WE* 
 
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 STORIES. 
 
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 Through by Daylight ; 
 
 Or, The Young Engineer of the Lake 
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 Lightning Express ; 
 
 Or, The Rival Academies. 
 
 On Time; 
 
 Or, The Young Captain of the Ucayga 
 Steamer. 
 
 Switch Off; 
 
 Or, The War of the Students. 
 
 Brake Up ; 
 
 Or, The Young Peacemakers. 
 
 Bear and Forbear; 
 
 Or, The Young Skipper of Lake Ucayga. 
 
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 The Starry Flag; 
 
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 Breaking Away; 
 
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 foGyl? 
 

 ***• yf~/-& 
 

Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2012 with funding from 
 
 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 
 
 http://archive.org/details/bearforbearoryouopti 
 
THE LAKE SHORE SERIES. 
 
 BEAR AND FORBEAR ; 
 
 OR, THE 
 
 YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 
 
 BY 
 
 OLIVER OPTIC, 
 
 AUTHOR OF " YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD," " THE ARMY AND NAVY STORIES,' 
 
 "THE WOODVIULE STORIES," "THE BOAT-CLUB STORIES," 
 
 " THE STARRY FLAG STORIES," ETC. 
 
 ILLUSTRATED. 
 
 BOSTON: 
 
 LEE AND SHEPARD, PUBLISHERS. 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 
 LEE, SHEPARD & DILLINGHAM, 49 GREENE STREET. 
 18Y3. 
 
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1869, by 
 
 WILLIAM T. ADAMS, 
 
 In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts. 
 
 ELECTROTYPED AT THE 
 
 10STON STEREOTYPE FOUNDRY, 
 
 No. 19 Spring Lane. 
 
TO 
 
 HELEN HAMLIN, FRANK HAMLIN, JAR VIS L. CARTER, 
 
 EDWARD STETSON, CHARLIE HAMLIN, ISAIAH STETSON, 
 
 ADDIE HAMLIN, MART STETSON, 
 
 AND "A THOUSAND AND ONE OTHER BOYS AND GIRLS" OF THE 
 
 CITY OF BANGOR, WHO SENT ME A BLACK BEAR, IN TOKEN 
 
 OF THEIR LOVE AND ESTEEM, ADMONISHING MB 
 
 NOT TO EAT HIM, BUT TO INSTRUCT AND 
 
 TO PRESERVE HIM FROM THE EVILS 
 
 OF THIS WICKED WORLD, 
 
 8$» §ook 
 IS AEEECTIONATELY DEDICATED. 
 
 Though I did not eat him, nor any part thereof, and hia life was too 
 
 short to permit him to profit by any instruction I might have been able 
 
 to give him, yet he is preserved from " the evils of this wicked world " 
 
 at the rooms of the Society of Natural History, and I hope my readers 
 
 will profit by the story he suggested. 
 
 0. O. 
 
 O 
 
THE LAKE SHORE SERIES. 
 
 1. THROUGH BY DAYLIGHT ; or, The Young Engineer 
 
 of the Lake Shore Railroad. 
 
 2. LIGHTNING EXPRESS; or, The Rival Academies. 
 
 3. ON TIME; or, The Young Captain of the Ucayga 
 
 Steamer. 
 
 4. SWITCH OFF; or, The War of the Students. 
 
 5. BRAKE UP; or, The Young Peacemakers. 
 
 6. BEAR AND FORBEAR; or, The Young Skipper of Lake 
 
 Ucayga. 
 
PREFACE 
 
 "Bear and Forbear" is the sixth and last of the Lake 
 Shore Series, and was one of the serials which appeared in 
 Oliver Optic's Magazine. The story itself is complete, and 
 independent of its predecessors, though the characters that 
 have been prominent in the other volumes of the series are 
 again presented, to be finally dealt with according to their 
 several deserts. The writer has endeavored to show that 
 fidelity to duty prospers even in this world, and that evil 
 doing brings pain and misery; and if he has awarded 
 "poetical justice" to each, it will only make the contrast 
 the more evident. 
 
 The author has endeavored to make a proper use of the 
 Christian precept which forms the principal title ; and he 
 trusts that his readers, both young and old, will be able to 
 deduce the moral from the story, and, profiting by it, be en- 
 abled to avoid such disagreeable ruptures as that which 
 threatened the peace of the two communities in the story, 
 but which the " two bears " happily prevented. 
 
 (5) 
 
6 PEEFACE. 
 
 In closing this series, the author desires once more to 
 thank his juvenile and his adult friends for the kind con- 
 sideration they hare always extended to him, and for the 
 increasing favor bestowed upon his efforts to please and to 
 instruct. 
 
 Harbison Square, Boston, 
 
 June 1, 1870. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTEE I. PAGB 
 On Board the Belle 11 
 
 CHAPTEE II. 
 A new Acquaintance 22 
 
 CHAPTEE III. 
 An angry Guardian .33 
 
 CHAPTEE IV. 
 Fire on the Lake 45 
 
 CHAPTEE V. 
 The rescued Passenger 57 
 
 CHAPTEE VI. 
 The English Lord and the Drummer 69 
 
 CHAPTEE VII. 
 Miss Dornwood's Story/ 82 
 
 (7) 
 
8 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 The strange Boat 94 
 
 CHAPTEE IX. 
 The Robbery op the Centreport Bank 107 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 The Robbers separate 119 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 A little Spark kindles a big Eire 131 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 The Landing op the Robber 142 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 Tom Walton wounded 153 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 The Robber takes the back Track 164 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 The Robber in a Trap 175 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 Showers op Rocks 187 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 A Blow with the Boat-hook 198 
 
CONTENTS. 9 
 
 CHAPTEE XVIII. 
 At the Cataract House 209 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 The other Bank Robber 221 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 The End of Lord Palsgrave 232 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 The Adventures of Nick Van Wolter 243 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 Colonel Wimpleton's Wrath 254 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 Major Toppleton explains 265 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 Bear and Forbear 276 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 Miss Dornwood's Guardian 287 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 The Young Skipper of the Banshee 298 
 
BEAR AND FORBEAR; 
 
 OR, 
 
 THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 ON BOARD THE BELLE. 
 
 ■w:: 
 
 I am about ready to buy this boat, 
 you are about ready to sell it," said Tom 
 Walton, as we were sailing up the lake in the 
 Belle. 
 
 "I'm quite ready to sell it to you, Tom," I re- 
 plied. 
 
 " You ought to own her by this time, Tom," added 
 Waddie Wimpleton, who was one of the party. 
 
 We were going up the lake to have a good time ; 
 in other words, it was vacation with me. When 
 Tom Walton spoke, I was thinking of the events 
 
 (11) 
 
12 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 of the past, as the sail-boat glided swiftly over the 
 clear waters of Lake Ucayga. I was the general 
 agent of the Union Line, which now included the 
 Lake Shore Railroad and the Ucayga Steamboat. 
 The two millionnaires, who had fixed their residences 
 on opposite sides of the lake, at the Narrows, where 
 it is only one mile wide, had been the most bitter 
 enemies for years, taking up the hatchet after a long 
 period of the most intimate and friendly relations. 
 Major Toppleton had built the Lake Shore Rail- 
 road as a plaything for the students of the Insti- 
 tute established on his side of the lake, in order 
 to give them a thorough and practical knowledge 
 of railway business. The idea had grown on his 
 hands till the road had become a very important 
 channel of travel. Buying up the stock of the old 
 steamers on the lake, he had obtained the control 
 of them, and ran them in connection with the rail- 
 road. This movement gave Middleport, on the 
 major's side of the lake, a very great advantage over 
 Centreport, where Colonel Wimpleton resided. 
 
 Then the two great men became rivals for the 
 business of the lake; and the colonel built a large 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 13 
 
 and splendid steamer, to run in opposition to the 
 railroad, which, by its great speed and elegant ac- 
 commodations, had carried the day against the rail- 
 road. The students of the Wimpleton Institute were 
 formed into a company, and nominally managed the 
 affairs of the steamer, thus obtaining an insight into 
 the method of conducting business in stock com- 
 panies. I had been a kind of shuttlecock between 
 the rival magnates, and had been successively em- 
 ployed and discharged by each. The war between 
 the two sides of the lake had extended to the fami- 
 lies of the principal parties, and the inhabitants of the 
 large towns in which they lived. The two sons of 
 the great men had been particularly hostile; but, 
 having mended their ways, and, from vicious, over- 
 bearing, tyrannical young men, becoming kind, gen- 
 tle, and noble, they buried the hatchet, and their 
 relations were pleasant and friendly. By their in- 
 direct efforts, with some help from me, the feud be- 
 tween the fathers had been healed, and they were 
 now warm personal friends. The railroad and steam- 
 boat lines had been united, and were now running 
 in connection with each other. 
 
14 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 I am not disposed to say much about my own 
 agency in bringing about this happy state of things, 
 though I had labored patiently and persistently for 
 years to accomplish the result. I was happy in the 
 achievement, and not inclined to apportion the credit 
 of it among those who had brought it about, ex- 
 cept to award a very large share of it to the sons 
 of the two magnates. The two lines had been run- 
 ning in connection about two months. As the gen- 
 eral superintendent of the united line, I had gone 
 over the entire route daily until everything worked 
 to my own satisfaction, as well as to that of the 
 travelling public. As captain of the steamer, I had 
 been constantly employed all winter, and I felt dis- 
 posed to play a few days. It was vacation at both 
 the Institutes, and Tommy Toppleton had gone to 
 one of the great watering-places with his father and 
 mother, though the time fixed for their return had 
 arrived. Waddie Wimpleton had accepted an invi- 
 tation to spend a few days on a cruise with me up 
 the lake. We intended to live on board of the 
 Belle, and spend the time in fishing, sailing, and 
 rambling through the wild region. 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 15 
 
 I had bought the Belle at auction, at a time 
 when I was out of employment, having been dis- 
 charged by Major Toppleton from my situation as 
 engineer on the Lake Shore Railroad. She had cost 
 me a very small sum, compared with her value, and 
 I intended to make my living by taking out parties 
 in her. But, as I was very soon appointed to the 
 command of the steamer, I employed Tom Walton 
 to run her for me; and he paid me a portion of 
 the receipts. He had done well for himself, and well 
 for me, in her. Tom was a very honest, industrious, 
 and capable fellow, and supported his mother and 
 the rest of the family by his labor. I had told 
 him I would sell the Belle to him at a fair price, 
 any time when he wished to buy her. I had been 
 rather surprised that he did not avail himself of this 
 offer, for my share of the earnings of the boat had 
 already paid me double the amount she had cost me. 
 
 "I think of going into the general navigation 
 business," said Tom, with one of his good-natured 
 laughs; and if I can buy her, I will do so." 
 
 "You can, Tom," I replied. 
 
 "My mother has been sick a good deal for the 
 
16 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 last two years, and it took about all I could make 
 to take care of the family, or I should have bought 
 her before." 
 
 "I'll trust you, Tom," I added. 
 
 "I don't want anybody to trust me, except to 
 keep the folks from starving. I didn't mean to buy 
 that boat till I had money enough to pay for her. 
 I've got a little ahead now." 
 
 " How much have you, Tom ? " I asked. 
 
 "I haven't enough to bust the Middleport Bank 
 yet. You've used me first rate, Wolf, and I don't 
 mean to cheat you on this boat. After all, wheth- 
 er I buy her or not rather depends on what you 
 ask for her." 
 
 "You shall have her for what she will bring at 
 auction." 
 
 "What will she bring at auction?" 
 
 "I don't know." 
 
 " I don't think I can buy her, then, for I know a 
 man in town who will start the bidding at one hun- 
 dred and fifty." 
 
 "Do you? Well, I had no idea any one would 
 give that for her," I replied. 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OP LAKE UCAYGA. 17 
 
 I saw that Tom was troubled, though he still kept 
 his face alive with his usual smile. I would have 
 given him the boat at once, only the offer to do 
 so would wound his pride and hurt his feelings, 
 for, poor as he was, he had the instincts of a gen- 
 tleman. 
 
 "I shall make money by buying the boat, Wolf, 
 and I want her badly, but not enough to run in 
 debt for her," added he. 
 
 "Suppose we do as Major Toppleton and Colonel 
 Wimpleton did on the steamers." 
 
 "What's that?" 
 
 "Mark." 
 
 "I'm willing to mark; but I'm afraid I can't hit 
 your figures, Wolf, for the Belle is a valuable piece 
 of property. I ought to know that, if no one else 
 does." 
 
 " You write what you are willing to give, and I 
 will write what I am willing to take. If my fig- 
 ures are lower than yours, they shall be the price 
 of the boat, and the trade is completed." 
 
 "Your figures?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 2 
 
18 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 "Why not my figures, if they are higher than 
 yours ? " 
 
 " If you give all I ask, that's enough. If my fig- 
 ures are higher than yours, we will split the differ- 
 ence," I continued, handing him a pencil and paper. 
 
 "That's fair, so far as I am concerned; but don't 
 you cheat yourself, "Wolf," replied Tom, taking the 
 paper and making his figures upon it, after con- 
 siderable hesitation. 
 
 "You needn't worry about me, my dear fellow. 
 Give your figures to Wad die. He shall stand be- 
 tween us," I added, as I wrote my own valuation, 
 and handed it to him. 
 
 "There is considerable difference in your estimates," 
 laughed Waddie. "What am I to do? — split the dif- 
 ference ? " 
 
 "Not unless my figures are higher than Tom's." 
 
 "They are not, Wolf. Tom's are a mile and a 
 half higher than yours." 
 
 " Then the boat is sold at my price," I added. 
 
 " Cheap enough ! " exclaimed Waddie. 
 
 " What are the figures ? " asked Tom. 
 
 "You marked one hundred and fifty dollars, Tom, 
 and Wolf marked fifty dollars. So the Belle is sold." 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 19 
 
 " So am I," said the skipper. 
 
 " Are you not satisfied ? " 
 
 "No; I feel just as though I had been overreached. 
 See here, Wolf Penniman; I didn't mean to have 
 you give me this boat." 
 
 "I haven't given her to you." 
 
 "I supposed you would ask three or four hun- 
 dred dollars for her." 
 
 "I am satisfied, Tom. I have made money out 
 of her, and now I get back all she cost me." 
 
 "But don't you think it's an insult to the Belle 
 to sell her for fifty dollars?" laughed Tom. 
 
 "If she does not complain, you need not." 
 
 " Wolf, I don't feel exactly right about it. I have 
 a kind of an idea that you have taken pity on me, 
 for a poor, miserable fellow as I am, and given me 
 the boat." 
 
 "No such thing, Tom!" I protested. 
 
 "Didn't I say there was a man in town that 
 would bid a hundred and fifty dollars on her if she 
 was put up at auction?" 
 
 "I don't know him, Tom; and I'm afraid he 
 would not use her kindly. The Belle is yours." 
 
20 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 "I can afford to give you a hundred for her with- 
 out busting the Middleport Bank. Don't you think 
 I'd better do it?" 
 
 "Certainly not, Tom. A trade is a trade." 
 
 "But I feel just as though I had stolen her." 
 
 " Don't feel so, my dear fellow. I will give you a 
 bill of sale when I can get something to write it with. 
 It's all right now, Tom. 'Be virtuous and you will 
 be happy,' and your boat will sail all the faster 
 for it." 
 
 "I am happy, Wolf I have saved up about one 
 hundred and fifty dollars. I thought that would 
 almost buy the Belle. Now I'm just a hundred 
 in. I'm going into the general navigation business, 
 and I want some more boats, to let, and I'm lucky 
 enough to have the capital to invest in them. I 
 shall buy some row-boats, for there are lots of peo- 
 ple that want to hire them." 
 
 "I have no doubt you will do a good business 
 letting boats, Tom. Rowing is a great art, and a 
 healthy one. But have good boats. Don't buy poor 
 ones because they are cheap." 
 
 "Not I, Wolf; my boats shall be first chop, <A, 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 21 
 
 No. 1, prime.' But I suppose you gentlemen want 
 some dinner — don't you?" 
 
 " We do want some dinner, Tom," I replied. " I 
 make a business of attending to that matter every 
 day." 
 
 "Exactly so, Wolf. That's just what you thought 
 the last time you thought so." 
 
 " Eating dinner I have always found to be a healthy 
 amusement, and I intend to follow it up as long as 
 I live, and can get any dinner to eat," I replied. 
 
 "You will always get it, Wolf, for you are a rich 
 man now; and you will die worth a million, if you 
 don't die before you have a million. Now, if you 
 will take the helm, you shall have a beefsteak and 
 some baked potatoes, first chop, A, No. 1, prime, in 
 about half an hour, more or less, but rather more 
 than less." 
 
 I took the tiller, and Tom went into the cuddy 
 to prepare the meal. In half an hour, more or less, 
 we had the beefsteak and baked potatoes, smoking 
 hot, done to a turn, and just as nice as the best 
 hotel in the country could furnish. 
 
22 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 A NEW ACQUAINTANCE. 
 
 WE left Middleport early in the morning, and 
 when we dined, we were above Priam. "We 
 intended to land at a point near the residence of 
 my old friend Captain Portman, to enable me to 
 call upon him. We arrived at this point early in 
 the afternoon. Waddie was not acquainted with 
 my friend, and did not care to call upon him; but 
 he decided to take a walk on shore, and we pro- 
 ceeded together till we came to the entrance to 
 Captain Portman's grounds. He was a wealthy gen- 
 tleman, who had chosen this wild region for his 
 residence, for he was a genuine lover of the beau- 
 ties of nature, and enjoyed them as much in the 
 winter as the summer. 
 
 The country was exceedingly wild and rugged. 
 The rocks rose in precipitous steeps at times, and 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OP LAKE UCAYGA. 23 
 
 there was a profusion of cascades and cataracts. One 
 might follow a stream through the depths of the 
 primeval forests, and find it leaping from the preci- 
 pices a dozen times in a single mile. In the midst 
 of this magnificent scenery Captain Portman had built 
 his mansion, selecting a rugged steep for its site ; 
 and here Nature and Art had joined hands to in- 
 crease the loveliness of the place. Half a mile from 
 his house, on the road to Priam, was the Cataract 
 House — a hotel which had received its name from 
 a grand and beautiful waterfall in the. vicinity. At 
 this house, during the summer, many wealthy people 
 boarded. 
 
 When we reached the road which leads from 
 Hitaca to Priam, Wad die turned to the right and 
 I turned to the left. I was about to enter the rus- 
 tic gateway which opened into the estate of Cap- 
 tain Portman, when I was startled- by a succession 
 of shrill screams. I saw Waddie spring into the 
 woods which bounded the road on the left. The 
 voice of the person in distress — for I supposed no 
 one would scream unless in distress — was that of a 
 female. Of course I was interested ; and, turning 
 
24 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 from the gateway, I rushed down the road, and 
 followed Waddie into the woods. 
 
 I had made such good time that I overtook my 
 fellow-voyager before he reached the scene of the 
 adventure. The trees were very large, and the 
 grove had been cleared up on the ground for the 
 convenience of the visitors at the Cataract House, 
 so that we could see some distance; and we soon 
 discovered the person who had uttered the terrific 
 screams. She was a young lady, elegantly dressed, 
 and apparently not more than seventeen years old. 
 
 " Help ! Help ! " she cried, as she stood apparently 
 paralyzed. 
 
 But we could see nothing to alarm her, though 
 we discovered a young gentleman in the distance 
 " making tracks " in the direction of the hotel. 
 
 "What is the matter with her?" asked Waddie. 
 
 "I don't see anything to frighten her." 
 
 "I do," added Waddie, as we stepped forward, 
 and discovered a small black bear, which a huge 
 tree had before hidden from our view. 
 
 " A bear ! " I exclaimed. 
 
 The creature stood up on his hind legs, and was 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 25 
 
 reaching forward with his right fore paw towards the 
 young lady, while the left was dropped at his side. 
 For my own part, I do not remember that I had 
 ever even seen a bear before, and I confess that I did 
 not like the looks of him. Whether Waddie shared 
 my feeling or not I do not know; but he quickened 
 his pace, and soon placed himself by the side of the 
 interesting sufferer. Neither of us had a club, knife, 
 or other weapon, and we were not in condition to 
 face a wild beast. 
 
 " Save me ! " gasped the young lady. 
 
 "I will conduct you to the hotel, if you please," 
 said Waddie, hardly noticing the bear, which still 
 sat upon his haunches, with his right paw extended 
 towards the terrified maiden. 
 
 " O, dear me ! I cannot move," sighed she. 
 
 Waddie took her by the arm, and supported her. 
 As they moved off, the bear followed. 
 
 "He's coming !" cried the lady; and, afraid that 
 the awful monster would pounce upon her behind, 
 she halted and faced him again. 
 
 The moment they stopped, Bruin stood up on his 
 haunches again, and held out his paw as before. I 
 
26 BEAR AND FOEBEAR, OR 
 
 came to the conclusion that if he intended to eat 
 any one up, he would have begun before this time, 
 and I ventured to place myself between him and 
 the lady. This brave movement on my part seemed 
 to afford the lady some relief; but she clung to 
 Waddie as though she expected to be devoured, 
 brown silk dress, laces, ruffles, and all. The bear 
 looked at me a moment, as I stood about a rod dis- 
 tant from him. Dropping upon all fours again, he 
 cantered towards me. I was inclined to beat a re- 
 treat, but somehow the animal did not seem to be 
 as ferocious as wild beasts have the credit of be- 
 ing, and, though it required no little resolution on 
 my part, I decided to stand my ground. 
 
 The bear was about the size of a full-grown New- 
 foundland dog, but broader across the back, and 
 much heavier, weighing, I judged, over a hundred 
 pounds. He opened his mouth as though in the 
 act of laughing. I had had no experience with 
 wild animals, but I had an idea that they howled 
 and made a "general row" when they were savage, 
 and intended to do mischief. After the first sight 
 of the bear, my courage gradually increased, and I 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OP LAKE UCAYGA. 27 
 
 am happy to say that I did full justice to my valor 
 on this occasion. I did not run away. The bear 
 came close to me, and then erecting himself again, 
 he extended his right paw as before, looking up into 
 my face as pleasantly and cunningly as though he 
 had been a playful child. 
 
 The fellow evidently means something by his ac- 
 tion ; but I was not sufficiently skilled in bear nature 
 to comprehend him. He was not savage, and did 
 not exhibit the slightest intention to use the fine 
 rows of elegant teeth which he displayed. This as- 
 surance was very comforting to me. I retreated two 
 or three paces as a strategic movement, in order to 
 develop the further intentions of the enemy, if he 
 was an enemy. The rascal followed me, again stood 
 up, and presented his paw. 
 
 " Don't be afraid, miss. He will not hurt any- 
 thing," said I, as the young lady was again alarmed 
 by the last move of the bear. "He is quite harm- 
 less." 
 
 " I am afraid he will bite me ! " gasped she ; and 
 she woul'd not have suffered any more if she had 
 already been bitten. 
 
28 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 "Shall I leave you, Wolf?" asked Waddle. 
 
 "Yes, certainly; the bear is as harmless as a kit- 
 ten," I replied. 
 
 "Allow ine to conduct you to the hotel," added 
 Waddie, gallantly. "I suppose you are staying at 
 the hotel." 
 
 "Yes; I had been walking with Lord Palsgrave, 
 when that awful creature came upon me," she replied. 
 
 "Whom did I understand you to say you were 
 walking with?" 
 
 " With Lord Palsgrave." 
 
 " Ah, then you are English people ? " added Waddie, 
 who was doubtless duly impressed with the quality of 
 his new acquaintance. 
 
 " Lord Palsgrave is English, but I am not." 
 
 "If you will allow me, I will conduct you to the 
 hotel." 
 
 " I am so frightened, I fear I cannot walk so far." 
 
 " You need not leave on account of the bear," I 
 interposed. "He is as gentle and tame as a baby 
 kitten." 
 
 By this time I had discovered what Bruin meant by 
 his mysterious movement with the right fore paw. 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OP LAKE UCAYGA. 29 
 
 When I had worked my courage up to the sticking 
 point, I extended my hand towards him, to see if he 
 would snap at it. If he did, I concluded that I should 
 use a big stone which lay on the ground at my feet. 
 If he wanted to fight, I felt that, in the cause of a 
 terrified maiden, — very pretty, too, at that, — I could 
 afford to test the relative hardness of the bear's head 
 and the rock. 
 
 But I wronged him. The bear had no belligerent 
 intentions. He was evidently a good fellow in his 
 way ; and, if bearish in his manners, he was friendly in 
 his disposition. Instead of snapping at my hand, he 
 reached forward his paw, and I realized then that he 
 only desired to shake hands with me. I had learned a 
 sufficient amount of politeness to accommodate him 
 in this respect, and when I took his paw he bowed 
 his head several times, to indicate his pleasure at 
 making my acquaintance. I could not suffer myself 
 to be behind him in courtesy, and I bowed as often as 
 he did. 
 
 I heard Waddie laughing heartily, and turning 
 round, I saw that the young lady was beginning to 
 smile at the passage of compliments between me and 
 
30 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 the bear. I must say that I was delighted with my 
 new acquaintance, he was so very polite and well 
 mannered. But I had not yet measured the depth of 
 his affection for me. He was not satisfied with merely 
 bowing and shaking hands with me, but insisted upon 
 hugging me. First he embraced my arm, and then 
 my body, though I did not yet feel quite well enough 
 acquainted with him to endure the final transport of 
 his devotion. I shook him off, and he tumbled upon 
 the ground. Then he began to roll over, as a dog is 
 taught to do, making the. most extravagant demon- 
 strations of affectionate regard towards me. In a few 
 moments I was rolling on the grass with him, and I 
 felt confidence enough in his good intentions to return 
 his embraces. I put my hand in his mouth, but he 
 did not bite ; and though his sharp claws were rather 
 trying to the nap of my coat, he used them only in 
 sport. 
 
 "Won't you come up and shake hands with him, 
 Miss — " 
 
 "Miss Dornwood," she added, supplementing my 
 question. "No, I thank you. I thought he was a 
 wild bear." 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 31 
 
 "No, lie is as tame as a kitten. He only wanted 
 to shake hands with you. I am sure he would not 
 hurt any one." 
 
 "He is real funny; and *I wish I dared to play 
 with him," added she, shrinking back, as Bruin fol- 
 lowed me a little nearer to the place where she 
 stood. 
 
 "Don't bring him any nearer, Wolf," laughed 
 Wadclie. " 'Distance lends enchantment to the view.' " 
 
 I sat down upon a rock, and continued to play 
 with the bear, while Wacldie and Miss Dornwood 
 watched the sport at a respectful distance. 
 
 "I don't know what I am to do with this fellow, 
 now I have made his acquaintance," I continued, as I 
 tumbled him over upon the ground when his embraces 
 became a little too ardent. " I see by the looks of his 
 neck that he has been in the habit of wearing a 
 collar." 
 
 " If you will only keep him away from me, I don't 
 care what you do with him," said Miss Dornwood. 
 "I don't think they ought to let such creatures 
 wander about these grounds, for it is almost as bad 
 to be frightened to death as to be eaten up." 
 
32 BEAR AND FORBEAEj OB 
 
 "Where is the gentleman who was with you?" 
 asked Waddie. 
 
 "He went to the hotel after a vehicle, for we 
 intended to take a ride along the lake when we saw 
 this road. We only arrived this morning, and we 
 find it a very beautiful region." 
 
