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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/77177-0.txt b/77177-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1a33f10 --- /dev/null +++ b/77177-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7164 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77177 *** + +[Illustration: Illustrated title page.] + + + + + _THE LAKE SHORE SERIES._ + + BEAR AND FORBEAR; + + OR, THE + + YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. + + BY + + OLIVER OPTIC, + + _Author of “Army and Navy Stories,” “Great Western Series,” “Onward + and Upward Stories,” “Woodville Stories,” Famous “Boat-Club + Series,” “The Starry-Flag Series,” “Young America + Abroad,” “Lake Shore Series,” “Riverdale Story-Book,” + “Yacht-Club Series,” and “The + Boat-Builder Series.”_ + + + BOSTON: + LEE AND SHEPARD, PUBLISHERS. + NEW YORK: + CHARLES T. DILLINGHAM. + + + + + 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 + + _HELEN HAMLIN_, _FRANK HAMLIN_, _JARVIS L. CARTER_, + _EDWARD STETSON_, _CHARLIE HAMLIN_, _ISAIAH STETSON_, + _ADDIE HAMLIN_, _MARY STETSON_, + + AND “A THOUSAND AND ONE OTHER BOYS AND GIRLS” OF THE + CITY OF BANGOR, WHO SENT ME A BLACK BEAR, IN TOKEN + OF THEIR LOVE AND ESTEEM, ADMONISHING ME + NOT TO EAT HIM, BUT TO INSTRUCT AND + TO PRESERVE HIM FROM THE EVILS + OF THIS WICKED WORLD, + + This Book + + IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED. + +Though I did not eat him, nor any part thereof, and his life was too +short to permit him to profit by any instruction I might have been able +to give him, yet he is preserved from “the evils of this wicked world” +at the rooms of the Society of Natural History, and I hope my readers +will profit by the story he suggested. + + O. O. + + + + +_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. + + +“BEAR AND FORBEAR” is the sixth and last of the Lake Shore Series, and +was one of the serials which appeared in Oliver Optic’s Magazine. The +story itself is complete, and independent of its predecessors, though +the characters that have been prominent in the other volumes of the +series are again presented, to be finally dealt with according to their +several deserts. The writer has endeavored to show that fidelity to +duty prospers even in this world, and that evil doing brings pain and +misery; and if he has awarded “poetical justice” to each, it will only +make the contrast the more evident. + +The author has endeavored to make a proper use of the Christian precept +which forms the principal title; and he trusts that his readers, both +young and old, will be able to deduce the moral from the story, and, +profiting by it, be enabled to avoid such disagreeable ruptures as that +which threatened the peace of the two communities in the story, but +which the “two bears” happily prevented. + +In closing this series, the author desires once more to thank his +juvenile and his adult friends for the kind consideration they have +always extended to him, and for the increasing favor bestowed upon his +efforts to please and to instruct. + + HARRISON SQUARE, BOSTON. + June 1, 1870. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + CHAPTER I. PAGE + ON BOARD THE BELLE. 11 + + CHAPTER II. + A NEW ACQUAINTANCE. 22 + + CHAPTER III. + AN ANGRY GUARDIAN. 33 + + CHAPTER IV. + FIRE ON THE LAKE. 45 + + CHAPTER V. + THE RESCUED PASSENGER. 57 + + CHAPTER VI. + THE ENGLISH LORD AND THE DRUMMER. 69 + + CHAPTER VII. + MISS DORNWOOD’S STORY. 82 + + CHAPTER VIII. + THE STRANGE BOAT. 94 + + CHAPTER IX. + THE ROBBERY OF THE CENTREPORT BANK. 107 + + CHAPTER X. + THE ROBBERS SEPARATE. 119 + + CHAPTER XI. + A LITTLE SPARK KINDLES A BIG FIRE. 131 + + CHAPTER XII. + THE LANDING OF THE ROBBER. 142 + + CHAPTER XIII. + TOM WALTON WOUNDED. 153 + + CHAPTER XIV. + THE ROBBER TAKES THE BACK TRACK. 164 + + CHAPTER XV. + THE ROBBER IN A TRAP. 175 + + CHAPTER XVI. + SHOWERS OF ROCKS. 187 + + CHAPTER XVII. + A BLOW WITH THE BOAT-HOOK. 198 + + CHAPTER XVIII. + AT THE CATARACT HOUSE. 209 + + CHAPTER XIX. + THE OTHER BANK ROBBER. 221 + + CHAPTER XX. + THE END OF LORD PALSGRAVE. 232 + + CHAPTER XXI. + THE ADVENTURES OF NICK VAN WOLTER. 243 + + CHAPTER XXII. + COLONEL WIMPLETON’S WRATH. 254 + + CHAPTER XXIII. + MAJOR TOPPLETON EXPLAINS. 265 + + CHAPTER XXIV. + BEAR AND FORBEAR. 276 + + CHAPTER XXV. + MISS DORNWOOD’S GUARDIAN. 287 + + CHAPTER XXVI. + THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF THE BANSHEE. 298 + + + + +BEAR AND FORBEAR; + +OR, + +THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +ON BOARD THE BELLE. + + +“Wolf, I am about ready to buy this boat, if you are about ready to +sell it,” said Tom Walton, as we were sailing up the lake in the Belle. + +“I’m quite ready to sell it to you, Tom,” I replied. + +“You ought to own her by this time, Tom,” added Waddie Wimpleton, who +was one of the party. + +We were going up the lake to have a good time; in other words, it was +vacation with me. When Tom Walton spoke, I was thinking of the events +of the past, as the sail-boat glided swiftly over the clear waters +of Lake Ucayga. I was the general agent of the Union Line, which now +included the Lake Shore Railroad and the Ucayga Steamboat. The two +_millionnaires_, who had fixed their residences on opposite sides of +the lake, at the Narrows, where it is only one mile wide, had been +the most bitter enemies for years, taking up the hatchet after a long +period of the most intimate and friendly relations. Major Toppleton had +built the Lake Shore Railroad as a plaything for the students of the +Institute established on his side of the lake, in order to give them +a thorough and practical knowledge of railway business. The idea had +grown on his hands till the road had become a very important channel +of travel. Buying up the stock of the old steamers on the lake, he +had obtained the control of them, and ran them in connection with the +railroad. This movement gave Middleport, on the major’s side of the +lake, a very great advantage over Centreport, where Colonel Wimpleton +resided. + +Then the two great men became rivals for the business of the lake; and +the colonel built a large and splendid steamer, to run in opposition +to the railroad, which, by its great speed and elegant accommodations, +had carried the day against the railroad. The students of the Wimpleton +Institute were formed into a company, and nominally managed the affairs +of the steamer, thus obtaining an insight into the method of conducting +business in stock companies. I had been a kind of shuttlecock between +the rival magnates, and had been successively employed and discharged +by each. The war between the two sides of the lake had extended to +the families of the principal parties, and the inhabitants of the +large towns in which they lived. The two sons of the great men had +been particularly hostile; but, having mended their ways, and, from +vicious, overbearing, tyrannical young men, becoming kind, gentle, and +noble, they buried the hatchet, and their relations were pleasant and +friendly. By their indirect efforts, with some help from me, the feud +between the fathers had been healed, and they were now warm personal +friends. The railroad and steamboat lines had been united, and were now +running in connection with each other. + +I am not disposed to say much about my own agency in bringing about +this happy state of things, though I had labored patiently and +persistently for years to accomplish the result. I was happy in the +achievement, and not inclined to apportion the credit of it among +those who had brought it about, except to award a very large share of +it to the sons of the two magnates. The two lines had been running +in connection about two months. As the general superintendent of the +united line, I had gone over the entire route daily until everything +worked to my own satisfaction, as well as to that of the traveling +public. As captain of the steamer, I had been constantly employed all +winter, and I felt disposed to play a few days. It was vacation at +both the Institutes, and Tommy Toppleton had gone to one of the great +watering-places with his father and mother, though the time fixed for +their return had arrived. Waddie Wimpleton had accepted an invitation +to spend a few days on a cruise with me up the lake. We intended to +live on board of the Belle, and spend the time in fishing, sailing, and +rambling through the wild region. + +I had bought the Belle at auction, at a time when I was out of +employment, having been discharged by Major Toppleton from my situation +as engineer on the Lake Shore Railroad. She had cost me a very small +sum, compared with her value, and I intended to make my living by +taking out parties in her. But, as I was very soon appointed to the +command of the steamer, I employed Tom Walton to run her for me; and he +paid me a portion of the receipts. He had done well for himself, and +well for me, in her. Tom was a very honest, industrious, and capable +fellow, and supported his mother and the rest of the family by his +labor. I had told him I would sell the Belle to him at a fair price, +any time when he wished to buy her. I had been rather surprised that he +did not avail himself of this offer, for my share of the earnings of +the boat had already paid me double the amount she had cost me. + +“I think of going into the general navigation business,” said Tom, with +one of his good-natured laughs; “and if I can buy her, I will do so.” + +“You can, Tom,” I replied. + +“My mother has been sick a good deal for the last two years, and it +took about all I could make to take care of the family, or I should +have bought her before.” + +“I’ll trust you, Tom,” I added. + +“I don’t want anybody to trust me, except to keep the folks from +starving. I didn’t mean to buy that boat till I had money enough to pay +for her. I’ve got a little ahead now.” + +“How much have you, Tom?” I asked. + +“I haven’t enough to bust the Middleport Bank yet. You’ve used me first +rate, Wolf, and I don’t mean to cheat you on this boat. After all, +whether I buy her or not rather depends on what you ask for her.” + +“You shall have her for what she will bring at auction.” + +“What will she bring at auction?” + +“I don’t know.” + +“I don’t think I can buy her, then, for I know a man in town who will +start the bidding at one hundred and fifty.” + +“Do you? Well, I had no idea any one would give that for her,” I +replied. + +I saw that Tom was troubled, though he still kept his face alive with +his usual smile. I would have given him the boat at once, only the +offer to do so would wound his pride and hurt his feelings, for, poor +as he was, he had the instincts of a gentleman. + +“I shall make money by buying the boat, Wolf, and I want her badly, but +not enough to run in debt for her,” added he. + +“Suppose we do as Major Toppleton and Colonel Wimpleton did on the +steamers.” + +“What’s that?” + +“Mark.” + +“I’m willing to mark; but I’m afraid I can’t hit your figures, Wolf, +for the Belle is a valuable piece of property. I ought to know that, if +no one else does.” + +“You write what you are willing to give, and I will write what I am +willing to take. If my figures are lower than yours, they shall be the +price of the boat, and the trade is completed.” + +“Your figures?” + +“Yes.” + +“Why not my figures, if they are higher than yours?” + +“If you give all I ask, that’s enough. If my figures are higher than +yours, we will split the difference,” I continued, handing him a pencil +and paper. + +“That’s fair, so far as I am concerned; but don’t you cheat yourself, +Wolf,” replied Tom, taking the paper and making his figures upon it, +after considerable hesitation. + +“You needn’t worry about me, my dear fellow. Give your figures to +Waddie. He shall stand between us,” I added, as I wrote my own +valuation, and handed it to him. + +“There is considerable difference in your estimates,” laughed Waddie. +“What am I to do?--split the difference?” + +“Not unless my figures are higher than Tom’s.” + +“They are not, Wolf. Tom’s are a mile and a half higher than yours.” + +“Then the boat is sold at my price,” I added. + +“Cheap enough!” exclaimed Waddie. + +“What are the figures?” asked Tom. + +“You marked one hundred and fifty dollars, Tom, and Wolf marked fifty +dollars. So the Belle is sold.” + +“So am I,” said the skipper. + +“Are you not satisfied?” + +“No; I feel just as though I had been overreached. See here, Wolf +Penniman; I didn’t mean to have you give me this boat.” + +“I haven’t given her to you.” + +“I supposed you would ask three or four hundred dollars for her.” + +“I am satisfied, Tom. I have made money out of her, and now I get back +all she cost me.” + +“But don’t you think it’s an insult to the Belle to sell her for fifty +dollars?” laughed Tom. + +“If she does not complain, you need not.” + +“Wolf, I don’t feel exactly right about it. I have a kind of an idea +that you have taken pity on me, for a poor, miserable fellow as I am, +and given me the boat.” + +“No such thing, Tom!” I protested. + +“Didn’t I say there was a man in town that would bid a hundred and +fifty dollars on her if she was put up at auction?” + +“I don’t know him, Tom; and I’m afraid he would not use her kindly. The +Belle is yours.” + +“I can afford to give you a hundred for her without busting the +Middleport Bank. Don’t you think I’d better do it?” + +“Certainly not, Tom. A trade is a trade.” + +“But I feel just as though I had stolen her.” + +“Don’t feel so, my dear fellow. I will give you a bill of sale when +I can get something to write it with. It’s all right now, Tom. ‘Be +virtuous and you will be happy,’ and your boat will sail all the faster +for it.” + +“I am happy, Wolf I have saved up about one hundred and fifty dollars. +I thought that would almost buy the Belle. Now I’m just a hundred in. +I’m going into the general navigation business, and I want some more +boats, to let, and I’m lucky enough to have the capital to invest in +them. I shall buy some row-boats, for there are lots of people that +want to hire them.” + +“I have no doubt you will do a good business letting boats, Tom. Rowing +is a great art, and a healthy one. But have good boats. Don’t buy poor +ones because they are cheap.” + +“Not I, Wolf; my boats shall be first chop, ‘A, No. 1, prime.’ But I +suppose you gentlemen want some dinner--don’t you?” + +“We do want some dinner, Tom,” I replied. “I make a business of +attending to that matter every day.” + +“Exactly so, Wolf. That’s just what you thought the last time you +thought so.” + +“Eating dinner I have always found to be a healthy amusement, and I +intend to follow it up as long as I live, and can get any dinner to +eat,” I replied. + +“You will always get it, Wolf, for you are a rich man now; and you will +die worth a million, if you don’t die before you have a million. Now, +if you will take the helm, you shall have a beefsteak and some baked +potatoes, first chop, A, No. 1, prime, in about half an hour, more or +less, but rather more than less.” + +I took the tiller, and Tom went into the cuddy to prepare the meal. In +half an hour, more or less, we had the beefsteak and baked potatoes, +smoking hot, done to a turn, and just as nice as the best hotel in the +country could furnish. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +A NEW ACQUAINTANCE. + + +We left Middleport early in the morning, and when we dined, we were +above Priam. We intended to land at a point near the residence of my +old friend Captain Portman, to enable me to call upon him. We arrived +at this point early in the afternoon. Waddie was not acquainted with +my friend, and did not care to call upon him; but he decided to take a +walk on shore, and we proceeded together till we came to the entrance +to Captain Portman’s grounds. He was a wealthy gentleman, who had +chosen this wild region for his residence, for he was a genuine lover +of the beauties of nature, and enjoyed them as much in the winter as +the summer. + +The country was exceedingly wild and rugged. The rocks rose in +precipitous steeps at times, and there was a profusion of cascades +and cataracts. One might follow a stream through the depths of the +primeval forests, and find it leaping from the precipices a dozen times +in a single mile. In the midst of this magnificent scenery Captain +Portman had built his mansion, selecting a rugged steep for its site; +and here Nature and Art had joined hands to increase the loveliness of +the place. Half a mile from his house, on the road to Priam, was the +Cataract House--a hotel which had received its name from a grand and +beautiful waterfall in the vicinity. At this house, during the summer, +many wealthy people boarded. + +When we reached the road which leads from Hitaca to Priam, Waddie +turned to the right and I turned to the left. I was about to enter +the rustic gateway which opened into the estate of Captain Portman, +when I was startled by a succession of shrill screams. I saw Waddie +spring into the woods which bounded the road on the left. The voice +of the person in distress--for I supposed no one would scream unless +in distress--was that of a female. Of course I was interested; and, +turning from the gateway, I rushed down the road, and followed Waddie +into the woods. + +[Illustration: A NEW ACQUAINTANCE. Page 24.] + +I had made such good time that I overtook my fellow-voyager before he +reached the scene of the adventure. The trees were very large, and the +grove had been cleared up on the ground for the convenience of the +visitors at the Cataract House, so that we could see some distance; and +we soon discovered the person who had uttered the terrific screams. +She was a young lady, elegantly dressed, and apparently not more than +seventeen years old. + +“Help! Help!” she cried, as she stood apparently paralyzed. + +But we could see nothing to alarm her, though we discovered a young +gentleman in the distance “making tracks” in the direction of the hotel. + +“What is the matter with her?” asked Waddie. + +“I don’t see anything to frighten her.” + +“I do,” added Waddie, as we stepped forward, and discovered a small +black bear, which a huge tree had before hidden from our view. + +“A bear!” I exclaimed. + +The creature stood up on his hind legs, and was reaching forward with +his right fore paw towards the young lady, while the left was dropped +at his side. For my own part, I do not remember that I had ever even +seen a bear before, and I confess that I did not like the looks of him. +Whether Waddie shared my feeling or not I do not know; but he quickened +his pace, and soon placed himself by the side of the interesting +sufferer. Neither of us had a club, knife, or other weapon, and we were +not in condition to face a wild beast. + +“Save me!” gasped the young lady. + +“I will conduct you to the hotel, if you please,” said Waddie, hardly +noticing the bear, which still sat upon his haunches, with his right +paw extended towards the terrified maiden. + +“O, dear me! I cannot move,” sighed she. + +Waddie took her by the arm, and supported her. As they moved off, the +bear followed. + +“He’s coming!” cried the lady; and, afraid that the awful monster would +pounce upon her behind, she halted and faced him again. + +The moment they stopped, Bruin stood up on his haunches again, and held +out his paw as before. I came to the conclusion that if he intended to +eat any one up, he would have begun before this time, and I ventured +to place myself between him and the lady. This brave movement on my +part seemed to afford the lady some relief; but she clung to Waddie as +though she expected to be devoured, brown silk dress, laces, ruffles, +and all. The bear looked at me a moment, as I stood about a rod distant +from him. Dropping upon all fours again, he cantered towards me. I was +inclined to beat a retreat, but somehow the animal did not seem to be +as ferocious as wild beasts have the credit of being, and, though it +required no little resolution on my part, I decided to stand my ground. + +The bear was about the size of a full-grown Newfoundland dog, but +broader across the back, and much heavier, weighing, I judged, over a +hundred pounds. He opened his mouth as though in the act of laughing. +I had had no experience with wild animals, but I had an idea that they +howled and made a “general row” when they were savage, and intended to +do mischief. After the first sight of the bear, my courage gradually +increased, and I am happy to say that I did full justice to my valor +on this occasion. I did not run away. The bear came close to me, and +then erecting himself again, he extended his right paw as before, +looking up into my face as pleasantly and cunningly as though he had +been a playful child. + +The fellow evidently means something by his action; but I was not +sufficiently skilled in bear nature to comprehend him. He was not +savage, and did not exhibit the slightest intention to use the fine +rows of elegant teeth which he displayed. This assurance was very +comforting to me. I retreated two or three paces as a strategic +movement, in order to develop the further intentions of the enemy, if +he was an enemy. The rascal followed me, again stood up, and presented +his paw. + +“Don’t be afraid, miss. He will not hurt anything,” said I, as the +young lady was again alarmed by the last move of the bear. “He is quite +harmless.” + +“I am afraid he will bite me!” gasped she; and she would not have +suffered any more if she had already been bitten. + +“Shall I leave you, Wolf?” asked Waddie. + +“Yes, certainly; the bear is as harmless as a kitten,” I replied. + +“Allow me to conduct you to the hotel,” added Waddie, gallantly. “I +suppose you are staying at the hotel.” + +“Yes; I had been walking with Lord Palsgrave, when that awful creature +came upon me,” she replied. + +“Whom did I understand you to say you were walking with?” + +“With Lord Palsgrave.” + +“Ah, then you are English people?” added Waddie, who was doubtless duly +impressed with the quality of his new acquaintance. + +“Lord Palsgrave is English, but I am not.” + +“If you will allow me, I will conduct you to the hotel.” + +“I am so frightened, I fear I cannot walk so far.” + +“You need not leave on account of the bear,” I interposed. “He is as +gentle and tame as a baby kitten.” + +By this time I had discovered what Bruin meant by his mysterious +movement with the right fore paw. When I had worked my courage up to +the sticking point, I extended my hand towards him, to see if he would +snap at it. If he did, I concluded that I should use a big stone which +lay on the ground at my feet. If he wanted to fight, I felt that, in +the cause of a terrified maiden,--very pretty, too, at that,--I could +afford to test the relative hardness of the bear’s head and the rock. + +But I wronged him. The bear had no belligerent intentions. He was +evidently a good fellow in his way; and, if bearish in his manners, he +was friendly in his disposition. Instead of snapping at my hand, he +reached forward his paw, and I realized then that he only desired to +shake hands with me. I had learned a sufficient amount of politeness to +accommodate him in this respect, and when I took his paw he bowed his +head several times, to indicate his pleasure at making my acquaintance. +I could not suffer myself to be behind him in courtesy, and I bowed as +often as he did. + +I heard Waddie laughing heartily, and turning round, I saw that the +young lady was beginning to smile at the passage of compliments +between me and the bear. I must say that I was delighted with my new +acquaintance, he was so very polite and well mannered. But I had not +yet measured the depth of his affection for me. He was not satisfied +with merely bowing and shaking hands with me, but insisted upon hugging +me. First he embraced my arm, and then my body, though I did not +yet feel quite well enough acquainted with him to endure the final +transport of his devotion. I shook him off, and he tumbled upon the +ground. Then he began to roll over, as a dog is taught to do, making +the most extravagant demonstrations of affectionate regard towards +me. In a few moments I was rolling on the grass with him, and I felt +confidence enough in his good intentions to return his embraces. I put +my hand in his mouth, but he did not bite; and though his sharp claws +were rather trying to the nap of my coat, he used them only in sport. + +“Won’t you come up and shake hands with him, Miss--” + +“Miss Dornwood,” she added, supplementing my question. “No, I thank +you. I thought he was a wild bear.” + +“No, he is as tame as a kitten. He only wanted to shake hands with you. +I am sure he would not hurt any one.” + +“He is real funny; and I wish I dared to play with him,” added she, +shrinking back, as Bruin followed me a little nearer to the place where +she stood. + +“Don’t bring him any nearer, Wolf,” laughed Waddie. “‘Distance lends +enchantment to the view.’” + +I sat down upon a rock, and continued to play with the bear, while +Waddie and Miss Dornwood watched the sport at a respectful distance. + +“I don’t know what I am to do with this fellow, now I have made his +acquaintance,” I continued, as I tumbled him over upon the ground when +his embraces became a little too ardent. “I see by the looks of his +neck that he has been in the habit of wearing a collar.” + +“If you will only keep him away from me, I don’t care what you do +with him,” said Miss Dornwood. “I don’t think they ought to let such +creatures wander about these grounds, for it is almost as bad to be +frightened to death as to be eaten up.” + +“Where is the gentleman who was with you?” asked Waddie. + +“He went to the hotel after a vehicle, for we intended to take a ride +along the lake when we saw this road. We only arrived this morning, and +we find it a very beautiful region.” + +“There come three men,” added Waddie, pointing into the woods. + +I recognized Captain Portman as one of them. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +AN ANGRY GUARDIAN. + + +“How do you do, Captain Penniman? I am delighted to see you,” said +Captain Portman, coming up to me, and extending his hand. + +As I took his hand, a burst of laughter from Waddie and Miss Dornwood +attracted my attention. Turning my head to ascertain what amused them, +I saw the bear standing on his hind legs, and extending his paw, as he +had done to me, evidently wishing to shake hands with the new comer. +Captain Portman took his offered paw, and gave Bruin a warm greeting. + +“So, my old rogue, you have got away again,” said he, as he patted the +bear on the head. + +“You seem to be acquainted with my old friend here,” said I. + +“Yes, he belongs to me; but he bothers me sadly,” replied Captain +Portman. “Unless we buckle his collar very tight, he slips it over his +head; and if it is tight, it worries him and makes him cross. He has +got out of my grounds several times, and frightened strangers staying +at the hotel. The landlord says he will shoot him, if he finds him +loose again.” + +“He frightened this young lady,” I added. + +“I am very sorry,” said Captain Portman, turning to the lady. “He is +entirely harmless.” + +“I see he is now, sir; but I supposed he was a wild bear,” replied Miss +Dornwood. + +“When I knew he was loose, I hastened to find him, lest the landlord +should put his threat into execution,” continued Captain Portman, +caressing the bear. “He makes so much trouble that I am afraid I shall +have to get rid of him; but I do not like the idea of killing him while +he makes himself so agreeable. If you will take him, Wolf, I will give +him to you, for I know you will treat him kindly.” + +“Thank you, sir, I should be delighted to own him,” I answered. “I have +a nice place for him at home.” + +“You shall have him.” + +“He and I will be warm friends.” + +And Bruin, as if he comprehended the new relation between us, gave me +one of his warmest hugs. + +“How do you happen to be here, Wolf, without calling upon me?” asked +Captain Portman. + +“I was just going up to your house when I heard this lady scream, and I +hastened back to her assistance.” + +“Gallant as ever,” said he, laughing. “Then I shall see you again +to-day.” + +“Yes, sir. I will call at your house in the course of the afternoon.” + +“My men will take care of the bear for you till you are ready to return +to Middleport, if you desire.” + +I assented to this arrangement, and the two men who came with Captain +Portman took charge of the bear, though he was very unwilling to be +separated from me. I should have gone with the captain, but I desired +to see Lord Palsgrave, for whom Miss Dornwood was waiting. I had +never seen a live lord, and I was anxious to behold the phenomenon. I +supposed he would soon appear with the vehicle for which he had gone. + +“I am very much obliged to you for the service you have rendered me, +gentlemen,” said she, as the party moved off with the bear. + +“Not at all,” replied Waddie. “I am very glad, for one, to have served +you.” + +“And I have made an excellent friend by the adventure,” I added. + +“Do you refer to the bear, or to me?” said Miss Dornwood, archly. + +“I confess that I referred to the bear.” + +“I hope you will include me.” + +“Then I have made two excellent friends.” + +“Lord Palsgrave seems to be a long time obtaining the vehicle,” she +added, glancing towards the road. + +“Is Lord Palsgrave an old gentleman?” I asked. + +“Dear me! No,” replied Miss Dornwood, with a blush. “He is only +nineteen.” + +“Nineteen! Well, I had an idea that lords were always old men.” + +“Not at all. Lord Palsgrave is quite a young man.” + +“Was it he we saw going towards the hotel when you screamed?” + +“Yes; he left me only a few moments before I saw the bear.” + +I came to the conclusion, guided partly by the blush which mantled her +cheek when she spoke of him, and partly by the fact that his lordship +was only nineteen, that he was a lover; and I was rather sorry that +she was already entangled, for I thought Waddie regarded Miss Dornwood +with more interest than I had ever before seen him look upon a young +lady. She was certainly a very pretty girl, and I did not blame Lord +Palsgrave for taking a fancy to her. + +His lordship did not come with the vehicle, though an hour had elapsed +since his departure, and Miss Dornwood was beginning to be impatient. +We did not think it was polite to leave her, and we continued to talk +about the bear, Lord Palsgrave, and such other topics as we could find +available. While we were thus engaged, I saw a lady and gentleman +approaching us. As they came nearer, the latter disengaged himself from +his companion, and hastened to the spot where we stood. He was a young +man of twenty-five, and looked very cross. I did not like the looks of +him, and I saw that Miss Dornwood was very much disturbed by his coming. + +“What are you doing here, Edith?” demanded he, bestowing a +contemptuous glance upon Waddie and myself. + +“I am waiting for Lord Palsgrave,” she replied, her cheek flushed, and +her lips trembling. + +“Who are these persons?” continued he. + +“I do not know who they are, but they have been very kind to me, and I +am very grateful to them.” + +“No doubt you are!” sneered the gentleman; and I realized that we had +encountered another bear, though not so well behaved as the first +had been. “Do you pick up acquaintances in this manner without my +knowledge?” + +“Why, Charles!” + +I saw that Miss Dornwood was greatly agitated and deeply grieved at +this ungentle treatment, and I did not wonder at it. + +“What are you doing here?” he continued, rudely. + +“I am waiting for Lord Palsgrave.” + +“I don’t wonder that Lord Palsgrave does not come, if he sees you +engaged in this manner. Do you put yourself on familiar terms with +entire strangers?” + +“How rude you are, Charles!” exclaimed Miss Dornwood, struggling to +repress her tears at his unkind treatment. + +“I beg your pardon, sir,” interposed Waddie; “but there was another +bear--there was a bear in the woods here. The lady encountered him, and +we came to her assistance.” + +“A bear!” sneered the gentleman. + +“A bear, sir!” repeated Waddie, with emphasis. “It is true, he was a +tame bear, but he frightened the lady, and her screams attracted our +attention.” + +“If you have rendered her any assistance, I am obliged to you for it,” +said the gentleman, coldly. “Edith, go back to the hotel.” + +“Lord Palsgrave told me to meet him at the road when he came with the +carriage,” pleaded the young lady. + +“I insist that you return to the hotel,” added the gentleman, almost +fiercely. “I have forbidden your making acquaintances without my +knowledge.” + +“I couldn’t help it, Charles.” + +“Will you return to the hotel?” + +“No; I will not, Charles! I will not be treated in this rude manner +before strangers,” she replied, bursting into tears, and retreating a +few paces from her tormentor. + +“So, miss! Do you dare to disobey me?” demanded he, his checks red with +anger. + +“I will not be treated in this manner before strangers,” she replied, +with spirit, as she wiped away her tears. + +“What will Lord Palsgrave say when he finds you making friends so +easily?” + +“I don’t care what he says; but I will not be treated like a little +child, Charles Overton.” + +“We will see! Will you return to the hotel, or shall I carry you +there?” said the brute, stepping towards her. + +“Neither, Charles,” she answered, retreating a step or two before him. +“These young gentlemen came to my assistance when I needed their help, +and I am very grateful to them.” + +“I trust you have thanked the young gentlemen for their service.” + +“I have.” + +“That’s enough, then. Now you will return to the hotel.” + +“I will not, Charles Overton. I have obeyed you in all things; but when +you insult me before strangers, and insult them too, I will not endure +it.” + +“Very fine, Edith! But you will return to the hotel, and obey me now, +as you always have done.” + +“I shall return to the hotel when I am ready to do so, but not before;” +and Edith looked as though she meant all she said. + +Behind all this there was evidently a history of which Waddie and +I were entirely ignorant. I concluded that the irritable gentleman +was the young lady’s guardian, and was doubtless armed with proper +authority to command and control her. But she was not less than +seventeen, and certainly she was entitled to some consideration from +him. As she had suggested, he treated her like a little child, and his +conduct was rude and ungentlemanly in the extreme. I sympathized with +Edith; but I did not deem it proper or prudent to interfere. I saw that +Waddie, who was naturally rash and impetuous, found it exceedingly +difficult to restrain himself under the provocation. + +“Edith, you shall obey me!” exclaimed Mr. Overton, springing towards +her, with the intention of dragging her back to the hotel. + +“I beg your pardon, sir,” interposed Waddie, stepping between the angry +guardian and his ward. “I hope you will not use any violence.” + +At that moment I heard a kind of clattering noise, and turning, I saw +the bear rushing at railroad speed towards us. He had doubtless escaped +from Captain Portman’s men, and had come back to renew the agreeable +acquaintance he had made. Now, Mr. Overton happened to be the nearest +person to him as he approached the group, and Bruin leaped up to him, +and placed his paws upon the arm extended to grasp Edith. Perhaps he +thought the parties were playing, and he wished to have a hand in the +game. + +Mr. Overton evidently had not seen the bear till he felt his paws upon +his arm. A man who is a tyrant is necessarily a coward; and turning +his head, the savage guardian saw the bear, with his mouth open. His +expression was one of abject terror, and, starting back, he shook the +playful animal from him. Bruin immediately stood up, and extended his +paw, as though he were ready to make friends with all mankind. To my +surprise, Miss Dornwood grasped the paw with her gloved hand, and shook +it warmly. Probably she thought that, between the two bears, he was +the less savage and bearish. + +“You do not seem to like him any better than I did at first,” said +Edith, glancing at Mr. Overton, who had retreated to a safe distance. +“I suppose I am forbidden to make his acquaintance, but I shall do so.” + +Bruin had doubtless been trained to respect ladies, and did not offer +any rough familiarities to her, as he had to me. He stood up before +her, and received her caresses with a good-natured grin. Mr. Overton, +seeing that the bear did not proceed to eat any of us up, regained his +sell-possession. + +“If you wish to avoid trouble, Edith, you will go to the hotel at +once,” said he, renewing the attack. + +“I shall not go,” she replied, earnestly. + +“Then I shall lead you there.” + +And stepping forward to enforce his threat, the bear, perhaps thinking +he meant to have a frolic, sprang upon him with extended paws. + +“Take him away! Take him away!” cried Mr. Overton, utterly unable to +appreciate the familiar overtures of the bear. + +“He will not hurt you, sir.” + +“Take him off--will you?” gasped he, in terror. + +“Here, Bruin, come here,” interposed Edith, pulling him by the neck. + +The bear turned to her, stood up, and extended his paw to her. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +FIRE ON THE LAKE. + + +I began to think my bear was as fickle as human beings, for he seemed +to have taken quite a fancy to Edith. Certainly, in this respect, I was +willing to believe he was a bear of excellent taste. + +He did not offer to hug her arm, or to take other liberties with her, +but was very affectionate, while he was very circumspect. Mr. Overton +did not again attempt to use force with the young lady while she was +thus guarded. + +“Let the ugly beast alone, Edith!” growled her disconcerted guardian. + +“He behaves very well now, Charles, and I am not afraid of him.” + +“Once more, are you going to the hotel, or not?” + +“Very soon I am, if Lord Palsgrave does not appear,” she replied, still +caressing Bruin. + +“I think, Waddie, I will go up to Captain Portman’s, His men are coming +again after the bear, and I will take him along with me,” I interposed. +“Come, Bruin, old fellow, don’t you know me?” + +I put my hand upon his head, and he leaped upon me, as though he was +heartily glad to renew the acquaintance. + +“I am going to the hotel, Miss Dornwood,” said Waddie, touching his cap +to the young lady, and moving in the direction indicated. + +She placed herself at his side, and they started together. + +“You are not going with her, sir,” said Mr. Overton, angrily. + +“Then she will go with me.” + +“You young puppy!” + +“Gently, if you please, sir,” added Waddie, quietly. + +“Stop, Edith!” commanded the guardian. + +“You told me to go to the hotel, Charles, and I am going,” she replied. + +“Not with that young man.” + +“That shall be as he pleases.” + +“No; it shall be as I please. Stop, sir! Do you hear me?” cried Mr. +Overton. + +“If I understand the matter, sir, you have no control over me, if you +have over this lady,” replied Waddie, turning around to address the +guardian. + +They continued on their walk, followed by Mr. Overton, who was +presently joined by the lady he had left when he came forward to +discipline his ward. They soon disappeared among the trees, and I made +my way to the mansion of Captain Portman, where I spent a couple of +hours very pleasantly. I told him about the adventure we had had with +Edith and her guardian. + +“I pity the poor girl,” I added; “for this Mr. Overton is a petty +tyrant, who must make her very uncomfortable.” + +“Doubtless it is very unfortunate for her; but it is one of those cases +with which outsiders cannot meddle,” replied my friend. + +“I think he would have dragged her up to the hotel by force, if the +bear had not interfered.” + +“Well, the interference came better from the bear than from you.” + +“Do you think one ought to stand by, and see a man abuse a young lady +without taking her part?” I inquired, with considerable interest. + +“That’s a hard question to answer, Wolf. The gentleman is her guardian, +and has authority over her; but if he were actually abusing her, I am +inclined to think I should interfere on my own responsibility. Yet it +is not prudent to meddle with things of this kind.” + +“I am afraid Waddie will meddle,” I added. + +“He seemed to be rather interested in the young lady.” + +“He should be very careful what he does.” + +“I must go over to the hotel, and see that he does not get into +trouble.” + +“But you will come and spend the night with me, Wolf.” + +“We intended to sleep on board of the Belle.” + +“I shall be very glad to see you and Waddie to-night, and I hope you +will spend a day with me before your return home.” + +“Thank you, sir. I will do so, if possible,” I replied. + +I walked to the hotel, and found Waddie on the piazza. He looked very +nervous and uneasy, and I was afraid something had happened. + +“Where is the young lady?” I asked. + +“She is in the house,” he replied. “I was hoping I should see her +again. There is something wrong somewhere, Wolf. A man don’t treat a +young lady like that unless there is something wrong.” + +“It is hardly proper for us to meddle with the matter,” I suggested. + +“I don’t purpose to meddle with it, unless he abuses her before my +face. If he does that, I shall feel justified in protecting her; for a +man has no right to abuse even his own child. But I should like to know +something more about the matter,” continued Waddie, warmly. + +“Did she say anything to you on your way up to the hotel?” I asked. + +“Not a word. We were talking about the bear all the way. Her guardian +followed close to us. I know by her sad manner that she is in trouble +all the time. After the brute spoke to her as he did, my sympathies +were all with her.” + +“I don’t think we shall be likely to see her again. This men is +evidently her guardian, and he will take care that she does not come +out of her room again to-day.” + +“I would give a good deal to know what the trouble is between them. He +must be some relation to her, or she would not call him Charles.” + +“Very likely. Did you see Lord Palsgrave?” I inquired. + +“Not a lord,” laughed Waddie. “I asked the landlord about him, and was +told his lordship had taken a horse and buggy, but had not been seen +since. Mr. Overton appears to be a little worried about him; but I +don’t believe he has run away.” + +“I think we shall have to give up the idea of seeing the show +to-night,” I suggested. + +“We shall be about here a few days, and we will come up to the hotel +again,” replied Waddie. “I am ready to go down to the boat when you +are.” + +“I don’t think there is anything more for us to say or do here;” and we +started for the lake. + +Tom had put the Belle in good order during our absence, and caught some +fish for supper. While he was cooking them, we sat in the cabin, and +told him our adventure in the woods, informing him that he would have a +black bear for a passenger on the return voyage. + +“If he only behaves himself, I don’t care what he is,” laughed the +young skipper. + +“If he don’t behave well, you must bear with him,” said Waddie. + +“I’ll do that, for I can’t bear to quarrel with anybody, even if he is +a bear,” added Tom. + +“It is barely possible that he may help you, for he can bear a hand in +an emergency,” I continued. + +“Does he wear gloves?” asked the skipper. + +“No.” + +“How can he bare a hand, then?” grinned Tom. “However he will make a +good barometer.” + +“He knows _weather_--it rains or not.” + +“By the way, Wolf, is he barefooted?” inquired Tom. + +“Yes, and barefaced.” + +“Can he sing?” + +“Certainly; he is a barytone. But, punning aside, I must go home a day +sooner, and build a house for him.” + +“Baronial halls!” exclaimed Waddie. + +“Forbear!” I added. + +“What’s for bear?” asked Tom. “Beefsteak?” + +“Not an ounce; he must have no meat. It would make him savage, and then +he would eat up all the cats and kittens in the neighborhood, if not +the children,” I replied. + +“Don’t make a bugbear of him, Wolf,” added Waddie. + +“Fish ready!” shouted Tom. “Bear this dish to the table, if you please.” + +“Let the table bear it,” said Waddie. + +“The fish smells good, and I think my stomach will bear some of it,” I +added, as we seated ourselves at the table. + +The odor of the dish before us did not belie its quality, and we +ate a very hearty supper. For a vacation, this kind of life exactly +suited me. I enjoyed the sailing and the fishing very much, and it was +delightful o put in at the various points and ramble on shore, while +sleeping in the little cabin of the Belle added a new excitement to the +cruise. I had begun to think Ucayga Luke was rather too small to afford +full scope for the pleasures of such an occasion; and I thought, when +I was able, and had the time, a yacht cruise on the ocean would suit +me exactly. But the lake was certainly very pleasant, and I was not +disposed to complain. + +When we had finished our supper, Waddie and I adjourned to the +standing-room, in order to give Tom a chance to wash his dishes and put +the cabin in order; for three persons about filled it, so that there +was little space for one to move around. It was nearly dark, and there +was a fresh breeze on the lake. We enjoyed the scene very much, for +certainly there is no more beautiful region in the whole world than +that which surrounded us. The hills and the precipitous rocks were in +strong contrast with the water. The Ucayga was just passing the point +where we lay, though on the other side of the lake. Coming from the +opposite direction was a tow-boat, dragging slowly after her a fleet of +canal-boats. + +Waddie and I continued to pun on the bear till the last glimpses of +twilight were fading out behind the hills on the opposite shore of +the lake. Tom had made up our beds in the cabin, and we were thinking +of playing a game of chess, which I had just begun to learn under the +pleasant instruction of Grace Toppleton. The lamp on the foremast +burned brightly, and the little cabin looked very cosy and attractive. + +“What’s that?” exclaimed Waddie, suddenly, as a yell from the fleet of +canal-beats, which had just passed our anchorage, started us from the +quiet of our situation. “By the great horn spoon, one of the boats is +on fire!” + +“That’s so!” added Tom, nervously. “What shall we do?” + +“I don’t know that we can do anything,” I replied, as my companions, by +their looks, appeared to appeal to me. “It burns like tinder. I think +she must have petroleum, or something of that kind, on board.” + +The fire blazed up very suddenly, and it was plain to me that she had +some combustible materials on her deck. The hands on the other boats +made haste to cast off the fasts which connected the burning craft to +their own, in order to prevent the flames from spreading. At the same +time, the tow-boat increased her speed to drag the other canal-boats +out of the way of their dangerous companion. + +“Get up your anchor, Tom. Let us go out there, and see what we can do,” +said I. “The thing appears to be drifting this way, and we may be +burned up if we stay here.” + +“My sentiments exactly,” replied Tom, as he sprang to his cable. + +“Stand by the jib-halyards, Waddie,” I added, removing the stops from +the mainsail. “Up with it!” + +We were all thorough boatmen, and in half a minute we had the Belle +under way. As the burning canal boat was dead to windward of us, we +had to stand away from her, in order to beat up to her position. As +soon as Tom had set the jib, he took the helm, while Waddie and I +seated ourselves to watch the progress of the flames. By this time +the steamer, having dragged the other canal-boats out of the reach of +possible danger, had stopped her wheels, and was getting out a boat to +visit the doomed vessel, for such she was by this time, as her deck was +covered with one sheet of flame. + +“Help! Help!” shouted some one from the boat. + +“By the great horn spoon, there is some one on board of her!” exclaimed +Waddie, springing to his feet under the excitement of the moment. + +“I do not see any one,” added Tom. “Of course those who were on board +left her before she cast off from the other boats. They had only to +step from one deck to another.” + +“Help! Help! Save me!” again shouted the unseen person. + +“He must be in the cabin,” I suggested. “The wind drives the flame +right over the hatchway, so that he cannot escape.” + +“What shall we do?” demanded Waddie, appalled by the prospect of a +human being perishing in the flames before our eyes. + +“Run up to windward of her, Tom,” said I. + +He obeyed, and by the time the Belle reached her bow, I had the cable +ready to make fast to her stern. + +[Illustration: FIRE ON THE LAKE. Page 56.] + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE RESCUED PASSENGER. + + +The stern of the burning canal-boat was to windward, so that the flames +were driven over the entrance to the cabin. I made fast the cable of +the Belle to the bow of the burning craft. + +“Now, Tom, take the wind on your port beam, and let her drive as hard +as she will.” + +“I see; you want to sling her round.” + +“Yes, Waddie, you and I will help her with the oars, for it will be a +hard pull to swing that heavy canal-boat.” + +We took the oars; and, when the Belle came up with a jerk, which nearly +threw us overboard,--for the wind was quite fresh,--we strained our +muscles at the oars. + +“Pull, Waddie!” I cried, anxiously, for I felt that the safety of +the man in the cabin of the burning boat depended entirely upon the +success of our movement. + +Tom helped Waddie with one hand, while he steered with the other. +Though the burning boat was very long and heavy, it did not require +much power to turn her, balanced as she was on the water. The sails of +the Belle pulled strong, our efforts at the oars increased the force, +and we soon had the satisfaction of seeing that we were accomplishing +our purpose. As soon as the vessel began to turn, her inertia being +overcome, the work was easy, and we whirled her on her axis like a top. + +“Hold on, now!” I shouted, boating my oar. “She will swing the rest of +the way without any help. Come about, Tom, and run up to her bow before +the fire makes it too warm there to cast off the cable.” + +“Won’t you bring my hatchet out of the cook-room, Wolf?” added Tom. + +I brought a small hatchet from the cuddy, which Tom used in splitting +up his wood. + +The canal-boat continued to swing under the impetus we had given her. +As soon as she had turned into a position so that the wind struck her +broadside, and carried the flames away from the cabin door, we saw a +man rush up the steps. + +“There he is!” shouted Waddie. “Bear a hand, Tom! Let her drive.” + +“She is driving all she will,” replied Tom. “Wolf, we won’t wait to +untie that cable; just chop it off with the hatchet when I luff her up.” + +“Help! Help!” shouted the man on the after-deck of the canal-boat. + +“We will be there in a minute!” shouted Tom. “Keep cool!” + +“It’s rather a warm place to keep cool in,” suggested Waddie. + +“Now, luff up, Tom, and we will get clear of the cable.” + +He put the helm hard down, and, as the boat came up into the wind, +the cable lay across the forward deck of the Belle. With one blow +of the hatchet I severed it, about thirty feet from the bow of the +canal-boat, so that Tom lost only a small portion of his line. The man +on deck had seated himself at the extreme end of the boat, with his +legs hanging over the water, in readiness to leap into the lake, if +the flames were again driven upon him. But the combustible material +seemed to be amidships, though the wood-work was now well kindled, and +the great volume of the flame was at this part of the boat. Tom ran the +Belle around under the stern of the burning vessel, and I fastened the +boat-hook to it, as she lost her headway. + +“Drop down,” said I to the person above. + +He first threw a black leather travelling-bag upon the forward deck, +whose contents rattled as though it were filled with old iron. With the +assistance of Waddie and myself, he came down himself, and stepped into +the standing-room. I picked up his valise, as Tom filled away again, in +order that it might not be lost overboard when the Belle heeled over +under the pressure of the sails. + +“You came out of a warm place,” said Waddie, as the stranger seated +himself. + +“Not very warm,” he replied. “I was in the cabin, and there was no fire +down there.” + +“But there would have been very soon.” + +“No doubt of that. There are two windows in the stern, but, as I +cannot swim, I did not like to jump out into the water,” continued the +stranger. + +“You take it very coolly,” said Tom, with a grin. + +“I don’t know that I was afraid of anything. I supposed those other +canal-boats were close by, and as soon as I saw or heard any one, I +meant to jump into the water, and let him pick me up.” + +“Was there no one with you on board?” asked Waddie. + +“Yes, a whole family; but they were on deck when the fire broke out, +and had only to step on board one of the other boats by her side. I +have been travelling a great deal lately, and I was tired and sleepy; +so I lay down in a bunk, and went to sleep. When the fire broke out, +the men yelled, and that waked me up. I sprang for the stairs, but +a sheet of flame lay right over the cabin doors, and I couldn’t go +through. So I shut the doors, and went to the windows. I yelled with +all my might, to let the boatmen know where I was; but none of them +came near me. Then I tried the doors again, and found the fire was +blowing off in another direction.” + +“That was after we had swung the canal-boat around,” interposed Waddie. + +“I did not know what did it, but when it was safe to do so I went on +deck.” + +“How did the boat catch afire?” asked Tom. + +“I don’t know. There is half a dozen barrels on deck, and they smelled +like petroleum. Very likely some smoker dropped his match into the +stuff. I heard something which I took to be the bursting of one of the +barrels; at any rate, they made a jolly fire. But now I am out of the +scrape, I don’t know that I care.” + +“It won’t be pleasant for the owner to have his property destroyed,” +suggested Waddie; and I think none of us were pleased with the selfish +remark of the stranger. + +The person whom we had rescued from the burning boat was a young man, +not more than twenty-five. He was very well dressed, and I judged from +his air and manner that he had seen the world. He interlarded his +narrative with much offensive profanity, with which I do not care to +soil my pages. On the whole, he did not produce an agreeable impression +upon any of us. + +“Have you got that man out of the cabin?” shouted a man in the boat +from the steamer. + +“Yes, he is safe,” replied Tom. “Why don’t you bring up your steamer, +and put the fire out?” + +“No use; we couldn’t put it out now.” + +“Haven’t you a fire engine on your tow-boat?” I asked. + +“No; it is broke down.” + +I was inclined to agree with the speaker, who was the captain of the +steamer, that it was useless to attempt to extinguish the fire, for the +canal-boat was now one mass of flame. She was drifting rapidly towards +the shore, and I was afraid she would set the woods on fire, for the +bushes hung over the bank, so that the flame would be blown directly +into them. + +“Will you go on board one of those canal-boats, sir, or shall we put +you on shore?” asked Tom, addressing our passenger. + +“I don’t know. I have had about enough canal-boat for one day,” he +replied, shrugging his shoulders. + +“I will do just as you say,” added Tom. + +“Is there any hotel around here?” inquired the stranger. + +“Yes, a first-rate hotel, not far from the falls,” added our skipper, +pointing in the direction of the spot. + +“Then I will go there.” + +“All right,” answered Tom, heading the Belle towards the shore. + +“My name is Schleifer,” continued the stranger. “I am a drummer for a +hardware house in New York.” + +This seemed to be a satisfactory explanation to me of the nature of the +contents of his travelling-bag, which had rattled like old iron when he +threw it upon the deck, and which I found, when I lifted it, was very +heavy. + +“I got into Hitaca too late to take the boat down the lake, for I +expect to sell some goods at the towns below. I had taken all the +orders I could get in Hitaca a few days before; so I had nothing to do, +and wanted to get to Middleport. I didn’t like the idea of lying around +Hitaca till the next morning; so I thought I would try a canal-boat, +just for the novelty of the thing.” + +“Well, how did you like it?” asked Waddie. + +“I liked it well enough till the fire interfered with the tranquillity +of my dreams; but I did not even get singed; so I have no reason to +complain.” + +By this time the Belle had reached the shore at the point off which she +had been moored before. The burning canal-boat had grounded just above +us, on a shoal place. As her combustibles on deck had been consumed, +the flames were not so fierce, and did not reach the shore. + +“I suppose I’m a lucky dog,” said Schleifer, as Tom lowered his sails, +having made fast to a tree on shore. “My life is not insured, and it +would have been an ugly investment for any office half an hour ago.” + +“Thank God for preserving your life,” I added. + +“That’s all very well; but I thank my own coolness that I wasn’t fool +enough to rush on deck, where the fire would have made an end of me in +a minute and a quarter. Do you happen to have any whiskey on board of +this craft?” + +“Not a drop,” replied Tom, promptly. “We haven’t any use for the +article, and we don’t keep it.” + +“They keep it at the hotel--don’t they?” + +“I suppose they do. I never called for any,” added Tom. + +“Are you the skipper of this craft?” asked Schleifer, in a kind of +contemptuous tone. + +“I am; and the craft is a good deal better than the skipper.” + +“That may be; and, if you don’t take any whiskey, I should say you were +half right, at least. I should think, with so much cold water under you +and all around you, you would want a little drop of whiskey, just to +help keep up an equilibrium, you know.” + +“I find that people who take whiskey find it the most difficult to keep +up an equilibrium.” + +“Every one to his fancy; but I can’t sell goods without a little +whiskey. I generally carry a pocket pistol in my bag; but it got +smashed against the hardware, the other day, and I’ve been dry ever +since.” + +“That was because you did not keep up the equilibrium,” laughed Tom. +“What kind of hardware do you sell, Mr. Schleifer?” + +“Iron, of course.” + +“Pickaxes and crowbars?” + +“Not exactly. I couldn’t carry samples in my bag very well. I think I +will try to find that hotel now. Did I understand you to say that you +were the skipper of this boat?” + +“I have that honor; and I wouldn’t swap it off to be governor of the +state,” replied Tom. + +“Do you keep her to let?” + +“That’s what I keep her for.” + +“She is a good-looking boat; but I should like her better if she +carried a little whiskey on board,” said Schleifer. “Haven’t you just a +thimbleful, say forty drops, in the medicine chest?” + +“Not the twentieth part of a drop.” + +“How long does it take you to run from here down to Cent-- down to +Middleport?” asked the drummer. + +“That depends on the wind.” + +“Well, as the wind is to-night.” + +“I could fetch it in four hours. The wind would be fair after I got by +Priam.” + +“Well, skipper, seeing it’s you, I will give you a five-dollar bill if +you will land me in Centre-- I mean in Middleport.” + +“Well, seeing it’s you, Mr. Schleifer, I won’t do it.” + +“Not for five dollars?” + +“No, nor for ten. My boat is engaged to these gentlemen for the rest of +the week.” + +“We will let you off, Tom,” whispered Waddie. + +“I don’t want to be let off.” + +“I have an invitation from Captain Portman for Waddie and myself to +sleep at his house,” I added. + +“Is that so? Then I will take him down to Centreport for ten dollars.” + +“Middleport,” said Schleifer. “I will give you five.” + +“No; nothing short of ten for a night run down the lake. I like to +sleep a little once in a while.” + +After some bickering the drummer agreed to give ten dollars for his +passage; but he insisted upon going to the hotel first for a “drop of +whiskey.” + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE ENGLISH LORD AND THE DRUMMER. + + +“I couldn’t go to sleep to-night without a drop of whiskey, and I must +have some,” said Schleifer. “It won’t take me long to go to the hotel.” + +“Do you know the way?” inquired Waddie. + +“No; but I can find it.” + +“We are going up that way. We will show you the road.” + +“I don’t need any help. I can snuff a place where they sell whiskey two +miles off,” replied the commercial gentleman, coarsely. + +He went on shore, taking his bag with him, and made his way up to +the road which led to the hotel. Waddie and I walked up to Captain +Portman’s house; but he was not at home, though the servant said he +would return soon. He had probably gone over to the hotel, which he +generally visited in the evening. We did not care to remain if Captain +Portman was not at home, and we walked towards the hotel, expecting to +meet him there. + +“Why didn’t that fellow go to Middleport in the tow-boat, if he wanted +to go there?” said Waddie, who had taken a strong dislike to Tom’s +passenger. + +“I suppose he was afraid of being blown up, or burned up,” I replied. + +“He did not even take the trouble to thank us for saving him from the +flames.” + +“Probably he does not think we saved him from anything but a wet +jacket,” I suggested. + +“Even that is worth acknowledging.” + +“These drummers live on brass, and this fellow is in the hardware line.” + +“Waddie! Is that you?” called Tom Walton, as he rushed up to us when we +came down the hill from Captain Portman’s mansion. + +“Yes, it is I. What’s the matter, Tom?” asked Waddie. + +“A young woman just came down to the boat, and said she wanted to see +you very bad,” replied Tom, with no little excitement in his manner. + +“A young woman! Who is she?” + +“I haven’t the least idea; but she has a nobby look, as I made her out +in the dark. She wanted you so bad that I told her I would try and find +you.” + +“Who can it be?” said Waddie. + +“Probably Miss Dornwood,” I suggested. + +“But she would not be out of the hotel at this hour in the evening.” + +“Her relations with her guardian were not very pleasant, you know,” I +added. + +“Well, we will go down and see her, at any rate;” and we walked towards +the moorings of the Belle. + +“Waddie, you must be very careful,” said I, not at all pleased with the +complications which seemed to be before us. + +“Careful? What do you mean, Wolf?” + +“If I am not mistaken, the question which we attempted to dodge once +before this evening will come up again.” + +“What’s that?” + +“When Mr.-- What’s his name?” + +“Mr. Overton,” added Waddie, supplying the name I had forgotten. + +“When Mr. Overton attempted to compel Miss Dornwood to return to the +hotel, you stepped between him and her. If the bear had not made a +scene just at that moment, there might have been a quarrel between you +and the guardian.” + +“You are too cautious, Wolf. I wouldn’t stand by and see him abuse the +young lady. Why, Captain Portman said he should interfere, and take the +responsibility,” protested Waddie. + +“I would interfere if there were any real abuse, Waddie; but I think +it is better to wait for a pretty strong provocation before you meddle +with family affairs.” + +“I will be as careful as I can, Wolf; but when I see a young lady +persecuted by a cruel guardian, it isn’t exactly my style to take it +coolly.” + +“We don’t know anything about the facts yet, and you must remember that +there are two sides to every story.” + +“I will try to remember it. But I don’t see what she wants with me.” + +“Very likely she has had some trouble with her guardian, and wants your +assistance.” + +“If I can assist her, I shall certainly do so. I think that Overton is +a brute, whatever his relations to the lady may be.” + +By this time we were near the boat, and I repeated, in a low tone, my +caution to Waddie. I saw that he was very much interested in the young +lady, and, aware of his impetuous character, I was afraid he would be +too forward in rendering assistance to her. Miss Dornwood stood upon +the shore near the boat. As we approached her, I saw that she was very +much agitated, and I regarded this as altogether in her favor. + +“Good evening, Miss Dornwood,” said Waddie. + +“I do not know what you will think of me,” she replied, in trembling +tones. “I am very much alarmed.” + +“What is the matter?” asked Waddie, in a tone which was calculated to +assure her. + +“I wished to see you very much, for you were so kind to me that I was +sure you would assist me.” + +“I should be very glad to assist you, if it is in my power to do so.” + +“You said you had a boat. I suppose this is the one.” + +“It is not mine, though we came up the lake to-day in her.” + +“Do you know where the town of Ruoara is?” asked the young lady, as she +glanced around her in terror. + +“I do, very well indeed. It is only eight miles from my home,” replied +Waddie. + +“I wish to go there very much,” continued she, earnestly. + +“To-night?” + +“Yes, to-night--immediately.” + +“That’s very unfortunate, for the skipper has to take a gentleman to +Middleport,” replied Waddie. + +“O, dear! What shall I do?” exclaimed the young lady. “I must go at +once.” + +“Perhaps you can go in the boat with the gentleman as far as +Middleport, and--” + +“Who is the gentleman?” interposed she, anxiously. + +“I don’t know him. He is a commercial agent.” + +“I cannot go with a stranger,” said she, shaking her head in a very +positive manner. + +“Am I not a stranger?” + +“No; I learned, after we parted this afternoon, that you were the son +of a very influential gentleman, and you were kind enough to step +between me and my guardian, when he intended to lay his hands upon me.” + +“Who told you this?” + +“The landlord. He said your friend was Captain Penniman; and I was +sure, after the service you had rendered me, that you would again be my +friend, and help me to get to Ruoara.” + +“Won’t you sit down in the boat?” added Waddie, stepping on board of +the Belle. + +“No, I thank you. I do not wish to meet any strangers,” replied Miss +Dornwood. “I know you think I am very bold; but I should not have come +to you if I had not known who you were.” + +“If you will not go with the gentleman, I do not see what I can do for +you. There is no other sail-boat here.” + +“I suppose I must return to my prison,” said she, bursting into tears. + +“Do not weep,” interposed Waddie, moved by her grief. + +“Mr. Wimpleton, I envy the poor man’s daughter who is surrounded by +good and true friends,” sobbed she. “I will go back to my prison.” + +“What do you mean by your prison?” inquired Waddie. + +“My guardian sent me to my room, and then locked me in it. I cannot +endure such indignities. I am going to leave him. I am going to work +for my daily bread in a factory, in a shop--anywhere that I can earn +enough to support me.” + +“Is your situation so desperate as this?” + +“It is, indeed! If I had no spirit at all, perhaps I could endure it.” + +“There comes some one,” interposed Tom Walton, who had walked up to the +road, as soon as he understood the case, in order to warn us of the +approach of his passenger. + +Without another word, Miss Dornwood fled like a frightened fawn in the +direction opposite that in which Schleifer was approaching. Waddie, +deeply interested in her case, followed her, intent upon assisting her +to the extent of his ability. + +“There is some one with him,” said Tom, as I joined him, half way +between the lake and the road. + +“Perhaps you are to have two passengers,” I suggested. + +The drummer and the person who was with him halted in the road, and +seemed to be engaged in a very earnest conversation. We could not hear +a word they said, but it was evident that they had not met for the +first time, and that they were not talking about the sale of hardware. +It was too dark to see any more than the form of Schleifer’s friend. + +“You wait here,” said he, after the conversation had continued a few +moments. + +“Hurry up,” replied the other person, whose voice seemed to be familiar +to me, though I could not identify it. + +As the drummer approached, we retreated towards the boat. + +“Hallo, there, skipper!” shouted he. + +“Are you ready?” asked Tom, as we stopped, and waited till he came up. + +“If it’s all the same to you, I won’t go down the lake to-night. I +met a friend of mine at the hotel, and I want to stay with him till +to-morrow.” + +“All right,” answered Tom. + +“A trade’s a trade. I agreed to give you ten dollars for the trip. +If you will call it five, and not go, I shall be satisfied,” added +Schleifer. + +“I don’t want any five, if you don’t go,” replied Tom. “I only want +what I earn.” + +“But I am willing to compromise.” + +“I don’t compromise. We will call it square as it is. If you are +satisfied, I am.” + +“Well, I shall want your boat another time, and I’ll make it right with +you then,” added the drummer, as he turned to leave. + +“It’s all right now.” + +“That’s lucky for Waddie,” I suggested. + +“It works first rate. Now, if Waddie wants to take the lady to Ruoara, +the boat is all ready.” + +“But where is he?” + +“They haven’t got a great way yet.” + +“Probably she will go towards the hotel. You follow them, Tom, and +I will go up this way,” I replied, moving in the direction which +Schleifer had taken. + +I soon discovered the drummer and his friend walking rapidly towards +the hotel. I was a little curious to know who the person was whose +voice had sounded so familiar to me, and I quickened my pace, hoping +the lights in front of the hotel would enable me to obtain a clear view +of him. I followed them closely; but before reaching the hotel they +turned in at a road which led to the stable in the rear. Before I could +come up with them, they had seated themselves in a light wagon, which +must have been ordered before, and drove off. + +“Who are those gentlemen?” I asked of the stable-keeper, who stood in +the yard with a lantern in his hand. + +“One of them I never saw till now; the other is stopping at the hotel, +and is a big gun,” he replied. + +“I know the taller one. Who is the other?” + +“He’s the big gun. He came this morning; but no one found out what he +was till after dinner.” + +“What is he?” + +“He’s the big gun. He’s an English lord. I forget what they call him.” + +“Lord Palsgrave,” I suggested. + +“That’s the name. He’s a nobby fellow, and spreads his dollars with a +looseness.” + +“Where is he going now?” + +“To Priam, I reckon. He said he should not be back till to-morrow +morning; and there is to be a big dance there to-night. But I wonder he +didn’t take the young lady with him, who came with his party.” + +I walked round the hotel, in order to intercept Waddie and Miss +Dornwood; but I saw nothing of them, and I concluded that Tom had +already overtaken them. After the information I had obtained from the +stable-keeper, my idea of an English lord was considerably modified. +He was on good terms with a hardware drummer, which did not seem to be +exactly consistent with his exalted position. But it was possible that +the drummer was a baron or a marquis in disguise, though the clatter of +his hardware samples did not tend to prove it. + +I continued my walk towards the lake, and presently met Waddie and Miss +Dornwood. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +MISS DORNWOOD’S STORY. + + +As soon as I saw and recognized Waddie and Miss Dornwood, they turned +out of the road with the evident intention of avoiding me. + +“Waddie!” I called to him. + +Hearing my voice, they returned to the road, assured that I was not the +brutal guardian whom the young lady had so much reason to shun. + +“Haven’t you seen Tom?” I asked. + +“No.” + +“He is looking for you.” + +“We heard some one behind us, and turned aside till he had passed,” +added Waddie. “What does he want?” + +“The drummer has concluded not to go to Middleport to-night.” + +“And can you have the boat?” inquired Miss Dornwood, eagerly. + +“The boat is certainly available,” I replied. “But do you really wish +to make a trip of thirty miles on the lake in the night?” + +“I am afraid of nothing but the tyranny of my guardian,” she responded, +promptly. + +“Where is Tom?” inquired Waddie. “We will lose no time.” + +“I will find him. If he passed you, he must be near the hotel.” + +They walked towards the boat, and I returned to the hotel, where I +found Tom, and we soon joined Waddie on board of the Belle. We were +all ready to start; but I confess I was very much troubled about the +circumstances of the voyage. The mainsail was flapping in the fresh +breeze; but I was somewhat afraid that Waddie was getting himself, and +perhaps me, into a scrape. + +“Are you going, Waddie?” I asked, in introducing what I wished to say. + +“Certainly I am.” + +“I hope you will go with me. I should not feel safe without you,” added +Miss Dornwood. + +“Won’t you go too, Wolf?” asked Waddie. + +“I should be glad to have you,” continued the young lady. + +“I am not perfectly clear in regard to this matter,” I suggested. + +“Pray do not stay here any longer,” interposed Miss Dornwood. “If my +guardian should discover my absence, I’m afraid he would come down here +to look for me. Please to go out upon the lake, and I will tell you all +my story. Then, if you will not assist me, we can return.” + +“Shove off, Tom,” I replied. + +The skipper ran up the jib, and the Belle, gathering headway, stood out +into the lake. + +“I think you are very cautious, Captain Penniman,” said Miss Dornwood. + +“I am sure my friend here does not wish to do anything wrong,” I added. + +“I will bear all the blame,” said Waddie, warmly. “I think I can find +friends for Miss Dornwood without going so far as Ruoara.” + +“Where?” I asked, curiously. + +“At my father’s house.” + +“I shall not be obliged to trespass upon the kindness of your father’s +family, Mr. Wimpleton,” added Miss Dornwood. “My friends in Ruoara will +not hesitate to receive me into their house, though they know all the +circumstances of my situation.” + +“Who are they?” I asked. + +“Mr. Pinkerton and his family. Do you know them?” + +“Very well indeed. Ben Pinkerton’s father,” added Waddie. + +The Pinkertons were of the highest social standing in Ruoara, and I was +almost willing to believe that there could be no harm in conveying the +young lady to such friends as they were. + +“Emily Pinkerton was my schoolmate at the academy, and before my father +died, our two families became quite intimate,” continued Miss Dornwood. +“Emily was at my guardian’s house last spring with her father and +mother, and they know all about the circumstances.” + +“Do they think it is proper for you to leave your guardian?” + +“Mr. Pinkerton told me himself to come to his house whenever I could +not endure my guardian any longer. I should have gone there before if +I could have got away.” + +“Are your father and mother both dead?” I inquired. + +“Both of them. I am going to tell you the whole history of our family. +I am seventeen now, and Mr. Pinkerton says I am old enough to think for +myself. I believe I am.” + +“I should say you were,” I replied. + +“My mother was married twice,” Miss Dornwood began. “Her first +husband’s name was Richard Overton, and they had one son, Charles +Overton, who is now my guardian. His father died when he was only four +years old. Two years after his death, my mother was married again, to +Edward Dornwood, my father. He was a wealthy man; but he was deformed, +and in very poor health. I wish I could tell you how much I loved him, +and how devoted he was to me. Even the great hump upon his back was not +a deformity in my eyes. But, feeble as he was, my mother was the first +to pass away, and died when I was only eight. I hardly remember her. I +have no doubt she loved me as a mother should love a child; but I know +she used to scold me very severely, and I recollect this more clearly +than anything else. + +“My father never spoke an unkind word to me. When I did wrong, when I +fretted, he looked so sad,--sometimes actually shedding tears,--that +it became a positive terror to me to displease him. When he became so +feeble that he could not leave the house, I spent all my time out of +school with him. His eyes failed so that he could not see well, and, +for hours together, I used to read books to him which had not the least +interest to me. I can truly say, that I was never so happy as when with +him.” + +“Where was this Charles Overton all this time?” I asked, as she paused +to wipe away her tears. + +“He lived near us, and professed a very deep interest in my poor dear +father, and in me too, for that matter. His father had died a poor +man, and he was a clerk in a store. He used to come in every day, and +express so much solicitude for my father and his affairs, that we were +all deceived in him. We thought he was a good man, but really all he +cared for was my father’s money. By degrees he won his confidence; +and, though he had never treated me as a sister when we were children +together, I was very grateful to him for the care he bestowed upon his +step-father. + +“When I was about fourteen years old, my father began to fail in health +very rapidly, and it was evident to himself, as it was to the rest of +us, that he could not last many months longer. With a calmness which +seemed to be awful to me, he spoke of leaving the earth to join the +angels in heaven. I wept bitterly at the thought of parting with him; +but he suffered so terribly that I finally became reconciled to his +going, for I realized that my loss, even in a worldly sense, would be +his gain. Then he told me about his property, and asked me if I should +like to have Charles for my guardian. + +“I was fifteen years old, but I knew little or nothing about business. +I was entirely satisfied to have Charles an my guardian, though I +hardly comprehended what his relations with me in that capacity were +to be. The next day came the lawyers, and my father made some changes +in his will, which had been written years before. In a word, he named +Charles Overton as my guardian, and made him the executor of his will. +I am sure he charged him to be very kind to me, and to take good care +of my fortune. But my father lived nearly a year after he had settled +up his worldly affairs, during which Charles was as devoted to him and +me as the most loving son and brother could be. He came to our house to +live, in order that he might better attend to the wants of the invalid, +and resigned his situation in the store so that he could devote all his +time to this duty. + +“I will not try to tell you the sad story of my father’s death. He +passed away, and ceased to suffer. We laid him in the silent tomb, and +life was not to me what it had been before. I had lost my greatest +earthly comfort, and, young as I was, I looked forward with joy and +hope to the time when I should join my father in heaven. But this +sadness wore away, though I have not ceased, and never shall cease, +to think of my father as an angel, even when he was upon the earth. +Charles Overton took charge of everything, and came into actual +possession of the house in which I had lived all my life. It was more +than six months after my father’s death when he spoke to me about +business. Then he showed me my father’s will, and read it to me. He +described the legal forms through which he had passed, but I could not +understand them. + +“My father gave him twenty thousand dollars in his will, and a fixed +salary for doing the business of his estate until I was of age. After +giving many legacies to charitable objects, the residue of his fortune +was given to me. I was told that I was the heiress of two hundred +thousand dollars. But there was one very singular clause in the will, +to the effect that, if I married without the consent of Charles +Overton, I was to receive fifty thousand dollars, and the residue of +the fortune was to go to my half brother. I was astonished and shocked +at this part of the will. I asked Charles to let me see it. Certainly +it was all written down as he had read it; but it seemed incredible to +me that my doting father had intended to subject me to such a condition. + +“About this time Charles Overton began to exercise his authority over +me. He resorted to every expedient in his power to annoy me, and make +me miserable. He succeeded, too, in making me as unhappy as I could +wish any human being to be, if he were my worst enemy. I could not +divine his object; but, between him and his wife, I had hardly a day +of peace from one year’s end to the other. I was not permitted to go +into company, nor to visit those who had been my friends and companions +during the latter years of my father’s life. I was not allowed even to +take a walk without some one to attend me, and see that I made no new +acquaintances, nor met any old ones. I may say with truth that I have +been a slave now for nearly two years. + +“I remonstrated and protested against this treatment; but Charles +explained that he was only carrying out the wishes of my father that he +should watch over me with the utmost care. It was only when I believed +I comprehended his motives, that I ventured actually to resist him. I +refused to obey him, and went out when I could find an opportunity. I +was fully persuaded that he intended to break me down and wear me out, +so that he could get my fortune.” + +“But why is he so particular that you should make no acquaintances?” +asked Waddie. “If you should be married without his consent, he will +get most of your fortune.” + +“Mr. Pinkerton told me that clause would not stand the test of the law. +But I do not think of being married either with or without my half +brother’s consent,” added Miss Dornwood, with much embarrassment. + +She paused a few moments, and looked over the side of the boat into the +water. I realized that it was a great trial to her to feel obliged to +tell this long and painful narrative. + +“I have not told you the worst yet,” she continued. “I was satisfied +that Charles Overton wanted my money; that he was plotting day and +night to obtain it. Doubtless what he termed my obstinacy worried him. +He is a man of no principle whatever, and I am sure he is equal to any +crime he has the courage to perpetrate. About three weeks ago, while we +were at Cape May, we met Lord Palsgrave. While we were bathing in the +surf one day, a wave lifted me off my feet, and carried me out of my +depth. I could swim, and was not at all alarmed; but his lordship swam +out to me, and, in spite of my protest, insisted upon saving me from a +watery grave. I thanked him for his good intentions, though I did not +need his services; and from that time to this he has clung to me. I +must tell the whole truth: he proposed to me, and I promptly rejected +him, for I did not like him. My intimacy with him assured me there was +not much difference between a lord and a boor. My guardian did like +him, if I did not, and declared that his lordship was the only man who +could marry me with his consent. I was persecuted on this subject till +I was disgusted with it.” + +And then the poor girl burst into tears again. