"Yah, pridge, pridge!" responded the German straightening up a little,
nodding his head assentingly, but not looking round.
"Bridge!" sang out the steersman for the third time, "bridge, you stupid
lout! dodge or"--
But the boat was already sweeping under, and the bridge taking the
German across his shoulders threw him with sudden violence to the
platform below, whence he rolled over into the canal, uttering a half
stifled cry for help as the water closed over him.
But he rose again instantly panting and spluttering, and striking out
vigorously for the boat; he presently succeeded in laying hold of the
edge of the platform, and, the steersman lending him a helping hand,
clambered on board, crestfallen and dripping, while the crowd on deck,
seeing him safe, indulged in a hearty laugh at his expense.
"I loss mein bipe," he said ruefully, shrugging his shoulders and
shaking the water from his clothes.
"Well, you got a free bath in exchange and may be thankful you didn't
lose your life," remarked the steersman with a grin. "Next time I call
out bridge I guess you'll duck your head like the rest."
The rain had been falling heavily all night, but the sun shone brightly,
and the clouds were flying before a high wind that blew fresh and cool
from Lake Erie as the Pauline glided quietly into Cleveland.
"What a beautiful city!" exclaimed the young Keiths as they stepped
ashore. "Do let us walk to the hotel, father, if it is not too far."
"Just as Aunt Wealthy and your mother say," he replied, taking the baby
from his wife. "I am told it is but a short distance, Marcia; I will
have our heavy baggage carried directly to the steamer which leaves this
afternoon; and Rupert and the girls can take charge of the satchels and
small packages."
The ladies decided in favor of the walk as affording agreeable exercise
and enabling them to see the city to better advantage than if cooped up
in hack or omnibus, and no one regretted their choice: they found the
wide streets so clean, the breeze so refreshing and exhilarating, and
enjoyed so very much gazing upon the tall, elegant looking houses and
the pretty things displayed in the windows of the large, handsome
stores.
After a good dinner at the hotel, Mr. Keith, his wife and older
children, went out for another stroll about the city; Miss Stanhope, who
insisted that she had had exercise enough, and preferred to stay where
she was, taking charge of the little ones in their absence.
On the return of the pedestrians the whole party went on board the
steamer which was to convey them across the lake to Detroit. It was a
fine boat, the cabin large and handsome; staterooms on each side
furnished with berths of far more comfortable size than those of the
canal packets.
The table here was better, too, both in its appointments and the quality
of the food, and was set in a lower saloon, reached from the upper one
by a flight of broad winding stairs.
The children were delighted with the change and wanted to be on the
guards all afternoon, watching the play of the great stern wheel,
admiring the rainbows in the clouds of spray it sent up, looking out
over the wide waste of waters, at the islands and an occasional passing
boat, or racing back and forth.
Mildred and Rupert were given charge of the three little ones and found
great vigilance necessary to prevent Cyril and Don from putting
themselves in peril of their lives. Mildred was more than once sorely
tempted to shake the young rogues who gave her no peace; but,
remembering and acting upon her mother's advice, was able to restrain
herself and treat them with uniform gentleness.
She felt rewarded when, as she was putting them to bed, her mother being
busy with the babe, Don threw his arms impulsively round her neck and
kissing her again and again, said "I loves you, Milly; you so dood to us
naughty chillens."
"That she is!" assented Cyril, heartily, "an' I wish I didn't be so
bad."
"Well, try again to-morrow to be ever so good," Mildred answered,
tucking them in and leaving them with a good-night kiss.
She helped her sisters with their preparations for the night, then was
rewarded with a delightful evening spent with the older members of the
family in the open air, looking out upon the beautiful wide expanse of
waters, now starlit and anon illumined by the silvery rays of the moon
as she rose apparently from the distant eastern edge of the lake and
slowly ascended the azure vault of the heavens, now shining
resplendently and again veiling her fair face for a moment with a thin
floating cloud.
The next morning the steamer lay at anchor in Detroit harbor and our
friends left her for a hotel in what was then the principal street of
the city. Here, too, they walked out to view the land, and passing the
stores and public buildings, found well-shaded streets and handsome
residences with pretty door-yards in front.
Mr. Keith gave his children their choice of passing around the lakes in
a steamer or in the sloop Queen Charlotte. They chose the latter and the
next morning the family and their luggage were transferred to her decks.
