THE LITTLE CAPTAIN AND HIS MOTTO
As Ben Wilford, fearful that some accident to the machinery would
defeat his criminal enterprise, entered the engine-room on one side,
Lawry left it at the other. As the little captain went forward, he
heard a noise in the forecastle, and saw that the companionway was
closed and fastened. Releasing the firemen and deck-hands confined
there, he directed them to follow him to the wheel-house, where he
explained to them what had happened.
"What are you stopping for?" demanded Ben Wilford, before he
discovered that Baker was not present.
"I think it is about time to go back, now," replied Ethan, holding
one of the pistols in his hand.
"How came you here, Ethan?" exclaimed Ben, starting back with
astonishment when he saw who was in charge of the engine.
"I run this machine, and this is the right place for me," replied
Ethan coolly.
"Where's Baker?"
"He's safe; if you mean the man you left in charge of the engine."
Ben was bewildered by the present aspect of affairs. It was clear
that there had been a miscarriage somewhere; but he was unable to
tell how or where the scheme had failed. Before he could decide what
step to take next, Captain Lawry rang the bell to go ahead.
"Who rang the bell?" asked Ben.
"Captain Lawry."
"Is he on board?"
"He is," replied Ethan, as he started the engine. "Ben Wilford, you
have got about to the end of your rope."
"What do you mean?"
"You have done a job which will send you to Sing Sing for the next
ten years."
"No, I haven't," said Ben, backing out of the engine-room.
"Stop where you are," interposed Ethan, peremptorily, as he raised
his pistol.
"Two can play at that game," added Ben.
"Two can; but two won't. Drop your hands, or I'll fire!"
Ben obeyed; he had felt that the game was up the moment he saw Ethan
at his post, and he had not the courage to draw his pistol upon one
who had shot two Indians in one day.
"Sit down there," continued Ethan, pointing to the bench in the
engine-room, and the culprit took his seat with fear and trembling.
"What shall I do?" groaned the wretched young man, as he thought of
the consequence of his crime.
"Jump overboard and drown yourself. That would save your friends a
great deal of trouble," replied Ethan. "Give up your pistol!"
Ben gave it up, and began to plead with Ethan to let him escape,
declaring that it would kill his mother, and Lawry never would get
over it, if he was sent to the penitentiary. Though the engineer
dreaded the day when his friend would be compelled to testify in
court against his own brother, he would not yield to the culprit's
entreaties, and did not intend that he should escape the penalty of
his crime.
When the _Woodville_ reached her wharf, having been absent but
little more than an hour, Mr. Sherwood and the ladies were on the
wharf. While Ethan was working the engine with the bar, Ben slipped
out of the room. The engineer saw him, and gave the alarm; but he
could not leave his post at that moment. As soon as the boat was
moored, search was made; but Ben could not be found. He certainly was
not on board.
Mr. Sherwood was astonished when he was told what had occurred. He
sent his coachman after the sheriff at once, and directed that the
search for Ben Wilford should be renewed. The stateroom was found
locked, as he had left it, and the gold undisturbed. Mrs. Light and
the girls, the firemen and the deck-hands, had their own stories to
tell, to all of which Mr. Sherwood listened very patiently.
"You have done well, Lawry," said he. "You have saved my gold."
"It was Ethan, sir, that did the business. I don't believe I could
have done anything alone," replied the little captain.
"Lawry did his share," added Ethan, with due modesty.
"I'm sure they both fit like wildcats in the cabin," said Mrs.
Light. "I was e'en a'most scart to death."
When the sheriff came, he took Baker and Flint into custody, and
sent the constable who had come with him to find Ben Wilford. The two
robbers in the cabin were in bad condition. The choking they had
received had been a terrible shock to their nerves, which, with the
hard knocks given by Ethan with the cook's rolling-pin, had entirely
used them up, and there was neither fight nor bravado in them. Flint
said they had been induced to engage in the enterprise by Ben
Wilford; that they intended to proceed to the vicinity of Whitehall
in the _Woodville_, where the instigator of the affair had
declared his purpose to burn the boat. From this point they were
going to the West, disposing of the gold in small sums as they
proceeded.
The two robbers were marched off by the sheriff; but nothing was
heard of Ben for two hours, when the boy who ran the ferry-boat,
returning from Pointville, informed Mrs. Wilford that he had gone
over with him. The constable followed, as soon as he heard in what
direction the fugitive had gone. He was not taken that night, and the
search was renewed the next day, but with no better result. It was
afterward ascertained that he had crossed the country to the
railroad, and taken a night train. Having worked his way to New York,
he shipped in a vessel bound to the East Indies.
It cannot be denied that Lawry and his mother, and even Mr.
Sherwood, were glad of his escape, though he was more guilty than the
two men who had been captured and were afterward tried and sent to
Sing Sing. The little captain and the engineer of the _Woodville_
were warmly congratulated upon the safety of the steamer, when it was
known that Ben intended to burn her in revenge for having been made
a "nobody"; but Mr. Sherwood declared that, if the boat had been
destroyed, he would have built another, and presented her to Lawry
and Ethan, for he was too much interested in the steamboat experiment
to have it abandoned.
