UP ANOTHER RIVER AND HOME AGAIN.
Colonel Shepard looked somewhat perplexed, for while we were going "Up
the River," not a word had been said about going "Down the River."
Doubtless all our passengers thought the steamers would have to return
by the way they came, and had taken it for granted that this must be
the case. I had a different view of the matter.
"Do you mean to go up to Lake Itasca?" asked Colonel Shepard, as he
lighted his cigar, indicating that he meant to have the talk out, and
the future course of the steam yachts decided upon.
"It would be rather difficult to get over the Falls of St. Anthony," I
replied. "Billy Bell don't know the way up there."
"Of course you mean to sail around to New York, and from thence to Lake
St. Clair by the way you came?" suggested the colonel.
"I am happy to say that I don't mean anything of the kind," I answered
with a smile. "I am afraid it would be rather tedious for our
passengers to go over the same route again so soon."
"I supposed they would cut across the country by railroad and
steamboat. I had intended to go from St. Louis to Pittsburg by boat."
"I hope you won't give up the voyage so soon," I protested. "I am only
afraid the ladies will be sea-sick again."
"Give up!" exclaimed the colonel. "Of course there is an end to
navigation in this direction. We can run up the Missouri for a week or
two, up to St. Paul's, or up to Pittsburg; but I do not see the point
of following either of these routes, unless it be the latter, which
will bring us so much nearer to New York."
"I don't think the Sylvania has any particular business in New York,
and I had not thought of taking her there again," I added. "I can't say
that I should care to descend the Mississippi, cross the Gulf of
Mexico, and follow the coast by the way we came. I am in favor of
variety in our yacht trips."
"So am I; and for that reason, I am in favor of going to New York by
steamer and railroad from here. I have three weeks more to spare, and
if you wish to go up to St. Paul's or Pittsburg, I am entirely willing
to go with you, Captain Alick."
"As your plans seem to be different from mine, we ought to have
considered this subject at Cairo, for you have come over two hundred
miles out of your way, if you intend to go to Pittsburg."
"It makes little difference to me, or to my family, where we go, for we
have enjoyed this trip so much that none of us were in a hurry to bring
it to an end. Mrs. Shepard has entirely recovered from her nervous
debility, and I know she will be sorry when we have to part company."
"Then you had better allow the Islander to continue in the fleet; and I
promise that you shall not be any farther from New York at any time
than you are now, or at any point where it will take you longer to get
there. More than this, the Islander shall land you twelve miles nearer
New York than Pittsburg."
"Then I will go with you," replied the colonel.
"But it will take much longer to go by my way," I added.
"Will it take more than three weeks longer, Captain Alick?" asked the
owner of our consort.
"You shall be in New York in half that time, if you wish."
"I suppose it is no use for me to ask what this marvellous route is to
be!" queried the colonel.
"Not the least," I replied, decidedly. "No one has said a word as to
where we were going for the last month, or since we decided to go up
the river. Nobody seemed to care."
"We all took it for granted that the steamers were to return by the way
they came," said Colonel Shepard. "I was talking with your father about
the matter one day, more than a week ago; and he had the same view of
the subject I had."
"We will sail at nine o'clock to-morrow morning, if you please."
"Certainly if that is the pleasure of the commander of the fleet,"
answered Colonel Shepard.
I had kept my own counsel so far, and I thought I had better continue
to do so for a while longer. Washburn and I had settled the question,
even before we left Detroit, and had procured all the information
necessary to carry out our plan, for the mate first suggested it. We
had taken in coal sufficient to run the steamer about two days. With
this supply, we drew a little less than eight feet of water, just
enough to sink the propeller.
Before night I engaged two pilots, one for each steamer, for I was not
sure we could lash boats much longer. At the time appointed all our
passengers were on board, and we backed out from the levee. It was so
much more social to lash boats, that we did so at the request of the
ladies. Recent heavy rains all over the western states had again raised
the river several feet above the level it was when we arrived at St.
Louis.
"Won't you explain the great mystery to me, Captain Alick?" asked Miss
Margie, as I passed her, seated on the quarter-deck, reading a novel.
"What great mystery?" I inquired, taking a chair by her side.
"Why, the mystery of where we are going," she replied, with a
bewitching laugh. "All the passengers are trying to solve the riddle;
and no one has done it yet."
"What book are you reading, Miss Margie?" I asked.
"Little Dorrit. What has that to do with it?" said she, looking at me
with surprise.