The ladies pointed out the articles they wished carried to their
staterooms and followed in the wake of the bearers.
There was less of show here than on the steamer they had left, but
comfort and convenience had not been overlooked, and though Mildred's
face clouded a little, it brightened again in a moment as she noted the
cheerful content in those of her mother and aunt.
They hurried on deck again where Rupert had been left in charge of the
younger children, to watch the vessel getting under way.
They were lying close to a steamer on whose other side was a second
sloop in quite as close proximity. All seemed hurry and bustle on board
the three.
"I don't see how we are to start," observed Mildred, glancing up at the
sails which hung almost motionless on the masts, "for there's scarcely a
breath of wind."
"Don't you see that they're lashing us and the Milwaukee yonder fast to
the steamboat, one on each side?" said Rupert. "She's to tow both till
the wind gets up."
"Oh, is that the way? she'll have hard work to do it, I should think."
"She won't growl any way."
"No, I suppose not. Which is the captain, Ru.?"
"That nice jolly looking chap over yonder, that's giving orders in such
a loud peremptory tone, is Captain Wells, master of the ship; that blue
eyed, brown haired, rosy cheeked stripling standing near is his son,
Edward Wells; and they're both English; so don't remind them that this
vessel was taken from the British in the last war."
"Of course not, unless they say something mean or exasperating about
Washington or America."
"In that case I give you leave to twit 'em as hard as you like."
"Who was that nice looking man that helped us on board? I thought father
or somebody called him captain."
"So he is, Captain Jones; but acting as first mate here. That lady,
talking to mother and Aunt Wealthy, is his wife. They're both Yankees;
so you can relieve your mind occasionally on the subject of the ship, by
a little private exultation with them.
"Do you notice the contrast between those two faces?--mother's and Mrs.
Jones'; hers so dark, mother's so beautifully fair and rosy."
"Who could help noticing it? Rupert, I do think our mother has just the
loveliest face in the world!"
"Ditto!" he said, gazing at her with a world of filial love, pride and
chivalric admiration in his handsome eyes.
"I say what's the use? you may just as well set still where you hare,"
growled a voice near at hand.
The young people turned involuntarily at the sound, and perceived that
the speaker was a burly, red-faced young Englishman; the one so politely
and kindly addressed, a little meek-eyed woman of the same nationality,
with a chalky complexion, and washed out appearance generally, who, as
they afterward learned, and suspected at the time, was the wife of his
bosom.
"'What a bear!" exclaimed Rupert in an aside to his sister, and drawing
her away as he spoke. "See, we're beginning to move. Let's go over to
the other side where we can have a better view."
"I presume that's what she wanted to do," remarked Mildred, glancing
back at the meek-eyed woman. "And why shouldn't he have let her?"
"Why, indeed, except that he's a cowardly bully."
"How do you know?"
"Because that's the only kind of man that would speak so to a decent
woman."
[Illustration]
Chapter Fifth.
"Hark! to the hurried question of despair:
'Where is my child?' and echo answers 'where?'"
--BYRON.
"HOW did you learn all you've been telling me, Ru.?" asked Mildred as
they stood side by side watching with interest the Queen Charlotte and
her consorts slowly clearing the harbor. "Oh, easily enough; young Wells
and I got into talk while you and the others were down in the cabin; I
asked questions and he answered 'em. Ah, here he comes," he added
looking round, "I'll introduce him for he's a nice fellow, I'm sure, and
it's a good thing to have a friend at court; in other words to be in
favor with the reigning powers; _i. e._ the captain and his nearest of
kin. My sister, Miss Mildred Keith, Mr. Wells."
"Happy to make your acquaintance, Miss," said the young sailor,
gallantly, lifting his hat and bowing low. "Hope you'll enjoy your
voyage on the Queen Charlotte. Shall be most happy to do all I can to
make the trip pleasant to you."
"Thank you kindly."
He began at once by finding comfortable seats for them where they were
sheltered from the sun, and had a good view of the Canada and Michigan
shores; and being acquainted with the localities, and their history, and
possessed of a ready command of language, he added much to the interest
of the scene by the information he imparted; sometimes unsolicited, at
others in answer to questions.
When they had passed through Detroit river and so far out into Lake St.
