Haste and Waste Part 23

"Thank you, sir. I knew I could raise her, if I had fair play. I don't know but you are sick of your bargain, sir, in giving her to me."

"By no means, Captain Lawry," replied the rich man, laughing. "If the ladies succeed in overcoming their terror of steamboats, I suppose I can charter the boat for our party when we wish to use her."

"She's at your service always, sir," replied Lawry.

"Oh, I shall take her on the same terms that others do. When I use her, I shall pay you."

"That wouldn't be fair, sir. I couldn't take any money from you for the use of her," added Lawry, blushing.

"We will not talk about that now. When she is in condition for use, we will consider these questions. How did you find her this morning?"

asked Mr. Sherwood, with a mischievous twinkle in his eye.

"We found the water all pumped out of her; and we didn't know what to make of it," answered Lawry.

All the visitors burst out laughing, and heartily enjoyed the astonishment and confusion of the young pilot.

"I don't understand it," exclaimed Lawry.

"The fairies, knowing what a good boy you are, Lawry, must have pumped her out for you," said Miss f.a.n.n.y.

"Perhaps they did."

Mr. Sherwood then explained what he had done the preceding night, and the reason why he had done it. Ben Wilford, after fastening the ferry-boat at the stern of the steamer, had come on deck, and listened to the explanation. He saw in what manner his malice had been defeated, and he looked very much dissatisfied with himself and everybody on board.

"You were very kind, Mr. Sherwood, to take so much trouble upon yourself," said Lawry.

"It was no trouble at all; it was a great pleasure to me. But I don't understand how the steamer happened to be on the other side of the lake."

"I supposed the persons who bailed her out set her adrift. The casks were all knocked out from under the guards, and they are scattered all along the sh.o.r.e."

"Before my men left her last night, I went all over the boat to satisfy myself that everything was right. I examined the cables very carefully, and I am sure they were well stoppered at twelve o'clock, when we went on sh.o.r.e."

"I fastened the cable myself, and I don't think she could have broken loose herself."

Ben Wilford listened in sullen silence to this conversation, and his mother could hardly keep from crying as she thought of the guilt of her oldest son. She was not willing to tell Lawry what his brother had done, fearful that his indignation would produce a quarrel where brotherly love should prevail. She believed that Ben had attempted, while under the influence of liquor, to sink the _Woodville_, and that he would not do such a thing in his sober senses.

Neither Lawry nor Mr. Sherwood could explain in what manner the steamer had broken from her moorings and the oil-casks been removed from their fastenings; so they were obliged to drop the matter, congratulating themselves upon the present safety of the boat.

"We will go ash.o.r.e with you, Captain Lawry, when you are ready,"

said Mr. Sherwood, after the question had been disposed of in this unsatisfactory manner.

"Captain Lawry!" sneered Ben.

"Certainly; he is the captain of the steamer--isn't he?" laughed Mr.

Sherwood.

"It sounds big for a boy," growled Ben.

"He will make a good captain."

Ben turned and walked away, disgusted with the idea.

"I'm ready, sir," said Lawry.

"Where are you bound next, Captain Lawry?" asked Mr. Sherwood.

"I'm going to fish up the anchors we lost, and then to pick up the oil-casks," replied Lawry.

"Where do you intend to keep your steamer?"

"I hadn't thought of that, sir."

"You will need a wharf."

"We need one; but I think we shall have to get along without one."

"Where would be a good place to have one?"

"The deepest water is just below the ferry-landing. We could get depth enough for this boat by running a pier out about forty feet.

Ethan and I can build some kind of a wharf, when we have time."

Mr. Sherwood said no more about the matter, and Ben landed the visitors in the ferry-boat. The _Woodville_ then ran down to the Goblins, and towed the raft out to the spot where the anchors lay. A boat grapnel was dragged over the spot, the cables hooked, and the anchors hauled up with the derrick on the raft, from which they were transferred to the steamer.

Having obtained these necessary appendages of the steamer, they returned to the landing for the ferry-boat, in which they intended to load the oil-casks, and convey them to Pointville. Ben was at the landing when she arrived, and without any invitation, stepped on board the ferry-boat, and thence to the steamer.

"Don't you want some help, Lawry?" asked Ben.

"Yes; we should be glad of all the help we can get," replied Lawry pleasantly.

"Well, I'll help you."

"We have a good deal of hard work to do to-day," added the pilot. "I would like to get the boat on the ways at Port Henry to-night."

"That can be done easy enough."

Ben Wilford seemed now to have adopted a conciliatory policy, but it was evidently done for a purpose. When the _Woodville_ reached the Goblins, he worked with good will in loading the ferry-boat, which was towed over to Pointville, and her cargo discharged. The casks, which had drifted over to the eastern sh.o.r.e of the lake, were then picked up, and landed at the same place. The man who had carted them down to the sh.o.r.e was engaged to convey them back to the barn of the oil speculator. It was noon by the time this work was all accomplished; and the _Woodville_ again crossed the lake, and came to anchor in the deep water above the ferry-landing, as close to the sh.o.r.e as it was prudent for her to lie. Ethan banked his fires, and the boys went on sh.o.r.e to dinner, one at a time; for after the experience of the preceding night they would not leave the steamer alone for a single moment.

After dinner, Mr. Sherwood, who appeared to be as much interested in the little steamer as though she had not changed her ownership, came on board again, accompanied by the ladies. It had before been decided that the carpets should be taken up, the muslin curtains removed, and such portions of the furniture and utensils as had been injured by the water should be conveyed on sh.o.r.e to be cleaned, and put in proper order for use. In this labor Mr. Sherwood's party and Mrs.

Wilford a.s.sisted, and by the middle of the afternoon everything had been removed. Ben Wilford aided very zealously, and his mother hopefully concluded that he was sorry for what he intended to do, and wished to remove any suspicion of evil intentions on his part.

The _Woodville_ was now going down to Port Henry, where the repairs on her hull were to be made, and the pilot and engineer were to remain on board. Ben promised faithfully to run the ferry during Lawry's absence; and, cheered by the party on the sh.o.r.e, the _Woodville_ departed for her destination. She ran at half speed, but reached the port before sunset. The next morning she went on the ways, and her repairs commenced. During that time Ethan was constantly employed on the engine, and when the steamer was restored to her native element there was not a suspicion of rust on the machinery.

Lawry was also as busy as a bee all the time, scrubbing the floors, cleaning the paint, and polishing the bra.s.s-work. When the boat was ready to return to Port Rock, she was in condition to receive her furniture. She was launched early in the morning, and Ethan proceeded at once to get up steam. Both of the boys were in the highest state of expectancy and delight; and when Lawry struck the bell to start her, he was hardly less excited than when he had done so for the first time after the water had been pumped out of her. All the bunting was displayed at the bow and stern, and the _Woodville_ now plowed the lake at full speed. Her happy owner realized that she was good for ten miles an hour, which, for so diminutive a craft, was more than he had a right to expect.

"h.e.l.lo!" shouted Lawry to himself, as the steamer approached the ferry-landing; "what's that?"

In the deep water which the young pilot had indicated as the best place for a wharf, a pier was in process of erection. A score of bridge-builders were sawing, hammering, and chopping, and Mr.

Sherwood stood in their midst, watching their operations. The structure was not complete, but the mooring posts were set up, so that the _Woodville_ could be made fast to them. Mr. Sherwood and the workmen gave three cheers as the steamer approached.