"Perhaps nothing; but before I explain to you the great mystery, as you
call it, let me tell you how the book you are reading comes out. You
have got acquainted with Little Dorrit, the Father of the Marshalsea,
and----"
"Now, stop! I don't want you to tell me how it comes out!" protested
the fair maiden, vehemently. "I wouldn't have you do it for the world.
It would utterly spoil all the pleasure I might have in reading the
book."
"Is that so? Why shouldn't I explain this great mystery, as well as the
other? I am sure I should deprive you of half the excitement of the
trip if I should tell you beforehand all about it."
"Then you needn't tell me a word!" And I did not.
At lunch-time we were in the midst of another great inland sea, at the
mouth of the Missouri. Some of us wished we were going up that great
river, to explore it where there were no towns, or other evidences of
civilization. As that was not our present purpose, we forgot all about
it as soon as we were out of sight of its mouth. Twenty miles more
brought the fleet to another broad expanse of water, in which were
several islands.
"Adieu to the Mississippi!" I shouted, walking from one end to the
other of the steamer. But I made no further explanation.
There was a call for maps and guide-books then, succeeded by an anxious
study for a few moments.
"This is the mouth of the Illinois River!" exclaimed Miss Margie,
rushing up to me.
"I don't deny it," I replied. To avoid more questions, I went to the
pilot-house.
"We are making about twelve miles an hour," said the pilot of the
Sylvania.
"How can that be? The most we could make in the Mississippi was seven
miles against the strong current."
"The current is the other way here," added the pilot.
"Do you mean that the stream runs up?"
"Precisely that," answered the man, laughing at my perplexity. "When
the Mississippi is very high, it flows the water back in the Illinois
for seventy miles. We get a little current here to help us. After a
while, it will really be still water."
In this part of the river, the stream was full to the top of its banks,
and in some places it overflowed them. The river had furrowed out a
deep channel in the alluvial soil, and at low water, it had tolerably
high bluffs on each side of it. It was almost as wide as the Father of
Waters, where we had left it, at its lower part; but in a few hours the
width began to diminish a little.
Before night, I had called all hands, and, after unbending the
squaresails, sent down all the yards and top-masts, for I feared that
we might have trouble with the "low bridges," and perhaps with the
trees that overhung the stream in some places. We frequently met river
steamers, and I found by comparison, that our lower masts were not
higher above the surface of the water than the smoke-stacks of the
boats.
We continued on our course all night, one of the pilots being on duty
all the time. In the morning the appearance of the country was more
picturesque, and we had a delightful day. In the afternoon we passed
through the lake at Peoria, which was a beautiful sheet of water. We
had a current to contend with, and our progress was not so rapid as it
had been the day before. On the following morning we reached the head
of the natural navigation of the river. I went ashore at Peru, and
chartered a canal-boat, and engaged a number of horses and drivers.
"What now, Captain Alick?" called Colonel Shepard, when I came on board
of the Sylvania, with the Islander made fast to her.
"Lots of work for a few hours," I replied, directing the mate to call
all hands, for I wished to avoid all delays.
I found the two steamers were each drawing seven and a half feet of
water. We were about to enter the Illinois and Michigan Canal,
extending from La Salle to Chicago. I had ascertained that it was six
feet deep; and I did not think it was likely to be below that at the
present high stage of water. We had only about a hundred miles between
the steamers and Lake Michigan.
The government of the United States has already considered the question
of making this canal deep enough to float ordinary lake-craft, so that
gunboats and other war vessels may be sent through from the Mississippi
to the lakes in case of war with our English neighbors. Probably it
will be done some time, but in the interests of commerce rather than
war.
The steamers, drawing seven and a half feet of water, could not pass
through the canal, which was only six feet deep. But I was not
disturbed by this fact, as I was prepared for it. The year before, when
I had put the Sylvania through a thorough course of repairs, I had
removed everything out of her except her engine and boiler. She had a
considerable quantity of ballast in her, composed of pigs of iron. When
everything was taken out of her, she drew a little less than six feet.
The canal-boat I had engaged was drawn in between the two steamers, and
we proceeded to load it with cables, anchors and ballast. We rigged a
derrick formed of the foreyards of the vessels, and made as easy work
of it as possible. When, at night, we had taken every movable thing out
of the steamers, they realized all my expectations, for they drew only
six feet. But this was making no allowance for possible shoal places;
and Moses, with the engineer of the Islander, had been at work, while
we were removing the heavy weights from the hold, in detaching the
propellers of the two craft. With our shears, we hoisted them out into
the canal-boat.