Clair that little could be seen but water and sky, he offered to show
them over the vessel.
They gladly accepted, enjoyed the tour, and when it was over rejoined
the rest of their party just as the cabin passengers were summoned to
the supper table.
Mildred was seated between Rupert and Edward Wells; opposite them sat
Mr. and Mrs. Sims, the bullying Englishman and his meek-eyed wife, and a
bachelor gentleman of pleasing countenance and manners, whom Captain
Wells addressed as Mr. Carr. Next them were Captain and Mrs. Jones.
There were many more passengers of both sexes, several nationalities,
and a variety of ages from infants in arms, up to hoary headed
grandparents, but with most of them our story has little or nothing to
do.
The two captains, the wife of the one and the son of the other, were
polite and genial, the fare was excellent, and every one present seemed
disposed to contentment and good humor except Mr. Sims, who turned up
his nose at the food, snubbed his wife and scowled at his opposite
neighbors; perchance reading too plainly in the frank, youthful
countenances their disapproval of him.
Mildred so compassionated the long-suffering wife that, in the course of
the evening, seeing her sitting by herself and looking sad and lonely,
she drew near and opened a conversation.
Mrs. Sims responded readily.
"Do sit down, Miss," she said, making room for Mildred by her side, "I'm
so glad to 'ave some one to speak to, for I gets hawful 'omesick at
times."
"Ah, that must be a very trying feeling," Mildred said compassionately.
"I know nothing of it myself; for I've never been away from home or
mother for a week at a time."
"Well, Miss, you're fortunate."
"Have you been long in the country?"
"It's barely six months, Miss, since I left me father's 'ouse in London.
We kept an 'otel there; an' that's 'ow I came to know Mr. Sims; he
takin' lodgin' with us while up to London about some business 'e 'ad
with the lawyers."
"And are your own family all still in England?"
"Yes, Miss; hevery one; I left 'em all--father, mother, brothers and
sisters--for 'im," she answered with a tremble in her voice and wiping
her eyes furtively.
"What a shame he should treat you as he does!" was the indignant
exclamation that rose to Mildred's lips, but she checked herself in
time, and changed it for, "Then I think he ought to be very good to
you."
"I 'ope we'll be 'appy, Miss, when we're settled down in a 'ome of our
own," remarked the little woman with a half stifled patient sigh. "And
indeed it's not 'alf so bad as I expected; I've been hastonished, at
finding so many white women in America. I thought when I landed in New
York I'd be the honly white woman there. I s'posed all the rest would be
Injuns or niggers."
"Indeed! how relieved you must have been on discovering your mistake,"
remarked Mildred demurely, while her eyes twinkled with suppressed fun.
"That I was, Miss, as you may well believe; it quite reconciled me to
the country."
The sun rose brightly the next morning and the young Keiths were early
on deck, romping and racing about, fall of the vivacity and mirth
usually incident to extreme youth and perfect health.
They were well watched over by their father, Mildred and Rupert, or
there is no knowing what wild and dangerous pranks might have been
indulged in by Cyril and Don.
The former actually proposed a flying leap from the deck of the Queen
Charlotte to that of the steamer and was not at all pleased by the
decided veto put upon it by his father.
"I think you might let a fellow try, papa," he grumbled, "it would be
such fun and I know I could do it."
"No, you couldna," said Don, peeping over the ship's side, "it's a big,
big place."
"Come over to the other side of the deck, and stay there," said Mr.
Keith, leading them away.
Rupert followed holding Fan by the hand. "What was that? what were they
throwing in?" he asked, stopping suddenly at a sound as of a heavy body
plunging into the water, while at the same instant a startled cry came
from the deck of the Milwaukee.
"A man overboard!"
"A man overboard!" the fearful cry was taken up and repeated on all
sides amid the rush of many feet and the quick, sharp imperative words
of command.
Almost instantly a boat was lowered and strong arms were pulling with
swift, vigorous strokes for the spot, already left far behind, where the
splash of the falling body had been heard, and keen eyes were eagerly
searching the waste of waters; the crews and passengers of the three
vessels crowding the decks and following their movements in breathless
anxiety and suspense.
They pulled backward and forward, calling out to the drowning one that
help was near.
"Ah, yonder he is at last!" cries a woman's voice in exultant tones;
"there he is with his head above water, for I see his hat."