 " There come three men," added Waddie, pointing 
 into the woods. 
 
 I recognized Captain Portman as one of them. 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 33 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 AN ANGRY GUARDIAN. 
 
 OW do you do, Captain Penniman? I am 
 delighted to see you," said Captain Portnian, 
 coming np to me, and extending his hand. 
 
 As I took his hand, a burst of laughter from 
 Wadclie and Miss Dornwood attracted my attention. 
 Turning my head to ascertain what amused them, I 
 saw the bear standing on his hind legs, and extending 
 his paw, as he had done to me, evidently wishing to 
 shake hands with the new comer. Captain Portnian 
 took his offered paw, and gave Bruin a warm greeting. 
 
 "So, my old rogue, you have got away again," said 
 he, as he patted the bear on the head. 
 
 "You seem to be acquainted with my old friend 
 here," said I. 
 
 "Yes, he belongs to me; but he bothers me sadly," 
 replied Captain Portman. "Unless we buckle his 
 3 
 
34 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 collar very tight, he slips it over his head ; and if it is 
 tight, it worries him and makes him cross. He has 
 got out of my grounds several times, and frightened 
 strangers staying at the hotel. The landlord says he 
 will shoot him, if he finds him loose again." 
 
 " He frightened this young lady," I added. 
 
 "I am very sorry," said Captain Portman, turning 
 to the lady. " He is entirely harmless." 
 
 "I see he is now, sir; but I supposed he was a wild 
 bear," replied Miss Dornwood. 
 
 "When I knew he was loose, I hastened to find him, 
 lest the landlord should put his threat into execution," 
 continued Captain Portman, caressing the bear. " He 
 makes so much trouble that I am afraid I shall have 
 to get rid of him; but I do not like the idea of killing 
 him while he makes himself so agreeable. If you 
 will take him, Wolf, I will give him to you, for I 
 know you will treat him kindly." 
 
 "Thank you, sir. I should be delighted to own 
 him," I answered. "I have a nice place for him at 
 home." 
 " "You shall have him." 
 
 "He and I will be warm friends." 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPEE OF LAKE TJCAYGA. 35 
 
 And Bruin, as if he comprehended the new relation 
 between us, gave me one of his warmest hugs. 
 
 " How do you happen to be here, Wolf, without 
 calling upon me?" asked Captain Portman. 
 
 "I was just going up to your house when I heard 
 this lady scream, and I hastened back to her assist- 
 ance." 
 
 "Gallant as ever," said he, laughing. "Then I 
 shall see you again to-day." 
 
 " Yes, sir. I will call at your house in the course 
 of the afternoon." 
 
 " My men will take care of the bear for you till you 
 are ready to return to Middleport, if you desire." 
 
 I assented to this arrangement, and the two men 
 who came with Captain Portman took charge of the 
 bear, though he was very unwilling to be 'separated 
 from me. I should have gone with the captain, but 
 I desired to see Lord Palsgrave, for whom Miss 
 Dornwood was waiting. I had never seen a live 
 lord, and I was anxious to behold the phenomenon. 
 I supposed he would soon appear with the vehicle 
 for which he had gone. 
 
 "I am very much obliged to you for the service 
 
36 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 you have rendered me, gentlemen," said she, as the 
 party moved off with the bear. 
 
 "Not at all," replied Waddie. "I am very glad, 
 for one, to have served you." 
 
 "And I have made an excellent friend by the 
 adventure," I added. 
 
 "Do you refer to the bear, or to me?" said Miss 
 Dornwood, archly. 
 
 "I confess that I referred to the bear." 
 
 "I hope you will include me." 
 
 " Then I have made two excellent friends." 
 
 "Lord Palsgrave seems to be a long time obtain- 
 ing the vehicle," she added, glancing towards the road. 
 
 "Is Lord Palsgrave an old gentleman?" I asked. 
 
 "Dear me! No," replied Miss Dornwood, with a 
 blush. "He is only nineteen." 
 
 "Nineteen! Well, I had an idea that lords were 
 always old men." 
 
 "Not at all. Lord Palsgrave is quite a young man." 
 
 " Was it he we saw going towards the hotel when 
 you screamed?" 
 
 " Yes ; he left me only a few moments before I 
 saw the bear." 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 37 
 
 I came to the conclusion, guided partly by the 
 blush which mantled her cheek when she spoke of 
 him, and partly by the fact that his lordship was 
 only nineteen, that he was a lover ; and I was rather 
 sorry that she was already entangled, for I thought 
 Waddie regarded Miss Dornwood with more interest 
 than I had ever before seen him look upon a young 
 lady. She was certainly a very pretty girl, and I did 
 not blame Lord Palsgrave for taking a fancy to her. 
 
 His lordship did not come with the vehicle, though 
 an hour had elapsed since his departure, and Miss 
 Dornwood was beginning to be impatient. We did 
 not think it was polite to leave her, and we continued 
 to talk about the bear, Lord Palsgrave, and such other 
 topics as we could find available. While we were thus 
 engaged, I saw a lady and gentleman approaching us. 
 As they came nearer, the latter disengaged himself 
 from his companion, and hastened to the spot where 
 we stood. He was a young man of twenty-five, and 
 looked very cross. I did not like the looks cf him, and 
 I saw that Miss Dornwood was very much disturbed 
 by his coming. 
 
 " What are you doing here, Edith ? " demanded he, 
 
38 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 bestowing a contemptuous glance upon Wadclie and 
 myself. 
 
 " I am waiting for Lord Palsgrave," she replied, her 
 cheek flushed, and her lips trembling. 
 
 "Who are these persons?" continued he. 
 
 " I do not know who they are, but they have been 
 very kind to me, and I am very grateful to them." 
 
 "No doubt you are!" sneered the gentleman; and 
 I realized that we had encountered another bear, 
 though not so well behaved as the first had been. "Do 
 you pick up acquaintances in this manner without 
 my knowledge?" 
 
 "Why, Charles!" 
 
 I saw that Miss Dornwood was greatly agitated 
 and deeply grieved at this ungentle treatment, and 
 I did not wonder at it. 
 
 "What are you doing here ?" he continued, rudely. 
 
 "I am waiting for Lord Palsgrave." 
 
 "I don't wonder that Lord Palsgrave does not 
 come, if he sees you engaged in this manner. Do 
 you put yourself on familiar terms with entire 
 strangers ? " 
 
 " How rude you are, Charles ! " exclaimed Miss 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 39 
 
 Dornwood, struggling to repress her tears at his 
 unkind treatment. 
 
 " I beg your pardon, sir," interposed Waddie ; " but 
 there was another bear — there was a bear in the 
 woods here. The lady encountered him, and we 
 came to her assistance." 
 
 "A bear!" sneered the gentleman. 
 
 "A bear, sir!" repeated Waddie, with emphasis. 
 " It is true, he was a tame bear, but he frightened the 
 lady, • and her screams attracted our attention." 
 
 "If you have rendered her any assistance, I am 
 obliged to you for it," said the gentleman, coldly. 
 "Edith, go back to the hotel." 
 
 "Lord Palsgrave told me to meet him at the road 
 when he came with the carriage," pleaded the young 
 lady. 
 
 "I insist that you return to the hotel," added the 
 gentleman, almost fiercely. "I have forbidden your 
 making acquaintances without my knowledge." 
 
 "I couldn't help it, Charles." 
 
 "Will you return to the hotel?" 
 
 "No; I will not, Charles! I will not be treated 
 in this rude manner before strangers," she replied, 
 
40 BEAR AND FOEBEAE, OK 
 
 bursting into tears, and retreating a few paces from 
 her tormentor. 
 
 " So, miss! Do you dare to disobey me?" demand- 
 ed he, his cheeks red with anger. 
 
 "I will not be treated in this manner before 
 strangers," she replied, with spirit, as she wiped away 
 her tears. 
 
 "What will Lord Palsgrave say when he finds 
 you making friends so easily?" 
 
 "I don't care what he says; but I will not be 
 treated like a little child, Charles Overton." 
 
 "We will see! Will you return to the hotel, or 
 shall I carry you there?" said the brute, stepping 
 towards her. 
 
 "Neither, Charles," she answered, retreating a step 
 or two before him. "These young gentlemen came 
 to my assistance when I needed their help, and I am 
 very grateful to them." 
 
 "I trust you have thanked the young gentlemen 
 for their service." 
 
 "I have." 
 
 " That's enough, then. Now you will return to the 
 hotel." 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCATGA. 41 
 
 "I will not, Charles Overton. I have obeyed you 
 in all things ; but when you insult me before strangers, 
 and insult them too, I will not endure it." 
 
 "Very fine, Edith! But you will return to the 
 hotel, and obey me now, as you always have done." 
 
 " I shall return to the hotel when I am ready to do 
 so, but not before ; " and Edith looked as though she 
 meant all she said. 
 
 Behind all this there was evidently a history of 
 which Waddle and I were entirely ignorant. I con- 
 cluded that the irritable gentleman was the young 
 lady's guardian, and was doubtless armed with proper 
 authority to command and control her. But she was 
 not less than seventeen, and certainly she was entitled 
 to some consideration from him. As she had sug- 
 gested, he treated her like a little child, and his con- 
 duct was rude and ungentlemanly in the extreme. I 
 sympathized with Edith ; but I did not deem it proper 
 or prudent to interfere. I saw that Waddie, who was 
 naturally rash and impetuous, found it exceedingly 
 difficult to restrain himself under the provocation. 
 
 " Edith, you shall obey me ! " exclaimed Mr. Overton, 
 springing towards her, with the' intention of dragging 
 her back to the hotel. 
 
42 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 "I. beg your pardon, sir," interposed Waddie, step- 
 ping between the angry guardian and bis ward. "I 
 hope you will not use any violence." 
 
 At that moment I heard a kind of clattering noise, 
 and turning, I saw the bear rushing at railroad 
 speed towards us. He had doubtless escaped from 
 Captain Portman's men, and had come back to re- 
 new the agreeable acquaintance he had made. Now, 
 Mr. Overton happened to be the nearest person to him 
 as he approached the group, and Bruin leaped up to 
 him, and placed his paws upon the arm extended to 
 grasp Edith. Perhaps he thought the parties were 
 playing, and he wished to have a hand in the game. 
 
 Mr. Overton evidently had not seen the bear till he 
 felt his paws upon his arm. A man who is a tyrant is 
 necessarily a coward ; and turning his head, the savage 
 guardian saw the bear, with his mouth open. His 
 expression was one of abject terror, and, starting back, 
 he shook the playful animal from him. Bruin im- 
 mediately stood up, and extended his paw, as though 
 he were ready to make friends with all mankind. To 
 my surprise, Miss Dornwood grasped the paw with 
 her gloved hand, and shook it warmly. Probably 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCATGA. 43 
 
 she thought that, between the two bears, he was the 
 less savage and bearish. 
 
 " You do not seem to like him any better than I did 
 at first," said Edith, glancing at Mr. Overton, who had 
 retreated to a safe distance. " I suppose I am forbid- 
 den to make his acquaintance, bat I shall do so." 
 
 Bruin had doubtless been trained to respect ladies, 
 and did not offer any rough familiarities to her, as he 
 had to me. He stood up before her, and received 
 her caresses with a good-natured grin. Mr. Overton, 
 seeing that the bear did not proceed to eat any of us 
 up, regained his self-possession. 
 
 "If you wish to avoid trouble, Edith, you will go to 
 the hotel at once," said he, renewing the attack. 
 
 "I shall not go," she replied, earnestly. 
 
 "Then I shall lead you there." 
 
 And stepping forward to enforce his threat, the bear, 
 perhaps thinking he meant to have a frolic, sprang 
 upon him with extended paws. 
 
 "Take him away! Take him away!" cried Mr. 
 Overton, utterly unable to appreciate the familiar 
 overtures of the bear. 
 
 "He will not hurt you, sir." 
 
44 BEAR AND FOBBEAE, OE 
 
 "Take him off— will you?" gasped he, in terror. 
 " Here, Bruin, come here," interposed Edith, pulling 
 him by the neck. 
 
 The bear turned to her, stood up, and extended his 
 paw to her. 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE TJCAYGA. 45 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 FIRE ON" THE LAKE. 
 
 BEGAN" to think my bear was as fickle as 
 human beings, for he seemed to have taken 
 quite .a fancy to Edith. Certainly, in this respect, I 
 was willing to believe he was a bear of excellent taste. 
 
 He did not offer to hug her arm, or to take other 
 liberties with her, but was very affectionate, while he 
 was very circumspect. Mr.. Overton did not again 
 attempt to use force with the young lady while she 
 was thus guarded. 
 
 "Let the ugly beast alone, Edith!" growled her 
 disconcerted guardian. 
 
 "He behaves very well now, Charles, and I am not 
 afraid of him." 
 
 " Once more, are you going to the hotel, or not ? " 
 
 "Very soon I am, if Lord Palsgrave does not 
 appear," she replied, still caressing Bruin. 
 
46 . BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 "I think, Wad die, I will go up to Captain Port- 
 man's. His men are coming again after the bear, and 
 I will take him along with me," I interposed. " Come, 
 Bruin, old fellow, don't you know me ? " 
 
 I put my hand upon his head, and he leaped upon 
 me, as though he was heartily glad to renew the 
 acquaintance. 
 
 " I am going to the hotel, Miss Dornwood," said 
 Waddie, touching his cap to the young lady, and mov- 
 ing in the direction indicated. 
 
 She placed herself at his side, and they started to- 
 gether. 
 
 " You are not going with her, sir," said Mr. Overton, 
 angrily. 
 
 " Then she will go with me." 
 
 " You young puppy ! " 
 
 " Gently, if you please, sir," added Waddie, quietly. 
 
 " Stop, Edith ! " commanded the guardian. 
 
 " You told me to go to the hotel, Charles, and I 
 am going," she replied. 
 
 " Not with that young man." 
 
 " That shall be as he pleases." 
 
 "No; it shall be as I please. Stop, sir! Do you 
 hear me?" cried Mr. Overton. 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE TJCAYGA. 47 
 
 "If I understand the matter, sir, you have no control 
 over me, if you have over this lady," replied Waddie, 
 turning around to address the guardian. 
 
 They continued on their walk, followed by Mr. 
 Overton, who was presently joined by the lady he had 
 left when he came forward to discipline his ward. 
 They soon disappeared among the trees, and I made 
 my way to the mansion of Captain Portman, where I 
 spent a couple of hours very pleasantly. • I told him 
 about the adventure we had had with Edith and her 
 guardian. 
 
 " I pity the poor girl," I added ; " for this Mr. Over, 
 ton is a petty tyrant, who must make her very unconu 
 fortable." 
 
 "Doubtless it is very unfortunate for her; but it is 
 one of those cases with which outsiders cannot med- 
 dle," replied my friend. 
 
 " I think he would have dragged her up to the hotel 
 by force, if the bear had not interfered." 
 
 "Well, the interference came better from the bear 
 than from you." 
 
 " Do you think one ought to stand by, and see a man 
 abuse a young lady without taking her part ? " I in- 
 quired, with considerable interest. 
 
48 BEAR AND F0EBEAE, OE 
 
 " That's a hard question to answer, Wolf. The gen- 
 tleman is her guardian, and has authority over her ; 
 but if he were actually abusing her, I am inclined to 
 think I should interfere on my own responsibility. 
 Yet it is not prudent to meddle with things of this 
 kind." 
 
 "I am afraid Waddie will meddle," I added. 
 
 " He seemed to be rather interested in the young 
 lady." 
 
 " He should be very careful what he does." 
 
 " I must go over to the hotel, and see that he does 
 not get into trouble." 
 
 " But you will come and spend the night with me, 
 Wolf." 
 
 " We intended to sleep on board of the Belle." 
 
 " I shall be very glad to see you and Waddie to- 
 night, and I hope you will spend a day with me before 
 your return home." 
 
 " Thank you, sir. I will do so, if possible," I replied. 
 
 I walked to the hotel, and found Waddie on the 
 piazza. He looked very nervous and uneasy, and I was 
 afraid something had happened. 
 
 " Where is the young lady ? " I asked. 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 49 
 
 " She is in the house," he replied. " I was hoping I 
 should see her again. There is something wrong 
 somewhere, Wolf. A man don't treat a young lady 
 like that unless there is something wrong." 
 
 "It is hardly proper for us to meddle with the 
 matter," I suggested. 
 
 " I don't purpose to meddle with it, unless he abuses 
 her before my face. If he does that, I shall feel 
 justified in protecting her ; for a man has no right to 
 abuse even his own child. But I should like to know 
 something more about the matter," continued Waddie, 
 warmly. 
 
 " Did she say anything to you on your way up to 
 the hotel?" I asked. 
 
 " Not a word. We were talking about the bear all 
 the way. Her guardian followed close to us. I know 
 by her sad manner that she is in trouble all the time. 
 After the brute spoke to her as he did, my sympathies 
 were all with her." 
 
 " I don't think we shall be likely to see her again. 
 This man is evidently her guardian, and he will take 
 care that she does not come out of her room again to- 
 day." 
 
 4 
 
50 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 "I would give # good deal to know what the trouble 
 is between them. He must be some relation to her, or 
 she would not call him Charles." 
 
 " Very likely. Did you see Lord Palsgrave ? " I 
 inquired. 
 
 " Not a lord," laughed Waddie. " I asked the land- 
 lord about him, and was told his lordship had taken a 
 horse and buggy, but had not been seen since. Mr. 
 Overton appears to be a little worried about him ; but 
 I don't believe he has run away." 
 
 " I think we shall have to give up the idea of seeing 
 the show to-night," I suggested. 
 
 " We shall be about here a few days, and we will 
 come up to the hotel again," replied Waddie. " I am 
 ready to go down to the boat when you are." 
 
 " I don't think there is anything more for us to say 
 or do here ; " and we started for the lake. 
 
 Tom had put the Belle in good order during our 
 absence, and caught some fish for supper. While he 
 was cooking them, we sat in the cabin, and told him 
 our adventure in the woods, informing him that he 
 would have a black bear for a passenger on the return 
 voyage. 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 51 
 
 " If he only behaves himself, I don't care what he 
 is," laughed the young skipper. 
 
 "If he don't behave well, you must bear with him," 
 said Waddie. 
 
 " I'll do that, for I can't bear to quarrel with any- 
 body, even if he is a bear," added Tom. 
 
 " It is barely possible that he may help you, for he 
 can bear a hand in an emergency," I continued. 
 
 "Does he wear gloves?" asked the skipper. 
 
 "No." 
 
 "How can he bare a hand, then?" grinned Tom. 
 "However he will make a good barometer." 
 
 "He knows iceather — it rains or not." 
 
 "By the way, Wolf, is he barefooted?" inquired 
 Tom. 
 
 "Yes, and barefaced." 
 
 "Can he sing?" 
 
 "Certainly; he is a barytone. But, punning aside, 
 I must go home a day sooner, and build a house for 
 him." 
 
 " Baronial halls ! " exclaimed Waddie. 
 
 "Forbear!" I added. 
 
 « What's for beaj ? " asked Tom. " Beefsteak ? " 
 
52 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 " Not an ounce ; he must have no meat. It would 
 make him savage, and then he would eat up all the 
 cats and kittens in the neighborhood, if not the chil- 
 dren," I replied. 
 
 "Don't make a bugbear of him, Wolf" added 
 Waddie. 
 
 "Fish ready!" shouted Tom. "Bear this dish to 
 the table, if you please." 
 
 "Let the table bear it," said Waddie. 
 
 " The fish smells good, and I think my stomach will 
 bear some of it," I added, as we seated ourselves at 
 the table. 
 
 The odor of the dish before us did not belie its 
 quality, and we ate a very hearty supper. For a va- 
 cation, this kind of life exactly suited me. I enjoyed 
 the sailing and the fishing very much, and it was de- 
 lightful to put in at the various points and ramble 
 on shore, while sleeping in the little cabin of the 
 Belle added a new excitement to the cruise. I had 
 begun to think Ucayga Lake was rather too small 
 to afford full scope for the pleasures of such an occa- 
 sion; and I thought, when I was able, and had the 
 time, a yacht cruise on the ocean would suit me ex- 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OP LAKE ITCAYGA. 53 
 
 actly. But the lake was certainly very pleasant, and 
 I was not disposed, to complain. 
 
 When we had finished our supper, Waddie and I 
 adjourned to the standing-room, in order to give Tom 
 a chance to wash his dishes and put the cabin in 
 order; for three persons about filled it, so that there 
 was little space for one to move around. It was near- 
 ly dark, and there was a fresh breeze on the lake. We 
 enjoyed the scene very much, for certainly there is 
 no more beautiful region in the whole world than that 
 which surrounded us. The hills and the precipitous 
 rocks were in strong contrast with the water. The 
 Ucayga was just passing the point where we lay, 
 though on the other side of the lake. Coming from 
 the opposite direction was a tow-boat, dragging slow- 
 ly aftef her a fleet of canal-boats. 
 
 Waddie and I continued to pun on the bear till 
 the last glimpses of twilight were fading out behind 
 the hills on the opposite shore of the lake. Tom had 
 made up our beds in the cabin, and we were think- 
 ing of playing a game of chess, which I had just be- 
 gun to learn under the pleasant instruction of Grace 
 Toppleton. The lamp on the foremast burned bright- 
 
54 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 ly, and the little cabin looked very cosy and attrac- 
 tive. 
 
 "What's that?" exclaimed Waddie, suddenly, as 
 a yell from the fleet of canal-boats, which had just 
 passed our anchorage, started us from the quiet of our 
 situation. "By the great horn spoon, one of the 
 boats is on fire ! " 
 
 " That's so ! " added Tom, nervously. " What shall 
 we. do?" 
 
 " I don't know that we can do anything," I replied, 
 as my companions, by their looks, apj;>eared to appeal 
 to me. " It burns like tinder. I think she must have 
 petroleum, or something of that kind, on board." 
 
 The fire blazed urj very suddenly, and it was j)lain 
 to me that she had some combustible materials on 
 her deck. The hands on the other boats made haste 
 to cast off the fasts which connected the burning craft 
 to their own, in order to prevent the flames from 
 spreading. At the same time, the tow-boat increased 
 her speed to drag the other canal-boats out of the 
 way of their dangerous companion. 
 
 "Get up your anchor, Tom. Let us go out there, 
 and see what we can do," said I. "The thing ap- 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 55 
 
 pears to be drifting this way, and we may be burned 
 up if we stay here." 
 
 " My sentiments exactly," replied Tom, as he sprang 
 to his cable. 
 
 " Stand by the jib-halyards, Waddie," I added, re- 
 moving the stops from the mainsail. " Up with it ! " 
 
 We were all thorough boatmen, and in half a min- 
 ute we had the Belle under way. As the burning 
 canal boat was dead to windward of us, we had to 
 stand away from her, in order to beat up to her posi- 
 tion. As soon as Tom had set the jib, he took the 
 helm, while Waddie and I seated ourselves to watch 
 the progress of the flames. By this time the steamer, 
 having dragged the other canal-boats out of the reach 
 of possible danger, had stopped her wheels, and was 
 getting out a boat to visit the doomed vessel, for such 
 she was by this time, as her deck was covered with 
 one sheet of flame. 
 
 " Help ! Help ! " shouted some one from the boat. 
 
 "By the great horn spoon, there is some one on 
 board of her ! " exclaimed Waddie, springing to his 
 feet under the excitement of the moment. 
 
 " I do not see any one," added Tom. " Of course 
 
56 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 those who were on board left her before she cast off 
 from the other boats. They had only to step from 
 one deck to another." 
 
 "Help! Help! Save me!" again shouted the un- 
 seen person. 
 
 " He must be in the cabin," I suggested. " The 
 wind drives the flame right over the hatchway, so 
 that he cannot escape." 
 
 "What shall we do?" demanded Waddie, appalled 
 by the prospect of a human being perishing in the 
 flames before our eyes. 
 
 " Run up to windward of her, Tom," said I. 
 
 He obeyed, and by the time the Belle reached her 
 bow, I had the cable ready to make fast to her stern. 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OP LAKE UCAYGA. 57 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 THE RESCUED PASSENGER. 
 
 THE stern of the burning canal-boat was to 
 windward, so that the flames were driven ovei 
 the entrance to the cabin. I made- fast the cable 
 of the Belle to the bow of the burning craft. 
 
 "Now, Tom, take the wind on your port beam, 
 and let her drive as hard as she will." 
 
 "I see; you want to sling her round." 
 
 "Yes. Waddie, you and I will help her with the 
 oars, for it will be a hard pull to swing that heavy 
 canal-boat." 
 
 We took the^ oars; and, when the Belle came 
 up with a jerk, which nearly threw us overboard, 
 — for the wind was quite fresh, — we strained our 
 muscles at the oars. 
 
 "Pull, Waddie!" I cried, anxiously, for I felt that 
 the safety of the man in the cabin of the burning 
 
58 BEAE AND EOEBEAE, OE 
 
 boat depended entirely upon the success of our 
 movement. 
 
 Tom helped Waddie with one hand, while he 
 steered with the other. Though the burning boat 
 was very long and heavy, it did not require much 
 power to turn her, balanced as she was on the water. 
 The sails of the Belle pulled strong, oar efforts at 
 the oars increased the force, and we soon had the 
 satisfaction of seeing that we were accomplishing 
 our purpose. As soon as the vessel began to turn, 
 her inertia being overcome, the work was easy, and 
 we whirled her on her axis like a top. 
 
 " Hold on, now ! " I shouted, boating my oar. " She 
 will swing the rest of the way without any help. 
 Come about, Tom, and run up to her bow before 
 the fire makes it too warm there to cast off the 
 cable." 
 
 "Won't you bring my hatchet out of the cook- 
 room, Wolf?" added Tom. 
 
 I brought a small hatchet from the cuddy, which 
 Tom used in splitting up his wood. 
 
 The canal-boat continued to swing under the im- 
 petus we had given her. As soon as she had turned 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OP LAKE UCAYGA. 59 
 
 into a position so that the wind struck her broad- 
 side, and carried the flames away from the cabin 
 door, we saw a man rush up the steps. 
 
 "There he is!" shouted Waddie. "Bear a hand, 
 Tom! Let her drive." 
 
 " She is driving all she will," replied Tom. "Wolf, 
 we won't wait to untie that cable; just chop it off 
 with the hatchet when I luff her up." 
 
 " Help ! Help ! " shouted the man on the after-deck 
 of the canal-boat. 
 
 "We will be there in a minute!" shouted Tom. 
 "Keep cool!" 
 
 "It's rather a warm place to keep cool in," sug- 
 gested Waddie. , 
 
 "Now, luff up, Tom, and we will get clear of the 
 cable." 
 
 He put the helm hard down, and, as the boat 
 came up into the wind, the cable lay across the 
 forward deck of the Belle. With one blow of the 
 hatchet I severed it, about thirty feet from the bow 
 of the canal-boat, so that Tom lost only a small 
 portion of his line. The man on deck had seated him- 
 self at the extreme end of the boat, with his legs 
 
60 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 hanging over the water, in readiness to leap into the 
 lake, if the flames were again driven upon him. 
 But the combustible material seemed to be amid- 
 ships, though the wood-work was now well kindled, 
 and the great volume of the flame was at this part 
 of the boat. Tom ran the Belle around under the 
 stern of the burning vessel, and I fastened the boat- 
 hook to it, as she lost her headway. 
 
 "Drop down," said I to the person above. 
 
