The Young Captain of the Ucayga Steamer. + + 4. _SWITCH OFF_; or, The War of the Students. + + 5. _BRAKE UP_; or, The Young Peacemakers. + + 6. _BEAR AND FORBEAR_; or, The Young Skipper of Lake Ucayga. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +LIGHTNING EXPRESS is the second volume of the LAKE SHORE SERIES, and +has been published in Oliver Optic’s Magazine, Our Boys and Girls. The +story, like its predecessor, relates to the Lake Shore Railroad, though +the war between the rival academies occupies a considerable portion of +the book. Waddie Wimpleton and Tommy Toppleton, as they appear in these +volumes, are not strangers, in real life, to the writer; and probably +all his readers are familiar with similar young gentlemen in their own +spheres. + +The author has endeavored to keep the moral movement of the story up to +the proper standard, and is not afraid that any reasonable young man +will like either Tommy or Waddie well enough to imitate their conduct, +while he is satisfied that all will be pleased with the moral heroism +of Wolf Penniman, and will indorse his views of Christian duty. + + HARRISON SQUARE, MASS., + July 21, 1869. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + CHAPTER I. PAGE + A STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING. 11 + + CHAPTER II. + THE STOCKHOLDERS IN COUNCIL. 22 + + CHAPTER III. + THE PRESIDENT OF THE ROAD. 34 + + CHAPTER IV. + OFF FOR THE CAMP. 45 + + CHAPTER V. + A BREEZY PROSPECT AHEAD. 57 + + CHAPTER VI. + A MISSION OF PEACE. 69 + + + CHAPTER VII. + MAJOR TOMMY GETS MAD. 81 + + CHAPTER VIII. + CHARGE BAYONETS! 93 + + CHAPTER IX. + FEATHERS AND THE ENGINEER. 104 + + CHAPTER X. + KEEPING THE PEACE. 116 + + CHAPTER XI. + AT THE HORSE SHOE. 128 + + CHAPTER XII. + UP THE LAKE. 139 + + CHAPTER XIII. + IF THINE ENEMY HUNGER. 150 + + CHAPTER XIV. + COLONEL WIMPLETON BIDS HIGH. 162 + + CHAPTER XV. + THE IMPENDING BATTLE. 174 + + CHAPTER XVI. + THE BATTLE OF THE HORSE SHOE. 186 + + CHAPTER XVII. + THE PRISONER OF WAR. 198 + + CHAPTER XVIII. + RESCUING A PRISONER. 210 + + CHAPTER XIX. + A TYRANNICAL SON. 222 + + CHAPTER XX. + THE LIGHTNING EXPRESS TRAIN. 233 + + CHAPTER XXI. + MAKING UP TIME. 244 + + CHAPTER XXII. + THE NEW FIREMAN. 254 + + CHAPTER XXIII. + THE PRESIDENT AND THE ENGINEER. 266 + + CHAPTER XXIV. + THE PRESIDENT HAS A FALL. 278 + + CHAPTER XXV. + THE PRESIDENT IN TROUBLE. 290 + + CHAPTER XXVI. + THE NEW STEAMER. 300 + + + + +LIGHTNING EXPRESS; + +OR, + +THE RIVAL ACADEMIES. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +A STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING. + + +“Order, gentlemen, order!” said Mr. Tommy Toppleton, rapping his +gavel on the desk before him. “While I am president of the Lake Shore +Railroad, I will have order!” + +Tommy was the son of his father; on this question there could be no +dispute. Not only was his father a great man, but Tommy, in his own +estimation, was a great man also; on this question, unfortunately, +there was some dispute. Perhaps it was the young gentleman’s +misfortune, certainly it was not his fault, that he was the only son +of a very rich father, and had been indulged until he was, so far as +the circumstances would admit, a spoiled child. He had many excellent +qualities; but he had come to think that among the boys he was the +central figure, and that without him they were nothing, and could do +nothing. + +Tommy regarded other boys, even the students of the Toppleton Institute +who were his equals in wealth and social position, as in some sense +footballs for his capricious toes. Many of his companions did not +like him, because he “put on airs,” because he was overbearing and +tyrannical to his inferiors, and because he always claimed the highest +position and the loftiest dignity among them. When the Lake Shore +Railroad Company was organized, he was elected one of the board of +directors, and then by them was chosen president. He had filled this +office from the beginning, and he expected always to fill it. + +The company had been in operation about a year, during which time it +had dealt mainly with imaginary certificates of stock, bonds, rolling +stock, and other material, the object being to give the students a +knowledge of railroad business. The actual building of the road had +rendered the company somewhat more real; but, as all the property was +in fact owned by Major Toppleton, who held the bonds of the company for +its full value, it was still to the students an educational rather than +a practical business enterprise. The real owner, therefore, was the +real manager of the road. He told the directors what votes to pass, and +they were pliant enough to obey. All the forms of electing officers, +appointing the superintendent, road-master, engineers, and other +officers, were punctiliously adhered to. + +The capital stock of the company was two hundred thousand dollars, +represented by two thousand shares of one hundred dollars each, which +had been apportioned among the students of the Institute, in unequal +parts. Some owned one hundred shares, others only two or three. Tommy +Toppleton was the happy possessor of a quarter part of the capital +stock of the concern, and threw five hundred votes, each representing a +share, in a stockholders’ meeting. An account was kept with each owner +of stock, and transfers from one to another were frequent. I am sorry +to detract from the dignity of the enterprise by confessing that a +share, whose par value was one hundred dollars, was frequently bartered +away for a pint of pea-nuts, though, as the road, like many others, was +mortgaged for its full value, perhaps the compensation was adequate. + +Two thousand mortgage bonds of one hundred dollars each had been +issued, duly signed by the officers, and bearing interest at seven per +cent. As the company had no receipts for the first quarter of the year, +the railroad was heavily in debt, and the students were not likely to +be burdened with any extra spending money from their dividends. I had +run the dummy during the fall and winter, carrying passengers as far +as Grass Springs; not for the fun of it, but at regular fares--twenty +cents to Spangleport, five miles distant, fifty cents to the Springs, +thirteen miles, and between the two latter points, thirty cents. +There had been considerable travel, enough to make a breeze with the +steamboat company, though not enough to pay the interest and expenses +of running. + +As the students were not permitted to neglect their studies for the +purpose of serving as conductors and engineers, outsiders had been +employed to some extent. Major Toppleton did not regard the Lake Shore +Railroad as a mere plaything. During the winter he had procured his +charter, and he had expended an immense sum of money on the road since +he commenced, for his ideas had enlarged as he progressed, and he +intended to have a regular line to Ucayga, at the foot of the lake. +In a quiet way he had bought up the stock of the steamboat company, +and a report was circulated in the spring that the boats would run +only between Middleport and Hitaca, at the head of the lake, when the +railroad was completed. The Centreporters were filled with horror and +indignation, for this scheme would leave them no means of communication +with Ucayga, on the great lines of railroad, except by the way of +Middleport, and would compel them to patronize the hated Lake Shore +line. But this project was only rumored; it had not yet been developed. + +The assembly in which Mr. Tommy Toppleton insisted that order should +be preserved while he was the president of the Lake Shore Railroad, +was the annual meeting of the stockholders, at which the election of +officers was to take place. By permission of Major Toppleton I was +allowed to own five shares in the road, though, as I was not a member +of the Institute, I was not eligible as a purchaser of stock. But I +felt an interest in the enterprise, and an interest in the method of +conducting the business, and I had purchased my stock at a fearful +depreciation from the par value. One of the fellows, by the name of +Limpenfield, had run out of pocket money, and being sorely tempted to +enjoy a feast of cream cakes, I had taken advantage of his necessities, +and bought five shares for twenty-five cents! + +The meeting threatened to be rather stormy, for I happened to know +that there were two tickets in the field for a board of directors, on +one of which the name of Tommy Toppleton did not appear, though the +canvassing had been so carefully conducted that the person principally +concerned had no suspicion of his own unpopularity, and least of all +that the stockholders would have the audacity to tip him out of his +exalted position. But this question had not yet come to an issue. The +excitement was over another matter. + +“I move you that we proceed to the election of officers at once,” said +Barnscott. + +“I move you that we adjourn to Grass Springs!” shouted Wetherstane. + +“Second the motion!” added Putnam. + +“Order, gentlemen! What motion do you second, Putnam?” demanded the +president. + +“The motion to adjourn to Grass Springs, of course.” + +“What do we want to adjourn to Grass Springs for?” demanded Barnscott. + +“Question! Question!” called the crowd. + +“There is no motion before the stockholders!” roared Tommy, hammering +the desk vigorously with his gavel, for he was a model presiding +officer, and would no more have served in this capacity without a gavel +than he would have gone to meeting without a coat. + +“Mr. President, I made a motion,” said Barnscott. + +“So did I,” added Wetherstane. + +“Neither of them is before the house. Gentlemen, you interrupt the +company’s business by your disorder. I insist that the proceedings +be conducted with parliamentary propriety.” Tommy had been to the +legislature with his father when the charter was obtained, and indulged +in technical phrases which all the students did not fully comprehend. + +“I move you--” + +“Order!” screamed Tommy, at the top of his lungs, and as savage as a +yellow wasp. + +“I move you--” + +“Order!” repeated the vigorous president, indicating each of the movers +by pointing at them with his gavel. “Take your seat, Barnscott! Sit +down, Wetherstane! This business shall be done in an orderly manner, or +not at all;” and Tommy swelled up till he was as big as the presiding +officer of the Senate of the United States. + +“I thought this was a free country, and that the stockholders of the +Lake Shore Railroad had a right to speak in the meetings,” growled the +irrepressible Barnscott. + +“Sit down!” thundered Tommy. + +“I have a certificate for ten shares; and that gives me the right to +speak and to vote in this meeting,” added the indignant Wetherstane. + +“Take your seat, or I will have you put out of the hall!” yelled the +president. + +“I’ll sell my stock to any fellow that wants it for a stick of molasses +candy,” continued the wrathy Barnscott. “What is the use of owning +stock if you are to be muzzled like a mad dog?” + +“Shall we have order, or not?” cried the president, disgusted with the +irregular proceedings of the turbulent stockholders. + +“Order! Order!” shouted a respectable majority of the assembly. + +Tommy was evidently out of breath, and disposed to resort to +disagreeable measures. The meeting was held in the chapel of the +Institute, and the principal, if not the major, was within calling +distance. Rather than have a lecture from either of them, the violent +makers of motions subsided for a time, and permitted the president to +do the lecturing. Tommy took a swallow of water from a tumbler on the +desk, and then looked majestically around the room, as if to satisfy +himself that no further disorder was intended, and that the turbulent +ones were disposed to listen to his remarks. + +“Gentlemen, order is Heaven’s first law, and it must be the first law +of the Lake Shore Railroad Company, especially in a meeting of its +stockholders,” Tommy began, and then paused, looking as solemn as an +owl at noonday, to note the effect of his impressive words. + +As no one objected to this proposition, Tommy took another swallow of +cold water, and proceeded with his remarks. + +“No business can be done while we are in confusion,” he continued, +with due seriousness, as he straightened back his neck. “This +is a parliamentary assembly, like the legislature of the state, +and we purpose to do all things in a parliamentary manner. Such +bodies, met together for purposes of debate, are subject to certain +well-established rules, sanctioned by usage, and governed by +precedents.” + +“Whew!” whistled Briscoe. “I wonder what book he stole that from.” + +“I beg your pardon, Mr. President, but I made a motion, which was +properly seconded,” interrupted Wetherstane, quite mildly now. “I don’t +think any other business can be brought before the house till that one +has been settled.” + +“The motion was in order,--a motion to adjourn is always in order,--but +it was not properly before the stockholders. The motion does not become +a question, and is not before the house, until it has been stated by +the presiding officer. A motion cannot be entertained until it has been +seconded; and made and seconded, it does not become a question until +it has been stated by the president. One question must be disposed of +before another can be entertained. Gentlemen, I insist upon order. I +am now ready to hear any motion;” and Tommy, having laid down the law, +intended that everybody should abide by it. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE STOCKHOLDERS IN COUNCIL. + + +Mr. Tommy Toppleton had reduced the riotous assembly before him to a +tolerable degree of subjection. The president was obliged to embody +in his own person the dignity of the Lake Shore Railroad, since +those in front of him refused to be conscious of the glory of being +stockholders. He was ready to hear any motion, and it was evident +that he intended to keep the peace. But the boys were really excited. +They had been discussing the interests of the road, and some of their +projects would certainly prove to be treasonable to the house of +Toppleton. It must be confessed that a great many of them could not +see the difference between their own interests and those of the road; +and being excited, they did not set a good example to their elders in +Congress and other deliberative bodies, but behaved very much like +full-grown men on similar occasions. + +“Mr. President,” said Wetherstane, springing to his feet, as soon as it +was evident that a motion was in order. + +“Mr. President,” called Barnscott, almost at the same instant. “I +move--” + +“Wetherstane has the floor,” interposed the impartial presiding +officer, vigorously pounding the desk with his gavel; and I must +say he made noise enough to entitle him to preference as one of the +gentlemanly conductors on our road, where noise seemed to be at a +premium. + +“What sort of way is that?” demanded Barnscott. “I have the floor.” + +“Wetherstane attracted my attention first, and he has the floor,” +replied Tommy, decidedly. + +“I was up first,” persisted Barnscott. + +“Take your seat, sir!” roared the president; and the pine boards of +which the lid of the desk was composed were in imminent danger of being +fractured by his gavel. + +“Mr. President, I rise to a point of order,” said Lennox. + +[Illustration: A STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING.--Page 23.] + +“Order, gentlemen!” roared Tommy. “I have decided that Wetherstane has +the floor. If any stockholder is so disposed, he can appeal from the +decision of the chair.” + +Under ordinary circumstances, Tommy Toppleton did not permit any +appeal from the decision of the chair, and always insisted upon having +his own way; but it was in the nature of a triumph for him to direct +the deliberations of his fellow-students, and to introduce forms and +methods of which the majority of them had never heard. + +“I appeal from the decision of the chair,” added Lennox. + +“Points of order necessarily take precedence of all other questions,” +said Tommy, with the utmost dignity and self-possession. + +“Ahem!” coughed a fellow in the crowd, which brought down a regular +board-splitter from the gavel. + +“The chair decided that Wetherstane had the floor. An appeal is taken. +The question now before the house is, Shall the decision of the chair +stand as the decision of the stockholders? This question is debatable, +and the presiding officer may participate in the discussion. You will +all see that, occupying a position where I can see all the members +of the assembly, I could not very well make a mistake in regard to +who spoke first. I am quite confident that Wetherstane had said ‘Mr. +President’ before Barnscott opened his mouth.” + +Various opinions were expressed by individual stockholders, and they +were about equally divided on the merits of the question. Each claimant +for the floor had half a dozen advocates, who were confident that their +man had spoken first. It was really a matter between Tommy and the +stockholders, which they were likely to decide as they loved or hated +the president. + +“Question! Question!” called the students, when they began to be weary +of the fruitless debate. + +“Those in favor of sustaining the decision of the chair will manifest +it by saying, ‘Ay.’” + +“Ay!” shouted many voices. + +“Those opposed say, ‘No.’” + +“No!” responded the determined opponents of the president. + +“It is a vote!” said Tommy, who was not quite willing to believe that +one of his decisions could be reversed by a majority. + +“A vote!” exclaimed Lennox. “Why, Mr. President--” + +“Silence, sir! A vote cannot be debated,” thundered Tommy, with awful +dignity. “Any member has the right to doubt the vote, and call for a +count.” + +“I doubt the vote, Mr. President, and call for a count,” added Lennox. + +“The vote is doubted,” said Tommy, rapping violently to repress the +noise and confusion. “Those in favor of sustaining the decision of the +chair will rise and stand uncovered till counted.” + +“Uncovered?” demanded Briscoe. “Shall we take our things off?” + +“Order!” + +Tommy’s friends, and those who had not backbone enough to vote against +his decision, rose and were counted. I voted with this side because I +really believed that Wetherstane had spoken first. + +“Twenty-one,” said the president, after he had counted the +affirmatives; and I noticed that his lips were compressed, as if to +subdue some angry emotions which he felt at the result. + +“Those opposed stand till counted.” + +A large majority, obtaining pluck from mere numbers, sprang to their +feet. + +“All up! All up!” shouted the more demonstrative of the rebels, who had +doubtless been to town meetings in their day. + +“Order!” screamed Tommy, more fiercely than ever; for the vote, to +him, looked like factious opposition. “Eighty-six in the negative,” he +added, when he had completed the count. + +Silence reigned in the hall then, and perhaps many of the students were +appalled to think of what they had done. They had actually voted down +the high and mighty Tommy Toppleton, whose word was law. The experience +of the nations that deliberative bodies are not favorable to the rule +of tyrants was in a fair way to be realized by the heir of the house +of Toppleton. The boys watched the president, expecting an outburst +of indignation and wrath at his defeat; but, happily, the dignity of +the presiding officer prevailed over the feelings of the individual, +and with a mighty struggle he repressed his emotions. As I have had +occasion to say before, Tommy was in the main a good fellow; he would +have been a first-rate one if he had not been spoiled by the weak +indulgence of his father and mother. He had been taught to have his own +way, and his passions were a volcano within him, ready to break out +whenever he was thwarted. I am inclined to think this was the first +time he had ever conquered himself, and restrained his wrath when +defeated. + +“The decision is in the negative,” added Tommy, with admirable +self-possession for one of his temperament. “Barnscott has the floor.” + +“Mr. President,” said the lucky claimant, “I move that we proceed to +the election of officers for the ensuing year.” + +“Second the motion,” added Faxon. + +“It is moved and seconded that the stockholders proceed to the election +of officers,” continued Tommy, who could not see why all this storm had +been created on so simple a proposition. “The question is now before +the house.” + +“Mr. President!” shouted Wetherstane, loud enough to have been heard on +the other side of Ucayga Lake. + +“Wetherstane,” replied Tommy, indicating that the speaker had the floor. + +“I move you that we adjourn to Grass Springs at two o’clock this +afternoon,” added the young gentleman, who, beyond the possibility of a +doubt, had the floor now. + +“Second the motion,” added Putnam. + +“It is moved and seconded that we adjourn to Grass Springs at two +o’clock this afternoon,” repeated the president, wondering what this +movement meant. + +“What’s to be done with my motion?” demanded Barnscott. “I thought one +thing had to be settled before another was brought up.” + +“A motion to adjourn is always in order,” said the president. + +“Mr. President, I rise to a point of order,” interposed Skotchley, a +quiet kind of fellow, who had studied deeper into parliamentary law +than even Tommy Toppleton, for he had been the presiding officer of a +juvenile debating society. + +“State your point, Skotchley.” + +“I respectfully submit that the motion to adjourn is not in order, for +the reason that, to entitle it to precedence, it should simply be a +motion to adjourn without fixing a time.” + +Tommy was nonplussed. The question took him out of his depth. He had +Cushing’s Manual in his pocket, but it would not be dignified to +consult it in the presence of the stockholders. However, he knew that +Skotchley was well posted, and he deemed it prudent to follow his lead. + +“The chair decides that the point is well taken, and that the motion +to adjourn is not in order,” said he, though probably he would not +have been so pliant if he had not been opposed to the substance of the +motion. “By the ruling out of this motion, Barnscott’s is now in order.” + +“That’s a pretty how d’ye do!” exclaimed Putnam. + +“Order! The motion to proceed to the choice of officers is now before +the house.” + +“Mr. President, I move to amend the motion by the addition of the +words, ‘at Grass Springs at two o’clock this afternoon,’” said +Wetherstane. + +“Second the motion,” added Putnam, who was evidently “in the ring,” for +he seconded only the Grass Springs motions. + +Tommy stated the amendment, and there was a silence of a minute or +two, for a wonder. Then Barnscott did not see why the amendment had +been brought forward, and wanted to know what Grass Springs had to +do with election of officers. He evidently was not “in the ring.” He +should vote against the amendment, and he hoped all the rest of the +stockholders would do the same. + +“Mr. President,” said Briscoe, who had more pluck than most of his +companions, “who ever heard of the stockholders of a railroad holding +a meeting for the election of officers right in the place where they +do their business? It is contrary to custom, and I protest against any +innovations. They always have a free train, and take the stockholders +to a place where there is a good hotel. After they have voted, they +have a first-rate supper at the expense of the corporation. If they +don’t always do it, they always ought to do it. I am in favor of having +this meeting at the hotel in Grass Springs, and, after the business is +done, of eating as good a supper as the landlord can get up for us.” + +“Question! Question!” shouted the stockholders, who seemed to be +unanimously in favor of following the precedent. + +Barnscott made a speech in favor of an immediate election. He did not +believe stockholders usually had a dinner; but, as he continued his +remarks rather longer than prudence justified, he was interrupted by +calls for the question. + +“Are you ready for the question?” said Tommy, who did not know what to +make of the remarkable proceedings of the company. “You can vote what +you please, fellows; but carrying out the vote is quite another thing. +You can vote that Lake Ucayga dry up if you like, but it won’t dry up.” + +“Dry up!” shouted some of the ruder ones. “Question!” + +“Those in favor of amending the motion will say ‘Ay,’” added the +president. + +The motion was carried by a majority of three to one. The original +motion was then passed by a vote of the same ratio. Briscoe then moved +that the directors be instructed to make the arrangements for the +meeting and the dinner in the afternoon, which was also carried. The +meeting then adjourned; but it was clear enough to Tommy Toppleton that +the stockholders were taking things into their own hands, and that his +father would have something to say in regard to the astounding vote. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE PRESIDENT OF THE ROAD. + + +“What does all this mean, Wolf?” said Mr. Tommy Toppleton to me, after +the stockholders’ meeting had adjourned. + +“What does it mean?” I repeated, moved by the condescension of the high +and mighty scion of the house of Toppleton in addressing me, and, in +some sense, making a confidant and adviser of me. + +Probably he came to me because he was rather confused in regard to the +identity of his friends. As president of the Lake Shore Railroad, he +had rendered a decision from which the stockholders had appealed, and +he had been beaten by a vote of four to one. He was vexed and mortified +at the result, and was disposed to regard it as a personal insult. He +had always had his own way, and could see no reason why he should not +always have it. In the excitement of building the road, the students +had regarded him as the representative of his father, who was doing +an immensely great thing to add to the popularity of the Toppleton +Institute; and his offensive manner, his domineering, haughty, and even +tyrannical conduct, had hardly been noticed. But, after the road had +lost its novelty, the lordly demeanor of the little magnate was not +relished, and he was beginning to feel the effects of his conduct. + +I did not like to tell Tommy even as much of the real truth as I knew +myself, and the leaders of the opposition had not taken me into their +confidence. It was an ungracious task to inform the high-spirited, +uncurbed, and wilful young gentleman that his fellow-students were +dissatisfied with him, and that an attempt to run him out of his office +was to be made. But Tommy put the question squarely to me, and I could +not well avoid the issue. He evidently regarded me as a dependent of +the house of Toppleton, whose will could only be the reflection of that +of his employers. + +“What does it mean? That’s what I want to know,” added Tommy, his face +lighted up with an excitement which threatened a storm. + +“The fellows seem to be disposed to do things as other corporations +do,” I replied, cautiously, for I did not wish to rouse the sleeping +lion in the little lord. + +“Wasn’t I fair and impartial?” demanded he. + +“I think you were,” I replied; and I did not lose sight of the fact +that he had decided against Barnscott, whose motion he favored, when he +gave the floor to Wetherstane. + +“The stockholders voted me down just as though they meant to insult +me,” continued Tommy, smartly. “Do you know why they want to go to +Grass Springs to elect officers?” + +“For the sake of the dinner, I suppose,” I answered. “But, Tommy, there +is going to be an opposition to you, at this election.” + +“An opposition to me!” exclaimed the president, amazed at the +intelligence. + +“I have only heard it whispered among the fellows.” + +“What have I done that the fellows should be down upon me?” + +“I don’t know that I ought to say anything about it, Tommy. It is +really none of my business. I shall vote for you.” + +“If you know anything about it, tell me,” continued Tommy, rather +imperiously. + +“I only know that there is another ticket for directors in the field.” + +“And my name is not upon it?” + +“No, it is not.” + +Tommy stamped his foot upon the floor, and looked decidedly ugly. I was +rather sorry that I had said anything, though it was better for him to +be prepared for the result before it was announced. + +“Wolf, I don’t blame you for this; but I want you to tell me all about +it,” said he, after he had partially choked down his wrath. “What have +I done to set the fellows against me? What do they say about it?” + +“They say you put on airs--that you order them around as though you +were their master.” + +“Well, I am president of the road,” said he, as if this were a +sufficient explanation; and I think he really considered it very +unreasonable in the students to object to his conduct. + +“I only tell you what the fellows say.” + +“Wolf, do _you_ think I have put on airs?” demanded he. + +“So far as I am concerned myself, I haven’t a word of fault to find,” I +replied, evasively. + +“You! Well, you are only a hired hand,” added he, with refreshing +candor. “Do you think I have treated the fellows badly?” + +“Not badly; but you know they are rich men’s sons, and consider +themselves as good as you are.” + +“But my father built this road, and pays for everything. Not a single +one of these fellows ever gave a cent for anything.” + +“I don’t believe the money makes any difference.” + +“Why don’t you say I’m to blame, if you think so?” snapped he, +impatiently. + +“I believe if you had not been quite so sharp with the fellows they +would have liked you better,” I answered, desperately. “You tell them +to do this and that, and order them just as though they were servants +in your father’s house. They won’t stand it. They are not paid for +their work, as I am.” + +“Thank you; you are very complimentary. I suppose you will call me a +tyrant next,” sneered he. + +“I am only telling you what I have heard the fellows say,” I meekly +responded. + +“Why didn’t you tell me this before?” snarled he; and I was fully +convinced then, if I had not been before, that honest counsel to such a +person is a thankless task. + +Tommy walked up and down the hall precisely as his magnificent father +would have done, if he had been vexed and disconcerted. I had told him +wholesome truth, for which he was not grateful to me. + +“Come with me, Wolf,” said he, imperiously, after he had considered the +matter a while. + +The rest of the students were scattered about the building and +play-ground of the institute, talking over the meeting, or +electioneering for the great occasion, in the afternoon, if Major +Toppleton did not veto the proceedings. I followed Tommy over the lawn, +where many of the students were assembled in groups. He took no notice +of them, unless it was to cast angry and scornful glances at them. He +led the way to his father’s house, where we found the major in his +library. + +“Father, we may as well burst up the Lake Shore Railroad, so far as +the students are concerned,” said the irate and disgusted president of +the company. + +“What’s the matter now, Tommy?” asked the major, looking up from the +newspaper he was reading. + +“They are going to run me off the ticket for directors,” growled Tommy, +dropping heavily into an arm-chair, as though the end of the world had +come, and there was nothing more to live for. “They say I have been +putting on airs.” + +“Perhaps you have, Tommy!” suggested the major, who, for some reason or +other, was disposed to receive the intelligence very good-naturedly. + +“I am the president of the road, and have only done my duty. I’m not +going down on my knees to those who are under me.” + +“But a certain degree of gentlemanly forbearance and consideration is +prudent in business relations,” added the major. “Now let me hear what +the matter is, and we will see what can be done.” + +Between Tommy and myself we told the great man what had transpired at +the hall, and announced the vote of the stockholders, relating to the +adjourned meeting and the dinner. The major actually laughed at the +impudence of the boys. He was a politic man when policy paid better +than violence. There was certainly a breeze among the stockholders of +the Lake Shore Railroad. Tommy was in peril of losing his office, which +would leave the owner of the road without a suitable representative in +the board of directors. The movement must be checked, or the connection +of the Institute with the road must be dissolved. + +The major was ready to act. The vote of the stockholders was to be +carried out in substance. A free train to Grass Spring was to be run at +one o’clock; and, at the invitation of the president, a supper was to +be served at the hotel after the meeting. This course would conciliate +the refractory stockholders, and save the present directors from the +accident of being turned out of office. Tommy seemed to be of the +opinion that the stockholders ought to be compelled to vote for him, +rather than coaxed into it; but he yielded to the superior experience +of his father, and consented to feast the electors. He was instructed +to invite all the students to the supper, and to have it specially +understood that it was his entertainment, not the company’s. + +There was yet another question to be settled by the students, but +not in their capacity as stockholders. The military department of +the Institute was still maintained, in spite of the novelty of the +railroad. The boys were organized as a battalion of two companies, and +it is hardly necessary to say that Tommy was the major. It was the +custom of the Institute to camp out for a week during what was called +the home vacation, because the students did _not_ generally go home +during this period. The stockholders’ meeting was held on the Saturday +preceding this vacation, and it was necessary to determine where and +when the camp should be formed, for this question was left to the +students. It was proposed to hold the meeting after the stockholders +adjourned, when the major would call the battalion to order. + +It was possible, if not probable, that the camping out would be +dispensed with the present year, for the new locomotive and cars had +just arrived, and were lodged in the houses erected for them. The major +had instructed me--or rather the board of directors had done so--to run +the new engine on Monday. It was thought that the students would not +be inclined to camp out with this new excitement in store for them. + +The road was in order as far as Grass Springs, and in a few weeks it +would be completed to Ucayga. I ran regular trips to the former place, +every two hours, on the dummy, which was now so degraded by contrast +with the locomotive, that it was of small account. But the students did +not seem to feel that degree of interest in the new order of things +which had been expected. They were excited when the locomotive and cars +arrived; shouted, yelled, and screamed till they were hoarse; but the +fact that the engine was not to be used as a plaything by any one who +desired to do so, operated as a damper upon the boys. Perhaps Tommy, +more than any one else, was responsible for this state of things; for +his domineering spirit had disgusted his fellow-students. + +In my next trip on the dummy Major Toppleton went to Grass Springs, and +ordered the supper for the stockholders. At one o’clock I was in the +cab of the new locomotive, which, in compliment to the occasion, was +to make its first trip to the Springs. It was a beautiful machine, of +about two thirds of the ordinary size. The cars were of a corresponding +size. Never was an engineer prouder and happier than I was when I ran +the engine out of the house. I had borrowed some flags and decorated +it for the great occasion. Faxon was with me in the cab, though Lewis +Holgate, the son of Christy, who had robbed my father, was employed as +fireman. + +At the appointed time the students appeared, and, after giving sundry +cheers for the train, took their seats, and I started the locomotive. +I felt like a real engineer then. The boys screamed as the train moved +off, and in half an hour we put on the brakes at Grass Springs. The +students hastened to the hotel where the meeting and the supper were to +take place. Leaving the engine in charge of Lewis, I hastened to the +meeting, where I intended to electioneer for Tommy Toppleton. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +OFF FOR THE CAMP. + + +“The time to which this meeting was adjourned has arrived, gentlemen, +and you are requested to come to order,” said Tommy Toppleton, rapping +on the table with the gavel, which he had been careful to bring with +him. + +“Mr. President,” said Barnscott, springing to his feet, with half a +dozen others, all anxious to make the first motion. + +“Barnscott,” replied Tommy, giving him the floor. + +“I move you we proceed to the choice of officers.” + +“Second the motion,” added Putnam. + +“It is moved and seconded that we proceed to the election of officers,” +repeated the president. + +“Question! Question!” shouted the stockholders; for there was now no +difference of opinion on this point. + +The motion was carried without opposition. I had intended to make a +little speech myself before any business was done. Indeed, it had been +arranged by Tommy and his father that I should do so; but Barnscott was +too quick for me. + +“Mr. President,” I shouted, as soon as the vote was declared, “I have a +word to say to the stockholders, if you will allow me to speak directly +to them.” + +“Go on! Go on!” yelled the students. + +“Gentlemen, though what I have to say does not exactly belong to the +business on hand, I hope it won’t be taken amiss,” I began. “By the +vote of the stockholders this morning, the expenses of the supper to be +provided for the company at this hotel were to be paid for out of the +treasury of the corporation. It is well known that the company is in +debt, that the interest on its bonds has not been paid. The president, +therefore, in consultation with the munificent patron of the road, did +not think it right to use the funds of the company in paying for a +supper.” + +“Are we to have no supper?” demanded Wetherstane. + +“We are,” I replied, earnestly. “The liberality of the president of the +road is well known to all of you, and I have the pleasure of informing +you that he has decided to provide the supper at his own expense. It is +my pleasant privilege, therefore, to invite you, in behalf of President +Toppleton, to a supper at this hotel, after the adjournment. I wish the +stockholders especially to understand that this invitation is extended +by the president in his private capacity.” + +Some applause followed my speech; but it was by no means as general and +hearty as I desired. It was an electioneering movement, and with this +invitation before them, I did not see how the stockholders could well +avoid reëlecting Tommy. I saw the leaders of the opposition looking +significantly at each other, as though they regarded my movement as +a diversion against their scheme. A committee to collect, count, and +declare the vote was appointed by the chair, and indorsed by the +meeting; and I had the honor to be one of the three. + +During the voting, intense excitement prevailed in the hall. It was +a general jabber. As far as my duties would permit, I had been at +work for Tommy. I had used all my powers of persuasion to induce +certain large stockholders to vote for him; but, as fast as I made an +impression, it seemed to be removed by the opposition, and when the +meeting assembled I was not sure that I had converted a single share, +for each of which a vote was given. But Tommy was reasonably confident +of an election. He threw five hundred votes for himself to begin with, +as the representative of so many shares; and one more than the same +number, in addition, would elect him. If he could not get so many +votes, he was more unpopular than any of his friends suspected. + +“Have all the stockholders voted?” shouted Tommy. “If so, I declare the +poll closed!” + +The committee retired to sort and count the ballots, taking with us the +stock book, in order to detect any illegal voting. I do not think any +similar occasion among full-grown men excited more interest and anxiety +than this election. Tommy Toppleton was really on trial for insolence +and tyranny, and the result was to be his acquittal or conviction. We +counted the votes; and Faxon, who was the chairman, and a friend of the +president, led the way to the hall, with the result written on a piece +of paper in his hand. + +“Order, gentlemen!” called Tommy; and his unsteady voice indicated the +anxiety with which he waited the issue. “You will listen to the report +of the committee.” + +“Whole number of votes, two thousand,” read Faxon, while breathless +silence pervaded the hall. “Necessary to a choice, one thousand and +one. Thomas Toppleton has eight hundred and eighty-two;” and the +chairman read the rest of the names on the same ticket, who had nearly +all the vote. “Edward Skotchley has twelve hundred and eighteen.” + +The chairman then declared that Edward Skotchley, and the others on +both tickets, except Tommy, were elected. Some faint applause followed +the announcement; but most of the students appeared to be appalled at +what they had done. The president’s face was as red as a blood beet, +and I expected his wrath would boil over. Even the supper had not +saved him, and certainly it was a hard case. I was sorry for him, while +I could not approve of his haughty and overbearing manner. I went up to +the desk with the intention of giving him what I considered good advice. + +“Don’t get mad, Tommy,” said I, in a low voice, but so that he could +hear me. + +“It’s an insult,” added he, between his closed teeth. + +“Never mind if it is. Don’t let them see that they are punishing you,” +I added. + +This last remark of mine had the desired effect; and, to my +astonishment, he smiled as blandly as though nothing had happened. +He did not relish the idea of letting his enemies triumph over him, +and though he now looked like peace itself, I was satisfied that the +punishment of the rebels was reserved for another occasion. + +“Mr. President!” + +Both Tommy and myself looked to see who had the audacity to break +the impressive silence that still reigned in the hall. It was +Skotchley--Edward the Silent, as he was often called, on account of his +quiet way. + +“Skotchley,” said Tommy, who, though he did not regard his successful +rival very favorably, was hypocrite enough to smile sweetly upon him. + +“Mr. President, I wish to say that my name was used without my +knowledge or consent. I voted for the old board myself, and am so +well satisfied with the president, that, even if I considered myself +qualified for the position,--which I do not,--I could not accept it.” + +“Toady!” snuffed some of the students. + +Skotchley glanced at the knot of stockholders from whom the offensive +word had come. The quiet dignity of his manner silenced them. + +“Under no circumstances could I, or would I, accept this office,” added +Skotchley, as he seated himself, amid the applause of Tommy’s friends. + +The speaker was not excused; but he adhered to his purpose, and the +students were obliged to ballot again. Tommy’s singular conduct in not +getting mad made a sensation. The students could not comprehend it. +While the second ballot was in progress, he sat at the table, cool +and smiling. I am satisfied it was this conduct alone which created +a reaction in his favor; for on the second ballot he was elected by +a majority of one hundred and eleven. He accepted the position, and +thanked the stockholders for their continued favor, as coolly as though +nothing had occurred to disturb the current of his thoughts. + +The present incumbents of the other elective offices were chosen +without opposition, and the flurry was over; but it was clear enough, +if Tommy did not mend his ways, he would never be elected again. The +affairs of the railroad were finished, and those of the battalion +were taken up. Tommy was chosen major by a small majority, and the +other officers were elected. The location of the encampment caused +considerable discussion. Those who had been the leaders of the +opposition in the railroad company were in favor of pitching the tents +on the Horse Shoe, an island on the lake, opposite Grass Springs, and +two miles from the west shore. + +Tommy’s party advocated the Sandy Bay Grove, because the railroad +passed near it. They urged that the Wimpletonians usually encamped on +the Horse Shoe. One of the other side was bold enough to say that +was the reason why he wished to go there. I do not know how long the +discussion would have lasted if the landlord of the hotel had not given +the president a broad hint that the supper was ready. This brought the +matter to a crisis, and when the vote was taken, there was a large +majority in favor of the Horse Shoe. A committee was appointed to wait +upon the owner of the island, who was a resident of Grass Springs. + +The landlord of the hotel did justice to himself, and to the great +occasion with which his house had been honored. Tommy sat at the head +of the middle table, and presided with dignity and discretion. Some +very good speeches were made, for boys, and the festival was a decided +success. I left the table before the party broke up, in order to have +the locomotive ready for the return. At six o’clock we started. Faxon +informed me that the Horse Shoe had been engaged for the encampment, +and that the sum of ten dollars was to be paid for the use of the +island. + +“But I can tell you one thing, Wolf. There will be one of the jolliest +rows over there that you ever heard of,” added Faxon. + +“I hope not.” + +“The Wimpleton fellows were going there; and if there isn’t a fight +before the week is out, I never will guess again.” + +“Well, do our fellows know it?” I asked. + +“Know it!” exclaimed Faxon. “Of course they do, and that is the +particular reason why they want to go there.” + +“Have the Wimps engaged the island?” + +“No; there is where we have the start of them. They have always used it +without leave or license.” + +It did look like an exciting time for the next week. As soon as +Tommy Toppleton understood the reason why his battalion had selected +the Horse Shoe, he joined heartily with them; for no one hated the +Wimpletonians more thoroughly than he did. He entered heart and soul +into the project, and issued his order for the march at seven o’clock +on Monday morning, so as to reach the island before the enemy could +take possession of it. I was directed to have the train ready at that +hour. + +Though it was rather late when we arrived, the boys went to work in +making the preparations for the camp, and before they retired, the +tents, baggage, and cooking utensils were loaded upon one of the +platform cars. Neither the major nor the principal opposed the plan, +and at the appointed time on Monday morning, I had the train drawn up +on the road at a convenient point near the Institute, ready to furnish +the “transportation” for the battalion. + +Major Tommy, intent upon being ahead of the enemy on the other side of +the lake, was on time with his force. The battalion was to be reviewed +by the principal of the Institute before its departure, and the two +companies marched by the train, on their way to the green where the +ceremony was to take place. As they passed me, I saluted them with the +steam whistle, and in return the warlike heroes cheered the train. I +witnessed the impressive formalities of the review, and having moved +the cars forward, I heard the speech of the principal at the close of +the performance. + +The students then entered the cars. I gave a tremendous whistle, and +off we went, the students, true to their noisy natures, yelling like +madmen. As we moved on, we discovered a fleet of boats, loaded with +Wimpletonians, sailing down the lake. + +[Illustration: THE TOPPLETON BATTALION.--Page 55.] + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +BREEZY PROSPECT AHEAD. + + +I am not quite sure that Major Toppleton did not know the Wimpletonians +had selected the Horse Shoe for their camp ground, and that a collision +was likely to occur between the students of the rival academies. If he +did know it, he was certainly to blame, even though the Toppletonians +had legal possession of the land; for a man is morally responsible +far beyond the letter of the law. It was plain enough to me that the +wire-pullers on our side had selected the Horse Shoe simply because it +was the usual encampment of their rivals. + +The Toppletonians were highly excited and intensely belligerent. The +jealousy between the two sides of the lake and between the two schools +had thoroughly infected them. There were only a few who were not ready +to fight for the banner under which they marched. While I confess that +I was to some extent a partisan for the Toppletonians, I could not +help feeling that there was something undignified and unmanly in this +senseless quarrel. I could realize this sentiment, even while I was +anxious that the Wimpletonians should not “get ahead” of our side. I +was not in love with Colonel Wimpleton and his son, but I should have +preferred to treat them with dignified contempt, rather than pick a +quarrel with them. + +The Wimpletonians had a whole fleet of boats, including the dozen or +more that belonged to the Institute, and several bateaux, loaded with +tents and baggage. The wind was light early in the day, and as they +had to sail a dozen miles before they reached their destination, they +were not likely to arrive at the island before us. Major Toppleton had +ordered the tug steamer to be at Grass Springs to convey the students +to the Horse Shoe, and she had towed a number of boats for the use of +the battalion. + +“We must hurry up, Wolf,” said Faxon, who, as usual, was on the engine +with me, after glancing at the aquatic procession on the lake. + +“It will take the Wimps three hours to reach the Horse Shoe with this +breeze,” I replied. “Our party will arrive in an hour.” + +“There may be some delay at the Springs. We don’t know that the steamer +will be there when we arrive.” + +“Didn’t Major Toppleton send her to the Springs?” I asked, not being +aware that there was any contingency. + +“He sent her to Ucayga last night with a freight of flour, and told +Captain Underwood to be at Grass Springs at eight o’clock, if possible. +She may be late. She did not leave Middleport till dark, and of course +she must discharge her cargo this morning. If there should be no +steamer ready for us, what shall we do?” + +“Where are our boats?” I inquired. + +“I suppose Captain Underwood left them at the wharf at the Springs, as +he passed, or possibly at the Horse Shoe. I only know what Tommy told +me, just before we started.” + +“There is a chance for a slip, after all,” I added. + +“I think there is a big chance for a slip. If the Wimps get to the +island first, there will be a big fight, for our fellows don’t wish for +any better fun than driving them off.” + +“And perhaps the Wimps would like no better fun than that of driving +the Tops off.” + +“Possession is nine points, you know, and the side which gets a footing +on the island first has the best chance,” replied Faxon, cheerfully; +and though he did not bluster so much as some others, I knew that he +was “ready to go his length” in opposition to the enemy. + +“It looks like a fight, any way you can fix it,” I added. “Why couldn’t +our fellows have chosen some other place to encamp?” + +“Because the Horse Shoe suits them best. There is a good wharf at the +island, and plenty of dry wood for the fires.” + +“I don’t see the use of quarrelling when there are a hundred other +places just as good as that.” + +“What’s the matter, Wolf? Have you no stomach for a fight?” laughed +Faxon. + +“No; I have not.” + +“But you are regarded by the fellows as a regular fighting-cock. Your +affairs with Waddie and with--” Faxon checked himself, as he glanced at +Lewis Holgate, the fireman--“you know whom, are the foundation of your +popularity with them.” + +“I am willing to fight in a good cause; but I don’t believe in bringing +on a quarrel.” + +“The Wimps are always picking upon us, and doing us mischief whenever +they can. They have torn up our track once, and we haven’t paid them +off for that.” + +“You sunk all their boats for that; and I think you are about even.” + +“Not quite; but if they will let us alone, we won’t meddle with them. +We have hired the Horse Shoe for the week, and we mean to have it. +We have the legal right to the island, and we are ready to fight for +possession.” + +“I think it is all nonsense to quarrel for nothing.” + +“We shall have the fun of licking them.” + +“Or the fun of being licked,” I suggested. + +“No danger of that. We have one hundred and fifteen students now, and +I was told that the Wimps had fallen off to less than a hundred,” +chuckled Faxon. + +“The tables may be turned by and by, when the colonel’s plans are in +operation.” + +“What plans?” asked my companion, anxiously. + +“You did not suppose Colonel Wimpleton would permit this railroad +scheme to go on without doing something to offset it--did you?” I +replied; and I had received some positive information from my father, +the night before, on this interesting topic. + +“What can he do? He can’t build a railroad on his side of the lake.” + +“No; but at this moment Waddie Wimpleton is the president of a +corporation.” + +“What corporation?” + +“A steamboat company.” + +“Is that so?” + +“My father was over at Centreport yesterday, and found out all about +it.” + +“But what have the Wimps to do with it?” + +“The colonel is building a magnificent little steamer at Hitaca. She +is to be very long and narrow, and good for fifteen to eighteen miles +an hour. The Institute fellows on the other side are to own and manage +her, just as you do the railroad.” + +“That is news, certainly,” said Faxon, musing, and apparently not at +all pleased with the plan. + +“They say Major Toppleton has bought up the steamers which now run on +the lake, and means to take them off between Ucayga and Middleport as +soon as the Lake Shore Railroad is completed.” + +“Of course; what’s the use of having the boats after the road is +finished? We are to run a LIGHTNING EXPRESS twice a day then, and I +think it is very good-natured of the major to buy up the boats, and +thus save the owners from loss.” + +“Perhaps it is; but is it good-natured for him to deprive the +Centreporters of the means of getting to Ucayga, as he will when the +boats are taken off?” + +“They can go by the railroad, the same as others,” laughed Faxon. + +“They can, but they won’t. Do you think Colonel Wimpleton would come +over here and ride in these cars? He would hang himself first.” + +“Then he can hang himself, if he likes. The Middleporters wouldn’t cry +if he did.” + +“But he intends neither to hang himself nor to ride on the Lake Shore +Railroad. Of course you can’t blame him for kicking against the +movements of the major.” + +“See here, Wolf; are you a Wimp or a Top?” demanded Faxon, coloring a +little, as we looked into each other’s face. + +“Why do you ask that question?” I inquired, quietly. + +“Just now you seemed to stick up for the Wimpleton side.” + +“I was only stating the case just as it is. My sympathies are on this +side; but I don’t blame Colonel Wimpleton for not being willing to have +his facilities for going to and from Ucayga cut off.” + +“You don’t blame him!” + +“Certainly not.” + +“I believe you are only half a Top now, Wolf. Just now you were +condemning us for standing up for our own rights. Be on one side or the +other, old fellow.” + +“I am willing to fight for the side that gives me bread and butter, as +long as it stands by the right.” + +“I don’t like this making reservations. I go the whole figure. My +country, right or wrong--that’s what I go for.” + +“So do I. My country, right or wrong; if wrong, to set her right.” + +“There you spoil all the poetry of the thing. If you had stopped before +you put the last sentence on, it would have been just the thing. I go +for Toppleton, right or wrong.” + +“I don’t,” I replied, decidedly. “I am for keeping Toppleton right, and +then I go for Toppleton.” + +“What’s the use of talking, Wolf! You can’t make me believe you are +not right on the goose,” added Faxon, good-naturedly. “When will that +magnificent steamer be launched?” + +“I don’t know; but father said the hull was nearly completed. I suppose +they can’t get her ready for service before August or September; +perhaps not till next spring.” + +“And then she is to run in opposition to the Lake Shore Railroad?” + +“That’s the idea, I believe.” + +“There will be jolly times then; but she can’t do anything against our +lightning express.” + +“I’m not so sure of that.” + +“Come, Wolf! You are a Wimp at heart, after all. The fellows would mob +you if they should hear you sticking up for the other side,” added +Faxon. + +“I’m not sticking up for the other side,” I replied, smartly, for I did +not relish this charge. “I’m only looking the facts fair in the face. +The Wimps’ steamer will give you a hard run. Look at it for yourself.” + +“I don’t believe the Wimps can get ahead of us, any how--I won’t +believe it!” persisted Faxon. + +“How far is it from Middleport to Ucayga?” I asked. + +“Twenty miles, to a rod.” + +“How long will it take the lightning express to go through?” + +“Half an hour,” replied Faxon, sharply. + +“Not much! We should have a smash every day at that rate. The track is +not stiff enough to make that time upon. Call it forty minutes; and +that is high speed for this light rail.” + +“Well, forty minutes. You don’t mean to say any steamer can make twenty +miles in that time?” + +“Hold on a minute! How wide is the river at Ucayga?” + +“Half a mile.” + +“Good; we have to land our passengers on this side of the river. To +take the trains east and west, they must cross the river, and do the +same when they visit the town. How long will that take in the old +sail-boat ferry?” + +“I don’t know,” replied Faxon, nettled by the force of the argument, +which he could not answer. + +“Half an hour, at least, on an average. That will make an hour and ten +minutes; and the steamer will do it in an hour and a quarter. I think +the colonel has a pretty good show,” I continued, as the train reached +Spangleport, and I blew some desperate whistles to warn idlers about +the track. + +“You are a Wimp!” + +“No. I’m a Top.” + +“Don’t talk so before the other fellows. If you do they will think you +have sold out to the enemy.” + +“Can’t a fellow express an honest opinion?” I asked, warmly. + +“Not when it don’t jibe with the public sentiment.” + +“I don’t know about that. I’m not afraid to tell Major Toppleton what I +think.” + +“Don’t you do it.” + +“If he wants to come out ahead, as of course he does, it would be +better for him to look the facts and contingencies fairly in the face.” + +Faxon was thinking of the matter, and by mutual consent both of us were +silent. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +A MISSION OF PEACE. + + +I could not exactly see that I was a traitor to the Toppletonian +interest because I believed that a steamer could successfully compete +even with a “lightning express.” I intended to serve my employers +faithfully, and believed that I had done so. Perhaps it was imprudent +for me to express an opinion; but I knew that Colonel Wimpleton was a +man of energy and determination, and that he would not be content to +remain long in the shade. + +I observed that Lewis Holgate listened very attentively to all that was +said, though he made no remarks. Since his father had run away with +the money he had stolen, the family were hard pressed to get a living. +Lewis was about my own age, and was regarded as a smart fellow. The +intimacy between our families had brought us together somewhat, and I +knew that he aspired to be a “young engineer.” He had worked with his +father a great deal, and knew an engine very well. It was necessary for +him to go to work, to assist in supporting his mother and his brothers +and sisters. He had told me how sorry he was for what his father had +done, and I pitied him. Through my influence he had obtained the place +to “fire” on the new locomotive, and now received a salary of three +dollars a week. + +Lewis worked with me a while on the dummy, and was competent to run it. +The crime of his father had to some extent broken his spirit, and thus +far he had behaved very well, better than his antecedents led me to +expect--for he had been rather noted in Ucayga as a bad boy. My mother +commended me warmly for what I had done to help him, and declared she +was very glad to see me manifest a Christian spirit towards him. My +father said I was foolish to try to serve such a fellow; but I was best +satisfied with the judgment of my mother. + +Something had already been said about another locomotive, and an +additional number of freight and passenger cars, which the business of +the road would eventually demand. Lewis Holgate gave me to understand +that the height of his ambition was to be the engineer of the new +locomotive when it came. I assured him that if he did his duty +faithfully, I would do all I could to further his purpose. We were, +therefore, good friends, and I gave him every facility for learning the +business. If I had had any doubts about the propriety of what I had +said to Faxon, for which he had accused me of being a Wimp, I should +not have restrained my speech on account of the presence of Lewis; for, +after all I had done for him, I did not think him capable of injuring +me. + +“The tug steamer is not here,” said Faxon, as I shut off the steam when +the train approached Grass Springs. + +“It isn’t eight o’clock yet. We have been only half an hour on the +road,” I replied. + +“I don’t believe it will be here,” added Faxon, anxiously, as he looked +out upon the waters of the lake. “There is a stiff breeze now, and the +Wimps will be here by nine o’clock.” + +I could not see why my partisan friend should manifest any anxiety, +since he and the rest of the Toppletonians, with a few exceptions, +were absolutely spoiling for a fight with their rivals on the other +side of the lake. The train approached the Grass Springs station, +and I whistled to put on the brakes. As soon as we stopped, Faxon +left the engine, and the battalion came out of the cars. The two +companies formed on the wharf, and I heard sharp and imperative orders +of Major Tommy, which led me to conclude that his experience in the +stockholders’ meeting had not been very profitable to him, though +some of the harshness of his tones was doubtless attributable to his +military enthusiasm. + +From my place in the cab I could see the end of the lake, with the +steeples of Ucayga in the distance; but the steamer was not on the way; +she had not even started for the Springs. The Horse Shoe was two miles +from the shore. The wind had freshened a little, and was fair for boats +coming down the lake. The battalion from Centreport must arrive in an +hour, or an hour and a half at the farthest, for the boats had had only +ten miles to make half an hour before. Major Tommy had formed his +lines; the quartermaster had placed all the baggage and stores on the +wharf, and everything was in readiness to embark. It was eight o’clock +by this time, and the steamer had not yet appeared. The Toppleton boats +had probably been left at the island, for they were not to be found at +the main shore, and the steamer could have left them with less delay +than at the Grass Springs Wharf. + +“What’s to be done?” asked Major Tommy, impatiently, after he had +surveyed the ground over and over again. + +“We must get to the island some how or other,” replied Faxon. + +“That steamer won’t be here for an hour,” growled the commander of the +battalion. “Father said it might be late; but he didn’t understand +exactly what was up.” + +“The Wimps are coming,” shouted an officer in the line. + +“They are five miles off,” replied Faxon, as he looked up the lake. “I +want to be on the island when they come.” + +“So do I,” replied Tommy, casting an anxious glance at the approaching +enemy. + +“Can’t you help us out, Wolf?” asked the major, jumping on the +foot-board of the engine. + +Of course I was well pleased to be called upon in the emergency, +for it was manifesting a great deal of confidence to ask advice of +a boy who was not a member of the battalion. The Toppletonians had +the legal right to use the Horse Shoe; and it seemed to me that, if +they had possession of the island when the Wimpletonians arrived, the +anticipated fight, at least as a brutal struggle, might be averted. +Both bodies were armed with small muskets, having bayonets upon them; +and though they were not allowed any ammunition, they might make the +combat more dangerous than they intended. The interests of peace, +therefore, appeared to require that our battalion should be transported +to the island without delay. + +“I hope you are not going to get up a fight over there,” I ventured to +say. + +“Of course we are not, if the Wimps let us alone,” replied Tommy. “If +they don’t let us alone, it will be the worse for them. I want to get +over there before they do, and that steamer, confound it, won’t be here +this hour.” + +“If I were you, Tommy, I would send one company over to the island, and +take possession of it, leaving the baggage and tents to be carried over +when the steamer comes.” + +“How can I send one company over?” snapped Tommy. “We haven’t a boat, +or even a mudscow.” + +“There comes the ferry-boat,” I replied, pointing to a sloop-rigged +craft which was now approaching the shore from Ruoara, on the other +side and above the island. + +“That’s the idea!” exclaimed Tommy, as he leaped down from the cab, +and ran with a speed entirely beneath the dignity of the major of a +battalion to the ferry pier. + +In three minutes more he had made a trade with the ferryman to land as +many of the force as his boat would accommodate on the Horse Shoe. The +craft was one peculiar to the lakes in that region. It was an ordinary +sloop, though rather longer than similar vessels are built; but the +stern was open just above the water-line, so that teams could be driven +on board. It depended upon the wind as its propelling agent, though +it was provided with a pair of steamboat wheels, with a horse-power +machine to turn them, which could be used when the wind was not +available. + +Major Tommy ordered Captain Briscoe, with Company A, to embark in this +ferry-boat, and to hold the Horse Shoe, at any peril, until the other +company could be sent over. I was sorry to leave the exciting scene; +but I had to run the trip from Middleport at nine o’clock. Satisfied +that the Toppletonians would secure possession of the island before +the arrival of the enemy, I turned the locomotive, and ran back to +the other terminus. The fleet of boats was off the South Shoe, not +more than a mile from the Horse Shoe, when the train went through +Spangleport; but the ferry-boat was within half that distance of its +destination. + +We did not yet run the new locomotive and cars on the regular trips, +because the travel was light, and the dummy could be used at half the +expense. We housed the engine and cars, and, firing up the dummy, we +had steam enough to start her at the appointed hour. Just before we +left, Major Toppleton came into the station, and asked me what had +become of the students. I told him I had conveyed them to Grass Springs. + +“I did not know they were going so early,” added he. + +“They were in a hurry,” I replied, with a smile, when I saw that the +great man did not comprehend the strategy of the battalion, “My orders +from Major Tommy were to start at seven o’clock; and I set them down on +the wharf at the Springs at half past seven.” + +“You look wiser than you speak, Wolf,” said the major, gazing earnestly +into my face. “Is there any mischief brewing?” + +“I think there is,” I replied, candidly, though I could not help +smiling at the puzzled look of the magnate of Middleport. + +“What is it? Why didn’t you tell me about it? They say the students of +the Wimpleton Institute went down the lake this morning.” + +“Yes, sir; we passed them on the way, and the students of both +Institutes are bound to the same place.” + +“Then there will be a quarrel!” exclaimed the major; but I think he +would not have cared if he had been sure that his side of the lake +would be victorious. + +“I am afraid there will; but the Toppletonians have the weather-gage, +both on the rights of the case and in the situation.” + +I explained fully what had transpired at the meeting of the battalion +on Saturday, and the state of the affair when I left Grass Springs, an +hour before. + +“Why didn’t they tell me what they were doing?” demanded the major. “I +did not know they were in a hurry; if I had, the steamer should have +been at Grass Springs without fail. If our boys have hired the Horse +Shoe, and pay for it, they have a right to use it.” + +The great man was unequivocally on the side of the boys, and they might +just as well have taken him into their confidence. I was sorry to see +him so willing to permit a collision, even while our students had the +letter of the law in their favor. + +“Wolf, don’t you want a vacation?” said the major, suddenly turning to +me, after musing on the facts I had given him. + +“No, sir; I don’t care about any,” I replied. + +“But I prefer that you should take one. Your pay shall go on as usual,” +he continued; and of course it was of no use for me to protest. “Can +Lewis run the dummy?” + +“Yes, sir; he understands it very well.” + +“All right, Wolf; I want you to be with those boys. You have an +influence with them, and they want some help such as you can give them.” + +“Am I to fight with them, sir?” I asked, laughing; for I did not +exactly relish the kind of vacation he intended to give me. + +“Certainly I don’t want any fighting if it can be avoided. I want you +to help keep the peace. If things don’t work well, or any help is +needed, come to me at once.” + +I started the dummy, and then gave it up to Lewis. I did not exactly +like my mission; for, though I was sent to keep the peace, I knew that +the major simply expected me to see that the Toppletonians were not +whipped in the expected encounter. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +MAJOR TOMMY GETS MAD. + + +Though I was nominally sent to the Horse Shoe as an ambassador of +peace, I fully understood the real object of the magnate in giving me +a vacation. The mission was certainly complimentary to me, for I was +really expected to do the “engineering” for the Toppletonians. I was +not to permit them to be whipped by their great enemy: if I could not +prevent it myself, I was to call in the assistance of Major Toppleton. +Whatever instructions he may have given me, this was precisely what he +meant. I was, in some sense, to be his representative. + +I desired to keep the peace, and I hoped to have influence enough to +accomplish something in this direction; but it would not be an easy +matter to do this, and at the same time escape the wrath of the +belligerent Toppletonians. The Wimpleton battalion, under command of +Major Waddie, would be ten times as reckless as the Toppletonians +under Major Tommy. My late enemy on the other side was not restrained +either by fear or by principle. No violence or destruction appalled +him. His father had so often paid for damage done by him, that he never +hesitated to gratify his malice and revenge by smashing a boat, firing +a building, or even discharging his pistol at any one who thwarted him. +He was a dangerous enemy. But Waddie was reckless only when he was +personally in a safe position. He was prudent enough to keep his own +body out of the way of harm, except when his wrath completely mastered +him. + +Lewis Holgate was glad enough of an opportunity to run the dummy alone, +for it would enable him to prove his fitness for the position to which +he aspired. I cautioned him carefully in regard to keeping up the water +in the boiler, and the pressure of steam he might carry. He was very +passive and tractable, and, for the sake of his own reputation, I had +no doubt he would be faithful and careful in the discharge of his duty. + +When I arrived at Grass Springs in the dummy, the steamer was just +approaching the wharf. The company sent over to the island under +Captain Briscoe had landed, and thus far had held peaceful possession. +The Horse Shoe was the most western of four islands, just below Ruoara. +The two largest of them lay east and west of each other, while the one +to the north of them was called the North Shoe, and the one to the +south the South Shoe. They bore some resemblance to shoes; and the +western island having a bay which made into its southern side, gave it +the shape of a horse shoe. The eastern island, and the nearest to the +shore, looked more like a pistol than either of the others did like the +articles for which they were named. But the person who had christened +the group, having probably named the others first, calling each a shoe, +designated the fourth the “Shooter,” instead of the Pistol, which would +have been more appropriate. “Shoe” and “Shooter” seemed to jingle well +with him, and, as he was satisfied, I shall not complain. + +The squadron of boats from Centreport lay between the Horse Shoe +and the South Shoe when I came upon the ground. So far as I could +judge by seeing them at the distance of two miles, the Wimpletonians +were consulting upon their next movement. If they intended to take +possession of the island, they had permitted the favorable opportunity +to pass. Doubtless they were also waiting for the arrival of the +bateaux, on which their baggage was transported. + +“Has anything happened?” I asked of Faxon, as I joined the students on +the wharf. + +“Not a thing!” exclaimed he. “The Wimps smell a mice, and don’t seem to +be inclined to pitch in. If I had been Waddie Wimpleton, I would have +landed on that island before this time.” + +Faxon appeared to be disappointed because the row had not come off, and +more, perhaps, because the Wimpletonians did not display a belligerent +spirit. The steamer came up to the wharf, and the students embarked. +Major Tommy stormed at Captain Underwood for his delay, and the poor +captain defended himself very modestly and gently. He had discharged +his cargo as speedily as possible, and he had not been told to be at +the Springs at eight, but as soon as he could. His bread and butter +depended upon keeping the right side of the magnate, and to prejudice +the son was to influence the father. + +“What are you doing here, Wolf?” asked Tommy, as he saw me standing on +the forward deck, after the steamer started. + +“Your father has just given me a vacation,” I replied, very quietly; +for I did not deem it prudent to put on any airs about my mission. “I +thought I would come over and see how this thing was coming out.” + +“It’s coming out all right, Wolf. What did my father say?” asked the +little major, with some show of anxiety. “Was he mad because we came +away so early?” + +“O, no! I told him where you were going, and that the Wimps were bound +to the same place. He was very glad you had obtained permission of the +owner to use the island.” + +“Then it is all right--is it, Wolf?” added Tommy, with an apparent +feeling of relief. “I didn’t know but my governor sent you here as a +spy. If he did, you can return as fast as you came.” + +Perhaps, according to Tommy’s interpretation of my mission, I might be +a spy. I had really been sent to act as a check upon the students, who +were very jealous of any interference when they were on camp duty, or +any other military service. The steamer sped on its way, and as the +deep water was between the Horse Shoe and the Shooter, we had to round +the southern point of the former in order to reach the landing-place. +The Wimpleton boats still lay off the South Shoe, and Captain Underwood +said they were in the channel through which he must pass. + +“Can’t you get to the landing without going near them?” I asked +privately of the captain, though I knew the navigation of the lake as +well as he did. + +“I can go to the north of the Horse Shoe, and come down the channel in +that way,” he replied. + +“These fellows are spoiling for a fight, and I am afraid there will be +some broken heads before the day is finished. If you can prevent a +row, it will be better to do it.” + +“Very well,” said he, ringing the bell to stop her, just as he was +entering the channel between the Horse Shoe and the South Shoe. + +“What’s that for?” demanded Major Tommy from the forward deck. + +“Don’t you think we had better go in at the northward of the island?” +inquired Captain Underwood, with the utmost deference. + +“No, sir! I don’t think so!” replied Tommy, warmly. “Are you going the +other way because those boats are here? Go ahead, sir! Run them down, +if they don’t get out of the way!” + +Captain Underwood felt obliged to obey this imperative order. If he +had refused to do so, it is quite likely he would have been compelled +to return to the skippership of a canal boat, from which he had been +promoted to his present more dignified and lucrative position. + +“Don’t run them down, captain,” I ventured to say, in a low tone, as +the master rang the bell to go ahead again. + +“It is hard work to please that boy without getting into trouble,” +added the captain. “The good book says no man can serve two masters, +but I have to serve two.” + +“Blow the whistle, captain!” I suggested. + +He blew the whistle till the shores resounded with the echoing +screeches; but the Wimpletonians evidently believed the steamer had +come this way on purpose to annoy them, and they stood upon their +dignity. Not a boat moved, and the students in them looked as resolute +as though they meant to be smashed rather than change their position. +We were almost upon them, and I was afraid the captain intended to +execute the barbarous threat of Major Tommy. I begged him again not +to run into the boats; and seeing the enemy did not mean to move, he +stopped and backed in season to avoid a calamity. + +“What did you stop for, captain?” shouted Tommy; but I was charitable +enough to believe that the words were intended for the benefit of the +Wimpletonians, rather than the person to whom they were addressed. + +Captain Underwood made no reply, but rang to go ahead again, though he +permitted but two or three turns of the wheels. + +“I can shove the boats out of the way without hurting any one, I +think,” said he, as the steamer moved slowly forward. + +“Look out, or you will run into us!” shouted my old enemy, Ben +Pinkerton, who was in the nearest boat. + +“Out of the way, then!” replied Captain Underwood. + +“Go ahead, full steam, captain!” called Tommy; but again I wished +to believe that his order was a threat to the enemy rather than an +indication of a wicked purpose. + +Instead of obeying this rash command, the captain rang the bell to back +her, fearful that some of the boats might be smashed. + +I saw Tommy rush aft, and I supposed he intended to come upon +the hurricane deck, where he could bully Captain Underwood more +effectually. I left the wheel-house, where I had been during the +conversation with the captain, that he might not implicate me in the +disobedience. But Tommy did not appear, and it was plain that he had +adopted some other tactics. + +“Wolf Penniman!” shouted some one at the gangway. “You are wanted +below!” + +“What is wanted?” I asked of the messenger, who could hardly speak, he +was so excited. + +“Major Toppleton wants you.” + +I went below, and found Major Tommy standing at the door of the +engine-room, foaming with wrath; indeed, he had steam enough on to +carry a forty-horse engine. + +“Will you do as I tell you, or not?” stormed Tommy, addressing his +energetic words to the engineer. + +“You must excuse me, Mr. Tommy; but I must mind the bells. It won’t do +for me to disobey the captain’s orders,” protested the engineer, gently +and respectfully. + +“Here, Wolf!” shouted Tommy. “Come here!” + +I presented myself to the little magnate, and I was conscious that I +was already in a bad scrape. + +“Go in there, and start up that engine! Go ahead, full steam!” +continued he. + +I looked at him, but I did not move to obey. I smiled, and looked as +good-natured as possible, for I did not wish him to think that I was +ugly about it. + +“Don’t you hear me, Wolf? I tell you to start up that engine!” repeated +Major Tommy. + +“It won’t do for me to step in between the man and his engine,” I +remonstrated, mildly. + +“Yes, it will! I tell you to do it; and if you don’t do it, you shall +suffer for it.” + +“Let us argue the point a little, major,” I replied. + +“Will you do what I tell you, or not?” roared he, swelling up as big as +a major general. + +“You must excuse me, major, but I can’t take the engine out of the +engineer’s hands, without the captain’s orders.” + +“I will let you know that this boat is my father’s, and I can do with +it as I please. If you won’t start it, I will do so myself!” said the +juvenile magnate, desperately, as he rushed into the engine-room, and +seized hold of the working-bar. + +“You musn’t touch the engine,” said the man in charge, as he took hold +of Tommy’s arm, and, with as little force as was necessary, thrust him +out of the room. + +Tommy was the maddest major I ever saw. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +CHARGE BAYONETS! + + +Major Tommy, in my judgment, was more inclined to have his own way +than he was to annihilate the Wimpletonians by crushing them under the +wheels of the steamer. He had been irritated because the captain did +not obey his order; but, I think, if the boat had gone ahead at his +imperial command, he would have been the first to stop her. I could not +believe that he was so diabolically wicked as to run over the boats, +and sacrifice the lives of a dozen or more even of his enemies. If it +had been Waddie, the matter would have been different, and I should +have been more credulous. + +When the captain opposed him, he flew to the engineer; but I am +confident that, if the man had given the wheel a single turn, Tommy +would have ordered him to stop her. Neither the captain nor the +engineer knew that he did not intend to do all he threatened; and I +am afraid, if the wheels had been started, the mischief would have +been done, whatever the little magnate meant, or did not mean. I was +very sorry to be dragged into the difficulty, for Tommy and I had thus +far been very good friends. However, I had no doubts in regard to the +correctness of my position. + +Forbush, the engineer, had gently, very gently, thrust Tommy out of the +engine-room. By this time, all of Company B had gathered around the +little major, intent upon beholding the row. The juvenile magnate was +boiling over with rage, and threatened Captain Underwood, the engineer, +and myself with total annihilation. Every one of us should lose his +situation, and be forever deprived of the power to obtain further +employment. + +“Come, Tommy, keep cool,” said Faxon, trying to smooth down the +wrinkled fur on the badger’s back. + +“I won’t keep cool! I have been insulted, and I will teach the fellows +who and what I am. If I tell the captain of this boat to run over the +island, he shall do it,” stormed Tommy, so angry that he could hardly +keep from crying. + +“Be reasonable, Tommy,” added Skotchley, with his usual quiet dignity. +“We don’t want to kill anybody.” + +“Yes, we do! We want to kill the Wimps if they don’t get out of the +way.” + +It was useless to say anything to the irate major while he was so +inflamed with wrath, and by general consent the students kept still; +but they were disgusted with the commander of the battalion, and +doubtless most of them were sorry that they had not tipped him out +of both of his offices. While Tommy was still raving like an insane +person, the bell rang again to go ahead, and the engineer promptly +started the wheels; but only a few turns were made before the signal +came to stop her. Finding I was not needed on the main deck, and that +the wrathful major would cool off sooner if left to himself, I went up +to the wheel-house. All on board, except the captain and one man at the +wheel, had been attracted to the vicinity of the engine-room by the +exciting scene. There was no one on the forward deck, for even the two +men employed there were listening to the howls of Tommy. + +Captain Underwood had started the boat ahead again, and when I +reached the wheel-house, she was gently crowding her way through the +fleet of boats, a dozen in number, containing the whole force of the +Wimpletonians, over ninety of them. She struck the boats as gingerly as +though they had been eggs. She did them no harm, beyond scraping the +fresh paint upon them, as she slowly forced her way through them. I +watched the movement with interest, for I was curious to know what the +Wimpletonians intended to do. + +The fleet lay in the deep water, so that there was no room on either +side for the steamer to pass to her destination without getting +aground. Captain Underwood was a prudent man, and worked his craft very +carefully. He had given her headway enough to carry her through the +squadron of boats; but, as they swarmed along her bow, and under her +guards, the students in them fastened to her with their boat-books, so +that they could not be shaken off. + +“Back her quick, and you will shake them off without harming any of +them,” I suggested to the captain, when I saw that he was nettled by +the failure of his plan. + +“Out of the way there! Your boats will be smashed under our wheels!” +shouted he to the enemy. + +At that moment half a dozen of the Wimpletonians leaped over the rail +of the steamer upon the forward deck, with their muskets in their hands. + +“What’s that for?” said the captain, quietly. + +“They mean mischief,” I replied, as I saw a dozen more follow the six; +and among the latter was Waddie Wimpleton, glittering with gold lace, +for he was in the full uniform of a major of infantry. + +“Stand by those two doors!” shouted he, drawing his sword and pointing +to the entrances near which the Toppletonians were still listening to +the howlings of Major Tommy. “Hurry up, there!” he added to those in +the boats. + +The Wimpletonians poured in over the rail, until the deck was crowded. +Company B had stacked their muskets on this deck, and except the +officers, our boys were unarmed, while every Wimpletonian presented +a musket with a fixed bayonet upon it. As the enemy were boarding the +steamer, the captain, amazed at the audacity of the young ruffians, +rang the bell to back the boat; but before she had headway enough to +shake off the fleet, which clung to her like swarming bees, all the +Wimpletonians, except one in each boat, were on our deck. + +“Up there, twenty of you!” said Major Waddie, indicating the hurricane +deck with a flourish of his sword. + +“What are the rascals going to do?” added Captain Underwood, who had +not given the enemy credit for the skill and daring they now displayed. + +“Don’t let a single Top go on the hurricane deck!” shouted Waddie; and +the twenty students he had sent up stationed themselves at the head of +the stairs, to prevent any of our party from leaving their prison; for +such it had now become to them. + +[Illustration: CHARGE BAYONETS!