Mrs. Wilford trembled when she learned that the robbers had been
armed with pistols. Many laughed as they, listened to the account of
the choking operation in the cabin, and everybody was satisfied with
the result.
Lawry and Ethan were too much excited to sleep that night, though
they turned in at ten o'clock. At midnight the fireman on duty called
them, and the steamer soon started for Whitehall with Mr. Sherwood
and his gold, where she arrived in season for the morning train. As
the party did not start till nine o'clock, the exhausted pilot and
engineer obtained a couple of hours' sleep, while the steamer lay at
the wharf, which enabled them to get through the day without sinking
under its fatigues.
The following day was Sunday; and though Lawry and Ethan went to
church in the forenoon, as both of them were in the habit of doing,
the day was literally a day of rest to them, and there was a great
deal of "tall sleeping" done. On Monday morning, at six o'clock, the
boat went to Ticonderoga, arriving in good season to keep her
engagement.
Our limits do not permit us to follow Captain Lawry and the
beautiful little steamer any farther. The young pilot has redeemed
the fairy craft from the bottom of the lake, and overcome all
obstacles in his path to prosperity. He was not again disturbed by
the envy and jealousy of his brother. He was sad when he thought of
his father in prison, and Ben an exile, banished by his misdeeds; but
their errors only made him the stronger in the faith he had chosen,
that fidelity to principle is the safest and happiest course, under
all circumstances.
Lawry had all the business he could do with the _Woodville_. On
the following week, another pilot and another engineer were obtained,
and the price raised to sixty dollars a day, in conformity with the
suggestion of Mr. Sherwood. This was especially necessary, as, during
the bright moonlight evenings, in the latter part of the month, the
_Woodville_ was employed every night in taking out parties. The
boat lay hardly an hour at a time at the wharf. The money came in so
fast that Mrs. Wilford was bewildered at the riches which were
flowing in upon them. By the advice of Mr. Sherwood the money was
invested in government stocks; but he resolutely refused to accept
payment for what he had advanced on the place or for the boat.
Early one evening, after Lawry had landed Mr. Sherwood's party at
Port Rock, he started for Burlington, where he had an engagement on
the following day. Half a mile above the wharf, he came up with a
schooner, which on examination proved to be the _Missisque_. It
was a dead calm, and her new mainsail hung motionless from the gaff.
The little captain had not seen her skipper since the day on which
the old sail had been blown from the bolt-ropes by the squall; and he
ran the Woodville alongside of her, in order "to pass the time of
day" with him.
"How are you, Captain John?" shouted the young pilot.
"Why, Lawry! How are you?" replied the skipper of the sloop.
"What are you doing here?" continued Lawry.
"Waitin' for a breeze of wind. I had a good freight promised to me
if I got to Burlington by to-morrow morn-in', but I guess I sha'n't
quite fetch it."
"Rounds, heave a stern-line to the sloop, and make fast to her,"
added Lawry to his mate.
"Oh, thank ye, Lawry," replied the grateful skipper.
"You and your wife must take supper with me."
"Well, Lawry, I always knowed you was smart," said Captain John.
"If I didn't get that mainsail down," laughed Lawry.
"Oh, never mind the mainsail, Lawry," added the skipper, blushing.
"I was a leetle riled that time, and it wan't your fault."
"I think the green-apple pies made the mischief. Mrs. Light makes
very nice ones, and we will have some for supper," continued Lawry,
as he conducted his guests to the cabin, where they sat down at the
table.
Captain John and his wife were bewildered at the splendors which
surrounded them, and at the grandeur of Captain Lawry; but they
passed a pleasant evening on board till ten o'clock, when the
_Woodville_ cast off her "tow" in Burlington Bay.
The upright piano, the gift of Miss Fanny, had been placed in the
saloon, and its sweet strains added to the enjoyment of every party
that employed the steamer. Ethan French, now relieved of part of his
duties by the employment of a second engineer, was never in better
humor than when Fanny Jane, seated at this instrument, sang the songs
she had sung to Wahena and himself on the lake island in Minnesota.
In September, the business of the _Woodville_, as an excursion
boat, began to fall off, and by the middle of the month it was at an
end. The season had been very profitable, and Lawry's account-book
showed that the boat had been employed forty-one days, besides nine
evenings, the net profits of which were nearly fifteen hundred
dollars, all of which was in the bank, or invested in government
securities.
While Captain Lawry was considering the practicability of running
the _Woodville_ between certain places on the lake as a passenger-boat,
he was startled by receiving a huge government envelope, containing a
liberal offer for the use of his steamer as a despatch boat on southern
rivers. An army officer, of high rank, who had been a member of one
of the excursion parties in August, had been delighted with the
performance of the little craft, and had spoken to Captain Lawry on this
subject; but the matter had been quite forgotten when the offer came. Mr.