 He first threw a black leather travelling-bag upon 
 the forward deck, whose contents rattled as though it 
 were filled with old iron. With the assistance of Wad- 
 die and myself, he came down himself, and stepped 
 into the standing-room. I picked up his valise, as 
 Tom filled away again, in order that it might .not be 
 lost overboard when the Belle heeled over under 
 the pressure of the sails. 
 
 "You came out of a warm place," said Waddie, 
 as the stranger seated himself. 
 
 "Not very warm," he replied. "I was in the 
 cabin, and there was no fire down there." 
 
 "But there would have been very soon." 
 
 "]STo doubt of that. There are two windows in 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE IJCAYGA. 61 
 
 the stern, but, as I cannot swim, I did not like to 
 jump out into the water," continued the stranger. 
 
 "You take it very coolly," said Tom, with a grin. 
 
 "I don't know that I was afraid of anything. I 
 supposed those other canal-boats were close by, and 
 as soon as I saw or heard any one, I meant to jump 
 into the water, and let him pick me up." 
 
 "Was there no one with you on board?" asked 
 Waddie. 
 
 " Yes, a whole family ; but they were on deck 
 when the fire broke out, and had only to step on 
 board one of the other boats by her side. I have 
 been travelling a great deal lately, and I was tired 
 and sleepy; so I lay down in a bunk, and went 
 to sleep. When the fire broke out, the men yelled, 
 and that waked me up. I sprang for the stairs, 
 but a sheet of flame lay right over the cabin doors, 
 and I couldn't go through. So I shut the doors, 
 and went to the windows. I yelled with all my 
 might, to let the boatmen know where I was; but 
 none of them came near me. Then I tried the 
 doors again, and found the fire was blowing off in 
 another direction." 
 
62 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 "That was after we had swung the canal-boat 
 around," interposed Waddie. ■ 
 
 "I did not know what did it, but when it was 
 safe to do so I went on deck." 
 
 "How did the boat catch afire?" asked Tom. 
 
 " I don't know. There is half a dozen barrels on 
 deck, and they smelled like petroleum. Very likely 
 some smoker dropped his match into the stuff. I 
 heard something which I took to be the bursting 
 of one of the barrels; at any rate, they made a 
 jolly fire. But now I am out of the scrape, I don't 
 know that I care." 
 
 "It won't be pleasant for the owner to have his 
 property destroyed," suggested Waddie ; and I think 
 none of us were pleased with the selfish remark of 
 the stranger. 
 
 The person whom we had rescued from the burning 
 boat was a young man, not more than twenty-five. 
 He was very well dressed, and I judged from his air 
 and manner that he had seen the world. He inter- 
 larded his narrative with much offensive profanity, 
 with which I do not care to soil my pages. On the 
 whole, he did not produce an agreeable impression 
 upon any of us. 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 63 
 
 "Have you got that man out of the cabin?" 
 shouted a man in the boat from the steamer. 
 
 " Yes, he is safe," replied Tom. " Why don't you 
 bring up your steamer, and put the fire out ? " 
 
 " No use ; we couldn't put it out now." 
 
 " Haven't you a fire engine on your tow-boat ? " I 
 asked. 
 
 "No; it is broke down." 
 
 I was inclined to agree with the speaker, who was 
 the captain of the steamer, that it was useless to at- 
 tempt to extinguish the fire, for the canal-boat was 
 now one mass of flame. She was drifting rapidly 
 towards the shore, and I was afraid she would set the 
 woods on fire, for the bushes hung over the bank, so 
 that the flame would be blown directly into them. 
 
 " Will you go on board one of those canal-boats, sir, 
 or shall we put you on shore ? " asked Tom, addressing 
 our passenger. 
 
 "I don't know. I have had about enough canal- 
 boat for one day," he replied, shrugging his shoulders. 
 
 " I will do just as you say," added Tom. 
 
 " Is there any hotel around here ? " inquired the 
 stranger. 
 
64 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 "Yes, a first-rate hotel, not far from the falls," 
 added our skipper, pointing in the direction of the 
 spot. 
 
 " Then I will go there." 
 
 "All right," answered Tom, heading the Belle 
 towards the shore. 
 
 "My name is Schleifer," continued the stranger. 
 "I am a drummer for a hardware house in New 
 York." 
 
 This seemed to be a satisfactory explanation to me 
 of the nature of the contents of his travelling-bag, 
 which had rattled like old iron when he threw it upon 
 the deck, and which I found, when I lifted it, was very 
 heavy. 
 
 " I got into Hitaca too late to take the boat down 
 the lake, for I expect to sell some goods at the towns 
 below. I had taken all the orders I could . get in 
 Hitaca a few days before ; so I had nothing to do, 
 and wanted to get to Middleport. I didn't like the 
 idea of lying around Hitaca till the next morning; 
 so I thought I would try a canal-boat, just for the 
 novelty of the thing." 
 
 "Well, how did you like it?" asked Waddie. 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 65 
 
 " I liked it well enough till the fire interfered with 
 the tranquillity of my dreams ; but I did not even 
 get singed ; so I have no reason to complain." 
 
 By this time the Belle had reached the shore at 
 the point off which she had been moored before. 
 The burning canal-boat had grounded just above us, 
 on a shoal place. As her combustibles on deck had 
 been consumed, the flames were not so fierce, and 
 did not reach the shore. 
 
 "I suppose I'm a lucky dog," said Schleifer, as 
 Tom lowered his sails, having made fast to a tree 
 on shore. "My life is not insured, and it would 
 have been an ugly investment for any oflice half an 
 hour ago." 
 
 "Thank God for preserving your life," I added. 
 
 "That's all very well; but I thank my own cool- 
 ness that I wasn't fool enough to rush on deck, where 
 the fire would have made an end of me in a min- 
 ute and a quarter. Do you happen to have any whis- 
 key on board of this craft?" 
 
 "Not a drop," replied Tom, promptly. "We 
 haven't any use for the article, and we don't keep it." 
 
 "They keep it at the hotel — don't they?" 
 5 
 
66 BEAR AND F0EBEAE, OE 
 
 "I suppose they do. I never called for any," 
 added Tom. 
 
 " Are you the skipper of this craft ? " . asked 
 Schleifer, in a kind of contemptuous tone. 
 
 " I am ; and the craft is a good deal better than 
 the skipper." 
 
 " That may be ; and, if you don't take any whis- 
 key, I should say you were half right, at least. I 
 should think, with so much cold water under you 
 and all around you, you would want a little drop 
 of whiskey, just to help keep up an equilibrium, 
 you know." 
 
 "I find that people who take whiskey find it .the 
 most difficult to keep up an equilibrium." 
 
 "Every one to his fancy; but I can't sell goods 
 without a little whiskey. I generally carry a pocket 
 pistol in my bag; but it got smashed against the 
 hardware, the other day, and I've been dry ever 
 since." 
 
 "That was because you did not keep up the 
 equilibrium," laughed Tom. "What kind of hard- 
 ware do you sell, Mr. Schleifer?" 
 
 " Iron, of course." 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 67 
 
 "Pickaxes and crowbars?" 
 
 "Not exactly. I couldn't carry samples in my 
 bag very well. I think I will try to find that 
 hotel now. Did I understand you to say that you 
 were the skipper of this boat?" 
 
 "I have that honor; and I wouldn't swap it off 
 to be governor of the state," replied Tom. 
 
 "Do you keep her to let?" 
 
 "That's what I keep her for." 
 
 " She is a good-looking boat ; but I should like 
 her better if she carried a little whiskey on board," 
 said Schleifer. "Haven't you just a thimbleful, say 
 forty drops, in the medicine chest?" 
 
 "Not the twentieth part of a drop." 
 
 "How long does it take you to run from here 
 down to Cent — down to Middleport?" asked the 
 drummer. 
 
 "That depends on the wind." 
 
 "Well, as the wind is to-night." 
 
 "I could fetch it in four hours. The wind would 
 be fair after I got by Priam." 
 
 "Well, skipper, seeing it's you, I will* give you a 
 five-dollar bill if you will land me in Centre — I 
 mean in Middleport." 
 
68 BEAR AND FORBEAE, OR 
 
 " Well, seeing it's you, Mr. Schleifer, I won't do it." 
 
 "Not for five dollars?" 
 
 "No, nor for ten. My boat is engaged to these 
 gentlemen for the rest of the week." 
 
 "We will let you off, Tom," whispered Waddie. 
 
 "I don't want to be let off." 
 
 "I have an invitation from Captain Portman for 
 Waddie and myself to sleep at his house," I added. 
 
 "Is that so? Then I will take him down to 
 Centrepoi't for ten dollars." 
 
 " Middleport," said Schleifer. "I will give you 
 five." 
 
 " No ; nothing short of ten for a night run down 
 the lake. I like > to sleep a little once in a while." 
 
 After some bickering the drummer agreed to give 
 ten dollars for his passage; but he insisted upon 
 going to the hotel first for a " drop of whiskey." • 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OP LAKE UCATGA. 69 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 THE ENGLISH LORD AND THE DRUMMER. 
 
 « T COULDN'T go to sleep to-night without a 
 
 JL drop of whiskey, and I must have some," 
 said Schleifer. " It won't take me long to go to 
 the hotel." 
 
 "Do you know the way?" inquired Waddie. 
 
 "No; but I can find it." 
 
 "We are going up that way. We will show you 
 the road." 
 
 " I don't need any help. I can snuff a place 
 where they sell whiskey two miles off," replied the 
 commercial gentleman, coarsely. 
 
 He went on shore, taking his bag with him, and 
 made his way up to the road which led to the 
 hotel. Waddie and I walked up to Captain Port- 
 man's house; but he was not at home, though the 
 servant said he would return soon. He had proba- 
 
70 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 bly gone over to the hotel, which he generally- 
 visited in the evening. We did not care to remain 
 if Captain Port man was not at home, and we 
 walked towards the hotel, expecting to meet him 
 there. 
 
 " Why didn't that fellow go to Middleport in the 
 tow-boat, if he wanted to go there?" said Waddie, 
 who had taken a strong dislike to Tom's passenger. 
 
 " I suppose he was afraid of being blown up, or 
 burned up," I replied. 
 
 " He did not even take the trouble to thank us 
 for saving him from the flames." 
 
 "Probably he does not think we saved him from 
 anything but a wet jacket," I suggested. 
 
 "Even that is worth acknowledging." 
 
 "These drummers live on brass, and this fellow is 
 in the hardware line." 
 
 " Waddie ! Is that you ? " called Tom Walton, as 
 he rushed up to us when we came down the hill 
 from Captain Portman's mansion. 
 
 "Yes, it is I. What's the matter, Tom?" asked 
 Waddie. 
 
 "A young woman just came down to the boat, 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 71 
 
 and said she wanted to see you very bad," replied 
 Tom, with no little excitement in his manner. 
 
 "A young woman! Who is she?" 
 
 "I haven't the least idea; but she has a nobby 
 look, as I made her out in the dark. She wanted 
 you so bad that I told her I would try and find 
 you." 
 
 "Who can it be?" said Waddie. 
 
 "Probably Miss Dornwood," I suggested. 
 
 "But she would not be out of the hotel at this 
 hour in the evening." 
 
 "Her relations with her guardian were not very 
 pleasant, you know," I added. 
 
 "Well, we will go down and see her, at any 
 rate ;" and we walked towards the moorings of the 
 Belle. 
 
 " Waddie, you must be very careful," said I, not 
 at all pleased with the complications which seemed 
 to be before us. 
 
 "Careful? What do you mean, Wolf?" 
 
 "If I am not mistaken, the question which we 
 attempted to dodge once before this evening will 
 come up again." 
 
72 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 " What's that ? " 
 
 "When Mr.—- What's his name?" 
 
 "Mr. Overton," added Waddie, supplying the 
 name I had forgotten. 
 
 "When Mr. Overton attempted to compel Miss 
 Dornwood to return to the hotel, you stepped be- 
 tween him and her. If the bear had not made a 
 scene just at that moment, there might have been a 
 quarrel between you and the guardian." 
 
 "You are too cautious, Wolf. I wouldn't stand 
 by and see him abuse the young lady. Why, Cap- 
 tain Portman said he should interfere, and take the 
 responsibility," protested Waddie. 
 
 "I would interfere if there were any real abuse, 
 Waddie ; but I think it is better to wait for a 
 pretty strong provocation before you meddle with 
 family affairs." 
 
 "I will be as careful as I can, Wolf; but when I 
 see a young lady persecuted by a cruel guardian, it 
 isn't exactly my style to take it coolly." 
 
 " We don't know anything about the facts yet, 
 and you must remember that there are two sides to 
 every story." 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 73 
 
 " I will try to remember it. But I don't see what 
 she wants with me." 
 
 "Very likely she has had some trouble with her 
 guardian, and wants your assistance." 
 
 "If I can assist her, I shall certainly do so. I 
 think that Overton is a brute, whatever his rela- 
 tions to the lady may be." 
 
 By this time we were near the boat, and I re- 
 peated, in a low tone, my caution to Waddie. I 
 saw that he was very much interested in the young 
 lady, and, aware of his impetuous character, I was 
 afraid he would be too forward in rendering assist- 
 ance to her. Miss Dornwood stood upon the shore 
 near the boat. As we approached her, I saw that 
 she was very much agitated, and I regarded this 
 as altogether in her favor. 
 
 "Good evening, Miss Dornwood," said "Waddie. 
 
 " I do not know what you will think of me," she 
 replied, in trembling tones. "I am very much 
 alarmed." 
 
 "What is the matter?" asked Waddie, in a tone 
 which was calculated to assure her. 
 
 "I wished to see you very much, for you were so 
 kind to me that I was sure you would assist me." 
 
74 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 " I should be very glad to assist you, if it is in 
 my power to do so." 
 
 " You said you had a boat. I suj>pose this is the 
 one." 
 
 "It is not mine, though we came up the lake to- 
 day in her." 
 
 "Do you know where the town of Ruoara is?" 
 asked the young lady, as she glanced around her 
 in terror. 
 
 " I do, very well indeed. It is only eight miles 
 from my home," replied "Wacldie. 
 
 "I wish to go there very much," continued she, 
 earnestly. 
 
 "To-night?" 
 
 "Yes, to-night — immediately." 
 
 "That's very unfortunate, for the skipper has to 
 take a gentleman to Middleport," replied Waddle. 
 
 "O, dear! What shall I do?" exclaimed the 
 young lady. "I must go at once." 
 
 "Perhaps you can go in the boat with the gen- 
 tleman as far as Middleport, and — " 
 
 "Who is the gentleman?" interposed she, anx- 
 iously. 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAE1E TJCAYGA. 75 
 
 "I don't know him. He is a commercial agent." 
 
 "I cannot go with a stranger," said she, shaking 
 her head in a very positive manner. 
 
 "Am I not a stranger?" 
 
 "No; I learned, after we parted this afternoon, 
 that you were the son of a very influential gentle- 
 man, and you were kind enough to step between 
 me and my guardian, when he intended to lay his 
 hands upon me." 
 
 "Who told you this?" 
 
 "The landlord. He said your friend was Captain 
 Penniman ; and I was sure, after the service you 
 had rendered me, that you would again be my 
 friend, and help me to get. to Ruoara." 
 
 " Won't you sit down in the boat ? " added 
 Waddie, stepping on board of the Belle. 
 
 "No, I thank you. I do not wish to meet any 
 strangers," replied Miss Dornwood. " I know you 
 think I am very bold; but I should not have come 
 to you if I had not known who you were." 
 
 "If you will not go with the gentleman, I do not 
 see what I can do for you. There is no other sail- 
 boat here." 
 
76 BEAR AND F0EBEAE, OR 
 
 " I suppose I must return to my prison," said she, 
 bursting into tears. 
 
 " Do not weep," interposed Waddie, moved by her 
 grief. 
 
 "Mr. Wimpleton, I envy the poor man's daughter 
 who is surrounded by good and true friends," sobbed 
 she. " I will go back to my prison." 
 
 " What do you mean by your prison ? " inquired 
 Waddie. 
 
 "My guardian sent me to my room, and then 
 locked me in it. I cannot endure such indignities. 
 I am going to leave him. I am going to work for 
 my daily bread in a factory, in a shop — anywhere 
 that I can earn enough to support me." 
 
 "Is your situation so desperate as this?" 
 
 " It is, indeed ! If I had no spirit at all, perhaps 
 I could endure it." 
 
 " There comes some one," interposed Tom Wal- 
 ton, who had walked up to the road, as soon as 
 he understood the case, in order to warn us of the 
 approach of his passenger. 
 
 Without another word, Miss Dornwood fled like 
 a frightened fawn in the direction opposite that in 
 
THE TOTJNG SKIPPER OF LAKE TJCAYGA. 77 
 
 which Schleifer was approaching. Wad die, deeply- 
 interested in her case, followed her, intent upon as- 
 sisting her to the extent of his ability. 
 
 " There is some one with him," said Tom, as I 
 joined him, half way between the lake and the 
 road. 
 
 "Perhaps you are to have two passengers," I 
 suggested. 
 
 The drummer and the person who was with him 
 halted in the road, and seemed to be engaged in a 
 very earnest conversation. We could not hear a 
 word they said, but it was evident that they had 
 not met for the first time, and that they were not 
 talking about the sale of hardware. It was too 
 dark to see any more than the form of Schleifer's 
 friend. 
 
 "You wait here," said he, after the conversation 
 had continued a few moments. 
 
 " Hurry up," replied the other person, whose voice 
 seemed to be familiar to me, though I could not 
 identify it. 
 
 As the drummer approached, we retreated towards 
 the boat. 
 
78 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 " Hallo, there, skipper ! " shouted he. 
 
 " Are you ready ? " asked Tom, as we stojjped, 
 and waited till he came up. 
 
 " If it's all the same to you, I won't go down the 
 lake to-night. I met a friend of mine at the hotel, 
 and I want to stay with him till to-morrow." 
 
 " All right," answered Tom. 
 
 " A trade's a trade. I agreed to give you ten 
 dollars for the trip. If you will call it five, and not 
 go, I shall be satisfied," added Schleifer. 
 
 "I don't want any five, if you don't go," replied 
 Tom. "I only want what I earn." 
 
 "But I am willing to compromise." 
 
 "I don't compromise. We will call it square as 
 it is. If you are satisfied, I am." 
 
 "Well, I shall want your boat another time, and 
 I'll make it right with you then," added the drum- 
 mer, as he turned to leave. 
 
 "It's all right now." 
 
 "That's lucky for Waddie," I suggested. 
 
 "It works first rate. Now, if Waddie wants to 
 take the lady to Ruoara, the boat is all ready." 
 
 "But where is he?" 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE TTCAYGA. 79 
 
 "They haven't got a great way yet." 
 
 "Probably she will go towards the hotel. You 
 follow them, Tom, and I will go up this way," I 
 replied, moving in the direction which Schleifer had 
 taken. 
 
 I soon discovered the drummer and his friend 
 walking rapidly towards the hotel. I was a little 
 curious to know who the person was whose voice 
 had sounded so familiar to me, and I quickened my 
 pace, hoping the lights in front of the hotel would 
 enable me to obtain a clear view of him. I fol- 
 lowed them closely; but before reaching the hotel 
 they turned in at a road which led to the stable in 
 the rear. Before I could come up with them, they 
 had seated themselves in a light wagon, which must 
 have been ordered before, and drove off. 
 
 " Who are those gentlemen ? " I asked of the sta- 
 ble-keeper, who stood in the yard with a lantern in 
 his hand. 
 
 "One of them I never saw till now: the other 
 is stopping at the hotel, and is a big gun," he 
 replied. 
 
 "I know the taller one. Who is the other?" 
 
80 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 "He's the big gun. He came this morning; but 
 no one found out what he was till after dinner." 
 
 "What is he?" 
 
 "He's the big gun. He's an English lord. I for- 
 get what they call him." 
 
 "Lord Palsgrave," I suggested. 
 
 "That's the name. He's a nobby fellow, and 
 spreads his dollars with a looseness." 
 
 " Where is he going now ? " 
 
 "To Priam, I reckon. He said he should not be 
 back till to-morrow morning; and there is to be a 
 big dance there to-night. But I wonder he didn't 
 take the young lady with him, who came with his 
 party." 
 
 I walked round the hotel, in* order to intercept 
 Waddie and Miss Dornwood ; but I saw nothing of 
 them, and I concluded that Tom had already over- 
 taken them. After the information I had obtained 
 from the stable-keeper, my idea of an English lord 
 was considerably modified. He was on good terms 
 with a hardware drummer, which did not seem to 
 be exactly consistent with his exalted position. But 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 81 
 
 it was possible that the drummer was a baron or a 
 marquis in disguise, though the clatter of his hard- 
 ware samples did not tend to prove it. 
 
 I continued my walk towards the lake, and pres- 
 ently met Waddie and Miss Dornwood. 
 6 
 
BEAK AND E0EBEAE, OR 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 AS soon as I saw and recognized Waddie and 
 Miss Dornwood, they turned out of the road 
 with the evident intention of avoiding me. 
 
 "Waddie!" I called to him. 
 
 Hearing my voice, they returned to the road, as-" 
 sured that I was not the brutal guardian whom 
 the young lady had so much reason to shun. 
 
 " Haven't ^you seen Tom ? " I asked. 
 
 " No." 
 
 " He is looking for you." 
 
 "We heard some one behind us, and turned aside 
 till he had passed," added Waddie. " What does he 
 want?" 
 
 "The drummer has concluded not to go to Mid- 
 dleport to-night." 
 
 "And can you have the boat?" inquired Miss 
 Dornwood, eagerly. 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 83 
 
 " The boat is certainly available," I replied. " But 
 do you really wish to make a trip of thirty miles 
 on the lake in the night?" 
 
 "I am afraid of nothing but the tyranny of my 
 guardian," she responded, promptly. 
 
 "Where is Tom?" inquired Waddie. "We will 
 lose no time." 
 
 "I will find him. If he passed you, he must be 
 near the hotel." 
 
 They walked towards the boat, and I returned to 
 the hotel, where I found Tom, and we soon joined 
 Waddie on board of the Belle. We were all ready 
 to start; but I confess I was very much troubled 
 about the circumstances of the voyage. The main- 
 sail was flapping in the fresh breeze ; but I was 
 somewhat afraid that Waddie was getting himself, 
 and perhaps me, into a scrape. 
 
 "Are you going, Waddie?" I asked, in introdu- 
 cing what I wished to say. 
 
 "Certainly I am." 
 
 "I hope you will go with me. I should not feel 
 safe without you," added Miss Dornwood. 
 
 "Won't you go too, Wolf?" asked Waddie. 
 
84 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 "I should be glad to have you," continued the 
 young lady. 
 
 "I am not perfectly clear in regard to this mat- 
 ter," I suggested. 
 
 "Pray do not stay here any longer," interposed 
 Miss Dornwood. "If my guardian should discover 
 my absence, I'm afraid he would come down here 
 to look for me. Please to go out upon the lake, and 
 I will tell you all my story. Then, if you will not 
 assist me, we can return." 
 
 "Shove off, Tom," I replied. 
 
 The skipper ran up the jib, and the Belle, gath- 
 ering headway, stood out into the lake. 
 
 "I think you are very cautious, Captain Penni- 
 man," said Miss Dornwood. 
 
 "I am sure my friend here does not wish to do 
 anything wrong," I added. 
 
 "I will bear all the blame," said Waddie, warmly. 
 "I think I can find friends for Miss Dornwood with- 
 out going so far as Ruoara." 
 
 " Where ? " I asked, curiously. 
 
 "At my father's house." 
 
 "I shall not be obliged to trespass upon the kind- 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OP LAKE UCAYGA. 85 
 
 ness of your father's family, Mr. Wimpleton," added 
 Miss Dornwood. "My friends in Ruoara will not 
 hesitate to receive me into their house, though they 
 know all the circumstances of my situation." 
 
 "Who are they?" I asked. 
 
 "Mr. Pinkerton and his family. Do you know 
 them?" 
 
 " Very well indeed. Ben Pinkerton's father," added 
 Waddie. 
 
 The Pinkertons were of the highest social stand- 
 ing in Ruoara, and I was almost willing to believe 
 that there could be no harm in conveying the young 
 lady to such friends as they were. 
 
 " Emily Pinkerton was my schoolmate at the acad- 
 emy, and before my father died, our two families 
 became quite intimate," continued Miss Dornwood. 
 "Emily was at my guardian's house last spring with 
 her father and mother, and they know all about 
 the circumstances." 
 
 "Do they think it is proper for you to leave your 
 guardian ? " 
 
 "Mr. Pinkerton told me himself to come to his 
 house whenever I could not endure my guardian 
 
86 BEAR AND F0EBEAE, OB 
 
 any longer. I should have gone there before if I 
 could have got away." 
 
 "Are your father and mother both dead? ""I in- 
 quired. 
 
 "Both of them. I am going to tell you the 
 whole history of our family. I am seventeen now, 
 and Mr. Pinkerton says I am old enough to think 
 for myself. I believe I am." 
 
 " I should say you were," I rej)lied. 
 
 " My mother was married twice," Miss Dornwood 
 began. " Her first husband's name was Richard Over- 
 ton, and they had one son, Charles Overton, who 
 is now my guardian. His father died when he was 
 only four years old. Two years after his death, my 
 mother was married again, to Edward Dornwood, 
 my father. He was a wealthy man ; but he was de- 
 formed, and in very poor health. I wish I could 
 tell you how much I loved him, and how devoted 
 he was to me. Even the great hump upon his back 
 was not a deformity in my eyes. But, feeble as he 
 was, my mother was the first to pass away, and 
 died when I was only eight. I hardly remember her. 
 I have no doubt she loved me as a mother should 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. '87 
 
 love a child; but I know she used to scold me very 
 severely, and I recollect this more clearly than any- 
 thing else. 
 
 "My father never spoke an unkind word to me. 
 When I did wrong, when I fretted, he looked so 
 sad, — sometimes actually shedding tears, — that it 
 became a positive terror to me to displease him. 
 When he became so feeble that he could not leave 
 the house, I spent all my time out of school with 
 him. His eyes failed so that he could not see well, 
 and, for hours together, I used to read books to 
 him which had not the least interest to me. I can 
 truly say, that I was never so happy as when with 
 him." 
 
 "Where was this Charles Overton all this time?" 
 I asked, as she paused to wipe away her tears. 
 
 " He lived near us, and professed a very deep in- 
 terest in my poor dear father, and in me too, for 
 that matter. His father had died a poor man, and 
 he was a clerk in a store. He used to come in 
 every day, and express so much solicitude for my 
 father and his affairs, that we were all deceived in 
 him. We thought he was a good man, but really 
 
88 BEAK AND FORBEAK, OR 
 
 all he cared for was my father's money. By de- 
 grees he won his confidence; and, though he had 
 never treated me as a sister when we were children 
 together, I was very grateful to him for the care he- 
 bestowed upon his step-father. 
 
 " When I was about fourteen years old, my father 
 began to fail in health very rapidly, and it was evi- 
 dent to himself, as it was to the rest of us, that he 
 could not last many months longer. With a calm- 
 ness which seemed to be awful to me, he spoke of 
 leaving the earth to join the angels in heaven. I 
 wept bitterly at the thought of parting with him; 
 but he suffered so terribly that I finally became 
 reconciled to his going, for I realized that my loss, 
 even in a worldly sense, would be his gain. Then 
 he told me about his property, and asked me if I 
 should like to have Charles for my guardian. 
 