"And they see him too, and are pulling toward him with all their might!"
"Ah, they're up with him! they have him now! hurrah!" and a wild cheer
rose from hundreds of throats.
But it died away in a groan.
"It was his hat--only his hat, poor fellow. And they've given it up and
are coming back without him!" sighs the woman who had been the first to
raise the alarm.
Every face wears a look of sadness for the few moments of silent waiting
as the rowers slowly return.
They gain the deck of the Milwaukee; one of them--a lad of nineteen or
twenty, a rough, hardy sailor--comes forward with a subdued manner--in
strange contrast to his accustomed rude hilarity--lips white and
quivering, tears in his manly eyes.
"Mother, mother," he says, low and huskily, drawing near this woman with
tottering steps, "don't--don't take it too hard. I--I couldn't bear to
see you. I did my best; we all did; but we couldn't find him; and here's
his hat. It--it was little Billy."
"My boy! mine! my little one!" she shrieked, and fell fainting into the
arms of her elder son.
There was not a dry eye among the spectators, and as the sad story
spread to the other vessels many a tremulous tone and falling tear
attested the pity and sympathy of those who told the tale and those who
listened to it.
"But how did it happen?" queried one and another; and the answer was,
"He was jumping back and forth from one vessel to another, and fell in
between the Milwaukee and the steamer; and it is conjectured that he
must have been struck by the wheel, as he did not come up again."
"And it might have been one of ours," sobbed Mrs. Keith, clasping her
babe to her breast, while her eye glanced from one to another of her
darlings. "Ah, how frightened I was when I heard the cry. I don't know
how I got up the cabin steps! for I thought it was perhaps--"
Tears choked her utterance; tears of mingled gratitude for herself and
sorrow for the bereaved mother.
"Yes, it might have been you, Cyril or Don; and think how poor mother's
heart would have been broken, and mine too," Mr. Keith added, sitting
down and taking one on each knee. "Now do you want to try jumping across
like that boy did?"
They shook their heads, gazing up into his face with awe-struck
countenances.
The sad event of the morning seemed to have exerted a subduing influence
upon all the passengers; it was a very quiet day on board.
The calm continued throughout the day but a breeze sprang up in the
night and the vessels parted company.
By daylight the breeze had stiffened into a wind that made the lake very
rough; the ship tossed about on the waves with a motion by no means
agreeable to the land lubbers in her cabin and steerage; everything not
made fast to floor or walls went dashing and rolling from side to side
of stateroom or saloon; few of the passengers cared to breakfast, and
those who made the attempt had to do so under serious difficulties--table
and floor being both inclined planes, sloping now in one direction now
in another.
They passed a miserable day, confined to the cabin, for the rain was
falling heavily and the great waves would now and then sweep across the
deck.
Still the captain assured them the storm was not a bad one and they were
in no danger.
By the next day it had abated so that they could seek the outer air,
going about without experiencing much difficulty in preserving the
centre of gravity; and nearly every one had so far recovered from the
deathly sea-sickness as to be able to appear at meals.
Life on shipboard which had seemed quite dreadful during the long hours
of the storm, became very tolerable again.
The older people promenaded the deck or sat there with book or work, or
merely chatting and looking out upon the restless waters, while the
children amused themselves with their plays or in running about
exploring every nook and cranny and making acquaintance with the sailors
who seemed to enjoy their innocent prattle and merry ways.
All the Keiths had suffered from sea-sickness and Mildred was among the
last to recover; it was not until towards sunset of the second day that
she could be induced to leave her berth and allow her father to assist
her up the cabin stairs to the deck.
Here a couch had been prepared for her and the loving hands of mother
and aunt busied themselves in making her comfortable. Brothers and
sisters gathered rejoicingly around. Mrs. Jones brought a glass of
lemonade, Mrs. Sims offered smelling salts, some one else a fan, and
presently the two captains and young Wells came up to offer their
congratulations on her recovery.
Then Cyril and Don led up and introduced Mr. Carr, the bachelor
gentleman with whom they had already formed a firm friendship.
"He's a real nice man, Milly," said Cyril; "knows lots of stories and
games and things, and--"
"An' p'ays wis boys," put in Don, "and tan do every fing."
"Yes, he's weal dood," chimed in Fan, "and I likes him."