--Page 98.] + +Captain Underwood began to think the frolic, as he had at first +regarded it, was becoming a serious affair, and I saw that he looked +somewhat anxious. Our fellows had left their muskets on the forward +deck, and they were now in possession of the enemy. I am inclined +to think it was fortunate they were there, rather than in the hands of +their owners, or some of the students on both sides would doubtless +have been seriously injured. As the matter now stood, the Wimpletonians +had entire possession of the Middleport, for that was the name of the +steamer. Twenty of them stood in the act of charging bayonets in the +direction of the two doors leading from the forward deck. Our fellows +could do nothing; and even the captain, with the wheel in his hand, was +as powerless as they were. + +Major Waddie, with his chapeau and white plume, looked as though he +were the commander-in-chief of a great army, and had just achieved a +bloody victory. I must do him the justice to say that he had managed +the affair very well, though I saw that his two captains, Dick Bayard +and Ben Pinkerton, were always near him with words of counsel. I was +at a loss to determine whether the capture of the steamer had been +devised on the instant, or whether the boats had taken the position +in the channel for that purpose in the beginning. I was inclined to +believe that the bold step was first suggested when their leaders saw +the muskets of the Toppletonians stacked on the forward deck, and not a +single soldier present to guard them. Ben Pinkerton afterwards told me +that this view was correct. + +While the conquerors were disposing their forces so as to hold the +prize they had captured, Major Tommy and the audience who were +listening to his angry declamation were completely intrapped. The +startling event was calculated to turn the spouter’s thoughts into a +new channel. It seemed to me that the emergency had arisen which would +justify me in calling the attention of Major Toppleton to the affair; +but unfortunately I could not leave just then. The steamer had backed +half a mile from the island, and had now shaken off all the boats which +clung to her. + +“I don’t know what these ruffians intend to do,” said Captain +Underwood, as he rang the bell to stop her. + +“Waddie Wimpleton is reckless enough to do almost anything,” I replied; +for I regarded the situation as difficult, if not dangerous. + +“I will keep the boat moving towards Middleport, at any rate.” + +“That’s right, captain; if they have us, we have them at the same time, +and we can carry them to Middleport as prisoners of war,” I added, with +a smile which was not wholly natural. + +Captain Underwood rang the bell to go ahead, and soon gave her full +speed, heading the boat up the lake. + +“Hallo, there!” shouted Major Waddie from the forward deck, as he +flourished his sword towards the wheel-house. “Stop her!” + +The captain paid no attention to this imperious command. + +“Do you hear me? I say, stop her!” yelled Waddie. + +“Hold your tongue, you little bantam!” replied Captain Underwood, +irreverently; for, as he owed no allegiance to the house of Wimpleton, +he felt that he could afford to speak without measuring his words. + +“Will you obey me, or not?” demanded Waddie, furious because his +imperious will was not regarded. + +But the two captains, who were really the brains of the battalion, +interposed. I do not know what they said, but the major with the +chapeau desisted from his attempt to bully the captain. They were more +practical in their operations than the commander, and presently I saw +them forming their forces before the two doors. Captain Bayard drew up +his company before one of them, and Captain Pinkerton before the other. + +“Charge bayonets!” said Waddie, fiercely. + +The order was repeated by the two captains, who placed their most +reliable men in the front. + +“Forward!” screamed Major Waddie, making a desperate lunge into the +empty air with his flashing sword. + +“Forward!” repeated the two captains, as they drove their men through +the doors, into the narrow space on each side of the boiler and +engine-room. + +The Toppletonians were in these spaces, and I saw that the object +of the movement was to drive them aft, and get possession of the +engine-room, so as to control the machinery, and thus prevent the +captain from taking the boat to Middleport. Our fellows, unarmed, +could not stand up against the bayonets of the enemy, and we heard them +fall back. I concluded, by this time, that Major Tommy had come to his +senses; though, if he was disposed still further to vent his ire, he +had an excellent opportunity to do so against the sharp-pointed weapons +of his conquerors. + +The Toppletonians were not only driven aft, but were forced below the +deck into the little cabin, which was hardly large enough to hold them +all. A little later, we heard a violent altercation in the engine-room, +and then the boat stopped. The Wimpletonians had certainly won a +complete victory. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +FEATHERS AND THE ENGINEER. + + +Major Tommy Toppleton and Company B were prisoners in the little cabin, +while Major Waddie Wimpleton and Companies A and B of his battalion +were in possession of the steamer. The wheels had stopped, and this was +evidence to us in the wheel-house that Forbush, the engineer, had been +driven from his post. + +“This will never do,” said Captain Underwood. “The young rascals will +blow us all up. They have stopped the engine, and have not let off +steam.” + +Though it was really becoming quite a serious matter, I saw that the +captain could hardly keep from laughing, there was something so absurd +in the situation. Major Waddie, in his chapeau and gold lace, strutted +before us on the forward deck, and we had regarded the whole affair as +a joke; but now we were actually in the toils of the captors. They +had not yet disturbed the occupants of the wheel-house; but this step +had only been deferred till the other parts of the boat were made +secure. The Toppletonians had all been locked up in the cabin, and the +engine-room, the citadel of the boat, had yielded. + +“It is time something was done,” I replied to the captain. “I have been +opposed to a fight, but I think one is necessary about this time.” + +“What shall we do?” + +“That’s the question. The Wimpletonians are armed with ugly weapons,” I +added. “There are three of us besides Forbush. I see the victors have +neglected to secure the captured arms on the forward deck. We can jump +down, arm ourselves, and fight it out.” + +“But there are nearly a hundred of the rascals,” answered Captain +Underwood. “Some of them are pretty well grown, and all of them have +been exercised with the bayonet. I don’t relish having one of those +things stuck into me, and I shouldn’t dare to punch any boy with such +an ugly iron. I think I would rather do what fighting I do without any +bayonet.” + +The captain was a very prudent man, certainly; and I was aware how +dangerous it would be to injure one of the Wimpletonians. They were +reckless; we were cautious, and fearful of hurting them; so that they +had every advantage over us, besides that of mere numbers. While we +were debating the question, Forbush appeared on the forward deck. +One of his hands was covered with blood, and it was plain he had not +abandoned his post without an attempt to retain it. + +“Captain Underwood, they have driven me out of the engine-room at the +point of the bayonet,” said the engineer, holding up his bloody hand. + +“Come up here,” replied the captain. + +“We have a good head of steam on, and the engine needs some one to look +out for it.” + +“Go and fix it as it ought to be!” said the imperious Major Waddie, as +he stalked up to the engineer with his drawn sword in his hand. + +“If there were no one but you on board, I would blow you so high you +would never come down again,” added Forbush, as he glanced at his +wounded hand. + +“None of your impudence, but do as I tell you,” puffed Waddie. + +“Look out for the engine, Forbush,” added the captain; “and speak to +the fireman.” + +Forbush went to the engine, and presently the sound of the steam +hissing through the escape pipe assured us the peril of an explosion +was provided for. The engineer, having attended to this duty, appeared +upon the forward deck again. He was not a very demonstrative man, but I +could see that he was nursing his wrath under the imperious manner of +Waddie. Passing through the Wimpletonians, he went to the bow of the +boat. + +“Major, there is Wolf Penniman in the wheel-house,” said Dick Bayard, +as he discovered me at one of the windows. + +“We’ll fix him in due time,” replied Waddie, as he glanced up at me +with an ugly look, which assured me I had nothing to hope for from his +magnanimity. “We must get rid of those fellows in the cabin next.” + +“Well, what are you going to do with them?” asked Captain Ben Pinkerton. + +“Land them in some out-of-the-way place on the east shore, where it +will take them all day to get home again,” suggested Captain Dick +Bayard. + +“Where?” inquired Major Waddie, apparently pleased with the idea. + +“At the point off the North Shoe, for instance,” replied Bayard. + +“That’s the plan!” exclaimed the major, as he sheathed his glittering +blade, apparently satisfied that the battle was finished. “Wolf +Penniman, come down here!” he added; turning to me again. + +“No, I thank you,” I replied, cheerfully. + +“If you want to get out of this scrape with a whole skin, you had +better mind what I tell you,” continued Waddie, involuntarily putting +his hand on the hilt of his sword. + +“I think I can best keep a whole skin up here,” I answered. + +“Better go down,” interposed the captain. “Moses and I will go with +you.” + +Moses was one of the deck hands, who had been steering when the +capture was made. There were two more of them, besides the fireman +below, making seven men on board. + +“Very well; if you think best I will go down,” I replied. + +“We had better keep together,” he added. + +I led the way down the ladder, and as the captain followed me, he +beckoned to the deck hands to keep near us. + +“You have concluded to mind--have you?” sneered Waddie, as I presented +myself before his imperial majorship. + +“I concluded to come down,” I answered. + +“Wolf, you will go to the engine-room, and mind the bells,” he +continued. + +“Mr. Forbush is the engineer of this boat,” I replied. + +“No matter if he is; you will do as I tell you, or take the +consequences.” + +“Then I will take the consequences,” I answered, for I had no intention +of helping the Wimpletonians land their conquered foe on the North +Point. + +“Here! form around him! Charge bayonets! Drive him into the +engine-room!” said Waddie, smartly. + +Instead of waiting for this programme to be carried out, I walked +forward to the extreme point of the bow, where the engineer had taken +position. I was not quite sure that I could successfully resist the +order; but it was not in my nature to obey the haughty commands of +Major Waddie. + +“That’s right!” said Forbush, as I joined him. “I’m glad to see a +little grit.” + +Captain Underwood and the three deck hands followed me; but Waddie drew +his sword, and, filled with rage, crowded through them towards me. + +“Wolf, I command this boat now, and I order you to the engine-room,” +fumed the major, as he pointed his sword at me, as though he intended +to run me through; and I am not sure that such was not his purpose. + +Forbush’s patience appeared to be exhausted, and before I had time to +make any reply, he suddenly sprang upon Waddie, wrenched the sword from +his grasp, and, seizing him by the collar, jammed him against the rail +with so much force, that the bantam major howled with pain and terror. +The dignity of his military position was knocked out of him, and the +glory of the chapeau, feathers, and gold lace departed. + +“Look out for the rest of them!” called Forbush. + +I picked up one of the guns which the captors had thrown one side, and +the three deck hands followed my example. Captain Underwood, still true +to his humane philosophy, took a handspike. But the sudden movement of +the engineer seemed to paralyze the valiant soldiers for the moment, +as they paused to see what the grimy Forbush intended to do with their +leader. + +“Rally! rally!” shouted Captain Bayard, who, now that the major was +_hors de combat_, was the ranking officer. “Charge bayonets!” + +“You keep back!” replied Forbush. “If one of you takes a single step +forward, I will throw this fellow overboard;” and he jammed poor Waddie +against the rail again, until we could almost hear his bones crack. + +“Don’t! don’t!” groaned Waddie. “Keep the fellows back, Dick Bayard, or +he will kill me!” + +“That’s so,” replied the stout engineer, who did not weigh less than +one hundred and eighty, and was six feet high. + +By this time the four men and myself were drawn up in line of battle. +It was clear enough to the Wimpletonians that, if the action began, +there would be some broken heads, if not bleeding bodies. However +lightly they regarded bayonet wounds when the weapons were in their +own hands only, they seemed to have a great respect for the cold steel +in the hands of others. They formed their line in the act of charging +bayonets; but they did not charge any. There they stood, arrested by +the plaintive cry of their gallant leader. + +“Now, come out here, Feathers!” said Forbush, as he took Waddie by the +collar, besmearing the major’s face with blood from his wounded hand, +and trotting him up to the line. “Come up here again, and take command! +Order these cubs upon the hurricane deck, or I will make short work of +you!” + +The engineer emphasized his commands by shaking Waddie most +unmercifully. + +“You let me alone!” howled the discomfited commander of the battalion. + +“I’ll let you alone when I have done with you,” added Forbush, as he +twisted his gripe upon the collar of his victim, so as almost to choke +him. + +“You’ll kill me!” gasped Waddie. + +“Will you give the order I told you?” + +“Send the fellows upon the hurricane deck!” whined Waddie to Dick +Bayard, crying and howling at the same time. + +“Don’t do it, Dick!” said Pinkerton, who could not endure the thought +of having the victory wrested from the conquerors in the very moment of +their triumph. + +“Waddie says so. What can we do?” replied Bayard. + +“They don’t mind,” added Forbush, shaking the unfortunate major again. + +“Do as I tell you, Dick Bayard!” called Waddie, writhing under the +torture. + +Very reluctantly the senior captain gave the order, and the +Wimpletonians crept up the ladders to the hurricane deck. + +“Now let me alone!” growled Waddie, trying to shake off his powerful +persecutor. + +“Hold still, Feathers!” replied Forbush, applying a little gentle +force, as if to assure his victim that the tragedy was not yet ended. + +The engineer was now in excellent humor, and was exceedingly pleased +with the turn he had given to the affair. + +“Ain’t you going to let me go now?” added the major, in a pleading tone. + +“Not yet, Feathers. You must give security for the good behavior of +your crowd.” + +“What are you going to do with me?” asked Waddie. + +“I’m going to throw you overboard if you don’t behave like a man. Now, +Captain Underwood, you can let out our boys. These rascals have locked +them up in the cabin.” + +“Better get rid of the Wimps first,” I whispered to the captain. + +“What shall we do with these fellows?” he replied, with a significant +glance at me, as he comprehended my meaning. + +“Land them at North Point,” I suggested. + +“Good!” laughed Forbush. “It is a poor rule that won’t work both ways. +What do you say, Captain Underwood?” + +“Anything to get rid of them!” replied the captain, impatiently. + +“Very well; I will take care of Feathers. I will keep him in the +engine-room with me,” added Forbush. “Now, Wolf, you and the three +deck hands stay here. If those fellows up there attempt anything +mischievous, you call me, and Feathers and I will settle it--won’t we, +Feathers?” + +Forbush laughed till his fat sides shook, and then dragged Major Waddie +to the engine-room. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +KEEPING THE PEACE. + + +“Hadn’t we better let our boys out before we go ahead?” asked Captain +Underwood, in a low tone, as the engineer disappeared with his prisoner. + +“There will be a fight if we do,” I replied. “We can land the Wimps in +ten or fifteen minutes.” + +“What will Tommy say?” added Captain Underwood. + +“No matter what he says. It is better to keep the peace than to let +them out.” + +Doubtless he fully agreed with me; but he dreaded the wrath of his +employer’s son even more than the violence of the Wimpletonians. +He went up to the wheel-house, and rang the bell to go ahead. The +discomfited enemy on the hurricane deck were discussing the exciting +topic very earnestly. It was humiliating for all of them to lay down +their arms, practically, on account of the capture of their leader. Ben +Pinkerton was in favor of fighting it out, and rescuing Waddie from the +gripe of his persecutor by force and arms; but timid counsels finally +prevailed, and the battalion kept quiet. + +I had gone up the ladder when the boat started, so that I could see +what they were doing, and hear what they were saying; but I kept my +line of retreat open, so that I could make for the forward deck if a +storm appeared. It was only a short run to North Point, and we soon +made the landing at a rude pier, erected for passengers going to an +interior town. As soon as the steamer was made fast, Forbush appeared +on the forward deck, dragging Waddie by the collar, and carrying the +sword in his hand. Taking position in the bow of the boat, where he +could not be assaulted in the rear, the engineer planted his prisoner +in front of him, while the deck hands, reënforced by the fireman and +myself, formed a line between him and the gangway. + +“Now, Feathers, if your men are good soldiers they will obey you,” +Forbush began. “Just give them the order to march down in single file, +and go ashore!” + +Waddie was humiliated by his defeat. He was ashamed to confess, +practically, that the battalion had been defeated by his regard for his +own safety. But he was still in the power of the fierce engineer, whose +bloody hand was upon his throat. He hesitated; but every instant of +delay caused Forbush to tighten his hold, and it was painfully apparent +to him that he must give the order, or be choked by his unrelenting +tyrant. + +“Speak, Feathers, speak!” said the engineer. “Give your orders, and +speak up like a man, so that they can hear you!” + +“Don’t! Don’t! You hurt me!” whined the major. + +“That’s nothing to what will come if you don’t do as I tell you.” + +“March them down, Dick Bayard,” howled Waddie, as Forbush emphasized +his determination by a fierce twist at the neck of his victim. + +“In single file,” added the engineer. + +“Single file, Dick!” repeated Waddie. + +“Single file--forward, march!” said Captain Dick Bayard, who was +plainly disgusted with the proceedings. + +The column of valiant warriors, grand even in their misfortunes, +descended the ladder on the port side, and stepped on shore. They +looked as sheepish as the lambs on the neighboring hills; but they were +full of bottled-up rage, and as soon as Waddie was out of trouble, it +was probable that something would be done. + +“Now let me go!” snapped Waddie, when the last of the file had left the +boat. + +“Not yet, Feathers,” replied Forbush, as he glanced at the two +companies on the pier. “Order your troops to march up to the grove on +the shore.” + +“What for?” groaned Waddie. + +“Good soldiers never ask questions,” laughed the engineer, as he +twisted the major’s collar again. + +Waddie gave the order as he was required, and Dick Bayard, who appeared +to be on the watch for a chance to redeem the fortunes of the day, +doggedly led the battalion away from the steamer. + +“Now it is all right, Feathers,” said Forbush. “Next time, when you +want a steamer, you had better apply at the captain’s office.” + +“I didn’t want your old steamer,” snarled the gallant major. + +“What did you take her for, then?” + +“Because you were going to run down our boats. I heard Tommy Toppleton +tell the captain to do so.” + +“Why didn’t you get out of the way?” + +“We never get out of the way for Toppleton humbugs,” sneered Waddie. +“You haven’t seen the end of this.” + +“We shall probably see the end of it together. Here is your cheese +knife, Feathers; but behave yourself, or you haven’t seen the worst of +it yet. Mind that, Feathers!” + +Waddie took his sword, and looked daggers; but he dared not use any, +or even the weapon he held in his hand. Sullenly, he walked across the +deck to the pier. He wanted to do something, but he was prudent when +his own person was in peril. + +“Cast off the fasts, Moses,” said Forbush, as he hastened to the +engine-room. + +“Come down here!” shouted Major Waddie to his forces in the grove. +“Come! Double quick!” + +I do not know what the valiant major intended to do next; but probably, +if his forces had not been sent to the grove by the forethought of +the engineer, he would have ordered an assault upon the Middleport, +and endeavored to recapture her. He would have directed his troops to +charge upon anything, so long as he could keep behind them, and make +good his own escape in case of disaster. He was reckless enough to do +anything; but as soon as the fasts were cast off, Captain Underwood +rang to back her, and the boat was clear of the pier long before Waddie +could bring up his forces. + +“We are well out of that,” said the captain, as he rang to go ahead. +“Now you can let our boys out of the cabin.” + +I was not exactly satisfied with the situation in which I found myself, +for though I was very happy in having escaped the wrath of Waddie +Wimpleton, I had still to encounter the ire of the other “scion of a +noble house.” I had expected to be broiled on a gridiron, or subjected +to some fearful punishment, for my sins against the house of Wimpleton; +and probably I should have been a sufferer, if Forbush had not taken +the matter in hand, and brought it to an issue. Now Tommy would berate +me for refusing to obey his order, when the engineer had declined to +do so; but I was willing to meet this charge, if I could escape the +responsibility of advising the captain to keep “our boys” prisoners +after we had subdued the enemy. + +I went to the cabin door to discharge my mission. It had been fastened +with a piece of wood, placed in the staple over the hasp, for the +padlock with which it was usually secured was lost. I threw the door +wide open, and announced to the prisoners below that they were free. + +“The door is open, Major Toppleton,” called one of the students to his +chief. + +“Where are the Wimps?” demanded Major Tommy, as he led the way out of +the cabin. + +“We put them on shore here, at North Point, where they intended to land +you,” I replied. + +“Why didn’t you obey my order when I told you to take charge of the +engine?” continued Tommy, his face beginning to kindle up with anger +again. + +“I couldn’t take the engine out of Mr. Forbush’s hands,” I replied with +becoming meekness. + +“Forbush shall be discharged when the boat returns,” said Tommy, +shaking his head. + +“Perhaps you will change your mind when you learn what he has done,” +I suggested. “He recaptured the boat, after he had been driven at the +point of the bayonet from the engine-room. He was wounded in the hand, +too, in the scrape. I don’t know how we should have got out of it if it +hadn’t been for him. He is a plucky fellow, and stood up against the +bayonets of the whole crowd of Wimps.” + +“What did he do?” asked Tommy, curiously. + +“He captured Waddie Wimpleton, took his sword away from him, and made +him order his command to the hurricane deck.” + +“When was that?” + +“Well, a short time ago,” I replied, cautiously. + +“Why didn’t you let us out then?” he demanded. + +“All the Wimps were here on deck. We let you out just as soon as we got +rid of them.” + +“What did you let them go for, if you had Waddie?” + +“There were two companies of them, and they were armed with bayonets. +We were glad enough to get rid of them.” + +Tommy thought, if he had been called with his force, he could have +taken care of the Wimpletonians; but he behaved better than I expected. +I turned his attention back to Forbush, and minutely described to the +major and his men the operations of the engineer, and the conduct of +Waddie under the torture. Tommy laughed, and the soldiers laughed. It +was a good joke, and they were sorry they had not seen the fun. + +“I hope you won’t find fault with Mr. Forbush, after the good service +he has rendered, and the cut he received in the hand in doing his +duty,” I ventured to suggest. + +“No! No! No!” murmured the boys. + +“I am willing to forgive him,” replied Tommy, magnanimously. “But if he +had obeyed my order, there would have been no trouble.” + +“What do you think the consequences would have been if he had obeyed +your order?” I mildly inquired. + +“No matter what they were; both he and you ought to have done as I told +you to do.” + +“The fellows in the boats would have been smashed up under the wheels +of the steamer.” + +“No, they wouldn’t. I only meant to duck them a little. I should have +stopped the wheels in a minute.” + +I was very glad to hear Tommy acknowledge that he did not mean to +annihilate the Wimpletonians, for I had a very good opinion of him, on +the whole. Though he did not mean seriously to injure the enemy, I have +no doubt some of them would have been sacrificed if he could have had +his own way. It is a blessed thing that boys can’t always have their +own way. + +I walked with Tommy to the engine-room, where Forbush was binding up +the wound on his hand. The little major kindly inquired about the +injury, and thanked the engineer for the service he had rendered; but +he could not help adding that it would have been better if the order +he gave had been obeyed. He then went up to the wheel-house to see the +captain; and as it did not appear that he had done anything worthy of +especial commendation, Tommy wanted to know why he had not let him out +of the cabin sooner. + +“We didn’t think it was best to open the doors till we had landed +the Wimpletonians,” replied Captain Underwood, with more candor than +prudence. + +“You didn’t, eh?” said Tommy, waxing angry. + +“Wolf thought you wouldn’t care to see the other boys.” + +“Then he advised you not to let us out--did he?” + +“He thought it wasn’t best; and I thought so too,” added the captain, +willing to share the blame with me. + +“What did you mean, Wolf?” demanded the major, turning to me. + +“The Wimps had two companies, and you had only one,” I replied; but it +was in vain that I tried to smooth the matter over. + +He was mad with me, because, in my capacity as a messenger of peace, +I had prevented a fight; but I was satisfied. The boat ran up to the +landing-place on the Horse Shoe, and the “troops” and their baggage +were disembarked. + +“Wolf, you may go back to Middleport in the steamer; I don’t want you +here,” said Tommy. + +But I was the ambassador of peace! + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +AT THE HORSE SHOE. + + +“I should like to stay with you a few days, Major Tommy,” I ventured to +say, after the young lord had given me the imperative order to depart +on the steamer. + +“I say I don’t want you here,” replied Tommy, flatly. “We can get along +without you.” + +“Perhaps I may be of some service to you,” I modestly suggested. + +“I don’t want any fellow about me that won’t obey orders,” protested +the little major. “You advised the captain to keep us locked up in that +cabin, when we might have cleaned out the Wimps, and paid them off for +what they did.” + +“Your father sent me down here, Tommy, to do anything I could to assist +you,” I added. + +“I don’t care if he did!” replied Tommy, irritated rather than +conciliated by this remark. + +“He wished me to stay with you; it was not by my own desire that I +came.” + +“Did he send you here to be a spy upon our actions? If he did, so much +the more reason why we should get rid of you. We don’t want any spies +and go-betweens here.” + +“I am not a spy, Tommy.” + +“Go on board the steamer, and tell my father I won’t have you here.” + +“Very well,” I replied, as I walked away from the imperious little +magnate. + +“Wolf is a good fellow,” I heard the dignified Skotchley say to Tommy, +as I departed. “I wouldn’t send him off.” + +“You wouldn’t, and you needn’t. I will, and shall,” replied Tommy, +curtly. + +By this time the officers and soldiers of Company A had gathered at the +shore, and I found I had quite a number of friends who were willing to +intercede for me; but if all the officers of the battalion had gone +down upon their knees to him in my behalf, he would not have yielded. +I was banished from the island; and, though I was very willing to go, +much preferring to spend my vacation in some contemplated improvements +upon our garden, I did not wish to be sent away in disgrace. I saw that +Skotchley did not like the manner in which his interposition had been +treated, and just as the boat was about to start, I was not a little +surprised to see him come on board. + +“Faxon is as mad as a March hare,” said he, walking up to me. + +“What is the matter?” + +“He says it is mean to send you off in this way.” + +“I am willing to go; I don’t care about staying here, for there will +be a fight soon,” I added. “But Major Toppleton sent me here, and I +thought I ought to stay.” + +“I would stay, if I were you,” said Skotchley. + +“No; I won’t make any trouble. But the steamer is starting; you will be +carried off if you don’t go on shore.” + +“That is just what I want,” replied the dignified student, with a +smile. “Like yourself, I don’t wish to make any trouble; but I will not +be snubbed by Major Tommy Toppleton. I prefer to spend my vacation in +some other place.” + +“All ashore,” said Captain Underwood, nodding to my companion. + +“I am going with you, captain.” + +“Very well;” and the bell was rung to start her. + +“Hallo, there! Stop her, Captain Underwood!” called the imperious major. + +The captain obeyed, of course. + +“Where are you going, Skotchley?” demanded Tommy. + +“I am going to Middleport,” replied Skotchley, in his quiet manner. + +“I don’t see it!” added the major, his face reddening with anger at +this breach of discipline. “You are first lieutenant of Company B.” + +“I prefer not to remain.” + +“But I prefer that you should remain,” stormed Tommy. + +“I am sorry to disappoint you, but I have decided to go.” + +“Will you come on shore, or will you be brought on shore?” + +“Neither.” + +“Captain Briscoe, take a file of men, and bring Skotchley on shore. He +is a deserter,” added Tommy. + +Whew! A deserter! + +“Go ahead, captain,” I suggested to the timid master of the steamer. +“There will be a row here in five minutes, if you don’t.” + +“It is all my place is worth to disobey that stripling,” replied +Captain Underwood, disgusted with the situation. “His father rules all +Middleport, and he rules his father.” + +I saw Faxon remonstrating in the most vigorous manner with the +commander of the battalion, and presently the former came on board with +the olive of peace in his hand. He begged Skotchley to return to the +shore, in order to save all further trouble. + +“If Tommy will permit Wolf to remain, I will,” replied the dignified +student. + +Faxon returned to the shore with these terms; but Tommy indignantly +declined them. He would have Skotchley, and he would not have me. The +order was given again for Captain Briscoe to bring the refractory +lieutenant on shore with a file of soldiers; but the men would not +“fall in” to execute such a command. Skotchley was the most influential +fellow among the students, as his election to the presidency of the +railroad proved. Though he was dignified, and remarkably correct in his +deportment, he was very popular. Tommy had just snubbed him, and this +had excited the indignation of the crowd. Briscoe and a dozen others +threatened to leave the camp, and actually made a movement towards the +steamer. + +Major Tommy was in a quandary. There was a mutiny among the forces, +and the prospect at that moment was the breaking up of the camp. The +students had long been disgusted with Tommy’s tyranny, and it did not +require much to kindle the flames of insurrection in the battalion. +Hurried consultations among groups of officers and privates indicated +a tempest. The little magnate was shrewd enough now to see that he had +gone too far, but his pride would not permit him to recede. + +The disaffected ones who had the courage to strike for their own rights +were collecting near the pier. Briscoe appeared to be the leading +rebel, and the force which gathered around him included half the +battalion. Tommy was informed that they intended to desert in a body. + +“Start your boat, Captain Underwood,” said Tommy, in order to prevent +the departure of the rebels. + +The captain pulled the bells, and the wheels of the Middleport turned. + +“Now stop her!” shouted the major; and it was evident that he intended +only to move the steamer far enough from the shore to prevent the +escape of the disaffected portion of his command. + +I heard the last order, but the captain did not, for I had moved to the +stern, in order to see the result. + +“Stop her, I say,” repeated Tommy, savagely. + +Still Captain Underwood did not, or would not, hear him, and the +Middleport went on her way. + +“Tell the captain to stop her!” screamed Tommy, at the top of his lungs. + +I deemed it to be in the interests of peace not to heed this order, for +I was afraid, if I communicated it to the captain, he would obey. The +little major screamed till he was hoarse; but we were clear of the +island, though it was certain there was an account to be settled in the +future. + +“Our Academy would be a great institution, if Tommy Toppleton went to +school somewhere else,” said Skotchley. + +“It is a great pity he is so overbearing,” I replied. + +“He seems to think all the rest of the fellows were created only to be +his servants, and he treads upon them as though they were worms beneath +his feet. I have not been accustomed to have a fellow speak to me as he +did to-day.” + +“He is very haughty; but he is a generous fellow, and has many other +good qualities.” + +“But one can’t live with him, he is so overbearing. I am rather sorry +now that I did not accept the office of president of the Lake Shore +Railroad, when I was elected. It would have brought affairs to a head. +But I did not want to spite him, for he never treated me so badly +before.” + +Tommy had made a great mistake in alienating such a fellow as +Skotchley. It was evident that the tempest among the students could +not much longer be delayed, if it had not already commenced. From +the deck of the Middleport, we saw the two companies march to the +camp ground, and begin to pitch the tents. It was probable that the +mutiny had been nipped in the bud by the departure of the steamer with +Skotchley on board. I was afterwards told that the students regarded +Tommy’s order to start the boat as yielding the point, and that, when +he failed to stop her, he accepted the situation, and made a virtue +of necessity, permitting the boys to believe that the Middleport had +departed in obedience to his command. + +The boats of the Wimpletonians were moving towards North Point, for +those in charge of them had comprehended the final defeat of their +party. It only remained for them to seek another camp ground, or make +the attempt to drive the Toppletonians from their position. Skotchley +and I agreed that they would not long be quiet, and that the week would +be filled up with quarrels and skirmishes between the students of the +rival academies. + +In an hour the steamer arrived at the wharf in Middleport, and we went +on shore. I invited Skotchley, as the Institute was closed, to spend +the week with me at my father’s house. He thanked me very cordially, +and accepted the invitation; but before I went home, I deemed it proper +to report to Major Toppleton the events which had transpired during the +forenoon. I intended to call at his house on my way home; but we met +him coming down the street towards the pier. + +“I thought you went up to the camp, Wolf,” said he, much surprised when +he saw me. + +“I have been, sir, and a sweet time we have had of it. Tommy sent me +off, and would not permit me to remain on the island.” + +“What has happened?” he asked, anxiously. + +I told him the story of the morning’s adventures, though it took me +half an hour to do so. + +“And Tommy sent you off--did he?” laughed the major. + +“Yes, sir--because I advised the captain not to let our fellows out of +the cabin until we got rid of the Wimps; but if they had been let out, +there would have been a fight with bayonets.” + +“I am very glad you didn’t let them out then; but Tommy is rather a +difficult subject to manage,” continued the major, lightly. “I have to +coax him a great deal, for he is bound to have his own way. If he is +thwarted, it has a bad effect upon him. I sent you up to the island to +keep the run of things there; but of course I did not expect you to +oppose him.” + +“I did the best I could, sir.” + +“You did very well; but I am sorry Tommy sent you away, for I thought +you might have some influence with him. Did he send you away too, +Skotchley?” he added, turning to my companion. + +“No, sir; I came of my own accord,” replied the dignified student: but +he did not think it necessary to add that he and Tommy had fallen out. + +“You think there will be a fight between the two sides up there?” +continued the major. + +“Before the week is out there will be.” + +“Something must be done,” said the major, anxiously. + +I saw now that he was quite as much the victim of Tommy’s waywardness +as the students of the Institute. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +UP THE LAKE. + + +Major Toppleton was absolutely afraid of his son. There was a rumor in +Middleport--though I did not hear of it until after the events narrated +had transpired--that his father had positively refused to permit Tommy +to have his own way on one occasion, when the young gentleman insisted +upon discharging a favorite servant of his mother. The major declined +to yield, and stuck to his text. The result was, that Tommy, in his +rage, ran away in the dead of winter, and was not found for two whole +days, during which time he lived on the fat of the land at the Hitaca +House, whither he had gone in the steamer. He refused to go home till +his father promised to discharge the obnoxious servant, declaring that +he would not live in the same house with the woman, and threatening +to go to New York and ship as a common sailor. Undoubtedly it would +have been better for the young gentleman if he had shipped as a common +sailor, for in that capacity he would have ascertained how much of his +own way he could enjoy. His father yielded, and Tommy, having conquered +in this instance, had no trouble in maintaining his supremacy. The +major was afraid he would run away, or do some other terrible thing; +and the man who was the lord and master of all Middleport was the slave +of his tyrannical son. This is not the only instance on record of the +same thing. + +I supposed Major Toppleton would take some steps to prevent a quarrel +between the rival students, but he did not. It was a delicate and +difficult matter to interfere with Tommy; and the fact that I had been +sent back proved that he would not submit to any dictation, or even +suggestion. + +“I am rather glad you have come back, Wolf,” said the great man; and +I saw that he was trying to conceal his anxiety in regard to the +students. “I have just received a letter from Hitaca, informing me that +my new yacht is finished, and I was on my way to the wharf to find +some one to send after her. I have been told that you are a boatman as +well as an engineer, Wolf.” + +“I have handled all sorts of boats on the lake. I used to sail the +Marian on the other side; and she is the largest boat in this part of +the lake,” I replied. + +“But she is not more than half as large as the Grace.” + +“The Grace!” I exclaimed, delighted with the name. + +“She is called after my daughter. Do you think you can handle her?” + +“I know I can, sir.” + +“She is thirty-five feet long, and measures fifteen tons. She has a +cabin large enough to accommodate half a dozen persons.” + +“I should like to bring her down first rate,” I added, glancing at +Skotchley; and I saw by his looks that he would like to accompany me. + +“If you think you can manage her, you may go. You will want two or +three hands to help you.” + +“I will find them, sir.” + +“You must take the steamer up the lake as soon as she goes. I will +write an order on the builder to deliver the boat to you; call at my +house for it before you start.” + +I was delighted with this mission, for I had a taste for boats almost +as strong as that for a steam-engine. I was fond of the water, and +should have preferred a situation in a steamer to anything else. +Skotchley was as much pleased as I was with the cruise in prospect; +and, after I had told my mother where I was going, we called at the +major’s for the order. He gave me some money to pay the expenses, and, +with two of my friends, we embarked in the steamer for Hitaca, where +we arrived at half past four. Near the steamer’s wharf, up the river, +I saw a beautiful yacht, which I at once concluded was the Grace; and +she was worthy of her name, if anything made of wood and iron could be +equal to such an honor. + +I presented my order to the builder, who was in doubt about delivering +it to me, whom he stigmatized as a boy; but when I informed him that +I was the engineer of the Lake Shore Railroad, he made no further +objection. He did me the honor to say that he had heard of me, and that +he had ridden in the dummy from Middleport to Spangleport. I was not a +little astonished to find that my fame had travelled so far as Hitaca; +but it appeared that everybody in the vicinity knew all about the +quarrel between the two sides of the lake. + +The Grace was moored in a basin of the river, and the builder put my +party on board of her in a skiff. She was a magnificent boat, far +exceeding anything of the kind I had seen, or even dreamed of. She was +sloop-rigged, painted black outside, and white on deck. But her cabin +was the principal attraction to me, and I hastened below to inspect +it. It was finished and furnished in a style equal to the major’s +house, with two little state-rooms, and a little cuddy forward, with +a cook-stove in it. I was astonished and delighted, and would gladly +have resigned my situation as engineer for a position on this beautiful +craft. + +I sent Tom Walton and Joe Poole up to a store to purchase a list +of groceries and provisions which I had made out, with Skotchley’s +assistance, on board of the steamer; for we should need some supper, +and perhaps breakfast, before we could reach Middleport. While they +were gone, Skotchley and I devoted ourselves to a new examination of +the wonders of the Grace. The builder was pleased with my enthusiasm, +and the warm praise both of us bestowed upon his work. He opened all +the lockers, and explained everything about the yacht, from the keel to +the mast-head. + +“When will that railroad be done?” asked the builder, after we had +exhausted the Grace, cabin, deck, and rigging. + +“In a month or two,” I replied; and I could not fail to observe the sly +twinkle in his eye. + +“They say Major Toppleton has bought up both the steamers, and intends +to run them, in connection with the railroad, only from Middleport to +Hitaca.” + +“I have heard so; but I know nothing about it.” + +“Do you see that steamer?” he added, pointing to a vessel, which had +just been launched. + +“I see her. Is that the new one Colonel Wimpleton is building?” I +asked, with no little curiosity. + +“That’s the boat, and if I mistake not she will give your road a hard +run.” + +“I should like to see her,” I continued. + +The builder kindly conducted me all over her. Everything about her was +first-class work, and I confess that I rather envied the Wimpletonians +the possession of such a steamer. They were just building her cabins +and upper works, and I saw that she was to be far ahead of anything on +the lake. + +“I suppose there will be some lively competition when this boat is +finished,” said I, as we left the steamer. “But I hope it will be +good-natured.” + +“The boat has rather the advantage of you,” added the builder. “If the +major will build a bridge over the river at Ucayga, he will win the +day. As it is, the steamer will have the weather-gage.” + +It was hardly prudent for me to think so, for I was to run the +“Lightning Express” in opposition to the new boat. But our provisions +had arrived, and just then I was more interested in the cruise of +the Grace than in the trips of the new steamer. Skotchley and I went +on board. As the river below Hitaca was narrow, and the navigation +difficult, the builder, with some of his men, assisted us to work her +out into the open lake. The wind was tolerably fresh from the westward, +and as soon as the men had left us, I took the helm, and headed the +Grace for Middleport. The yacht was a furious sailer, and she tore +through the water at a rapid rate. + +“I rather like this,” said Skotchley, as he seated himself at my side. + +“So do I,” I replied. “I wish the major would make me skipper of this +boat, and let some one else run the locomotive.” + +“I don’t want anything better than this for my vacation. I should like +to spend the week in her, cruising up and down the lake.” + +“Perhaps you can. The major is going a fishing in her, I heard him say. +Very likely he will let you have a berth in her.” + +“I’m afraid not. Tommy will spoil all my chances of anything good for +this term,” added the dignified student, shaking his head. + +“I think the fellows on the Horse Shoe are likely to bring Tommy to +his senses before they get through with him. They have him there alone, +and I don’t think they will let him have his own way all the time. At +any rate, they began as though they would not.” + +“If I were in Tommy’s boots, I should try to make the fellows love +instead of hate me. He is smart, and can make himself very agreeable +when he isn’t ugly. In my opinion, there will be a big row on the Horse +Shoe, even without any help from the Wimps. Tommy is plucky, and I am +not sure that it will not be a good thing for him if the Wimps attack +his camp. His position is a little like that of some king I have read +of, who got up a foreign war to save himself from being tipped off the +throne by his own subjects.” + +“Supper is ready,” said Tom Walton, who attended to the culinary +department of the Grace, having had some experience in the art of +cooking. “Shall I take the helm, while you go down?” + +I was very happy to have him do so, for Tom was a good boatman, which +was the particular reason why I had invited him to be one of the +party. We went down into the cabin, where the table was set for us. +It was neatly and tastily arranged. The viands consisted of beefsteak, +potatoes, milk toast, and coffee; and I must do Tom the justice to say +that they tasted as good as they looked. Certainly I never felt happier +than when I sat down to that supper. There was something decidedly +marine in the surroundings. The fresh breeze created quite a sea for an +inland lake, and the Grace tossed up and down just enough to make her +seem like a vessel. + +[Illustration: THE MAN ON THE RAFT. Page 148.] + +“Wolf! Wolf!” shouted Tom Walton, at the helm, just as I was taking my +second cup of coffee; for I did not expect to sleep much that night. + +“What’s the matter?” I demanded, springing into the standing-room, +fearful that some calamity impended over the beautiful yacht. + +“There’s some one calling to us from over there,” he replied, highly +excited, as he pointed towards the eastern shore. “There he is! It’s a +man in a boat, or on a raft.” + +“Help! Help!” cried the person, in a voice which sounded strangely +familiar to me. + +“Let out the main sheet, Tom. We will run over and see what the matter +is,” I replied, taking the helm. + +In a few moments the Grace swept round into the wind, under the lee of +the person who had appealed to us for aid. He was on a kind of raft, +sitting upon the wet planks, over which the waves flowed freely. I ran +the bow of the yacht up to his frail craft, to which the sufferer was +clinging with both hands. Giving the helm to Tom, I rushed forward to +help the man, whose face presented a most woe-begone aspect. + +My astonishment may be surmised when I recognized in this person +Colonel Wimpleton! + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +IF THINE ENEMY HUNGER. + + +As soon as the Grace came within reach of Colonel Wimpleton, on the +raft, he improved his opportunity. Grasping the bob-stay, he made +his way on board, with my assistance. He was so clumsy and terrified +that without my help he would certainly have fallen overboard. He +plumped upon the deck on all fours, in a most undignified attitude +for the magnate of Centreport. I helped him to rise. In doing so, I +discovered that his breath was very odorous of liquor, which seemed to +do something towards explaining the unfortunate plight in which we had +found him. He was not intoxicated at the time he was pulled on board +the Grace; but perhaps he had had time to work off the effects of the +potions whose incense still lingered about him. + +“Wolf Penniman!” exclaimed he, as he grasped one of the fore-stays, +and, steadying himself with it, gazed into my face; and his expression +seemed to indicate that he would rather have been rescued by any other +person than by me. + +“Colonel Wimpleton!” I replied, returning his compliment. + +“Is it you, Wolf?” he added, as if unwilling to believe the evidence of +his own eyes. + +“Yes, sir; it is I. But if you feel bad about it, you can return to the +raft.” + +He glanced at the little staging of three planks on which he had made +his involuntary cruise, and shuddered as he did so, partly with cold, +and partly with dread. + +“I will pay you well for whatever you do for me, Wolf,” said he, +glancing doubtfully at the boat, and then at me. + +“Let me tell you in the beginning, Colonel Wimpleton, that you can’t +pay me the first red cent,” I replied, with proper spirit. + +“You won’t turn me adrift again--will you?” + +“No, sir; I will do anything I can for you.” + +“We have not been very good friends lately.” + +“No, sir; but that shall not prevent me from assisting you to any +extent within my power. What shall I do for you, sir?” + +“I am very cold and numb,” said he, curling up with the chills that +swept through his frame. + +“Come into the cabin, sir. I think we can warm and dry you so that you +will be quite comfortable.” + +“Thank you, Wolf;” and I think this was the first time he had ever used +a gracious word to me. + +Tom Walton had put the helm up, and the yacht filled away on her course +again. I took Colonel Wimpleton’s arm, and conducted him to the cabin. +The fire was still burning in the little cook-room, and shutting down +the hatch on the deck, I soon made the place so hot that it almost +melted me. Seating my distinguished guest before the stove, I gave him +a mug of hot coffee, though, before he drank it, he asked me if there +was any brandy on board. I told him we had none, and he contented +himself with the coffee, which was quite as beneficial. + +Under my mild treatment, the patient gradually recovered the use of his +limbs. I went on deck, and sent Tom down to give him some supper; and +our zealous cook provided him a fresh beefsteak, coffee, and toast, +which Tom said he ate just as though he had been a common man. It was +now quite dark, and we were off Southport, on the east shore. The +wind had subsided, and we were not likely to reach Middleport before +morning. I gave Tom the helm again, and went below to inquire into +the colonel’s condition. He was still wet, and was fearful that his +exposure would bring on the rheumatic fever, to which he was liable. I +suggested to him that he should go to bed, and have his clothes dried. +For such a man as he was, he was very pliable and lamb-like. + +I conducted him to one of the little state-rooms, which contained a +wide berth. I put all the blankets on board upon the bed, and the +colonel, taking off all his clothes, buried himself in them. I tucked +him up, and he declared that he felt quite comfortable. Hanging up all +his garments in the cook-room, I filled the stove with wood, assured +they would soon dry in the intense heat of the apartment. + +“Can I do anything more for you, colonel?” I asked, returning to his +room. + +“No, thank you, Wolf; I am very comfortable now,” he replied from the +mass of blankets and quilts which covered him. + +“Where do you wish to go, sir?” + +“Home! Home!” he answered with energy. + +“We are bound for Middleport, sir, and we will land you as soon as we +arrive.” + +“Thank you, Wolf. I feel like a new man now. I was sure I should be +drowned. I had been on that raft over three hours.” + +“Indeed, sir! It was a very uncomfortable craft.” + +“The lake was very rough, and the waves washed over me every minute. +I gave myself up for lost. I suffered all that a man could endure in +those three hours,” said he, shuddering as he thought of his unpleasant +voyage. + +Probably, accustomed as he was to luxury and ease, he had had a hard +time of it; but a man inured to work and weather would not have +suffered half so much as he did; though, chilled and terrified as he +was, I did wonder that he had not been washed from his raft, to perish +in the deep waters beneath him. + +“I am very glad we happened to come along as we did,” I added. + +“It was fortunate for me, Wolf. I will give you a thousand dollars for +the service you have rendered me as soon as I get home.” + +“Excuse me, sir; but I cannot take anything,” I replied, warmly. + +“Why not, Wolf?” + +“Because I should despise myself if I took anything. There are some +things in this world that cannot be paid for with money.” + +“You are a strange boy, Wolf.” + +“Perhaps I am; but I think too much of myself to take money for doing a +kindness to any one in distress.” + +“Very likely I can do something else for you.” + +“I don’t require anything to be done for me, Colonel Wimpleton,” I +persisted. + +“If you have been up to Hitaca, probably you have seen the steamer I am +building there.” + +“Yes, sir, I saw her; and a very fine boat she will be.” + +“I shall want an engineer for her,” he suggested. + +“Of course you will, sir. An engineer is a necessity in a steamer,” I +replied; but I refused to bite at the bait he threw out to me. + +“Are you the captain of this boat, Wolf?” he asked, glancing round at +the pleasant little state-room in which he was lying. + +“For the present I am.” + +“Whose boat is it?” + +“Major Toppleton’s.” + +“I saw her at the yard in Hitaca; but I had no idea she was so large +and fine, as she lay in the river.” + +“She is just finished, and the major sent me up to bring her down to +Middleport. I don’t suppose I shall go in her again, for I belong on +the railroad.” + +“I know you do,” he replied; and his tone seemed to indicate that, at +that moment, he was sorry I did. + +I did not care to discuss the relations of the two sides of the lake +with him, and I turned his attention from the subject by asking what I +could do for him. + +“I do not need anything more, Wolf. I am warm and comfortable, and I am +very much obliged to you for what you have done. Did you know who it +was when you saw me on the raft?” + +“Yes, sir; I recognized you when the boat came up to the raft.” + +“You did?” + +“Yes, sir; certainly I did.” + +“Were you not tempted to let me remain where I was?” he asked, raising +his head on the bed, so as to see my face. + +“No, sir, I was not.” + +“I should think you would have been.” + +“Why, I am not a heathen, Colonel Wimpleton!” I replied. + +“No; we have had considerable trouble, and I suppose you have no reason +to think very kindly of me,” stammered he, as though the words almost +choked him. + +“I don’t think you used me just right, sir; but I’m not an Indian.” + +“I think I should have perished in half an hour more. It was getting +dark, and I was as numb as though I had been frozen. But I shall make +it all right somehow, Wolf.” + +“It is all right now.” + +“Did you see anything of Dr. Pomford as you came up the lake?” + +“Dr. Pomford? I don’t know him, sir.” + +“I suppose not. He is from Philadelphia, and is spending a week with +me. He is fond of fishing, and we came up here to try our luck.” + +“But how came you on that raft, sir?” I inquired. “Did you lose your +friend overboard?” + +“No; we had a boat, which we fastened to the raft on the +fishing-ground. We found the raft there, moored with stakes in the deep +water. Dr. Pomford had the misfortune to drop his bottle of brandy +overboard, after we had been fishing about an hour. Being quite chilly, +he went back to the hotel after some more, leaving me on the raft, for +the fish were biting well, and I did not like to leave them; besides, +he is a younger man than I am, and can move about easier. His boat was +fastened to one of the stakes, and I think, when he started, he must +have pulled it up. I don’t know how it happened, but as soon as the +doctor was out of sight behind the cliff, I found myself adrift.” + +It was not polite for me to say anything; but I could not help +thinking, that if the brandy bottle had dropped overboard sooner, the +colonel would have understood the matter better. I had never heard that +the great man was in the habit of drinking too much; but the odor of +his breath led me to my conclusion. I think he was somewhat fuddled, or +he would have gone with the doctor in the boat. + +“I never suffered so much in three hours before in my life,” continued +the colonel. “No canal boat, steamer, or other craft came near me, and +I cried for help till my voice gave out. Wolf, I would have given half +my fortune, if not the whole of it, to have been taken from that raft +a moment before you saw me. If I had known you were in charge of the +boat, I should not have expected you to save me.” + +“My mother always taught me to love my enemies,” I answered. + +“I hear the ministers talk about such things, but I never believed +much in them. I am under very great obligations to you, Wolf. You have +treated me as well as though I had always been your best friend.” + +“It is all right, sir. I am satisfied, if you are.” + +“I am not satisfied; and I shall never be satisfied until I have made +you some return for all this.” + +“I shall not take anything, sir,” I replied, resolutely. + +“I will give you a man’s wages, if you will take the place as engineer +of the new steamer.” + +“Thank you for the offer, Colonel Wimpleton; but I cannot accept it at +present. I never desert my friends till they kick me.” + +“That is as much as to say that I kicked you before you left +Centreport.” + +“I think we had better bury the past.” + +“I will make it all right with your father; he shall have better wages +than he has now.” + +“I am much obliged to you, sir; but we are both of us very well +satisfied where we are.” + +The great man seemed to be intensely annoyed at my obstinacy; and it +certainly was a hard case for him that he was not permitted even to do +me a favor. My pride would not permit me to accept a gift from one who +had treated me so badly as he had; but it was a pleasure to serve him, +to heap the fiery coals of kindness upon his head. + +As I had feared, the wind died out entirely, and the Grace lay +helpless upon the smooth surface of the lake. But below, everything +was cheerful--even Colonel Wimpleton. The lamps burned brightly in the +cabin and state-room, and I enjoyed myself hugely, not caring whether +the wind blew or not. I gave the great man his underclothing when it +was dry, and he put it on. He wanted to talk, and he did talk in his +bed till nearly midnight, when a breeze from the southward sprang up, +which compelled me to take my place at the helm. The wind freshened, +and the Grace flew before it, so that we came to anchor at two o’clock +off Major Toppleton’s mansion. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +COLONEL WIMPLETON BIDS HIGH. + + +During the run of twenty miles down the lake, I had sat alone at the +helm the greater portion of the time, for my companions were disposed +to sleep. Colonel Wimpleton snored so that I could hear him in the +standing-room. Skotchley had turned in, occupying the port state-room, +while Tom Walton lay on a locker, where I could call him in a moment if +his services were needed. While I sat there I did a great deal of heavy +thinking, mostly over the relations of Toppleton and Wimpleton. When +that magnificent steamer was completed, there would be lively times on +the lake. + +The offer which Colonel Wimpleton had made me of the position of +engineer on board the new steamer was very tempting to me, and I +wished very much that I could honorably accept it; but it was no use +to think about it. Whatever might be said of Major Tommy, his father +had invariably treated me very handsomely. He had come to my father’s +assistance at a time when he needed help, and had actually put over two +thousand dollars into his pocket. I felt it to be my duty to endure +a great deal from the son for the sake of the father, as, it now +appeared, the former was the chief man of the two. + +As we approached Middleport, I called Tom Walton, and, with as little +noise as possible, anchored the Grace. It was a moonlight night, and +since the wind had come up from the southward, the weather was warm and +pleasant. The sleepers below had not been disturbed; but, after Tom and +I had made everything snug on deck, I waked Colonel Wimpleton, and told +him where we were. I offered to row him across the lake in the little +tender of the Grace. + +“Thank you, Wolf. I will get up at once,” said he. “What time is it?” + +“About half past two, sir.” + +“I have slept well. I had no idea of getting home to-night.” + +“We are at anchor off Major Toppleton’s house.” + +“Then I think I had better leave as soon as possible. I hope the major +won’t punish you for what you have done for me.” + +“I don’t think he will. We get along very well together, sir.” + +“Better than you did with me, I suppose,” replied he, with a grim +smile. “But I never knew you before, Wolf. It would be different if you +should come over to Centreport again.” + +“I will have the boat ready in a few moments,” I replied, wishing to +change the subject. + +I carried the colonel’s clothing to him. It had been nicely dried, and +in a few moments he appeared on deck. I could hardly believe he was the +Colonel Wimpleton who had been so unjust, not to say savage, towards +me. He was a lamb now, and I was very willing to believe that his +three hours of peril had done him a great deal of good, though I was +afraid the impression would be removed when he returned to his usual +associations. I helped the great man into the boat, and pushed off. + +“Have you thought of the offer that I made you, Wolf?” said the +colonel, as I gave way at the oars. + +“It is useless for me to think of it, sir. I cannot leave Major +Toppleton while he wishes me to stay with him.” + +“But I offer you double your present wages.” + +“The major has been very kind to me, and was a good friend to our +family when we needed a friend. It would not be right for me to leave +him, and I cannot think of such a thing.” + +The magnate of Centreport seemed to me to be more nettled by my refusal +than I thought the occasion required. But I enjoyed a certain triumph +in finding him thus teasing me to return to his side of the lake--a +triumph which was none the less grateful because I had won it by +kindness. The colonel was silent for a few moments, hitching about in +the boat as though the seat was not comfortable. + +“How old are you, Wolf?” he asked, with sudden energy. + +“Sixteen in July, sir.” + +“I have one more offer to make you,” he added. + +“It won’t do any good, Colonel Wimpleton; for, as I have said, I never +desert my friends while they use me well. If you would fill this boat +up with gold, it wouldn’t make any difference with me,” I replied, +rather warmly. + +“Don’t be obstinate, Wolf.” + +“I am very much obliged to you, sir, for your kind offer, and I would +accept it if I could.” + +“You shall be captain of the new steamer, and have two dollars a day +for your services. You will have a nice state-room in the boat, and +nothing to do but superintend the management of her. I find you are +very popular, not with the boys alone, but with the men and women, and +it is for my interest to have you on the steamer.” + +“I thank you very much, sir; but I cannot leave my present place.” + +“Think of it, Wolf; and talk the matter over with your father. If you +like, he shall be the engineer of the steamer.” + +“I thought the boat was to be managed by boys.” + +“But I can’t trust every boy in the engine-room. If I can’t get you as +engineer, I must have a man.” + +“I should be very glad to take either of the places you offer me, but +I cannot, sir. Major Toppleton has done the handsome thing for me and +for my father, and I think you would despise me if I turned against +him.” + +He continued to press the matter with so much earnestness that I came +to think I was of a great deal more importance in the world than I +really was. But I was steadfast in my allegiance to the friend who had +served our family when we were in distress. I pulled the boat up to the +steps in front of the colonel’s house, and assisted him to get out. He +invited me to go in with him, but I declined. + +“Now, Wolf, I’m not going to let this affair pass off without doing +something for you. I feel that you have saved my life,” said he, as I +seated myself at the oars. + +“It’s all right as it is, sir.” + +“No, it isn’t. You will hear from me again soon.” + +I gave way at the oars, and he walked towards his house. I had +conquered him, and it was certainly very remarkable that I had, at this +moment, both the mighty men as my friends, though my relations with +Tommy Toppleton threatened to make a breach with one of them. I felt +that I had carried out the spirit of my mother’s instructions, and I +ought not to be blamed for thinking very kindly of myself, because I +had discharged my Christian duty to one who had taught me to be his +enemy. In this frame of mind I pulled back to the Grace, and leaped +upon deck. + +“What have you been doing, Wolf?” demanded a stern voice, as a tall +form emerged from the cabin. + +Whew! It was Major Toppleton! I could not imagine what had brought him +out of his bed at that unseasonable hour; and I was speechless with +astonishment. + +“What have you been doing, Wolf?” repeated he; and I saw that all hands +had been called. + +“I have just landed Colonel Wimpleton at his house, sir,” I replied, +with due deference. + +“And you have been entertaining my greatest enemy in my yacht--have +you?” added the major, in a tone which seemed to threaten the pleasant +relations that had thus far subsisted between us. + +“I picked him up on the lake, when he was perishing with the cold, and +in danger of being drowned.” + +“I don’t object to your picking him up when he needed help. One must +do that for a dog. But why didn’t you put him ashore at the nearest +land--in the woods or on the rocks?” + +“Because he was so benumbed with cold that he was nearly helpless.” + +“You gave him a supper at my expense; you could not have used me any +better in my own yacht than you did him.” + +“I did everything I could for him, sir,” I replied, humbly. + +“You did--did you? Didn’t you know that he is a scoundrel? that he is +my bitterest enemy?” demanded the major, warmly. + +“I did, sir; but I thought it my duty to take care of him when he was +suffering.” + +“Fiddledy-dee! What do you mean by talking such bosh as that to me? I +believe you have a soft place in your head, Wolf. Joe Poole says you +treated him like a lord. I don’t keep a yacht for the accommodation of +Wimpleton. If you mean to sell out to the other side, do so at once.” + +“I have no such intention;” and I was on the point of defending myself +by saying that the colonel had made me several handsome offers, which I +had declined; but I concluded such a defence would do me no good, and +only irritate the major. + +“Of course I should not expect you to let even Wimpleton drown; but you +have overdone the thing; you ought to have put him ashore at Southport, +or Port Gunga.” + +“He wanted to come home, sir.” + +“No matter if he did; I don’t keep a yacht for his use.” + +“I am sorry I have offended you, sir,” I added; but I could not regret +what I had done. + +“Don’t do it again. The less you do for the other side, the better you +will suit me,” he continued, more gently, evidently because his anger +had expended itself, rather than because he accepted my apology. “How +did you get along with the boat?” + +“First rate, sir.” + +“Wolf, I have been uneasy all night about those boys on the island. I +have been afraid the Wimpleton scoundrels would tear up the railroad +track, and I have kept the dummy going every hour since dark. I am +tired out. I am afraid they will have a fight up at the Horse Shoe, and +somebody will get killed. I’m going to bed now; but I want you to run +up there, and have an eye upon the boys. You need not go very near the +island, but be sure you know what the students are about. The Wimpleton +boys have camped on the Shooter, and the two sides are not more than +forty rods apart. If things go wrong there, you will run over to Grass +Springs, and send me word by Lewis Holgate.” + +Having delivered his instructions, Joe Poole landed the major before +his house. With the assistance of Skotchley and Tom Walton, I hoisted +the mainsail and got up the anchor. When Joe returned, both of my +companions “pitched into” him for telling the major that I had treated +his enemy “like a lord.” + +“I only told the truth,” replied Joe. “But I didn’t mean to do Wolf any +harm.” + +“Didn’t you know any better?” added Tom. + +“I thought I was doing a good thing for Wolf, when I said that he had +treated the colonel so well, after he had used him so shabbily.” + +“Humph, you are a Sunday school scholar!” sneered Tom. + +“So am I, Tom,” I interposed. “I don’t blame Joe for telling only the +truth, and I should have told the major myself if he had not.” + +This remark quieted the sneerer, and I think that Sunday school +doctrine had the better of the argument. Tom ran up the jib, and, +passing through the Narrows, I headed the Grace for the Horse Shoe. Tom +had slept three or four hours, while I had not yet closed my eyes. I +gave him the helm, and directing him to call me when we came up with +the islands, I stretched myself on the cushioned locker, and dropped +asleep. + +The day was dawning when the helmsman called me. I had not slept more +than an hour and a half; but my interest in the mission upon which +I had been sent thoroughly roused me. I took the helm, and going to +the eastward of the South Shoe, I headed the Grace through the narrow +channel between the Horse Shoe and the Shooter, which would enable me +to obtain a fair view of both camps. Major Toppleton’s fears were not +groundless, for I found that the Wimpletonians had not devoted the +night to sleep, as the Toppletonians evidently had, for the former had +just effected a landing on the northern part of the Horse Shoe. As the +Grace passed out of the channel, I saw the bateaux, loaded with tents +and baggage, landing their freight. + +A battle impended. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +THE IMPENDING BATTLE. + + +I certainly did not expect to find anything at the Horse Shoe or +in its vicinity, so early in the morning, to indicate a battle, +or even a change of position. Men engaged in a holy cause, or in +realizing the promptings of ambition, may fight all day on the bloody +field, and then look out for the chances of another day during the +darkness of the night; but boys do not do so, as a general rule. The +Wimpletonians had evidently done something besides sleeping during the +night. Dissatisfied with the proceedings of the first day, they were +determined to make a better show the second day. + +On the other hand, the Toppletonians appeared to be fast asleep, +without even a guard to protect or warn them of the approach of their +enemy. Before daylight the Centreport battalion had been transported +from the Shooter to the Horse Shoe, and were now in position to give +battle to their haughty foe--if either was more haughty than the +other. I saw them on the shore, landing the last of their baggage, +and securing their boats in a little cove. On the highest part of the +island I could distinguish, in the gloom of the early morning, a line +of sentinels stretching entirely across the land. + +Before the Grace was clear of the island, Skotchley, who had made a +good night’s rest of it, came on deck, and I pointed out to him the +change which the Wimpletonians had made. + +“What do you think of it, Skotchley?” I asked. + +“I think there will be an awful row before noon,” he replied, shaking +his head. “Of course the Wimps haven’t gone over there for nothing.” + +“I don’t know but it would be the best thing in the world to let them +fight it out. If one side or the other should get thoroughly thrashed, +perhaps both would be willing to keep the peace.” + +“I think not; for of course the vanquished party would never be +satisfied till it had retrieved its fortunes.” + +“When do you think the fight will commence?” + +“I should say it is liable to begin at any moment,” added Skotchley; +“but I shall not expect it for several hours after our fellows find out +that their territory has been invaded.” + +“Can we do anything to prevent the fight?” I asked, earnestly. + +“I do not see that we can,” answered Skotchley. “What can we do? You +know what Tommy is. If we should attempt to reason with him, he would +flare up.” + +“I don’t mean to reason with him; that would be stupid.” + +“Of course we can’t do anything with Waddie.” + +“All we have to do is to inform Major Toppleton of the state of affairs +on the island,” I replied, as I put the helm down, and told Tom Walton +to haul in the sheets till the yacht was close on the wind. “We shall +get to Middleport with this breeze before the dummy starts.” + +It was only four o’clock in the morning, and though we had to beat up +to our destination, I was confident the Grace would do it in a couple +of hours. I had not had quite rest enough to make me feel good, and +giving the helm to Tom, I lay down again. I was soon asleep, and the +two hours of rest which I obtained set me right. + +“Middleport ahoy!” shouted Tom, as we approached our destination. + +“What time is it, Tom?” + +“Six o’clock. This yacht makes quick time of it.” + +“Where is Joe Poole?” + +“He has just turned out, and is getting breakfast.” + +“That’s sensible,” I replied, going on deck. “Clear away the anchor, +and stand by the jib-halyards.” + +In a few moments more, the Grace was at anchor in the deep water off +the major’s house. The great man was still asleep; but it would be +necessary to wake him. The belligerents on the island would soon be +punching each other with their bayonets if something was not done. But +I could not help feeling that the presence of Major Toppleton at the +scene of action would hardly better the situation. He was as violent, +arbitrary, and exacting as his son. It was possible that he might do +something to give the victory to the partisans of his own side; but it +was hardly to be expected that he would prevent the fight. + +“Skotchley, will you go ashore and call upon the major? You have only +to tell him that the Wimps have landed on the Horse Shoe,” said I to +the dignified student. + +“I don’t object; but why don’t you go?” he replied. + +“I wish to go somewhere else.” + +“Where?” he asked, curiously. + +“I will tell you some other time, perhaps.” + +“Just as you like, Wolf.” + +I pulled up the tender, and both of us got into it. I rowed to the +steps in front of the major’s house, and landed Skotchley. I had made +up my mind what to do, and I had but little time to carry out my +purpose. I felt in duty bound to prevent the fight on the island, if +I could, even independently of the mighty will and pleasure of Major +Toppleton. It was wicked to permit those boys, armed with deadly +weapons, and irritated by a long-standing rivalry, to plunge into a +strife which might become more serious than either party intended. + +“Mr. Wolf!” called the sweet voice of Grace Toppleton, just as I was +about to push off the boat. + +I was sorry to meet even her at such a moment, great as the luxury +would have been on an ordinary occasion. She tripped lightly down the +walk to the landing-steps; and certainly she never looked prettier and +more graceful than on that pleasant summer morning, with the fresh dew, +as it were, glowing upon her cheeks. + +“Good morning, Mr. Wolf,” she continued, as, out of breath with the +haste she had made, she presented herself before me. “That beautiful +yacht!” she exclaimed, as she glanced at the elegant craft which bore +her name. “Isn’t she a sylph!” + +“She is all she seems to be,” I replied, with becoming enthusiasm, “and +I think she is worthy of her name.” + +“How very gallant you are, Mr. Wolf!” she pouted. + +“I have been sailing her all night, and I ought to speak well of her.” + +“Father said he had sent you to Hitaca after her; but we did not expect +to see you till this afternoon. I want to go on board of her. I was so +surprised when I first saw her this morning!” + +It was very awkward, but I could not help myself. I had a mission +to perform which must be done at once, or not at all. I could not +disregard her wishes, and I assisted her into the boat. + +“I have been up to the Horse Shoe, where the students are encamped, +since I returned from Hitaca,” I continued, as I seated myself at the +oars. + +“I suppose they are having a nice time up there,” she replied. + +“I’m afraid not;” and as briefly as I could, I told her the situation +of affairs between the contending forces. + +As I hoped and expected of one of her gentle nature, she was shocked +and alarmed at the prospect of a fight, especially as her brother was +foremost in the strife. + +“Skotchley has gone up to call your father, and I suppose he will +interfere,” I added. + +“I hope he will;” but the manner in which she spoke seemed to indicate +that she entertained the same doubt which had disturbed my calculation. + +“I was thinking of doing something more,” I replied, rather doubtfully. + +“What, Mr. Wolf?” + +I related to her my adventure with Colonel Wimpleton during the night, +and assured her that the great man of Centreport was very thankful to +me for the service I had rendered him. + +“I was going over to see him,” I added. + +“To see Colonel Wimpleton!” she exclaimed, as though she thought such +a step would be the sum of all abominations, for even she could not +wholly escape the pestilent rivalry that existed between the two sides. + +“I am not afraid of him. If I can induce him to compel the students +from his side to leave the Horse Shoe, the fight will be avoided.” + +“I am sorry you said anything to me about it, for father will not let +you speak to Colonel Wimpleton about the matter. But, Mr. Wolf, you do +as you think best, and I will not say a word.” + +I assisted her on board of the yacht, and Tom Walton was as polite to +her as her beauty and her position required. I was sorry to leave her; +but I was intent upon the duty of preventing the fight. I pulled over +to the other side of the lake. Haughty servants told me the magnate +of Centreport was asleep, and must not be disturbed; but one who had +seen me there in the night with the colonel, ventured to tell him that +I wished to see him. I was promptly admitted to his bedroom, where I +stated my business. + +“I don’t think there is any great danger of a quarrel,” said he, after +he had listened attentively to my story. + +“I think there is, sir. The students from this side have landed on the +Horse Shoe.” + +“Well, our boys have always used that island for their camp.” + +“But the Toppleton students engaged the Horse Shoe of the owner, and +you will agree with me that they have the best right to the ground. If +you will direct the boys from this side to leave the island, there will +be no further trouble.” + +“Do you think I shall tell our boys to run away from those on the other +side?” demanded he, indignantly. “I am willing to do anything for +you, Wolf, after what has happened; but I think you need not concern +yourself about this affair.” + +“I don’t want to have a fight, sir.” + +“Nor I either.” + +“Then I hope you will do the right thing, and send your boys off the +island.” + +“I will not do it.” + +“Well, sir, suppose Waddie should get punched with a bayonet?” I +suggested. + +“I think Waddie can take care of himself. But, understand me, Wolf, if +I can do anything for you, I will do it.” + +“I have nothing to ask but this.” + +“I will see what can be done,” he replied, rubbing his head, which I +judged was still suffering from the effects of the brandy from the +bottle that had been lost overboard. “I don’t want any fighting. I will +go up to the Horse Shoe by and by, if I feel able.” + +I pressed the matter as strongly as I could; but the stupid rivalry +was too strong in his mind to permit anything which looked like +yielding. I left him, hoping that the peril of Waddie, if no higher +consideration, might induce him to take some active steps to avert the +disgraceful alternative. I pulled with all my might across the lake, +and I was not a moment too soon, for I had hardly jumped upon deck +before Major Toppleton appeared on the shore, and hailed the yacht for +a boat. Taking Grace with me, I pulled to the steps. The great man had +his overcoat on his arm, and it was evident that he intended to be a +passenger in the yacht to the scene of action. + +“Let me go too, father,” said Grace. “I must sail in that beautiful +yacht this very day.” + +“We cannot wait,” replied the major, rather petulantly. + +“I don’t want you to wait. I am all ready,” she added. + +“If there is going to be a fight up there, you will be in the way.” + +“I will stay in the yacht. Don’t say no; be a good papa.” + +And he was a good papa. Miss Grace was permitted to have her own way, +though, being like her mother, who was a very amiable and gentle lady, +having her own way did not seem to injure her, as it did her brother. I +need not say that I was delighted with the arrangement. We got up the +anchor, hoisted the jib, and in a few moments were standing down the +lake before the fresh breeze. On the way Joe Poole served up breakfast +in good style, and even the major declared that the beefsteak and fried +potatoes were excellent. + +“The row has commenced!” shouted Tom Walton, at the helm, while we were +at the table. + +Fortunately our appetites had been satisfied before this startling +announcement was made, and we all hastened on deck to see the fight. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +THE BATTLE OF THE HORSE SHOE. + + +Miss Grace Toppleton turned pale when Tom announced that the battle +had commenced; but her father only uttered an exclamation of rage and +impatience. The yacht was just entering the narrow channel between +the Horse Shoe and the Shooter, and our position commanded a full +view of the field. The Wimpletonians had landed on the north side of +the island, near the middle of which was a ridge. The camp of the +Toppletonians was at the head of the little bay between the two arms +of the Horse Shoe. Behind it was a gentle slope of ground, which +terminated at the ridge, beyond which the descent on the north shore +was more abrupt. + +On this longer declivity, the two hostile battalions were drawn up in +the order of battle. The statement that the conflict had commenced was +premature; for, though the two “serried ranks” faced each other, no +bones had yet been broken. The field presented the traditional aspect +of boy fights when the contestants meet in force; the parties faced +each other, and each waited for the other to advance. Though I was not +an impartial judge, I could not help seeing that the Wimpletonians +had displayed more generalship than the Toppletonians; for, instead +of waiting on the steeper descent at the north shore, with the ridge +above them, for an attack, they had boldly mounted the hill, and taken +possession of the high ground, which gave them an advantage that more +than compensated for their inferior numbers. + +The Toppletonians had not discovered the movement of the enemy till +they appeared upon the ridge, which is another convincing proof +that “eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.” If they had kept +even half a dozen sentinels in the exposed portions of the island +during the night, they could easily have prevented the landing of the +Wimpletonians; but probably they had no suspicion of a night movement. + +The combatants appeared to be waiting “for something to turn up;” for, +while the Grace was running down the channel and coming to anchor, +no movement was made by either of them. The array did not at present +indicate the bloody encounter I had feared, and had labored to prevent; +but it was plain enough that something would result from the situation. +They would not be likely to face each other all day without doing some +mischief. I could see Waddie Wimpleton, in his chapeau, white plume, +and gold lace, promenading up and down his lines; and, though I could +not hear him, I knew very well what big things he was saying. + +“Well, what’s to be done?” said Major Toppleton, when the Grace had +come to anchor. + +“If I were you, sir, I would tell our boys to go back into their camp,” +I replied. + +“What! and let the Wimpleton students have it all their own way! Not if +I know myself,” added the major, indignant even at the suggestion. “Our +boys have hired the island, and it belongs to them. They shall stay +there!” + +The major was as crazy as the colonel had been, and as neither was +willing to sacrifice anything, I could not see how the fight was to be +avoided. Of course none of us had any influence with the invaders, and +we could not induce them to retire from the island. + +“Can’t you think of any way to get the Wimpleton boys off, Wolf?” asked +the major, impatiently; and I saw that my services were not required as +a peacemaker, but rather as an active belligerent. + +“I don’t see any way now, sir,” I replied; “but I may think of +something by and by.” + +“By and by! They may kill each other before you make up your mind,” +sneered the great man. “I will go on shore.” + +I pulled up the boat for him, and rowed him to the landing-place. I +walked up the slope with him, in order to obtain a better view of +the situation. It had already occurred to me that a diversion in the +rear of the Wimpletonians might compel them to retire; but, as I was +somewhat fearful that such a step would make them more desperate, and +hasten the conflict, I did not deem it prudent to suggest the idea. +We were within a few rods of the Toppleton line, when Major Tommy +discovered us. Whether he was ashamed of his inaction, or fearful that +his father would interfere with the pastime he had laid out, I do not +know; but our coming evidently had some influence upon him, for he +immediately commenced yelling as though the battle was to be fought +with loud words. + +“Attention--battalion!” said he, flourishing his sword. “Charge +bayonets!” + +“Stop a minute, Tommy!” called Major Toppleton, senior. + +“Forward--march!” added Major Tommy, regardless of his father’s +interference. + +“Hold on a minute, Tommy!” repeated his father. “I want to see you.” + +“Forward--march!” screamed the little major, desperately. “Now give +them fits! Don’t mind a scratch! Drive them before you!” + +“Charge bayonets!” cried Major Waddie, on the other side; and it was +clear enough that he did not intend to run away. + +In vain did Major Toppleton senior attempt to check this forward +movement. The Toppletonians dashed gallantly up the hill, rushing +upon the enemy with an impetuosity which threatened them with total +annihilation. But then the Wimpletonians began to move forward; and I +felt my heart rising up into my throat, and my blood growing cold in my +veins, as the combatants approached each other. I could almost hear the +groans of the wounded, and see the outstretched forms upon the green +sod, so real did the scene appear to me. + +The two lines met, and I heard the clatter of cold steel as the +bayonets struck against each other; but I had not time to form an exact +idea of what was going on before I saw the Toppletonians give way in +the centre. It was a confused _mêlée_, and I could only see a general +punching and hammering with the muskets. When I saw a soldier on either +side make a direct thrust with his bayonet, it was warded off with a +blow. Indeed, the battle seemed to be fought literally “at the point +of the bayonet;” for, so far as I could judge, neither party went +near enough to do any damage. Each side seemed to have the requisite +discretion to keep out of the reach of the weapons of the other side. +I think there were not many in either rank that had the ferocity +actually to wound their adversaries with the weapons in their hands. + +This was the beginning of the affray, and the contending forces had +not yet become desperate; and, though they rushed upon each other with +appalling savageness, as seen by the observer, the contest was at a +safe distance, neither party permitting the other to come near enough +actually to inflict wounds. In fact, it was just such fighting as I +had often seen between parties of boys, and consisted in rushing up +and falling back. Dangerous as the weapons were, there was really no +bloodthirsty spirit on either side. + +The Toppletonian centre was broken. Captain Bayard had been pressing +things, and the force in front of him, to avoid any actual punching +of the bayonets, fell back. Major Waddie strode furiously up and down +his line--in the rear of it, of course--yelled, and stormed, and +gesticulated. When he saw the centre in front of him give way, he +screamed in his fury, and Bayard, who seemed to have some of the spirit +of his illustrious namesake, forced his company forward till some of +them were actually pricked by the steel of the Toppletonians. But this +spurring seemed only to infuriate them; Waddie yelled louder than ever, +and Bayard, perceiving his advantage, encouraged his soldiers till the +line before them yielded, and were swept backward down the hill. + +Captain Pinkerton, on the right, inspired by the success of the centre, +and goaded on by the frantic yells and gestures of Major Waddie, +crowded his company forward, and the line in front of him, whose +equanimity was disturbed by the rupture of the centre, fell back also. + +“Three cheers, and drive them!” roared Major Waddie, hoarsely, as his +white plume flaunted in the fresh breeze. + +Then the Wimpletonians yelled along the whole length of the line, and +rushed down the hill, the demoralized Toppletonians fleeing before +them. Major Toppleton and myself were obliged to retire in order to +avoid the onslaught of the victorious battalion. + +[Illustration: THE GREAT BATTLE.--Page 193.] + +“The scoundrels!” ejaculated the great man, who appeared to be quite +as much disconcerted as his son. + +“The Wimps have the best of it,” I replied. + +“This is disgraceful!” muttered the major. + +I thought so myself; not the defeat, as he understood it, but the +battle itself, as I understood it. + +Near the camp of the Toppletonians was a belt of trees extending +across the island, into which the discomfited battalion retreated. The +Wimpletonians followed them closely, and I was afraid the camp and +baggage of our boys would be captured by the enemy. In the shadow of +the grove, Major Tommy and his two captains rallied the intimidated +Toppletonians, and they made a stand under the friendly shelter of the +trees, the enemy halting at the verge of the grove. The great man and +myself hastened to headquarters, where we found Tommy breathless with +rage and excitement at his unexpected defeat. His father taunted him +upon his misfortune, which did not help his fiery mood. + +“What could I do when the fellows gave way?” stormed he. “They are a +pack of cowards, and would run a mile rather than be pricked with the +point of a pin.” + +“It is easy enough for you to talk, Tommy Toppleton,” snapped private +Putnam. “If you went in the front instead of the rear, it would make a +difference with you.” + +“I was in the place where a commander ought to be,” retorted Tommy, +stung by this reproach. “I will give you enough of it before you get +through.” + +“You needn’t call us cowards while you keep yourself in a safe place,” +added Putnam. + +“Attention--battalion!” shouted Major Tommy, suddenly. + +“What are you going to do now?” asked his father. + +“I’m going to drive the Wimps into the lake this time.” + +“What’s the use! If you go out of the grove, you will only be driven +back,” replied the major, senior. + +“Why don’t you make a flank movement?” I suggested. + +“What do you mean by that?” asked Tommy, whose attention was arrested +by the idea. + +“Send one company round to the other side of the Wimps,” I replied. + +“If I send half my men away, the Wimps will defeat the rest here.” + +“No; half your force can hold this wood. If you can get one company on +the high ground, you will have the advantage over them.” + +Major Tommy thought favorably of the idea; and I thought it would be +safer for both parties to fight the battle by running and manœuvring +than for them to make a stand-up conflict on the open field, as they +had done. Briscoe was sent with his company to make the flank movement. +He double-quicked his command towards the east shore of the island, and +began to ascend the slope. Major Waddie promptly “smelt a mice,” and +despatched Captain Bayard’s company to watch and check the movements +of the flanking force. I went with Briscoe, intent upon using whatever +influence I had to keep the parties from coming into actual contact +with each other. We reached the summit of the slope by hard running, in +advance of Captain Bayard; and here the Toppleton company halted on the +highest ground on the island. + +“Now you are all right, Briscoe,” said I. “Send half a dozen fellows to +demonstrate against their boats, and you will get them out of the way.” + +“You do that, Wolf,” replied he. “Go down, and shove them off, and I +will do the rest.” + +I ran down the slope alone to the landing, where I found Colonel +Wimpleton. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +THE PRISONER OF WAR. + + +Colonel Wimpleton was just landing from a boat, in which he had been +ferried over from the main shore, having come from Centreport to this +point in his chaise. As soon as he landed, he dismissed the man who had +brought him over. The two great men of the vicinity were both on the +island. + +As soon as I left Captain Briscoe’s company, and moved towards the +landing-place, Bayard, in command of the Wimpleton company, evidently +suspected my purpose, though I really had no intention of meddling +with the boats, but only of making a demonstration. Half a dozen +soldiers were sent in a hurry to guard the fleet. This was Briscoe’s +opportunity. The force before him was now reduced so that an attack +was hopeful. I heard him shouting, and a moment later the company of +Bayard came helter-skelter over the summit of the hill. Our fellows, +mortified by their first defeat, had made a desperate charge, and +driven the enemy before them. It was not safe, therefore, for me to +meddle with the boats, even if I had intended to do so. + +“How goes the battle, Wolf?” asked the colonel, with a smile, as I met +him on the beach. + +“Just now it seems to be going in favor of Toppleton,” I replied; +“though our boys were just driven half way across the island by yours.” + +“Well, that’s good.” + +“But I can’t stay here now, sir; I am afraid I shall be captured,” +I added, glancing at the six soldiers who were coming down the hill +towards me. + +“Don’t be alarmed, Wolf; I will see that you are not hurt,” laughed the +colonel. + +“I don’t wish to be captured.” + +“You shall leave when you please. After thinking over the matter, I +concluded that I should take our boys off the island,” added the great +man of Centreport; “but I don’t intend to have them driven off.” + +“I’m very glad to hear it, sir.” + +“Where is Waddie?” + +I explained the situation to him, and informed him of what had already +transpired on the island. He was pleased with the victory which those +who bore his name had achieved, and with this brilliant record of the +Wimpleton battalion he was ready to retire. But while we were talking +about the matter, the din of battle from the high ground saluted us. It +appeared that Tommy Toppleton, too impatient to wait for the result of +the flanking movement, had charged upon the company of Wimpletonians in +front of him. Our fellows had wiped out the disgrace of the early part +of the action, and had driven the enemy up the hill, over its summit, +regaining all the ground lost, and taking the summit of the slope, +which was “the key to the situation.” + +“This won’t do,” said Colonel Wimpleton, as he saw with dismay that his +party was defeated. “I can’t take them away under these circumstances.” + +But the battle was lost to the Wimpletonians. Major Tommy had gained +the crown of the hill, and held it with his whole force. The ground +was so steep in front of him that double the number of the foe could +not dislodge him. The enemy had not yet pitched their tents, and their +baggage was now in danger of capture. Major Waddie consolidated his +battalion, and formed a line at the foot of the hill, ready to defend +his camp equipage. He was furious at his defeat, and when he saw me his +eyes flashed fire. + +“Arrest that traitor!” said he, flourishing his sword, and pointing to +me. + +“Not yet, Waddie!” interposed his father. “I have given him a safe +conduct.” + +“You are not in command here,” replied the ungracious son. “What are +you doing down here, Wolf Penniman?” + +“I should have gone before if your father had not detained me.” + +“Keep cool, Waddie,” said the colonel. “You have enough to do to whip +the Toppletonians.” + +“That’s what I’m going to do,” added Major Waddie, as he glanced at the +summit of the hill. + +“I will take care of Wolf, and see that he don’t whip the whole of you.” + +“I will hang him as a traitor if he don’t start quick. He has no +business over here.” + +“He is a non-combatant,” laughed the colonel. + +I do not know what the gallant commander of the Wimpleton battalion +would have deemed it necessary to do with me, if the exigency of battle +had not called his attention to other matters. I do not pretend to +be a brave fellow, but I am willing to say I was not afraid of being +hanged, even independently of the powerful protection of the colonel. +Major Tommy, flushed with his recent success, was intent upon following +up his victory. I heard him call his battalion to the charge, and the +words induced my feathery persecutor to leave me. Tommy evidently +intended to drive the enemy into the lake, or to force them to +surrender on the shore. + +“Charge--bayonets! Forward--march!” yelled he; and down came the +Toppletonians at a furious pace. + +“Now stand up to it, fellows!” screamed Waddie. “This is your last +chance. Don’t run if they punch you through.” + +Not only Waddie, but the two captains in his battalion, who had more +real influence than the commander, urged the Wimpletonians to stand +firm, and not be driven from their position. But the time for argument +was short. The victorious Toppletonians swept down the hill, and rushed +furiously at the foe. This time I am quite sure there were some wounds +given on both sides. Major Tommy, mortified, no doubt, by the taunts of +Putnam, and perhaps of others, did not march in the rear of his column, +but very imprudently placed himself in advance of it. Fortunately for +him, there were several privates near him who were inspired by his +gallant example, and the centre of the column broke through the enemy’s +front. This would have been a success to the Toppletonians if the right +and left wings had supported the movement with equal zeal. They did +not, and were forced back by the desperate Wimpletonians, and in a +moment more were retreating up the hill, closely pursued by the enemy. + +When it was too late, Tommy saw where he was. He was standing, +supported by only half a dozen privates, several rods in advance of his +battalion. A squad of the enemy, led on by Captain Pinkerton, charged +upon him. The daring little major defended himself with zeal and +courage, slashing right and left with his sword. His supporters, seeing +the situation, fell back and joined their companions. Closely pressed +by his exultant foe, Tommy struck savage blows against the muskets of +his assaulters; but suddenly his sword blade snapped off near the hilt. + +“Capture him! Capture him!” shouted Pinkerton; and sending part of his +squad behind Tommy, he cut off his retreat. + +The gallant major was now unarmed, and incapable of making any defence. +His companions in arms had been forced back to the summit of the hill. + +“Surrender!” cried Pinkerton. + +“Never!” yelled Tommy, with tragic grandeur, as he made a dive at the +captain, with the intention apparently of wresting his sword from him. + +Such bravery deserved a better fate; but two of the enemy came behind +the impetuous major, and, grasping him by the shoulders, threw him +down. The whole squad then fell upon him, and poor Tommy was a prisoner +of war. Two of the stoutest of his captors, each of them half a head +taller than he was, were detailed to guard the major, and he was +marched to a tree near the camp baggage. + +The Toppletonians were driven to the top of the hill, and resumed +their position upon its summit. It was useless for the Wimpletonians +to attempt to drive them beyond the ridge, and they returned to their +former halting-place on the level ground. I began to be a little uneasy +about the fate of Tommy when Major Feathers returned, for I was afraid +the latter, inspired by no lofty ideas of military honor, would subject +his prisoner to some indignities. I saw Waddie hold a conference with +his two captains, the result of which was soon apparent. Captain +Bayard, attended by a single private, who carried a white handkerchief +suspended on a pole, as a flag of truce, walked up the hill. I was not +informed until afterwards of the nature of their mission; but, in the +opinion of the Wimpletonians, the capture of Tommy decided the fate of +the day, and they regarded the battle as ended, with victory perched +upon their banners. Major Waddie was graciously pleased to declare +that he did not wish to pursue his conquest any farther, and if the +Toppletonians would retire from the island, their commander should be +returned to them unharmed. + +By the misfortune of Major Tommy, Captain Briscoe was the ranking +officer, and the message of Major Waddie was delivered to him. By the +advice of Major Toppleton, senior, the terms of peace were promptly +rejected, and an intimation given that the Toppletonians intended +to recapture their commander, and drive the invaders into the deep +waters of the lake. While these negotiations were in progress, Colonel +Wimpleton left me, and went to the headquarters of the battalion. +Doubtless he saw his powerful rival on the top of the hill, and wished +to counteract the influence of his counsels with his own. + +When the flag of truce returned, I saw a private run to the tree where +Major Tommy had been secured with a rope taken from one of the boats. +Then the two stout fellows in charge of him conducted him to a boat, +and pushed off. It was intended that the commander of the Toppleton +battalion should not be recaptured, and the threat of his forces was +rendered futile. But his command immediately repeated the assault, +when the nature of Colonel Wimpleton’s advice was evident. The beach +in the rear of the Centreport battalion was covered with small round +stones, with which the soldiers had plentifully supplied themselves. +The onslaught of the Toppletonians was received with a volley of these +missiles. They reeled under this unexpected reception, and being on the +grass they could not procure any similar ammunition. Captain Briscoe, +imitating the example of his illustrious commander, marched in front. +The stones seemed to be aimed at him, and he actually fell, hit by one +of them. His forces, appalled at this savage warfare, and by the fall +of their leader, halted, and then fell back beyond the reach of the +mischievous missiles. Briscoe was picked up, and borne to the top of +the hill. The affair was becoming more serious, and, I may consistently +add, more disgraceful, especially as the contending parties were now +virtually directed by Major Toppleton and Colonel Wimpleton, who were +old enough to have known better. + +It was plain enough that our boys could not stand up against these +volleys of stones, and that the Wimpletonians could hold their ground +for the rest of the week. The battle was now to be a matter of strategy +and manœuvring. On the hill, as they saw Major Tommy sent off in the +boat, they concluded that he was safe enough for the present, and +were not disposed to accept any ignominious terms of peace. The two +fellows in charge of the prisoner of war had pulled off a quarter of a +mile from the shore, and were watching the issue of the combat. I was +curious to know what would be done next, but I concluded to operate +a little on my own account. Following the shore round the island, I +reached the pier, and went on board of the yacht. Skotchley and Grace, +in the standing-room, were watching the action, while Tom Walton and +Joe Poole had gone up to the mast-head, where they could obtain a +better view of the field of battle. + +“All hands, unmoor!” I called, and my ready crew descended to the deck. + +The mainsail had not been lowered, and we had only to get up the anchor +and hoist the jib. Before the fresh breeze we stood down the channel +towards the boat in which Tommy was an unwilling passenger. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +RESCUING A PRISONER. + + +On the passage I told Grace and Ned Skotchley what had transpired +during the time I had been on shore; and both of them agreed with +me that it was disgraceful to allow boys to fight. Grace even had +the courage to say that her father ought to have compelled the +Toppletonians to leave the island, rather than encourage such +outrageous conduct. + +“What are you going to do now?” asked Skotchley. + +“I’m going to recapture Tommy.” + +“I thought you were a non-combatant,” laughed he. + +“So I am; but I’m not going to leave Tommy in the hands of those +fellows. I’m afraid the Wimps will abuse him when they have time to +attend to his case.” + +“Don’t let them hurt him,” pleaded Grace. + +“I will not. Tommy is as brave as a lion; if he had been as prudent as +Waddie, he would not have been captured,” I replied. + +By this time we were within hail of the boat in which the prisoner of +war was held. His guards did not know the Grace, as she was a new craft +on the lake, and did not expect any mischief from her. They sat on each +side of the vanquished little major, whose hands were tied together so +that he could do no harm. I ran the yacht up into the wind so that her +bowsprit was over the boat. + +“What are you about? You will run into us!” shouted one of the +sentinels. + +“We won’t hurt you,” replied Tom Walton, as he hooked on to the boat. + +I ran forward, and Tom and I dropped into the boat, while Joe Poole +held the painter, which I threw up to him to avoid accidents. + +“Wolf Penniman!” exclaimed Baxter, one of the guards, when he +recognized me. “What do you want?” + +“I want Major Tommy,” I replied, cutting that young gentleman’s +fetters, while Tom Walton stood between me and the astonished sentinels. + +“You can’t have him! He is a prisoner,” retorted Baxter, picking up his +musket. + +“He was a prisoner, but he isn’t now,” I added. “You are free, Tommy. +Jump aboard as quick as you can.” + +But Raymond, the sentinel in the bow of the boat, presented his +bayonet, while Tom Walton, with an oar in his hand, was checking a +forward movement on the part of Baxter. It is not easy to walk over +a bayonet in the hands of a stout fellow who has been trained to use +it skilfully, and the prospect before me was not very encouraging. +However, Joe Poole turned the fortunes of the day in our favor, by +fastening to the back of Raymond’s collar with the boat-hook, and +pulling him over backwards into the bottom of the boat. I seized his +musket, and wrenched it from his grasp, so that the obstacle to Major +Tommy’s escape was removed. + +The little magnate was not slow to avail himself of his opportunity, +and springing over the prostrate form of Raymond, still pinned down +by the boat-hook, he leaped on board of the yacht. The combat, so far +as I was concerned, was happily ended, and Tom Walton and I made good +our retreat, which was effectually covered by Joe Poole, who flourished +his boat-hook with a vigor that set at nought the paltry bayonets of +the war-worn veterans from whose gripe we had rescued the unfortunate +commander of the Toppleton forces. + +“Don’t let them go!” shouted Tommy, as he beheld the result of the +brief struggle. “Capture them!” + +“Let go the painter!” I whispered to Joe Poole. + +“Capture them!” repeated Tommy, furiously, as he saw the boat recede +from the yacht. + +“Hard a-port the helm!” I called to Skotchley, who was in the +standing-room. + +“What are you about?” demanded Tommy, as I went aft to take the helm. + +“Don’t meddle with them, Mr. Wolf--don’t, please!” interposed Grace. + +“Shut up, Grace! If you say a word, I’ll throw you overboard,” said the +ungallant major, who was unhappily one of those boys who believe they +may say anything to a sister. + +“I came out here after you, Tommy,” I replied, indignant at the harsh +words the little major had addressed to Grace. “I don’t think it is +worth while to meddle with those fellows.” + +“What do you suppose I care what you think!” cried Tommy. “Isn’t this +my father’s yacht?” + +“It is your father’s yacht.” + +“Then you will capture those fellows, or I will know the reason why,” +he added, stoutly. + +“Don’t touch them, Mr. Wolf--don’t, please,” said Grace. + +“Mr. Wolf!” sneered Tommy. “Mr. Wolf will do what I tell him.” + +“I don’t think it is quite proper to get into a row with a young lady +on board!” I added, mildly. + +“Wolf Penniman, you are a coward and a traitor!” exclaimed Tommy. “And +you are another!” he added, fixing his indignant gaze upon Skotchley. + +“Thank you, Tommy,” replied the dignified student, coolly. + +“You shall be court-martialed as a deserter and a coward!” + +“Well, I think I can stand it.” + +Major Tommy glanced at the boat from which he had been removed, and in +which his two guards had taken the oars and were pulling for the shore. +He seemed to think that they would add two more to the force of the +Wimpletonians, and that it was a grave military indiscretion to permit +the enemy thus to be augmented. Besides, he must have his own way, and +any opposition was quite enough to rouse the evil spirit in his nature. +He insisted again that the two guards should be captured. I tried to +excuse myself from meddling in the warfare, and Grace stood by me with +a zeal which brought down the wrath of her brother upon her. + +“I say that boat shall be taken,” persisted he, violently. + +“It is impossible,” I replied, weary of his tyranny. “She is dead to +windward of us.” + +“Please don’t, Mr. Wolf,” added Grace. + +“Hold your tongue, Grace!” snapped he, as he sprang to the tiller, and +shoved me one side. + +“Don’t, Tommy,” added Grace, placing her hand upon his shoulder to +deter him. + +The little monster actually turned upon her, and struck her a blow in +the face which sent her reeling over into her seat. I could not stand +that; my blood boiled up, and boiled over. I sprang upon him, and in a +small fraction of an instant, Major Tommy Toppleton was lying flat on +the floor of the standing-room. + +“O, don’t touch him, Mr. Wolf!” begged Grace. + +“You villain you, how dare you put your hand upon me?” gasped Tommy, +springing to his feet, as savage as a young tiger. + +“I don’t like to see any one strike a young lady, least of all when she +is his sister.” + +“I’ll let you know!” whined he, crying with passion, as he leaped upon +me. + +Walton and Skotchley each grasped one of his arms, and held him so that +he was powerless. He raved, tore, and swore; and it was evident enough +to me, when my indignation subsided, that I had sacrificed myself, if +not my father and the whole family. + +“I won’t say anything more, Tommy,” interposed Grace, terrified by the +violence around her. “You may have your own way.” + +“Give me that helm, Wolf!” cried Tommy. + +“I will give it to you,” I replied, moving aside, influenced by the +action of Grace; and I don’t know but Tommy would have beaten his head +to jelly against the trunk if some concession had not been made to his +wrath. + +He cooled off as rapidly as he had become heated, when all opposition +was removed. He threw the yacht up into the wind, and Tom Walton and I +trimmed the sails; but the new helmsman could not manage her, and she +lay with her sails flapping idly in the wind. + +“Ease her off a little, Tommy, and she will go it,” I ventured to +suggest. + +“Mind your own business, Wolf Penniman. Your time is out from this +moment, and Grace shall never put her foot into this yacht again, if it +is named after her,” blustered Tommy. + +I subsided, and seated myself on the trunk amidships to wait the issue. +The new skipper, however, adopted my suggestion, though he snubbed me +for making it. The Grace, accommodating as she was, would not sail into +the wind’s eye, and before Tommy was ready to tack, in beating up to +the chase, the boat landed her hands on the beach. I saw that he was +vexed; but he “chewed up” his wrath. He soon came about, and headed for +the channel between the Horse Shoe and the Shooter. I concluded that +he must be anxious to join his battalion; but it would be impossible +to beat the yacht up the narrow passage. It was no use for me to +say anything, and I did not, for he would be sure to go in direct +opposition to any suggestion of mine. + +He ran the Grace up to the north point of the Shooter, and came about. +I thought it my duty to tell him that the water was very shoal ahead +of him, as he approached the Horse Shoe on this tack. He politely +insinuated that I was to hold my tongue, which I succeeded in doing for +a moment longer, until the yacht grated on the gravel bottom, and stuck +fast. + +“That’s just where I wanted her,” said Tommy, unmoved by the event. +“Joe Poole!” + +Joe Poole appeared before the imperious little magnate, and was +directed to bring up the boat and land our uncomfortable passenger. +Tommy jumped into the boat, and as he took his seat in the +stern-sheets, he delivered his parting volley at me, to the effect +that, like Othello, my occupation was gone, and that I should be driven +out of Middleport as a coward and a traitor. To this mild speech I +permitted myself to make no reply. + +“Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!” shouted the Toppleton battalion on the shore. + +This shout of triumph attracted the attention of the major, and he +hurried up Joe Poole, who soon landed him on the beach. On the whole, I +concluded that I had not made much by meddling with the conflict, even +so far as to rescue Tommy from his captors. During the events which I +have related, I had closely watched the movements of the contending +forces. Company B of the Toppleton battalion had been sent round the +island to flank the enemy, and obtain a position where stones were +available as ammunition. This operation had been successful, and the +Wimpletonians had been forced back from their stronghold, for they +could not stand up against volleys of stones any better than their +rivals. Company A had dashed down the hill at the right time, and the +enemy were driven upon their baggage. This success had drawn forth the +shout of triumph. + +Fortunately for us on board of the Grace, Tommy had sailed her shaking +in the wind, so that she had gone on the shoal very gently, though +hard enough to give us two hours of severe exertion. As we worked, +moving ballast from the forward to the after part of the yacht, we +watched the movements of the contending forces. As I anticipated, Tommy +ordered another charge as soon as he reached the battalion, though the +Wimpletonians were actually engaged in loading their baggage into the +boats. We saw a flag of truce hoisted by the defeated party, and a +parley took place, the result of which was, that they were permitted to +retire without further molestation. Long and loud were the cheers of +Toppleton when the fleet moved away from the island, and pulled towards +the Shooter. The victors then returned to their camp. + +We got the Grace off at last, and, after passing around the Horse Shoe, +I anchored off the pier in the channel. Major Toppleton soon appeared, +accompanied by Tommy, and I expected to be discharged at once. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +A TYRANNICAL SON. + + +“I suppose my time is out, Miss Toppleton,” said I to Grace, as I saw +the big major and the little major approaching the pier. + +“Your time out?” she replied, looking anxiously at me. + +“I shall be discharged from my situation, and perhaps be driven out of +Middleport.” + +“O, no! I hope not, Mr. Wolf.” + +“Tommy is very arbitrary, and after what has happened, he will not +permit me to remain on the same side of the lake with him.” + +“I am sorry you touched him,” said she, musing. + +“I should not have touched him if he had struck me. I was indignant and +angry.” + +“Well, I don’t blame you, Mr. Wolf, for it is abominable for a boy to +strike his sister,” she added, placing her hand upon her pretty face, +where her brother’s rude hand had left its mark. “But Tommy rules the +whole house at home; and I suppose he will have his own way now, as he +always did.” + +As Tommy got into the boat which I had sent for him and his father, I +saw that he was still in a very unamiable frame of mind. He was talking +loudly and indignantly to his father, who appeared to be trying to +soothe him and moderate his wrath. For my own part, I could not regret +what I had done, unpleasant as the consequences promised to be. It was +not in my nature to stand by and see a little bully, like Tommy, strike +a young lady,--not pat her gently, but strike her a heavy blow,--not +even if he were her brother. I had been tempted to give the young +ruffian the pounding which he richly deserved, and to continue the +operation until he was willing to promise better things. + +Perhaps the handsome offer which Colonel Wimpleton had made me rendered +me somewhat more independent than I should otherwise have been. I +was certainly in good condition to be discharged, and did not feel +much like submitting to any gross indignities from the great man of +Middleport, or his hopeful son. But Major Toppleton had been very kind +to me, and to my father, and I could not forget the service he had +rendered to us. + +The boat came alongside, and Tommy leaped upon the deck, followed by +his father; and I could not help noticing that the senior major looked +very anxious and uncomfortable. Tommy had doubtless been making strong +speeches to him, and it was really melancholy to think of a man of his +abilities, dignity, and influence reduced to a kind of slavery by the +tyranny of his own son; and all the more melancholy because he could +not realize that he was spoiling the boy by this weak indulgence. + +“Wolf Penniman,” said the little major, majestically, “I always keep my +promises.” + +“Keep cool, Tommy,” interposed his father, stepping into the +standing-room, where Grace and I were seated alone, for Skotchley and +Tom Walton had gone forward. + +“You know what I said, father. I won’t have Wolf around me any longer. +He has been a coward and a traitor, and he had the audacity to knock me +down. Wolf Penniman, you are discharged!” continued Tommy, blustering +furiously. + +“Don’t be too fast, Tommy,” interposed his father. “Wolf went after the +boat in which you were a prisoner, captured it, and restored you to +your command. Captain Briscoe told you that he did not dare to make his +last move till he saw that Wolf had taken you out of the hands of the +enemy.” + +“I don’t blame him for that; but he refused to obey my orders, and then +knocked me down. I say you may discharge him, or discharge me.” + +The alternative was a reminder of the Hitaca incident, and a hint that, +if his father did not obey orders, Tommy would run away again, and +there would be no suitable person to inherit the great man’s millions. +I made no reply, but bowed meekly to my fate. It appeared that, after +all, I was not to run the Lightning Express train, about which so much +had been said. + +“Don’t let him discharge Mr. Wolf, father,” interposed Grace, her +pretty cheeks red with indignation; and with such an advocate I could +afford to be still. + +“Discharge Mr. Wolf!” sneered the little magnate. “Will you learn to +mind your own business, Grace?” + +“He struck me in the face, father, and that was the reason why Mr. +Wolf knocked him down. I am sorry he did so, but I think Tommy was to +blame,” continued Grace. + +“You needn’t stick up for him; if you do, it won’t make any difference.” + +“I am astonished that you should strike your sister,” added Major +Toppleton, whose painful expression fully proved his sincerity. + +“Well, you needn’t be!” replied Tommy, rudely and disrespectfully. “If +she don’t mind her own business, and let my affairs alone, I shall +teach her better. I have said all I have to say, and I’m going ashore +to look out for my battalion. Remember, Wolf is discharged!” + +Tommy abruptly left the yacht, and, leaping into the boat, ordered Joe +Poole to pull him ashore. The fiat had gone forth. I was discharged. +Tommy was the president of the road, and doubtless he had the power to +dismiss me. + +“Here is trouble,” said Major Toppleton, with a sigh. + +“I hope you won’t let Mr. Wolf be discharged,” said Grace, when the +irate little magnate was out of hearing. + +“What can I do?” replied the major, impatiently. “Tommy is the +president of the road, and he has the right to discharge an employee. +If I interfere, there will be such a tempest as we had a year ago.” + +Poor magnate! How I pitied him! Just as I had seen a baby tyrannize +over its loving mother, so did Tommy tyrannize over his father. The +great man--how little he seemed to be then!--mused for a while over the +unpleasant situation. + +“I’ll tell you what we can do, Wolf. I want a skipper for this boat. If +you will withdraw from the railroad for a time, I will give you this +situation, with the same pay you are now receiving.” + +“I am entirely satisfied, sir, and shall be, whatever you or Tommy may +do,” I answered, meekly. “I certainly like the boat better than the +train; but I suppose Tommy will not permit me to take charge of her.” + +The major bit his lips with vexation. His fetters galled him, and he +had not the resolution to shake them off. He ordered me to get the +yacht under way, and start for Middleport. As soon as she was clear of +the narrow channel, the major asked me down into the cabin, and we had +a talk, which lasted till the Grace came to anchor before the owner’s +mansion. + +“You know how I’m situated, Wolf,” said he, turning his gaze from me, +as if ashamed to acknowledge his subservience to the wilful boy. “Tommy +must have his own way; he is desperate if he does not. He will run +away, or drown himself in the lake, if he does not.” + +I could not help smiling at the infirmity of the father, and he made +haste to defend himself. Tommy was subject to fits when he was a child, +and he was fearful that irritation would bring on a return of the +malady. The young gentleman had actually threatened to commit suicide +if he could not have his own way. + +“I only wish to smooth the thing over for a time, for Tommy is +a good-hearted boy, and he will come to his senses if he is not +thwarted,” added he. “You are not a father, Wolf, and you can’t +understand the matter.” + +“I am willing to do whatever you desire, sir,” I replied. “Perhaps I +ought to say, that I can afford to be discharged just now. You have +used me very handsomely, Major Toppleton, and I am grateful for your +kindness. I will never leave your service of my own accord. Last night +Colonel Wimpleton told me about his new steamer, which is to run in +opposition to our Lightning Express, and offered me a man’s wages to go +either as engineer or as captain of her. I told him I could not leave +my friends while they used me so well, and declined the offer. I did +not mean to tell you of this, and should not, if things had not turned +out just as they have.” + +The major bit his lip again. He was disposed to be angry; and, in a +passion, he was as nearly like Tommy as one pea is like another. But he +did not give way to the inclination. + +“I declined the offer,” I repeated, when I saw him struggling with the +mischief within him. + +“When will that steamer be ready to run?” he asked. + +“In a couple of months, the builder told me.” + +“I’m glad you told me of this,” he continued, after chewing upon it for +some time. “Perhaps it will have some influence upon Tommy.” + +And there the matter ended for the present, Grace said she would do all +she could for me; and however the rest of the house might regard me, +I felt sure of an earnest advocate in her. She went on shore with her +father, and as the skipper of the yacht, I spent the rest of the day in +working upon her, and in putting down a set of moorings for her. + +The next day I took a party up the lake in her, and for the rest of the +week I was kept busy in my new occupation. I acquitted myself to the +satisfaction of my employers, not only in pleasant weather, but in a +heavy squall, which caught us in the middle of the widest part of the +lake, off Gulfport. + +The Wimpletonians encamped on the Shooter after they were driven +from the Horse Shoe. The combat of Monday was not decisive enough to +satisfy them, and the war was renewed, and continued during the week, +with varying success. Each party stole the boats of the other, and +inflicted whatever mischief it could. On Thursday night, in the midst +of a violent storm, when the Toppleton Guards sought shelter in their +tents, the invading hordes of Wimpletonians crossed the channel, and +actually conquered the territory of their rivals. Having levelled their +tents, cut the cords, and broken up the tent-poles, they retired, +satisfied with the mischief they had done. The Toppletonians were +defeated in a similar attempt to invade the Shooter the next night; +and when the end of the week arrived, neither could claim any material +advantage over the other. The Wimpletonians had retrieved the disaster +of the first day, and would have held the island if they had not been +afraid of the interference of the owner. + +Both parties returned to their studies, their hatred of each other not +a jot abated, and more than ever before the Toppletonians were on the +lookout for some opportunity to spite the other side. + +When the battalion returned on Saturday night, I was up the lake in +the Grace, and I did not see Major Tommy for several days. When we did +meet, he seemed to have forgotten everything that had happened; but +Grace told me she had listened to the conversation between her father +and him relating to the affair with me. At first the young gentleman +was furious at the idea of retaining me in the yacht; but when he heard +of Colonel Wimpleton’s offer he yielded the point, and permitted me to +remain. + +On the 1st of September the Lake Shore Railroad was completed. Lewis +Holgate had run the dummy while I was skipper of the yacht; but the +major would not permit him to go on the locomotive, and I was summoned +back to my old position without opposition from the little magnate. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +THE LIGHTNING EXPRESS TRAIN. + + +There was something about Tommy’s actions which I did not like. Though +he spoke to me, as before, the old grudge was not wiped out. I saw that +he and Lewis Holgate were very thick together, and I soon found that +my fireman had ceased to be as tractable as at first. I heard he had +reported among the boys that I was a Wimpletonian at heart, and would +sell out the Lake Shore Railroad to the other side any time when I +could get a chance. + +The road was completed, and I ran the first train through to Ucayga. +Major Toppleton had altered the Middleport into a ferry-boat at my +suggestion, and she plied, in connection with the railroad, from our +station on one side of the river to the town on the other. When we +had gone over the ground a few times, the major sprang the trap. The +two boats which ran the whole length of the lake were advertised to +start from Middleport, touching at Centreport. Passengers from the +latter place could cross in one of them, and go by the railroad to +Ucayga--they could, but they did not like to do so. The steamers plied +in connection with the road, and the Centreporters were as angry as +though they had been shut out from the rest of the world; for their +splendid boat was not yet ready to run in opposition to the new +arrangement. + +On Monday morning the Lightning Express train was to make its first +trip. Major Toppleton told me to be sure and “make time.” The track had +been carefully examined, and strengthened where it was weak. I was to +prove to the Centreporters that a steamboat could not compete with the +Lake Shore Railroad. Everybody was excited, and the president of the +road absented himself from school, in order to see that the programme +was properly carried out. I could have dispensed with his services; but +he insisted upon riding on the foot-board, probably to see that I did +not sell out the concern to the other side. + +“The cars are full, Wolf;” said Tommy, after I had backed the +locomotive into the station, and the cars were shackled to it. + +“I am glad to hear it,” I replied. + +“I saw quite a number of people from the other side among the +passengers.” + +“So much the better. We shall convince them that we can make time on +this side of the lake.” + +Turning suddenly as I made this remark, I saw Lewis Holgate give Tommy +a significant wink. I did not understand what it meant, and it troubled +me a little. I should have been very glad to get rid of my fireman; but +he was on such intimate terms with the president that it was useless +for me to say anything. He did not attend to his duty, did not keep the +working parts of the engine well oiled, and even neglected his fires. +In fact, he had risen above his business since he had run the dummy. + +“All aboard!” shouted the gentlemanly conductor, as he gave me the +signal to start. + +As I always did before I let on the steam, I glanced at the machinery +around me. The reversing lever had been changed since I adjusted it. +It must have been done by one of my companions in the cab. I restored +the lever to its proper position for going ahead, and opened the +throttle valve. The train started, but it went heavy. The engine acted +weak. Glancing at the steam gauge, I saw that it indicated only three +quarters of the necessary pressure. + +“How’s your fire?” I asked of Lewis. + +“Good!” + +“Look at it and see. The steam is low.” + +He obeyed me; but I saw that he put hardly a spoonful of coal into +the furnace, and closed the door, while I was looking out ahead. The +train went well down the grade; but when we approached Spangleport, we +dragged hard. + +“Fill up your furnace, Lewis,” said I, rather sharply, as I observed +that the gauge had hardly gained anything. + +He put another spoonful of coal into the furnace. + +“Fill it up!” I added, warmly; and I began to feel that some one was +trying to sell me out. + +“It won’t burn if I put in too much,” growled Lewis. + +“Shovel it in,” I continued, glancing into the fire box, which was +nearly empty. + +“More yet,” I added, as he attempted to close the door. + +I kept my eye on him till I was satisfied that we should soon have +all the steam we could use. When I stopped the train at Spangleport +we had lost five minutes, and, what was worse, I had nearly lost my +temper. Lewis Holgate appeared to be laboring for the defeat, rather +than the success, of the Lightning Express train. The presence of Mr. +President Tommy on the foot-board seemed to be a partial explanation +of his conduct. But I was determined that the enterprise should not +be a failure. I was fully resolved to make time if steam could do it. +Lightning Express was on trial, and if it failed, the Centreporters, +whom I was now accused of favoring, would take courage. + +We stopped but a moment at Spangleport. I opened the furnace, and +stirred up the fire myself. At the same time I kept one eye on Lewis, +and the other on Tommy; for I wanted to catch one of them reversing +a crank, or doing any other mischief. Both of them looked innocent, +though I saw them exchanging significant glances. By this time I had +a full head of steam, and was satisfied that I could make up the lost +time, if no further obstacles were thrown in my way. The eight miles of +road between Spangleport and Grass Springs was almost as straight as an +arrow, and I expected to recover the lost ground on this run. Only an +hour had been allowed for the passengers to reach Ucayga. If the train +was behind time, those going east and west would lose their passage. + +“All aboard!” shouted the conductor, as he gave me the signal to start +the train. + +“You are on time, Wolf, and you needn’t hurry yourself,” said Tommy, as +he consulted his watch. + +“There’s time enough,” I replied, determined not to be deceived by him. + +I was nervous and excited, for I was conscious that both of my +companions on the engine were laboring to make the Lightning Express +a failure in my charge. I kept my hand on the lever of the throttle +valve, almost afraid that it would be wrenched from my grasp. I let on +the steam, and kept letting it on till the Ucayga--for that was the +name which had been given to the locomotive, in compliment to the +place which it was necessary to conciliate--seemed to fly through the +air. + +“Shovel in the coal, Lewis,” said I to my unwilling fireman, while we +were rushing on at this furious rate. + +“I think there is enough coal in the furnace,” replied he, opening the +door. + +“I don’t think so. Shovel it in!” + +He put in about half a shovel full, and did it so doggedly that I was +fully convinced he was laboring to defeat the experiment. I spoke to +him very sharply. I threatened to stop the train, and send for Major +Toppleton. + +“I am the president of this road. If you have any complaints to make, +you will make them to me,” interposed Tommy, who was holding on to the +cab with both hands. + +“Will you tell the fireman, then, to do his duty?” + +“He is doing it.” + +“Will you tell him to put in more coal?” + +“Fill it up, Lewis,” added Tommy, who seemed to be conscious that there +was a point beyond which even he could not go. + +My rascally assistant then attempted to choke the fires by overloading +the furnace; but I watched him, and succeeded in preventing him from +doing the mischief he intended. I continued to increase the speed of +the Ucayga until, I think, we were going at the rate of forty miles an +hour. Tommy’s hair stood on end, and so did my own, for that matter; +but I was desperate. I blew a long whistle as we approached Grass +Springs. When I shut off the steam I looked at my watch. We had made +the eight miles in twelve minutes, and the train was on time when we +went into the Springs. I was satisfied then. + +The moment the engine stopped, Tommy jumped off. He did not say +anything, but I was convinced that he did not like riding on the +locomotive, going at lightning-express rates. I was glad to get rid +of him. I need not say that the events of the morning made me very +uncomfortable. I had seen but little of Tommy since the events on the +Horse Shoe; but I was conscious that he was nursing his wrath against +me. Long before this time he would have driven me out of Middleport if +he had not been so unpopular himself among the boys. My friend Dick +Skotchley--for as such I was proud to regard him--had fought my battle +for me among the students. Tommy was so conceited and overbearing that +all the fellows hated him; and they were ripe for a mutiny against him +in his capacity as president of the road, as well as in that of major +of the battalion. More than this, Tommy’s father was still my friend, +though he feared his son. Without egotism I may say that I was popular +in Middleport. If I had not been, I should have been kicked out, like a +dog, by my imperious little master. + +“How are you, Wolf?” shouted Tom Walton, as I was about to start the +train. + +“Jump on, Tom,” I replied, as the conductor gave the word to go ahead. + +My friend leaped into the cab, and I let on the steam. He told me +he was spending a few days with his aunt at the Springs, and that +he was looking for something to do. He was an active, industrious, +quick-witted fellow, who never needed to be told twice how to do the +same thing. Though he knew nothing about an engine, he had the ability +to learn, and it immediately occurred to me that he would make a +first-rate fireman, for it was evident that Lewis Holgate and myself +could not much longer stand together on the same foot-board. + +“This is bully--isn’t it, Wolf?” said Tom, as the engine attained her +highest speed, though, as there were now occasional curves, I was +obliged to ease her a little at times. + +“Do you like it?” I inquired. + +“First rate. It is almost as good as the Grace--not quite,” replied he, +with proper enthusiasm. “Is this the Lightning Express folks talk so +much about?” + +“This is the Lightning Express. We have come through in a hurry this +time. Five minutes’ delay would ruin the Lake Shore Railroad, and cause +more crowing over at Centreport than ten thousand roosters could do in +a year. But we are on time.” + +“I’m glad you are,” laughed Tom. “I expect the train will always be on +time while you run it.” + +“If nothing happens, I shall put my passengers down in Ucayga at the +time promised.” + +“I hope nothing will happen, then.” + +But at that very instant, before he had finished the remark, I saw, as +we shot round a curve, a little child at play between the two rails. +A woman was running towards it in frantic haste. My blood froze with +horror. At first I felt like fainting; but I closed the valve and +whistled to put on the brakes. + +“Jam down that brake, Lewis!” I gasped to the fireman, indicating the +one on the tender. + +Tom Walton did not say anything, but passing through the window in +the cab, he made his way to the cow-catcher. I grasped the reversing +levers, and I think all the passengers must have been thrown off their +seats when I checked the train. But it was still doubtful whether I +could stop in season to save the child, and my heart was in my mouth. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +MAKING UP TIME. + + +It seemed to me, if the locomotive ran over that child, that I could +not have the audacity to live another day, though it would not be my +fault. It was so awful, so horrible, that I prayed to be saved from +the catastrophe. I did not feel as though I could ever hold up my head +again if that innocent little child was sacrificed. It would be better +that the Lake Shore Railroad should be sunk at the bottom of the lake +than that a single precious life should be lost. + +My blood ran cold through my veins as I gazed at the little child, who +seemed to be paralyzed with astonishment as the iron monster swept +towards her. It was a little girl, not more than four or five years +old. The woman who ran shrieking towards the track was doubtless her +mother. What a moment of agony it was to her! My heart bled for her, +and the triumph of the Lightning Express sank into insignificance as I +contemplated the thrilling scene. + +As the engine came nearer to the little girl, my hopes rose higher, +for our speed was effectually checked by the efforts we had made. Tom +Walton was on the cow-catcher, and I knew that he would do the right +thing at the right time. The child showed no disposition to move; +indeed, I think she had no power to do so, even if she comprehended the +nature of her peril. As we came near enough, I saw her eyes set in a +kind of fixed stare, which indicated astonishment rather than fear. + +“Jam down the brakes, Lewis!” I called to the fireman, as I labored to +check the speed of the engine; and I must do him the justice to say +that he was not at all backward in obeying my order, though I doubt +whether he would have been equally zealous if it had been I, instead of +the child, who was on the track. + +The speed of the train was checked, but it was not stopped; and +so far as the life of the child was concerned, we might as well +have been going at the rate of forty as five miles an hour, for the +slightest blow of the cow-catcher would have killed her. All this +transpired within a few seconds. Hardly an instant elapsed after the +steam was shut off, and the brakes put on, before I was trying to +back the engine. The sparks flew under the drivewheels, but still the +iron mass swept on towards the child, whose instants appeared to be +numbered. It seemed to me that I stopped breathing as the little child +disappeared behind the forward part of the locomotive. I expected to +hear a shriek--to be conscious that the child was a gory, mangled, and +shapeless mass beneath. + +Almost at the same moment, Tom Walton straightened up, holding the +child in one arm. The engine had almost stopped, and was still groaning +and struggling under my ineffectual labors to bring it to a complete +stand. My heart leaped the instant I saw the child in the arms of my +friend. My blood, rolled back by the fearful suspense, seemed to be +bursting through my veins, and I was disposed to shout for joy. + +[Illustration: THE RESCUE.--Page 246.] + +“She is safe!” cried Tom, at the top of his voice, as he leaped from +the engine upon the ground, and placed the little girl in the arms of +her mother. + +I saw the horror-stricken parent press the little one to her bosom. +I heard the sob of convulsive agony which attended the tremendous +reaction. It was like passing from death to life for her, and I felt +that I could almost understand even a mother’s emotion. + +“Thank God! Thank God!” I cried; and they were not idle words that I +uttered, for it seemed to me that the Good Father had interposed to +save me from what I should have remembered with horror all the rest of +my life. + +I could not but regard it as an interposition of Providence in my +favor, rather than the child’s; but in the mother’s favor rather than +that of either of us, for she would have been the greatest sufferer. +I am sure this incident had a powerful influence upon me, not for the +moment, or the day only, but for all the rest of my life. It has kept +my eyes open when I was disposed to close them; it has decided the +question of running a risk when nothing else seemed to restrain me; it +taught me to regard human life as too sacred to be trifled with. + +I saw the fond mother clasp her child, and with the reaction came +the thought that I was running the Lightning Express train; that the +reputation of Middleport depended upon the time I should make. + +“Jump on, Tom!” I called to my friend, as he paused for a moment to +gaze at the mother and her rescued child. + +“That was a narrow squeak!” said he; and the whole face of the generous +fellow expanded into one smile of satisfaction. + +“It was, indeed, Tom,” I replied, as I let on the steam, and whistled +to take off the brakes. “It was a merciful providence that you were on +the engine with me. If you had not been, the child would have been dead +at this instant.” + +“I am glad I was here, then. I think that woman will keep her child in +the house after this,” replied he. + +I crowded on the steam again, and once more the train flew like the +wind along the lake shore. All the time I was thinking of that little +child; of the anguish that would have filled that cottage by the lake, +at this moment, if Tom Walton had not happened to be on the engine with +me. I could have done no more than I did do, and though the train was +on the very point of stopping, there was still momentum enough left in +it to have crushed the little one to death. I was grateful to God as I +had never been before for sparing me such a calamity. + +In the exhilaration of the moment I urged forward the locomotive till +I saw the steamer which was waiting to convey the passengers across +the river. I looked at my gold watch, thought of Grace Toppleton, as +I always did when I glanced at its face, and almost forgot why I had +taken it from my pocket in thinking of the expression of her beautiful +face when I should relate to her the thrilling incident which had just +occurred. I was on time; I was ahead of time, for I had driven the +engine at a furious speed. But I had worked carefully; I had favored +it on the curves, and I felt as safe myself as if I had been in my +father’s house. + +The brakes were put on, and the train stopped at the rude pier +which had been built for the steamer. Major Toppleton had carefully +instructed Captain Underwood, and the boat was ready to start on the +instant. Hardly had the cars stopped before the deck hands began to +load the baggage on the trucks. Everybody worked as if the salvation +of the nation depended upon his individual exertions, and I am afraid +that some of the passengers had occasion to weep as they saw the +rude manner in which their baggage was tossed about. I do not think +it would have taken a moment longer for the men to handle the trunks +respectfully--for this seems to me to be the proper word, since the +feelings of the traveller are so largely centred in his luggage. + +Major Toppleton stood on the platform, and drove up the men. He did not +seem to care whose trunk was smashed if he only succeeded in carrying +out his own plans. He had allowed just one hour for the transportation +of the passengers from Middleport to the station in Ucayga, and I +think he would cheerfully have given ten thousand dollars rather than +fail in the enterprise. + +Tommy stood on the platform near his father; but there was no +expression of satisfaction on his face. He had labored to defeat the +enterprise in order to overwhelm me. It was disaster to him, and I +am inclined to think he was still holding in lively remembrance the +disobedience of which I had been guilty three months before. + +The trucks, piled high with trunks and valises, were wheeled on the +forward deck of the Middleport, from which they could be rolled to the +baggage car on the other side when the train arrived. The boat started. +The long experience of Captain Underwood enabled him to clear or make +a landing in the shortest possible time. But fifteen minutes had been +allowed for getting the passengers over, and I had the satisfaction +of seeing the trucks on the platform upon the other side of the river +full five minutes before the train was due. My anxiety had come to an +end. I looked upon the Lightning Express as a glorious triumph, and, +in contrast with it, I could not help thinking how cheap and mean we +should have felt if the train had rushed off before the passengers +arrived. The failure would have been charged upon me, and I am afraid I +could not have saved myself by exposing the conspiracy which had been +instigated by Tommy. + +The trains from the east and from the west, which passed each other +at Ucayga, were both on time, as they generally were. I saw the truck +unloaded, then loaded again with the baggage of the passengers who were +going up the lake, and in a few moments the Middleport was crossing the +river. The train was to leave at quarter past ten, but the promptness +of the steamer’s people allowed me five minutes of grace. Lewis had +left the engine, when he knew that it was his duty to “oil up,” and I +was performing this work myself, when Major Toppleton came up, his face +beaming with smiles. My fireman was talking with Tommy on the platform. + +“Well, Wolf, this works to a charm,” said the magnate, rubbing his +hands with satisfaction. + +“Yes, sir; we came through on time, after all,” I replied, as I poured +the oil on one of the piston rods. + +“I heard there was a child on the track this side of the Springs.” + +“Yes, sir; Tom Walton, who was on the engine with me, went out on the +cow-catcher and saved it. I think we should have lost the trip if Tom +had not been with me,” I continued, fully explaining the exciting +incident. + +“Tom is a good fellow, and he always has his head near the ends of his +fingers,” answered the major. + +I wanted to tell him that Tommy and my fireman had done what they +could to defeat the great enterprise; but I concluded that it would +be useless to do so, for the son was the master. I had made a good +impression in Tom Walton’s favor, and I reserved my next step till a +more convenient season. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +THE NEW FIREMAN. + + +“All aboard!” shouted our bustling conductor, who was a very +gentlemanly young man, and had had considerable experience in this +capacity. + +He wore a gold badge on the lapel of his coat, wrought in the shape of +a train of cars, on which was inscribed the word “Conductor,” in such +curious old English text that no one who did not know what it was could +read it. He alleged that the jewel had been presented to him by a host +of admiring passengers; but those who knew him best declared that he +had spent a whole month’s salary in its purchase. It was a very pretty +thing, and, wherever he got it, he was certainly polite enough to have +merited it. + +The gentleman with the gold jewel bowed, and gracefully made the +signal to me; and, after glancing at the reversing handle, I grasped +the throttle valve, ready to start. At this moment Lewis sprang upon +the foot-board. I had attended to the fire myself, and was thoroughly +disgusted with the conduct of my fireman. + +“Stop!” shouted Tommy, imperiously. + +It was the president of the road who spoke, and I was obliged to obey. + +“It is against the rules of the road for any one to ride on the +engine,” continued the little magnate. + +“I never heard of any such rule before, Mr. President, or I should not +have disregarded it,” I replied, as gently as I could, though I know my +face flushed with indignation. + +“I make the rule now, then,” added Tommy. + +“Tom is only going to Grass Springs with me,” I ventured to suggest. + +“He shall not ride on the engine. Conductor, you will collect his +fare,” replied Tommy, glancing at the gentlemanly person with the gold +jewel. + +“Wolf, I haven’t a red cent in my trousers pocket; but I suppose I can +walk to the Springs,” said my friend, who knew how vain it would be to +appeal against the orders of the magnificent little president. + +I slipped half a dollar into his hand, and he jumped down. + +“Have you the money to pay your fare?” demanded the gentlemanly +conductor, for he was ready enough to “spoony” to the president. + +“I have,” answered Tom, with dignity, as he stepped into the forward +car. + +It was a gratuitous insult to me, and Lewis Holgate chuckled with +delight. I bit my lips with vexation; but I said nothing--it was of no +use to say anything. Even Major Toppleton himself would not have dared +to dispute the fiat of his son. + +“All right!” cried the conductor; and I started the train, a minute +behind time. + +I was vexed and unhappy. I felt like a free man reduced to slavery. I +had lost Tommy’s favor, and I was nobody, though everybody else praised +me. I felt that I had done my duty to the road, and to Middleport in +general. I had worked hard at electioneering to keep Tommy in his +position as president. I had supported him to the best of my ability; +but he insulted me without remorse. I could not help thinking that it +was stupid and servile in me to stand it; and I did not think I could +endure another snubbing without resenting it. I felt weak and ashamed +of myself, especially as Colonel Wimpleton was still anxious to have me +go in the new steamer. + +I ran into Grass Springs on time, and Tom left the train, though not +without saying a parting word to me. I wanted him to “fire” with me, +and I had a plan in my mind to bring it about; but while the president +of the road was bottling up his spite against me, I could hardly hope +to gain my point. + +The steamer for Hitaca was advertised to leave Middleport at eleven +o’clock, and at the appointed hour I had the passengers on the wharf. +Within a few moments of the time, the boat was off, and those who were +bound to Centreport made the passage in an hour and a quarter from +Ucayga, which was three quarters of an hour less than they had ever +accomplished it before. Major Toppleton was more delighted than ever, +and, though it was against the rules of the road for any one to ride on +the engine, he jumped upon the foot-board as lively as though he had +been a boy. I ran up to the engine-house. + +“It works splendidly, Wolf!” said the great man, rubbing his hands. + +“It has come out right this time; but I think it is making rather close +calculations,” I replied, as we walked out of the building. + +“What do you mean, Wolf?” he asked, anxiously, as though he feared +there was still room for the great enterprise to fail, as indeed there +was if Lewis Holgate continued on the engine with me. + +“We have hardly five minutes to spare now, and the slightest accident +might cause us to miss our connections.” + +“But with me the battle is to make the time to Ucayga inside of an +hour. If it is more than an hour, it will sound bad, and we might just +as well be an hour and a half as an hour and a quarter. I thought it +was done handsomely this trip.” + +“Perhaps it was, sir; but I was five minutes behind time when we +reached Spangleport, and if I had not run at the rate of a mile in a +minute and a half we should have missed the trains. Then the child on +the track threw me back two minutes more, and compelled me to run the +engine at its highest speed. The iron on the track is not heavy enough +for such high rates.” + +“But why were you five minutes late at Spangleport?” asked the major. + +Should I tell him why? It might endanger my place to bring a charge +against Tommy; but I felt myself independent enough to do so. + +“My fireman did not do his duty. I have been obliged to run the engine +and fire too,” I replied, explaining all that Lewis had done. + +“What, Holgate! Discharge him then, at once,” said the great man, +impatiently. + +“I am afraid that will not be so easy a matter,” I added, with a smile. + +“I think it will.” + +“Lewis does not act altogether on his own account, though he wants my +place.” + +“Turn him off. Don’t let him run another trip.” + +“I am sorry to say, sir, that Tommy is at the bottom of the mischief.” + +“Tommy?” + +“Yes, sir.” + +I told him that Tommy had been working against me since the affair +at the Horse Shoe; that he was trying to undermine me. The major was +incredulous. Tommy was obstinate, he knew, but the president would +not do anything to injure the Lake Shore Railroad. He was willing to +believe that Lewis Holgate wished to get me out of my place, but not +that his son was a party to the conspiracy. + +“Lewis left the engine while we were waiting for the boat at Ucayga, +and I should not have had steam enough to start the train if I had not +shovelled in the coal myself. He did not even oil up, as he should have +done, and as I told him to do,” I continued. + +“Discharge him, then.” + +“But all this time he was talking with Tommy; and you may be sure that +your son will not permit him to be discharged.” + +Major Toppleton bit his lips. He was beginning to comprehend the +situation. He was actually afraid to carry his purpose into execution +now, and, as I expected he would when the pinch came, he changed the +subject of conversation, and said no more about getting rid of Lewis +Holgate. + +“I think, if we could save the two stops at Spangleport and Grass +Springs, I could make the time without difficulty, even if we lost a +few moments on the way,” I suggested, as the entering wedge of the plan +I had formed. + +“But we can’t neglect those two places. The people would tear up the +rails if we failed to accommodate them.” + +“We will not neglect them. I suggest that you run the dummy half an +hour before the Lightning Express for way passengers.” + +I explained fully my plan, and he was willing to adopt it, especially +when I added that Lewis Holgate could handle the dummy very well +indeed. He understood me then, and I thought I could see a smile of +relief on his face. + +“But you must have a fireman,” he added. + +“Yes, sir; and I would like to have Tom Walton. He is a faithful +fellow, and learns quick.” + +“Engage him then at once. Who is the superintendent now?” + +“Wetherstane, sir.” + +He knew very well who the superintendent was, and knew also that he +was one of the president’s most bitter opponents. Wetherstane would +discharge any one whom Tommy did like, or hire any one whom he did not +like, without any scruples, and enjoy the operation. When the session +of the Institute closed, the superintendent was waited upon by the +major. I do not know what passed between them; but the next day posters +in all the places on the line announced the new arrangement. Tom Walton +was engaged. + +In the afternoon I ran the Lightning Express through the second time. +Tommy was not on the engine this time, and by closely watching my +fireman, I compelled him to do his duty; but without this care on my +part, we should have failed in our connections. The next day, the last +that Lewis was to run with me, for the new arrangement was to take +effect on Wednesday morning, I found that the tender tanks were empty +just as the engine was to move down to the station for the train. +They had been filled an hour before, and I was satisfied this was +another trick to bring me into disgrace. If I had not discovered the +fact in season to correct the mischief, the trip would have been lost, +to say nothing of a worse calamity, if anything could be worse in the +estimation of the major. + +The pit under the track where the engine stood was half filled with +water, and it was evident enough to me that my rascally fireman had +uncoupled the connecting hose while I was at dinner, and emptied the +tanks in this manner. I was provoked, and disposed to pitch into the +rascal. But this was his last chance, I thought, and I concluded to +hold my peace. The scoundrel had probably drawn off more of the water +than he intended, or I might not have discovered the condition of the +tender in season to fill it. But the train started on time, and I was +fortunate enough to make the connection at Ucayga. + +I had Tom Walton’s appointment in my pocket, and when we stopped +at the Springs I gave it to him, telling him to be at Middleport +the next morning. This sharp movement had been prudently kept from +the president, and I hoped, as he would be in school when the train +started, that he would not ascertain what had been done until my friend +had made one or two trips. + +The next morning, at half past eight, Lewis Holgate started the dummy +for Ucayga. He was very curious to know what I was going to do for +a fireman; but I kept Tom in the shade till he was on the way to +the foot of the lake. There was to be an awful row soon; but I was +willing to postpone it as long as possible. My friend was faithful and +intelligent, and before the train reached Ucayga, he comprehended his +duties. I made my time without hurrying on this occasion. + +In the afternoon, just as the Lightning Express was to start on her +second trip, Tommy rushed up to the engine, looking as furious as a +lunatic. At Ucayga, where the dummy waited till the express train had +started, Lewis Holgate discovered who his successor was. That Tom was +a friend of mine was enough to bring down upon him the wrath of the +president. With such an assistant, I was not likely to permit the +Lightning Express to be a failure. + +“What are you doing on that engine?” demanded Tommy. + +“I fire on this engine now,” replied Tom Walton, good-naturedly. + +“No, you don’t! not while I am president of the Lake Shore Railroad. +Get off, and clear out!” + +“If he leaves, I do,” I interposed, quietly; but my blood was up. + +Tommy looked at me, and ground his teeth with rage. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +THE PRESIDENT AND THE ENGINEER. + + +In five minutes it would be time for the Lightning Express train to +start, and that was a very short time in which to fight the impending +battle. Tommy was as unreasonable as a mule, and it was useless to +attempt to conciliate him. Besides, I was tired of being buffeted +by him. I was ashamed of my own servility, and much as I liked my +occupation, I had deliberately come to the conclusion that it would +be better for me to “hire out” for my board and clothes, than be +a football for Tommy’s capricious toes. I had always treated him +respectfully and kindly; but he had insulted me a dozen times within a +month. + +“Are you the president of the Lake Shore Railroad?” demanded Tommy, +violently. + +“I haven’t that honor,” I replied. + +“Then it is not for you to say who shall and who shall not run on the +engine.” + +“That is very true; but it _is_ for me to say whether I will run on it +myself or not. Tom Walton was regularly appointed by the superintendent +to fire on this engine. He does his duty to my satisfaction.” + +“Who appointed him? I never heard of his appointment till half an hour +ago.” + +Tom coolly took the letter of the superintendent from his pocket, and +exhibited it to the president. + +“If that isn’t all right, it isn’t my fault,” added the new fireman. + +“That isn’t worth the paper it is written on,” said Tommy, his face red +with wrath. + +“What’s the reason it isn’t?” inquired Wetherstane. “I wrote it and +signed it, and I am superintendent of the road.” + +“Did you write that?” gasped Tommy. + +“I did; and I’m superintendent of the Lake Shore Railroad,” answered +Wetherstane, whose back was up. + +“Without consulting me?” + +“I didn’t know that the superintendent had to go to the president every +time a new fireman was wanted. If Tom Walton isn’t fireman, then I’m +not superintendent.” + +“I won’t have Tom Walton on the road,” fumed Tommy, as he glanced at +the fireman, who looked as good-natured as the quarter of an apple pie. +“I’m president of this road.” + +“And I’m superintendent,” retorted Wetherstane. + +“Then I order you to discharge Tom Walton at once. If you appointed +him, you did. Now discharge him.” + +Wetherstane saw that he could not very well refuse to obey this order, +since his right to appoint the obnoxious fireman was not now disputed. + +“I’ll discharge him to-night, if you insist upon it,” said he, doggedly. + +“I insist upon it now. Tom Walton, you are discharged,” added the +president. + +“I don’t want to make a row, and I guess I’ll be off,” whispered the +new fireman to me. + +“You can’t help yourself,” I replied; and he jumped down from the +foot-board. + +“All aboard!” shouted the gentlemanly conductor. + +I let off steam, and stepped down from the locomotive. The conductor +made the signal to start; but I did not heed it; I had lost my interest +in the Lightning Express. + +“All right! Go ahead!” said the conductor, impatiently, when his signal +was disregarded. + +“Jump on your engine, and go ahead,” added Tommy. + +“I can’t run the engine without a fireman; and I would not if I could,” +I replied; and I felt that I was vindicating myself. + +“Do you mean to say you won’t run this train?” demanded Tommy. + +“That is precisely what I mean. I won’t run it without Tom Walton. You +discharged him on purpose to insult me.” + +“Where’s Faxon?” asked Tommy, who seemed to be conscious, at last, that +the train must go. + +Faxon was in the station, and appeared to answer to his name. + +“Faxon, you will run this train through,” continued Tommy. + +“I don’t know how. I can run the dummy, but I don’t know anything about +running a locomotive,” replied Faxon, who was among the number of +those who were utterly disgusted with the tyranny of the president. + +“We are five minutes behind time now,” fretted the conductor, who had +come forward to learn the cause of the delay. + +“Here comes Major Toppleton,” said half a dozen of the interested +spectators. + +The magnate bustled into the centre of the group, and Tommy told him I +refused to run the train, and had taken that moment to spite him. + +“My fireman has been discharged,” I replied. + +“Tom Walton!” exclaimed the major. + +“Yes, sir; turned out!” laughed Tom. + +“This won’t do, Tommy,” said the great man, pulling out his watch. + +“Tom Walton can’t run on this train,” replied the little president, +decidedly. + +“Let him go this trip, till we can arrange matters,” pleaded the father. + +“No, sir; he shall not put foot on the engine again.” + +“But we are losing the trip,” protested the major. + +“I can’t help that.” + +“Won’t you run this trip through to oblige me?” said the magnate, +taking me aside. + +“I can’t run it without a fireman,” I replied. “I will do anything to +oblige you, sir; but Tommy means to ruin me if he can.” + +“Start the train, and I will see that Tom Walton is with you as soon as +you will need him,” added the great man, in a whisper. + +“I will, sir.” + +I jumped upon the engine, and started her, just ten minutes behind the +time. I saw Major Toppleton take Tom Walton into the forward car with +him, as I opened the throttle valve. The president also jumped upon the +rear car, after the train started, as though he suspected the purpose +of his disobedient father, and intended to defeat him. As the train +went out of the station, Tom crawled over the tender, and took his +place on the foot-board. + +“Tommy is rather rough on me,” said he, with his usual good-natured +smile. + +“He is rough on almost everybody, and the roughest of all upon his own +father,” I replied, as I let on more steam. “Fill up the furnace, Tom. +We are behind time, and must make up ten minutes. We will make time as +long as we are on the engine.” + +In a few moments the train was flying down the gentle slope, and, by +the time we came to the up grade beyond, Tom had steam enough to do +anything of which the engine was capable. I knew that Tommy was in one +of the cars, and I wondered that he did not stop the train, as by this +time he must be aware that his father had disobeyed and evaded his +peremptory mandate. I could hardly keep from laughing when I thought of +the magnate of Middleport, so haughty and unyielding to others, bowing +so low to his own son. It was simply ridiculous, and very ludicrous. +But I had little doubt of the ultimate fate of Tom Walton and myself. +The world was upside down on our side of the lake, and the great man +had virtually become the little man. + +I was not quite sure that Major Toppleton could help himself, after +he had so often yielded to Tommy, and thus encouraged him to insist +upon having his own way. After abandoning his fortress even once +before, I did not see how he could hold it afterwards. But all this +was a question between Tommy and his father, and they must fight it +out themselves. My self-respect would not any longer allow me to be +the victim of his petty tyranny. Yet I have no hesitation in saying +that Tommy, if his wilfulness could have been subdued, would have been +one of the best fellows in the world; and the sequel of my story will +justify my belief. + +I had no difficulty in making up the ten minutes we had lost by the +president’s unseasonable demonstration, and at a quarter to ten I +stopped the train at the ferry landing. I confess that my heart beat a +lively tattoo against my ribs, as I saw the passengers hastening into +the boat, for I dreaded a scene with Tommy and his father. I would have +avoided it if I could, for I had no taste for disturbances. But neither +Tommy nor his father appeared at once. + +“Wolf, I don’t want you to get into trouble for my sake,” said Tom +Walton. “I am willing to take myself off, and let you live in peace +with Tommy.” + +“Tommy don’t want peace with me. Ever since our affair at the Horse +Shoe, he has been down upon me,” I replied. “I don’t know how the +major prevailed upon him to let me stay as long as I have. But he has +insulted me and domineered over me in every possible manner, and I have +stood just as much of it as I can. If you were not a friend of mine, +Tommy would not object to you.” + +“Well, I don’t want to stand in your way, Wolf,” added Tom. + +“You don’t stand in my way. If you are discharged, it will be for my +sake. I think we had better hang together. If I can’t hold this place +for you, I may be able to get you another quite as good.” + +“Thank you, Wolf; you have always been a good friend, and I will do +just what you say. If you think it would be best for me to go, I want +you to say so.” + +“I don’t think so. My mind is made up. If you can’t stay, I can’t; +and I shall stick to my text to the end of time,” I replied, with +sufficient emphasis to be understood. + +The gentlemanly conductor, with the gold jewel, walked up to the engine +at this moment, and interrupted our conversation. + +“There’s going to be the jolliest row you ever heard of,” said he, +chuckling as though he enjoyed the prospect. + +“Where is the president?” I asked. + +“He and his governor are talking over the matter in the car. The little +gentleman made an awful tempest on the train, and all the passengers +laughed, and enjoyed the fun. The president is going to have his own +way, or drown himself in the lake,” laughed the conductor. + +I learned that this remark was “founded on facts,” and it was evident +that Tommy had not forgotten his old tricks. I stood on the engine, +expecting the crash every moment; but I was ready for it. + +The dummy, in charge of Lewis Holgate, stood on the track ahead of the +locomotive, prepared to follow our train. Tommy and his father seemed +to be having a hard time of it, for neither of them had appeared when +the boat from the other side returned, and I concluded that the scene +was to be deferred till a more convenient season. As the passengers +were getting into the cars, I saw the major go on board of the steamer, +which immediately started for the other side. A moment later Tommy +approached the engine, attended by Lewis Holgate. + +“Our time has come, Tom,” I whispered to my companion. + +“Now, Tom Walton, you will get off that engine, or the baggage masters +shall pitch you off,” began the president. + +“I got off before when you told me,” replied Tom, laughing. “I always +obey orders.” + +“Of course you include me in the order,” I added. + +“I don’t include you, Wolf Penniman; but you will find that you are not +the president of the Lake Shore Railroad, and can’t dictate to me. If +you are mean enough to leave, after all we have done for you, you can +do so.” + +I was mean enough to leave after all they had done for me, and stepped +down upon the platform. + +“Just as you like; but don’t let me see you round this road again,” +continued Tommy, his face red with anger. + +I walked away with Tom Walton. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +THE PRESIDENT HAS A FALL. + + +I do not think, after all Tommy’s blustering, that he believed I +would really leave the service of the Lake Shore Railroad. It was +plain enough that Major Toppleton had been crowded down in the debate +with his son, and had yielded the point. I supposed he had gone over +to Ucayga, to avoid the unpleasant scene that was likely to ensue. +In this, however, I was mistaken, for I afterwards learned that he +had gone to procure the services of an engineer, for he had not much +confidence in the ability of Lewis Holgate to run the locomotive. + +I bought two tickets for Middleport at the office, and with Tom took +a seat in one of the cars. Tommy was busy instructing Lewis in regard +to his duties on the engine, of which he knew as little as any person +connected with the road, and he did not follow my movements. + +“Well, we are men of leisure now, Tom,” I remarked, as we seated +ourselves. + +“I have had rather too much of that sort of thing lately, and I would +rather not be a man of leisure,” answered Tom, dryly. + +“You will soon find something to do,” I replied. + +“Is Lewis Holgate going to run this train?” + +“I suppose so. Tommy and he are on the best of terms; and I know that +Lewis has been trying to use me up for some time, in order to get my +place. I hope he is satisfied now.” + +“Does he understand the business?” asked Tom, curiously. + +“He did very well on the dummy; but he is too careless to be relied on. +I don’t think he understands a locomotive. He hasn’t his thoughts about +him always. But I hope he will do well.” + +The train started, and dragged at a snail’s pace for a mile. I +realized from the motion that the engineer did not feel at home on the +foot-board, for it was attended by frequent jerks, and by as frequent +slacking of the speed. When the conductor picked up the tickets, he +told me Lewis had with him on the foot-board a man from the steamer, +so that he could not have been embarrassed by having too much to do. +At Grass Springs we were ten minutes behind time; but Lewis did better +on the next stretch, which was level and straight; but even here he +was losing time, and it was fortunate that the boat would wait at +Middleport until the arrival of the train. + +After we passed the Springs I saw Tommy stalking through the car, and +coming towards me. I pitied him much more than I should if he had +been defeated in his purpose, for success to him was ruin. In spite +of all he had done to vex and annoy me, I tried to harbor no ill will +against him. He knew that the train was behind time, and that it was +still losing. I had no doubt that the fact vexed him. It seemed to me +that an opportunity presented itself by which I could show him that I +had no ill feelings towards him. I wished still to carry out the good +principles which my mother had taught me; and, as the little president +approached my seat, I promptly decided that I would ride on the engine +the rest of the way, and give Lewis such instructions as he evidently +needed. I meant to do this, hoping it would make things a little +pleasanter between us. + +“Tommy, I suppose you see that Lewis is losing time,” said I, as he +halted in the aisle, and stared at me as savagely as though I had been +a snake in his path. + +“What are you doing here?” demanded he. + +“I was going to say, if I could be of any service, I would ride on the +engine with Lewis, and show him how to run it.” + +“I guess not,” said he, shaking his head. “What are you doing here?” + +“I’m going home,” I replied, not comprehending what he was driving at. + +“Didn’t I tell you never to let me see you about this road again?” +continued he, with imperial majesty, and, I may add, with lion-like +ferocity. + +“I believe you did; but I am going home, and the railroad is now the +only conveyance up the lake.” + +“How dare you disobey me?” stormed he. + +“I was not aware that I had disobeyed you.” + +“What are you on this train for, then?” + +“But I paid my fare, and Tom Walton’s too,” I replied. + +“I don’t care if you did! After what has happened, I won’t have you on +the road.” + +“Even Centreporters are allowed to ride on the road by paying their +fare.” + +“No matter if they are; you can’t.” + +“After I get home, I won’t trouble you or the road,” I added, mildly. + +“But you won’t get home on this road,” said he, seizing the connecting +line which ran through all the cars to the engine, and giving it a +violent twitch. + +Lewis Holgate, unfortunately for me, understood this signal, and +whistled to put on the brakes. The conductor was counting his tickets +at the end of the car, and came forward to witness the scene. The train +came to a halt. + +“Now, Wolf Penniman, out with you!” said Tommy, fixing a savage gaze +upon me. + +“I don’t wish to make any trouble, Tommy; but I have paid my fare, +and I intend to ride to Middleport,” I replied, as calmly as I could, +though my blood was boiling with indignation at the gratuitous insults +heaped upon me. + +“Good, my boy! Don’t budge an inch,” said a respectable-looking +gentleman in the seat behind me. + +“Mind your own business!” snapped Tommy to the speaker. + +“What, you young puppy!” said the gentleman, springing to his feet. +“Don’t you give me a word of impudence! If you do, I’ll thrash you +within an inch of your life!” + +This was not exactly the kind of customer Tommy liked to deal with, for +there was fight in the stranger’s eye; but he was just the person whom +Tommy’s case required. + +“Are you going to get out, Wolf Penniman, or are you going to be put +out?” added the president, turning from the stranger to me. + +“I’m not going to get out, and it remains to be seen whether I’m going +to be put out.” + +“He has paid his fare,” suggested the gentlemanly conductor, in a low +tone. + +“Give him back his money, then.” + +I refused to take it, and the belligerent gentleman urged me not to +budge an inch. + +“Put him out, conductor,” said Tommy. + +“If you put him out, you must put me out,” suggested Tom Walton, with +one of his broad, good-natured laughs. + +“Put them both out!” stormed Tommy. + +“I shall be prosecuted, if I do, for assault and battery.” + +“That’s so,” growled the gentleman behind me. + +“I’ll see you through,” interposed Tommy, violently. + +“This thing has gone far enough,” said the stranger, rising in his +seat. “This road was chartered for the accommodation of the public. +These two young men have paid their fare, and have behaved themselves +properly in the car. I say, for one, they shall not be put out.” + +“So say we all of us!” shouted several of the passengers, who were +annoyed by the delay; and most of them understood the merits of the +case. + +“Now, conductor, start your train, and don’t keep us waiting here all +day,” added the gentleman. + +“Go ahead!” shouted some of the passengers. + +“You can’t go ahead till these fellows are put out,” replied Tommy, who +seemed to feel that he had the weather-gage in the dispute. + +“Go ahead!” “Go ahead!” cried the passengers. + +“Why don’t you put them out, as I tell you?” said Tommy to the +conductor. + +“If you say so, I will, whatever happens,” replied the conductor. + +“I do say so!” + +The proprietor of the gold jewel put his hand upon my collar; but he +had hardly done so before my belligerent friend did him a similar +service, and jerked him away from me. Other passengers crowded forward. + +“It’s an outrage! Bully for the young engineer,” shouted the noisiest +of the crowd. + +The conductor was intimidated. He had no heart in the job he had +undertaken, and he gave up with no show of fight. + +“Now go ahead!” said the belligerent stranger. “We won’t submit to any +outrage here.” + +“This train won’t start till those persons are put out of the car,” +added Tommy. + +“Won’t it?” + +“No, it won’t. I’m the president of this road,” replied Tommy. + +“Are you? Well, this train’s going ahead,” added the stranger. + +To my astonishment, he seized the distinguished little functionary by +the collar, and dragged him towards the door. The conductor attempted +to interfere; but the passengers, among whom there were hardly a dozen +Middleporters, crowded upon him, and prevented him from doing anything. + +“Out with him!” “Out with him!” called the indignant passengers, not a +few of whom were Centreporters. + +[Illustration: THE PRESIDENT IS INSULTED.--Page 286.] + +The stout stranger landed Tommy on the ground, and then, by a dexterous +movement, pitched him down the steep bank to the beach on the shore of +the lake. If the president of the road was never astonished before, he +was astonished then. He had discovered that his lordly will, though +it carried terror into his own family, could not accomplish much among +the general public. + +“Now go ahead!” said the gentleman, as he stepped into the car. + +“I can’t go without the president,” replied the conductor. + +“Then go with him!” yelled a stout fellow, who, I think, had drank more +liquor than was good for him, as he seized the gentlemanly official, +and hustled him after the president. + +Some one pulled the string; but the train did not start. I looked out +the window. I was sorry to see that Tommy appeared to be hurt, for he +sat on the ground, rubbing one of his legs. The conductor went to his +assistance. Lewis Holgate now appeared, and I told the stranger he was +the engineer. + +“Will you go ahead now?” demanded my uncompromising friend. + +“What’s the row here?” inquired Lewis. + +He was informed; but, instead of going ahead, he went down to the +place where Tommy and the conductor were. Several of the passengers got +out, and went forward to the engine. Half a dozen of them beset me with +entreaties to run the train up to Middleport; but I positively refused. +Indeed, I was thinking of going to the assistance of the disabled +president, though I was sure my services would not be welcome, when the +train started. The passengers crowded in, and it was evident that some +one had taken possession of the engine. + +“Here’s a pretty kettle of fish!” said Tom Walton. + +“I’m sorry for it; but I can’t help it. I have as much right to ride on +this road as any one else,” I replied. + +“We are going it now,” added Tom, as the train began to leap forward at +the rate of thirty miles an hour. + +“Don’t you submit to any imposition, young man. I’ve heard all about +your case, and if you want any help, call on me,” said my belligerent +supporter. + +I thanked him, and he gave me his card, which I deposited in my wallet. +The new engineer understood his business, and in less than half an hour +we entered the station at Middleport. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +THE PRESIDENT IN TROUBLE. + + +I had not waited to ascertain the condition of Tommy Toppleton. I +had seen the stout stranger pitch him down the bank. The gentlemanly +conductor had rushed down after him, to render whatever assistance he +might require. Lewis Holgate had left the engine to sympathize with his +powerful young friend. My occupation was gone; but I felt a certain +pride and satisfaction in having stood up for my rights. I had not +allowed Tommy to tread upon me this time, and I felt more like a man +than I had ever felt before. + +I wish to add, to some of my unreasoning young friends, that I felt an +equal pride and satisfaction in the fact that I had so often submitted. +I had not made haste to get into a row, and it was just as pleasant +to think of what I had endured, as of the resistance I had made to +oppression. If Tommy had been even tolerably reasonable, there could +have been no trouble. It was a very agreeable reflection that I had +not been forward in making issue with my imperious young master. If he +had not been laboring to ruin me, I think I could even have borne his +insults. + +I was very curious to know what construction Major Toppleton would put +upon my conduct. My gratitude to him made me anxious to retain his good +opinion, and I had submitted to much for his sake. He certainly could +not blame me for what I had done. I had merely refused to be put out +of the cars after I had paid my fare. I had simply rebelled against an +exhibition of petty malice, as contemptible as it was unreasonable. +But, after all, it was not safe to predict what the magnate of +Middleport would do when his son was involved in the affair, for the +father was quite as much a victim of the young gentleman’s tyranny as I +was. + +The stout stranger was on his way to Hitaca, and he went on board +the steamer to continue his journey. Of course there was a great +deal of excited talk about the incident of the day, and of the dozen +Middleporters on board, those who had the courage to say anything +condemned Tommy and upheld me. I thought I was safe enough; and perhaps +I should have been, if exciting news had not come down from the scene +of the affair. + +The engineer who had taken possession of the locomotive let off the +steam; and being on his way up the lake, he abandoned the machine. As +there was no one to take charge of it, Wetherstane, the superintendent, +asked me to run it into the engine-house, which I did. I had been duly +discharged, and it was not proper for me to do anything more. I walked +home with Tom Walton; and we discussed the matter as thoroughly as the +occasion required. + +“How do you suppose it’s coming out, Wolf?” asked Tom, as +good-naturedly as ever, but still anxiously. + +“I haven’t the least idea,” I replied. “I have yielded as long as I +could, and I am willing to take the consequence.” + +I felt that I was not likely to be a martyr as long as Colonel +Wimpleton kept his offer of a place on the new steamer open to me, with +the promise of a man’s wages. + +“If I were the major, I should rebel against Tommy a little, just to +see how it would seem,” laughed Tom Walton. “Don’t it look strange that +a great man like him--I mean the major--should be such a fool as to let +his son have his own way?” + +“It is strange; but I have learned that Major Toppleton is more afraid +of Tommy than of all the rest of the world.” + +“If my mother should let me have my own way like that, I couldn’t +respect her. I should think the major would turn over a new leaf, and +be a free man.” + +“He is his own master--” + +“Not much!” exclaimed Tom, interrupting me; “Tommy is master here.” + +“Well, he has the right to obey his son, if he chooses to do so,” I +added. “I don’t know, but I can’t help thinking that this matter has +come to a head now. Major Toppleton wants me to run the engine, and +Tommy don’t want me to do it. I hope the thing will be settled to-day.” + +It was settled that day. + +I went home, and pretty soon my father came to his dinner. He had, of +course, been my confidant in all the matters relating to my quarrel +with Tommy. I told him all about the stirring events of the morning, +after we sat down to dinner; and he was so interested that he neglected +to touch the food before him till he had heard the whole of it. + +“Have I done wrong, father?” I asked. + +“Certainly not. You couldn’t have done anything else. You live here, +and the railroad is now the only way for you to come up the lake. You +paid your fare, and they had no more right to put you off the cars than +they had to throw you into the lake,” he replied, warmly. + +I ought to add here, that my relations with the road had been discussed +every day, and often two or three times a day. My father, and my mother +especially, had cautioned me not to be impulsive, and not to resist +while it was decent to submit. Our obligations to Major Toppleton were +acknowledged, and all of us were very anxious to keep the peace with +him. + +“I don’t see how Major Toppleton can uphold that boy any longer,” added +my mother. + +“I don’t see how he ever could do it,” said my father. “But that is +his business, not mine. I don’t think we make much, however, by trying +to keep on the right side of these rich men by sacrificing our own +self-respect. I am thankful that the major does not hold the mortgage +on my house.” + +“I suppose he could get it, if he wanted it,” suggested my mother. + +“Well, it has two years to run, whoever has it; and as long as I pay +the interest, we shall be safe enough,” continued my father. “I am +thankful we are not in such a scrape as we were on the other side of +the lake.” + +We ate our dinner in peace, in spite of the storm which had raged +without. My father was in deep thought, and it was not difficult to +conjecture the subject of his meditations. Doubtless he congratulated +himself most heartily that it was not in the power of either of the +magnates to harass and annoy him. The major could discharge us both, +and even make Middleport too warm to contain us; but the colonel was +ready to receive us both with open arms. It seemed just as though I was +a shuttlecock, to be batted back and forth from one side of the lake +to the other at the will and pleasure of the mighty men who ruled the +neighborhood. + +But I had some hope that Major Toppleton would sustain me, or at least +that he would not persecute our family, even if he yielded to the +caprices of his son. Whatever mischief had been done, I had not done +it, though I had been the indirect cause of it. I had not stopped the +train; I had not put Tommy out of the car; I had not pitched him down +the bank. If these things had been done on my behalf, I had no agency +in them. The indignant passengers, who were detained by the whim of the +little president, had been the responsible actors, and I had no doubt +the stout stranger was ready to answer for his conduct. Whether he was +or not, this was not my affair. I had his card in my pocket; but so +far as I could ascertain, no one knew anything about him. I regarded +him as a person of some consequence. + +We finished our dinner, and my father was on the point of returning to +the mill, when Tom Walton rushed into the kitchen, out of breath with +running. His appearance indicated that some unusual event had occurred, +for my friend was one of the cool sort, and not easily stirred by small +matters. + +“The dummy has just come in,” exclaimed Tom, in the intervals between +his rapid breathing. + +“Well, what of it?” I inquired, not deeming this very startling +intelligence. + +“Tommy Toppleton’s leg is broken,” gasped Tom. + +“Broken!” I exclaimed. + +“Snapped off, like a pipe-stem, below the knee, they say.” + +“I am sorry for that,” I added; and I almost wished it had been my leg, +instead of the little tyrant’s. + +“His father is the maddest man that ever drew the breath of life.” + +“I dare say,” said my father, shaking his head. + +“How did it happen?” I inquired. + +“Why, that stout man did it when he pitched him down the bank,” +answered Tom. “I’ll bet it will cost that man a penny or two. That’s +what they say up to the station.” + +“I will go up and see about it,” I added, taking my hat. + +“You!” ejaculated Tom, with a stare of astonishment. + +“Why not?” + +“If you know what you are about, you will keep out of the way,” +suggested Tom, with significant emphasis. + +“I haven’t done anything that I am ashamed of,” I replied. “I am not +afraid to see the major, and tell him the whole story. I’m sorry for +Tommy’s misfortune, but it is all his own fault.” + +“Face the music, Wolf,” said my father. “No one ever makes anything by +skulking in the dark. You have a tongue, and you can explain your own +conduct better than any one can do it for you.” + +“But they are all down upon you like a hundred of brick, Wolf,” +continued Tom, who was fearful that I might be lynched in the +excitement which he said prevailed in the vicinity of the major’s house. + +“I can’t help it. When I was insulted, I did not resist nor make any +row.” + +“But you left your train at the time it ought to have started,” said +Tom. + +“I should not have done so if the president had not taken that time to +insult me. It was not necessary for him to discharge my fireman at such +a time. But no matter for all this; I am going up to Major Toppleton’s +house. It he chooses to kick me out, he may do so.” + +I could not help feeling that my chances of a fair hearing at such a +time were very small, but I could not have kept away from the centre of +the excitement if I had tried. I must know my fate, whatever it might +be. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +THE NEW STEAMER. + + +However much Tommy Toppleton deserved the fate which had befallen him, +I really pitied him. I am sure that not a single emotion of triumph +had a place in my heart. I neither said nor thought that it served him +right. I was sorry for him, and my regret was entirely unselfish. The +only personal consideration that disturbed me was the reflection that +I must in the future be entirely banished from the presence of Grace +Toppleton. I had not the impudence, boy of sixteen as I was, to believe +that I was in love with her. If such a thought had entered my head, the +wide difference between her social position and mine would have driven +it out. + +I was deeply interested in her as a friend. She had been very kind and +considerate towards me. She had treated me with respect and regard, +and did not seem to think that I was not her equal in the social scale. +I never spoke to her, and never even thought of her, except with a +respect bordering upon reverence. I was content to stand off at a +proper distance and admire her pretty face, her graceful form, and her +gentle manners. I thought she was an angel; not merely because she was +beautiful in person, but because her pure heart and kind manners seemed +to elevate her far above the low and selfish lives of those around her. + +By the time I reached the mansion of Major Toppleton, the excitement +had in a measure subsided. The bone of Tommy’s leg had been set, but +he was suffering severe pain. It appeared that the major had procured +the services of an engineer at Ucayga, who had run the dummy up from +that point, starting only half an hour behind the Lightning Express. +Arriving at the place where the imperious little president had stopped +our train, the magnate found the conductor and Lewis Holgate bearing +Tommy towards the nearest house. He was placed in the dummy and brought +home. + +Of course Lewis and the conductor told their own story, and I was +represented as the wickedest fellow in that part of the country. All +the mischief had been done by me; and as Tommy lay writhing in agony, +my sins became as mountains in the eyes of his father. Tommy was a +saint then, and I was a demon. + +I went to the side door of the mansion and rang the bell. The servant +who opened the door bestowed upon me a look of positive horror. I +inquired for Major Toppleton, and was shown into the library, where I +had so often before conferred with the great man. As I was entering the +room, Grace crossed the hall, and discovered me. + +“O, Mr. Wolf! Why did you come here?” exclaimed she; “my father is +terribly incensed against you.” + +“I have only done what I thought was right, Miss Grace,” I replied. “I +did not even know that Tommy was hurt, till a few moments ago.” + +“Father says you were the cause of it.” + +“I was not--at least, not intentionally.” + +“I know you were not. Whatever happens, Mr. Wolf, we shall be friends.” + +To my astonishment she extended her pretty, white hand, and I took it. +It was her good by to me. + +“I know you would not do any wrong, Mr. Wolf,” she continued; “and I +wish Tommy was like you.” + +She gently shook my hand, and left the room. Whatever her father +thought, she understood the situation without any explanation. She had +hardly left the room before her father came in. He looked ugly and +remorseless, as he had never before been to me. + +“Have you the impudence to come here, after what has happened, Wolf?” +said he, with a heavy frown. + +“I hope you will not consider it impudence, sir. I did not know that +Tommy was hurt till a little while ago,” I replied, as meekly as the +occasion required. “I am very sorry indeed that anything has happened.” + +“Don’t be a hypocrite, Wolf!” + +“I am not, sir; I am truly sorry that Tommy was hurt.” + +“You are the cause of all this; and if you had broken his leg yourself, +you would not have been more to blame.” + +“You have always been very kind to me, and you cannot understand the +matter, or you would not say that.” + +“I understand it very well. I think, after all I have done for you, +I had a right to expect something better from you. You insisted upon +crossing and vexing Tommy.” + +“He was very unreasonable, and I could not submit any longer. I paid my +fare in the cars, and there was no other way for me to get home.” + +“That’s enough. You needn’t attempt to explain it. Perhaps Tommy was +wrong; I don’t say that he was not. But it was not for you to make +trouble.” + +“I don’t think I made it, sir.” + +“I think you did. No more words. You have abused my good nature. I +don’t want to see you again. You and your father are both discharged, +and the sooner you leave Middleport, the better you will suit me.” + +I afterwards ascertained that Tommy had insisted, even in the midst +of his agony, that my father and I should be immediately discharged. +Grace told me this when I met her on the lake a few weeks later in the +season. She said it to defend her father, who, arbitrary as he was, had +some well-defined ideas of justice. + +I took my cap and left the house, after an attempt to declare that I +felt no ill-will towards the major, who, however, would not permit +me to finish the sentence. The catastrophe had come. The hint that +the sooner our family left Middleport, the better it would suit the +magnate, seemed to indicate an intention on his part to drive us out +of the town. When I reached home, I found my father there. The mandate +dismissing him had already been sent to him. We talked the matter over +for a time; and while we both regretted Tommy’s misfortune, we agreed +that it would be better for both of us to work for half the wages we +had been receiving, rather than be the slaves of the little magnate. + +For my own part, I felt that I had borne enough from Tommy. I was +willing to be tried on the facts of the case, for I think no one will +say that I ought to have submitted to being put out of the cars, after +I had paid my fare, just to gratify the petty malice of the little +tyrant. I had done my duty faithfully, even while the president of the +Lake Shore Railroad had been willing to sacrifice the interest of the +concern for the sake of ruining me. + +In the afternoon, when it was time for the train to arrive from Ucayga, +I went to the station. The Lightning Express had not appeared, and it +did not come till half an hour behind time. In spite of his sufferings, +Tommy still felt an interest in the outside world, and insisted that +Lewis Holgate should have the locomotive. His father could not deny his +request, though he knew that Lewis was incompetent. The engineer, whom +the major had engaged, refused to serve as fireman under a boy, and the +steamboat hand was retained in this position. The trains east and west +had waited that day for the Lightning Express, or the passengers would +have been compelled to lie over. + +The next day, Lewis did a little better; but in the course of the week +he was behind time twice; and once the conductors on the other lines +refused to wait. But Tommy obstinately declined to permit his friend +to be superseded by the experienced engineer who ran the dummy. Lewis +declared that it was not his fault that the train was behind time; but +I knew that he was lacking in judgment. He did not understand when to +ease off the machine and when to crowd on the steam. He had no talent +or fitness for his occupation. + +I had made up my mind not to apply to Colonel Wimpleton for any +situation. If he wished to employ me, and to redeem some of his large +promises, he knew that I was out of a situation, and he could send for +me. I did not mean to begin by cringing to him. I suppose, after the +first impulses of gratitude subsided, some of the old feeling of malice +towards me came back to him. It is very likely that Waddie, who had +never forgiven me for deranging his plans, during the battle on the +Horse Shoe, by recapturing Tommy, had some influence with his father. +Whatever the reason was, I was not sent for. Father and I worked in +the garden, where there was enough for both of us to do. He had money +enough on hand, our joint earnings, to support the family for some +months. We were both of the opinion that it was not prudent to apply to +Colonel Wimpleton for situations. If he wanted us, he must come for us. + +While we were thus waiting for “something to turn up,” the Ucayga, the +new Centreport steamer, arrived. She was certainly a magnificent boat, +surpassing all the ideas I had ever formed of a floating palace. I +went over to see her, and I could not but realize that she would be a +formidable rival of the Lightning Express, even if she did require half +an hour longer to make the trip. On her passage down the lake, she had +made sixteen miles an hour without pressing; but as half her freight +and passengers depended upon Ruoara, she was to be allowed an hour and +three quarters for the trip, against an hour and a quarter required to +make the passage by the Lake Shore Railroad. + +Flaming posters about the streets of Centreport announced that the +Ucayga would leave at quarter past eight, and connect with the +trains east and west at the foot of the lake. It all looked very +pretty, but the battle was yet to be fought. The competition was for +through-passengers. When the boats from Hitaca reached Centreport twice +each day, the question with travellers was to be, whether they would +go to Ucayga by the new steamer or by the railroad. The boats from up +the lake usually arrived at quarter past eight and quarter past two, +allowing fifteen minutes at Centreport, and fifteen more to land their +passengers at Middleport. If the Ucayga could get off on time, she +was safe enough on her connections. It was a question of minutes and +seconds on which the success of the steamboat enterprise depended. +But of the hard-fought battle which ensued, I shall speak in another +story--“On Time.” + +Everybody in Centreport and Middleport was excited over the impending +contest, for it was still a battle between the two sides of the lake. +Major Toppleton professed to be entirely confident of the result, +and mysteriously hinted at resources for winning the race which had +not yet been developed. The Ucayga made her first trip crowded with +passengers, while the Lightning Express train was comparatively +deserted. Still the major was confident, declaring that “a new broom +sweeps clean,” but the passengers would soon return to the railroad, +especially during the approaching winter, when the steamer was liable +to be troubled with ice in the lower part of the lake. + +But a shadow soon came over the dream of Colonel Wimpleton, who boasted +grandiloquently over his success. The up-lake boats began to be +regularly ten minutes late; and one day, in spite of all the crowding +done on board of the Ucayga, she missed her connections. Then she did +it again, and again, and people would not trust her. Steamer stock went +down. As Major Toppleton’s hopes rose, Colonel Wimpleton’s fell. It was +plain enough now that the major required the Hitaca boats to be ten +minutes late. The colonel swore terribly when he realized the nature of +the trick. + +As my connection with the Lightning Express had ceased, it would not +be proper for me to remain any longer under that flag; and I must take +leave of the Lake Shore Railroad for the present, to forage in a new +field. + +About the time the Ucayga arrived at Centreport, Tommy Toppleton was +able to leave the house on crutches. The only word the major had spoken +to me since our interview in his mansion, was to tell me that I had +lamed his son for life. I did not believe this, and it was a great +satisfaction for me to hear the doctor say that Tommy’s leg would be as +good as ever in a few weeks. I hoped his sufferings would do him good, +and do something to modify his arbitrary character. + +I need hardly say that the rival Academies were still rivals. Neither +was satisfied with the result of the battles on the Horse Shoe, and +each was thirsting for an opportunity to overwhelm the other. I could +not justify myself for giving the details of this miserable warfare, if +it were not for contrasting it with the glorious peace and fraternity +which grew out of it. + +Tommy was, perhaps, as unpopular as ever; but his misfortune, if it +did not excite the sympathy of the Toppletonians, prevented them from +manifesting their feelings in a mutiny, as they intended, at my +discharge. I am happy to say that I stood first rate with the students +on the Middleport side, when Tommy and his father had done their worst; +but the mutiny came at last, when Tommy’s tyranny could be no longer +endured. I was satisfied. I shall always remember with pleasure most +of my experience on the Lake Shore Railroad, and especially on the +LIGHTNING EXPRESS. + + + + +OLIVER OPTIC’S MAGAZINE, + +[Illustration: OUR BOYS AND GIRLS] + +The only Original American Juvenile Magazine published once a Week. + +EDITED BY OLIVER OPTIC, + +Who writes for no other juvenile publication--who contributes each year + +Four Serial Stories, + +The cost of which in book form would be $5.00--_double the subscription +price of the Magazine!_ + +Each number (published every Saturday) handsomely illustrated by THOMAS +NAST, and other talented artists. + + +Among the regular contributors, besides OLIVER OPTIC, are + + =SOPHIE MAY=, author of “Little Prudy and Dotty Dimple Stories.” + =ROSA ABBOTT=, author of “Jack of all Trades,” &c. + =MAY MANNERING=, author of “The Helping-Hand Series,” &c. + =WIRT SIKES=, author of “On the Prairies,” &c. + =OLIVE LOGAN=, author of “Near Views of Royalty,” &c. + =REV. ELIJAH KELLOGG=, author of “Good Old Times,” &c. + +Each number contains 16 pages of Original Stories, Poetry, Articles of +History, Biography, Natural History, Dialogues, Recitations, Facts and +Figures, Puzzles, Rebuses, &c. + +OLIVER OPTIC’S MAGAZINE contains more reading matter than any other +juvenile publication, and is the _Cheapest and the Best_ Periodical of +the kind in the United States. + + +TERMS, IN ADVANCE. + + Single Subscriptions, one year, $2.50 + One Volume, Six Months, 1.25 + Single Copies, 6 cts. + Three copies, 6.50 + Five copies, 10.00 + Ten copies (an extra copy _free_), 20.00 + +Canvassers and local agents wanted in every State and town, and liberal +arrangements will be made with those who apply to the Publishers. + +A handsome cloth cover, with a beautiful gilt design, will be furnished +for binding the numbers for the year for 50 cts. All the numbers for +1867 will be supplied for $2.25. Bound volumes, $3.50. + +Any boy or girl who will write to the Publishers shall receive a +specimen copy by mail free. + + + LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, + 149 Washington Street, Boston. + + + + +LEE & SHEPARD’S JUVENILE PUBLICATIONS. + +SOPHIE MAY’S BOOKS. + + +LITTLE PRUDY STORIES. + +_Six volumes. Illustrated. In Sets or separate. Per volume, 75 cents._ + + LITTLE PRUDY. + LITTLE PRUDY’S Sister Susy. + LITTLE PRUDY’S Captain Horace. + LITTLE PRUDY’S Cousin Grace. + LITTLE PRUDY’S Story Book. + LITTLE PRUDY’S Dotty Dimple. + + +DOTTY DIMPLE STORIES. + +By the author of “Little Prudy Stories.” + +_Six volumes. Illustrated. In Sets or separate. Per volume, 75 cents._ + + DOTTY DIMPLE at her Grandmother’s. + DOTTY DIMPLE at Home. + DOTTY DIMPLE out West. + DOTTY DIMPLE at Play. + DOTTY DIMPLE at School. + DOTTY DIMPLE’S Flyaway. + +Read the high commendation of the _North American Review_, which places +Sophie May’s Books at the + +Head of Juvenile Literature. + +“Genius comes in with ‘Little Prudy.’ Compared with her, all other +book-children are cold creations of Literature only; she alone is the +real thing. All the quaintness of childhood, its originality, its +tenderness and its teasing,--its infinite, unconscious drollery, the +serious earnestness of its fun, the fun of its seriousness, the natural +religion of its plays, and the delicious oddity of its prayers,--all +these waited for dear Little Prudy to embody them. Sam Weller is not +more piquant; Hans Anderson’s nutcrackers and knitting-needles are +not more thoroughly charged with life. There are six little green +volumes in the series, and of course other _dramatis personæ_ must +figure; but one eagerly watches for every reappearance of Prudy, as one +watches at the play for Owens or Warren to re-enter upon the stage. +Who is our benefactress in the authorship of these books, the world +knows not. Sophie May must doubtless be a fancy name, by reason of +the spelling, and we have only to be grateful that the author did not +inflict on us the customary alliteration in her pseudonyme. The rare +gift of delineating childhood is hers, and may the line of ‘Little +Prudy’ go out to the end of the earth.... To those oversaturated with +transatlantic traditions we recommend a course of ‘Little Prudy.’” + + +Sold by all booksellers and newsdealers, and sent by mail, post-paid, +on receipt of price. + +LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston. + + + + +LEE & SHEPARD’S JUVENILE PUBLICATIONS. + +By the Author of “Spartacus to the Gladiators.” + +ELM ISLAND STORIES. + +_To be completed in six vols. Ill. Per vol., $1.25._ + + + _LION BEN OF ELM ISLAND._ 16mo. Illustrated. $1.25. + +“Elm Island lays off the coast of Eastern Maine, a wild and romantic +region, and the incidents of the story are recorded as happening when +this country was just emerging from its struggle for independence. +It is a capital story of the rough-and-tumble life of the early +settlers.”--_Chicago Journal of Commerce._ + + + _CHARLIE BELL, THE WAIF OF ELM ISLAND._ 16mo. Illustrated. $1.25. + +“This volume tells the story of Charlie Bell, who was thrown upon Elm +Island like a waif from the ocean, and adopted by Lion Ben. With Yankee +boys he shares the exciting adventures of a new country and a rude +state of society.” + + + _THE ARK OF ELM ISLAND._ 16mo. Illustrated. $1.25. + +This volume of the series is by no means inferior in interest to its +predecessors, dealing principally with adventures at sea, which are +always delightful to boys. + + + _THE BOY FARMERS OF ELM ISLAND._ 16mo. Illustrated. $1.25. + +The fourth volume of the series gives, in graphic and earnest style, +the efforts of three lads to transform Elm Island from a wilderness to +a fruitful and productive land. It is full of life, adventure, and fun. + + + _THE YOUNG SHIPBUILDERS OF ELM ISLAND._ 16mo. Illustrated. $1.25. + +“Mr. Kellogg is winning laurels as a writer for and educator of youth. +Health and vigor are in his writings, and the lad has more of the +first-class man in him after the perusal.”--_Providence Press._ + + +Sold by all Booksellers and Newsdealers, and sent by mail, postpaid, on +receipt of price. + +LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston. + + + + +LEE & SHEPARD’S JUVENILE PUBLICATIONS. + +TALES OF ADVENTURE. + +THE FRONTIER SERIES. + +_Four volumes. 16mo. Ill. Price, per set, $5.00._ + + + _THE CABIN ON THE PRAIRIE._ By REV. CHARLES H. PEARSON. 16mo. + Illustrated. $1.25. + +“_The Cabin on the Prairie_ is an earnest, healthy book, full of the +hardships, trials, and triumphs of life in our new settlements.” + + + _PLANTING THE WILDERNESS_; or, The Pioneer Boys. By JAMES D. MCCABE, + JR. 16mo. Illustrated. $1.25. + +“_Planting the Wilderness_ tells of the strange adventures of real +life, which, more than the fancies of the novel writer, are of +absorbing interest.” + + + _TWELVE NIGHTS IN THE HUNTERS’ CAMP._ By REV. W. BARROWS. 16mo. + Illustrated. $1.25. + +“_Twelve Nights in the Hunters’ Camp_ is a pleasant, stirring, sensible +book, full of life and incident, and all aglow with the breezy +freshness of woods and prairies, lakes and rivers.” + + + _A THOUSAND MILES’ WALK_ across the Pampas and Andes of South + America. By NATHANIEL H. BISHOP. 16mo. Illustrated. $1.50. + +“_A Thousand Miles’ Walk across South America_ is a record of the +experiences of a Yankee boy, full of enthusiasm to see and learn by +actual experience the wonders of that almost _terra incognita_.” + + +This series of books are of sterling merit, and while they closely +follow real experiences, are full of those thrilling incidents which +charm both youth and age. + + +Sold by all Booksellers and Newsdealers, and sent by mail, postpaid, on +receipt of price. + +LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston. + + + + +LEE & SHEPARD’S JUVENILE PUBLICATIONS. + +OLIVER OPTIC’S BOOKS. + +ARMY AND NAVY STORIES. + + + THE SOLDIER BOY; or, Tom Somers in the Army. 16mo. Illustrated. $1.50. + +“This is a story of the rebellion, narrating the adventures of a +patriotic youth, who left the comforts of home to share the dangers +of the field. He is carried through several battles, and for a while +shared the hospitalities of the rebels as a prisoner. The story is true +to history, giving in the form of personal adventure correct accounts +of many stirring scenes of the war.”--_Hartford Courant._ + + + THE SAILOR BOY; or, Jack Somers in the Navy. 16mo. Illustrated. $1.50. + +“Jack is the brother of Tom, the Soldier Boy, whose adventures in the +army were so much enjoyed. We have only to repeat that there are few +better stories for boys than these of Mr. Adams’. Always bright and +even sparkling with animation, the story never drags; there are no +stupid tasks or tiresome descriptions; the boys whose characters are +drawn are real boys, impulsive, with superabundant animal life, and the +heroes are manly, generous, healthy creations.”--_Hartford Press._ + + + THE YOUNG LIEUTENANT; or, The Adventures of an Army Officer. 16mo. + Illustrated. $1.50. + +“The Young Lieutenant” is a sequel to “The Soldier Boy,” and carries +the reader through the stormy scenes of the rebellion, creates Thomas +Somers an officer, and as such he performs much difficult work in the +rebellion. + + + YANKEE MIDDY; or, Adventures of a Naval Officer. 16mo. Illustrated. + $1.50. + +“The incidents of the story are those which have occurred on the +ocean, and on the bays, inlets, and rivers of the South, common in the +experience of all our naval officers who have been actively employed +during the war.”--_Notices of the Press._ + + + FIGHTING JOE; or, The Fortunes of a Staff Officer. 16mo. Illustrated. + $1.50. + +“The description of battles and sieges, of picket and skirmishing, of +camp life and marching, are wrought out with thrilling detail, making +the story truly fascinating; while, in connection with this, useful +and practical information respecting men and places is conveyed, and a +proper spirit of morality and patriotism inculcated.”--_Notices of the +Press._ + + + BRAVE OLD SALT; or, Life on the Quarter-Deck. 16mo. Illustrated. + $1.50. + +A book of adventure, of personal experience, describing a living +hero, and exhibiting the great truth that, by fidelity of conscience, +country, and God, earthly and heavenly blessings are secured. + + +Sold by all booksellers and newsdealers, and sent by mail, post-paid, +on receipt of price. + +LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston. + + + + +LEE & SHEPARD’S JUVENILE PUBLICATIONS. + +OLIVER OPTIC’S BOOKS. + +WOODVILLE STORIES. + +_16mo. Handsomely Illustrated. In sets or separate._ + + + RICH AND HUMBLE; or, the Mission of Bertha Grant. $1.25. + +“No author is more welcomed by the young, and no books can be more +safely placed in their hands. His writings, as in this volume of ‘Rich +and Humble,’ inspire the reader with a lofty purpose. They show the +wrong courses of life only to present, by contrast, the true and right +path, and make it the way which youth will wish to walk in, because of +its being the most pleasant and inviting.”--_Mass. Teacher._ + + + IN SCHOOL AND OUT; or, The Conquest of Richard Grant. $1.25. + +“Oliver Optic is as well known and as highly appreciated among the +young people of our land as Charles Dickens is among the older folks. +‘In School and Out’ is equal to anything he has written. It is a +story that will deeply interest boys particularly, and make them +better.”--_Notices of the Press._ + + + WATCH AND WAIT; or, The Young Fugitives. $1.25. + +The author has used, to the best advantage, the many exciting incidents +that naturally attend the career of a fugitive slave, and the seeds +that he may sow in youthful hearts will perhaps bear a hundred-fold. + + + WORK AND WIN; or, Noddy Newman on a Cruise. $1.25. + +“A nautical story of adventure and endurance, written to delineate +the upward progress of a boy whose moral attributes were of the +lowest order, in consequence of neglected education, but in whom high +religious principles were afterwards developed.”--_Notices of the +Press._ + + + HOPE AND HAVE; or, Fanny Grant among the Indians. $1.25. + +“This is a story of Western adventure and of peril among the Indians, +and contains the experience of Fanny Grant, who, from a very naughty +girl, became a very good one, by the influence of a pure and beautiful +example exhibited by an erring child, in the hour of her greatest +wandering from the path of virtue.”--_Philadelphia Age._ + + + HASTE AND WASTE; or, The Young Pilot of Lake Champlain. $1.25. + +“This is a story of boyish daring and integrity upon Lake Champlain, +and older heads than those of sixteen may read and profit by it.” + + +The stories in the “Woodville” series are hinged together only so far +as the same characters have been retained in each. + +Sold by all booksellers, and sent by mail, post-paid, on receipt of +price. + +LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston. + + + + +LEE & SHEPARD’S JUVENILE PUBLICATIONS. + +OLIVER OPTIC’S BOOKS. + +THE BOAT CLUB SERIES. + +A library for Young People. Each volume illustrated. In sets or +separate. + + + THE BOAT CLUB; or, the Bunkers of Rippleton. $1.25. + +“One noticeable feature of this author’s books is their purity. Not a +line is to be found in any work of his but what will tend to elevate +and purify the mind of the boy or girl who may peruse it.” + + +ALL ABOARD; or, Life on the Lake. $1.25. + +“ALL ABOARD” was written to gratify the reasonable curiosity of the +readers of the “_Boat Club_,” to know what occurred at Woodlake +during the second season; and though it is a sequel, it has no direct +connection with its predecessor. The Introduction in the first chapter +contains a brief synopsis of the principal events of the first season; +so that those who have not read the “_Boat Club_” will labor under no +disadvantage on that account. + + + NOW OR NEVER; or, the Adventures of Bobby Bright. $1.25. + +The author has been for many years a successful teacher in one of the +Boston Public Schools, and the knowledge of youthful character thus +obtained has been used to good advantage in his works. + + + TRY AGAIN; or, the Trials and Triumphs of Harry West. $1.25. + +The story of Harry West is a record of youthful experience designed +to illustrate the necessity and the results of perseverance in well +doing. The true success of life is the attainment of a pure and exalted +character; and he who at three-score-and-ten has won nothing but wealth +and a name, has failed to achieve the noblest purpose of his being. +This is the moral of the story contained in this volume. + + + LITTLE BY LITTLE; or, the Cruise of the Flyway. $1.25. + +Paul Duncan, the hero of this volume, is a nautical young gentleman, +and most of the events of the story occur upon the water, and possess +that exciting and captivating character for which this author’s books +are famous. But the author hopes that something more than exciting +incidents will be found upon his pages; that though he has seldom, if +ever, gone out of his way to define the moral quality, or measure the +moral quantity, of the words and deeds of his characters, the story +will not be found wanting in a true Christian spirit. + + + POOR AND PROUD; or, the Fortunes of Katy Redburn. $1.25. + +The history of a smart girl, where fortunes are made to depend upon her +good principles, her politeness, her determined perseverance, and her +overcoming that foolish pride, which is a snare to the feet. In these +respects she is a worthy example for the young. + + +Sold by all booksellers and newsdealers, and sent by mail, post-paid, +on receipt of price. + +LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston. + + + + +LEE & SHEPARD’S JUVENILE PUBLICATIONS. + +OLIVER OPTIC’S BOOKS. + +YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD. + +A Library of Travel and Adventure in Foreign Lands. 16mo. Illustrated +by Nast, Stevens, Perkins, and others. + + + OUTWARD BOUND; or, Young America Afloat. $1.50. + +“In Outward Bound, the Ship Young America, sails for Europe, with a +school of eighty-seven boys aboard her, who pursue the studies of a +school, and at the same time work the ship across the Atlantic, being +amenable to regular naval discipline.” + + + SHAMROCK AND THISTLE; or, Young America in Ireland and Scotland. + $1.50. + +“This volume continues the history of the academy ship and her crew +of boys, with their trips into the interior as well as voyages along +the coast of Ireland and Scotland. The young scholar will get a truer +and fuller conception of these countries by reading this unpretentious +journal of travel, than by weeks of hard study upon the geographies and +histories.” + + + RED CROSS; or, Young America in England and Wales. $1.50. + +“The third volume of Oliver Optic’s Library of travel and adventure +chronicles the doings of the Young America and her crew in British +ports and waters, and is replete with thrilling adventures and +descriptions of noted places.” + + + DIKES AND DITCHES; or, Young America in Holland and Belgium. $1.50 + +“The author takes his readers on voyages up the rivers and canals of +Holland and Belgium, on tramps through the cities, their schools, their +art galleries, and their wonderful buildings, giving at every turn +vivid impressions of what is seen and heard therein and thereabouts.” + + + PALACE AND COTTAGE; or, Young America in France and Switzerland. $1.50 + +“This volume relates the history of the American Squadron (_Young +America_ and _Josephine_) in the waters of France, with the journey +of the students to Paris and through a portion of Switzerland. As +an episode, the story of the runaway cruise of the Josephine is +introduced, inculcating the moral that ‘the way of the transgressor is +hard.’” + + + DOWN THE RHINE; or, Young America in Germany. $1.50. + +This volume concludes the first series of Young America, and is as +interesting and instructive as the preceding volumes. So great has +been the success of this series, that Oliver Optic is now preparing +a second. “Up the Baltic” will be the first volume, to be followed +by “Northern Lands,” “Vine and Olive,” “Sunny Shores,” “Cross and +Crescent” and “Isles of the Sea.” + + +Sold by all book-sellers and news-dealers, and sent by mail on receipt +of price. + +LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston. + + + + +Transcriber’s Notes + + + • Italic represented with _underscores_. + + • Small Capitals converted to ALL CAPS. + + • Illustrations relocated close to related content. + + • Obvious typographic errors silently corrected. + + • Archaic spellings kept as in the original. + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 76892 *** diff --git a/76892-h/76892-h.htm b/76892-h/76892-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9d8c151 --- /dev/null +++ b/76892-h/76892-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,9782 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> +<html lang="en"> +<head> + <meta charset="UTF-8"> + <title> + Lightning express | Project Gutenberg + </title> + <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> + <style> + +body { + font-family: Garamond, Century Schoolbook, Times, serif; 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+ color: black; + font-size:small; + padding:0.5em; + margin-bottom:5em; + font-family:sans-serif, serif; +} + +/* Poetry indents */ +.poetry .indent0 {text-indent: -3.0em;} +.poetry .indent4 {text-indent: -1.0em;} +.poetry .indent8 {text-indent: 1.0em;} +.poetry .indent12 {text-indent: 3.0em;} +.poetry .indent16 {text-indent: 5.0em;} +.poetry .indent20 {text-indent: 7.0em;} + +.ad-hang { + text-indent: -3em; + margin: 1.25em 0 0.25em 3em; + line-height: 1.1em; +} + +.ad-copy { + font-size: 90%; + line-height: 1.1em; +} + +/* Illustration classes */ +.illowp48 {width: 48%;} +.x-ebookmaker .illowp48 {width: 100%;} +.illowp75 {width: 75%;} +.x-ebookmaker .illowp75 {width: 100%;} +.illowp44 {width: 44%;} +.x-ebookmaker .illowp44 {width: 100%;} +.illowp95 {width: 95%;} +.x-ebookmaker .illowp95 {width: 100%;} +.illowp96 {width: 96%;} +.x-ebookmaker .illowp96 {width: 100%;} + </style> +</head> +<body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 76892 ***</div> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp48" id="cover" style="max-width: 105.125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/cover.jpg" alt="Book Cover"> +</figure> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="title"> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_i"></a><a id="Page_ii"></a>[ii]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp44" id="i_f002" style="max-width: 55.75em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_f002.jpg" alt="Illustrated title page."> +</figure> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="title"> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_iii"></a><a id="Page_1"></a>[1]</span></p> + +<p class='center mt2'><i>THE LAKE SHORE SERIES.</i></p> +<hr class='r20'> + +<h1 class='ltsp1'>LIGHTNING EXPRESS;</h1> + +<p class='center mt2 fs80'>OR,</p> +<p class='center mt1h fs150'>THE RIVAL ACADEMIES.</p> + +<p class='center mt4 fs80'>BY</p> +<p class='center mth ltsp1 fs120'>OLIVER OPTIC,</p> + +<p class='center mt1 fs65'> +AUTHOR OF “YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD,” “THE ARMY AND NAVY STORIES,”<br> +“THE WOODVILLE STORIES,” “THE BOAT-CLUB STORIES,”<br> +“THE STARRY FLAG SERIES,” ETC.</p> + +<div class='mt4'> +<hr class='r20'></div> + +<p class='center mt4'>BOSTON:</p> +<p class='center ltsp1 mtq'>LEE AND SHEPARD, PUBLISHERS.</p> +<p class='center fs90 mtq'>NEW YORK:</p> +<p class='center fs80 mtq'>LEE, SHEPARD AND DILLINGHAM.</p> +<p class='center mtq fs120'>1871.</p> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_2">[2]</span></p> + +<p class='center mt4 fs80'> + Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1869, by</p> +<p class='center mth ltsp1'><span class='allsmcap'>WILLIAM T. ADAMS,</span></p> +<p class='center mth fs80'> + In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts. +</p> + +<p class='center mt10 fs55 ltsp2 sans bold'><span class='allsmcap'>ELECTROTYPED  AT  THE</span></p> +<p class='center fs55 ltsp2 sans bold'><span class='allsmcap'>BOSTON  STEREOTYPE  FOUNDRY,</span></p> +<p class='center fs55 sans mtq bold'>No. 19 Spring Lane.</p> +</div> + + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_3">[3]</span></p> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="title"> +<p class="center mt4 fs80">TO</p> +<p class='center mt1h'>MY YOUNG FRIEND</p> +<p class='center mt2 ltsp2'><i>JAMES DEWITT CARSON</i></p> +<p class='center mt1 fs120 ltsp1 blackletter'>This Book</p> +<p class='center mt1h'>IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED.</p> + +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="title"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_4">[4]</span></p> + +<p class='center bold fs120 mt4'><i>THE LAKE SHORE SERIES.</i></p> + +<hr class='r30'> + +<ol class='ls-series'> +<li><cite>THROUGH BY DAYLIGHT</cite>; or, The Young Engineer +of the Lake Shore Railroad.</li> + +<li><cite>LIGHTNING EXPRESS</cite>; or, The Rival Academies.</li> + +<li><cite>ON TIME</cite>; or, The Young Captain of the Ucayga +Steamer.</li> + +<li><cite>SWITCH OFF</cite>; or, The War of the Students.</li> + +<li><cite>BRAKE UP</cite>; or, The Young Peacemakers.</li> + +<li><cite>BEAR AND FORBEAR</cite>; or, The Young Skipper of Lake +Ucayga.</li> +</ol> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_5">[5]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="PREFACE"> + PREFACE. + </h2> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Lightning Express</span> is the second volume of the <span class="smcap">Lake +Shore Series</span>, and has been published in Oliver Optic’s +Magazine, Our Boys and Girls. The story, like its predecessor, +relates to the Lake Shore Railroad, though the war +between the rival academies occupies a considerable portion +of the book. Waddie Wimpleton and Tommy Toppleton, as +they appear in these volumes, are not strangers, in real life, +to the writer; and probably all his readers are familiar with +similar young gentlemen in their own spheres.</p> + +<p>The author has endeavored to keep the moral movement of +the story up to the proper standard, and is not afraid that +any reasonable young man will like either Tommy or Waddie +well enough to imitate their conduct, while he is satisfied that +all will be pleased with the moral heroism of Wolf Penniman, +and will indorse his views of Christian duty.</p> + +<p class='mth'><span class="smcap">Harrison Square, Mass.</span>,</p> +<p class='pl10'>July 21, 1869.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_6"></a><a id="Page_7"></a>[7]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak ltsp3" id="CONTENTS"> + CONTENTS. + </h2> +</div> + +<table class='toc'> +<tr> + <td colspan='2' class='tdc-first'><a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I.</a></td> +</tr><tr> + <td colspan='2' class='tdpage'>PAGE</td> +</tr><tr> + <td><span class="smcap">A Stockholders’ Meeting.</span></td> + <td class='tdr'><a href='#Page_11'>11</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td colspan='2' class='tdc'><a href='#CHAPTER_II'>CHAPTER II.</a></td> +</tr><tr> + <td><span class="smcap">The Stockholders in Council.</span></td> + <td class='tdr'><a href='#Page_22'>22</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td colspan='2' class='tdc'><a href='#CHAPTER_III'>CHAPTER III.</a></td> +</tr><tr> + <td><span class="smcap">The President of the Road.</span></td> + <td class='tdr'><a href='#Page_34'>34</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td colspan='2' class='tdc'><a href='#CHAPTER_IV'>CHAPTER IV.</a></td> +</tr><tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Off for the Camp.</span></td> + <td class='tdr'><a href='#Page_45'>45</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td colspan='2' class='tdc'><a href='#CHAPTER_V'>CHAPTER V.</a></td> +</tr><tr> + <td><span class="smcap">A Breezy Prospect ahead.</span></td> + <td class='tdr'><a href='#Page_57'>57</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td colspan='2' class='tdc'><a href='#CHAPTER_VI'>CHAPTER VI.</a></td> +</tr><tr> + <td><span class="smcap">A Mission of Peace.</span></td> + <td class='tdr'><a href='#Page_69'>69</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td colspan='2' class='tdc'><a href='#CHAPTER_VII'>CHAPTER VII.</a></td> +</tr><tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Major Tommy gets mad.</span></td> + <td class='tdr'><a href='#Page_81'>81</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td colspan='2' class='tdc'> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">[8]</span></p> + + <a href='#CHAPTER_VIII'>CHAPTER VIII.</a></td> +</tr><tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Charge Bayonets!</span></td> + <td class='tdr'><a href='#Page_93'>93</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td colspan='2' class='tdc'><a href='#CHAPTER_IX'>CHAPTER IX.</a></td> +</tr><tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Feathers and the Engineer.</span></td> + <td class='tdr'><a href='#Page_104'>104</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td colspan='2' class='tdc'><a href='#CHAPTER_X'>CHAPTER X.</a></td> +</tr><tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Keeping the Peace.</span></td> + <td class='tdr'><a href='#Page_116'>116</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td colspan='2' class='tdc'><a href='#CHAPTER_XI'>CHAPTER XI.</a></td> +</tr><tr> + <td><span class="smcap">At the Horse Shoe.</span></td> + <td class='tdr'><a href='#Page_128'>128</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td colspan='2' class='tdc'><a href='#CHAPTER_XII'>CHAPTER XII.</a></td> +</tr><tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Up the Lake.</span></td> + <td class='tdr'><a href='#Page_139'>139</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td colspan='2' class='tdc'><a href='#CHAPTER_XIII'>CHAPTER XIII.</a></td> +</tr><tr> + <td><span class="smcap">If thine Enemy hunger.</span></td> + <td class='tdr'><a href='#Page_150'>150</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td colspan='2' class='tdc'><a href='#CHAPTER_XIV'>CHAPTER XIV.</a></td> +</tr><tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Colonel Wimpleton bids High.</span></td> + <td class='tdr'><a href='#Page_162'>162</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td colspan='2' class='tdc'><a href='#CHAPTER_XV'>CHAPTER XV.</a></td> +</tr><tr> + <td><span class="smcap">The Impending Battle.</span></td> + <td class='tdr'><a href='#Page_174'>174</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td colspan='2' class='tdc'><a href='#CHAPTER_XVI'>CHAPTER XVI.</a></td> +</tr><tr> + <td><span class="smcap">The Battle of the Horse Shoe.</span></td> + <td class='tdr'><a href='#Page_186'>186</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td colspan='2' class='tdc'><a href='#CHAPTER_XVII'>CHAPTER XVII.</a></td> +</tr><tr> + <td><span class="smcap">The Prisoner of War.</span></td> + <td class='tdr'><a href='#Page_198'>198</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td colspan='2' class='tdc'> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">[9]</span></p> + + <a href='#CHAPTER_XVIII'>CHAPTER XVIII.</a></td> +</tr><tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Rescuing a Prisoner.</span></td> + <td class='tdr'><a href='#Page_210'>210</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td colspan='2' class='tdc'><a href='#CHAPTER_XIX'>CHAPTER XIX.</a></td> +</tr><tr> + <td><span class="smcap">A Tyrannical Son.</span></td> + <td class='tdr'><a href='#Page_222'>222</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td colspan='2' class='tdc'><a href='#CHAPTER_XX'>CHAPTER XX.</a></td> +</tr><tr> + <td><span class="smcap">The Lightning Express Train.</span></td> + <td class='tdr'><a href='#Page_233'>233</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td colspan='2' class='tdc'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXI'>CHAPTER XXI.</a></td> +</tr><tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Making up Time.</span></td> + <td class='tdr'><a href='#Page_244'>244</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td colspan='2' class='tdc'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXII'>CHAPTER XXII.</a></td> +</tr><tr> + <td><span class="smcap">The New Fireman.</span></td> + <td class='tdr'><a href='#Page_254'>254</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td colspan='2' class='tdc'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXIII'>CHAPTER XXIII.</a></td> +</tr><tr> + <td><span class="smcap">The President and the Engineer.</span></td> + <td class='tdr'><a href='#Page_266'>266</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td colspan='2' class='tdc'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXIV'>CHAPTER XXIV.</a></td> +</tr><tr> + <td><span class="smcap">The President has a Fall.</span></td> + <td class='tdr'><a href='#Page_278'>278</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td colspan='2' class='tdc'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXV'>CHAPTER XXV.</a></td> +</tr><tr> + <td><span class="smcap">The President in Trouble.</span></td> + <td class='tdr'><a href='#Page_290'>290</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td colspan='2' class='tdc'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXVI'>CHAPTER XXVI.</a></td> +</tr><tr> + <td><span class="smcap">The New Steamer.</span></td> + <td class='tdr'><a href='#Page_300'>300</a></td> +</tr> +</table> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_10"></a><a id="Page_11"></a>[11]</span></p> + +<p class='center mt2 fs150 bold ltsp1'>LIGHTNING EXPRESS;</p> +<p class='center mt1 fs90 bold'>OR,</p> +<p class='center mt1 fs130 bold ltsp3'>THE RIVAL ACADEMIES.</p> + +<hr class="r21"> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_I"> + CHAPTER I. + <br> + <span class='chap-title'>A STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING.</span> + </h2> +</div> + +<p class='chap-first kern-extra'><span class='allcaps'>“Order</span>, gentlemen, order!” said Mr. Tommy +Toppleton, rapping his gavel on the desk +before him. “While I am president of the Lake +Shore Railroad, I will have order!”</p> + +<p>Tommy was the son of his father; on this question +there could be no dispute. Not only was his +father a great man, but Tommy, in his own estimation, +was a great man also; on this question, +unfortunately, there was some dispute. Perhaps it +was the young gentleman’s misfortune, certainly it +was not his fault, that he was the only son of a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">[12]</span> +very rich father, and had been indulged until he +was, so far as the circumstances would admit, a +spoiled child. He had many excellent qualities; +but he had come to think that among the boys he +was the central figure, and that without him they +were nothing, and could do nothing.</p> + +<p>Tommy regarded other boys, even the students +of the Toppleton Institute who were his equals in +wealth and social position, as in some sense footballs +for his capricious toes. Many of his companions +did not like him, because he “put on airs,” +because he was overbearing and tyrannical to his +inferiors, and because he always claimed the highest +position and the loftiest dignity among them. +When the Lake Shore Railroad Company was organized, +he was elected one of the board of directors, +and then by them was chosen president. He +had filled this office from the beginning, and he +expected always to fill it.</p> + +<p>The company had been in operation about a year, +during which time it had dealt mainly with imaginary +certificates of stock, bonds, rolling stock, and +other material, the object being to give the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">[13]</span> +students a knowledge of railroad business. The actual +building of the road had rendered the company +somewhat more real; but, as all the property was +in fact owned by Major Toppleton, who held the +bonds of the company for its full value, it was still +to the students an educational rather than a practical +business enterprise. The real owner, therefore, +was the real manager of the road. He told +the directors what votes to pass, and they were +pliant enough to obey. All the forms of electing +officers, appointing the superintendent, road-master, +engineers, and other officers, were punctiliously adhered +to.</p> + +<p>The capital stock of the company was two hundred +thousand dollars, represented by two thousand +shares of one hundred dollars each, which had been +apportioned among the students of the Institute, in +unequal parts. Some owned one hundred shares, +others only two or three. Tommy Toppleton was +the happy possessor of a quarter part of the capital +stock of the concern, and threw five hundred votes, +each representing a share, in a stockholders’ meeting. +An account was kept with each owner of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[14]</span> +stock, and transfers from one to another were frequent. +I am sorry to detract from the dignity of +the enterprise by confessing that a share, whose par +value was one hundred dollars, was frequently bartered +away for a pint of pea-nuts, though, as the +road, like many others, was mortgaged for its full +value, perhaps the compensation was adequate.</p> + +<p>Two thousand mortgage bonds of one hundred +dollars each had been issued, duly signed by the +officers, and bearing interest at seven per cent. As +the company had no receipts for the first quarter +of the year, the railroad was heavily in debt, and +the students were not likely to be burdened with +any extra spending money from their dividends. I +had run the dummy during the fall and winter, +carrying passengers as far as Grass Springs; not for +the fun of it, but at regular fares—twenty cents +to Spangleport, five miles distant, fifty cents to the +Springs, thirteen miles, and between the two latter +points, thirty cents. There had been considerable +travel, enough to make a breeze with the steamboat +company, though not enough to pay the interest +and expenses of running.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[15]</span></p> + +<p>As the students were not permitted to neglect +their studies for the purpose of serving as conductors +and engineers, outsiders had been employed +to some extent. Major Toppleton did not regard +the Lake Shore Railroad as a mere plaything. During +the winter he had procured his charter, and he +had expended an immense sum of money on the +road since he commenced, for his ideas had enlarged +as he progressed, and he intended to have a regular +line to Ucayga, at the foot of the lake. In a quiet +way he had bought up the stock of the steamboat +company, and a report was circulated in the spring +that the boats would run only between Middleport +and Hitaca, at the head of the lake, when the railroad +was completed. The Centreporters were filled +with horror and indignation, for this scheme would +leave them no means of communication with Ucayga, +on the great lines of railroad, except by the way +of Middleport, and would compel them to patronize +the hated Lake Shore line. But this project was +only rumored; it had not yet been developed.</p> + +<p>The assembly in which Mr. Tommy Toppleton +insisted that order should be preserved while he +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[16]</span> +was the president of the Lake Shore Railroad, was +the annual meeting of the stockholders, at which the +election of officers was to take place. By permission +of Major Toppleton I was allowed to own five +shares in the road, though, as I was not a member +of the Institute, I was not eligible as a purchaser +of stock. But I felt an interest in the enterprise, +and an interest in the method of conducting the +business, and I had purchased my stock at a fearful +depreciation from the par value. One of the +fellows, by the name of Limpenfield, had run out +of pocket money, and being sorely tempted to enjoy +a feast of cream cakes, I had taken advantage +of his necessities, and bought five shares for twenty-five +cents!</p> + +<p>The meeting threatened to be rather stormy, for +I happened to know that there were two tickets +in the field for a board of directors, on one of +which the name of Tommy Toppleton did not appear, +though the canvassing had been so carefully +conducted that the person principally concerned had +no suspicion of his own unpopularity, and least of +all that the stockholders would have the audacity +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[17]</span> +to tip him out of his exalted position. But this +question had not yet come to an issue. The excitement +was over another matter.</p> + +<p>“I move you that we proceed to the election of +officers at once,” said Barnscott.</p> + +<p>“I move you that we adjourn to Grass Springs!” +shouted Wetherstane.</p> + +<p>“Second the motion!” added Putnam.</p> + +<p>“Order, gentlemen! What motion do you second, +Putnam?” demanded the president.</p> + +<p>“The motion to adjourn to Grass Springs, of +course.”</p> + +<p>“What do we want to adjourn to Grass Springs +for?” demanded Barnscott.</p> + +<p>“Question! Question!” called the crowd.</p> + +<p>“There is no motion before the stockholders!” +roared Tommy, hammering the desk vigorously with +his gavel, for he was a model presiding officer, and +would no more have served in this capacity without +a gavel than he would have gone to meeting without +a coat.</p> + +<p>“Mr. President, I made a motion,” said Barnscott.</p> + +<p>“So did I,” added Wetherstane.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[18]</span></p> + +<p>“Neither of them is before the house. Gentlemen, +you interrupt the company’s business by your +disorder. I insist that the proceedings be conducted +with parliamentary propriety.” Tommy had been to +the legislature with his father when the charter was +obtained, and indulged in technical phrases which +all the students did not fully comprehend.</p> + +<p>“I move you—”</p> + +<p>“Order!” screamed Tommy, at the top of his +lungs, and as savage as a yellow wasp.</p> + +<p>“I move you—”</p> + +<p>“Order!” repeated the vigorous president, indicating +each of the movers by pointing at them +with his gavel. “Take your seat, Barnscott! Sit +down, Wetherstane! This business shall be done +in an orderly manner, or not at all;” and Tommy +swelled up till he was as big as the presiding +officer of the Senate of the United States.</p> + +<p>“I thought this was a free country, and that +the stockholders of the Lake Shore Railroad had +a right to speak in the meetings,” growled the irrepressible +Barnscott.</p> + +<p>“Sit down!” thundered Tommy.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[19]</span></p> + +<p>“I have a certificate for ten shares; and that +gives me the right to speak and to vote in this +meeting,” added the indignant Wetherstane.</p> + +<p>“Take your seat, or I will have you put out of +the hall!” yelled the president.</p> + +<p>“I’ll sell my stock to any fellow that wants it +for a stick of molasses candy,” continued the wrathy +Barnscott. “What is the use of owning stock if +you are to be muzzled like a mad dog?”</p> + +<p>“Shall we have order, or not?” cried the president, +disgusted with the irregular proceedings of +the turbulent stockholders.</p> + +<p>“Order! Order!” shouted a respectable majority +of the assembly.</p> + +<p>Tommy was evidently out of breath, and disposed +to resort to disagreeable measures. The meeting +was held in the chapel of the Institute, and the +principal, if not the major, was within calling distance. +Rather than have a lecture from either of +them, the violent makers of motions subsided for a +time, and permitted the president to do the lecturing. +Tommy took a swallow of water from a +tumbler on the desk, and then looked majestically +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[20]</span> +around the room, as if to satisfy himself that no +further disorder was intended, and that the turbulent +ones were disposed to listen to his remarks.</p> + +<p>“Gentlemen, order is Heaven’s first law, and it +must be the first law of the Lake Shore Railroad +Company, especially in a meeting of its stockholders,” +Tommy began, and then paused, looking as +solemn as an owl at noonday, to note the effect of +his impressive words.</p> + +<p>As no one objected to this proposition, Tommy +took another swallow of cold water, and proceeded +with his remarks.</p> + +<p>“No business can be done while we are in confusion,” +he continued, with due seriousness, as he +straightened back his neck. “This is a parliamentary +assembly, like the legislature of the state, and +we purpose to do all things in a parliamentary +manner. Such bodies, met together for purposes +of debate, are subject to certain well-established +rules, sanctioned by usage, and governed by precedents.”</p> + +<p>“Whew!” whistled Briscoe. “I wonder what +book he stole that from.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[21]</span></p> + +<p>“I beg your pardon, Mr. President, but I made a +motion, which was properly seconded,” interrupted +Wetherstane, quite mildly now. “I don’t think any +other business can be brought before the house till +that one has been settled.”</p> + +<p>“The motion was in order,—a motion to adjourn +is always in order,—but it was not properly before +the stockholders. The motion does not become a +question, and is not before the house, until it has +been stated by the presiding officer. A motion cannot +be entertained until it has been seconded; and +made and seconded, it does not become a question +until it has been stated by the president. One question +must be disposed of before another can be entertained. +Gentlemen, I insist upon order. I am +now ready to hear any motion;” and Tommy, having +laid down the law, intended that everybody +should abide by it.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[22]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_II"> + CHAPTER II. + <br> + <span class='chap-title'>THE STOCKHOLDERS IN COUNCIL.</span> + </h2> +</div> + +<p class='chap-first kern'><span class='allcaps'>Mr. Tommy Toppleton</span> had reduced the +riotous assembly before him to a tolerable +degree of subjection. The president was obliged to +embody in his own person the dignity of the Lake +Shore Railroad, since those in front of him refused +to be conscious of the glory of being stockholders. +He was ready to hear any motion, and it was evident +that he intended to keep the peace. But the +boys were really excited. They had been discussing +the interests of the road, and some of their +projects would certainly prove to be treasonable to +the house of Toppleton. It must be confessed that +a great many of them could not see the difference +between their own interests and those of the road; +and being excited, they did not set a good example +to their elders in Congress and other deliberative +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[23]</span> +bodies, but behaved very much like full-grown +men on similar occasions.</p> + +<p>“Mr. President,” said Wetherstane, springing to +his feet, as soon as it was evident that a motion +was in order.</p> + +<p>“Mr. President,” called Barnscott, almost at the +same instant. “I move—”</p> + +<p>“Wetherstane has the floor,” interposed the impartial +presiding officer, vigorously pounding the +desk with his gavel; and I must say he made +noise enough to entitle him to preference as one +of the gentlemanly conductors on our road, where +noise seemed to be at a premium.</p> + +<p>“What sort of way is that?” demanded Barnscott. +“I have the floor.”</p> + +<p>“Wetherstane attracted my attention first, and +he has the floor,” replied Tommy, decidedly.</p> + +<p>“I was up first,” persisted Barnscott.</p> + +<p>“Take your seat, sir!” roared the president; and +the pine boards of which the lid of the desk was +composed were in imminent danger of being fractured +by his gavel.</p> + +<p>“Mr. President, I rise to a point of order,” said +Lennox.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp95" id="i_p023" style="max-width: 79.4375em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_p023.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + A STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING.—<a href='#Page_23'>Page 23</a>. + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[24]</span></p> + +<p>“Order, gentlemen!” roared Tommy. “I have +decided that Wetherstane has the floor. If any +stockholder is so disposed, he can appeal from the +decision of the chair.”</p> + +<p>Under ordinary circumstances, Tommy Toppleton +did not permit any appeal from the decision of the +chair, and always insisted upon having his own way; +but it was in the nature of a triumph for him to +direct the deliberations of his fellow-students, and +to introduce forms and methods of which the majority +of them had never heard.</p> + +<p>“I appeal from the decision of the chair,” added +Lennox.</p> + +<p>“Points of order necessarily take precedence of +all other questions,” said Tommy, with the utmost +dignity and self-possession.</p> + +<p>“Ahem!” coughed a fellow in the crowd, which +brought down a regular board-splitter from the +gavel.</p> + +<p>“The chair decided that Wetherstane had the +floor. An appeal is taken. The question now before +the house is, Shall the decision of the chair +stand as the decision of the stockholders? This +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[25]</span> +question is debatable, and the presiding officer may +participate in the discussion. You will all see that, +occupying a position where I can see all the members +of the assembly, I could not very well make +a mistake in regard to who spoke first. I am quite +confident that Wetherstane had said ‘Mr. President’ +before Barnscott opened his mouth.”