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE STRANGE BOAT. + + +Miss Dornwood was evidently contrasting her present situation with the +happiness which had been her portion during the lifetime of her father. +It was not strange that she wept, as she compared the tenderness of her +devoted parent with the harshness and brutality of Charles Overton. +I had seen enough of him to convince me that she had not exaggerated +the truth, and I was so moved by her story that I was ready to do as +much as Waddie to assist her. There was nothing said, therefore, about +returning to the hotel, and the Belle dashed on her course over the +waves. + +Tom Walton sat at the helm, drinking in every detail of the young +lady’s story, but still, from the force of habit, working the boat with +the nicest skill. He made long tacks, and had run nearly over to Port +Gunga, so that from this point he could lay a course directly through +the Narrows, about fifteen miles distant, without cramping her. + +“Do you think his lordship is really a lord?” I asked, when Miss +Dornwood had become quiet, and we ceased to hear her sobs. + +“I suppose he is. I have no reason to doubt it,” she replied. “He +showed me a letter from his father the other day.” + +“Who is his father?” + +“The letter was signed ‘Dumford.’ He explained that his father was +Earl of Dumford, and taking his father’s second title, he was called +Lord Palsgrave. I know nothing about these things, and really feel +no interest in them. He talks about the nobility of England with a +familiarity which indicates a thorough acquaintance, and, as I know +nothing about the matter, he might do so with entire impunity. He +clings to me all the time. I cannot go out of the house that he does +not follow me. He has not left me for so long a time since we first met +as he did to-day, when I encountered the bear. Indeed, I have not seen +him since; but, then, I was shut up in my room.” + +“How did you get out of your prison?” inquired Waddie. + +“As soon as it was dark, I went out of the window upon the roof of the +piazza, and entered one of the entries by another window. Passing down +the back stairs, I came to the grove, and made my way to the place +where I had seen your boat. Now, all I ask of you is, to convey me to +Mr. Pinkerton’s house. I will give you no further trouble.” + +“Indeed, I shall be very glad to serve you to any extent you may +require,” said Waddie. + +“Thank you; but I shall not have to trouble you any further, and I will +pay the boatman for what he has done.” + +“Not a penny for me, miss. I should blush if I could take any money for +a job of this kind,” protested Tom. + +“I really cannot see what motive your guardian has for compelling you +to marry this lord,” I added, changing the topic. “He will consent to +this, and his consent prevents him from reaping any benefit under your +father’s will.” + +“I do not understand it myself,” replied Miss Dornwood. + +“It would be his policy to withhold his consent, whoever the person may +be.” + +“So it seems to me; but I hope I never shall see Lord Palsgrave again. +Charles knows that I dislike him, and this may be the reason why he +persecutes me.” + +“Miss Dornwood, I don’t believe this Palsgrave is a lord any more than +I am,” I ventured to remark. + +“Why, what makes you think he is not?” she asked, astonished at my +violent conclusion. + +“I saw him get into a buggy and drive off with the drummer that we took +out of the burning canal-boat.” + +“Is that so?” inquired Waddie. + +“His voice sounded a little familiar to me, as I heard him speak to the +hardware man.” + +“Are you sure it was he?” said Waddie. + +“I did not know who it was then; but when I saw them drive off +together, I asked the stable-keeper who he was. He assured me it was +the English lord. I don’t think the nobility of England, as a general +rule, run with hardware drummers.” + +“Did the drummer really go away with his lordship?” added Waddie, +rubbing his hands, as though he were delighted with the fact; and +I think by this time he had some idea himself of defeating the +matrimonial project of Lord Palsgrave. + +“I could not have been mistaken.” + +“A man is known by the company he keeps, and if that Schleifer isn’t a +scoundrel, I will never ask the privilege of guessing again. But you +must be tired by this time, Miss Dornwood.” + +“I am, indeed, very tired. I am not strong, and the excitement of this +day has fatigued me very much,” she replied. + +“There is a nice little cabin forward, and you shall have it all to +yourself. It is now only ten o’clock, and we shall not reach Ruoara +before one or two. You can go to sleep just the same as though you were +on shore.” + +“I could not go to sleep, even if I were at home.” + +“Well, you can lie down and rest yourself,” persisted Waddie. + +After much persuasion she consented to occupy the cabin, and, as she +entered, Waddie closed the doors, for there was sufficient ventilation +through the blinds in them. As the Belle flew on her course, dashing +the spray smartly over her bow, we sat by the side of the skipper +discussing Lord Palsgrave. Certain I was that his voice had sounded +familiar to me; but I labored in vain to fasten it upon any person I +could recall to mind. + +We heard nothing of our lady passenger, and we concluded she had gone +to sleep. Tom began to gape fearfully, and I felt very sleepy myself, +while Waddie was as wide awake as ever. At the suggestion of the +latter, Tom and I wrapped ourselves up in our overcoats, and stretching +ourselves upon the scats, went to sleep, leaving him at the helm. It +was not necessary that all of us should keep awake, and Waddie agreed +to call one of us to take his place in a couple of hours. I do not +thick my position was a very comfortable one, for I dreamed that an +enormous black bear had squatted down upon my stomach, and insisted +upon shaking hands with me. But my hands seemed to be tied behind me, +so that I could not comply with his bearship’s civil demand; and the +next best thing I could do was to struggle to free myself from the +weight that rested upon me, and made me feel very uncomfortable. I +continued to labor in this manner, when, instead of throwing off the +bear, I smashed the boat beneath me, with a loud crash. I waked under +this shock, and started to my feet to escape drowning in the lake. + +“Boat ahoy!” shouted Waddie, as I stood up. + +Then I realized that the Belle had actually struck something, the shock +of which had become part of my vision. + +“What’s the matter, Waddie?” asked Tom Walton, who had been aroused by +the crash. + +“I ran into a boat just now,” replied Waddie, straining his eyes to +penetrate the gloom which surrounded us. + +“Where is it?” I asked. + +“I don’t know. I can’t see it, but I hear the stroke of oars.” + +“What boat was it?” + +“I don’t know, I only got a glimpse of her, as she slid off to leeward +of us.” + +[Illustration: THE STRANGE BOAT. Page 101.] + +“Where are we?” + +“Right in the Narrows. Finding I was running too close to the +Middleport side, I let out the sheet and kept her away. In an instant I +struck the boat. There were two men in it, and that is all I know about +it. Hold on!” exclaimed he. “Take the helm, Tom, and I’ll light up the +lake.” + +Waddie had brought with him some bengola lights, with which he purposed +to try an experiment in fishing. Taking one of these, he placed it on +the well-trap to keep it from burning the deck, and set it on fire. The +bengola blazed with a brilliant light, and the lake was illuminated +from one side to the other, for in the Narrows it was only a mile wide. + +“There it is!” shouted Tom, pointing to a small row-boat, in which were +two persons, pulling with all their might towards the Centreport shore. + +“Keep her away, Tom,” said I, earnestly. “I want to see who they are.” + +Tom let out the sheet, and put the helm up; but the boat disappeared +behind the steamboat wharf before we could get near enough to see the +faces of the two men. + +“No use; they are ashore by this time,” said Waddie. + +“I don’t see what anybody should be crossing the lake for at this time +of night,” I added. “It is half past twelve.” + +“There is something mysterious about that boat,” said Waddie, shaking +his head. “The men were not pulling when we struck the boat; if they +had been I should have heard them, and not run into her. When they saw +or heard the Belle, they must have stopped pulling. They didn’t speak, +or make any sound.” + +“Of course they must have had a purpose in acting so,” I added, not a +little perplexed by the mystery which seemed to surround the movements +of the men. + +“Why didn’t they speak after I hailed them? If they had been honest men +they would have said something after the bump the Belle gave them,” +added Waddie, much excited. + +“I am afraid there is something wrong,” I continued. + +“I don’t know why there should be,” interposed Tom Walton. “It isn’t so +very strange that a boat should cross the lake in the night. Perhaps +the men are going after a doctor for some one that is sick.” + +“Why didn’t they speak when I hailed?” insisted Waddie. “Any honest man +would have sung out when we ran into his boat.” + +“Perhaps they were frightened,” suggested Tom. + +“They did not pull like men who were alarmed when we saw them.” + +“Well, I thought they did pull just like men who were scared. They made +good time.” + +“I’m not satisfied, and I should not be surprised to ace some building +blaze up in a few moments,” persisted Waddie. + +This remark corresponded with my own thoughts. We were both thinking of +fires, for in all the towns upon the lake there had been a large number +of them within a few months, all of which were believed to have been +caused by incendiaries, though no one could comprehend the motives of +the miscreants who set them. In Centreport and Middleport several barns +and storehouses had been destroyed, and I was persuaded that the two +men in the boat were incendiaries. + +“Shall I head her for Ruoara?” asked Tom, while we were discussing the +matter. “We are going to leeward now.” + +“No; run her for the steamboat wharf at Centreport,” I replied. “I am +going ashore to see what those men are about.” + +“All right,” added Tom, as he peered through the gloom to make out the +wharf. + +“What do you say, Waddie? Will you land with me?” I asked, as we +approached the wharf. “Tom can land Miss Dornwood at Ruoara, and take +us on board when he returns.” + +“I don’t know, I don’t exactly like to leave her, since she depends +upon me for assistance,” answered Waddie, hesitating. “If the +Pinkertons should happen to be away, she might wish to take some other +course.” + +“I’ll tell you what will do just as well,” interposed the skipper. “I +will go with you, Wolf, and Waddie can sail the Belle down to Ruoara.” + +“That will fit the case exactly,” replied Waddie, as the boat rounded +to at the landing-steps. + +Taking our overcoats, Tom Walton and I went on shore. Still we heard +nothing from Miss Dornwood, and we thought she was sleeping very +soundly, if the shock of the collision had failed to wake her. We went +upon the wharf, but we could see nothing of the two men. + +“I wonder what boat they came over in,” said Tom, as he descended the +steps to satisfy himself on this point. + +“Do you make it out?” I asked, following him half way down. + +“Yes, it is the Grace’s tender,” answered he. + +“There will be a fire over here soon--you may depend upon it,” I +continued, as we walked up the steps again. “Nothing would suit me +better than to get hold of the villains.” + +“I am with you there, Wolf,” added Tom, earnestly. “But, after all, it +isn’t so strange that a boat should cross the lake even at midnight.” + +“Certainly there is nothing strange in the crossing of the boat, but +there is something very strange in the conduct of those men. It is the +most natural thing in the world for men to sing out when a boat runs +into them; but these men did not open their mouths. When the Belle +approached them, their boat was lying on the water, and they were +perfectly silent, evidently trying to avoid being seen. If they had +pulled straight across the lake, like honest men, I shouldn’t have +thought anything of their being out at this time of night.” + +“Perhaps you are right,” added Tom. + +“At any rate, we can take a turn around the town, where the barns and +storehouses are, and see if we can find them.” + +We walked along the street by the side of the lake, looking carefully +into all the lanes and by-places. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE ROBBERY OF THE CENTREPORT BANK. + + +Tom Walton and I went entirely around the town of Centreport, visiting +every part where there were detached buildings which presented to the +incendiary favorable opportunities for plying his infamous trade. The +main street, on which were located the principal churches, the bank, +the post office, the library, and other public buildings, was so +densely populated that the miscreants could not work to advantage. So +far as we could discover, not a soul was stirring in the place. We saw +nothing of the two men, and when we returned to the steamboat wharf, +Tom was rather disposed to make fun of my fears. + +“We haven’t seen a spark of fire yet, Wolf,” said he, as we seated +ourselves on a box, much fatigued after the long tramp we had taken. + +“That’s very true, and I am willing to give it up, and to believe there +will be no fire in Centreport this time,” I replied. + +“It was a wild goose chase.” + +“Perhaps it was; but it may be that our coming on shore has saved some +building from destruction,” I reasoned. “If we did not see the rogues, +they may have seen us, and kept out of the way.” + +“That may be, and then again it may not be. In any opinion, the two +persons in that boat were a couple of honest men who had been courting, +and sat up rather later than they meant to. Probably they knew the +Belle, and did not want us to know who they were, for fear they would +get blackguarded,” replied Tom, with an expansive gape, which I could +hear, if I could not see. + +“You are ingenious, Tom, and very likely your explanation of the +mystery is a reasonable one,” I added, with a yawn as expansive as that +of my companion. + +“What time is it now?” + +“I don’t know; about two, I should think.” + +“Look at your watch,” added he, striking a match to afford me the +needed light. + +“Half past two,” I answered, consulting my watch. + +“I’m as tired as a dog,” added Tom. + +“So am I.” + +“I suppose Waddie will not be back before five o’clock. He must see the +young lady up to Mr. Pinkerton’s house.” + +“I do not expect him before that time.” + +“Well, Wolf, I move you we take a nap,” continued Tom, stretching +himself. “Here’s the Raven, and we can bunk on board of her.” + +“Her cabin is locked.” + +“The standing-room is not, and we can lie down, as we did in the Belle.” + +I approved the suggestion. We had our overcoats with us, and both of us +were tough and hardy. We wrapped ourselves in the coats, and he took +one seat while I took the other. Neither of us needed rocking, and we +dropped asleep as readily as though we had been in our own beds on +shore. By the side of the Raven, which was Waddie Wimpleton’s boat, lay +the tender of the Grace, in which the strange men had crossed the lake. +If they intended to return to Middleport in her, they could not very +well get off without waking us. + +I do not know what it was that aroused me in the morning, but the +moment my senses came back to me, I was conscious that there was a +grand commotion in Centreport. It was broad daylight, and I heard +people shouting in the street above the wharf. I waked Tom, who had not +been disturbed by the noise that had aroused me. + +“Whats the row?” asked he, springing to his feet. + +“I heard some one shouting up in the street. I should not wonder if +there was a fire, after all.” + +“A fire!” + +“I don’t know. We will go up and see what the trouble is. There is some +kind of a row in town, at any rate.” + +We walked up the wharf; but we heard no more shouting. The Grace’s +tender lay alongside the Raven, just as it had been when we went to +sleep, and of course the strange men had not returned to Middleport +in it. Just at the head of the wharf, and within twenty rods of the +moorings of the Raven, was the house of Captain Synders, the constable +of Centreport. As we approached it, we saw that officer rushing out +in hot haste, buttoning his vest, as though he had not been allowed +sufficient time to complete his toilet. I at once reached a correct +solution of the noise which had disturbed my slumbers. Some one had +been pounding at the door of the constable’s house, and shouting for +him. + +“What’s the matter?” I inquired, as we ran forward and overtook him. + +“They say the Centreport Bank has been robbed,” replied Captain +Synders, with all the excitement of manner which such a discovery was +likely to create in a dignitary of his importance. + +“Robbed!” exclaimed Tom. + +“Robbed!” I repeated. + +“That’s what they say, and I suppose it’s true, for Gibson, the porter +of the bank building, came down to call me. He was almost crazy.” + +Captain Synders quickened his pace, and we followed him to the bank. +Gibson had already called Mr. Barnes, the cashier, who arrived about +the same time that we did. He was terribly excited, as well he might +be, and proceeded at once to examine the vault, which opened from the +banking-room. The double doors were open, as the robbers had left +them, and Mr. Barnes entered, intent upon ascertaining what loss the +bank had sustained. My heart beat quick, also, for I had ten thousand +dollars in bonds in the bank, which had been presented to me by Colonel +Wimpleton. A similar princely gift from Major Toppleton had been +deposited in the Wimpleton Bank for safe keeping. I was actually worth +more than twenty thousand dollars, but I could not help feeling just +then that riches take to themselves wings and fly away. + +The cashier made a hasty examination of the drawers in the vault. All +of them had evidently been opened, and valuable papers were scattered +like chaff through the little apartment. The robbers evidently did not +intend to encumber themselves with any useless documents. + +“All the money is gone,” said Mr. Barnes, with a gasp. + +“All your specie?” I asked. + +“No; not all of it. I suppose it was too heavy for them,” he replied, +examining the boxes which had contained the gold, at the bottom of the +vault. “They have taken a great deal of it. All the bank notes are +gone. They have made a good haul.” + +“How much do you suppose they have taken?” inquired Captain Synders. + +“I can’t tell; but not less than sixty thousand dollars.” + +“Good gracious!” exclaimed the excited constable. + +“I did not believe that this vault could be opened by any burglar,” +added the cashier, as he turned to the riven doors. + +A hole had been cut in the outer one, and screws applied by which the +bolts on it had been doubled up and wrenched off. The robbers were +evidently accomplished mechanicians, and had probably come a long +distance, from some one of the great cities, to do the job. They had +entered the building through a back window, by taking out the screws +in the hinges of the shutters, and then cutting through the glass to +unfasten the sash. + +“The men we saw on the lake did this job,” said Tom. + +“What men?” demanded Captain Synders. + +We related our adventure in the Narrows in the night, and no one +doubted that the two strange men were the robbers. + +“What sort of men were they?” asked the cashier. + +“We couldn’t see them very plainly. When we had lighted the bengola +they were too far off to be identified,” I replied. “We supposed they +came over to set fires, and we walked all around the town to find them, +if we could.” + +“What time was this?” inquired the constable. + +“After twelve--about half past twelve,” I replied. + +“Well, what’s to be done?” said the cashier, appealing nervously to the +officer. + +“I will look over the vault again, and see if I can find anything that +will afford me a clew to the robbers.” + +We went to the vault again, and Mr. Barnes picked up the papers on the +floor. Among them were my bonds, none of which had been taken, for the +simple reason that the villains could make no use of them. Nothing +could be found to afford any clew to the robbers. There was no stray +button, piece of cloth, nor any of the tools with which they had worked. + +“I don’t think they had been gone long when I came,” said the porter. +“I heard a noise on the back side of the building when I was opening +the front door.” + +“Why didn’t you say so before,” replied Captain Synders, savagely. +“Have we been fooling away our time while the rascals were in town?” + +“I didn’t think of it till just this minute,” pleaded Gibson. “I didn’t +think anything of it at the time, and when I went in and found the bank +had been robbed, I was so scared I couldn’t think of anything else.” + +“What sort of a noise did you hear?” demanded the constable. + +“I don’t know just what it was. It was a kind of a shuffling noise. +Perhaps the robbers had thrown their traps out the window, and were +flying round to pick them up.” + +“You are smart!” sneered Captain Synders. “Why didn’t you go round to +the rear of the building, and see what it was?” + +“Because I didn’t think anything at all about it,” replied Gibson, who +was terribly frightened by the charge that he had failed to do his +whole duty. “I don’t go and look into everything whenever I hear a +noise--do you?” + +“I do, when a bank has been robbed.” + +“Well, I didn’t know a bank had been robbed when I heard that noise.” + +“Gibson did the best he knew how,” added the cashier. “If the robbers +left only half an hour ago, they cannot have gone far by this time.” + +“That’s so!” exclaimed Captain Synders, as he bolted out the door. + +“Where are you going?” shouted the cashier. + +“After a horse.” But he did not wait to answer any questions in regard +to his intended movement, and we were left in the dark. + +“Synders is a blockhead,” said Mr. Barnes. “He will make a great stir, +and that is all he will do.” + +“He will not be likely to catch the burglars,” I replied; for I had a +poor opinion of the constable’s capacity to work up a case. “It’s a +pity we haven’t a smarter man.” + +We went out of the bank to the rear window, where the villains had +entered the building. The ground was much beaten and tracked, and I +was soon able to identify the footprints of the two men. I found the +track by which they had come to the building, and that by which they +had left it. The latter only interested me, and I traced it as far as I +could. It led me through a narrow and circuitous alley, which conducted +to a street back of the main one of the town. I satisfied myself that +the villains had approached the bank in this direction. + +“Tom, whoever robbed the bank, they were not strangers in Centreport,” +said I to the skipper, after the cashier had gone to secure the +valuable papers which were scattered about the vault. + +“What makes you think so?” asked Tom. + +“Strangers could not have found their way through these back alleys.” + +“Who do you suppose they were?” + +“I have no idea,” I replied, still studying the ground, at the junction +of the alley with the back street, in order to ascertain in what +direction the robbers had departed. “I can’t think of any one who is up +to a deed of this kind.” + +“Here’s the track!” cried Tom. “They went down towards the steam mill.” + +One of the burglars wore a boot with irons on the outside of the heels, +the print of which enabled us to follow them; but when we came to a +street more travelled and harder than the other, we could no longer +trace it. But we were satisfied that the rogues had gone down to the +lake. There were no boats below the steamboat wharf, that we knew of, +and we concluded that they must have returned as they came. We hastened +towards the public landing. + +“There they are!” shouted Tom, as we reached a point in the street +which extended along the bank of the lake from Colonel Wimpleton’s +mansion, from which we could see the end of the wharf. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +THE ROBBERS SEPARATE. + + +Tom Walton pointed to the tender of the Grace, in which a young man +was pulling across the Narrows with all his might. He was already so +far from us that we could not make him out. We ran with all our speed +towards the wharf; but we were obliged to pass behind some buildings, +and lost sight of the retreating robber in the boat. It was still early +in the morning, and no one in this part of the town was stirring. + +“I am afraid we are too late,” said Tom, as we turned the corner at the +steamboat wharf. + +“If we can only see them so that we shall know them, we shall have some +chance,” I replied. + +“There goes the Raven!” shouted my companion, as we saw Waddie’s +sail-boat shooting out from the wharf. + +“Who is in her? Isn’t it some one after that fellow in the tender?” + +“I don’t know; it may be,” replied Tom, as we halted, out of breath, at +the end of the wharf. + +By this time the man in the row-boat had nearly reached the other side +of the lake. I could only see that he was a young man, well dressed, +and rather slender in stature. He had taken off his coat, and was +bareheaded. The other man, in the Raven, seemed to take particular +care that he should not be scrutinized by any person on shore. He wore +a shaggy old coat, and a dilapidated Panama hat; but these articles +belonged to Waddie, who kept them in the boat for use when he went +fishing or sailing. The robber in the Raven had evidently availed +himself of these garments to disguise his person as much as possible. + +He was a good boatman, and handled the Raven with much skill. He had +left the wharf under mainsail only; but as soon as he was clear of the +shore, he ran up the jib, and headed the boat up the lake. I did not +readily see why the rogues had separated at this point, whether it was +to divide their pursuers, or whether they wished to go to different +parts of the country. The Raven and the tender were the only boats at +the wharf, and I finally concluded that they had taken this course +to prevent the sail-boat from being used in the pursuit, as well as +to divide the attention of the pursuers, for I was satisfied that +they were conscious of having been discovered. In order to obtain the +tiller, the hat, and the coat, the man in the Raven must have broken +into the cabin; but this was a trivial achievement to one who had set +at defiance the huge lock of the bank vault. + +“We are standing here like fools!” exclaimed Tom, as we were watching +the two boats, though we had hardly wasted a minute in this way. + +“We have no boat to follow them,” I replied. “But there comes the +Belle,” I added, as I glanced up the lake. + +The sail-boat was not half a mile distant, and we had been so intent +upon observing the movements of the robbers that we did not see her +before. The breeze was even fresher than it had been during the night, +and she was rushing over the waves with a huge bone in her mouth, +at a speed which would soon bring her to the wharf. The man in the +tender landed at the wharf in Middleport, and with his hat and coat in +his hand, walked up the wharf. Though we lost sight of him, we were +confident that he would be overtaken. There were but three roads by +which he could leave the town, if he left it at all, and men with fast +horses could make his chances of escaping very small. + +“Hurry up, Waddie!” shouted Tom, as the Belle neared the wharf. + +“Shall we try to follow both of them, or only one? That’s the question +now,” I added. + +“Both of them, of course,” replied Tom, eagerly. “I will chase the +Raven in the Belle, and you or Waddie can follow the fellow that went +over in the tender.” + +“Good! That is the plan.” + +“Hallo, there! Have you seen anything of them?” shouted Captain +Synders, as he drove his horse swiftly down the wharf. + +“Yes, seen them both,” I answered. “One has crossed over to Middleport, +and the other is in the Raven.” + +“Good gracious!” exclaimed the excited constable. “Get me a boat, and +row me over to the other side as quick as lightning.” + +“We have no boat; but there comes the Belle. She will be here in half a +minute.” + +“But I am going to chase the Raven in the Belle,” interposed Tom, who +had worked himself up to a high pitch of excitement at the prospect of +the thrilling race before him. + +“I must get across the lake somehow,” added the officer. + +“What’s the matter?” demanded Waddie, as he rounded the corner of the +wharf, and headed the Belle up to the landing-steps. + +“The bank has been robbed,” returned Tom, as we all rushed to the +stairs. + +“By the great horn spoon!” ejaculated Waddie. + +“Sixty thousand dollars gone,” added Tom. + +“You don’t mean so!” + +“It’s as true as preaching. One of the robbers has taken the Raven, and +the other has crossed to Middleport.” + +“By the great horn spoon!” repeated Waddie, so startled by the +intelligence that he could only give expression to his feelings in his +favorite phrase. + +“Hurry up!” shouted the constable, as we all tumbled into the boat. + +Captain Synders told the man who had come with him in the wagon to +drive the horse back to the stable, and inform the bank people where he +had gone. + +“What’s to be done?” demanded Waddie, as he shoved off the Belle. + +“Put me across the lake in double-quick time,” replied the constable. + +“No; run down to your father’s house, and take another boat,” added +Tom. “I shall lose sight of the Raven if you keep me to go over there.” + +“That’s it. We have another sail-boat there, and it won’t take three +minutes longer,” added Waddie, as he headed the Belle in the direction +indicated. + +“That won’t do,” protested the constable. “I shall lose the fellow on +the other side.” + +“And I shall lose the fellow on the lake,” retorted Tom. + +“But I am the constable of Centreport,” puffed the captain. + +“Tom is right,” I interposed. “The fellow on the other side can’t get a +great way. The Raven is a faster boat than the Belle, and--” + +“We will settle that question to-day,” interposed Tom. “It’s going to +be breezy, and we shall see which is the best boat. That fellow handles +the Raven as though he knew how; but, if I don’t beat him, I’ll sell +the Belle for two cents.” + +The constable yielded the point at my suggestion, and in a couple of +minutes Waddie ran the boat alongside the little pier near his father’s +house. + +“Which of you is going with me?” demanded the constable, as he stepped +ashore. + +“I will,” replied Waddie. “Hold on just one minute, Tom. I have +something for you.” + +Waddie rushed into a building adjoining the billiard house, where he +kept his property. I sprang on board of the sail-boat at the pier, and +hoisted the mainsail. Tom gave an extra pull at his peak-halyards, +which Waddie had not fixed to suit him. + +“Here, Tom, take this. You may want to use it,” said Waddie, returning +and handing the skipper a revolver--the one with which I had had some +experience a few years before. + +“Thank you, Waddie,” replied Tom. “Probably that fellow in the Raven +has some of these playthings, and this one may come handy to me.” + +“Here is a box of cartridges.” + +“All right; I know just what to do with them. Is any one going with me?” + +“I am,” I replied, jumping into the Belle again. + +“You are the man for me, Wolf,” added Tom, as he shoved off. + +The constable and Waddie pushed off the other sail-boat, and headed +her towards Middleport. There was certainly a lively prospect of an +exciting chase, both upon the land and the water. I had just taken the +helm of the Belle, in order to permit Tom to adjust the sails with the +nicest care, when Colonel Wimpleton appeared upon the shore. + +“Hold on, Wolf!” shouted he. “I want you.” + +“Botheration!” exclaimed Tom. “I shall never get off.” + +“One of the robbers is in that boat,” I replied, pointing to the Raven. + +“I want you to get up steam on the Ruoara and chase her,” added the +colonel. + +“I suppose I must go ashore, Tom,” I continued to the skipper, as I ran +the Belle up to the wharf again. + +“All right; I will fight it out alone if I get near enough to the +rascal,” answered Tom, who always made the best of everything, however +unfavorable the circumstances. + +I leaped ashore, and pushed off the bow of the boat, so that the +skipper was detained hardly a moment. Setting the helm, he adjusted his +sheets, gave a pull at the jib-halyards, and the Belle flew off like a +rocket, with the fresh breeze on the quarter. + +“This is very awkward business for me, Wolf,” said Colonel Wimpleton, +as we started for the steamboat wharf. + +“It is awkward for all, I suppose, who have money in the bank,” I +replied. + +“It is particularly so to me. I have to pay twenty thousand dollars +to-day, and all the cash balance in the bank has been swept away,” he +added. “I must pay this money to-day, or be dishonored. Indeed, I would +rather lose twice the amount than fail to do so.” + +“Very likely you can get the amount from the Middleport Bank,” I +suggested. + +“Perhaps I can; but twenty thousand dollars is a large sum to obtain +without any notice whatever. I sold some bonds the other day to provide +for this payment, and now those villains have cleaned out the bank.” + +“They may be caught before night,” I added. “I think their chances of +escaping are very small.” + +“I don’t know about that,” replied the magnate, shaking his head. “If +that fellow in the boat is hard pressed, he will run ashore, and take +to the woods, and, having the start, he will make good use of his time.” + +“Tom will see where he lands, and he will follow him to the end of the +world.” + +“Probably the other robber has a fast horse on the other side of the +lake, and Captain Synders is a clumsy fellow.” + +“But Waddie is with him.” + +“Waddie has not had much experience in chasing robbers. I hope he will +not expose himself, for these villains are probably well provided with +pistols.” + +“Waddie has one of his revolvers, and Tom has the other.” + +“It is dangerous business to deal with these desperate fellows, and I +want a strong force to make the matter sure. I sent immediately for the +engineer of the Ruoara, but found he had gone to Gulfport, and would +not return until it was time to make his first trip. The fireman is +getting up steam, but we had no one to run the boat.” + +By the time we reached the steamboat wharf, all Centreport was aroused, +and we found a crowd of men on the pier. The cashier had a party ready, +and was embarking in a boat for the other side, to assist Captain +Synders in the pursuit beyond Middleport. I went on board of the +Ruoara, and attended to the engine. + +“How long before you will be ready to start, Wolf?” asked the colonel, +as the cashier’s party was about to push off. + +“In about half an hour, sir, though this boiler is rather slow.” + +“I must provide for my payment to-day, and I will go and see Major +Toppleton. Run the boat over to the wharf on the other side when you +are ready, and take me on board,” added he, as he left me. + +I was rather afraid his pride would not permit him to apply to Major +Toppleton for assistance, even in the emergency which had so suddenly +been crowded upon him; but I had no doubt the latter would be glad to +serve him. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +A LITTLE SPARK KINDLES A BIG FIRE. + + +Before we had steam enough to start the Ruoara, her regular engineer +arrived, and I was relieved from duty in this department. In obedience +to the instructions of Colonel Wimpleton, I took the helm, and ran +the boat over to the other side of the lake. I saw the great man of +Centreport on the wharf, as we approached, and I knew him well enough +to understand at once that something had gone wrong with him. He was +walking, at a hurried pace, back and forth across the end of the wharf. +He frequently compressed his lips and pursed up his mouth. Yet the +worst I feared was, that he had not been able to find Major Toppleton, +in order to make his application for assistance. + +The boat ran up to the pier, and still the colonel rushed back and +forth across the wharf, apparently making mouths at the evil destiny +which confronted him. He did not seem to be in any hurry to pursue +the thief who had stolen his money, or even to take any notice of the +steamer which was ready to do his bidding. I had not seen him in such +a frame of mind for two months, and it really gave me much anxiety. +If the great man was angry, he was liable to do something which would +endanger the pleasant relations which now happily subsisted between the +two sides of the lake. + +I left the pilot-house as soon as the forward hawser was made fast, +and took position on the hurricane deck, in plain sight of him, in +readiness to receive his commands, whatever they might be. I looked +up the lake to see how Tom Walton progressed with the chase; but both +of the sail-boats had disappeared in the haze of the morning, or had +gone behind the point at Gulfport. I did not think the steamer and the +_posse_ on board of her would be likely to render much assistance in +catching the bank robber, unless she started very soon; but the colonel +still paced the wharf. I observed that he cast an occasional glance up +the pier, but his actions were all a mystery to me. At last he halted +near the gangway of the boat, and, after gazing attentively towards +the head of the wharf for a moment, he rushed, with an appearance of +desperation in his manner, on board of the steamer. + +“I can’t wait any longer, Wolf; cast off,” said he. + +I had not the least idea what he was waiting for; but I repeated the +order he had given me to the captain of the boat, who was on board, and +in another moment we were headed up the lake. I ought to say that these +ferry boats were a part of my charge, and their commanders looked to +me for directions. The colonel remained on the forward deck, resuming +his walk there with as much zeal as he had manifested on the wharf. I +am sorry to say that he looked decidedly ugly, and I began to fear that +he had had a falling out with Major Toppleton, and that there was more +work for the young peacemakers to do. + +Some one had said, within a short time, that Captain Wolf Penniman +had a great deal of influence over both the magnates, and that he +even twisted them around his little finger, as though they had been +boys. For my own part, I could not see it, for I was absolutely afraid +of both of them--I mean, afraid of offending them in some manner. I +certainly treated them both with the most profound respect, and never +ventured upon the slightest familiarity with them. When I felt it to +be my duty to speak, I did so. Whatever influence I had over them was +really through their own sons and daughters. As I had been at times on +good terms with both, I was the medium of communication between them; +and it was presumed to be my influence, when it was actually that of +Tommy and Waddie. + +I wanted to know what the matter was with the colonel, yet I had +not the assurance to ask him. But I hoped he would tell me, and, as +there was no one else on board to whom he would be likely to speak, +I expected him to do so. I waited a while on the hurricane deck for +his wrath to subside, and then I went below, where he could see me, +and where, if he wished to do so, he could mention what it was that +troubled him. I passed him on the forward deck, and seated myself on +the rail near the bow, on the lookout for the Belle and the Raven, +which I hoped soon to see again. + +“Wolf,” said the colonel, after he had gradually worked forward till he +came to the place where I was seated. + +I turned and looked at him. It did not appear to me that his wrath had +sensibly subsided, for his under lip was projected far out beyond the +upper one, and I had learned to interpret this as a bad sign. + +“Wolf, I have been trying for two months to believe that Toppleton was +a good friend of mine,” he added, after one of his ominous pauses. + +“I have been able to believe it without trying very hard,” I ventured +to reply; for an equivocal answer, under the circumstances, looked +criminal to me. + +“It is not so. For dinner parties, and drumming through the streets, +with all the parade of friendship, he’s all right; but when you come to +the real, substantial thing, it is all a humbug with him.” + +“I am sorry you think so,” I replied, deeply grieved to have my worst +fears realized. + +“I should not think so, if I could help it,” he added, biting his lip. +“I went to Toppleton and told him what had happened, and that I had to +pay twenty thousand dollars to-day.” + +“Of course he was willing to accommodate you,” I suggested, in order to +draw him out. + +“Not at all. Instead of that, he began to hem and ha, and make +apologies,” replied the colonel, with intense disgust. + +“I am very much surprised.” + +“So was I,” added the colonel, dryly. + +“But he must have some good reason,” I intimated. + +“What good reason can he have? Do you suppose, if he came to me under +such circumstances, I would make any apologies? No! I would give him +the money without winking, even if I broke the Centreport Bank.” + +“But what did he say, sir?” I inquired, not quite willing to believe +that Major Toppleton would be behind the colonel in good intentions. + +“What did he say? Why, he began to make excuses. He told me he had +hastened home to pay a note of thirty thousand dollars for railroad +iron, which became due to-day, and the payment would use up his entire +balance in the bank.” + +It seemed to me that this was a tolerably good excuse, though I did not +venture to say so while the great man was so excited. + +“Didn’t I understand you to say that you were waiting on the wharf for +something?” I asked. + +“I was waiting for Toppleton. He said he would see the cashier of the +Middleport Bank, and ascertain what could be done. He told me he would +see me on the wharf in ten or fifteen minutes.” + +“Perhaps he could not find the cashier.” + +“Perhaps not,” sneered the colonel. “I don’t think he wanted to see him +very badly.” + +“I am satisfied Major Toppleton will do all he can,” I added. + +“If he means to do so, he has an awkward way of showing it. In my +opinion he is selfish, and does not act like a genuine friend.” + +“I think you wrong him, Colonel Wimpleton.” + +“No, I don’t! Isn’t there fifty thousand dollars in the Middleport +Bank?” continued he, warmly. “Isn’t there enough to pay his note and +mine?” + +“I know nothing about it; but I think you and Major Toppleton need a +couple of bears between you.” + +“A couple of what?” demanded the colonel, sternly. + +“A couple of bears,” I replied, laughing. + +“Bears?” + +“Yes, sir.” + +“What do you mean by that, Wolf?” + +“One is _bear_, and the other is _forbear_.” + +“I don’t want any moral lessons, Wolf, from you.” + +“Excuse me, sir; but I meant no offence.” + +“You need not presume to lecture me on my duties.” + +“Captain Portman presented a black bear to me yesterday, and that +bear was indirectly the cause of my being here last night, when these +robbers crossed the lake. Bears have been uppermost in my mind since +that event.” + +“Without any fault on my part, I am put in a tight place. I have +no claim upon Toppleton, it is true; but, if he were the friend he +pretends to be, he would help me bear my burden to-day. That is the +only bear I want to know anything about at the present time. I am +mortified and disgusted with myself to think I said anything to him +about the matter.” + +“But you did not even wait to hear what he would do, or what he could +do.” + +“I waited fifteen minutes, and he knew I was in a hurry. In my opinion, +he did not mean to see me again. I call it shabby treatment, and +Toppleton won’t make anything by it. No, he won’t!” continued the +colonel, working himself up into a passion. “I tell you what it is, +Wolf; I have been a fool to think that man was my friend, or that he +could be anything different from what he has been for the last dozen or +fifteen years. The union line won’t last much longer, Wolf.” + +Turning on his heel, he walked aft, shaking his head in the fury of his +wrath. Certainly the relations between the two magnates were again in +a very perilous condition, and my heart rose to my throat, so much did +I dread the consequences of the colonel’s wrath. He was an impulsive +and unreasonable man. It would not be unlike him to notify the major at +once that the two lines would no longer run in correspondence. I should +not have been surprised, at that moment, to receive an order to run the +Ucayga through to the lower end of the lake, even without notifying +the Railroad Company. Such a step was a calamity to be feared. + +“Wolf, I shall put more money into Toppleton’s pocket in one year by +giving him the through passengers on the railroad, than I asked him to +lend me,” said the colonel, as he again came up to the place where I +sat. + +“I think it is rather necessary to know what Major Toppleton intends to +do before you condemn him,” I suggested. + +“I don’t care what he intends to do, so long as he did not come up to +the mark. I shall not take money out of my pocket, and put it into his, +after this.” + +He walked off again, leaving me to consider how small a spark could +kindle a great fire. I was afraid he would order me to notify the +Railroad Company that the present arrangement was to be discontinued. +He was excited now, and I wished to get out of his way before he +directed me to do any disagreeable thing. By this time the boat was +approaching Gulfport, and I hoped soon to see the Belle; and the sight +of her would be likely to change the subject. I concluded to go on the +hurricane deck; but as I passed the colonel, he stopped me. + +“Wolf, I must be at Middleport at nine o’clock to take the train for +Ucayga,” said he. “I must raise the money to pay the note, though I +cannot be on time.” + +“We have an hour to spare, sir, and within that time we shall know what +is to be done,” I replied. “I have no doubt Tom Walton has given the +fellow in the Raven a hard run.” + +“The Belle!” shouted the captain of the boat, as we came up with the +point below Gulfport. + +“There they are! Tom is crowding him hard, and the fellow is making for +the shore below the town!” I added. + +In a short time the steamer came within hailing distance of the Belle; +but the water was too shallow for her to run in towards the shore. It +was decided that I should join Tom in the Belle, while a party was +landed above and below to surround the robber if he took to the shore, +as he plainly intended to do. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +THE LANDING OF THE ROBBER. + + +The steamer ran ahead of the Belle as far as the depth of the water +would permit, so as not to delay the latter unnecessarily. I dropped +into the jolly-boat, which was towing astern, with a couple of deck +hands at the oars; and the moment the steamer stopped, we cast off. +Pulling to a point in the path of the Belle, the men lay on their oars +till she came up. Tom luffed up a little, and I sprang on board, so +that she lost hardly a moment. + +“Good! I’m glad you’ve come, Wolf; for that rascal is going ashore, to +take his chances there,” said Tom, as I leaped aboard the Belle. “Just +set up on the weather side, and keep as still as a mouse--as still as +two mice.” + +I took the place assigned to me, and kept as still as I was desired to +be. The boat which had put me on board returned to the steamer, and +she ran up the lake about a mile, where she landed a part of the force +on board. Coming about, she steamed up to the wharf at Gulfport, where +she sent on shore the rest of the men. Colonel Wimpleton could not wait +for the issue, and the steamer then started for Middleport, in order to +enable him to raise the money to pay his note. + +Less than half a mile from the shore of the lake there was a road which +led from Gulfport to Port Gunga, which was to be the line of attack for +the pursuers. About twenty of them had volunteered for the service, +and they were to be scattered along the road, so that it would be +impossible for the robber to pass this line. If this one had the money, +or any considerable portion of it, with him, the chances were decidedly +in favor of obtaining it in season to pay the colonel’s note. + +The Belle was about half a mile from the shore when I went on board of +her, and the Raven was about half way between her and the land. Above +Gulfport the lake was bordered for some distance by a perpendicular +cliff of rocks, from twenty to fifty feet high; but below it there was +in some places a kind of shelf or beach, formed by the crumbling of +the rock and earth above it. There were not many places where a boat +could land when the wind was fresh, as on the present occasion, and +these were hardly available to a person not acquainted with the coast. +The cliff, which extended for several miles along the lake, could be +climbed only in a few places. The robber’s chances of getting away +from us, therefore, were not first rate. And then if he succeeded in +climbing the cliff, he was sure to be confronted by the force along the +road. + +The Belle was doing her prettiest, and from the beginning had been +gaining upon the Raven, for the wind was too fresh for the latter, +though the rascal on board of her handled her exceedingly well. Tom +Walton was cool enough to work the boat to the best advantage, and his +whole soul was in the business he had in hand. + +“You have been beating him, Tom,” said I, as a splash of spray ducked +both of us. + +“I have gained half a mile on him since we started,” replied Tom, +without taking his eye off the chase. + +“That fellow sees it, and understands the situation. Probably he will +smash the Raven in making a landing.” + +“He won’t unless he wants to do so. Let that fellow alone. He knows +what he is about, and there isn’t a better boatman on the lake or in +the state than he is. He’s as cool as a cucumber, and when he sees the +right place to land, he’ll go ashore,” added Tom, who could not help +admiring the robber’s skill, in spite of his crime. + +The villain certainly compelled the Raven to do her best, and if the +breeze had not been too heavy for her to carry sail, he would have run +away from his pursuer. As it was, he was obliged to touch her up, and +let out the sheet when the fresh flaws came, which materially retarded +her progress. Both boats dashed furiously on their course towards the +shore. We saw the robber stand up in the stern-sheets of the Raven, as +she came within hailing distance of the land, evidently for the purpose +of examining the prospect ahead. The rocks did not appear to suit his +fancy, for he let out his sheet, and stood farther up the lake. + +“Do you see that, Wolf?” exclaimed Tom, as the fellow put his helm up. + +“I was in hopes he would try to land there, for the cliff is fifty feet +high,” I replied. “And he couldn’t get ashore without smashing the +Raven.” + +“Didn’t I tell you he knew what he was about? Wolf, in my opinion, we +are no match for that fellow, and he will get away from us,” added Tom, +shaking his head significantly. + +“If he gets away from us, he won’t escape the twenty men who are on the +lookout for him in the road.” + +“I’m not so sure of that. A fellow who is smart enough to make his way +through a couple of iron doors, and sail the Raven as that chap does, +can do almost anything.” + +“Don’t give it up yet, Tom.” + +“Give it up! I’ve no notion of giving it up. I’ll follow him from Dan +to Beersheba, till the sun goes down on the other side of the Cape of +Good Hope. But he’s smart, if he is a villain; that’s what I mean to +say.” + +“There’s no doubt of that, Tom; and we must be smart, too,” I replied. + +We had gained nothing since I came on board the Belle, or not more +than enough to make up for the moment lost by luffing up. The Raven +was still about a quarter of a mile ahead of us. Her skipper was now +sailing her along the coast, on the lookout for a convenient place to +land. Under the lee of the shore the wind was less gusty, and I was not +sure that she was not now gaining upon us. Out in the middle of the +lake, where the sea was heavy, the Raven did not behave so well, and it +was possible that the robber intended to continue the cruise under the +lee of the shore. + +“Wolf, he’s smart!” ejaculated Tom, after we had followed the fellow a +few moments under the lee of the rocks. “He’s gaining on us, as sure as +you live!” + +“Do you think so, Tom?” + +“I know it.” + +“Then keep her away a little more, and run out into the lake, where you +will get the full force of the wind.” + +“That’s the idea! I was just thinking of doing that,” replied the +skipper, as he followed the suggestion. “Let her slide! I’d give two +and sixpence if I only had a gaff-topsail to help her along a little +more. I always intended to have one as soon as I bought her.” + +“It wouldn’t help her much.” + +“Yes, it would, Wolf. One square foot of sail up by the topmast, where +it would get all the wind there is going, is worth two down by the +boom. That’s so! By Jim Hill, Wolf, that fellow knows what he is about!” + +“Of course he does!” + +“But don’t you see what he is up to, Wolf?” + +“He is up to getting away.” + +“Yes; but he is not going on shore till he gets beyond the place where +the steamer landed those men. That’s just what he is up to now. He saw +her land them, the same as I did.” + +Doubtless it was very important to fathom the purpose of the robber; +but, as it was soon demonstrated, we were not skilful enough to do so. +Tom had run the Belle out into the lake till she rolled and pitched +heavily in the sea. In doing so he had increased the distance between +her and the Raven, though, half a mile ahead, the trend of the coast +would drive the latter out so as to compensate for the loss, if she +continued on her present course. While we were comforting ourselves +with the prospect of this advantage, the Raven suddenly hauled her +wind, and ran by the shortest line for the shore. + +“There she goes!” shouted Tom, grasping the main sheet with a kind of +desperation, and putting down the helm. + +“That fellow knows this shore as well as I do,” I added, as Tom headed +the Belle towards the chase. “He has chosen the best place to land on +this side of the lake.” + +It was the spot where the steamer had landed a portion of her _posse_. +There was a kind of gully in the precipice, through which the water +from the hills made its way into the lake. In fact it was the outlet +of a brook, which was dry, however, except in the wet season. A boat +of the size of the Belle or the Raven could run into the inlet about +her length, so that a person could step over her side upon the shelf of +rock and earth beneath the precipice. + +The cliff was hardly fifty feet high on each side of the indenture in +the rock, and it was rather a difficult task to climb up from the +shelf, though a bold person could do it. Twenty rods above this point, +however, there was an easy ascent to the summit of the precipice by +a zigzag path up the rocks. If the robber was acquainted with the +locality, as he appeared to be, he would make for this path. His boat +was headed towards this landing-place, and we watched his movements +with the most intense interest. As it was probable that the men on +shore had not stationed themselves below this point, I was obliged +to acknowledge to myself that the villain’s chances of escaping were +better than I had believed at any time before. + +It was possible that he had discovered this available landing-place +from his position in the boat, and that he was not aware of the +existence of the zigzag path. He ran the Raven into the outlet of +the brook, lowering the jib and mainsail as he approached the narrow +opening, so that the boat lost her headway in season to prevent any +injury to her hull as she grounded in the shoal water. The rascal +leaped lightly on shore, with a travelling-bag in his hand, which I had +no doubt contained the plunder from the bank. He paused on the shelf +below the cliff, glanced at the Belle, and then at the precipice. He +did not appear to be in a great hurry, and examined the means of ascent +to the land above with deliberate care. His action assured me he knew +nothing of the path, and the prospect seemed to brighten. + +Tom decided to land at a point below the gully, in order to save time, +and to enable us to choose our own means of approaching the robber. +I lowered the jib and mainsail, and Tom ran the Belle upon an abrupt +gravel beach, about twenty rods below the gully. We landed, and hauled +the boat as far up on the shore as our united strength would permit. I +deemed this a prudent measure, after certain experience I had had of a +similar nature. Tom took from his pocket the revolver which Waddie had +given him, and which he had fully charged with patent cartridges on his +cruise up the lake, and we hastened to the gully. + +The robber was climbing the cliff, and had already nearly accomplished +the ascent. The rocks at the side of the ravine had crumbled away so +that the first part of the way was comparatively easy. At the top grew +some bushes on the verge of the cliff. He had reached one of these, and +had thrown his left arm around one of them. He had evidently caught +hold of a root of this bush, which projected over the cliff, and hauled +himself up by main strength to his present position, where he seemed to +be resting after his violent exertions. He had swung his travelling-bag +over his shoulder with a string. + +“Shall I fire?” said Tom, producing his pistol. + +“No. We don’t want to kill him,” I replied, appalled at the idea of +taking the life even of a robber. + +Tom seemed to be of my mind, and rushed towards the cliff. I followed +him. He easily accomplished the greater part of the ascent, and was +almost within reach of the dangling legs of the robber, when the +villain aimed a revolver at him, and fired. Tom released his hold upon +the rocks, and would have fallen over backwards if I had not caught him +in my arms. + +[Illustration: THE ROBBER FIRES AT TOM. Page 152.] + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +TOM WALTON WOUNDED. + + +I was appalled at the calamity which had befallen Tom Walton, +and deplored the want of caution with which we had conducted the +enterprise. Of course we understood that the bank robber was armed, and +the fact occurred to me as we approached the gully; but when I saw him +suspended by the arms to the bush on the brink of the precipice, I did +not consider him in condition to use a revolver. I am as much afraid of +a pistol as any other prudent person, and I do not, as a general rule, +think it advisable to stand before the muzzle of such a weapon when it +is loaded, and in the hands of a desperate man. + +If I had been called upon to express an opinion, I should have said +that it was simply impossible for the robber to use his weapon. Tom and +I expected to overtake him before he could get over the brink of the +precipice, seize him by the heels, and drag him down from his perch. +When he came down, I intended to throw myself upon him, and choke +him till he was willing to hold still and have his arms tied behind +him with the cord by which he had slung the travelling-bag over his +shoulder. I could not see how this nice little plan was to fail, and we +began to ascend the precipice. I felt reasonably sure that we should +make a victim of the villain. + +I was not only appalled, but astounded, when Tom came over upon me. It +was disaster and defeat at the same time, and at that moment I only +hoped the robber would not take the trouble to fire again. He did not, +being apparently satisfied with the mischief he had done. I was afraid +Tom had received a mortal wound, and I thought of nothing but him. I +was standing on the gradual ascent of the steep, where the earth and +rocks had caved down from above, so that I had a good foothold, and was +fortunately able to save my friend from going over backwards. I held on +to him, and retreated to the level ground below. + +“Good Heaven, Tom!” I exclaimed. “The villain has hit you.” + +“Never mind it, Wolf. Don’t make a row. It isn’t bad,” he replied, with +a cheerful smile, as he placed his right hand on his left arm above the +elbow. + +“Where did it hit you?” I asked, with the most intense anxiety. + +“Here,” he answered, indicating the place on his left arm. + +“I was afraid it had gone through your body.” + +“No; but it took all the starch out of my arm, so that I could not hold +on to the rock--that’s all.” + +I heard a scrambling above, and looking up, I saw the robber drag +himself over the brink of the cliff. It required a tremendous muscular +effort for him to accomplish the act. Without asking my advice this +time, Tom raised his pistol and fired; but only the legs of the rascal +were visible, and these immediately disappeared, so that I concluded he +was not hit. + +“I ought to have fired in the first of it,” said Tom, as he restored +the weapon to his pocket. + +“I am sorry now that you did not; but I did not exactly like the ilea +of killing the man,” I replied. “But how is your arm?” + +“That will do very well. It is bleeding a good deal, and don’t feel +first rate. But come; let’s follow that fellow. I want to put one of +these little pills into him.” + +“No; let me bind up your arm first,” I insisted. “It may stop the +bleeding. Take off your coat, and let me see what it is.” + +“But the robber will get away while we are fooling here.” + +“No matter if he does. You may lose your arm if we neglect the wound. +Off with your coat.” + +It was not so easy for him to take off his coat, but with my assistance +it was removed with some difficulty. I found that the bullet from the +pistol had ploughed a wound diagonally along the fleshy part on the +inner side of the arm. It must have passed very near his body, and I +regarded it as a narrow escape from a mortal injury. I tore off a piece +of his shirt, and scraped some lint from it, which I placed upon the +wound in order to stanch the bleeding, and then bound my handkerchief +around it. + +“That’s it, Wolf. You were cut out for a doctor. It feels first rate +now,” said he; but his face was paler than usual, and I saw that he +was suffering much pain. “Come, now; let’s see where that fellow has +gone.” + +“I’m afraid you are not in a condition to chase a robber, Tom.” + +“Yes, I am. I’ll follow him to the other side of sundown,” he replied, +leading the way to the zigzag path. “I don’t want to kill him; but, if +one of these bullets will travel faster than I can, he shall have the +benefit of it. Come on, Wolf.” + +Tom certainly had pluck enough--more than I should have had with such +an ugly wound in my arm. I followed him up the path, and we soon +reached the high ground above the lake. + +“Now don’t be rash, Tom,” said I, placing myself ahead of him. “That +fellow has at least five more balls in his revolver, and if we get +shot, we can’t do any good.” + +“My pistol will carry as far as his I reckon, and it is a poor rule +that won’t work both ways. If I see him again, I shall give him some,” +replied Tom. + +“Don’t you feel weak, Tom?” + +“No, not much; at any rate, I’m good for ten miles. Do you see anything +of the villain?” + +“Not a thing. We will go over to the other side of the gully, and we +may be able to trace him.” + +We hastened to the place indicated. On the brink of the precipice the +ground was considerably stirred up by the violence of the robber’s +struggle to attain the summit of the cliff; but we could find no other +trace of him. The region above the lake was a pasture, and the short +grass afforded no impress of his footsteps. The country was wild and +rugged, with plenty of bushes and trees to afford concealment to the +robber. Between us and Gulfport there was a wood. + +“We are not much wiser now we are up here,” said Tom. “What shall we +do?” + +“I think we had better move towards the Gulfport road. We can find some +of our people there, and notify them that the robber has landed here.” + +“That fellow’s smart, and in my opinion he will be on the lookout for +our people,” added Tom, as we moved towards the road. “He’ll work up +towards Port Gunga, because he will think the men are in the other +direction. We shall do better if we divide; you go up to the road, and +I will follow up the shore.” + +“I don’t believe in separating. What could either of us do alone, if +one of us should happen to see him?” I replied, not wishing to leave +Tom in his wounded condition, though his plan was certainly the better +one. + +“One of us could follow him and keep the run of him just as well as +two. There isn’t any need of looking into his pistol barrels, you know.” + +“I’ll change your plan a little, and then we will adopt it. You shall +walk towards the road, and tell our people the robber has landed, and I +will go up the lake.” + +“It’s all the same to me; but, if you are going that way, you shall +take this pistol,” replied Tom, handing me the weapon. “Don’t be +afraid to use it, Wolf, if you get a chance. You are a little too +tender-hearted for this kind of business.” + +“I will use it, if I get a chance to stop him in that way,” I answered, +as I took the pistol. + +We separated, and I pursued my way in the direction of Port Gunga, +which was about five miles distant. Tom walked due east towards the +road, where I expected he would meet some of the _posse_ who had been +landed to intercept the robber. He soon disappeared among the bushes +and trees. But he was hardly out of sight before he called to me. I +halted, and presently I saw him and Mr. Bradshaw, a deputy sheriff, who +had taken charge of the _posse_ which had come up in the steamer. + +“Have you seen anything of him?” asked the sheriff, as we met near the +gully. + +“Not since he climbed up the cliff,” I replied. + +“You ought to have fired at him the moment you saw him,” added the +officer. “You mustn’t mince matters with such fellows. It is better to +shoot him than to be shot by him.” + +“We did the best we knew how,” interposed Tom. + +“Of course you did. However, we are pretty sure of him, for I have sent +our folks up the Port Gunga road, and they are certain to head him off. +I wouldn’t give two cents for his chances,” continued Mr. Bradshaw, +confidently. + +“Well, what shall we do?” demanded Tom, impatiently. + +“As you are hurt, you had better take your boat and go home,” added the +officer. + +“Not I,” protested the plucky skipper. “I’m going to stay to see the +fun, and help bag the game.” + +“Just as you like, but you must look out for your arm.” + +“I’m all right. Wolf fixed my arm as good as a doctor could.” + +“Well, we will follow up towards Port Gunga, and see that the robber +does not take the back track when he finds our folks in front of him,” +said the sheriff, as we started in the direction indicated. “I waited +on the bluff here till I saw where the rascal was going to land, and +then I stationed my men where they could trip him up.” + +“Why didn’t you bring them up to the cliff, and head him off when he +landed?” I inquired, disposed to be critical in my turn. + +“Why didn’t I? Because our people were more than a mile from here,” +replied the sheriff. “You see we expected he would land half a mile +farther down the lake. I had to go and tell them where to look for him; +and though I have been in a hurry, I have but just returned.” + +“If you had been on the cliff when the fellow landed, you could have +fixed him,” I added. + +“But I didn’t know what he was going to do till he did it.” + +“You did the best thing you knew how,” said Tom. + +“Of course I did.” + +“That’s just what we did; and I don’t think it pays to tell what might +have been done,” continued Tom, who was always disposed to take things +as he found them, and blame no one for what could not be helped. + +“It will all come out right. We are sure of him,” said the sheriff. +“But I think we had better spread out a little. You take the shore +of the lake, Wolf; you go to the left, Tom; and I will take a course +between you. If either of you see him sing out.” + +This was good policy, and it was promptly adopted. I walked over to the +cliff by the lake, and following the shore, I soon reached a high point +of land, which commanded a view for a considerable distance. I halted +to take a careful survey of the region, hoping I might discover the +fugitive; but I could see nothing. There was a tall tree on the top of +the hill, which I climbed in order to obtain a still better view. I +could see Tom and the sheriff, but no one else. I began to fear that +the robber understood the situation better than we supposed, and had +adopted some plan which had not been anticipated by any of us. So far, +I surveyed only the region which the fugitive was expected to traverse. +Before descending the tree, I turned my gaze in the direction we had +just come. + +I saw the robber, and called with all my might to Tom and the sheriff. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE ROBBER TAKES THE BACK TRACK. + + +I was never more vexed and disconcerted in my life than when, from the +tall tree on the hill, I discovered the robber. I think the tones in +which I yelled to Tom and the sheriff betrayed the disgust I felt at +the unsatisfactory situation. The officer’s confident prediction was +set at nought, for the robber had evidently not gone fifty rods from +the point where he landed and climbed the cliff. As Tom had so often +suggested, the fellow was smart, and knew what he was about. + +When I saw the robber, he was on the shelf below the cliff where he had +landed, in the very act of hoisting the mainsail on board of the Raven. +He worked rapidly, yet with a kind of deliberation and care which +required nothing to be done over a second time. His object in landing +may have been simply to get rid of his pursuers on the lake, though it +was possible his had ascertained the impracticability of escaping in +the direction he had apparently chosen. But his operations looked to +me just like a flank movement. He had seen the steamer land a force, +and then depart down the lake. Being closely pursued by the Belle, he +had landed to balk Tom and me; and now, having sent all his pursuers on +shore, he had them just where he wanted them. He could now cross the +lake in the Raven, and make his escape on the other side. It looked to +me just as though we had lost him, and I did not believe the money in +the rogue’s travelling-bag would be used that day to pay the colonel’s +note. + +The robber hoisted the mainsail, and then the jib, of the Raven. Then, +with a sinking of the heart I saw him hasten towards the place where +the Belle lay. I understood his purpose, and I trembled for Tom’s +boat. Of course he foresaw that it would be used to pursue him, and he +intended to set her adrift, or disable her so that she would not be +available for use against him. I saw him put his shoulder to her stem, +and attempt to push her off. I concluded from this that he intended to +tow the Belle out into the middle of the lake, and leave her there, or +possibly scuttle her. + +He made a desperate effort to shove her off the ground, but without +success. Tom and I had hauled her nearly out of the water, and she +was too heavy to be launched again by one person. I fancied that the +fellow swore some in his disappointment, and I congratulated myself +upon the happy thought which had induced me to haul her so far out of +the water. I wondered what the fellow would do next, for I could not +believe he would leave while the Belle was in condition to pursue him. +I was curious to know what he would do next; but I was already blaming +myself for staying so long in the tree, and I descended. Before Tom and +the sheriff could reach me, I was running with all my might towards the +zigzag path. + +I soon reached a point where I could see the operations of the robber +again, which had been hidden from me after I descended the tree. He +was running from the Belle to the Raven. In his hand he carried the +travelling-bag, which he appeared not to leave behind him for a single +instant. But then, to my intense mortification, if not horror, I saw a +dense smoke rising from the cuddy of the Belle. + +The villain had set her on fire! + +Tom kept a supply of shavings and light kindlings in the cook-room, and +there was a tin match-box attached to the mast. The scoundrel had found +everything convenient for the execution of his vile scheme, and the +beautiful Belle was in imminent peril of being totally destroyed. I had +reached the head of the zigzag path when I discovered the fire, and I +was hopeful that I might be in season to extinguish it before the boat +was entirely disabled. The robber leaped into the Raven, and pushed off +with a celerity which seemed to insure his safety. + +I rushed down the steep path to the shelf below. I wanted to do some +desperate thing, for I was so vexed I could hardly contain myself. I +had the revolver which Tom had given me in my hand, and I discharged it +at the rascal in the Raven; but I might as well have fired at the moon, +for the pistol would not carry half the distance. The robber took no +notice of me, and did not even condescend to return my shot. He let +out his sheet, and the Raven went off flying, with the fresh breeze +nearly aft, and by the time I reached the gully, he was forty rods from +the shore. + +Though I had nearly exhausted my breath in running, I did not abate +my speed till I reached the Belle. I leaped on board, and seized the +bucket which was under one of the seats. I dashed several pailfuls of +water into the cuddy, which put a quietus on the fire. The robber had +simply lighted the shavings in the box which had been built in the +head. Hardly more than two minutes had elapsed from the time the fire +was set till I reached the Belle. The combustibles in the wood-box +blazed furiously; but the fire was confined principally to them, though +I found the ceiling and the under side of the deck planks were charred. +With a bucket of water and a dipper, I put out every spark of fire. + +I could not push the boat off alone, but I hoisted the sails, so that +she would be ready to start as soon as Tom and the sheriff arrived. +By the time they were coming down the path, I had rigged the pump, in +order to remove the water I had thrown into her in putting out the +fire, as soon as she was under way. + +“Take hold here, Mr. Bradshaw!” I shouted, when the sheriff and Tom +came within hail of me. + +The official was puffing like a grampus, and he looked as thoroughly +disgusted as a deputy sheriff could be. He put his shoulder to the bow +of the Belle, and we shoved her off into the lake. Tom sprang on board, +and took his accustomed seat at the helm. The officer was placed on the +port side, and I took position at the pump which I had rigged for use, +after I had shoved the boat clear of the shore. She filled away, and we +started about a quarter of a mile behind the Raven. If there was any +difference at all in the wind, it was stronger than it had been earlier +in the morning, and this fact improved our chances. + +I had made fast the sheets, so that for the present Tom had nothing to +do but steer. He said nothing about his wound, but I could see that +it gave him much pain, and I hoped I should be able to induce him to +abandon the pursuit when we reached the other side of the lake, if the +robber led us in that direction. + +“This is a pretty kettle of fish,” said the sheriff, as soon as he had +recovered his wind. + +“I told you that fellow was smart,” replied Tom, with his gaze fixed +steadfastly on the Raven. + +“How in the world did he get back here without our seeing him?” + +“We did not look where he was.” + +“Where did you first see him, Wolf?” asked the officer. + +“He was on the shore here, getting the Raven ready to be off. I +shouldn’t have seen him if I hadn’t climbed a tree.” + +“It was lucky you thought of that. But where was the fellow while we +were beyond the cliff?” + +“In my opinion he has not been fifty rods from the place where he +landed,” I replied. “There are plenty of places among the rocks where +he could hide. I think it is very likely he concealed himself in the +gully, and as soon as he found we were at a safe distance from him, he +concluded to cross the lake, where there is no one to pursue him.” + +“He’s smart,” repeated Tom. “That will do, Wolf; don’t pump any more. +You keep her wabbling so that she don’t do her best.” + +“Let me take the helm, Tom,” I suggested. “I’m afraid you will make +your arm worse.” + +“No, I thank you. I can get as much out of the Belle as anybody else; +but you may stand by the sheets, if you like, for I can’t use my left +arm very well.” + +“Just as you say, Tom,” I answered, taking a seat by his side, where I +could reach the sheets. + +“Now keep still, and don’t move one of your little fingers,” said Tom. +“I’ll give him some. If I don’t, the Belle isn’t a lady. Let out that +jib-sheet about an inch and a half, Wolf.” + +“All right,” I replied, obeying the order. “You are putting a fine +point upon it, Tom.” + +“I must have her just so when she does her best. Mr. Bradshaw, will you +move forward about six inches? That’s it; now she is just as I want +her. Don’t she spin!” exclaimed Tom. + +“She is doing first rate, and so is the Raven.” + +“Wait a bit till she gets out a little farther. She will have to duck +under when she gets the full weight of the breeze. By the way, Wolf, is +she burned much in forward? I didn’t stop to look in.” + +“Very little. I think you can make her as good as new in half an hour,” +I answered. “The robber spent some time trying to shove her off, +before he thought of setting her on fire. I was just at the path when +I saw the fire. It had not been burning more than two minutes when I +threw on the first bucket of water.” + +“Now she is getting it savage,” said Tom, as the wind drove the Raven +down to her gunwale in the waves. “See that! He had to luff her up. He +lost a little on that.” + +Both boats had the wind on the quarter, and the Raven was leading the +way directly across the lake to High Bluff, just below Priam. She was +jumping up and down on the waves like a feather, and it was evident +enough that she could not carry all sail. Her skipper had been obliged +to luff her up so as to spill the mainsail, and then we saw that he +had let his jib-sheet run out so that the head sail did not draw. As +soon as the flaw had spent itself, he kept her away again, with the jib +still shaking. + +“It was a great mistake that the steamer went back,” said the sheriff. +“If we only had her here, she would make short work of that boat.” + +“Don’t say anything more about mistakes, Mr. Bradshaw,” replied Tom. + +“Well, I think it was a mistake to let her return,” persisted the +officer. + +“If that steamer had been out here, the robber would have taken some +other course. We have all made mistakes enough, but we have done the +best we could, and it’s no use for the pot to call the kettle black.” + +“Do you see what that fellow is up to now?” I interposed. + +“I think I do,” replied Tom. “He sees the gully on the upper side of +High Bluff, and, if I mistake not, he is going to run in there.” + +“If he does, that will be his last blunder,” I replied. + +“Why so?” inquired the sheriff, who was not familiar with the locality. + +“He can run his boat into the gully on either side of the bluff; but +he can no more climb up to the high land above than he can shin up a +rainbow,” said Tom. “I only hope he will run in there.” + +“He may find a way to get out of the gully,” I suggested. + +“He can’t do it. It isn’t in the power of man to get up.” + +“But you know there is a crooked path to the top.” + +“That’s very true; but the path is just on the side of the lake, and +you can’t reach it from the gully on either side. If he strikes the +middle of High Bluff on the lake side, he can go up. If he runs into +the gully, he can’t,” answered Tom. + +The Raven was running directly towards High Bluff. If he did not know +of the path to its summit, he would not be likely to suspect its +existence from anything he could see; and we waited, with intense +anxiety, to ascertain what course he intended to take. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +THE ROBBER IN A TRAP. + + +In a short time we were satisfied that the robber intended to run +the Raven into the gully on the upper side of High Bluff. Certainly +no more inviting prospect could have been desired by a man in his +situation; for the entrance was broad and free from peril, promising a +good landing-place to the voyager, as, indeed, there was, though his +troubles would commence after he left his boat. Tom had explored the +locality thoroughly, and was sure that the man could not get out of the +gully. + +The battle between the friends of Tommy Toppleton and the rebels had +been fought at High Bluff, as detailed by my friend Ned Skotchley, and +the tradition among the students was, that the gully was impassable +except by the bridge, and that its sides were absolutely perpendicular. +If the robber would favor us by running into this trap, we felt +reasonably certain that we should be able to bag the game, although +I could not help dreading his pistol, when we drove him into close +quarters. I did not wish to be shot myself, and I was equally averse to +having so good a fellow as Tom Walton shot again. + +“There he goes into the south gully!” exclaimed Tom, as the Raven +passed clear of the foot of the path to the summit of the bluff. “We +have him now.” + +“Not quite,” I suggested. + +“I am sure a man can’t climb up the side of the gully,” protested Tom. + +“That fellow has a bag full of tools, which he used in breaking into +the bank.” + +“What good will tools do him?” demanded Tom. “Will they help him shin +up a rock?” + +“Perhaps they will. I think, if I had his traps, I could get out of the +gully; and I don’t believe in trusting anything to luck this time. We +must try and be as smart as that fellow is, and make no mistakes.” + +“I don’t see how he could get out of that place, even if he had a whole +chest of tools,” persisted Tom. “He can only come out the way he went +in. That is the only way I could ever get out of that hole.” + +“The robber had a long cord, with which he slung his bag over his +shoulder. He used only one end of it, and it may be fifty feet long, +for aught I know. There are plenty of stout bushes, no doubt, hanging +over the hole.” + +“That’s so; and the tree that Briscoe’s fellows crossed upon still lies +across the gully.” + +“Exactly so. And how deep is the gully under this tree?” + +“Twenty or twenty-five feet, I should say.” + +“Then he can tie a stone to the end of his cord, throw it over the +trunk of the tree, and let it come down on the other side. That’s easy +enough--isn’t it?” + +“I should say it was,” replied Tom, fully comprehending my suggestion. + +“Then, if he can’t go up the cord hand over hand, he can fix some +sticks in the line, and go up comfortably. But very likely the fellow +has a rope-ladder in his bag.” + +“I guess he wouldn’t stop to put any rounds in his ladder,” laughed Tom. + +“He has chisels and such things in his bag, at any rate. He could stick +these into the chinks of the rocks, and go up on them without much +trouble, and without much loss of time. No, Tom; we must be ready to +head him off when he tries to get out of the gully.” + +“Yes; but if we leave the boat, he will serve us the same trick he did +on the other side,” said Tom. + +“We will make no mistakes this time. Run for the foot of the path, Tom. +Shall I take in the jib?” + +“Yes, take it in, Wolf,” replied Tom, for we were within a few rods of +High Bluff. + +I lowered the jib, and made everything snug forward. + +“Now let go the mainsail-halyards,” added the skipper; for, as the wind +was blowing directly on shore, we were obliged to take in all sail. + +I took the boat-hook, and fended off as the Belle grounded on the beach. + +“Now what’s to be done?” demanded Tom, nervously. + +“Let Mr. Bradshaw go on the bluff,” I continued. + +“What, alone?” asked the sheriff. + +“Why not? I am willing to go alone,” I replied. “You will have all the +advantage of the robber. If he attempts to climb up, you can knock +him, even without being seen yourself. All you have to do is to keep +yourself in a safe position, and watch him.” + +“What are you going to do?” inquired the officer, apparently not very +well satisfied with the arrangement. “Do you mean to make me fight it +out alone?” + +“Just as soon as the robber leaves the Raven, we are going to drag her +out of the gully, and put her where he can’t get at her again. That’s +the idea, and we have the worst part of the work to do.” + +“It won’t take both of you to do that.” + +“Tom has but one arm to help himself with, and can’t do this job alone. +If you are afraid to go upon the bluff, I will go, and you may help Tom +take the Raven,” I replied. + +“Afraid! I am not afraid.” + +“Then hurry up, or the fellow will get out before you are in position +to do anything.” + +“Which way do I go?” said he, stepping on shore. + +“Follow the path, and when you are on the bluff, move to the gully on +the left, and then continue till you can see or hear the fellow,” I +replied, hoisting the mainsail of the Belle again. “You can’t go wrong, +and you will be as safe as though you were at the other end of the +lake.” + +“I think a man who talks as big as he does ought to have a little more +pluck,” said Tom, as the sheriff disappeared in the windings of the +steep path. + +“I don’t blame him much. It isn’t pleasant to be shot.” + +“I don’t think it is; and I ought to know as well as any of you.” + +“That’s so, Tom. You are the hero of this enterprise.” + +“Pooh!” snuffed Tom. “Flatten down that mainsail, Wolf.” + +“Ay, ay! down it is,” I answered, hauling in the sheet, and crowding +off the head of the boat. + +The skipper ran the boat out into the deep water, and then continued up +the lake till the Belle had reached the upper side of the gully, where +we could see the position of the Raven. + +“Now, steady, Tom. We are not going into that fellow’s pistol barrels, +you know. Luff her up, and let us see where he is before we go in.” + +He threw the Belle up into the wind, out of pistol range of the Raven. +The latter had grounded where the gully contracted its width. Her sails +had not been lowered, for the robber evidently intended to abandon her +at this point. + +“Do you see the rascal?” asked Tom. + +“No; he isn’t in sight; but he may be in the cuddy.” + +“I guess not. He wouldn’t box himself up in such a place. He has left +her.” + +“Probably he has; but we will make sure of it before we go in.” + +From the point where the Raven had grounded there was a gradual ascent +in the ravine, down which flowed the waters of the brook; but there was +room enough on the bottom to walk dry shod round to the deep water on +the other side. We concluded that the robber had left the boat, and +gone to the upper part of the gully, to find a place where he could +reach the ground above. We waited long enough to satisfy ourselves +that he was not in the boat, and then stood in towards the head of the +gully. In a few moments we reached the Raven. She was deserted and +empty, and I lost no time in pushing her off. Taking her painter on +board of the Belle, we towed her out into the lake. + +“That job is done, and I don’t believe the robber will sail in the +Raven any more to-day,” said Tom. + +“Now what shall we do with her?” I asked. + +“We will anchor her just as far from the shore as her cable will reach +bottom.” + +This was less than a quarter of a mile from the bluff, and we soon +had her anchored where it was impossible for her to be reached by the +robber. + +“I don’t think we have made any mistake this time, Wolf; though, if we +have, we won’t say anything about it,” said Tom, as we ran towards the +shore again. + +“Perhaps not; but we haven’t captured the robber yet,” I replied. + +“We know where he is, at any rate.” + +“That’s so. If the sheriff keeps both eyes open, he won’t get out of +the trap. But he will shoot any of us who come within reach of his +bullets.” + +“Well, we won’t go within reach of them, then,” added Tom. “But what +shall we do with ourselves now?” + +“I don’t know that we can do anything better than to cruise up and down +off the mouth of the gully.” + +“That won’t do any good.” + +“I don’t know about that. The rascal might find some logs in the gully, +and make a raft, if we don’t keep watch of him on this side. How does +your arm feel, Tom?” + +“It aches; but I can stand it first rate.” + +“I may as well go on the bluff, and see what Mr. Bradshaw is about, if +you can run the Belle off the gully alone.” + +“O, I can! I could work her up to Middleport without any help.” + +“Then I will go ashore. You might anchor off the gully.” + +“No. I will stand off and on, where I can see the fellow if he come in +sight.” + +The Belle was run up at the foot of the path to the bluff, and I +landed. The boat worked well under the mainsail alone, and Tom stood +off with this sail only. I made my way up the steep path, and soon +reached the high ground. I discovered the sheriff over by the bridge +which led from the bluff to the road. He was lying on the ground, and, +as I approached him, I saw him glance over the cliff into the ravine. +He had his pistol in hand, and was trying to get a shot at his intended +victim. + +“Where is he?” I asked, as I joined the officer. + +“The last I heard of him, he was down here,” replied the sheriff, +pointing down into the ravine. + +“What is he doing?” + +“I don’t think he is doing anything just now. Between you and me, I +believe I wounded him.” + +“I didn’t hear you fire.” + +“I have popped at him twice. I could hear every step he took, and I +followed him all around the bluff. I got a sight of him twice, and +fired both times.” + +“What is he doing?” + +“Probably he is keeping himself in a safe place. I haven’t heard +anything of him for some time.” + +“Isn’t he at work in some other place?” + +“No; I don’t think he can move without my hearing him.” + +“We will stir him up a little,” I added, taking a good-sized rock, and +rolling it over the precipice. + +I heard it drop upon the rocks below, but no other sound came from the +chasm. + +“That’s a good idea. I didn’t think of that,” said the sheriff, as he +proceeded to roll rocks into the abyss, which, however, appeared to +produce no effect upon the robber, at least so far as dislodging him +was concerned. + +“I will cross the gully,” I continued. “Then we shall have one on each +side, and he cannot so easily conceal himself.” + +“Cross the gully!” exclaimed the sheriff. “How can you do that?” + +“There is a bridge,” I replied, pointing to it. + +“Yes; but the moment you show yourself on that bridge, the villain will +put a bullet through your brains,” added the officer. + +“I will see that he is not in a position to do that before I cross.” + +I crawled upon my hands and knees to the brink of the abyss, and +assured myself that the robber was not where the sheriff supposed he +was. I then crossed the bridge, and began to move in the direction of +the tree which lay across the chasm. I had not taken ten steps before a +bullet whizzed uncomfortably close to my ears. Luckily it did not hit +me; but, deeming discretion to be the better part of valor, I was not +ashamed to lie down upon the ground. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +SHOWERS OF ROCKS. + + +Stealing a cautious glance over the brink of the precipice, I +discovered the robber coiled up under a projecting rock, about five +rods from the place where the sheriff had been looking for him. It was +ticklish business, though, after I had heard one bullet whistle by my +ears, I felt more like a veteran, and found my courage increasing. +Still I was careful not to expose my head again to the robber’s aim, +for I had a certain regard for my head, and the contents thereof, which +made me rather tender of it. It may not have been a very good head, +but it was the best one I had, and I did not like to have it damaged, +for no one could give me another if I lost it. Besides, I was afraid +it would hurt Grace Toppleton’s feelings, as well as my own, to have a +hole through my head. + +I lay upon the ground and did not deem it prudent to attempt to obtain +a second glance at the robber at once. But I kept this position only +long enough to consider what I should do next. I crawled back a little +way from the ravine, where I could lift my body up without being seen +by the villain. I then made signs to the sheriff on the other side to +indicate to him the precise location of the fugitive. He understood me +perfectly, and, guided by my signals, he advanced to that part of the +bluff directly over the robber’s head. When he had reached the right +spot, I nodded my head to signify the fact. + +The bluff was well supplied with rocks, and the sheriff followed up +the tactics I had suggested, by rolling them over the brink of the +precipice. It was evident enough to me that the robber could not stand +this sort of treatment for any great length of time; for, though none +of the rocks thrown into the chasm were larger than a man’s head, they +were heavy enough to smash a man’s skull after falling from fifteen to +twenty feet. Of course the chances of hitting him with stones rolled +blindly into the ravine were not very good; but, if we followed up the +shower, he was in danger of being hit sooner or later. + +“Pitch them in, Mr. Bradshaw!” I shouted. “Give him plenty of them.” + +“Where is he now?” asked the sheriff. + +“He isn’t far from you. Let him have a shower of them,” I added. + +Taking a position myself far enough from the gully to be out of reach +of the robber’s pistol, I began to help my companion on the other side, +and for a few minutes we rained down the rocks into the chasm with +a zeal which threatened to bury the victim beneath them. But, as we +heard nothing of him, I concluded, after a time, that he had changed +his position, or that his head had been broken, and we suspended the +assault when we were tired of the hard work it involved. + +I then crawled up to the chasm as close as I dared to go, and listened +attentively for any sound which might indicate the robber’s presence; +but it was his policy to keep entirely still, and I obtained no +information. The sheriff did the same thing on his side of the gully, +and we occasionally glanced at each other for intelligence. As we +continued the search, and our excitement increased, both of us became +more venturesome. We were soon reminded again of the folly of exposing +our heads to the fire of the desperado in the chasm. I saw the sheriff +dodge, and heard the crack of a pistol in the chasm. + +“All right!” shouted Mr. Bradshaw to me. “Nobody damaged. He’s right +under you, Wolf.” + +“I know where he is now,” I replied; and I renewed the assault with a +volley of rocks. + +The sheriff did the same, and there was a heavy shower of stones into +the abyss. We followed it up for half an hour, throwing the missiles +in different places for several rods, so as to cover any change of +position the robber might make. But the labor was heavy, and seemed to +be unprofitable, while we were working in the dark. Making a signal to +the officer to continue the assault on his side, I walked down to the +bridge, where I could look into the chasm, and be out of the reach of a +ball from the robber’s pistol. From this secure position I obtained a +full view of the rascal. He was crouching under the overhanging cliff, +at least five rods from the place where the sheriff was throwing over +the rocks. The desperado raised his pistol, and fired as soon as he saw +me; but I knew the weapon would not carry half the distance, and I was +brave enough not to flinch. + +I was tired of carrying on the war in this blind manner. I had been on +the bluff over an hour, and nothing had been accomplished. I crossed +the bridge, and walked up to the place where the sheriff lay. I had an +idea, which I hoped would bring matters to an issue. + +“Hold on, Mr. Bradshaw,” said I, as I approached him. “You are wasting +your ammunition. The fellow is a hundred feet from you.” + +“This is hard work,” replied the sheriff, wiping the perspiration from +his brow. + +“Yes, and almost useless. I don’t believe we have hit him a single +time.” + +“I thought he must be smashed to jelly by this time.” + +“No; he is crouching under an overhanging rock, out here,” I added, +pointing to the place where I had seen him. + +“Hold on, then, and I will give him some more,” said the zealous +officer. + +“No, let him rest a few minutes. One of us must keep watch of him at a +safe distance from his pistol,” I continued, picking up a little stick +from the ground. “Let us have some signals. I will go down where I can +see him, and direct you so that you can throw the rocks in where he is.” + +“Good! I like that,” replied the officer. + +“When I raise this stick, it means farther from me; when I lower it, +nearer to me. When I carry it out to the right, it means on your side +of the chasm; when to the left, on the other side,” I proceeded, +suiting the action to the word. + +“I understand. Up means farther off; down, nearer to you; right, nearer +to me; left, farther from me. That’s a good idea, Wolf, and we shall +smash him this time.” + +“And when you are in the right place I will raise both hands,” I added. + +I returned to the bridge, and looked for the robber again. He was not +in the place where I had last seen him, and I concluded that, as he +had explored the gully from the point where he landed, he had gone in +the direction of the fallen tree over the chasm. Taking the side of +the gully opposite that on which the sheriff was, I followed it in the +direction of the tree. There was a turn in the gully, and I was obliged +to fall back into the road which lay near it, in order not to expose +myself. I soon reached a point where I could see the fallen tree. The +robber was directly under it, busily at work doing something which I +could not see. + +I raised my hand with the stick in it as high as I could, to indicate +to the sheriff that he had a considerable distance to go. He increased +his speed, and when he reached the tree, I raised both hands, the +signal that he was in the right place. But by this time he needed no +telegram from me; for, precisely as I had suggested that he would do, +he threw his cord over the trunk of the fallen tree. The officer saw +the line, and taking position at a safe distance, he began to pour in +the rocks with a vigor which threatened to annihilate the robber, and +bury him beneath the _débris_. I had a fair view of the whole scene. +The desperado was trying to climb up his rope, and had actually begun +the ascent, when he suddenly dropped upon the ground. It was plain +enough to me that a rock had hit him. + +“Hold on!” I shouted, at the top of my lungs, for I did not wish to +have the fellow unnecessarily injured. + +The sheriff promptly suspended his operations, and I ran with all speed +to the fallen tree. Mr. Bradshaw lay down on his stomach, and crawled +towards the chasm. As I approached, I saw him retreat a little, which +assured me the fugitive was not killed. + +“He hasn’t got enough yet,” said the sheriff, as I arrived on the other +side of the chasm; and he immediately launched another rock into the +abyss. + +“Hold on!” shouted the robber. + +“What do you want?” demanded Mr. Bradshaw. + +“Don’t throw any more rocks down,” replied the rascal, in a tone which +indicated that he was in pain. “You have broken my shoulder now.” + +“Do you surrender?” called the sheriff. + +“Yes.” + +“All right; throw up your pistol, then.” + +“I can’t throw it up--my shoulder is broken,” answered the robber. + +I happened to have a fish-line in my pocket, one end of which I threw +into the chasm. + +“Tie your pistol to this line,” I added, “and I will haul it out.” + +I heard him moving in the gully, and I crept forward to as point where +I could see him. He was tying the pistol to the fish-line. + +“Pull it up,” said he. + +I drew up the revolver, and put it in my pocket. I then dropped +down the line again, and directed him to send up his other pistol. +He persisted that he had only one, and I told him to send up his +cartridges, and any knife he had about him. He attached a box of +cartridges and a small bowie-knife to the line, which I drew up. + +“Now come up yourself,” said Mr. Bradshaw. “But I want you to +understand, if you attempt any treachery you are a dead man.” + +“I can’t get up,” replied the robber. “My shoulder is broken.” + +“If his shoulder is broken, he can’t very well shin up that rope,” I +added. + +“How shall we get him out?” asked the sheriff. + +“We can take him off in the boat,” I replied. “Indeed, that’s the only +way we can get him out, unless we hoist him out with his line.” + +“As we must return to Centreport in the boat, that will be the easiest +way,” replied the sheriff. + +I crossed the chasm on the trunk of the tree, and, after a short +consultation with the sheriff, it was agreed that he should remain +on the bluff, and see that the robber did not escape while we were +bringing up the Belle, and that I should go with Tom, and take him on +board at the place where he had landed. If we both left the bluff, he +might still be smart enough to escape, in spite of his injury. + +I hastened down the path, and, hailing Tom, was soon on board of the +Belle. I told the skipper we had damaged the robber so that he was +willing to surrender, and had given up his pistol, which I exhibited. +By the time we reached the point in the gully where the Raven had +grounded, the robber had arrived there, and the sheriff at the point on +the bluff above him. On the way, I had loaded all the barrels of the +robber’s revolver, and held it in my hand. But the desperado seemed to +be very badly injured, and I was obliged to help him into the boat. He +seated himself opposite me, and I put his travelling-bag in the cuddy. + +Pushing off, Tom headed the Belle out into the lake, in order to take +a tack so as to reach the foot of the path, and receive the sheriff +on board. Under the lee of the Raven, the skipper put the helm down, +and I went forward to clear away the jib. While I was thus occupied, +the robber made a sudden spring at Tom, and taking him up in his arms, +tossed him into the lake. The deed was done in the twinkling of an eye. +The robber then made a leap towards me. + +[Illustration: THE ROBBER MAKES A NEW MOVE. Page 197.] + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +A BLOW WITH THE BOAT-HOOK. + + +The robber appeared to be suffering so much from the injuries in +his shoulder that I had not considered him capable of giving us any +further trouble; and when I went forward to clear away the jib, I +put the revolver in my pocket. I did not suppose a man who declared +that his shoulder was broken would make an attack upon us, and I had +relinquished the precautions adopted when the desperado came on board. + +I was astounded and horrified when I saw Tom pitched into the lake +with so little ceremony. I saw the robber spring towards me, and I +fully comprehended his purpose. He doubtless intended to throw me +overboard also, and then seek some more available landing-place than +he had chosen before. I had only time to pick up the boat-hook, when +I divined his plan, before he was upon the half deck. I had been too +tender-hearted and forbearing before, but now I was desperate, when I +saw poor Tom floundering in the lake, wounded, and hardly able to help +himself. + +Swinging the boat-hook over my head, I sprang towards the robber; and, +clearing the fore-stay, I brought it down upon his bare pate with a +force that felled him to the floor of the standing-room. He attempted +to dodge my blow, but the boom swung round and held him so that he +could not avoid it. I hit him fairly with the heavy iron at the end of +my weapon, and he dropped as an ox does under the butcher’s axe. + +“I think you will lie still for a while now,” said I, glancing at him, +as I hastened to the helm. + +The Belle had lost her headway when Tom was removed from the helm, and +I was fortunately able to reach him with the boat-hook. I extended it +to him, and he grasped it with the hand of the uninjured arm, I pulled +him in, and helped him on board. + +“Are you hurt, Tom?” I asked, anxiously, as soon as I had dragged the +skipper into the standing-room. + +“No, I guess not,” he replied, shaking the water from his hair. “That +fellow wouldn’t have done that it I had only had two arms, instead of +one. It was a shabby trick he played me.” + +“I think he will have a sore head after this.” + +“I saw you crack him with the boat-hook.” + +“I gave him a stunner.” + +“Did you kill him?” + +“I don’t know. He hasn’t moved since he fell.” + +Gathering up the sheet, which had run out in the scrape, I headed the +boat for the foot of the path, where the sheriff was waiting for us. I +had heard him yell when the robber tossed Tom into the lake, and I had +no doubt he was gratified with the turn I had been able to give to the +affair. + +“How do you feel, Tom?” I asked, when I had put the Belle on her course. + +“First rate, Wolf,” he replied; but his looks and actions belied his +words. + +“No, you don’t, Tom. You are suffering.” + +“Well, to tell the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, that villain +gave my sore arm an awful twist, and it don’t feel as good as it did.” + +“Let me get the sheriff on board, and then we will run for Priam, where +we can have something done for you.” + +“O, never mind me, Wolf. I’m so glad we have got our man, that I don’t +care much for anything else,” replied Tom. + +“I’m afraid you will take cold, and have a bad arm, if something isn’t +done for it.” + +“I should rather laugh to see myself taking cold,” added Tom. “Why, +I’m in the water half the time, and I feel just as good when I’m wet +through as when I’m dry.” + +“I don’t care what you say; I intend to take good care of you, Tom,” I +replied, as I lowered the mainsail, and ran the boat up at the foot of +the path. + +“You have had a narrow escape,” said the sheriff. + +“Yes; but an inch is as good as a mile. We are all right now. Hurry up, +Mr. Bradshaw. We are going up to Priam.” + +“To Priam?” + +“Yes; I’m going to have Tom taken care of before I do anything more.” + +“But I don’t want to go to Priam.” + +“Leave you here, then, if you like,” I replied. + +“But I want to take that man up to Centreport.” + +“On board, or I will shove off without you.” + +The sheriff stepped into the boat, and began to talk about his +prisoner; but I headed the Belle for Priam, in spite of his objections. + +“That fellow begins to move,” said Tom. + +The robber rolled over and put his hand to his head. Then he heaved a +long sigh. Tom took the helm, at his own desire, and the sheriff and I +raised the desperado, and laid him on one of the seats. The blood was +flowing down the side of his head, and we found an ugly wound where I +had hit him. The blow had stunned him; but he was beginning to revive. +The sheriff washed his head, and bound a handkerchief over the wound, +which I judged was not a serious one. In a short time he was able to +sit up, and the officer put a pair of handcuffs upon his wrists. + +“I suppose it is all up with me now,” said he, after he had surveyed +the situation, and glanced particularly at the handcuffs. + +“You may us well hang up your fiddle now,” added Tom. “How is your +shoulder?” + +“My shoulder is sore, but I think I could use it again if there was a +good chance,” said he, biting his lips. “What are you going to do with +me?” + +“I’ll take good care of you now,” replied the sheriff. + +“Don’t be rough on a fellow.” + +“By gracious! I’ve seen this fellow before!” exclaimed Tom, suddenly. +“It’s Schleifer, that hardware drummer, as sure as you live!” + +I looked at him carefully, and was satisfied that Tom was right. But +he was very much changed. His face was covered with smut and dirt. His +dress, which had been carefully adjusted when we saw him before, was +now deranged and soiled. He had evidently used a good deal of oil in +cutting the hole through the door of the bank vault, and had daubed his +face all over, so that he looked like a machinist just from the shop. +As I looked at him now, I was not surprised that we had not recognized +him. + +“Schleifer it is, if you believe that is my name,” he replied. “Names +are cheap.” + +“Where is the other fellow?” asked Tom. + +“I hope he has been smarter than I have,” answered the robber, gloomily. + +“You have been smart,” added Tom. + +“If I had not run into that infernal hole, I should not have been here.” + +“Who was that man with you?” I asked, recalling the scene in front of +the stable at the hotel, on the preceding evening. + +“Who is he? You can ask just as many questions as you please; and I +can answer just as many as I like,” replied he. “But we won’t quarrel +because I have been unfortunate. It’s a great pity that a young man +like me should be sent to the jug for the best part of my life. Can’t +we make a trade?” + +“What do you mean by a trade?” asked the sheriff. + +“I’ll be fair with you,” continued the robber. “I have in my bag about +thirty or forty thousand dollars--I don’t know how much. We didn’t +stop to count the money. Call it forty thousand. Here are four of us, +and that’s just ten thousand apiece. In other words, if you will let +me off, I will give you ten thousand apiece, whether I have anything +myself or not.” + +“That’s a pretty good offer,” said the sheriff, who had probably never +seen ten thousand dollars in his life. + +I did not care to discuss such a question, and therefore said nothing. + +“It won’t compromise you in the slightest degree,” continued the +robber, evidently encouraged by the remark of the officer. “Just run +the boat up to the shore, and I will take care of myself. All you have +to say is, that you could not catch me. You can put a shot or two +through your hat, and through your coat, to prove that you have not +been backward in following me up.” + +“Ten thousand dollars is a good deal of money to a poor man like me,” +added Mr. Bradshaw. “It is more money than I ever expected to see at +one time.” + +“It will not be the first time such a trade has been made,” urged the +robber. + +“What do you say, Wolf?” added the sheriff turning to me. + +“I don’t say anything,” I replied. + +“Here is a good chance to make some money.” + +“I can tell you of a better chance.” + +“What’s that?” + +“Go up and rob the Middleport or the Ucayga Bank. If you do the job +well, I have no doubt you can make fifty thousand by it.” + +“Of course I wouldn’t rob a bank,” he replied, laughing. + +“You might as well as make a trade with this fellow. It’s all the same +thing.” + +“You really don’t suppose I meant to do such a thing,” said he, with a +sickly smile. + +“Come, what do you say?” persisted the robber, glancing anxiously +ahead, for we were rapidly approaching Priam. + +“We will not say anything more about it,” replied the sheriff. + +And he did not. I will not say whether, if the sheriff had been alone, +he would have made such nefarious bargain as that suggested by the +robber; but I considered it better that he was not alone. Schleifer +pressed the subject; but Bradshaw was now indignant at the idea, and +finally it was dropped. The sheriff behaved rather nervously; but I +could not tell whether it was because he was losing a chance to make +his fortune, or was afraid he had committed himself. + +“Do you suppose they have caught the other fellow?” asked Tom, as we +approached Priam. + +“If they haven’t, they will catch him,” I replied. + +“What makes you think so?” demanded the robber. + +“I know all about him now,” I answered. + +“You don’t know so much as you think you do.” + +“I think I shall be able to find Lord Palsgrave,” I added. + +“Bah! You will find him as you did me--by accident, if you find him at +all. If I had not run into that hole, you would not have seen me again. +I was a fool that I did not cut a hole in the bottom of this boat, +instead of trying to burn her.” + +“We all make blunders,” I suggested. + +“Yes, you have made your full share,” sneered he. “Do you know where I +was when you were looking for me on the other side? I’ll tell you. I +was in that gully, listening to what you said.” + +The robber was evidently trying to comfort himself in his misfortune, +and he regaled us, until we reached the wharf, with a recital of the +manner in which he had balked us. He wanted to know how we happened to +be in the Narrows at midnight, but I did not care to enlighten him. We +landed at Priam, and went up to the hotel, the sheriff guarding his +prisoner with the greatest care. The intelligence of the robbery of the +bank had already reached the town, for Captain Synders and Waddie had +passed through the place several hours before in pursuit of the other +robber. + +I sent for a doctor as soon as we reached the hotel, and obtained a +supply of dry clothing for Tom. In a short time I had made him very +comfortable, The physician dressed his wound, and declared that it was +not serious, though it would give the patient some trouble. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +AT THE CATARACT HOUSE. + + +It was decided that the sheriff should return to Centreport with his +prisoner in the Ucayga, which left Hitaca at one o’clock, and would be +at Priam before two. The doctor insisted that Tom should keep quiet +for two or three days, and he reluctantly consented to return in the +steamer, while I went up the lake to the Cataract House, to see what +had become of Lord Palsgrave. + +Soon after we arrived at the hotel, Schleifer declared that he was +nearly starved, for he had not eaten anything since he had taken his +supper the evening before in Hitaca. I ordered an early dinner for the +whole party, and the robber’s handcuffs were removed to enable him to +use his knife and fork; but both the sheriff and myself had a revolver +by the side of our plates, and the rascal made no attempt to escape. + +While we were at dinner, Captain Synders and Waddie arrived, on their +return from the pursuit of the other robber, They had not been able to +obtain the slightest clew to him in this direction, and had come to the +conclusion that he had gone towards Ucayga; but a party had been sent +in that direction, and it was hoped he had been captured. + +“How far did you go, Waddie?” I asked. + +“We went about a mile beyond the Cataract House,” he replied. “We could +not find the slightest trace of him.” + +“Did you stop at the Cataract House?” + +“Yes, a few minutes.” + +“Did you see Mr. Overton?” + +“No; but the landlord told me he was out looking for Miss Dornwood, who +disappeared last evening very strangely,” replied Waddie, chuckling, +“Lord--What’s his name?” + +“Lord Palsgrave,” I added, with interest. + +“Lord Palsgrave was helping him in the search.” + +“Indeed!” I exclaimed, “All right!” + +“What’s all right?” + +“Lord Palsgrave.” + +“What of him?” + +“He’s your man.” + +“What do you mean?” demanded Waddie, unable to comprehend my rapid +suggestions. + +“You have not seen the robber we captured, Waddie. I had forgotten +that. You must go in and look at him.” + +“Why?” + +“He is an old acquaintance of ours.” + +“The robber?” + +“Yes; in a word, it is the hardware drummer that we took from the +burning canal-boat,” I replied. “His mission in Centreport was to rob +the bank.” + +“Now I remember the fellow said he wanted to go to Centreport, half a +dozen times, and as often corrected himself, and made it Middleport. +You don’t say that drummer is the fellow!” + +“It’s a fact; and, if the drummer was one of them, it follows that Lord +Palsgrave is the other.” + +“By the great horn spoon!” ejaculated Waddie. + +“It’s as clear as mud,” I added. “I saw his lordship and the drummer +leave the stable together in a vehicle.” + +“But how could he get back here? That’s what bothers me. We came down +by the direct road, and could not get any traces of him.” + +“I don’t know how that is, but I am satisfied his lordship is one of +the men who robbed the Centreport Bank. I am going to the Cataract +House in the Belle. Captain Synders had better go with me, for I am +sure Lord Palsgrave is our man.” + +“All right; and I will go also,” replied Waddie. + +We went into the hotel, and my friend was fully convinced of the +correctness of my theory when he saw and recognized the drummer. +Schleifer, or whatever his name was, continued to be boastful and +defiant. He was a hard villain, and seemed to take great pleasure in +informing us how he had cheated us in the pursuit. When we went in, he +was telling the sheriff that, though he had been hit on the shoulder +by a stone, he was not much hurt, and had concluded that his chances +were better in the boat than in that dismal hole. We did not pay much +attention to him, however; and, after Waddie and Captain Synders had +dined, we embarked in the Belle for the Cataract House. + +“I don’t understand how the other robber can be down here,” said the +constable when we were under way. “In fact, I don’t believe he is here.” + +“You shall be satisfied on that point before night,” I replied. + +“It would be a feather in our caps if we should happen to catch him,” +added the captain. + +“If he don’t get frightened and clear out, we shall have him before +night,” I replied. + +Indeed, I wondered that his lordship had the temerity to remain in the +vicinity after the crime in which he had been engaged, and I suggested +to my companions that we should proceed with the utmost caution, and +capture him before the news of Schleifer’s mishap reached him. The wind +was still fair and fresh, and we made a quick run to our destination. +We landed at a point some distance above that from which we had started +the night before, and, taking a path through the woods, proceeded to +the stable in the rear of the hotel. I wished to ascertain when and how +his lordship had returned. I did not like to have the constable exhibit +himself, and I left him in the grove, though he grumbled not a little +at being compelled to play an inferior part in the transaction. I found +the stable-keeper, who knew me very well, and being in a position to +send customers to the hotel, I was treated with much consideration. + +“You remember that I was here last evening?” I began, after he had +greeted me. + +“Yes, you were asking about that lord who is stopping in the house.” + +“Exactly so. I never happened to meet a live lord, and I am rather +anxious to see one. Has he returned yet?” + +“Yes; he came back this morning, about eight o’clock.” + +“Did the other gentleman return with him?” I asked. + +“No; did you know him?” + +“I had seen him before. Do you know where they went?” + +“Over to Highlandville, Lord Palsgrave said he had been over there to +see a friend be met in England last year.” + +His lordship was certainly very obliging to state his business so +definitely to the stable-keeper; and I was rather desirous of knowing +who his friends in Highlandville were. This place was about five miles +back from the lake. + +“Do you know where he is now?” I continued. + +“He and another gentleman took a team this forenoon, and went away. +They have not returned yet.” + +“Who was the other gentleman?” + +“Mr. Overton, I think; at any rate, it was the one who came with +him,” replied the stable-keeper. “I reckon there is some trouble in +the family, Captain Penniman. The young lady who came with the party +cleared out last night, and they have been looking for her all day. I +believe they have gone to Hitaca this time.” + +The stable-keeper wanted to tell me all about the young lady, who had +“cleared out;” but as I knew more of the matter than he did, I was +not anxious to hear the story. The only point in his narrative that +interested me was the statement that the young lady was supposed to be +insane, being subject to this malady. I concluded that this was an +invention of Mr. Overton, put forth for the purpose of concealing the +real trouble. + +“There they are now!” said the stable-keeper, as a team drove up to the +side door of the hotel. “I thought they would be back by dinner time.” + +One of the gentlemen alighted from the vehicle, and went into the +hotel, while the other drove the horse up to the stable. The latter +was Mr. Overton, and as I did not care about being seen before we were +ready to put the bracelets on the wrists of his lordship, I left the +stable, and moved towards the grove where I had left my companions. But +the horse, when headed towards the stable, smelt his oats, and started +off rather suddenly, and Mr. Overton drove him around the hotel to +prevent the animal from turning too short a corner. I did not observe +where he went, and as I was hastening to the grove, I met him in the +road, where I could not avoid him without jumping over the fence, which +my dignity would not permit me to do. He recognized me at once, and +stopped the horse. + +“I wish to see you, young man,” said he, in an arrogant tone, as he +stepped out of the vehicle. + +One of the hostlers came to the place, and took charge of the horse, so +that he was relieved of all care on his account, and able to give his +whole attention to me. I nodded to him, as he spoke, to indicate that I +was ready to hear him. + +“You are one of the persons who were with my ward, Miss Dornwood, +yesterday afternoon?” he continued, pulling off his glove. + +“I am one of the persons,” I replied. + +“You are the owner of a boat?” + +“No, sir, I am not.” + +“One of your party is?” + +“One of my party is.” + +“Where is that boat now?” demanded he, beginning to be a little excited. + +“She lies over by the shore yonder.” + +“Where?” repeated he, sternly. + +“If you wish to see her, I will take you to her,” I replied, +good-naturedly, for this is my policy when other people are angry. + +“I don’t wish to see her; I only want to know where she is.” + +“Well, sir, she is not a half a mile from here.” + +“Hasn’t she been away somewhere?” + +“I believe the lake is free for her to go wherever her skipper chooses +to take her,” I replied, prudently. + +It occurred to me that Lord Palsgrave might be interested to know where +the Belle had been, and I was afraid some information might be conveyed +to him before I was ready to have him receive it. + +“You don’t answer my question,” said Mr. Overton, savagely. + +“I don’t consider myself under any obligation to answer your questions, +especially when you propose them in this offensive manner,” I replied, +mildly. + +He bit his lips, and perhaps he recognized the force of my remark. + +“I have a purpose in putting these questions,” he added, more gently. + +“I can’t help it if you have, sir.” + +“In a word, the young lady whom you assisted has run away. Do you know +anything about her?” + +“For the present, sir, I decline to answer.” + +“Which means that you do know something about her.” + +“You may draw your own conclusions.” + +“Let me tell you, young man, that Miss Dornwood is my ward, and under +my authority. Lord Palsgrave and myself have been searching for her all +the forenoon.” + +“Indeed! Is Lord Palsgrave much interested in her?” I asked. + +“He is to be her husband, and of course he is very anxious in regard to +her.” + +“If he is to be her husband, I should think he might be anxious,” I +added, coolly. + +“He is very much distressed, and if you know anything about her, you +will do him a very great favor by informing him where she is.” + +“I should be happy to oblige his lordship.” + +“Lord Palsgrave is compelled to start for New York this afternoon, upon +important business, and he is very anxious to know what has become of +Miss Dornwood before he leaves.” + +“I should think he would be. Then he is going away on important +business,” I repeated, glad to know the fact. “Will you introduce me to +his lordship?” + +“I will.” + +“I will tell him where the lady is.” + +“Very well; you shall see him at once.” + +“I will meet you at the hotel in a few moments,” I replied, moving +towards the place where I had left Waddie and Captain Synders. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +THE OTHER BANK ROBBER. + + +I called Captain Synders and Waddie from their hiding-place, and +hastened to the hotel, intending to reach it about as soon as Mr. +Overton, for I was rather fearful that his lordship would take the +alarm, and leave before I had an opportunity to introduce him to the +constable. + +“I promised to tell Lord Palsgrave where Miss Dornwood is,” said I, as +we hurried towards the rear entrance of the hotel, while Mr. Overton +had gone to the front door. “Have you any objection, Waddie?” + +“I don’t know that I have. It is useless to try to hide her from him,” +he replied, as we entered the hotel. + +I saw Mr. Overton go into the parlor; and, after placing the constable +where he would be available when his services were needed, Waddie and +I followed the anxious guardian. We found him talking to an elegantly +dressed lady, who, I concluded, was his wife. + +“Lord Palsgrave is not here just now,” said Mr. Overton, as we +approached the spot where he stood. + +“He has gone up stairs to dress for dinner,” added the lady. “He said +he would be down in a few moments.” + +“We are somewhat in a hurry,” I continued, anxiously; for I was afraid +his lordship might obtain a hint of the presence of a constable on the +premises. + +“If you are in a hurry, it will be quite as proper for you to impart +your information to me,” said Mr. Overton. + +“I promised to give it to Lord Palsgrave only,” I added, wishing him to +understand that I would give it to no other person. + +I was very much afraid of making a blunder. Of course his lordship, +having just returned from robbing a bank, would naturally be very +excitable and suspicious. I walked across the room with Waddie, in +order to obtain an opportunity to speak with him in private. + +“Go to the office, Waddie, and ascertain the number of Lord Palsgrave’s +room, and don’t let him leave the house,” I said to him, in a low tone. +“Don’t say anything unless he attempts to leave.” + +“I understand,” replied Waddie, as he left the parlor to execute his +mission. + +“I hope you will not leave till you have seen Lord Palsgrave,” said +Mr. Overton, perhaps afraid that I should follow the example of my +companion. + +“I will not, sir,” I answered, walking with him over to the place where +the lady was seated. + +“We are very anxious indeed about Miss Dornwood,” he added; “but more +for her own sake than for any other reason. She is young and giddy.” + +“I think you need not be disturbed about her.” + +“How can we help being worried about her?” said the lady. + +“Well, madam, I can assure you she is with excellent people, who will +be very careful of her.” + +“Did I understand you to say that you conveyed Miss Dornwood away in +your boat?” asked Mr. Overton. + +“Whatever the facts may be, I did not say so. Did I understand you to +say that Miss Dornwood is engaged to Lord Palsgrave?” + +“I did say so.” + +“I suppose you have been acquainted with his lordship for a long time, +then?” + +“No, only a few weeks.” + +“Of course you are satisfied that he is what he represents himself to +be.” + +“What, Lord Palsgrave?” demanded Mr. Overton, with a frown. “Why do you +ask such a question?” + +“I suppose you are aware, sir, that all people who pass themselves off +as noblemen in the United States are not really so.” + +“I think such a suggestion is an insult to his lordship. Did Miss +Dornwood intimate to you that Lord Palsgrave was an impostor?” + +“She did not. On the contrary, I am confident that she believes he is +just what he claims to be.” + +“There can be no doubt about that. May I ask if you know anything about +Lord Palsgrave?” + +“I do know something about him, though I have not yet even met his +lordship.” + +“I think you ask rather remarkable questions concerning him. But here +comes his lordship,” added he, as an elegantly-dressed young gentleman +entered the parlor. + +Mr. Overton hastened to meet Lord Palsgrave, and spoke to him for +a moment in private. While they were thus engaged, Waddie entered +the room, and came to my side. We had an opportunity to examine his +lordship’s elegantly-fitting garments, which were certainly very +creditable to his tailor. I had obtained a single glance at his face, +and if his voice had been familiar to me, there was also something in +his looks which seemed to remind me that I had seen him before, though +I did not then recognize him. + +Lord Palsgrave was in full dress, with a white vest and black dress +coat. His patent-leather boots were unexceptionable, and his pants +were a capital fit. From his neck an eye-glass dangled at the end of a +silken cord. He wore a light mustache, which had evidently been colored +within a recent period, and every hair on his head was adjusted with +the nicest care. If I had met him in the street I should have called +him a dandy without any compunction of conscience. I wish to say that I +have since seen a live duke and a live earl; but both of them, though +they looked and acted like gentlemen, were very plainly dressed. + +“He’s a swellish-locking fellow--isn’t he?” said Waddie, as he joined +me in the parlor. + +“The chief end of man with him is to keep up appearances,” I replied. + +“I think I have seen that fellow before.” + +“So do I, but I can’t make him out.” + +“Did you get a good view of him, Wolf?” + +“I only obtained a single glance at his face when he came in; but I +pity Miss Dornwood if she is compelled to throw herself away upon such +a puppy as he.” + +“That match will be broken up, I think.” + +“Did you see him up stairs, Waddie?” + +“No. I knocked at his door, and satisfied myself he was in his room; +but I cleared out as soon as he answered me. I did not let him see me +when he came out.” + +“Where is Captain Synders now?” I asked. + +“I told him to stand by the door when I came in, and he is all ready to +pounce upon his victim.” + +“Here comes Mr. Overton,” I added, as his lordship turned and walked +over to the place where Mrs. Overton was seated. + +“Excuse me, but I have not your name,” said Mr. Overton. + +“Captain Penniman,” I replied. + +[Illustration: THE INTRODUCTION. Page 227.] + +I walked with him into the immediate presence of his august lordship. + +“Lord Palsgrave, Captain Penniman,” said Mr. Overton. + +His lordship had adjusted his eye-glass as he raised his head from the +lady. + +“Captain Penniman!” exclaimed he; and his face turned as red as a blood +beet. + +“Nick Van Wolter!” I almost shouted, as I recognized the distinguished +nobleman. “I hope your lordship is quite well.” + +“By the great horn spoon! It is Nick Van Wolter!” cried Waddie. + +“Do you know these persons, Mr. Overton?” said his lordship, recovering +his self-possession, and adjusting his eye-glass with particular care. + +“I do not.” + +“Don’t you know me, Lord Nick Van Wolter?” I asked, laughing heartily +at the airs of his lordship. + +“Certainly not,” he answered. + +“Then I have the advantage of your lordship.” + +“So have I,” added Waddie; “and that’s two against one.” + +“Who are these persons?” demanded his lordship, still squinting at us +through his eye-glass. + +“I don’t know them; but one of them informs me that he knows where +Miss Dornwood is, and is willing to inform your lordship,” replied Mr. +Overton. + +“I am that person, and I shall be happy to give his lordship all the +information in my power,” I answered. + +“What do you know of the lady?” asked his lordship, in supercilious +tones. + +“She went down the lake in the Belle last night--his lordship knows the +Belle very well.” + +“The belle--pray, sir, do you refer to Miss Dornwood?” said Lord +Palsgrave, squinting at me through the glass. + +“I do not. I refer to the sloop boat Belle, in which your lordship has +sailed more than once.” + +“What do you mean by that, fellow?” + +“Come, Nick, this farce is played out.” + +“Nick! What do you mean, fellow, by applying such an insulting epithet +to me?” exclaimed his lordship. + +“I hope you will treat Lord Palsgrave with proper respect,” interposed +Mr. Overton. + +“Well, sir, I happen to know that Lord Palsgrave and Nick Van Wolter, +the son of the present captain of the steamer Ucayga, are one and the +same person. In other words, Mr. Overton, he is a humbug.” + +“Fellow!” ejaculated his lordship. “How dare you insult me?” + +“O, I dare, it you call the simple truth an insult,” I replied. + +“I will not endure this insolence,” said his lordship, rushing towards +the door. + +“Yes, you will,” I interposed, placing myself before him. + +“I will call the landlord, and have you ejected from the premises.” + +“Not yet. I will send for the landlord, and save you that trouble. +Waddie, will you call him?” and I nodded to him to indicate that +Captain Synders might also be introduced. + +By this time there was a great excitement in the parlor. The guests +of the house who were waiting for dinner had become interested in the +affair. Nick Van Wolter, while he still attempted to maintain his +assumed character, was evidently very much disconcerted, and was +thinking how he should get out of the room, and make his escape. When +Captain Synders entered the parlor, his jaw fell. + +“Nick Van Wolter, as true as you live,” said the constable, as he came +in, Waddie having previously informed him who the victim was. + +“Captain Penniman, you promised to tell his lordship where Miss +Dornwood is,” interposed Mr. Overton. + +“I am entirely willing to do so,” I replied. “But I am surprised to +find that his lordship does not remember the Belle. Why, when his +lordship and the other gentleman--who, I believe, does not pretend to +be a lord--were crossing the lake last night, after midnight, the Belle +actually ran into his boat. I will add that Miss Dornwood was on board +of the Belle at the time, though she was asleep in the cabin.” + +“His lordship in a boat?” repeated Mr. Overton. + +“Exactly so; and if his lordship will pardon the freedom of my speech, +he and the other gentleman--who is not a lord--robbed the Centreport +Bank of fifty or sixty thousand dollars.” + +“Robbed a bank!” exclaimed Mr. Overton. + +Lord Palsgrave’s face was deadly pale, and his frame quivered with +emotion. + +“His lordship is well acquainted with Captain Synders, constable of +Centreport, who is here for the purpose of arresting him.” + +“O, yes! I know his lordship like a book,” replied the constable. “I +have known him for a good many years, and I’m sorry to say, I never +knew much good of him.” + +At this moment the gong for dinner sounded; but none of the guests in +the parlor manifested any disposition to regard the summons. + +“I have heard enough of this nonsense. Mrs. Overton, allow me to escort +you to the table,” said his lordship, trying to stiffen his joints +again, as he stepped up to the lady, and extended his arm to her. + +“I hope Mrs. Overton will excuse your lordship, for we have not +finished our business yet,” I remarked, as the constable stepped up to +his victim. + +His lordship was evidently very much disgusted and disheartened. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +THE END OF LORD PALSGRAVE. + + +“Landlord, I have been outrageously insulted in your house, and if you +do not instantly expel these insolent persons, I shall be obliged to +leave myself,” said Lord Palsgrave, approaching the landlord, who had +just arrived at the scene of the excitement. + +“Not just yet, I guess,” replied Captain Synders, who did not permit +his victim to get out of the reach of his arm. + +“I know nothing about this business,” replied mine host. “Captain +Synders is a constable, and I presume he knows what he is about.” + +“I do know just what I’m about,” added the constable. + +“I think it is quite proper for the officer to show his warrant,” added +the landlord. + +“I haven’t any warrant; but we don’t let a bank robber escape for the +want of one.” + +“At least you ought to show some ground for arresting this gentleman.” + +“I’m going to search him, and if I don’t find twenty or thirty thousand +dollars in bills of the Centreport Bank upon him, I shall be willing to +wait till I get a warrant, before I take him.” + +“Search me! Do you think I will submit to such an unheard-of +indignity?” demanded his lordship, stamping his foot with rage, which, +however, was manufactured for the occasion. + +“I guess you will, Nick,” quietly replied the constable. + +“Don’t call me Nick, fellow,” foamed the victim. + +“Captain Penniman, before you proceed to extreme measures in my house, +I hope you will give me some assurance that there is no mistake about +the person,” interposed the landlord. + +“I demand it as my right,” added Lord Palsgrave. “I will appeal to +the British minister at Washington, who is a particular friend of my +father.” + +“I shall be very happy to satisfy you, and all present, that there +is no mistake in regard to the person,” I replied. “A man who called +himself Schleifer--though that is probably not his real name--was +taken out of a burning canal-boat on the lake, last evening, by our +party. That man was one of the bank robbers.” + +“I never saw or heard of such a man,” protested Lord Palsgrave, +violently. + +“I beg his lordship’s pardon, but he rode away from the stable of this +hotel with that man. The stable-keeper assured me the person who went +with him was Lord Palsgrave. I am sure they went off together. The +other man has been arrested.” + +I saw that his lordship was startled by this information. + +“Did you recognize Lord Palsgrave in the vehicle with the other man?” +asked the landlord. + +“I did not, for I could not see his face,” I replied. “But I did +recognize the man who has been arrested, and the stable-keeper said the +other one was his lordship.” + +“As you did not identify Lord Palsgrave yourself, there may still be +some mistake.” + +“There is a mistake,” said his lordship, warmly. + +“Further, this person is not Lord Palsgrave, but Nick Van Wolter, the +son of Captain Van Wolter of the Ucayga. Here are three of us who have +known him for years.” + +“If that’s the case, I have nothing to say,” added the landlord. + +“Come, Nick, let’s see what you have in your pockets,” said Captain +Synders. + +“Landlord, will you suffer this indignity to be inflicted upon me in +your house?” appealed Nick. + +“I haven’t anything more to say about it. Dinner is ready, ladies and +gentlemen,” he replied. + +But no one was disposed to dine while the issue was pending. + +“Mr. Overton, I assure you this is an outrage,” protested Nick. + +“If you are not what you represented yourself to be, I have no sympathy +with you,” replied the gentleman addressed, who evidently thought it +necessary to free himself from any suspicion of complicity with the +bank robber. + +Nick glanced around the room with all the dignity he could summon to +his aid, and then made a leap towards one of the open windows. The +vigilant constable was too quick for him, and placed a heavy hand upon +him. + +“Don’t be in a hurry, Nick,” said the officer, taking from his pocket a +pair of handcuffs. + +“What have you there?” demanded Nick. + +“Only a pair of irons!” + +“Irons! Has it come to this? They will pierce my soul!” exclaimed his +lordship, who had evidently borrowed this fine expression, as he had +his knowledge of heraldry, from the novels he had read. + +“They won’t touch your soul, Nick; I’m only going to put them on your +wrists, so that you will hold still, and not jerk about so,” added the +constable, as, with some force, he snapped the irons upon his prisoner. +“Now, we want to know what you have in your pockets, Nick. It’s no use +to jerk; you can’t get away.” + +Captain Synders searched his pockets, but did not find anything to +implicate him in the robbery; but he took possession of a bunch of +keys, which he handed to me, and requested me to examine the prisoner’s +effects in his room. The landlord went with us, and we opened his trunk. + +“These are the clothes he had on last night,” said I, taking from the +trunk a tweed suit. “You see they are very much soiled with smut and +oil.” + +“Do you find any tools?” asked the landlord. + +“No; I think the other robber provided them,” I replied, as I pulled +all the clothing out of the trunk. + +In the bottom of it I found a packet done up in brown paper. It was +about the length and width of a bank note, and I was sure it contained +money. I opened it. + +“There’s no mistake about that,” said the landlord, as I came to the +bills. “Centreport Bank,” he added, looking at the face of the notes. + +“I was sure of my man. See here,” I replied, pointing to the address +of the cashier on the brown paper, which had probably enclosed some +article sent to Mr. Barnes at the bank. + +“That’s a pile of money,” added the landlord, as I turned over the +notes. + +“I judge, from what the other robber said, that there must be twenty or +thirty thousand dollars.” + +We returned to the parlor, and exhibited the result of the search. +There was no longer any doubt as to the guilt of his lordship, and the +guests went to their dinner, congratulating themselves, perhaps, that, +after all, Lord Palsgrave was not “the biggest toad in the puddle.” +Mr. Overton, however, did not go with them, but paced the room in high +excitement. It was easy to understand that the situation was very far +from being agreeable to him. + +“Well, I suppose we may as well be getting back to Centreport as fast +as possible,” said Captain Synders, who was probably in a hurry to +march his prisoner in triumph into the town. + +“His lordship has not dined yet,” suggested Waddie. + +“I don’t want any dinner,” said Nick, bursting into tears, as the +extent of his reverses crowded upon his mind. + +Half an hour before, every one treated him with profound respect and +great consideration; now every one despised him, and looked down upon +him with contempt. His tears were moving, and, as he had laid aside +his lordly airs, we were not disposed to ridicule him. If he had been +sincerely repentant over his crime, instead of being sorry for its mere +exposure, we could have pitied and sympathized with him. + +“Take me away from here as quick as you can,” added Nick. “I hope you +will let me go to my room and change my clothes.” + +“That suit is good enough,” replied the constable. + +“I would rather not go to Centreport in this dress.” + +Waddie and I interfered in his favor, for we were not disposed to +increase his suffering, and the constable consented to take him to his +room to clothe himself in a more becoming suit. + +“Captain Penniman, you have not told me yet where Miss Dornwood is,” +said Mr. Overton. + +“I did not agree to tell you, but only your friend,” I replied. + +“He is not my friend now. He is an impostor,” added Mr. Overton, warmly. + +Nick glanced at him as he uttered these words, and appeared to regard +the epithet as very unkind from him. + +“Tell him, Wolf,” said Waddie. + +“Miss Dornwood is at Mr. Pinkerton’s, in Ruoara,” I added. + +The guardian bit his lip, and seemed to be very much disconcerted. +His plans for the fortune, as well as those of Nick, were doubtless +very much deranged. He said no more, and Captain Synders conducted +his prisoner to his room. As the injury which Tom Walton had received +rendered it doubtful whether we should return to complete my vacation +in this part of the lake, I concluded that I would take my bear home +in the Belle. I promised to meet the rest of our party at the boat in +a short time, and hastened over to Captain Portman’s. I found him at +home; and, as we walked out to the quarters of Bruin, he told me he had +another bear on his hands. + +“Another!” I exclaimed. + +“Yes, the twin brother of mine,” replied Captain Portman. “Major +Tompkins, a friend of mine in Hitaca, brought them down from the woods, +where an old hunter had reared them as pets. They amused him so much +that he bought them to keep in his garden; but the illness of his wife +compelled him to go to Europe, and as he expected to be absent two or +three years, he gave one to my neighbor, Mr. Walker, and the other to +me. Mine has never been cross, though they say the other one has been +a little ugly; but found they had almost choked him by buckling the +strap too tight around his neck. He has been as pleasant as a kitten +since he has been here. Now, Wolf, if you want both of them, you shall +have them.” + +I did not want both of them, and I was rather embarrassed by the +offer; but when we reached the quarters of the two bears, I changed +my mind. I saw them play together, and I laughed till my side ached +at their gambols. It was a pity to part two such excellent friends, +and I decided to accept Captain Portman’s offer. I stepped up to the +one whose acquaintance I had made before. He appeared to recognize me, +stood up, and presented his paw. The other had been trained in like +manner, and performed the same trick. I shook hands with them, and +found they were both ready for a frolic, in which, however, I had not +time to engage. + +I told the two men whom Captain Portman called where the Belle lay, +and they led the bears down to the lake, while their employer walked +with me. I related to him the particulars of the bank robbery and the +capture of the robbers. He was very much astonished to learn that the +lord at the hotel was one of the criminals. + +When we reached the lake, I found Captain Synders and Waddie with the +prisoner, who was still in irons. The constable was very impatient, and +when he saw the two bears, which were to be his fellow-passengers, he +declared he would not go in the boat with them. Indeed, I found myself +that two bears were rather too many for the space the Belle afforded; +but Captain Portman relieved me of the difficulty by promising to send +one of his men to Middleport with them in the steamer the next day. + +Captain Synders embarked his prisoner, and we were soon driving down +the lake. Nick Van Wolter was the image of despair. The brilliant +calculations for the future had utterly failed, and instead of marrying +an heiress, he was to spend a long time in the penitentiary. I have no +doubt he was willing to believe that “the way of the transgressor is +hard.” + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +THE ADVENTURES OF NICK VAN WOLTER. + + +“Wolf, you have been a thorn in my path,” said Nick Van Wolter, as the +Belle stood down the lake. + +“Do you regard me as the author of your misfortunes?” I inquired. + +“Certainly I do.” + +“You are mistaken. You are the author of them yourself, Nick.” + +“I don’t think so. Everything was going very well with me till you came +up here,” he added, bitterly. + +“I did not instigate you to rob the bank.” + +“No; but I should have got off if you had not turned up.” + +“You don’t seem to think that your crimes are the cause of your +misfortunes, Nick. If you had been an honest and upright young man, I +could not possibly have done you any harm.” + +“That may be true, but you have upset all my calculations.” + +“You should not have had any such calculation as the robbing of a bank.” + +“Well, I suppose it will not make any difference now. This is the end +of me,” he replied, as the tears filled his eyes again. “Ten or twenty +years in prison is not a pleasant thing to think of.” + +“You ought to have thought of that before you robbed the bank.” + +“Of course I had, but I didn’t. I hadn’t the least idea that I should +be detected. I didn’t think it was possible; and it wouldn’t have been, +if you had kept out of the way.” + +“You were blind, Nick. Murder will out. Those who commit great crimes +are almost always discovered. I don’t believe a man who commits a crime +has more than one chance in a hundred of escaping the consequence of +it, even in this world,” I added, warmly. + +“Do you think any one would have suspected me of robbing the bank if +you had been out of the way, Wolf?” + +“I think it would have come out. There is always a screw loose +somewhere in this kind of business. You did not know I was near the +hotel till Mr. Overton introduced me.” + +“Yes, I did; I saw you yesterday afternoon, when you landed at the +grove. I saw Waddie coming towards the place when Miss Dornwood and +myself were walking. I was afraid he would see me, and I told the lady +I would get a team and drive her along the shore road, if she would +wait where she was.” + +“We saw you hastening towards the hotel,” said Waddie. + +“I heard Miss Dornwood scream, and saw the bear before her, but I could +not return because you were there. I stepped back into the grove, and +saw all that passed.” + +“And you expected to marry Miss Dornwood?” I asked. + +“Yes, I expected to do so, though she refused me once. Mr. Overton +assured me he could make it all right, and I had no doubt he would. The +girl was pretty and interesting.” + +“Did Mr. Overton know you were not what you represented yourself to +be?” I inquired, finding that Nick was disposed to be communicative. + +“Of course I never told him who I really was; but, after the talk +we had together at Cape May, I think he understood the matter well +enough. It was very fine for him to call me an impostor, after we had +understood each other for a month,” replied Nick, sourly; and he seemed +to be as much disgusted with Mr. Overton as with me. + +“You had an understanding with him, then?” + +“It was not in black and white; but I knew what he meant, and he knew +what I meant.” + +“What did he mean?” I asked. + +Nick hesitated, and looked in the bottom of the boat, as if considering +whether he should answer the question or not. + +“I think Mr. Overton has used me in a shabby manner,” said he, at last. +“He did not even offer to help me out of my trouble, but called me an +impostor. I don’t know that I am under any obligation to conceal his +tricks.” + +“If he means any wrong towards Miss Dornwood, you ought not to conceal +it,” added Waddie. + +“She is a good girl, and I liked her. I don’t wish her any harm; and +that is what Mr. Overton means. He intends to rob her of her fortune.” + +“Are you sure of that, Nick?” + +“I am. I’ll tell you the whole story, Wolf; and if you have a chance to +do me a favor, I hope you will do it.” + +“I shall be glad to do anything that is right for you,” I replied. + +“I don’t want to be paraded through the streets of Centreport, and +stared at by all the folks I used to know,” said Nick, glancing at the +constable, as though he knew him well enough to understand that he +would make the most of his victim. + +The prisoner evidently expected me to save him from this painful +exhibition, and I was willing to do so if it was in my power. + +“I don’t owe Mr. Overton anything, certainly,” continued Nick. “I could +have choked him when he introduced you to me, Wolf.” + +“Didn’t he speak to you beforehand about me?” I asked. + +“Not a word. Do you think I should have showed myself to you? Not at +all. If I had known you were in the house, or anywhere near it, I +should have taken myself off. When I came back in the morning, Mr. +Overton told me your boat was gone, and he could not find any of the +party who belonged to her. This made me perfectly easy. I was going to +New York this afternoon, and I had no more idea of seeing you than I +had of meeting the Queen of England.” + +“By the way, Nick, how did you get back to the hotel?” inquired Waddie, +who had been much mystified on this subject. “We sent two men by the +upper road, and Captain Synders and myself came by the shore road.” + +“When I met Cutter last night--” + +“Who?” + +“Cutter--the man who went down to Centreport with me.” + +“Schleifer,” I added. + +“He has as many names as a Spanish Infante,” said Nick. “When I met +him, we changed our plans. He was to go to Middleport as quietly as he +could, and took a canal-boat, so as not to let many people see him. +You know how he happened to come ashore here. I was to meet him on the +wharf at Middleport, as soon as everything was still, and I intended +to drive down after dark, so that no one could see me. After Miss +Dornwood came back to the hotel, and Mr. Overton had locked her into +her room, I went down to the bar to get a glass of wine, for I was +alarmed, and wanted something to raise my spirits. I met Cutter there, +and he decided to ride with me to Middleport. + +“I took a team, and told the stable-keeper I should not be back till +late, if I returned before morning. I drove to Highlandville, where we +put the team up at one stable, and hired a horse and buggy at another. +At Middleport, where we arrived at half past eleven, I put the team in +the shed at the store near the head of the wharf. I knew just where to +find a boat, and we started to cross the lake. In the darkness I made +out a sail-boat, going through the Narrows. She was close aboard of us +when I discovered her. Then the sail-boat kept away a little, and ran +into us.” + +“Did you know what boat it was?” asked Waddie. + +“I did not. I knew the Belle was up the lake, and it did not occur to +me that it was she, even when the fireworks blazed up. We ought to have +given up the job then, but Cutter said it was all right. We got out of +the way as quick as possible. We walked over to the Institute, and soon +saw the sail-boat go down the lake. We were satisfied then, and went +to the bank. We approached the building by the back way, and did the +job. It took so long to cut the hole through the door, that we did not +finish till nearly daylight; and even then we heard the porter in the +building. + +“In a few minutes there was a commotion, and we realized that our +work had been discovered. I led the way to the steam-mill by the back +alleys, hoping to find a boat there. We were disappointed, and as there +was no one in the way, we hastened to the steamboat wharf. I jumped +into the tender of the Grace; but Cutler said he would not leave the +Raven, which lay there, for some one to use in following us. We decided +to separate then, in order to divide and bother our pursuers. I pulled +across the lake, and got my horse at the shed. I took the upper road; +but the horse was not fast, and I soon heard the rattle of a wagon +behind me. Seeing a road into the woods, I drove in, taking care to +remove the tracks of the wheels and the horse, so that they might not +attract the attention of my pursuers. I suppose they had not heard the +rattle of my vehicle, for presently they passed my hiding-place at a +furious speed. + +“Resuming the road, I continued on my way, and reached Highlandville +without seeing any person. Returning the horse I had hired here, I +obtained the one I had driven from the hotel, and went leisurely back +without seeing any of the pursuers. I believed I was all right then; +and I should have been, if Wolf had not crossed my path.” + +“Did you divide the money?” asked the constable. + +“No; we each took what we happened to have. Cutter carried the gold +in his bag. We were to meet in New York, and make a fair division, +expecting the newspapers to tell us how much the bank had lost, so that +neither could cheat the other.” + +“Where have you been since we parted above Hitaca, Nick?” I inquired, +in order to bring him back to the Overton business. + +“I went to Philadelphia first. I meant to go into some kind of +business, and save the money I had; but, while I was at a hotel in +the city, I met Cutter, who persuaded me to visit a gambling saloon, +where I lost about half of my money. I found that Cutter was employed +by the establishment to visit the hotel, and bring in customers. I had +wit enough to stop playing when I found it was a losing game. Cutter +took a fancy to me, and put me in the way of making a little money at +this gambling house. I was employed as ‘a young gentleman from the +country.’ When any one came in, I was allowed to win largely, for the +encouragement of other young men from the rural districts, but of +course my winnings went back to the banker. + +“As the season advanced, a gambling house was opened at Cape May, and +Cutter and myself went down to influence customers. I did not like the +business, and he was dissatisfied with his salary. He informed me that +he had been a machinist, and through many stages the conversation went +on till he told me he meant to make a grand strike by emptying the +vault of some bank. He talked to me about the plan for weeks before +I would consent to have anything to do with it. Then I suggested the +Centreport Bank. All this time we boarded at the best hotel, and no one +except an occasional victim knew who or what we were. We bathed in the +surf, danced, dined, and flourished in the drawing-rooms. + +“There was a rumor about the hotel that an English lord, _incog._, was +staying there. Every one wanted to penetrate the mystery; but, if there +was any lord there, he kept his own secret. As a joke, Cutter whispered +confidentially to some of the guests that I was the lord. I soon found +that I was treated with great consideration, though, as my friend +had not told me what his was about, I did not understand the reason. +Fathers and mothers introduced me to their daughters, and I was a lion +in spite of myself. Among those to whom Cutter had imparted the great +secret was Mr. Overton, and I made the acquaintance of Miss Dornwood. +Will you give me a drink of water, Wolf? I feel quite faint,” said +Nick, who was really very pale. + +I brought him some water, and also some crackers and cheese, for I knew +he had not been to dinner; but he would not eat. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +COLONEL WIMPLETON’S WRATH. + + +Nick soon declared that he felt better, and continued his story. + +“I was very much pleased with Miss Dornwood, especially when I learned +that she had a fortune of two hundred thousand dollars. A few days +after I was introduced to her, I had the pleasure of saving her from +drowning while she was bathing in the surf. She was not as grateful to +me as I supposed she would be, but I hoped soon to win her regard. One +day Mr. Overton came into the gambling saloon where I was employed. I +was engaged in inducing a man from the country to play, and I did not +notice the presence of the guardian of Miss Dornwood for some time. He +knew enough of the world to understand my position. If I had seen him +sooner, I should not have committed myself. But Mr. Overton did not +seem to have any less regard for me, when he met me about the hotel, +and encouraged my advances to Miss Dornwood. + +“I told Cutter what I was doing in this direction. He laughed, and +informed me of the practical joke he had played upon me. He advised me +to follow up the affair, and not to take the trouble to deny that I was +an English nobleman. I was pleased with the attentions bestowed upon me +by the guests, and was not disposed to ruin myself in their estimation. +I continued to be very devoted to Miss Dornwood; and, as her guardian +and his wife would not permit her to make other acquaintances, watching +her every moment of the time, I was almost her only companion. I gave +up my place in the gambling saloon, lest it should compromise me, and I +had plenty of time to give to Miss Dornwood. She seemed to like me very +well, and I soon proposed to her; but, to my chagrin and astonishment, +she gave me a decided refusal. + +“I did not believe she meant it, and I was confident that I could +change her mind in due time. After this she tried to avoid me; but I +managed very carefully, devoting myself quite as much to the guardian +as to the ward. Miss Dornwood certainly treated me very kindly, though +she was rather shy. Mr. Overton thought she was making too many friends +at Cape May, and decided to spend a few weeks at Newport. The family +went there, and Cutter and myself went also. On the journey I thought +Miss Dornwood had relented towards me, and soon after our arrival I +had a talk with Mr. Overton, in which I boldly pleaded for the hand +of his ward. He had no objections, and told me that, according to the +terms of Mr. Dornwood’s will, his ward could not marry unless with the +guardian’s consent, without losing three fourths of her fortune. + +“The conversation was a long one, for Mr. Overton was very guarded in +his remarks; but I understood him perfectly, even while he did not +fully commit himself. He said that, as usual, some very extravagant +reports had been circulated in regard to the extent of her fortune. He +did not wish to have any mistakes or disappointments, and he told me he +would give me on our wedding day fifty thousand dollars. He wished to +be distinctly understood that this was all she was entitled to; and he +added that, as I was an English nobleman, money could not be any object +to me. I did not deny that I was a lord, and told him I was satisfied +with the dowry of his ward. I understood Mr. Overton as well as he +understood me; and I was satisfied I could obtain the rest of Miss +Dornwood’s fortune after our marriage. + +“Life at Newport made sad inroads upon my funds, and it was necessary +for them to be replenished very soon. I intended to obtain my supply +from the vaults of the Centreport Bank, and Cutter and I completed our +plans for the job. I suggested to Mr. Overton that the Cataract House +was a capital place to spend a few weeks, when he spoke of leaving +Newport, and it was decided that we should go there. Cutter and I +agreed upon the night for the visit to the bank, but we separated +before we reached the Cataract House. You know the rest of the story, +Wolf.” + +“Did you really expect to marry Miss Dornwood?” asked Waddie, who +appeared to be disgusted with the conceit of Nick. + +“Certainly I did; and I think she had changed her views since she +refused me.” + +“Did you acknowledge that you were a lord?” + +“When we went to the Cataract House I did. Cutter wrote me some +letters, and insisted that I should do so, because it would prevent +suspicions in regard to us.” + +“I believe you are only nineteen, Nick: did you intend to marry +immediately?” I inquired, rather amused at the calculations of the +strategist. + +“No; not at once. I expected to get twenty or thirty thousand dollars +from the bank, and to spend a year or two in Europe, as Mr. Overton +talked of going there. Well, a change has come over my dreams,” added +Nick, sadly, as he glanced at the irons on his wrists. “I did not see +how anything could go wrong, and yet everything has failed me.” + +His case was only a repetition of the common experience of evil-doers. + +Night came on, and the wind, which had blown fresh all day, subsided, +so that we did not reach our destination till after nine o’clock in the +evening. Captain Synders took his prisoner to the town lock-up for the +night, and the next day conveyed him to the county jail, to await his +examination and trial. + +The day had certainly been an eventful one, and I was very much +fatigued; but I was not willing to go home until I had seen Colonel +Wimpleton. I was anxious to know whether the Union Line was to be +broken up, and the war between the two magnates resumed. I hastened +with Waddie to the house of the great man. We found him in his library. + +“Ah, Wolf, I didn’t expect to see you to-night; but I heard at Ucayga +that you had captured one of the robbers, and recovered part of the +money,” said he. + +“We have captured both of the robbers, and recovered all the money,” I +replied. + +“Indeed! You have done well.” + +“I don’t mean to say I have done all this,” I protested. “I think Tom +Walton has done the most, and fared the hardest.” + +“I heard he was shot in the arm.” + +“Yes, sir;” and I explained the nature of his wound. + +“I was told that Waddie and Captain Synders could find nothing of the +other robber.” + +“We could not; but Wolf knew just where to put his hand upon him,” +added Waddie. “We found him at the Cataract House; and who do you +suppose he is, father?” + +“I haven’t any acquaintance among that class of people, and could not +be expected to know him.” + +“It is Nick Van Wolter.” + +“Nick!” exclaimed the colonel, with a frown. + +“Yes, sir, it is Nick, otherwise Lord Palsgrave,” laughed Waddie. + +The colonel was anxious to learn the particulars of the capture of +the robbers, and Waddie and I related the adventures of the day. I +delivered to him the package of money found in Nick’s trunk, which had +been intrusted to me by the constable. + +“You have had a stirring time of it,” said Colonel Wimpleton, when we +had finished. “I have been in Ucayga all day, and did not know what +was going on. I had not been in the house an hour when you came. I had +considerable difficulty in raising the money to pay my note.” + +“Have you seen Major Toppleton?” I asked, though it required some +courage to ask the question, for I dreaded another explosion. + +“Seen him! No!” replied Colonel Wimpleton, rising hastily from his +chair, and beginning to march up and down the library. “I have heard +from him, though. He was at Ucayga this morning, raising money, to +prevent me, I firmly believe, from getting what I wanted. There was +almost a panic in money matters at Ucayga to-day. Toppleton got all +he wanted, and came down by the ten o’clock train, and everybody was +short by the time I arrived, But I raised the money, and paid my note. +He came over to see me, after his return, I learn,--to apologize, I +suppose, for his shabby conduct. He wanted to see me very much, I am +told.” + +“Perhaps he came over to bring you the money you wanted,” I suggested, +very mildly. + +“Not he!” sneered the colonel, determined to put the worst possible +construction on the actions of his former rival. + +After a longer experience of human life than I had at that time, I am +satisfied that it is always the safest way to credit other people, +especially friends, with good intentions. Those who believe that others +mean well are seldom disappointed; and it is equally certain that those +who do not believe others mean well, as seldom fail to realize their +expectations. The very want of trust and confidence in others begets +suspicion and evil dealing, while most people are ashamed to fall below +what others give them credit for. + +“Toppleton is not the man I took him for,” added the colonel, after +pacing the room for a time in silence. “As soon as practicable, Wolf, +our boat must go through from Hitaca to Ucayga.” + +“Don’t do that, father,” interposed Waddie, as much alarmed as I was. + +“It shall be done, Waddie. We can take all the through travel on the +lake, and I shall no longer put money into Toppleton’s pocket.” + +“But, father, you judge Major Toppleton too harshly.” + +“No, I don’t. When I go to a friend in such an emergency as that of +this morning, I do not like to have him make excuses, and put me off,” +replied the colonel, bitterly. + +“We must bear and forbear, at least until we know what others mean.” + +“So Wolf says; but I don’t want to hear any such stuff,” added the +magnate, angrily. + +It was useless to say anything more, and Waddie had the good sense to +hold his peace. We left the room together, and, tired as we both were, +we could not separate for the night till we had thoroughly considered +the perilous situation. + +“I think myself it was rather shabby of the major to leave my father in +the lurch, after what had happened,” said Waddie. + +“So it was, if he did leave him in the lurch; but we must hear the +other side of the story. It appears that Major Toppleton came over to +see your father this forenoon, after he had been to Ucayga to raise +money.” + +“My father is rather hasty in his conclusions sometimes, and I hope the +major will be able to explain his conduct.” + +“It is doubtful whether he obtains an opportunity to explain,” I added. + +“We must be peacemakers again, Wolf.” + +“We can’t do much in an affair of this kind. I think, if your father +had waited a little longer this morning, instead of leaving Middleport +without seeing the major, all would have been well.” + +“Let us hope for the best, Wolf; and in the mean time don’t say a word +about breaking the union to any one.” + +I promised to keep still, and we separated. I went home, crossing the +lake in the Belle; but, in spite of the good fortune which had attended +our efforts in the pursuit of the robbers, I had not been so sad for +many a day. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +MAJOR TOPPLETON EXPLAINS. + + +I slept soundly enough that night, in spite of my anxiety concerning +the perilous condition of the relations between the two sides of the +lake. In the morning I called upon Tom Walton. His wound was doing very +well, and he was quite comfortable. He was astonished when I told him +that Nick Van Wolter was the other bank robber, and that he was Lord +Palsgrave. But I was in a hurry to see Major Toppleton, and I could not +stay long, though I gave Tom a bill of sale of the Belle, and received +the payment for her. + +I found the magnate of Middleport at home, and of course I had to tell +him all about the bank robbers before anything could be said, though +I had become rather tired of the subject, especially with another and +more interesting one uppermost in my mind. + +“You had a breezy time of it, Wolf,” said the major. + +“Rather exciting, sir.” + +“Where was Colonel Wimpleton all day? I could not find him.” + +“He was at Ucayga, looking up the money to pay a note which came due +yesterday.” + +“Precisely so; he came over to see me about it in the morning. He was +in a tremendous hurry, and very much excited about the robbery,” added +the major. + +“He was excited about something else when I saw him.” + +“You don’t mean--” + +“O, no, sir,” I promptly interposed, when I saw that he supposed the +magnate of Centreport had been drinking again. “Nothing of that kind.” + +“You understand me. Well, I am glad that he has not fallen back. Your +remark startled me, Wolf.” + +“I am afraid the colonel is not as kindly disposed towards you as +formerly.” + +“Why, what’s the matter?” demanded the major, evidently alarmed at my +suggestion. + +“I think there is a misunderstanding. He came over to see you +yesterday morning, and he thought you were not inclined to assist him +in the emergency.” + +“What an idea! I intended that his note should be paid, even if my own +was not, though I hurried home to attend to the payment of it. This is +very strange,” mused the major. “I was not aware that I said or did +anything that could give offence to him.” + +“I am confident there has been a mistake; but I do not know that I +ought to repeat anything he said to me.” + +“In the interest of peace and friendship you may do so, Wolf. What did +he say?” asked the major, anxiously. + +“He said that when he informed you he had a note of twenty thousand +dollars to pay, and that the bank had been robbed, instead of helping +him out, you answered that you had a note to pay yourself.” + +“I certainly did tell him that I had a large sum to pay; but I also +told him that I would see what could be done. I invited him to +breakfast with me, and told him I would go and see the cashier of our +bank. I did not suppose he had any doubt of my willingness to help +him; and the only question with me was, how it was to be done. He was +in a desperate hurry, and could not wait a minute. The steamer was +coming over after him, before she went up the lake in pursuit of the +robber. I told him then that I would see him on the wharf in ten or +fifteen minutes, and hastened to find the cashier. He was not at home; +but I soon found him, and learned that the funds in our bank were not +sufficient to pay both notes. I immediately decided to raise the amount +needed to pay the colonel’s note, in Ucayga. I sent an order to Lewis +Holgate to get up steam on the dummy, and then went as fast as I could +walk to the wharf. The steamer was just leaving the pier when I came in +sight of it.” + +“The colonel waited for you till the time expired,” I added. + +“I was not five minutes behind time. The absence of the cashier had +detained me a little, but I could not help it. However, I supposed the +colonel would return before eleven o’clock to raise the money to pay +his note.” + +“He was very much excited about it.” + +“I am really very sorry. Perhaps I did not speak as explicitly as +I ought to have done; but it never occurred to me that he would +misunderstand my motives. The dummy ran down to Hitaca as a special +express to convey me. I raised the money, and returned by the ten +o’clock train. The steamer had come back from up the lake; but I could +not find Colonel Wimpleton. In the afternoon I heard that he had +gone to Ucayga, and I was on the lookout for him till the last train +arrived. The money has been in our bank since eleven o’clock yesterday, +and I have a check for the amount in my pocket now.” + +“The colonel was rather too hasty in his conclusions. The steamer +returned to Middleport at ten, and he took the train for Ucayga, where +he raised the money and paid the note himself.” + +“I regret that he has any feeling on the subject,” added the major, +with much anxiety. “I must go over and see him.” + +“I am afraid your meeting will not be a pleasant one.” + +“I will state the facts just as they are, and I hope he will see +that there has been a mistake. The Ucayga is coming in, and the ferry +steamer will start in a few minutes.” + +We walked down to the wharf together. My two bears had just been landed +from the steamer, in charge of one of Captain Portman’s men. They were +very tractable, and were the centre of attraction on the wharf. They +were willing to shake hands with everybody, and seemed to be enjoying +themselves very much. I took charge of one of them, while the man +retained the other, and we led them towards my father’s house, followed +by a large escort of loafers and juveniles. We had a small barn on the +place, in which we secured the bears. + +My sisters were very much afraid of them, and my mother declared she +could not have the brutes on the place; but I hoped all of them would +think better of it, and make friends with my pets. After the man had +gone, I brought out my carpenter’s tools, and proceeded to fit up the +barn for the accommodation of the bears. The animals were so full of +fun they would not let me work, and I was obliged to tie them to a +tree in the garden. My mother and my sisters stood at the windows +of the house watching them; but I could not induce them to make the +acquaintance of my new friends. When I found that my sisters were +really afraid of the bears, I was rather sorry I had brought them home. + +While I was at work I was surprised by a visit from Colonel Wimpleton +and Waddie. As they entered the yard, both bears stood up, and offered +to shake hands with the visitors. Waddie accepted the proffered paw, +but the colonel was more particular in the choice of his acquaintances. + +“Have you seen Major Toppleton this morning?” I inquired of the colonel. + +“No; and I have no desire to see him,” replied the magnate, coldly. + +“He went over to see you about nine o’ clock.” + +“I was not at home. Have you done anything about the steamer, Wolf?” + +“No, sir. What do you wish to have done?” + +“Didn’t I tell you yesterday what I wished to have done?” + +“I haven’t done anything yet, sir.” + +“I told you to make the new arrangement.” + +“I hope you will see Major Toppleton before anything is done.” + +“I shall not see him,” answered the colonel, sourly. “You may notify +the Railroad Company that the present arrangement will be discontinued, +say from the first of next month.” + +“Of course I shall do as I am directed, but I am quite sure there is a +misunderstanding between you and the major.” + +“I don’t care to argue the matter. What are you going to do with these +bears, Wolf?” + +“I’m going to keep them as pets.” + +At this moment the one which had frightened Miss Dornwood stood up, and +expressed a desire to shake hands with Colonel Wimpleton. + +“They are perfectly harmless, sir,” said I, seeing that the great man +was in doubt. + +“Won’t they bite?” + +“No, sir.” + +Thus assured the colonel took the offered paw of the bear, and in a +few moments they were excellent friends, for Bruin’s ways were very +winning. Waddie was playing with the other, and both my visitors were +very much interested in the animals. While they were occupied in this +manner, Major Toppleton presented himself in the yard. + +“Good morning, colonel,” said the major. + +“Good morning,” replied the magnate of Centreport, very stiffly. + +“I heard you were here, colonel, and I came up to see you. I looked for +you all day yesterday, and have been looking for you all the morning.” + +“Sorry you gave yourself so much trouble.” + +I saw that Major Toppleton was nettled at the coldness of his +reception, and I was afraid he would be angry. As he approached the +bears, both of them rose and offered their accustomed greeting. The +major shook hands with both of them, for he had already made their +acquaintance on the wharf. + +“When I went down to the wharf yesterday, your steamer had been gone +only a few moments,” continued the magnate of Middleport. “I was sorry +that I missed you.” + +“It didn’t make any difference,” said the colonel. “You will attend to +the matter of which I spoke to you, Wolf,” he added, edging off towards +the gate. + +“Perhaps it didn’t make any difference to you, but it did to me,” +continued the major. “I am afraid I did not, in the excitement of the +moment, express myself as clearly as I should have done.” + +“As clearly as was necessary. I understood you perfectly,” replied the +colonel, still edging towards the gate. + +“Then you understood that I intended to raise the money you wanted.” + +“No, I did not. You told me you had a note to pay yourself, and that +was as much as to say you could do nothing for me.” + +“There was, indeed, a mistake then; and I am very sorry that I did not +express myself more clearly.” + +“I paid my note, and nothing more need be said about the matter,” +growled Colonel Wimpleton. + +“My dear colonel--” + +“Don’t ‘dear’ me after this.” + +I trembled for the major when this rude remark was uttered, for +his temper was not always to be depended upon, and certainly the +provocation was very strong. I never saw a better opportunity to get +up a quarrel, and nothing but a little forbearance on the part of the +only one of the two who seemed to be capable of exercising this virtue +could ward off the calamity. The colonel was unreasonable; but the +major felt that he had not plainly stated his intentions. As usual, +there was blame on both sides. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +BEAR AND FORBEAR. + + +“Colonel Wimpleton, there has been a misunderstanding between us,” said +the major, with dignity. “I feel that I am not without blame.” + +“I don’t demand any apology,” added the colonel. + +“I wish to make an explanation. If after that you are not satisfied, I +will not complain.” + +“I don’t ask any explanation.” + +“But I desire to make one, if you will do me the favor to hear it,” +continued Major Toppleton, taking from his pocket the check he had +drawn the day before, and handing it to the colonel. + +“It is too late,” said the latter, as he glanced at the check. + +It was written yesterday at eleven o’clock, and the money was in the +bank to cash it. If I failed to say yesterday morning that your note +should be paid whether mine was or not, I failed to say all that I +felt and all that I intended.” + +“You didn’t say that,” replied the colonel, relaxing the frown upon his +brow a little. “You simply told me you had a note to pay, but would see +what you could do.” + +“I ought to have said more, for I meant more. When I found you had +gone, I went express to Ucayga, and raised the money for you, returning +to Middleport at eleven.” + +“Did you really raise the money for me?” + +“I did, as I intended to do from the first.” + +Colonel Wimpleton’s face was changed, and had almost relaxed into a +smile. + +“I didn’t understand you,” said he. “When you said you had a note to +pay, I took it as an excuse for not helping me out of my difficulty.” + +“I certainly did not offer it as such. I was thinking only of the +manner of raising the money for you. When I came back from Ucayga, +I deposited the money I had brought with me, wrote this check, and +hastened over to Centreport to find you. I failed to see you, but I was +on the lookout for you all the rest of the day.” + +Major Toppleton explained his position as fully as he had to me. The +colonel was satisfied, for he could not be otherwise, when he found +that the former had done all that a friend could do to aid him. + +“Major, I wronged you, and I’m sorry for it,” said Colonel Wimpleton. +“I ought to have given you credit for good intentions, at least. Wolf, +you needn’t attend to that matter of which I spoke to you.” + +I wanted to give three cheers, and I should have done so, if I had +not wished to conceal from the major the length to which the colonel +had carried his resentment. As it was, I vented my delight in a grand +frolic with the bears. + +“Colonel, I am sorry that I failed to tell you what I intended to do,” +added the major. “I don’t blame you for the construction you put upon +my words.” + +“But I blame myself. It all looks plain enough to me now, though it +did not before. Forgive me, major, and I promise never to misjudge you +again.” + +“And I hope you will forgive the stupid manner in which I answered +you yesterday morning,” added Major Toppleton. + +[Illustration: BEAR AND FORBEAR. Page 279.] + +“Here is my hand, major.” + +As they stepped forward to shake hands, they came near the two bears. +Both of the bruins immediately abandoned their play, stood up, and each +extended his paw to the magnate near to him. The two gentlemen laughed +heartily as they saw the bears; but they shook hands with each other, +and then with their humble imitators. + +“This suggests some names for your pets, Wolf,” said Waddie, laughing. + +“I thought of that before. This is BEAR,” I replied, putting my hand +on the head of my first acquaintance; “and this is FORBEAR,” I added, +taking the other by the paw. + +“Bear and Forbear,” said Colonel Wimpleton. “You have preached that +sermon to me once, Wolf; but I was not in the humor to hear it. I +appreciate the two bears better now.” + +“And you will bear with me next time I make a blunder, and seem to +stand in a doubtful position,” added Major Toppleton. + +“Most assuredly I will, if you forbear, as you did to-day, when I made +rude and ungentlemanly speeches to you.” + +“I think those two bears will make a team which will drag any man +through the world with peace and comfort,” I ventured to add. + +“You are right, Wolf. I must have those two bears,” said the colonel. + +“Well, sir, my mother and sisters are afraid of them, and I don’t know +that I shall be able to keep them here.” + +“I meant bear and forbear,” laughed the colonel. + +“Those are the names of these bears.” + +“Well, I should be very happy to have the live bears, for whenever I +see them, they will remind me of the lesson I have learned to-day.” + +“You have a nice place for them over in your grounds; and I suppose I +can see them there whenever I wish.” + +“Certainly you can.” + +“If they should get loose when I am away, they would frighten the whole +neighborhood, for we have no man to see to them,” I added. + +My mother and my sisters would be delighted to get rid of them; and I +was afraid they might do mischief in my absence. Besides, there was +such a striking fitness in presenting them to the magnate of Centreport +under the circumstances, that I could not have resisted the inclination +to dispose of them in this manner, even if they had not promised to be +a nuisance to me. It was a fortunate circumstance that the explanation +and reconciliation had taken place in the presence of the bears, for +the association would always be remembered by the colonel. + +I presented the bears to him. + +The two magnates departed together, and Waddie and I were to remove +Bear and Forbear to their new home. + +“I didn’t know my father was coming here when we crossed the lake,” +said Waddie. “I came to see you about another matter.” + +“What’s that?” + +Waddie blushed. + +“I thought we ought to go down to Ruoara and call upon Miss Dornwood,” +said he, with some hesitation. + +“Of course you are moved in this matter by a sense of duty,” I +laughingly replied. + +“Not wholly, Wolf; but I should like to know how she is after her +cruise.” + +“No doubt you would.” + +“You may laugh at me if you like, Wolf; but I think Miss Dornwood is a +very pretty girl.” + +“And a very good girl too, Waddie, which is more and better.” + +“I’m going down to Ruoara, and wish you would go with me.” + +“I will.” + +“We must get the Belle, for the Raven, you know, is moored off High +Bluff.” + +We called upon Tom Walton to obtain the use of the boat, and then led +the bears down to the shore of the lake, where the Belle was moored. +“Bear” went on board very readily, but “Forbear” did not seem to like +this mode of conveyance, and declined to take the place assigned to +him. Waddie, impatient to reach Ruoara, was disposed to pitch him into +the standing-room by force; but I entreated him to forbear. While he +was hoisting the mainsail, I coaxed the animal; and seeing his brother +so comfortable in the boat, he finally yielded his own inclination to +mine, and went on board. I fastened them so that they could not fall +overboard if they engaged in a frolic on the passage, and Waddie pushed +off. + +When the Belle began to jump on the waves in the Narrows, Forbear +exhibited some signs of terror, and was inclined to make himself +unhappy; but he soon took part in the game between Bear and myself, and +we reached the Centreport shore without any difficulty. I found it was +best to bear even with a bear, and to forbear as long as forbearance is +a virtue--which is much longer than many people are willing to believe. +We marched the interesting couple up to a rustic deer house, in the +grounds of Colonel Wimpleton, which had been designated as their future +abode. We made them comfortable, and then left them to enjoy life as +they could, and to enforce the great moral lesson which their names +illustrated. + +“I meant to have been in Ruoara before this time,” said Waddie, as he +led the way to the lake at a pace which was trying to my legs. + +“What’s your hurry, Waddie?” + +“I am afraid Mr. Overton will be there before us.” + +“What if he is?” + +“I wish to have Miss Dornwood and her friends understand all about her +guardian before he sees her again.” + +“She evidently understands him quite as well as any one else,” I +replied, as we embarked in the Belle, and Waddie took the tiller. + +“We have the benefit of Nick’s revelation, and I think that is enough +to condemn him.” + +“I don’t think Nick’s testimony is worth much, though I have no doubt +it is all true. I agree with you that it will be well to have Mr. +Pinkerton informed in regard to Nick’s trade with him.” + +“I wonder what Mr. Pinkerton will do?” added Waddie. + +“That will depend upon what Mr. Overton does. I judge, from the temper +of Miss Dornwood, that she will refuse to live with her guardian again.” + +“I hope we shall get there before he does.” + +“Probably we shall. It was too late for him to come up in the afternoon +boat when we left the Cataract House. It is not likely that he took +the morning boat to-day, and we shall be in Ruoara before he can get +there, if he takes the afternoon steamer.” + +But Waddie was nervous and uneasy. He talked about Miss Dornwood during +the rest of the passage, which, however, was not a long one. We landed +at the wharf, and hastened to the house of the Pinkertons, where we +were kindly welcomed by all, including Miss Dornwood. Mr. Overton had +not been seen or heard from. + +“I am very glad to see you again, Mr. Wimpleton,” said Miss Dornwood; +“for I want to thank you and your friend again for the kind service you +rendered me.” + +“We were very glad of the opportunity to serve you,” replied Waddie, +blushing; and I could not help realizing that my friend was “fatally +insnared.” + +“But where is my other friend, the skipper of the Belle, as you called +him?” asked the young lady. + +“He was shot in the arm yesterday by one of the bank robbers.” + +“I am so sorry! We heard all about your capture of the robber.” + +“There was a report this forenoon that the other robber had been +caught,” said Mr. Pinkerton. + +“Yes, sir; he was captured in the afternoon, at the Cataract House,” +replied Waddie. “All the money has been recovered.” + +“That’s very fortunate.” + +“Who do you think the other robber was, Miss Dornwood?” asked Waddie. + +“I have no suspicion.” + +“Lord Palsgrave.” + +“Lord Palsgrave!” exclaimed she, her cheeks reddening with confusion. + +“And Lord Palsgrave turns out to be the son of the very worthy +commander of the Ucayga--Nick Van Wolter.” + +Of course we were obliged to tell the whole story, and by the time it +was finished, dinner was ready; and before we had finished that, a +servant announced Mr. and Mrs. Overton. + +There was a prospect of a lively breeze. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +MISS DORNWOOD’S GUARDIAN. + + +Waddie and I, in the course of our narrative, had fully informed Mr. +Pinkerton in regard to the relations of Nick Van Wolter with Mr. +Overton. + +“Now, Captain Penniman, you and I will see Mr. Overton. Waddie, if +you will go to the office of my lawyer, Mr. Bayard, and state to him +all the facts in the case, you will oblige me very much,” said Mr. +Pinkerton. “In about half an hour return with him.” + +“I will do so with pleasure,” replied Waddie. + +“Perhaps Miss Dornwood had better go with you. She can tell a part of +her story to better advantage than you can.” + +Waddie was still better pleased with this arrangement, and they left +the house by the side door, so as not to be seen by Mr. Overton in the +library. I followed Mr. Pinkerton into the presence of the guardian +and his wife. I bowed to them as I entered, but they evidently were +not pleased to see me. + +“I am informed that Miss Dornwood, my ward, is in your house, sir,” Mr. +Overton began. + +“Not at this moment, though she is within call, and will be here in +half an hour,” replied Mr. Pinkerton. + +“You are aware, sir, that I am her legal guardian?” + +“I am, sir.” + +“Permit me to say, sir, that your conduct in harboring and encouraging +her in her present vicious course is entirely unjustifiable,” continued +Mr. Overton, sternly and severely. + +“Permit me to say, sir, that I take an entirely different view of the +matter,” added Mr. Pinkerton, very courteously. + +“Then you take a very extraordinary view of it.” + +“There is room for some difference of opinion on this subject, and, +until better informed, I shall be obliged to retain my own view.” + +“Miss Dornwood ran away from me. Are you aware of this fact, sir?” + +“I am; you locked her into her room, and she escaped. With the +assistance of some good friends, she came here, where I purpose to +have her remain as long as she is pleased to do so.” + +“Allow me to remind you again, sir, that I am her legal guardian.” + +“Allow me to remind you, sir, that you have abused your office.” + +“That is a very strong statement, Mr. Pinkerton,” replied the guardian, +who seemed to be surprised at the charge. + +“I have no doubt it can be fully proved, Mr. Overton. A young lady +of seventeen is legally an infant, but not morally. The duties of a +guardian are those of a father.” + +“I have endeavored to be as a father towards her,” added Mr. Overton, +who was plainly unprepared for the step which Mr. Pinkerton’s remarks +foreshadowed. + +“Do you think a father would lock his daughter of seventeen into a room +in a hotel?” + +“If she disobeyed him--yes.” + +“Or drag her by force through the grounds of a public hotel?” + +“The law would justify him in doing so, if she refused to obey his +reasonable commands.” + +“Perhaps it would; I will leave that matter in the hands of the +lawyers. Certainly, if the young lady were not absolutely vicious, +the moral sense of the community would not justify either father or +guardian in the use of force.” + +“She is absolutely vicious,” answered the guardian, boldly. + +“Sir, you insult her!” said Mr. Pinkerton, indignantly. “I know her +well; and a more gentle, modest, and well-behaved girl does not live in +this country.” + +“She impudently refused to obey me.” + +“Only after you, in the presence of the young gentleman who had +assisted her in her peril and terror, had treated her in the most +outrageous manner; after you had ordered her to the house, like a +child. Your conduct was that of a common bully.” + +“Sir!” + +“I wish to be entirely frank with you, sir. You have made her life +miserably unhappy by your petty tyranny and contemptible espionage. You +have not treated her with any of the consideration due to a young lady +who has entered her teens,” continued Mr. Pinkerton, calmly. + +“Am I to understand, sir, that you intend to remove me from my office +of guardian on these grounds?” + +“No, sir, not exactly on those grounds. The law, in most if not all the +states, provides that when a guardian becomes ‘evidently unsuitable’ +for the discharge of his duties, he shall be removed.” + +“Do you think I am an unsuitable person?” demanded Mr. Overton, who was +very nervous and much alarmed. + +“I do so consider you, sir.” + +“If you think I am too strict with her, though I have only acted for +her welfare, I will be less so in the future,” said Mr. Overton, who +now seemed disposed to compromise. + +“Miss Dornwood says she will never live with you again under any +circumstances, even if she is obliged to earn her own living.” + +“Is her will to be the law?” + +“She is entitled to be consulted. But here she comes, and on this +subject she may speak for herself. The gentleman with her is Mr. +Bayard, her legal adviser and mine.” + +Miss Dornwood, attended by Waddie and the lawyer, entered the library. +Mr. and Mrs. Overton bowed coldly as they entered. The young lady was +very much embarrassed, and seated herself as far from her guardian as +the size of the room would permit. + +Mr. Pinkerton informed the legal gentleman what had thus far +transpired. Mr. Bayard, who by this time fully understood the subject, +explained the law, and said that Miss Dornwood could petition the Court +of Probate, or Surrogate, to remove the guardian, and appoint a new one. + +“Prepare the papers as soon as convenient, Mr. Bayard,” said Mr. +Pinkerton. + +“The petition must be presented to the court having jurisdiction in the +cause when the will of Mr. Dornwood was admitted to probate. Perhaps +Mr. Overton would prefer to resign his office of guardian, which it is +competent for him to do,” added the lawyer. + +“No, sir; I don’t intend to do that,” replied Mr. Overton. + +“Such a course might be best for you.” + +“Gentlemen, you speak to me as though I were a monster, and not a +gentleman; as though I were guilty of some base crime,” protested Mr. +Overton. + +“That is precisely the view I take of it, after listening to Miss +Dornwood’s statement, and that of Mr. Wimpleton.” + +“Sir, do you mean to insult me? I am not on trial.” + +“You are not, but you ought to be,” coolly retorted the legal gentleman. + +“If there is any law in the land--” + +“Plenty of it,” interposed the cool lawyer. “As the attorney of Miss +Dornwood, I only hope you will commence the proceedings. You are +excited, sir. Pray keep calm.” + +“Can I keep calm while I am charged with a base crime?” fumed Mr. +Overton, rising from his chair, and pacing the room in his wrath. + +“I see that you do not understand the case. Let me refresh your memory, +and point out to you the bearings of some of your actions. In the first +place, you went to the Cataract House with a couple of bank robbers.” + +“Only one, sir,” I suggested. + +“With one, then; that is just as bad.” + +“But he was an impostor, and I did not know that he was not what he +represented himself to be,” replied the guardian. + +“I think you did. You must have known that he was a common blackleg, +for you saw him plying his trade in a gambling saloon at Cape May. You +had an understanding with him, after you had seen him at the gambling +table,--not as a visitor, but as one who was plundering a victim,--that +he should marry your ward, and that he was to accept, as her dowry in +full, fifty thousand dollars, though the young lady’s fortune was four +times that amount. You made this bargain with the blackleg and bank +robber.” + +Mr. Overton was very red, and then very pale. His limbs were shaky, and +he was obliged to resume his chair. He attempted to defend himself, and +declared that the testimony of a bank robber against a gentleman in his +position would prove nothing. + +“I grant that it is a very poor kind of testimony,” replied Mr. Bayard. +“But, so far as it can be confirmed by other witnesses, it will be +useful. Did you not tell Miss Dornwood that you would not consent to +her marriage with any other person than this bank robber and blackleg?” + +“The gentleman came to me as an English lord, and I thought it was a +good match for her.” + +“Lord Palsgrave!” laughed the lawyer. “You knew very well that he was +not a lord. You do not answer my question, Mr. Overton.” + +“I am not on trial.” + +“Will Miss Dornwood answer?” + +“He did tell me that I could marry only Lord Palsgrave with his +consent,” replied she, with a blush; and it was plain enough that she +had never thought of marrying anybody. + +“Do you intend to drag all this matter into the court?” demanded Mr. +Overton. + +“Undoubtedly; and we intend to examine Mr. Dornwood’s will very +critically, especially that part of it relating to the consent of the +guardian to Miss Dornwood’s marriage. We believe it has been tampered +with.” + +Mr. Overton appeared to be stunned by this declaration. Doubtless, like +all other evil-doers, he supposed that his deeds were entirely covered, +and that no one suspected him of anything wrong. He was unable again +to regain his self-possession, and Mr. Bayard restated the grounds on +which he proposed to proceed. + +“I will resign,” gasped he, at last, after his wife had whispered in +his ear. + +“That is the most prudent step you can take,” added the lawyer. + +“I wish you to understand that I do not resign because I have done +anything wrong, but because I do not wish to have my name publicly +connected with a bank robber. I did not know what he was,” protested +Mr. Overton. + +“Yon can put any construction you please upon your own conduct,” said +Mr. Bayard. “It will be necessary for you to render an account of all +your expenditures as the guardian of Miss Dornwood, and deliver her +property into the hands of your successor.” + +“That’s a gratuitous insult,” replied the crestfallen guardian. + +But a time was fixed for the transaction of this important business, +and Mr. Overton agreed to be present with his resignation. He and his +wife departed sadder and wiser than they came. As there was no doubt +in the minds of any of us that he had intended to rob his ward of the +greater portion of her fortune, we did not pity him. + +Waddie devoted himself assiduously to Miss Dornwood during the rest of +our stay at Mr. Pinkerton’s, and it was quite late in the evening when +we returned to Middleport. The next day we went up the lake again, and +Waddie sailed the Raven down to Centreport. After this he went down +the lake as far as Ruoara about every day. At the end of a fortnight, +however, when Mr. Pinkerton and Miss Dornwood went to her residence +to attend the proceedings at the Surrogate Court, Waddie consented to +finish the vacation with me in the upper waters of the lake. Tommy +Toppleton went with us this time; Tom Walton was again able to take his +place at the helm, and we had a splendid time. + +We were obliged to attend court at the examination of the bank robbers, +who were fully committed for trial. Subsequently they were convicted, +and sentenced to twenty years in the penitentiary. + +Mr. Pinkerton was appointed the guardian of Miss Dornwood, after the +resignation of Mr. Overton; and the Raven plied very regularly between +Ruoara and Centreport. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF THE BANSHEE. + + +“What boat’s that?” said Tom Walton to me, as we walked down to the +shore where the Belle was moored. + +“That’s the Banshee,” I replied, quietly. + +“Never heard of her.” + +“She is new--just finished.” + +“She’s a first-rate boat, and has a bully name,” added Tom, as he +critically surveyed the new craft. + +The Banshee was larger than the Grace, and was really a magnificent +boat. Tom was delighted with her, and expressed his admiration in the +warmest terms. I am willing to acknowledge that there was a conspiracy +against Tom; but the time for springing the trap upon him had not quite +arrived. I had engaged him to take out a party to sail that day. We +went on board the Belle; but Tom kept one eye on the Banshee all the +time. + +“Can’t we go aboard of her, Wolf?” asked Tom. + +“We haven’t time now. There comes Major Toppleton, with his family; and +we have to go over to Centreport for the rest of the party.” + +“I should like to ask how large a party you intend to take out in the +Belle. There are five of the Toppletons, and you and I make seven.” + +“We will go over and see how many there are on the other side,” I +answered quietly. + +We crossed the lake, and found five Wimpletons, Miss Dornwood, and Miss +Pinkerton. + +“Good gracious, Wolf!” exclaimed the skipper, in a low tone, and with a +look of infinite embarrassment. “The standing-room of the Belle won’t +hold but ten, and they are crowded at that. We can’t carry them all, +Wolf.” + +“We will try, at any rate.” + +“Try! You might as well try to put a ton of hay into an egg-shell. You +can’t do it. You must sail the Raven, and carry part of them.” + +“We will take them over to the other shore, and then decide what shall +be done,” I added, as Tom ran the Belle up to the landing steps. + +The party entered the boat, and when they were seated, the +standing-room was quite full, for the ladies were considerably expanded. + +“Where do you intend to put the other five, Wolf?” whispered Tom, when +we were under way. + +“I don’t think we can put them into the Belle,” I replied. + +Tom was very much troubled, and worried sorely. Why had I not told him +that our party was to consist of all Middleport and all Centreport? +He would have engaged another boat. He did not believe he had “feed” +enough on board for such a crowd. He continued to fret, in his +good-natured way, until we were within hailing distance of the Banshee. + +“The Toppletons have all gone on board of that new boat,” said Tom. + +“They probably want to see her. Suppose we run alongside, and take a +look at her,” I suggested. + +“I should like to see her, first rate,” answered the skipper. “You +didn’t tell me whose boat she was, Wolf.” + +“She was built for Captain Portman.” + +“She’s a regular out-and-outer; and she will sail like sixty. Look at +that bow! She is sharp enough to cut cheese with; but she has plenty of +beam, and won’t be crank.” + +Tom ran the Belle under the stern of the Banshee, and came up at the +accommodation steps on the port side. Like a gallant skipper as he was, +Tom assisted the ladies on board of the new boat, and then stepped on +deck himself. We walked about the beautiful craft, and the skipper +examined everything with a critical eye. Passing down the fore-hatch, +we entered the cook-room, which was fitted up with every convenience. + +“I should like to be the cook on board the Banshee,” said Tom, as he +examined the appointments of the kitchen. + +“Wouldn’t you rather be the skipper?” I asked. + +“Perhaps I would, but I never expect to go skipper of such a nobby +yacht as this.” + +“Possibly you may,” I added, as we passed into one of the two +state-rooms which occupied the middle of the vessel. + +“What’s this for?” + +“This is the captain’s room.” + +“First rate,” said Tom, with enthusiasm. + +We went into the other state-room, and then passed into the main cabin, +which was large enough to contain four berths. The floor was richly +carpeted, and the table was provided with racks and water pitcher. +There was an abundance of lockers and closets, which were stocked with +dishes and stores. Rich hangings partially concealed the berths, and +everything was as luxurious as the parlor of a gentleman’s house. Tom +gazed with admiration and delight at the elegant appointments of the +cabin. By this time the entire company had assembled in this stately +apartment, and all of them were watching Tom. No one noticed any of the +rest of us. + +“Why, they are getting her under way,” said Tom. “Hadn’t we better be +off?” + +“Not just yet,” I replied. + +“But I’m afraid the Belle will be in her way.” + +“It’s all right;” and I proceeded to point out the conveniences on +board of the yacht. + +In a few moments we heard the rattle of the jib, and the Banshee was +off. + +“I think we will go on deck now,” I continued. + +“Why, she’s off now!” exclaimed Tom, springing to the steps. “Where’s +the Belle?” + +“She is moored all right, Tom,” I interposed. “The ladies have +concluded to go in the Banshee if you will take the helm.” + +“O, this was the game--was it?” laughed Tom. “I didn’t see how you +expected to carry fourteen in the Belle. I’ll take the helm, and glad +of the job.” + +All the party followed him to the standing-room. Joe Poole, who had +formerly sailed with Tom and me in the Grace, had the helm. There were +also two men on the forecastle, coiling up the jib-halyards. + +“Here, Tom,” I interposed, as he was about to take the helm from Joe +Poole. “You didn’t look at this arrangement for the spy-glass.” + +I pointed to the glass, which was secured on a couple of spring +brackets, so that it could not be moved from its place by the pitching +of the vessel. Under it was a large silver plate, upon which an +inscription was engraved. It was placed directly over the entrance to +the cabin, and in calling Tom’s attention to the spy-glass, I intended +he should see this plate. All the party in the standing-room were +watching him with the most intense interest and delight. + +“Good gracious, Wolf!” shouted the skipper, his eyes opening till they +were as large as the hawse-holes of the yacht. + +I thought he would be crazy, he was so astonished and delighted. The +inscription on the plate was as follows:-- + +“_Presented to Captain Thomas Walton by the Directors of the Centreport +Bank, in testimony of their high appreciation of his gallant conduct +and skilful management in the capture of the robbers of their Bank._” + +“I say, Wolf, won’t you make a little speech for me?” said Tom. + +“Make it yourself, Tom. There is the president of the bank,” I replied, +pointing to Colonel Wimpleton. + +“Colonel Wimpleton, this is handsome of you, and I thank you ten +thousand times--call it ten million times. If my heart were as big as +the moon, it would shake all over with gratitude. I don’t deserve +this, but I am the happiest skipper that ever trod a plank.” + +The entire party clapped their hands, and seemed to be almost as happy +as Tom was. + +“The money which that robber had in his bag would pay for a dozen such +yachts as this; and it would have been lost without you,” said Colonel +Wimpleton. “It’s only a salve for your wounded arm.” + +It was some time before Captain Walton was in condition to take the +helm, he was so excited. He went all over the Banshee again, and I +attended him. + +“So you were fooling me all the time, Wolf,” said he. “But you said she +was built for Captain Portman.” + +“So she was; but as it was rather late in the season for him, he was +kind enough to let the colonel have her, and another will be built for +him before spring.” + +“She’s a bully boat.” + +“She will make your fortune, Tom, for people will like her.” + +“That’s so. I can let the Belle, and run the Banshee myself.” + +Tom finally cooled off enough to take the helm. He was the lion of the +day, and he handled the yacht so as to call forth the admiration of the +party. Colonel Wimpleton had consulted me in regard to the reward for +Tom, and I had suggested the yacht, because I knew she would enable him +to make a great deal of money. The magnate could not wait for a boat +to be built, and Captain Portman, to whom I applied for information +in regard to the cost of the Banshee, enabled him to obviate this +delay. Certainly Tom could not have been better suited if he had been +consulted. He was very grateful, and very modest, winning the regard of +all on board. + +We sailed up to the Cataract House, where the company dined; after +which the excursion was continued to the head of the lake. All had a +splendid time; and, as Grace Toppleton was present, it was one of the +happy days of a lifetime to me. We landed Miss Dornwood and her friend +at Ruoara, and came to anchor off Middleport before dark. + +The Banshee was immediately in great demand. Applications for her came +from every town on the lake; and when the season closed, Tom had money +enough to pay a quarter down on a house he bought for his mother. Joe +Poole ran the Belle when a skipper was needed by her party, and half a +dozen row-boats added to Tom’s income. One of his brothers attended to +the letting of the boats, and the next season Tom did a large business. +The family, by the exertions of Tom, was now on the high road to +prosperity. + + * * * * * + +A lapse of five years has produced no change in the pleasant relations +between the two sides of the lake, though it has witnessed many +changes in the circumstances of those who have figured in my story. +The Union Line is still a unit. The Lake Shore Railroad does a large +business. Captain Van Wolter still commands the Ucayga, and the only +sorrow of his life is the fact that his son has fifteen long years of +imprisonment before him. All the old students have left the Institutes, +and new ones have taken their places. + +Tom Walton, with a great pair of bushy whiskers, still runs the +Banshee, and makes money in the boat business. He has built a very +comfortable double house near his boat pier, and lives in one side +himself, while his mother occupies the other. He is married, and is +regarded as one of the solid men of Middleport; he can no longer be +called “The Young Skipper of Lake Ucayga,” though his heart is as young +and fresh as ever. + +There have been quite a number of new houses erected in Middleport +and Centreport. Near the mansion of Colonel Wimpleton is the elegant +house of Mr. Waddie Wimpleton. Miss Dornwood that was, Mrs. Wimpleton +that is, lives there, of course, and is highly esteemed by everybody +in town, not only as an elegant lady, but as a useful and benevolent +woman. By the side of this house is another, occupied by Mr. Thomas +Toppleton, for his lady desired to live near her mother and brother; +and it was whispered that her husband thought his chances of being +sent to Congress from the district in which Centreport was situated +were better than in the one to which Middleport belonged. At any rate, +Tommy has political aspirations, and is a rising man; and I am only +sorry that I shall not have the opportunity to vote for him when he is +nominated. + +On the other side of the lake, between the mansion of Major Toppleton +and the shore, stands what I regard as a very pretty house. It was +erected by the major for the use of his oldest daughter, and we live +there. I shall be happy to introduce Mrs. Penniman to any of my friends +who call. I wish to say, aside, so that she will not hear me, that I +think she is even prettier now than she was on the day when I first +saw her, and helped her into the engine-room of the dummy. She is very +happy, and I am sure I am. Her father bestowed a very liberal dowry +upon her when we were married, and I have doubled my little fortune in +five years, so that we are abundantly provided with this world’s goods. + +I am still the general agent of the Union Line, but I am not obliged +to work very hard. I am interested in several railroads, including the +Great Lake Shore in Ohio, which had the audacity to steal our name. My +father still runs the engine of the Ucayga, in connection with Christy +Holgate, who has been true to his high Christian aspirations. Lewis +Holgate did not turn out very well. He was discharged from his place on +the Lake Shore Railroad, and the last I knew of him, he was “firing” on +one of the main lines. + +My mother comes over to our house almost every afternoon, where she is +always warmly welcomed by Grace, who loves her almost as much as I do. +I often think, when I see her, that the Bible lessons she taught me +have been the foundation of all that I am or ever shall be. I shudder +when I think where I might have been without her; and I do not think +it egotism for me to say, in view of the facts that the principle of +“Love your enemies,” which she imparted to me, was the basis upon which +the present happy peace between the two sides of the lake rested; for +Waddie and Tommy confessed that they had learned the lesson from me. +She is a good mother, and I shall love, and cherish, and pray for her +as long as I live. + +The two bears are still alive, though the fun is all gone out of them. +They are now grave, sedate, and dignified bears, and as such, are fit +symbols of the Christian sentiment they represent. I am grateful to +them for the good they have unconsciously done, and I never call them +by any other names than BEAR and FORBEAR. + + + + +Transcriber's Notes + + + • Italic represented with _underscores_. + + • Small Capitals converted to ALL CAPS. + + • Illustrations relocated close to related content. + + • Obvious typographic errors silently corrected. +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77177 *** diff --git a/77177-h/77177-h.htm b/77177-h/77177-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0ad52e1 --- /dev/null +++ b/77177-h/77177-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,9688 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> +<html lang="en"> +<head> + <meta charset="UTF-8"> + <title> + Bear and forbear | Project Gutenberg + </title> + <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> + <style> + +body { + font-family: Garamond, Century Schoolbook, Times, serif; + margin: 0 10%; +} + +h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin: 0; + text-indent: 1.5em; + text-align: justify; + line-height: 1.5em; 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} + .x-ebookmaker .kern-more { text-indent: 0; } + .x-ebookmaker .kern-extra { text-indent: 0; } + +figcaption {font-weight: bold;} +figcaption p {margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: .2em; text-align: inherit;} + +/* Images */ + +img { + max-width: 100%; + height: auto; +} +img.w100 {width: 100%;} + +.figcenter { + margin: 1em auto; + text-align: center; + page-break-inside: avoid; + max-width: 100%; +} + + +/* Transcriber's notes */ +.transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA; + color: black; + font-size: 90%; + padding: 0.5em; + margin-bottom: 5em; + font-family: sans-serif, serif; +} + + +/* Illustration classes */ +.illowp51 {width: 51%;} +.x-ebookmaker .illowp51 {width: 100%;} +.illowp95 {width: 95%;} +.x-ebookmaker .illowp95 {width: 100%;} +.illowp44 {width: 44%;} +.x-ebookmaker .illowp44 {width: 100%;} +.illowp94 {width: 94%;} +.x-ebookmaker .illowp94 {width: 100%;} +.illowp93 {width: 93%;} +.x-ebookmaker .illowp93 {width: 100%;} + </style> +</head> +<body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77177 ***</div> +<figure class="figcenter illowp51" id="cover" style="max-width: 119.125em;"> + <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><a id="Page_iii"></a>[iii]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp44" id="i_f003" style="max-width: 60.4375em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_f003.jpg" alt="Illustrated title page."> +</figure> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="title"> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_iv"></a><a id="Page_1"></a>[1]</span></p> + +<p class='center mt2'><i>THE LAKE SHORE SERIES.</i></p> +<hr class='r20'> + +<h1>BEAR AND FORBEAR;</h1> + +<p class='center mt2 fs80'>OR, THE</p> +<p class='center mt2 fs120'>YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA.</p> + +<p class='center mt4 fs80'>BY</p> +<p class='center mth ltsp1'>OLIVER OPTIC,</p> + +<p class='center mt1 fs65'> + <i>Author of “Army and Navy Stories,” “Great Western Series,” “Onward<br> + and Upward Stories,” “Woodville Stories,” Famous “Boat-Club<br> + Series,” “The Starry-Flag Series,” “Young America Abroad,”<br> + “Lake Shore Series,” “Riverdale Story-Book,”<br> + “Yacht-Club Series,” and “The<br> + Boat-Builder Series.”</i></p> + +<div class='mt2'> +<hr class='r20'></div> + +<p class='center mt2'>BOSTON:</p> +<p class='center ltsp1 mtq'>LEE AND SHEPARD, PUBLISHERS.</p> +<p class='center fs80 mtq'>NEW YORK:</p> +<p class='center fs90 ltsp1 mtq'>CHARLES T. DILLINGHAM.</p> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="title"> +<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 fs80 ltsp1'>WILLIAM T. ADAMS,</p> +<p class='center mth fs80'> + In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts. +</p> + +<p class='center mt6 fs80 ltsp1'><span class='allsmcap'>ELECTROTYPED AT THE</span></p> +<p class='center mtq fs80 ltsp1'><span class='allsmcap'>BOSTON STEREOTYPE FOUNDRY,</span></p> +<p class='center mtq fs80'>No. 19 Spring Lane.</p> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="title"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_3">[3]</span></p> +<p class='center mt4 fs80'>TO</p> +<p class='ded1 mt2'><i>HELEN HAMLIN</i>, <i>FRANK HAMLIN</i>, <i>JARVIS L. CARTER</i>,<br> + <i>EDWARD STETSON</i>, <i>CHARLIE HAMLIN</i>, <i>ISAIAH STETSON</i>,<br> + <i>ADDIE HAMLIN</i>, <i>MARY STETSON</i>,</p> + +<p class='ded2'> + AND “A THOUSAND AND ONE OTHER BOYS AND GIRLS” OF THE<br> + CITY OF BANGOR, WHO SENT ME A BLACK BEAR, IN TOKEN<br> + OF THEIR LOVE AND ESTEEM, ADMONISHING ME<br> + NOT TO EAT HIM, BUT TO INSTRUCT AND<br> + TO PRESERVE HIM FROM THE EVILS<br> + OF THIS WICKED WORLD,</p> + +<p class='center blackletter mt1 fs120'>This Book</p> + +<p class='center mt1h'>IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED.</p> + +<div class='mt1h'> +<hr class='r20'> +</div> + +<blockquote class='mt1h'> +<p class='fs90'>Though I did not eat him, nor any part thereof, and his life was too +short to permit him to profit by any instruction I might have been able +to give him, yet he is preserved from “the evils of this wicked world” +at the rooms of the Society of Natural History, and I hope my readers +will profit by the story he suggested.</p> + +<p class='right fs90 pr1'>O. O.</p> +</blockquote> +</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><i>THROUGH BY DAYLIGHT</i>; or, The Young Engineer +of the Lake Shore Railroad.</li> + +<li><i>LIGHTNING EXPRESS</i>; or, The Rival Academies.</li> + +<li><i>ON TIME</i>; or, The Young Captain of the Ucayga +Steamer.</li> + +<li><i>SWITCH OFF</i>; or, The War of the Students.</li> + +<li><i>BRAKE UP</i>; or, The Young Peacemakers.</li> + +<li><i>BEAR AND FORBEAR</i>; 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">Bear and Forbear</span>” is the sixth and last of the Lake +Shore Series, and was one of the serials which appeared in +Oliver Optic’s Magazine. The story itself is complete, and +independent of its predecessors, though the characters that +have been prominent in the other volumes of the series are +again presented, to be finally dealt with according to their +several deserts. The writer has endeavored to show that +fidelity to duty prospers even in this world, and that evil +doing brings pain and misery; and if he has awarded +“poetical justice” to each, it will only make the contrast +the more evident.</p> + +<p>The author has endeavored to make a proper use of the +Christian precept which forms the principal title; and he +trusts that his readers, both young and old, will be able to +deduce the moral from the story, and, profiting by it, be enabled +to avoid such disagreeable ruptures as that which +threatened the peace of the two communities in the story, +but which the “two bears” happily prevented.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_6">[6]</span></p> + +<p>In closing this series, the author desires once more to +thank his juvenile and his adult friends for the kind consideration +they have always extended to him, and for the +increasing favor bestowed upon his efforts to please and to +instruct.</p> + +<p class='mth'><span class="smcap">Harrison Square, Boston.</span></p> +<p class='pl10'>June 1, 1870.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">[7]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CONTENTS"> + CONTENTS. + </h2> + +<hr class='r10'> +</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">On Board the Belle.</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">A new Acquaintance.</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">An angry Guardian.</span></td> + <td class='tdr'><a href='#Page_33'>33</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td colspan='2' class='tdc'><a href='#CHAPTER_IV'>CHAPTER IV.</a></td> +</tr><tr> + <td> <span class="smcap">Fire on the Lake.</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">The rescued Passenger.</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">The English Lord and the Drummer.</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">Miss Dornwood’s Story.</span></td> + <td class='tdr'><a href='#Page_82'>82</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">The strange Boat.</span></td> + <td class='tdr'><a href='#Page_94'>94</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td colspan='2' class='tdc'><a href='#CHAPTER_IX'>CHAPTER IX.</a></td> +</tr><tr> + <td><span class="smcap">The Robbery of the Centreport Bank.</span></td> + <td class='tdr'><a href='#Page_107'>107</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td colspan='2' class='tdc'><a href='#CHAPTER_X'>CHAPTER X.</a></td> +</tr><tr> + <td><span class="smcap">The Robbers separate.</span></td> + <td class='tdr'><a href='#Page_119'>119</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td colspan='2' class='tdc'><a href='#CHAPTER_XI'>CHAPTER XI.</a></td> +</tr><tr> + <td><span class="smcap">A little Spark kindles a big Fire.</span></td> + <td class='tdr'><a href='#Page_131'>131</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td colspan='2' class='tdc'><a href='#CHAPTER_XII'>CHAPTER XII.</a></td> +</tr><tr> + <td><span class="smcap">The Landing of the Robber.</span></td> + <td class='tdr'><a href='#Page_142'>142</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td colspan='2' class='tdc'><a href='#CHAPTER_XIII'>CHAPTER XIII.</a></td> +</tr><tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Tom Walton wounded.</span></td> + <td class='tdr'><a href='#Page_153'>153</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td colspan='2' class='tdc'><a href='#CHAPTER_XIV'>CHAPTER XIV.</a></td> +</tr><tr> + <td><span class="smcap">The Robber takes the back Track.</span></td> + <td class='tdr'><a href='#Page_164'>164</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td colspan='2' class='tdc'><a href='#CHAPTER_XV'>CHAPTER XV.</a></td> +</tr><tr> + <td><span class="smcap">The Robber in a Trap.</span></td> + <td class='tdr'><a href='#Page_175'>175</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td colspan='2' class='tdc'><a href='#CHAPTER_XVI'>CHAPTER XVI.</a></td> +</tr><tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Showers of Rocks.</span></td> + <td class='tdr'><a href='#Page_187'>187</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td colspan='2' class='tdc'><a href='#CHAPTER_XVII'>CHAPTER XVII.</a></td> +</tr><tr> + <td><span class="smcap">A Blow with the Boat-hook.</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">At the Cataract House.</span></td> + <td class='tdr'><a href='#Page_209'>209</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td colspan='2' class='tdc'><a href='#CHAPTER_XIX'>CHAPTER XIX.</a></td> +</tr><tr> + <td><span class="smcap">The other Bank Robber.</span></td> + <td class='tdr'><a href='#Page_221'>221</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td colspan='2' class='tdc'><a href='#CHAPTER_XX'>CHAPTER XX.</a></td> +</tr><tr> + <td><span class="smcap">The End of Lord Palsgrave.</span></td> + <td class='tdr'><a href='#Page_232'>232</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td colspan='2' class='tdc'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXI'>CHAPTER XXI.</a></td> +</tr><tr> + <td><span class="smcap">The Adventures of Nick Van Wolter.</span></td> + <td class='tdr'><a href='#Page_243'>243</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td colspan='2' class='tdc'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXII'>CHAPTER XXII.</a></td> +</tr><tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Colonel Wimpleton’s Wrath.</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">Major Toppleton explains.</span></td> + <td class='tdr'><a href='#Page_265'>265</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td colspan='2' class='tdc'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXIV'>CHAPTER XXIV.</a></td> +</tr><tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Bear and Forbear.</span></td> + <td class='tdr'><a href='#Page_276'>276</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td colspan='2' class='tdc'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXV'>CHAPTER XXV.</a></td> +</tr><tr> + <td><span class="smcap">Miss Dornwood’s Guardian.</span></td> + <td class='tdr'><a href='#Page_287'>287</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td colspan='2' class='tdc'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXVI'>CHAPTER XXVI.</a></td> +</tr><tr> + <td><span class="smcap">The Young Skipper of the Banshee.</span></td> + <td class='tdr'><a href='#Page_298'>298</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'>BEAR AND FORBEAR;</p> +<p class='center mt1 fs90 bold'>OR,</p> +<p class='center mt1 fs120 bold'>THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA.</p> + +<hr class="r21"> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_I"> + CHAPTER I. + <br> + <span class='chap-title'>ON BOARD THE BELLE.</span> + </h2> +</div> + +<p class='chap-first kern'><span class='allcaps'>“Wolf</span>, I am about ready to buy this boat, +if you are about ready to sell it,” said Tom +Walton, as we were sailing up the lake in the +Belle.</p> + +<p>“I’m quite ready to sell it to you, Tom,” I replied.</p> + +<p>“You ought to own her by this time, Tom,” added +Waddie Wimpleton, who was one of the party.</p> + +<p>We were going up the lake to have a good time; +in other words, it was vacation with me. When +Tom Walton spoke, I was thinking of the events +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">[12]</span> +of the past, as the sail-boat glided swiftly over the +clear waters of Lake Ucayga. I was the general +agent of the Union Line, which now included the +Lake Shore Railroad and the Ucayga Steamboat. +The two <i>millionnaires</i>, who had fixed their residences +on opposite sides of the lake, at the Narrows, where +it is only one mile wide, had been the most bitter +enemies for years, taking up the hatchet after a long +period of the most intimate and friendly relations. +Major Toppleton had built the Lake Shore Railroad +as a plaything for the students of the Institute +established on his side of the lake, in order +to give them a thorough and practical knowledge +of railway business. The idea had grown on his +hands till the road had become a very important +channel of travel. Buying up the stock of the old +steamers on the lake, he had obtained the control +of them, and ran them in connection with the railroad. +This movement gave Middleport, on the +major’s side of the lake, a very great advantage over +Centreport, where Colonel Wimpleton resided.</p> + +<p>Then the two great men became rivals for the +business of the lake; and the colonel built a large +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">[13]</span> +and splendid steamer, to run in opposition to the +railroad, which, by its great speed and elegant accommodations, +had carried the day against the railroad. +The students of the Wimpleton Institute were +formed into a company, and nominally managed the +affairs of the steamer, thus obtaining an insight into +the method of conducting business in stock companies. +I had been a kind of shuttlecock between +the rival magnates, and had been successively employed +and discharged by each. The war between +the two sides of the lake had extended to the families +of the principal parties, and the inhabitants of the +large towns in which they lived. The two sons of +the great men had been particularly hostile; but, +having mended their ways, and, from vicious, overbearing, +tyrannical young men, becoming kind, gentle, +and noble, they buried the hatchet, and their +relations were pleasant and friendly. By their indirect +efforts, with some help from me, the feud between +the fathers had been healed, and they were +now warm personal friends. The railroad and steamboat +lines had been united, and were now running +in connection with each other.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[14]</span></p> + +<p>I am not disposed to say much about my own +agency in bringing about this happy state of things, +though I had labored patiently and persistently for +years to accomplish the result. I was happy in the +achievement, and not inclined to apportion the credit +of it among those who had brought it about, except +to award a very large share of it to the sons +of the two magnates. The two lines had been running +in connection about two months. As the general +superintendent of the united line, I had gone +over the entire route daily until everything worked +to my own satisfaction, as well as to that of the +traveling public. As captain of the steamer, I had +been constantly employed all winter, and I felt disposed +to play a few days. It was vacation at both +the Institutes, and Tommy Toppleton had gone to +one of the great watering-places with his father and +mother, though the time fixed for their return had +arrived. Waddie Wimpleton had accepted an invitation +to spend a few days on a cruise with me up +the lake. We intended to live on board of the +Belle, and spend the time in fishing, sailing, and +rambling through the wild region.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[15]</span></p> + +<p>I had bought the Belle at auction, at a time +when I was out of employment, having been discharged +by Major Toppleton from my situation as +engineer on the Lake Shore Railroad. She had cost +me a very small sum, compared with her value, and +I intended to make my living by taking out parties +in her. But, as I was very soon appointed to the +command of the steamer, I employed Tom Walton +to run her for me; and he paid me a portion of +the receipts. He had done well for himself, and well +for me, in her. Tom was a very honest, industrious, +and capable fellow, and supported his mother and +the rest of the family by his labor. I had told +him I would sell the Belle to him at a fair price, +any time when he wished to buy her. I had been +rather surprised that he did not avail himself of this +offer, for my share of the earnings of the boat had +already paid me double the amount she had cost me.</p> + +<p>“I think of going into the general navigation +business,” said Tom, with one of his good-natured +laughs; “and if I can buy her, I will do so.”</p> + +<p>“You can, Tom,” I replied.</p> + +<p>“My mother has been sick a good deal for the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[16]</span> +last two years, and it took about all I could make +to take care of the family, or I should have bought +her before.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll trust you, Tom,” I added.</p> + +<p>“I don’t want anybody to trust me, except to +keep the folks from starving. I didn’t mean to buy +that boat till I had money enough to pay for her. +I’ve got a little ahead now.”</p> + +<p>“How much have you, Tom?” I asked.</p> + +<p>“I haven’t enough to bust the Middleport Bank +yet. You’ve used me first rate, Wolf, and I don’t +mean to cheat you on this boat. After all, whether +I buy her or not rather depends on what you +ask for her.”</p> + +<p>“You shall have her for what she will bring at +auction.”</p> + +<p>“What will she bring at auction?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t think I can buy her, then, for I know a +man in town who will start the bidding at one hundred +and fifty.”</p> + +<p>“Do you? Well, I had no idea any one would +give that for her,” I replied.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[17]</span></p> + +<p>I saw that Tom was troubled, though he still kept +his face alive with his usual smile. I would have +given him the boat at once, only the offer to do +so would wound his pride and hurt his feelings, +for, poor as he was, he had the instincts of a gentleman.</p> + +<p>“I shall make money by buying the boat, Wolf, +and I want her badly, but not enough to run in +debt for her,” added he.</p> + +<p>“Suppose we do as Major Toppleton and Colonel +Wimpleton did on the steamers.”</p> + +<p>“What’s that?”</p> + +<p>“Mark.”</p> + +<p>“I’m willing to mark; but I’m afraid I can’t hit +your figures, Wolf, for the Belle is a valuable piece +of property. I ought to know that, if no one else +does.”</p> + +<p>“You write what you are willing to give, and I +will write what I am willing to take. If my figures +are lower than yours, they shall be the price +of the boat, and the trade is completed.”</p> + +<p>“Your figures?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[18]</span></p> + +<p>“Why not my figures, if they are higher than +yours?”</p> + +<p>“If you give all I ask, that’s enough. If my figures +are higher than yours, we will split the difference,” +I continued, handing him a pencil and paper.</p> + +<p>“That’s fair, so far as I am concerned; but don’t +you cheat yourself, Wolf,” replied Tom, taking the +paper and making his figures upon it, after considerable +hesitation.</p> + +<p>“You needn’t worry about me, my dear fellow. +Give your figures to Waddie. He shall stand between +us,” I added, as I wrote my own valuation, +and handed it to him.</p> + +<p>“There is considerable difference in your estimates,” +laughed Waddie. “What am I to do?—split the difference?”</p> + +<p>“Not unless my figures are higher than Tom’s.”</p> + +<p>“They are not, Wolf. Tom’s are a mile and a +half higher than yours.”</p> + +<p>“Then the boat is sold at my price,” I added.</p> + +<p>“Cheap enough!” exclaimed Waddie.</p> + +<p>“What are the figures?” asked Tom.</p> + +<p>“You marked one hundred and fifty dollars, Tom, +and Wolf marked fifty dollars. So the Belle is sold.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[19]</span></p> + +<p>“So am I,” said the skipper.</p> + +<p>“Are you not satisfied?”</p> + +<p>“No; I feel just as though I had been overreached. +See here, Wolf Penniman; I didn’t mean to have +you give me this boat.”</p> + +<p>“I haven’t given her to you.”</p> + +<p>“I supposed you would ask three or four hundred +dollars for her.”</p> + +<p>“I am satisfied, Tom. I have made money out +of her, and now I get back all she cost me.”</p> + +<p>“But don’t you think it’s an insult to the Belle +to sell her for fifty dollars?” laughed Tom.</p> + +<p>“If she does not complain, you need not.”</p> + +<p>“Wolf, I don’t feel exactly right about it. I have +a kind of an idea that you have taken pity on me, +for a poor, miserable fellow as I am, and given me +the boat.”</p> + +<p>“No such thing, Tom!” I protested.</p> + +<p>“Didn’t I say there was a man in town that +would bid a hundred and fifty dollars on her if she +was put up at auction?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know him, Tom; and I’m afraid he +would not use her kindly. The Belle is yours.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[20]</span></p> + +<p>“I can afford to give you a hundred for her without +busting the Middleport Bank. Don’t you think +I’d better do it?”</p> + +<p>“Certainly not, Tom. A trade is a trade.”</p> + +<p>“But I feel just as though I had stolen her.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t feel so, my dear fellow. I will give you a +bill of sale when I can get something to write it with. +It’s all right now, Tom. ‘Be virtuous and you will +be happy,’ and your boat will sail all the faster +for it.”</p> + +<p>“I am happy, Wolf I have saved up about one +hundred and fifty dollars. I thought that would +almost buy the Belle. Now I’m just a hundred +in. I’m going into the general navigation business, +and I want some more boats, to let, and I’m lucky +enough to have the capital to invest in them. I +shall buy some row-boats, for there are lots of people +that want to hire them.”</p> + +<p>“I have no doubt you will do a good business +letting boats, Tom. Rowing is a great art, and a +healthy one. But have good boats. Don’t buy poor +ones because they are cheap.”</p> + +<p>“Not I, Wolf; my boats shall be first chop, ‘A, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[21]</span> +No. 1, prime.’ But I suppose you gentlemen want +some dinner—don’t you?”</p> + +<p>“We do want some dinner, Tom,” I replied. “I +make a business of attending to that matter every +day.”</p> + +<p>“Exactly so, Wolf. That’s just what you thought +the last time you thought so.”</p> + +<p>“Eating dinner I have always found to be a healthy +amusement, and I intend to follow it up as long as +I live, and can get any dinner to eat,” I replied.</p> + +<p>“You will always get it, Wolf, for you are a rich +man now; and you will die worth a million, if you +don’t die before you have a million. Now, if you +will take the helm, you shall have a beefsteak and +some baked potatoes, first chop, A, No. 1, prime, in +about half an hour, more or less, but rather more +than less.”</p> + +<p>I took the tiller, and Tom went into the cuddy +to prepare the meal. In half an hour, more or less, +we had the beefsteak and baked potatoes, smoking +hot, done to a turn, and just as nice as the best +hotel in the country could furnish.</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'>A NEW ACQUAINTANCE.</span> + </h2> +</div> + +<p class='chap-first kern'><span class='allcaps'>We</span> left Middleport early in the morning, and +when we dined, we were above Priam. We +intended to land at a point near the residence of +my old friend Captain Portman, to enable me to +call upon him. We arrived at this point early in +the afternoon. Waddie was not acquainted with +my friend, and did not care to call upon him; but +he decided to take a walk on shore, and we proceeded +together till we came to the entrance to +Captain Portman’s grounds. He was a wealthy gentleman, +who had chosen this wild region for his +residence, for he was a genuine lover of the beauties +of nature, and enjoyed them as much in the +winter as the summer.</p> + +<p>The country was exceedingly wild and rugged. +The rocks rose in precipitous steeps at times, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[23]</span> +there was a profusion of cascades and cataracts. One +might follow a stream through the depths of the +primeval forests, and find it leaping from the precipices +a dozen times in a single mile. In the midst +of this magnificent scenery Captain Portman had built +his mansion, selecting a rugged steep for its site; +and here Nature and Art had joined hands to increase +the loveliness of the place. Half a mile from +his house, on the road to Priam, was the Cataract +House—a hotel which had received its name from +a grand and beautiful waterfall in the vicinity. At +this house, during the summer, many wealthy people +boarded.