 " I was fifteen years old, but I knew little or 
 nothing about business. I was entirely satisfied to 
 have Charles as my guardian, though I hardly com- 
 prehended what his relations with me in that capa- 
 city were to be. The next day came the lawyers, 
 and my father made some changes in his will, which 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OP LAKE UCAYGA. 89 
 
 had been written years before. In a word, he 
 named Charles Overton as my guardian, and made 
 him the executor of his will. I am sure he charged 
 him to be very kind to me, and to take good care 
 of my fortune. But my father lived nearly a year 
 after he had settled up his worldly affairs, during 
 which Charles was as devoted to him and me as the 
 most loving son and brother could be. He came to 
 our house to live, in order that he might better 
 attend to the wants of the invalid, and resigned his 
 situation in the store so that he could devote all 
 his time to this duty. 
 
 "I will not try to tell you the sad story of 
 my father's death. He passed away, and ceased to 
 suffer. We laid him in the silent tomb, and life 
 was not to me what it had been before. I had lost 
 my greatest earthly comfort, and, young as I was, 
 I looked forward with joy and hope to the timo 
 when I should join my father in heaven. But thi:\ 
 sadness wore away, though I have not ceased, and 
 never shall cease, to think of my father as an angel, 
 even when he was upon the earth. Charles Over- 
 ton took charge of everything, and came into ac- 
 
90 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 tual possession of the house in which I had lived 
 all my life. It was more than six months after my 
 father's death when he spoke to me about business. 
 Then he showed me my father's will, and read 
 it to me. He described the legal forms through 
 which he had passed, but I could not .understand 
 them. 
 
 "My father gave him twenty thousand dollars in 
 his will, and a fixed salary for doing the business of 
 his estate until I was of age. After giving many 
 legacies to charitable objects, the residue of his for- 
 tune was given to me. I was told that I was the 
 heiress of two hundred thousand dollars. But there 
 was one very singular clause in the will, to the 
 effect that, if I married without the consent of 
 Charles Overton, I was to receive fifty thousand 
 dollars, and the residue of the fortune was to go 
 to my half brother. I was astonished and shocked 
 at this part of the will. I asked Charles to let me 
 see it. Certainly it was all written down as he had 
 read it ; but it seemed incredible to me that my 
 doting father had intended to subject me to such a 
 condition. 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OP LAKE TJCAYGA. 91 
 
 "About this time Charles Overton began to exer- 
 cise his authority over me. He resorted to every 
 expedient in his power to annoy me, and make me 
 miserable. He succeeded, too, in making me as un- 
 happy as I could wish any human being to be, if 
 he were my worst enemy. I could not divine his 
 object ; but, between him and his wife, I had hardly 
 a day of peace from one year's end to the other. I 
 was not permitted to go into company, nor to visit 
 those who had been my friends and companions 
 during the latter years of my father's life. I was 
 not allowed even to take a walk without some one 
 to attend me, and see that I made no new acquaint- 
 ances, nor met any old ones. I may say with truth 
 that I have been a slave now for nearly two years. 
 
 "I remonstrated and protested against this treat- 
 ment; but Charles explained that he was only car- 
 rying out the wishes of my father that he should 
 watch over me with the utmost care. It was only 
 when I believed I comprehended his motives, that 
 I ventured actually to resist him. I refused to obey 
 him, and went out when I could find an oppor- 
 tunity. I was fully persuaded that he intended to 
 
92 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 break me down and wear me out, so that he could 
 get my fortune." 
 
 "But why is he so particular that you should 
 make no acquaintances ? " asked Waddie. " If you 
 should be married without his consent, he will get 
 most of your fortune." 
 
 "Mr. Pinkerton told me that clause would not 
 stand the test of the law. But I do not think of 
 being married either with or without my half broth- 
 er's consent," added Miss Dornwood, with much 
 embarrassment. 
 
 She paused a few moments, and looked over the 
 side of the boat into the water. I realized that it 
 was a great trial to her to feel ohliged to tell this 
 long and painful narrative. 
 
 " I have not told you the worst yet," she con- 
 tinued. " I was satisfied that Charles Overton wanted 
 my money ; that he was plotting day and night to 
 obtain it. Doubtless what he termed my obstinacy 
 worried him. He is a man of no principle what- 
 ever, and I am sure he is equal to any crime he 
 has the courage to perpetrate. About three weeks 
 ago, while we were at Cape May, we met Lord Pals- 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OP LAKE T7CAYGA. 93 
 
 grave. While we were bathing in the surf one day, 
 a wave lifted me off my feet, and carried me out 
 of my depth. I could swim, and was not at all 
 alarmed ; but his lordship swam out to me, and, in 
 spite of my protest, insisted upon saving me from a 
 watery grave. I thanked him for his good inten- 
 tions, though I did not need his services; and from 
 that time to this he has clung to me. I must tell 
 the whole truth : he proposed to me, and I promptly 
 rejected him, for I did not like him. My intimacy 
 with him assured me there was not much difference 
 between a lord and a boor. My guardian did like 
 him, if I did not, and declared that his lordship was 
 the only man who could marry me with his consent. 
 I was persecuted on this subject till I was disgusted 
 with it." 
 
 And then the poor girl burst into tears again. 
 
94 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 THE STRANGE BOAT. 
 
 ISS DORISTWOOD was evidently contrasting 
 her present situation with the happiness which 
 had been her portion during the lifetime of her fa- 
 ther. It was not strange that she wept, as she com- 
 pared the tenderness of her devoted parent with the 
 harshness and brutality of Charles Overton. I had 
 seen enough of him to convince me that she had 
 not exaggerated the truth, and I was so moved by 
 her story that I was ready to do as much as 
 Waddie to assist her. There was nothing said, 
 therefore, about returning to the hotel, • and the 
 Belle dashed on her course over the waves. 
 
 Tom Walton sat at the helm, drinking in every 
 detail of the young lady's story, but still, from the 
 force of habit, working the boat with the nicest skill. 
 He made long tacks, and had run nearly over to 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 95 
 
 Port Gunga, so that from this point he could lay a 
 course directly through the Narrows, about fifteen 
 miles distant, without cramping her. 
 
 "Do you think his lordship is really a lord?" I 
 asked, when Miss Dornwood had become quiet, and 
 we ceased to hear her sobs. 
 
 " I suppose he is. I have no reason to doubt it," 
 she replied. "He showed me a letter from his fa- 
 ther the other day." 
 
 "Who is his father?" 
 
 "The letter was signed 'Dumford.' He exj)lained 
 that his father was Earl of Dumford, and taking 
 his father's second title, he was called Lord Pals- 
 grave. I know nothing about these things, and 
 really feel no interest in them. He talks about the 
 nobility of England with a familiarity which indi- 
 cates a thorough acquaintance, and, as I know noth- 
 ing about the matter, he might do so with entire 
 impunity. He clings to me all the time. I cannot 
 go out of the house that he does not follow me. 
 He has not left me for so long a time since we first 
 met as he did to-day, when I encountered the bear. 
 Indeed, I have not seen him since ; but, then, I 
 was shut up in my room." 
 
96 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 " How did you get out of your prison ? " inquired 
 Waddie. 
 
 " As soon as it was dark, I went out of the win- 
 dow upon the roof of the piazza, and entered one 
 of the entries by another window. Passing down 
 the back stairs, I came to the grove, and made my 
 Way to the place where I had seen your boat. 
 Now, all I ask of you is, to convey me to Mr. 
 Pinkerton's house. I will give you no further 
 trouble." 
 
 "Indeed, I shall be very glad to serve you to 
 any extent you may require," said Waddie. 
 
 " Thank you ; but I shall not have to trouble you 
 any further, and I will pay the boatman for what 
 he has done." 
 
 " Not a penny for me, miss. I should blush if I 
 could take any money for a job of this kind," pro- 
 tested Tom. 
 
 "I really cannot see what motive your guardian 
 has for compelling you to marry this lord," I added, 
 changing the toj^ic. "He will consent to this, and 
 his consent prevents him from reaping any benefit 
 under your father's will." 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE TJCAYGA. 97 
 
 " I do not understand it myself," replied Miss 
 Dornwood. 
 
 " It would be his policy to withhold his consent, 
 whoever the person may be." 
 
 " So it seems to me ; but I hope I never shall 
 see Lord Palsgrave again. Charles knows that I 
 dislike him, and this may be the reason why he 
 persecutes me." 
 
 "Miss Dornwood, I don't believe this Palsgrave 
 is a lord any more than I am," I ventured to 
 remark. 
 
 " Why, what makes you think he is not ? " she 
 asked, astonished at my violent conclusion. 
 
 " " I saw him get into a buggy and drive off with 
 the drummer that we took out of the burning canal- 
 boat." 
 
 "Is that so?" inquired Waddie. 
 
 "His voice sounded a little familiar to me, as I 
 heard him speak to the hardware man." 
 
 "Are you sure it was he?" said Waddie. 
 
 " I did not know who it was then ; but when I 
 saw them drive off together, I asked the stable- 
 keeper who he was. He assured me it was the 
 7 
 
98 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 English lord. I don't think the nobility of England, 
 as a general rule, run with hardware drummers." 
 
 "Did the drummer really go away with his lord- 
 ship ? " added Waddie, rubbing his hands, as though 
 he were delighted with the fact; and I think by 
 this time he had some idea himself of defeating 
 the matrimonial project of Lord Palsgrave. 
 
 "I could not have been mistaken." 
 
 "A man is known by the company he keeps, and 
 if that Schleifer isn't a scoundrel, I will never ask 
 the privilege of guessing again. But you must be 
 tired by this time, Miss Dornwood." 
 
 " I am, indeed, very tired. I am not strong, and 
 the excitement of this day has fatigued me very 
 much," she replied. 
 
 "There is a nice little cabin forward, and you 
 shall have it all to yourself. It is now only ten 
 o'clock, and we shall not reach Ruoara before one 
 or two. You can go to sleep just the same as 
 though you were on shore." 
 
 "I could not go to sleep, even if I were at 
 home." 
 
 "Well, you can lie down and rest yourself," per- 
 sisted Waddie. 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 99 
 
 After much persuasion she consented to' occupy 
 the cabin, and, as she entered, Waddie closed the 
 doors, for there was sufficient ventilation through 
 the blinds in them. As the Belle flew on her 
 course, dashing the spray smartly over ' her bow, 
 we sat by the side of the skipper discussing Lord 
 Palsgrave. Certain I was that his voice had sounded 
 familiar to me; but I labored in vain to fasten it 
 upon any person I could recall to mind. 
 
 We heard nothing of our lady passenger, and 
 we concluded she had gone to sleep. Tom began 
 to gape fearfully, and I felt very sleepy myself, 
 while Waddie was as wide awake as ever. At the 
 suggestion of the latter, Tom and I wrapped our- 
 selves up in our overcoats, and stretching ourselves 
 upon the seats, went to sleep, leaving him at the 
 helm. It was not necessary that all of us should 
 keep awake, and Waddie agreed to call one of us 
 to take his place in a couple of hours. I do not 
 think my position was a very comfortable one, for 
 I dreamed that an enormous black bear had squatted 
 down upon my stomach, and insisted upon shaking 
 hands with me. But my hands seemed to be tied 
 
100 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 behind 'me, so that I could not comply with his 
 bearship's civil demand ; and the next best thing I 
 sould do was to struggle .to free myself from the 
 weight that rested upon me, and made me feel very 
 uncomfortable. I continued to labor in this manner, 
 when, instead of throwing off the bear, I smashed 
 the boat beneath me, with a loud crash. I waked 
 under this shock, and started to my feet to escape 
 drowning in the lake. 
 
 "Boat ahoy!" shouted. Waddie, as I stood up. 
 
 Then I realized that the Belle had actually 
 struck something, the shock of which had become 
 part of my vision. 
 
 "What's the matter, Waddie?" asked Tom Wal- 
 ton, who had been aroused by the crash. 
 
 "I ran into a boat . just now," replied Waddie, 
 straining his eyes to penetrate the gloom which sur- 
 rounded us. 
 
 « Where is it ? " I asked. 
 
 "I don't know. I can't see it, but I hear the 
 stroke of oars." 
 
 "What boat was it?" 
 
 "I don't know. I only got a glimpse of her, as 
 she slid off to leeward of us." 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF 7 LAKE UCAYGA. 101 
 
 "Where are we?" 
 
 "Right in the Narrows. Finding I was running 
 too close to the Middleport side, I let out the sheet 
 and kept her away. In an instant I struck the boat. 
 There were two men in it, and that is all I know 
 about it. Hold on ! " exclaimed he. " Take the 
 helm, Tom, and I'll light up the lake." 
 
 Waddie had brought with him some bengola 
 lights, with which he purposed to try an experiment 
 in fishing. Taking one of these, he placed it on 
 the well-trap to keep it from burning the deck, and 
 set it on fire. The bengola blazed with a brilliant 
 light, and the lake was illuminated from one side 
 to the other, for in the Narrows it was only a mile 
 wide. 
 
 "There it is!" shouted Tom, pointing to a small 
 row-boat, in which were two persons, pulling with 
 all their might towards, the Centreport shore. 
 
 "Keep her away, Tom," said I, earnestly. "I 
 want to see who they are." 
 
 Tom let out the sheet, and put the helm up ; 
 but the boat disappeared behind the steamboat wharf 
 before we could get near enough to see the faces 
 of the two men. 
 
102 BEAR AND FOEBEAE, OE 
 
 "No use; they are ashore by this time," said 
 Waddie. 
 
 "I don't see what anybody should be crossing 
 the lake for at this time of night," I added. "It 
 is half past twelve." 
 
 "There is something mysterious about that boat," 
 said Waddie, shaking his head. " The men were not 
 pulling when we struck the boat ; if they had been I 
 should have heard them, and not run into her. When 
 they saw or heard the Belle, they must have stopped 
 pulling. They didn't speak, or make any sound." 
 
 " Of course they must have had a purpose in act- 
 ing so," I added, not a little perplexed by the mys- 
 tery which seemed to surround the movements of 
 the men. 
 
 "Why didn't they speak after I hailed them? If 
 they had been honest men they would have said some- 
 thing after the bump the Belle gave them," added 
 Waddie, much excited. 
 
 "I am afraid there is something wrong," I con- 
 tinued. 
 
 "I don't know why there should be," interposed 
 Tom Walton. "It isn't so very strange that a boat 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE TJCAYGA. 103 
 
 should cross the lake in the night. Perhaps the men 
 are going after a doctor for some one that is sick." 
 
 " Why didn't they speak when I hailed ? " insisted 
 Waddie. "Any honest man would have sung out 
 when we ran into his boat." 
 
 "Perhaps they were frightened," suggested Tom. 
 
 " They did not pull like men who were alarmed 
 when we saw them." 
 
 " Well, I thought they did pull just like men who 
 were scared. They made good time." 
 
 " I'm not satisfied, and I should not be surprised to 
 see some building blaze up in a few moments," per- 
 sisted Waddie. 
 
 This remark corresponded with my own thoughts. 
 We were both thinking of fires, for in all the towns 
 upon the lake there had been a large number of them 
 within a few months, all of which were believed to 
 have been" caused by incendiaries, though no one 
 could comprehend the motives of the miscreants who 
 set them. In Centreport and Middleport several barns 
 and storehouses had been destroyed, and I was per- 
 suaded that the two men in the boat were incendiaries. 
 
 u Shall I head her for Ruoara ? " asked Tom, while 
 
104 „ BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 we were discussing the matter. " We are going to 
 leeward now." 
 
 "No; run her for the steamboat wharf at Centre- 
 port," I replied. " I am going ashore to see what 
 those men are about." 
 
 " All right," added Tom, as he peered through the 
 gloom to make out the wharf. 
 
 " What do you say, Waddie ? Will you land with 
 me?" I asked, as we approached the wharf. "Tom 
 can land Miss Dornwood at Ruoara, and take us on 
 board when he returns." 
 
 " I don't know. I don't exactly like to leave her, 
 since she depends upon me for assistance," answered 
 Waddie, hesitating. " If the Pinkertons should hap- 
 pen to be away, she might wish to take some other 
 course." 
 
 " I'll tell you what will do just as well," interposed 
 the skipper. " I will go with you, Wolf, and Waddie 
 can sail the Belle down to Ruoara." 
 
 " That will fit the case exactly," replied Waddie, as 
 the boat rounded to at the landing-steps. 
 
 Taking our overcoats, Tom Walton and I went on 
 shore. Still we heard nothing from Miss Dornwood, 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE T7CAYGA. 105 
 
 aud we thought she was sleeping very soundly, if the 
 shock of the collision had failed to wake her. "We 
 went upon the wharf, but we could see nothing of the 
 two men. 
 
 " I wonder what boat they came over in," said Tom, 
 as he descended the steps to satisfy himself on this 
 point. ' 
 
 " Do you make it out ? " I asked, following him half 
 way down. 
 
 "Yes, it is the Grace's tender," answered he. 
 
 " There will be a fire over here soon — you may de- 
 pend upon i£J" I continued, as we walked up the steps 
 again. " Nothing would suit me better than to get 
 hold of the villains." 
 
 " I am with you there, Wolf," added Tom, earnestly. 
 "But, after all, it isn't so strange that a boat should 
 cross tTie lake even at midnight." 
 
 " Certainly there is nothing strange in the crossing 
 of the boat, but there is something very strange in 
 the conduct of those men. It is the most natural 
 thing in the world for men to sing out when a boat 
 runs into them ; but these men did not open their 
 mouths. When the Belle approached them, their boat 
 
106 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 was lying on the water, and they were perfectly silent, 
 evidently trying to avoid being seen. If they had 
 pulled straight across the lake, like honest men, I 
 shouldn't have thought anything of their being out 
 at this time of night." 
 
 "Perhaps you are right," added Tom. 
 
 "At any rate, we can take a turn around the town, 
 where the barns and storehouses are, and see if we 
 can find them." * 
 
 We walked along the street by the side of the lake, 
 looking carefully into all the lanes and by-places. 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 107 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 THE ROBBEEY OF THE CENTEEPOET BANK. 
 
 TOM WALTON and I went entirely around the 
 town of Centreport, visiting every part where 
 there were detached buildings which presented to 
 the incendiary favorable opportunities for plying his 
 infamous trade. The main street, on which were 
 located the principal churches, the bank, the post 
 office, the library, and other public buildings, was 
 so densely populated that the miscreants could not 
 work to advantage. So far as we could discover, 
 not a soul was stirring in the place. We saw 
 nothing of the two men, and when we returned to 
 the steamboat wharf, Tom was rather disposed to 
 make* fun of my fears. 
 
 "We haven't seen a spark of fire yet, Wolf," 
 said he, as we seated ourselves on a box, much 
 fatigued after the long tramp we had taken. 
 
108 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 "That's very true, and I am willing to give it 
 up, and to believe there will be no fire in Cen- 
 treport this time," I replied. 
 
 "It was a wild goose chase." 
 
 "Perhaps it was; but it may be that our coming 
 on shore has saved some building from destruction," 
 I reasoned. " If we did not see the rogues, they 
 may have seen us, and kept out of the way." 
 
 " That may be, and then again it may not be. In 
 my opinion, the two persons in that boat were a 
 couple of honest men who had been courting, and 
 sat up rather later than they meant to. Probably 
 they knew the Belle, and did not want us to know 
 who they were, for fear they would get blackguarded," 
 replied Tom, with an expansive gape, which I could 
 hear, if I could not see. 
 
 "You are ingenious, Tom, and very likely your 
 explanation of the mystery is a reasonable one," I 
 added, with a yawn as expansive as that of my 
 companion. 
 
 "What time is it now?" 
 
 "I don't know; about two, I should think." 
 
 "Look at your watch," added he, striking a match 
 to afford me the needed light. 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE TJCAYGA. 109 
 
 "Half past two," I answered, consulting my watch. 
 
 "I'm as tired as a dog," added Tom. 
 
 " So am I." 
 
 "I suppose Waddie will not be back before five 
 o'clock. He must see the young lady up to Mr. 
 Pinkerton's house." 
 
 " I do not expect him before that time." 
 
 "Well, Wolf, I move you we take a nap," con- 
 tinued Tom, stretching himself. " Here's the Raven, 
 and we can bunk on board of her." 
 
 "Her cabin is locked." 
 
 " The standing-room is not, and we can lie down, 
 as we did in the Belle." 
 
 I apjjroved the suggestion. We had our overcoats 
 with us, and both of us were tough and hardy. 
 We wrapped ourselves in the coats, and he took one 
 seat while I took the other. Neither of us needed 
 rocking, and we dropped asleep as readily as though 
 we had been in our own beds on shore. By the 
 side of the Raven, which was Waddie Wimpleton's 
 boat, lay the tender of the Grace, in which the 
 strange men had crossed the lake. If they intended 
 to return to Middleport in her, they could not very 
 well get off without waking us. 
 
110 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 I do not know what it was that aroused me in 
 the morning, but the moment my senses came back 
 to me, I was conscious that there was a grand com- 
 motion in Centreport. It was broad daylight, and I 
 heard people shouting in the street above the wharf. 
 I waked Tom, who had not been disturbed by the 
 noise that had aroused me. 
 
 " What's the row ? " asked he, springing to his 
 feet. 
 
 " I heard some one shouting up in the street. I 
 should not wonder if there was a fire, after all." 
 
 "A fire!" 
 
 "I don't know. We will go up and see what the 
 trouble is. There is some kind of a row in town, 
 at any rate." 
 
 We walked up the wharf; but we heard no more 
 shouting. The Grace's tender lay alongside the 
 Raven, just as it had been when we went to sleep, 
 and of course the strange men had not returned to 
 Middleport in it. Just at the head of the wharf, 
 and within twenty rods of the moorings of the 
 Raven, was the house of Captain Synders, the con- 
 stable of Centreport. As we approached it, we saw 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. Ill 
 
 that officer rushing out in hot haste, buttoning his 
 vest, as though he had not been allowed sufficient 
 time to complete his toilet. I at once reached a 
 correct solution of the noise which had disturbed 
 my slumbers. Some one had been pounding at the 
 door of the constable's house, and shouting for him. 
 
 " What's the matter ? " I inquired, as we ran for- 
 ward and overtook him. 
 
 "They say the Centreport Bank has been robbed," 
 replied Captain Synders, with all the excitement of 
 manner which such a discovery was likely to create 
 in a dignitary of his importance. 
 
 " Robbed ! " exclaimed Tom. 
 
 "Robbed!" I repeated. 
 
 "That's what they say, and I suppose it's true, 
 for Gibson, the porter of the bank building, came 
 down to call me. He was almost crazy." 
 
 Captain Synders quickened his pace, and we fol- 
 lowed him to the bank. Gibson had already called 
 Mr. Barnes, the cashier, who arrived about the same 
 time that we did. He was terribly excited, as well 
 he might be, and proceeded at once to examine the 
 vault, which opened from the banking-room. The 
 
112 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 double doors were open, as the robbers had left 
 them, and Mr. Barnes , entered, intent upon, ascer- 
 taining what loss the bank had sustained. My heart 
 beat quick, also, for I had ten thousand dollars in 
 bonds in the bank, which had been presented to me 
 by Colonel Wimpleton. .A similar princely gift from 
 Major Toppleton had been deposited in the Wim- 
 pleton Bank for safe keeping. I was actually worth 
 more than twenty thousand dollars, but I could not 
 help feeling just then that riches take to themselves 
 wings and fly away. 
 
 The cashier made a hasty examination of the 
 drawers in the vault. All of them had evidently 
 been opened, and valuable papers were scattered 
 like chaff through the little apartment. The robbers 
 evidently did not intend to encumber themselves 
 with any useless documents. 
 
 "All the money is gone," said Mr. Barnes, with 
 a gasp. 
 
 "All your specie?" I asked. 
 
 "No; not all of it. I suppose it was too heavy 
 for them," he replied, examining the boxes which 
 had contained the gold, at the bottom of the vault. 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 113 
 
 " They have taken a great deal of it. All the bank 
 notes are 'gone. They have made a good haul." 
 
 "How much do you suppose they have taken?" 
 inquired Captain Synders. 
 
 "I can't tell; but not less than sixty thousand 
 dollars." 
 
 " Good gracious ! " exclaimed the excited constable. 
 
 " I did not believe that this vault could be opened 
 by any burglar," added the cashier, as he turned to 
 the riven doors. 
 
 A hole had been cut in the outer one, and screws 
 applied by which the bolts on it had been doubled 
 up and wrenched off. The robbers were evidently 
 accomplished mechanicians, and had probably come 
 a long distance, from some one of the great cities, 
 to do the job. They had entered the building 
 through a back window, by taking out the screws 
 in the hinges of the shutters, and then cutting 
 through the glass to unfasten the sash. 
 
 "The men we saw on the lake did this job," 
 said Tom. 
 
 "What men?" demanded Captain Synders. 
 
 We related our adventure in the Narrows in the 
 8 
 
114* BEAR AND FORBEA'R, OB 
 
 night, and no one doubted that the two strange 
 men were the robbers. 
 
 " What sort of men were they ? " asked the cashier. 
 
 "We couldn't see them very plainly. When we 
 had lighted the bengola they were too far off to 
 be identified," I replied. "We supposed they came 
 over to set fires, and we walked all around the 
 town to find them, if we could." 
 
 " What time was this ? " inquired the constable. 
 
 "After twelve — about half past twelve," I replied. 
 
 "Well, what's to be done?" said the cashier, ap- 
 pealing nervously to the officer. 
 
 "I will look over the vault again, and see if I 
 can find anything that will afford me a clew to the 
 robbers." 
 
 We went to the vault again, and Mr. Barnes 
 picked up the papers on the floor. Among them 
 were my bonds, none of which had been taken, for 
 the simple reason that the villains could make no 
 ■use of them. Nothing could be found to afford any 
 clew to the robbers. There was no stray button, 
 piece of cloth, nor any of the tools with which they 
 had worked. 
 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OP LAKE TJCAYGA. 115 
 
 "I don't think they had been gone long when I 
 came," said the porter. "I heard a noise on the 
 back side of the building when I was opening the 
 front door." 
 
 "Why didn't you say so before," replied Cap- 
 tain Synders, savagely. "Have we been fooling 
 away our time while the rascals were in town?" 
 
 "I didn't think of it till just this minute," pleaded 
 Gibson. " I didn't think anything of it at the time, 
 and when I went in and found the bank had been 
 robbed, I was so scared I couldn't think of anything 
 else." 
 
 "What sort of a noise did you hear?" demanded 
 the constable. 
 
 "I don't know just what it was. It was a kind 
 of a shuffling noise. Perhaps the robbers had 
 thrown their traps out the window, and were 
 flying round to pick them up." 
 
 " You are smart ! " sneered Captain Synders. 
 "Why didn't you go round to the rear of the 
 building, and see what it was ? " 
 
 " Because I didn't think anything at all about it," 
 replied Gibson, who was terribly frightened by the 
 
116 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 charge that he had failed to do his whole duty. 
 "I don't go and look into everything whenever I 
 hear a noise — do you?" 
 
 "I do, when a bank has been robbed." 
 
 " Well, I didn't know a bank had been robbed 
 when I heard that noise." 
 
 "Gibson did the best he knew how," added the 
 cashier. "If the robbers left only half an hour ago, 
 they cannot have gone far by this time." 
 
