Haste and Waste; Or, the Young Pilot of Lake Champlain Part 32

During his walk Mr. Sherwood had purchased three blank books, and a double slate, for which Lawry, agreeably to the arrangement that nothing more should be forced upon him, paid the cash on the spot, to the great amus.e.m.e.nt of the ladies. The memoranda of each trip, including the time of arrival and departure, and of reaching or pa.s.sing the princ.i.p.al points on the lake, were to be entered on the slate in the wheel-house, and afterward copied into the largest of the blank books. These were called the log-slate and the log-book.

The second was the engagement-book, and the third an account-book, in which the receipts and expenses of the steamer were to be kept.

After breakfast Mr. Sherwood a.s.sisted his young friend in opening these books, and explained to him the best method of keeping his accounts. By this time the party for the day's excursion had begun to arrive. The ladies and gentlemen were friends of Mr. Sherwood, and he and his wife and Miss f.a.n.n.y were to join them. A small band had been provided for the occasion, consisting of six pieces.

Precisely at eight o'clock the _Woodville_ left the wharf, amid the inspiring strains of the "Star-spangled Banner," performed by the band. The scene was in the highest degree exhilarating; and the little captain was the happiest person on board, where all was merriment and rejoicing. The boat was to go down the lake as far as Isle La Motte, where the party would spend a couple of hours on sh.o.r.e, and return by six o'clock in the afternoon. This program was carried out to the letter, without any accident, or any nearer approach to one than a thunder-shower and squall. When the little captain saw the tempest coming down upon him, he put the boat about and run her up into the teeth of the squall. The ladies and gentlemen saw the commotion on the water, and some of them were very much alarmed; but the _Woodville_, under the good management of Lawry, did not careen a particle, being headed into the wind.

In three minutes it was over, the steamer returned to her former course, and the party wondered that she made no more fuss about it.

While the rain continued, the excursionists were compelled to remain in the saloon; but they were full of glee, after their terror had subsided, and the shower was hardly regarded as a detriment to the pleasure of the trip.

At the appointed hour the _Woodville_ was at the wharf in Burlington. Before the party left the boat, they met in the saloon, and pa.s.sed a vote of thanks to the little captain, in which the dinner, the steamer, and her commander were warmly praised. It was written out, a copy was given to Lawry, and it was to be published in the Burlington papers. While the boat was stopping at the wharf, Mr.

Sherwood went up to a printing office, where he had left an order for a job in the morning, and returned bringing with him a few copies of the handbill, which was to announce the _Woodville_ more generally to the public. It was posted in various parts of the steamer, and read aloud with mischievous delight by Miss f.a.n.n.y. It was printed in colors, ornamented with a cut of a steamer, and read as follows:

MOST DELIGHTFUL EXCURSIONS ON THE LAKE!

THE NEW AND SPLENDID MINIATURE STEAMER

_WOODVILLE_,

Captain Lawrence Wilford,

With elegant and luxurious accommodations for thirty pa.s.sengers, is now ready to convey pleasure-parties to any part of the lake.

Breakfasts, dinners, and suppers provided on board; and the tables will be supplied with the best the market affords.

Apply by letter, or otherwise, to

CAPTAIN LAWRENCE WILFORD,

Port Rock, N. Y.

By seven o'clock the _Woodville_ was under way for Port Rock.

Lawry gave the helm to one of the deck-hands, and went below to make some entries in his account-book. He had been paid, that day, fifty dollars for the boat, and thirty dollars for dinners. Mrs. Light had expended twenty-six dollars for provisions and groceries, but he still had one hundred and twenty-eight dollars. It was a large sum of money for a boy of fourteen to have, and he counted it with a pride and pleasure which made him forget the fatigue of his severe labors.

At half-past ten the steamer was moored to her wharf at Port Rock.

Mr. Sherwood and the ladies bade the little captain good-night, and went home.

CHAPTER XVIII

TEN THOUSAND IN GOLD

It was fortunate for Lawry that he was able to sleep well in the midst of the excitement in which he lived; otherwise his bodily frame must have yielded to the pressure to which it was subjected. He did not wake till seven the next morning, which invigorated his powers and prepared him for the duties of another day. As soon as he turned out, he went up to see his mother, and gave her a hundred dollars of the money he had earned, reserving the balance for the expenses of the boat.

At nine Mr. Sherwood and his party came on board. It had been his intention to visit Ticonderoga; but business letters which he found waiting his arrival the evening before compelled him to change his destination to Burlington.

Just before the party appeared, Ben Wilford had been seen lounging about the wharf. He had complained bitterly to his mother of the treatment he had received from Lawry, and did not seem to be conscious that he had ever been engaged in a base and mean conspiracy against the peace and happiness of the whole family. Mrs. Wilford had spoken plainly to him, which had only increased his irritation. The little steamer was a sore trial to him, for she was the indication of Lawry's prosperity.

Ben had fully persuaded himself into the belief that he, and not Lawry, ought to be captain of the _Woodville_. She was a family affair, and he could not regard his brother as the actual owner of her. He had imagination enough to understand and appreciate the pleasure of being in command of such a fine craft. His conspiracy had signally failed; in his own choice phrase, Mr. Sherwood "carried too many guns for him," and it was useless to contend against money.

The envious brother had so far progressed in his views as to believe that a subordinate position in the _Woodville_ was better than no position at all. He had heard of the fine times the parties had on board of her, of the splendid dinners, and the inspiring music; and he was very anxious to have a situation in her. He was afraid of Mr.

Sherwood, and dared not again take his place boldly on board. At a favorable moment, when Lawry and the deck-hands were employed on the after part of the deck, he slipped down the plank and into the forecastle, concealing himself in the berth of one of the firemen.

This trick might insure him a pa.s.sage with the excursion-party, if nothing more.

When the ladies and gentlemen had all arrived, the boat left the wharf, and commenced her voyage down the lake. After she had gone a couple of miles Ben Wilford came out of his hiding-place, and proceeded directly to the wheel-house, feeling that he had nothing to fear from his kind-hearted brother, and hoping to conciliate him before Mr. Sherwood discovered that he was on board. He entered the open door of the wheel-house as coolly as though he belonged there.

"Ben!" exclaimed the little captain, when he saw him. "I didn't know you were on board."

"I didn't mean you should till I got ready," replied Ben.

"I don't know as Mr. Sherwood will like it when he sees you," added Lawry.

"If you like it, he will."

"I'm sure I've no objection to your going with me."

"I knew you hadn't."

"But the steamer belongs to Mr. Sherwood to-day."

"Don't you want some help, Lawry? Mother thinks you are working rather too hard."

"I don't think I shall hurt myself," answered Lawry, laughing; and he was really pleased to find Ben in such good humor. "I don't see that you can help me any."

"I can steer."

"So can Rounds," replied Lawry, referring to the deckhand whom he called to the wheel when he left his post.

"Lawry, you are my brother--ain't you?"

"Of course I am."

"And I am your brother--am I not?"

"Without a doubt you are."

"Then there are two good reasons why we should not quarrel."

"I'm very sure I don't wish to quarrel, Ben," added Lawry earnestly.

"And I'm just as sure I don't," continued Ben. "This is a splendid little boat, and we might make a first-rate thing of it. I still think I ought to be captain of her; but I won't quarrel about that now. I'll take any place you have a mind to give me."

This was certainly very kind and condescending on the part of the elder brother, after what had occurred; and Lawry really felt happy in the excellent spirit which Ben appeared to manifest.

"You might give me a chance as mate, if you like," added Ben, as he perceived the smile on his brother's face.

"I will speak to Mr. Sherwood about it."