The removal of these heavy weights from the sterns set the vessels on a
more even keel, fore and aft. A western river-steamer draws more water
forward than aft, so that she may be the more easily worked over shoal
places; while a sea or lake vessel is just the reverse. We found that
we were likely to sink the canal-boat, and I was obliged to procure
another. We divided the weight between the two, and then transferred
our spare spars to them.
Our passengers had been greatly interested in watching the various
operations in progress. It was dark when our heavy labors were
finished. The ship's company and the passengers were to remain on board
during the passage. Though I had told them they could take a train and
be in Chicago in a few hours, they all preferred to remain, to enjoy
the novelty of the canal trip.
Our passengers were really in no haste to reach their point of
destination, yet they were impatient to be on the move, as is always
the case with the average American traveller. I concluded to start at
once, as the nights were now cheered by a full moon, and I intended to
keep the boats going until they arrived at Chicago. There was nothing
for the engineers and firemen to do on board, and I sent Moses
Brickland and Ben Bowman forward by railroad to several designated
places to engage fresh horses for us.
Our passengers sat up till midnight on the hurricane-deck, for the
weather was very warm for the season in this latitude, while Washburn
and the deck-hands steered. In the morning our canal drivers said we
had averaged three miles an hour, with two changes of horses. This was
getting along faster than I had expected. I had written to Mr.
Brickland, at Montomercy, informing him when we should arrive at
Chicago, and inviting him and his wife to join us there, and make the
trip home in the steamer.
The next day was full of interest to our canal travellers. Our strange
craft excited a good deal of interest all along the route.
When our party came on deck the next morning, they found the steamers
in the canal basin at Chicago. We had made the trip in thirty-four
hours, and had not touched bottom once, so far as I knew. The fleet had
stopped only long enough to change horses at any place. We got the
boats alongside, and sent our party on the way to the hotels, for the
odor of the basin was not that of ottar of roses.
The engineers went to work on the propellers first, and after resorting
to various expedients, we got them in place. Steam was up by this time,
and we towed the canal boats down to a point near the lake. It required
the whole day to restore our anchors, cables, and ballast to their
places, rig the spars, and bend on the sails. By six o'clock we were in
as good condition as when we entered the Mississippi at the Balize.
We had hardly finished the work before Mr. and Mrs. Brickland came on
board. They were delighted to see us, and both of them wept when they
realized that Moses and I were alive, well and happy, after our long
voyage. I had sent for our passengers, and when they came on board, I
introduced my foster father and mother to them; and the old people were
very pleasantly received.
They welcomed my father as one who had come from the other world, for
Mr. Brickland declared he had been unable to realize that he was still
alive, though I had written them to that effect. My father insisted
upon resigning the best state-room to them, though I had intended to
give up my room, while Washburn and I divided the nights between us in
the fore-cabin.
At dark we were under way, and fortunately we had smooth water, so that
Mrs. Shepard had no cause to complain of the lake. At Mackinaw we
stopped a day to give the party an opportunity to pull in some of the
famous trout of that locality. Off Thunder Bay, where I had once
weathered a gale in the Lake Bird, there was a considerable stirring up
of the waters, and Mrs. Shepard declared that it was worse than the
broad Atlantic; but the last was always the worst to her. She was
delighted with St. Clair River, when we passed through it the next day.
We crossed the Flats by the canal, and stood over to Glinten River. The
region looked very natural to us, after our long absence. In the middle
of the afternoon, we made a landing at the wharf back of Mr.
Brickland's house.
A considerable crowd had gathered on the pier, for we had been seen by
some one who reported us in town. Those who were acquainted received a
warm welcome. The Shepards insisted upon going to the hotel; and I did
not very strongly object, as we had not sufficient accommodations for
them in the house. They remained there a week, for the springs seemed
greatly to improve the health of the lady.
The Islander was started on her voyage to New York the day after her
arrival at Montomercy, for the colonel wanted to use her there soon
after his arrival. When his family were ready to depart, I conveyed
them to Buffalo in the Sylvania. The Tiffanys wanted to see more of the
country, and accompanied the Shepards. Owen had decided to go to
England, and Buck Lingley and Hop Tossford felt obliged to go with him,
though their year was not quite up. I landed my passengers in the canal
basin.
I had not felt so sad since the news came to me of the death of my
father as on this occasion. I parted with Margie Tiffany and her
father--more especially with Margie--with a regret which I cannot
describe. But I was permitted to write to her (and her father) as often
as once a month, and I hope before long to see her in England.