 "That's so!" exclaimed Captain Synders, as he 
 bolted out the door. 
 
 "Where are you going?" shouted the cashier. 
 
 "After a horse." But he did not wait to answer 
 any questions in regard to his intended movement, 
 and we were left in the dark. 
 
 "Synders is a blockhead," said Mr. Barnes. "He 
 will make a great stir, and that is all he will do." 
 
 " He will not be likely to catch the burglars," I 
 replied ; for I had a poor opinion of the constable's 
 capacity to work up a case. "It's a pity we haven't 
 a smarter man." 
 
 We went out of the bank to the rear window 
 where the villains had entered the building. The 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 117 
 
 ground was much beaten and tracked, and I was 
 soon able to identify the footprints of the two men. 
 I found the track by which they had come to the 
 building, and that by which they had left it. The 
 latter only interested me, and I traced it as far as 
 I could. It led me through a narrow and circuitous 
 alley, which conducted to a street back of the main 
 one of the town. I satisfied myself that the villains 
 had approached the. bank in this direction. 
 
 "Tom, whoever robbed the bank, they were not 
 strangers in Centreport," said I to the skipper, after 
 the cashier had gone to secure the valuable papers 
 which were scattered about the vault. 
 
 "What makes you think so?" asked Tom. 
 
 " Strangers could not have found their way through 
 these back alleys." 
 
 "Who do you suppose they were?" 
 
 "I have no idea," I replied, still studying the 
 ground, at the junction of the alley with the back 
 street, in order to ascertain in what direction the 
 robbers had departed. "I can't think of any one 
 who is up to a deed of this kind." 
 
 " Here's the track ! " cried Tom. " They went down 
 towards the steam mill." 
 
118 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 One of the burglars wore a boot with irons on the 
 outside of the heels, the print of which enabled us 
 to follow them ; but when we came to a street more 
 travelled and harder than the other, we could no 
 longer trace it. But we were satisfied that the 
 rogues had gone down to the lake. There were no 
 boats below the steamboat wharf, that we knew of, 
 and we concluded that they must have returned 
 as they came. "We hastened towards the public 
 landing. 
 
 "There they are?" shouted Tom, as we reached 
 a point in the street which extended along the 
 bank of the lake from Colonel Wimpleton's man- 
 sion, from which we could see the end of the 
 wharf. 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 119 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 THE ROBBERS SEPARATE. 
 
 TOM WALTON pointed to the tender of the 
 Grace, in which a young man was pulling 
 across the Narrows with all his might. He was 
 already so far from us that we could not make him 
 out. "We ran with all our speed towards the wharf; 
 but we were obliged to pass behind some buildings, 
 and lost sight of the retreating robber in the boat. 
 It was still early in the morning, and no one in 
 this part of the town was stirring. 
 
 "I am afraid we are too late," said Tom, as we 
 turned the corner at the steamboat wharf. 
 
 "If we can only see them so that we shall know 
 them, we shall have some chance," I replied. 
 
 " There goes the Raven ! " shouted my companion, 
 as we saw Waddie's sail-boat shooting out from the 
 wharf. 
 
120 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 "Who is in her? Isn't it some one after that 
 fellow in the tender?" 
 
 "I don't know; it may be," replied Tom, as we 
 halted, out of breath, at the end of the wharf. 
 
 By this time the man in the row-boat had nearly 
 reached the other side of the lake. I could only 
 see that he was a young man, well dressed, and 
 rather ,slender in stature. He had taken off his coat, 
 and was bareheaded. The other man, in the Raven, 
 seemed to take particular care that he should not 
 be scrutinized by any person on shore. He wore a 
 shaggy old coat, and a dilapidated Panama hat ; but 
 these articles belonged to Waddie, who kept them 
 in the boat for use when he went fishing or sailing. 
 The robber in the Raven had evidently availed him- 
 self of these garments to disguise his person as 
 much as possible. 
 
 He was a good boatman, and handled the Raven 
 with much skill. He had left the wharf under 
 mainsail only; but as soon as he was clear of the 
 shore, he ran up the jib, and headed the boat up 
 the lake. I did not readily see why the rogues had 
 separated at this point, whether it was to divide 
 
THE YOUNG SKirPER OF LAKE TJCAYGA. 121 
 
 their pursuers, or whether they wished to go to 
 different parts of the country. The Raven and the 
 tender were the only boats at the wharf, and I 
 finally concluded that they had taken this course to 
 prevent the sail-boat from being used in the pur- 
 suit, as well as to divide the attention of the pur- 
 suers, for I was satisfied that they were conscious of 
 having been discovered. In order to obtain the tiller, 
 the hat, and the coat, the man in the Raven must 
 have broken into the cabin; but this was a trivial 
 achievement to one who had set at defiance the 
 huge lock of the bank vault. 
 
 "We are standing here like fools!" exclaimed 
 Tom, as we were watching the two boats, though 
 we had hardly wasted a minute in this way. 
 
 "We have no boat to follow them," I replied. 
 
 " But there comes the Belle," I added, as I glanced up 
 the lake. 
 
 The sail-boat was not half a mile distant, and 
 we had been so intent upon observing the move- 
 ments of the robbers that we did not see. her be- 
 fore. The breeze was even fresher than it had been 
 during the night, and she was rushing over the 
 
122 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 waves with a huge bone in her mouth, at a speed 
 which would soon bring her to the wharf. The 
 man in the tender landed at the wharf in Middle- 
 port, and with his hat and coat in his hand, walked 
 up the wharf. Though we lost sight of him, we 
 were confident that he would be overtaken. There 
 were but three roads by which he could leave the 
 town, if he left it at all, and men with fast horses 
 could make his chances of escaping very small. 
 
 " Hurry up, Waddie ! " shouted Tom, as the Belle 
 neared the wharf. 
 
 " Shall we try to follow both of them, or only one ? 
 That's the question now," I added. 
 
 " Both of them, of course," replied Tom, eagerly. 
 " I will chase the Raven in the Belle, and you or Wad- 
 die can follow the fellow that went over in the tender." 
 
 " Good ! That is the plan." 
 
 " Hallo, there ! Have you seen anything of them ? " 
 shouted Captain Synders, as he drove his horse swiftly 
 down the wharf. 
 
 " Yes, seen them both," I answered. " One has 
 crossed over to Middleport, and the other is in the 
 Raven." 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 123 
 
 " Good gracious ! " exclaimed the excited constable. 
 " Get me a boat, and row me over to the other side 
 as quick as lightning." 
 
 " We have no boat ; but there comes the Belle. 
 She will be here in half a minute." 
 
 "But I am going to chase the Raven in the Belle," 
 interposed Tom, who had worked himself up to a 
 high pitch of excitement at the prospect of the thrill- 
 ing race before him. 
 
 "I must get across the lake somehow," added the 
 officer. 
 
 "What's the matter?" demanded Waddie, as he 
 rounded the corner of the wharf, and headed the Belle 
 up to the landing-steps. 
 
 " The bank has been robbed," returned Tom, as we 
 all rushed to the stairs. 
 
 " By the great horn spoon ! " ejaculated Waddie. 
 
 "Sixty thousand dollars gone," added Tom. 
 
 " You don't mean so ! " 
 
 " It's as true as preaching. One of the robbers has 
 taken the Raven, and the other has crossed to Middle- 
 port." 
 
 " By the great horn spoon ! " repeated Waddie, so 
 
124 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 startled by the intelligence that he could only give 
 expression to his feelings in his favorite phrase. 
 
 " Hurry up ! " shouted the constable, as we all 
 tumbled into the boat. 
 
 Captain Synders told the man who had come with 
 him in the wagon to drive the horse back to the 
 stable, and inform the bank people where he had gone. 
 
 "What's to be done?" demanded Waddie, as he 
 shoved off the Belle. 
 
 " Put me across the lake in double-quick time," re- 
 plied the constable. 
 
 "No; run down to your father's house, and take 
 another boat," added Tom. " I shall lose sight of the 
 Raven if you keep me to go over there." 
 
 "That's it. We have another sail-boat there, and 
 it won't take three minutes longer," added Waddie, as 
 he headed the Belle in the direction indicated. 
 
 " That won't do," protested the constable. " I shall 
 lose the fellow on the other side." 
 
 " And I shall lose the fellow on the lake," retorted 
 Tom. 
 
 " But I am the constable of Centreport," puffed the 
 captain. 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 125 
 
 " Tom is right," I interposed. " The fellow on the 
 other side can't get a great way. The Raven is a 
 faster boat than the Belle, and — " 
 
 "We will settle that question to-day," interposed 
 Tom. "It's going to be breezy, and we shall see which 
 is the best boat. That fellow handles the Raven as 
 though he knew how; but, if I don't beat him, I'll sell 
 the Belle for two cents." 
 
 The constable yielded the point at my suggestion, 
 and in a couple of minutes Waddie ran the boat 
 alongside the little pier near his father's house. 
 
 " Which of you is going with me ? " demanded the 
 constable, as he stepped ashore. 
 
 " I will," replied Waddie. " Hold on just one min- 
 ute, Tom. I have something for you." 
 
 Waddie rushed into a building adjoining the billiard 
 house, where he kept his property. I sprang on board 
 of the sail-boat at the pier, and hoisted the mainsail. 
 Tom gave an extra pull at his peak-halyards, which 
 Waddie had not fixed to suit him. 
 
 " Here, Tom, take this. You may want to use it," 
 said Waddie, returning and handing the skipper a 
 revolver — the one with which I had had some expe- 
 rience a few years before. 
 
126 BEAR AND FORBEAE, OR 
 
 " Thank you, Waddie," replied Tom. " Probably 
 that fellow in the Raven has some of these playthings, 
 and this one may come handy to me." 
 
 " Here is a box of cartridges." 
 
 "All right; I know just what to do with them. Is 
 any one going with me ? " 
 
 "I am," I replied, jumping into the Belle again. 
 
 " You are the man for me, Wolf," added Tom, as he 
 shoved off. 
 
 The constable and Waddie pushed off the other 
 sail-boat, and headed her towards Middleport. There 
 was certainly a lively prospect of an exciting chase," 
 both upon the land and the water. I had just taken 
 the helm of the Belle, in order to permit Tom to adjust 
 the sails with the nicest care, when Colonel Wimple- 
 ton appeared upon the shore. 
 
 "Hold on, Wolf!" shouted he. "I want you." 
 
 "Botheration!" exclaimed Tom. "I shall never 
 get off." 
 
 "One of the robbers is in that boat," I replied, 
 pointing to the Raven. 
 
 "I want you to get up steam on the Ruoara and 
 chase her," added the colonel. 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 127 
 
 tt I suppose I must go ashore, Tom," I continued 
 to the skipper, as I ran the Belle up to the wharf 
 again. 
 
 "All right; I will fight it out alone if I get near 
 enough to the rascal," answered Tom, who always 
 made the best of everything, however unfavorable 
 the circumstances. 
 
 I leaped ashore, and pushed off the bow of the 
 boat, so that the skipper was detained hardly a 
 moment. Setting the helm, he adjusted his sheets, 
 gave a pull at the jib-halyards, and the Belle flew 
 off like a rocket, with the fresh breeze on the quarter. 
 
 " This is very awkward business for me, Wolf," said 
 Colonel Wimpleton, as we started for the steam- 
 boat wharf. 
 
 " It is awkward for all, I suppose, who have money 
 in the bank," I replied. 
 
 " It is particularly so to me. I have to pay twenty 
 thousand dollars to-day, and all the cash balance in 
 the bank has been swept away," he added. "I must 
 pay this money to-day, or be dishonored. Indeed, 
 I would rather lose twice the amount than fail to 
 do so." 
 
128 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 "Very likely you can get the amount from the 
 Middleport Bank," I suggested. 
 
 " Perhaps I can ; but twenty thousand dollars is 
 a large sum to obtain without any notice whatever. 
 I sold some bonds the other day to provide for this 
 payment, and now those villains have cleaned out 
 the bank." 
 
 " They may be caught before night," I added. " I 
 think their chances of escaping are very small." 
 
 "I don't know about that," replied the magnate, 
 shaking his head. "If that fellow in the boat is 
 hard pressed, he will run ashore, and take to the 
 woods, and, having the start, he will make good. 
 use of his time." 
 
 "Tom will see where he lands, and he will fol- 
 low him to the end of the world." 
 
 "Probably the other robber has a fast horse on 
 the other side of the lake, and Captain Synders is 
 a clumsy fellow." 
 
 "But Waddie is with him." 
 
 "Waddie has not had much exj:>erience in chasing 
 robbers. I hope he will not expose himself, for these 
 villains are probably well provided with pistols." 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 129 
 
 "Waddie has one of his revolvers, and Tom has 
 the other." 
 
 "It is dangerous business to deal with these des- 
 perate fellows, and I want a strong force to make 
 the matter sure. I sent immediately for the engi- 
 neer of the Ruoara, but found he had gone to 
 Gulfport, and would not return till it was time to 
 make his first trip. The fireman is getting up steam, 
 but we had no one to run the boat." 
 
 By the time we reached the steamboat wharfj all 
 Centreport was aroused, and we found a crowd of 
 men on the pier. The cashier had a party ready, 
 and was embarking in a boat for the other side, 
 to assist Captain Synclers in the pursuit beyond 
 Middleport. I went on board of the Ruoara, and 
 attended to the engine. 
 
 "How long before you will be ready to start, 
 Wolf?" asked the colonel, as the cashier's party was 
 about to push off. 
 
 "In about half an hour, sir, though this boiler is 
 rather slow." 
 
 "I must provide for my payment to-day and I 
 will go and see Major Toppleton. Run the boat 
 9 
 
130 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 over to the wharf on the other side when you are 
 ready, and take me on board," added he, as he 
 left me. 
 
 I was rather afraid his pride would not permit 
 him to apply to Major Toppleton for assistance, 
 even in the emergency which had so suddenly been 
 crowded upon him; but I had no doubt the latter 
 would be glad to serve him. 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE TJCAYGA. 131 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 A LITTLE SPARK KINDLES A BIG FIRE. 
 
 BEFORE we had steam enough to start the 
 Ruoara, her regular engineer arrived, and I 
 was relieved from duty in this department. In obe- 
 dience to the instructions of Colonel Wimpleton, I 
 took the helm, and ran the boat over to the other 
 side of the lake. I saw the great man of Centre- 
 port on the wharf, as we approached, and I knew 
 him well enough to understand at once that some- 
 thing had gone wrong with him. He was walking, 
 at a hurried pace, back and forth across the end of 
 the wharf. He frequently compressed his lips and 
 pursed up his mouth. Yet the worst I feared was, 
 that he had not been able to find Major Toppleton, 
 in order to make his application for assistance. 
 
 The boat ran up to the pier, and still the colonel 
 rushed back and forth across the wharf, apparently 
 
132 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 making mouths at the evil destiny which confronted 
 him. He did not seem to be in any hurry to pur- 
 sue the thief who had stolen his money, or even to 
 take any notice of the steamer which was ready to 
 do his bidding. I had not seen him in such a frame 
 of mind for two months, and it really gave me much 
 anxiety. If the great man was angry, he was liable 
 to do something which would endanger the pleasant 
 relations which now happily subsisted between the 
 two sides of the lake. 
 
 I left the pilot-house as soon as the forward haw- 
 ser was made fast, and took position on the hurri- 
 cane deck, in plain sight of him, in readiness to re- 
 ceive his commands, whatever they might be. I 
 looked up the lake to see how Tom Walton pro- 
 gressed with the chase ; but both of the sail-boats 
 had disappeared in the haze of the morning, or had 
 gone behind the point at Gulfport. I did not think 
 the steamer and the 2^osse on board of her would be 
 likely to render much assistance in catching the 
 bank robber, unless she started very soon ; but the 
 colonel still paced the wharf. I observed that he 
 cast an occasional glance up the pier, but his actions 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 133 
 
 were all a mystery to me. At last he halted near 
 the gangway of the boat, and, after gazing atten- 
 tively towards the head of the wharf for a moment, 
 he rushed, with an appearance of desperation in his 
 manner, on board of the steamer. 
 
 "I can't wait any longer, Wolf; cast off," said he. 
 
 I had not the least idea what he was waiting for; 
 but I repeated the order he had given me to the 
 captain of the boat, who was on board, and in 
 another moment we were headed up the lake. I 
 ought to say that these ferry boats were a part of 
 my charge, and their commanders looked to me for 
 directions. The colonel remained on the forward 
 deck, resuming his walk there with as much zeal 
 as he had manifested on the wharf. I am sorry to 
 say that he looked decidedly ugly, and I began to 
 fear that he had had a falling out with Major Top- 
 pleton, and that there was more work for the young 
 peacemakers to do. 
 
 Some one had said, within a short time, that 
 Captain Wolf Penniman had a great deal of influ- 
 ence over both the magnates, and that he even 
 twisted them around his little finger, as though they 
 
134 BEAR AND FOEBEAR, OR 
 
 had been boys. For my own part, I could not see 
 it, for I was absolutely afraid of both of them — I 
 mean, afraid of offending them in some manner. I 
 certainly treated them both with the most profound 
 respect, and never ventured upon the slightest fa- 
 miliarity with them. When I felt it to be my duty 
 to speak, I did so. Whatever influence I had over 
 them was really through their own sons and daugh- 
 ters. As I had been at times on good terms with 
 both, I was the medium of communication between 
 them; and it was presumed to be my influence, 
 when it was actually that of Tommy and Waddie. 
 
 I wanted to know what the matter was with the 
 colonel, yet I had not the assurance to ask him. 
 But I hoped he would tell me, and, as there was 
 no one else on board to whom he would be likely 
 to speak, I expected him to do so. I waited a while 
 on the hurricane deck for his wrath to subside, and 
 then I went below, where he could see me, and 
 where, if he wished to do so, he could mention 
 What it was that troubled him. I passed him on 
 the forward deck, and seated myself on the rail near 
 the bow, on the lookout for the Belle and the 
 Raven, which I hoped soon to see again. 
 
THE TOTING SKIPPER OF LAKE TJCAYGA. 135 
 
 "Wolf" said the colonel, after he had gradually- 
 worked forward till he came to the place where I 
 was seated. 
 
 I turned and looked at him. It did not appear to 
 me that his wrath had sensibly subsided, for his 
 under lip was projected far out beyond the upper 
 one, and I had learned to interpret this as a bad 
 sign. 
 
 " Wolf, I have been trying for two months to be- 
 lieve that Toppleton was a good friend of mine," he 
 added, after one of his ominous pauses. 
 
 "I have been able to believe it without trying 
 very hard," I ventured to reply; for an equivocal 
 answer, under the circumstances, looked criminal 
 to me. 
 
 "It is not so. For dinner parties, and drumming 
 through the streets, with all the parade of friend- 
 ship, he's all right; but when you come to the real, 
 substantial thing, it is all a humbug with him." 
 
 " I am sorry you think so," I replied, deeply grieved 
 to have my worst fears realized. 
 
 "I should not think so, if I could help it," he 
 added, biting his lip. "I went to Toppleton and 
 
136 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 told him what had happened, and that I had to 
 pay twenty thousand dollars to-day." 
 
 " Of course he was willing to accommodate you," 
 I suggested, in order to draw him out. 
 
 "Not at all. Instead of that, he began to hem. 
 and ha, and make apologies," replied the colonel, 
 with intense disgust. 
 
 "I am very much surprised." 
 
 " So was I," added the colonel, dryly. 
 
 " But he must have some good reason," I intimated. 
 
 "What good reason can he have? Do you sup- 
 pose, if he came to me under such circumstances, I 
 would make any apologies ? No ! I would give him 
 the money without winking, even if I* broke the 
 Centreport Bank." 
 
 " But what did he say, sir ? " I inquired, not quite 
 willing to believe that Major Toppleton would be 
 behind the colonel in good intentions. 
 
 "What did he say? Why, he began to make ex- 
 cuses. He told me he had hastened home to pay a 
 note of thirty thousand dollars for railroad iron, Which 
 became due to-day, and. the payment would use up 
 his entire balance in the bank." 
 

 THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE TTCAYGA. 137 
 
 It seemed to me that this was a tolerably good 
 excuse, though I did not venture to say so while 
 the great man was so excited. 
 
 "Didn't I understand you to say that you were 
 waiting on the wharf for something?" I asked. 
 
 "I was waiting for Toppleton. He said he would 
 see the cashier of the Micldleport Bank, and ascer- 
 tain what could be done. He told me he would see 
 me on the wharf in ten or fifteen minutes." 
 
 "Perhaps he could not find the cashier." 
 
 "Perhaps not," sneered the colonel. "I don't 
 think he wanted to see him very badly." 
 
 "I am satisfied Major Toppleton will do all he 
 can," I added. 
 
 "If he means to do so, he has an awkward way 
 of showing it. In my opinion he is selfish, and does 
 not act like a genuine friend." 
 
 "I think you wrong him, Colonel Wimpleton." 
 
 "No, I don't! Isn't there fifty thousand dollars. 
 in the Middleport Bank?" continued he, warmly. 
 "Isn't there enough to pay his note and mine?" 
 
 "I know nothing about it; but I think you and 
 Major Toppleton need a couple of bears between 
 vou." 
 
138 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 " A ' couple of what ? " demanded the colonel, 
 sternly. 
 
 " A couple of bears," I replied, laughing. 
 "Bears?" 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 "What do you mean by that, Wolf?" 
 " One is bear, and the other is forbear." 
 " I don't want any moral lessons, Wolf, from you." 
 "Excuse me, sir; but I meant no offence." 
 "You need not presume to lecture me on my 
 duties." 
 
 "Captain Portman presented a black bear to me 
 yesterday, and that bear was indirectly the cause of 
 my being here last night, when these robbers crossed 
 the lake. Bears have been uppermost in my mind 
 since that event." 
 
 "Without any fault on my part, I am put in a 
 tight place. I have no claim upon Toppleton, it is 
 .true ; but, if he were the friend he pretends to be, 
 he would help me bear my burden to-day. That is 
 the only bear I want to know anything about at 
 the present time. I am mortified and disgusted with 
 myself to think I said anything to him about the 
 matter." 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 139 
 
 "But you did not even wait to hear what he 
 would do, or what he could do." 
 
 "I waited fifteen minutes, and he knew I was in 
 a hurry. In my opinion, he did not mean to see 
 me again. I call it 'shabby treatment, and Toppleton 
 won't make anything by it. No, he won't!" con- 
 tinued the colonel, working himself up into a pas- 
 sion. "I'll tell you what it is, Wolf; I have been 
 a fool to think that man was my friend, or that he 
 could be anything different from what he has been 
 for the last dozen or fifteen years. The union line 
 won't last much longer, Wolf." 
 
 Turning on his heel, he walked aft, shaking his 
 head in the fury of his wrath. Certainly the rela- 
 tions between the two magnates were again in a 
 very perilous condition, and my heart rose to my 
 throat, so much did I dread the consequences of the 
 colonel's wrath. He was an impulsive and unreason- 
 able man. It would not be unlike him to notify the 
 major at once that the two lines would no longer 
 run in correspondence. I should not have been sur- 
 prised, at that moment, to receive an order to run 
 the Ucayga through to the lower end of the lake, 
 
140 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 even without notifying the Railroad Company. Such 
 a step was a calamity to be feared. 
 
 "Wolf, I shall put more money into Toppleton's 
 pocket in one year by giving him the through pas- 
 sengers on the railroad, than I" asked him to lend 
 me," said the colonel, as he again came up to the 
 place where I sat. 
 
 "I think it is rather necessary to know what 
 Major Toppleton intends to do before you condemn 
 him," I suggested. 
 
 " I don't care what he intends to do, so long as 
 he did not come up to the mark. I shall not take 
 money out of my pocket, and put it into his, after 
 this." 
 
 He walked off again, leaving me to consider how 
 small a spark could kindle a great fire. I was afraid 
 he would order me to notify the Railroad Company 
 that the present arrangement was to be discontinued. 
 He was excited now, and I wished to get out of 
 his way before he directed me to do any disagree- 
 able thing. By this time the boat was approaching 
 Gulfport, and I hoped soon to see the Belle; and 
 the sight of her would be likely to change the sub- 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 141 
 
 ject. I concluded to go on the hurricane deck; but 
 as I passed the colonel, he stopped me. 
 
 "Wolf, I must be at Middleport at nine o'clock 
 to take the train for Ucayga," said he. "I must 
 raise the money to pay the note, though I cannot 
 be on time." 
 
 " We have an hour to spare, sir, and within that 
 time we shall know what is to be done," I replied. 
 1 1 have no doubt Tom Walton has given the fellow 
 in the Raven a hard run." 
 
 " The Belle ! " shouted the captain of the boat, as 
 we came up with the point below Gulfport. 
 
 "There they are! Tom is crowding him hard, 
 and the fellow is making for the shore below the 
 town ! " I added. 
 
 In a short time the steamer came within hailing 
 distance of the Belle ; but the water was too shallow 
 for her to run in towards the shore. It was decided 
 that I should join Tom in the Belle, while a party 
 was landed above and below to surround the robber 
 if he took to the shore, as he plainly intended to do. 
 
142 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 THE LANDING OF THE ROBBER. 
 
 THE steamer ran ahead of the Belle as far as 
 the depth of the water would permit, so as 
 not to delay the latter unnecessarily. I dropped 
 into the jolly-boat, which was towing astern, with a 
 couple of deck hands at the oars ; and the moment 
 the steamer stopped, we cast off. Pulling to a point 
 in' the path of the Belle, the men lay on their oars 
 till she came up. Tom luffed up a little, and I 
 sprang on board, so that she lost hardly a moment. . 
 
 "Good! I'm glad you've come, Wolf; for that 
 rascal is going ashore, to take his chances there," 
 said Tom, as I leaped aboard the Belle. "Just set 
 up on the weather side, and keep as still as a 
 mouse — as still as two mice." 
 
 I took the place assigned to me, and kept as still 
 as I was desired to be. The boat which had put 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 143 
 
 me on board returned to the steamer, and she ran 
 up the lake about a mile, where she landed a part 
 of the force on board. Coming about, she steamed 
 up to the wharf at Gulfport, where she sent on 
 shore the rest of the men. Colonel Wimpleton 
 could not wait for the issue, and the steamer then 
 started for Middleport, in order to enable him to 
 raise the money to pay his note. 
 
 Less than half a mile from the shore of the lake 
 there was a road which led from Gulfport to Port 
 Guuga, which was to be the line of attack for the 
 pursuers. About twenty of them had volunteered 
 for the service, and they were to be scattered along 
 the road, so that it would be impossible for the 
 robber to pass this line. If this one had the money, 
 or any considerable portion of it, with him, the chances 
 were decidedly in favor of obtaining it in season 
 to pay the colonel's note. 
 
 The Belle was about half a mile from the shore 
 when I went on board of her, and the Raven wag 
 about half way between her and the land. Above 
 Gulfport the lake was bordered for some distance 
 by a perpendicular cliff of rocks, from twenty to 
 
144 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 fifty feet high; but below it there was in some 
 places a kind of shelf or beach, formed by the crum- 
 bling of the rock and earth above it. There were 
 not many places where a boat could land when the 
 wind was fresh, as on the present occasion, and 
 these were hardly available to a person not acquainted 
 with the coast. The cliff, which extended for sev- 
 eral miles along the lake, could be climbed only in 
 a few places. The robber's chances of getting away 
 from us, therefore, were not first rate. And then> 
 if he succeeded in climbing the cliff, he was sure to 
 be confronted by the force along the road. 
 