</p> + +<p>When we reached the road which leads from +Hitaca to Priam, Waddie turned to the right and +I turned to the left. I was about to enter the rustic +gateway which opened into the estate of Captain +Portman, when I was startled by a succession +of shrill screams. I saw Waddie spring into the +woods which bounded the road on the left. The +voice of the person in distress—for I supposed no +one would scream unless in distress—was that of a +female. Of course I was interested; and, turning +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[24]</span> +from the gateway, I rushed down the road, and +followed Waddie into the woods.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp95" id="i_f001" style="max-width: 90.25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_f001.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <span class="smcap">A New Acquaintance.</span> <a href='#Page_24'>Page 24</a>. + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>I had made such good time that I overtook my +fellow-voyager before he reached the scene of the +adventure. The trees were very large, and the +grove had been cleared up on the ground for the +convenience of the visitors at the Cataract House, +so that we could see some distance; and we soon +discovered the person who had uttered the terrific +screams. She was a young lady, elegantly dressed, +and apparently not more than seventeen years old.</p> + +<p>“Help! Help!” she cried, as she stood apparently +paralyzed.</p> + +<p>But we could see nothing to alarm her, though +we discovered a young gentleman in the distance +“making tracks” in the direction of the hotel.</p> + +<p>“What is the matter with her?” asked Waddie.</p> + +<p>“I don’t see anything to frighten her.”</p> + +<p>“I do,” added Waddie, as we stepped forward, +and discovered a small black bear, which a huge +tree had before hidden from our view.</p> + +<p>“A bear!” I exclaimed.</p> + +<p>The creature stood up on his hind legs, and was +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[25]</span> +reaching forward with his right fore paw towards the +young lady, while the left was dropped at his side. +For my own part, I do not remember that I had +ever even seen a bear before, and I confess that I did +not like the looks of him. Whether Waddie shared +my feeling or not I do not know; but he quickened +his pace, and soon placed himself by the side of the +interesting sufferer. Neither of us had a club, knife, +or other weapon, and we were not in condition to +face a wild beast.</p> + +<p>“Save me!” gasped the young lady.</p> + +<p>“I will conduct you to the hotel, if you please,” +said Waddie, hardly noticing the bear, which still +sat upon his haunches, with his right paw extended +towards the terrified maiden.</p> + +<p>“O, dear me! I cannot move,” sighed she.</p> + +<p>Waddie took her by the arm, and supported her. +As they moved off, the bear followed.</p> + +<p>“He’s coming!” cried the lady; and, afraid that +the awful monster would pounce upon her behind, +she halted and faced him again.</p> + +<p>The moment they stopped, Bruin stood up on his +haunches again, and held out his paw as before. I +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[26]</span> +came to the conclusion that if he intended to eat +any one up, he would have begun before this time, +and I ventured to place myself between him and +the lady. This brave movement on my part seemed +to afford the lady some relief; but she clung to +Waddie as though she expected to be devoured, +brown silk dress, laces, ruffles, and all. The bear +looked at me a moment, as I stood about a rod distant +from him. Dropping upon all fours again, he +cantered towards me. I was inclined to beat a retreat, +but somehow the animal did not seem to be +as ferocious as wild beasts have the credit of being, +and, though it required no little resolution on +my part, I decided to stand my ground.</p> + +<p>The bear was about the size of a full-grown Newfoundland +dog, but broader across the back, and +much heavier, weighing, I judged, over a hundred +pounds. He opened his mouth as though in the +act of laughing. I had had no experience with +wild animals, but I had an idea that they howled +and made a “general row” when they were savage, +and intended to do mischief. After the first sight +of the bear, my courage gradually increased, and I +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[27]</span> +am happy to say that I did full justice to my valor +on this occasion. I did not run away. The bear +came close to me, and then erecting himself again, +he extended his right paw as before, looking up into +my face as pleasantly and cunningly as though he +had been a playful child.</p> + +<p>The fellow evidently means something by his action; +but I was not sufficiently skilled in bear nature +to comprehend him. He was not savage, and did +not exhibit the slightest intention to use the fine +rows of elegant teeth which he displayed. This assurance +was very comforting to me. I retreated two +or three paces as a strategic movement, in order to +develop the further intentions of the enemy, if he +was an enemy. The rascal followed me, again stood +up, and presented his paw.</p> + +<p>“Don’t be afraid, miss. He will not hurt anything,” +said I, as the young lady was again alarmed +by the last move of the bear. “He is quite harmless.”</p> + +<p>“I am afraid he will bite me!” gasped she; and +she would not have suffered any more if she had +already been bitten.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[28]</span></p> + +<p>“Shall I leave you, Wolf?” asked Waddie.</p> + +<p>“Yes, certainly; the bear is as harmless as a kitten,” +I replied.</p> + +<p>“Allow me to conduct you to the hotel,” added +Waddie, gallantly. “I suppose you are staying at +the hotel.”</p> + +<p>“Yes; I had been walking with Lord Palsgrave, +when that awful creature came upon me,” she replied.</p> + +<p>“Whom did I understand you to say you were +walking with?”</p> + +<p>“With Lord Palsgrave.”</p> + +<p>“Ah, then you are English people?” added Waddie, +who was doubtless duly impressed with the quality of +his new acquaintance.</p> + +<p>“Lord Palsgrave is English, but I am not.”</p> + +<p>“If you will allow me, I will conduct you to the +hotel.”</p> + +<p>“I am so frightened, I fear I cannot walk so far.”</p> + +<p>“You need not leave on account of the bear,” I +interposed. “He is as gentle and tame as a baby +kitten.”</p> + +<p>By this time I had discovered what Bruin meant by +his mysterious movement with the right fore paw. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[29]</span> +When I had worked my courage up to the sticking +point, I extended my hand towards him, to see if he +would snap at it. If he did, I concluded that I should +use a big stone which lay on the ground at my feet. +If he wanted to fight, I felt that, in the cause of a +terrified maiden,—very pretty, too, at that,—I could +afford to test the relative hardness of the bear’s head +and the rock.</p> + +<p>But I wronged him. The bear had no belligerent +intentions. He was evidently a good fellow in his +way; and, if bearish in his manners, he was friendly in +his disposition. Instead of snapping at my hand, he +reached forward his paw, and I realized then that he +only desired to shake hands with me. I had learned a +sufficient amount of politeness to accommodate him +in this respect, and when I took his paw he bowed +his head several times, to indicate his pleasure at +making my acquaintance. I could not suffer myself +to be behind him in courtesy, and I bowed as often as +he did.</p> + +<p>I heard Waddie laughing heartily, and turning +round, I saw that the young lady was beginning to +smile at the passage of compliments between me and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[30]</span> +the bear. I must say that I was delighted with my +new acquaintance, he was so very polite and well +mannered. But I had not yet measured the depth of +his affection for me. He was not satisfied with merely +bowing and shaking hands with me, but insisted upon +hugging me. First he embraced my arm, and then +my body, though I did not yet feel quite well enough +acquainted with him to endure the final transport of +his devotion. I shook him off, and he tumbled upon +the ground. Then he began to roll over, as a dog is +taught to do, making the most extravagant demonstrations +of affectionate regard towards me. In a few +moments I was rolling on the grass with him, and I +felt confidence enough in his good intentions to return +his embraces. I put my hand in his mouth, but he +did not bite; and though his sharp claws were rather +trying to the nap of my coat, he used them only in +sport.</p> + +<p>“Won’t you come up and shake hands with him, +Miss—”</p> + +<p>“Miss Dornwood,” she added, supplementing my +question. “No, I thank you. I thought he was a +wild bear.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[31]</span></p> + +<p>“No, he is as tame as a kitten. He only wanted +to shake hands with you. I am sure he would not +hurt any one.”</p> + +<p>“He is real funny; and I wish I dared to play +with him,” added she, shrinking back, as Bruin followed +me a little nearer to the place where she +stood.</p> + +<p>“Don’t bring him any nearer, Wolf,” laughed +Waddie. “‘Distance lends enchantment to the view.’”</p> + +<p>I sat down upon a rock, and continued to play +with the bear, while Waddie and Miss Dornwood +watched the sport at a respectful distance.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know what I am to do with this fellow, +now I have made his acquaintance,” I continued, as I +tumbled him over upon the ground when his embraces +became a little too ardent. “I see by the looks of his +neck that he has been in the habit of wearing a +collar.”</p> + +<p>“If you will only keep him away from me, I don’t +care what you do with him,” said Miss Dornwood. +“I don’t think they ought to let such creatures +wander about these grounds, for it is almost as bad +to be frightened to death as to be eaten up.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[32]</span></p> + +<p>“Where is the gentleman who was with you?” +asked Waddie.</p> + +<p>“He went to the hotel after a vehicle, for we +intended to take a ride along the lake when we saw +this road. We only arrived this morning, and we +find it a very beautiful region.”</p> + +<p>“There come three men,” added Waddie, pointing +into the woods.</p> + +<p>I recognized Captain Portman as one of them.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[33]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_III"> + CHAPTER III. + <br> + <span class='chap-title'>AN ANGRY GUARDIAN.</span> + </h2> +</div> + +<p class='chap-first kern'><span class='allcaps'>“How</span> do you do, Captain Penniman? I am +delighted to see you,” said Captain Portman, +coming up to me, and extending his hand.</p> + +<p>As I took his hand, a burst of laughter from +Waddie and Miss Dornwood attracted my attention. +Turning my head to ascertain what amused them, I +saw the bear standing on his hind legs, and extending +his paw, as he had done to me, evidently wishing to +shake hands with the new comer. Captain Portman +took his offered paw, and gave Bruin a warm greeting.</p> + +<p>“So, my old rogue, you have got away again,” said +he, as he patted the bear on the head.</p> + +<p>“You seem to be acquainted with my old friend +here,” said I.</p> + +<p>“Yes, he belongs to me; but he bothers me sadly,” +replied Captain Portman. “Unless we buckle his +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[34]</span> +collar very tight, he slips it over his head; and if it is +tight, it worries him and makes him cross. He has +got out of my grounds several times, and frightened +strangers staying at the hotel. The landlord says he +will shoot him, if he finds him loose again.”</p> + +<p>“He frightened this young lady,” I added.</p> + +<p>“I am very sorry,” said Captain Portman, turning +to the lady. “He is entirely harmless.”</p> + +<p>“I see he is now, sir; but I supposed he was a wild +bear,” replied Miss Dornwood.</p> + +<p>“When I knew he was loose, I hastened to find him, +lest the landlord should put his threat into execution,” +continued Captain Portman, caressing the bear. “He +makes so much trouble that I am afraid I shall have +to get rid of him; but I do not like the idea of killing +him while he makes himself so agreeable. If you +will take him, Wolf, I will give him to you, for I +know you will treat him kindly.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you, sir, I should be delighted to own +him,” I answered. “I have a nice place for him at +home.”</p> + +<p>“You shall have him.”</p> + +<p>“He and I will be warm friends.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[35]</span></p> + +<p>And Bruin, as if he comprehended the new relation +between us, gave me one of his warmest hugs.</p> + +<p>“How do you happen to be here, Wolf, without +calling upon me?” asked Captain Portman.</p> + +<p>“I was just going up to your house when I heard +this lady scream, and I hastened back to her assistance.”</p> + +<p>“Gallant as ever,” said he, laughing. “Then I +shall see you again to-day.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir. I will call at your house in the course +of the afternoon.”</p> + +<p>“My men will take care of the bear for you till you +are ready to return to Middleport, if you desire.”</p> + +<p>I assented to this arrangement, and the two men +who came with Captain Portman took charge of the +bear, though he was very unwilling to be separated +from me. I should have gone with the captain, but +I desired to see Lord Palsgrave, for whom Miss +Dornwood was waiting. I had never seen a live +lord, and I was anxious to behold the phenomenon. +I supposed he would soon appear with the vehicle +for which he had gone.</p> + +<p>“I am very much obliged to you for the service +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[36]</span> +you have rendered me, gentlemen,” said she, as the +party moved off with the bear.</p> + +<p>“Not at all,” replied Waddie. “I am very glad, +for one, to have served you.”</p> + +<p>“And I have made an excellent friend by the +adventure,” I added.</p> + +<p>“Do you refer to the bear, or to me?” said Miss +Dornwood, archly.</p> + +<p>“I confess that I referred to the bear.”</p> + +<p>“I hope you will include me.”</p> + +<p>“Then I have made two excellent friends.”</p> + +<p>“Lord Palsgrave seems to be a long time obtaining +the vehicle,” she added, glancing towards the road.</p> + +<p>“Is Lord Palsgrave an old gentleman?” I asked.</p> + +<p>“Dear me! No,” replied Miss Dornwood, with a +blush. “He is only nineteen.”</p> + +<p>“Nineteen! Well, I had an idea that lords were +always old men.”</p> + +<p>“Not at all. Lord Palsgrave is quite a young man.”</p> + +<p>“Was it he we saw going towards the hotel when +you screamed?”</p> + +<p>“Yes; he left me only a few moments before I +saw the bear.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[37]</span></p> + +<p>I came to the conclusion, guided partly by the +blush which mantled her cheek when she spoke of +him, and partly by the fact that his lordship was +only nineteen, that he was a lover; and I was rather +sorry that she was already entangled, for I thought +Waddie regarded Miss Dornwood with more interest +than I had ever before seen him look upon a young +lady. She was certainly a very pretty girl, and I did +not blame Lord Palsgrave for taking a fancy to her.</p> + +<p>His lordship did not come with the vehicle, though +an hour had elapsed since his departure, and Miss +Dornwood was beginning to be impatient. We did +not think it was polite to leave her, and we continued +to talk about the bear, Lord Palsgrave, and such other +topics as we could find available. While we were thus +engaged, I saw a lady and gentleman approaching us. +As they came nearer, the latter disengaged himself +from his companion, and hastened to the spot where +we stood. He was a young man of twenty-five, and +looked very cross. I did not like the looks of him, and +I saw that Miss Dornwood was very much disturbed +by his coming.</p> + +<p>“What are you doing here, Edith?” demanded he, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[38]</span> +bestowing a contemptuous glance upon Waddie and +myself.</p> + +<p>“I am waiting for Lord Palsgrave,” she replied, her +cheek flushed, and her lips trembling.</p> + +<p>“Who are these persons?” continued he.</p> + +<p>“I do not know who they are, but they have been +very kind to me, and I am very grateful to them.”</p> + +<p>“No doubt you are!” sneered the gentleman; and +I realized that we had encountered another bear, +though not so well behaved as the first had been. “Do +you pick up acquaintances in this manner without +my knowledge?”</p> + +<p>“Why, Charles!”</p> + +<p>I saw that Miss Dornwood was greatly agitated +and deeply grieved at this ungentle treatment, and +I did not wonder at it.</p> + +<p>“What are you doing here?” he continued, rudely.</p> + +<p>“I am waiting for Lord Palsgrave.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t wonder that Lord Palsgrave does not +come, if he sees you engaged in this manner. Do +you put yourself on familiar terms with entire +strangers?”</p> + +<p>“How rude you are, Charles!” exclaimed Miss +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[39]</span> +Dornwood, struggling to repress her tears at his +unkind treatment.</p> + +<p>“I beg your pardon, sir,” interposed Waddie; “but +there was another bear—there was a bear in the +woods here. The lady encountered him, and we +came to her assistance.”</p> + +<p>“A bear!” sneered the gentleman.</p> + +<p>“A bear, sir!” repeated Waddie, with emphasis. +“It is true, he was a tame bear, but he frightened the +lady, and her screams attracted our attention.”</p> + +<p>“If you have rendered her any assistance, I am +obliged to you for it,” said the gentleman, coldly. +“Edith, go back to the hotel.”</p> + +<p>“Lord Palsgrave told me to meet him at the road +when he came with the carriage,” pleaded the young +lady.</p> + +<p>“I insist that you return to the hotel,” added the +gentleman, almost fiercely. “I have forbidden your +making acquaintances without my knowledge.”</p> + +<p>“I couldn’t help it, Charles.”</p> + +<p>“Will you return to the hotel?”</p> + +<p>“No; I will not, Charles! I will not be treated +in this rude manner before strangers,” she replied, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[40]</span> +bursting into tears, and retreating a few paces from +her tormentor.</p> + +<p>“So, miss! Do you dare to disobey me?” demanded +he, his checks red with anger.</p> + +<p>“I will not be treated in this manner before +strangers,” she replied, with spirit, as she wiped away +her tears.</p> + +<p>“What will Lord Palsgrave say when he finds +you making friends so easily?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t care what he says; but I will not be +treated like a little child, Charles Overton.”</p> + +<p>“We will see! Will you return to the hotel, or +shall I carry you there?” said the brute, stepping +towards her.</p> + +<p>“Neither, Charles,” she answered, retreating a step +or two before him. “These young gentlemen came +to my assistance when I needed their help, and I am +very grateful to them.”</p> + +<p>“I trust you have thanked the young gentlemen +for their service.”</p> + +<p>“I have.”</p> + +<p>“That’s enough, then. Now you will return to the +hotel.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[41]</span></p> + +<p>“I will not, Charles Overton. I have obeyed you +in all things; but when you insult me before strangers, +and insult them too, I will not endure it.”</p> + +<p>“Very fine, Edith! But you will return to the +hotel, and obey me now, as you always have done.”</p> + +<p>“I shall return to the hotel when I am ready to do +so, but not before;” and Edith looked as though she +meant all she said.</p> + +<p>Behind all this there was evidently a history of +which Waddie and I were entirely ignorant. I concluded +that the irritable gentleman was the young +lady’s guardian, and was doubtless armed with proper +authority to command and control her. But she was +not less than seventeen, and certainly she was entitled +to some consideration from him. As she had suggested, +he treated her like a little child, and his conduct +was rude and ungentlemanly in the extreme. I +sympathized with Edith; but I did not deem it proper +or prudent to interfere. I saw that Waddie, who was +naturally rash and impetuous, found it exceedingly +difficult to restrain himself under the provocation.</p> + +<p>“Edith, you shall obey me!” exclaimed Mr. Overton, +springing towards her, with the intention of dragging +her back to the hotel.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[42]</span></p> + +<p>“I beg your pardon, sir,” interposed Waddie, stepping +between the angry guardian and his ward. “I +hope you will not use any violence.”</p> + +<p>At that moment I heard a kind of clattering noise, +and turning, I saw the bear rushing at railroad +speed towards us. He had doubtless escaped from +Captain Portman’s men, and had come back to renew +the agreeable acquaintance he had made. Now, +Mr. Overton happened to be the nearest person to him +as he approached the group, and Bruin leaped up to +him, and placed his paws upon the arm extended to +grasp Edith. Perhaps he thought the parties were +playing, and he wished to have a hand in the game.</p> + +<p>Mr. Overton evidently had not seen the bear till he +felt his paws upon his arm. A man who is a tyrant is +necessarily a coward; and turning his head, the savage +guardian saw the bear, with his mouth open. His +expression was one of abject terror, and, starting back, +he shook the playful animal from him. Bruin immediately +stood up, and extended his paw, as though +he were ready to make friends with all mankind. To +my surprise, Miss Dornwood grasped the paw with +her gloved hand, and shook it warmly. Probably +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[43]</span> +she thought that, between the two bears, he was the +less savage and bearish.</p> + +<p>“You do not seem to like him any better than I did +at first,” said Edith, glancing at Mr. Overton, who had +retreated to a safe distance. “I suppose I am forbidden +to make his acquaintance, but I shall do so.”</p> + +<p>Bruin had doubtless been trained to respect ladies, +and did not offer any rough familiarities to her, as he +had to me. He stood up before her, and received +her caresses with a good-natured grin. Mr. Overton, +seeing that the bear did not proceed to eat any of us +up, regained his sell-possession.</p> + +<p>“If you wish to avoid trouble, Edith, you will go to +the hotel at once,” said he, renewing the attack.</p> + +<p>“I shall not go,” she replied, earnestly.</p> + +<p>“Then I shall lead you there.”</p> + +<p>And stepping forward to enforce his threat, the bear, +perhaps thinking he meant to have a frolic, sprang +upon him with extended paws.</p> + +<p>“Take him away! Take him away!” cried Mr. +Overton, utterly unable to appreciate the familiar +overtures of the bear.</p> + +<p>“He will not hurt you, sir.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[44]</span></p> + +<p>“Take him off—will you?” gasped he, in terror.</p> + +<p>“Here, Bruin, come here,” interposed Edith, pulling +him by the neck.</p> + +<p>The bear turned to her, stood up, and extended his +paw to her.</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'>FIRE ON THE LAKE.</span> + </h2> +</div> + +<p class='chap-first'><span class='allcaps'>I began</span> to think my bear was as fickle as +human beings, for he seemed to have taken +quite a fancy to Edith. Certainly, in this respect, I +was willing to believe he was a bear of excellent taste.</p> + +<p>He did not offer to hug her arm, or to take other +liberties with her, but was very affectionate, while he +was very circumspect. Mr. Overton did not again +attempt to use force with the young lady while she +was thus guarded.</p> + +<p>“Let the ugly beast alone, Edith!” growled her +disconcerted guardian.</p> + +<p>“He behaves very well now, Charles, and I am not +afraid of him.”</p> + +<p>“Once more, are you going to the hotel, or not?”</p> + +<p>“Very soon I am, if Lord Palsgrave does not +appear,” she replied, still caressing Bruin.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[46]</span></p> + +<p>“I think, Waddie, I will go up to Captain Portman’s, +His men are coming again after the bear, and +I will take him along with me,” I interposed. “Come, +Bruin, old fellow, don’t you know me?”</p> + +<p>I put my hand upon his head, and he leaped upon +me, as though he was heartily glad to renew the +acquaintance.</p> + +<p>“I am going to the hotel, Miss Dornwood,” said +Waddie, touching his cap to the young lady, and moving +in the direction indicated.</p> + +<p>She placed herself at his side, and they started together.</p> + +<p>“You are not going with her, sir,” said Mr. Overton, +angrily.</p> + +<p>“Then she will go with me.”</p> + +<p>“You young puppy!”</p> + +<p>“Gently, if you please, sir,” added Waddie, quietly.</p> + +<p>“Stop, Edith!” commanded the guardian.</p> + +<p>“You told me to go to the hotel, Charles, and I +am going,” she replied.</p> + +<p>“Not with that young man.”</p> + +<p>“That shall be as he pleases.”</p> + +<p>“No; it shall be as I please. Stop, sir! Do you +hear me?” cried Mr. Overton.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[47]</span></p> + +<p>“If I understand the matter, sir, you have no control +over me, if you have over this lady,” replied Waddie, +turning around to address the guardian.</p> + +<p>They continued on their walk, followed by Mr. +Overton, who was presently joined by the lady he had +left when he came forward to discipline his ward. +They soon disappeared among the trees, and I made +my way to the mansion of Captain Portman, where I +spent a couple of hours very pleasantly. I told him +about the adventure we had had with Edith and her +guardian.</p> + +<p>“I pity the poor girl,” I added; “for this Mr. Overton +is a petty tyrant, who must make her very uncomfortable.”</p> + +<p>“Doubtless it is very unfortunate for her; but it is +one of those cases with which outsiders cannot meddle,” +replied my friend.</p> + +<p>“I think he would have dragged her up to the hotel +by force, if the bear had not interfered.”</p> + +<p>“Well, the interference came better from the bear +than from you.”</p> + +<p>“Do you think one ought to stand by, and see a man +abuse a young lady without taking her part?” I inquired, +with considerable interest.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[48]</span></p> + +<p>“That’s a hard question to answer, Wolf. The gentleman +is her guardian, and has authority over her; +but if he were actually abusing her, I am inclined to +think I should interfere on my own responsibility. +Yet it is not prudent to meddle with things of this +kind.”</p> + +<p>“I am afraid Waddie will meddle,” I added.</p> + +<p>“He seemed to be rather interested in the young +lady.”</p> + +<p>“He should be very careful what he does.”</p> + +<p>“I must go over to the hotel, and see that he does +not get into trouble.”</p> + +<p>“But you will come and spend the night with me, +Wolf.”</p> + +<p>“We intended to sleep on board of the Belle.”</p> + +<p>“I shall be very glad to see you and Waddie to-night, +and I hope you will spend a day with me before +your return home.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you, sir. I will do so, if possible,” I replied.</p> + +<p>I walked to the hotel, and found Waddie on the +piazza. He looked very nervous and uneasy, and I was +afraid something had happened.</p> + +<p>“Where is the young lady?” I asked.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[49]</span></p> + +<p>“She is in the house,” he replied. “I was hoping I +should see her again. There is something wrong +somewhere, Wolf. A man don’t treat a young lady +like that unless there is something wrong.”</p> + +<p>“It is hardly proper for us to meddle with the +matter,” I suggested.</p> + +<p>“I don’t purpose to meddle with it, unless he abuses +her before my face. If he does that, I shall feel +justified in protecting her; for a man has no right to +abuse even his own child. But I should like to know +something more about the matter,” continued Waddie, +warmly.</p> + +<p>“Did she say anything to you on your way up to +the hotel?” I asked.</p> + +<p>“Not a word. We were talking about the bear all +the way. Her guardian followed close to us. I know +by her sad manner that she is in trouble all the time. +After the brute spoke to her as he did, my sympathies +were all with her.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t think we shall be likely to see her again. +This men is evidently her guardian, and he will take +care that she does not come out of her room again to-day.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[50]</span></p> + +<p>“I would give a good deal to know what the trouble +is between them. He must be some relation to her, or +she would not call him Charles.”</p> + +<p>“Very likely. Did you see Lord Palsgrave?” I +inquired.</p> + +<p>“Not a lord,” laughed Waddie. “I asked the landlord +about him, and was told his lordship had taken a +horse and buggy, but had not been seen since. Mr. +Overton appears to be a little worried about him; but +I don’t believe he has run away.”</p> + +<p>“I think we shall have to give up the idea of seeing +the show to-night,” I suggested.</p> + +<p>“We shall be about here a few days, and we will +come up to the hotel again,” replied Waddie. “I am +ready to go down to the boat when you are.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t think there is anything more for us to say +or do here;” and we started for the lake.</p> + +<p>Tom had put the Belle in good order during our +absence, and caught some fish for supper. While he +was cooking them, we sat in the cabin, and told him +our adventure in the woods, informing him that he +would have a black bear for a passenger on the return +voyage.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[51]</span></p> + +<p>“If he only behaves himself, I don’t care what he +is,” laughed the young skipper.</p> + +<p>“If he don’t behave well, you must bear with him,” +said Waddie.</p> + +<p>“I’ll do that, for I can’t bear to quarrel with anybody, +even if he is a bear,” added Tom.</p> + +<p>“It is barely possible that he may help you, for he +can bear a hand in an emergency,” I continued.</p> + +<p>“Does he wear gloves?” asked the skipper.</p> + +<p>“No.”</p> + +<p>“How can he bare a hand, then?” grinned Tom. +“However he will make a good barometer.”</p> + +<p>“He knows <i>weather</i>—it rains or not.”</p> + +<p>“By the way, Wolf, is he barefooted?” inquired +Tom.</p> + +<p>“Yes, and barefaced.”</p> + +<p>“Can he sing?”</p> + +<p>“Certainly; he is a barytone. But, punning aside, +I must go home a day sooner, and build a house for +him.”</p> + +<p>“Baronial halls!” exclaimed Waddie.</p> + +<p>“Forbear!” I added.</p> + +<p>“What’s for bear?” asked Tom. “Beefsteak?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[52]</span></p> + +<p>“Not an ounce; he must have no meat. It would +make him savage, and then he would eat up all the +cats and kittens in the neighborhood, if not the children,” +I replied.</p> + +<p>“Don’t make a bugbear of him, Wolf,” added +Waddie.</p> + +<p>“Fish ready!” shouted Tom. “Bear this dish to +the table, if you please.”</p> + +<p>“Let the table bear it,” said Waddie.</p> + +<p>“The fish smells good, and I think my stomach will +bear some of it,” I added, as we seated ourselves at +the table.</p> + +<p>The odor of the dish before us did not belie its +quality, and we ate a very hearty supper. For a vacation, +this kind of life exactly suited me. I enjoyed +the sailing and the fishing very much, and it was delightful +o put in at the various points and ramble +on shore, while sleeping in the little cabin of the +Belle added a new excitement to the cruise. I had +begun to think Ucayga Luke was rather too small +to afford full scope for the pleasures of such an occasion; +and I thought, when I was able, and had the +time, a yacht cruise on the ocean would suit me +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[53]</span> +exactly. But the lake was certainly very pleasant, and +I was not disposed to complain.</p> + +<p>When we had finished our supper, Waddie and I +adjourned to the standing-room, in order to give Tom +a chance to wash his dishes and put the cabin in +order; for three persons about filled it, so that there +was little space for one to move around. It was nearly +dark, and there was a fresh breeze on the lake. We +enjoyed the scene very much, for certainly there is +no more beautiful region in the whole world than that +which surrounded us. The hills and the precipitous +rocks were in strong contrast with the water. The +Ucayga was just passing the point where we lay, +though on the other side of the lake. Coming from +the opposite direction was a tow-boat, dragging slowly +after her a fleet of canal-boats.</p> + +<p>Waddie and I continued to pun on the bear till +the last glimpses of twilight were fading out behind +the hills on the opposite shore of the lake. Tom had +made up our beds in the cabin, and we were thinking +of playing a game of chess, which I had just begun +to learn under the pleasant instruction of Grace +Toppleton. The lamp on the foremast burned brightly, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[54]</span> +and the little cabin looked very cosy and attractive.</p> + +<p>“What’s that?” exclaimed Waddie, suddenly, as +a yell from the fleet of canal-beats, which had just +passed our anchorage, started us from the quiet of our +situation. “By the great horn spoon, one of the +boats is on fire!”</p> + +<p>“That’s so!” added Tom, nervously. “What shall +we do?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know that we can do anything,” I replied, +as my companions, by their looks, appeared to appeal +to me. “It burns like tinder. I think she must have +petroleum, or something of that kind, on board.”</p> + +<p>The fire blazed up very suddenly, and it was plain +to me that she had some combustible materials on +her deck. The hands on the other boats made haste +to cast off the fasts which connected the burning craft +to their own, in order to prevent the flames from +spreading. At the same time, the tow-boat increased +her speed to drag the other canal-boats out of the +way of their dangerous companion.</p> + +<p>“Get up your anchor, Tom. Let us go out there, +and see what we can do,” said I. “The thing +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[55]</span> +appears to be drifting this way, and we may be burned +up if we stay here.”</p> + +<p>“My sentiments exactly,” replied Tom, as he sprang +to his cable.</p> + +<p>“Stand by the jib-halyards, Waddie,” I added, removing +the stops from the mainsail. “Up with it!”</p> + +<p>We were all thorough boatmen, and in half a minute +we had the Belle under way. As the burning +canal boat was dead to windward of us, we had to +stand away from her, in order to beat up to her position. +As soon as Tom had set the jib, he took the +helm, while Waddie and I seated ourselves to watch +the progress of the flames. By this time the steamer, +having dragged the other canal-boats out of the reach +of possible danger, had stopped her wheels, and was +getting out a boat to visit the doomed vessel, for such +she was by this time, as her deck was covered with +one sheet of flame.</p> + +<p>“Help! Help!” shouted some one from the boat.</p> + +<p>“By the great horn spoon, there is some one on +board of her!” exclaimed Waddie, springing to his +feet under the excitement of the moment.</p> + +<p>“I do not see any one,” added Tom. “Of course +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[56]</span> +those who were on board left her before she cast off +from the other boats. They had only to step from +one deck to another.”</p> + +<p>“Help! Help! Save me!” again shouted the unseen +person.</p> + +<p>“He must be in the cabin,” I suggested. “The +wind drives the flame right over the hatchway, so +that he cannot escape.”</p> + +<p>“What shall we do?” demanded Waddie, appalled +by the prospect of a human being perishing in the +flames before our eyes.</p> + +<p>“Run up to windward of her, Tom,” said I.</p> + +<p>He obeyed, and by the time the Belle reached her +bow, I had the cable ready to make fast to her stern.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp94" id="i_056" style="max-width: 90.125em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_056.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <span class="smcap">Fire on the Lake.</span> <a href='#Page_56'>Page 56</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'>THE RESCUED PASSENGER.</span> + </h2> +</div> + +<p class='chap-first kern'><span class='allcaps'>The</span> stern of the burning canal-boat was to +windward, so that the flames were driven over +the entrance to the cabin. I made fast the cable +of the Belle to the bow of the burning craft.</p> + +<p>“Now, Tom, take the wind on your port beam, +and let her drive as hard as she will.”</p> + +<p>“I see; you want to sling her round.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, Waddie, you and I will help her with the +oars, for it will be a hard pull to swing that heavy +canal-boat.”</p> + +<p>We took the oars; and, when the Belle came +up with a jerk, which nearly threw us overboard,—for +the wind was quite fresh,—we strained our +muscles at the oars.</p> + +<p>“Pull, Waddie!” I cried, anxiously, for I felt that +the safety of the man in the cabin of the burning +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[58]</span> +boat depended entirely upon the success of our +movement.</p> + +<p>Tom helped Waddie with one hand, while he +steered with the other. Though the burning boat +was very long and heavy, it did not require much +power to turn her, balanced as she was on the water. +The sails of the Belle pulled strong, our efforts at +the oars increased the force, and we soon had the +satisfaction of seeing that we were accomplishing +our purpose. As soon as the vessel began to turn, +her inertia being overcome, the work was easy, and +we whirled her on her axis like a top.</p> + +<p>“Hold on, now!” I shouted, boating my oar. “She +will swing the rest of the way without any help. +Come about, Tom, and run up to her bow before +the fire makes it too warm there to cast off the +cable.”</p> + +<p>“Won’t you bring my hatchet out of the cook-room, +Wolf?” added Tom.</p> + +<p>I brought a small hatchet from the cuddy, which +Tom used in splitting up his wood.</p> + +<p>The canal-boat continued to swing under the impetus +we had given her. As soon as she had turned +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[59]</span> +into a position so that the wind struck her broadside, +and carried the flames away from the cabin +door, we saw a man rush up the steps.</p> + +<p>“There he is!” shouted Waddie. “Bear a hand, +Tom! Let her drive.”</p> + +<p>“She is driving all she will,” replied Tom. “Wolf, +we won’t wait to untie that cable; just chop it off +with the hatchet when I luff her up.”</p> + +<p>“Help! Help!” shouted the man on the after-deck +of the canal-boat.</p> + +<p>“We will be there in a minute!” shouted Tom. +“Keep cool!”</p> + +<p>“It’s rather a warm place to keep cool in,” suggested +Waddie.</p> + +<p>“Now, luff up, Tom, and we will get clear of the +cable.”</p> + +<p>He put the helm hard down, and, as the boat +came up into the wind, the cable lay across the +forward deck of the Belle. With one blow of the +hatchet I severed it, about thirty feet from the bow +of the canal-boat, so that Tom lost only a small +portion of his line. The man on deck had seated himself +at the extreme end of the boat, with his legs +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[60]</span> +hanging over the water, in readiness to leap into the +lake, if the flames were again driven upon him. +But the combustible material seemed to be amidships, +though the wood-work was now well kindled, +and the great volume of the flame was at this part +of the boat. Tom ran the Belle around under the +stern of the burning vessel, and I fastened the boat-hook +to it, as she lost her headway.</p> + +<p>“Drop down,” said I to the person above.</p> + +<p>He first threw a black leather travelling-bag upon +the forward deck, whose contents rattled as though it +were filled with old iron. With the assistance of Waddie +and myself, he came down himself, and stepped +into the standing-room. I picked up his valise, as +Tom filled away again, in order that it might not be +lost overboard when the Belle heeled over under +the pressure of the sails.</p> + +<p>“You came out of a warm place,” said Waddie, +as the stranger seated himself.</p> + +<p>“Not very warm,” he replied. “I was in the +cabin, and there was no fire down there.”</p> + +<p>“But there would have been very soon.”</p> + +<p>“No doubt of that. There are two windows in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[61]</span> +the stern, but, as I cannot swim, I did not like to +jump out into the water,” continued the stranger.</p> + +<p>“You take it very coolly,” said Tom, with a grin.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know that I was afraid of anything. I +supposed those other canal-boats were close by, and +as soon as I saw or heard any one, I meant to jump +into the water, and let him pick me up.”</p> + +<p>“Was there no one with you on board?” asked +Waddie.</p> + +<p>“Yes, a whole family; but they were on deck +when the fire broke out, and had only to step on +board one of the other boats by her side. I have +been travelling a great deal lately, and I was tired +and sleepy; so I lay down in a bunk, and went +to sleep. When the fire broke out, the men yelled, +and that waked me up. I sprang for the stairs, +but a sheet of flame lay right over the cabin doors, +and I couldn’t go through. So I shut the doors, +and went to the windows. I yelled with all my +might, to let the boatmen know where I was; but +none of them came near me. Then I tried the +doors again, and found the fire was blowing off in +another direction.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[62]</span></p> + +<p>“That was after we had swung the canal-boat +around,” interposed Waddie.</p> + +<p>“I did not know what did it, but when it was +safe to do so I went on deck.”</p> + +<p>“How did the boat catch afire?” asked Tom.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know. There is half a dozen barrels on +deck, and they smelled like petroleum. Very likely +some smoker dropped his match into the stuff. I +heard something which I took to be the bursting +of one of the barrels; at any rate, they made a +jolly fire. But now I am out of the scrape, I don’t +know that I care.”</p> + +<p>“It won’t be pleasant for the owner to have his +property destroyed,” suggested Waddie; and I think +none of us were pleased with the selfish remark of +the stranger.</p> + +<p>The person whom we had rescued from the burning +boat was a young man, not more than twenty-five. +He was very well dressed, and I judged from his air +and manner that he had seen the world. He interlarded +his narrative with much offensive profanity, +with which I do not care to soil my pages. On the +whole, he did not produce an agreeable impression +upon any of us.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[63]</span></p> + +<p>“Have you got that man out of the cabin?” +shouted a man in the boat from the steamer.</p> + +<p>“Yes, he is safe,” replied Tom. “Why don’t you +bring up your steamer, and put the fire out?”</p> + +<p>“No use; we couldn’t put it out now.”</p> + +<p>“Haven’t you a fire engine on your tow-boat?” I +asked.</p> + +<p>“No; it is broke down.”</p> + +<p>I was inclined to agree with the speaker, who was +the captain of the steamer, that it was useless to attempt +to extinguish the fire, for the canal-boat was +now one mass of flame. She was drifting rapidly +towards the shore, and I was afraid she would set the +woods on fire, for the bushes hung over the bank, so +that the flame would be blown directly into them.</p> + +<p>“Will you go on board one of those canal-boats, sir, +or shall we put you on shore?” asked Tom, addressing +our passenger.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know. I have had about enough canal-boat +for one day,” he replied, shrugging his shoulders.</p> + +<p>“I will do just as you say,” added Tom.</p> + +<p>“Is there any hotel around here?” inquired the +stranger.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[64]</span></p> + +<p>“Yes, a first-rate hotel, not far from the falls,” +added our skipper, pointing in the direction of the +spot.</p> + +<p>“Then I will go there.”</p> + +<p>“All right,” answered Tom, heading the Belle +towards the shore.</p> + +<p>“My name is Schleifer,” continued the stranger. +“I am a drummer for a hardware house in New +York.”</p> + +<p>This seemed to be a satisfactory explanation to me +of the nature of the contents of his travelling-bag, +which had rattled like old iron when he threw it upon +the deck, and which I found, when I lifted it, was very +heavy.</p> + +<p>“I got into Hitaca too late to take the boat down +the lake, for I expect to sell some goods at the towns +below. I had taken all the orders I could get in +Hitaca a few days before; so I had nothing to do, +and wanted to get to Middleport. I didn’t like the +idea of lying around Hitaca till the next morning; +so I thought I would try a canal-boat, just for the +novelty of the thing.”</p> + +<p>“Well, how did you like it?” asked Waddie.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[65]</span></p> + +<p>“I liked it well enough till the fire interfered with +the tranquillity of my dreams; but I did not even +get singed; so I have no reason to complain.”</p> + +<p>By this time the Belle had reached the shore at +the point off which she had been moored before. +The burning canal-boat had grounded just above us, +on a shoal place. As her combustibles on deck had +been consumed, the flames were not so fierce, and +did not reach the shore.</p> + +<p>“I suppose I’m a lucky dog,” said Schleifer, as +Tom lowered his sails, having made fast to a tree +on shore. “My life is not insured, and it would +have been an ugly investment for any office half an +hour ago.”</p> + +<p>“Thank God for preserving your life,” I added.</p> + +<p>“That’s all very well; but I thank my own coolness +that I wasn’t fool enough to rush on deck, where +the fire would have made an end of me in a minute +and a quarter. Do you happen to have any whiskey +on board of this craft?”</p> + +<p>“Not a drop,” replied Tom, promptly. “We +haven’t any use for the article, and we don’t keep it.”</p> + +<p>“They keep it at the hotel—don’t they?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[66]</span></p> + +<p>“I suppose they do. I never called for any,” +added Tom.</p> + +<p>“Are you the skipper of this craft?” asked +Schleifer, in a kind of contemptuous tone.</p> + +<p>“I am; and the craft is a good deal better than +the skipper.”</p> + +<p>“That may be; and, if you don’t take any whiskey, +I should say you were half right, at least. I +should think, with so much cold water under you +and all around you, you would want a little drop +of whiskey, just to help keep up an equilibrium, +you know.”</p> + +<p>“I find that people who take whiskey find it the +most difficult to keep up an equilibrium.”</p> + +<p>“Every one to his fancy; but I can’t sell goods +without a little whiskey. I generally carry a pocket +pistol in my bag; but it got smashed against the +hardware, the other day, and I’ve been dry ever +since.”</p> + +<p>“That was because you did not keep up the +equilibrium,” laughed Tom. “What kind of hardware +do you sell, Mr. Schleifer?”</p> + +<p>“Iron, of course.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[67]</span></p> + +<p>“Pickaxes and crowbars?”</p> + +<p>“Not exactly. I couldn’t carry samples in my +bag very well. I think I will try to find that +hotel now. Did I understand you to say that you +were the skipper of this boat?”</p> + +<p>“I have that honor; and I wouldn’t swap it off +to be governor of the state,” replied Tom.</p> + +<p>“Do you keep her to let?”</p> + +<p>“That’s what I keep her for.”</p> + +<p>“She is a good-looking boat; but I should like +her better if she carried a little whiskey on board,” +said Schleifer. “Haven’t you just a thimbleful, say +forty drops, in the medicine chest?”</p> + +<p>“Not the twentieth part of a drop.”</p> + +<p>“How long does it take you to run from here +down to Cent⁠— down to Middleport?” asked the +drummer.</p> + +<p>“That depends on the wind.”</p> + +<p>“Well, as the wind is to-night.”</p> + +<p>“I could fetch it in four hours. The wind would +be fair after I got by Priam.”</p> + +<p>“Well, skipper, seeing it’s you, I will give you a +five-dollar bill if you will land me in Centre⁠— I +mean in Middleport.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[68]</span></p> + +<p>“Well, seeing it’s you, Mr. Schleifer, I won’t do it.”</p> + +<p>“Not for five dollars?”</p> + +<p>“No, nor for ten. My boat is engaged to these +gentlemen for the rest of the week.”</p> + +<p>“We will let you off, Tom,” whispered Waddie.</p> + +<p>“I don’t want to be let off.”</p> + +<p>“I have an invitation from Captain Portman for +Waddie and myself to sleep at his house,” I added.</p> + +<p>“Is that so? Then I will take him down to +Centreport for ten dollars.”</p> + +<p>“Middleport,” said Schleifer. “I will give you +five.”</p> + +<p>“No; nothing short of ten for a night run down +the lake. I like to sleep a little once in a while.”</p> + +<p>After some bickering the drummer agreed to give +ten dollars for his passage; but he insisted upon +going to the hotel first for a “drop of whiskey.”</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'>THE ENGLISH LORD AND THE DRUMMER.</span> + </h2> +</div> + +<p class='chap-first'><span class='allcaps'>“I couldn’t</span> go to sleep to-night without a +drop of whiskey, and I must have some,” +said Schleifer. “It won’t take me long to go to +the hotel.”</p> + +<p>“Do you know the way?” inquired Waddie.</p> + +<p>“No; but I can find it.”</p> + +<p>“We are going up that way. We will show you +the road.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t need any help. I can snuff a place +where they sell whiskey two miles off,” replied the +commercial gentleman, coarsely.</p> + +<p>He went on shore, taking his bag with him, and +made his way up to the road which led to the +hotel. Waddie and I walked up to Captain Portman’s +house; but he was not at home, though the +servant said he would return soon. He had probably +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[70]</span> +gone over to the hotel, which he generally +visited in the evening. We did not care to remain +if Captain Portman was not at home, and we +walked towards the hotel, expecting to meet him +there.</p> + +<p>“Why didn’t that fellow go to Middleport in the +tow-boat, if he wanted to go there?” said Waddie, +who had taken a strong dislike to Tom’s passenger.</p> + +<p>“I suppose he was afraid of being blown up, or +burned up,” I replied.</p> + +<p>“He did not even take the trouble to thank us +for saving him from the flames.”</p> + +<p>“Probably he does not think we saved him from +anything but a wet jacket,” I suggested.</p> + +<p>“Even that is worth acknowledging.”</p> + +<p>“These drummers live on brass, and this fellow is +in the hardware line.”</p> + +<p>“Waddie! Is that you?” called Tom Walton, as +he rushed up to us when we came down the hill +from Captain Portman’s mansion.</p> + +<p>“Yes, it is I. What’s the matter, Tom?” asked +Waddie.</p> + +<p>“A young woman just came down to the boat, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[71]</span> +and said she wanted to see you very bad,” replied +Tom, with no little excitement in his manner.</p> + +<p>“A young woman! Who is she?”</p> + +<p>“I haven’t the least idea; but she has a nobby +look, as I made her out in the dark. She wanted +you so bad that I told her I would try and find +you.”</p> + +<p>“Who can it be?” said Waddie.</p> + +<p>“Probably Miss Dornwood,” I suggested.</p> + +<p>“But she would not be out of the hotel at this +hour in the evening.”</p> + +<p>“Her relations with her guardian were not very +pleasant, you know,” I added.</p> + +<p>“Well, we will go down and see her, at any +rate;” and we walked towards the moorings of the +Belle.</p> + +<p>“Waddie, you must be very careful,” said I, not +at all pleased with the complications which seemed +to be before us.</p> + +<p>“Careful? What do you mean, Wolf?”</p> + +<p>“If I am not mistaken, the question which we +attempted to dodge once before this evening will +come up again.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[72]</span></p> + +<p>“What’s that?”</p> + +<p>“When Mr.⁠— What’s his name?”</p> + +<p>“Mr. Overton,” added Waddie, supplying the +name I had forgotten.</p> + +<p>“When Mr. Overton attempted to compel Miss +Dornwood to return to the hotel, you stepped between +him and her. If the bear had not made a +scene just at that moment, there might have been a +quarrel between you and the guardian.”</p> + +<p>“You are too cautious, Wolf. I wouldn’t stand +by and see him abuse the young lady. Why, Captain +Portman said he should interfere, and take the +responsibility,” protested Waddie.</p> + +<p>“I would interfere if there were any real abuse, +Waddie; but I think it is better to wait for a +pretty strong provocation before you meddle with +family affairs.”</p> + +<p>“I will be as careful as I can, Wolf; but when I +see a young lady persecuted by a cruel guardian, it +isn’t exactly my style to take it coolly.”</p> + +<p>“We don’t know anything about the facts yet, +and you must remember that there are two sides to +every story.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">[73]</span></p> + +<p>“I will try to remember it. But I don’t see what +she wants with me.”</p> + +<p>“Very likely she has had some trouble with her +guardian, and wants your assistance.”</p> + +<p>“If I can assist her, I shall certainly do so. I +think that Overton is a brute, whatever his relations +to the lady may be.”</p> + +<p>By this time we were near the boat, and I repeated, +in a low tone, my caution to Waddie. I +saw that he was very much interested in the young +lady, and, aware of his impetuous character, I was +afraid he would be too forward in rendering assistance +to her. Miss Dornwood stood upon the shore +near the boat. As we approached her, I saw that +she was very much agitated, and I regarded this +as altogether in her favor.</p> + +<p>“Good evening, Miss Dornwood,” said Waddie.</p> + +<p>“I do not know what you will think of me,” she +replied, in trembling tones. “I am very much +alarmed.”</p> + +<p>“What is the matter?” asked Waddie, in a tone +which was calculated to assure her.</p> + +<p>“I wished to see you very much, for you were so +kind to me that I was sure you would assist me.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[74]</span></p> + +<p>“I should be very glad to assist you, if it is in +my power to do so.”</p> + +<p>“You said you had a boat. I suppose this is the +one.”</p> + +<p>“It is not mine, though we came up the lake to-day +in her.”</p> + +<p>“Do you know where the town of Ruoara is?” +asked the young lady, as she glanced around her +in terror.</p> + +<p>“I do, very well indeed. It is only eight miles +from my home,” replied Waddie.</p> + +<p>“I wish to go there very much,” continued she, +earnestly.</p> + +<p>“To-night?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, to-night—immediately.”</p> + +<p>“That’s very unfortunate, for the skipper has to +take a gentleman to Middleport,” replied Waddie.</p> + +<p>“O, dear! What shall I do?” exclaimed the +young lady. “I must go at once.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps you can go in the boat with the gentleman +as far as Middleport, and—”</p> + +<p>“Who is the gentleman?” interposed she, anxiously.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[75]</span></p> + +<p>“I don’t know him. He is a commercial agent.”</p> + +<p>“I cannot go with a stranger,” said she, shaking +her head in a very positive manner.</p> + +<p>“Am I not a stranger?”</p> + +<p>“No; I learned, after we parted this afternoon, +that you were the son of a very influential gentleman, +and you were kind enough to step between +me and my guardian, when he intended to lay his +hands upon me.”</p> + +<p>“Who told you this?”</p> + +<p>“The landlord. He said your friend was Captain +Penniman; and I was sure, after the service you +had rendered me, that you would again be my +friend, and help me to get to Ruoara.”</p> + +<p>“Won’t you sit down in the boat?” added +Waddie, stepping on board of the Belle.</p> + +<p>“No, I thank you. I do not wish to meet any +strangers,” replied Miss Dornwood. “I know you +think I am very bold; but I should not have come +to you if I had not known who you were.”</p> + +<p>“If you will not go with the gentleman, I do not +see what I can do for you. There is no other sail-boat +here.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[76]</span></p> + +<p>“I suppose I must return to my prison,” said she, +bursting into tears.</p> + +<p>“Do not weep,” interposed Waddie, moved by her +grief.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Wimpleton, I envy the poor man’s daughter +who is surrounded by good and true friends,” sobbed +she. “I will go back to my prison.”</p> + +<p>“What do you mean by your prison?” inquired +Waddie.</p> + +<p>“My guardian sent me to my room, and then +locked me in it. I cannot endure such indignities. +I am going to leave him. I am going to work for +my daily bread in a factory, in a shop—anywhere +that I can earn enough to support me.”</p> + +<p>“Is your situation so desperate as this?”</p> + +<p>“It is, indeed! If I had no spirit at all, perhaps +I could endure it.”</p> + +<p>“There comes some one,” interposed Tom Walton, +who had walked up to the road, as soon as +he understood the case, in order to warn us of the +approach of his passenger.</p> + +<p>Without another word, Miss Dornwood fled like +a frightened fawn in the direction opposite that in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[77]</span> +which Schleifer was approaching. Waddie, deeply +interested in her case, followed her, intent upon assisting +her to the extent of his ability.</p> + +<p>“There is some one with him,” said Tom, as I +joined him, half way between the lake and the +road.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps you are to have two passengers,” I +suggested.</p> + +<p>The drummer and the person who was with him +halted in the road, and seemed to be engaged in a +very earnest conversation. We could not hear a +word they said, but it was evident that they had +not met for the first time, and that they were not +talking about the sale of hardware. It was too +dark to see any more than the form of Schleifer’s +friend.</p> + +<p>“You wait here,” said he, after the conversation +had continued a few moments.</p> + +<p>“Hurry up,” replied the other person, whose voice +seemed to be familiar to me, though I could not +identify it.</p> + +<p>As the drummer approached, we retreated towards +the boat.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[78]</span></p> + +<p>“Hallo, there, skipper!” shouted he.</p> + +<p>“Are you ready?” asked Tom, as we stopped, +and waited till he came up.</p> + +<p>“If it’s all the same to you, I won’t go down the +lake to-night. I met a friend of mine at the hotel, +and I want to stay with him till to-morrow.”</p> + +<p>“All right,” answered Tom.</p> + +<p>“A trade’s a trade. I agreed to give you ten +dollars for the trip. If you will call it five, and not +go, I shall be satisfied,” added Schleifer.</p> + +<p>“I don’t want any five, if you don’t go,” replied +Tom. “I only want what I earn.”</p> + +<p>“But I am willing to compromise.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t compromise. We will call it square as +it is. If you are satisfied, I am.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I shall want your boat another time, and +I’ll make it right with you then,” added the drummer, +as he turned to leave.</p> + +<p>“It’s all right now.”</p> + +<p>“That’s lucky for Waddie,” I suggested.</p> + +<p>“It works first rate. Now, if Waddie wants to +take the lady to Ruoara, the boat is all ready.”</p> + +<p>“But where is he?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[79]</span></p> + +<p>“They haven’t got a great way yet.”</p> + +<p>“Probably she will go towards the hotel. You +follow them, Tom, and I will go up this way,” I +replied, moving in the direction which Schleifer had +taken.</p> + +<p>I soon discovered the drummer and his friend +walking rapidly towards the hotel. I was a little +curious to know who the person was whose voice +had sounded so familiar to me, and I quickened my +pace, hoping the lights in front of the hotel would +enable me to obtain a clear view of him. I followed +them closely; but before reaching the hotel +they turned in at a road which led to the stable in +the rear. Before I could come up with them, they +had seated themselves in a light wagon, which must +have been ordered before, and drove off.</p> + +<p>“Who are those gentlemen?” I asked of the stable-keeper, +who stood in the yard with a lantern in +his hand.</p> + +<p>“One of them I never saw till now; the other +is stopping at the hotel, and is a big gun,” he +replied.</p> + +<p>“I know the taller one. Who is the other?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[80]</span></p> + +<p>“He’s the big gun. He came this morning; but +no one found out what he was till after dinner.”</p> + +<p>“What is he?”</p> + +<p>“He’s the big gun. He’s an English lord. I forget +what they call him.”</p> + +<p>“Lord Palsgrave,” I suggested.</p> + +<p>“That’s the name. He’s a nobby fellow, and +spreads his dollars with a looseness.”</p> + +<p>“Where is he going now?”</p> + +<p>“To Priam, I reckon. He said he should not be +back till to-morrow morning; and there is to be a +big dance there to-night. But I wonder he didn’t +take the young lady with him, who came with his +party.”</p> + +<p>I walked round the hotel, in order to intercept +Waddie and Miss Dornwood; but I saw nothing of +them, and I concluded that Tom had already overtaken +them. After the information I had obtained +from the stable-keeper, my idea of an English lord +was considerably modified. He was on good terms +with a hardware drummer, which did not seem to +be exactly consistent with his exalted position. But +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[81]</span> +it was possible that the drummer was a baron or a +marquis in disguise, though the clatter of his hardware +samples did not tend to prove it.</p> + +<p>I continued my walk towards the lake, and presently +met Waddie and Miss Dornwood.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[82]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VII"> + CHAPTER VII. + <br> + <span class='chap-title'>MISS DORNWOOD’S STORY.</span> + </h2> +</div> + +<p class='chap-first kern-more'><span class='allcaps'>As</span> soon as I saw and recognized Waddie and +Miss Dornwood, they turned out of the road +with the evident intention of avoiding me.</p> + +<p>“Waddie!” I called to him.</p> + +<p>Hearing my voice, they returned to the road, assured +that I was not the brutal guardian whom +the young lady had so much reason to shun.</p> + +<p>“Haven’t you seen Tom?” I asked.</p> + +<p>“No.”</p> + +<p>“He is looking for you.”</p> + +<p>“We heard some one behind us, and turned aside +till he had passed,” added Waddie. “What does he +want?”</p> + +<p>“The drummer has concluded not to go to Middleport +to-night.”</p> + +<p>“And can you have the boat?” inquired Miss +Dornwood, eagerly.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[83]</span></p> + +<p>“The boat is certainly available,” I replied. “But +do you really wish to make a trip of thirty miles +on the lake in the night?”</p> + +<p>“I am afraid of nothing but the tyranny of my +guardian,” she responded, promptly.</p> + +<p>“Where is Tom?” inquired Waddie. “We will +lose no time.”</p> + +<p>“I will find him. If he passed you, he must be +near the hotel.”</p> + +<p>They walked towards the boat, and I returned to +the hotel, where I found Tom, and we soon joined +Waddie on board of the Belle. We were all ready +to start; but I confess I was very much troubled +about the circumstances of the voyage. The mainsail +was flapping in the fresh breeze; but I was +somewhat afraid that Waddie was getting himself, +and perhaps me, into a scrape.</p> + +<p>“Are you going, Waddie?” I asked, in introducing +what I wished to say.</p> + +<p>“Certainly I am.”</p> + +<p>“I hope you will go with me. I should not feel +safe without you,” added Miss Dornwood.</p> + +<p>“Won’t you go too, Wolf?” asked Waddie.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">[84]</span></p> + +<p>“I should be glad to have you,” continued the +young lady.</p> + +<p>“I am not perfectly clear in regard to this matter,” +I suggested.</p> + +<p>“Pray do not stay here any longer,” interposed +Miss Dornwood. “If my guardian should discover +my absence, I’m afraid he would come down here +to look for me. Please to go out upon the lake, and +I will tell you all my story. Then, if you will not +assist me, we can return.”</p> + +<p>“Shove off, Tom,” I replied.</p> + +<p>The skipper ran up the jib, and the Belle, gathering +headway, stood out into the lake.</p> + +<p>“I think you are very cautious, Captain Penniman,” +said Miss Dornwood.</p> + +<p>“I am sure my friend here does not wish to do +anything wrong,” I added.</p> + +<p>“I will bear all the blame,” said Waddie, warmly. +“I think I can find friends for Miss Dornwood without +going so far as Ruoara.”</p> + +<p>“Where?” I asked, curiously.</p> + +<p>“At my father’s house.”</p> + +<p>“I shall not be obliged to trespass upon the kindness +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[85]</span> +of your father’s family, Mr. Wimpleton,” added +Miss Dornwood. “My friends in Ruoara will not +hesitate to receive me into their house, though they +know all the circumstances of my situation.”</p> + +<p>“Who are they?” I asked.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Pinkerton and his family. Do you know +them?”</p> + +<p>“Very well indeed. Ben Pinkerton’s father,” added +Waddie.</p> + +<p>The Pinkertons were of the highest social standing +in Ruoara, and I was almost willing to believe +that there could be no harm in conveying the young +lady to such friends as they were.</p> + +<p>“Emily Pinkerton was my schoolmate at the academy, +and before my father died, our two families +became quite intimate,” continued Miss Dornwood. +“Emily was at my guardian’s house last spring with +her father and mother, and they know all about +the circumstances.”</p> + +<p>“Do they think it is proper for you to leave your +guardian?”</p> + +<p>“Mr. Pinkerton told me himself to come to his +house whenever I could not endure my guardian +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">[86]</span> +any longer. I should have gone there before if I +could have got away.”</p> + +<p>“Are your father and mother both dead?” I inquired.</p> + +<p>“Both of them. I am going to tell you the +whole history of our family. I am seventeen now, +and Mr. Pinkerton says I am old enough to think +for myself. I believe I am.”</p> + +<p>“I should say you were,” I replied.</p> + +<p>“My mother was married twice,” Miss Dornwood +began. “Her first husband’s name was Richard Overton, +and they had one son, Charles Overton, who +is now my guardian. His father died when he was +only four years old. Two years after his death, my +mother was married again, to Edward Dornwood, +my father. He was a wealthy man; but he was deformed, +and in very poor health. I wish I could +tell you how much I loved him, and how devoted +he was to me. Even the great hump upon his back +was not a deformity in my eyes. But, feeble as he +was, my mother was the first to pass away, and +died when I was only eight. I hardly remember her. +I have no doubt she loved me as a mother should +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">[87]</span> +love a child; but I know she used to scold me very +severely, and I recollect this more clearly than anything +else.</p> + +<p>“My father never spoke an unkind word to me. +When I did wrong, when I fretted, he looked so +sad,—sometimes actually shedding tears,—that it +became a positive terror to me to displease him. +When he became so feeble that he could not leave +the house, I spent all my time out of school with +him. His eyes failed so that he could not see well, +and, for hours together, I used to read books to +him which had not the least interest to me. I can +truly say, that I was never so happy as when with +him.”</p> + +<p>“Where was this Charles Overton all this time?” +I asked, as she paused to wipe away her tears.</p> + +<p>“He lived near us, and professed a very deep interest +in my poor dear father, and in me too, for +that matter. His father had died a poor man, and +he was a clerk in a store. He used to come in +every day, and express so much solicitude for my +father and his affairs, that we were all deceived in +him. We thought he was a good man, but really +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[88]</span> +all he cared for was my father’s money. By degrees +he won his confidence; and, though he had +never treated me as a sister when we were children +together, I was very grateful to him for the care he +bestowed upon his step-father.</p> + +<p>“When I was about fourteen years old, my father +began to fail in health very rapidly, and it was evident +to himself, as it was to the rest of us, that he +could not last many months longer. With a calmness +which seemed to be awful to me, he spoke of +leaving the earth to join the angels in heaven. I +wept bitterly at the thought of parting with him; +but he suffered so terribly that I finally became +reconciled to his going, for I realized that my loss, +even in a worldly sense, would be his gain. Then +he told me about his property, and asked me if I +should like to have Charles for my guardian.</p> + +<p>“I was fifteen years old, but I knew little or +nothing about business. I was entirely satisfied to +have Charles an my guardian, though I hardly comprehended +what his relations with me in that capacity +were to be. The next day came the lawyers, +and my father made some changes in his will, which +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">[89]</span> +had been written years before. In a word, he +named Charles Overton as my guardian, and made +him the executor of his will. I am sure he charged +him to be very kind to me, and to take good care +of my fortune. But my father lived nearly a year +after he had settled up his worldly affairs, during +which Charles was as devoted to him and me as the +most loving son and brother could be. He came to +our house to live, in order that he might better +attend to the wants of the invalid, and resigned his +situation in the store so that he could devote all +his time to this duty.</p> + +<p>“I will not try to tell you the sad story of +my father’s death. He passed away, and ceased to +suffer. We laid him in the silent tomb, and life +was not to me what it had been before. I had lost +my greatest earthly comfort, and, young as I was, +I looked forward with joy and hope to the time +when I should join my father in heaven. But this +sadness wore away, though I have not ceased, and +never shall cease, to think of my father as an angel, +even when he was upon the earth. Charles Overton +took charge of everything, and came into +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[90]</span> +actual possession of the house in which I had lived +all my life. It was more than six months after my +father’s death when he spoke to me about business. +Then he showed me my father’s will, and read +it to me. He described the legal forms through +which he had passed, but I could not understand +them.</p> + +<p>“My father gave him twenty thousand dollars in +his will, and a fixed salary for doing the business of +his estate until I was of age. After giving many +legacies to charitable objects, the residue of his fortune +was given to me. I was told that I was the +heiress of two hundred thousand dollars. But there +was one very singular clause in the will, to the +effect that, if I married without the consent of +Charles Overton, I was to receive fifty thousand +dollars, and the residue of the fortune was to go +to my half brother. I was astonished and shocked +at this part of the will. I asked Charles to let me +see it. Certainly it was all written down as he had +read it; but it seemed incredible to me that my +doting father had intended to subject me to such a +condition.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">[91]</span></p> + +<p>“About this time Charles Overton began to exercise +his authority over me. He resorted to every +expedient in his power to annoy me, and make me +miserable. He succeeded, too, in making me as unhappy +as I could wish any human being to be, if +he were my worst enemy. I could not divine his +object; but, between him and his wife, I had hardly +a day of peace from one year’s end to the other. I +was not permitted to go into company, nor to visit +those who had been my friends and companions +during the latter years of my father’s life. I was +not allowed even to take a walk without some one +to attend me, and see that I made no new acquaintances, +nor met any old ones. I may say with truth +that I have been a slave now for nearly two years.</p> + +<p>“I remonstrated and protested against this treatment; +but Charles explained that he was only carrying +out the wishes of my father that he should +watch over me with the utmost care. It was only +when I believed I comprehended his motives, that +I ventured actually to resist him. I refused to obey +him, and went out when I could find an opportunity. +I was fully persuaded that he intended to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">[92]</span> +break me down and wear me out, so that he could +get my fortune.”</p> + +<p>“But why is he so particular that you should +make no acquaintances?” asked Waddie. “If you +should be married without his consent, he will get +most of your fortune.”</p> + +<p>“Mr. Pinkerton told me that clause would not +stand the test of the law. But I do not think of +being married either with or without my half brother’s +consent,” added Miss Dornwood, with much +embarrassment.</p> + +<p>She paused a few moments, and looked over the +side of the boat into the water. I realized that it +was a great trial to her to feel obliged to tell this +long and painful narrative.</p> + +<p>“I have not told you the worst yet,” she continued. +“I was satisfied that Charles Overton wanted +my money; that he was plotting day and night to +obtain it. Doubtless what he termed my obstinacy +worried him. He is a man of no principle whatever, +and I am sure he is equal to any crime he +has the courage to perpetrate. About three weeks +ago, while we were at Cape May, we met Lord Palsgrave. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">[93]</span> +While we were bathing in the surf one day, +a wave lifted me off my feet, and carried me out +of my depth. I could swim, and was not at all +alarmed; but his lordship swam out to me, and, in +spite of my protest, insisted upon saving me from a +watery grave. I thanked him for his good intentions, +though I did not need his services; and from +that time to this he has clung to me. I must tell +the whole truth: he proposed to me, and I promptly +rejected him, for I did not like him. My intimacy +with him assured me there was not much difference +between a lord and a boor. My guardian did like +him, if I did not, and declared that his lordship was +the only man who could marry me with his consent. +I was persecuted on this subject till I was disgusted +with it.”</p> + +<p>And then the poor girl burst into tears again.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">[94]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VIII"> + CHAPTER VIII. + <br> + <span class='chap-title'>THE STRANGE BOAT.</span> + </h2> +</div> + +<p class='chap-first kern'><span class='allcaps'>Miss Dornwood</span> was evidently contrasting +her present situation with the happiness which +had been her portion during the lifetime of her father. +It was not strange that she wept, as she compared +the tenderness of her devoted parent with the +harshness and brutality of Charles Overton. I had +seen enough of him to convince me that she had +not exaggerated the truth, and I was so moved by +her story that I was ready to do as much as +Waddie to assist her. There was nothing said, +therefore, about returning to the hotel, and the +Belle dashed on her course over the waves.</p> + +<p>Tom Walton sat at the helm, drinking in every +detail of the young lady’s story, but still, from the +force of habit, working the boat with the nicest skill. +He made long tacks, and had run nearly over to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">[95]</span> +Port Gunga, so that from this point he could lay a +course directly through the Narrows, about fifteen +miles distant, without cramping her.</p> + +<p>“Do you think his lordship is really a lord?” I +asked, when Miss Dornwood had become quiet, and +we ceased to hear her sobs.</p> + +<p>“I suppose he is. I have no reason to doubt it,” +she replied. “He showed me a letter from his father +the other day.”</p> + +<p>“Who is his father?”</p> + +<p>“The letter was signed ‘Dumford.’ He explained +that his father was Earl of Dumford, and taking +his father’s second title, he was called Lord Palsgrave. +I know nothing about these things, and +really feel no interest in them. He talks about the +nobility of England with a familiarity which indicates +a thorough acquaintance, and, as I know nothing +about the matter, he might do so with entire +impunity. He clings to me all the time. I cannot +go out of the house that he does not follow me. +He has not left me for so long a time since we first +met as he did to-day, when I encountered the bear. +Indeed, I have not seen him since; but, then, I +was shut up in my room.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">[96]</span></p> + +<p>“How did you get out of your prison?” inquired +Waddie.</p> + +<p>“As soon as it was dark, I went out of the window +upon the roof of the piazza, and entered one +of the entries by another window. Passing down +the back stairs, I came to the grove, and made my +way to the place where I had seen your boat. +Now, all I ask of you is, to convey me to Mr. +Pinkerton’s house. I will give you no further +trouble.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed, I shall be very glad to serve you to +any extent you may require,” said Waddie.</p> + +<p>“Thank you; but I shall not have to trouble you +any further, and I will pay the boatman for what +he has done.”</p> + +<p>“Not a penny for me, miss. I should blush if I +could take any money for a job of this kind,” protested +Tom.</p> + +<p>“I really cannot see what motive your guardian +has for compelling you to marry this lord,” I added, +changing the topic. “He will consent to this, and +his consent prevents him from reaping any benefit +under your father’s will.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">[97]</span></p> + +<p>“I do not understand it myself,” replied Miss +Dornwood.</p> + +<p>“It would be his policy to withhold his consent, +whoever the person may be.”</p> + +<p>“So it seems to me; but I hope I never shall +see Lord Palsgrave again. Charles knows that I +dislike him, and this may be the reason why he +persecutes me.”</p> + +<p>“Miss Dornwood, I don’t believe this Palsgrave +is a lord any more than I am,” I ventured to +remark.</p> + +<p>“Why, what makes you think he is not?” she +asked, astonished at my violent conclusion.</p> + +<p>“I saw him get into a buggy and drive off with +the drummer that we took out of the burning canal-boat.”</p> + +<p>“Is that so?” inquired Waddie.</p> + +<p>“His voice sounded a little familiar to me, as I +heard him speak to the hardware man.”</p> + +<p>“Are you sure it was he?” said Waddie.