Sherwood and Mrs. Wilford were consulted, and an affirmative answer
returned. Ethan was delighted at the prospect of going South, for
he desired to visit the scene of hostilities, and, if possible, to be
employed in active operations.
The _Woodville_ went in October, and returned in April, when
the war was finished. Of Captain Lawry's voyage out and back, and his
adventures far up in the enemy's country, we have no space to speak;
but the steamer and her little commander gave perfect satisfaction.
In June, when the _Woodville_ had been thoroughly repaired and
painted, after her hard service at the South, there was a demand for
her as an excursion boat; and it continued through the season. With
one of Mr. Sherwood's parties, in July, there was an eminent member
of the State Government, who was greatly pleased with Lawry's past
history, as well as with his agreeable manners, and his close
attention to his business. Through this gentleman, an effort, warmly
seconded by Mr. Randall, the bank director, was made to obtain the
pardon of John Wilford. It was successful, and the ferryman returned
to his home a wiser and a better man.
He was astonished at the operations of his son, and surprised at the
prosperity which had attended his family during his absence. The
cottage had been enlarged, repaired, painted, and partly refurnished.
It was a new home to him; and, profiting by the experience of the
past, he resumed his labor as a ferryman, striving to be contented
with his lot.
Ethan French does not tire of his pet, the engine of the
_Woodville,_ though it must be acknowledged that he has a
divided heart when Fanny Jane is on board.
Mrs. Wilford, her confidence in her "smart boy" fully justified, and
rejoicing in the prosperity which attends him, is still happy and
contented in doing a mother's whole duty to her large family of
little ones, hoping that all of them will "turn out" as well as her
second son.
During the _Woodville's_ second business season, she was
employed by a party of wealthy gentlemen, for a week, in going round
the lake. She had descended the Richelieu to St. Johns, from which
the party ran up to Montreal for a day, returning to the boat in the
evening. Though the time for which the boat was engaged was not up
till the next evening, some of the gentlemen were very anxious to be
in Burlington on the following morning, and insisted that the steamer
should immediately proceed up the river on her return. It was a very
dark and foggy night, and Lawry declined to start, declaring that he
could not run with safety to the boat and passengers.
The party continued to insist upon their point, adding that if he
was a competent pilot there could be no difficulty in complying with
their wishes. They were gentlemen of wealth and influence, and the
little captain did not like to disoblige them. He argued the question
with them, and pointed to the motto in the wheel-house. They laughed
at him and his motto. There was to be a "trot" between two celebrated
horses, at Burlington, and they were too anxious to witness the race
to be entirely reasonable.
Captain Lawry was firm, and the gentlemen were angry and indignant.
While they were debating the question in excited tones, another
steamer left the wharf, bound up the river. Her departure seemed to
spoil the young pilot's argument. The party tried to hail the steamer
in the fog, wishing Lawry to put them on board of her; but her people
did not hear their demand, or would not stop for them, and the party
were highly incensed at what they called the obstinacy of Lawry.
"Haste and waste, gentlemen," replied the little captain. "The river
is narrow and crooked, and there is great danger of getting aground
if I attempt to run in this fog."
"That other steamer has gone, and if she can run, you can, if you
know your business," replied one of the gentlemen.
"I'm very sorry; but I don't think we should gain anything by
starting now," added Lawry.
Finding it was useless to insist any longer, the party took supper,
and turned in, when their anger had partially subsided. The little
captain did not retire that night; he "planked the deck," and watched
the weather. It was a seven hours' run to Burlington, and the "trot"
was to come off at nine o'clock in the forenoon. He still hoped that
he should be able to satisfy his unreasonable party.
At midnight the wind chopped round to the westward, and blew the fog
over. At one o'clock the _Woodville_ was going up the river at
full speed. At three o'clock she came up with the steamer which had
started from St. Johns four hours before, hard and fast aground. She
hailed the little _Woodville_, and requested assistance. Lawry
took a hawser on board, and gave her a few pulls; but she was too
hard on the sand to be started, and he was compelled to abandon her.
The commotion caused by these operations awoke some of the gentlemen
in the cabin of the _Woodville_, and they came on deck to learn
the occasion of it.
"What's the trouble, Captain Lawry?" asked one of them.
"Haste and waste," replied the young pilot sententiously.
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing, only the boat which left St. Johns four hours before us is
aground, and can't get off."
"Well, haste and waste does mean something, after all," laughed the
speaker.
The gentlemen went to bed again; the _Woodville_ continued on
her course, and when the party came on deck, at seven in the morning,
she was in sight of Burlington. Of course, the excursionists were
delighted to be able to attend the "trot." At four o'clock in the
afternoon, the steamer which had grounded reached Burlington. Some of
Lawry's party came on board in the evening to settle their accounts
with the boat. They were gentlemen, and they acknowledged their
error, and apologized for the strong language they had used.
"Well, gentlemen, I am very glad you are satisfied," said Lawry, as
he put their money in his pocket. "I shall still believe in and
follow my motto--HASTE AND WASTE."
THE END