 The Belle was doing her prettiest, and from the 
 beginning had been gaining upon the Raven, for 
 the wind was too fresh for the latter, though the 
 rascal on board of her handled her exceedingly well. 
 Tom Walton was cool enough to work the boat to 
 the best advantage, and his whole soul was in the 
 business he had in hand. 
 
 " You have been beating him, Tom," said I, as 
 a splash of spray ducked both of us. 
 
 " I have gained half a mile on him since we 
 started," replied Tom, without taking his eye off 
 the chase. 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 145 
 
 "The fellow sees it, and understands the situa- 
 tion. Probably he will smash the Raven in making a 
 landing." 
 
 "He won't unless he wants to do so. Let that 
 fellow alone. He knows what he is about, and there 
 isn't a better boatman on the lake or in the state 
 than he is. He's as cool as a cucumber, and when 
 he sees the right place to land, he'll go ashore," 
 added Tom, who could not help admiring the rob- 
 ber's skill, in spite of his crime. 
 
 The villain certainly compelled the Raven to do 
 her best, and if the breeze had not been too heavy 
 for her to carry sail, he would have run away from 
 his pursuer. As it was, he was obliged to touch 
 her up, and let out the sheet when the fresh flaws 
 came, which materially retarded her progress. Both 
 boats dashed furiously on their course towards the 
 shore. We saw the robber stand up in the stern- 
 sheets of the Raven, as she came within hailing dis- 
 tance of the land, evidently for the purpose of ex- 
 amining the prospect ahead. The rocks did not ap- 
 pear to suit his fancy, for he let out his sheet, and 
 stood farther up the lake. 
 10 
 
146 . BEAR AND F0EBEAE, OR 
 
 "Do you see that, Wolf?" exclaimed Tom, as the 
 fellow put his helm up. 
 
 "I was in hopes he would try to land there, for the 
 cliff is fifty feet high," I replied. " And he couldn't 
 get ashore without smashing the Raven." 
 
 "Didn't I tell you he knew what he was about? 
 Wolf, in my opinion, we are no match for that fellow, 
 and he will get away from us," added Tom, shaking 
 his head significantly. 
 
 "If he gets away from us, he won't escape the 
 twenty men who are on the lookout for him in the 
 road." 
 
 "I'm not so sure of that. A fellow who is smart 
 enough to make his way through a couple of iron 
 doors, and sail the Raven as that chap does, can do 
 almost anything." 
 
 "Don't give it up yet,' Tom." 
 
 "Give it up! I've no notion of giving it up. I'll 
 follow him from Dan to Beersheba, till the sun goes 
 down on the other side of the Cape of Good Hope. 
 But he's smart, if he is a villain ; that's what I mean 
 to say." 
 
 " There's no doubt of that, Tom ; and we must be 
 smart, too," I replied. 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 147 
 
 "We had gained nothing' since I came on board the 
 Belle, or not more than enough to make up for the 
 moment lost by luffing up. The Raven was still about 
 a quarter of a mile ahead of us. Her skipper was now 
 sailing her along the coast, on the lookout for a conve- 
 nient place to land. Under the lee of the shore the 
 wind was less gusty, and I was not sure that she was 
 not now gaining upon us. Out in the middle of the 
 lake, where the sea was heavy, the Raven did not be- 
 have so well, and it was possible that the robber in- 
 tended to continue the cruise under the lee of the 
 shore. 
 
 "Wolf, he's smart!" ejaculated Tom, after we had 
 followed the fellow a few moments un'der the lee of 
 the rocks. " He's gaining on us, as sure as you live ! " 
 
 "Do you think so, Tom?" 
 
 "I know it." 
 
 "Then keep her away a little more, and run out 
 into the lake, where you will get the full force of the 
 wind." 
 
 "That's the idea! I was just thinking of doing 
 that," replied the skipper, as he followed the sugges- 
 tion. " Let her slide ! I'd give two and sixpence if I 
 
148 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 only had a gaff-topsail to help her along a little more. 
 I always intended to have one as soon as I bought 
 her." 
 
 " It wouldn't help her much." 
 
 "Yes, it would, Wolf. One square foot of sail up 
 by the topmast, where it would get all the wind there 
 is going, is worth two down by the boom. That's so ! 
 By Jim Hill, Wolf, that fellow knows what he is 
 about!" 
 
 " Of course he does ! " 
 
 "But don't you see what he is up to, Wolf?" 
 
 " He is up to getting away." 
 
 " Yes ; but he is not going on shore till he gets be- 
 yond the place* where the steamer landed those men. 
 That's just what he is up to now. He saw her land 
 them, the same as I did." 
 
 Doubtless it was very important to fathom the pur- 
 pose of the robber ; but, as it was soon demonstrated, 
 we were not skilful enough to do so. Tom had run 
 the Belle out into the lake till she rolled and pitched 
 heavily in the sea. In doing so he had increased the 
 distance between her and the Raven, though, half a 
 mile ahead, the trend of the coast would drive the lat- 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OP LAKE UCAYGA. 149 
 
 ter out so as to compensate for the loss, if she contin- 
 ued on her present course. While we were comforting 
 ourselves with the prospect of this advantage, the Ra- 
 ven suddenly hauled her wind, and ran by the shortest 
 line for the shore. 
 
 " There she goes ! " shouted Tom, grasping the main 
 sheet with a kind of desperation, and putting down 
 the helm. 
 
 " That fellow knows this shore as well as I do," I 
 added, as Tom headed the Belle towards the chase. 
 " He has chosen the best place to land on this side of 
 the lake." 
 
 It was the spot where the steamer had landed a por- 
 tion of her posse. There was a kind of gully in the 
 precipice, through which the water from the hills made 
 its way into the lake. In fact it was the outlet of a 
 brook, which was dry, however, except in the wet sea- 
 son. A boat of the size of the Belle or the Raven 
 could run into the inlet about her length, so that a 
 person could step over her side upon the shelf ,of rock 
 and earth beneath the precipice. 
 
 The cliff was hardly fifty feet high on each side of 
 the indenture in the rock, and it was rather a difficult 
 
150 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 task to climb up from the shelf, though a bold person 
 could do it. Twenty rods above this point, however, 
 there was an easy ascent to the summit of the preci- 
 pice by a zigzag path up the rocks. If the robber was 
 acquainted with the locality, as he appeared to be, he 
 would make for this path. His boat was headed to- 
 wards this landing-place, and we watched his move- 
 ments with the most intense interest. As it was proba- 
 ble that the men on shore had not stationed themselves 
 below this point, I was obliged to acknowledge to my- 
 self that the villain's chances of escaping were better 
 than I had believed at any time before. 
 
 It was possible that he had discovered this available 
 landing-place from his position in the boat, and that 
 he was not aware of the existence of the zigzag path. 
 He ran the Raven into the outlet of the brook, low- 
 ering the jib and mainsail as he approached the nar- 
 row opening, so that the boat lost her headway in 
 season to prevent any injury to her hull as she 
 grounded in the shoal water. The rascal leaped 
 lightly on shore, with a travelling-bag in his hand, 
 which I had no doubt contained the plunder from 
 the bank. He paused on the shelf below the cliff, 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 151 
 
 glanced at the Belle, and then at the precipice. He 
 did not appear to be in a great hurry, and examined 
 the means of ascent to the land above with deliberate 
 care. His action assured me he knew nothing of the 
 path, and the prospect seemed to brighten. 
 
 Tom decided to land at a point below the gully, 
 in order to save time, and to" enable us to choose our 
 own means of approaching the robber. I lowered the 
 jib and mainsail, and Tom ran the Belle upon an 
 abrupt gravel beach, about twenty rods below the 
 gully. We landed, and hauled the boat as far up on 
 the shore as our united strength would permit. I 
 deemed this a prudent measure, after certain expe- 
 rience I had had of a similar nature. Tom took from 
 his pocket the revolver which Wadclie had given him, 
 and which he had fully charged with patent cartridges 
 on'his cruise up the lake, and we hastened to the gully. 
 
 The robber was climbing the cliff, and had already 
 nearly accomplished the ascent. The rocks at the side 
 of the ravine had crumbled away so that the first part 
 of the way was comparatively easy. At the top grew 
 some bushes on the verge of the cliff. He had reached 
 one of these, and had thrown his left arm around one 
 
152 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 
 of them. He had evidently caught hold of a root of 
 this bush, which projected over the cliff, and hauled 
 himself up by main strength to his present position, 
 where he seemed to be resting after his violent exer- 
 tions. He had swung his travelling-bag over his 
 shoulder with a string. 
 
 "Shall I fire?" said Tom, producing his pistol. 
 
 "No. We don't want to kill him," I replied, ap- 
 palled at the idea of taking the life even of a robber. 
 
 Tom seemed to be of my mind, and rushed towards 
 the cliff. I followed him. He easily accomplished 
 the greater part of the ascent, and was almost within 
 reach of the dangling legs of the robber, when the 
 villain aimed a revolver at him, and fired. Tom 
 released his hold upon the rocks, and would have 
 fallen over backwards if I had not caught him in 
 my arms. 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 153 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 TOM WALTON WOUNDED. 
 
 I WAS appalled at the calamity which had be- 
 fallen Tom Walton, and deplored the want of 
 caution with which we had conducted the enterprise. 
 Of course we understood that the bank robber was 
 armed, and the fact occurred to me as we approached 
 the gully ; but when I saw him suspended by the 
 arms to the bush on the brink of the precipice, I 
 did not consider him in condition to use a revolver. 
 I am as much afraid of a pistol as any other pru- 
 dent person, and I do not, as a general rule, think it 
 advisable to stand before the muzzle of such a weapon 
 when it is loaded, and in the "hands of a desperate 
 man. 
 
 If I had been called upon to express an opinion, I 
 should have said that it was simply impossible for the 
 robber to use his weapon. Tom and I expected to 
 
154 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 overtake him before he could get over the brink of 
 the precipice, seize him by the heels, and drag him 
 down from his perch. When he came down, I in- 
 tended to throw myself upon him, and choke him till 
 he was willing to hold still and have his arms tied 
 behind him with the cord by which he had slung the 
 travelling-bag over his shoulder. I could not see how 
 this nice little plan was to fail, and we began to ascend 
 the precipice. I felt reasonably sure. that we should 
 make a victim of the villain. 
 
 I was not only appalled, but astounded, when Tom 
 came over upon me. It was disaster and defeat at the 
 same time, and at that moment I only hoped the rob- 
 ber would not take the trouble to fire again. He did 
 not, being apparently satisfied with the mischief he 
 had done. I was afraid Tom had received a mortal 
 Wound, and I thought of nothing but him. I was 
 standing on the gradual ascent of the steej:>, where the 
 earth and rocks had caved down from above, so that I 
 had a good foothold, and was fortunately able to save 
 my friend from going over backwards. I held on to 
 him, and retreated to the level ground below. 
 
 " Good Heaven, Tom ! " I exclaimed. " The villain 
 has hit you." 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OP LAKE TTCAYGA. 155 
 
 "Never mind it, Wolf. Don't make a row. It 
 isn't bad," he replied, with a cheerful smile, as he 
 placed his right hand on his left arm above the 
 elbow. 
 
 "Where did it hit you?" I asked, with the most 
 intense anxiety. 
 
 "Here," he answered, indicating the place on his 
 left arm. 
 
 "I was afraid it had gone through your body." 
 
 " No ; but it took all the starch out of my arm, so 
 that I could not hold on to the rock — that's all." 
 
 I heard a scrambling above, and looking up, I saw 
 the robber drag himself over the brink of the cliff. It 
 required a tremendous muscular effort for him to ac- 
 complish the act. Without asking my advice this 
 time, Tom raised his pistol and fired ; but only the 
 legs of the rascal were visible, and these immediately 
 disappeared, so that I concluded he was not hit. 
 
 "I ought to have fired in the first of it," said Tom, 
 as he restored the weapon to his pocket. 
 
 " I am sorry now that you did not ; but I did not 
 exactly like the idea of killing the man," I replied. 
 " But how is your arm ? " 
 
156 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 "That will do very well. It is bleeding a good 
 deal, and don't feel first rate. But come; let's fol- 
 low that fellow. I want to put one of these little 
 pills into him." 
 
 " No ; let me bind up your arm first," I insisted. 
 14 It may stop the bleeding. Take off your coat, and 
 let me see what it is." 
 
 " But the robber will get away while we are fool- 
 ing here." 
 
 "No matter if he does. You may lose your arm 
 if we neglect the wound. Off with your coat." 
 
 It was not so easy for him to take off his coat, 
 but with my assistance it was removed with some 
 difficulty. I found that the bullet from the pistol had 
 ploughed a wound diagonally along the fleshy part 
 on the inner side of the arm. It must have passed 
 very near his body, and I regarded it as a narrow 
 escape from a mortal injury. I tore off a piece of 
 his shirt, and scraped some lint from it, which I placed 
 upon the wound in order to stanch the bleeding, and 
 then bound my handkerchief around it. 
 
 " That's it, Wolf. You were cut out for a doctor. 
 It feels first rate now," said he ; but his face was paler 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAE3] UCAYGA. 157 
 
 than usual, and I saw that he was suffering much pain. 
 " Come now ; let's see where that fellow has gone." 
 
 "I'm afraid you are not in condition to chase a 
 robber, Tom." 
 
 "Yes, I am. I'll follow him to the other side of 
 sundown," he replied, leading the way to the zigzag 
 path. " I don't want to kill him ; but, if one of these 
 bullets will travel faster than I can, he shall have the 
 benefit of it. Come on, Wolf." 
 
 Tom certainly had pluck enough — more than I 
 should have had with such an ugly wound in my 
 arm. I followed him up the path, and we soon reached 
 the high ground above the lake. 
 
 " Now don't be rash, Tom," said I, placing myself 
 ahead of him. "That fellow has at least five more 
 balls in his revolver, and if we get shot, we can't do 
 any good." 
 
 "My pistol will carry as far as his, I reckon, and it 
 is a poor rule that won't work both ways. If I see him 
 again, I shall give him some," replied Tom. 
 
 " Don't you feel weak, Tom ? " 
 
 " No, not much ; at any rate, I'm good for ten miles. 
 Do you see anything of the villain ? " 
 
158 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 " Not a thing. We will go over to the other side 
 of the gully, and we may be able to trace him." 
 
 We hastened to the place indicated. On the brink 
 of the precipice the ground was considerably stirred 
 up by the violence of the robber's struggle to attain* 
 the summit of the cliff; but we could find no other 
 trace of him. The region above the lake was a pas- 
 ture, and the short grass afforded no impress of his 
 footsteps. The country was wild and rugged, with 
 plenty of bushes and trees to afford concealment to 
 the robber. Between us and Gulfport there was a 
 wood. 
 
 " We are not much wiser now we are up here," 
 said Tom. "What shall we do?" 
 
 "I think we had better move towards the Gulf- 
 port road. We can find some of our people there, 
 and notify them that the robber, has landed here." 
 
 "That fellow's smart, and in my opinion he will 
 be on the lookout for our people," added Tom, as 
 we moved towards the road. " He'll work up to- 
 wards Port Gunga, because he will think the men 
 are in the other direction. We shall do better if we 
 divide; you go up to the road, and I will follow 
 up the shore." 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 159 
 
 " I don't believe in separating. What could either 
 of us do alone, if one of us should happen to see 
 him ? " I replied, not wishing to leave Tom in his^ 
 wounded condition, though his plan was certainly 
 the better one. 
 
 "One of us could follow him and keep the run 
 of him just as well as two. There isn't any need 
 of looking into his pistol barrels, you know." 
 
 "I'll change your plan a little, and then we will 
 adopt it. You shall walk towards the road, and 
 tell our people the robber has landed, and I will 
 go up the lake." 
 
 "It's all the same to me; but, if you are going 
 that way, you shall take this pistol," replied Tom, 
 handing me the weapon. "Don't be afraid to use 
 it, Wolf, if you get a chance. You are a little too 
 tender-hearted for this kind of business." 
 
 "I will use it, if I get a chance to stop him in 
 that way," I answered, as I took the pistol. 
 
 We separated, and I pursued my way in the di- 
 rection of Port Gunga, which was about five miles 
 distant. Tom walked due east towards the road, 
 where I expected he would meet some of the posse* 
 
160 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 who had been landed to intercept the robber. He 
 soon disappeared among the bushes and trees. But 
 he was hardly out of sight before he called to me. 
 I halted, and presently I saw him and Mr. Bradshaw, 
 a deputy sheriff, who had taken charge of the posse 
 which had come up in the steamer. 
 
 "Have you seen anything of him?" asked the 
 sheriff, as we met near the gully. 
 
 "Not since he climbed up the cliff," I replied. 
 
 "You ou^ht to have fired at him the moment 
 you saw him," added the officer. "You mustn't 
 mince matters with such fellows. It is better to 
 shoot him than to be shot by him." 
 
 " We did the best we knew how," interposed Tom. 
 
 " Of course you did. However, we are pretty sure 
 of him, for I have sent our folks up the Port Gun- 
 ga road, and they are certain to head him off. I 
 wouldn't give two cents for his chances," continued 
 Mr. Bradshaw, confidently. 
 
 "Well, what shall we do?" demanded Tom, im- 
 patiently. 
 
 "As you are hurt, you had better take your boat 
 arid go home," added the officer. 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 161 
 
 * Not I," protested the plucky skipper. " I'm going 
 to stay to see the fun, and help bag the game." 
 
 "Just as you like, but you must look out for 
 your arm." 
 
 ! "I'm all right. Wolf fixed my arm as good as 
 a doctor could." 
 
 " Well, we will follow up towards Port Gunga, 
 and see that the robber does not take the back 
 track when he finds our folks in front of him," said 
 the sheriff, as we started in the direction indicated. 
 "I waited on the bluff here till I saw where the 
 rascal was going to land, and then I stationed my 
 men where they could trip him up." 
 
 "Why didn't you bring them up to the cliff, and 
 head him off when he landed?" I inquired, disposed 
 to be critical in my turn. 
 
 "Why didn't I? Because our people were more 
 than a mile from here," replied the sheriff. " You see 
 we expected he would land half a mile farther down 
 the lake. I had to go and tell them where to look 
 for him ; and though I have been in a hurry, I have 
 but just returned." 
 11 
 
162 BEAK AND FORBEAR, OB 
 
 "If you had been on the cliff when the fellow 
 landed, you could have fixed him," I added. 
 
 "But I didn't know what he was going to do till 
 he did it." 
 
 "You did the best thing you knew how" said 
 Tom. 
 
 "Of course I did." 
 
 "That's just what we did; and I don't think it 
 pays to tell what might have been done," continued 
 Tom, who was always disposed to take things as he 
 found them, and blame no one for what could not be 
 helped. 
 
 "It will all come out right. We are sure of 
 him," said the sheriff. "But I think we had better 
 spread out a little. You take the shore of the lake, 
 Wolf; you go to the left, Tom; and I will take a 
 course between you. If either of you see him, sing 
 out." 
 
 This was good policy, and it was promptly adopted. 
 I walked over to the cliff by the lake, and, follow- 
 ing the shore, I soon reached a high point of land, 
 which commanded a view for a considerable distance. 
 I halted to take a careful survey of the region, 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 163 
 
 hoping I might discover the fugitive; but I could 
 see nothing. There was a tall tree on the top of 
 the hill, which I climbed in order to obtain a still 
 better view. I could see Tom and the sheriff, but 
 no one else. I began to fear that the robber un- 
 derstood the situation better than we supposed, and 
 had adopted some plan which had not been antici- 
 pated by any of us. So far, I surveyed only the 
 region which the fugitive was expected to traverse. 
 Before descending the tree, I turned my gaze in the 
 direction we had just come. 
 
 I saw the robber, and called with all my might 
 to Tom and the sheriff. 
 
164 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 THE ROBBER TAKES THE BACK TRACK. 
 
 WAS never more vexed and disconcerted in my 
 life than when, from the tall tree on the hill, I 
 discovered the robber. I think the tones in which I 
 yelled to Tom and the sheriff betrayed the disgust I 
 felt at the unsatisfactory situation. The officer's con- 
 fident prediction was set at nought, for the robber 
 had evidently not gone fifty rods from the point 
 where he landed and climbed the cliff. As Tom 
 had*" so often suggested, the fellow was smart, and 
 knew what he was about. 
 
 When I saw the robber, he was on the shelf be- 
 low the cliff where he had landed, in the very act 
 of hoisting the mainsail on board of the Raven. He 
 worked rapidly, yet with a kind of deliberation and 
 care which required nothing to be done over a second 
 time. His object in landing may have been simply 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OP LAKE UCAYGA. 165 
 
 to get rid of his pursuers on the lake, though it was 
 possible he had ascertained the impracticability of es- 
 caping in the direction he had apparently chosen. 
 But his operations looked to me just like a flank 
 movement. He had seen the steamer land a force, 
 and then depart down the lake. Being closely pur- 
 sued by the Belle, he had landed to balk Tom and 
 me ; and now, having sent all his pursuers on shore, 
 he had them just where he wanted them. He could 
 now cross the lake in the Raven, and make his 
 escape on the other side. It looked to me just as 
 though we had lost him, and I did not believe the 
 money in the rogue's travelling-bag would be used 
 that day to pay the colonel's note. 
 
 The robber hoisted the mainsail, and then the jib, 
 of the Raven. Then, with a sinking of the heart 
 I saw him hasten towards the place where the Belle 
 lay. I understood his purpose, and I trembled for 
 Tom's boat. Of course he foresaw that it would be 
 used to pursue him, and he intended to set her adrift, 
 or disable her so that she would not be available 
 for use against him. I saw him put his shoulder to 
 her stem, and attempt to push her off. I concluded 
 
166 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 from this that he intended to tow the Belle out into 
 the middle of the lake, and leave her there, or pos- 
 sibly scuttle her. 
 
 He made a desperate effort to shove her off the 
 ground, but without success. Tom and I had hauled 
 her nearly out of the water, and she was too heavy 
 to be launched again by one person. I fancied that 
 the fellow swore some in his disappointment, and I 
 congratulated myself upon the happy thought which 
 had induced me to haul her so far out of the water. 
 I wondered what the fellow would do next, for I 
 could not believe he would leave while the Belle 
 was in condition to pursue him. I was curious to 
 know what he would do next; but I was already 
 blaming myself for staying so long in the tree, and 
 I descended. Before Tom and the sheriff could reach 
 me, I was running with all my might towards the 
 zigzag path. 
 
 I soon reached a point where I could see the oper- 
 ations of the robber again, which had been hidden 
 from me after I descended the tree. He was running 
 from the Belle to the Raven. In his hand he car- 
 ried the travelling-bag, which he appeared not to 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OP LAKE TJCAYGA. 167 
 
 leave behind him for a single instant. But then, to 
 my intense mortification, if not horror, I saw a dense 
 smoke rising from the cuddy of the Belle. 
 
 The villain had set her on fire !' 
 
 Tom kept a supply of shavings and light kindlings 
 in the cook-room, and there was a tin match-box 
 attached to the mast. The scoundrel had found 
 everything convenient for the execution of his vile 
 scheme, and the beautiful Belle was in imminent 
 peril of being totally destroyed. I had reached the 
 head of the zigzag path when I discovered the fir^ 
 and I was hopeful that I might be in season to ex* 
 tinguish it before the boat was entirely disabled. 
 The robber leaped into the Raven, and pushed off 
 with a celerity which seemed to insure his safety. 
 
 I rushed down the steep path to the shelf below. 
 I wanted to do some desperate thing, for I was so 
 vexed I could hardly contain myself. I had the 
 revolver which Tom had given me in my hand, and 
 I discharged it at the rascal in the Raven ; but I 
 might, as well have fired at the moon, for the pistol 
 would not carry half the distance. The robber took 
 ho notice of me, and did not even condescend to 
 
168 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 return ray shot. He let out his sheet, and the Raven 
 went off flying, with the fresh breeze nearly aft, and 
 by the time I reached the gully, he was forty rods 
 from the shore. 
 
 Though I had nearly exhausted my breath in run- 
 ning, I did not abate my speed till I reached the 
 Belle. I leaped on board, and seized the bucket 
 which was under one of the seats. I dashed several 
 pailfuls of water into the cuddy, which put a quietus 
 on the fire. The robber had simply lighted the 
 shavings in the box which had been built in the head. 
 Hardly more than two minutes had elapsed from 
 the time the fire was set till I reached the Belle, 
 The combustibles in the wood-box blazed furious* 
 ly; but the fire was confined principally to thern^ 
 though I found the ceiling and the under side of 
 the deck planks were charred. With a bucket of 
 water and a dipper, I put out every spark of fire. 
 
 I could not push the boat off alone, but I hoisted 
 the sails, so that she would be ready to start as soon 
 as Tom and the sheriff arrived. By the time they 
 were coming down the path, I had rigged the pump, 
 in order to remove the water I had thrown into her 
 in putting out the fire, as soon as she was under way. 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 169 
 
 « Take hold here, Mr. Bradshaw ! " I shouted, when 
 the sheriff and Tom came within hail of me. 
 
 The official was puffing like a grampus, and he 
 looked as thoroughly disgusted as' a deputy sheriff 
 could be. He put his shoulder to the bow of the 
 Belle, and we shoved her off into the lake. Tom 
 sprang on board, and took his accustomed seat at 
 the helm. The officer was placed on the port side, 
 and I took position at the pump which I had rigged 
 for use, after I had shoved the boat clear of the shore. 
 She filled away, and we started about a quarter of a 
 mile behind the Raven. If there was any difference 
 at all in the wind, it was stronger than it had been 
 earlier in the morning, and this fact improved our 
 chances. 
 
 I had made fast the sheets, so that for the present 
 Tom had nothing to do but steer. He said nothing 
 about his wound, but I could see that it gave him 
 much pain, and I hoped I should be able to induce 
 him to abandon the pursuit when we reached the 
 other side of the lake, if the robber led us in that 
 direction. 
 
 "This is a pretty kettle of fish," said the sheriff, 
 as soon as he had recovered his wind. 
 
170 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 "I told you that fellow was smart," replied Tom, 
 with his gaze fixed steadfastly on the Raven. 
 
 "How in the world did he get back here without 
 our seeing him ? " 
 
 "We did not look where he was." 
 
 "Where did you first see him, Wolf?" asked the 
 officer. 
 
 "He was on the shore here, getting the Raven 
 ready to be off. I shouldn't have seen him if I 
 hadn't climbed a tree." 
 
 "It was lucky you thought of that. But where 
 was the fellow while we were beyond the cliff? " 
 
 "In my opinion he has not been fifty rods from 
 the place where he landed," I replied. " There are 
 plenty of places among the rocks where he could 
 hide. I think it is very likely he concealed himself 
 in the gully, and as soon as he found we were at a 
 safe distance from him, he concluded to cross the 
 lake, where there is no one to pursue him." 
 
 "He's smart," repeated Tom. "That will do, 
 Wolf; don't pump any more. You keep her wab- 
 bling so that she don't do her best." 
 
 " Let me take the helm, Tom," I suggested. " I'm 
 afraid you will make your arm worse." 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OE LAKE TTCAYGA. 171 
 
 "No, I thank you. I can get as much out of the 
 Belle as anybody else ; but you may stand by the 
 sheets, if you like, for I can't use my left arm very 
 well." 
 