</p> + +<p>“I did not know who it was then; but when I +saw them drive off together, I asked the stable-keeper +who he was. He assured me it was the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">[98]</span> +English lord. I don’t think the nobility of England, +as a general rule, run with hardware drummers.”</p> + +<p>“Did the drummer really go away with his lordship?” +added Waddie, rubbing his hands, as though +he were delighted with the fact; and I think by +this time he had some idea himself of defeating +the matrimonial project of Lord Palsgrave.</p> + +<p>“I could not have been mistaken.”</p> + +<p>“A man is known by the company he keeps, and +if that Schleifer isn’t a scoundrel, I will never ask +the privilege of guessing again. But you must be +tired by this time, Miss Dornwood.”</p> + +<p>“I am, indeed, very tired. I am not strong, and +the excitement of this day has fatigued me very +much,” she replied.</p> + +<p>“There is a nice little cabin forward, and you +shall have it all to yourself. It is now only ten +o’clock, and we shall not reach Ruoara before one +or two. You can go to sleep just the same as +though you were on shore.”</p> + +<p>“I could not go to sleep, even if I were at +home.”</p> + +<p>“Well, you can lie down and rest yourself,” persisted +Waddie.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">[99]</span></p> + +<p>After much persuasion she consented to occupy +the cabin, and, as she entered, Waddie closed the +doors, for there was sufficient ventilation through +the blinds in them. As the Belle flew on her +course, dashing the spray smartly over her bow, +we sat by the side of the skipper discussing Lord +Palsgrave. Certain I was that his voice had sounded +familiar to me; but I labored in vain to fasten it +upon any person I could recall to mind.</p> + +<p>We heard nothing of our lady passenger, and +we concluded she had gone to sleep. Tom began +to gape fearfully, and I felt very sleepy myself, +while Waddie was as wide awake as ever. At the +suggestion of the latter, Tom and I wrapped ourselves +up in our overcoats, and stretching ourselves +upon the scats, went to sleep, leaving him at the +helm. It was not necessary that all of us should +keep awake, and Waddie agreed to call one of us +to take his place in a couple of hours. I do not +thick my position was a very comfortable one, for +I dreamed that an enormous black bear had squatted +down upon my stomach, and insisted upon shaking +hands with me. But my hands seemed to be tied +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">[100]</span> +behind me, so that I could not comply with his +bearship’s civil demand; and the next best thing I +could do was to struggle to free myself from the +weight that rested upon me, and made me feel very +uncomfortable. I continued to labor in this manner, +when, instead of throwing off the bear, I smashed +the boat beneath me, with a loud crash. I waked +under this shock, and started to my feet to escape +drowning in the lake.</p> + +<p>“Boat ahoy!” shouted Waddie, as I stood up.</p> + +<p>Then I realized that the Belle had actually +struck something, the shock of which had become +part of my vision.</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter, Waddie?” asked Tom Walton, +who had been aroused by the crash.</p> + +<p>“I ran into a boat just now,” replied Waddie, +straining his eyes to penetrate the gloom which surrounded +us.</p> + +<p>“Where is it?” I asked.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know. I can’t see it, but I hear the +stroke of oars.”</p> + +<p>“What boat was it?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know, I only got a glimpse of her, as +she slid off to leeward of us.”</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp94" id="i_101" style="max-width: 88.875em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_101.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <span class="smcap">The Strange Boat.</span> <a href='#Page_101'>Page 101</a>. + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">[101]</span></p> + +<p>“Where are we?”</p> + +<p>“Right in the Narrows. Finding I was running +too close to the Middleport side, I let out the sheet +and kept her away. In an instant I struck the boat. +There were two men in it, and that is all I know +about it. Hold on!” exclaimed he. “Take the +helm, Tom, and I’ll light up the lake.”</p> + +<p>Waddie had brought with him some bengola +lights, with which he purposed to try an experiment +in fishing. Taking one of these, he placed it on +the well-trap to keep it from burning the deck, and +set it on fire. The bengola blazed with a brilliant +light, and the lake was illuminated from one side +to the other, for in the Narrows it was only a mile +wide.</p> + +<p>“There it is!” shouted Tom, pointing to a small +row-boat, in which were two persons, pulling with +all their might towards the Centreport shore.</p> + +<p>“Keep her away, Tom,” said I, earnestly. “I +want to see who they are.”</p> + +<p>Tom let out the sheet, and put the helm up; +but the boat disappeared behind the steamboat wharf +before we could get near enough to see the faces +of the two men.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">[102]</span></p> + +<p>“No use; they are ashore by this time,” said +Waddie.</p> + +<p>“I don’t see what anybody should be crossing +the lake for at this time of night,” I added. “It +is half past twelve.”</p> + +<p>“There is something mysterious about that boat,” +said Waddie, shaking his head. “The men were not +pulling when we struck the boat; if they had been I +should have heard them, and not run into her. When +they saw or heard the Belle, they must have stopped +pulling. They didn’t speak, or make any sound.”</p> + +<p>“Of course they must have had a purpose in acting +so,” I added, not a little perplexed by the mystery +which seemed to surround the movements of +the men.</p> + +<p>“Why didn’t they speak after I hailed them? If +they had been honest men they would have said something +after the bump the Belle gave them,” added +Waddie, much excited.</p> + +<p>“I am afraid there is something wrong,” I continued.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know why there should be,” interposed +Tom Walton. “It isn’t so very strange that a boat +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">[103]</span> +should cross the lake in the night. Perhaps the men +are going after a doctor for some one that is sick.”</p> + +<p>“Why didn’t they speak when I hailed?” insisted +Waddie. “Any honest man would have sung out +when we ran into his boat.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps they were frightened,” suggested Tom.</p> + +<p>“They did not pull like men who were alarmed +when we saw them.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I thought they did pull just like men who +were scared. They made good time.”</p> + +<p>“I’m not satisfied, and I should not be surprised to +ace some building blaze up in a few moments,” persisted +Waddie.</p> + +<p>This remark corresponded with my own thoughts. +We were both thinking of fires, for in all the towns +upon the lake there had been a large number of them +within a few months, all of which were believed to +have been caused by incendiaries, though no one +could comprehend the motives of the miscreants who +set them. In Centreport and Middleport several barns +and storehouses had been destroyed, and I was persuaded +that the two men in the boat were incendiaries.</p> + +<p>“Shall I head her for Ruoara?” asked Tom, while +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">[104]</span> +we were discussing the matter. “We are going to +leeward now.”</p> + +<p>“No; run her for the steamboat wharf at Centreport,” +I replied. “I am going ashore to see what +those men are about.”</p> + +<p>“All right,” added Tom, as he peered through the +gloom to make out the wharf.</p> + +<p>“What do you say, Waddie? Will you land with +me?” I asked, as we approached the wharf. “Tom +can land Miss Dornwood at Ruoara, and take us on +board when he returns.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know, I don’t exactly like to leave her, +since she depends upon me for assistance,” answered +Waddie, hesitating. “If the Pinkertons should happen +to be away, she might wish to take some other +course.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll tell you what will do just as well,” interposed +the skipper. “I will go with you, Wolf, and Waddie +can sail the Belle down to Ruoara.”</p> + +<p>“That will fit the case exactly,” replied Waddie, as +the boat rounded to at the landing-steps.</p> + +<p>Taking our overcoats, Tom Walton and I went on +shore. Still we heard nothing from Miss Dornwood, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">[105]</span> +and we thought she was sleeping very soundly, if the +shock of the collision had failed to wake her. We +went upon the wharf, but we could see nothing of the +two men.</p> + +<p>“I wonder what boat they came over in,” said Tom, +as he descended the steps to satisfy himself on this +point.</p> + +<p>“Do you make it out?” I asked, following him half +way down.</p> + +<p>“Yes, it is the Grace’s tender,” answered he.</p> + +<p>“There will be a fire over here soon—you may depend +upon it,” I continued, as we walked up the steps +again. “Nothing would suit me better than to get +hold of the villains.”</p> + +<p>“I am with you there, Wolf,” added Tom, earnestly. +“But, after all, it isn’t so strange that a boat should +cross the lake even at midnight.”</p> + +<p>“Certainly there is nothing strange in the crossing +of the boat, but there is something very strange in +the conduct of those men. It is the most natural +thing in the world for men to sing out when a boat +runs into them; but these men did not open their +mouths. When the Belle approached them, their boat +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">[106]</span> +was lying on the water, and they were perfectly silent, +evidently trying to avoid being seen. If they had +pulled straight across the lake, like honest men, I +shouldn’t have thought anything of their being out +at this time of night.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps you are right,” added Tom.</p> + +<p>“At any rate, we can take a turn around the town, +where the barns and storehouses are, and see if we +can find them.”</p> + +<p>We walked along the street by the side of the lake, +looking carefully into all the lanes and by-places.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">[107]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IX"> + CHAPTER IX. + <br> + <span class='chap-title'>THE ROBBERY OF THE CENTREPORT BANK.</span> + </h2> +</div> + +<p class='chap-first kern'><span class='allcaps'>Tom Walton</span> and I went entirely around the +town of Centreport, visiting every part where +there were detached buildings which presented to +the incendiary favorable opportunities for plying his +infamous trade. The main street, on which were +located the principal churches, the bank, the post +office, the library, and other public buildings, was +so densely populated that the miscreants could not +work to advantage. So far as we could discover, +not a soul was stirring in the place. We saw +nothing of the two men, and when we returned to +the steamboat wharf, Tom was rather disposed to +make fun of my fears.</p> + +<p>“We haven’t seen a spark of fire yet, Wolf,” +said he, as we seated ourselves on a box, much +fatigued after the long tramp we had taken.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">[108]</span></p> + +<p>“That’s very true, and I am willing to give it +up, and to believe there will be no fire in Centreport +this time,” I replied.</p> + +<p>“It was a wild goose chase.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps it was; but it may be that our coming +on shore has saved some building from destruction,” +I reasoned. “If we did not see the rogues, they +may have seen us, and kept out of the way.”</p> + +<p>“That may be, and then again it may not be. In +any opinion, the two persons in that boat were a +couple of honest men who had been courting, and +sat up rather later than they meant to. Probably +they knew the Belle, and did not want us to know +who they were, for fear they would get blackguarded,” +replied Tom, with an expansive gape, which I could +hear, if I could not see.</p> + +<p>“You are ingenious, Tom, and very likely your +explanation of the mystery is a reasonable one,” I +added, with a yawn as expansive as that of my +companion.</p> + +<p>“What time is it now?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know; about two, I should think.”</p> + +<p>“Look at your watch,” added he, striking a match +to afford me the needed light.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">[109]</span></p> + +<p>“Half past two,” I answered, consulting my watch.</p> + +<p>“I’m as tired as a dog,” added Tom.</p> + +<p>“So am I.”</p> + +<p>“I suppose Waddie will not be back before five +o’clock. He must see the young lady up to Mr. +Pinkerton’s house.”</p> + +<p>“I do not expect him before that time.”</p> + +<p>“Well, Wolf, I move you we take a nap,” continued +Tom, stretching himself. “Here’s the Raven, +and we can bunk on board of her.”</p> + +<p>“Her cabin is locked.”</p> + +<p>“The standing-room is not, and we can lie down, +as we did in the Belle.”</p> + +<p>I approved the suggestion. We had our overcoats +with us, and both of us were tough and hardy. +We wrapped ourselves in the coats, and he took one +seat while I took the other. Neither of us needed +rocking, and we dropped asleep as readily as though +we had been in our own beds on shore. By the +side of the Raven, which was Waddie Wimpleton’s +boat, lay the tender of the Grace, in which the +strange men had crossed the lake. If they intended +to return to Middleport in her, they could not very +well get off without waking us.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">[110]</span></p> + +<p>I do not know what it was that aroused me in +the morning, but the moment my senses came back +to me, I was conscious that there was a grand commotion +in Centreport. It was broad daylight, and I +heard people shouting in the street above the wharf. +I waked Tom, who had not been disturbed by the +noise that had aroused me.</p> + +<p>“Whats the row?” asked he, springing to his +feet.</p> + +<p>“I heard some one shouting up in the street. I +should not wonder if there was a fire, after all.”</p> + +<p>“A fire!”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know. We will go up and see what the +trouble is. There is some kind of a row in town, +at any rate.”</p> + +<p>We walked up the wharf; but we heard no more +shouting. The Grace’s tender lay alongside the +Raven, just as it had been when we went to sleep, +and of course the strange men had not returned to +Middleport in it. Just at the head of the wharf, +and within twenty rods of the moorings of the +Raven, was the house of Captain Synders, the constable +of Centreport. As we approached it, we saw +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">[111]</span> +that officer rushing out in hot haste, buttoning his +vest, as though he had not been allowed sufficient +time to complete his toilet. I at once reached a +correct solution of the noise which had disturbed +my slumbers. Some one had been pounding at the +door of the constable’s house, and shouting for him.</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter?” I inquired, as we ran forward +and overtook him.</p> + +<p>“They say the Centreport Bank has been robbed,” +replied Captain Synders, with all the excitement of +manner which such a discovery was likely to create +in a dignitary of his importance.</p> + +<p>“Robbed!” exclaimed Tom.</p> + +<p>“Robbed!” I repeated.</p> + +<p>“That’s what they say, and I suppose it’s true, +for Gibson, the porter of the bank building, came +down to call me. He was almost crazy.”</p> + +<p>Captain Synders quickened his pace, and we followed +him to the bank. Gibson had already called +Mr. Barnes, the cashier, who arrived about the same +time that we did. He was terribly excited, as well +he might be, and proceeded at once to examine the +vault, which opened from the banking-room. The +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">[112]</span> +double doors were open, as the robbers had left +them, and Mr. Barnes entered, intent upon ascertaining +what loss the bank had sustained. My heart +beat quick, also, for I had ten thousand dollars in +bonds in the bank, which had been presented to me +by Colonel Wimpleton. A similar princely gift from +Major Toppleton had been deposited in the Wimpleton +Bank for safe keeping. I was actually worth +more than twenty thousand dollars, but I could not +help feeling just then that riches take to themselves +wings and fly away.</p> + +<p>The cashier made a hasty examination of the +drawers in the vault. All of them had evidently +been opened, and valuable papers were scattered +like chaff through the little apartment. The robbers +evidently did not intend to encumber themselves +with any useless documents.</p> + +<p>“All the money is gone,” said Mr. Barnes, with +a gasp.</p> + +<p>“All your specie?” I asked.</p> + +<p>“No; not all of it. I suppose it was too heavy +for them,” he replied, examining the boxes which +had contained the gold, at the bottom of the vault. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">[113]</span> +“They have taken a great deal of it. All the bank +notes are gone. They have made a good haul.”</p> + +<p>“How much do you suppose they have taken?” +inquired Captain Synders.</p> + +<p>“I can’t tell; but not less than sixty thousand +dollars.”</p> + +<p>“Good gracious!” exclaimed the excited constable.</p> + +<p>“I did not believe that this vault could be opened +by any burglar,” added the cashier, as he turned to +the riven doors.</p> + +<p>A hole had been cut in the outer one, and screws +applied by which the bolts on it had been doubled +up and wrenched off. The robbers were evidently +accomplished mechanicians, and had probably come +a long distance, from some one of the great cities, +to do the job. They had entered the building +through a back window, by taking out the screws +in the hinges of the shutters, and then cutting +through the glass to unfasten the sash.</p> + +<p>“The men we saw on the lake did this job,” +said Tom.</p> + +<p>“What men?” demanded Captain Synders.</p> + +<p>We related our adventure in the Narrows in the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">[114]</span> +night, and no one doubted that the two strange +men were the robbers.</p> + +<p>“What sort of men were they?” asked the cashier.</p> + +<p>“We couldn’t see them very plainly. When we +had lighted the bengola they were too far off to +be identified,” I replied. “We supposed they came +over to set fires, and we walked all around the +town to find them, if we could.”</p> + +<p>“What time was this?” inquired the constable.</p> + +<p>“After twelve—about half past twelve,” I replied.</p> + +<p>“Well, what’s to be done?” said the cashier, appealing +nervously to the officer.</p> + +<p>“I will look over the vault again, and see if I +can find anything that will afford me a clew to the +robbers.”</p> + +<p>We went to the vault again, and Mr. Barnes +picked up the papers on the floor. Among them +were my bonds, none of which had been taken, for +the simple reason that the villains could make no +use of them. Nothing could be found to afford any +clew to the robbers. There was no stray button, +piece of cloth, nor any of the tools with which they +had worked.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">[115]</span></p> + +<p>“I don’t think they had been gone long when I +came,” said the porter. “I heard a noise on the +back side of the building when I was opening the +front door.”</p> + +<p>“Why didn’t you say so before,” replied Captain +Synders, savagely. “Have we been fooling +away our time while the rascals were in town?”</p> + +<p>“I didn’t think of it till just this minute,” pleaded +Gibson. “I didn’t think anything of it at the time, +and when I went in and found the bank had been +robbed, I was so scared I couldn’t think of anything +else.”</p> + +<p>“What sort of a noise did you hear?” demanded +the constable.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know just what it was. It was a kind +of a shuffling noise. Perhaps the robbers had +thrown their traps out the window, and were +flying round to pick them up.”</p> + +<p>“You are smart!” sneered Captain Synders. +“Why didn’t you go round to the rear of the +building, and see what it was?”</p> + +<p>“Because I didn’t think anything at all about it,” +replied Gibson, who was terribly frightened by the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">[116]</span> +charge that he had failed to do his whole duty. +“I don’t go and look into everything whenever I +hear a noise—do you?”</p> + +<p>“I do, when a bank has been robbed.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I didn’t know a bank had been robbed +when I heard that noise.”</p> + +<p>“Gibson did the best he knew how,” added the +cashier. “If the robbers left only half an hour ago, +they cannot have gone far by this time.”</p> + +<p>“That’s so!” exclaimed Captain Synders, as he +bolted out the door.</p> + +<p>“Where are you going?” shouted the cashier.</p> + +<p>“After a horse.” But he did not wait to answer +any questions in regard to his intended movement, +and we were left in the dark.</p> + +<p>“Synders is a blockhead,” said Mr. Barnes. “He +will make a great stir, and that is all he will do.”</p> + +<p>“He will not be likely to catch the burglars,” I +replied; for I had a poor opinion of the constable’s +capacity to work up a case. “It’s a pity we haven’t +a smarter man.”</p> + +<p>We went out of the bank to the rear window, +where the villains had entered the building. The +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">[117]</span> +ground was much beaten and tracked, and I was +soon able to identify the footprints of the two men. +I found the track by which they had come to the +building, and that by which they had left it. The +latter only interested me, and I traced it as far as +I could. It led me through a narrow and circuitous +alley, which conducted to a street back of the main +one of the town. I satisfied myself that the villains +had approached the bank in this direction.</p> + +<p>“Tom, whoever robbed the bank, they were not +strangers in Centreport,” said I to the skipper, after +the cashier had gone to secure the valuable papers +which were scattered about the vault.</p> + +<p>“What makes you think so?” asked Tom.</p> + +<p>“Strangers could not have found their way through +these back alleys.”</p> + +<p>“Who do you suppose they were?”</p> + +<p>“I have no idea,” I replied, still studying the +ground, at the junction of the alley with the back +street, in order to ascertain in what direction the +robbers had departed. “I can’t think of any one +who is up to a deed of this kind.”</p> + +<p>“Here’s the track!” cried Tom. “They went down +towards the steam mill.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">[118]</span></p> + +<p>One of the burglars wore a boot with irons on the +outside of the heels, the print of which enabled us +to follow them; but when we came to a street more +travelled and harder than the other, we could no +longer trace it. But we were satisfied that the +rogues had gone down to the lake. There were no +boats below the steamboat wharf, that we knew of, +and we concluded that they must have returned +as they came. We hastened towards the public +landing.</p> + +<p>“There they are!” shouted Tom, as we reached +a point in the street which extended along the +bank of the lake from Colonel Wimpleton’s mansion, +from which we could see the end of the +wharf.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">[119]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_X"> + CHAPTER X. + <br> + <span class='chap-title'>THE ROBBERS SEPARATE.</span> + </h2> +</div> + +<p class='chap-first kern'><span class='allcaps'>Tom Walton</span> pointed to the tender of the +Grace, in which a young man was pulling +across the Narrows with all his might. He was +already so far from us that we could not make him +out. We ran with all our speed towards the wharf; +but we were obliged to pass behind some buildings, +and lost sight of the retreating robber in the boat. +It was still early in the morning, and no one in +this part of the town was stirring.</p> + +<p>“I am afraid we are too late,” said Tom, as we +turned the corner at the steamboat wharf.</p> + +<p>“If we can only see them so that we shall know +them, we shall have some chance,” I replied.</p> + +<p>“There goes the Raven!” shouted my companion, +as we saw Waddie’s sail-boat shooting out from the +wharf.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">[120]</span></p> + +<p>“Who is in her? Isn’t it some one after that +fellow in the tender?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know; it may be,” replied Tom, as we +halted, out of breath, at the end of the wharf.</p> + +<p>By this time the man in the row-boat had nearly +reached the other side of the lake. I could only +see that he was a young man, well dressed, and +rather slender in stature. He had taken off his coat, +and was bareheaded. The other man, in the Raven, +seemed to take particular care that he should not +be scrutinized by any person on shore. He wore a +shaggy old coat, and a dilapidated Panama hat; but +these articles belonged to Waddie, who kept them +in the boat for use when he went fishing or sailing. +The robber in the Raven had evidently availed himself +of these garments to disguise his person as +much as possible.</p> + +<p>He was a good boatman, and handled the Raven +with much skill. He had left the wharf under +mainsail only; but as soon as he was clear of the +shore, he ran up the jib, and headed the boat up +the lake. I did not readily see why the rogues had +separated at this point, whether it was to divide +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">[121]</span> +their pursuers, or whether they wished to go to +different parts of the country. The Raven and the +tender were the only boats at the wharf, and I +finally concluded that they had taken this course to +prevent the sail-boat from being used in the pursuit, +as well as to divide the attention of the pursuers, +for I was satisfied that they were conscious of +having been discovered. In order to obtain the tiller, +the hat, and the coat, the man in the Raven must +have broken into the cabin; but this was a trivial +achievement to one who had set at defiance the +huge lock of the bank vault.</p> + +<p>“We are standing here like fools!” exclaimed +Tom, as we were watching the two boats, though +we had hardly wasted a minute in this way.</p> + +<p>“We have no boat to follow them,” I replied. +“But there comes the Belle,” I added, as I glanced up +the lake.</p> + +<p>The sail-boat was not half a mile distant, and +we had been so intent upon observing the movements +of the robbers that we did not see her before. +The breeze was even fresher than it had been +during the night, and she was rushing over the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">[122]</span> +waves with a huge bone in her mouth, at a speed +which would soon bring her to the wharf. The +man in the tender landed at the wharf in Middleport, +and with his hat and coat in his hand, walked +up the wharf. Though we lost sight of him, we +were confident that he would be overtaken. There +were but three roads by which he could leave the +town, if he left it at all, and men with fast horses +could make his chances of escaping very small.</p> + +<p>“Hurry up, Waddie!” shouted Tom, as the Belle +neared the wharf.</p> + +<p>“Shall we try to follow both of them, or only one? +That’s the question now,” I added.</p> + +<p>“Both of them, of course,” replied Tom, eagerly. +“I will chase the Raven in the Belle, and you or Waddie +can follow the fellow that went over in the tender.”</p> + +<p>“Good! That is the plan.”</p> + +<p>“Hallo, there! Have you seen anything of them?” +shouted Captain Synders, as he drove his horse swiftly +down the wharf.</p> + +<p>“Yes, seen them both,” I answered. “One has +crossed over to Middleport, and the other is in the +Raven.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">[123]</span></p> + +<p>“Good gracious!” exclaimed the excited constable. +“Get me a boat, and row me over to the other side +as quick as lightning.”</p> + +<p>“We have no boat; but there comes the Belle. +She will be here in half a minute.”</p> + +<p>“But I am going to chase the Raven in the Belle,” +interposed Tom, who had worked himself up to a +high pitch of excitement at the prospect of the thrilling +race before him.</p> + +<p>“I must get across the lake somehow,” added the +officer.</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter?” demanded Waddie, as he +rounded the corner of the wharf, and headed the Belle +up to the landing-steps.</p> + +<p>“The bank has been robbed,” returned Tom, as we +all rushed to the stairs.</p> + +<p>“By the great horn spoon!” ejaculated Waddie.</p> + +<p>“Sixty thousand dollars gone,” added Tom.</p> + +<p>“You don’t mean so!”</p> + +<p>“It’s as true as preaching. One of the robbers has +taken the Raven, and the other has crossed to Middleport.”</p> + +<p>“By the great horn spoon!” repeated Waddie, so +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">[124]</span> +startled by the intelligence that he could only give +expression to his feelings in his favorite phrase.</p> + +<p>“Hurry up!” shouted the constable, as we all +tumbled into the boat.</p> + +<p>Captain Synders told the man who had come with +him in the wagon to drive the horse back to the +stable, and inform the bank people where he had gone.</p> + +<p>“What’s to be done?” demanded Waddie, as he +shoved off the Belle.</p> + +<p>“Put me across the lake in double-quick time,” replied +the constable.</p> + +<p>“No; run down to your father’s house, and take +another boat,” added Tom. “I shall lose sight of the +Raven if you keep me to go over there.”</p> + +<p>“That’s it. We have another sail-boat there, and +it won’t take three minutes longer,” added Waddie, as +he headed the Belle in the direction indicated.</p> + +<p>“That won’t do,” protested the constable. “I shall +lose the fellow on the other side.”</p> + +<p>“And I shall lose the fellow on the lake,” retorted +Tom.</p> + +<p>“But I am the constable of Centreport,” puffed the +captain.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">[125]</span></p> + +<p>“Tom is right,” I interposed. “The fellow on the +other side can’t get a great way. The Raven is a +faster boat than the Belle, and—”</p> + +<p>“We will settle that question to-day,” interposed +Tom. “It’s going to be breezy, and we shall see which +is the best boat. That fellow handles the Raven as +though he knew how; but, if I don’t beat him, I’ll sell +the Belle for two cents.”</p> + +<p>The constable yielded the point at my suggestion, +and in a couple of minutes Waddie ran the boat +alongside the little pier near his father’s house.</p> + +<p>“Which of you is going with me?” demanded the +constable, as he stepped ashore.</p> + +<p>“I will,” replied Waddie. “Hold on just one minute, +Tom. I have something for you.”</p> + +<p>Waddie rushed into a building adjoining the billiard +house, where he kept his property. I sprang on board +of the sail-boat at the pier, and hoisted the mainsail. +Tom gave an extra pull at his peak-halyards, which +Waddie had not fixed to suit him.</p> + +<p>“Here, Tom, take this. You may want to use it,” +said Waddie, returning and handing the skipper a +revolver—the one with which I had had some experience +a few years before.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">[126]</span></p> + +<p>“Thank you, Waddie,” replied Tom. “Probably +that fellow in the Raven has some of these playthings, +and this one may come handy to me.”</p> + +<p>“Here is a box of cartridges.”</p> + +<p>“All right; I know just what to do with them. Is +any one going with me?”</p> + +<p>“I am,” I replied, jumping into the Belle again.</p> + +<p>“You are the man for me, Wolf,” added Tom, as he +shoved off.</p> + +<p>The constable and Waddie pushed off the other +sail-boat, and headed her towards Middleport. There +was certainly a lively prospect of an exciting chase, +both upon the land and the water. I had just taken +the helm of the Belle, in order to permit Tom to adjust +the sails with the nicest care, when Colonel Wimpleton +appeared upon the shore.</p> + +<p>“Hold on, Wolf!” shouted he. “I want you.”</p> + +<p>“Botheration!” exclaimed Tom. “I shall never +get off.”</p> + +<p>“One of the robbers is in that boat,” I replied, +pointing to the Raven.</p> + +<p>“I want you to get up steam on the Ruoara and +chase her,” added the colonel.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">[127]</span></p> + +<p>“I suppose I must go ashore, Tom,” I continued +to the skipper, as I ran the Belle up to the wharf +again.</p> + +<p>“All right; I will fight it out alone if I get near +enough to the rascal,” answered Tom, who always +made the best of everything, however unfavorable +the circumstances.</p> + +<p>I leaped ashore, and pushed off the bow of the +boat, so that the skipper was detained hardly a +moment. Setting the helm, he adjusted his sheets, +gave a pull at the jib-halyards, and the Belle flew +off like a rocket, with the fresh breeze on the quarter.</p> + +<p>“This is very awkward business for me, Wolf,” said +Colonel Wimpleton, as we started for the steamboat +wharf.</p> + +<p>“It is awkward for all, I suppose, who have money +in the bank,” I replied.</p> + +<p>“It is particularly so to me. I have to pay twenty +thousand dollars to-day, and all the cash balance in +the bank has been swept away,” he added. “I must +pay this money to-day, or be dishonored. Indeed, +I would rather lose twice the amount than fail to +do so.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">[128]</span></p> + +<p>“Very likely you can get the amount from the +Middleport Bank,” I suggested.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps I can; but twenty thousand dollars is +a large sum to obtain without any notice whatever. +I sold some bonds the other day to provide for this +payment, and now those villains have cleaned out +the bank.”</p> + +<p>“They may be caught before night,” I added. “I +think their chances of escaping are very small.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know about that,” replied the magnate, +shaking his head. “If that fellow in the boat is +hard pressed, he will run ashore, and take to the +woods, and, having the start, he will make good +use of his time.”</p> + +<p>“Tom will see where he lands, and he will follow +him to the end of the world.”</p> + +<p>“Probably the other robber has a fast horse on +the other side of the lake, and Captain Synders is +a clumsy fellow.”</p> + +<p>“But Waddie is with him.”</p> + +<p>“Waddie has not had much experience in chasing +robbers. I hope he will not expose himself, for these +villains are probably well provided with pistols.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">[129]</span></p> + +<p>“Waddie has one of his revolvers, and Tom has +the other.”</p> + +<p>“It is dangerous business to deal with these desperate +fellows, and I want a strong force to make +the matter sure. I sent immediately for the engineer +of the Ruoara, but found he had gone to +Gulfport, and would not return until it was time to +make his first trip. The fireman is getting up steam, +but we had no one to run the boat.”</p> + +<p>By the time we reached the steamboat wharf, all +Centreport was aroused, and we found a crowd of +men on the pier. The cashier had a party ready, +and was embarking in a boat for the other side, +to assist Captain Synders in the pursuit beyond +Middleport. I went on board of the Ruoara, and +attended to the engine.</p> + +<p>“How long before you will be ready to start, +Wolf?” asked the colonel, as the cashier’s party was +about to push off.</p> + +<p>“In about half an hour, sir, though this boiler is +rather slow.”</p> + +<p>“I must provide for my payment to-day, and I +will go and see Major Toppleton. Run the boat +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">[130]</span> +over to the wharf on the other side when you are +ready, and take me on board,” added he, as he +left me.</p> + +<p>I was rather afraid his pride would not permit +him to apply to Major Toppleton for assistance, +even in the emergency which had so suddenly been +crowded upon him; but I had no doubt the latter +would be glad to serve him.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">[131]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XI"> + CHAPTER XI. + <br> + <span class='chap-title'>A LITTLE SPARK KINDLES A BIG FIRE.</span> + </h2> +</div> + +<p class='chap-first kern-extra'><span class='allcaps'>Before</span> we had steam enough to start the +Ruoara, her regular engineer arrived, and I +was relieved from duty in this department. In obedience +to the instructions of Colonel Wimpleton, I +took the helm, and ran the boat over to the other +side of the lake. I saw the great man of Centreport +on the wharf, as we approached, and I knew +him well enough to understand at once that something +had gone wrong with him. He was walking, +at a hurried pace, back and forth across the end of +the wharf. He frequently compressed his lips and +pursed up his mouth. Yet the worst I feared was, +that he had not been able to find Major Toppleton, +in order to make his application for assistance.</p> + +<p>The boat ran up to the pier, and still the colonel +rushed back and forth across the wharf, apparently +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">[132]</span> +making mouths at the evil destiny which confronted +him. He did not seem to be in any hurry to pursue +the thief who had stolen his money, or even to +take any notice of the steamer which was ready to +do his bidding. I had not seen him in such a frame +of mind for two months, and it really gave me much +anxiety. If the great man was angry, he was liable +to do something which would endanger the pleasant +relations which now happily subsisted between the +two sides of the lake.</p> + +<p>I left the pilot-house as soon as the forward hawser +was made fast, and took position on the hurricane +deck, in plain sight of him, in readiness to receive +his commands, whatever they might be. I +looked up the lake to see how Tom Walton progressed +with the chase; but both of the sail-boats +had disappeared in the haze of the morning, or had +gone behind the point at Gulfport. I did not think +the steamer and the <i>posse</i> on board of her would be +likely to render much assistance in catching the +bank robber, unless she started very soon; but the +colonel still paced the wharf. I observed that he +cast an occasional glance up the pier, but his actions +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">[133]</span> +were all a mystery to me. At last he halted near +the gangway of the boat, and, after gazing attentively +towards the head of the wharf for a moment, +he rushed, with an appearance of desperation in his +manner, on board of the steamer.</p> + +<p>“I can’t wait any longer, Wolf; cast off,” said he.</p> + +<p>I had not the least idea what he was waiting for; +but I repeated the order he had given me to the +captain of the boat, who was on board, and in +another moment we were headed up the lake. I +ought to say that these ferry boats were a part of +my charge, and their commanders looked to me for +directions. The colonel remained on the forward +deck, resuming his walk there with as much zeal +as he had manifested on the wharf. I am sorry to +say that he looked decidedly ugly, and I began to +fear that he had had a falling out with Major Toppleton, +and that there was more work for the young +peacemakers to do.</p> + +<p>Some one had said, within a short time, that +Captain Wolf Penniman had a great deal of influence +over both the magnates, and that he even +twisted them around his little finger, as though they +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">[134]</span> +had been boys. For my own part, I could not see +it, for I was absolutely afraid of both of them—I +mean, afraid of offending them in some manner. I +certainly treated them both with the most profound +respect, and never ventured upon the slightest familiarity +with them. When I felt it to be my duty +to speak, I did so. Whatever influence I had over +them was really through their own sons and daughters. +As I had been at times on good terms with +both, I was the medium of communication between +them; and it was presumed to be my influence, +when it was actually that of Tommy and Waddie.</p> + +<p>I wanted to know what the matter was with the +colonel, yet I had not the assurance to ask him. +But I hoped he would tell me, and, as there was +no one else on board to whom he would be likely +to speak, I expected him to do so. I waited a while +on the hurricane deck for his wrath to subside, and +then I went below, where he could see me, and +where, if he wished to do so, he could mention +what it was that troubled him. I passed him on +the forward deck, and seated myself on the rail near +the bow, on the lookout for the Belle and the +Raven, which I hoped soon to see again.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">[135]</span></p> + +<p>“Wolf,” said the colonel, after he had gradually +worked forward till he came to the place where I +was seated.</p> + +<p>I turned and looked at him. It did not appear to +me that his wrath had sensibly subsided, for his +under lip was projected far out beyond the upper +one, and I had learned to interpret this as a bad +sign.</p> + +<p>“Wolf, I have been trying for two months to believe +that Toppleton was a good friend of mine,” he +added, after one of his ominous pauses.</p> + +<p>“I have been able to believe it without trying +very hard,” I ventured to reply; for an equivocal +answer, under the circumstances, looked criminal +to me.</p> + +<p>“It is not so. For dinner parties, and drumming +through the streets, with all the parade of friendship, +he’s all right; but when you come to the real, +substantial thing, it is all a humbug with him.”</p> + +<p>“I am sorry you think so,” I replied, deeply grieved +to have my worst fears realized.</p> + +<p>“I should not think so, if I could help it,” he +added, biting his lip. “I went to Toppleton and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">[136]</span> +told him what had happened, and that I had to +pay twenty thousand dollars to-day.”</p> + +<p>“Of course he was willing to accommodate you,” +I suggested, in order to draw him out.</p> + +<p>“Not at all. Instead of that, he began to hem +and ha, and make apologies,” replied the colonel, +with intense disgust.</p> + +<p>“I am very much surprised.”</p> + +<p>“So was I,” added the colonel, dryly.</p> + +<p>“But he must have some good reason,” I intimated.</p> + +<p>“What good reason can he have? Do you suppose, +if he came to me under such circumstances, I +would make any apologies? No! I would give him +the money without winking, even if I broke the +Centreport Bank.”</p> + +<p>“But what did he say, sir?” I inquired, not quite +willing to believe that Major Toppleton would be +behind the colonel in good intentions.</p> + +<p>“What did he say? Why, he began to make excuses. +He told me he had hastened home to pay a +note of thirty thousand dollars for railroad iron, which +became due to-day, and the payment would use up +his entire balance in the bank.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">[137]</span></p> + +<p>It seemed to me that this was a tolerably good +excuse, though I did not venture to say so while +the great man was so excited.</p> + +<p>“Didn’t I understand you to say that you were +waiting on the wharf for something?” I asked.</p> + +<p>“I was waiting for Toppleton. He said he would +see the cashier of the Middleport Bank, and ascertain +what could be done. He told me he would see +me on the wharf in ten or fifteen minutes.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps he could not find the cashier.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps not,” sneered the colonel. “I don’t +think he wanted to see him very badly.”</p> + +<p>“I am satisfied Major Toppleton will do all he +can,” I added.</p> + +<p>“If he means to do so, he has an awkward way +of showing it. In my opinion he is selfish, and does +not act like a genuine friend.”</p> + +<p>“I think you wrong him, Colonel Wimpleton.”</p> + +<p>“No, I don’t! Isn’t there fifty thousand dollars +in the Middleport Bank?” continued he, warmly. +“Isn’t there enough to pay his note and mine?”</p> + +<p>“I know nothing about it; but I think you and +Major Toppleton need a couple of bears between +you.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">[138]</span></p> + +<p>“A couple of what?” demanded the colonel, +sternly.</p> + +<p>“A couple of bears,” I replied, laughing.</p> + +<p>“Bears?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir.”</p> + +<p>“What do you mean by that, Wolf?”</p> + +<p>“One is <i>bear</i>, and the other is <i>forbear</i>.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t want any moral lessons, Wolf, from you.”</p> + +<p>“Excuse me, sir; but I meant no offence.”</p> + +<p>“You need not presume to lecture me on my +duties.”</p> + +<p>“Captain Portman presented a black bear to me +yesterday, and that bear was indirectly the cause of +my being here last night, when these robbers crossed +the lake. Bears have been uppermost in my mind +since that event.”</p> + +<p>“Without any fault on my part, I am put in a +tight place. I have no claim upon Toppleton, it is +true; but, if he were the friend he pretends to be, +he would help me bear my burden to-day. That is +the only bear I want to know anything about at +the present time. I am mortified and disgusted with +myself to think I said anything to him about the +matter.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">[139]</span></p> + +<p>“But you did not even wait to hear what he +would do, or what he could do.”</p> + +<p>“I waited fifteen minutes, and he knew I was in +a hurry. In my opinion, he did not mean to see +me again. I call it shabby treatment, and Toppleton +won’t make anything by it. No, he won’t!” continued +the colonel, working himself up into a passion. +“I tell you what it is, Wolf; I have been +a fool to think that man was my friend, or that he +could be anything different from what he has been +for the last dozen or fifteen years. The union line +won’t last much longer, Wolf.”</p> + +<p>Turning on his heel, he walked aft, shaking his +head in the fury of his wrath. Certainly the relations +between the two magnates were again in a +very perilous condition, and my heart rose to my +throat, so much did I dread the consequences of the +colonel’s wrath. He was an impulsive and unreasonable +man. It would not be unlike him to notify the +major at once that the two lines would no longer +run in correspondence. I should not have been surprised, +at that moment, to receive an order to run +the Ucayga through to the lower end of the lake, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">[140]</span> +even without notifying the Railroad Company. Such +a step was a calamity to be feared.</p> + +<p>“Wolf, I shall put more money into Toppleton’s +pocket in one year by giving him the through passengers +on the railroad, than I asked him to lend +me,” said the colonel, as he again came up to the +place where I sat.</p> + +<p>“I think it is rather necessary to know what +Major Toppleton intends to do before you condemn +him,” I suggested.</p> + +<p>“I don’t care what he intends to do, so long as +he did not come up to the mark. I shall not take +money out of my pocket, and put it into his, after +this.”</p> + +<p>He walked off again, leaving me to consider how +small a spark could kindle a great fire. I was afraid +he would order me to notify the Railroad Company +that the present arrangement was to be discontinued. +He was excited now, and I wished to get out of +his way before he directed me to do any disagreeable +thing. By this time the boat was approaching +Gulfport, and I hoped soon to see the Belle; and +the sight of her would be likely to change the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">[141]</span> +subject. I concluded to go on the hurricane deck; but +as I passed the colonel, he stopped me.</p> + +<p>“Wolf, I must be at Middleport at nine o’clock +to take the train for Ucayga,” said he. “I must +raise the money to pay the note, though I cannot +be on time.”</p> + +<p>“We have an hour to spare, sir, and within that +time we shall know what is to be done,” I replied. +“I have no doubt Tom Walton has given the fellow +in the Raven a hard run.”</p> + +<p>“The Belle!” shouted the captain of the boat, as +we came up with the point below Gulfport.</p> + +<p>“There they are! Tom is crowding him hard, +and the fellow is making for the shore below the +town!” I added.</p> + +<p>In a short time the steamer came within hailing +distance of the Belle; but the water was too shallow +for her to run in towards the shore. It was decided +that I should join Tom in the Belle, while a party +was landed above and below to surround the robber +if he took to the shore, as he plainly intended to do.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">[142]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XII"> + CHAPTER XII. + <br> + <span class='chap-title'>THE LANDING OF THE ROBBER.</span> + </h2> +</div> + +<p class='chap-first kern'><span class='allcaps'>The</span> steamer ran ahead of the Belle as far as +the depth of the water would permit, so as +not to delay the latter unnecessarily. I dropped +into the jolly-boat, which was towing astern, with a +couple of deck hands at the oars; and the moment +the steamer stopped, we cast off. Pulling to a point +in the path of the Belle, the men lay on their oars +till she came up. Tom luffed up a little, and I +sprang on board, so that she lost hardly a moment.</p> + +<p>“Good! I’m glad you’ve come, Wolf; for that +rascal is going ashore, to take his chances there,” +said Tom, as I leaped aboard the Belle. “Just set +up on the weather side, and keep as still as a +mouse—as still as two mice.”</p> + +<p>I took the place assigned to me, and kept as still +as I was desired to be. The boat which had put +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">[143]</span> +me on board returned to the steamer, and she ran +up the lake about a mile, where she landed a part +of the force on board. Coming about, she steamed +up to the wharf at Gulfport, where she sent on +shore the rest of the men. Colonel Wimpleton +could not wait for the issue, and the steamer then +started for Middleport, in order to enable him to +raise the money to pay his note.</p> + +<p>Less than half a mile from the shore of the lake +there was a road which led from Gulfport to Port +Gunga, which was to be the line of attack for the +pursuers. About twenty of them had volunteered +for the service, and they were to be scattered along +the road, so that it would be impossible for the +robber to pass this line. If this one had the money, +or any considerable portion of it, with him, the chances +were decidedly in favor of obtaining it in season +to pay the colonel’s note.</p> + +<p>The Belle was about half a mile from the shore +when I went on board of her, and the Raven was +about half way between her and the land. Above +Gulfport the lake was bordered for some distance +by a perpendicular cliff of rocks, from twenty to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">[144]</span> +fifty feet high; but below it there was in some +places a kind of shelf or beach, formed by the crumbling +of the rock and earth above it. There were +not many places where a boat could land when the +wind was fresh, as on the present occasion, and +these were hardly available to a person not acquainted +with the coast. The cliff, which extended for several +miles along the lake, could be climbed only in +a few places. The robber’s chances of getting away +from us, therefore, were not first rate. And then +if he succeeded in climbing the cliff, he was sure to +be confronted by the force along the road.</p> + +<p>The Belle was doing her prettiest, and from the +beginning had been gaining upon the Raven, for +the wind was too fresh for the latter, though the +rascal on board of her handled her exceedingly well. +Tom Walton was cool enough to work the boat to +the best advantage, and his whole soul was in the +business he had in hand.</p> + +<p>“You have been beating him, Tom,” said I, as +a splash of spray ducked both of us.</p> + +<p>“I have gained half a mile on him since we +started,” replied Tom, without taking his eye off +the chase.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">[145]</span></p> + +<p>“That fellow sees it, and understands the situation. +Probably he will smash the Raven in making a +landing.”</p> + +<p>“He won’t unless he wants to do so. Let that +fellow alone. He knows what he is about, and there +isn’t a better boatman on the lake or in the state +than he is. He’s as cool as a cucumber, and when +he sees the right place to land, he’ll go ashore,” +added Tom, who could not help admiring the robber’s +skill, in spite of his crime.</p> + +<p>The villain certainly compelled the Raven to do +her best, and if the breeze had not been too heavy +for her to carry sail, he would have run away from +his pursuer. As it was, he was obliged to touch +her up, and let out the sheet when the fresh flaws +came, which materially retarded her progress. Both +boats dashed furiously on their course towards the +shore. We saw the robber stand up in the stern-sheets +of the Raven, as she came within hailing distance +of the land, evidently for the purpose of examining +the prospect ahead. The rocks did not appear +to suit his fancy, for he let out his sheet, and +stood farther up the lake.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">[146]</span></p> + +<p>“Do you see that, Wolf?” exclaimed Tom, as the +fellow put his helm up.</p> + +<p>“I was in hopes he would try to land there, for the +cliff is fifty feet high,” I replied. “And he couldn’t +get ashore without smashing the Raven.”</p> + +<p>“Didn’t I tell you he knew what he was about? +Wolf, in my opinion, we are no match for that fellow, +and he will get away from us,” added Tom, shaking +his head significantly.</p> + +<p>“If he gets away from us, he won’t escape the +twenty men who are on the lookout for him in the +road.”</p> + +<p>“I’m not so sure of that. A fellow who is smart +enough to make his way through a couple of iron +doors, and sail the Raven as that chap does, can do +almost anything.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t give it up yet, Tom.”</p> + +<p>“Give it up! I’ve no notion of giving it up. I’ll +follow him from Dan to Beersheba, till the sun goes +down on the other side of the Cape of Good Hope. +But he’s smart, if he is a villain; that’s what I mean +to say.”</p> + +<p>“There’s no doubt of that, Tom; and we must be +smart, too,” I replied.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">[147]</span></p> + +<p>We had gained nothing since I came on board the +Belle, or not more than enough to make up for the +moment lost by luffing up. The Raven was still about +a quarter of a mile ahead of us. Her skipper was now +sailing her along the coast, on the lookout for a convenient +place to land. Under the lee of the shore the +wind was less gusty, and I was not sure that she was +not now gaining upon us. Out in the middle of the +lake, where the sea was heavy, the Raven did not behave +so well, and it was possible that the robber intended +to continue the cruise under the lee of the +shore.</p> + +<p>“Wolf, he’s smart!” ejaculated Tom, after we had +followed the fellow a few moments under the lee of +the rocks. “He’s gaining on us, as sure as you live!”</p> + +<p>“Do you think so, Tom?”</p> + +<p>“I know it.”</p> + +<p>“Then keep her away a little more, and run out +into the lake, where you will get the full force of the +wind.”</p> + +<p>“That’s the idea! I was just thinking of doing +that,” replied the skipper, as he followed the suggestion. +“Let her slide! I’d give two and sixpence if I +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">[148]</span> +only had a gaff-topsail to help her along a little more. +I always intended to have one as soon as I bought +her.”</p> + +<p>“It wouldn’t help her much.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, it would, Wolf. One square foot of sail up +by the topmast, where it would get all the wind there +is going, is worth two down by the boom. That’s so! +By Jim Hill, Wolf, that fellow knows what he is +about!”</p> + +<p>“Of course he does!”</p> + +<p>“But don’t you see what he is up to, Wolf?”</p> + +<p>“He is up to getting away.”</p> + +<p>“Yes; but he is not going on shore till he gets beyond +the place where the steamer landed those men. +That’s just what he is up to now. He saw her land +them, the same as I did.”</p> + +<p>Doubtless it was very important to fathom the purpose +of the robber; but, as it was soon demonstrated, +we were not skilful enough to do so. Tom had run +the Belle out into the lake till she rolled and pitched +heavily in the sea. In doing so he had increased the +distance between her and the Raven, though, half a +mile ahead, the trend of the coast would drive the latter +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">[149]</span> +out so as to compensate for the loss, if she continued +on her present course. While we were comforting +ourselves with the prospect of this advantage, the Raven +suddenly hauled her wind, and ran by the shortest +line for the shore.</p> + +<p>“There she goes!” shouted Tom, grasping the main +sheet with a kind of desperation, and putting down +the helm.</p> + +<p>“That fellow knows this shore as well as I do,” I +added, as Tom headed the Belle towards the chase. +“He has chosen the best place to land on this side of +the lake.”</p> + +<p>It was the spot where the steamer had landed a portion +of her <i>posse</i>. There was a kind of gully in the +precipice, through which the water from the hills made +its way into the lake. In fact it was the outlet of a +brook, which was dry, however, except in the wet season. +A boat of the size of the Belle or the Raven +could run into the inlet about her length, so that a +person could step over her side upon the shelf of rock +and earth beneath the precipice.</p> + +<p>The cliff was hardly fifty feet high on each side of +the indenture in the rock, and it was rather a difficult +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">[150]</span> +task to climb up from the shelf, though a bold person +could do it. Twenty rods above this point, however, +there was an easy ascent to the summit of the precipice +by a zigzag path up the rocks. If the robber was +acquainted with the locality, as he appeared to be, he +would make for this path. His boat was headed towards +this landing-place, and we watched his movements +with the most intense interest. As it was probable +that the men on shore had not stationed themselves +below this point, I was obliged to acknowledge to myself +that the villain’s chances of escaping were better +than I had believed at any time before.</p> + +<p>It was possible that he had discovered this available +landing-place from his position in the boat, and that +he was not aware of the existence of the zigzag path. +He ran the Raven into the outlet of the brook, lowering +the jib and mainsail as he approached the narrow +opening, so that the boat lost her headway in +season to prevent any injury to her hull as she +grounded in the shoal water. The rascal leaped +lightly on shore, with a travelling-bag in his hand, +which I had no doubt contained the plunder from +the bank. He paused on the shelf below the cliff, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_151">[151]</span> +glanced at the Belle, and then at the precipice. He +did not appear to be in a great hurry, and examined +the means of ascent to the land above with deliberate +care. His action assured me he knew nothing of the +path, and the prospect seemed to brighten.</p> + +<p>Tom decided to land at a point below the gully, +in order to save time, and to enable us to choose our +own means of approaching the robber. I lowered the +jib and mainsail, and Tom ran the Belle upon an +abrupt gravel beach, about twenty rods below the +gully. We landed, and hauled the boat as far up on +the shore as our united strength would permit. I +deemed this a prudent measure, after certain experience +I had had of a similar nature. Tom took from +his pocket the revolver which Waddie had given him, +and which he had fully charged with patent cartridges +on his cruise up the lake, and we hastened to the gully.</p> + +<p>The robber was climbing the cliff, and had already +nearly accomplished the ascent. The rocks at the side +of the ravine had crumbled away so that the first part +of the way was comparatively easy. At the top grew +some bushes on the verge of the cliff. He had reached +one of these, and had thrown his left arm around one +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">[152]</span> +of them. He had evidently caught hold of a root of +this bush, which projected over the cliff, and hauled +himself up by main strength to his present position, +where he seemed to be resting after his violent exertions. +He had swung his travelling-bag over his +shoulder with a string.</p> + +<p>“Shall I fire?” said Tom, producing his pistol.</p> + +<p>“No. We don’t want to kill him,” I replied, appalled +at the idea of taking the life even of a robber.</p> + +<p>Tom seemed to be of my mind, and rushed towards +the cliff. I followed him. He easily accomplished +the greater part of the ascent, and was almost within +reach of the dangling legs of the robber, when the +villain aimed a revolver at him, and fired. Tom +released his hold upon the rocks, and would have +fallen over backwards if I had not caught him in +my arms.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp93" id="i_152" style="max-width: 89.625em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_152.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <span class="smcap">The Robber Fires at Tom.</span> <a href='#Page_152'>Page 152</a>. + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_153">[153]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIII"> + CHAPTER XIII. + <br> + <span class='chap-title'>TOM WALTON WOUNDED.</span> + </h2> +</div> + +<p class='chap-first'><span class='allcaps'>I was</span> appalled at the calamity which had befallen +Tom Walton, and deplored the want of +caution with which we had conducted the enterprise. +Of course we understood that the bank robber was +armed, and the fact occurred to me as we approached +the gully; but when I saw him suspended by the +arms to the bush on the brink of the precipice, I +did not consider him in condition to use a revolver. +I am as much afraid of a pistol as any other prudent +person, and I do not, as a general rule, think it +advisable to stand before the muzzle of such a weapon +when it is loaded, and in the hands of a desperate +man.</p> + +<p>If I had been called upon to express an opinion, I +should have said that it was simply impossible for the +robber to use his weapon. Tom and I expected to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">[154]</span> +overtake him before he could get over the brink of +the precipice, seize him by the heels, and drag him +down from his perch. When he came down, I intended +to throw myself upon him, and choke him till +he was willing to hold still and have his arms tied +behind him with the cord by which he had slung the +travelling-bag over his shoulder. I could not see how +this nice little plan was to fail, and we began to ascend +the precipice. I felt reasonably sure that we should +make a victim of the villain.</p> + +<p>I was not only appalled, but astounded, when Tom +came over upon me. It was disaster and defeat at the +same time, and at that moment I only hoped the robber +would not take the trouble to fire again. He did +not, being apparently satisfied with the mischief he +had done. I was afraid Tom had received a mortal +wound, and I thought of nothing but him. I was +standing on the gradual ascent of the steep, where the +earth and rocks had caved down from above, so that I +had a good foothold, and was fortunately able to save +my friend from going over backwards. I held on to +him, and retreated to the level ground below.</p> + +<p>“Good Heaven, Tom!” I exclaimed. “The villain +has hit you.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">[155]</span></p> + +<p>“Never mind it, Wolf. Don’t make a row. It +isn’t bad,” he replied, with a cheerful smile, as he +placed his right hand on his left arm above the +elbow.</p> + +<p>“Where did it hit you?” I asked, with the most +intense anxiety.</p> + +<p>“Here,” he answered, indicating the place on his +left arm.</p> + +<p>“I was afraid it had gone through your body.”</p> + +<p>“No; but it took all the starch out of my arm, so +that I could not hold on to the rock—that’s all.”</p> + +<p>I heard a scrambling above, and looking up, I saw +the robber drag himself over the brink of the cliff. It +required a tremendous muscular effort for him to accomplish +the act. Without asking my advice this +time, Tom raised his pistol and fired; but only the +legs of the rascal were visible, and these immediately +disappeared, so that I concluded he was not hit.</p> + +<p>“I ought to have fired in the first of it,” said Tom, +as he restored the weapon to his pocket.</p> + +<p>“I am sorry now that you did not; but I did not +exactly like the ilea of killing the man,” I replied. +“But how is your arm?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">[156]</span></p> + +<p>“That will do very well. It is bleeding a good +deal, and don’t feel first rate. But come; let’s follow +that fellow. I want to put one of these little +pills into him.”</p> + +<p>“No; let me bind up your arm first,” I insisted. +“It may stop the bleeding. Take off your coat, and +let me see what it is.”</p> + +<p>“But the robber will get away while we are fooling +here.”</p> + +<p>“No matter if he does. You may lose your arm +if we neglect the wound. Off with your coat.”</p> + +<p>It was not so easy for him to take off his coat, +but with my assistance it was removed with some +difficulty. I found that the bullet from the pistol had +ploughed a wound diagonally along the fleshy part +on the inner side of the arm. It must have passed +very near his body, and I regarded it as a narrow +escape from a mortal injury. I tore off a piece of +his shirt, and scraped some lint from it, which I placed +upon the wound in order to stanch the bleeding, and +then bound my handkerchief around it.</p> + +<p>“That’s it, Wolf. You were cut out for a doctor. +It feels first rate now,” said he; but his face was paler +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_157">[157]</span> +than usual, and I saw that he was suffering much pain. +“Come, now; let’s see where that fellow has gone.”</p> + +<p>“I’m afraid you are not in a condition to chase a +robber, Tom.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I am. I’ll follow him to the other side of +sundown,” he replied, leading the way to the zigzag +path. “I don’t want to kill him; but, if one of these +bullets will travel faster than I can, he shall have the +benefit of it. Come on, Wolf.”</p> + +<p>Tom certainly had pluck enough—more than I +should have had with such an ugly wound in my +arm. I followed him up the path, and we soon reached +the high ground above the lake.</p> + +<p>“Now don’t be rash, Tom,” said I, placing myself +ahead of him. “That fellow has at least five more +balls in his revolver, and if we get shot, we can’t do +any good.”</p> + +<p>“My pistol will carry as far as his I reckon, and it +is a poor rule that won’t work both ways. If I see him +again, I shall give him some,” replied Tom.</p> + +<p>“Don’t you feel weak, Tom?”</p> + +<p>“No, not much; at any rate, I’m good for ten miles. +Do you see anything of the villain?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_158">[158]</span></p> + +<p>“Not a thing. We will go over to the other side +of the gully, and we may be able to trace him.”</p> + +<p>We hastened to the place indicated. On the brink +of the precipice the ground was considerably stirred +up by the violence of the robber’s struggle to attain +the summit of the cliff; but we could find no other +trace of him. The region above the lake was a pasture, +and the short grass afforded no impress of his +footsteps. The country was wild and rugged, with +plenty of bushes and trees to afford concealment to +the robber. Between us and Gulfport there was a +wood.</p> + +<p>“We are not much wiser now we are up here,” +said Tom. “What shall we do?”</p> + +<p>“I think we had better move towards the Gulfport +road. We can find some of our people there, +and notify them that the robber has landed here.”</p> + +<p>“That fellow’s smart, and in my opinion he will +be on the lookout for our people,” added Tom, as +we moved towards the road. “He’ll work up towards +Port Gunga, because he will think the men +are in the other direction. We shall do better if we +divide; you go up to the road, and I will follow +up the shore.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_159">[159]</span></p> + +<p>“I don’t believe in separating. What could either +of us do alone, if one of us should happen to see +him?” I replied, not wishing to leave Tom in his +wounded condition, though his plan was certainly +the better one.</p> + +<p>“One of us could follow him and keep the run +of him just as well as two. There isn’t any need +of looking into his pistol barrels, you know.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll change your plan a little, and then we will +adopt it. You shall walk towards the road, and +tell our people the robber has landed, and I will +go up the lake.”</p> + +<p>“It’s all the same to me; but, if you are going +that way, you shall take this pistol,” replied Tom, +handing me the weapon. “Don’t be afraid to use +it, Wolf, if you get a chance. You are a little too +tender-hearted for this kind of business.”</p> + +<p>“I will use it, if I get a chance to stop him in +that way,” I answered, as I took the pistol.</p> + +<p>We separated, and I pursued my way in the direction +of Port Gunga, which was about five miles +distant. Tom walked due east towards the road, +where I expected he would meet some of the <i>posse</i> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_160">[160]</span> +who had been landed to intercept the robber. He +soon disappeared among the bushes and trees. But +he was hardly out of sight before he called to me. +I halted, and presently I saw him and Mr. Bradshaw, +a deputy sheriff, who had taken charge of the <i>posse</i> +which had come up in the steamer.</p> + +<p>“Have you seen anything of him?” asked the +sheriff, as we met near the gully.</p> + +<p>“Not since he climbed up the cliff,” I replied.</p> + +<p>“You ought to have fired at him the moment +you saw him,” added the officer. “You mustn’t +mince matters with such fellows. It is better to +shoot him than to be shot by him.”</p> + +<p>“We did the best we knew how,” interposed Tom.</p> + +<p>“Of course you did. However, we are pretty sure +of him, for I have sent our folks up the Port Gunga +road, and they are certain to head him off. I +wouldn’t give two cents for his chances,” continued +Mr. Bradshaw, confidently.</p> + +<p>“Well, what shall we do?” demanded Tom, impatiently.</p> + +<p>“As you are hurt, you had better take your boat +and go home,” added the officer.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_161">[161]</span></p> + +<p>“Not I,” protested the plucky skipper. “I’m going +to stay to see the fun, and help bag the game.”</p> + +<p>“Just as you like, but you must look out for +your arm.”</p> + +<p>“I’m all right. Wolf fixed my arm as good as +a doctor could.”</p> + +<p>“Well, we will follow up towards Port Gunga, +and see that the robber does not take the back +track when he finds our folks in front of him,” said +the sheriff, as we started in the direction indicated. +“I waited on the bluff here till I saw where the +rascal was going to land, and then I stationed my +men where they could trip him up.”</p> + +<p>“Why didn’t you bring them up to the cliff, and +head him off when he landed?” I inquired, disposed +to be critical in my turn.</p> + +<p>“Why didn’t I? Because our people were more +than a mile from here,” replied the sheriff. “You see +we expected he would land half a mile farther down +the lake. I had to go and tell them where to look +for him; and though I have been in a hurry, I have +but just returned.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_162">[162]</span></p> + +<p>“If you had been on the cliff when the fellow +landed, you could have fixed him,” I added.</p> + +<p>“But I didn’t know what he was going to do till +he did it.”</p> + +<p>“You did the best thing you knew how,” said +Tom.</p> + +<p>“Of course I did.”</p> + +<p>“That’s just what we did; and I don’t think it +pays to tell what might have been done,” continued +Tom, who was always disposed to take things as he +found them, and blame no one for what could not be +helped.</p> + +<p>“It will all come out right. We are sure of +him,” said the sheriff. “But I think we had better +spread out a little. You take the shore of the lake, +Wolf; you go to the left, Tom; and I will take a +course between you. If either of you see him sing +out.”</p> + +<p>This was good policy, and it was promptly adopted. +I walked over to the cliff by the lake, and following +the shore, I soon reached a high point of land, +which commanded a view for a considerable distance. +I halted to take a careful survey of the region, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_163">[163]</span> +hoping I might discover the fugitive; but I could +see nothing. There was a tall tree on the top of +the hill, which I climbed in order to obtain a still +better view. I could see Tom and the sheriff, but +no one else. I began to fear that the robber understood +the situation better than we supposed, and +had adopted some plan which had not been anticipated +by any of us. So far, I surveyed only the +region which the fugitive was expected to traverse. +Before descending the tree, I turned my gaze in the +direction we had just come.</p> + +<p>I saw the robber, and called with all my might +to Tom and the sheriff.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_164">[164]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIV"> + CHAPTER XIV. + <br> + <span class='chap-title'>THE ROBBER TAKES THE BACK TRACK.</span> + </h2> +</div> + +<p class='chap-first'><span class='allcaps'>I was</span> never more vexed and disconcerted in my +life than when, from the tall tree on the hill, I +discovered the robber. I think the tones in which I +yelled to Tom and the sheriff betrayed the disgust I +felt at the unsatisfactory situation. The officer’s confident +prediction was set at nought, for the robber +had evidently not gone fifty rods from the point +where he landed and climbed the cliff. As Tom +had so often suggested, the fellow was smart, and +knew what he was about.</p> + +<p>When I saw the robber, he was on the shelf below +the cliff where he had landed, in the very act +of hoisting the mainsail on board of the Raven. He +worked rapidly, yet with a kind of deliberation and +care which required nothing to be done over a second +time. His object in landing may have been simply +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_165">[165]</span> +to get rid of his pursuers on the lake, though it was +possible his had ascertained the impracticability of escaping +in the direction he had apparently chosen. +But his operations looked to me just like a flank +movement. He had seen the steamer land a force, +and then depart down the lake. Being closely pursued +by the Belle, he had landed to balk Tom and +me; and now, having sent all his pursuers on shore, +he had them just where he wanted them. He could +now cross the lake in the Raven, and make his +escape on the other side. It looked to me just as +though we had lost him, and I did not believe the +money in the rogue’s travelling-bag would be used +that day to pay the colonel’s note.</p> + +<p>The robber hoisted the mainsail, and then the jib, +of the Raven. Then, with a sinking of the heart +I saw him hasten towards the place where the Belle +lay. I understood his purpose, and I trembled for +Tom’s boat. Of course he foresaw that it would be +used to pursue him, and he intended to set her adrift, +or disable her so that she would not be available +for use against him. I saw him put his shoulder to +her stem, and attempt to push her off. I concluded +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_166">[166]</span> +from this that he intended to tow the Belle out into +the middle of the lake, and leave her there, or possibly +scuttle her.</p> + +<p>He made a desperate effort to shove her off the +ground, but without success. Tom and I had hauled +her nearly out of the water, and she was too heavy +to be launched again by one person. I fancied that +the fellow swore some in his disappointment, and I +congratulated myself upon the happy thought which +had induced me to haul her so far out of the water. +I wondered what the fellow would do next, for I +could not believe he would leave while the Belle +was in condition to pursue him. I was curious to +know what he would do next; but I was already +blaming myself for staying so long in the tree, and +I descended. Before Tom and the sheriff could reach +me, I was running with all my might towards the +zigzag path.</p> + +<p>I soon reached a point where I could see the operations +of the robber again, which had been hidden +from me after I descended the tree. He was running +from the Belle to the Raven. In his hand he carried +the travelling-bag, which he appeared not to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_167">[167]</span> +leave behind him for a single instant. But then, to +my intense mortification, if not horror, I saw a dense +smoke rising from the cuddy of the Belle.</p> + +<p>The villain had set her on fire!</p> + +<p>Tom kept a supply of shavings and light kindlings +in the cook-room, and there was a tin match-box +attached to the mast. The scoundrel had found +everything convenient for the execution of his vile +scheme, and the beautiful Belle was in imminent +peril of being totally destroyed. I had reached the +head of the zigzag path when I discovered the fire, +and I was hopeful that I might be in season to extinguish +it before the boat was entirely disabled. +The robber leaped into the Raven, and pushed off +with a celerity which seemed to insure his safety.</p> + +<p>I rushed down the steep path to the shelf below. +I wanted to do some desperate thing, for I was so +vexed I could hardly contain myself. I had the +revolver which Tom had given me in my hand, and +I discharged it at the rascal in the Raven; but I +might as well have fired at the moon, for the pistol +would not carry half the distance. The robber took +no notice of me, and did not even condescend to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_168">[168]</span> +return my shot. He let out his sheet, and the Raven +went off flying, with the fresh breeze nearly aft, and +by the time I reached the gully, he was forty rods +from the shore.</p> + +<p>Though I had nearly exhausted my breath in running, +I did not abate my speed till I reached the +Belle. I leaped on board, and seized the bucket +which was under one of the seats. I dashed several +pailfuls of water into the cuddy, which put a quietus +on the fire. The robber had simply lighted the +shavings in the box which had been built in the head. +Hardly more than two minutes had elapsed from +the time the fire was set till I reached the Belle. +The combustibles in the wood-box blazed furiously; +but the fire was confined principally to them, +though I found the ceiling and the under side of +the deck planks were charred. With a bucket of +water and a dipper, I put out every spark of fire.</p> + +<p>I could not push the boat off alone, but I hoisted +the sails, so that she would be ready to start as soon +as Tom and the sheriff arrived. By the time they +were coming down the path, I had rigged the pump, +in order to remove the water I had thrown into her +in putting out the fire, as soon as she was under way.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_169">[169]</span></p> + +<p>“Take hold here, Mr. Bradshaw!” I shouted, when +the sheriff and Tom came within hail of me.