</p> + +<p>Various opinions were expressed by individual +stockholders, and they were about equally divided +on the merits of the question. Each claimant for +the floor had half a dozen advocates, who were +confident that their man had spoken first. It was +really a matter between Tommy and the stockholders, +which they were likely to decide as they +loved or hated the president.</p> + +<p>“Question! Question!” called the students, when +they began to be weary of the fruitless debate.</p> + +<p>“Those in favor of sustaining the decision of the +chair will manifest it by saying, ‘Ay.’”</p> + +<p>“Ay!” shouted many voices.</p> + +<p>“Those opposed say, ‘No.’”</p> + +<p>“No!” responded the determined opponents of the +president.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[26]</span></p> + +<p>“It is a vote!” said Tommy, who was not quite +willing to believe that one of his decisions could +be reversed by a majority.</p> + +<p>“A vote!” exclaimed Lennox. “Why, Mr. President—”</p> + +<p>“Silence, sir! A vote cannot be debated,” thundered +Tommy, with awful dignity. “Any member +has the right to doubt the vote, and call for a +count.”</p> + +<p>“I doubt the vote, Mr. President, and call for a +count,” added Lennox.</p> + +<p>“The vote is doubted,” said Tommy, rapping violently +to repress the noise and confusion. “Those +in favor of sustaining the decision of the chair will +rise and stand uncovered till counted.”</p> + +<p>“Uncovered?” demanded Briscoe. “Shall we take +our things off?”</p> + +<p>“Order!”</p> + +<p>Tommy’s friends, and those who had not backbone +enough to vote against his decision, rose and +were counted. I voted with this side because I +really believed that Wetherstane had spoken first.</p> + +<p>“Twenty-one,” said the president, after he had +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[27]</span> +counted the affirmatives; and I noticed that his +lips were compressed, as if to subdue some angry +emotions which he felt at the result.</p> + +<p>“Those opposed stand till counted.”</p> + +<p>A large majority, obtaining pluck from mere numbers, +sprang to their feet.</p> + +<p>“All up! All up!” shouted the more demonstrative +of the rebels, who had doubtless been to town +meetings in their day.</p> + +<p>“Order!” screamed Tommy, more fiercely than +ever; for the vote, to him, looked like factious +opposition. “Eighty-six in the negative,” he added, +when he had completed the count.</p> + +<p>Silence reigned in the hall then, and perhaps +many of the students were appalled to think of +what they had done. They had actually voted +down the high and mighty Tommy Toppleton, +whose word was law. The experience of the nations +that deliberative bodies are not favorable to +the rule of tyrants was in a fair way to be realized +by the heir of the house of Toppleton. The boys +watched the president, expecting an outburst of +indignation and wrath at his defeat; but, happily, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[28]</span> +the dignity of the presiding officer prevailed over +the feelings of the individual, and with a mighty +struggle he repressed his emotions. As I have had +occasion to say before, Tommy was in the main a +good fellow; he would have been a first-rate one +if he had not been spoiled by the weak indulgence +of his father and mother. He had been taught to +have his own way, and his passions were a volcano +within him, ready to break out whenever he was +thwarted. I am inclined to think this was the first +time he had ever conquered himself, and restrained +his wrath when defeated.</p> + +<p>“The decision is in the negative,” added Tommy, +with admirable self-possession for one of his temperament. +“Barnscott has the floor.”</p> + +<p>“Mr. President,” said the lucky claimant, “I move +that we proceed to the election of officers for the +ensuing year.”</p> + +<p>“Second the motion,” added Faxon.</p> + +<p>“It is moved and seconded that the stockholders +proceed to the election of officers,” continued Tommy, +who could not see why all this storm had been +created on so simple a proposition. “The question +is now before the house.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[29]</span></p> + +<p>“Mr. President!” shouted Wetherstane, loud +enough to have been heard on the other side of +Ucayga Lake.</p> + +<p>“Wetherstane,” replied Tommy, indicating that the +speaker had the floor.</p> + +<p>“I move you that we adjourn to Grass Springs +at two o’clock this afternoon,” added the young gentleman, +who, beyond the possibility of a doubt, had +the floor now.</p> + +<p>“Second the motion,” added Putnam.</p> + +<p>“It is moved and seconded that we adjourn to +Grass Springs at two o’clock this afternoon,” repeated +the president, wondering what this movement +meant.</p> + +<p>“What’s to be done with my motion?” demanded +Barnscott. “I thought one thing had to be settled +before another was brought up.”</p> + +<p>“A motion to adjourn is always in order,” said +the president.</p> + +<p>“Mr. President, I rise to a point of order,” interposed +Skotchley, a quiet kind of fellow, who had +studied deeper into parliamentary law than even +Tommy Toppleton, for he had been the presiding +officer of a juvenile debating society.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[30]</span></p> + +<p>“State your point, Skotchley.”</p> + +<p>“I respectfully submit that the motion to adjourn +is not in order, for the reason that, to entitle it to +precedence, it should simply be a motion to adjourn +without fixing a time.”</p> + +<p>Tommy was nonplussed. The question took him +out of his depth. He had Cushing’s Manual in his +pocket, but it would not be dignified to consult it +in the presence of the stockholders. However, he +knew that Skotchley was well posted, and he deemed +it prudent to follow his lead.</p> + +<p>“The chair decides that the point is well taken, +and that the motion to adjourn is not in order,” +said he, though probably he would not have been +so pliant if he had not been opposed to the substance +of the motion. “By the ruling out of this +motion, Barnscott’s is now in order.”</p> + +<p>“That’s a pretty how d’ye do!” exclaimed Putnam.</p> + +<p>“Order! The motion to proceed to the choice +of officers is now before the house.”</p> + +<p>“Mr. President, I move to amend the motion by +the addition of the words, ‘at Grass Springs at two +o’clock this afternoon,’” said Wetherstane.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[31]</span></p> + +<p>“Second the motion,” added Putnam, who was +evidently “in the ring,” for he seconded only the +Grass Springs motions.</p> + +<p>Tommy stated the amendment, and there was a +silence of a minute or two, for a wonder. Then +Barnscott did not see why the amendment had +been brought forward, and wanted to know what +Grass Springs had to do with election of officers. +He evidently was not “in the ring.” He should +vote against the amendment, and he hoped all the +rest of the stockholders would do the same.</p> + +<p>“Mr. President,” said Briscoe, who had more +pluck than most of his companions, “who ever +heard of the stockholders of a railroad holding a +meeting for the election of officers right in the +place where they do their business? It is contrary +to custom, and I protest against any innovations. +They always have a free train, and take the +stockholders to a place where there is a good hotel. +After they have voted, they have a first-rate supper +at the expense of the corporation. If they don’t +always do it, they always ought to do it. I am +in favor of having this meeting at the hotel in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[32]</span> +Grass Springs, and, after the business is done, of +eating as good a supper as the landlord can get +up for us.”</p> + +<p>“Question! Question!” shouted the stockholders, +who seemed to be unanimously in favor of +following the precedent.</p> + +<p>Barnscott made a speech in favor of an immediate +election. He did not believe stockholders +usually had a dinner; but, as he continued his remarks +rather longer than prudence justified, he was +interrupted by calls for the question.</p> + +<p>“Are you ready for the question?” said Tommy, +who did not know what to make of the remarkable +proceedings of the company. “You can vote what +you please, fellows; but carrying out the vote is +quite another thing. You can vote that Lake Ucayga +dry up if you like, but it won’t dry up.”</p> + +<p>“Dry up!” shouted some of the ruder ones. +“Question!”</p> + +<p>“Those in favor of amending the motion will say +‘Ay,’” added the president.</p> + +<p>The motion was carried by a majority of three to +one. The original motion was then passed by a vote +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[33]</span> +of the same ratio. Briscoe then moved that the +directors be instructed to make the arrangements +for the meeting and the dinner in the afternoon, +which was also carried. The meeting then adjourned; +but it was clear enough to Tommy Toppleton +that the stockholders were taking things into +their own hands, and that his father would have +something to say in regard to the astounding vote.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[34]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_III"> + CHAPTER III. + <br> + <span class='chap-title'>THE PRESIDENT OF THE ROAD.</span> + </h2> +</div> + +<p class='chap-first kern'><span class='allcaps'>“What</span> does all this mean, Wolf?” said Mr. +Tommy Toppleton to me, after the stockholders’ +meeting had adjourned.</p> + +<p>“What does it mean?” I repeated, moved by the +condescension of the high and mighty scion of the +house of Toppleton in addressing me, and, in some +sense, making a confidant and adviser of me.</p> + +<p>Probably he came to me because he was rather +confused in regard to the identity of his friends. As +president of the Lake Shore Railroad, he had rendered +a decision from which the stockholders had +appealed, and he had been beaten by a vote of four +to one. He was vexed and mortified at the result, +and was disposed to regard it as a personal insult. +He had always had his own way, and could see no +reason why he should not always have it. In the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[35]</span> +excitement of building the road, the students had +regarded him as the representative of his father, +who was doing an immensely great thing to add to +the popularity of the Toppleton Institute; and his +offensive manner, his domineering, haughty, and even +tyrannical conduct, had hardly been noticed. But, +after the road had lost its novelty, the lordly demeanor +of the little magnate was not relished, and +he was beginning to feel the effects of his conduct.</p> + +<p>I did not like to tell Tommy even as much of the +real truth as I knew myself, and the leaders of the +opposition had not taken me into their confidence. +It was an ungracious task to inform the high-spirited, +uncurbed, and wilful young gentleman that his +fellow-students were dissatisfied with him, and that +an attempt to run him out of his office was to be +made. But Tommy put the question squarely to +me, and I could not well avoid the issue. He evidently +regarded me as a dependent of the house of +Toppleton, whose will could only be the reflection +of that of his employers.</p> + +<p>“What does it mean? That’s what I want to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[36]</span> +know,” added Tommy, his face lighted up with an +excitement which threatened a storm.</p> + +<p>“The fellows seem to be disposed to do things +as other corporations do,” I replied, cautiously, for +I did not wish to rouse the sleeping lion in the +little lord.</p> + +<p>“Wasn’t I fair and impartial?” demanded he.</p> + +<p>“I think you were,” I replied; and I did not lose +sight of the fact that he had decided against Barnscott, +whose motion he favored, when he gave the +floor to Wetherstane.</p> + +<p>“The stockholders voted me down just as though +they meant to insult me,” continued Tommy, smartly. +“Do you know why they want to go to Grass +Springs to elect officers?”</p> + +<p>“For the sake of the dinner, I suppose,” I answered. +“But, Tommy, there is going to be an +opposition to you, at this election.”</p> + +<p>“An opposition to me!” exclaimed the president, +amazed at the intelligence.</p> + +<p>“I have only heard it whispered among the fellows.”</p> + +<p>“What have I done that the fellows should be +down upon me?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[37]</span></p> + +<p>“I don’t know that I ought to say anything +about it, Tommy. It is really none of my business. +I shall vote for you.”</p> + +<p>“If you know anything about it, tell me,” continued +Tommy, rather imperiously.</p> + +<p>“I only know that there is another ticket for +directors in the field.”</p> + +<p>“And my name is not upon it?”</p> + +<p>“No, it is not.”</p> + +<p>Tommy stamped his foot upon the floor, and +looked decidedly ugly. I was rather sorry that I +had said anything, though it was better for him to +be prepared for the result before it was announced.</p> + +<p>“Wolf, I don’t blame you for this; but I want +you to tell me all about it,” said he, after he had +partially choked down his wrath. “What have I +done to set the fellows against me? What do they +say about it?”</p> + +<p>“They say you put on airs—that you order them +around as though you were their master.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I am president of the road,” said he, as +if this were a sufficient explanation; and I think he +really considered it very unreasonable in the students +to object to his conduct.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[38]</span></p> + +<p>“I only tell you what the fellows say.”</p> + +<p>“Wolf, do <em>you</em> think I have put on airs?” demanded +he.</p> + +<p>“So far as I am concerned myself, I haven’t a +word of fault to find,” I replied, evasively.</p> + +<p>“You! Well, you are only a hired hand,” added +he, with refreshing candor. “Do you think I have +treated the fellows badly?”</p> + +<p>“Not badly; but you know they are rich men’s +sons, and consider themselves as good as you are.”</p> + +<p>“But my father built this road, and pays for everything. +Not a single one of these fellows ever gave +a cent for anything.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t believe the money makes any difference.”</p> + +<p>“Why don’t you say I’m to blame, if you think +so?” snapped he, impatiently.</p> + +<p>“I believe if you had not been quite so sharp with +the fellows they would have liked you better,” I answered, +desperately. “You tell them to do this and +that, and order them just as though they were servants +in your father’s house. They won’t stand it. +They are not paid for their work, as I am.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you; you are very complimentary. I suppose +you will call me a tyrant next,” sneered he.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[39]</span></p> + +<p>“I am only telling you what I have heard the fellows +say,” I meekly responded.</p> + +<p>“Why didn’t you tell me this before?” snarled +he; and I was fully convinced then, if I had not +been before, that honest counsel to such a person +is a thankless task.</p> + +<p>Tommy walked up and down the hall precisely as +his magnificent father would have done, if he had +been vexed and disconcerted. I had told him wholesome +truth, for which he was not grateful to me.</p> + +<p>“Come with me, Wolf,” said he, imperiously, after +he had considered the matter a while.</p> + +<p>The rest of the students were scattered about +the building and play-ground of the institute, talking +over the meeting, or electioneering for the great occasion, +in the afternoon, if Major Toppleton did not +veto the proceedings. I followed Tommy over the +lawn, where many of the students were assembled +in groups. He took no notice of them, unless it +was to cast angry and scornful glances at them. He +led the way to his father’s house, where we found +the major in his library.</p> + +<p>“Father, we may as well burst up the Lake Shore +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[40]</span> +Railroad, so far as the students are concerned,” said +the irate and disgusted president of the company.</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter now, Tommy?” asked the +major, looking up from the newspaper he was reading.</p> + +<p>“They are going to run me off the ticket for +directors,” growled Tommy, dropping heavily into +an arm-chair, as though the end of the world had +come, and there was nothing more to live for. “They +say I have been putting on airs.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps you have, Tommy!” suggested the +major, who, for some reason or other, was disposed +to receive the intelligence very good-naturedly.</p> + +<p>“I am the president of the road, and have only +done my duty. I’m not going down on my knees +to those who are under me.”</p> + +<p>“But a certain degree of gentlemanly forbearance +and consideration is prudent in business relations,” +added the major. “Now let me hear what the matter +is, and we will see what can be done.”</p> + +<p>Between Tommy and myself we told the great +man what had transpired at the hall, and announced +the vote of the stockholders, relating to the adjourned +meeting and the dinner. The major actually +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[41]</span> +laughed at the impudence of the boys. He +was a politic man when policy paid better than +violence. There was certainly a breeze among the +stockholders of the Lake Shore Railroad. Tommy +was in peril of losing his office, which would leave +the owner of the road without a suitable representative +in the board of directors. The movement must +be checked, or the connection of the Institute with +the road must be dissolved.</p> + +<p>The major was ready to act. The vote of the +stockholders was to be carried out in substance. A +free train to Grass Spring was to be run at one +o’clock; and, at the invitation of the president, a +supper was to be served at the hotel after the +meeting. This course would conciliate the refractory +stockholders, and save the present directors from +the accident of being turned out of office. Tommy +seemed to be of the opinion that the stockholders +ought to be compelled to vote for him, rather than +coaxed into it; but he yielded to the superior experience +of his father, and consented to feast the electors. +He was instructed to invite all the students +to the supper, and to have it specially understood +that it was his entertainment, not the company’s.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[42]</span></p> + +<p>There was yet another question to be settled by +the students, but not in their capacity as stockholders. +The military department of the Institute was +still maintained, in spite of the novelty of the railroad. +The boys were organized as a battalion of +two companies, and it is hardly necessary to say +that Tommy was the major. It was the custom of +the Institute to camp out for a week during what +was called the home vacation, because the students +did <em>not</em> generally go home during this period. The +stockholders’ meeting was held on the Saturday preceding +this vacation, and it was necessary to determine +where and when the camp should be formed, +for this question was left to the students. It was +proposed to hold the meeting after the stockholders +adjourned, when the major would call the battalion +to order.</p> + +<p>It was possible, if not probable, that the camping +out would be dispensed with the present year, for the +new locomotive and cars had just arrived, and were +lodged in the houses erected for them. The major +had instructed me—or rather the board of directors +had done so—to run the new engine on Monday. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[43]</span> +It was thought that the students would not be inclined +to camp out with this new excitement in +store for them.</p> + +<p>The road was in order as far as Grass Springs, +and in a few weeks it would be completed to Ucayga. +I ran regular trips to the former place, every +two hours, on the dummy, which was now so degraded +by contrast with the locomotive, that it was +of small account. But the students did not seem +to feel that degree of interest in the new order of +things which had been expected. They were excited +when the locomotive and cars arrived; shouted, +yelled, and screamed till they were hoarse; but the +fact that the engine was not to be used as a plaything +by any one who desired to do so, operated as +a damper upon the boys. Perhaps Tommy, more +than any one else, was responsible for this state of +things; for his domineering spirit had disgusted his +fellow-students.</p> + +<p>In my next trip on the dummy Major Toppleton +went to Grass Springs, and ordered the supper for +the stockholders. At one o’clock I was in the cab +of the new locomotive, which, in compliment to the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[44]</span> +occasion, was to make its first trip to the Springs. +It was a beautiful machine, of about two thirds of +the ordinary size. The cars were of a corresponding +size. Never was an engineer prouder and happier +than I was when I ran the engine out of the +house. I had borrowed some flags and decorated it +for the great occasion. Faxon was with me in the +cab, though Lewis Holgate, the son of Christy, who +had robbed my father, was employed as fireman.</p> + +<p>At the appointed time the students appeared, and, +after giving sundry cheers for the train, took their +seats, and I started the locomotive. I felt like a +real engineer then. The boys screamed as the train +moved off, and in half an hour we put on the brakes +at Grass Springs. The students hastened to the +hotel where the meeting and the supper were to +take place. Leaving the engine in charge of Lewis, +I hastened to the meeting, where I intended to +electioneer for Tommy Toppleton.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[45]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IV"> + CHAPTER IV. + <br> + <span class='chap-title'>OFF FOR THE CAMP.</span> + </h2> +</div> + +<p class='chap-first kern'><span class='allcaps'>“The</span> time to which this meeting was adjourned +has arrived, gentlemen, and you are requested +to come to order,” said Tommy Toppleton, rapping +on the table with the gavel, which he had been +careful to bring with him.</p> + +<p>“Mr. President,” said Barnscott, springing to his +feet, with half a dozen others, all anxious to make +the first motion.</p> + +<p>“Barnscott,” replied Tommy, giving him the floor.</p> + +<p>“I move you we proceed to the choice of officers.”</p> + +<p>“Second the motion,” added Putnam.</p> + +<p>“It is moved and seconded that we proceed to +the election of officers,” repeated the president.</p> + +<p>“Question! Question!” shouted the stockholders; +for there was now no difference of opinion on this +point.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[46]</span></p> + +<p>The motion was carried without opposition. I +had intended to make a little speech myself before +any business was done. Indeed, it had been arranged +by Tommy and his father that I should do +so; but Barnscott was too quick for me.</p> + +<p>“Mr. President,” I shouted, as soon as the vote +was declared, “I have a word to say to the stockholders, +if you will allow me to speak directly to +them.”</p> + +<p>“Go on! Go on!” yelled the students.</p> + +<p>“Gentlemen, though what I have to say does not +exactly belong to the business on hand, I hope it +won’t be taken amiss,” I began. “By the vote of +the stockholders this morning, the expenses of the +supper to be provided for the company at this hotel +were to be paid for out of the treasury of the corporation. +It is well known that the company is in +debt, that the interest on its bonds has not been +paid. The president, therefore, in consultation with +the munificent patron of the road, did not think it +right to use the funds of the company in paying +for a supper.”</p> + +<p>“Are we to have no supper?” demanded Wetherstane.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[47]</span></p> + +<p>“We are,” I replied, earnestly. “The liberality +of the president of the road is well known to all +of you, and I have the pleasure of informing you +that he has decided to provide the supper at his +own expense. It is my pleasant privilege, therefore, +to invite you, in behalf of President Toppleton, +to a supper at this hotel, after the adjournment. +I wish the stockholders especially to understand that +this invitation is extended by the president in his +private capacity.”</p> + +<p>Some applause followed my speech; but it was +by no means as general and hearty as I desired. +It was an electioneering movement, and with this +invitation before them, I did not see how the stockholders +could well avoid reëlecting Tommy. I saw +the leaders of the opposition looking significantly at +each other, as though they regarded my movement +as a diversion against their scheme. A committee +to collect, count, and declare the vote was appointed +by the chair, and indorsed by the meeting; and I +had the honor to be one of the three.</p> + +<p>During the voting, intense excitement prevailed +in the hall. It was a general jabber. As far as +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[48]</span> +my duties would permit, I had been at work for +Tommy. I had used all my powers of persuasion +to induce certain large stockholders to vote for him; +but, as fast as I made an impression, it seemed to +be removed by the opposition, and when the meeting +assembled I was not sure that I had converted +a single share, for each of which a vote was given. +But Tommy was reasonably confident of an election. +He threw five hundred votes for himself to begin +with, as the representative of so many shares; and +one more than the same number, in addition, would +elect him. If he could not get so many votes, he +was more unpopular than any of his friends suspected.</p> + +<p>“Have all the stockholders voted?” shouted Tommy. +“If so, I declare the poll closed!”</p> + +<p>The committee retired to sort and count the ballots, +taking with us the stock book, in order to +detect any illegal voting. I do not think any +similar occasion among full-grown men excited more +interest and anxiety than this election. Tommy +Toppleton was really on trial for insolence and +tyranny, and the result was to be his acquittal or +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[49]</span> +conviction. We counted the votes; and Faxon, who +was the chairman, and a friend of the president, led +the way to the hall, with the result written on a +piece of paper in his hand.</p> + +<p>“Order, gentlemen!” called Tommy; and his unsteady +voice indicated the anxiety with which he +waited the issue. “You will listen to the report +of the committee.”</p> + +<p>“Whole number of votes, two thousand,” read +Faxon, while breathless silence pervaded the hall. +“Necessary to a choice, one thousand and one. +Thomas Toppleton has eight hundred and eighty-two;” +and the chairman read the rest of the names +on the same ticket, who had nearly all the vote. +“Edward Skotchley has twelve hundred and eighteen.”</p> + +<p>The chairman then declared that Edward Skotchley, +and the others on both tickets, except Tommy, +were elected. Some faint applause followed the +announcement; but most of the students appeared +to be appalled at what they had done. The president’s +face was as red as a blood beet, and I expected +his wrath would boil over. Even the supper +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[50]</span> +had not saved him, and certainly it was a hard case. +I was sorry for him, while I could not approve of +his haughty and overbearing manner. I went up +to the desk with the intention of giving him what +I considered good advice.</p> + +<p>“Don’t get mad, Tommy,” said I, in a low voice, +but so that he could hear me.</p> + +<p>“It’s an insult,” added he, between his closed +teeth.</p> + +<p>“Never mind if it is. Don’t let them see that +they are punishing you,” I added.</p> + +<p>This last remark of mine had the desired effect; +and, to my astonishment, he smiled as blandly as +though nothing had happened. He did not relish +the idea of letting his enemies triumph over him, +and though he now looked like peace itself, I was +satisfied that the punishment of the rebels was reserved +for another occasion.</p> + +<p>“Mr. President!”</p> + +<p>Both Tommy and myself looked to see who had +the audacity to break the impressive silence that +still reigned in the hall. It was Skotchley—Edward +the Silent, as he was often called, on account +of his quiet way.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[51]</span></p> + +<p>“Skotchley,” said Tommy, who, though he did +not regard his successful rival very favorably, was +hypocrite enough to smile sweetly upon him.</p> + +<p>“Mr. President, I wish to say that my name was +used without my knowledge or consent. I voted +for the old board myself, and am so well satisfied +with the president, that, even if I considered myself +qualified for the position,—which I do not,—I +could not accept it.”</p> + +<p>“Toady!” snuffed some of the students.</p> + +<p>Skotchley glanced at the knot of stockholders +from whom the offensive word had come. The +quiet dignity of his manner silenced them.</p> + +<p>“Under no circumstances could I, or would I, +accept this office,” added Skotchley, as he seated +himself, amid the applause of Tommy’s friends.</p> + +<p>The speaker was not excused; but he adhered +to his purpose, and the students were obliged to +ballot again. Tommy’s singular conduct in not getting +mad made a sensation. The students could +not comprehend it. While the second ballot was +in progress, he sat at the table, cool and smiling. +I am satisfied it was this conduct alone which +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[52]</span> +created a reaction in his favor; for on the second +ballot he was elected by a majority of one hundred +and eleven. He accepted the position, and thanked +the stockholders for their continued favor, as coolly +as though nothing had occurred to disturb the current +of his thoughts.</p> + +<p>The present incumbents of the other elective +offices were chosen without opposition, and the +flurry was over; but it was clear enough, if Tommy +did not mend his ways, he would never be +elected again. The affairs of the railroad were +finished, and those of the battalion were taken +up. Tommy was chosen major by a small majority, +and the other officers were elected. The +location of the encampment caused considerable +discussion. Those who had been the leaders of the +opposition in the railroad company were in favor +of pitching the tents on the Horse Shoe, an island +on the lake, opposite Grass Springs, and two miles +from the west shore.</p> + +<p>Tommy’s party advocated the Sandy Bay Grove, +because the railroad passed near it. They urged +that the Wimpletonians usually encamped on the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[53]</span> +Horse Shoe. One of the other side was bold enough +to say that was the reason why he wished to go +there. I do not know how long the discussion +would have lasted if the landlord of the hotel had +not given the president a broad hint that the +supper was ready. This brought the matter to a +crisis, and when the vote was taken, there was +a large majority in favor of the Horse Shoe. +A committee was appointed to wait upon the +owner of the island, who was a resident of Grass +Springs.</p> + +<p>The landlord of the hotel did justice to himself, +and to the great occasion with which his house +had been honored. Tommy sat at the head of +the middle table, and presided with dignity and +discretion. Some very good speeches were made, +for boys, and the festival was a decided success. +I left the table before the party broke up, in order +to have the locomotive ready for the return. At +six o’clock we started. Faxon informed me that +the Horse Shoe had been engaged for the encampment, +and that the sum of ten dollars was to be +paid for the use of the island.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[54]</span></p> + +<p>“But I can tell you one thing, Wolf. There will +be one of the jolliest rows over there that you +ever heard of,” added Faxon.</p> + +<p>“I hope not.”</p> + +<p>“The Wimpleton fellows were going there; and +if there isn’t a fight before the week is out, I never +will guess again.”</p> + +<p>“Well, do our fellows know it?” I asked.</p> + +<p>“Know it!” exclaimed Faxon. “Of course they +do, and that is the particular reason why they want +to go there.”</p> + +<p>“Have the Wimps engaged the island?”</p> + +<p>“No; there is where we have the start of them. +They have always used it without leave or license.”</p> + +<p>It did look like an exciting time for the next +week. As soon as Tommy Toppleton understood +the reason why his battalion had selected the +Horse Shoe, he joined heartily with them; for +no one hated the Wimpletonians more thoroughly +than he did. He entered heart and soul into the +project, and issued his order for the march at +seven o’clock on Monday morning, so as to reach +the island before the enemy could take possession +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[55]</span> +of it. I was directed to have the train ready +at that hour.</p> + +<p>Though it was rather late when we arrived, the +boys went to work in making the preparations for +the camp, and before they retired, the tents, baggage, +and cooking utensils were loaded upon one +of the platform cars. Neither the major nor the +principal opposed the plan, and at the appointed +time on Monday morning, I had the train drawn +up on the road at a convenient point near the Institute, +ready to furnish the “transportation” for +the battalion.</p> + +<p>Major Tommy, intent upon being ahead of the +enemy on the other side of the lake, was on time +with his force. The battalion was to be reviewed +by the principal of the Institute before its departure, +and the two companies marched by the train, +on their way to the green where the ceremony +was to take place. As they passed me, I saluted +them with the steam whistle, and in return the +warlike heroes cheered the train. I witnessed the +impressive formalities of the review, and having +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[56]</span> +moved the cars forward, I heard the speech of the +principal at the close of the performance.</p> + +<p>The students then entered the cars. I gave a +tremendous whistle, and off we went, the students, +true to their noisy natures, yelling like madmen. +As we moved on, we discovered a fleet of boats, +loaded with Wimpletonians, sailing down the lake.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp95" id="i_p055" style="max-width: 79.75em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_p055.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + THE TOPPLETON BATTALION.—<a href='#Page_55'>Page 55</a>. + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[57]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_V"> + CHAPTER V. + <br> + <span class='chap-title'>BREEZY PROSPECT AHEAD.</span> + </h2> +</div> + +<p class='chap-first'><span class='allcaps'>I am</span> not quite sure that Major Toppleton did not +know the Wimpletonians had selected the Horse +Shoe for their camp ground, and that a collision was +likely to occur between the students of the rival +academies. If he did know it, he was certainly to +blame, even though the Toppletonians had legal possession +of the land; for a man is morally responsible +far beyond the letter of the law. It was plain +enough to me that the wire-pullers on our side had +selected the Horse Shoe simply because it was the +usual encampment of their rivals.</p> + +<p>The Toppletonians were highly excited and intensely +belligerent. The jealousy between the two +sides of the lake and between the two schools had +thoroughly infected them. There were only a few +who were not ready to fight for the banner under +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[58]</span> +which they marched. While I confess that I was to +some extent a partisan for the Toppletonians, I could +not help feeling that there was something undignified +and unmanly in this senseless quarrel. I could realize +this sentiment, even while I was anxious that the +Wimpletonians should not “get ahead” of our side. +I was not in love with Colonel Wimpleton and his +son, but I should have preferred to treat them with +dignified contempt, rather than pick a quarrel with +them.</p> + +<p>The Wimpletonians had a whole fleet of boats, +including the dozen or more that belonged to the +Institute, and several bateaux, loaded with tents and +baggage. The wind was light early in the day, and +as they had to sail a dozen miles before they reached +their destination, they were not likely to arrive at +the island before us. Major Toppleton had ordered +the tug steamer to be at Grass Springs to convey +the students to the Horse Shoe, and she had towed +a number of boats for the use of the battalion.</p> + +<p>“We must hurry up, Wolf,” said Faxon, who, as +usual, was on the engine with me, after glancing at +the aquatic procession on the lake.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[59]</span></p> + +<p>“It will take the Wimps three hours to reach the +Horse Shoe with this breeze,” I replied. “Our party +will arrive in an hour.”</p> + +<p>“There may be some delay at the Springs. We +don’t know that the steamer will be there when we +arrive.”</p> + +<p>“Didn’t Major Toppleton send her to the Springs?” +I asked, not being aware that there was any contingency.</p> + +<p>“He sent her to Ucayga last night with a freight +of flour, and told Captain Underwood to be at Grass +Springs at eight o’clock, if possible. She may be +late. She did not leave Middleport till dark, and of +course she must discharge her cargo this morning. +If there should be no steamer ready for us, what +shall we do?”</p> + +<p>“Where are our boats?” I inquired.</p> + +<p>“I suppose Captain Underwood left them at the +wharf at the Springs, as he passed, or possibly at the +Horse Shoe. I only know what Tommy told me, +just before we started.”</p> + +<p>“There is a chance for a slip, after all,” I added.</p> + +<p>“I think there is a big chance for a slip. If the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[60]</span> +Wimps get to the island first, there will be a big +fight, for our fellows don’t wish for any better fun +than driving them off.”</p> + +<p>“And perhaps the Wimps would like no better +fun than that of driving the Tops off.”</p> + +<p>“Possession is nine points, you know, and the side +which gets a footing on the island first has the best +chance,” replied Faxon, cheerfully; and though he +did not bluster so much as some others, I knew that +he was “ready to go his length” in opposition to +the enemy.</p> + +<p>“It looks like a fight, any way you can fix it,” I +added. “Why couldn’t our fellows have chosen some +other place to encamp?”</p> + +<p>“Because the Horse Shoe suits them best. There +is a good wharf at the island, and plenty of dry +wood for the fires.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t see the use of quarrelling when there are +a hundred other places just as good as that.”</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter, Wolf? Have you no stomach +for a fight?” laughed Faxon.</p> + +<p>“No; I have not.”</p> + +<p>“But you are regarded by the fellows as a regular +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[61]</span> +fighting-cock. Your affairs with Waddie and with—” +Faxon checked himself, as he glanced at Lewis Holgate, +the fireman—“you know whom, are the foundation +of your popularity with them.”</p> + +<p>“I am willing to fight in a good cause; but I don’t +believe in bringing on a quarrel.”</p> + +<p>“The Wimps are always picking upon us, and +doing us mischief whenever they can. They have +torn up our track once, and we haven’t paid them +off for that.”</p> + +<p>“You sunk all their boats for that; and I think +you are about even.”</p> + +<p>“Not quite; but if they will let us alone, we won’t +meddle with them. We have hired the Horse Shoe +for the week, and we mean to have it. We have +the legal right to the island, and we are ready to +fight for possession.”</p> + +<p>“I think it is all nonsense to quarrel for nothing.”</p> + +<p>“We shall have the fun of licking them.”</p> + +<p>“Or the fun of being licked,” I suggested.</p> + +<p>“No danger of that. We have one hundred and +fifteen students now, and I was told that the Wimps +had fallen off to less than a hundred,” chuckled +Faxon.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[62]</span></p> + +<p>“The tables may be turned by and by, when the +colonel’s plans are in operation.”</p> + +<p>“What plans?” asked my companion, anxiously.</p> + +<p>“You did not suppose Colonel Wimpleton would +permit this railroad scheme to go on without doing +something to offset it—did you?” I replied; and +I had received some positive information from my +father, the night before, on this interesting topic.</p> + +<p>“What can he do? He can’t build a railroad on +his side of the lake.”</p> + +<p>“No; but at this moment Waddie Wimpleton is +the president of a corporation.”</p> + +<p>“What corporation?”</p> + +<p>“A steamboat company.”</p> + +<p>“Is that so?”</p> + +<p>“My father was over at Centreport yesterday, and +found out all about it.”</p> + +<p>“But what have the Wimps to do with it?”</p> + +<p>“The colonel is building a magnificent little steamer +at Hitaca. She is to be very long and narrow, +and good for fifteen to eighteen miles an hour. The +Institute fellows on the other side are to own and +manage her, just as you do the railroad.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[63]</span></p> + +<p>“That is news, certainly,” said Faxon, musing, and +apparently not at all pleased with the plan.</p> + +<p>“They say Major Toppleton has bought up the +steamers which now run on the lake, and means to +take them off between Ucayga and Middleport as +soon as the Lake Shore Railroad is completed.”</p> + +<p>“Of course; what’s the use of having the boats +after the road is finished? We are to run a <span class="smcap">Lightning +Express</span> twice a day then, and I think it is +very good-natured of the major to buy up the boats, +and thus save the owners from loss.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps it is; but is it good-natured for him to +deprive the Centreporters of the means of getting to +Ucayga, as he will when the boats are taken off?”</p> + +<p>“They can go by the railroad, the same as others,” +laughed Faxon.</p> + +<p>“They can, but they won’t. Do you think Colonel +Wimpleton would come over here and ride in these +cars? He would hang himself first.”</p> + +<p>“Then he can hang himself, if he likes. The Middleporters +wouldn’t cry if he did.”</p> + +<p>“But he intends neither to hang himself nor to +ride on the Lake Shore Railroad. Of course you +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[64]</span> +can’t blame him for kicking against the movements +of the major.”</p> + +<p>“See here, Wolf; are you a Wimp or a Top?” +demanded Faxon, coloring a little, as we looked into +each other’s face.</p> + +<p>“Why do you ask that question?” I inquired, +quietly.</p> + +<p>“Just now you seemed to stick up for the Wimpleton +side.”</p> + +<p>“I was only stating the case just as it is. My +sympathies are on this side; but I don’t blame +Colonel Wimpleton for not being willing to have +his facilities for going to and from Ucayga cut off.”</p> + +<p>“You don’t blame him!”</p> + +<p>“Certainly not.”</p> + +<p>“I believe you are only half a Top now, Wolf. +Just now you were condemning us for standing up +for our own rights. Be on one side or the other, +old fellow.”</p> + +<p>“I am willing to fight for the side that gives +me bread and butter, as long as it stands by the +right.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t like this making reservations. I go the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[65]</span> +whole figure. My country, right or wrong—that’s +what I go for.”</p> + +<p>“So do I. My country, right or wrong; if wrong, +to set her right.”</p> + +<p>“There you spoil all the poetry of the thing. If +you had stopped before you put the last sentence +on, it would have been just the thing. I go for +Toppleton, right or wrong.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t,” I replied, decidedly. “I am for keeping +Toppleton right, and then I go for Toppleton.”</p> + +<p>“What’s the use of talking, Wolf! You can’t +make me believe you are not right on the goose,” +added Faxon, good-naturedly. “When will that +magnificent steamer be launched?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know; but father said the hull was nearly +completed. I suppose they can’t get her ready for +service before August or September; perhaps not till +next spring.”</p> + +<p>“And then she is to run in opposition to the +Lake Shore Railroad?”</p> + +<p>“That’s the idea, I believe.”</p> + +<p>“There will be jolly times then; but she can’t do +anything against our lightning express.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[66]</span></p> + +<p>“I’m not so sure of that.”</p> + +<p>“Come, Wolf! You are a Wimp at heart, after +all. The fellows would mob you if they should hear +you sticking up for the other side,” added Faxon.</p> + +<p>“I’m not sticking up for the other side,” I replied, +smartly, for I did not relish this charge. “I’m only +looking the facts fair in the face. The Wimps’ +steamer will give you a hard run. Look at it for +yourself.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t believe the Wimps can get ahead of us, +any how—I won’t believe it!” persisted Faxon.</p> + +<p>“How far is it from Middleport to Ucayga?” I +asked.</p> + +<p>“Twenty miles, to a rod.”</p> + +<p>“How long will it take the lightning express to +go through?”</p> + +<p>“Half an hour,” replied Faxon, sharply.</p> + +<p>“Not much! We should have a smash every day +at that rate. The track is not stiff enough to make +that time upon. Call it forty minutes; and that is +high speed for this light rail.”</p> + +<p>“Well, forty minutes. You don’t mean to say any +steamer can make twenty miles in that time?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[67]</span></p> + +<p>“Hold on a minute! How wide is the river at +Ucayga?”</p> + +<p>“Half a mile.”</p> + +<p>“Good; we have to land our passengers on this +side of the river. To take the trains east and west, +they must cross the river, and do the same when +they visit the town. How long will that take in +the old sail-boat ferry?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know,” replied Faxon, nettled by the +force of the argument, which he could not answer.</p> + +<p>“Half an hour, at least, on an average. That +will make an hour and ten minutes; and the steamer +will do it in an hour and a quarter. I think the +colonel has a pretty good show,” I continued, as the +train reached Spangleport, and I blew some desperate +whistles to warn idlers about the track.</p> + +<p>“You are a Wimp!”</p> + +<p>“No. I’m a Top.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t talk so before the other fellows. If +you do they will think you have sold out to the +enemy.”</p> + +<p>“Can’t a fellow express an honest opinion?” I +asked, warmly.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[68]</span></p> + +<p>“Not when it don’t jibe with the public sentiment.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know about that. I’m not afraid to tell +Major Toppleton what I think.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t you do it.”</p> + +<p>“If he wants to come out ahead, as of course he +does, it would be better for him to look the facts +and contingencies fairly in the face.”</p> + +<p>Faxon was thinking of the matter, and by mutual +consent both of us were silent.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[69]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VI"> + CHAPTER VI. + <br> + <span class='chap-title'>A MISSION OF PEACE.</span> + </h2> +</div> + +<p class='chap-first'><span class='allcaps'>I could</span> not exactly see that I was a traitor to +the Toppletonian interest because I believed that +a steamer could successfully compete even with a +“lightning express.” I intended to serve my employers +faithfully, and believed that I had done so. +Perhaps it was imprudent for me to express an +opinion; but I knew that Colonel Wimpleton was a +man of energy and determination, and that he would +not be content to remain long in the shade.</p> + +<p>I observed that Lewis Holgate listened very attentively +to all that was said, though he made no +remarks. Since his father had run away with the +money he had stolen, the family were hard pressed +to get a living. Lewis was about my own age, and +was regarded as a smart fellow. The intimacy between +our families had brought us together somewhat, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[70]</span> +and I knew that he aspired to be a “young +engineer.” He had worked with his father a great +deal, and knew an engine very well. It was necessary +for him to go to work, to assist in supporting +his mother and his brothers and sisters. He had +told me how sorry he was for what his father had +done, and I pitied him. Through my influence he +had obtained the place to “fire” on the new locomotive, +and now received a salary of three dollars +a week.</p> + +<p>Lewis worked with me a while on the dummy, and +was competent to run it. The crime of his father +had to some extent broken his spirit, and thus far +he had behaved very well, better than his antecedents +led me to expect—for he had been rather +noted in Ucayga as a bad boy. My mother commended +me warmly for what I had done to help +him, and declared she was very glad to see me +manifest a Christian spirit towards him. My father +said I was foolish to try to serve such a fellow; +but I was best satisfied with the judgment of my +mother.</p> + +<p>Something had already been said about another +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[71]</span> +locomotive, and an additional number of freight and +passenger cars, which the business of the road would +eventually demand. Lewis Holgate gave me to understand +that the height of his ambition was to be +the engineer of the new locomotive when it came. +I assured him that if he did his duty faithfully, I +would do all I could to further his purpose. We +were, therefore, good friends, and I gave him every +facility for learning the business. If I had had any +doubts about the propriety of what I had said to +Faxon, for which he had accused me of being a +Wimp, I should not have restrained my speech on +account of the presence of Lewis; for, after all I had +done for him, I did not think him capable of injuring +me.</p> + +<p>“The tug steamer is not here,” said Faxon, as I +shut off the steam when the train approached Grass +Springs.</p> + +<p>“It isn’t eight o’clock yet. We have been only +half an hour on the road,” I replied.</p> + +<p>“I don’t believe it will be here,” added Faxon, +anxiously, as he looked out upon the waters of the +lake. “There is a stiff breeze now, and the Wimps +will be here by nine o’clock.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[72]</span></p> + +<p>I could not see why my partisan friend should +manifest any anxiety, since he and the rest of the +Toppletonians, with a few exceptions, were absolutely +spoiling for a fight with their rivals on the other +side of the lake. The train approached the Grass +Springs station, and I whistled to put on the brakes. +As soon as we stopped, Faxon left the engine, and +the battalion came out of the cars. The two companies +formed on the wharf, and I heard sharp and +imperative orders of Major Tommy, which led me +to conclude that his experience in the stockholders’ +meeting had not been very profitable to him, though +some of the harshness of his tones was doubtless +attributable to his military enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>From my place in the cab I could see the end +of the lake, with the steeples of Ucayga in the distance; +but the steamer was not on the way; she +had not even started for the Springs. The Horse +Shoe was two miles from the shore. The wind +had freshened a little, and was fair for boats coming +down the lake. The battalion from Centreport +must arrive in an hour, or an hour and a half at +the farthest, for the boats had had only ten miles +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">[73]</span> +to make half an hour before. Major Tommy had +formed his lines; the quartermaster had placed all +the baggage and stores on the wharf, and everything +was in readiness to embark. It was eight o’clock by +this time, and the steamer had not yet appeared. +The Toppleton boats had probably been left at the +island, for they were not to be found at the main +shore, and the steamer could have left them with +less delay than at the Grass Springs Wharf.</p> + +<p>“What’s to be done?” asked Major Tommy, impatiently, +after he had surveyed the ground over +and over again.</p> + +<p>“We must get to the island some how or other,” +replied Faxon.</p> + +<p>“That steamer won’t be here for an hour,” growled +the commander of the battalion. “Father said it +might be late; but he didn’t understand exactly +what was up.”</p> + +<p>“The Wimps are coming,” shouted an officer in +the line.</p> + +<p>“They are five miles off,” replied Faxon, as he +looked up the lake. “I want to be on the island +when they come.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[74]</span></p> + +<p>“So do I,” replied Tommy, casting an anxious +glance at the approaching enemy.</p> + +<p>“Can’t you help us out, Wolf?” asked the major, +jumping on the foot-board of the engine.</p> + +<p>Of course I was well pleased to be called upon +in the emergency, for it was manifesting a great +deal of confidence to ask advice of a boy who was +not a member of the battalion. The Toppletonians +had the legal right to use the Horse Shoe; and it +seemed to me that, if they had possession of the +island when the Wimpletonians arrived, the anticipated +fight, at least as a brutal struggle, might be +averted. Both bodies were armed with small muskets, +having bayonets upon them; and though they +were not allowed any ammunition, they might make +the combat more dangerous than they intended. +The interests of peace, therefore, appeared to require +that our battalion should be transported to the +island without delay.</p> + +<p>“I hope you are not going to get up a fight over +there,” I ventured to say.</p> + +<p>“Of course we are not, if the Wimps let us +alone,” replied Tommy. “If they don’t let us alone, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[75]</span> +it will be the worse for them. I want to get over +there before they do, and that steamer, confound it, +won’t be here this hour.”</p> + +<p>“If I were you, Tommy, I would send one company +over to the island, and take possession of it, +leaving the baggage and tents to be carried over +when the steamer comes.”</p> + +<p>“How can I send one company over?” snapped +Tommy. “We haven’t a boat, or even a mudscow.”</p> + +<p>“There comes the ferry-boat,” I replied, pointing +to a sloop-rigged craft which was now approaching +the shore from Ruoara, on the other side and above +the island.</p> + +<p>“That’s the idea!” exclaimed Tommy, as he leaped +down from the cab, and ran with a speed entirely +beneath the dignity of the major of a battalion to +the ferry pier.</p> + +<p>In three minutes more he had made a trade with +the ferryman to land as many of the force as his +boat would accommodate on the Horse Shoe. The +craft was one peculiar to the lakes in that region. +It was an ordinary sloop, though rather longer than +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[76]</span> +similar vessels are built; but the stern was open just +above the water-line, so that teams could be driven +on board. It depended upon the wind as its propelling +agent, though it was provided with a pair +of steamboat wheels, with a horse-power machine to +turn them, which could be used when the wind was +not available.</p> + +<p>Major Tommy ordered Captain Briscoe, with Company +A, to embark in this ferry-boat, and to hold +the Horse Shoe, at any peril, until the other company +could be sent over. I was sorry to leave the +exciting scene; but I had to run the trip from +Middleport at nine o’clock. Satisfied that the Toppletonians +would secure possession of the island +before the arrival of the enemy, I turned the locomotive, +and ran back to the other terminus. The +fleet of boats was off the South Shoe, not more than +a mile from the Horse Shoe, when the train went +through Spangleport; but the ferry-boat was within +half that distance of its destination.</p> + +<p>We did not yet run the new locomotive and cars +on the regular trips, because the travel was light, +and the dummy could be used at half the expense. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[77]</span> +We housed the engine and cars, and, firing up the +dummy, we had steam enough to start her at the +appointed hour. Just before we left, Major Toppleton +came into the station, and asked me what had +become of the students. I told him I had conveyed +them to Grass Springs.</p> + +<p>“I did not know they were going so early,” added +he.</p> + +<p>“They were in a hurry,” I replied, with a smile, +when I saw that the great man did not comprehend +the strategy of the battalion, “My orders from +Major Tommy were to start at seven o’clock; and I +set them down on the wharf at the Springs at half +past seven.”</p> + +<p>“You look wiser than you speak, Wolf,” said the +major, gazing earnestly into my face. “Is there any +mischief brewing?”</p> + +<p>“I think there is,” I replied, candidly, though I +could not help smiling at the puzzled look of the +magnate of Middleport.</p> + +<p>“What is it? Why didn’t you tell me about it? +They say the students of the Wimpleton Institute +went down the lake this morning.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[78]</span></p> + +<p>“Yes, sir; we passed them on the way, and the +students of both Institutes are bound to the same +place.”</p> + +<p>“Then there will be a quarrel!” exclaimed the +major; but I think he would not have cared if he +had been sure that his side of the lake would be +victorious.</p> + +<p>“I am afraid there will; but the Toppletonians +have the weather-gage, both on the rights of the +case and in the situation.”</p> + +<p>I explained fully what had transpired at the +meeting of the battalion on Saturday, and the state +of the affair when I left Grass Springs, an hour +before.</p> + +<p>“Why didn’t they tell me what they were doing?” +demanded the major. “I did not know they +were in a hurry; if I had, the steamer should have +been at Grass Springs without fail. If our boys +have hired the Horse Shoe, and pay for it, they +have a right to use it.”</p> + +<p>The great man was unequivocally on the side of +the boys, and they might just as well have taken +him into their confidence. I was sorry to see him +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[79]</span> +so willing to permit a collision, even while our students +had the letter of the law in their favor.</p> + +<p>“Wolf, don’t you want a vacation?” said the +major, suddenly turning to me, after musing on the +facts I had given him.</p> + +<p>“No, sir; I don’t care about any,” I replied.</p> + +<p>“But I prefer that you should take one. Your +pay shall go on as usual,” he continued; and of +course it was of no use for me to protest. “Can +Lewis run the dummy?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir; he understands it very well.”</p> + +<p>“All right, Wolf; I want you to be with those +boys. You have an influence with them, and they +want some help such as you can give them.”</p> + +<p>“Am I to fight with them, sir?” I asked, laughing; +for I did not exactly relish the kind of vacation +he intended to give me.</p> + +<p>“Certainly I don’t want any fighting if it can be +avoided. I want you to help keep the peace. If +things don’t work well, or any help is needed, come +to me at once.”</p> + +<p>I started the dummy, and then gave it up to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[80]</span> +Lewis. I did not exactly like my mission; for, +though I was sent to keep the peace, I knew that +the major simply expected me to see that the Toppletonians +were not whipped in the expected encounter.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[81]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VII"> + CHAPTER VII. + <br> + <span class='chap-title'>MAJOR TOMMY GETS MAD.</span> + </h2> +</div> + +<p class='chap-first kern'><span class='allcaps'>Though</span> I was nominally sent to the Horse +Shoe as an ambassador of peace, I fully understood +the real object of the magnate in giving +me a vacation. The mission was certainly complimentary +to me, for I was really expected to do +the “engineering” for the Toppletonians. I was +not to permit them to be whipped by their great +enemy: if I could not prevent it myself, I was to +call in the assistance of Major Toppleton. Whatever +instructions he may have given me, this was +precisely what he meant. I was, in some sense, to +be his representative.</p> + +<p>I desired to keep the peace, and I hoped to +have influence enough to accomplish something in +this direction; but it would not be an easy matter +to do this, and at the same time escape the wrath +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[82]</span> +of the belligerent Toppletonians. The Wimpleton +battalion, under command of Major Waddie, would +be ten times as reckless as the Toppletonians under +Major Tommy. My late enemy on the other side +was not restrained either by fear or by principle. +No violence or destruction appalled him. His +father had so often paid for damage done by him, +that he never hesitated to gratify his malice and +revenge by smashing a boat, firing a building, or +even discharging his pistol at any one who thwarted +him. He was a dangerous enemy. But Waddie +was reckless only when he was personally in a safe +position. He was prudent enough to keep his own +body out of the way of harm, except when his +wrath completely mastered him.</p> + +<p>Lewis Holgate was glad enough of an opportunity +to run the dummy alone, for it would enable +him to prove his fitness for the position to which +he aspired. I cautioned him carefully in regard +to keeping up the water in the boiler, and the +pressure of steam he might carry. He was very +passive and tractable, and, for the sake of his own +reputation, I had no doubt he would be faithful and +careful in the discharge of his duty.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[83]</span></p> + +<p>When I arrived at Grass Springs in the dummy, +the steamer was just approaching the wharf. The +company sent over to the island under Captain Briscoe +had landed, and thus far had held peaceful possession. +The Horse Shoe was the most western of +four islands, just below Ruoara. The two largest +of them lay east and west of each other, while the +one to the north of them was called the North +Shoe, and the one to the south the South Shoe. +They bore some resemblance to shoes; and the +western island having a bay which made into its +southern side, gave it the shape of a horse shoe. +The eastern island, and the nearest to the shore, +looked more like a pistol than either of the others +did like the articles for which they were named. +But the person who had christened the group, having +probably named the others first, calling each a +shoe, designated the fourth the “Shooter,” instead +of the Pistol, which would have been more appropriate. +“Shoe” and “Shooter” seemed to jingle +well with him, and, as he was satisfied, I shall not +complain.</p> + +<p>The squadron of boats from Centreport lay +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">[84]</span> +between the Horse Shoe and the South Shoe when +I came upon the ground. So far as I could judge +by seeing them at the distance of two miles, the +Wimpletonians were consulting upon their next +movement. If they intended to take possession +of the island, they had permitted the favorable +opportunity to pass. Doubtless they were also +waiting for the arrival of the bateaux, on which +their baggage was transported.</p> + +<p>“Has anything happened?” I asked of Faxon, +as I joined the students on the wharf.</p> + +<p>“Not a thing!” exclaimed he. “The Wimps +smell a mice, and don’t seem to be inclined to +pitch in. If I had been Waddie Wimpleton, I +would have landed on that island before this time.”</p> + +<p>Faxon appeared to be disappointed because the +row had not come off, and more, perhaps, because +the Wimpletonians did not display a belligerent spirit. +The steamer came up to the wharf, and the students +embarked. Major Tommy stormed at Captain +Underwood for his delay, and the poor captain +defended himself very modestly and gently. He +had discharged his cargo as speedily as possible, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[85]</span> +and he had not been told to be at the Springs at +eight, but as soon as he could. His bread and +butter depended upon keeping the right side of +the magnate, and to prejudice the son was to influence +the father.</p> + +<p>“What are you doing here, Wolf?” asked Tommy, +as he saw me standing on the forward deck, +after the steamer started.</p> + +<p>“Your father has just given me a vacation,” I +replied, very quietly; for I did not deem it prudent +to put on any airs about my mission. “I +thought I would come over and see how this thing +was coming out.”</p> + +<p>“It’s coming out all right, Wolf. What did my +father say?” asked the little major, with some show +of anxiety. “Was he mad because we came away +so early?”</p> + +<p>“O, no! I told him where you were going, and +that the Wimps were bound to the same place. +He was very glad you had obtained permission +of the owner to use the island.”</p> + +<p>“Then it is all right—is it, Wolf?” added +Tommy, with an apparent feeling of relief. “I +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">[86]</span> +didn’t know but my governor sent you here as a +spy. If he did, you can return as fast as you +came.”</p> + +<p>Perhaps, according to Tommy’s interpretation of +my mission, I might be a spy. I had really been +sent to act as a check upon the students, who were +very jealous of any interference when they were on +camp duty, or any other military service. The +steamer sped on its way, and as the deep water +was between the Horse Shoe and the Shooter, we +had to round the southern point of the former in +order to reach the landing-place. The Wimpleton +boats still lay off the South Shoe, and Captain +Underwood said they were in the channel through +which he must pass.</p> + +<p>“Can’t you get to the landing without going +near them?” I asked privately of the captain, +though I knew the navigation of the lake as well +as he did.</p> + +<p>“I can go to the north of the Horse Shoe, and +come down the channel in that way,” he replied.</p> + +<p>“These fellows are spoiling for a fight, and I am +afraid there will be some broken heads before the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">[87]</span> +day is finished. If you can prevent a row, it will +be better to do it.”</p> + +<p>“Very well,” said he, ringing the bell to stop +her, just as he was entering the channel between +the Horse Shoe and the South Shoe.</p> + +<p>“What’s that for?” demanded Major Tommy +from the forward deck.</p> + +<p>“Don’t you think we had better go in at the +northward of the island?” inquired Captain Underwood, +with the utmost deference.</p> + +<p>“No, sir! I don’t think so!” replied Tommy, +warmly. “Are you going the other way because +those boats are here? Go ahead, sir! Run them +down, if they don’t get out of the way!”</p> + +<p>Captain Underwood felt obliged to obey this imperative +order. If he had refused to do so, it is +quite likely he would have been compelled to return +to the skippership of a canal boat, from which +he had been promoted to his present more dignified +and lucrative position.</p> + +<p>“Don’t run them down, captain,” I ventured to +say, in a low tone, as the master rang the bell +to go ahead again.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[88]</span></p> + +<p>“It is hard work to please that boy without getting +into trouble,” added the captain. “The good +book says no man can serve two masters, but I +have to serve two.”</p> + +<p>“Blow the whistle, captain!” I suggested.</p> + +<p>He blew the whistle till the shores resounded +with the echoing screeches; but the Wimpletonians +evidently believed the steamer had come this way +on purpose to annoy them, and they stood upon +their dignity. Not a boat moved, and the students +in them looked as resolute as though they +meant to be smashed rather than change their position. +We were almost upon them, and I was afraid +the captain intended to execute the barbarous threat +of Major Tommy. I begged him again not to run +into the boats; and seeing the enemy did not mean +to move, he stopped and backed in season to avoid +a calamity.</p> + +<p>“What did you stop for, captain?” shouted Tommy; +but I was charitable enough to believe that +the words were intended for the benefit of the +Wimpletonians, rather than the person to whom +they were addressed.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">[89]</span></p> + +<p>Captain Underwood made no reply, but rang to +go ahead again, though he permitted but two or +three turns of the wheels.</p> + +<p>“I can shove the boats out of the way without +hurting any one, I think,” said he, as the steamer +moved slowly forward.</p> + +<p>“Look out, or you will run into us!” shouted +my old enemy, Ben Pinkerton, who was in the +nearest boat.</p> + +<p>“Out of the way, then!” replied Captain Underwood.</p> + +<p>“Go ahead, full steam, captain!” called Tommy; +but again I wished to believe that his order was +a threat to the enemy rather than an indication of +a wicked purpose.</p> + +<p>Instead of obeying this rash command, the captain +rang the bell to back her, fearful that some +of the boats might be smashed.</p> + +<p>I saw Tommy rush aft, and I supposed he intended +to come upon the hurricane deck, where +he could bully Captain Underwood more effectually. +I left the wheel-house, where I had been during +the conversation with the captain, that he might +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[90]</span> +not implicate me in the disobedience. But Tommy +did not appear, and it was plain that he had adopted +some other tactics.</p> + +<p>“Wolf Penniman!” shouted some one at the +gangway. “You are wanted below!”</p> + +<p>“What is wanted?” I asked of the messenger, +who could hardly speak, he was so excited.</p> + +<p>“Major Toppleton wants you.”</p> + +<p>I went below, and found Major Tommy standing +at the door of the engine-room, foaming with wrath; +indeed, he had steam enough on to carry a forty-horse +engine.</p> + +<p>“Will you do as I tell you, or not?” stormed +Tommy, addressing his energetic words to the engineer.</p> + +<p>“You must excuse me, Mr. Tommy; but I must +mind the bells. It won’t do for me to disobey the +captain’s orders,” protested the engineer, gently and +respectfully.</p> + +<p>“Here, Wolf!” shouted Tommy. “Come here!”</p> + +<p>I presented myself to the little magnate, and I +was conscious that I was already in a bad scrape.</p> + +<p>“Go in there, and start up that engine! Go ahead, +full steam!” continued he.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">[91]</span></p> + +<p>I looked at him, but I did not move to obey. +I smiled, and looked as good-natured as possible, +for I did not wish him to think that I was +ugly about it.</p> + +<p>“Don’t you hear me, Wolf? I tell you to start +up that engine!” repeated Major Tommy.</p> + +<p>“It won’t do for me to step in between the man +and his engine,” I remonstrated, mildly.</p> + +<p>“Yes, it will! I tell you to do it; and if you +don’t do it, you shall suffer for it.”</p> + +<p>“Let us argue the point a little, major,” I replied.</p> + +<p>“Will you do what I tell you, or not?” roared +he, swelling up as big as a major general.</p> + +<p>“You must excuse me, major, but I can’t take +the engine out of the engineer’s hands, without the +captain’s orders.”</p> + +<p>“I will let you know that this boat is my +father’s, and I can do with it as I please. If +you won’t start it, I will do so myself!” said +the juvenile magnate, desperately, as he rushed +into the engine-room, and seized hold of the +working-bar.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">[92]</span></p> + +<p>“You musn’t touch the engine,” said the man +in charge, as he took hold of Tommy’s arm, and, +with as little force as was necessary, thrust him +out of the room.</p> + +<p>Tommy was the maddest major I ever saw.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">[93]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VIII"> + CHAPTER VIII. + <br> + <span class='chap-title'>CHARGE BAYONETS!</span> + </h2> +</div> + +<p class='chap-first kern'><span class='allcaps'>Major Tommy</span>, in my judgment, was more +inclined to have his own way than he was +to annihilate the Wimpletonians by crushing them +under the wheels of the steamer. He had been irritated +because the captain did not obey his order; +but, I think, if the boat had gone ahead at his imperial +command, he would have been the first to +stop her. I could not believe that he was so diabolically +wicked as to run over the boats, and sacrifice +the lives of a dozen or more even of his enemies. +If it had been Waddie, the matter would have been +different, and I should have been more credulous.</p> + +<p>When the captain opposed him, he flew to the +engineer; but I am confident that, if the man had +given the wheel a single turn, Tommy would have +ordered him to stop her. Neither the captain nor +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">[94]</span> +the engineer knew that he did not intend to do all +he threatened; and I am afraid, if the wheels had +been started, the mischief would have been done, +whatever the little magnate meant, or did not mean. +I was very sorry to be dragged into the difficulty, +for Tommy and I had thus far been very good +friends. However, I had no doubts in regard to the +correctness of my position.</p> + +<p>Forbush, the engineer, had gently, very gently, +thrust Tommy out of the engine-room. By this +time, all of Company B had gathered around the +little major, intent upon beholding the row. The +juvenile magnate was boiling over with rage, and +threatened Captain Underwood, the engineer, and +myself with total annihilation. Every one of us +should lose his situation, and be forever deprived of +the power to obtain further employment.</p> + +<p>“Come, Tommy, keep cool,” said Faxon, trying +to smooth down the wrinkled fur on the badger’s +back.</p> + +<p>“I won’t keep cool! I have been insulted, and I +will teach the fellows who and what I am. If I +tell the captain of this boat to run over the island, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">[95]</span> +he shall do it,” stormed Tommy, so angry that he +could hardly keep from crying.</p> + +<p>“Be reasonable, Tommy,” added Skotchley, with +his usual quiet dignity. “We don’t want to kill +anybody.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, we do! We want to kill the Wimps if +they don’t get out of the way.”</p> + +<p>It was useless to say anything to the irate major +while he was so inflamed with wrath, and by general +consent the students kept still; but they were +disgusted with the commander of the battalion, and +doubtless most of them were sorry that they had not +tipped him out of both of his offices. While Tommy +was still raving like an insane person, the bell rang +again to go ahead, and the engineer promptly started +the wheels; but only a few turns were made before +the signal came to stop her. Finding I was not +needed on the main deck, and that the wrathful +major would cool off sooner if left to himself, I went +up to the wheel-house. All on board, except the +captain and one man at the wheel, had been attracted +to the vicinity of the engine-room by the +exciting scene. There was no one on the forward +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">[96]</span> +deck, for even the two men employed there were +listening to the howls of Tommy.</p> + +<p>Captain Underwood had started the boat ahead +again, and when I reached the wheel-house, she was +gently crowding her way through the fleet of boats, +a dozen in number, containing the whole force of +the Wimpletonians, over ninety of them. She struck +the boats as gingerly as though they had been eggs. +She did them no harm, beyond scraping the fresh +paint upon them, as she slowly forced her way +through them. I watched the movement with interest, +for I was curious to know what the Wimpletonians +intended to do.</p> + +<p>The fleet lay in the deep water, so that there +was no room on either side for the steamer to pass +to her destination without getting aground. Captain +Underwood was a prudent man, and worked his +craft very carefully. He had given her headway +enough to carry her through the squadron of boats; +but, as they swarmed along her bow, and under her +guards, the students in them fastened to her with +their boat-books, so that they could not be shaken off.</p> + +<p>“Back her quick, and you will shake them off +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">[97]</span> +without harming any of them,” I suggested to the +captain, when I saw that he was nettled by the +failure of his plan.</p> + +<p>“Out of the way there! Your boats will be +smashed under our wheels!” shouted he to the +enemy.</p> + +<p>At that moment half a dozen of the Wimpletonians +leaped over the rail of the steamer upon the +forward deck, with their muskets in their hands.</p> + +<p>“What’s that for?” said the captain, quietly.</p> + +<p>“They mean mischief,” I replied, as I saw a dozen +more follow the six; and among the latter was +Waddie Wimpleton, glittering with gold lace, for +he was in the full uniform of a major of infantry.</p> + +<p>“Stand by those two doors!” shouted he, drawing +his sword and pointing to the entrances near +which the Toppletonians were still listening to the +howlings of Major Tommy. “Hurry up, there!” he +added to those in the boats.</p> + +<p>The Wimpletonians poured in over the rail, until +the deck was crowded. Company B had stacked +their muskets on this deck, and except the officers, +our boys were unarmed, while every Wimpletonian +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">[98]</span> +presented a musket with a fixed bayonet upon it. +As the enemy were boarding the steamer, the captain, +amazed at the audacity of the young ruffians, +rang the bell to back the boat; but before she had +headway enough to shake off the fleet, which clung +to her like swarming bees, all the Wimpletonians, +except one in each boat, were on our deck.</p> + +<p>“Up there, twenty of you!” said Major Waddie, +indicating the hurricane deck with a flourish of his +sword.</p> + +<p>“What are the rascals going to do?” added +Captain Underwood, who had not given the enemy +credit for the skill and daring they now displayed.</p> + +<p>“Don’t let a single Top go on the hurricane +deck!” shouted Waddie; and the twenty students +he had sent up stationed themselves at the head of +the stairs, to prevent any of our party from leaving +their prison; for such it had now become to +them.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp96" id="i_p098" style="max-width: 80.25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_p098.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + CHARGE BAYONETS!—<a href='#Page_98'>Page 98</a>. + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>Captain Underwood began to think the frolic, as +he had at first regarded it, was becoming a serious +affair, and I saw that he looked somewhat anxious. +Our fellows had left their muskets on the forward +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">[99]</span> +deck, and they were now in possession of the enemy. +I am inclined to think it was fortunate they were +there, rather than in the hands of their owners, or +some of the students on both sides would doubtless +have been seriously injured. As the matter now +stood, the Wimpletonians had entire possession of +the Middleport, for that was the name of the steamer. +Twenty of them stood in the act of charging bayonets +in the direction of the two doors leading from +the forward deck. Our fellows could do nothing; +and even the captain, with the wheel in his hand, +was as powerless as they were.</p> + +<p>Major Waddie, with his chapeau and white plume, +looked as though he were the commander-in-chief of +a great army, and had just achieved a bloody victory. +I must do him the justice to say that he had managed +the affair very well, though I saw that his two +captains, Dick Bayard and Ben Pinkerton, were +always near him with words of counsel. I was at +a loss to determine whether the capture of the +steamer had been devised on the instant, or whether +the boats had taken the position in the channel for +that purpose in the beginning. I was inclined to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">[100]</span> +believe that the bold step was first suggested when +their leaders saw the muskets of the Toppletonians +stacked on the forward deck, and not a single soldier +present to guard them. Ben Pinkerton afterwards +told me that this view was correct.</p> + +<p>While the conquerors were disposing their forces +so as to hold the prize they had captured, Major +Tommy and the audience who were listening to his +angry declamation were completely intrapped. The +startling event was calculated to turn the spouter’s +thoughts into a new channel. It seemed to me that +the emergency had arisen which would justify me +in calling the attention of Major Toppleton to the +affair; but unfortunately I could not leave just then. +The steamer had backed half a mile from the island, +and had now shaken off all the boats which clung +to her.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know what these ruffians intend to do,” +said Captain Underwood, as he rang the bell to stop +her.</p> + +<p>“Waddie Wimpleton is reckless enough to do +almost anything,” I replied; for I regarded the situation +as difficult, if not dangerous.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">[101]</span></p> + +<p>“I will keep the boat moving towards Middleport, +at any rate.”</p> + +<p>“That’s right, captain; if they have us, we have +them at the same time, and we can carry them to +Middleport as prisoners of war,” I added, with a +smile which was not wholly natural.</p> + +<p>Captain Underwood rang the bell to go ahead, +and soon gave her full speed, heading the boat up +the lake.</p> + +<p>“Hallo, there!” shouted Major Waddie from the +forward deck, as he flourished his sword towards the +wheel-house. “Stop her!”</p> + +<p>The captain paid no attention to this imperious +command.</p> + +<p>“Do you hear me? I say, stop her!” yelled +Waddie.</p> + +<p>“Hold your tongue, you little bantam!” replied +Captain Underwood, irreverently; for, as he owed +no allegiance to the house of Wimpleton, he felt +that he could afford to speak without measuring his +words.</p> + +<p>“Will you obey me, or not?” demanded Waddie, +furious because his imperious will was not regarded.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">[102]</span></p> + +<p>But the two captains, who were really the brains +of the battalion, interposed. I do not know what +they said, but the major with the chapeau desisted +from his attempt to bully the captain. They were +more practical in their operations than the commander, +and presently I saw them forming their +forces before the two doors. Captain Bayard drew +up his company before one of them, and Captain +Pinkerton before the other.</p> + +<p>“Charge bayonets!” said Waddie, fiercely.</p> + +<p>The order was repeated by the two captains, who +placed their most reliable men in the front.</p> + +<p>“Forward!” screamed Major Waddie, making a +desperate lunge into the empty air with his flashing +sword.</p> + +<p>“Forward!” repeated the two captains, as they +drove their men through the doors, into the narrow +space on each side of the boiler and engine-room.</p> + +<p>The Toppletonians were in these spaces, and I +saw that the object of the movement was to drive +them aft, and get possession of the engine-room, +so as to control the machinery, and thus prevent +the captain from taking the boat to Middleport. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">[103]</span> +Our fellows, unarmed, could not stand up against +the bayonets of the enemy, and we heard them fall +back. I concluded, by this time, that Major Tommy +had come to his senses; though, if he was disposed +still further to vent his ire, he had an excellent opportunity +to do so against the sharp-pointed weapons +of his conquerors.</p> + +<p>The Toppletonians were not only driven aft, but +were forced below the deck into the little cabin, +which was hardly large enough to hold them all. +A little later, we heard a violent altercation in the +engine-room, and then the boat stopped. The Wimpletonians +had certainly won a complete victory.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">[104]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IX"> + CHAPTER IX. + <br> + <span class='chap-title'>FEATHERS AND THE ENGINEER.</span> + </h2> +</div> + +<p class='chap-first kern'><span class='allcaps'>Major Tommy Toppleton</span> and Company +B were prisoners in the little cabin, +while Major Waddie Wimpleton and Companies A +and B of his battalion were in possession of the +steamer. The wheels had stopped, and this was +evidence to us in the wheel-house that Forbush, the +engineer, had been driven from his post.</p> + +<p>“This will never do,” said Captain Underwood. +“The young rascals will blow us all up. They have +stopped the engine, and have not let off steam.”</p> + +<p>Though it was really becoming quite a serious +matter, I saw that the captain could hardly keep +from laughing, there was something so absurd in +the situation. Major Waddie, in his chapeau and +gold lace, strutted before us on the forward deck, +and we had regarded the whole affair as a joke; but +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">[105]</span> +now we were actually in the toils of the captors. +They had not yet disturbed the occupants of the +wheel-house; but this step had only been deferred +till the other parts of the boat were made secure. +The Toppletonians had all been locked up in the +cabin, and the engine-room, the citadel of the boat, +had yielded.</p> + +<p>“It is time something was done,” I replied to the +captain. “I have been opposed to a fight, but I +think one is necessary about this time.”</p> + +<p>“What shall we do?”</p> + +<p>“That’s the question. The Wimpletonians are +armed with ugly weapons,” I added. “There are +three of us besides Forbush. I see the victors have +neglected to secure the captured arms on the forward +deck. We can jump down, arm ourselves, and +fight it out.”</p> + +<p>“But there are nearly a hundred of the rascals,” +answered Captain Underwood. “Some of them are +pretty well grown, and all of them have been exercised +with the bayonet. I don’t relish having one +of those things stuck into me, and I shouldn’t dare +to punch any boy with such an ugly iron. I think +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">[106]</span> +I would rather do what fighting I do without any +bayonet.”</p> + +<p>The captain was a very prudent man, certainly; +and I was aware how dangerous it would be to +injure one of the Wimpletonians. They were reckless; +we were cautious, and fearful of hurting them; +so that they had every advantage over us, besides +that of mere numbers. While we were debating +the question, Forbush appeared on the forward deck. +One of his hands was covered with blood, and it +was plain he had not abandoned his post without +an attempt to retain it.</p> + +<p>“Captain Underwood, they have driven me out +of the engine-room at the point of the bayonet,” +said the engineer, holding up his bloody hand.</p> + +<p>“Come up here,” replied the captain.</p> + +<p>“We have a good head of steam on, and the +engine needs some one to look out for it.”</p> + +<p>“Go and fix it as it ought to be!” said the imperious +Major Waddie, as he stalked up to the +engineer with his drawn sword in his hand.</p> + +<p>“If there were no one but you on board, I would +blow you so high you would never come down +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">[107]</span> +again,” added Forbush, as he glanced at his wounded +hand.</p> + +<p>“None of your impudence, but do as I tell you,” +puffed Waddie.</p> + +<p>“Look out for the engine, Forbush,” added the +captain; “and speak to the fireman.”</p> + +<p>Forbush went to the engine, and presently the +sound of the steam hissing through the escape pipe +assured us the peril of an explosion was provided +for. The engineer, having attended to this duty, +appeared upon the forward deck again. He was +not a very demonstrative man, but I could see that +he was nursing his wrath under the imperious manner +of Waddie. Passing through the Wimpletonians, +he went to the bow of the boat.</p> + +<p>“Major, there is Wolf Penniman in the wheel-house,” +said Dick Bayard, as he discovered me at +one of the windows.</p> + +<p>“We’ll fix him in due time,” replied Waddie, as +he glanced up at me with an ugly look, which +assured me I had nothing to hope for from his +magnanimity. “We must get rid of those fellows +in the cabin next.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">[108]</span></p> + +<p>“Well, what are you going to do with them?” +asked Captain Ben Pinkerton.</p> + +<p>“Land them in some out-of-the-way place on the +east shore, where it will take them all day to get +home again,” suggested Captain Dick Bayard.</p> + +<p>“Where?” inquired Major Waddie, apparently +pleased with the idea.</p> + +<p>“At the point off the North Shoe, for instance,” +replied Bayard.</p> + +<p>“That’s the plan!” exclaimed the major, as he +sheathed his glittering blade, apparently satisfied that +the battle was finished. “Wolf Penniman, come +down here!” he added; turning to me again.</p> + +<p>“No, I thank you,” I replied, cheerfully.</p> + +<p>“If you want to get out of this scrape with a +whole skin, you had better mind what I tell you,” +continued Waddie, involuntarily putting his hand +on the hilt of his sword.</p> + +<p>“I think I can best keep a whole skin up here,” +I answered.</p> + +<p>“Better go down,” interposed the captain. “Moses +and I will go with you.”</p> + +<p>Moses was one of the deck hands, who had been +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">[109]</span> +steering when the capture was made. There were +two more of them, besides the fireman below, making +seven men on board.</p> + +<p>“Very well; if you think best I will go down,” I +replied.</p> + +<p>“We had better keep together,” he added.</p> + +<p>I led the way down the ladder, and as the captain +followed me, he beckoned to the deck hands to +keep near us.</p> + +<p>“You have concluded to mind—have you?” +sneered Waddie, as I presented myself before his +imperial majorship.</p> + +<p>“I concluded to come down,” I answered.</p> + +<p>“Wolf, you will go to the engine-room, and mind +the bells,” he continued.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Forbush is the engineer of this boat,” I +replied.</p> + +<p>“No matter if he is; you will do as I tell you, +or take the consequences.”</p> + +<p>“Then I will take the consequences,” I answered, +for I had no intention of helping the Wimpletonians +land their conquered foe on the North Point.</p> + +<p>“Here! form around him! Charge bayonets! +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">[110]</span> +Drive him into the engine-room!” said Waddie, +smartly.</p> + +<p>Instead of waiting for this programme to be carried +out, I walked forward to the extreme point of +the bow, where the engineer had taken position. I +was not quite sure that I could successfully resist +the order; but it was not in my nature to obey +the haughty commands of Major Waddie.</p> + +<p>“That’s right!” said Forbush, as I joined him. +“I’m glad to see a little grit.”</p> + +<p>Captain Underwood and the three deck hands followed +me; but Waddie drew his sword, and, filled +with rage, crowded through them towards me.</p> + +<p>“Wolf, I command this boat now, and I order +you to the engine-room,” fumed the major, as he +pointed his sword at me, as though he intended +to run me through; and I am not sure that such +was not his purpose.</p> + +<p>Forbush’s patience appeared to be exhausted, and +before I had time to make any reply, he suddenly +sprang upon Waddie, wrenched the sword from his +grasp, and, seizing him by the collar, jammed him +against the rail with so much force, that the bantam +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">[111]</span> +major howled with pain and terror. The dignity +of his military position was knocked out of him, and +the glory of the chapeau, feathers, and gold lace +departed.</p> + +<p>“Look out for the rest of them!” called Forbush.</p> + +<p>I picked up one of the guns which the captors +had thrown one side, and the three deck hands followed +my example. Captain Underwood, still true +to his humane philosophy, took a handspike. But +the sudden movement of the engineer seemed to +paralyze the valiant soldiers for the moment, as they +paused to see what the grimy Forbush intended to +do with their leader.</p> + +<p>“Rally! rally!” shouted Captain Bayard, who, +now that the major was <i lang='fr'>hors de combat</i>, was the +ranking officer. “Charge bayonets!”</p> + +<p>“You keep back!” replied Forbush. “If one of +you takes a single step forward, I will throw this +fellow overboard;” and he jammed poor Waddie +against the rail again, until we could almost hear +his bones crack.</p> + +<p>“Don’t! don’t!” groaned Waddie. “Keep the fellows +back, Dick Bayard, or he will kill me!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">[112]</span></p> + +<p>“That’s so,” replied the stout engineer, who did +not weigh less than one hundred and eighty, and +was six feet high.</p> + +<p>By this time the four men and myself were drawn +up in line of battle. It was clear enough to the +Wimpletonians that, if the action began, there would +be some broken heads, if not bleeding bodies. However +lightly they regarded bayonet wounds when the +weapons were in their own hands only, they seemed +to have a great respect for the cold steel in the +hands of others. They formed their line in the act +of charging bayonets; but they did not charge any. +There they stood, arrested by the plaintive cry of +their gallant leader.</p> + +<p>“Now, come out here, Feathers!” said Forbush, +as he took Waddie by the collar, besmearing the +major’s face with blood from his wounded hand, and +trotting him up to the line. “Come up here again, +and take command! Order these cubs upon the +hurricane deck, or I will make short work of you!”</p> + +<p>The engineer emphasized his commands by shaking +Waddie most unmercifully.</p> + +<p>“You let me alone!” howled the discomfited +commander of the battalion.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">[113]</span></p> + +<p>“I’ll let you alone when I have done with you,” +added Forbush, as he twisted his gripe upon the +collar of his victim, so as almost to choke him.</p> + +<p>“You’ll kill me!” gasped Waddie.</p> + +<p>“Will you give the order I told you?”</p> + +<p>“Send the fellows upon the hurricane deck!” +whined Waddie to Dick Bayard, crying and howling +at the same time.</p> + +<p>“Don’t do it, Dick!” said Pinkerton, who could +not endure the thought of having the victory wrested +from the conquerors in the very moment of their +triumph.</p> + +<p>“Waddie says so. What can we do?” replied +Bayard.</p> + +<p>“They don’t mind,” added Forbush, shaking the +unfortunate major again.</p> + +<p>“Do as I tell you, Dick Bayard!” called Waddie, +writhing under the torture.</p> + +<p>Very reluctantly the senior captain gave the order, +and the Wimpletonians crept up the ladders to the +hurricane deck.</p> + +<p>“Now let me alone!” growled Waddie, trying to +shake off his powerful persecutor.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">[114]</span></p> + +<p>“Hold still, Feathers!” replied Forbush, applying +a little gentle force, as if to assure his victim that +the tragedy was not yet ended.</p> + +<p>The engineer was now in excellent humor, and +was exceedingly pleased with the turn he had given +to the affair.</p> + +<p>“Ain’t you going to let me go now?” added the +major, in a pleading tone.</p> + +<p>“Not yet, Feathers. You must give security for +the good behavior of your crowd.”</p> + +<p>“What are you going to do with me?” asked +Waddie.</p> + +<p>“I’m going to throw you overboard if you don’t +behave like a man. Now, Captain Underwood, you +can let out our boys. These rascals have locked +them up in the cabin.”</p> + +<p>“Better get rid of the Wimps first,” I whispered +to the captain.</p> + +<p>“What shall we do with these fellows?” he replied, +with a significant glance at me, as he comprehended +my meaning.</p> + +<p>“Land them at North Point,” I suggested.</p> + +<p>“Good!” laughed Forbush. “It is a poor rule +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">[115]</span> +that won’t work both ways. What do you say, Captain +Underwood?”</p> + +<p>“Anything to get rid of them!” replied the captain, +impatiently.</p> + +<p>“Very well; I will take care of Feathers. I will +keep him in the engine-room with me,” added Forbush. +“Now, Wolf, you and the three deck hands +stay here. If those fellows up there attempt anything +mischievous, you call me, and Feathers and I +will settle it—won’t we, Feathers?”</p> + +<p>Forbush laughed till his fat sides shook, and then +dragged Major Waddie to the engine-room.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">[116]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_X"> + CHAPTER X. + <br> + <span class='chap-title'>KEEPING THE PEACE.</span> + </h2> +</div> + +<p class='chap-first kern'><span class='allcaps'>“Hadn’t</span> we better let our boys out before +we go ahead?” asked Captain Underwood, +in a low tone, as the engineer disappeared with his +prisoner.</p> + +<p>“There will be a fight if we do,” I replied. “We +can land the Wimps in ten or fifteen minutes.”</p> + +<p>“What will Tommy say?” added Captain Underwood.</p> + +<p>“No matter what he says. It is better to keep +the peace than to let them out.”</p> + +<p>Doubtless he fully agreed with me; but he dreaded +the wrath of his employer’s son even more than +the violence of the Wimpletonians. He went up +to the wheel-house, and rang the bell to go ahead. +The discomfited enemy on the hurricane deck were +discussing the exciting topic very earnestly. It was +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">[117]</span> +humiliating for all of them to lay down their arms, +practically, on account of the capture of their +leader. Ben Pinkerton was in favor of fighting +it out, and rescuing Waddie from the gripe of his +persecutor by force and arms; but timid counsels +finally prevailed, and the battalion kept quiet.</p> + +<p>I had gone up the ladder when the boat started, +so that I could see what they were doing, and +hear what they were saying; but I kept my line +of retreat open, so that I could make for the forward +deck if a storm appeared. It was only a +short run to North Point, and we soon made the +landing at a rude pier, erected for passengers going +to an interior town. As soon as the steamer was +made fast, Forbush appeared on the forward deck, +dragging Waddie by the collar, and carrying the +sword in his hand. Taking position in the bow of +the boat, where he could not be assaulted in the +rear, the engineer planted his prisoner in front of +him, while the deck hands, reënforced by the fireman +and myself, formed a line between him and +the gangway.</p> + +<p>“Now, Feathers, if your men are good soldiers +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">[118]</span> +they will obey you,” Forbush began. “Just give +them the order to march down in single file, and +go ashore!”</p> + +<p>Waddie was humiliated by his defeat. He was +ashamed to confess, practically, that the battalion +had been defeated by his regard for his own safety. +But he was still in the power of the fierce engineer, +whose bloody hand was upon his throat. He +hesitated; but every instant of delay caused Forbush +to tighten his hold, and it was painfully apparent +to him that he must give the order, or be +choked by his unrelenting tyrant.</p> + +<p>“Speak, Feathers, speak!” said the engineer. +“Give your orders, and speak up like a man, so +that they can hear you!”</p> + +<p>“Don’t! Don’t! You hurt me!” whined the +major.</p> + +<p>“That’s nothing to what will come if you don’t +do as I tell you.”</p> + +<p>“March them down, Dick Bayard,” howled Waddie, +as Forbush emphasized his determination by a +fierce twist at the neck of his victim.</p> + +<p>“In single file,” added the engineer.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">[119]</span></p> + +<p>“Single file, Dick!” repeated Waddie.</p> + +<p>“Single file—forward, march!” said Captain Dick +Bayard, who was plainly disgusted with the proceedings.</p> + +<p>The column of valiant warriors, grand even in +their misfortunes, descended the ladder on the port +side, and stepped on shore. They looked as sheepish +as the lambs on the neighboring hills; but +they were full of bottled-up rage, and as soon as +Waddie was out of trouble, it was probable that +something would be done.</p> + +<p>“Now let me go!” snapped Waddie, when the +last of the file had left the boat.</p> + +<p>“Not yet, Feathers,” replied Forbush, as he +glanced at the two companies on the pier. “Order +your troops to march up to the grove on the +shore.”</p> + +<p>“What for?” groaned Waddie.</p> + +<p>“Good soldiers never ask questions,” laughed the +engineer, as he twisted the major’s collar again.</p> + +<p>Waddie gave the order as he was required, +and Dick Bayard, who appeared to be on the +watch for a chance to redeem the fortunes of the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">[120]</span> +day, doggedly led the battalion away from the +steamer.</p> + +<p>“Now it is all right, Feathers,” said Forbush. +“Next time, when you want a steamer, you had +better apply at the captain’s office.”</p> + +<p>“I didn’t want your old steamer,” snarled the +gallant major.</p> + +<p>“What did you take her for, then?”</p> + +<p>“Because you were going to run down our boats. +I heard Tommy Toppleton tell the captain to +do so.”</p> + +<p>“Why didn’t you get out of the way?”</p> + +<p>“We never get out of the way for Toppleton +humbugs,” sneered Waddie. “You haven’t seen +the end of this.”</p> + +<p>“We shall probably see the end of it together. +Here is your cheese knife, Feathers; but behave +yourself, or you haven’t seen the worst of it yet. +Mind that, Feathers!”</p> + +<p>Waddie took his sword, and looked daggers; +but he dared not use any, or even the weapon +he held in his hand. Sullenly, he walked across +the deck to the pier. He wanted to do something, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">[121]</span> +but he was prudent when his own person +was in peril.</p> + +<p>“Cast off the fasts, Moses,” said Forbush, as he +hastened to the engine-room.</p> + +<p>“Come down here!” shouted Major Waddie to +his forces in the grove. “Come! Double quick!”</p> + +<p>I do not know what the valiant major intended +to do next; but probably, if his forces had not been +sent to the grove by the forethought of the engineer, +he would have ordered an assault upon the +Middleport, and endeavored to recapture her. He +would have directed his troops to charge upon anything, +so long as he could keep behind them, and +make good his own escape in case of disaster. He +was reckless enough to do anything; but as soon +as the fasts were cast off, Captain Underwood rang +to back her, and the boat was clear of the pier +long before Waddie could bring up his forces.</p> + +<p>“We are well out of that,” said the captain, as +he rang to go ahead. “Now you can let our boys +out of the cabin.”</p> + +<p>I was not exactly satisfied with the situation in +which I found myself, for though I was very happy +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">[122]</span> +in having escaped the wrath of Waddie Wimpleton, +I had still to encounter the ire of the other +“scion of a noble house.” I had expected to be +broiled on a gridiron, or subjected to some fearful +punishment, for my sins against the house of Wimpleton; +and probably I should have been a sufferer, +if Forbush had not taken the matter in hand, and +brought it to an issue. Now Tommy would berate +me for refusing to obey his order, when the engineer +had declined to do so; but I was willing to +meet this charge, if I could escape the responsibility +of advising the captain to keep “our boys” prisoners +after we had subdued the enemy.</p> + +<p>I went to the cabin door to discharge my mission. +It had been fastened with a piece of wood, placed +in the staple over the hasp, for the padlock with +which it was usually secured was lost. I threw +the door wide open, and announced to the prisoners +below that they were free.</p> + +<p>“The door is open, Major Toppleton,” called one +of the students to his chief.</p> + +<p>“Where are the Wimps?” demanded Major Tommy, +as he led the way out of the cabin.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">[123]</span></p> + +<p>“We put them on shore here, at North Point, +where they intended to land you,” I replied.</p> + +<p>“Why didn’t you obey my order when I told you +to take charge of the engine?” continued Tommy, +his face beginning to kindle up with anger again.</p> + +<p>“I couldn’t take the engine out of Mr. Forbush’s +hands,” I replied with becoming meekness.</p> + +<p>“Forbush shall be discharged when the boat returns,” +said Tommy, shaking his head.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps you will change your mind when you +learn what he has done,” I suggested. “He recaptured +the boat, after he had been driven at the +point of the bayonet from the engine-room. He +was wounded in the hand, too, in the scrape. I +don’t know how we should have got out of it if +it hadn’t been for him. He is a plucky fellow, and +stood up against the bayonets of the whole crowd +of Wimps.”</p> + +<p>“What did he do?” asked Tommy, curiously.</p> + +<p>“He captured Waddie Wimpleton, took his sword +away from him, and made him order his command +to the hurricane deck.”</p> + +<p>“When was that?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">[124]</span></p> + +<p>“Well, a short time ago,” I replied, cautiously.</p> + +<p>“Why didn’t you let us out then?” he demanded.</p> + +<p>“All the Wimps were here on deck. We let you +out just as soon as we got rid of them.”</p> + +<p>“What did you let them go for, if you had +Waddie?”</p> + +<p>“There were two companies of them, and they +were armed with bayonets. We were glad enough +to get rid of them.”</p> + +<p>Tommy thought, if he had been called with his +force, he could have taken care of the Wimpletonians; +but he behaved better than I expected. I +turned his attention back to Forbush, and minutely +described to the major and his men the operations +of the engineer, and the conduct of Waddie under +the torture. Tommy laughed, and the soldiers +laughed. It was a good joke, and they were sorry +they had not seen the fun.</p> + +<p>“I hope you won’t find fault with Mr. Forbush, +after the good service he has rendered, and the +cut he received in the hand in doing his duty,” I +ventured to suggest.</p> + +<p>“No! No! No!” murmured the boys.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">[125]</span></p> + +<p>“I am willing to forgive him,” replied Tommy, +magnanimously. “But if he had obeyed my order, +there would have been no trouble.”</p> + +<p>“What do you think the consequences would +have been if he had obeyed your order?” I mildly +inquired.</p> + +<p>“No matter what they were; both he and you +ought to have done as I told you to do.”</p> + +<p>“The fellows in the boats would have been +smashed up under the wheels of the steamer.”</p> + +<p>“No, they wouldn’t. I only meant to duck them +a little. I should have stopped the wheels in a +minute.”</p> + +<p>I was very glad to hear Tommy acknowledge +that he did not mean to annihilate the Wimpletonians, +for I had a very good opinion of him, on +the whole. Though he did not mean seriously to +injure the enemy, I have no doubt some of them +would have been sacrificed if he could have had +his own way. It is a blessed thing that boys can’t +always have their own way.</p> + +<p>I walked with Tommy to the engine-room, where +Forbush was binding up the wound on his hand. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">[126]</span> +The little major kindly inquired about the injury, +and thanked the engineer for the service he had +rendered; but he could not help adding that it +would have been better if the order he gave had +been obeyed. He then went up to the wheel-house +to see the captain; and as it did not appear that +he had done anything worthy of especial commendation, +Tommy wanted to know why he had not +let him out of the cabin sooner.</p> + +<p>“We didn’t think it was best to open the doors +till we had landed the Wimpletonians,” replied +Captain Underwood, with more candor than prudence.</p> + +<p>“You didn’t, eh?” said Tommy, waxing angry.</p> + +<p>“Wolf thought you wouldn’t care to see the +other boys.”</p> + +<p>“Then he advised you not to let us out—did +he?”</p> + +<p>“He thought it wasn’t best; and I thought so +too,” added the captain, willing to share the blame +with me.</p> + +<p>“What did you mean, Wolf?” demanded the +major, turning to me.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">[127]</span></p> + +<p>“The Wimps had two companies, and you had +only one,” I replied; but it was in vain that I +tried to smooth the matter over.</p> + +<p>He was mad with me, because, in my capacity +as a messenger of peace, I had prevented a fight; +but I was satisfied. The boat ran up to the landing-place +on the Horse Shoe, and the “troops” +and their baggage were disembarked.</p> + +<p>“Wolf, you may go back to Middleport in the +steamer; I don’t want you here,” said Tommy.</p> + +<p>But I was the ambassador of peace!</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">[128]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XI"> + CHAPTER XI. + <br> + <span class='chap-title'>AT THE HORSE SHOE.</span> + </h2> +</div> + +<p class='chap-first'><span class='allcaps'>“I should</span> like to stay with you a few days, +Major Tommy,” I ventured to say, after the +young lord had given me the imperative order to +depart on the steamer.</p> + +<p>“I say I don’t want you here,” replied Tommy, +flatly. “We can get along without you.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps I may be of some service to you,” I +modestly suggested.</p> + +<p>“I don’t want any fellow about me that won’t +obey orders,” protested the little major. “You advised +the captain to keep us locked up in that cabin, +when we might have cleaned out the Wimps, and +paid them off for what they did.”</p> + +<p>“Your father sent me down here, Tommy, to do +anything I could to assist you,” I added.</p> + +<p>“I don’t care if he did!” replied Tommy, irritated +rather than conciliated by this remark.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">[129]</span></p> + +<p>“He wished me to stay with you; it was not by +my own desire that I came.”</p> + +<p>“Did he send you here to be a spy upon our +actions? If he did, so much the more reason why +we should get rid of you. We don’t want any spies +and go-betweens here.”</p> + +<p>“I am not a spy, Tommy.”</p> + +<p>“Go on board the steamer, and tell my father I +won’t have you here.”</p> + +<p>“Very well,” I replied, as I walked away from +the imperious little magnate.</p> + +<p>“Wolf is a good fellow,” I heard the dignified +Skotchley say to Tommy, as I departed. “I wouldn’t +send him off.”</p> + +<p>“You wouldn’t, and you needn’t. I will, and shall,” +replied Tommy, curtly.</p> + +<p>By this time the officers and soldiers of Company +A had gathered at the shore, and I found I had +quite a number of friends who were willing to intercede +for me; but if all the officers of the battalion +had gone down upon their knees to him in +my behalf, he would not have yielded. I was banished +from the island; and, though I was very willing +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">[130]</span> +to go, much preferring to spend my vacation in +some contemplated improvements upon our garden, +I did not wish to be sent away in disgrace. I saw +that Skotchley did not like the manner in which +his interposition had been treated, and just as the +boat was about to start, I was not a little surprised +to see him come on board.</p> + +<p>“Faxon is as mad as a March hare,” said he, walking +up to me.</p> + +<p>“What is the matter?”</p> + +<p>“He says it is mean to send you off in this way.”</p> + +<p>“I am willing to go; I don’t care about staying +here, for there will be a fight soon,” I added. “But +Major Toppleton sent me here, and I thought I +ought to stay.”</p> + +<p>“I would stay, if I were you,” said Skotchley.</p> + +<p>“No; I won’t make any trouble. But the steamer +is starting; you will be carried off if you don’t +go on shore.”</p> + +<p>“That is just what I want,” replied the dignified +student, with a smile. “Like yourself, I don’t wish +to make any trouble; but I will not be snubbed by +Major Tommy Toppleton. I prefer to spend my +vacation in some other place.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">[131]</span></p> + +<p>“All ashore,” said Captain Underwood, nodding +to my companion.</p> + +<p>“I am going with you, captain.”</p> + +<p>“Very well;” and the bell was rung to start her.</p> + +<p>“Hallo, there! Stop her, Captain Underwood!” +called the imperious major.</p> + +<p>The captain obeyed, of course.</p> + +<p>“Where are you going, Skotchley?” demanded +Tommy.</p> + +<p>“I am going to Middleport,” replied Skotchley, +in his quiet manner.</p> + +<p>“I don’t see it!” added the major, his face reddening +with anger at this breach of discipline. +“You are first lieutenant of Company B.”</p> + +<p>“I prefer not to remain.”</p> + +<p>“But I prefer that you should remain,” stormed +Tommy.</p> + +<p>“I am sorry to disappoint you, but I have decided +to go.”</p> + +<p>“Will you come on shore, or will you be brought +on shore?”</p> + +<p>“Neither.”</p> + +<p>“Captain Briscoe, take a file of men, and bring +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">[132]</span> +Skotchley on shore. He is a deserter,” added +Tommy.</p> + +<p>Whew! A deserter!</p> + +<p>“Go ahead, captain,” I suggested to the timid +master of the steamer. “There will be a row here +in five minutes, if you don’t.”</p> + +<p>“It is all my place is worth to disobey that stripling,” +replied Captain Underwood, disgusted with +the situation. “His father rules all Middleport, and +he rules his father.”</p> + +<p>I saw Faxon remonstrating in the most vigorous +manner with the commander of the battalion, and +presently the former came on board with the olive +of peace in his hand. He begged Skotchley to return +to the shore, in order to save all further +trouble.</p> + +<p>“If Tommy will permit Wolf to remain, I will,” +replied the dignified student.</p> + +<p>Faxon returned to the shore with these terms; +but Tommy indignantly declined them. He would +have Skotchley, and he would not have me. The +order was given again for Captain Briscoe to bring +the refractory lieutenant on shore with a file of soldiers; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">[133]</span> +but the men would not “fall in” to execute +such a command. Skotchley was the most influential +fellow among the students, as his election to the +presidency of the railroad proved. Though he was +dignified, and remarkably correct in his deportment, +he was very popular. Tommy had just snubbed him, +and this had excited the indignation of the crowd. +Briscoe and a dozen others threatened to leave the +camp, and actually made a movement towards the +steamer.</p> + +<p>Major Tommy was in a quandary. There was a +mutiny among the forces, and the prospect at that +moment was the breaking up of the camp. The +students had long been disgusted with Tommy’s +tyranny, and it did not require much to kindle the +flames of insurrection in the battalion. Hurried consultations +among groups of officers and privates indicated +a tempest. The little magnate was shrewd +enough now to see that he had gone too far, but +his pride would not permit him to recede.</p> + +<p>The disaffected ones who had the courage to strike +for their own rights were collecting near the pier. +Briscoe appeared to be the leading rebel, and the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">[134]</span> +force which gathered around him included half the +battalion. Tommy was informed that they intended +to desert in a body.</p> + +<p>“Start your boat, Captain Underwood,” said +Tommy, in order to prevent the departure of the +rebels.</p> + +<p>The captain pulled the bells, and the wheels of +the Middleport turned.</p> + +<p>“Now stop her!” shouted the major; and it was +evident that he intended only to move the steamer +far enough from the shore to prevent the escape of +the disaffected portion of his command.</p> + +<p>I heard the last order, but the captain did not, +for I had moved to the stern, in order to see the +result.</p> + +<p>“Stop her, I say,” repeated Tommy, savagely.</p> + +<p>Still Captain Underwood did not, or would not, +hear him, and the Middleport went on her way.</p> + +<p>“Tell the captain to stop her!” screamed Tommy, +at the top of his lungs.</p> + +<p>I deemed it to be in the interests of peace not to +heed this order, for I was afraid, if I communicated +it to the captain, he would obey. The little major +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">[135]</span> +screamed till he was hoarse; but we were clear of +the island, though it was certain there was an account +to be settled in the future.</p> + +<p>“Our Academy would be a great institution, if +Tommy Toppleton went to school somewhere else,” +said Skotchley.</p> + +<p>“It is a great pity he is so overbearing,” I replied.</p> + +<p>“He seems to think all the rest of the fellows +were created only to be his servants, and he treads +upon them as though they were worms beneath his +feet. I have not been accustomed to have a fellow +speak to me as he did to-day.”</p> + +<p>“He is very haughty; but he is a generous fellow, +and has many other good qualities.”</p> + +<p>“But one can’t live with him, he is so overbearing. +I am rather sorry now that I did not accept +the office of president of the Lake Shore Railroad, +when I was elected. It would have brought affairs +to a head. But I did not want to spite him, for +he never treated me so badly before.”</p> + +<p>Tommy had made a great mistake in alienating +such a fellow as Skotchley. It was evident that +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">[136]</span> +the tempest among the students could not much +longer be delayed, if it had not already commenced. +From the deck of the Middleport, we saw the two +companies march to the camp ground, and begin to +pitch the tents. It was probable that the mutiny +had been nipped in the bud by the departure of the +steamer with Skotchley on board. I was afterwards +told that the students regarded Tommy’s order to +start the boat as yielding the point, and that, when +he failed to stop her, he accepted the situation, and +made a virtue of necessity, permitting the boys to +believe that the Middleport had departed in obedience +to his command.</p> + +<p>The boats of the Wimpletonians were moving +towards North Point, for those in charge of them +had comprehended the final defeat of their party. +It only remained for them to seek another camp +ground, or make the attempt to drive the Toppletonians +from their position. Skotchley and I agreed +that they would not long be quiet, and that the +week would be filled up with quarrels and skirmishes +between the students of the rival academies.</p> + +<p>In an hour the steamer arrived at the wharf in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">[137]</span> +Middleport, and we went on shore. I invited +Skotchley, as the Institute was closed, to spend the +week with me at my father’s house. He thanked +me very cordially, and accepted the invitation; but +before I went home, I deemed it proper to report +to Major Toppleton the events which had transpired +during the forenoon. I intended to call at his house +on my way home; but we met him coming down +the street towards the pier.</p> + +<p>“I thought you went up to the camp, Wolf,” said +he, much surprised when he saw me.</p> + +<p>“I have been, sir, and a sweet time we have had +of it. Tommy sent me off, and would not permit +me to remain on the island.”</p> + +<p>“What has happened?” he asked, anxiously.</p> + +<p>I told him the story of the morning’s adventures, +though it took me half an hour to do so.</p> + +<p>“And Tommy sent you off—did he?” laughed +the major.</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir—because I advised the captain not to +let our fellows out of the cabin until we got rid of +the Wimps; but if they had been let out, there would +have been a fight with bayonets.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">[138]</span></p> + +<p>“I am very glad you didn’t let them out then; +but Tommy is rather a difficult subject to manage,” +continued the major, lightly. “I have to coax him +a great deal, for he is bound to have his own way. +If he is thwarted, it has a bad effect upon him. I +sent you up to the island to keep the run of things +there; but of course I did not expect you to oppose +him.”</p> + +<p>“I did the best I could, sir.”</p> + +<p>“You did very well; but I am sorry Tommy +sent you away, for I thought you might have some +influence with him. Did he send you away too, +Skotchley?” he added, turning to my companion.</p> + +<p>“No, sir; I came of my own accord,” replied the +dignified student: but he did not think it necessary +to add that he and Tommy had fallen out.</p> + +<p>“You think there will be a fight between the +two sides up there?” continued the major.</p> + +<p>“Before the week is out there will be.”</p> + +<p>“Something must be done,” said the major, anxiously.</p> + +<p>I saw now that he was quite as much the victim +of Tommy’s waywardness as the students of the +Institute.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">[139]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XII"> + CHAPTER XII. + <br> + <span class='chap-title'>UP THE LAKE.</span> + </h2> +</div> + +<p class='chap-first kern'><span class='allcaps'>Major Toppleton</span> was absolutely afraid +of his son. There was a rumor in Middleport—though +I did not hear of it until after the +events narrated had transpired—that his father had +positively refused to permit Tommy to have his own +way on one occasion, when the young gentleman insisted +upon discharging a favorite servant of his +mother. The major declined to yield, and stuck to +his text. The result was, that Tommy, in his rage, +ran away in the dead of winter, and was not found +for two whole days, during which time he lived on +the fat of the land at the Hitaca House, whither he +had gone in the steamer. He refused to go home +till his father promised to discharge the obnoxious +servant, declaring that he would not live in the same +house with the woman, and threatening to go to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">[140]</span> +New York and ship as a common sailor. Undoubtedly +it would have been better for the young gentleman +if he had shipped as a common sailor, for in +that capacity he would have ascertained how much +of his own way he could enjoy. His father yielded, +and Tommy, having conquered in this instance, had +no trouble in maintaining his supremacy. The major +was afraid he would run away, or do some other +terrible thing; and the man who was the lord and +master of all Middleport was the slave of his tyrannical +son. This is not the only instance on record of +the same thing.</p> + +<p>I supposed Major Toppleton would take some +steps to prevent a quarrel between the rival students, +but he did not. It was a delicate and difficult matter +to interfere with Tommy; and the fact that I +had been sent back proved that he would not submit +to any dictation, or even suggestion.</p> + +<p>“I am rather glad you have come back, Wolf,” +said the great man; and I saw that he was trying +to conceal his anxiety in regard to the students. +“I have just received a letter from Hitaca, informing +me that my new yacht is finished, and I was +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">[141]</span> +on my way to the wharf to find some one to send +after her. I have been told that you are a boatman +as well as an engineer, Wolf.”</p> + +<p>“I have handled all sorts of boats on the lake. +I used to sail the Marian on the other side; and +she is the largest boat in this part of the lake,” I +replied.</p> + +<p>“But she is not more than half as large as the +Grace.”</p> + +<p>“The Grace!” I exclaimed, delighted with the +name.</p> + +<p>“She is called after my daughter. Do you think +you can handle her?”</p> + +<p>“I know I can, sir.”</p> + +<p>“She is thirty-five feet long, and measures fifteen +tons. She has a cabin large enough to accommodate +half a dozen persons.”</p> + +<p>“I should like to bring her down first rate,” I +added, glancing at Skotchley; and I saw by his +looks that he would like to accompany me.</p> + +<p>“If you think you can manage her, you may go. +You will want two or three hands to help you.”</p> + +<p>“I will find them, sir.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">[142]</span></p> + +<p>“You must take the steamer up the lake as soon +as she goes. I will write an order on the builder +to deliver the boat to you; call at my house for it +before you start.”</p> + +<p>I was delighted with this mission, for I had a +taste for boats almost as strong as that for a steam-engine. +I was fond of the water, and should have +preferred a situation in a steamer to anything else. +Skotchley was as much pleased as I was with the +cruise in prospect; and, after I had told my mother +where I was going, we called at the major’s for the +order. He gave me some money to pay the expenses, +and, with two of my friends, we embarked +in the steamer for Hitaca, where we arrived at half +past four. Near the steamer’s wharf, up the river, +I saw a beautiful yacht, which I at once concluded +was the Grace; and she was worthy of her name, +if anything made of wood and iron could be equal +to such an honor.</p> + +<p>I presented my order to the builder, who was in +doubt about delivering it to me, whom he stigmatized +as a boy; but when I informed him that I +was the engineer of the Lake Shore Railroad, he +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">[143]</span> +made no further objection. He did me the honor +to say that he had heard of me, and that he had +ridden in the dummy from Middleport to Spangleport. +I was not a little astonished to find that my +fame had travelled so far as Hitaca; but it appeared +that everybody in the vicinity knew all about the +quarrel between the two sides of the lake.</p> + +<p>The Grace was moored in a basin of the river, +and the builder put my party on board of her in a +skiff. She was a magnificent boat, far exceeding anything +of the kind I had seen, or even dreamed of. +She was sloop-rigged, painted black outside, and +white on deck. But her cabin was the principal attraction +to me, and I hastened below to inspect it. +It was finished and furnished in a style equal to the +major’s house, with two little state-rooms, and a little +cuddy forward, with a cook-stove in it. I was astonished +and delighted, and would gladly have resigned +my situation as engineer for a position on +this beautiful craft.</p> + +<p>I sent Tom Walton and Joe Poole up to a store +to purchase a list of groceries and provisions which +I had made out, with Skotchley’s assistance, on board +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">[144]</span> +of the steamer; for we should need some supper, +and perhaps breakfast, before we could reach Middleport. +While they were gone, Skotchley and I +devoted ourselves to a new examination of the +wonders of the Grace. The builder was pleased +with my enthusiasm, and the warm praise both of +us bestowed upon his work. He opened all the +lockers, and explained everything about the yacht, +from the keel to the mast-head.</p> + +<p>“When will that railroad be done?” asked the +builder, after we had exhausted the Grace, cabin, +deck, and rigging.</p> + +<p>“In a month or two,” I replied; and I could not +fail to observe the sly twinkle in his eye.</p> + +<p>“They say Major Toppleton has bought up both +the steamers, and intends to run them, in connection +with the railroad, only from Middleport to Hitaca.”</p> + +<p>“I have heard so; but I know nothing about it.”</p> + +<p>“Do you see that steamer?” he added, pointing +to a vessel, which had just been launched.</p> + +<p>“I see her. Is that the new one Colonel Wimpleton +is building?” I asked, with no little curiosity.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">[145]</span></p> + +<p>“That’s the boat, and if I mistake not she will +give your road a hard run.”</p> + +<p>“I should like to see her,” I continued.</p> + +<p>The builder kindly conducted me all over her. +Everything about her was first-class work, and I +confess that I rather envied the Wimpletonians the +possession of such a steamer. They were just building +her cabins and upper works, and I saw that +she was to be far ahead of anything on the lake.</p> + +<p>“I suppose there will be some lively competition +when this boat is finished,” said I, as we left the +steamer. “But I hope it will be good-natured.”</p> + +<p>“The boat has rather the advantage of you,” +added the builder. “If the major will build a +bridge over the river at Ucayga, he will win the +day. As it is, the steamer will have the weather-gage.”</p> + +<p>It was hardly prudent for me to think so, for I +was to run the “Lightning Express” in opposition +to the new boat. But our provisions had arrived, +and just then I was more interested in the cruise +of the Grace than in the trips of the new steamer. +Skotchley and I went on board. As the river below +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">[146]</span> +Hitaca was narrow, and the navigation difficult, the +builder, with some of his men, assisted us to work +her out into the open lake. The wind was tolerably +fresh from the westward, and as soon as the +men had left us, I took the helm, and headed the +Grace for Middleport. The yacht was a furious +sailer, and she tore through the water at a rapid +rate.</p> + +<p>“I rather like this,” said Skotchley, as he seated +himself at my side.</p> + +<p>“So do I,” I replied. “I wish the major would +make me skipper of this boat, and let some one else +run the locomotive.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t want anything better than this for my +vacation. I should like to spend the week in her, +cruising up and down the lake.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps you can. The major is going a fishing +in her, I heard him say. Very likely he will let +you have a berth in her.”</p> + +<p>“I’m afraid not. Tommy will spoil all my chances +of anything good for this term,” added the dignified +student, shaking his head.</p> + +<p>“I think the fellows on the Horse Shoe are likely +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">[147]</span> +to bring Tommy to his senses before they get +through with him. They have him there alone, +and I don’t think they will let him have his own +way all the time. At any rate, they began as +though they would not.”</p> + +<p>“If I were in Tommy’s boots, I should try to +make the fellows love instead of hate me. He is +smart, and can make himself very agreeable when +he isn’t ugly. In my opinion, there will be a big +row on the Horse Shoe, even without any help from +the Wimps. Tommy is plucky, and I am not sure +that it will not be a good thing for him if the +Wimps attack his camp. His position is a little like +that of some king I have read of, who got up a foreign +war to save himself from being tipped off the +throne by his own subjects.”</p> + +<p>“Supper is ready,” said Tom Walton, who attended +to the culinary department of the Grace, having +had some experience in the art of cooking. “Shall I +take the helm, while you go down?”</p> + +<p>I was very happy to have him do so, for Tom +was a good boatman, which was the particular reason +why I had invited him to be one of the party. We +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">[148]</span> +went down into the cabin, where the table was set +for us. It was neatly and tastily arranged. The +viands consisted of beefsteak, potatoes, milk toast, +and coffee; and I must do Tom the justice to say +that they tasted as good as they looked. Certainly +I never felt happier than when I sat down to that +supper. There was something decidedly marine in +the surroundings. The fresh breeze created quite a +sea for an inland lake, and the Grace tossed up and +down just enough to make her seem like a vessel.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp95" id="i_p148" style="max-width: 79.6875em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_p148..jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + THE MAN ON THE RAFT. <a href='#Page_148'>Page 148</a>. + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>“Wolf! Wolf!” shouted Tom Walton, at the +helm, just as I was taking my second cup of coffee; +for I did not expect to sleep much that night.</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter?” I demanded, springing into +the standing-room, fearful that some calamity impended +over the beautiful yacht.</p> + +<p>“There’s some one calling to us from over there,” +he replied, highly excited, as he pointed towards +the eastern shore. “There he is! It’s a man in a +boat, or on a raft.”</p> + +<p>“Help! Help!” cried the person, in a voice +which sounded strangely familiar to me.</p> + +<p>“Let out the main sheet, Tom. We will run over +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">[149]</span> +and see what the matter is,” I replied, taking the +helm.</p> + +<p>In a few moments the Grace swept round into +the wind, under the lee of the person who had +appealed to us for aid. He was on a kind of raft, +sitting upon the wet planks, over which the waves +flowed freely. I ran the bow of the yacht up to +his frail craft, to which the sufferer was clinging +with both hands. Giving the helm to Tom, I rushed +forward to help the man, whose face presented a +most woe-begone aspect.</p> + +<p>My astonishment may be surmised when I recognized +in this person Colonel Wimpleton!</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">[150]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIII"> + CHAPTER XIII. + <br> + <span class='chap-title'>IF THINE ENEMY HUNGER.</span> + </h2> +</div> + +<p class='chap-first kern-more'><span class='allcaps'>As</span> soon as the Grace came within reach of +Colonel Wimpleton, on the raft, he improved +his opportunity. Grasping the bob-stay, he made +his way on board, with my assistance. He was +so clumsy and terrified that without my help he +would certainly have fallen overboard. He plumped +upon the deck on all fours, in a most undignified +attitude for the magnate of Centreport. I helped +him to rise. In doing so, I discovered that his +breath was very odorous of liquor, which seemed +to do something towards explaining the unfortunate +plight in which we had found him. He was +not intoxicated at the time he was pulled on board +the Grace; but perhaps he had had time to work +off the effects of the potions whose incense still +lingered about him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_151">[151]</span></p> + +<p>“Wolf Penniman!” exclaimed he, as he grasped +one of the fore-stays, and, steadying himself with +it, gazed into my face; and his expression seemed +to indicate that he would rather have been rescued +by any other person than by me.</p> + +<p>“Colonel Wimpleton!” I replied, returning his +compliment.</p> + +<p>“Is it you, Wolf?” he added, as if unwilling +to believe the evidence of his own eyes.</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir; it is I. But if you feel bad about it, +you can return to the raft.”</p> + +<p>He glanced at the little staging of three planks +on which he had made his involuntary cruise, and +shuddered as he did so, partly with cold, and partly +with dread.</p> + +<p>“I will pay you well for whatever you do for +me, Wolf,” said he, glancing doubtfully at the boat, +and then at me.</p> + +<p>“Let me tell you in the beginning, Colonel Wimpleton, +that you can’t pay me the first red cent,” +I replied, with proper spirit.</p> + +<p>“You won’t turn me adrift again—will you?”</p> + +<p>“No, sir; I will do anything I can for you.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">[152]</span></p> + +<p>“We have not been very good friends lately.”</p> + +<p>“No, sir; but that shall not prevent me from +assisting you to any extent within my power. +What shall I do for you, sir?”</p> + +<p>“I am very cold and numb,” said he, curling up +with the chills that swept through his frame.</p> + +<p>“Come into the cabin, sir. I think we can warm +and dry you so that you will be quite comfortable.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you, Wolf;” and I think this was the +first time he had ever used a gracious word to me.</p> + +<p>Tom Walton had put the helm up, and the yacht +filled away on her course again. I took Colonel +Wimpleton’s arm, and conducted him to the cabin. +The fire was still burning in the little cook-room, +and shutting down the hatch on the deck, I soon +made the place so hot that it almost melted me. +Seating my distinguished guest before the stove, I +gave him a mug of hot coffee, though, before he +drank it, he asked me if there was any brandy on +board. I told him we had none, and he contented +himself with the coffee, which was quite as beneficial.</p> + +<p>Under my mild treatment, the patient gradually +recovered the use of his limbs. I went on deck, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_153">[153]</span> +and sent Tom down to give him some supper; and +our zealous cook provided him a fresh beefsteak, +coffee, and toast, which Tom said he ate just as +though he had been a common man. It was now +quite dark, and we were off Southport, on the east +shore. The wind had subsided, and we were not +likely to reach Middleport before morning. I gave +Tom the helm again, and went below to inquire +into the colonel’s condition. He was still wet, and +was fearful that his exposure would bring on the +rheumatic fever, to which he was liable. I suggested +to him that he should go to bed, and have +his clothes dried. For such a man as he was, he +was very pliable and lamb-like.</p> + +<p>I conducted him to one of the little state-rooms, +which contained a wide berth. I put all the blankets +on board upon the bed, and the colonel, taking +off all his clothes, buried himself in them. I tucked +him up, and he declared that he felt quite comfortable. +Hanging up all his garments in the cook-room, +I filled the stove with wood, assured they +would soon dry in the intense heat of the apartment.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">[154]</span></p> + +<p>“Can I do anything more for you, colonel?” I +asked, returning to his room.</p> + +<p>“No, thank you, Wolf; I am very comfortable +now,” he replied from the mass of blankets and +quilts which covered him.</p> + +<p>“Where do you wish to go, sir?”</p> + +<p>“Home! Home!” he answered with energy.</p> + +<p>“We are bound for Middleport, sir, and we will +land you as soon as we arrive.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you, Wolf. I feel like a new man now. +I was sure I should be drowned. I had been on +that raft over three hours.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed, sir! It was a very uncomfortable +craft.”</p> + +<p>“The lake was very rough, and the waves washed +over me every minute. I gave myself up for lost. +I suffered all that a man could endure in those +three hours,” said he, shuddering as he thought of +his unpleasant voyage.</p> + +<p>Probably, accustomed as he was to luxury and +ease, he had had a hard time of it; but a man inured +to work and weather would not have suffered +half so much as he did; though, chilled and terrified +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">[155]</span> +as he was, I did wonder that he had not been +washed from his raft, to perish in the deep waters +beneath him.</p> + +<p>“I am very glad we happened to come along as +we did,” I added.</p> + +<p>“It was fortunate for me, Wolf. I will give you +a thousand dollars for the service you have rendered +me as soon as I get home.”</p> + +<p>“Excuse me, sir; but I cannot take anything,” +I replied, warmly.</p> + +<p>“Why not, Wolf?”</p> + +<p>“Because I should despise myself if I took anything. +There are some things in this world that +cannot be paid for with money.”</p> + +<p>“You are a strange boy, Wolf.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps I am; but I think too much of myself +to take money for doing a kindness to any one in +distress.”</p> + +<p>“Very likely I can do something else for you.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t require anything to be done for me, +Colonel Wimpleton,” I persisted.</p> + +<p>“If you have been up to Hitaca, probably you +have seen the steamer I am building there.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">[156]</span></p> + +<p>“Yes, sir, I saw her; and a very fine boat she +will be.”</p> + +<p>“I shall want an engineer for her,” he suggested.</p> + +<p>“Of course you will, sir. An engineer is a necessity +in a steamer,” I replied; but I refused to +bite at the bait he threw out to me.</p> + +<p>“Are you the captain of this boat, Wolf?” he +asked, glancing round at the pleasant little state-room +in which he was lying.</p> + +<p>“For the present I am.”</p> + +<p>“Whose boat is it?”</p> + +<p>“Major Toppleton’s.”</p> + +<p>“I saw her at the yard in Hitaca; but I had no +idea she was so large and fine, as she lay in the +river.”</p> + +<p>“She is just finished, and the major sent me up +to bring her down to Middleport. I don’t suppose +I shall go in her again, for I belong on the railroad.”</p> + +<p>“I know you do,” he replied; and his tone seemed +to indicate that, at that moment, he was sorry I did.</p> + +<p>I did not care to discuss the relations of the two +sides of the lake with him, and I turned his attention +from the subject by asking what I could do +for him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_157">[157]</span></p> + +<p>“I do not need anything more, Wolf. I am warm +and comfortable, and I am very much obliged to +you for what you have done. Did you know who +it was when you saw me on the raft?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir; I recognized you when the boat came +up to the raft.”</p> + +<p>“You did?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir; certainly I did.”</p> + +<p>“Were you not tempted to let me remain where +I was?” he asked, raising his head on the bed, so +as to see my face.</p> + +<p>“No, sir, I was not.”</p> + +<p>“I should think you would have been.”</p> + +<p>“Why, I am not a heathen, Colonel Wimpleton!” +I replied.</p> + +<p>“No; we have had considerable trouble, and I +suppose you have no reason to think very kindly +of me,” stammered he, as though the words almost +choked him.</p> + +<p>“I don’t think you used me just right, sir; but +I’m not an Indian.”</p> + +<p>“I think I should have perished in half an hour +more. It was getting dark, and I was as numb +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_158">[158]</span> +as though I had been frozen. But I shall make +it all right somehow, Wolf.”</p> + +<p>“It is all right now.”</p> + +<p>“Did you see anything of Dr. Pomford as you +came up the lake?”</p> + +<p>“Dr. Pomford? I don’t know him, sir.”</p> + +<p>“I suppose not. He is from Philadelphia, and +is spending a week with me. He is fond of fishing, +and we came up here to try our luck.”</p> + +<p>“But how came you on that raft, sir?” I inquired. +“Did you lose your friend overboard?”</p> + +<p>“No; we had a boat, which we fastened to the +raft on the fishing-ground. We found the raft +there, moored with stakes in the deep water. Dr. +Pomford had the misfortune to drop his bottle of +brandy overboard, after we had been fishing about +an hour. Being quite chilly, he went back to the +hotel after some more, leaving me on the raft, for +the fish were biting well, and I did not like to +leave them; besides, he is a younger man than I +am, and can move about easier. His boat was +fastened to one of the stakes, and I think, when +he started, he must have pulled it up. I don’t +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_159">[159]</span> +know how it happened, but as soon as the doctor +was out of sight behind the cliff, I found myself +adrift.”</p> + +<p>It was not polite for me to say anything; but +I could not help thinking, that if the brandy bottle +had dropped overboard sooner, the colonel would +have understood the matter better. I had never +heard that the great man was in the habit of +drinking too much; but the odor of his breath +led me to my conclusion. I think he was somewhat +fuddled, or he would have gone with the +doctor in the boat.</p> + +<p>“I never suffered so much in three hours before +in my life,” continued the colonel. “No canal +boat, steamer, or other craft came near me, and +I cried for help till my voice gave out. Wolf, I +would have given half my fortune, if not the whole +of it, to have been taken from that raft a moment +before you saw me. If I had known you were in +charge of the boat, I should not have expected +you to save me.”</p> + +<p>“My mother always taught me to love my enemies,” +I answered.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_160">[160]</span></p> + +<p>“I hear the ministers talk about such things, +but I never believed much in them. I am under +very great obligations to you, Wolf. You have +treated me as well as though I had always been +your best friend.”</p> + +<p>“It is all right, sir. I am satisfied, if you are.”</p> + +<p>“I am not satisfied; and I shall never be satisfied +until I have made you some return for all +this.”</p> + +<p>“I shall not take anything, sir,” I replied, resolutely.</p> + +<p>“I will give you a man’s wages, if you will take +the place as engineer of the new steamer.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you for the offer, Colonel Wimpleton; +but I cannot accept it at present. I never desert +my friends till they kick me.”</p> + +<p>“That is as much as to say that I kicked you +before you left Centreport.”</p> + +<p>“I think we had better bury the past.”</p> + +<p>“I will make it all right with your father; he +shall have better wages than he has now.”</p> + +<p>“I am much obliged to you, sir; but we are +both of us very well satisfied where we are.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_161">[161]</span></p> + +<p>The great man seemed to be intensely annoyed +at my obstinacy; and it certainly was a hard case +for him that he was not permitted even to do me +a favor. My pride would not permit me to accept +a gift from one who had treated me so badly as +he had; but it was a pleasure to serve him, to +heap the fiery coals of kindness upon his head.</p> + +<p>As I had feared, the wind died out entirely, +and the Grace lay helpless upon the smooth surface +of the lake. But below, everything was cheerful—even +Colonel Wimpleton. The lamps burned +brightly in the cabin and state-room, and I enjoyed +myself hugely, not caring whether the wind +blew or not. I gave the great man his underclothing +when it was dry, and he put it on. He +wanted to talk, and he did talk in his bed till +nearly midnight, when a breeze from the southward +sprang up, which compelled me to take my +place at the helm. The wind freshened, and the +Grace flew before it, so that we came to anchor +at two o’clock off Major Toppleton’s mansion.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_162">[162]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIV"> + CHAPTER XIV. + <br> + <span class='chap-title'>COLONEL WIMPLETON BIDS HIGH.</span> + </h2> +</div> + +<p class='chap-first kern-extra'><span class='allcaps'>During</span> the run of twenty miles down the +lake, I had sat alone at the helm the greater +portion of the time, for my companions were disposed +to sleep. Colonel Wimpleton snored so that +I could hear him in the standing-room. Skotchley +had turned in, occupying the port state-room, while +Tom Walton lay on a locker, where I could call +him in a moment if his services were needed. +While I sat there I did a great deal of heavy thinking, +mostly over the relations of Toppleton and +Wimpleton. When that magnificent steamer was +completed, there would be lively times on the lake.</p> + +<p>The offer which Colonel Wimpleton had made +me of the position of engineer on board the new +steamer was very tempting to me, and I wished +very much that I could honorably accept it; but +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_163">[163]</span> +it was no use to think about it. Whatever might +be said of Major Tommy, his father had invariably +treated me very handsomely. He had come to my +father’s assistance at a time when he needed help, +and had actually put over two thousand dollars into +his pocket. I felt it to be my duty to endure a +great deal from the son for the sake of the father, +as, it now appeared, the former was the chief man +of the two.</p> + +<p>As we approached Middleport, I called Tom Walton, +and, with as little noise as possible, anchored +the Grace. It was a moonlight night, and since +the wind had come up from the southward, the +weather was warm and pleasant. The sleepers below +had not been disturbed; but, after Tom and I +had made everything snug on deck, I waked Colonel +Wimpleton, and told him where we were. I +offered to row him across the lake in the little +tender of the Grace.</p> + +<p>“Thank you, Wolf. I will get up at once,” said +he. “What time is it?”</p> + +<p>“About half past two, sir.”</p> + +<p>“I have slept well. I had no idea of getting home +to-night.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_164">[164]</span></p> + +<p>“We are at anchor off Major Toppleton’s house.”</p> + +<p>“Then I think I had better leave as soon as +possible. I hope the major won’t punish you for +what you have done for me.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t think he will. We get along very well +together, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Better than you did with me, I suppose,” replied +he, with a grim smile. “But I never knew +you before, Wolf. It would be different if you +should come over to Centreport again.”</p> + +<p>“I will have the boat ready in a few moments,” +I replied, wishing to change the subject.</p> + +<p>I carried the colonel’s clothing to him. It had +been nicely dried, and in a few moments he appeared +on deck. I could hardly believe he was the Colonel +Wimpleton who had been so unjust, not to say savage, +towards me. He was a lamb now, and I was +very willing to believe that his three hours of peril +had done him a great deal of good, though I was +afraid the impression would be removed when he +returned to his usual associations. I helped the +great man into the boat, and pushed off.</p> + +<p>“Have you thought of the offer that I made +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_165">[165]</span> +you, Wolf?” said the colonel, as I gave way at the +oars.</p> + +<p>“It is useless for me to think of it, sir. I cannot +leave Major Toppleton while he wishes me to stay +with him.”</p> + +<p>“But I offer you double your present wages.”</p> + +<p>“The major has been very kind to me, and was +a good friend to our family when we needed a +friend. It would not be right for me to leave him, +and I cannot think of such a thing.”</p> + +<p>The magnate of Centreport seemed to me to be +more nettled by my refusal than I thought the occasion +required. But I enjoyed a certain triumph in +finding him thus teasing me to return to his side of +the lake—a triumph which was none the less grateful +because I had won it by kindness. The colonel +was silent for a few moments, hitching about in the +boat as though the seat was not comfortable.</p> + +<p>“How old are you, Wolf?” he asked, with sudden +energy.</p> + +<p>“Sixteen in July, sir.”</p> + +<p>“I have one more offer to make you,” he added.</p> + +<p>“It won’t do any good, Colonel Wimpleton; for, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_166">[166]</span> +as I have said, I never desert my friends while +they use me well. If you would fill this boat up +with gold, it wouldn’t make any difference with +me,” I replied, rather warmly.</p> + +<p>“Don’t be obstinate, Wolf.”</p> + +<p>“I am very much obliged to you, sir, for your +kind offer, and I would accept it if I could.”</p> + +<p>“You shall be captain of the new steamer, and +have two dollars a day for your services. You +will have a nice state-room in the boat, and nothing +to do but superintend the management of her. I +find you are very popular, not with the boys alone, +but with the men and women, and it is for my +interest to have you on the steamer.”</p> + +<p>“I thank you very much, sir; but I cannot leave +my present place.”</p> + +<p>“Think of it, Wolf; and talk the matter over +with your father. If you like, he shall be the engineer +of the steamer.”</p> + +<p>“I thought the boat was to be managed by boys.”</p> + +<p>“But I can’t trust every boy in the engine-room. +If I can’t get you as engineer, I must have a man.”</p> + +<p>“I should be very glad to take either of the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_167">[167]</span> +places you offer me, but I cannot, sir. Major Toppleton +has done the handsome thing for me and for +my father, and I think you would despise me if I +turned against him.”</p> + +<p>He continued to press the matter with so much +earnestness that I came to think I was of a great +deal more importance in the world than I really +was. But I was steadfast in my allegiance to the +friend who had served our family when we were in +distress. I pulled the boat up to the steps in front +of the colonel’s house, and assisted him to get out. +He invited me to go in with him, but I declined.</p> + +<p>“Now, Wolf, I’m not going to let this affair pass +off without doing something for you. I feel that +you have saved my life,” said he, as I seated myself +at the oars.</p> + +<p>“It’s all right as it is, sir.”</p> + +<p>“No, it isn’t. You will hear from me again soon.”</p> + +<p>I gave way at the oars, and he walked towards +his house. I had conquered him, and it was certainly +very remarkable that I had, at this moment, +both the mighty men as my friends, though my +relations with Tommy Toppleton threatened to make +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_168">[168]</span> +a breach with one of them. I felt that I had carried +out the spirit of my mother’s instructions, and +I ought not to be blamed for thinking very kindly +of myself, because I had discharged my Christian +duty to one who had taught me to be his enemy. +In this frame of mind I pulled back to the Grace, +and leaped upon deck.</p> + +<p>“What have you been doing, Wolf?” demanded a +stern voice, as a tall form emerged from the cabin.</p> + +<p>Whew! It was Major Toppleton! I could not +imagine what had brought him out of his bed at +that unseasonable hour; and I was speechless with +astonishment.</p> + +<p>“What have you been doing, Wolf?” repeated he; +and I saw that all hands had been called.</p> + +<p>“I have just landed Colonel Wimpleton at his +house, sir,” I replied, with due deference.</p> + +<p>“And you have been entertaining my greatest +enemy in my yacht—have you?” added the major, +in a tone which seemed to threaten the pleasant +relations that had thus far subsisted between us.</p> + +<p>“I picked him up on the lake, when he was perishing +with the cold, and in danger of being drowned.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_169">[169]</span></p> + +<p>“I don’t object to your picking him up when he +needed help. One must do that for a dog. But +why didn’t you put him ashore at the nearest land—in +the woods or on the rocks?”</p> + +<p>“Because he was so benumbed with cold that he +was nearly helpless.”</p> + +<p>“You gave him a supper at my expense; you +could not have used me any better in my own yacht +than you did him.”</p> + +<p>“I did everything I could for him, sir,” I replied, +humbly.</p> + +<p>“You did—did you? Didn’t you know that he +is a scoundrel? that he is my bitterest enemy?” +demanded the major, warmly.</p> + +<p>“I did, sir; but I thought it my duty to take +care of him when he was suffering.”</p> + +<p>“Fiddledy-dee! What do you mean by talking +such bosh as that to me? I believe you have a +soft place in your head, Wolf. Joe Poole says you +treated him like a lord. I don’t keep a yacht for +the accommodation of Wimpleton. If you mean to +sell out to the other side, do so at once.”</p> + +<p>“I have no such intention;” and I was on the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_170">[170]</span> +point of defending myself by saying that the colonel +had made me several handsome offers, which I had +declined; but I concluded such a defence would do +me no good, and only irritate the major.</p> + +<p>“Of course I should not expect you to let even +Wimpleton drown; but you have overdone the +thing; you ought to have put him ashore at Southport, +or Port Gunga.”</p> + +<p>“He wanted to come home, sir.”</p> + +<p>“No matter if he did; I don’t keep a yacht for +his use.”</p> + +<p>“I am sorry I have offended you, sir,” I added; +but I could not regret what I had done.</p> + +<p>“Don’t do it again. The less you do for the other +side, the better you will suit me,” he continued, +more gently, evidently because his anger had expended +itself, rather than because he accepted my +apology. “How did you get along with the boat?”</p> + +<p>“First rate, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Wolf, I have been uneasy all night about those +boys on the island. I have been afraid the Wimpleton +scoundrels would tear up the railroad track, and +I have kept the dummy going every hour since dark. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_171">[171]</span> +I am tired out. I am afraid they will have a fight +up at the Horse Shoe, and somebody will get killed. +I’m going to bed now; but I want you to run up +there, and have an eye upon the boys. You need +not go very near the island, but be sure you know +what the students are about. The Wimpleton boys +have camped on the Shooter, and the two sides are +not more than forty rods apart. If things go wrong +there, you will run over to Grass Springs, and send +me word by Lewis Holgate.”</p> + +<p>Having delivered his instructions, Joe Poole landed +the major before his house. With the assistance +of Skotchley and Tom Walton, I hoisted the mainsail +and got up the anchor. When Joe returned, +both of my companions “pitched into” him for telling +the major that I had treated his enemy “like +a lord.”</p> + +<p>“I only told the truth,” replied Joe. “But I +didn’t mean to do Wolf any harm.”</p> + +<p>“Didn’t you know any better?” added Tom.</p> + +<p>“I thought I was doing a good thing for Wolf, +when I said that he had treated the colonel so +well, after he had used him so shabbily.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_172">[172]</span></p> + +<p>“Humph, you are a Sunday school scholar!” +sneered Tom.</p> + +<p>“So am I, Tom,” I interposed. “I don’t blame +Joe for telling only the truth, and I should have +told the major myself if he had not.”</p> + +<p>This remark quieted the sneerer, and I think that +Sunday school doctrine had the better of the argument. +Tom ran up the jib, and, passing through +the Narrows, I headed the Grace for the Horse +Shoe. Tom had slept three or four hours, while I +had not yet closed my eyes. I gave him the helm, +and directing him to call me when we came up +with the islands, I stretched myself on the cushioned +locker, and dropped asleep.</p> + +<p>The day was dawning when the helmsman called +me. I had not slept more than an hour and a half; +but my interest in the mission upon which I had +been sent thoroughly roused me. I took the helm, +and going to the eastward of the South Shoe, I +headed the Grace through the narrow channel between +the Horse Shoe and the Shooter, which would +enable me to obtain a fair view of both camps. Major +Toppleton’s fears were not groundless, for I found +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_173">[173]</span> +that the Wimpletonians had not devoted the night +to sleep, as the Toppletonians evidently had, for the +former had just effected a landing on the northern +part of the Horse Shoe. As the Grace passed out +of the channel, I saw the bateaux, loaded with tents +and baggage, landing their freight.</p> + +<p>A battle impended.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_174">[174]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XV"> + CHAPTER XV. + <br> + <span class='chap-title'>THE IMPENDING BATTLE.</span> + </h2> +</div> + +<p class='chap-first'><span class='allcaps'>I certainly</span> did not expect to find anything +at the Horse Shoe or in its vicinity, so early +in the morning, to indicate a battle, or even a +change of position. Men engaged in a holy cause, +or in realizing the promptings of ambition, may +fight all day on the bloody field, and then look +out for the chances of another day during the +darkness of the night; but boys do not do so, +as a general rule. The Wimpletonians had evidently +done something besides sleeping during the +night. Dissatisfied with the proceedings of the +first day, they were determined to make a better +show the second day.</p> + +<p>On the other hand, the Toppletonians appeared +to be fast asleep, without even a guard to protect +or warn them of the approach of their enemy. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_175">[175]</span> +Before daylight the Centreport battalion had been +transported from the Shooter to the Horse Shoe, +and were now in position to give battle to their +haughty foe—if either was more haughty than +the other. I saw them on the shore, landing the +last of their baggage, and securing their boats in +a little cove. On the highest part of the island +I could distinguish, in the gloom of the early +morning, a line of sentinels stretching entirely +across the land.</p> + +<p>Before the Grace was clear of the island, Skotchley, +who had made a good night’s rest of it, came +on deck, and I pointed out to him the change +which the Wimpletonians had made.</p> + +<p>“What do you think of it, Skotchley?” I asked.</p> + +<p>“I think there will be an awful row before noon,” +he replied, shaking his head. “Of course the +Wimps haven’t gone over there for nothing.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know but it would be the best thing +in the world to let them fight it out. If one side +or the other should get thoroughly thrashed, perhaps +both would be willing to keep the peace.”</p> + +<p>“I think not; for of course the vanquished +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_176">[176]</span> +party would never be satisfied till it had retrieved +its fortunes.”</p> + +<p>“When do you think the fight will commence?”</p> + +<p>“I should say it is liable to begin at any moment,” +added Skotchley; “but I shall not expect +it for several hours after our fellows find out that +their territory has been invaded.”</p> + +<p>“Can we do anything to prevent the fight?” I +asked, earnestly.</p> + +<p>“I do not see that we can,” answered Skotchley. +“What can we do? You know what Tommy is. +If we should attempt to reason with him, he would +flare up.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t mean to reason with him; that would +be stupid.”</p> + +<p>“Of course we can’t do anything with Waddie.”</p> + +<p>“All we have to do is to inform Major Toppleton +of the state of affairs on the island,” I replied, +as I put the helm down, and told Tom Walton to +haul in the sheets till the yacht was close on the +wind. “We shall get to Middleport with this +breeze before the dummy starts.”</p> + +<p>It was only four o’clock in the morning, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_177">[177]</span> +though we had to beat up to our destination, I +was confident the Grace would do it in a couple +of hours. I had not had quite rest enough to +make me feel good, and giving the helm to Tom, +I lay down again. I was soon asleep, and the +two hours of rest which I obtained set me right.</p> + +<p>“Middleport ahoy!” shouted Tom, as we approached +our destination.</p> + +<p>“What time is it, Tom?”</p> + +<p>“Six o’clock. This yacht makes quick time of it.”</p> + +<p>“Where is Joe Poole?”</p> + +<p>“He has just turned out, and is getting breakfast.”</p> + +<p>“That’s sensible,” I replied, going on deck. “Clear +away the anchor, and stand by the jib-halyards.”</p> + +<p>In a few moments more, the Grace was at anchor +in the deep water off the major’s house. The +great man was still asleep; but it would be necessary +to wake him. The belligerents on the island +would soon be punching each other with their +bayonets if something was not done. But I could +not help feeling that the presence of Major Toppleton +at the scene of action would hardly better +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_178">[178]</span> +the situation. He was as violent, arbitrary, and +exacting as his son. It was possible that he might +do something to give the victory to the partisans +of his own side; but it was hardly to be expected +that he would prevent the fight.</p> + +<p>“Skotchley, will you go ashore and call upon +the major? You have only to tell him that the +Wimps have landed on the Horse Shoe,” said I to +the dignified student.</p> + +<p>“I don’t object; but why don’t you go?” he +replied.</p> + +<p>“I wish to go somewhere else.”</p> + +<p>“Where?” he asked, curiously.</p> + +<p>“I will tell you some other time, perhaps.”</p> + +<p>“Just as you like, Wolf.”</p> + +<p>I pulled up the tender, and both of us got into +it. I rowed to the steps in front of the major’s +house, and landed Skotchley. I had made up my +mind what to do, and I had but little time to +carry out my purpose. I felt in duty bound to +prevent the fight on the island, if I could, even +independently of the mighty will and pleasure of +Major Toppleton. It was wicked to permit those +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_179">[179]</span> +boys, armed with deadly weapons, and irritated by +a long-standing rivalry, to plunge into a strife which +might become more serious than either party intended.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Wolf!” called the sweet voice of Grace +Toppleton, just as I was about to push off the boat.</p> + +<p>I was sorry to meet even her at such a moment, +great as the luxury would have been on an ordinary +occasion. She tripped lightly down the walk +to the landing-steps; and certainly she never looked +prettier and more graceful than on that pleasant +summer morning, with the fresh dew, as it were, +glowing upon her cheeks.</p> + +<p>“Good morning, Mr. Wolf,” she continued, as, out +of breath with the haste she had made, she presented +herself before me. “That beautiful yacht!” +she exclaimed, as she glanced at the elegant craft +which bore her name. “Isn’t she a sylph!”</p> + +<p>“She is all she seems to be,” I replied, with becoming +enthusiasm, “and I think she is worthy of +her name.”</p> + +<p>“How very gallant you are, Mr. Wolf!” she +pouted.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_180">[180]</span></p> + +<p>“I have been sailing her all night, and I ought +to speak well of her.”</p> + +<p>“Father said he had sent you to Hitaca after +her; but we did not expect to see you till this +afternoon. I want to go on board of her. I was +so surprised when I first saw her this morning!”</p> + +<p>It was very awkward, but I could not help myself. +I had a mission to perform which must be +done at once, or not at all. I could not disregard +her wishes, and I assisted her into the boat.</p> + +<p>“I have been up to the Horse Shoe, where the +students are encamped, since I returned from Hitaca,” +I continued, as I seated myself at the oars.</p> + +<p>“I suppose they are having a nice time up there,” +she replied.</p> + +<p>“I’m afraid not;” and as briefly as I could, I +told her the situation of affairs between the contending +forces.</p> + +<p>As I hoped and expected of one of her gentle +nature, she was shocked and alarmed at the prospect +of a fight, especially as her brother was foremost +in the strife.</p> + +<p>“Skotchley has gone up to call your father, and +I suppose he will interfere,” I added.