Buck and Hop had not been gone more than an hour before they
re-appeared with "store clothes" on, and did not look at all like the
excellent sailors they were. Their real names were Richard Lawrence and
Edward Blakeley; and when they appeared in their new dress I called
them by their proper names. They were very sorry to leave the Sylvania,
and I expressed the hope that they would come and spend a summer with
me in a cruise around the Great Lakes. They promised to do it, if
possible.
Once more we bade them good-by. We staid in Buffalo to see the party
off for New York; and up to this time that was the last I have seen of
them.
After my father joined our party, I noticed that Owen Garningham was
never himself again. Though he continued to flutter around Miss Edith,
he never seemed to be so well pleased with me as before. Yet I do not
think he had anything against me. I could only attribute the change in
him to the cancelling of the contract for the use of the Sylvania for a
year, though he had said very little about the matter. He parted with
me, I think with real sorrow, and hoped he should see me again before
even another year had passed by.
I saw my cousin seated in the car by the side of Miss Edith. He sailed
for England in June, but I have no idea how he had the courage to tear
himself away from her. I have no doubt they will be man and wife in due
time, though my father says his mother will never consent to the match.
As soon as the train started we returned to the Sylvania. The two
waiters we had hired in Florida wanted to seek their fortune in New
York, and Colonel Shepard promised to do all he could for them on their
arrival.
Cobbington returned to Montomercy with my father and myself. He was now
in apparently good health, but he declared that it would cost him his
life to remain in the North over winter. Governor Hungerford wrote to
me, as he had promised to do, during the summer. Before the cold
weather came, I had secured a situation in Baton Rouge for the invalid,
where at the last accounts he was in good health, acting as messenger
for the governor.
My father and I were so well contented in the home of the Bricklands,
that we remained there the rest of the season. He built a summer
residence on an island in Lake Superior, where we expect to go every
season in the Sylvania. I liked my home in the west too well to think
of giving it up, though I was admitted to the college at Racine in
September, as Washburn was at Brunswick.
My story is told; but I hope, when I have graduated, to make another
such trip as that in which we circumnavigated twenty-four states,
besides New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, coasted along the whole eastern
shore of the United States, visited the interior of Florida, crossed
the Gulf of Mexico, and sailed "UP THE RIVER," yachting on the
Mississippi.
* * * * *
Boston Stereotype Foundry, No. 4 Pearl Street
LEE & SHEPARD'S
LIST OF
JUVENILE PUBLICATIONS.
* * * * *
OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS.
Each Set in a neat Box with Illuminated Titles.
Army and Navy Stories. A Library for Young and Old, in 6 volumes.
16mo. Illustrated. Per vol. $1.25
The Soldier Boy.
The Sailor Boy.
The Young Lieutenant.
The Yankee Middy.
Fighting Joe.
Brave Old Salt.
Famous "Boat-Club" Series. A Library for Young People.
Handsomely Illustrated. Six volumes, in neat box. Per vol. 1.25
The Boat Club; or, The Bunkers of Rippleton.
All Aboard; or, Life on the Lake.
Now or Never; or, The Adventures of Bobby Bright.
Try Again; or, The Trials and Triumphs of Harry West.
Poor and Proud; or, The Fortunes of Katy Redburn.
Little by Little; or, The Cruise of the Flyaway.
Lake Shore Series, The. Six volumes. Illustrated. In neat box. Per
vol. 1.25
Through by Daylight; or, The Young Engineer of the Lake Shore Railroad.
Lightning Express; or, The Rival Academies.
On Time, or, The Young Captain of the Ucayga Steamer.
Switch Off; or, The War of the Students.
Break Up; or, The Young Peacemakers.
Bear and Forbear; or, The Young Skipper of Lake Ucayga.
Soldier Boy Series, The. Three volumes, in neat box. Illustrated.
Per vol. 1.50
The Soldier Boy; or, Tom Somers in the Army.
The Young Lieutenant; or, The Adventures of an Army Officer.
Fighting Joe; or, The Fortunes of a Staff Officer.
Sailor Boy Series, The. Three volumes in neat box. Illustrated.
Per vol. 1.50
The Sailor Boy; or, Jack Somers in the Navy.
The Yankee Middy; or, Adventures of a Naval Officer.
Brave Old Salt; or, Life on the Quarter-Deck.
Starry Flag Series, The. Six volumes. Illustrated. Per vol. 1.25
The Starry Flag; or, The Young Fisherman of Cape Ann.