"Thank you, my little maid," said the gentleman, laughing and stroking
her curls. "Now if you could only get your sister to look at me through
your spectacles."
"Why, I hasn't dot any 'pectacles!" exclaimed the child, opening her
eyes very wide. "Maybe papa buy me some when I dets an old lady. Den I
lets Milly 'ook froo."
"That's my good, generous little sister," Mildred said, laughing, "and
if I'm so fortunate as to get glasses first, you shall borrow them
whenever you wish."
"Now go to your plays, dears, and let sister rest till she feels
better," said their mother.
"Please tum wis us, Mr. Tarr," said Don, tugging at that gentleman's
coat.
"Don, Don, you must not--"
"Ah, don't reprove him," interposed the gentleman, lifting the child to
his shoulder and prancing away with him, while the little fellow shouted
with laughter and delight.
"Isn't he a nice man?" cried Zillah and Ada, looking after him, "we all
like him ever so much."
"Yes," assented the mother, "but I am very much afraid my children
impose upon his good nature."
"Don't let that trouble you, Mrs. Keith; he is surely able to take care
of himself. Besides it's quite evident that he enjoys their society as
much as they do his," said Edward Wells, taking a seat near Mildred's
couch, where he remained chatting in a lively strain with her and the
other ladies until it was time for them to retire to the cabin.
Fair weather and favorable winds made the remaining days of the voyage a
pleasure till one bright June morning they entered the Straits of
Mackinaw and reaching the island of the same name, anchored in front of
its fort.
The captain, informing his passengers that the ship would lie there for
a day or two, good-naturedly offered to take ashore any or all who would
like to go.
Nearly everybody eagerly accepted. The boats put off from the ship, each
with a full complement of passengers, whom they landed just under the
white walls of the fortress, situate on a bluff one hundred and fifty
feet high.
Passing up a flight of stone steps they entered the parade ground. It
was smooth, hard and clean as a well swept floor. They walked across and
about it, viewing the officers' quarters (on the outside) and the
barracks of the men, walked along by the wall, noting how it commanded
the harbor and the village of Mackinaw, with its great guns, beside each
of which lay a pile of black balls heaped up in pyramidal form.
Then they visited the town, saw some Indians and bought curious little
bark baskets ornamented with porcupine quills, blue, red and white, and
filled with maple sugar; moccasins, too, made of soft skins and heavily
trimmed with bead work, all manufactured by the Indians.
The young Keiths were made happy with a pair of moccasins apiece from
their father, bark baskets from their mother and aunt, and unlimited
maple sugar from their friend Mr. Carr.
They returned to the ship tired but full of content.
They were as usual early on deck the next morning, a little before the
rising of the sun, for they "liked to see him come up out of the
water."
"How very still it is! hardly a breath of air stirring," Mildred was
saying to her father as Edward Wells drew near the little group, all
standing together looking eagerly for the first glimpse of the sun's
bright face.
"Yes, we are becalmed," said Mr. Keith.
"And very possibly may be detained here for several days in
consequence," added Edward, greeting them with a cheerful good-morning.
"In that case we will have an opportunity to explore the island. May I
have the pleasure of being your guide in so doing?"
"Do you mean all of us?" queried Cyril.
"Yes, my man; if you will all go?" answered the sailor lad; but the
glance of his eye seemed to extend the invitation to Mildred in
particular.
"O father, can we? can we?" chorused the children.
"We will see;" he said. "Now watch or you'll miss the sight we left our
beds so early for."
The matter was under discussion at the breakfast table and afterward,
and it was decided that all might go ashore, but that the walk under
contemplation was too long for the little ones.
Ada Keith was the youngest of that family who was permitted to go; but
others joined them and Edward found himself at the head of quite a party
of explorers.
Ada came back looking heated, weary and troubled. "O mother," she cried,
with tears in her eyes, "we saw a cave where some Frenchmen were hiding
from the Indians and got smoked to death; the Indians did it by building
a fire at the cave's mouth, because they couldn't get at them to kill
them some other way. Oh, I'm so afraid of the savages; do persuade
father to take us all back to Ohio again!"
The mother soothed and comforted the frightened child with caresses and
assurances of the present peaceable disposition of the Indians, and at
length succeeded in so far banishing her fears that she was willing to
proceed upon her journey.