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_181">[181]</span></p> + +<p>“I hope he will;” but the manner in which she +spoke seemed to indicate that she entertained the +same doubt which had disturbed my calculation.</p> + +<p>“I was thinking of doing something more,” I replied, +rather doubtfully.</p> + +<p>“What, Mr. Wolf?”</p> + +<p>I related to her my adventure with Colonel Wimpleton +during the night, and assured her that the +great man of Centreport was very thankful to me +for the service I had rendered him.</p> + +<p>“I was going over to see him,” I added.</p> + +<p>“To see Colonel Wimpleton!” she exclaimed, +as though she thought such a step would be the +sum of all abominations, for even she could not +wholly escape the pestilent rivalry that existed between +the two sides.</p> + +<p>“I am not afraid of him. If I can induce him +to compel the students from his side to leave the +Horse Shoe, the fight will be avoided.”</p> + +<p>“I am sorry you said anything to me about it, +for father will not let you speak to Colonel Wimpleton +about the matter. But, Mr. Wolf, you do +as you think best, and I will not say a word.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_182">[182]</span></p> + +<p>I assisted her on board of the yacht, and Tom +Walton was as polite to her as her beauty and her +position required. I was sorry to leave her; but I +was intent upon the duty of preventing the fight. +I pulled over to the other side of the lake. +Haughty servants told me the magnate of Centreport +was asleep, and must not be disturbed; +but one who had seen me there in the night with +the colonel, ventured to tell him that I wished to +see him. I was promptly admitted to his bedroom, +where I stated my business.</p> + +<p>“I don’t think there is any great danger of a +quarrel,” said he, after he had listened attentively +to my story.</p> + +<p>“I think there is, sir. The students from this +side have landed on the Horse Shoe.”</p> + +<p>“Well, our boys have always used that island for +their camp.”</p> + +<p>“But the Toppleton students engaged the Horse +Shoe of the owner, and you will agree with me +that they have the best right to the ground. If +you will direct the boys from this side to leave +the island, there will be no further trouble.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_183">[183]</span></p> + +<p>“Do you think I shall tell our boys to run away +from those on the other side?” demanded he, indignantly. +“I am willing to do anything for you, +Wolf, after what has happened; but I think you +need not concern yourself about this affair.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t want to have a fight, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Nor I either.”</p> + +<p>“Then I hope you will do the right thing, and +send your boys off the island.”</p> + +<p>“I will not do it.”</p> + +<p>“Well, sir, suppose Waddie should get punched +with a bayonet?” I suggested.</p> + +<p>“I think Waddie can take care of himself. But, +understand me, Wolf, if I can do anything for you, +I will do it.”</p> + +<p>“I have nothing to ask but this.”</p> + +<p>“I will see what can be done,” he replied, rubbing +his head, which I judged was still suffering +from the effects of the brandy from the bottle that +had been lost overboard. “I don’t want any fighting. +I will go up to the Horse Shoe by and by, +if I feel able.”</p> + +<p>I pressed the matter as strongly as I could; but +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_184">[184]</span> +the stupid rivalry was too strong in his mind to +permit anything which looked like yielding. I left +him, hoping that the peril of Waddie, if no higher +consideration, might induce him to take some active +steps to avert the disgraceful alternative. I pulled +with all my might across the lake, and I was not +a moment too soon, for I had hardly jumped upon +deck before Major Toppleton appeared on the shore, +and hailed the yacht for a boat. Taking Grace with +me, I pulled to the steps. The great man had his +overcoat on his arm, and it was evident that he intended +to be a passenger in the yacht to the scene +of action.</p> + +<p>“Let me go too, father,” said Grace. “I must +sail in that beautiful yacht this very day.”</p> + +<p>“We cannot wait,” replied the major, rather petulantly.</p> + +<p>“I don’t want you to wait. I am all ready,” she +added.</p> + +<p>“If there is going to be a fight up there, you +will be in the way.”</p> + +<p>“I will stay in the yacht. Don’t say no; be a +good papa.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_185">[185]</span></p> + +<p>And he was a good papa. Miss Grace was permitted +to have her own way, though, being like +her mother, who was a very amiable and gentle +lady, having her own way did not seem to injure +her, as it did her brother. I need not say that I +was delighted with the arrangement. We got up +the anchor, hoisted the jib, and in a few moments +were standing down the lake before the fresh breeze. +On the way Joe Poole served up breakfast in good +style, and even the major declared that the beefsteak +and fried potatoes were excellent.</p> + +<p>“The row has commenced!” shouted Tom Walton, +at the helm, while we were at the table.</p> + +<p>Fortunately our appetites had been satisfied before +this startling announcement was made, and we +all hastened on deck to see the fight.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_186">[186]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVI"> + CHAPTER XVI. + <br> + <span class='chap-title'>THE BATTLE OF THE HORSE SHOE.</span> + </h2> +</div> + +<p class='chap-first kern'><span class='allcaps'>Miss Grace Toppleton</span> turned pale when +Tom announced that the battle had commenced; +but her father only uttered an exclamation +of rage and impatience. The yacht was just entering +the narrow channel between the Horse Shoe +and the Shooter, and our position commanded a full +view of the field. The Wimpletonians had landed +on the north side of the island, near the middle of +which was a ridge. The camp of the Toppletonians +was at the head of the little bay between the two +arms of the Horse Shoe. Behind it was a gentle +slope of ground, which terminated at the ridge, +beyond which the descent on the north shore was +more abrupt.</p> + +<p>On this longer declivity, the two hostile battalions +were drawn up in the order of battle. The +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_187">[187]</span> +statement that the conflict had commenced was premature; +for, though the two “serried ranks” faced +each other, no bones had yet been broken. The +field presented the traditional aspect of boy fights +when the contestants meet in force; the parties faced +each other, and each waited for the other to advance. +Though I was not an impartial judge, I could not +help seeing that the Wimpletonians had displayed +more generalship than the Toppletonians; for, instead +of waiting on the steeper descent at the north +shore, with the ridge above them, for an attack, +they had boldly mounted the hill, and taken possession +of the high ground, which gave them an advantage +that more than compensated for their inferior +numbers.</p> + +<p>The Toppletonians had not discovered the movement +of the enemy till they appeared upon the +ridge, which is another convincing proof that “eternal +vigilance is the price of liberty.” If they had +kept even half a dozen sentinels in the exposed portions +of the island during the night, they could +easily have prevented the landing of the Wimpletonians; +but probably they had no suspicion of a +night movement.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_188">[188]</span></p> + +<p>The combatants appeared to be waiting “for something +to turn up;” for, while the Grace was running +down the channel and coming to anchor, no movement +was made by either of them. The array did +not at present indicate the bloody encounter I had +feared, and had labored to prevent; but it was plain +enough that something would result from the situation. +They would not be likely to face each other +all day without doing some mischief. I could see +Waddie Wimpleton, in his chapeau, white plume, +and gold lace, promenading up and down his lines; +and, though I could not hear him, I knew very well +what big things he was saying.</p> + +<p>“Well, what’s to be done?” said Major Toppleton, +when the Grace had come to anchor.</p> + +<p>“If I were you, sir, I would tell our boys to go +back into their camp,” I replied.</p> + +<p>“What! and let the Wimpleton students have it +all their own way! Not if I know myself,” added +the major, indignant even at the suggestion. “Our +boys have hired the island, and it belongs to them. +They shall stay there!”</p> + +<p>The major was as crazy as the colonel had been, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_189">[189]</span> +and as neither was willing to sacrifice anything, I +could not see how the fight was to be avoided. Of +course none of us had any influence with the invaders, +and we could not induce them to retire from +the island.</p> + +<p>“Can’t you think of any way to get the Wimpleton +boys off, Wolf?” asked the major, impatiently; +and I saw that my services were not required as a +peacemaker, but rather as an active belligerent.</p> + +<p>“I don’t see any way now, sir,” I replied; “but +I may think of something by and by.”</p> + +<p>“By and by! They may kill each other before +you make up your mind,” sneered the great man. +“I will go on shore.”</p> + +<p>I pulled up the boat for him, and rowed him to +the landing-place. I walked up the slope with him, +in order to obtain a better view of the situation. +It had already occurred to me that a diversion in +the rear of the Wimpletonians might compel them +to retire; but, as I was somewhat fearful that such +a step would make them more desperate, and hasten +the conflict, I did not deem it prudent to suggest +the idea. We were within a few rods of the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_190">[190]</span> +Toppleton line, when Major Tommy discovered us. +Whether he was ashamed of his inaction, or fearful +that his father would interfere with the pastime he +had laid out, I do not know; but our coming evidently +had some influence upon him, for he immediately +commenced yelling as though the battle was +to be fought with loud words.</p> + +<p>“Attention—battalion!” said he, flourishing his +sword. “Charge bayonets!”</p> + +<p>“Stop a minute, Tommy!” called Major Toppleton, +senior.</p> + +<p>“Forward—march!” added Major Tommy, regardless +of his father’s interference.</p> + +<p>“Hold on a minute, Tommy!” repeated his father. +“I want to see you.”</p> + +<p>“Forward—march!” screamed the little major, +desperately. “Now give them fits! Don’t mind a +scratch! Drive them before you!”</p> + +<p>“Charge bayonets!” cried Major Waddie, on the +other side; and it was clear enough that he did +not intend to run away.</p> + +<p>In vain did Major Toppleton senior attempt to +check this forward movement. The Toppletonians +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_191">[191]</span> +dashed gallantly up the hill, rushing upon the enemy +with an impetuosity which threatened them with +total annihilation. But then the Wimpletonians began +to move forward; and I felt my heart rising up +into my throat, and my blood growing cold in my +veins, as the combatants approached each other. I +could almost hear the groans of the wounded, and +see the outstretched forms upon the green sod, so +real did the scene appear to me.</p> + +<p>The two lines met, and I heard the clatter of +cold steel as the bayonets struck against each other; +but I had not time to form an exact idea of what +was going on before I saw the Toppletonians give +way in the centre. It was a confused <i lang='fr'>mêlée</i>, and I +could only see a general punching and hammering +with the muskets. When I saw a soldier on either +side make a direct thrust with his bayonet, it was +warded off with a blow. Indeed, the battle seemed +to be fought literally “at the point of the bayonet;” +for, so far as I could judge, neither party +went near enough to do any damage. Each side +seemed to have the requisite discretion to keep out +of the reach of the weapons of the other side. I +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_192">[192]</span> +think there were not many in either rank that had +the ferocity actually to wound their adversaries with +the weapons in their hands.</p> + +<p>This was the beginning of the affray, and the +contending forces had not yet become desperate; +and, though they rushed upon each other with +appalling savageness, as seen by the observer, the +contest was at a safe distance, neither party permitting +the other to come near enough actually to +inflict wounds. In fact, it was just such fighting as +I had often seen between parties of boys, and consisted +in rushing up and falling back. Dangerous +as the weapons were, there was really no bloodthirsty +spirit on either side.</p> + +<p>The Toppletonian centre was broken. Captain +Bayard had been pressing things, and the force in +front of him, to avoid any actual punching of the bayonets, +fell back. Major Waddie strode furiously up +and down his line—in the rear of it, of course—yelled, +and stormed, and gesticulated. When he saw +the centre in front of him give way, he screamed in +his fury, and Bayard, who seemed to have some of +the spirit of his illustrious namesake, forced his +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_193">[193]</span> +company forward till some of them were actually +pricked by the steel of the Toppletonians. But +this spurring seemed only to infuriate them; Waddie +yelled louder than ever, and Bayard, perceiving +his advantage, encouraged his soldiers till the line +before them yielded, and were swept backward +down the hill.</p> + +<p>Captain Pinkerton, on the right, inspired by the +success of the centre, and goaded on by the frantic +yells and gestures of Major Waddie, crowded his +company forward, and the line in front of him, +whose equanimity was disturbed by the rupture of +the centre, fell back also.</p> + +<p>“Three cheers, and drive them!” roared Major +Waddie, hoarsely, as his white plume flaunted in the +fresh breeze.</p> + +<p>Then the Wimpletonians yelled along the whole +length of the line, and rushed down the hill, +the demoralized Toppletonians fleeing before them. +Major Toppleton and myself were obliged to retire +in order to avoid the onslaught of the victorious +battalion.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp95" id="i_p193" style="max-width: 79.75em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_p193.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + THE GREAT BATTLE.—<a href='#Page_193'>Page 193</a>. + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>“The scoundrels!” ejaculated the great man, who +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_194">[194]</span> +appeared to be quite as much disconcerted as his +son.</p> + +<p>“The Wimps have the best of it,” I replied.</p> + +<p>“This is disgraceful!” muttered the major.</p> + +<p>I thought so myself; not the defeat, as he understood +it, but the battle itself, as I understood it.</p> + +<p>Near the camp of the Toppletonians was a belt +of trees extending across the island, into which the +discomfited battalion retreated. The Wimpletonians +followed them closely, and I was afraid the camp +and baggage of our boys would be captured by the +enemy. In the shadow of the grove, Major Tommy +and his two captains rallied the intimidated Toppletonians, +and they made a stand under the friendly +shelter of the trees, the enemy halting at the verge +of the grove. The great man and myself hastened +to headquarters, where we found Tommy breathless +with rage and excitement at his unexpected defeat. +His father taunted him upon his misfortune, which +did not help his fiery mood.</p> + +<p>“What could I do when the fellows gave way?” +stormed he. “They are a pack of cowards, and +would run a mile rather than be pricked with the +point of a pin.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_195">[195]</span></p> + +<p>“It is easy enough for you to talk, Tommy Toppleton,” +snapped private Putnam. “If you went in +the front instead of the rear, it would make a difference +with you.”</p> + +<p>“I was in the place where a commander ought +to be,” retorted Tommy, stung by this reproach. +“I will give you enough of it before you get +through.”</p> + +<p>“You needn’t call us cowards while you keep +yourself in a safe place,” added Putnam.</p> + +<p>“Attention—battalion!” shouted Major Tommy, +suddenly.</p> + +<p>“What are you going to do now?” asked his +father.</p> + +<p>“I’m going to drive the Wimps into the lake this +time.”</p> + +<p>“What’s the use! If you go out of the grove, +you will only be driven back,” replied the major, +senior.</p> + +<p>“Why don’t you make a flank movement?” I +suggested.</p> + +<p>“What do you mean by that?” asked Tommy, +whose attention was arrested by the idea.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_196">[196]</span></p> + +<p>“Send one company round to the other side of +the Wimps,” I replied.</p> + +<p>“If I send half my men away, the Wimps will +defeat the rest here.”</p> + +<p>“No; half your force can hold this wood. If you +can get one company on the high ground, you will +have the advantage over them.”</p> + +<p>Major Tommy thought favorably of the idea; and +I thought it would be safer for both parties to fight +the battle by running and manœuvring than for +them to make a stand-up conflict on the open field, +as they had done. Briscoe was sent with his company +to make the flank movement. He double-quicked +his command towards the east shore of the +island, and began to ascend the slope. Major Waddie +promptly “smelt a mice,” and despatched Captain +Bayard’s company to watch and check the +movements of the flanking force. I went with +Briscoe, intent upon using whatever influence I had +to keep the parties from coming into actual contact +with each other. We reached the summit of the +slope by hard running, in advance of Captain Bayard; +and here the Toppleton company halted on the +highest ground on the island.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_197">[197]</span></p> + +<p>“Now you are all right, Briscoe,” said I. “Send +half a dozen fellows to demonstrate against their +boats, and you will get them out of the way.”</p> + +<p>“You do that, Wolf,” replied he. “Go down, and +shove them off, and I will do the rest.”</p> + +<p>I ran down the slope alone to the landing, where +I found Colonel Wimpleton.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_198">[198]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVII"> + CHAPTER XVII. + <br> + <span class='chap-title'>THE PRISONER OF WAR.</span> + </h2> +</div> + +<p class='chap-first kern-extra'><span class='allcaps'>Colonel Wimpleton</span> was just landing from +a boat, in which he had been ferried over +from the main shore, having come from Centreport +to this point in his chaise. As soon as he landed, +he dismissed the man who had brought him over. +The two great men of the vicinity were both on the +island.</p> + +<p>As soon as I left Captain Briscoe’s company, and +moved towards the landing-place, Bayard, in command +of the Wimpleton company, evidently suspected +my purpose, though I really had no intention of +meddling with the boats, but only of making a demonstration. +Half a dozen soldiers were sent in a +hurry to guard the fleet. This was Briscoe’s opportunity. +The force before him was now reduced so +that an attack was hopeful. I heard him shouting, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_199">[199]</span> +and a moment later the company of Bayard came +helter-skelter over the summit of the hill. Our +fellows, mortified by their first defeat, had made a +desperate charge, and driven the enemy before them. +It was not safe, therefore, for me to meddle with the +boats, even if I had intended to do so.</p> + +<p>“How goes the battle, Wolf?” asked the colonel, +with a smile, as I met him on the beach.</p> + +<p>“Just now it seems to be going in favor of Toppleton,” +I replied; “though our boys were just +driven half way across the island by yours.”</p> + +<p>“Well, that’s good.”</p> + +<p>“But I can’t stay here now, sir; I am afraid I +shall be captured,” I added, glancing at the six +soldiers who were coming down the hill towards me.</p> + +<p>“Don’t be alarmed, Wolf; I will see that you +are not hurt,” laughed the colonel.</p> + +<p>“I don’t wish to be captured.”</p> + +<p>“You shall leave when you please. After thinking +over the matter, I concluded that I should take +our boys off the island,” added the great man of +Centreport; “but I don’t intend to have them driven +off.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_200">[200]</span></p> + +<p>“I’m very glad to hear it, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Where is Waddie?”</p> + +<p>I explained the situation to him, and informed him +of what had already transpired on the island. He +was pleased with the victory which those who bore +his name had achieved, and with this brilliant record +of the Wimpleton battalion he was ready to +retire. But while we were talking about the matter, +the din of battle from the high ground saluted +us. It appeared that Tommy Toppleton, too impatient +to wait for the result of the flanking movement, +had charged upon the company of Wimpletonians +in front of him. Our fellows had wiped out +the disgrace of the early part of the action, and +had driven the enemy up the hill, over its summit, +regaining all the ground lost, and taking the summit +of the slope, which was “the key to the situation.”</p> + +<p>“This won’t do,” said Colonel Wimpleton, as he +saw with dismay that his party was defeated. “I +can’t take them away under these circumstances.”</p> + +<p>But the battle was lost to the Wimpletonians. +Major Tommy had gained the crown of the hill, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_201">[201]</span> +held it with his whole force. The ground was so +steep in front of him that double the number of the +foe could not dislodge him. The enemy had not +yet pitched their tents, and their baggage was now +in danger of capture. Major Waddie consolidated +his battalion, and formed a line at the foot of the +hill, ready to defend his camp equipage. He was +furious at his defeat, and when he saw me his eyes +flashed fire.</p> + +<p>“Arrest that traitor!” said he, flourishing his +sword, and pointing to me.</p> + +<p>“Not yet, Waddie!” interposed his father. “I +have given him a safe conduct.”</p> + +<p>“You are not in command here,” replied the ungracious +son. “What are you doing down here, +Wolf Penniman?”</p> + +<p>“I should have gone before if your father had not +detained me.”</p> + +<p>“Keep cool, Waddie,” said the colonel. “You +have enough to do to whip the Toppletonians.”</p> + +<p>“That’s what I’m going to do,” added Major +Waddie, as he glanced at the summit of the +hill.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_202">[202]</span></p> + +<p>“I will take care of Wolf, and see that he don’t +whip the whole of you.”</p> + +<p>“I will hang him as a traitor if he don’t start +quick. He has no business over here.”</p> + +<p>“He is a non-combatant,” laughed the colonel.</p> + +<p>I do not know what the gallant commander of +the Wimpleton battalion would have deemed it +necessary to do with me, if the exigency of battle +had not called his attention to other matters. I do +not pretend to be a brave fellow, but I am willing +to say I was not afraid of being hanged, even independently +of the powerful protection of the colonel. +Major Tommy, flushed with his recent success, was +intent upon following up his victory. I heard him +call his battalion to the charge, and the words induced +my feathery persecutor to leave me. Tommy +evidently intended to drive the enemy into the lake, +or to force them to surrender on the shore.</p> + +<p>“Charge—bayonets! Forward—march!” yelled +he; and down came the Toppletonians at a furious +pace.</p> + +<p>“Now stand up to it, fellows!” screamed Waddie. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_203">[203]</span> +“This is your last chance. Don’t run if they punch +you through.”</p> + +<p>Not only Waddie, but the two captains in his +battalion, who had more real influence than the commander, +urged the Wimpletonians to stand firm, +and not be driven from their position. But the +time for argument was short. The victorious Toppletonians +swept down the hill, and rushed furiously +at the foe. This time I am quite sure there were +some wounds given on both sides. Major Tommy, +mortified, no doubt, by the taunts of Putnam, and +perhaps of others, did not march in the rear of his +column, but very imprudently placed himself in advance +of it. Fortunately for him, there were several +privates near him who were inspired by his gallant +example, and the centre of the column broke through +the enemy’s front. This would have been a success +to the Toppletonians if the right and left wings had +supported the movement with equal zeal. They +did not, and were forced back by the desperate +Wimpletonians, and in a moment more were retreating +up the hill, closely pursued by the enemy.</p> + +<p>When it was too late, Tommy saw where he was. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_204">[204]</span> +He was standing, supported by only half a dozen +privates, several rods in advance of his battalion. +A squad of the enemy, led on by Captain Pinkerton, +charged upon him. The daring little major defended +himself with zeal and courage, slashing right and +left with his sword. His supporters, seeing the situation, +fell back and joined their companions. Closely +pressed by his exultant foe, Tommy struck savage +blows against the muskets of his assaulters; but suddenly +his sword blade snapped off near the hilt.</p> + +<p>“Capture him! Capture him!” shouted Pinkerton; +and sending part of his squad behind Tommy, +he cut off his retreat.</p> + +<p>The gallant major was now unarmed, and incapable +of making any defence. His companions in +arms had been forced back to the summit of the +hill.</p> + +<p>“Surrender!” cried Pinkerton.</p> + +<p>“Never!” yelled Tommy, with tragic grandeur, +as he made a dive at the captain, with the intention +apparently of wresting his sword from him.</p> + +<p>Such bravery deserved a better fate; but two of +the enemy came behind the impetuous major, and, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_205">[205]</span> +grasping him by the shoulders, threw him down. +The whole squad then fell upon him, and poor Tommy +was a prisoner of war. Two of the stoutest of +his captors, each of them half a head taller than he +was, were detailed to guard the major, and he was +marched to a tree near the camp baggage.</p> + +<p>The Toppletonians were driven to the top of the +hill, and resumed their position upon its summit. +It was useless for the Wimpletonians to attempt to +drive them beyond the ridge, and they returned to +their former halting-place on the level ground. I +began to be a little uneasy about the fate of Tommy +when Major Feathers returned, for I was afraid the +latter, inspired by no lofty ideas of military honor, +would subject his prisoner to some indignities. I +saw Waddie hold a conference with his two captains, +the result of which was soon apparent. Captain Bayard, +attended by a single private, who carried a white +handkerchief suspended on a pole, as a flag of truce, +walked up the hill. I was not informed until afterwards +of the nature of their mission; but, in the +opinion of the Wimpletonians, the capture of Tommy +decided the fate of the day, and they regarded the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_206">[206]</span> +battle as ended, with victory perched upon their +banners. Major Waddie was graciously pleased to +declare that he did not wish to pursue his conquest +any farther, and if the Toppletonians would retire +from the island, their commander should be returned +to them unharmed.</p> + +<p>By the misfortune of Major Tommy, Captain +Briscoe was the ranking officer, and the message +of Major Waddie was delivered to him. By the advice +of Major Toppleton, senior, the terms of peace +were promptly rejected, and an intimation given that +the Toppletonians intended to recapture their commander, +and drive the invaders into the deep waters +of the lake. While these negotiations were in progress, +Colonel Wimpleton left me, and went to the +headquarters of the battalion. Doubtless he saw his +powerful rival on the top of the hill, and wished +to counteract the influence of his counsels with his +own.</p> + +<p>When the flag of truce returned, I saw a private +run to the tree where Major Tommy had been secured +with a rope taken from one of the boats. +Then the two stout fellows in charge of him +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_207">[207]</span> +conducted him to a boat, and pushed off. It was intended +that the commander of the Toppleton battalion +should not be recaptured, and the threat of +his forces was rendered futile. But his command +immediately repeated the assault, when the nature +of Colonel Wimpleton’s advice was evident. The +beach in the rear of the Centreport battalion was +covered with small round stones, with which the +soldiers had plentifully supplied themselves. The +onslaught of the Toppletonians was received with a +volley of these missiles. They reeled under this unexpected +reception, and being on the grass they +could not procure any similar ammunition. Captain +Briscoe, imitating the example of his illustrious commander, +marched in front. The stones seemed to be +aimed at him, and he actually fell, hit by one of +them. His forces, appalled at this savage warfare, +and by the fall of their leader, halted, and then fell +back beyond the reach of the mischievous missiles. +Briscoe was picked up, and borne to the top of the +hill. The affair was becoming more serious, and, I +may consistently add, more disgraceful, especially as +the contending parties were now virtually directed +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_208">[208]</span> +by Major Toppleton and Colonel Wimpleton, who +were old enough to have known better.</p> + +<p>It was plain enough that our boys could not +stand up against these volleys of stones, and that +the Wimpletonians could hold their ground for the +rest of the week. The battle was now to be a matter +of strategy and manœuvring. On the hill, as +they saw Major Tommy sent off in the boat, they +concluded that he was safe enough for the present, +and were not disposed to accept any ignominious +terms of peace. The two fellows in charge of the +prisoner of war had pulled off a quarter of a mile +from the shore, and were watching the issue of the +combat. I was curious to know what would be done +next, but I concluded to operate a little on my own +account. Following the shore round the island, I +reached the pier, and went on board of the yacht. +Skotchley and Grace, in the standing-room, were +watching the action, while Tom Walton and Joe +Poole had gone up to the mast-head, where they +could obtain a better view of the field of battle.</p> + +<p>“All hands, unmoor!” I called, and my ready crew +descended to the deck.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_209">[209]</span></p> + +<p>The mainsail had not been lowered, and we had +only to get up the anchor and hoist the jib. Before +the fresh breeze we stood down the channel towards +the boat in which Tommy was an unwilling passenger.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_210">[210]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"> + CHAPTER XVIII. + <br> + <span class='chap-title'>RESCUING A PRISONER.</span> + </h2> +</div> + +<p class='chap-first kern-extra'><span class='allcaps'>On</span> the passage I told Grace and Ned Skotchley +what had transpired during the time I +had been on shore; and both of them agreed with +me that it was disgraceful to allow boys to fight. +Grace even had the courage to say that her father +ought to have compelled the Toppletonians to leave +the island, rather than encourage such outrageous +conduct.</p> + +<p>“What are you going to do now?” asked Skotchley.</p> + +<p>“I’m going to recapture Tommy.”</p> + +<p>“I thought you were a non-combatant,” laughed he.</p> + +<p>“So I am; but I’m not going to leave Tommy +in the hands of those fellows. I’m afraid the Wimps +will abuse him when they have time to attend to +his case.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_211">[211]</span></p> + +<p>“Don’t let them hurt him,” pleaded Grace.</p> + +<p>“I will not. Tommy is as brave as a lion; if he +had been as prudent as Waddie, he would not have +been captured,” I replied.</p> + +<p>By this time we were within hail of the boat in +which the prisoner of war was held. His guards did +not know the Grace, as she was a new craft on the +lake, and did not expect any mischief from her. +They sat on each side of the vanquished little +major, whose hands were tied together so that he +could do no harm. I ran the yacht up into the +wind so that her bowsprit was over the boat.</p> + +<p>“What are you about? You will run into us!” +shouted one of the sentinels.</p> + +<p>“We won’t hurt you,” replied Tom Walton, as +he hooked on to the boat.</p> + +<p>I ran forward, and Tom and I dropped into the +boat, while Joe Poole held the painter, which I +threw up to him to avoid accidents.</p> + +<p>“Wolf Penniman!” exclaimed Baxter, one of +the guards, when he recognized me. “What do +you want?”</p> + +<p>“I want Major Tommy,” I replied, cutting that +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_212">[212]</span> +young gentleman’s fetters, while Tom Walton stood +between me and the astonished sentinels.</p> + +<p>“You can’t have him! He is a prisoner,” retorted +Baxter, picking up his musket.</p> + +<p>“He was a prisoner, but he isn’t now,” I added. +“You are free, Tommy. Jump aboard as quick as +you can.”</p> + +<p>But Raymond, the sentinel in the bow of the +boat, presented his bayonet, while Tom Walton, +with an oar in his hand, was checking a forward +movement on the part of Baxter. It is not easy +to walk over a bayonet in the hands of a stout +fellow who has been trained to use it skilfully, +and the prospect before me was not very encouraging. +However, Joe Poole turned the fortunes +of the day in our favor, by fastening to the back +of Raymond’s collar with the boat-hook, and pulling +him over backwards into the bottom of the +boat. I seized his musket, and wrenched it from +his grasp, so that the obstacle to Major Tommy’s +escape was removed.</p> + +<p>The little magnate was not slow to avail himself +of his opportunity, and springing over the prostrate +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_213">[213]</span> +form of Raymond, still pinned down by the boat-hook, +he leaped on board of the yacht. The combat, +so far as I was concerned, was happily ended, +and Tom Walton and I made good our retreat, +which was effectually covered by Joe Poole, who +flourished his boat-hook with a vigor that set at +nought the paltry bayonets of the war-worn veterans +from whose gripe we had rescued the unfortunate +commander of the Toppleton forces.</p> + +<p>“Don’t let them go!” shouted Tommy, as he +beheld the result of the brief struggle. “Capture +them!”</p> + +<p>“Let go the painter!” I whispered to Joe Poole.</p> + +<p>“Capture them!” repeated Tommy, furiously, as +he saw the boat recede from the yacht.</p> + +<p>“Hard a-port the helm!” I called to Skotchley, +who was in the standing-room.</p> + +<p>“What are you about?” demanded Tommy, as +I went aft to take the helm.</p> + +<p>“Don’t meddle with them, Mr. Wolf—don’t, +please!” interposed Grace.</p> + +<p>“Shut up, Grace! If you say a word, I’ll throw +you overboard,” said the ungallant major, who was +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_214">[214]</span> +unhappily one of those boys who believe they may +say anything to a sister.</p> + +<p>“I came out here after you, Tommy,” I replied, +indignant at the harsh words the little major had +addressed to Grace. “I don’t think it is worth +while to meddle with those fellows.”</p> + +<p>“What do you suppose I care what you think!” +cried Tommy. “Isn’t this my father’s yacht?”</p> + +<p>“It is your father’s yacht.”</p> + +<p>“Then you will capture those fellows, or I will +know the reason why,” he added, stoutly.</p> + +<p>“Don’t touch them, Mr. Wolf—don’t, please,” +said Grace.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Wolf!” sneered Tommy. “Mr. Wolf will +do what I tell him.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t think it is quite proper to get into +a row with a young lady on board!” I added, +mildly.</p> + +<p>“Wolf Penniman, you are a coward and a traitor!” +exclaimed Tommy. “And you are another!” +he added, fixing his indignant gaze upon Skotchley.</p> + +<p>“Thank you, Tommy,” replied the dignified student, +coolly.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_215">[215]</span></p> + +<p>“You shall be court-martialed as a deserter and +a coward!”</p> + +<p>“Well, I think I can stand it.”</p> + +<p>Major Tommy glanced at the boat from which +he had been removed, and in which his two guards +had taken the oars and were pulling for the shore. +He seemed to think that they would add two more +to the force of the Wimpletonians, and that it was +a grave military indiscretion to permit the enemy +thus to be augmented. Besides, he must have his +own way, and any opposition was quite enough to +rouse the evil spirit in his nature. He insisted +again that the two guards should be captured. I +tried to excuse myself from meddling in the warfare, +and Grace stood by me with a zeal which +brought down the wrath of her brother upon her.</p> + +<p>“I say that boat shall be taken,” persisted he, +violently.</p> + +<p>“It is impossible,” I replied, weary of his tyranny. +“She is dead to windward of us.”</p> + +<p>“Please don’t, Mr. Wolf,” added Grace.</p> + +<p>“Hold your tongue, Grace!” snapped he, as he +sprang to the tiller, and shoved me one side.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_216">[216]</span></p> + +<p>“Don’t, Tommy,” added Grace, placing her hand +upon his shoulder to deter him.</p> + +<p>The little monster actually turned upon her, and +struck her a blow in the face which sent her reeling +over into her seat. I could not stand that; +my blood boiled up, and boiled over. I sprang +upon him, and in a small fraction of an instant, +Major Tommy Toppleton was lying flat on the +floor of the standing-room.</p> + +<p>“O, don’t touch him, Mr. Wolf!” begged Grace.</p> + +<p>“You villain you, how dare you put your hand +upon me?” gasped Tommy, springing to his feet, +as savage as a young tiger.</p> + +<p>“I don’t like to see any one strike a young lady, +least of all when she is his sister.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll let you know!” whined he, crying with passion, +as he leaped upon me.</p> + +<p>Walton and Skotchley each grasped one of his +arms, and held him so that he was powerless. He +raved, tore, and swore; and it was evident enough +to me, when my indignation subsided, that I had +sacrificed myself, if not my father and the whole +family.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_217">[217]</span></p> + +<p>“I won’t say anything more, Tommy,” interposed +Grace, terrified by the violence around her. “You +may have your own way.”</p> + +<p>“Give me that helm, Wolf!” cried Tommy.</p> + +<p>“I will give it to you,” I replied, moving aside, +influenced by the action of Grace; and I don’t +know but Tommy would have beaten his head to +jelly against the trunk if some concession had not +been made to his wrath.</p> + +<p>He cooled off as rapidly as he had become heated, +when all opposition was removed. He threw the +yacht up into the wind, and Tom Walton and I +trimmed the sails; but the new helmsman could +not manage her, and she lay with her sails flapping +idly in the wind.</p> + +<p>“Ease her off a little, Tommy, and she will go +it,” I ventured to suggest.</p> + +<p>“Mind your own business, Wolf Penniman. Your +time is out from this moment, and Grace shall never +put her foot into this yacht again, if it is named +after her,” blustered Tommy.</p> + +<p>I subsided, and seated myself on the trunk amidships +to wait the issue. The new skipper, however, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_218">[218]</span> +adopted my suggestion, though he snubbed me for +making it. The Grace, accommodating as she was, +would not sail into the wind’s eye, and before Tommy +was ready to tack, in beating up to the chase, +the boat landed her hands on the beach. I saw +that he was vexed; but he “chewed up” his wrath. +He soon came about, and headed for the channel +between the Horse Shoe and the Shooter. I concluded +that he must be anxious to join his battalion; +but it would be impossible to beat the +yacht up the narrow passage. It was no use for +me to say anything, and I did not, for he would +be sure to go in direct opposition to any suggestion +of mine.</p> + +<p>He ran the Grace up to the north point of the +Shooter, and came about. I thought it my duty +to tell him that the water was very shoal ahead +of him, as he approached the Horse Shoe on this +tack. He politely insinuated that I was to hold +my tongue, which I succeeded in doing for a moment +longer, until the yacht grated on the gravel +bottom, and stuck fast.</p> + +<p>“That’s just where I wanted her,” said Tommy, +unmoved by the event. “Joe Poole!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_219">[219]</span></p> + +<p>Joe Poole appeared before the imperious little +magnate, and was directed to bring up the boat +and land our uncomfortable passenger. Tommy +jumped into the boat, and as he took his seat in +the stern-sheets, he delivered his parting volley at +me, to the effect that, like Othello, my occupation +was gone, and that I should be driven out of Middleport +as a coward and a traitor. To this mild +speech I permitted myself to make no reply.</p> + +<p>“Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!” shouted the Toppleton +battalion on the shore.</p> + +<p>This shout of triumph attracted the attention of +the major, and he hurried up Joe Poole, who soon +landed him on the beach. On the whole, I concluded +that I had not made much by meddling +with the conflict, even so far as to rescue Tommy +from his captors. During the events which I have +related, I had closely watched the movements of +the contending forces. Company B of the Toppleton +battalion had been sent round the island to +flank the enemy, and obtain a position where stones +were available as ammunition. This operation had +been successful, and the Wimpletonians had been +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_220">[220]</span> +forced back from their stronghold, for they could +not stand up against volleys of stones any better +than their rivals. Company A had dashed down +the hill at the right time, and the enemy were +driven upon their baggage. This success had drawn +forth the shout of triumph.</p> + +<p>Fortunately for us on board of the Grace, Tommy +had sailed her shaking in the wind, so that she +had gone on the shoal very gently, though hard +enough to give us two hours of severe exertion. +As we worked, moving ballast from the forward to +the after part of the yacht, we watched the movements +of the contending forces. As I anticipated, +Tommy ordered another charge as soon as he +reached the battalion, though the Wimpletonians +were actually engaged in loading their baggage +into the boats. We saw a flag of truce hoisted by +the defeated party, and a parley took place, the +result of which was, that they were permitted to +retire without further molestation. Long and loud +were the cheers of Toppleton when the fleet moved +away from the island, and pulled towards the +Shooter. The victors then returned to their camp.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_221">[221]</span></p> + +<p>We got the Grace off at last, and, after passing +around the Horse Shoe, I anchored off the pier +in the channel. Major Toppleton soon appeared, +accompanied by Tommy, and I expected to be discharged +at once.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_222">[222]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIX"> + CHAPTER XIX. + <br> + <span class='chap-title'>A TYRANNICAL SON.</span> + </h2> +</div> + +<p class='chap-first'><span class='allcaps'>“I suppose</span> my time is out, Miss Toppleton,” +said I to Grace, as I saw the big major and +the little major approaching the pier.</p> + +<p>“Your time out?” she replied, looking anxiously +at me.</p> + +<p>“I shall be discharged from my situation, and +perhaps be driven out of Middleport.”</p> + +<p>“O, no! I hope not, Mr. Wolf.”</p> + +<p>“Tommy is very arbitrary, and after what has +happened, he will not permit me to remain on the +same side of the lake with him.”</p> + +<p>“I am sorry you touched him,” said she, musing.</p> + +<p>“I should not have touched him if he had struck +me. I was indignant and angry.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I don’t blame you, Mr. Wolf, for it is +abominable for a boy to strike his sister,” she added, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_223">[223]</span> +placing her hand upon her pretty face, where her +brother’s rude hand had left its mark. “But Tommy +rules the whole house at home; and I suppose +he will have his own way now, as he always did.”</p> + +<p>As Tommy got into the boat which I had sent +for him and his father, I saw that he was still in a +very unamiable frame of mind. He was talking +loudly and indignantly to his father, who appeared +to be trying to soothe him and moderate his wrath. +For my own part, I could not regret what I had +done, unpleasant as the consequences promised to be. +It was not in my nature to stand by and see a little +bully, like Tommy, strike a young lady,—not pat +her gently, but strike her a heavy blow,—not even +if he were her brother. I had been tempted to +give the young ruffian the pounding which he richly +deserved, and to continue the operation until he was +willing to promise better things.</p> + +<p>Perhaps the handsome offer which Colonel Wimpleton +had made me rendered me somewhat more +independent than I should otherwise have been. I +was certainly in good condition to be discharged, +and did not feel much like submitting to any gross +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_224">[224]</span> +indignities from the great man of Middleport, or his +hopeful son. But Major Toppleton had been very +kind to me, and to my father, and I could not forget +the service he had rendered to us.</p> + +<p>The boat came alongside, and Tommy leaped upon +the deck, followed by his father; and I could not +help noticing that the senior major looked very +anxious and uncomfortable. Tommy had doubtless +been making strong speeches to him, and it was +really melancholy to think of a man of his abilities, +dignity, and influence reduced to a kind of slavery +by the tyranny of his own son; and all the more +melancholy because he could not realize that he was +spoiling the boy by this weak indulgence.</p> + +<p>“Wolf Penniman,” said the little major, majestically, +“I always keep my promises.”</p> + +<p>“Keep cool, Tommy,” interposed his father, stepping +into the standing-room, where Grace and I +were seated alone, for Skotchley and Tom Walton +had gone forward.</p> + +<p>“You know what I said, father. I won’t have +Wolf around me any longer. He has been a coward +and a traitor, and he had the audacity to knock me +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_225">[225]</span> +down. Wolf Penniman, you are discharged!” continued +Tommy, blustering furiously.</p> + +<p>“Don’t be too fast, Tommy,” interposed his father. +“Wolf went after the boat in which you were a +prisoner, captured it, and restored you to your command. +Captain Briscoe told you that he did not +dare to make his last move till he saw that Wolf +had taken you out of the hands of the enemy.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t blame him for that; but he refused to +obey my orders, and then knocked me down. I +say you may discharge him, or discharge me.”</p> + +<p>The alternative was a reminder of the Hitaca incident, +and a hint that, if his father did not obey +orders, Tommy would run away again, and there +would be no suitable person to inherit the great +man’s millions. I made no reply, but bowed meekly +to my fate. It appeared that, after all, I was not +to run the Lightning Express train, about which so +much had been said.</p> + +<p>“Don’t let him discharge Mr. Wolf, father,” interposed +Grace, her pretty cheeks red with indignation; +and with such an advocate I could afford to +be still.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_226">[226]</span></p> + +<p>“Discharge Mr. Wolf!” sneered the little magnate. +“Will you learn to mind your own business, +Grace?”</p> + +<p>“He struck me in the face, father, and that was +the reason why Mr. Wolf knocked him down. I am +sorry he did so, but I think Tommy was to blame,” +continued Grace.</p> + +<p>“You needn’t stick up for him; if you do, it +won’t make any difference.”</p> + +<p>“I am astonished that you should strike your +sister,” added Major Toppleton, whose painful expression +fully proved his sincerity.</p> + +<p>“Well, you needn’t be!” replied Tommy, rudely +and disrespectfully. “If she don’t mind her own +business, and let my affairs alone, I shall teach her +better. I have said all I have to say, and I’m +going ashore to look out for my battalion. Remember, +Wolf is discharged!”</p> + +<p>Tommy abruptly left the yacht, and, leaping into +the boat, ordered Joe Poole to pull him ashore. +The fiat had gone forth. I was discharged. Tommy +was the president of the road, and doubtless he +had the power to dismiss me.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_227">[227]</span></p> + +<p>“Here is trouble,” said Major Toppleton, with a sigh.</p> + +<p>“I hope you won’t let Mr. Wolf be discharged,” +said Grace, when the irate little magnate was out +of hearing.</p> + +<p>“What can I do?” replied the major, impatiently. +“Tommy is the president of the road, and he has +the right to discharge an employee. If I interfere, +there will be such a tempest as we had a year ago.”</p> + +<p>Poor magnate! How I pitied him! Just as I +had seen a baby tyrannize over its loving mother, +so did Tommy tyrannize over his father. The great +man—how little he seemed to be then!—mused +for a while over the unpleasant situation.</p> + +<p>“I’ll tell you what we can do, Wolf. I want +a skipper for this boat. If you will withdraw from +the railroad for a time, I will give you this situation, +with the same pay you are now receiving.”</p> + +<p>“I am entirely satisfied, sir, and shall be, whatever +you or Tommy may do,” I answered, meekly. +“I certainly like the boat better than the train; +but I suppose Tommy will not permit me to take +charge of her.”</p> + +<p>The major bit his lips with vexation. His fetters +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_228">[228]</span> +galled him, and he had not the resolution to shake +them off. He ordered me to get the yacht under +way, and start for Middleport. As soon as she was +clear of the narrow channel, the major asked me +down into the cabin, and we had a talk, which +lasted till the Grace came to anchor before the +owner’s mansion.</p> + +<p>“You know how I’m situated, Wolf,” said he, +turning his gaze from me, as if ashamed to acknowledge +his subservience to the wilful boy. “Tommy +must have his own way; he is desperate if he does +not. He will run away, or drown himself in the +lake, if he does not.”</p> + +<p>I could not help smiling at the infirmity of the +father, and he made haste to defend himself. Tommy +was subject to fits when he was a child, and he +was fearful that irritation would bring on a return +of the malady. The young gentleman had actually +threatened to commit suicide if he could not have +his own way.</p> + +<p>“I only wish to smooth the thing over for a time, +for Tommy is a good-hearted boy, and he will come +to his senses if he is not thwarted,” added he. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_229">[229]</span> +“You are not a father, Wolf, and you can’t understand +the matter.”</p> + +<p>“I am willing to do whatever you desire, sir,” I +replied. “Perhaps I ought to say, that I can afford +to be discharged just now. You have used me +very handsomely, Major Toppleton, and I am grateful +for your kindness. I will never leave your +service of my own accord. Last night Colonel +Wimpleton told me about his new steamer, which +is to run in opposition to our Lightning Express, +and offered me a man’s wages to go either as engineer +or as captain of her. I told him I could not +leave my friends while they used me so well, and +declined the offer. I did not mean to tell you of +this, and should not, if things had not turned out +just as they have.”</p> + +<p>The major bit his lip again. He was disposed +to be angry; and, in a passion, he was as nearly +like Tommy as one pea is like another. But he did +not give way to the inclination.</p> + +<p>“I declined the offer,” I repeated, when I saw +him struggling with the mischief within him.</p> + +<p>“When will that steamer be ready to run?” he +asked.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_230">[230]</span></p> + +<p>“In a couple of months, the builder told me.”</p> + +<p>“I’m glad you told me of this,” he continued, +after chewing upon it for some time. “Perhaps it +will have some influence upon Tommy.”</p> + +<p>And there the matter ended for the present, +Grace said she would do all she could for me; +and however the rest of the house might regard +me, I felt sure of an earnest advocate in her. She +went on shore with her father, and as the skipper +of the yacht, I spent the rest of the day in +working upon her, and in putting down a set of +moorings for her.</p> + +<p>The next day I took a party up the lake in her, +and for the rest of the week I was kept busy in my +new occupation. I acquitted myself to the satisfaction +of my employers, not only in pleasant weather, +but in a heavy squall, which caught us in the middle +of the widest part of the lake, off Gulfport.</p> + +<p>The Wimpletonians encamped on the Shooter +after they were driven from the Horse Shoe. The +combat of Monday was not decisive enough to satisfy +them, and the war was renewed, and continued +during the week, with varying success. Each party +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_231">[231]</span> +stole the boats of the other, and inflicted whatever +mischief it could. On Thursday night, in the midst +of a violent storm, when the Toppleton Guards +sought shelter in their tents, the invading hordes +of Wimpletonians crossed the channel, and actually +conquered the territory of their rivals. Having +levelled their tents, cut the cords, and broken up +the tent-poles, they retired, satisfied with the mischief +they had done. The Toppletonians were defeated +in a similar attempt to invade the Shooter +the next night; and when the end of the week +arrived, neither could claim any material advantage +over the other. The Wimpletonians had retrieved +the disaster of the first day, and would have held +the island if they had not been afraid of the interference +of the owner.</p> + +<p>Both parties returned to their studies, their hatred +of each other not a jot abated, and more than ever +before the Toppletonians were on the lookout for +some opportunity to spite the other side.</p> + +<p>When the battalion returned on Saturday night, +I was up the lake in the Grace, and I did not see +Major Tommy for several days. When we did meet, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_232">[232]</span> +he seemed to have forgotten everything that had +happened; but Grace told me she had listened to +the conversation between her father and him relating +to the affair with me. At first the young +gentleman was furious at the idea of retaining me +in the yacht; but when he heard of Colonel Wimpleton’s +offer he yielded the point, and permitted +me to remain.</p> + +<p>On the 1st of September the Lake Shore Railroad +was completed. Lewis Holgate had run the dummy +while I was skipper of the yacht; but the major +would not permit him to go on the locomotive, and +I was summoned back to my old position without +opposition from the little magnate.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_233">[233]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XX"> + CHAPTER XX. + <br> + <span class='chap-title'>THE LIGHTNING EXPRESS TRAIN.</span> + </h2> +</div> + +<p class='chap-first kern'><span class='allcaps'>There</span> was something about Tommy’s actions +which I did not like. Though he spoke to me, +as before, the old grudge was not wiped out. I saw +that he and Lewis Holgate were very thick together, +and I soon found that my fireman had ceased to be +as tractable as at first. I heard he had reported +among the boys that I was a Wimpletonian at heart, +and would sell out the Lake Shore Railroad to the +other side any time when I could get a chance.</p> + +<p>The road was completed, and I ran the first train +through to Ucayga. Major Toppleton had altered +the Middleport into a ferry-boat at my suggestion, +and she plied, in connection with the railroad, from +our station on one side of the river to the town on +the other. When we had gone over the ground a +few times, the major sprang the trap. The two +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_234">[234]</span> +boats which ran the whole length of the lake were +advertised to start from Middleport, touching at Centreport. +Passengers from the latter place could cross +in one of them, and go by the railroad to Ucayga—they +could, but they did not like to do so. The +steamers plied in connection with the road, and the +Centreporters were as angry as though they had +been shut out from the rest of the world; for their +splendid boat was not yet ready to run in opposition +to the new arrangement.</p> + +<p>On Monday morning the Lightning Express train +was to make its first trip. Major Toppleton told me +to be sure and “make time.” The track had been +carefully examined, and strengthened where it was +weak. I was to prove to the Centreporters that a +steamboat could not compete with the Lake Shore +Railroad. Everybody was excited, and the president +of the road absented himself from school, in order +to see that the programme was properly carried out. +I could have dispensed with his services; but he +insisted upon riding on the foot-board, probably to +see that I did not sell out the concern to the other +side.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_235">[235]</span></p> + +<p>“The cars are full, Wolf;” said Tommy, after I +had backed the locomotive into the station, and the +cars were shackled to it.</p> + +<p>“I am glad to hear it,” I replied.</p> + +<p>“I saw quite a number of people from the other +side among the passengers.”</p> + +<p>“So much the better. We shall convince them +that we can make time on this side of the lake.”</p> + +<p>Turning suddenly as I made this remark, I saw +Lewis Holgate give Tommy a significant wink. I +did not understand what it meant, and it troubled +me a little. I should have been very glad to get rid +of my fireman; but he was on such intimate terms +with the president that it was useless for me to say +anything. He did not attend to his duty, did not +keep the working parts of the engine well oiled, and +even neglected his fires. In fact, he had risen above +his business since he had run the dummy.</p> + +<p>“All aboard!” shouted the gentlemanly conductor, +as he gave me the signal to start.</p> + +<p>As I always did before I let on the steam, I +glanced at the machinery around me. The reversing +lever had been changed since I adjusted it. It must +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_236">[236]</span> +have been done by one of my companions in the +cab. I restored the lever to its proper position for +going ahead, and opened the throttle valve. The +train started, but it went heavy. The engine acted +weak. Glancing at the steam gauge, I saw that it indicated +only three quarters of the necessary pressure.</p> + +<p>“How’s your fire?” I asked of Lewis.</p> + +<p>“Good!”</p> + +<p>“Look at it and see. The steam is low.”</p> + +<p>He obeyed me; but I saw that he put hardly a +spoonful of coal into the furnace, and closed the door, +while I was looking out ahead. The train went well +down the grade; but when we approached Spangleport, +we dragged hard.</p> + +<p>“Fill up your furnace, Lewis,” said I, rather sharply, +as I observed that the gauge had hardly gained +anything.</p> + +<p>He put another spoonful of coal into the furnace.</p> + +<p>“Fill it up!” I added, warmly; and I began to +feel that some one was trying to sell me out.</p> + +<p>“It won’t burn if I put in too much,” growled +Lewis.</p> + +<p>“Shovel it in,” I continued, glancing into the fire +box, which was nearly empty.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_237">[237]</span></p> + +<p>“More yet,” I added, as he attempted to close +the door.</p> + +<p>I kept my eye on him till I was satisfied that +we should soon have all the steam we could use. +When I stopped the train at Spangleport we had +lost five minutes, and, what was worse, I had nearly +lost my temper. Lewis Holgate appeared to be +laboring for the defeat, rather than the success, of +the Lightning Express train. The presence of Mr. +President Tommy on the foot-board seemed to be a +partial explanation of his conduct. But I was determined +that the enterprise should not be a failure. +I was fully resolved to make time if steam could +do it. Lightning Express was on trial, and if it +failed, the Centreporters, whom I was now accused +of favoring, would take courage.</p> + +<p>We stopped but a moment at Spangleport. I +opened the furnace, and stirred up the fire myself. +At the same time I kept one eye on Lewis, and +the other on Tommy; for I wanted to catch one of +them reversing a crank, or doing any other mischief. +Both of them looked innocent, though I saw them +exchanging significant glances. By this time I had +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_238">[238]</span> +a full head of steam, and was satisfied that I could +make up the lost time, if no further obstacles were +thrown in my way. The eight miles of road between +Spangleport and Grass Springs was almost as +straight as an arrow, and I expected to recover the +lost ground on this run. Only an hour had been +allowed for the passengers to reach Ucayga. If the +train was behind time, those going east and west +would lose their passage.</p> + +<p>“All aboard!” shouted the conductor, as he gave +me the signal to start the train.</p> + +<p>“You are on time, Wolf, and you needn’t hurry +yourself,” said Tommy, as he consulted his watch.</p> + +<p>“There’s time enough,” I replied, determined not +to be deceived by him.</p> + +<p>I was nervous and excited, for I was conscious +that both of my companions on the engine were +laboring to make the Lightning Express a failure +in my charge. I kept my hand on the lever of the +throttle valve, almost afraid that it would be wrenched +from my grasp. I let on the steam, and kept letting +it on till the Ucayga—for that was the name which +had been given to the locomotive, in compliment to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_239">[239]</span> +the place which it was necessary to conciliate—seemed +to fly through the air.</p> + +<p>“Shovel in the coal, Lewis,” said I to my unwilling +fireman, while we were rushing on at this furious +rate.</p> + +<p>“I think there is enough coal in the furnace,” replied +he, opening the door.</p> + +<p>“I don’t think so. Shovel it in!”</p> + +<p>He put in about half a shovel full, and did it +so doggedly that I was fully convinced he was +laboring to defeat the experiment. I spoke to him +very sharply. I threatened to stop the train, and +send for Major Toppleton.</p> + +<p>“I am the president of this road. If you have +any complaints to make, you will make them to +me,” interposed Tommy, who was holding on to the +cab with both hands.</p> + +<p>“Will you tell the fireman, then, to do his duty?”</p> + +<p>“He is doing it.”</p> + +<p>“Will you tell him to put in more coal?”</p> + +<p>“Fill it up, Lewis,” added Tommy, who seemed +to be conscious that there was a point beyond which +even he could not go.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_240">[240]</span></p> + +<p>My rascally assistant then attempted to choke the +fires by overloading the furnace; but I watched him, +and succeeded in preventing him from doing the +mischief he intended. I continued to increase the +speed of the Ucayga until, I think, we were going at +the rate of forty miles an hour. Tommy’s hair stood +on end, and so did my own, for that matter; but I +was desperate. I blew a long whistle as we approached +Grass Springs. When I shut off the steam +I looked at my watch. We had made the eight +miles in twelve minutes, and the train was on time +when we went into the Springs. I was satisfied +then.</p> + +<p>The moment the engine stopped, Tommy jumped +off. He did not say anything, but I was convinced +that he did not like riding on the locomotive, going +at lightning-express rates. I was glad to get rid of +him. I need not say that the events of the morning +made me very uncomfortable. I had seen but little +of Tommy since the events on the Horse Shoe; but +I was conscious that he was nursing his wrath +against me. Long before this time he would have +driven me out of Middleport if he had not been so +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_241">[241]</span> +unpopular himself among the boys. My friend Dick +Skotchley—for as such I was proud to regard him—had +fought my battle for me among the students. +Tommy was so conceited and overbearing that all +the fellows hated him; and they were ripe for a +mutiny against him in his capacity as president of +the road, as well as in that of major of the battalion. +More than this, Tommy’s father was still my friend, +though he feared his son. Without egotism I may +say that I was popular in Middleport. If I had not +been, I should have been kicked out, like a dog, +by my imperious little master.</p> + +<p>“How are you, Wolf?” shouted Tom Walton, as +I was about to start the train.</p> + +<p>“Jump on, Tom,” I replied, as the conductor gave +the word to go ahead.</p> + +<p>My friend leaped into the cab, and I let on the +steam. He told me he was spending a few days +with his aunt at the Springs, and that he was looking +for something to do. He was an active, industrious, +quick-witted fellow, who never needed to be +told twice how to do the same thing. Though +he knew nothing about an engine, he had the ability +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_242">[242]</span> +to learn, and it immediately occurred to me that +he would make a first-rate fireman, for it was evident +that Lewis Holgate and myself could not much +longer stand together on the same foot-board.</p> + +<p>“This is bully—isn’t it, Wolf?” said Tom, as +the engine attained her highest speed, though, as +there were now occasional curves, I was obliged to +ease her a little at times.</p> + +<p>“Do you like it?” I inquired.</p> + +<p>“First rate. It is almost as good as the Grace—not +quite,” replied he, with proper enthusiasm. “Is +this the Lightning Express folks talk so much +about?”</p> + +<p>“This is the Lightning Express. We have come +through in a hurry this time. Five minutes’ delay +would ruin the Lake Shore Railroad, and cause +more crowing over at Centreport than ten thousand +roosters could do in a year. But we are on +time.”</p> + +<p>“I’m glad you are,” laughed Tom. “I expect +the train will always be on time while you run it.”</p> + +<p>“If nothing happens, I shall put my passengers +down in Ucayga at the time promised.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_243">[243]</span></p> + +<p>“I hope nothing will happen, then.”</p> + +<p>But at that very instant, before he had finished +the remark, I saw, as we shot round a curve, a little +child at play between the two rails. A woman was +running towards it in frantic haste. My blood froze +with horror. At first I felt like fainting; but I +closed the valve and whistled to put on the brakes.</p> + +<p>“Jam down that brake, Lewis!” I gasped to the +fireman, indicating the one on the tender.</p> + +<p>Tom Walton did not say anything, but passing +through the window in the cab, he made his way to +the cow-catcher. I grasped the reversing levers, and +I think all the passengers must have been thrown off +their seats when I checked the train. But it was +still doubtful whether I could stop in season to save +the child, and my heart was in my mouth.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_244">[244]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXI"> + CHAPTER XXI. + <br> + <span class='chap-title'>MAKING UP TIME.</span> + </h2> +</div> + +<p class='chap-first kern'><span class='allcaps'>It</span> seemed to me, if the locomotive ran over that +child, that I could not have the audacity to live +another day, though it would not be my fault. It +was so awful, so horrible, that I prayed to be +saved from the catastrophe. I did not feel as though +I could ever hold up my head again if that innocent +little child was sacrificed. It would be better +that the Lake Shore Railroad should be sunk at +the bottom of the lake than that a single precious +life should be lost.</p> + +<p>My blood ran cold through my veins as I gazed +at the little child, who seemed to be paralyzed with +astonishment as the iron monster swept towards +her. It was a little girl, not more than four or +five years old. The woman who ran shrieking towards +the track was doubtless her mother. What +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_245">[245]</span> +a moment of agony it was to her! My heart bled +for her, and the triumph of the Lightning Express +sank into insignificance as I contemplated the thrilling +scene.</p> + +<p>As the engine came nearer to the little girl, my +hopes rose higher, for our speed was effectually +checked by the efforts we had made. Tom Walton +was on the cow-catcher, and I knew that he would +do the right thing at the right time. The child +showed no disposition to move; indeed, I think she +had no power to do so, even if she comprehended +the nature of her peril. As we came near enough, +I saw her eyes set in a kind of fixed stare, which +indicated astonishment rather than fear.</p> + +<p>“Jam down the brakes, Lewis!” I called to the +fireman, as I labored to check the speed of the engine; +and I must do him the justice to say that +he was not at all backward in obeying my order, +though I doubt whether he would have been equally +zealous if it had been I, instead of the child, who +was on the track.</p> + +<p>The speed of the train was checked, but it was +not stopped; and so far as the life of the child +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_246">[246]</span> +was concerned, we might as well have been going +at the rate of forty as five miles an hour, for the +slightest blow of the cow-catcher would have killed +her. All this transpired within a few seconds. +Hardly an instant elapsed after the steam was shut +off, and the brakes put on, before I was trying to +back the engine. The sparks flew under the drivewheels, +but still the iron mass swept on towards +the child, whose instants appeared to be numbered. +It seemed to me that I stopped breathing as the +little child disappeared behind the forward part of +the locomotive. I expected to hear a shriek—to +be conscious that the child was a gory, mangled, +and shapeless mass beneath.</p> + +<p>Almost at the same moment, Tom Walton straightened +up, holding the child in one arm. The engine +had almost stopped, and was still groaning and struggling +under my ineffectual labors to bring it to a +complete stand. My heart leaped the instant I saw +the child in the arms of my friend. My blood, +rolled back by the fearful suspense, seemed to be +bursting through my veins, and I was disposed to +shout for joy.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp96" id="i_p246" style="max-width: 80.125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_p246.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + THE RESCUE.—<a href='#Page_246'>Page 246</a>. + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_247">[247]</span></p> + +<p>“She is safe!” cried Tom, at the top of his +voice, as he leaped from the engine upon the +ground, and placed the little girl in the arms of +her mother.</p> + +<p>I saw the horror-stricken parent press the little +one to her bosom. I heard the sob of convulsive +agony which attended the tremendous reaction. It +was like passing from death to life for her, and I +felt that I could almost understand even a mother’s +emotion.</p> + +<p>“Thank God! Thank God!” I cried; and they +were not idle words that I uttered, for it seemed to +me that the Good Father had interposed to save +me from what I should have remembered with horror +all the rest of my life.</p> + +<p>I could not but regard it as an interposition of +Providence in my favor, rather than the child’s; +but in the mother’s favor rather than that of either +of us, for she would have been the greatest sufferer. +I am sure this incident had a powerful influence +upon me, not for the moment, or the day only, but +for all the rest of my life. It has kept my eyes +open when I was disposed to close them; it has +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_248">[248]</span> +decided the question of running a risk when nothing +else seemed to restrain me; it taught me +to regard human life as too sacred to be trifled +with.</p> + +<p>I saw the fond mother clasp her child, and with +the reaction came the thought that I was running +the Lightning Express train; that the reputation +of Middleport depended upon the time I should +make.</p> + +<p>“Jump on, Tom!” I called to my friend, as he +paused for a moment to gaze at the mother and +her rescued child.</p> + +<p>“That was a narrow squeak!” said he; and the +whole face of the generous fellow expanded into one +smile of satisfaction.</p> + +<p>“It was, indeed, Tom,” I replied, as I let on the +steam, and whistled to take off the brakes. “It +was a merciful providence that you were on the +engine with me. If you had not been, the child +would have been dead at this instant.”</p> + +<p>“I am glad I was here, then. I think that woman +will keep her child in the house after this,” replied +he.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_249">[249]</span></p> + +<p>I crowded on the steam again, and once more +the train flew like the wind along the lake shore. +All the time I was thinking of that little child; +of the anguish that would have filled that cottage +by the lake, at this moment, if Tom Walton had +not happened to be on the engine with me. I +could have done no more than I did do, and though +the train was on the very point of stopping, there +was still momentum enough left in it to have +crushed the little one to death. I was grateful +to God as I had never been before for sparing me +such a calamity.</p> + +<p>In the exhilaration of the moment I urged forward +the locomotive till I saw the steamer which was +waiting to convey the passengers across the river. I +looked at my gold watch, thought of Grace Toppleton, +as I always did when I glanced at its face, +and almost forgot why I had taken it from my +pocket in thinking of the expression of her beautiful +face when I should relate to her the thrilling +incident which had just occurred. I was on time; +I was ahead of time, for I had driven the engine +at a furious speed. But I had worked carefully; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_250">[250]</span> +I had favored it on the curves, and I felt as safe +myself as if I had been in my father’s house.</p> + +<p>The brakes were put on, and the train stopped +at the rude pier which had been built for the +steamer. Major Toppleton had carefully instructed +Captain Underwood, and the boat was ready to +start on the instant. Hardly had the cars stopped +before the deck hands began to load the baggage +on the trucks. Everybody worked as if the salvation +of the nation depended upon his individual +exertions, and I am afraid that some of the passengers +had occasion to weep as they saw the +rude manner in which their baggage was tossed +about. I do not think it would have taken a moment +longer for the men to handle the trunks +respectfully—for this seems to me to be the proper +word, since the feelings of the traveller are so +largely centred in his luggage.</p> + +<p>Major Toppleton stood on the platform, and drove +up the men. He did not seem to care whose trunk +was smashed if he only succeeded in carrying out +his own plans. He had allowed just one hour for +the transportation of the passengers from Middleport +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_251">[251]</span> +to the station in Ucayga, and I think he +would cheerfully have given ten thousand dollars +rather than fail in the enterprise.</p> + +<p>Tommy stood on the platform near his father; +but there was no expression of satisfaction on his +face. He had labored to defeat the enterprise in +order to overwhelm me. It was disaster to him, +and I am inclined to think he was still holding +in lively remembrance the disobedience of which +I had been guilty three months before.</p> + +<p>The trucks, piled high with trunks and valises, +were wheeled on the forward deck of the Middleport, +from which they could be rolled to the baggage +car on the other side when the train arrived. +The boat started. The long experience of Captain +Underwood enabled him to clear or make a landing +in the shortest possible time. But fifteen minutes +had been allowed for getting the passengers over, +and I had the satisfaction of seeing the trucks on +the platform upon the other side of the river full +five minutes before the train was due. My anxiety +had come to an end. I looked upon the Lightning +Express as a glorious triumph, and, in contrast with +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_252">[252]</span> +it, I could not help thinking how cheap and mean +we should have felt if the train had rushed off +before the passengers arrived. The failure would +have been charged upon me, and I am afraid I +could not have saved myself by exposing the conspiracy +which had been instigated by Tommy.</p> + +<p>The trains from the east and from the west, +which passed each other at Ucayga, were both +on time, as they generally were. I saw the truck +unloaded, then loaded again with the baggage of +the passengers who were going up the lake, and +in a few moments the Middleport was crossing +the river. The train was to leave at quarter past +ten, but the promptness of the steamer’s people +allowed me five minutes of grace. Lewis had left +the engine, when he knew that it was his duty to +“oil up,” and I was performing this work myself, +when Major Toppleton came up, his face beaming +with smiles. My fireman was talking with Tommy +on the platform.</p> + +<p>“Well, Wolf, this works to a charm,” said the +magnate, rubbing his hands with satisfaction.</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir; we came through on time, after all,” +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_253">[253]</span> +I replied, as I poured the oil on one of the piston +rods.</p> + +<p>“I heard there was a child on the track this side +of the Springs.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir; Tom Walton, who was on the engine +with me, went out on the cow-catcher and saved it. +I think we should have lost the trip if Tom had +not been with me,” I continued, fully explaining +the exciting incident.</p> + +<p>“Tom is a good fellow, and he always has his +head near the ends of his fingers,” answered the +major.</p> + +<p>I wanted to tell him that Tommy and my fireman +had done what they could to defeat the great +enterprise; but I concluded that it would be useless +to do so, for the son was the master. I had +made a good impression in Tom Walton’s favor, +and I reserved my next step till a more convenient +season.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_254">[254]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXII"> + CHAPTER XXII. + <br> + <span class='chap-title'>THE NEW FIREMAN.</span> + </h2> +</div> + +<p class='chap-first kern-more'><span class='allcaps'>“All</span> aboard!” shouted our bustling conductor, +who was a very gentlemanly young man, +and had had considerable experience in this capacity.</p> + +<p>He wore a gold badge on the lapel of his coat, +wrought in the shape of a train of cars, on which +was inscribed the word “Conductor,” in such curious +old English text that no one who did not know +what it was could read it. He alleged that the +jewel had been presented to him by a host of admiring +passengers; but those who knew him best +declared that he had spent a whole month’s salary +in its purchase. It was a very pretty thing, and, +wherever he got it, he was certainly polite enough +to have merited it.</p> + +<p>The gentleman with the gold jewel bowed, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_255">[255]</span> +gracefully made the signal to me; and, after glancing +at the reversing handle, I grasped the throttle +valve, ready to start. At this moment Lewis sprang +upon the foot-board. I had attended to the fire +myself, and was thoroughly disgusted with the conduct +of my fireman.</p> + +<p>“Stop!” shouted Tommy, imperiously.</p> + +<p>It was the president of the road who spoke, and +I was obliged to obey.</p> + +<p>“It is against the rules of the road for any one +to ride on the engine,” continued the little magnate.</p> + +<p>“I never heard of any such rule before, Mr. +President, or I should not have disregarded it,” I +replied, as gently as I could, though I know my +face flushed with indignation.</p> + +<p>“I make the rule now, then,” added Tommy.</p> + +<p>“Tom is only going to Grass Springs with me,” +I ventured to suggest.</p> + +<p>“He shall not ride on the engine. Conductor, you +will collect his fare,” replied Tommy, glancing at +the gentlemanly person with the gold jewel.</p> + +<p>“Wolf, I haven’t a red cent in my trousers pocket; +but I suppose I can walk to the Springs,” said +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_256">[256]</span> +my friend, who knew how vain it would be to +appeal against the orders of the magnificent little +president.</p> + +<p>I slipped half a dollar into his hand, and he +jumped down.</p> + +<p>“Have you the money to pay your fare?” demanded +the gentlemanly conductor, for he was +ready enough to “spoony” to the president.</p> + +<p>“I have,” answered Tom, with dignity, as he +stepped into the forward car.</p> + +<p>It was a gratuitous insult to me, and Lewis Holgate +chuckled with delight. I bit my lips with +vexation; but I said nothing—it was of no use +to say anything. Even Major Toppleton himself +would not have dared to dispute the fiat of his son.</p> + +<p>“All right!” cried the conductor; and I started +the train, a minute behind time.</p> + +<p>I was vexed and unhappy. I felt like a free +man reduced to slavery. I had lost Tommy’s favor, +and I was nobody, though everybody else praised +me. I felt that I had done my duty to the road, +and to Middleport in general. I had worked hard +at electioneering to keep Tommy in his position as +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_257">[257]</span> +president. I had supported him to the best of my +ability; but he insulted me without remorse. I +could not help thinking that it was stupid and +servile in me to stand it; and I did not think I +could endure another snubbing without resenting it. +I felt weak and ashamed of myself, especially as +Colonel Wimpleton was still anxious to have me +go in the new steamer.</p> + +<p>I ran into Grass Springs on time, and Tom left +the train, though not without saying a parting +word to me. I wanted him to “fire” with me, +and I had a plan in my mind to bring it about; +but while the president of the road was bottling +up his spite against me, I could hardly hope to +gain my point.</p> + +<p>The steamer for Hitaca was advertised to leave +Middleport at eleven o’clock, and at the appointed +hour I had the passengers on the wharf. Within +a few moments of the time, the boat was off, and +those who were bound to Centreport made the +passage in an hour and a quarter from Ucayga, +which was three quarters of an hour less than +they had ever accomplished it before. Major +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_258">[258]</span> +Toppleton was more delighted than ever, and, though +it was against the rules of the road for any one to +ride on the engine, he jumped upon the foot-board +as lively as though he had been a boy. I ran up +to the engine-house.