</p> + +<p>The official was puffing like a grampus, and he +looked as thoroughly disgusted as a deputy sheriff +could be. He put his shoulder to the bow of the +Belle, and we shoved her off into the lake. Tom +sprang on board, and took his accustomed seat at +the helm. The officer was placed on the port side, +and I took position at the pump which I had rigged +for use, after I had shoved the boat clear of the shore. +She filled away, and we started about a quarter of a +mile behind the Raven. If there was any difference +at all in the wind, it was stronger than it had been +earlier in the morning, and this fact improved our +chances.</p> + +<p>I had made fast the sheets, so that for the present +Tom had nothing to do but steer. He said nothing +about his wound, but I could see that it gave him +much pain, and I hoped I should be able to induce +him to abandon the pursuit when we reached the +other side of the lake, if the robber led us in that +direction.</p> + +<p>“This is a pretty kettle of fish,” said the sheriff, +as soon as he had recovered his wind.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_170">[170]</span></p> + +<p>“I told you that fellow was smart,” replied Tom, +with his gaze fixed steadfastly on the Raven.</p> + +<p>“How in the world did he get back here without +our seeing him?”</p> + +<p>“We did not look where he was.”</p> + +<p>“Where did you first see him, Wolf?” asked the +officer.</p> + +<p>“He was on the shore here, getting the Raven +ready to be off. I shouldn’t have seen him if I +hadn’t climbed a tree.”</p> + +<p>“It was lucky you thought of that. But where +was the fellow while we were beyond the cliff?”</p> + +<p>“In my opinion he has not been fifty rods from +the place where he landed,” I replied. “There are +plenty of places among the rocks where he could +hide. I think it is very likely he concealed himself +in the gully, and as soon as he found we were at a +safe distance from him, he concluded to cross the +lake, where there is no one to pursue him.”</p> + +<p>“He’s smart,” repeated Tom. “That will do, +Wolf; don’t pump any more. You keep her wabbling +so that she don’t do her best.”</p> + +<p>“Let me take the helm, Tom,” I suggested. “I’m +afraid you will make your arm worse.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_171">[171]</span></p> + +<p>“No, I thank you. I can get as much out of the +Belle as anybody else; but you may stand by the +sheets, if you like, for I can’t use my left arm very +well.”</p> + +<p>“Just as you say, Tom,” I answered, taking a seat +by his side, where I could reach the sheets.</p> + +<p>“Now keep still, and don’t move one of your +little fingers,” said Tom. “I’ll give him some. If +I don’t, the Belle isn’t a lady. Let out that jib-sheet +about an inch and a half, Wolf.”</p> + +<p>“All right,” I replied, obeying the order. “You +are putting a fine point upon it, Tom.”</p> + +<p>“I must have her just so when she does her best. +Mr. Bradshaw, will you move forward about six +inches? That’s it; now she is just as I want her. +Don’t she spin!” exclaimed Tom.</p> + +<p>“She is doing first rate, and so is the Raven.”</p> + +<p>“Wait a bit till she gets out a little farther. She +will have to duck under when she gets the full +weight of the breeze. By the way, Wolf, is she +burned much in forward? I didn’t stop to look in.”</p> + +<p>“Very little. I think you can make her as good +as new in half an hour,” I answered. “The robber +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_172">[172]</span> +spent some time trying to shove her off, before he +thought of setting her on fire. I was just at the +path when I saw the fire. It had not been burning +more than two minutes when I threw on the first +bucket of water.”</p> + +<p>“Now she is getting it savage,” said Tom, as the +wind drove the Raven down to her gunwale in the +waves. “See that! He had to luff her up. He +lost a little on that.”</p> + +<p>Both boats had the wind on the quarter, and the +Raven was leading the way directly across the lake +to High Bluff, just below Priam. She was jumping +up and down on the waves like a feather, and it +was evident enough that she could not carry all sail. +Her skipper had been obliged to luff her up so as +to spill the mainsail, and then we saw that he had +let his jib-sheet run out so that the head sail did not +draw. As soon as the flaw had spent itself, he kept +her away again, with the jib still shaking.</p> + +<p>“It was a great mistake that the steamer went +back,” said the sheriff. “If we only had her here, +she would make short work of that boat.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t say anything more about mistakes, Mr. +Bradshaw,” replied Tom.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_173">[173]</span></p> + +<p>“Well, I think it was a mistake to let her return,” +persisted the officer.</p> + +<p>“If that steamer had been out here, the robber +would have taken some other course. We have all +made mistakes enough, but we have done the best +we could, and it’s no use for the pot to call the +kettle black.”</p> + +<p>“Do you see what that fellow is up to now?” I +interposed.</p> + +<p>“I think I do,” replied Tom. “He sees the gully +on the upper side of High Bluff, and, if I mistake +not, he is going to run in there.”</p> + +<p>“If he does, that will be his last blunder,” I replied.</p> + +<p>“Why so?” inquired the sheriff, who was not familiar +with the locality.</p> + +<p>“He can run his boat into the gully on either +side of the bluff; but he can no more climb up to +the high land above than he can shin up a rainbow,” +said Tom. “I only hope he will run in +there.”</p> + +<p>“He may find a way to get out of the gully,” I +suggested.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_174">[174]</span></p> + +<p>“He can’t do it. It isn’t in the power of man +to get up.”</p> + +<p>“But you know there is a crooked path to the +top.”</p> + +<p>“That’s very true; but the path is just on the +side of the lake, and you can’t reach it from the +gully on either side. If he strikes the middle of +High Bluff on the lake side, he can go up. If he +runs into the gully, he can’t,” answered Tom.</p> + +<p>The Raven was running directly towards High +Bluff. If he did not know of the path to its summit, +he would not be likely to suspect its existence +from anything he could see; and we waited, with +intense anxiety, to ascertain what course he intended +to take.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_175">[175]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XV"> + CHAPTER XV. + <br> + <span class='chap-title'>THE ROBBER IN A TRAP.</span> + </h2> +</div> + +<p class='chap-first kern'><span class='allcaps'>In</span> a short time we were satisfied that the robber +intended to run the Raven into the gully on +the upper side of High Bluff. Certainly no more +inviting prospect could have been desired by a man +in his situation; for the entrance was broad and free +from peril, promising a good landing-place to the +voyager, as, indeed, there was, though his troubles +would commence after he left his boat. Tom had +explored the locality thoroughly, and was sure that +the man could not get out of the gully.</p> + +<p>The battle between the friends of Tommy Toppleton +and the rebels had been fought at High +Bluff, as detailed by my friend Ned Skotchley, and +the tradition among the students was, that the gully +was impassable except by the bridge, and that its +sides were absolutely perpendicular. If the robber +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_176">[176]</span> +would favor us by running into this trap, we felt +reasonably certain that we should be able to bag +the game, although I could not help dreading his +pistol, when we drove him into close quarters. I +did not wish to be shot myself, and I was equally +averse to having so good a fellow as Tom Walton +shot again.</p> + +<p>“There he goes into the south gully!” exclaimed +Tom, as the Raven passed clear of the foot of the +path to the summit of the bluff. “We have him +now.”</p> + +<p>“Not quite,” I suggested.</p> + +<p>“I am sure a man can’t climb up the side of the +gully,” protested Tom.</p> + +<p>“That fellow has a bag full of tools, which he +used in breaking into the bank.”</p> + +<p>“What good will tools do him?” demanded Tom. +“Will they help him shin up a rock?”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps they will. I think, if I had his traps, +I could get out of the gully; and I don’t believe +in trusting anything to luck this time. We must +try and be as smart as that fellow is, and make no +mistakes.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_177">[177]</span></p> + +<p>“I don’t see how he could get out of that place, +even if he had a whole chest of tools,” persisted +Tom. “He can only come out the way he went in. +That is the only way I could ever get out of that +hole.”</p> + +<p>“The robber had a long cord, with which he +slung his bag over his shoulder. He used only one +end of it, and it may be fifty feet long, for aught I +know. There are plenty of stout bushes, no doubt, +hanging over the hole.”</p> + +<p>“That’s so; and the tree that Briscoe’s fellows +crossed upon still lies across the gully.”</p> + +<p>“Exactly so. And how deep is the gully under +this tree?”</p> + +<p>“Twenty or twenty-five feet, I should say.”</p> + +<p>“Then he can tie a stone to the end of his cord, +throw it over the trunk of the tree, and let it come +down on the other side. That’s easy enough—isn’t +it?”</p> + +<p>“I should say it was,” replied Tom, fully comprehending +my suggestion.</p> + +<p>“Then, if he can’t go up the cord hand over +hand, he can fix some sticks in the line, and go up +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_178">[178]</span> +comfortably. But very likely the fellow has a rope-ladder +in his bag.”</p> + +<p>“I guess he wouldn’t stop to put any rounds in +his ladder,” laughed Tom.</p> + +<p>“He has chisels and such things in his bag, at +any rate. He could stick these into the chinks of +the rocks, and go up on them without much trouble, +and without much loss of time. No, Tom; we must +be ready to head him off when he tries to get out +of the gully.”</p> + +<p>“Yes; but if we leave the boat, he will serve us +the same trick he did on the other side,” said Tom.</p> + +<p>“We will make no mistakes this time. Run for +the foot of the path, Tom. Shall I take in the jib?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, take it in, Wolf,” replied Tom, for we were +within a few rods of High Bluff.</p> + +<p>I lowered the jib, and made everything snug +forward.</p> + +<p>“Now let go the mainsail-halyards,” added the +skipper; for, as the wind was blowing directly on +shore, we were obliged to take in all sail.</p> + +<p>I took the boat-hook, and fended off as the Belle +grounded on the beach.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_179">[179]</span></p> + +<p>“Now what’s to be done?” demanded Tom, +nervously.</p> + +<p>“Let Mr. Bradshaw go on the bluff,” I continued.</p> + +<p>“What, alone?” asked the sheriff.</p> + +<p>“Why not? I am willing to go alone,” I replied. +“You will have all the advantage of the robber. If +he attempts to climb up, you can knock him, even +without being seen yourself. All you have to do is +to keep yourself in a safe position, and watch him.”</p> + +<p>“What are you going to do?” inquired the officer, +apparently not very well satisfied with the arrangement. +“Do you mean to make me fight it out +alone?”</p> + +<p>“Just as soon as the robber leaves the Raven, +we are going to drag her out of the gully, and put +her where he can’t get at her again. That’s the +idea, and we have the worst part of the work +to do.”</p> + +<p>“It won’t take both of you to do that.”</p> + +<p>“Tom has but one arm to help himself with, and +can’t do this job alone. If you are afraid to go +upon the bluff, I will go, and you may help Tom +take the Raven,” I replied.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_180">[180]</span></p> + +<p>“Afraid! I am not afraid.”</p> + +<p>“Then hurry up, or the fellow will get out before +you are in position to do anything.”</p> + +<p>“Which way do I go?” said he, stepping on shore.</p> + +<p>“Follow the path, and when you are on the bluff, +move to the gully on the left, and then continue +till you can see or hear the fellow,” I replied, hoisting +the mainsail of the Belle again. “You can’t go +wrong, and you will be as safe as though you were +at the other end of the lake.”</p> + +<p>“I think a man who talks as big as he does ought +to have a little more pluck,” said Tom, as the sheriff +disappeared in the windings of the steep path.</p> + +<p>“I don’t blame him much. It isn’t pleasant to be +shot.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t think it is; and I ought to know as well +as any of you.”</p> + +<p>“That’s so, Tom. You are the hero of this enterprise.”</p> + +<p>“Pooh!” snuffed Tom. “Flatten down that mainsail, +Wolf.”</p> + +<p>“Ay, ay! down it is,” I answered, hauling in the +sheet, and crowding off the head of the boat.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_181">[181]</span></p> + +<p>The skipper ran the boat out into the deep water, +and then continued up the lake till the Belle had +reached the upper side of the gully, where we could +see the position of the Raven.</p> + +<p>“Now, steady, Tom. We are not going into that +fellow’s pistol barrels, you know. Luff her up, and +let us see where he is before we go in.”</p> + +<p>He threw the Belle up into the wind, out of pistol +range of the Raven. The latter had grounded where +the gully contracted its width. Her sails had not +been lowered, for the robber evidently intended to +abandon her at this point.</p> + +<p>“Do you see the rascal?” asked Tom.</p> + +<p>“No; he isn’t in sight; but he may be in the +cuddy.”</p> + +<p>“I guess not. He wouldn’t box himself up in such +a place. He has left her.”</p> + +<p>“Probably he has; but we will make sure of it +before we go in.”</p> + +<p>From the point where the Raven had grounded +there was a gradual ascent in the ravine, down which +flowed the waters of the brook; but there was room +enough on the bottom to walk dry shod round to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_182">[182]</span> +the deep water on the other side. We concluded +that the robber had left the boat, and gone to the +upper part of the gully, to find a place where he +could reach the ground above. We waited long +enough to satisfy ourselves that he was not in the +boat, and then stood in towards the head of the +gully. In a few moments we reached the Raven. +She was deserted and empty, and I lost no time in +pushing her off. Taking her painter on board of +the Belle, we towed her out into the lake.</p> + +<p>“That job is done, and I don’t believe the robber +will sail in the Raven any more to-day,” said +Tom.</p> + +<p>“Now what shall we do with her?” I asked.</p> + +<p>“We will anchor her just as far from the shore +as her cable will reach bottom.”</p> + +<p>This was less than a quarter of a mile from the +bluff, and we soon had her anchored where it was +impossible for her to be reached by the robber.</p> + +<p>“I don’t think we have made any mistake this +time, Wolf; though, if we have, we won’t say anything +about it,” said Tom, as we ran towards the +shore again.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_183">[183]</span></p> + +<p>“Perhaps not; but we haven’t captured the robber +yet,” I replied.</p> + +<p>“We know where he is, at any rate.”</p> + +<p>“That’s so. If the sheriff keeps both eyes open, +he won’t get out of the trap. But he will shoot any +of us who come within reach of his bullets.”</p> + +<p>“Well, we won’t go within reach of them, then,” +added Tom. “But what shall we do with ourselves +now?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know that we can do anything better +than to cruise up and down off the mouth of the +gully.”</p> + +<p>“That won’t do any good.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know about that. The rascal might find +some logs in the gully, and make a raft, if we don’t +keep watch of him on this side. How does your +arm feel, Tom?”</p> + +<p>“It aches; but I can stand it first rate.”</p> + +<p>“I may as well go on the bluff, and see what Mr. +Bradshaw is about, if you can run the Belle off the +gully alone.”</p> + +<p>“O, I can! I could work her up to Middleport +without any help.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_184">[184]</span></p> + +<p>“Then I will go ashore. You might anchor off +the gully.”</p> + +<p>“No. I will stand off and on, where I can see +the fellow if he come in sight.”</p> + +<p>The Belle was run up at the foot of the path to +the bluff, and I landed. The boat worked well +under the mainsail alone, and Tom stood off with +this sail only. I made my way up the steep path, +and soon reached the high ground. I discovered the +sheriff over by the bridge which led from the bluff +to the road. He was lying on the ground, and, as +I approached him, I saw him glance over the cliff +into the ravine. He had his pistol in hand, and was +trying to get a shot at his intended victim.</p> + +<p>“Where is he?” I asked, as I joined the officer.</p> + +<p>“The last I heard of him, he was down here,” +replied the sheriff, pointing down into the ravine.</p> + +<p>“What is he doing?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t think he is doing anything just now. +Between you and me, I believe I wounded him.”</p> + +<p>“I didn’t hear you fire.”</p> + +<p>“I have popped at him twice. I could hear every +step he took, and I followed him all around the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_185">[185]</span> +bluff. I got a sight of him twice, and fired both +times.”</p> + +<p>“What is he doing?”</p> + +<p>“Probably he is keeping himself in a safe place. +I haven’t heard anything of him for some time.”</p> + +<p>“Isn’t he at work in some other place?”</p> + +<p>“No; I don’t think he can move without my +hearing him.”</p> + +<p>“We will stir him up a little,” I added, taking a +good-sized rock, and rolling it over the precipice.</p> + +<p>I heard it drop upon the rocks below, but no +other sound came from the chasm.</p> + +<p>“That’s a good idea. I didn’t think of that,” +said the sheriff, as he proceeded to roll rocks into +the abyss, which, however, appeared to produce no +effect upon the robber, at least so far as dislodging +him was concerned.</p> + +<p>“I will cross the gully,” I continued. “Then we +shall have one on each side, and he cannot so easily +conceal himself.”</p> + +<p>“Cross the gully!” exclaimed the sheriff. “How +can you do that?”</p> + +<p>“There is a bridge,” I replied, pointing to it.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_186">[186]</span></p> + +<p>“Yes; but the moment you show yourself on that +bridge, the villain will put a bullet through your +brains,” added the officer.</p> + +<p>“I will see that he is not in a position to do that +before I cross.”</p> + +<p>I crawled upon my hands and knees to the brink +of the abyss, and assured myself that the robber +was not where the sheriff supposed he was. I then +crossed the bridge, and began to move in the direction +of the tree which lay across the chasm. I had +not taken ten steps before a bullet whizzed uncomfortably +close to my ears. Luckily it did not hit +me; but, deeming discretion to be the better part +of valor, I was not ashamed to lie down upon the +ground.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_187">[187]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVI"> + CHAPTER XVI. + <br> + <span class='chap-title'>SHOWERS OF ROCKS.</span> + </h2> +</div> + +<p class='chap-first kern-extra'><span class='allcaps'>Stealing</span> a cautious glance over the brink of +the precipice, I discovered the robber coiled up +under a projecting rock, about five rods from the +place where the sheriff had been looking for him. +It was ticklish business, though, after I had heard +one bullet whistle by my ears, I felt more like a +veteran, and found my courage increasing. Still I +was careful not to expose my head again to the +robber’s aim, for I had a certain regard for my head, +and the contents thereof, which made me rather +tender of it. It may not have been a very good +head, but it was the best one I had, and I did not +like to have it damaged, for no one could give me +another if I lost it. Besides, I was afraid it would +hurt Grace Toppleton’s feelings, as well as my own, +to have a hole through my head.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_188">[188]</span></p> + +<p>I lay upon the ground and did not deem it prudent +to attempt to obtain a second glance at the +robber at once. But I kept this position only long +enough to consider what I should do next. I crawled +back a little way from the ravine, where I could +lift my body up without being seen by the villain. +I then made signs to the sheriff on the other side +to indicate to him the precise location of the fugitive. +He understood me perfectly, and, guided by my signals, +he advanced to that part of the bluff directly +over the robber’s head. When he had reached the +right spot, I nodded my head to signify the fact.</p> + +<p>The bluff was well supplied with rocks, and the +sheriff followed up the tactics I had suggested, by rolling +them over the brink of the precipice. It was +evident enough to me that the robber could not +stand this sort of treatment for any great length of +time; for, though none of the rocks thrown into +the chasm were larger than a man’s head, they were +heavy enough to smash a man’s skull after falling +from fifteen to twenty feet. Of course the chances +of hitting him with stones rolled blindly into the +ravine were not very good; but, if we followed up +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_189">[189]</span> +the shower, he was in danger of being hit sooner +or later.</p> + +<p>“Pitch them in, Mr. Bradshaw!” I shouted. “Give +him plenty of them.”</p> + +<p>“Where is he now?” asked the sheriff.</p> + +<p>“He isn’t far from you. Let him have a shower +of them,” I added.</p> + +<p>Taking a position myself far enough from the gully +to be out of reach of the robber’s pistol, I began +to help my companion on the other side, and for a +few minutes we rained down the rocks into the +chasm with a zeal which threatened to bury the +victim beneath them. But, as we heard nothing of +him, I concluded, after a time, that he had changed +his position, or that his head had been broken, and +we suspended the assault when we were tired of the +hard work it involved.</p> + +<p>I then crawled up to the chasm as close as I +dared to go, and listened attentively for any sound +which might indicate the robber’s presence; but it +was his policy to keep entirely still, and I obtained +no information. The sheriff did the same thing on +his side of the gully, and we occasionally glanced +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_190">[190]</span> +at each other for intelligence. As we continued the +search, and our excitement increased, both of us became +more venturesome. We were soon reminded +again of the folly of exposing our heads to the +fire of the desperado in the chasm. I saw the sheriff +dodge, and heard the crack of a pistol in the chasm.</p> + +<p>“All right!” shouted Mr. Bradshaw to me. “Nobody +damaged. He’s right under you, Wolf.”</p> + +<p>“I know where he is now,” I replied; and I renewed +the assault with a volley of rocks.</p> + +<p>The sheriff did the same, and there was a heavy +shower of stones into the abyss. We followed it up +for half an hour, throwing the missiles in different +places for several rods, so as to cover any change of +position the robber might make. But the labor was +heavy, and seemed to be unprofitable, while we were +working in the dark. Making a signal to the officer to +continue the assault on his side, I walked down to the +bridge, where I could look into the chasm, and be out +of the reach of a ball from the robber’s pistol. From +this secure position I obtained a full view of the rascal. +He was crouching under the overhanging cliff, at least +five rods from the place where the sheriff was throwing +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_191">[191]</span> +over the rocks. The desperado raised his pistol, +and fired as soon as he saw me; but I knew the weapon +would not carry half the distance, and I was brave +enough not to flinch.</p> + +<p>I was tired of carrying on the war in this blind +manner. I had been on the bluff over an hour, and +nothing had been accomplished. I crossed the bridge, +and walked up to the place where the sheriff lay. I +had an idea, which I hoped would bring matters to an +issue.</p> + +<p>“Hold on, Mr. Bradshaw,” said I, as I approached +him. “You are wasting your ammunition. The fellow +is a hundred feet from you.”</p> + +<p>“This is hard work,” replied the sheriff, wiping the +perspiration from his brow.</p> + +<p>“Yes, and almost useless. I don’t believe we have +hit him a single time.”</p> + +<p>“I thought he must be smashed to jelly by this +time.”</p> + +<p>“No; he is crouching under an overhanging rock, +out here,” I added, pointing to the place where I had +seen him.</p> + +<p>“Hold on, then, and I will give him some more,” +said the zealous officer.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_192">[192]</span></p> + +<p>“No, let him rest a few minutes. One of us must +keep watch of him at a safe distance from his pistol,” I +continued, picking up a little stick from the ground. +“Let us have some signals. I will go down where I +can see him, and direct you so that you can throw the +rocks in where he is.”</p> + +<p>“Good! I like that,” replied the officer.</p> + +<p>“When I raise this stick, it means farther from me; +when I lower it, nearer to me. When I carry it out +to the right, it means on your side of the chasm; +when to the left, on the other side,” I proceeded, suiting +the action to the word.</p> + +<p>“I understand. Up means farther off; down, nearer +to you; right, nearer to me; left, farther from me. +That’s a good idea, Wolf, and we shall smash him this +time.”</p> + +<p>“And when you are in the right place I will raise +both hands,” I added.</p> + +<p>I returned to the bridge, and looked for the robber +again. He was not in the place where I had last seen +him, and I concluded that, as he had explored the +gully from the point where he landed, he had gone +in the direction of the fallen tree over the chasm. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_193">[193]</span> +Taking the side of the gully opposite that on which +the sheriff was, I followed it in the direction of the +tree. There was a turn in the gully, and I was +obliged to fall back into the road which lay near +it, in order not to expose myself. I soon reached a +point where I could see the fallen tree. The robber +was directly under it, busily at work doing something +which I could not see.</p> + +<p>I raised my hand with the stick in it as high as I +could, to indicate to the sheriff that he had a considerable +distance to go. He increased his speed, and +when he reached the tree, I raised both hands, the signal +that he was in the right place. But by this time +he needed no telegram from me; for, precisely as I had +suggested that he would do, he threw his cord over +the trunk of the fallen tree. The officer saw the line, +and taking position at a safe distance, he began to +pour in the rocks with a vigor which threatened to annihilate +the robber, and bury him beneath the <i>débris</i>. +I had a fair view of the whole scene. The desperado +was trying to climb up his rope, and had actually +begun the ascent, when he suddenly dropped upon the +ground. It was plain enough to me that a rock had +hit him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_194">[194]</span></p> + +<p>“Hold on!” I shouted, at the top of my lungs, for +I did not wish to have the fellow unnecessarily injured.</p> + +<p>The sheriff promptly suspended his operations, and +I ran with all speed to the fallen tree. Mr. Bradshaw +lay down on his stomach, and crawled towards the +chasm. As I approached, I saw him retreat a little, +which assured me the fugitive was not killed.</p> + +<p>“He hasn’t got enough yet,” said the sheriff, as I +arrived on the other side of the chasm; and he immediately +launched another rock into the abyss.</p> + +<p>“Hold on!” shouted the robber.</p> + +<p>“What do you want?” demanded Mr. Bradshaw.</p> + +<p>“Don’t throw any more rocks down,” replied the +rascal, in a tone which indicated that he was in pain. +“You have broken my shoulder now.”</p> + +<p>“Do you surrender?” called the sheriff.</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“All right; throw up your pistol, then.”</p> + +<p>“I can’t throw it up—my shoulder is broken,” +answered the robber.</p> + +<p>I happened to have a fish-line in my pocket, one +end of which I threw into the chasm.</p> + +<p>“Tie your pistol to this line,” I added, “and I will +haul it out.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_195">[195]</span></p> + +<p>I heard him moving in the gully, and I crept forward +to as point where I could see him. He was +tying the pistol to the fish-line.</p> + +<p>“Pull it up,” said he.</p> + +<p>I drew up the revolver, and put it in my pocket. +I then dropped down the line again, and directed +him to send up his other pistol. He persisted that +he had only one, and I told him to send up his +cartridges, and any knife he had about him. He attached +a box of cartridges and a small bowie-knife +to the line, which I drew up.</p> + +<p>“Now come up yourself,” said Mr. Bradshaw. “But +I want you to understand, if you attempt any treachery +you are a dead man.”</p> + +<p>“I can’t get up,” replied the robber. “My shoulder +is broken.”</p> + +<p>“If his shoulder is broken, he can’t very well +shin up that rope,” I added.</p> + +<p>“How shall we get him out?” asked the sheriff.</p> + +<p>“We can take him off in the boat,” I replied. +“Indeed, that’s the only way we can get him out, +unless we hoist him out with his line.”</p> + +<p>“As we must return to Centreport in the boat, +that will be the easiest way,” replied the sheriff.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_196">[196]</span></p> + +<p>I crossed the chasm on the trunk of the tree, +and, after a short consultation with the sheriff, it +was agreed that he should remain on the bluff, and +see that the robber did not escape while we were +bringing up the Belle, and that I should go with +Tom, and take him on board at the place where +he had landed. If we both left the bluff, he might +still be smart enough to escape, in spite of his injury.</p> + +<p>I hastened down the path, and, hailing Tom, was +soon on board of the Belle. I told the skipper we +had damaged the robber so that he was willing to +surrender, and had given up his pistol, which I exhibited. +By the time we reached the point in the +gully where the Raven had grounded, the robber +had arrived there, and the sheriff at the point on +the bluff above him. On the way, I had loaded all +the barrels of the robber’s revolver, and held it in +my hand. But the desperado seemed to be very +badly injured, and I was obliged to help him into +the boat. He seated himself opposite me, and I +put his travelling-bag in the cuddy.</p> + +<p>Pushing off, Tom headed the Belle out into the +lake, in order to take a tack so as to reach the foot +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_197">[197]</span> +of the path, and receive the sheriff on board. Under +the lee of the Raven, the skipper put the helm +down, and I went forward to clear away the jib. +While I was thus occupied, the robber made a sudden +spring at Tom, and taking him up in his arms, +tossed him into the lake. The deed was done in +the twinkling of an eye. The robber then made +a leap towards me.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp94" id="i_197" style="max-width: 89.875em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_197.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <span class="smcap">The Robber makes a new Move.</span> <a href='#Page_197'>Page 197</a>. + </figcaption> +</figure> + + +<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'>A BLOW WITH THE BOAT-HOOK.</span> + </h2> +</div> + +<p class='chap-first kern'><span class='allcaps'>The</span> robber appeared to be suffering so much from +the injuries in his shoulder that I had not considered +him capable of giving us any further trouble; +and when I went forward to clear away the jib, I put +the revolver in my pocket. I did not suppose a man +who declared that his shoulder was broken would make +an attack upon us, and I had relinquished the precautions +adopted when the desperado came on board.</p> + +<p>I was astounded and horrified when I saw Tom +pitched into the lake with so little ceremony. I saw +the robber spring towards me, and I fully comprehended +his purpose. He doubtless intended to throw me +overboard also, and then seek some more available +landing-place than he had chosen before. I had only +time to pick up the boat-hook, when I divined his plan, +before he was upon the half deck. I had been too +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_199">[199]</span> +tender-hearted and forbearing before, but now I was desperate, +when I saw poor Tom floundering in the lake, +wounded, and hardly able to help himself.</p> + +<p>Swinging the boat-hook over my head, I sprang +towards the robber; and, clearing the fore-stay, I +brought it down upon his bare pate with a force that +felled him to the floor of the standing-room. He attempted +to dodge my blow, but the boom swung round +and held him so that he could not avoid it. I hit him +fairly with the heavy iron at the end of my weapon, +and he dropped as an ox does under the butcher’s axe.</p> + +<p>“I think you will lie still for a while now,” said I, +glancing at him, as I hastened to the helm.</p> + +<p>The Belle had lost her headway when Tom was +removed from the helm, and I was fortunately able to +reach him with the boat-hook. I extended it to him, +and he grasped it with the hand of the uninjured arm, +I pulled him in, and helped him on board.</p> + +<p>“Are you hurt, Tom?” I asked, anxiously, as soon +as I had dragged the skipper into the standing-room.</p> + +<p>“No, I guess not,” he replied, shaking the water +from his hair. “That fellow wouldn’t have done that +it I had only had two arms, instead of one. It was a +shabby trick he played me.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_200">[200]</span></p> + +<p>“I think he will have a sore head after this.”</p> + +<p>“I saw you crack him with the boat-hook.”</p> + +<p>“I gave him a stunner.”</p> + +<p>“Did you kill him?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know. He hasn’t moved since he fell.”</p> + +<p>Gathering up the sheet, which had run out in the +scrape, I headed the boat for the foot of the path, +where the sheriff was waiting for us. I had heard +him yell when the robber tossed Tom into the lake, +and I had no doubt he was gratified with the turn I +had been able to give to the affair.</p> + +<p>“How do you feel, Tom?” I asked, when I had put +the Belle on her course.</p> + +<p>“First rate, Wolf,” he replied; but his looks and +actions belied his words.</p> + +<p>“No, you don’t, Tom. You are suffering.”</p> + +<p>“Well, to tell the whole truth, and nothing but +the truth, that villain gave my sore arm an awful twist, +and it don’t feel as good as it did.”</p> + +<p>“Let me get the sheriff on board, and then we will +run for Priam, where we can have something done for +you.”</p> + +<p>“O, never mind me, Wolf. I’m so glad we have got +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_201">[201]</span> +our man, that I don’t care much for anything else,” replied +Tom.</p> + +<p>“I’m afraid you will take cold, and have a bad arm, +if something isn’t done for it.”</p> + +<p>“I should rather laugh to see myself taking cold,” +added Tom. “Why, I’m in the water half the time, +and I feel just as good when I’m wet through as when +I’m dry.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t care what you say; I intend to take good +care of you, Tom,” I replied, as I lowered the mainsail, +and ran the boat up at the foot of the path.</p> + +<p>“You have had a narrow escape,” said the sheriff.</p> + +<p>“Yes; but an inch is as good as a mile. We are all +right now. Hurry up, Mr. Bradshaw. We are going +up to Priam.”</p> + +<p>“To Priam?”</p> + +<p>“Yes; I’m going to have Tom taken care of before I +do anything more.”</p> + +<p>“But I don’t want to go to Priam.”</p> + +<p>“Leave you here, then, if you like,” I replied.</p> + +<p>“But I want to take that man up to Centreport.”</p> + +<p>“On board, or I will shove off without you.”</p> + +<p>The sheriff stepped into the boat, and began to talk +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_202">[202]</span> +about his prisoner; but I headed the Belle for Priam, +in spite of his objections.</p> + +<p>“That fellow begins to move,” said Tom.</p> + +<p>The robber rolled over and put his hand to his head. +Then he heaved a long sigh. Tom took the helm, at +his own desire, and the sheriff and I raised the desperado, +and laid him on one of the seats. The blood +was flowing down the side of his head, and we found +an ugly wound where I had hit him. The blow had +stunned him; but he was beginning to revive. The +sheriff washed his head, and bound a handkerchief +over the wound, which I judged was not a serious +one. In a short time he was able to sit up, and the +officer put a pair of handcuffs upon his wrists.</p> + +<p>“I suppose it is all up with me now,” said he, after +he had surveyed the situation, and glanced particularly +at the handcuffs.</p> + +<p>“You may us well hang up your fiddle now,” added +Tom. “How is your shoulder?”</p> + +<p>“My shoulder is sore, but I think I could use it +again if there was a good chance,” said he, biting his +lips. “What are you going to do with me?”</p> + +<p>“I’ll take good care of you now,” replied the sheriff.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_203">[203]</span></p> + +<p>“Don’t be rough on a fellow.”</p> + +<p>“By gracious! I’ve seen this fellow before!” exclaimed +Tom, suddenly. “It’s Schleifer, that hardware +drummer, as sure as you live!”</p> + +<p>I looked at him carefully, and was satisfied that +Tom was right. But he was very much changed. +His face was covered with smut and dirt. His dress, +which had been carefully adjusted when we saw him +before, was now deranged and soiled. He had evidently +used a good deal of oil in cutting the hole +through the door of the bank vault, and had daubed +his face all over, so that he looked like a machinist +just from the shop. As I looked at him now, I was +not surprised that we had not recognized him.</p> + +<p>“Schleifer it is, if you believe that is my name,” +he replied. “Names are cheap.”</p> + +<p>“Where is the other fellow?” asked Tom.</p> + +<p>“I hope he has been smarter than I have,” answered +the robber, gloomily.</p> + +<p>“You have been smart,” added Tom.</p> + +<p>“If I had not run into that infernal hole, I should +not have been here.”</p> + +<p>“Who was that man with you?” I asked, recalling +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_204">[204]</span> +the scene in front of the stable at the hotel, on +the preceding evening.</p> + +<p>“Who is he? You can ask just as many questions +as you please; and I can answer just as many as +I like,” replied he. “But we won’t quarrel because +I have been unfortunate. It’s a great pity that a +young man like me should be sent to the jug for +the best part of my life. Can’t we make a trade?”</p> + +<p>“What do you mean by a trade?” asked the +sheriff.</p> + +<p>“I’ll be fair with you,” continued the robber. “I +have in my bag about thirty or forty thousand dollars—I +don’t know how much. We didn’t stop to +count the money. Call it forty thousand. Here are +four of us, and that’s just ten thousand apiece. In +other words, if you will let me off, I will give you +ten thousand apiece, whether I have anything myself +or not.”</p> + +<p>“That’s a pretty good offer,” said the sheriff, who +had probably never seen ten thousand dollars in +his life.</p> + +<p>I did not care to discuss such a question, and +therefore said nothing.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_205">[205]</span></p> + +<p>“It won’t compromise you in the slightest degree,” +continued the robber, evidently encouraged by the +remark of the officer. “Just run the boat up to +the shore, and I will take care of myself. All you +have to say is, that you could not catch me. You +can put a shot or two through your hat, and through +your coat, to prove that you have not been backward +in following me up.”</p> + +<p>“Ten thousand dollars is a good deal of money +to a poor man like me,” added Mr. Bradshaw. “It +is more money than I ever expected to see at one +time.”</p> + +<p>“It will not be the first time such a trade has +been made,” urged the robber.</p> + +<p>“What do you say, Wolf?” added the sheriff +turning to me.</p> + +<p>“I don’t say anything,” I replied.</p> + +<p>“Here is a good chance to make some money.”</p> + +<p>“I can tell you of a better chance.”</p> + +<p>“What’s that?”</p> + +<p>“Go up and rob the Middleport or the Ucayga +Bank. If you do the job well, I have no doubt +you can make fifty thousand by it.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_206">[206]</span></p> + +<p>“Of course I wouldn’t rob a bank,” he replied, +laughing.</p> + +<p>“You might as well as make a trade with this +fellow. It’s all the same thing.”</p> + +<p>“You really don’t suppose I meant to do such a +thing,” said he, with a sickly smile.</p> + +<p>“Come, what do you say?” persisted the robber, +glancing anxiously ahead, for we were rapidly approaching +Priam.</p> + +<p>“We will not say anything more about it,” replied +the sheriff.</p> + +<p>And he did not. I will not say whether, if the +sheriff had been alone, he would have made such +nefarious bargain as that suggested by the robber; +but I considered it better that he was not alone. +Schleifer pressed the subject; but Bradshaw was now +indignant at the idea, and finally it was dropped. +The sheriff behaved rather nervously; but I could +not tell whether it was because he was losing a +chance to make his fortune, or was afraid he had +committed himself.</p> + +<p>“Do you suppose they have caught the other fellow?” +asked Tom, as we approached Priam.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_207">[207]</span></p> + +<p>“If they haven’t, they will catch him,” I replied.</p> + +<p>“What makes you think so?” demanded the robber.</p> + +<p>“I know all about him now,” I answered.</p> + +<p>“You don’t know so much as you think you do.”</p> + +<p>“I think I shall be able to find Lord Palsgrave,” +I added.</p> + +<p>“Bah! You will find him as you did me—by accident, +if you find him at all. If I had not run +into that hole, you would not have seen me again. +I was a fool that I did not cut a hole in the bottom +of this boat, instead of trying to burn her.”</p> + +<p>“We all make blunders,” I suggested.</p> + +<p>“Yes, you have made your full share,” sneered he. +“Do you know where I was when you were looking +for me on the other side? I’ll tell you. I was +in that gully, listening to what you said.”</p> + +<p>The robber was evidently trying to comfort himself +in his misfortune, and he regaled us, until we +reached the wharf, with a recital of the manner in +which he had balked us. He wanted to know how +we happened to be in the Narrows at midnight, +but I did not care to enlighten him. We landed +at Priam, and went up to the hotel, the sheriff +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_208">[208]</span> +guarding his prisoner with the greatest care. The +intelligence of the robbery of the bank had already +reached the town, for Captain Synders and Waddie +had passed through the place several hours before +in pursuit of the other robber.</p> + +<p>I sent for a doctor as soon as we reached the +hotel, and obtained a supply of dry clothing for +Tom. In a short time I had made him very comfortable, +The physician dressed his wound, and declared +that it was not serious, though it would give +the patient some trouble.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_209">[209]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"> + CHAPTER XVIII. + <br> + <span class='chap-title'>AT THE CATARACT HOUSE.</span> + </h2> +</div> + +<p class='chap-first kern'><span class='allcaps'>It</span> was decided that the sheriff should return to +Centreport with his prisoner in the Ucayga, +which left Hitaca at one o’clock, and would be at +Priam before two. The doctor insisted that Tom +should keep quiet for two or three days, and he reluctantly +consented to return in the steamer, while +I went up the lake to the Cataract House, to see +what had become of Lord Palsgrave.</p> + +<p>Soon after we arrived at the hotel, Schleifer declared +that he was nearly starved, for he had not +eaten anything since he had taken his supper the +evening before in Hitaca. I ordered an early dinner +for the whole party, and the robber’s handcuffs +were removed to enable him to use his knife and +fork; but both the sheriff and myself had a revolver +by the side of our plates, and the rascal made no +attempt to escape.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_210">[210]</span></p> + +<p>While we were at dinner, Captain Synders and +Waddie arrived, on their return from the pursuit +of the other robber, They had not been able to +obtain the slightest clew to him in this direction, +and had come to the conclusion that he had gone +towards Ucayga; but a party had been sent in that +direction, and it was hoped he had been captured.</p> + +<p>“How far did you go, Waddie?” I asked.</p> + +<p>“We went about a mile beyond the Cataract +House,” he replied. “We could not find the slightest +trace of him.”</p> + +<p>“Did you stop at the Cataract House?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, a few minutes.”</p> + +<p>“Did you see Mr. Overton?”</p> + +<p>“No; but the landlord told me he was out looking +for Miss Dornwood, who disappeared last evening +very strangely,” replied Waddie, chuckling, “Lord—What’s +his name?”</p> + +<p>“Lord Palsgrave,” I added, with interest.</p> + +<p>“Lord Palsgrave was helping him in the search.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed!” I exclaimed, “All right!”</p> + +<p>“What’s all right?”</p> + +<p>“Lord Palsgrave.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_211">[211]</span></p> + +<p>“What of him?”</p> + +<p>“He’s your man.”</p> + +<p>“What do you mean?” demanded Waddie, unable +to comprehend my rapid suggestions.</p> + +<p>“You have not seen the robber we captured, +Waddie. I had forgotten that. You must go in +and look at him.”</p> + +<p>“Why?”</p> + +<p>“He is an old acquaintance of ours.”</p> + +<p>“The robber?”</p> + +<p>“Yes; in a word, it is the hardware drummer +that we took from the burning canal-boat,” I replied. +“His mission in Centreport was to rob the bank.”</p> + +<p>“Now I remember the fellow said he wanted to +go to Centreport, half a dozen times, and as often +corrected himself, and made it Middleport. You don’t +say that drummer is the fellow!”</p> + +<p>“It’s a fact; and, if the drummer was one of +them, it follows that Lord Palsgrave is the other.”</p> + +<p>“By the great horn spoon!” ejaculated Waddie.</p> + +<p>“It’s as clear as mud,” I added. “I saw his lordship +and the drummer leave the stable together in a +vehicle.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_212">[212]</span></p> + +<p>“But how could he get back here? That’s what +bothers me. We came down by the direct road, and +could not get any traces of him.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know how that is, but I am satisfied his +lordship is one of the men who robbed the Centreport +Bank. I am going to the Cataract House +in the Belle. Captain Synders had better go with +me, for I am sure Lord Palsgrave is our man.”</p> + +<p>“All right; and I will go also,” replied Waddie.</p> + +<p>We went into the hotel, and my friend was fully +convinced of the correctness of my theory when he +saw and recognized the drummer. Schleifer, or whatever +his name was, continued to be boastful and +defiant. He was a hard villain, and seemed to take +great pleasure in informing us how he had cheated +us in the pursuit. When we went in, he was telling +the sheriff that, though he had been hit on the +shoulder by a stone, he was not much hurt, and had +concluded that his chances were better in the boat +than in that dismal hole. We did not pay much +attention to him, however; and, after Waddie and +Captain Synders had dined, we embarked in the +Belle for the Cataract House.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_213">[213]</span></p> + +<p>“I don’t understand how the other robber can be +down here,” said the constable when we were under +way. “In fact, I don’t believe he is here.”</p> + +<p>“You shall be satisfied on that point before night,” +I replied.</p> + +<p>“It would be a feather in our caps if we should +happen to catch him,” added the captain.</p> + +<p>“If he don’t get frightened and clear out, we +shall have him before night,” I replied.</p> + +<p>Indeed, I wondered that his lordship had the temerity +to remain in the vicinity after the crime in +which he had been engaged, and I suggested to my +companions that we should proceed with the utmost +caution, and capture him before the news of +Schleifer’s mishap reached him. The wind was still +fair and fresh, and we made a quick run to our +destination. We landed at a point some distance +above that from which we had started the night +before, and, taking a path through the woods, proceeded +to the stable in the rear of the hotel. I +wished to ascertain when and how his lordship had +returned. I did not like to have the constable exhibit +himself, and I left him in the grove, though +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_214">[214]</span> +he grumbled not a little at being compelled to play +an inferior part in the transaction. I found the +stable-keeper, who knew me very well, and being +in a position to send customers to the hotel, I was +treated with much consideration.</p> + +<p>“You remember that I was here last evening?” +I began, after he had greeted me.</p> + +<p>“Yes, you were asking about that lord who is +stopping in the house.”</p> + +<p>“Exactly so. I never happened to meet a live lord, +and I am rather anxious to see one. Has he returned +yet?”</p> + +<p>“Yes; he came back this morning, about eight +o’clock.”</p> + +<p>“Did the other gentleman return with him?” I +asked.</p> + +<p>“No; did you know him?”</p> + +<p>“I had seen him before. Do you know where +they went?”</p> + +<p>“Over to Highlandville, Lord Palsgrave said he +had been over there to see a friend be met in +England last year.”</p> + +<p>His lordship was certainly very obliging to state +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_215">[215]</span> +his business so definitely to the stable-keeper; and +I was rather desirous of knowing who his friends +in Highlandville were. This place was about five +miles back from the lake.</p> + +<p>“Do you know where he is now?” I continued.</p> + +<p>“He and another gentleman took a team this forenoon, +and went away. They have not returned +yet.”</p> + +<p>“Who was the other gentleman?”</p> + +<p>“Mr. Overton, I think; at any rate, it was the +one who came with him,” replied the stable-keeper. +“I reckon there is some trouble in the family, Captain +Penniman. The young lady who came with +the party cleared out last night, and they have +been looking for her all day. I believe they have +gone to Hitaca this time.”</p> + +<p>The stable-keeper wanted to tell me all about +the young lady, who had “cleared out;” but as +I knew more of the matter than he did, I was +not anxious to hear the story. The only point in +his narrative that interested me was the statement +that the young lady was supposed to be insane, +being subject to this malady. I concluded that this +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_216">[216]</span> +was an invention of Mr. Overton, put forth for the +purpose of concealing the real trouble.</p> + +<p>“There they are now!” said the stable-keeper, as +a team drove up to the side door of the hotel. “I +thought they would be back by dinner time.”</p> + +<p>One of the gentlemen alighted from the vehicle, +and went into the hotel, while the other drove the +horse up to the stable. The latter was Mr. Overton, +and as I did not care about being seen before +we were ready to put the bracelets on the wrists of +his lordship, I left the stable, and moved towards the +grove where I had left my companions. But the +horse, when headed towards the stable, smelt his +oats, and started off rather suddenly, and Mr. Overton +drove him around the hotel to prevent the animal +from turning too short a corner. I did not observe +where he went, and as I was hastening to +the grove, I met him in the road, where I could +not avoid him without jumping over the fence, which +my dignity would not permit me to do. He recognized +me at once, and stopped the horse.</p> + +<p>“I wish to see you, young man,” said he, in an +arrogant tone, as he stepped out of the vehicle.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_217">[217]</span></p> + +<p>One of the hostlers came to the place, and took +charge of the horse, so that he was relieved of all care +on his account, and able to give his whole attention +to me. I nodded to him, as he spoke, to indicate +that I was ready to hear him.</p> + +<p>“You are one of the persons who were with my +ward, Miss Dornwood, yesterday afternoon?” he continued, +pulling off his glove.</p> + +<p>“I am one of the persons,” I replied.</p> + +<p>“You are the owner of a boat?”</p> + +<p>“No, sir, I am not.”</p> + +<p>“One of your party is?”</p> + +<p>“One of my party is.”</p> + +<p>“Where is that boat now?” demanded he, beginning +to be a little excited.</p> + +<p>“She lies over by the shore yonder.”</p> + +<p>“Where?” repeated he, sternly.</p> + +<p>“If you wish to see her, I will take you to her,” +I replied, good-naturedly, for this is my policy when +other people are angry.</p> + +<p>“I don’t wish to see her; I only want to know +where she is.”</p> + +<p>“Well, sir, she is not a half a mile from here.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_218">[218]</span></p> + +<p>“Hasn’t she been away somewhere?”</p> + +<p>“I believe the lake is free for her to go wherever +her skipper chooses to take her,” I replied, prudently.</p> + +<p>It occurred to me that Lord Palsgrave might be +interested to know where the Belle had been, and I +was afraid some information might be conveyed to +him before I was ready to have him receive it.</p> + +<p>“You don’t answer my question,” said Mr. Overton, +savagely.</p> + +<p>“I don’t consider myself under any obligation to +answer your questions, especially when you propose +them in this offensive manner,” I replied, mildly.</p> + +<p>He bit his lips, and perhaps he recognized the +force of my remark.</p> + +<p>“I have a purpose in putting these questions,” he +added, more gently.</p> + +<p>“I can’t help it if you have, sir.”</p> + +<p>“In a word, the young lady whom you assisted +has run away. Do you know anything about her?”</p> + +<p>“For the present, sir, I decline to answer.”</p> + +<p>“Which means that you do know something about +her.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_219">[219]</span></p> + +<p>“You may draw your own conclusions.”</p> + +<p>“Let me tell you, young man, that Miss Dornwood +is my ward, and under my authority. Lord Palsgrave +and myself have been searching for her all the forenoon.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed! Is Lord Palsgrave much interested in +her?” I asked.</p> + +<p>“He is to be her husband, and of course he is +very anxious in regard to her.”</p> + +<p>“If he is to be her husband, I should think he +might be anxious,” I added, coolly.</p> + +<p>“He is very much distressed, and if you know +anything about her, you will do him a very great +favor by informing him where she is.”</p> + +<p>“I should be happy to oblige his lordship.”</p> + +<p>“Lord Palsgrave is compelled to start for New +York this afternoon, upon important business, and +he is very anxious to know what has become of +Miss Dornwood before he leaves.”</p> + +<p>“I should think he would be. Then he is going +away on important business,” I repeated, glad to +know the fact. “Will you introduce me to his +lordship?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_220">[220]</span></p> + +<p>“I will.”</p> + +<p>“I will tell him where the lady is.”</p> + +<p>“Very well; you shall see him at once.”</p> + +<p>“I will meet you at the hotel in a few moments,” +I replied, moving towards the place where I had left +Waddie and Captain Synders.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_221">[221]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIX"> + CHAPTER XIX. + <br> + <span class='chap-title'>THE OTHER BANK ROBBER.</span> + </h2> +</div> + +<p class='chap-first'><span class='allcaps'>I called</span> Captain Synders and Waddie from +their hiding-place, and hastened to the hotel, intending +to reach it about as soon as Mr. Overton, for I +was rather fearful that his lordship would take the +alarm, and leave before I had an opportunity to introduce +him to the constable.</p> + +<p>“I promised to tell Lord Palsgrave where Miss +Dornwood is,” said I, as we hurried towards the rear +entrance of the hotel, while Mr. Overton had gone to +the front door. “Have you any objection, Waddie?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know that I have. It is useless to try to +hide her from him,” he replied, as we entered the hotel.</p> + +<p>I saw Mr. Overton go into the parlor; and, after placing +the constable where he would be available when +his services were needed, Waddie and I followed the +anxious guardian. We found him talking to an elegantly +dressed lady, who, I concluded, was his wife.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_222">[222]</span></p> + +<p>“Lord Palsgrave is not here just now,” said Mr. +Overton, as we approached the spot where he stood.</p> + +<p>“He has gone up stairs to dress for dinner,” added +the lady. “He said he would be down in a few moments.”</p> + +<p>“We are somewhat in a hurry,” I continued, anxiously; +for I was afraid his lordship might obtain a +hint of the presence of a constable on the premises.</p> + +<p>“If you are in a hurry, it will be quite as proper +for you to impart your information to me,” said Mr. +Overton.</p> + +<p>“I promised to give it to Lord Palsgrave only,” I +added, wishing him to understand that I would give it +to no other person.</p> + +<p>I was very much afraid of making a blunder. Of +course his lordship, having just returned from robbing +a bank, would naturally be very excitable and suspicious. +I walked across the room with Waddie, in +order to obtain an opportunity to speak with him in +private.</p> + +<p>“Go to the office, Waddie, and ascertain the number +of Lord Palsgrave’s room, and don’t let him leave the +house,” I said to him, in a low tone. “Don’t say anything +unless he attempts to leave.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_223">[223]</span></p> + +<p>“I understand,” replied Waddie, as he left the parlor +to execute his mission.</p> + +<p>“I hope you will not leave till you have seen Lord +Palsgrave,” said Mr. Overton, perhaps afraid that I +should follow the example of my companion.</p> + +<p>“I will not, sir,” I answered, walking with him over +to the place where the lady was seated.</p> + +<p>“We are very anxious indeed about Miss Dornwood,” +he added; “but more for her own sake than +for any other reason. She is young and giddy.”</p> + +<p>“I think you need not be disturbed about her.”</p> + +<p>“How can we help being worried about her?” said +the lady.</p> + +<p>“Well, madam, I can assure you she is with excellent +people, who will be very careful of her.”</p> + +<p>“Did I understand you to say that you conveyed +Miss Dornwood away in your boat?” asked Mr. +Overton.</p> + +<p>“Whatever the facts may be, I did not say so. Did +I understand you to say that Miss Dornwood is engaged +to Lord Palsgrave?”</p> + +<p>“I did say so.”</p> + +<p>“I suppose you have been acquainted with his +lordship for a long time, then?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_224">[224]</span></p> + +<p>“No, only a few weeks.”</p> + +<p>“Of course you are satisfied that he is what he +represents himself to be.”</p> + +<p>“What, Lord Palsgrave?” demanded Mr. Overton, +with a frown. “Why do you ask such a question?”</p> + +<p>“I suppose you are aware, sir, that all people who +pass themselves off as noblemen in the United States +are not really so.”</p> + +<p>“I think such a suggestion is an insult to his lordship. +Did Miss Dornwood intimate to you that Lord +Palsgrave was an impostor?”</p> + +<p>“She did not. On the contrary, I am confident that +she believes he is just what he claims to be.”</p> + +<p>“There can be no doubt about that. May I ask if +you know anything about Lord Palsgrave?”</p> + +<p>“I do know something about him, though I have +not yet even met his lordship.”</p> + +<p>“I think you ask rather remarkable questions concerning +him. But here comes his lordship,” added +he, as an elegantly-dressed young gentleman entered +the parlor.</p> + +<p>Mr. Overton hastened to meet Lord Palsgrave, and +spoke to him for a moment in private. While they +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_225">[225]</span> +were thus engaged, Waddie entered the room, and +came to my side. We had an opportunity to examine +his lordship’s elegantly-fitting garments, which were +certainly very creditable to his tailor. I had obtained +a single glance at his face, and if his voice had been +familiar to me, there was also something in his looks +which seemed to remind me that I had seen him before, +though I did not then recognize him.</p> + +<p>Lord Palsgrave was in full dress, with a white vest +and black dress coat. His patent-leather boots were +unexceptionable, and his pants were a capital fit. +From his neck an eye-glass dangled at the end of a +silken cord. He wore a light mustache, which had +evidently been colored within a recent period, and +every hair on his head was adjusted with the nicest +care. If I had met him in the street I should have +called him a dandy without any compunction of conscience. +I wish to say that I have since seen a live +duke and a live earl; but both of them, though they +looked and acted like gentlemen, were very plainly +dressed.</p> + +<p>“He’s a swellish-locking fellow—isn’t he?” said +Waddie, as he joined me in the parlor.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_226">[226]</span></p> + +<p>“The chief end of man with him is to keep up appearances,” +I replied.</p> + +<p>“I think I have seen that fellow before.”</p> + +<p>“So do I, but I can’t make him out.”</p> + +<p>“Did you get a good view of him, Wolf?”</p> + +<p>“I only obtained a single glance at his face when +he came in; but I pity Miss Dornwood if she is compelled +to throw herself away upon such a puppy as he.”</p> + +<p>“That match will be broken up, I think.”</p> + +<p>“Did you see him up stairs, Waddie?”</p> + +<p>“No. I knocked at his door, and satisfied myself he +was in his room; but I cleared out as soon as he answered +me. I did not let him see me when he came +out.”</p> + +<p>“Where is Captain Synders now?” I asked.</p> + +<p>“I told him to stand by the door when I came in, +and he is all ready to pounce upon his victim.”</p> + +<p>“Here comes Mr. Overton,” I added, as his lordship +turned and walked over to the place where Mrs. Overton +was seated.</p> + +<p>“Excuse me, but I have not your name,” said Mr. +Overton.</p> + +<p>“Captain Penniman,” I replied.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp95" id="i_227" style="max-width: 89.875em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_227.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <span class="smcap">The Introduction.</span> <a href='#Page_227'>Page 227</a>. + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_227">[227]</span></p> + +<p>I walked with him into the immediate presence of +his august lordship.</p> + +<p>“Lord Palsgrave, Captain Penniman,” said Mr. +Overton.</p> + +<p>His lordship had adjusted his eye-glass as he raised +his head from the lady.</p> + +<p>“Captain Penniman!” exclaimed he; and his face +turned as red as a blood beet.</p> + +<p>“Nick Van Wolter!” I almost shouted, as I recognized +the distinguished nobleman. “I hope your +lordship is quite well.”</p> + +<p>“By the great horn spoon! It is Nick Van Wolter!” +cried Waddie.</p> + +<p>“Do you know these persons, Mr. Overton?” said +his lordship, recovering his self-possession, and adjusting +his eye-glass with particular care.</p> + +<p>“I do not.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t you know me, Lord Nick Van Wolter?” +I asked, laughing heartily at the airs of his lordship.</p> + +<p>“Certainly not,” he answered.</p> + +<p>“Then I have the advantage of your lordship.”</p> + +<p>“So have I,” added Waddie; “and that’s two +against one.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_228">[228]</span></p> + +<p>“Who are these persons?” demanded his lordship, +still squinting at us through his eye-glass.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know them; but one of them informs me +that he knows where Miss Dornwood is, and is willing +to inform your lordship,” replied Mr. Overton.</p> + +<p>“I am that person, and I shall be happy to give +his lordship all the information in my power,” I answered.</p> + +<p>“What do you know of the lady?” asked his lordship, +in supercilious tones.</p> + +<p>“She went down the lake in the Belle last night—his +lordship knows the Belle very well.”</p> + +<p>“The belle—pray, sir, do you refer to Miss Dornwood?” +said Lord Palsgrave, squinting at me through +the glass.</p> + +<p>“I do not. I refer to the sloop boat Belle, in which +your lordship has sailed more than once.”</p> + +<p>“What do you mean by that, fellow?”</p> + +<p>“Come, Nick, this farce is played out.”</p> + +<p>“Nick! What do you mean, fellow, by applying +such an insulting epithet to me?” exclaimed his +lordship.</p> + +<p>“I hope you will treat Lord Palsgrave with proper +respect,” interposed Mr. Overton.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_229">[229]</span></p> + +<p>“Well, sir, I happen to know that Lord Palsgrave +and Nick Van Wolter, the son of the present captain +of the steamer Ucayga, are one and the same person. +In other words, Mr. Overton, he is a humbug.”</p> + +<p>“Fellow!” ejaculated his lordship. “How dare you +insult me?”</p> + +<p>“O, I dare, it you call the simple truth an insult,” +I replied.</p> + +<p>“I will not endure this insolence,” said his lordship, +rushing towards the door.</p> + +<p>“Yes, you will,” I interposed, placing myself before +him.</p> + +<p>“I will call the landlord, and have you ejected from +the premises.”</p> + +<p>“Not yet. I will send for the landlord, and save +you that trouble. Waddie, will you call him?” and +I nodded to him to indicate that Captain Synders +might also be introduced.</p> + +<p>By this time there was a great excitement in the +parlor. The guests of the house who were waiting +for dinner had become interested in the affair. Nick +Van Wolter, while he still attempted to maintain his +assumed character, was evidently very much disconcerted, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_230">[230]</span> +and was thinking how he should get out of +the room, and make his escape. When Captain Synders +entered the parlor, his jaw fell.</p> + +<p>“Nick Van Wolter, as true as you live,” said the +constable, as he came in, Waddie having previously +informed him who the victim was.</p> + +<p>“Captain Penniman, you promised to tell his lordship +where Miss Dornwood is,” interposed Mr. Overton.</p> + +<p>“I am entirely willing to do so,” I replied. “But +I am surprised to find that his lordship does not remember +the Belle. Why, when his lordship and the +other gentleman—who, I believe, does not pretend to +be a lord—were crossing the lake last night, after midnight, +the Belle actually ran into his boat. I will add +that Miss Dornwood was on board of the Belle at the +time, though she was asleep in the cabin.”</p> + +<p>“His lordship in a boat?” repeated Mr. Overton.</p> + +<p>“Exactly so; and if his lordship will pardon the +freedom of my speech, he and the other gentleman—who +is not a lord—robbed the Centreport Bank +of fifty or sixty thousand dollars.”</p> + +<p>“Robbed a bank!” exclaimed Mr. Overton.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_231">[231]</span></p> + +<p>Lord Palsgrave’s face was deadly pale, and his frame +quivered with emotion.</p> + +<p>“His lordship is well acquainted with Captain Synders, +constable of Centreport, who is here for the purpose +of arresting him.”</p> + +<p>“O, yes! I know his lordship like a book,” replied +the constable. “I have known him for a good many +years, and I’m sorry to say, I never knew much good +of him.”</p> + +<p>At this moment the gong for dinner sounded; but +none of the guests in the parlor manifested any disposition +to regard the summons.</p> + +<p>“I have heard enough of this nonsense. Mrs. Overton, +allow me to escort you to the table,” said his +lordship, trying to stiffen his joints again, as he +stepped up to the lady, and extended his arm to her.</p> + +<p>“I hope Mrs. Overton will excuse your lordship, for +we have not finished our business yet,” I remarked, as +the constable stepped up to his victim.</p> + +<p>His lordship was evidently very much disgusted and +disheartened.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_232">[232]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XX"> + CHAPTER XX. + <br> + <span class='chap-title'>THE END OF LORD PALSGRAVE.</span> + </h2> +</div> + +<p class='chap-first kern-more'><span class='allcaps'>“Landlord</span>, I have been outrageously insulted +in your house, and if you do not instantly +expel these insolent persons, I shall be obliged to leave +myself,” said Lord Palsgrave, approaching the landlord, +who had just arrived at the scene of the excitement.</p> + +<p>“Not just yet, I guess,” replied Captain Synders, +who did not permit his victim to get out of the reach +of his arm.</p> + +<p>“I know nothing about this business,” replied mine +host. “Captain Synders is a constable, and I presume +he knows what he is about.”</p> + +<p>“I do know just what I’m about,” added the constable.</p> + +<p>“I think it is quite proper for the officer to show +his warrant,” added the landlord.</p> + +<p>“I haven’t any warrant; but we don’t let a bank +robber escape for the want of one.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_233">[233]</span></p> + +<p>“At least you ought to show some ground for arresting +this gentleman.”</p> + +<p>“I’m going to search him, and if I don’t find twenty +or thirty thousand dollars in bills of the Centreport +Bank upon him, I shall be willing to wait till I get +a warrant, before I take him.”</p> + +<p>“Search me! Do you think I will submit to such +an unheard-of indignity?” demanded his lordship, +stamping his foot with rage, which, however, was +manufactured for the occasion.</p> + +<p>“I guess you will, Nick,” quietly replied the constable.</p> + +<p>“Don’t call me Nick, fellow,” foamed the victim.</p> + +<p>“Captain Penniman, before you proceed to extreme +measures in my house, I hope you will give me some +assurance that there is no mistake about the person,” +interposed the landlord.</p> + +<p>“I demand it as my right,” added Lord Palsgrave. +“I will appeal to the British minister at Washington, +who is a particular friend of my father.”</p> + +<p>“I shall be very happy to satisfy you, and all present, +that there is no mistake in regard to the person,” I +replied. “A man who called himself Schleifer—though +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_234">[234]</span> +that is probably not his real name—was +taken out of a burning canal-boat on the lake, last +evening, by our party. That man was one of the +bank robbers.”</p> + +<p>“I never saw or heard of such a man,” protested +Lord Palsgrave, violently.</p> + +<p>“I beg his lordship’s pardon, but he rode away from +the stable of this hotel with that man. The stable-keeper +assured me the person who went with him was +Lord Palsgrave. I am sure they went off together. +The other man has been arrested.”</p> + +<p>I saw that his lordship was startled by this information.</p> + +<p>“Did you recognize Lord Palsgrave in the vehicle +with the other man?” asked the landlord.</p> + +<p>“I did not, for I could not see his face,” I replied. +“But I did recognize the man who has been arrested, +and the stable-keeper said the other one was his lordship.”</p> + +<p>“As you did not identify Lord Palsgrave yourself, +there may still be some mistake.”</p> + +<p>“There is a mistake,” said his lordship, warmly.</p> + +<p>“Further, this person is not Lord Palsgrave, but +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_235">[235]</span> +Nick Van Wolter, the son of Captain Van Wolter +of the Ucayga. Here are three of us who have +known him for years.”</p> + +<p>“If that’s the case, I have nothing to say,” added +the landlord.</p> + +<p>“Come, Nick, let’s see what you have in your +pockets,” said Captain Synders.</p> + +<p>“Landlord, will you suffer this indignity to be +inflicted upon me in your house?” appealed Nick.</p> + +<p>“I haven’t anything more to say about it. Dinner +is ready, ladies and gentlemen,” he replied.</p> + +<p>But no one was disposed to dine while the issue +was pending.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Overton, I assure you this is an outrage,” +protested Nick.</p> + +<p>“If you are not what you represented yourself +to be, I have no sympathy with you,” replied the +gentleman addressed, who evidently thought it necessary +to free himself from any suspicion of complicity +with the bank robber.</p> + +<p>Nick glanced around the room with all the dignity +he could summon to his aid, and then made a +leap towards one of the open windows. The vigilant +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_236">[236]</span> +constable was too quick for him, and placed a +heavy hand upon him.</p> + +<p>“Don’t be in a hurry, Nick,” said the officer, taking +from his pocket a pair of handcuffs.</p> + +<p>“What have you there?” demanded Nick.</p> + +<p>“Only a pair of irons!”</p> + +<p>“Irons! Has it come to this? They will pierce +my soul!” exclaimed his lordship, who had evidently +borrowed this fine expression, as he had his knowledge +of heraldry, from the novels he had read.</p> + +<p>“They won’t touch your soul, Nick; I’m only going +to put them on your wrists, so that you will +hold still, and not jerk about so,” added the constable, +as, with some force, he snapped the irons +upon his prisoner. “Now, we want to know what +you have in your pockets, Nick. It’s no use to +jerk; you can’t get away.”</p> + +<p>Captain Synders searched his pockets, but did not +find anything to implicate him in the robbery; but +he took possession of a bunch of keys, which he +handed to me, and requested me to examine the +prisoner’s effects in his room. The landlord went +with us, and we opened his trunk.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_237">[237]</span></p> + +<p>“These are the clothes he had on last night,” said I, +taking from the trunk a tweed suit. “You see they +are very much soiled with smut and oil.”</p> + +<p>“Do you find any tools?” asked the landlord.</p> + +<p>“No; I think the other robber provided them,” I +replied, as I pulled all the clothing out of the +trunk.</p> + +<p>In the bottom of it I found a packet done up in +brown paper. It was about the length and width +of a bank note, and I was sure it contained money. +I opened it.</p> + +<p>“There’s no mistake about that,” said the landlord, +as I came to the bills. “Centreport Bank,” he +added, looking at the face of the notes.</p> + +<p>“I was sure of my man. See here,” I replied, +pointing to the address of the cashier on the brown +paper, which had probably enclosed some article +sent to Mr. Barnes at the bank.</p> + +<p>“That’s a pile of money,” added the landlord, as +I turned over the notes.</p> + +<p>“I judge, from what the other robber said, that +there must be twenty or thirty thousand dollars.”</p> + +<p>We returned to the parlor, and exhibited the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_238">[238]</span> +result of the search. There was no longer any doubt +as to the guilt of his lordship, and the guests went +to their dinner, congratulating themselves, perhaps, +that, after all, Lord Palsgrave was not “the biggest +toad in the puddle.” Mr. Overton, however, did +not go with them, but paced the room in high excitement. +It was easy to understand that the situation +was very far from being agreeable to him.</p> + +<p>“Well, I suppose we may as well be getting +back to Centreport as fast as possible,” said Captain +Synders, who was probably in a hurry to march his +prisoner in triumph into the town.</p> + +<p>“His lordship has not dined yet,” suggested Waddie.</p> + +<p>“I don’t want any dinner,” said Nick, bursting into +tears, as the extent of his reverses crowded upon +his mind.</p> + +<p>Half an hour before, every one treated him with +profound respect and great consideration; now every +one despised him, and looked down upon him with +contempt. His tears were moving, and, as he had +laid aside his lordly airs, we were not disposed to +ridicule him. If he had been sincerely repentant +over his crime, instead of being sorry for its mere +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_239">[239]</span> +exposure, we could have pitied and sympathized +with him.</p> + +<p>“Take me away from here as quick as you can,” +added Nick. “I hope you will let me go to my +room and change my clothes.”</p> + +<p>“That suit is good enough,” replied the constable.</p> + +<p>“I would rather not go to Centreport in this dress.”</p> + +<p>Waddie and I interfered in his favor, for we were +not disposed to increase his suffering, and the constable +consented to take him to his room to clothe himself +in a more becoming suit.</p> + +<p>“Captain Penniman, you have not told me yet +where Miss Dornwood is,” said Mr. Overton.</p> + +<p>“I did not agree to tell you, but only your friend,” I +replied.</p> + +<p>“He is not my friend now. He is an impostor,” +added Mr. Overton, warmly.</p> + +<p>Nick glanced at him as he uttered these words, +and appeared to regard the epithet as very unkind +from him.</p> + +<p>“Tell him, Wolf,” said Waddie.</p> + +<p>“Miss Dornwood is at Mr. Pinkerton’s, in Ruoara,” +I added.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_240">[240]</span></p> + +<p>The guardian bit his lip, and seemed to be very +much disconcerted. His plans for the fortune, as well +as those of Nick, were doubtless very much deranged. +He said no more, and Captain Synders conducted his +prisoner to his room. As the injury which Tom +Walton had received rendered it doubtful whether +we should return to complete my vacation in this +part of the lake, I concluded that I would take my +bear home in the Belle. I promised to meet the rest +of our party at the boat in a short time, and hastened +over to Captain Portman’s. I found him at home; +and, as we walked out to the quarters of Bruin, he +told me he had another bear on his hands.</p> + +<p>“Another!” I exclaimed.</p> + +<p>“Yes, the twin brother of mine,” replied Captain +Portman. “Major Tompkins, a friend of mine in +Hitaca, brought them down from the woods, where +an old hunter had reared them as pets. They amused +him so much that he bought them to keep in his garden; +but the illness of his wife compelled him to go to +Europe, and as he expected to be absent two or three +years, he gave one to my neighbor, Mr. Walker, and +the other to me. Mine has never been cross, though +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_241">[241]</span> +they say the other one has been a little ugly; but +found they had almost choked him by buckling the +strap too tight around his neck. He has been as +pleasant as a kitten since he has been here. Now, +Wolf, if you want both of them, you shall have them.”</p> + +<p>I did not want both of them, and I was rather +embarrassed by the offer; but when we reached the +quarters of the two bears, I changed my mind. I saw +them play together, and I laughed till my side ached +at their gambols. It was a pity to part two such excellent +friends, and I decided to accept Captain Portman’s +offer. I stepped up to the one whose acquaintance +I had made before. He appeared to recognize +me, stood up, and presented his paw. The other had +been trained in like manner, and performed the same +trick. I shook hands with them, and found they were +both ready for a frolic, in which, however, I had not +time to engage.