 " Just as you say, Tom," I answered, taking a seat 
 by his side, where I could reach the sheets. 
 
 "Now keep still, and don't move one of your 
 little fingers," said Tom. " I'll give him some. If 
 I don't, the Belle isn't a lady. Let out that jib-sheet 
 about an inch and a half, Wolf." 
 
 "All right," I replied, obeying the order. "You 
 are putting a fine point upon it, Tom." 
 
 " I must have her just so when she does her best. 
 Mr. Bradshaw, will you move forward about six 
 inches ? That's it ; now she is just as I want her. 
 Don't she spin ! " exclaimed Tom. 
 
 " She is doing first rate, and so is the Raven." 
 
 " Wait a bit till she gets out a little farther. She 
 will have to duck under when she gets the full 
 weight of the breeze. By the way, Wolf, is she 
 burned much in forward? I didn't stop to look in." 
 
 "Very little. I think you can make her as good 
 as new in half an hour," I answered. "The robber 
 
172 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 spent some time trying to shove her off, before lie 
 thought of setting her on fire. I was just at the 
 path when I saw the fire. It had not been burning 
 more than two minutes when I threw on the first 
 bucket of water." 
 
 "Now she is getting it savage," said Tom, as the 
 wind drove the Raven down to her gunwale in the 
 waves. " See that ! He had to luff her up. He 
 lost a little on that." 
 
 Both boats had the wind on the quarter, and the 
 Haven was leading the way directly across the lake 
 to High Bluff, just below Priam. She was jumping 
 up and down on the waves like a feather, and it 
 was evident enough that she could not carry all sail. 
 Her skipper had been obliged to luff her up so as 
 to spill the mainsail, and then we saw that he had 
 let his jib-sheet run out so that the head sail did not 
 draw. As soon as the flaw had spent itself, he kept 
 her away again, with the jib still shaking. 
 
 "It was a great mistake that the steamer went 
 back," said the sheriff. "If we only had her here, 
 she would make short work of that boat." 
 
 "Don't say anything more about mistakes, Mr. 
 Bradshaw," replied Tom. 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE TJCAYGA. 173 
 
 "Well, I think it was a mistake to let her re- 
 turn," persisted the officer. 
 
 "If that steamer had been out here, the robber 
 would have taken some other course. We have all 
 made mistakes enough, but we have done the best 
 we could, and it's no use for the pot to call the 
 kettle black." 
 
 "Do you see what that fellow is up to now?" I 
 interposed. 
 
 "I think I do," replied Tom. "He sees the gully 
 on the upper side of High Bluff, and, if I mistake 
 not, he is going to run in there." 
 
 "If he does, that will be his last blunder," I re- 
 plied. 
 
 "Why so?" inquired the sheriff, who was not fa- 
 miliar with the locality. 
 
 " He can run his boat into the gully on either 
 side of the bluff; but he can no more climb up to 
 the high land above than he can shin up a rain- 
 bow," said Tom. "I only hope he will run in 
 there." 
 
 "He may find a way to get out of the gully," I 
 suggested. 
 
174 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 "He can't do it. It isn't in the power of man 
 to get up." 
 
 "But you know there is a crooked path to the 
 top." 
 
 " That's very true ; but the path is just on the 
 side of the lake, and you can't reach it from the 
 gully on either side. If he strikes the middle of 
 High Bluff on the lake side, he can go up. If he 
 runs into the gully, he can't," answered Tom. 
 
 The Raven was running directly towards High 
 Bluff. If he did not know of the path to its sum- 
 mit, he would not be likely to suspect its existeuce 
 from anything he could see ; and we waited, with 
 intense anxiety, to ascertain what course he intended 
 to take. 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPEE OF LAKE UCAYGA. 175 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 THE EOBBEE IN A TEAP. 
 
 IN a short time we were satisfied that the robber 
 intended to run the Raven into the gully on 
 the upper side of High Bluff. Certainly no more 
 inviting prospect could have been desired by a man 
 in his situation ; for the entrance was broad and free 
 from peril, promising a good landing-place to the 
 voyager, as, indeed, there was, though his troubles 
 would commence after he left his boat. Tom had 
 explored the locality thoroughly, and was sure that 
 the man could not get out of the gully. 
 
 The battle between the friends of Tommy Top- 
 pleton and the rebels had been fought at High 
 Bluff, as detailed by my friend Ned Skotchley, and 
 the tradition among the students was, that the gully 
 was impassable except by the bridge, and that its 
 ides were absolutely perpendicular. If the robber 
 
176 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 would favor us by running into this trap, we felt 
 reasonably certain that we should be able to bag 
 the game, although I could not help dreading his 
 pistol, when we drove him into close quarters. I 
 did not wish to be shot myself, and I was equally 
 averse to having so good a fellow as Tom Walton 
 shot again. 
 
 " There he goes into the south gully ! " exclaimed 
 Tom, as the Raven passed clear of the foot of the 
 path to the summit of the bluff. "We have him 
 now." 
 
 "Not quite," I suggested. 
 
 " I am sure a man can't climb up the side of the 
 gully," protested Tom. 
 
 "That fellow has a bag full of tools, which he 
 used in breaking into the bank." 
 
 "What good will tools do him?" demanded Tom. 
 " Will they help him shin up a rock ?" 
 
 " Perhaps they will. I think, if I had his traps, 
 I could get out of the gully ; and I don't believe 
 in trusting anything to luck this time. We must 
 try and be as smart as that fellow is, and make no 
 mistakes." 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 177 
 
 "I don't see how he could get out of that pl^ce, , 
 even if he had a whole chest of tools," persisted 
 Tom. "He can only come out the way he went in. 
 That is the only way I could ever get out of that 
 hole." 
 
 "The robber had a long cord, with which he 
 slung his bag over his shoulder. He used only one 
 end of it, and. it may be fifty feet long, for aught I 
 know. There are plenty of stout bushes, no doubt, 
 hanging over the hole." 
 
 " That's so ; and the tree that Briscoe's fellows 
 crossed upon still lies across the gully." 
 . "Exactly so. And how deep is the gully under 
 this tree?" 
 
 "Twenty or twenty-five feet, I should say." 
 
 " Then he can tie a stone to the end of his cord, 
 throw it over the trunk of the tree, and let it come 
 down on the other side. That's easy enough — 
 isn't it?" 
 
 "I should say it was," replied Tom, fully compre- 
 hending my suggestion. 
 
 "Then, if he can't go up the cord hand over 
 hand, he can fix some sticks in the line, and go up 
 12 
 
178 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 comfortably. But very likely the fellow has a rope- 
 ladder in his bag." 
 
 "I guess he wouldn't stop to put any rounds in 
 his ladder," laughed Tom. 
 
 "He has chisels and such things in his bag, at 
 any rate. He could stick these into the chinks of 
 the rocks, and go up on them without much trouble, 
 and without much loss of time. Ho, Tom ; we must 
 be ready to head him off when he tries to get out 
 of the gully." 
 
 " Yes ; but if we leave the boat, he will serve us 
 the same trick he did on the other side," said Tom. 
 
 " We will make no mistakes this time. Hun for 
 the foot of the path, Tom. Shall I take in the jib?" 
 
 " Yes, take it in, Wolf," replied Tom, for we were 
 within a few rods of High Bluff. 
 
 I lowered the jib, and made everything snug 
 forward. 
 
 "Now let go the mainsail-halyards," added the 
 skipper ; for, as the wind was blowing directly on 
 shore, we were obliged to take in all sail. 
 
 I took the boat-hook, and fended off as the Belle 
 grounded on the beach. 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 179 
 
 " Now what's to be clone ? " demanded Tom, 
 nervously. 
 
 "Let Mr. Bradshaw go on the bluff," I continued. 
 
 "What, alone?" asked the sheriff. 
 
 "Why not? I am willing to go alone," I replied. 
 " You will have all the advantage of the robber. If 
 he attempts to climb up, you can knock him, even 
 without being seen yourself. All you have to do is 
 to keep yourself in a safe position, and watch him." 
 
 " What are you going to do ? " inquired the offi- 
 cer, apparently not very well satisfied with the ar- 
 rangement. "Do you mean to make me fight it out 
 alone ? " 
 
 " Just as soon as the robber leaves the Raven, 
 we are going to drag her out of the gully, and put 
 her where he can't get at her again. That's the 
 idea, and we have the worst part of the work 
 to do." 
 
 " It won't take both of you to do that." 
 
 " Tom has but one arm to help himse 1 !" with, and 
 can't do this job alone. If you are afraid to go 
 upon the bluff, I will go, and you may help Tom 
 take the Raven," I replied. 
 
180 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 u Afraid ! I am not afraid." 
 
 "Then hurry up, or the fellow will get out before 
 you are in position to do anything." 
 
 " Which way do I go ? " said he, stepping on shore. 
 
 "Follow the path, and when you are on the bluff, 
 move to the gully on the left, and then continue 
 till you can see or hear the fellow," I replied, hoist- 
 ing the mainsail of the Belle again. " You can't go 
 wrong, and you will be as safe as though you were 
 at the other end of the lake." 
 
 " I think a man who talks as big as he does ought 
 to have a little more pluck," said Tom, as the sheriff 
 disappeared in the windings of the steep path. 
 
 "I don't blame him much. It isn't pleasant to be 
 shot." 
 
 " I don't think it is ; and I ought to know as well 
 as any of you." 
 
 "That's so, Tom. You are the hero of this en- 
 terprise." 
 
 " Pooh ! " snuffed Tom. " Flatten down that main- 
 sail, Wolf." 
 
 "Ay, ay! down it is," I answered, hauling in the 
 sheet, and crowding off the head of the boat. 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 181 
 
 • The skipper ran the boat out into the deep water, 
 and then continued up the lake till the Belle had 
 reached the upper side of the gully, where we could 
 see the position of the Raven. 
 
 "Now, steady, Tom. We are not going into that 
 fellow's pistol barrels, you know. Luff her up, and 
 let us see where he is before we go in." 
 
 He threw the Belle up into the wind, out of pistol 
 range of the Raven. The latter had grounded where 
 the gully contracted its width. Her sails had not 
 been lowered, for the robber evidently intended to 
 abandon her at this point. 
 
 "Do you see the rascal?" asked Torn. 
 
 "No; he isn't in sight; but he may be in the 
 cuddy." 
 
 " I guess not. He wouldn't box himself up in such 
 a place. He has left her." 
 
 "Probably he has; but we will make sure of it 
 
 befoi 
 
 e we go in 
 
 ?> 
 
 From the point where the Raven had grounded 
 there was a gradual ascent in the ravine, down which 
 flowed the waters of the brook ; but there was room 
 enough on the bottom to walk dry shod round to 
 
182 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 the deep water on the other side. We concluded 
 that the robber had left the boat, and gone to the 
 upper part of the gully, to find a place where he 
 could reach the ground above. We waited long 
 enough to satisfy ourselves that he was not in the 
 boat, and then stood in towards the head of the 
 gully. In a few moments we reached the Raven. 
 She was deserted and empty, and I lost no time in 
 pushing her off. Taking her painter on board of 
 the Belle, we towed her out into the lake. 
 
 " That job is done, and I don't believe the rob- 
 ber will sail in the Raven any more to-day," said 
 Tom. 
 
 " Now what shall we do with her ? " I asked. 
 
 "We will anchor her just as far from the shore 
 as her cable will reach bottom." 
 
 This was less than a quarter of a mile from the 
 bluff, and we soon had her anchored where it was 
 impossible for her to be reached by the robber. 
 
 "I don't think we have made any mistake this 
 time, Wolf; though, if we have, we won't say any- 
 thing about it," said Tom, as we ran towards the 
 shore again. 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OP LAKE UCAYGA. 183 
 
 " Perhaps not ; but we haven't captured the rob- 
 ber yet," I replied. 
 
 "We know where he is, at any rate." 
 
 "That's so. If the sheriff keeps both eyes open, 
 he won't get out of the trap. But he will shoot any 
 of us who come within reach of his bullets." 
 
 "Well, we won't go within reach of them, then," 
 added Tom. "But what shall we do with ourselves 
 now?" 
 
 "I don't know that we can do anything better 
 than to cruise up and down off the mouth of the 
 gully" 
 
 "That won't do any good." 
 
 "I don't know about that. The rascal mi^ht find 
 some logs in the gully, and make a raft, if we don't 
 keep watch of him on this side. How does your 
 arm feel, Tom?" 
 
 " It aches ; but I can stand it first rate." 
 
 " I may as well go on the bluff, and see what Mr. 
 Bradshaw is about, if you can run the Belle off the 
 gully alone." 
 
 "O, I can! I could work her up to Middleport 
 without any help." 
 
184: BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 " Then I will go ashore. You might anchor off 
 the gully." 
 
 "No. I will stand off and on, where I can see 
 the fellow if he comes in sight." 
 
 The Belle was run up at the foot of the path to 
 the bluff, and I landed. The boat worked well 
 under the mainsail alone, and Tom stood off with 
 this sail only. I made my way up the steep path, 
 and soon reached the high ground. I discovered the 
 sheriff over by the bridge which led from the bluff 
 to the road. He was lying on the ground, and, as 
 I approached him, I saw him glance over the cliff 
 into the ravine. He had his pistol in hand, and was 
 trying to get a shot at his intended victim. 
 
 "Where is he?" I asked, as I joined the officer. 
 
 " The last I heard of him, he was down here," 
 replied the sheriff, pointing down into the ravine. 
 
 "What is he doing?" 
 
 "I don't think he is doing anything just now. 
 Between you and me, I believe I wounded him." 
 
 "I didn't hear you fire." 
 
 " I have popped at him twice. I could hear every 
 step he took, and I followed him all around the 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 185 
 
 bluff. I got a sight of him twice, and fired both 
 times." 
 
 "What is he doing?" 
 
 "Probably he is keeping himself in a safe place. 
 I haven't heard anything of him for some time." 
 
 "Isn't he at work in some other place?" 
 
 " No ; I don't think he can move without my 
 hearing him." 
 
 "We will stir him up a little," I added, taking a 
 good-sized rock, and rolling it over the precipice. 
 
 I heard it drop upon the rocks below, but -no 
 other sound came up from the chasm. 
 
 "That's a good idea. I didn't think of that," 
 said the sheriff, as he proceeded. to roll rocks into 
 the abyss, which, however, , appeared to produce no 
 effect upon the robber, at least so far as dislodging 
 him was concerned. 
 
 " I will cross the gully," I continued. " Then we 
 shall have one on each side, and he cannot so easily 
 conceal himself." 
 
 " Cross the gully ! " exclaimed the sheriff. " How 
 can you do that?" 
 
 "There is a bridge," I replied, pointing to it. 
 
186 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 " Yes ; but the moment you show yourself on that 
 bridge, the villain will put a bullet through your 
 brains," added the officer. 
 
 " I will see that he is not in position to do that 
 before I cross." 
 
 I crawled upon my hands and knees to the brink 
 of the abyss, and assured myself that the robber 
 was not where the sheriff supposed he was. I then 
 crossed the bridge, and began to move in the direc- 
 tion of the tree which lay across the chasm. I had 
 not taken ten steps before a bullet whizzed uncom- 
 fortably close to my ears. Luckily it did not hit 
 me ; but, deeming discretion to be the better part 
 of valor, I was not ashamed to lie down upon the 
 ground. 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE ITCAYGA. 187 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 SHOWERS OF ROCKS. 
 
 STEALING a cautious glance over the brink of 
 the precipice, I discovered the robber coiled up 
 under a projecting rock, about five rods from the 
 place where the sheriff had been looking for him. 
 It was ticklish business, though, after I had heard 
 one bullet whistle by my ears, I felt more like a 
 veteran, and found my courage increasing. Still I 
 was careful not to expose my head again to the 
 robber's aim, for I had a certain regard for my head, 
 and the contents thereof, which made me rather 
 tender of it. It may not have been a very- good 
 head, but it was the best one I had, and I did not 
 like to have it damaged, for no one could give me 
 another if I lost it. Besides, I was afraid it would 
 hurt Grace Toppleton's feelings, as well as my own, 
 to have a hole through my head. 
 
188 BEAR AND FOEBEAE, OR 
 
 I lay upon the ground, and did not deem it pru- 
 dent to attempt to obtain a second glance at the 
 robber at once. But I kept this position only long 
 enough to consider what I should do next. I crawled 
 back a little way from the ravine, where I could 
 lift my body up without being seen by the villain. 
 I then made signs to the sheriff on the other side 
 to indicate to him the precise location of the fugitive. 
 He understood me perfectly, and, guided by my sig- 
 nals, he advanced to that part of the bluff directly 
 over the robber's head. When he had reached the 
 right spot, I nodded my head to signify the fact. 
 
 The bluff was well supplied with rocks, and the 
 sheriff followed up the tactics I had suggested, by roll- 
 ing them over the brink of the precipice. It was 
 evident enough to me that the robber could not 
 stand this sort of treatment for any great length of 
 time ; for, though none of the rocks " thrown into 
 the chasm were larger than a man's head, they were 
 heavy enough to smash a man's skull after falling 
 from fifteen to twenty feet. Of course the chances 
 of hitting him with stones rolled blindly into the 
 ravine were not very good; but, if we followed up 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 189 
 
 the shower, he was in clanger of being hit sooner 
 or later. 
 
 "Pitch them in, Mr. Bradshaw!" I shouted. "Give 
 him plenty of them." 
 
 " Where is he now ? " asked the sheriff. 
 
 "He isn't far from you. Let him have a shower 
 of them," I added. 
 
 Taking a position myself far enough from the gully 
 to be out of reach of the robber's pistol, I began 
 to help my companion on the other side, and for a 
 few minutes we rained down the rocks into the 
 chasm with a zeal which threatened to bury the 
 victim beneath them. But, as we heard nothing of 
 him, I concluded, after a time, that he had changed 
 his position, or that his head had been broken, and 
 we suspended the assault when we were tired of the 
 hard work it involved. 
 
 I then crawled up to the chasm as close as I 
 dared to go, and listened attentively for any sound 
 which might indicate the robber's presence; but it 
 was his policy to keep entirely still, and I obtained 
 no information. The sheriff did the same thing on 
 his side of the gnlly, and we occasionally glanced 
 
190 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 at each other for intelligence. As we continued the 
 search, and our excitement increased, both of us be- 
 came more venturesome. We were soon reminded 
 again of the folly of exposing our heads to the 
 fire of the desperado in the chasm. I saw the sheriff 
 dodge, and heard the crack of a pistol in the chasm. 
 
 " All right ! " shouted Mr. Bradshaw to me. " No- 
 body damaged. He's right under you, Wolf." 
 
 "I know where he is now," I replied; and I renewed 
 the assault with a volley of rocks. 
 
 The sheriff did the same, and there was a heavy 
 shower of stones into the abyss. We followed it up 
 for half an hour, throwing the missiles in different 
 places for several rods, so as to cover any change of 
 position the robber might make. But the labor was 
 heavy, and seemed to be unprofitable, while we were 
 working in the dark. Making a signal to the officer to 
 continue the assault on his side, I walked down to the 
 bridge, where I could look into the chasm, and be out 
 of the reach of a ball from the robber's pistol. From 
 this secure position I obtained a full view of the rascal. 
 He was crouching under the overhanging cliff, at least 
 five rods from the place where the sheriff was throw- 
 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 191 
 
 ing over the rocks. The desperado raised his pistol, 
 and fired as soon as he saw me ; but I knew the weap- 
 on would not carry half the distance, and I was brave 
 enouoh not to flinch. 
 
 o 
 
 I was tired of carrying on the war in this blind 
 manner. I had been on the bluff over an hour, and 
 nothing had been accomplished. I crossed the bridge, 
 and walked up to the place where the sheriff lay. I 
 had an idea, which I hoped would bring matters to an 
 issue. 
 
 " Hold on, Mr. Bradshaw," said I, as I approached 
 him. "You are wasting your ammunition. The fel- 
 low is a hundred feet from you." 
 
 " This is hard work," replied the sheriff, wiping the 
 perspiration from his brow. 
 
 "Yes, and almost useless. I don't believe we have 
 hit him a single time." 
 
 "I thought he must be smashed to jelly by this 
 time." 
 
 "No; he is crouching under an overhanging rock, 
 out here," I added, pointing to the place where I had 
 seen him." , 
 
 " Hold on, then, and I will give him some more," 
 said the zealous officer. 
 
192 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 " No, let him rest a few minutes. One of us must 
 keep watch of him at a safe distance from his pistol," I 
 continued, picking up a little stick from the ground. 
 " Let us have some signals. I will go down where I 
 can see him, and direct you so that you can throw the 
 rocks in where he is." 
 
 " Good ! I like that," replied the officer. 
 
 " When I raise this stick, it means farther from me ; 
 when I lower it, nearer to me. When I carry it out 
 to the right, it means on your side of the chasm; 
 when to the left, on the other side," I proceeded, suit- 
 ing the action to the word. 
 
 " I understand. Up means farther off; down, near- 
 er to you ; right, nearer to me ; left, farther from me. 
 That's a good idea, Wolf, and we shall smash him this 
 time." 
 
 " And when you are in the right place I will raise 
 both hands," I added. 
 
 I returned to the bridge, and looked for the robber 
 again. He was not in the place where I had last seen 
 him, and I concluded that, as he had explored the 
 gully from the point where he landed, he had gone 
 in the direction of the fallen tree over the chasm. 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPEK OP LAKE T7CAYGA. 193 
 
 Taking the side of the gully opposite that on which 
 the sheriff was, I followed it in the direction of the 
 tree. There was a turn in the gully, and I was 
 obliged to fall back into the road which lay near 
 it, in order not to expose myself. I soon reached a 
 point where I could see the fallen tree. The robber 
 was directly under it, busily at work doing something 
 which I could not see. 
 
 I raised my hand with the stick in it as high as I 
 could, to indicate to the sheriff that he had a consider- 
 able distance to go. He increased his speed, and 
 when he reached the tree, I raised both hands, the sig- 
 nal that he was in the right place. But by this time 
 he needed no telegram from me ; for, precisely as I had 
 suggested that he would do, he threw his cord over 
 the trunk of the fallen tree. The officer saw the line, 
 and taking position at a safe distance, he began to 
 pour in the rocks with a vigor which threatened to an- 
 nihilate the robber, and bury him beneath the debris, 
 I had a fair view of the whole scene. The desperado 
 was trying to climb up his rope, and had actually 
 begun the ascent, when he suddenly dropped upon the 
 ground. It was plain enough to me that a rock had 
 hit him. 
 
194 BEAK AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 " Hold on ! " I shouted, at the top of my lungs, for 
 I did not wish to have the fellow unnecessarily injured. 
 
 The sheriff promptly suspended his operations, and 
 I ran with all speed to the fallen tree. Mr. Bradshaw 
 lay down on his stomach, and crawled towards the 
 chasm. As I approached, I saw him retreat a little, 
 which assured me the fugitive was not killed. 
 
 "He hasn't got enough yet," said the sheriff, as I 
 arrived on the other side of the chasm; and he im- 
 mediately launched another rock into the abyss. 
 
 " Hold on ! " shouted the robber. 
 
 "What do you want?" demanded Mr. Bradshaw. 
 
 "Don't throw any more rocks down," replied the 
 rascal, in a tone which indicated that he was in pain. 
 "You have broken my shoulder now." 
 
 " Do you surrender ? " called the sheriff. 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "All right; throw up your pistol, then." 
 
 "I can't throw it up — my shoulder is broken," 
 answered the robber. 
 
 I happened to have a fish-line in my pocket, one 
 end of which I threw into the chasm. 
 
 " Tie your pistol to this line," I added, " and I will 
 haul it out." 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OP LAKE UCAYGA. 195 
 
 I heard him moving in the gully, and I crept for- 
 ward to a point where I could see him. He was 
 tying the pistol to the fish-line. 
 
 « Pull it up," said he. 
 
 I drew up the revolver, and put it in my pocket. 
 I then dropped down the line again, and directed 
 him to send up his other pistol. He persisted that 
 he had only one, and I told him to send up his 
 cartridges, and any knife he had about him. He at- 
 tached a box of cartridges and a small bowie-knife 
 to the line, which I drew up. 
 
 "Now come up yourself," said Mr. Bradshaw. "But 
 I want you to understand, if you attempt any treach- 
 ery you are a dead man." 
 
 " I can't get up," replied the robber. " My shoul- 
 der is broken." 
 
 "If his shoulder is broken, he can't very well 
 shin up that rope," I added. 
 
 "How shall we get him out?" asked the sheriff. 
 
 "We can take him off in the boat," I replied, 
 "Indeed, that's the only way we can get him out, 
 unless we hoist him out with his line." 
 
 "As we must return to Centreport in the boat, 
 that will be the easist way," replied the sheriff. 
 
196 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 I crossed the chasm on the trunk of the tree, 
 and, after a short consultation with the sheriff, it 
 was agreed that he should remain on the bluff, and 
 see that the robber did not escape while we were 
 bringing up the Belle, and that I should go with 
 Tom, and take him on board at the place where 
 he had landed. If we both left the bluff, he might 
 still be smart enough to escape, in spite of his injury. 
 
 I hastened down the path, and, hailing Tom, was 
 soon on board of the Belle. I told the skipper we 
 had damaged the robber so that he was willing to 
 surrender, and had given up his pistol, which I ex- 
 hibited. By the time we reached the point in the 
 gully where the Raven had grounded, the robber 
 had arrived there, and the sheriff at the point on 
 the bluff above him. On the way, I had loaded all 
 the barrels of the robber's revolver, and held it in 
 my hand. But the desperado seemed to be very 
 badly injured, and I was obliged to help him into 
 the boat. He seated himself opposite' me, and I 
 put his travelling-bag in the cuddy. 
 
 Pushing off, Tom headed the Belle out into the 
 lake, in order to take a tack so as to reach the foot 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE TTCAYGA. 197 
 
 of the path, and receive the sheriff on board. Un- 
 der the lee of the Raven, the skipper put the helm 
 down, and I went forward to clear away the jib. 
 While I was thus occupied, the robber made a sud- 
 den spring at Tom, and taking him up in his arms, 
 tossed him into the lake. The deed was done in 
 the twinkling of an eye. The robber then made 
 a leap towards me. 
 
198 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 A BLOW WITH THE BOAT-HOOK. 
 
 THE robber appeared to be suffering so much from 
 the injuries in his shoulder that I had not con- 
 sidered him capable of giving us any further trouble ; 
 and when I went forward to clear away the jib, I put 
 the revolver in my j)ocket. I did not suppose a man 
 who declared that his shoulder was broken would make 
 an attack upon us, and I had relinquished the pre- 
 cautions adopted when the desperado came on board. 
 
 I was astounded and horrified when I saw Tom 
 pitched into the lake with so little ceremony. I saw 
 the robber spring towards me, and I fully comprehend- 
 ed his purpose. He doubtless intended to throw me 
 overboard also, and then seek some more available 
 landing-place than he had chosen before. I had only 
 time to pick up the boat-hook, when I divined his plan, 
 before he was upon the half deck. I had been too ten- 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 199 
 
 der-hearted and forbearing before, but now I was des- 
 perate, when I saw poor Tom floundering in the lake, 
 wounded, and hardly able to help himself. 
 