</p> + +<p>“It works splendidly, Wolf!” said the great man, +rubbing his hands.</p> + +<p>“It has come out right this time; but I think +it is making rather close calculations,” I replied, as +we walked out of the building.</p> + +<p>“What do you mean, Wolf?” he asked, anxiously, +as though he feared there was still room for +the great enterprise to fail, as indeed there was if +Lewis Holgate continued on the engine with me.</p> + +<p>“We have hardly five minutes to spare now, +and the slightest accident might cause us to miss +our connections.”</p> + +<p>“But with me the battle is to make the time to +Ucayga inside of an hour. If it is more than an +hour, it will sound bad, and we might just as well +be an hour and a half as an hour and a quarter. +I thought it was done handsomely this trip.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps it was, sir; but I was five minutes +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_259">[259]</span> +behind time when we reached Spangleport, and if +I had not run at the rate of a mile in a minute +and a half we should have missed the trains. Then +the child on the track threw me back two minutes +more, and compelled me to run the engine at its +highest speed. The iron on the track is not heavy +enough for such high rates.”</p> + +<p>“But why were you five minutes late at Spangleport?” +asked the major.</p> + +<p>Should I tell him why? It might endanger my +place to bring a charge against Tommy; but I felt +myself independent enough to do so.</p> + +<p>“My fireman did not do his duty. I have been +obliged to run the engine and fire too,” I replied, +explaining all that Lewis had done.</p> + +<p>“What, Holgate! Discharge him then, at once,” +said the great man, impatiently.</p> + +<p>“I am afraid that will not be so easy a matter,” +I added, with a smile.</p> + +<p>“I think it will.”</p> + +<p>“Lewis does not act altogether on his own account, +though he wants my place.”</p> + +<p>“Turn him off. Don’t let him run another trip.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_260">[260]</span></p> + +<p>“I am sorry to say, sir, that Tommy is at the +bottom of the mischief.”</p> + +<p>“Tommy?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir.”</p> + +<p>I told him that Tommy had been working against +me since the affair at the Horse Shoe; that he was +trying to undermine me. The major was incredulous. +Tommy was obstinate, he knew, but the +president would not do anything to injure the Lake +Shore Railroad. He was willing to believe that +Lewis Holgate wished to get me out of my place, +but not that his son was a party to the conspiracy.</p> + +<p>“Lewis left the engine while we were waiting +for the boat at Ucayga, and I should not have had +steam enough to start the train if I had not shovelled +in the coal myself. He did not even oil up, +as he should have done, and as I told him to do,” +I continued.</p> + +<p>“Discharge him, then.”</p> + +<p>“But all this time he was talking with Tommy; +and you may be sure that your son will not permit +him to be discharged.”</p> + +<p>Major Toppleton bit his lips. He was beginning +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_261">[261]</span> +to comprehend the situation. He was actually afraid +to carry his purpose into execution now, and, as I +expected he would when the pinch came, he changed +the subject of conversation, and said no more about +getting rid of Lewis Holgate.</p> + +<p>“I think, if we could save the two stops at Spangleport +and Grass Springs, I could make the time +without difficulty, even if we lost a few moments +on the way,” I suggested, as the entering wedge +of the plan I had formed.</p> + +<p>“But we can’t neglect those two places. The +people would tear up the rails if we failed to accommodate +them.”</p> + +<p>“We will not neglect them. I suggest that you +run the dummy half an hour before the Lightning +Express for way passengers.”</p> + +<p>I explained fully my plan, and he was willing to +adopt it, especially when I added that Lewis Holgate +could handle the dummy very well indeed. +He understood me then, and I thought I could see +a smile of relief on his face.</p> + +<p>“But you must have a fireman,” he added.</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir; and I would like to have Tom Walton. +He is a faithful fellow, and learns quick.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_262">[262]</span></p> + +<p>“Engage him then at once. Who is the superintendent +now?”</p> + +<p>“Wetherstane, sir.”</p> + +<p>He knew very well who the superintendent was, +and knew also that he was one of the president’s +most bitter opponents. Wetherstane would discharge +any one whom Tommy did like, or hire any +one whom he did not like, without any scruples, +and enjoy the operation. When the session of the +Institute closed, the superintendent was waited upon +by the major. I do not know what passed between +them; but the next day posters in all the places +on the line announced the new arrangement. Tom +Walton was engaged.</p> + +<p>In the afternoon I ran the Lightning Express +through the second time. Tommy was not on the +engine this time, and by closely watching my fireman, +I compelled him to do his duty; but without +this care on my part, we should have failed in our +connections. The next day, the last that Lewis was +to run with me, for the new arrangement was to +take effect on Wednesday morning, I found that +the tender tanks were empty just as the engine +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_263">[263]</span> +was to move down to the station for the train. +They had been filled an hour before, and I was +satisfied this was another trick to bring me into +disgrace. If I had not discovered the fact in season +to correct the mischief, the trip would have +been lost, to say nothing of a worse calamity, if +anything could be worse in the estimation of the +major.</p> + +<p>The pit under the track where the engine stood +was half filled with water, and it was evident enough +to me that my rascally fireman had uncoupled the +connecting hose while I was at dinner, and emptied +the tanks in this manner. I was provoked, and +disposed to pitch into the rascal. But this was +his last chance, I thought, and I concluded to +hold my peace. The scoundrel had probably drawn +off more of the water than he intended, or I might +not have discovered the condition of the tender in +season to fill it. But the train started on time, and +I was fortunate enough to make the connection at +Ucayga.</p> + +<p>I had Tom Walton’s appointment in my pocket, +and when we stopped at the Springs I gave it to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_264">[264]</span> +him, telling him to be at Middleport the next morning. +This sharp movement had been prudently kept +from the president, and I hoped, as he would be in +school when the train started, that he would not ascertain +what had been done until my friend had +made one or two trips.</p> + +<p>The next morning, at half past eight, Lewis Holgate +started the dummy for Ucayga. He was very +curious to know what I was going to do for a fireman; +but I kept Tom in the shade till he was on +the way to the foot of the lake. There was to be +an awful row soon; but I was willing to postpone +it as long as possible. My friend was faithful and +intelligent, and before the train reached Ucayga, he +comprehended his duties. I made my time without +hurrying on this occasion.</p> + +<p>In the afternoon, just as the Lightning Express +was to start on her second trip, Tommy rushed up +to the engine, looking as furious as a lunatic. At +Ucayga, where the dummy waited till the express +train had started, Lewis Holgate discovered who his +successor was. That Tom was a friend of mine was +enough to bring down upon him the wrath of the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_265">[265]</span> +president. With such an assistant, I was not likely +to permit the Lightning Express to be a failure.</p> + +<p>“What are you doing on that engine?” demanded +Tommy.</p> + +<p>“I fire on this engine now,” replied Tom Walton, +good-naturedly.</p> + +<p>“No, you don’t! not while I am president of the +Lake Shore Railroad. Get off, and clear out!”</p> + +<p>“If he leaves, I do,” I interposed, quietly; but +my blood was up.</p> + +<p>Tommy looked at me, and ground his teeth with +rage.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_266">[266]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"> + CHAPTER XXIII. + <br> + <span class='chap-title'>THE PRESIDENT AND THE ENGINEER.</span> + </h2> +</div> + +<p class='chap-first kern'><span class='allcaps'>In</span> five minutes it would be time for the Lightning +Express train to start, and that was a very +short time in which to fight the impending battle. +Tommy was as unreasonable as a mule, and it was +useless to attempt to conciliate him. Besides, I was +tired of being buffeted by him. I was ashamed of +my own servility, and much as I liked my occupation, +I had deliberately come to the conclusion that +it would be better for me to “hire out” for my +board and clothes, than be a football for Tommy’s +capricious toes. I had always treated him respectfully +and kindly; but he had insulted me a dozen +times within a month.</p> + +<p>“Are you the president of the Lake Shore Railroad?” +demanded Tommy, violently.</p> + +<p>“I haven’t that honor,” I replied.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_267">[267]</span></p> + +<p>“Then it is not for you to say who shall and who +shall not run on the engine.”</p> + +<p>“That is very true; but it <em>is</em> for me to say whether +I will run on it myself or not. Tom Walton was +regularly appointed by the superintendent to fire on +this engine. He does his duty to my satisfaction.”</p> + +<p>“Who appointed him? I never heard of his appointment +till half an hour ago.”</p> + +<p>Tom coolly took the letter of the superintendent +from his pocket, and exhibited it to the president.</p> + +<p>“If that isn’t all right, it isn’t my fault,” added +the new fireman.</p> + +<p>“That isn’t worth the paper it is written on,” said +Tommy, his face red with wrath.</p> + +<p>“What’s the reason it isn’t?” inquired Wetherstane. +“I wrote it and signed it, and I am superintendent +of the road.”</p> + +<p>“Did you write that?” gasped Tommy.</p> + +<p>“I did; and I’m superintendent of the Lake Shore +Railroad,” answered Wetherstane, whose back was up.</p> + +<p>“Without consulting me?”</p> + +<p>“I didn’t know that the superintendent had to go +to the president every time a new fireman was wanted. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_268">[268]</span> +If Tom Walton isn’t fireman, then I’m not superintendent.”</p> + +<p>“I won’t have Tom Walton on the road,” fumed +Tommy, as he glanced at the fireman, who looked +as good-natured as the quarter of an apple pie. “I’m +president of this road.”</p> + +<p>“And I’m superintendent,” retorted Wetherstane.</p> + +<p>“Then I order you to discharge Tom Walton at +once. If you appointed him, you did. Now discharge +him.”</p> + +<p>Wetherstane saw that he could not very well +refuse to obey this order, since his right to appoint +the obnoxious fireman was not now disputed.</p> + +<p>“I’ll discharge him to-night, if you insist upon it,” +said he, doggedly.</p> + +<p>“I insist upon it now. Tom Walton, you are discharged,” +added the president.</p> + +<p>“I don’t want to make a row, and I guess I’ll +be off,” whispered the new fireman to me.</p> + +<p>“You can’t help yourself,” I replied; and he +jumped down from the foot-board.</p> + +<p>“All aboard!” shouted the gentlemanly conductor.</p> + +<p>I let off steam, and stepped down from the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_269">[269]</span> +locomotive. The conductor made the signal to start; +but I did not heed it; I had lost my interest in the +Lightning Express.</p> + +<p>“All right! Go ahead!” said the conductor, impatiently, +when his signal was disregarded.</p> + +<p>“Jump on your engine, and go ahead,” added +Tommy.</p> + +<p>“I can’t run the engine without a fireman; and I +would not if I could,” I replied; and I felt that I +was vindicating myself.</p> + +<p>“Do you mean to say you won’t run this train?” +demanded Tommy.</p> + +<p>“That is precisely what I mean. I won’t run it +without Tom Walton. You discharged him on purpose +to insult me.”</p> + +<p>“Where’s Faxon?” asked Tommy, who seemed to +be conscious, at last, that the train must go.</p> + +<p>Faxon was in the station, and appeared to answer +to his name.</p> + +<p>“Faxon, you will run this train through,” continued +Tommy.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know how. I can run the dummy, but +I don’t know anything about running a locomotive,” +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_270">[270]</span> +replied Faxon, who was among the number of those +who were utterly disgusted with the tyranny of the +president.</p> + +<p>“We are five minutes behind time now,” fretted +the conductor, who had come forward to learn the +cause of the delay.</p> + +<p>“Here comes Major Toppleton,” said half a dozen +of the interested spectators.</p> + +<p>The magnate bustled into the centre of the group, +and Tommy told him I refused to run the train, +and had taken that moment to spite him.</p> + +<p>“My fireman has been discharged,” I replied.</p> + +<p>“Tom Walton!” exclaimed the major.</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir; turned out!” laughed Tom.</p> + +<p>“This won’t do, Tommy,” said the great man, pulling +out his watch.</p> + +<p>“Tom Walton can’t run on this train,” replied the +little president, decidedly.</p> + +<p>“Let him go this trip, till we can arrange matters,” +pleaded the father.</p> + +<p>“No, sir; he shall not put foot on the engine +again.”</p> + +<p>“But we are losing the trip,” protested the major.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_271">[271]</span></p> + +<p>“I can’t help that.”</p> + +<p>“Won’t you run this trip through to oblige me?” +said the magnate, taking me aside.</p> + +<p>“I can’t run it without a fireman,” I replied. “I +will do anything to oblige you, sir; but Tommy +means to ruin me if he can.”</p> + +<p>“Start the train, and I will see that Tom Walton +is with you as soon as you will need him,” added +the great man, in a whisper.</p> + +<p>“I will, sir.”</p> + +<p>I jumped upon the engine, and started her, just +ten minutes behind the time. I saw Major Toppleton +take Tom Walton into the forward car with +him, as I opened the throttle valve. The president +also jumped upon the rear car, after the train started, +as though he suspected the purpose of his disobedient +father, and intended to defeat him. As +the train went out of the station, Tom crawled +over the tender, and took his place on the foot-board.</p> + +<p>“Tommy is rather rough on me,” said he, with +his usual good-natured smile.</p> + +<p>“He is rough on almost everybody, and the roughest +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_272">[272]</span> +of all upon his own father,” I replied, as I let +on more steam. “Fill up the furnace, Tom. We +are behind time, and must make up ten minutes. +We will make time as long as we are on the +engine.”</p> + +<p>In a few moments the train was flying down the +gentle slope, and, by the time we came to the up +grade beyond, Tom had steam enough to do anything +of which the engine was capable. I knew that Tommy +was in one of the cars, and I wondered that he +did not stop the train, as by this time he must be +aware that his father had disobeyed and evaded his +peremptory mandate. I could hardly keep from +laughing when I thought of the magnate of Middleport, +so haughty and unyielding to others, bowing +so low to his own son. It was simply ridiculous, +and very ludicrous. But I had little doubt of the +ultimate fate of Tom Walton and myself. The +world was upside down on our side of the lake, +and the great man had virtually become the little +man.</p> + +<p>I was not quite sure that Major Toppleton could +help himself, after he had so often yielded to Tommy, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_273">[273]</span> +and thus encouraged him to insist upon having his +own way. After abandoning his fortress even once +before, I did not see how he could hold it afterwards. +But all this was a question between Tommy and his +father, and they must fight it out themselves. My +self-respect would not any longer allow me to be the +victim of his petty tyranny. Yet I have no hesitation +in saying that Tommy, if his wilfulness could +have been subdued, would have been one of the +best fellows in the world; and the sequel of my +story will justify my belief.</p> + +<p>I had no difficulty in making up the ten minutes +we had lost by the president’s unseasonable demonstration, +and at a quarter to ten I stopped the train +at the ferry landing. I confess that my heart beat +a lively tattoo against my ribs, as I saw the passengers +hastening into the boat, for I dreaded a scene +with Tommy and his father. I would have avoided +it if I could, for I had no taste for disturbances. +But neither Tommy nor his father appeared +at once.</p> + +<p>“Wolf, I don’t want you to get into trouble for +my sake,” said Tom Walton. “I am willing to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_274">[274]</span> +take myself off, and let you live in peace with +Tommy.”</p> + +<p>“Tommy don’t want peace with me. Ever since +our affair at the Horse Shoe, he has been down upon +me,” I replied. “I don’t know how the major prevailed +upon him to let me stay as long as I have. +But he has insulted me and domineered over me +in every possible manner, and I have stood just as +much of it as I can. If you were not a friend of +mine, Tommy would not object to you.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I don’t want to stand in your way, Wolf,” +added Tom.</p> + +<p>“You don’t stand in my way. If you are discharged, +it will be for my sake. I think we had +better hang together. If I can’t hold this place for +you, I may be able to get you another quite as +good.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you, Wolf; you have always been a good +friend, and I will do just what you say. If you +think it would be best for me to go, I want you +to say so.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t think so. My mind is made up. If you +can’t stay, I can’t; and I shall stick to my text to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_275">[275]</span> +the end of time,” I replied, with sufficient emphasis +to be understood.</p> + +<p>The gentlemanly conductor, with the gold jewel, +walked up to the engine at this moment, and interrupted +our conversation.</p> + +<p>“There’s going to be the jolliest row you ever +heard of,” said he, chuckling as though he enjoyed +the prospect.</p> + +<p>“Where is the president?” I asked.</p> + +<p>“He and his governor are talking over the matter +in the car. The little gentleman made an awful +tempest on the train, and all the passengers laughed, +and enjoyed the fun. The president is going to +have his own way, or drown himself in the lake,” +laughed the conductor.</p> + +<p>I learned that this remark was “founded on +facts,” and it was evident that Tommy had not forgotten +his old tricks. I stood on the engine, expecting +the crash every moment; but I was ready +for it.</p> + +<p>The dummy, in charge of Lewis Holgate, stood on +the track ahead of the locomotive, prepared to follow +our train. Tommy and his father seemed to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_276">[276]</span> +be having a hard time of it, for neither of them had +appeared when the boat from the other side returned, +and I concluded that the scene was to be deferred +till a more convenient season. As the passengers +were getting into the cars, I saw the major go on +board of the steamer, which immediately started for +the other side. A moment later Tommy approached +the engine, attended by Lewis Holgate.</p> + +<p>“Our time has come, Tom,” I whispered to my +companion.</p> + +<p>“Now, Tom Walton, you will get off that engine, +or the baggage masters shall pitch you off,” began +the president.</p> + +<p>“I got off before when you told me,” replied +Tom, laughing. “I always obey orders.”</p> + +<p>“Of course you include me in the order,” I +added.</p> + +<p>“I don’t include you, Wolf Penniman; but you +will find that you are not the president of the Lake +Shore Railroad, and can’t dictate to me. If you +are mean enough to leave, after all we have done +for you, you can do so.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_277">[277]</span></p> + +<p>I was mean enough to leave after all they had +done for me, and stepped down upon the platform.</p> + +<p>“Just as you like; but don’t let me see you +round this road again,” continued Tommy, his face +red with anger.</p> + +<p>I walked away with Tom Walton.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_278">[278]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXIV"> + CHAPTER XXIV. + <br> + <span class='chap-title'>THE PRESIDENT HAS A FALL.</span> + </h2> +</div> + +<p class='chap-first'><span class='allcaps'>I do</span> not think, after all Tommy’s blustering, +that he believed I would really leave the service +of the Lake Shore Railroad. It was plain +enough that Major Toppleton had been crowded +down in the debate with his son, and had yielded +the point. I supposed he had gone over to Ucayga, +to avoid the unpleasant scene that was likely to +ensue. In this, however, I was mistaken, for I afterwards +learned that he had gone to procure the services +of an engineer, for he had not much confidence +in the ability of Lewis Holgate to run the locomotive.</p> + +<p>I bought two tickets for Middleport at the office, +and with Tom took a seat in one of the cars. +Tommy was busy instructing Lewis in regard to +his duties on the engine, of which he knew as +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_279">[279]</span> +little as any person connected with the road, and +he did not follow my movements.</p> + +<p>“Well, we are men of leisure now, Tom,” I remarked, +as we seated ourselves.</p> + +<p>“I have had rather too much of that sort of +thing lately, and I would rather not be a man of +leisure,” answered Tom, dryly.</p> + +<p>“You will soon find something to do,” I replied.</p> + +<p>“Is Lewis Holgate going to run this train?”</p> + +<p>“I suppose so. Tommy and he are on the best +of terms; and I know that Lewis has been trying +to use me up for some time, in order to get my +place. I hope he is satisfied now.”</p> + +<p>“Does he understand the business?” asked Tom, +curiously.</p> + +<p>“He did very well on the dummy; but he is too +careless to be relied on. I don’t think he understands +a locomotive. He hasn’t his thoughts about +him always. But I hope he will do well.”</p> + +<p>The train started, and dragged at a snail’s pace +for a mile. I realized from the motion that the +engineer did not feel at home on the foot-board, +for it was attended by frequent jerks, and by as +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_280">[280]</span> +frequent slacking of the speed. When the conductor +picked up the tickets, he told me Lewis +had with him on the foot-board a man from the +steamer, so that he could not have been embarrassed +by having too much to do. At Grass Springs +we were ten minutes behind time; but Lewis did +better on the next stretch, which was level and +straight; but even here he was losing time, and +it was fortunate that the boat would wait at Middleport +until the arrival of the train.</p> + +<p>After we passed the Springs I saw Tommy stalking +through the car, and coming towards me. I +pitied him much more than I should if he had +been defeated in his purpose, for success to him +was ruin. In spite of all he had done to vex and +annoy me, I tried to harbor no ill will against him. +He knew that the train was behind time, and that +it was still losing. I had no doubt that the fact +vexed him. It seemed to me that an opportunity +presented itself by which I could show him that +I had no ill feelings towards him. I wished still +to carry out the good principles which my mother +had taught me; and, as the little president +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_281">[281]</span> +approached my seat, I promptly decided that I would +ride on the engine the rest of the way, and give +Lewis such instructions as he evidently needed. I +meant to do this, hoping it would make things a +little pleasanter between us.</p> + +<p>“Tommy, I suppose you see that Lewis is losing +time,” said I, as he halted in the aisle, and stared +at me as savagely as though I had been a snake +in his path.</p> + +<p>“What are you doing here?” demanded he.</p> + +<p>“I was going to say, if I could be of any service, +I would ride on the engine with Lewis, and +show him how to run it.”</p> + +<p>“I guess not,” said he, shaking his head. “What +are you doing here?”</p> + +<p>“I’m going home,” I replied, not comprehending +what he was driving at.</p> + +<p>“Didn’t I tell you never to let me see you about +this road again?” continued he, with imperial majesty, +and, I may add, with lion-like ferocity.</p> + +<p>“I believe you did; but I am going home, and +the railroad is now the only conveyance up the +lake.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_282">[282]</span></p> + +<p>“How dare you disobey me?” stormed he.</p> + +<p>“I was not aware that I had disobeyed you.”</p> + +<p>“What are you on this train for, then?”</p> + +<p>“But I paid my fare, and Tom Walton’s too,” I +replied.</p> + +<p>“I don’t care if you did! After what has happened, +I won’t have you on the road.”</p> + +<p>“Even Centreporters are allowed to ride on the +road by paying their fare.”</p> + +<p>“No matter if they are; you can’t.”</p> + +<p>“After I get home, I won’t trouble you or the +road,” I added, mildly.</p> + +<p>“But you won’t get home on this road,” said +he, seizing the connecting line which ran through +all the cars to the engine, and giving it a violent +twitch.</p> + +<p>Lewis Holgate, unfortunately for me, understood +this signal, and whistled to put on the brakes. The +conductor was counting his tickets at the end of the +car, and came forward to witness the scene. The +train came to a halt.</p> + +<p>“Now, Wolf Penniman, out with you!” said +Tommy, fixing a savage gaze upon me.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_283">[283]</span></p> + +<p>“I don’t wish to make any trouble, Tommy; but +I have paid my fare, and I intend to ride to Middleport,” +I replied, as calmly as I could, though my +blood was boiling with indignation at the gratuitous +insults heaped upon me.</p> + +<p>“Good, my boy! Don’t budge an inch,” said +a respectable-looking gentleman in the seat behind +me.</p> + +<p>“Mind your own business!” snapped Tommy to +the speaker.</p> + +<p>“What, you young puppy!” said the gentleman, +springing to his feet. “Don’t you give me a word +of impudence! If you do, I’ll thrash you within +an inch of your life!”</p> + +<p>This was not exactly the kind of customer Tommy +liked to deal with, for there was fight in the +stranger’s eye; but he was just the person whom +Tommy’s case required.</p> + +<p>“Are you going to get out, Wolf Penniman, or +are you going to be put out?” added the president, +turning from the stranger to me.</p> + +<p>“I’m not going to get out, and it remains to be +seen whether I’m going to be put out.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_284">[284]</span></p> + +<p>“He has paid his fare,” suggested the gentlemanly +conductor, in a low tone.</p> + +<p>“Give him back his money, then.”</p> + +<p>I refused to take it, and the belligerent gentleman +urged me not to budge an inch.</p> + +<p>“Put him out, conductor,” said Tommy.</p> + +<p>“If you put him out, you must put me out,” +suggested Tom Walton, with one of his broad, +good-natured laughs.</p> + +<p>“Put them both out!” stormed Tommy.</p> + +<p>“I shall be prosecuted, if I do, for assault and +battery.”</p> + +<p>“That’s so,” growled the gentleman behind me.</p> + +<p>“I’ll see you through,” interposed Tommy, violently.</p> + +<p>“This thing has gone far enough,” said the stranger, +rising in his seat. “This road was chartered +for the accommodation of the public. These two +young men have paid their fare, and have behaved +themselves properly in the car. I say, for one, they +shall not be put out.”</p> + +<p>“So say we all of us!” shouted several of the +passengers, who were annoyed by the delay; and +most of them understood the merits of the case.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_285">[285]</span></p> + +<p>“Now, conductor, start your train, and don’t keep +us waiting here all day,” added the gentleman.</p> + +<p>“Go ahead!” shouted some of the passengers.</p> + +<p>“You can’t go ahead till these fellows are put +out,” replied Tommy, who seemed to feel that he +had the weather-gage in the dispute.</p> + +<p>“Go ahead!” “Go ahead!” cried the passengers.</p> + +<p>“Why don’t you put them out, as I tell you?” +said Tommy to the conductor.</p> + +<p>“If you say so, I will, whatever happens,” replied +the conductor.</p> + +<p>“I do say so!”</p> + +<p>The proprietor of the gold jewel put his hand +upon my collar; but he had hardly done so before +my belligerent friend did him a similar service, and +jerked him away from me. Other passengers crowded +forward.</p> + +<p>“It’s an outrage! Bully for the young engineer,” +shouted the noisiest of the crowd.</p> + +<p>The conductor was intimidated. He had no heart +in the job he had undertaken, and he gave up with +no show of fight.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_286">[286]</span></p> + +<p>“Now go ahead!” said the belligerent stranger. +“We won’t submit to any outrage here.”</p> + +<p>“This train won’t start till those persons are put +out of the car,” added Tommy.</p> + +<p>“Won’t it?”</p> + +<p>“No, it won’t. I’m the president of this road,” +replied Tommy.</p> + +<p>“Are you? Well, this train’s going ahead,” added +the stranger.</p> + +<p>To my astonishment, he seized the distinguished +little functionary by the collar, and dragged him +towards the door. The conductor attempted to +interfere; but the passengers, among whom there +were hardly a dozen Middleporters, crowded upon +him, and prevented him from doing anything.</p> + +<p>“Out with him!” “Out with him!” called the +indignant passengers, not a few of whom were Centreporters.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp95" id="i_p286" style="max-width: 79.625em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_p286.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + THE PRESIDENT IS INSULTED.—<a href='#Page_286'>Page 286</a>. + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>The stout stranger landed Tommy on the ground, +and then, by a dexterous movement, pitched him +down the steep bank to the beach on the shore of +the lake. If the president of the road was never +astonished before, he was astonished then. He had +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_287">[287]</span> +discovered that his lordly will, though it carried +terror into his own family, could not accomplish +much among the general public.</p> + +<p>“Now go ahead!” said the gentleman, as he +stepped into the car.</p> + +<p>“I can’t go without the president,” replied the +conductor.</p> + +<p>“Then go with him!” yelled a stout fellow, who, +I think, had drank more liquor than was good for +him, as he seized the gentlemanly official, and +hustled him after the president.</p> + +<p>Some one pulled the string; but the train did +not start. I looked out the window. I was sorry +to see that Tommy appeared to be hurt, for he +sat on the ground, rubbing one of his legs. The +conductor went to his assistance. Lewis Holgate +now appeared, and I told the stranger he was the +engineer.</p> + +<p>“Will you go ahead now?” demanded my uncompromising +friend.</p> + +<p>“What’s the row here?” inquired Lewis.</p> + +<p>He was informed; but, instead of going ahead, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_288">[288]</span> +he went down to the place where Tommy and +the conductor were. Several of the passengers got +out, and went forward to the engine. Half a dozen +of them beset me with entreaties to run the train +up to Middleport; but I positively refused. Indeed, +I was thinking of going to the assistance +of the disabled president, though I was sure my +services would not be welcome, when the train +started. The passengers crowded in, and it was +evident that some one had taken possession of the +engine.</p> + +<p>“Here’s a pretty kettle of fish!” said Tom +Walton.</p> + +<p>“I’m sorry for it; but I can’t help it. I have +as much right to ride on this road as any one else,” +I replied.</p> + +<p>“We are going it now,” added Tom, as the +train began to leap forward at the rate of thirty +miles an hour.</p> + +<p>“Don’t you submit to any imposition, young +man. I’ve heard all about your case, and if you +want any help, call on me,” said my belligerent +supporter.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_289">[289]</span></p> + +<p>I thanked him, and he gave me his card, +which I deposited in my wallet. The new engineer +understood his business, and in less than +half an hour we entered the station at Middleport.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_290">[290]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXV"> + CHAPTER XXV. + <br> + <span class='chap-title'>THE PRESIDENT IN TROUBLE.</span> + </h2> +</div> + +<p class='chap-first'><span class='allcaps'>I had</span> not waited to ascertain the condition of +Tommy Toppleton. I had seen the stout stranger +pitch him down the bank. The gentlemanly +conductor had rushed down after him, to render +whatever assistance he might require. Lewis Holgate +had left the engine to sympathize with his +powerful young friend. My occupation was gone; +but I felt a certain pride and satisfaction in having +stood up for my rights. I had not allowed +Tommy to tread upon me this time, and I felt +more like a man than I had ever felt before.</p> + +<p>I wish to add, to some of my unreasoning young +friends, that I felt an equal pride and satisfaction +in the fact that I had so often submitted. I had +not made haste to get into a row, and it was just +as pleasant to think of what I had endured, as of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_291">[291]</span> +the resistance I had made to oppression. If Tommy +had been even tolerably reasonable, there could +have been no trouble. It was a very agreeable +reflection that I had not been forward in making +issue with my imperious young master. If he had +not been laboring to ruin me, I think I could even +have borne his insults.</p> + +<p>I was very curious to know what construction +Major Toppleton would put upon my conduct. My +gratitude to him made me anxious to retain his +good opinion, and I had submitted to much for +his sake. He certainly could not blame me for +what I had done. I had merely refused to be +put out of the cars after I had paid my fare. I +had simply rebelled against an exhibition of petty +malice, as contemptible as it was unreasonable. But, +after all, it was not safe to predict what the magnate +of Middleport would do when his son was +involved in the affair, for the father was quite as +much a victim of the young gentleman’s tyranny +as I was.</p> + +<p>The stout stranger was on his way to Hitaca, +and he went on board the steamer to continue his +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_292">[292]</span> +journey. Of course there was a great deal of excited +talk about the incident of the day, and of +the dozen Middleporters on board, those who had +the courage to say anything condemned Tommy +and upheld me. I thought I was safe enough; +and perhaps I should have been, if exciting news +had not come down from the scene of the affair.</p> + +<p>The engineer who had taken possession of the +locomotive let off the steam; and being on his way +up the lake, he abandoned the machine. As there +was no one to take charge of it, Wetherstane, the +superintendent, asked me to run it into the engine-house, +which I did. I had been duly discharged, +and it was not proper for me to do anything more. +I walked home with Tom Walton; and we discussed +the matter as thoroughly as the occasion +required.</p> + +<p>“How do you suppose it’s coming out, Wolf?” +asked Tom, as good-naturedly as ever, but still +anxiously.</p> + +<p>“I haven’t the least idea,” I replied. “I have +yielded as long as I could, and I am willing to +take the consequence.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_293">[293]</span></p> + +<p>I felt that I was not likely to be a martyr as +long as Colonel Wimpleton kept his offer of a +place on the new steamer open to me, with the +promise of a man’s wages.</p> + +<p>“If I were the major, I should rebel against +Tommy a little, just to see how it would seem,” +laughed Tom Walton. “Don’t it look strange that +a great man like him—I mean the major—should +be such a fool as to let his son have his own +way?”</p> + +<p>“It is strange; but I have learned that Major +Toppleton is more afraid of Tommy than of all +the rest of the world.”</p> + +<p>“If my mother should let me have my own +way like that, I couldn’t respect her. I should +think the major would turn over a new leaf, and +be a free man.”</p> + +<p>“He is his own master—”</p> + +<p>“Not much!” exclaimed Tom, interrupting me; +“Tommy is master here.”</p> + +<p>“Well, he has the right to obey his son, if he +chooses to do so,” I added. “I don’t know, but I +can’t help thinking that this matter has come to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_294">[294]</span> +a head now. Major Toppleton wants me to run +the engine, and Tommy don’t want me to do it. +I hope the thing will be settled to-day.”</p> + +<p>It was settled that day.</p> + +<p>I went home, and pretty soon my father came +to his dinner. He had, of course, been my confidant +in all the matters relating to my quarrel +with Tommy. I told him all about the stirring +events of the morning, after we sat down to dinner; +and he was so interested that he neglected +to touch the food before him till he had heard +the whole of it.</p> + +<p>“Have I done wrong, father?” I asked.</p> + +<p>“Certainly not. You couldn’t have done anything +else. You live here, and the railroad is now +the only way for you to come up the lake. You +paid your fare, and they had no more right to put +you off the cars than they had to throw you into +the lake,” he replied, warmly.</p> + +<p>I ought to add here, that my relations with the +road had been discussed every day, and often two +or three times a day. My father, and my mother +especially, had cautioned me not to be impulsive, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_295">[295]</span> +and not to resist while it was decent to submit. +Our obligations to Major Toppleton were acknowledged, +and all of us were very anxious to keep the +peace with him.</p> + +<p>“I don’t see how Major Toppleton can uphold +that boy any longer,” added my mother.</p> + +<p>“I don’t see how he ever could do it,” said my +father. “But that is his business, not mine. I +don’t think we make much, however, by trying to +keep on the right side of these rich men by sacrificing +our own self-respect. I am thankful that the +major does not hold the mortgage on my house.”</p> + +<p>“I suppose he could get it, if he wanted it,” suggested +my mother.</p> + +<p>“Well, it has two years to run, whoever has it; +and as long as I pay the interest, we shall be safe +enough,” continued my father. “I am thankful we +are not in such a scrape as we were on the other +side of the lake.”</p> + +<p>We ate our dinner in peace, in spite of the storm +which had raged without. My father was in deep +thought, and it was not difficult to conjecture the +subject of his meditations. Doubtless he congratulated +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_296">[296]</span> +himself most heartily that it was not in the +power of either of the magnates to harass and +annoy him. The major could discharge us both, +and even make Middleport too warm to contain +us; but the colonel was ready to receive us both +with open arms. It seemed just as though I was +a shuttlecock, to be batted back and forth from +one side of the lake to the other at the will and +pleasure of the mighty men who ruled the neighborhood.</p> + +<p>But I had some hope that Major Toppleton would +sustain me, or at least that he would not persecute +our family, even if he yielded to the caprices of +his son. Whatever mischief had been done, I had +not done it, though I had been the indirect cause +of it. I had not stopped the train; I had not put +Tommy out of the car; I had not pitched him +down the bank. If these things had been done +on my behalf, I had no agency in them. The indignant +passengers, who were detained by the whim +of the little president, had been the responsible +actors, and I had no doubt the stout stranger was +ready to answer for his conduct. Whether he was +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_297">[297]</span> +or not, this was not my affair. I had his card in +my pocket; but so far as I could ascertain, no one +knew anything about him. I regarded him as a +person of some consequence.</p> + +<p>We finished our dinner, and my father was on +the point of returning to the mill, when Tom Walton +rushed into the kitchen, out of breath with +running. His appearance indicated that some unusual +event had occurred, for my friend was one +of the cool sort, and not easily stirred by small +matters.</p> + +<p>“The dummy has just come in,” exclaimed Tom, +in the intervals between his rapid breathing.</p> + +<p>“Well, what of it?” I inquired, not deeming +this very startling intelligence.</p> + +<p>“Tommy Toppleton’s leg is broken,” gasped Tom.</p> + +<p>“Broken!” I exclaimed.</p> + +<p>“Snapped off, like a pipe-stem, below the knee, +they say.”</p> + +<p>“I am sorry for that,” I added; and I almost +wished it had been my leg, instead of the little +tyrant’s.</p> + +<p>“His father is the maddest man that ever drew +the breath of life.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_298">[298]</span></p> + +<p>“I dare say,” said my father, shaking his head.</p> + +<p>“How did it happen?” I inquired.</p> + +<p>“Why, that stout man did it when he pitched +him down the bank,” answered Tom. “I’ll bet it +will cost that man a penny or two. That’s what +they say up to the station.”</p> + +<p>“I will go up and see about it,” I added, taking +my hat.</p> + +<p>“You!” ejaculated Tom, with a stare of astonishment.</p> + +<p>“Why not?”</p> + +<p>“If you know what you are about, you will +keep out of the way,” suggested Tom, with significant +emphasis.</p> + +<p>“I haven’t done anything that I am ashamed +of,” I replied. “I am not afraid to see the major, +and tell him the whole story. I’m sorry for Tommy’s +misfortune, but it is all his own fault.”</p> + +<p>“Face the music, Wolf,” said my father. “No +one ever makes anything by skulking in the dark. +You have a tongue, and you can explain your own +conduct better than any one can do it for you.”</p> + +<p>“But they are all down upon you like a hundred +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_299">[299]</span> +of brick, Wolf,” continued Tom, who was fearful +that I might be lynched in the excitement which +he said prevailed in the vicinity of the major’s +house.</p> + +<p>“I can’t help it. When I was insulted, I did +not resist nor make any row.”</p> + +<p>“But you left your train at the time it ought to +have started,” said Tom.</p> + +<p>“I should not have done so if the president had +not taken that time to insult me. It was not necessary +for him to discharge my fireman at such a time. +But no matter for all this; I am going up to Major +Toppleton’s house. It he chooses to kick me out, +he may do so.”</p> + +<p>I could not help feeling that my chances of a +fair hearing at such a time were very small, but I +could not have kept away from the centre of the +excitement if I had tried. I must know my fate, +whatever it might be.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_300">[300]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXVI"> + CHAPTER XXVI. + <br> + <span class='chap-title'>THE NEW STEAMER.</span> + </h2> +</div> + +<p class='chap-first kern'><span class='allcaps'>However</span> much Tommy Toppleton deserved +the fate which had befallen him, I really +pitied him. I am sure that not a single emotion +of triumph had a place in my heart. I neither +said nor thought that it served him right. I was +sorry for him, and my regret was entirely unselfish. +The only personal consideration that disturbed me +was the reflection that I must in the future be entirely +banished from the presence of Grace Toppleton. +I had not the impudence, boy of sixteen as +I was, to believe that I was in love with her. If +such a thought had entered my head, the wide +difference between her social position and mine +would have driven it out.</p> + +<p>I was deeply interested in her as a friend. She +had been very kind and considerate towards me. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_301">[301]</span> +She had treated me with respect and regard, and +did not seem to think that I was not her equal in +the social scale. I never spoke to her, and never +even thought of her, except with a respect bordering +upon reverence. I was content to stand off at +a proper distance and admire her pretty face, her +graceful form, and her gentle manners. I thought +she was an angel; not merely because she was +beautiful in person, but because her pure heart and +kind manners seemed to elevate her far above the +low and selfish lives of those around her.</p> + +<p>By the time I reached the mansion of Major +Toppleton, the excitement had in a measure subsided. +The bone of Tommy’s leg had been set, +but he was suffering severe pain. It appeared that +the major had procured the services of an engineer +at Ucayga, who had run the dummy up from that +point, starting only half an hour behind the Lightning +Express. Arriving at the place where the imperious +little president had stopped our train, the +magnate found the conductor and Lewis Holgate +bearing Tommy towards the nearest house. He was +placed in the dummy and brought home.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_302">[302]</span></p> + +<p>Of course Lewis and the conductor told their own +story, and I was represented as the wickedest fellow +in that part of the country. All the mischief had +been done by me; and as Tommy lay writhing in +agony, my sins became as mountains in the eyes +of his father. Tommy was a saint then, and I +was a demon.</p> + +<p>I went to the side door of the mansion and rang +the bell. The servant who opened the door bestowed +upon me a look of positive horror. I inquired +for Major Toppleton, and was shown into +the library, where I had so often before conferred +with the great man. As I was entering the room, +Grace crossed the hall, and discovered me.</p> + +<p>“O, Mr. Wolf! Why did you come here?” exclaimed +she; “my father is terribly incensed against +you.”</p> + +<p>“I have only done what I thought was right, +Miss Grace,” I replied. “I did not even know +that Tommy was hurt, till a few moments ago.”</p> + +<p>“Father says you were the cause of it.”</p> + +<p>“I was not—at least, not intentionally.”</p> + +<p>“I know you were not. Whatever happens, Mr. +Wolf, we shall be friends.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_303">[303]</span></p> + +<p>To my astonishment she extended her pretty, +white hand, and I took it. It was her good by +to me.</p> + +<p>“I know you would not do any wrong, Mr. +Wolf,” she continued; “and I wish Tommy was +like you.”</p> + +<p>She gently shook my hand, and left the room. +Whatever her father thought, she understood the +situation without any explanation. She had hardly +left the room before her father came in. He looked +ugly and remorseless, as he had never before been +to me.</p> + +<p>“Have you the impudence to come here, after +what has happened, Wolf?” said he, with a heavy +frown.</p> + +<p>“I hope you will not consider it impudence, sir. +I did not know that Tommy was hurt till a little +while ago,” I replied, as meekly as the occasion +required. “I am very sorry indeed that anything +has happened.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t be a hypocrite, Wolf!”</p> + +<p>“I am not, sir; I am truly sorry that Tommy +was hurt.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_304">[304]</span></p> + +<p>“You are the cause of all this; and if you had +broken his leg yourself, you would not have been +more to blame.”</p> + +<p>“You have always been very kind to me, and +you cannot understand the matter, or you would +not say that.”</p> + +<p>“I understand it very well. I think, after all I +have done for you, I had a right to expect something +better from you. You insisted upon crossing +and vexing Tommy.”</p> + +<p>“He was very unreasonable, and I could not submit +any longer. I paid my fare in the cars, and +there was no other way for me to get home.”</p> + +<p>“That’s enough. You needn’t attempt to explain +it. Perhaps Tommy was wrong; I don’t say that +he was not. But it was not for you to make +trouble.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t think I made it, sir.”</p> + +<p>“I think you did. No more words. You have +abused my good nature. I don’t want to see you +again. You and your father are both discharged, +and the sooner you leave Middleport, the better +you will suit me.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_305">[305]</span></p> + +<p>I afterwards ascertained that Tommy had insisted, +even in the midst of his agony, that my father and +I should be immediately discharged. Grace told me +this when I met her on the lake a few weeks later +in the season. She said it to defend her father, +who, arbitrary as he was, had some well-defined +ideas of justice.</p> + +<p>I took my cap and left the house, after an attempt +to declare that I felt no ill-will towards the major, +who, however, would not permit me to finish the +sentence. The catastrophe had come. The hint +that the sooner our family left Middleport, the better +it would suit the magnate, seemed to indicate +an intention on his part to drive us out of the +town. When I reached home, I found my father +there. The mandate dismissing him had already +been sent to him. We talked the matter over for +a time; and while we both regretted Tommy’s misfortune, +we agreed that it would be better for both +of us to work for half the wages we had been +receiving, rather than be the slaves of the little +magnate.</p> + +<p>For my own part, I felt that I had borne enough +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_306">[306]</span> +from Tommy. I was willing to be tried on the +facts of the case, for I think no one will say that +I ought to have submitted to being put out of +the cars, after I had paid my fare, just to gratify +the petty malice of the little tyrant. I had done +my duty faithfully, even while the president of +the Lake Shore Railroad had been willing to sacrifice +the interest of the concern for the sake of +ruining me.</p> + +<p>In the afternoon, when it was time for the train +to arrive from Ucayga, I went to the station. The +Lightning Express had not appeared, and it did +not come till half an hour behind time. In spite +of his sufferings, Tommy still felt an interest in +the outside world, and insisted that Lewis Holgate +should have the locomotive. His father could not +deny his request, though he knew that Lewis was +incompetent. The engineer, whom the major had +engaged, refused to serve as fireman under a boy, +and the steamboat hand was retained in this position. +The trains east and west had waited that +day for the Lightning Express, or the passengers +would have been compelled to lie over.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_307">[307]</span></p> + +<p>The next day, Lewis did a little better; but in +the course of the week he was behind time twice; +and once the conductors on the other lines refused +to wait. But Tommy obstinately declined to permit +his friend to be superseded by the experienced +engineer who ran the dummy. Lewis declared that +it was not his fault that the train was behind time; +but I knew that he was lacking in judgment. He +did not understand when to ease off the machine +and when to crowd on the steam. He had no +talent or fitness for his occupation.</p> + +<p>I had made up my mind not to apply to Colonel +Wimpleton for any situation. If he wished to employ +me, and to redeem some of his large promises, +he knew that I was out of a situation, and he could +send for me. I did not mean to begin by cringing +to him. I suppose, after the first impulses of gratitude +subsided, some of the old feeling of malice +towards me came back to him. It is very likely +that Waddie, who had never forgiven me for deranging +his plans, during the battle on the Horse +Shoe, by recapturing Tommy, had some influence +with his father. Whatever the reason was, I was +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_308">[308]</span> +not sent for. Father and I worked in the garden, +where there was enough for both of us to do. He +had money enough on hand, our joint earnings, to +support the family for some months. We were both +of the opinion that it was not prudent to apply to +Colonel Wimpleton for situations. If he wanted us, +he must come for us.</p> + +<p>While we were thus waiting for “something to +turn up,” the Ucayga, the new Centreport steamer, +arrived. She was certainly a magnificent boat, surpassing +all the ideas I had ever formed of a floating +palace. I went over to see her, and I could not +but realize that she would be a formidable rival of +the Lightning Express, even if she did require +half an hour longer to make the trip. On her +passage down the lake, she had made sixteen miles +an hour without pressing; but as half her freight +and passengers depended upon Ruoara, she was to +be allowed an hour and three quarters for the trip, +against an hour and a quarter required to make +the passage by the Lake Shore Railroad.</p> + +<p>Flaming posters about the streets of Centreport +announced that the Ucayga would leave at quarter +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_309">[309]</span> +past eight, and connect with the trains east and +west at the foot of the lake. It all looked very +pretty, but the battle was yet to be fought. The +competition was for through-passengers. When the +boats from Hitaca reached Centreport twice each +day, the question with travellers was to be, whether +they would go to Ucayga by the new steamer +or by the railroad. The boats from up the lake +usually arrived at quarter past eight and quarter +past two, allowing fifteen minutes at Centreport, +and fifteen more to land their passengers at Middleport. +If the Ucayga could get off on time, she +was safe enough on her connections. It was a +question of minutes and seconds on which the success +of the steamboat enterprise depended. But +of the hard-fought battle which ensued, I shall speak +in another story—“On Time.”</p> + +<p>Everybody in Centreport and Middleport was excited +over the impending contest, for it was still +a battle between the two sides of the lake. Major +Toppleton professed to be entirely confident of the +result, and mysteriously hinted at resources for winning +the race which had not yet been developed. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_310">[310]</span> +The Ucayga made her first trip crowded with passengers, +while the Lightning Express train was comparatively +deserted. Still the major was confident, +declaring that “a new broom sweeps clean,” but +the passengers would soon return to the railroad, +especially during the approaching winter, when the +steamer was liable to be troubled with ice in the +lower part of the lake.</p> + +<p>But a shadow soon came over the dream of +Colonel Wimpleton, who boasted grandiloquently +over his success. The up-lake boats began to be +regularly ten minutes late; and one day, in spite +of all the crowding done on board of the Ucayga, +she missed her connections. Then she did it again, +and again, and people would not trust her. Steamer +stock went down. As Major Toppleton’s hopes +rose, Colonel Wimpleton’s fell. It was plain enough +now that the major required the Hitaca boats to be +ten minutes late. The colonel swore terribly when +he realized the nature of the trick.</p> + +<p>As my connection with the Lightning Express +had ceased, it would not be proper for me to remain +any longer under that flag; and I must take +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_311">[311]</span> +leave of the Lake Shore Railroad for the present, +to forage in a new field.</p> + +<p>About the time the Ucayga arrived at Centreport, +Tommy Toppleton was able to leave the +house on crutches. The only word the major +had spoken to me since our interview in his mansion, +was to tell me that I had lamed his son for +life. I did not believe this, and it was a great satisfaction +for me to hear the doctor say that Tommy’s +leg would be as good as ever in a few weeks. +I hoped his sufferings would do him good, and do +something to modify his arbitrary character.</p> + +<p>I need hardly say that the rival Academies were +still rivals. Neither was satisfied with the result +of the battles on the Horse Shoe, and each was +thirsting for an opportunity to overwhelm the +other. I could not justify myself for giving the +details of this miserable warfare, if it were not for +contrasting it with the glorious peace and fraternity +which grew out of it.</p> + +<p>Tommy was, perhaps, as unpopular as ever; but +his misfortune, if it did not excite the sympathy of +the Toppletonians, prevented them from manifesting +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_312">[312]</span> +their feelings in a mutiny, as they intended, at my +discharge. I am happy to say that I stood first +rate with the students on the Middleport side, when +Tommy and his father had done their worst; but +the mutiny came at last, when Tommy’s tyranny +could be no longer endured. I was satisfied. I +shall always remember with pleasure most of my +experience on the Lake Shore Railroad, and especially +on the <span class="smcap">Lightning Express</span>.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="ads"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_313">[313]</span></p> +</div> +<p class='center mt1 mono fs200 bold'>OLIVER OPTIC’S MAGAZINE,</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp75" id="i_p313" style="max-width: 46.9em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_p313.jpg" alt="Our Boys and Girls"> +</figure> + +<p class='center lh1'>The only Original American Juvenile Magazine published once a Week.</p> +<p class='center mth lh1'>EDITED BY OLIVER OPTIC,</p> +<p class='center mth lh1'> + Who writes for no other juvenile publication—who contributes each year</p> +<p class='center fs200 bold shadow ltsp3'> + Four Serial Stories,</p> +<p class='center lh1'> + The cost of which in book form would be $5.00—<i>double the subscription + price of the Magazine!</i></p> +<p class='center mth lh1'> + Each number (published every Saturday) handsomely illustrated by + <span class="smcap">Thomas Nast</span>, and other talented artists.</p> + +<hr class='r20'> + +<p class='lh1'>Among the regular contributors, besides <span class="smcap">Oliver Optic</span>, are</p> + +<blockquote class='lh1'> + <b>SOPHIE MAY</b>, author of “Little Prudy and Dotty Dimple Stories.”<br> + <b>ROSA ABBOTT</b>, author of “Jack of all Trades,” &c.<br> + <b>MAY MANNERING</b>, author of “The Helping-Hand Series,” &c.<br> + <b>WIRT SIKES</b>, author of “On the Prairies,” &c.<br> + <b>OLIVE LOGAN</b>, author of “Near Views of Royalty,” &c.<br> + <b>REV. ELIJAH KELLOGG</b>, author of “Good Old Times,” &c. +</blockquote> + +<p class='mth lh1'>Each number contains 16 pages of Original Stories, Poetry, Articles of +History, Biography, Natural History, Dialogues, Recitations, Facts and +Figures, Puzzles, Rebuses, &c.</p> + +<p class='mth lh1'><span class="smcap">Oliver Optic’s Magazine</span> contains more reading matter than any +other juvenile publication, and is the <em>Cheapest and the Best</em> Periodical of +the kind in the United States.</p> + +<hr class='r20'> + +<p class='center bold fs150'><span class='allsmcap'>TERMS, IN ADVANCE.</span></p> + +<table class='bclp mth'> +<tr><td>Single Subscriptions, one year,</td><td class='tdr'>$2.50</td></tr> +<tr><td>One Volume, Six Months,</td><td class='tdr'>1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td>Single Copies,</td><td class='tdr'>6 cts.</td></tr> +<tr><td>Three copies,</td><td class='tdr'>6.50</td></tr> +<tr><td>Five copies,</td><td class='tdr'>10.00</td></tr> +<tr><td>Ten copies (an extra copy <em>free</em>),</td><td class='tdr'>20.00</td></tr> +</table> + +<p class='mth lh1'>Canvassers and local agents wanted in every State and town, and liberal +arrangements will be made with those who apply to the Publishers.</p> + +<p class='mth lh1'>A handsome cloth cover, with a beautiful gilt design, will be furnished +for binding the numbers for the year for 50 cts. All the numbers for 1867 +will be supplied for $2.25. Bound volumes, $3.50.</p> + +<p class='mth lh1'>Any boy or girl who will write to the Publishers shall receive a specimen +copy by mail free.</p> + +<p class='center fs150'> + <span class='ltsp2 bold'>LEE & SHEPARD,</span> Publishers,</p> +<p class='right pr1'> + 149 Washington Street, Boston. +</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="ads"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_314">[314]</span></p> +</div> + +<p class='center fs150 sans bold'>LEE & SHEPARD’S JUVENILE PUBLICATIONS.</p> +<hr class='r20'> +<p class='center sans bold ltsp3'>SOPHIE MAY’S BOOKS.</p> +<hr class='r20'> + +<p class='center bold fs200'>LITTLE PRUDY STORIES.</p> + +<p class='center fs80'><i>Six volumes. Illustrated. In Sets or separate. Per +volume, 75 cents.</i></p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">LITTLE PRUDY.</div> + <div class="verse indent4">LITTLE PRUDY’S Sister Susy.</div> + <div class="verse indent8">LITTLE PRUDY’S Captain Horace.</div> + <div class="verse indent12">LITTLE PRUDY’S Cousin Grace.</div> + <div class="verse indent16">LITTLE PRUDY’S Story Book.</div> + <div class="verse indent20">LITTLE PRUDY’S Dotty Dimple.</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<hr class='r20'> + +<p class='center bold fs200'>DOTTY DIMPLE STORIES.</p> + +<p class='center'>By the author of “Little Prudy Stories.”</p> + +<p class='center mth lh1'><i>Six volumes. Illustrated. In Sets or separate. Per +volume, 75 cents.</i></p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">DOTTY DIMPLE at her Grandmother’s.</div> + <div class="verse indent4">DOTTY DIMPLE at Home.</div> + <div class="verse indent8">DOTTY DIMPLE out West.</div> + <div class="verse indent12">DOTTY DIMPLE at Play.</div> + <div class="verse indent16">DOTTY DIMPLE at School.</div> + <div class="verse indent20">DOTTY DIMPLE’S Flyaway.</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='fs90 lh1'>Read the high commendation of the <cite>North American Review</cite>, which +places Sophie May’s Books at the</p> + +<p class='center fs120 bold sans'>Head of Juvenile Literature.</p> + +<p class='fs90 lh1 mtq'>“Genius comes in with ‘Little Prudy.’ Compared with her, all other +book-children are cold creations of Literature only; she alone is the real +thing. All the quaintness of childhood, its originality, its tenderness and its +teasing,—its infinite, unconscious drollery, the serious earnestness of its +fun, the fun of its seriousness, the natural religion of its plays, and the delicious +oddity of its prayers,—all these waited for dear Little Prudy to embody +them. Sam Weller is not more piquant; Hans Anderson’s nutcrackers and +knitting-needles are not more thoroughly charged with life. There are six +little green volumes in the series, and of course other <i lang='la'>dramatis personæ</i> +must figure; but one eagerly watches for every reappearance of Prudy, as +one watches at the play for Owens or Warren to re-enter upon the stage. +Who is our benefactress in the authorship of these books, the world knows +not. Sophie May must doubtless be a fancy name, by reason of the spelling, +and we have only to be grateful that the author did not inflict on us the +customary alliteration in her pseudonyme. The rare gift of delineating +childhood is hers, and may the line of ‘Little Prudy’ go out to the end of the +earth.... To those oversaturated with transatlantic traditions we recommend +a course of ‘Little Prudy.’”</p> + +<p class='fs90 lh1'>Sold by all booksellers and newsdealers, and sent by mail, post-paid, on +receipt of price.</p> + +<hr class='r20'> + +<p class='center fs120 bold sans'>LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="ads"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_315">[315]</span></p> +</div> + +<p class='center fs150 sans bold'>LEE & SHEPARD’S JUVENILE PUBLICATIONS.</p> +<hr class='r20'> +<p class='center'> By the Author of “Spartacus to the Gladiators.”</p> +<p class='center fs200 bold'>ELM ISLAND STORIES.</p> +<p class='center mth'><i>To be completed in six vols. Ill. Per vol., $1.25.</i></p> +<hr class='r20'> + + +<p class='ad-hang'><cite>LION BEN OF ELM ISLAND.</cite> 16mo. Illustrated. $1.25.</p> + +<p class='ad-copy'>“Elm Island lays off the coast of Eastern Maine, a wild and romantic +region, and the incidents of the story are recorded as happening when this +country was just emerging from its struggle for independence. It is a +capital story of the rough-and-tumble life of the early settlers.”—<cite>Chicago +Journal of Commerce.</cite></p> + +<p class='ad-hang'><cite>CHARLIE BELL, THE WAIF OF ELM ISLAND.</cite> 16mo. Illustrated. $1.25.</p> + +<p class='ad-copy'>“This volume tells the story of Charlie Bell, who was thrown upon Elm +Island like a waif from the ocean, and adopted by Lion Ben. With Yankee +boys he shares the exciting adventures of a new country and a rude state +of society.”</p> + +<p class='ad-hang'><cite>THE ARK OF ELM ISLAND.</cite> 16mo. Illustrated. $1.25.</p> + +<p class='ad-copy'>This volume of the series is by no means inferior in interest to its predecessors, +dealing principally with adventures at sea, which are always +delightful to boys.</p> + +<p class='ad-hang'><cite>THE BOY FARMERS OF ELM ISLAND.</cite> 16mo. Illustrated. $1.25.</p> + +<p class='ad-copy'>The fourth volume of the series gives, in graphic and earnest style, the +efforts of three lads to transform Elm Island from a wilderness to a fruitful +and productive land. It is full of life, adventure, and fun.</p> + +<p class='ad-hang'><cite>THE YOUNG SHIPBUILDERS OF ELM ISLAND.</cite> 16mo. Illustrated. $1.25.</p> + +<p class='ad-copy'>“Mr. Kellogg is winning laurels as a writer for and educator of youth. +Health and vigor are in his writings, and the lad has more of the first-class +man in him after the perusal.”—<cite>Providence Press.</cite></p> + +<hr class='r20'> + +<p class='center'>Sold by all Booksellers and Newsdealers, and sent by mail, postpaid, +on receipt of price.</p> + +<p class='center fs120 bold sans'>LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="ads"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_316">[316]</span></p> +</div> + +<p class='center fs150 sans bold'>LEE & SHEPARD’S JUVENILE PUBLICATIONS.</p> +<hr class='r20x'> +<p class='center sans bold ltsp1'>TALES OF ADVENTURE.</p> +<hr class='r20'> +<p class='center fs200 ltsp2 bold'>THE FRONTIER SERIES.</p> +<p class='center mt1'><i>Four volumes. 16mo. Ill. Price, per set, $5.00.</i></p> + +<p class='ad-hang'><cite>THE CABIN ON THE PRAIRIE.</cite> By <span class="smcap">Rev. Charles H. +Pearson</span>. 16mo. Illustrated. $1.25.</p> + +<p class='ad-copy'>“<cite>The Cabin on the Prairie</cite> is an earnest, healthy book, full of the +hardships, trials, and triumphs of life in our new settlements.”</p> + +<p class='ad-hang'><cite>PLANTING THE WILDERNESS</cite>; or, The Pioneer Boys. +By <span class="smcap">James D. McCabe, Jr.</span> 16mo. Illustrated. $1.25.</p> + +<p class='ad-copy'>“<cite>Planting the Wilderness</cite> tells of the strange adventures of real life, +which, more than the fancies of the novel writer, are of absorbing interest.”</p> + +<p class='ad-hang'><cite>TWELVE NIGHTS IN THE HUNTERS’ CAMP.</cite> By +<span class="smcap">Rev. W. Barrows</span>. 16mo. Illustrated. $1.25.</p> + +<p class='ad-copy'>“<cite>Twelve Nights in the Hunters’ Camp</cite> is a pleasant, stirring, sensible +book, full of life and incident, and all aglow with the breezy freshness +of woods and prairies, lakes and rivers.”</p> + +<p class='ad-hang'><cite>A THOUSAND MILES’ WALK</cite> across the Pampas and +Andes of South America. By <span class="smcap">Nathaniel H. Bishop</span>. +16mo. Illustrated. $1.50.</p> + +<p class='ad-copy'>“<cite>A Thousand Miles’ Walk across South America</cite> is a record of the +experiences of a Yankee boy, full of enthusiasm to see and learn by actual +experience the wonders of that almost <i lang='la'>terra incognita</i>.”</p> + +<p class='mth'>This series of books are of sterling merit, and while they +closely follow real experiences, are full of those thrilling incidents +which charm both youth and age.</p> +<hr class='r40'> + +<p class='center'>Sold by all Booksellers and Newsdealers, and sent by mail, postpaid, +on receipt of price.</p> + +<p class='center fs120 bold sans'>LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="ads"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_317">[317]</span></p> +</div> + +<p class='center fs150 sans bold'>LEE & SHEPARD’S JUVENILE PUBLICATIONS.</p> +<hr class='r20'> +<p class='center sans fs120 ltsp2 bold'>OLIVER OPTIC’S BOOKS.</p> +<p class='center fs200 ltsp1 bold'>ARMY AND NAVY STORIES.</p> +<hr class='r20'> + +<p class='ad-hang'>THE SOLDIER BOY; or, Tom Somers in the Army. +16mo. Illustrated. $1.50.</p> + +<p class='ad-copy'>“This is a story of the rebellion, narrating the adventures of a patriotic +youth, who left the comforts of home to share the dangers of the field. +He is carried through several battles, and for a while shared the hospitalities +of the rebels as a prisoner. The story is true to history, giving in the form +of personal adventure correct accounts of many stirring scenes of the war.”—<cite>Hartford +Courant.</cite></p> + +<p class='ad-hang'>THE SAILOR BOY; or, Jack Somers in the Navy. +16mo. Illustrated. $1.50.</p> + +<p class='ad-copy'>“Jack is the brother of Tom, the Soldier Boy, whose adventures in the +army were so much enjoyed. We have only to repeat that there are few +better stories for boys than these of Mr. Adams’. Always bright and even +sparkling with animation, the story never drags; there are no stupid tasks +or tiresome descriptions; the boys whose characters are drawn are real +boys, impulsive, with superabundant animal life, and the heroes are manly, +generous, healthy creations.”—<cite>Hartford Press.</cite></p> + +<p class='ad-hang'>THE YOUNG LIEUTENANT; or, The Adventures +of an Army Officer. 16mo. Illustrated. $1.50.</p> + +<p class='ad-copy'>“The Young Lieutenant” is a sequel to “The Soldier Boy,” and carries +the reader through the stormy scenes of the rebellion, creates Thomas +Somers an officer, and as such he performs much difficult work in the rebellion.</p> + +<p class='ad-hang'>YANKEE MIDDY; or, Adventures of a Naval Officer. +16mo. Illustrated. $1.50.</p> + +<p class='ad-copy'>“The incidents of the story are those which have occurred on the ocean, +and on the bays, inlets, and rivers of the South, common in the experience +of all our naval officers who have been actively employed during the war.”—<cite>Notices +of the Press.</cite></p> + +<p class='ad-hang'>FIGHTING JOE; or, The Fortunes of a Staff Officer. +16mo. Illustrated. $1.50.</p> + +<p class='ad-copy'>“The description of battles and sieges, of picket and skirmishing, of camp +life and marching, are wrought out with thrilling detail, making the story +truly fascinating; while, in connection with this, useful and practical information +respecting men and places is conveyed, and a proper spirit of morality +and patriotism inculcated.”—<cite>Notices of the Press.</cite></p> + +<p class='ad-hang'>BRAVE OLD SALT; or, Life on the Quarter-Deck. +16mo. Illustrated. $1.50.</p> + +<p class='ad-copy'>A book of adventure, of personal experience, describing a living hero, and +exhibiting the great truth that, by fidelity of conscience, country, and God, +earthly and heavenly blessings are secured.</p> + +<p class='mth fs90'>Sold by all booksellers and newsdealers, and sent by mail, post-paid, on +receipt of price.</p> +<hr class='r20'> + +<p class='center fs120 bold sans'>LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="ads"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_318">[318]</span></p> +</div> +<p class='center fs150 sans bold'>LEE & SHEPARD’S JUVENILE PUBLICATIONS.</p> +<hr class='r20'> +<p class='center sans fs120 ltsp2 bold'>OLIVER OPTIC’S BOOKS.</p> +<p class='center fs200 ltsp1 bold'>WOODVILLE STORIES.</p> +<p class='center mt1'><i>16mo. Handsomely Illustrated. In sets or separate.</i></p> + +<hr class='r40'> + +<p class='ad-hang'>RICH AND HUMBLE; or, the Mission of Bertha +Grant. $1.25.</p> + +<p class='ad-copy'>“No author is more welcomed by the young, and no books can be more +safely placed in their hands. His writings, as in this volume of ‘Rich and +Humble,’ inspire the reader with a lofty purpose. They show the wrong +courses of life only to present, by contrast, the true and right path, and +make it the way which youth will wish to walk in, because of its being the +most pleasant and inviting.”—<cite>Mass. Teacher.</cite></p> + +<p class='ad-hang'>IN SCHOOL AND OUT; or, The Conquest of Richard +Grant. $1.25.</p> + +<p class='ad-copy'>“Oliver Optic is as well known and as highly appreciated among the +young people of our land as Charles Dickens is among the older folks. ‘In +School and Out’ is equal to anything he has written. It is a story that will +deeply interest boys particularly, and make them better.”—<cite>Notices of the +Press.</cite></p> + +<p class='ad-hang'>WATCH AND WAIT; or, The Young Fugitives. +$1.25.</p> + +<p class='ad-copy'>The author has used, to the best advantage, the many exciting incidents +that naturally attend the career of a fugitive slave, and the seeds that he may +sow in youthful hearts will perhaps bear a hundred-fold.</p> + +<p class='ad-hang'>WORK AND WIN; or, Noddy Newman on a Cruise. +$1.25.</p> + +<p class='ad-copy'>“A nautical story of adventure and endurance, written to delineate the +upward progress of a boy whose moral attributes were of the lowest order, +in consequence of neglected education, but in whom high religious principles +were afterwards developed.”—<cite>Notices of the Press.</cite></p> + +<p class='ad-hang'>HOPE AND HAVE; or, Fanny Grant among the +Indians. $1.25.</p> + +<p class='ad-copy'>“This is a story of Western adventure and of peril among the Indians, +and contains the experience of Fanny Grant, who, from a very naughty girl, +became a very good one, by the influence of a pure and beautiful example +exhibited by an erring child, in the hour of her greatest wandering from the +path of virtue.”—<cite>Philadelphia Age.</cite></p> + +<p class='ad-hang'>HASTE AND WASTE; or, The Young Pilot of +Lake Champlain. $1.25.</p> + +<p class='ad-copy'>“This is a story of boyish daring and integrity upon Lake Champlain, +and older heads than those of sixteen may read and profit by it.”</p> + +<p class='ad-copy mth'>The stories in the “Woodville” series are hinged together only so far as +the same characters have been retained in each.</p> + +<p class='center mth fs90'>Sold by all booksellers, and sent by mail, post-paid, on receipt of price.</p> +<hr class='r20'> + +<p class='center fs120 bold sans'>LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="ads"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_319">[319]</span></p> +</div> +<p class='center fs150 sans bold'>LEE & SHEPARD’S JUVENILE PUBLICATIONS.</p> +<hr class='r20'> +<p class='center sans fs120 ltsp2 bold'>OLIVER OPTIC’S BOOKS.</p> +<p class='center fs200 ltsp1 bold'>THE BOAT CLUB SERIES.</p> +<p class='center mth'> + A library for Young People. Each volume illustrated. In sets or separate. +</p> +<hr class='r20'> +<p class='ad-hang'>THE BOAT CLUB; or, the Bunkers of Rippleton. +$1.25.</p> + +<p class='ad-copy'>“One noticeable feature of this author’s books is their purity. Not a line +is to be found in any work of his but what will tend to elevate and purify the +mind of the boy or girl who may peruse it.”</p> + +<p class='ad-hang'>ALL ABOARD; or, Life on the Lake. $1.25.</p> + +<p class='ad-copy'>“<span class="smcap">All Aboard</span>” was written to gratify the reasonable curiosity of the +readers of the “<cite>Boat Club</cite>,” to know what occurred at Woodlake during the +second season; and though it is a sequel, it has no direct connection with its +predecessor. The Introduction in the first chapter contains a brief synopsis +of the principal events of the first season; so that those who have not read +the “<cite>Boat Club</cite>” will labor under no disadvantage on that account.</p> + +<p class='ad-hang'>NOW OR NEVER; or, the Adventures of Bobby +Bright. $1.25.</p> + +<p class='ad-copy'>The author has been for many years a successful teacher in one of the +Boston Public Schools, and the knowledge of youthful character thus obtained +has been used to good advantage in his works.</p> + +<p class='ad-hang'>TRY AGAIN; or, the Trials and Triumphs of Harry +West. $1.25.</p> + +<p class='ad-copy'>The story of Harry West is a record of youthful experience designed to +illustrate the necessity and the results of perseverance in well doing. The +true success of life is the attainment of a pure and exalted character; and he +who at three-score-and-ten has won nothing but wealth and a name, has +failed to achieve the noblest purpose of his being. This is the moral of the +story contained in this volume.</p> + +<p class='ad-hang'>LITTLE BY LITTLE; or, the Cruise of the Flyway. +$1.25.</p> + +<p class='ad-copy'>Paul Duncan, the hero of this volume, is a nautical young gentleman, and +most of the events of the story occur upon the water, and possess that exciting +and captivating character for which this author’s books are famous. But +the author hopes that something more than exciting incidents will be found +upon his pages; that though he has seldom, if ever, gone out of his way to +define the moral quality, or measure the moral quantity, of the words and +deeds of his characters, the story will not be found wanting in a true Christian +spirit.</p> + +<p class='ad-hang'>POOR AND PROUD; or, the Fortunes of Katy +Redburn. $1.25.</p> + +<p class='ad-copy'>The history of a smart girl, where fortunes are made to depend upon her +good principles, her politeness, her determined perseverance, and her overcoming +that foolish pride, which is a snare to the feet. In these respects she +is a worthy example for the young.</p> + +<p class='ad-copy mth'>Sold by all booksellers and newsdealers, and sent by mail, post-paid, on +receipt of price.</p> +<hr class='r20'> +<p class='center fs120 bold sans'>LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="ads"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_320">[320]</span></p> +</div> +<p class='center fs150 sans bold'>LEE & SHEPARD’S JUVENILE PUBLICATIONS.</p> +<hr class='r20'> +<p class='center sans fs120 ltsp2 bold'>OLIVER OPTIC’S BOOKS.</p> +<p class='center fs200 ltsp1 bold'>YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD.</p> +<p class='center mth fs90'> + A Library of Travel and Adventure in Foreign Lands. 16mo.<br> + Illustrated by Nast, Stevens, Perkins, and others.</p> +<hr class='r20'> + +<p class='ad-hang'>OUTWARD BOUND; or, Young America Afloat. +$1.50.</p> + +<p class='ad-copy'>“In Outward Bound, the Ship Young America, sails for Europe, with +a school of eighty-seven boys aboard her, who pursue the studies of a school, +and at the same time work the ship across the Atlantic, being amenable to +regular naval discipline.”</p> + +<p class='ad-hang'>SHAMROCK AND THISTLE; or, Young America +in Ireland and Scotland. $1.50.</p> + +<p class='ad-copy'>“This volume continues the history of the academy ship and her crew of +boys, with their trips into the interior as well as voyages along the coast of +Ireland and Scotland. The young scholar will get a truer and fuller conception +of these countries by reading this unpretentious journal of travel, than +by weeks of hard study upon the geographies and histories.”</p> + +<p class='ad-hang'>RED CROSS; or, Young America in England and +Wales. $1.50.</p> + +<p class='ad-copy'>“The third volume of Oliver Optic’s Library of travel and adventure +chronicles the doings of the Young America and her crew in British ports +and waters, and is replete with thrilling adventures and descriptions of noted +places.”</p> + +<p class='ad-hang'>DIKES AND DITCHES; or, Young America in +Holland and Belgium. $1.50</p> + +<p class='ad-copy'>“The author takes his readers on voyages up the rivers and canals of Holland +and Belgium, on tramps through the cities, their schools, their art galleries, +and their wonderful buildings, giving at every turn vivid impressions +of what is seen and heard therein and thereabouts.”</p> + +<p class='ad-hang'>PALACE AND COTTAGE; or, Young America in +France and Switzerland. $1.50</p> + +<p class='ad-copy'>“This volume relates the history of the American Squadron (<cite>Young +America</cite> and <cite>Josephine</cite>) in the waters of France, with the journey of the +students to Paris and through a portion of Switzerland. As an episode, +the story of the runaway cruise of the Josephine is introduced, inculcating +the moral that ‘the way of the transgressor is hard.’”</p> + +<p class='ad-hang'>DOWN THE RHINE; or, Young America in Germany. +$1.50.</p> + +<p class='ad-copy'>This volume concludes the first series of Young America, and is as interesting +and instructive as the preceding volumes. So great has been the success +of this series, that Oliver Optic is now preparing a second. “Up the +Baltic” will be the first volume, to be followed by “Northern Lands,” “Vine +and Olive,” “Sunny Shores,” “Cross and Crescent” and “Isles of the Sea.”</p> + +<p class='ad-copy mth'>Sold by all book-sellers and news-dealers, and sent by mail on receipt of +price.</p> +<hr class='r20'> +<p class='center fs120 bold sans'>LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="transnote"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="Transcribers_Notes"> + Transcriber’s Notes + </h2> + +<ul> +<li>Illustrations relocated close to related content.</li> + +<li>Obvious typographic errors silently corrected.</li> + +<li>Archaic spellings kept as in the original.</li> +</ul> +</div> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 76892 ***</div> +</body> +</html> + diff --git a/76892-h/images/cover.jpg b/76892-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..61a03a2 --- /dev/null +++ b/76892-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/76892-h/images/i_f002.jpg b/76892-h/images/i_f002.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d50777a --- /dev/null +++ b/76892-h/images/i_f002.jpg diff --git a/76892-h/images/i_p023.jpg b/76892-h/images/i_p023.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f2d05e8 --- /dev/null +++ b/76892-h/images/i_p023.jpg diff --git a/76892-h/images/i_p055.jpg b/76892-h/images/i_p055.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..80d5a33 --- /dev/null +++ b/76892-h/images/i_p055.jpg diff --git a/76892-h/images/i_p098.jpg b/76892-h/images/i_p098.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d8ed0d1 --- /dev/null +++ b/76892-h/images/i_p098.jpg diff --git a/76892-h/images/i_p148..jpg b/76892-h/images/i_p148..jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..eaffedc --- /dev/null +++ b/76892-h/images/i_p148..jpg diff --git a/76892-h/images/i_p193.jpg b/76892-h/images/i_p193.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..1febc85 --- /dev/null +++ b/76892-h/images/i_p193.jpg diff --git a/76892-h/images/i_p246.jpg b/76892-h/images/i_p246.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..922da62 --- /dev/null +++ b/76892-h/images/i_p246.jpg diff --git a/76892-h/images/i_p286.jpg b/76892-h/images/i_p286.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d6fcbf8 --- /dev/null +++ b/76892-h/images/i_p286.jpg diff --git a/76892-h/images/i_p313.jpg b/76892-h/images/i_p313.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8923eaa --- /dev/null +++ b/76892-h/images/i_p313.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. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1bfaa01 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for eBook #76892 +(https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/76892) |