Breaking Away; or, The Fortunes of a Student.
Seek and Find; or, The Adventures of a Smart Boy.
Freaks of Fortune; or, Half Round the World.
Make or Break; or, The Rich Man's Daughter.
Down the River; or, Buck Bradford and the Tyrants.
The Household Library. 3 volumes. Illustrated. Per volume. 1.50
Living too Fast.
In Doors and Out.
The Way of the World.
Way of the World, The. By William T. Adams (Oliver Optic) 12mo. 1.50
Woodville Stories. Uniform with Library for Young People. Six
volumes. Illustrated. Per vol. 16mo. 1.25
Rich and Humble; or, The Mission of Bertha Grant.
In School and Out; or, The Conquest of Richard Grant.
Watch and Wait; or, The Young Fugitives.
Work and Win; or, Noddy Newman on a Cruise.
Hope and Have; or, Fanny Grant among the Indians.
Haste and Waste; or, The Young Pilot of Lake Champlain.
Yacht Club Series. Uniform with the ever popular "Boat Club" Series.
Completed in six vols. Illustrated. Per vol. 16mo. 1.50
Little Bobtail; or, The Wreck of the Penobscot.
The Yacht Club; or, The Young Boat Builders.
Money Maker; or, The Victory of the Basilisk.
The Coming Wave; or, The Treasure of High Rock.
The Dorcas Club; or, Our Girls Afloat.
Ocean Born; or, The Cruise of the Clubs.
Onward and Upward Series, The. Complete in six volumes. Illustrated.
In neat box. Per vol. 1.25
Field and Forest; or, The Fortunes of a Farmer.
Plane and Plank; or, The Mishaps of a Mechanic.
Desk and Debit; or, The Catastrophes of a Clerk.
Cringle and Cross-Tree; or, The Sea Swashes of a Sailor.
Bivouac and Battle; or, The Struggles of a Soldier.
Sea and Shore; or, The Tramps of a Traveller.
Young America Abroad Series. A Library of Travel and Adventure in
Foreign Lands. Illustrated by Nast, Stevens, Perkins, and others.
Per vol. 16mo. 1.50
_First Series._
Outward Bound; or, Young America Afloat.
Shamrock and Thistle; or, Young America in Ireland and Scotland.
Red Cross; or, Young America in England and Wales.
Dikes and Ditches; or, Young America in Holland and Belgium.
Palace and Cottage; or, Young America in France and Switzerland.
Down the Rhine; or, Young America in Germany.
_Second Series._
Up the Baltic; or, Young America in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.
Northern Lands; or, Young America in Russia and Prussia.
Cross and Crescent; or, Young America in Turkey and Greece.
Sunny Shores; or, Young America in Italy and Austria.
Vine and Olive; or, Young America in Spain and Portugal.
Isles of the Sea; or, Young America Homeward Bound.
Riverdale Stories. Twelve volumes. A New Edition. Profusely
Illustrated from new designs by Billings. In neat box. Per vol.
Little Merchant.
Young Voyagers.
Robinson Crusoe, Jr.
Dolly and I.
Uncle Ben.
Birthday Party.
Proud and Lazy.
Careless Kate.
Christmas Gift.
The Picnic Party.
The Gold Thimble.
The Do-Somethings.
Riverdale Story Books. Six volumes in neat box. Cloth. Per vol.
Little Merchant.
Young Voyagers.
Dolly and I.
Proud and Lazy.
Careless Kate.
Robinson Crusoe, Jr.
Flora Lee Story Books. Six volumes in neat box. Cloth. Per vol.
Christmas Gift.
Uncle Ben.
Birthday Party.
The Picnic Party.
The Gold Thimble.
The Do-Somethings.
Great Western Series, The. Six volumes. Illustrated. Per vol. 1.50
Going West; or, The Perils of a Poor Boy.
Out West; or, Roughing it on the Great Lakes.
Lake Breezes.
Our Boys' and Girls' Offering. Containing Oliver Optic's popular
Story, Ocean Born; or, The Cruise of the Clubs; Stories of the Seas,
Tales of Wonder, Records of Travel, &c. Edited by Oliver Optic.
Profusely Illustrated. Covers printed in Colors. 8vo. 1.50
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Story, Going West; or, The Perils of a Poor Boy; Stories of the Sea,
Tales of Wonder, Records of Travel, &c. Edited by Oliver Optic. With
numerous full-page and letter-press Engravings. Covers printed in
Colors. 8vo. 1.50