</p> + +<p>I told the two men whom Captain Portman called +where the Belle lay, and they led the bears down to +the lake, while their employer walked with me. I +related to him the particulars of the bank robbery +and the capture of the robbers. He was very much +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_242">[242]</span> +astonished to learn that the lord at the hotel was +one of the criminals.</p> + +<p>When we reached the lake, I found Captain Synders +and Waddie with the prisoner, who was still in irons. +The constable was very impatient, and when he saw +the two bears, which were to be his fellow-passengers, +he declared he would not go in the boat with them. +Indeed, I found myself that two bears were rather too +many for the space the Belle afforded; but Captain +Portman relieved me of the difficulty by promising +to send one of his men to Middleport with them in +the steamer the next day.</p> + +<p>Captain Synders embarked his prisoner, and we +were soon driving down the lake. Nick Van Wolter +was the image of despair. The brilliant calculations +for the future had utterly failed, and instead of marrying +an heiress, he was to spend a long time in the penitentiary. +I have no doubt he was willing to believe +that “the way of the transgressor is hard.”</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_243">[243]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXI"> + CHAPTER XXI. + <br> + <span class='chap-title'>THE ADVENTURES OF NICK VAN WOLTER.</span> + </h2> +</div> + +<p class='chap-first kern'><span class='allcaps'>“Wolf</span>, you have been a thorn in my path,” said +Nick Van Wolter, as the Belle stood down +the lake.</p> + +<p>“Do you regard me as the author of your misfortunes?” +I inquired.</p> + +<p>“Certainly I do.”</p> + +<p>“You are mistaken. You are the author of them +yourself, Nick.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t think so. Everything was going very well +with me till you came up here,” he added, bitterly.</p> + +<p>“I did not instigate you to rob the bank.”</p> + +<p>“No; but I should have got off if you had not +turned up.”</p> + +<p>“You don’t seem to think that your crimes are the +cause of your misfortunes, Nick. If you had been an +honest and upright young man, I could not possibly +have done you any harm.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_244">[244]</span></p> + +<p>“That may be true, but you have upset all my +calculations.”</p> + +<p>“You should not have had any such calculation +as the robbing of a bank.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I suppose it will not make any difference +now. This is the end of me,” he replied, as the tears +filled his eyes again. “Ten or twenty years in prison +is not a pleasant thing to think of.”</p> + +<p>“You ought to have thought of that before you +robbed the bank.”</p> + +<p>“Of course I had, but I didn’t. I hadn’t the least +idea that I should be detected. I didn’t think it was +possible; and it wouldn’t have been, if you had kept +out of the way.”</p> + +<p>“You were blind, Nick. Murder will out. Those +who commit great crimes are almost always discovered. +I don’t believe a man who commits a crime has more +than one chance in a hundred of escaping the consequence +of it, even in this world,” I added, warmly.</p> + +<p>“Do you think any one would have suspected me of +robbing the bank if you had been out of the way, +Wolf?”</p> + +<p>“I think it would have come out. There is always +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_245">[245]</span> +a screw loose somewhere in this kind of business. +You did not know I was near the hotel till Mr. +Overton introduced me.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I did; I saw you yesterday afternoon, when +you landed at the grove. I saw Waddie coming towards +the place when Miss Dornwood and myself +were walking. I was afraid he would see me, and I +told the lady I would get a team and drive her along +the shore road, if she would wait where she was.”</p> + +<p>“We saw you hastening towards the hotel,” said +Waddie.</p> + +<p>“I heard Miss Dornwood scream, and saw the bear +before her, but I could not return because you were +there. I stepped back into the grove, and saw all that +passed.”</p> + +<p>“And you expected to marry Miss Dornwood?” I +asked.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I expected to do so, though she refused me +once. Mr. Overton assured me he could make it all +right, and I had no doubt he would. The girl was +pretty and interesting.”</p> + +<p>“Did Mr. Overton know you were not what you +represented yourself to be?” I inquired, finding that +Nick was disposed to be communicative.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_246">[246]</span></p> + +<p>“Of course I never told him who I really was; but, +after the talk we had together at Cape May, I think he +understood the matter well enough. It was very fine +for him to call me an impostor, after we had understood +each other for a month,” replied Nick, sourly; +and he seemed to be as much disgusted with Mr. +Overton as with me.</p> + +<p>“You had an understanding with him, then?”</p> + +<p>“It was not in black and white; but I knew what he +meant, and he knew what I meant.”</p> + +<p>“What did he mean?” I asked.</p> + +<p>Nick hesitated, and looked in the bottom of the +boat, as if considering whether he should answer the +question or not.</p> + +<p>“I think Mr. Overton has used me in a shabby +manner,” said he, at last. “He did not even offer +to help me out of my trouble, but called me an impostor. +I don’t know that I am under any obligation +to conceal his tricks.”</p> + +<p>“If he means any wrong towards Miss Dornwood, +you ought not to conceal it,” added Waddie.</p> + +<p>“She is a good girl, and I liked her. I don’t wish +her any harm; and that is what Mr. Overton means. +He intends to rob her of her fortune.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_247">[247]</span></p> + +<p>“Are you sure of that, Nick?”</p> + +<p>“I am. I’ll tell you the whole story, Wolf; and if +you have a chance to do me a favor, I hope you will +do it.”</p> + +<p>“I shall be glad to do anything that is right for +you,” I replied.</p> + +<p>“I don’t want to be paraded through the streets +of Centreport, and stared at by all the folks I used +to know,” said Nick, glancing at the constable, as +though he knew him well enough to understand that +he would make the most of his victim.</p> + +<p>The prisoner evidently expected me to save him +from this painful exhibition, and I was willing to do +so if it was in my power.</p> + +<p>“I don’t owe Mr. Overton anything, certainly,” continued +Nick. “I could have choked him when he +introduced you to me, Wolf.”</p> + +<p>“Didn’t he speak to you beforehand about me?” +I asked.</p> + +<p>“Not a word. Do you think I should have showed +myself to you? Not at all. If I had known you +were in the house, or anywhere near it, I should have +taken myself off. When I came back in the morning, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_248">[248]</span> +Mr. Overton told me your boat was gone, and he could +not find any of the party who belonged to her. This +made me perfectly easy. I was going to New York +this afternoon, and I had no more idea of seeing you +than I had of meeting the Queen of England.”</p> + +<p>“By the way, Nick, how did you get back to the +hotel?” inquired Waddie, who had been much mystified +on this subject. “We sent two men by the +upper road, and Captain Synders and myself came by +the shore road.”</p> + +<p>“When I met Cutter last night—”</p> + +<p>“Who?”</p> + +<p>“Cutter—the man who went down to Centreport +with me.”</p> + +<p>“Schleifer,” I added.</p> + +<p>“He has as many names as a Spanish Infante,” said +Nick. “When I met him, we changed our plans. He +was to go to Middleport as quietly as he could, and +took a canal-boat, so as not to let many people see him. +You know how he happened to come ashore here. I +was to meet him on the wharf at Middleport, as soon +as everything was still, and I intended to drive down +after dark, so that no one could see me. After Miss +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_249">[249]</span> +Dornwood came back to the hotel, and Mr. Overton +had locked her into her room, I went down to the bar +to get a glass of wine, for I was alarmed, and wanted +something to raise my spirits. I met Cutter there, and +he decided to ride with me to Middleport.</p> + +<p>“I took a team, and told the stable-keeper I should +not be back till late, if I returned before morning. I +drove to Highlandville, where we put the team up at +one stable, and hired a horse and buggy at another. +At Middleport, where we arrived at half past eleven, I +put the team in the shed at the store near the head of +the wharf. I knew just where to find a boat, and we +started to cross the lake. In the darkness I made out +a sail-boat, going through the Narrows. She was close +aboard of us when I discovered her. Then the sail-boat +kept away a little, and ran into us.”</p> + +<p>“Did you know what boat it was?” asked Waddie.</p> + +<p>“I did not. I knew the Belle was up the lake, and +it did not occur to me that it was she, even when the +fireworks blazed up. We ought to have given up the +job then, but Cutter said it was all right. We got out +of the way as quick as possible. We walked over to +the Institute, and soon saw the sail-boat go down the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_250">[250]</span> +lake. We were satisfied then, and went to the bank. +We approached the building by the back way, and did +the job. It took so long to cut the hole through the +door, that we did not finish till nearly daylight; and +even then we heard the porter in the building.</p> + +<p>“In a few minutes there was a commotion, and we +realized that our work had been discovered. I led the +way to the steam-mill by the back alleys, hoping to +find a boat there. We were disappointed, and as there +was no one in the way, we hastened to the steamboat +wharf. I jumped into the tender of the Grace; but +Cutler said he would not leave the Raven, which lay +there, for some one to use in following us. We decided +to separate then, in order to divide and bother +our pursuers. I pulled across the lake, and got my +horse at the shed. I took the upper road; but the +horse was not fast, and I soon heard the rattle of a +wagon behind me. Seeing a road into the woods, +I drove in, taking care to remove the tracks of the +wheels and the horse, so that they might not attract +the attention of my pursuers. I suppose they had +not heard the rattle of my vehicle, for presently they +passed my hiding-place at a furious speed.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_251">[251]</span></p> + +<p>“Resuming the road, I continued on my way, and +reached Highlandville without seeing any person. +Returning the horse I had hired here, I obtained +the one I had driven from the hotel, and went leisurely +back without seeing any of the pursuers. I +believed I was all right then; and I should have been, +if Wolf had not crossed my path.”</p> + +<p>“Did you divide the money?” asked the constable.</p> + +<p>“No; we each took what we happened to have. +Cutter carried the gold in his bag. We were to meet +in New York, and make a fair division, expecting the +newspapers to tell us how much the bank had lost, so +that neither could cheat the other.”</p> + +<p>“Where have you been since we parted above +Hitaca, Nick?” I inquired, in order to bring him back +to the Overton business.</p> + +<p>“I went to Philadelphia first. I meant to go into +some kind of business, and save the money I had; but, +while I was at a hotel in the city, I met Cutter, who +persuaded me to visit a gambling saloon, where I lost +about half of my money. I found that Cutter was +employed by the establishment to visit the hotel, and +bring in customers. I had wit enough to stop playing +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_252">[252]</span> +when I found it was a losing game. Cutter took a +fancy to me, and put me in the way of making a little +money at this gambling house. I was employed as ‘a +young gentleman from the country.’ When any one +came in, I was allowed to win largely, for the encouragement +of other young men from the rural +districts, but of course my winnings went back to +the banker.</p> + +<p>“As the season advanced, a gambling house was +opened at Cape May, and Cutter and myself went +down to influence customers. I did not like the +business, and he was dissatisfied with his salary. He +informed me that he had been a machinist, and +through many stages the conversation went on till +he told me he meant to make a grand strike by emptying +the vault of some bank. He talked to me +about the plan for weeks before I would consent to +have anything to do with it. Then I suggested the +Centreport Bank. All this time we boarded at the +best hotel, and no one except an occasional victim +knew who or what we were. We bathed in the surf, +danced, dined, and flourished in the drawing-rooms.</p> + +<p>“There was a rumor about the hotel that an +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_253">[253]</span> +English lord, <i>incog.</i>, was staying there. Every one +wanted to penetrate the mystery; but, if there was +any lord there, he kept his own secret. As a joke, +Cutter whispered confidentially to some of the guests +that I was the lord. I soon found that I was treated +with great consideration, though, as my friend had not +told me what his was about, I did not understand the +reason. Fathers and mothers introduced me to their +daughters, and I was a lion in spite of myself. Among +those to whom Cutter had imparted the great secret +was Mr. Overton, and I made the acquaintance of Miss +Dornwood. Will you give me a drink of water, +Wolf? I feel quite faint,” said Nick, who was really +very pale.</p> + +<p>I brought him some water, and also some crackers +and cheese, for I knew he had not been to dinner; but +he would not eat.</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'>COLONEL WIMPLETON’S WRATH.</span> + </h2> +</div> + +<p class='chap-first kern'><span class='allcaps'>Nick</span> soon declared that he felt better, and +continued his story.</p> + +<p>“I was very much pleased with Miss Dornwood, +especially when I learned that she had a fortune of +two hundred thousand dollars. A few days after I +was introduced to her, I had the pleasure of saving +her from drowning while she was bathing in the +surf. She was not as grateful to me as I supposed +she would be, but I hoped soon to win her regard. +One day Mr. Overton came into the gambling saloon +where I was employed. I was engaged in inducing +a man from the country to play, and I did +not notice the presence of the guardian of Miss +Dornwood for some time. He knew enough of the +world to understand my position. If I had seen +him sooner, I should not have committed myself. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_255">[255]</span> +But Mr. Overton did not seem to have any less regard +for me, when he met me about the hotel, +and encouraged my advances to Miss Dornwood.</p> + +<p>“I told Cutter what I was doing in this direction. +He laughed, and informed me of the practical joke +he had played upon me. He advised me to follow +up the affair, and not to take the trouble to deny +that I was an English nobleman. I was pleased +with the attentions bestowed upon me by the guests, +and was not disposed to ruin myself in their estimation. +I continued to be very devoted to Miss +Dornwood; and, as her guardian and his wife would +not permit her to make other acquaintances, watching +her every moment of the time, I was almost +her only companion. I gave up my place in the +gambling saloon, lest it should compromise me, and +I had plenty of time to give to Miss Dornwood. +She seemed to like me very well, and I soon proposed +to her; but, to my chagrin and astonishment, +she gave me a decided refusal.</p> + +<p>“I did not believe she meant it, and I was confident +that I could change her mind in due time. +After this she tried to avoid me; but I managed +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_256">[256]</span> +very carefully, devoting myself quite as much to +the guardian as to the ward. Miss Dornwood certainly +treated me very kindly, though she was rather +shy. Mr. Overton thought she was making too +many friends at Cape May, and decided to spend a +few weeks at Newport. The family went there, +and Cutter and myself went also. On the journey +I thought Miss Dornwood had relented towards me, +and soon after our arrival I had a talk with Mr. +Overton, in which I boldly pleaded for the hand of +his ward. He had no objections, and told me that, +according to the terms of Mr. Dornwood’s will, his +ward could not marry unless with the guardian’s +consent, without losing three fourths of her fortune.</p> + +<p>“The conversation was a long one, for Mr. Overton +was very guarded in his remarks; but I understood +him perfectly, even while he did not fully +commit himself. He said that, as usual, some very +extravagant reports had been circulated in regard +to the extent of her fortune. He did not wish to +have any mistakes or disappointments, and he told +me he would give me on our wedding day fifty +thousand dollars. He wished to be distinctly +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_257">[257]</span> +understood that this was all she was entitled to; and +he added that, as I was an English nobleman, money +could not be any object to me. I did not deny +that I was a lord, and told him I was satisfied with +the dowry of his ward. I understood Mr. Overton +as well as he understood me; and I was satisfied I +could obtain the rest of Miss Dornwood’s fortune +after our marriage.</p> + +<p>“Life at Newport made sad inroads upon my +funds, and it was necessary for them to be replenished +very soon. I intended to obtain my supply +from the vaults of the Centreport Bank, and Cutter +and I completed our plans for the job. I suggested +to Mr. Overton that the Cataract House was +a capital place to spend a few weeks, when he spoke +of leaving Newport, and it was decided that we +should go there. Cutter and I agreed upon the night +for the visit to the bank, but we separated before +we reached the Cataract House. You know the rest +of the story, Wolf.”</p> + +<p>“Did you really expect to marry Miss Dornwood?” +asked Waddie, who appeared to be disgusted +with the conceit of Nick.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_258">[258]</span></p> + +<p>“Certainly I did; and I think she had changed +her views since she refused me.”</p> + +<p>“Did you acknowledge that you were a lord?”</p> + +<p>“When we went to the Cataract House I did. +Cutter wrote me some letters, and insisted that I +should do so, because it would prevent suspicions in +regard to us.”</p> + +<p>“I believe you are only nineteen, Nick: did you +intend to marry immediately?” I inquired, rather +amused at the calculations of the strategist.</p> + +<p>“No; not at once. I expected to get twenty or +thirty thousand dollars from the bank, and to spend +a year or two in Europe, as Mr. Overton talked of +going there. Well, a change has come over my +dreams,” added Nick, sadly, as he glanced at the +irons on his wrists. “I did not see how anything +could go wrong, and yet everything has failed me.”</p> + +<p>His case was only a repetition of the common experience +of evil-doers.</p> + +<p>Night came on, and the wind, which had blown +fresh all day, subsided, so that we did not reach +our destination till after nine o’clock in the evening. +Captain Synders took his prisoner to the town +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_259">[259]</span> +lock-up for the night, and the next day conveyed +him to the county jail, to await his examination +and trial.</p> + +<p>The day had certainly been an eventful one, and +I was very much fatigued; but I was not willing to +go home until I had seen Colonel Wimpleton. I +was anxious to know whether the Union Line was +to be broken up, and the war between the two +magnates resumed. I hastened with Waddie to the +house of the great man. We found him in his +library.</p> + +<p>“Ah, Wolf, I didn’t expect to see you to-night; +but I heard at Ucayga that you had captured one +of the robbers, and recovered part of the money,” +said he.</p> + +<p>“We have captured both of the robbers, and recovered +all the money,” I replied.</p> + +<p>“Indeed! You have done well.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t mean to say I have done all this,” I +protested. “I think Tom Walton has done the most, +and fared the hardest.”</p> + +<p>“I heard he was shot in the arm.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir;” and I explained the nature of his +wound.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_260">[260]</span></p> + +<p>“I was told that Waddie and Captain Synders +could find nothing of the other robber.”</p> + +<p>“We could not; but Wolf knew just where to +put his hand upon him,” added Waddie. “We found +him at the Cataract House; and who do you suppose +he is, father?”</p> + +<p>“I haven’t any acquaintance among that class of +people, and could not be expected to know him.”</p> + +<p>“It is Nick Van Wolter.”</p> + +<p>“Nick!” exclaimed the colonel, with a frown.</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir, it is Nick, otherwise Lord Palsgrave,” +laughed Waddie.</p> + +<p>The colonel was anxious to learn the particulars +of the capture of the robbers, and Waddie and I +related the adventures of the day. I delivered to +him the package of money found in Nick’s trunk, +which had been intrusted to me by the constable.</p> + +<p>“You have had a stirring time of it,” said Colonel +Wimpleton, when we had finished. “I have +been in Ucayga all day, and did not know what was +going on. I had not been in the house an hour +when you came. I had considerable difficulty in +raising the money to pay my note.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_261">[261]</span></p> + +<p>“Have you seen Major Toppleton?” I asked, though +it required some courage to ask the question, for I +dreaded another explosion.</p> + +<p>“Seen him! No!” replied Colonel Wimpleton, +rising hastily from his chair, and beginning to march +up and down the library. “I have heard from him, +though. He was at Ucayga this morning, raising +money, to prevent me, I firmly believe, from getting +what I wanted. There was almost a panic in money +matters at Ucayga to-day. Toppleton got all he wanted, +and came down by the ten o’clock train, and everybody +was short by the time I arrived, But I raised +the money, and paid my note. He came over to +see me, after his return, I learn,—to apologize, I +suppose, for his shabby conduct. He wanted to see +me very much, I am told.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps he came over to bring you the money +you wanted,” I suggested, very mildly.</p> + +<p>“Not he!” sneered the colonel, determined to +put the worst possible construction on the actions +of his former rival.</p> + +<p>After a longer experience of human life than I +had at that time, I am satisfied that it is always +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_262">[262]</span> +the safest way to credit other people, especially +friends, with good intentions. Those who believe +that others mean well are seldom disappointed; and +it is equally certain that those who do not believe +others mean well, as seldom fail to realize their expectations. +The very want of trust and confidence +in others begets suspicion and evil dealing, while +most people are ashamed to fall below what others +give them credit for.</p> + +<p>“Toppleton is not the man I took him for,” added +the colonel, after pacing the room for a time in +silence. “As soon as practicable, Wolf, our boat +must go through from Hitaca to Ucayga.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t do that, father,” interposed Waddie, as +much alarmed as I was.</p> + +<p>“It shall be done, Waddie. We can take all the +through travel on the lake, and I shall no longer +put money into Toppleton’s pocket.”</p> + +<p>“But, father, you judge Major Toppleton too +harshly.”</p> + +<p>“No, I don’t. When I go to a friend in such an +emergency as that of this morning, I do not like to +have him make excuses, and put me off,” replied +the colonel, bitterly.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_263">[263]</span></p> + +<p>“We must bear and forbear, at least until we +know what others mean.”</p> + +<p>“So Wolf says; but I don’t want to hear any +such stuff,” added the magnate, angrily.</p> + +<p>It was useless to say anything more, and Waddie +had the good sense to hold his peace. We left +the room together, and, tired as we both were, we +could not separate for the night till we had thoroughly +considered the perilous situation.</p> + +<p>“I think myself it was rather shabby of the major +to leave my father in the lurch, after what had +happened,” said Waddie.</p> + +<p>“So it was, if he did leave him in the lurch; but +we must hear the other side of the story. It appears +that Major Toppleton came over to see your father +this forenoon, after he had been to Ucayga to raise +money.”</p> + +<p>“My father is rather hasty in his conclusions +sometimes, and I hope the major will be able to explain +his conduct.”</p> + +<p>“It is doubtful whether he obtains an opportunity +to explain,” I added.</p> + +<p>“We must be peacemakers again, Wolf.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_264">[264]</span></p> + +<p>“We can’t do much in an affair of this kind. I +think, if your father had waited a little longer this +morning, instead of leaving Middleport without seeing +the major, all would have been well.”</p> + +<p>“Let us hope for the best, Wolf; and in the +mean time don’t say a word about breaking the +union to any one.”</p> + +<p>I promised to keep still, and we separated. I +went home, crossing the lake in the Belle; but, in +spite of the good fortune which had attended our +efforts in the pursuit of the robbers, I had not been +so sad for many a day.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_265">[265]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"> + CHAPTER XXIII. + <br> + <span class='chap-title'>MAJOR TOPPLETON EXPLAINS.</span> + </h2> +</div> + +<p class='chap-first'><span class='allcaps'>I slept</span> soundly enough that night, in spite of +my anxiety concerning the perilous condition of +the relations between the two sides of the lake. In +the morning I called upon Tom Walton. His wound +was doing very well, and he was quite comfortable. +He was astonished when I told him that Nick Van +Wolter was the other bank robber, and that he was +Lord Palsgrave. But I was in a hurry to see Major +Toppleton, and I could not stay long, though I gave +Tom a bill of sale of the Belle, and received the payment +for her.</p> + +<p>I found the magnate of Middleport at home, and of +course I had to tell him all about the bank robbers +before anything could be said, though I had become +rather tired of the subject, especially with another and +more interesting one uppermost in my mind.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_266">[266]</span></p> + +<p>“You had a breezy time of it, Wolf,” said the major.</p> + +<p>“Rather exciting, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Where was Colonel Wimpleton all day? I could +not find him.”</p> + +<p>“He was at Ucayga, looking up the money to pay a +note which came due yesterday.”</p> + +<p>“Precisely so; he came over to see me about it in +the morning. He was in a tremendous hurry, and +very much excited about the robbery,” added the +major.</p> + +<p>“He was excited about something else when I saw +him.”</p> + +<p>“You don’t mean—”</p> + +<p>“O, no, sir,” I promptly interposed, when I saw that +he supposed the magnate of Centreport had been +drinking again. “Nothing of that kind.”</p> + +<p>“You understand me. Well, I am glad that he has +not fallen back. Your remark startled me, Wolf.”</p> + +<p>“I am afraid the colonel is not as kindly disposed +towards you as formerly.”</p> + +<p>“Why, what’s the matter?” demanded the major, +evidently alarmed at my suggestion.</p> + +<p>“I think there is a misunderstanding. He came +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_267">[267]</span> +over to see you yesterday morning, and he thought +you were not inclined to assist him in the emergency.”</p> + +<p>“What an idea! I intended that his note should +be paid, even if my own was not, though I hurried +home to attend to the payment of it. This is very +strange,” mused the major. “I was not aware that +I said or did anything that could give offence to +him.”</p> + +<p>“I am confident there has been a mistake; but I +do not know that I ought to repeat anything he said +to me.”</p> + +<p>“In the interest of peace and friendship you may +do so, Wolf. What did he say?” asked the major, +anxiously.</p> + +<p>“He said that when he informed you he had a note +of twenty thousand dollars to pay, and that the bank +had been robbed, instead of helping him out, you answered +that you had a note to pay yourself.”</p> + +<p>“I certainly did tell him that I had a large sum to +pay; but I also told him that I would see what could +be done. I invited him to breakfast with me, and told +him I would go and see the cashier of our bank. I +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_268">[268]</span> +did not suppose he had any doubt of my willingness +to help him; and the only question with me was, how +it was to be done. He was in a desperate hurry, and +could not wait a minute. The steamer was coming +over after him, before she went up the lake in pursuit +of the robber. I told him then that I would see him +on the wharf in ten or fifteen minutes, and hastened to +find the cashier. He was not at home; but I soon +found him, and learned that the funds in our bank +were not sufficient to pay both notes. I immediately +decided to raise the amount needed to pay the +colonel’s note, in Ucayga. I sent an order to Lewis +Holgate to get up steam on the dummy, and then +went as fast as I could walk to the wharf. The steamer +was just leaving the pier when I came in sight +of it.”</p> + +<p>“The colonel waited for you till the time expired,” +I added.</p> + +<p>“I was not five minutes behind time. The absence +of the cashier had detained me a little, but I could +not help it. However, I supposed the colonel would +return before eleven o’clock to raise the money to +pay his note.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_269">[269]</span></p> + +<p>“He was very much excited about it.”</p> + +<p>“I am really very sorry. Perhaps I did not speak +as explicitly as I ought to have done; but it never +occurred to me that he would misunderstand my motives. +The dummy ran down to Hitaca as a special +express to convey me. I raised the money, and +returned by the ten o’clock train. The steamer had +come back from up the lake; but I could not find +Colonel Wimpleton. In the afternoon I heard that +he had gone to Ucayga, and I was on the lookout +for him till the last train arrived. The money has +been in our bank since eleven o’clock yesterday, and I +have a check for the amount in my pocket now.”</p> + +<p>“The colonel was rather too hasty in his conclusions. +The steamer returned to Middleport at ten, and he +took the train for Ucayga, where he raised the money +and paid the note himself.”</p> + +<p>“I regret that he has any feeling on the subject,” +added the major, with much anxiety. “I must go +over and see him.”</p> + +<p>“I am afraid your meeting will not be a pleasant +one.”</p> + +<p>“I will state the facts just as they are, and I hope +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_270">[270]</span> +he will see that there has been a mistake. The Ucayga +is coming in, and the ferry steamer will start in +a few minutes.”</p> + +<p>We walked down to the wharf together. My two +bears had just been landed from the steamer, in +charge of one of Captain Portman’s men. They +were very tractable, and were the centre of attraction +on the wharf. They were willing to shake +hands with everybody, and seemed to be enjoying +themselves very much. I took charge of one of them, +while the man retained the other, and we led them +towards my father’s house, followed by a large escort +of loafers and juveniles. We had a small barn on the +place, in which we secured the bears.</p> + +<p>My sisters were very much afraid of them, and my +mother declared she could not have the brutes on the +place; but I hoped all of them would think better of +it, and make friends with my pets. After the man had +gone, I brought out my carpenter’s tools, and proceeded +to fit up the barn for the accommodation of the +bears. The animals were so full of fun they would +not let me work, and I was obliged to tie them to +a tree in the garden. My mother and my sisters +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_271">[271]</span> +stood at the windows of the house watching them; +but I could not induce them to make the acquaintance +of my new friends. When I found that my sisters +were really afraid of the bears, I was rather sorry I +had brought them home.</p> + +<p>While I was at work I was surprised by a visit from +Colonel Wimpleton and Waddie. As they entered +the yard, both bears stood up, and offered to shake +hands with the visitors. Waddie accepted the proffered paw, +but the colonel was more particular in the +choice of his acquaintances.</p> + +<p>“Have you seen Major Toppleton this morning?” +I inquired of the colonel.</p> + +<p>“No; and I have no desire to see him,” replied the +magnate, coldly.</p> + +<p>“He went over to see you about nine o’ clock.”</p> + +<p>“I was not at home. Have you done anything +about the steamer, Wolf?”</p> + +<p>“No, sir. What do you wish to have done?”</p> + +<p>“Didn’t I tell you yesterday what I wished to have +done?”</p> + +<p>“I haven’t done anything yet, sir.”</p> + +<p>“I told you to make the new arrangement.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_272">[272]</span></p> + +<p>“I hope you will see Major Toppleton before anything +is done.”</p> + +<p>“I shall not see him,” answered the colonel, sourly. +“You may notify the Railroad Company that the +present arrangement will be discontinued, say from +the first of next month.”</p> + +<p>“Of course I shall do as I am directed, but I am +quite sure there is a misunderstanding between you +and the major.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t care to argue the matter. What are you +going to do with these bears, Wolf?”</p> + +<p>“I’m going to keep them as pets.”</p> + +<p>At this moment the one which had frightened Miss +Dornwood stood up, and expressed a desire to shake +hands with Colonel Wimpleton.</p> + +<p>“They are perfectly harmless, sir,” said I, seeing +that the great man was in doubt.</p> + +<p>“Won’t they bite?”</p> + +<p>“No, sir.”</p> + +<p>Thus assured the colonel took the offered paw of +the bear, and in a few moments they were excellent +friends, for Bruin’s ways were very winning. Waddie +was playing with the other, and both my visitors were +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_273">[273]</span> +very much interested in the animals. While they +were occupied in this manner, Major Toppleton presented +himself in the yard.</p> + +<p>“Good morning, colonel,” said the major.</p> + +<p>“Good morning,” replied the magnate of Centreport, +very stiffly.</p> + +<p>“I heard you were here, colonel, and I came up +to see you. I looked for you all day yesterday, and +have been looking for you all the morning.”</p> + +<p>“Sorry you gave yourself so much trouble.”</p> + +<p>I saw that Major Toppleton was nettled at the +coldness of his reception, and I was afraid he would +be angry. As he approached the bears, both of them +rose and offered their accustomed greeting. The +major shook hands with both of them, for he had +already made their acquaintance on the wharf.</p> + +<p>“When I went down to the wharf yesterday, your +steamer had been gone only a few moments,” continued +the magnate of Middleport. “I was sorry +that I missed you.”</p> + +<p>“It didn’t make any difference,” said the colonel. +“You will attend to the matter of which I spoke to +you, Wolf,” he added, edging off towards the gate.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_274">[274]</span></p> + +<p>“Perhaps it didn’t make any difference to you, +but it did to me,” continued the major. “I am afraid +I did not, in the excitement of the moment, express +myself as clearly as I should have done.”</p> + +<p>“As clearly as was necessary. I understood you +perfectly,” replied the colonel, still edging towards +the gate.</p> + +<p>“Then you understood that I intended to raise the +money you wanted.”</p> + +<p>“No, I did not. You told me you had a note to pay +yourself, and that was as much as to say you could +do nothing for me.”</p> + +<p>“There was, indeed, a mistake then; and I am very +sorry that I did not express myself more clearly.”</p> + +<p>“I paid my note, and nothing more need be said +about the matter,” growled Colonel Wimpleton.</p> + +<p>“My dear colonel—”</p> + +<p>“Don’t ‘dear’ me after this.”</p> + +<p>I trembled for the major when this rude remark was +uttered, for his temper was not always to be depended +upon, and certainly the provocation was very strong. +I never saw a better opportunity to get up a quarrel, +and nothing but a little forbearance on the part of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_275">[275]</span> +the only one of the two who seemed to be capable +of exercising this virtue could ward off the calamity. +The colonel was unreasonable; but the major felt that +he had not plainly stated his intentions. As usual, +there was blame on both sides.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_276">[276]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXIV"> + CHAPTER XXIV. + <br> + <span class='chap-title'>BEAR AND FORBEAR.</span> + </h2> +</div> + +<p class='chap-first kern-extra'><span class='allcaps'>“Colonel Wimpleton</span>, there has been a +misunderstanding between us,” said the major, +with dignity. “I feel that I am not without blame.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t demand any apology,” added the colonel.</p> + +<p>“I wish to make an explanation. If after that +you are not satisfied, I will not complain.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t ask any explanation.”</p> + +<p>“But I desire to make one, if you will do me +the favor to hear it,” continued Major Toppleton, +taking from his pocket the check he had drawn the +day before, and handing it to the colonel.</p> + +<p>“It is too late,” said the latter, as he glanced at +the check.</p> + +<p>It was written yesterday at eleven o’clock, and +the money was in the bank to cash it. If I failed +to say yesterday morning that your note should be +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_277">[277]</span> +paid whether mine was or not, I failed to say all +that I felt and all that I intended.”</p> + +<p>“You didn’t say that,” replied the colonel, relaxing +the frown upon his brow a little. “You simply +told me you had a note to pay, but would see +what you could do.”</p> + +<p>“I ought to have said more, for I meant more. +When I found you had gone, I went express to +Ucayga, and raised the money for you, returning to +Middleport at eleven.”</p> + +<p>“Did you really raise the money for me?”</p> + +<p>“I did, as I intended to do from the first.”</p> + +<p>Colonel Wimpleton’s face was changed, and had +almost relaxed into a smile.</p> + +<p>“I didn’t understand you,” said he. “When you +said you had a note to pay, I took it as an excuse +for not helping me out of my difficulty.”</p> + +<p>“I certainly did not offer it as such. I was thinking +only of the manner of raising the money for +you. When I came back from Ucayga, I deposited +the money I had brought with me, wrote this check, +and hastened over to Centreport to find you. I +failed to see you, but I was on the lookout for you +all the rest of the day.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_278">[278]</span></p> + +<p>Major Toppleton explained his position as fully as +he had to me. The colonel was satisfied, for he +could not be otherwise, when he found that the former +had done all that a friend could do to aid +him.</p> + +<p>“Major, I wronged you, and I’m sorry for it,” +said Colonel Wimpleton. “I ought to have given +you credit for good intentions, at least. Wolf, you +needn’t attend to that matter of which I spoke to +you.”</p> + +<p>I wanted to give three cheers, and I should have +done so, if I had not wished to conceal from the +major the length to which the colonel had carried +his resentment. As it was, I vented my delight in +a grand frolic with the bears.</p> + +<p>“Colonel, I am sorry that I failed to tell you +what I intended to do,” added the major. “I don’t +blame you for the construction you put upon my +words.”</p> + +<p>“But I blame myself. It all looks plain enough +to me now, though it did not before. Forgive me, +major, and I promise never to misjudge you again.”</p> + +<p>“And I hope you will forgive the stupid manner +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_279">[279]</span> +in which I answered you yesterday morning,” added +Major Toppleton.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp95" id="i_279" style="max-width: 90.25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_279.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <span class="smcap">Bear and Forbear.</span> <a href='#Page_279'>Page 279</a>. + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>“Here is my hand, major.”</p> + +<p>As they stepped forward to shake hands, they +came near the two bears. Both of the bruins immediately +abandoned their play, stood up, and each +extended his paw to the magnate near to him. +The two gentlemen laughed heartily as they saw +the bears; but they shook hands with each other, +and then with their humble imitators.</p> + +<p>“This suggests some names for your pets, Wolf,” +said Waddie, laughing.</p> + +<p>“I thought of that before. This is <span class="smcap">Bear</span>,” I replied, +putting my hand on the head of my first acquaintance; +“and this is <span class="smcap">Forbear</span>,” I added, taking +the other by the paw.</p> + +<p>“Bear and Forbear,” said Colonel Wimpleton. +“You have preached that sermon to me once, Wolf; +but I was not in the humor to hear it. I appreciate +the two bears better now.”</p> + +<p>“And you will bear with me next time I make +a blunder, and seem to stand in a doubtful position,” +added Major Toppleton.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_280">[280]</span></p> + +<p>“Most assuredly I will, if you forbear, as you +did to-day, when I made rude and ungentlemanly +speeches to you.”</p> + +<p>“I think those two bears will make a team which +will drag any man through the world with peace +and comfort,” I ventured to add.</p> + +<p>“You are right, Wolf. I must have those two +bears,” said the colonel.</p> + +<p>“Well, sir, my mother and sisters are afraid of +them, and I don’t know that I shall be able to keep +them here.”</p> + +<p>“I meant bear and forbear,” laughed the colonel.</p> + +<p>“Those are the names of these bears.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I should be very happy to have the live +bears, for whenever I see them, they will remind +me of the lesson I have learned to-day.”</p> + +<p>“You have a nice place for them over in your +grounds; and I suppose I can see them there whenever +I wish.”</p> + +<p>“Certainly you can.”</p> + +<p>“If they should get loose when I am away, they +would frighten the whole neighborhood, for we have +no man to see to them,” I added.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_281">[281]</span></p> + +<p>My mother and my sisters would be delighted to +get rid of them; and I was afraid they might do +mischief in my absence. Besides, there was such a +striking fitness in presenting them to the magnate +of Centreport under the circumstances, that I could +not have resisted the inclination to dispose of them +in this manner, even if they had not promised to +be a nuisance to me. It was a fortunate circumstance +that the explanation and reconciliation had +taken place in the presence of the bears, for the association +would always be remembered by the colonel.</p> + +<p>I presented the bears to him.</p> + +<p>The two magnates departed together, and Waddie +and I were to remove Bear and Forbear to +their new home.</p> + +<p>“I didn’t know my father was coming here when +we crossed the lake,” said Waddie. “I came to see +you about another matter.”</p> + +<p>“What’s that?”</p> + +<p>Waddie blushed.</p> + +<p>“I thought we ought to go down to Ruoara and +call upon Miss Dornwood,” said he, with some hesitation.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_282">[282]</span></p> + +<p>“Of course you are moved in this matter by a +sense of duty,” I laughingly replied.</p> + +<p>“Not wholly, Wolf; but I should like to know +how she is after her cruise.”</p> + +<p>“No doubt you would.”</p> + +<p>“You may laugh at me if you like, Wolf; but I +think Miss Dornwood is a very pretty girl.”</p> + +<p>“And a very good girl too, Waddie, which is +more and better.”</p> + +<p>“I’m going down to Ruoara, and wish you would +go with me.”</p> + +<p>“I will.”</p> + +<p>“We must get the Belle, for the Raven, you +know, is moored off High Bluff.”</p> + +<p>We called upon Tom Walton to obtain the use +of the boat, and then led the bears down to the +shore of the lake, where the Belle was moored. +“Bear” went on board very readily, but “Forbear” +did not seem to like this mode of conveyance, and +declined to take the place assigned to him. Waddie, +impatient to reach Ruoara, was disposed to +pitch him into the standing-room by force; but I entreated +him to forbear. While he was hoisting the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_283">[283]</span> +mainsail, I coaxed the animal; and seeing his brother +so comfortable in the boat, he finally yielded his +own inclination to mine, and went on board. I +fastened them so that they could not fall overboard +if they engaged in a frolic on the passage, and +Waddie pushed off.</p> + +<p>When the Belle began to jump on the waves in +the Narrows, Forbear exhibited some signs of terror, +and was inclined to make himself unhappy; +but he soon took part in the game between Bear and +myself, and we reached the Centreport shore without +any difficulty. I found it was best to bear even with a +bear, and to forbear as long as forbearance is a virtue—which +is much longer than many people are willing +to believe. We marched the interesting couple up +to a rustic deer house, in the grounds of Colonel +Wimpleton, which had been designated as their future +abode. We made them comfortable, and then +left them to enjoy life as they could, and to enforce +the great moral lesson which their names illustrated.</p> + +<p>“I meant to have been in Ruoara before this +time,” said Waddie, as he led the way to the lake +at a pace which was trying to my legs.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_284">[284]</span></p> + +<p>“What’s your hurry, Waddie?”</p> + +<p>“I am afraid Mr. Overton will be there before us.”</p> + +<p>“What if he is?”</p> + +<p>“I wish to have Miss Dornwood and her friends +understand all about her guardian before he sees her +again.”</p> + +<p>“She evidently understands him quite as well as +any one else,” I replied, as we embarked in the +Belle, and Waddie took the tiller.</p> + +<p>“We have the benefit of Nick’s revelation, and +I think that is enough to condemn him.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t think Nick’s testimony is worth much, +though I have no doubt it is all true. I agree with +you that it will be well to have Mr. Pinkerton informed +in regard to Nick’s trade with him.”</p> + +<p>“I wonder what Mr. Pinkerton will do?” added +Waddie.</p> + +<p>“That will depend upon what Mr. Overton does. +I judge, from the temper of Miss Dornwood, that +she will refuse to live with her guardian again.”</p> + +<p>“I hope we shall get there before he does.”</p> + +<p>“Probably we shall. It was too late for him to +come up in the afternoon boat when we left the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_285">[285]</span> +Cataract House. It is not likely that he took the +morning boat to-day, and we shall be in Ruoara before +he can get there, if he takes the afternoon +steamer.”</p> + +<p>But Waddie was nervous and uneasy. He talked +about Miss Dornwood during the rest of the passage, +which, however, was not a long one. We +landed at the wharf, and hastened to the house of +the Pinkertons, where we were kindly welcomed by +all, including Miss Dornwood. Mr. Overton had not +been seen or heard from.</p> + +<p>“I am very glad to see you again, Mr. Wimpleton,” +said Miss Dornwood; “for I want to thank +you and your friend again for the kind service you +rendered me.”</p> + +<p>“We were very glad of the opportunity to serve +you,” replied Waddie, blushing; and I could not help +realizing that my friend was “fatally insnared.”</p> + +<p>“But where is my other friend, the skipper of +the Belle, as you called him?” asked the young +lady.</p> + +<p>“He was shot in the arm yesterday by one of +the bank robbers.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_286">[286]</span></p> + +<p>“I am so sorry! We heard all about your capture +of the robber.”</p> + +<p>“There was a report this forenoon that the other +robber had been caught,” said Mr. Pinkerton.</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir; he was captured in the afternoon, at +the Cataract House,” replied Waddie. “All the +money has been recovered.”</p> + +<p>“That’s very fortunate.”</p> + +<p>“Who do you think the other robber was, Miss +Dornwood?” asked Waddie.</p> + +<p>“I have no suspicion.”</p> + +<p>“Lord Palsgrave.”</p> + +<p>“Lord Palsgrave!” exclaimed she, her cheeks reddening +with confusion.</p> + +<p>“And Lord Palsgrave turns out to be the son of +the very worthy commander of the Ucayga—Nick +Van Wolter.”</p> + +<p>Of course we were obliged to tell the whole +story, and by the time it was finished, dinner was +ready; and before we had finished that, a servant +announced Mr. and Mrs. Overton.</p> + +<p>There was a prospect of a lively breeze.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_287">[287]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXV"> + CHAPTER XXV. + <br> + <span class='chap-title'>MISS DORNWOOD’S GUARDIAN.</span> + </h2> +</div> + +<p class='chap-first kern'><span class='allcaps'>Waddie</span> and I, in the course of our narrative, +had fully informed Mr. Pinkerton in regard to +the relations of Nick Van Wolter with Mr. Overton.</p> + +<p>“Now, Captain Penniman, you and I will see Mr. +Overton. Waddie, if you will go to the office of my +lawyer, Mr. Bayard, and state to him all the facts in +the case, you will oblige me very much,” said Mr. +Pinkerton. “In about half an hour return with him.”</p> + +<p>“I will do so with pleasure,” replied Waddie.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps Miss Dornwood had better go with you. +She can tell a part of her story to better advantage +than you can.”</p> + +<p>Waddie was still better pleased with this arrangement, +and they left the house by the side door, so as +not to be seen by Mr. Overton in the library. I followed +Mr. Pinkerton into the presence of the guardian +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_288">[288]</span> +and his wife. I bowed to them as I entered, but they +evidently were not pleased to see me.</p> + +<p>“I am informed that Miss Dornwood, my ward, is in +your house, sir,” Mr. Overton began.</p> + +<p>“Not at this moment, though she is within call, and +will be here in half an hour,” replied Mr. Pinkerton.</p> + +<p>“You are aware, sir, that I am her legal guardian?”</p> + +<p>“I am, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Permit me to say, sir, that your conduct in harboring +and encouraging her in her present vicious course +is entirely unjustifiable,” continued Mr. Overton, sternly +and severely.</p> + +<p>“Permit me to say, sir, that I take an entirely different +view of the matter,” added Mr. Pinkerton, very +courteously.</p> + +<p>“Then you take a very extraordinary view of it.”</p> + +<p>“There is room for some difference of opinion on +this subject, and, until better informed, I shall be +obliged to retain my own view.”</p> + +<p>“Miss Dornwood ran away from me. Are you +aware of this fact, sir?”</p> + +<p>“I am; you locked her into her room, and she escaped. +With the assistance of some good friends, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_289">[289]</span> +she came here, where I purpose to have her remain +as long as she is pleased to do so.”</p> + +<p>“Allow me to remind you again, sir, that I am +her legal guardian.”</p> + +<p>“Allow me to remind you, sir, that you have abused +your office.”</p> + +<p>“That is a very strong statement, Mr. Pinkerton,” +replied the guardian, who seemed to be surprised at +the charge.</p> + +<p>“I have no doubt it can be fully proved, Mr. Overton. +A young lady of seventeen is legally an infant, +but not morally. The duties of a guardian are those +of a father.”</p> + +<p>“I have endeavored to be as a father towards her,” +added Mr. Overton, who was plainly unprepared for +the step which Mr. Pinkerton’s remarks foreshadowed.</p> + +<p>“Do you think a father would lock his daughter +of seventeen into a room in a hotel?”</p> + +<p>“If she disobeyed him—yes.”</p> + +<p>“Or drag her by force through the grounds of a +public hotel?”</p> + +<p>“The law would justify him in doing so, if she refused +to obey his reasonable commands.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_290">[290]</span></p> + +<p>“Perhaps it would; I will leave that matter in the +hands of the lawyers. Certainly, if the young lady +were not absolutely vicious, the moral sense of the +community would not justify either father or guardian +in the use of force.”</p> + +<p>“She is absolutely vicious,” answered the guardian, +boldly.</p> + +<p>“Sir, you insult her!” said Mr. Pinkerton, indignantly. +“I know her well; and a more gentle, modest, +and well-behaved girl does not live in this +country.”</p> + +<p>“She impudently refused to obey me.”</p> + +<p>“Only after you, in the presence of the young +gentleman who had assisted her in her peril and terror, +had treated her in the most outrageous manner; after +you had ordered her to the house, like a child. Your +conduct was that of a common bully.”</p> + +<p>“Sir!”</p> + +<p>“I wish to be entirely frank with you, sir. You +have made her life miserably unhappy by your petty +tyranny and contemptible espionage. You have not +treated her with any of the consideration due to a +young lady who has entered her teens,” continued +Mr. Pinkerton, calmly.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_291">[291]</span></p> + +<p>“Am I to understand, sir, that you intend to remove +me from my office of guardian on these grounds?”</p> + +<p>“No, sir, not exactly on those grounds. The law, +in most if not all the states, provides that when a +guardian becomes ‘evidently unsuitable’ for the discharge +of his duties, he shall be removed.”</p> + +<p>“Do you think I am an unsuitable person?” demanded +Mr. Overton, who was very nervous and much +alarmed.</p> + +<p>“I do so consider you, sir.”</p> + +<p>“If you think I am too strict with her, though I +have only acted for her welfare, I will be less so in +the future,” said Mr. Overton, who now seemed disposed +to compromise.</p> + +<p>“Miss Dornwood says she will never live with you +again under any circumstances, even if she is obliged +to earn her own living.”</p> + +<p>“Is her will to be the law?”</p> + +<p>“She is entitled to be consulted. But here she +comes, and on this subject she may speak for herself. +The gentleman with her is Mr. Bayard, her legal +adviser and mine.”</p> + +<p>Miss Dornwood, attended by Waddie and the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_292">[292]</span> +lawyer, entered the library. Mr. and Mrs. Overton bowed +coldly as they entered. The young lady was very +much embarrassed, and seated herself as far from her +guardian as the size of the room would permit.</p> + +<p>Mr. Pinkerton informed the legal gentleman what +had thus far transpired. Mr. Bayard, who by this +time fully understood the subject, explained the law, +and said that Miss Dornwood could petition the Court +of Probate, or Surrogate, to remove the guardian, and +appoint a new one.</p> + +<p>“Prepare the papers as soon as convenient, Mr. +Bayard,” said Mr. Pinkerton.</p> + +<p>“The petition must be presented to the court having +jurisdiction in the cause when the will of Mr. Dornwood +was admitted to probate. Perhaps Mr. Overton +would prefer to resign his office of guardian, which +it is competent for him to do,” added the lawyer.</p> + +<p>“No, sir; I don’t intend to do that,” replied Mr. +Overton.</p> + +<p>“Such a course might be best for you.”</p> + +<p>“Gentlemen, you speak to me as though I were a +monster, and not a gentleman; as though I were guilty +of some base crime,” protested Mr. Overton.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_293">[293]</span></p> + +<p>“That is precisely the view I take of it, after +listening to Miss Dornwood’s statement, and that of +Mr. Wimpleton.”</p> + +<p>“Sir, do you mean to insult me? I am not on +trial.”</p> + +<p>“You are not, but you ought to be,” coolly retorted +the legal gentleman.</p> + +<p>“If there is any law in the land—”</p> + +<p>“Plenty of it,” interposed the cool lawyer. “As +the attorney of Miss Dornwood, I only hope you +will commence the proceedings. You are excited, sir. +Pray keep calm.”</p> + +<p>“Can I keep calm while I am charged with a base +crime?” fumed Mr. Overton, rising from his chair, +and pacing the room in his wrath.</p> + +<p>“I see that you do not understand the case. Let +me refresh your memory, and point out to you the +bearings of some of your actions. In the first place, +you went to the Cataract House with a couple of +bank robbers.”</p> + +<p>“Only one, sir,” I suggested.</p> + +<p>“With one, then; that is just as bad.”</p> + +<p>“But he was an impostor, and I did not know that +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_294">[294]</span> +he was not what he represented himself to be,” replied +the guardian.</p> + +<p>“I think you did. You must have known that he +was a common blackleg, for you saw him plying his +trade in a gambling saloon at Cape May. You had an +understanding with him, after you had seen him +at the gambling table,—not as a visitor, but as one +who was plundering a victim,—that he should marry +your ward, and that he was to accept, as her dowry in +full, fifty thousand dollars, though the young lady’s +fortune was four times that amount. You made this +bargain with the blackleg and bank robber.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Overton was very red, and then very pale. His +limbs were shaky, and he was obliged to resume +his chair. He attempted to defend himself, and declared +that the testimony of a bank robber against +a gentleman in his position would prove nothing.</p> + +<p>“I grant that it is a very poor kind of testimony,” +replied Mr. Bayard. “But, so far as it can be confirmed +by other witnesses, it will be useful. Did you +not tell Miss Dornwood that you would not consent +to her marriage with any other person than this bank +robber and blackleg?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_295">[295]</span></p> + +<p>“The gentleman came to me as an English lord, +and I thought it was a good match for her.”</p> + +<p>“Lord Palsgrave!” laughed the lawyer. “You +knew very well that he was not a lord. You do not +answer my question, Mr. Overton.”</p> + +<p>“I am not on trial.”</p> + +<p>“Will Miss Dornwood answer?”</p> + +<p>“He did tell me that I could marry only Lord Palsgrave +with his consent,” replied she, with a blush; and +it was plain enough that she had never thought of +marrying anybody.</p> + +<p>“Do you intend to drag all this matter into the +court?” demanded Mr. Overton.</p> + +<p>“Undoubtedly; and we intend to examine Mr. +Dornwood’s will very critically, especially that part +of it relating to the consent of the guardian to Miss +Dornwood’s marriage. We believe it has been tampered +with.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Overton appeared to be stunned by this declaration. +Doubtless, like all other evil-doers, he supposed +that his deeds were entirely covered, and that +no one suspected him of anything wrong. He was +unable again to regain his self-possession, and Mr. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_296">[296]</span> +Bayard restated the grounds on which he proposed +to proceed.</p> + +<p>“I will resign,” gasped he, at last, after his wife +had whispered in his ear.</p> + +<p>“That is the most prudent step you can take,” +added the lawyer.</p> + +<p>“I wish you to understand that I do not resign +because I have done anything wrong, but because I +do not wish to have my name publicly connected +with a bank robber. I did not know what he was,” +protested Mr. Overton.</p> + +<p>“Yon can put any construction you please upon +your own conduct,” said Mr. Bayard. “It will be +necessary for you to render an account of all your +expenditures as the guardian of Miss Dornwood, and +deliver her property into the hands of your successor.”</p> + +<p>“That’s a gratuitous insult,” replied the crestfallen +guardian.</p> + +<p>But a time was fixed for the transaction of +this important business, and Mr. Overton agreed to +be present with his resignation. He and his wife +departed sadder and wiser than they came. As there +was no doubt in the minds of any of us that he had +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_297">[297]</span> +intended to rob his ward of the greater portion of +her fortune, we did not pity him.</p> + +<p>Waddie devoted himself assiduously to Miss Dornwood +during the rest of our stay at Mr. Pinkerton’s, +and it was quite late in the evening when we returned +to Middleport. The next day we went up +the lake again, and Waddie sailed the Raven down +to Centreport. After this he went down the lake +as far as Ruoara about every day. At the end of +a fortnight, however, when Mr. Pinkerton and Miss +Dornwood went to her residence to attend the proceedings +at the Surrogate Court, Waddie consented +to finish the vacation with me in the upper waters +of the lake. Tommy Toppleton went with us this +time; Tom Walton was again able to take his place +at the helm, and we had a splendid time.</p> + +<p>We were obliged to attend court at the examination +of the bank robbers, who were fully committed +for trial. Subsequently they were convicted, +and sentenced to twenty years in the penitentiary.</p> + +<p>Mr. Pinkerton was appointed the guardian of Miss +Dornwood, after the resignation of Mr. Overton; and +the Raven plied very regularly between Ruoara and +Centreport.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_298">[298]</span></p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXVI"> + CHAPTER XXVI. + <br> + <span class='chap-title'>THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF THE BANSHEE.</span> + </h2> +</div> + +<p class='chap-first kern'><span class='allcaps'>“What</span> boat’s that?” said Tom Walton to +me, as we walked down to the shore where +the Belle was moored.</p> + +<p>“That’s the Banshee,” I replied, quietly.</p> + +<p>“Never heard of her.”</p> + +<p>“She is new—just finished.”</p> + +<p>“She’s a first-rate boat, and has a bully name,” +added Tom, as he critically surveyed the new craft.</p> + +<p>The Banshee was larger than the Grace, and was +really a magnificent boat. Tom was delighted with +her, and expressed his admiration in the warmest terms. +I am willing to acknowledge that there was a conspiracy +against Tom; but the time for springing the +trap upon him had not quite arrived. I had engaged +him to take out a party to sail that day. We +went on board the Belle; but Tom kept one eye on +the Banshee all the time.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_299">[299]</span></p> + +<p>“Can’t we go aboard of her, Wolf?” asked Tom.</p> + +<p>“We haven’t time now. There comes Major Toppleton, +with his family; and we have to go over +to Centreport for the rest of the party.”</p> + +<p>“I should like to ask how large a party you intend +to take out in the Belle. There are five of +the Toppletons, and you and I make seven.”</p> + +<p>“We will go over and see how many there are +on the other side,” I answered quietly.</p> + +<p>We crossed the lake, and found five Wimpletons, +Miss Dornwood, and Miss Pinkerton.</p> + +<p>“Good gracious, Wolf!” exclaimed the skipper, in +a low tone, and with a look of infinite embarrassment. +“The standing-room of the Belle won’t hold +but ten, and they are crowded at that. We can’t +carry them all, Wolf.”</p> + +<p>“We will try, at any rate.”</p> + +<p>“Try! You might as well try to put a ton of +hay into an egg-shell. You can’t do it. You must +sail the Raven, and carry part of them.”</p> + +<p>“We will take them over to the other shore, and +then decide what shall be done,” I added, as Tom +ran the Belle up to the landing steps.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_300">[300]</span></p> + +<p>The party entered the boat, and when they were +seated, the standing-room was quite full, for the ladies +were considerably expanded.</p> + +<p>“Where do you intend to put the other five, +Wolf?” whispered Tom, when we were under way.</p> + +<p>“I don’t think we can put them into the Belle,” +I replied.</p> + +<p>Tom was very much troubled, and worried sorely. +Why had I not told him that our party was to consist +of all Middleport and all Centreport? He would +have engaged another boat. He did not believe he +had “feed” enough on board for such a crowd. +He continued to fret, in his good-natured way, until +we were within hailing distance of the Banshee.</p> + +<p>“The Toppletons have all gone on board of that +new boat,” said Tom.</p> + +<p>“They probably want to see her. Suppose we +run alongside, and take a look at her,” I suggested.</p> + +<p>“I should like to see her, first rate,” answered the +skipper. “You didn’t tell me whose boat she was, +Wolf.”</p> + +<p>“She was built for Captain Portman.”</p> + +<p>“She’s a regular out-and-outer; and she will sail +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_301">[301]</span> +like sixty. Look at that bow! She is sharp enough +to cut cheese with; but she has plenty of beam, and +won’t be crank.”</p> + +<p>Tom ran the Belle under the stern of the Banshee, +and came up at the accommodation steps on +the port side. Like a gallant skipper as he was, +Tom assisted the ladies on board of the new boat, +and then stepped on deck himself. We walked about +the beautiful craft, and the skipper examined everything +with a critical eye. Passing down the fore-hatch, +we entered the cook-room, which was fitted +up with every convenience.</p> + +<p>“I should like to be the cook on board the Banshee,” +said Tom, as he examined the appointments +of the kitchen.</p> + +<p>“Wouldn’t you rather be the skipper?” I asked.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps I would, but I never expect to go skipper +of such a nobby yacht as this.”</p> + +<p>“Possibly you may,” I added, as we passed into +one of the two state-rooms which occupied the middle +of the vessel.</p> + +<p>“What’s this for?”</p> + +<p>“This is the captain’s room.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_302">[302]</span></p> + +<p>“First rate,” said Tom, with enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>We went into the other state-room, and then +passed into the main cabin, which was large enough +to contain four berths. The floor was richly carpeted, +and the table was provided with racks and +water pitcher. There was an abundance of lockers +and closets, which were stocked with dishes and +stores. Rich hangings partially concealed the berths, +and everything was as luxurious as the parlor of a +gentleman’s house. Tom gazed with admiration and +delight at the elegant appointments of the cabin. +By this time the entire company had assembled in +this stately apartment, and all of them were watching +Tom. No one noticed any of the rest of us.</p> + +<p>“Why, they are getting her under way,” said Tom. +“Hadn’t we better be off?”</p> + +<p>“Not just yet,” I replied.</p> + +<p>“But I’m afraid the Belle will be in her way.”</p> + +<p>“It’s all right;” and I proceeded to point out the +conveniences on board of the yacht.</p> + +<p>In a few moments we heard the rattle of the jib, +and the Banshee was off.</p> + +<p>“I think we will go on deck now,” I continued.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_303">[303]</span></p> + +<p>“Why, she’s off now!” exclaimed Tom, springing +to the steps. “Where’s the Belle?”</p> + +<p>“She is moored all right, Tom,” I interposed. +“The ladies have concluded to go in the Banshee +if you will take the helm.”</p> + +<p>“O, this was the game—was it?” laughed Tom. +“I didn’t see how you expected to carry fourteen +in the Belle. I’ll take the helm, and glad of the +job.”</p> + +<p>All the party followed him to the standing-room. +Joe Poole, who had formerly sailed with Tom and +me in the Grace, had the helm. There were also +two men on the forecastle, coiling up the jib-halyards.</p> + +<p>“Here, Tom,” I interposed, as he was about to +take the helm from Joe Poole. “You didn’t look +at this arrangement for the spy-glass.”</p> + +<p>I pointed to the glass, which was secured on a +couple of spring brackets, so that it could not be +moved from its place by the pitching of the vessel. +Under it was a large silver plate, upon which +an inscription was engraved. It was placed directly +over the entrance to the cabin, and in calling Tom’s +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_304">[304]</span> +attention to the spy-glass, I intended he should see +this plate. All the party in the standing-room were +watching him with the most intense interest and +delight.</p> + +<p>“Good gracious, Wolf!” shouted the skipper, his +eyes opening till they were as large as the hawse-holes +of the yacht.</p> + +<p>I thought he would be crazy, he was so astonished +and delighted. The inscription on the plate was as +follows:—</p> + +<p>“<i>Presented to Captain Thomas Walton by the +Directors of the Centreport Bank, in testimony of +their high appreciation of his gallant conduct and +skilful management in the capture of the robbers of +their Bank.</i>”</p> + +<p>“I say, Wolf, won’t you make a little speech for +me?” said Tom.</p> + +<p>“Make it yourself, Tom. There is the president of +the bank,” I replied, pointing to Colonel Wimpleton.</p> + +<p>“Colonel Wimpleton, this is handsome of you, and +I thank you ten thousand times—call it ten million +times. If my heart were as big as the moon, it +would shake all over with gratitude. I don’t +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_305">[305]</span> +deserve this, but I am the happiest skipper that ever +trod a plank.”</p> + +<p>The entire party clapped their hands, and seemed to +be almost as happy as Tom was.</p> + +<p>“The money which that robber had in his bag +would pay for a dozen such yachts as this; and it +would have been lost without you,” said Colonel +Wimpleton. “It’s only a salve for your wounded +arm.”</p> + +<p>It was some time before Captain Walton was in +condition to take the helm, he was so excited. He +went all over the Banshee again, and I attended +him.</p> + +<p>“So you were fooling me all the time, Wolf,” +said he. “But you said she was built for Captain +Portman.”</p> + +<p>“So she was; but as it was rather late in the +season for him, he was kind enough to let the colonel +have her, and another will be built for him +before spring.”</p> + +<p>“She’s a bully boat.”</p> + +<p>“She will make your fortune, Tom, for people +will like her.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_306">[306]</span></p> + +<p>“That’s so. I can let the Belle, and run the +Banshee myself.”</p> + +<p>Tom finally cooled off enough to take the helm. +He was the lion of the day, and he handled the +yacht so as to call forth the admiration of the party. +Colonel Wimpleton had consulted me in regard to the +reward for Tom, and I had suggested the yacht, because +I knew she would enable him to make a great +deal of money. The magnate could not wait for a +boat to be built, and Captain Portman, to whom I +applied for information in regard to the cost of the +Banshee, enabled him to obviate this delay. Certainly +Tom could not have been better suited if +he had been consulted. He was very grateful, and +very modest, winning the regard of all on board.</p> + +<p>We sailed up to the Cataract House, where the +company dined; after which the excursion was continued +to the head of the lake. All had a splendid +time; and, as Grace Toppleton was present, it was +one of the happy days of a lifetime to me. We +landed Miss Dornwood and her friend at Ruoara, +and came to anchor off Middleport before dark.</p> + +<p>The Banshee was immediately in great demand. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_307">[307]</span> +Applications for her came from every town on the +lake; and when the season closed, Tom had money +enough to pay a quarter down on a house he bought +for his mother. Joe Poole ran the Belle when a +skipper was needed by her party, and half a dozen +row-boats added to Tom’s income. One of his brothers +attended to the letting of the boats, and the next +season Tom did a large business. The family, by the +exertions of Tom, was now on the high road to +prosperity.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>A lapse of five years has produced no change in +the pleasant relations between the two sides of the +lake, though it has witnessed many changes in +the circumstances of those who have figured in my +story. The Union Line is still a unit. The Lake +Shore Railroad does a large business. Captain Van +Wolter still commands the Ucayga, and the only +sorrow of his life is the fact that his son has fifteen +long years of imprisonment before him. All the +old students have left the Institutes, and new ones +have taken their places.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_308">[308]</span></p> + +<p>Tom Walton, with a great pair of bushy whiskers, +still runs the Banshee, and makes money in the boat +business. He has built a very comfortable double house +near his boat pier, and lives in one side himself, while +his mother occupies the other. He is married, and is +regarded as one of the solid men of Middleport; he can +no longer be called “The Young Skipper of Lake +Ucayga,” though his heart is as young and fresh as +ever.</p> + +<p>There have been quite a number of new houses +erected in Middleport and Centreport. Near the +mansion of Colonel Wimpleton is the elegant house +of Mr. Waddie Wimpleton. Miss Dornwood that +was, Mrs. Wimpleton that is, lives there, of course, +and is highly esteemed by everybody in town, not +only as an elegant lady, but as a useful and benevolent +woman. By the side of this house is another, +occupied by Mr. Thomas Toppleton, for his lady desired +to live near her mother and brother; and it +was whispered that her husband thought his chances +of being sent to Congress from the district in which +Centreport was situated were better than in the one +to which Middleport belonged. At any rate, Tommy +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_309">[309]</span> +has political aspirations, and is a rising man; +and I am only sorry that I shall not have the opportunity +to vote for him when he is nominated.</p> + +<p>On the other side of the lake, between the mansion +of Major Toppleton and the shore, stands what +I regard as a very pretty house. It was erected by +the major for the use of his oldest daughter, and +we live there. I shall be happy to introduce Mrs. +Penniman to any of my friends who call. I wish +to say, aside, so that she will not hear me, that I +think she is even prettier now than she was on the +day when I first saw her, and helped her into the +engine-room of the dummy. She is very happy, and +I am sure I am. Her father bestowed a very liberal +dowry upon her when we were married, and I +have doubled my little fortune in five years, so +that we are abundantly provided with this world’s +goods.</p> + +<p>I am still the general agent of the Union Line, +but I am not obliged to work very hard. I am interested +in several railroads, including the Great +Lake Shore in Ohio, which had the audacity to steal +our name. My father still runs the engine of the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_310">[310]</span> +Ucayga, in connection with Christy Holgate, who +has been true to his high Christian aspirations. Lewis +Holgate did not turn out very well. He was discharged +from his place on the Lake Shore Railroad, +and the last I knew of him, he was “firing” on one +of the main lines.</p> + +<p>My mother comes over to our house almost every +afternoon, where she is always warmly welcomed by +Grace, who loves her almost as much as I do. I +often think, when I see her, that the Bible lessons +she taught me have been the foundation of all that +I am or ever shall be. I shudder when I think where +I might have been without her; and I do not think +it egotism for me to say, in view of the facts +that the principle of “Love your enemies,” which +she imparted to me, was the basis upon which the +present happy peace between the two sides of the +lake rested; for Waddie and Tommy confessed that +they had learned the lesson from me. She is a good +mother, and I shall love, and cherish, and pray for +her as long as I live.</p> + +<p>The two bears are still alive, though the fun is +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_311">[311]</span> +all gone out of them. They are now grave, sedate, +and dignified bears, and as such, are fit symbols +of the Christian sentiment they represent. I +am grateful to them for the good they have unconsciously +done, and I never call them by any other +names than <span class="smcap">Bear</span> and <span class="smcap">Forbear</span>.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="transnote"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="Transcriber_Notes"> + Transcriber's Notes + </h2> + +<ul> +<li>Illustrations relocated close to related content.</li> + +<li>Obvious typographic errors silently corrected.</li> +</ul> +</div> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77177 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/77177-h/images/cover.jpg b/77177-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..1639c93 --- /dev/null +++ b/77177-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/77177-h/images/i_056.jpg b/77177-h/images/i_056.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..686ac03 --- /dev/null +++ b/77177-h/images/i_056.jpg diff --git a/77177-h/images/i_101.jpg b/77177-h/images/i_101.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..3197651 --- /dev/null +++ b/77177-h/images/i_101.jpg diff --git a/77177-h/images/i_152.jpg b/77177-h/images/i_152.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5caac67 --- /dev/null +++ b/77177-h/images/i_152.jpg diff --git a/77177-h/images/i_197.jpg b/77177-h/images/i_197.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c245449 --- /dev/null +++ b/77177-h/images/i_197.jpg diff --git a/77177-h/images/i_227.jpg b/77177-h/images/i_227.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..68bc1b6 --- /dev/null +++ b/77177-h/images/i_227.jpg diff --git a/77177-h/images/i_279.jpg b/77177-h/images/i_279.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..cb1b181 --- /dev/null +++ b/77177-h/images/i_279.jpg diff --git a/77177-h/images/i_f001.jpg b/77177-h/images/i_f001.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8c18b8b --- /dev/null +++ b/77177-h/images/i_f001.jpg diff --git a/77177-h/images/i_f003.jpg b/77177-h/images/i_f003.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d46819a --- /dev/null +++ b/77177-h/images/i_f003.jpg diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6c72794 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This book, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. 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