 Swinging the boat-hook over my head, I sprang 
 towards the robber ; and, clearing the fore-stay, I 
 brought it down upon his bare pate with a force that 
 felled him to the floor of the standing-room. He at- 
 tempted to dodge my blow, but the boom swung round 
 and held him so that he could not avoid it. I hit him 
 fairly with the heavy iron at the end of my weapon, 
 and he dropped as an ox does under the butcher's axe. 
 
 " I think you will lie still for a while now," said I, 
 glancing at him, as I hastened to the helm. 
 
 The Belle had lost her headway when Tom was 
 removed from the helm, and I was fortunately able to 
 reach him with the boat-hook. I extended it to him, 
 and he grasped it with the hand of the uninjured arm. 
 I pulled him in, and helped him on board. 
 
 "Are you hurt, Tom?" I asked, anxiously, as soon 
 as I had dragged the skipper into the standing-room. 
 
 "No, I guess not," he replied, shaking the water 
 from his hair.. " That fellow wouldn't have done that 
 if I had only had two arms, instead of one. It was a 
 shabby trick he played me." 
 
200 BEAE AND FORBEAR, OB 
 
 " I think he will have a sore head after this." 
 
 " I saw you crack him with the boat-hook." 
 
 " I gave him a stunner." 
 
 "Did you kill him?" 
 
 " I don't know. He hasn't moved since he fell." 
 
 Gathering up the sheet, which had run out in the 
 scrape, I headed the boat for the foot of the path, 
 where the sheriff was waiting for us. I had heard 
 him yell when the robber tossed Tom into the lake, 
 and I had no doubt he was gratified with the turn I 
 had been able to give to the affair. 
 
 " How do you feel, Tom ? " I asked, when I had put 
 the Belle on her course. 
 
 "First rate, Wolf," he replied; but his looks and 
 actions belied his words. 
 
 " No, you don't, Tom. You are suffering." 
 
 "Well, to tell the whole truth, and nothing but 
 the truth, that villain gave my sore arm an awful twist, 
 and it don't feel as good as it did." 
 
 " Let me get the sheriff on board, and then we will 
 run for Priam, where we can have something done for 
 you." 
 
 " O, never mind me, Wolf. I'm so glad we have got 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OP LAKE UCAYGA. 201 
 
 our man, that I don't care much for anything else," re- 
 plied Tom. 
 
 " I'm afraid you will take cold, and have a bad arm, 
 if something isn't done for it." 
 
 " I should rather laugh to see myself taking cold," 
 added Tom. "Why, I'm in the water half the time, 
 and I feel just as good when I'm wet through as when 
 I'm dry." 
 
 " I don't care what you say ; I intend to take good 
 care of you, Tom," I replied, as I lowered the main- 
 sail, and ran the boat up at the foot of the path. 
 
 " You have had a narrow escape," said the sheriff. 
 
 a Yes ; but an inch is as good as a mile. We are all 
 right now. Hurry up, Mr. Bradshaw. We are going 
 up to Priam." 
 
 "To Priam?" 
 
 " Yes ; I'm going to have Tom taken care of before I 
 do anything more." 
 
 " But I don't want to go to Priam." 
 
 " Leave you here, then, if you like," I replied. 
 
 " But I want to take that man up to Centreport." 
 
 " On board, or I will shove off without you." 
 
 The sheriff stepped into the boat, and began to talk 
 
202 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 about his prisoner ; but I headed the Belle for Priam, 
 in spite of his objections. 
 
 " That fellow begins to move," said Tom. 
 
 The robber rolled over and put his hand to his head. 
 Then he heaved a long sigh. Tom took the helm, at 
 his own desire, and the sheriff and I raised the des- 
 perado, and laid him on one of the seats. The blood 
 was flowing down the side of his head, and we found 
 an ugly wound where I had hit him. The blow had 
 stunned him; but he was beginning to revive. The 
 sheriff washed his head, and bound a handkerchief 
 over the wound, which I judged was not a serious 
 one. In a short time he was able to sit uj>, and the 
 officer put a pair of handcuffs upon his wrists. 
 
 " I suppose it is all up with me now," said he, after 
 he had surveyed the situation, and glanced particu- 
 larly at the handcuffs. 
 
 " You may as well hang up your fiddle now," added 
 Tom. " How is your shoulder ? " 
 
 "My shoulder is sore, but I think I could use it 
 again if there was a good chance," said he, biting his 
 lips. " What are you going to do with me ? " 
 
 " I'll take good care of you now," replied the sheriff. 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE TTCAYGA. 203 
 
 " Don't be rough on a fellow." 
 
 "By gracious! I've seen this fellow before!" ex- 
 claimed Tom, suddenly. "It's Schleifer, that hard- 
 ware drummer, as sure as you live!" 
 
 I looked at him carefully, and was satisfied that 
 Tom was right. But he was very much changed. 
 His face was covered with smut and dirt. His dress, 
 which had been carefully adjusted when we saw him 
 before, was now deranged and soiled. He had evi- 
 dently used a good deal of oil in cutting the hole 
 through the door of the bank vault, and had daubed 
 his face all over, so that he looked like a machinist 
 just from the shop. As I looked at him now, I was 
 not surprised that we had not recognized him. 
 
 " Schleifer it is, if you believe that is my name," 
 he replied. "Names are cheap." 
 
 " Where is the other fellow ? " asked Tom. 
 
 "I hope he has been smarter than I have," an- 
 swered the robber, gloomily. 
 
 "You have been smart," added Tom. 
 
 " If I had not run into that infernal hole, I should 
 not have been here." 
 
 "Who was that man with you?" I asked, recall- 
 
204 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OB 
 
 ing the scene in front of the stable at the hotel, on 
 the preceding evening. 
 
 " Who is he ? You can ask just as many questions 
 as you please; and I can answer just as many as 
 I like," replied he. "But we won't quarrel because 
 I have been unfortunate. It's a great pity that a 
 young man like me should be sent to the jug for 
 the best part of my life. Can't we make a trade ? I 
 
 "What do you mean by a trade?" asked the 
 sheriff. 
 
 " I'll be fair with you," continued the robber. " I 
 have in my bag about thirty or forty thousand dol- 
 lars — I don't know how much. We didn't stop to 
 count the money. Call it forty thousand. Here are 
 four of us, and that's just ten thousand apiece. In 
 other words, if you will let me off, I will give you 
 ten thousand apiece, whether I have anything my- 
 self or not." 
 
 " That's a pretty good offer," said the sheriff, who 
 had probably never seen ten thousand dollars in 
 his life. 
 
 I did not care to discuss such a question, and 
 therefore said nothing. 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OP LAKE UCAYGA. 205 
 
 " It won't compromise you in the slightest degree," 
 continued the robber, evidently encouraged by the 
 remark of the officer. "Just run the boat up to 
 the shore, and I will take care of myself. All you 
 have to say is, that you could not catch me. You 
 can put a shot or two through your hat, and through 
 your coat, to prove that you have not been back- 
 ward in following me up." 
 
 "Ten thousand dollars is a good deal of money 
 to a poor man like me," added Mr. Bradshaw. "It 
 is more money than I ever expected to see at one 
 time." 
 
 "It will not be the first time such a trade has 
 been made," urged the robber. 
 
 "What do you say, Wolf?" added the sheriff, 
 turning to me. 
 
 "I don't say anything," I replied. 
 
 "Here is a good chance to make some money." 
 
 "I can tell you of a better chance." 
 
 "What's that?" 
 
 "Go up and rob the Middleport or the Ucayga 
 Bank. If you do the job well, I have no doubt 
 you can make fifty thousand by it." 
 
206 BEAK AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 "Of course I wouldn't rob a bank," he replied, 
 laughing. 
 
 "You might as well as make a trade with this 
 fellow. It's all the same thing." 
 
 "You really don't suppose I meant to do such a 
 thing," said he, with a sickly smile. 
 
 "Come, what do you say?" persisted the robber, 
 glancing anxiously ahead, for we were rapidly ap- 
 proaching Priam. 
 
 "We will not say anything more about it," replied 
 the sheriff. 
 
 And he did not. I will not say whether, if the 
 sheriff had been alone, he would have made such 
 a nefarious bargain as that suggested by the rob- 
 ber; but I considered it better that he was not alone. 
 Schleifer pressed the subject ; but Bradshaw was now 
 indignant at the idea, and finally it was dropped. 
 The sheriff behaved rather nervously; but I could 
 not tell whether it was because he was losing a 
 chance to make his fortune, or was afraid he had 
 committed himself. 
 
 "Do you suppose they have caught the other fel- 
 low?" asked Tom, as we approached Priam. 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. * 207 
 
 " If they haven't, they will catch him," I replied. 
 
 " What makes you think so ? " demanded the robber. 
 
 "I know all about him now," I answered. 
 
 "You don't know so much as you think you do." 
 
 "I think I shall be able to find Lord Palsgrave," 
 I added. 
 
 " Bah ! You will find him as you did me — by ac- 
 cident, if you find him at all. If I had not run 
 into that hole, you would not have seen me again. 
 I was a fool that I did not cut a hole in the bot- 
 tom of this boat, instead of trying to burn her." 
 
 "We all make blunders," I suggested. 
 
 "Yes, you have made your full share," sneered he. 
 "Do you know where I was when you were look- 
 ing for me on the other 'side? I'll tell you. I was 
 in that gully, listening to what you said." 
 
 The robber was evidently trying to comfort him- 
 self in his misfortune, and he regaled us, until we 
 reached the wharf, with a recital of the manner in 
 which he had balked us. He wanted to know how 
 we happened to be in the Narrows at midnight, 
 but I did not care to enlighten him. We landed 
 at Priam, and went up to the hotel, the sheriff 
 
208 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 guarding his prisoner with the greatest care. The 
 intelligence of the robbery of the bank had already- 
 reached the town, for Captain Synders and Wad- 
 die had passed through the place several hours be- 
 fore in pursuit of the other robber. 
 
 I sent for a doctor as soon as we reached the 
 hotel, and obtained a supply of dry clothing for 
 Tom. In a short time I had made him very com- 
 fortable. The physician dressed his wound, and de- 
 clared that it was not serious, though it would give 
 the patient some trouble. 
 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 209 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 AT THE CATARACT HOUSE. 
 
 IT was decided that the sheriff should return to 
 Centreport with his prisoner in the Ucayga, 
 which left Hitaca at one o'clock, and would be at 
 Priam before two. The doctor insisted that Torn 
 should keep quiet for two or three days, and he re, 
 luctantly consented to return in the steamer, while 
 I went up the lake to the Cataract House, to see 
 what had become of Lord Palsgrave. 
 
 Soon after we arrived at the hotel, Schleifer de- 
 clared that he was nearly starved, for he had not 
 eaten anything since he had taken his supper the 
 evening before in Hitaca. I ordered an early din- 
 der for the whole party, and the robber's handcuffs 
 were removed to enable him to use his knife and 
 fork ; but both the sheriff and myself had a revolver 
 by the side of our plates, and the rascal made no 
 attempt to escape. 
 14 
 
210 BEAR AND FORBEAK, OE 
 
 "While we were at dinner, Captain Synders and 
 Waddie arrived, on their return from the pursuit 
 of the other robber. They had not been able to 
 obtain the slightest clew to him in this direction, 
 and had come to the conclusion that he had gone 
 towards Ucayga; but a party had been sent, in that 
 direction, and it was hoped he had been captured. 
 
 " How far did you go, Waddie ? " I asked. 
 
 "We went about a mile beyond the Cataract 
 House," he replied. " We could not find the slight- 
 est trace of him." 
 
 "Did you stop at the Cataract House?" 
 
 "Yes, a few minutes." 
 
 "Did you see Mr. Overton?" 
 
 "No; but the landlord told me he was out look- 
 ing for Miss Dornwood, who disappeared last evening 
 very strangely," replied Waddie, chuckling. " Lord — 
 What's his name?" 
 
 "Lord Palsgrave," I added, with interest. 
 
 "Lord Palsgrave was helping him in the search" 
 
 "Indeed!" I exclaimed. "All right!" 
 
 "What's all right?" 
 
 "Lord Palsgrave." 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 211 
 
 "What of him?" 
 
 "He's your man." 
 
 "What do you mean?" demanded Waddie, unable 
 to comprehend my rapid suggestions. 
 
 "You have not- seen the robber we captured, 
 Waddie. I had forgotten that. You must go in 
 and look at him." 
 
 "Why?" 
 
 "He is an old acquaintance of ours." 
 
 "The robber?" 
 
 "Yes; in a word, it is the hardware, drummer 
 that we took from the burning canal-boat," I replied. 
 "His mission in Centreport was to rob the bank." 
 
 "Now I remember the fellow said he wanted to 
 go to Centreport, half a dozen times, and as often 
 corrected himself, and made it Middleport. You don't 
 say that drummer is the fellow!" 
 
 "It's a fact; and, if the drummer was one of 
 them, it follows that Lord Palsgrave is the other." 
 
 "By the great horn spoon!" ejaculated Waddie. 
 
 "It's as clear as mud," I added. "I saw his lordship 
 and the drummer leave the stable together in a 
 vehicle." 
 
212 BEAK AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 "But how could he get back here? That's what 
 bothers me. We came down by the direct road, and 
 could not get any traces of him." 
 
 "I don't know how that is, but I am satisfied his 
 lordship is one of the men who robbed the Cen- 
 treport Bank. I am going to the Cataract House 
 in the Belle. Captain Synders had better go with 
 me, for I am sure Lord Palsgrave is our man." 
 
 "All right; and I will go also," replied Waddie. 
 
 We went into the hotel, and my friend was fully 
 convinced of the correctness of my theory when he 
 saw and recognized the drummer. Schleifer, or what- 
 ever his name was, continued to be boastful and 
 defiant. He was a hard villain, and seemed to take 
 great pleasure in informing us how he had cheated 
 us in the pursuit. When we went in, he was tell- 
 ing the sheriff that, though he had been hit on the 
 shoulder by a stone, he was not much hurt, and had 
 concluded that his chances were better in the boat 
 than in that dismal hole. We did not pay much 
 attention to him, however; and, after Waddie and 
 Captain Synders had dined, we embarked in the 
 Belle for the Cataract House. 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 213 
 
 "I don't understand how the other robber can be 
 down here," said the constable when we were un- 
 der way. " In fact, I don't believe he is here." 
 
 "You shall be satisfied on that point before night," 
 I replied. 
 
 "It would be a feather in our caps if we should 
 happen to catch him," added the captain. 
 
 "If he don't get frightened and clear out, we 
 shall have him before night," I replied. 
 
 Indeed, I wondered that his lordship had the te- 
 merity to remain in the vicinity after the crime in 
 which he had been engaged, and I suggested to my 
 companions that we should proceed with the ut- 
 most caution, and capture him before the news of 
 Schleifer's mishap reached him. The wind was still 
 fair 3nd fresh, and we made a quick run to our 
 destination. We landed at a point some distance 
 above that from which we had started the night 
 before, and, taking a path through the woods, pro- 
 ceded to the stable in the rear of the hotel. I 
 wished to ascertain when and how bis lordship had 
 returned. I did not like to have the constable ex-, 
 hibit himself, and I left him in the grove, though 
 
214 BEAR AND F0EBEAE, OR 
 
 he grumbled not a little at being compelled to play 
 an inferior part in the transaction. I found the 
 stable-keeper, who knew me very well, and being 
 in a position to send customers to the hotel, I was 
 treated with much consideration. 
 
 "You remember that I was here last evening?" 
 I began, after he had greeted me. 
 
 "Yes, you were asking about that lord who is 
 stopping in the house." 
 
 "Exactly so. I never happened to meet a live lord, 
 and I am rather anxious to see one. Has he re- 
 turned yet?" 
 
 "Yes; he came back this morning, about eight 
 o'clock." 
 
 "Did the other gentleman return with him?" I 
 asked. 
 
 "No; did you know him?" 
 
 "I had seen him before. Do you know where 
 they went?" . 
 
 "Over to Highlandville. Lord Palsgrave said he 
 had been over there to see a friend he met in 
 England last year." 
 
 His lordship was certainly very obliging to state 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OP LAKE UCATGA. 215 
 
 his business so definitely to the stable-keeper; and 
 I was rather desirous of knowing who his friends 
 in Highland ville were. This place was about five 
 miles back from the lake. 
 
 "Do you know where he is now?" I continued. 
 
 " He and another gentleman took a team this fore- 
 noon, and went away. They have not returned 
 
 yet." 
 
 "Who was the other gentleman?" 
 
 "Mr. Overton, I think; at any rate, it was the 
 one who came with him," replied the stable-keeper. 
 "I reckon there is some trouble in the family, Cap- 
 tain Penniman. The young lady who came with 
 the party cleared out last night, and they have 
 been looking for her all day. I believe they have 
 gone to Hitaca this time." 
 
 The stable-keeper wanted to tell me all about 
 the young lady, who had "cleared out;" but as 
 I knew more of the matter than he did, I was 
 not anxious to hear the story. The only point in 
 his narrative that interested me was the statement 
 that the young lady was supposed to be insane, 
 being subject to this malady. I concluded that this 
 
216 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 was an invention of Mr. Overton, put forth for the 
 purpose of concealing the real trouble. 
 
 " There they are now ! " said the stable-keeper, as 
 a team drove up to the side door of the hotel. "I 
 thought they would be back by dinner time." 
 
 One of the gentlemen alighted from the vehicle, 
 and went into the hotel, while the other drove the 
 horse up to the stable. The latter was Mr. Over- 
 ton, and as I did not care about being seen before 
 we were ready to put the bracelets on the wrists of 
 his lordship, I left the stable, and moved towards the 
 grove where I had left my companions. But the 
 horse, when headed towards the stable, smelt his 
 oats, and started off rather suddenly, and Mr. Over- 
 ton drove him around the hotel to prevent the ani- 
 mal from turning too short a corner. I did not ob- 
 serve where he went, and as I was hastening to 
 the grove, I met him in the road, where I could 
 not avoid him without jumping over the fence, which 
 my dignity would not permit me to do. He rec- 
 ognized me at once, and stopped the horse. 
 
 "I wish to see you, young man," said he, in an 
 arrogant tone, as he stepped out of the vehicle. 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OP LAKE UCAYGA. 217 
 
 One of the hostlers came to the place, and took 
 charge of the horse, so that he was relieved of all care 
 on his account, and able to give his whole atten- 
 tion to me. I nodded to him, as he spoke, to indi- 
 cate that I was ready to hear him. 
 
 "You are one of the persons who were with my 
 ward, Miss Dornwood, yesterday afternoon ? " he con-? 
 tinued, pulling off his glove. • 
 
 " I am one of the persons," I replied. 
 
 "You are the owner of a boat?" 
 
 "No, sir, I am not." 
 
 "One of your party is?" 
 
 "One of my party is." 
 
 "Where is that boat now?" demanded he, begin- 
 ning to be a little excited. 
 
 "She lies over by the shore yonder." 
 
 " Where ? " repeated he, sternly. 
 
 "If you wish to see her, I will take you to her," 
 I replied, good-naturedly, for this is my policy when 
 other people are angry. 
 
 "I don't wish to see her; I only want to know 
 where she is." 
 
 "Well, sir, she is not a half a mile from here." 
 
218 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 "Hasn't she been away somewhere?" 
 
 "I believe the lake is free for her to go wher- 
 ever her skipper chooses to take her," I replied, pru- 
 dently. 
 
 It occurred to me that Lord Palsgrave might be 
 interested to know where the Belle had been, and I 
 was afraid some information might be conveyed to 
 him before I was ready to have him . receive it. 
 
 "You don't answer my question," said Mr. Over- 
 ton, savagely. 
 
 "I don't consider myself under any obligation to 
 answer your questions, especially when you propose 
 them in this offensive manner," I replied, mildly. 
 
 He bit his lips, and perhaps he recognized the 
 force of my remark. 
 
 "I have a purpose in putting these questions," he 
 added, more gently. 
 
 "I can't help it if you have, sir." 
 
 "In a word, the young lady whom you assisted 
 has run away. Do you know anything about her?" 
 
 "For the present, sir, I decline to answer." 
 
 " Which means that you do know something about 
 her." 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 219 
 
 "You may draw your own conclusions." 
 
 " Let me tell you, young man, that Miss Dornwood 
 is my ward, and under my authority. Lord Palsgrave 
 and myself have been searching for her all the fore- 
 noon." 
 
 "Indeed! Is Lord Palsgrave much interested in 
 her?" I asked. 
 
 "He is to be her husband, and of course he is 
 very anxious in regard to her." 
 
 "If \e is to be her husband, I should think he 
 might be anxious," I added, coolly. 
 
 "He is very much distressed, and if you know 
 anything about her, you will do him a very great 
 favor by informing him where she is." 
 
 "I should be happy to oblige his lordship." 
 
 "Lord Palsgrave is -compelled to start for New 
 York this afternoon, upon important business, and 
 he is very anxious to know what has become of 
 Miss Dornwood before he leaves." 
 
 "I should think he would be. Then he is going 
 away on important business," I repeated, glad to 
 know the fact. "Will you introduce me to his 
 lordship?" 
 
220 BEAU AND FOKBEAE, OB 
 
 «I will." 
 
 "I will tell him where the lady is." 
 
 "Very well; you shall see him at once." 
 
 "I will meet you at the hotel in a few moments," 
 
 I replied, moving towards the place where I had left 
 
 Waddie and Captain Synders. 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 221 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 THE OTHER BANK ROBBER. 
 
 I CALLED Captain Synders and Waddie from 
 their hiding-place, and hastened to the hotel, in- 
 tending to reach it about as soon as Mr. Overton, for I 
 was rather fearful that his lordship would take the 
 alarm, and leave before I had an oppurtunity to intro- 
 duce him to the constable. 
 
 "I promised to tell Lord Palsgrave where Miss 
 Dornwood is," said I, as we hurried towards the rear 
 entrance of the hotel, while Mr. Overton had gone to 
 the front door. " Have you any objection, Waddie ?" 
 
 " I don't know that I have. It is useless to try to 
 hide her from him," he replied, as we entered the hotel. 
 
 I saw Mr. Overton go into the parlor ; and, after pla- 
 cing the constable where he would be available when 
 his services were needed, Waddie and I followed the 
 anxious guardian. We found him talking to an ele- 
 gantly dressed lady, who, I concluded, was his wife. 
 
222 BEAK AND FOEBEAE, OE 
 
 "Lord Palsgrave is not here just now," said Mr. 
 Overton, as we approached the spot where he stood. 
 
 " He has gone up stairs to dress for dinner," added 
 the lady. " He said he would be down in a few mo- 
 ments." 
 
 " We are somewhat in a hurry," I continued, anx- 
 iously; for I was afraid his lordship might obtain a 
 hint of the presence of a constable on the premises. 
 
 " If you are in a hurry, it will be quite as proper 
 for you to impart your information to me," said Mr. 
 Overton. 
 
 "I promised to give it to Lord Palsgrave only," I 
 added, wishing him to understand that I would give it 
 to no other person. 
 
 I was very much afraid of making a blunder. Of 
 course his lordship, having just returned from robbing 
 a bank, would naturally be very excitable and sus- 
 picious. I walked across the room with Waddie, in 
 order to obtain an opportunity to speak with him in 
 private. 
 
 " Go to the office, Waddie, and ascertain the number 
 of Lord Palsgrave's room, and don't let him leave the 
 house," I said to him, in a low tone. " Don't say any- 
 thing unless he attempts to leave." 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OP LAKE FCAYGA. 223 
 
 " I understand," replied Waddie, as he left the par- 
 lor to execute his mission. 
 
 " I hope you will not leave till you have seen Lord 
 Palsgrave," said Mr. Overton, perhaps afraid that I 
 should follow the example of my companion. 
 
 " I will not, sir," I answered, walking with him over 
 to the place where the lady was seated. 
 
 " We are very anxious indeed about Miss Dorn- 
 woocl," he added; "but more for her own sake than 
 for any other reason. She is young and giddy." 
 
 " I think you need not be disturbed about her." 
 
 " How can we help being worried about her ? " said 
 the lady. 
 
 " Well, madam, I can assure you she is with excel- 
 lent people, who will be very careful of her." • 
 
 " Did I understand you to say that you conveyed 
 Miss Dornwood away in your boat?" asked Mr. 
 Overton. 
 
 " Whatever the facts may be, I did not say so. Did 
 I understand you to say that Miss Dornwood is en* 
 gaged to Lord Palsgrave?" 
 
 "I did say so." 
 
 " I suppose you have been acquainted with his 
 lordship for a long time, then?" 
 
224 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 "No, only a few weeks." 
 
 "Of course you are satisfied that he is what he 
 represents himself to be." 
 
 " What, Lord Palsgrave ? " demanded Mr. Overton, 
 with a frown. " Why do you ask such a question ? " 
 
 " I suppose you are aware, sir, that all people who 
 pass themselves off as noblemen in the United States 
 are not really so." 
 
 " I think such a suggestion is* an insult to his lord- 
 ship. Did Miss Dornwood intimate to you that Lord 
 Palsgrave was an impostor?" 
 
 " She did not. On the contrary, I am confident that 
 she believes he is just what he claims to be." 
 
 " There can be no doubt about that. May I ask if 
 you, know anything about Lord Palsgrave ? " 
 
 " I do know something about him, though I have 
 not yet even met his lordship." 
 
 " I think you ask rather remarkable questions con- 
 cerning him. But here comes his lordship," added 
 he, as an elegantly-dressed young gentleman entered 
 the parlor. 
 
 Mr. Overton hastened to meet Lord Palsgrave, and 
 spoke to him for a moment in private. While they 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OP LAKE UCAYGA. 225 
 
 were thus engaged, Waddie entered the room, and 
 came to my side. We had an opportunity to examine 
 his lordship's elegantly-fitting garments, which were 
 certainly very creditable to his tailor. I had obtained 
 a single glance at his face, and if his voice had been 
 familiar to me, there was also something in his looks 
 which seemed to remind me that I had seen him be- 
 fore, though I did not then recognize him. 
 
 Lord Palsgrave was in full dress, with a white vest 
 and black dress coat. His patent-leather boots were 
 unexceptionable, and his pants were a capital fit. 
 From his neck an eye-glass dangled at the end of a 
 silken cord. He wore a light mustache, which had 
 evidently, been colored within a recent period, and 
 every hair on his head was adjusted with the nicest 
 care. If I had met him in the street I should have 
 called him a dandy without any compunction of con- 
 science. I wish to say that I have since seen a live 
 duke and a live earl ; but both of them, though they 
 looked and acted like gentlemen, were very plainly 
 dressed. 
 
 "He's a swellish-looking fellow — isn't he?" said 
 Waddie, as he joined me in the parlor. 
 15 
 
226 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 " The chief end of man with him is to keep up ap- 
 pearances," I replied. 
 
 " I think I have seen that fellow before." 
 
 " So do I, but I can't make him out." 
 
 "Did you get a good view of him, Wolf?" 
 
 "I only obtained a single glance at his face when 
 he came in ; but I pity Miss Dornwood if she is com- 
 pelled to throw herself away upon such a puppy as he." 
 
 " That match will be broken up, I think." 
 
 " Did you see him up stairs, Waddie ? " 
 
 " "No. I knocked at his door, and satisfied myself he 
 was in his room ; but I cleared out as soon as he an- 
 swered me. I did not let him see me when he came 
 out." 
 
 " Where is Captain Synders now ? " I asked. 
 
 " I told him to stand by the door when I came in, 
 and he is all ready to pounce upon his victim." 
 
 " Here comes Mr. Overton," I added, as his lordship 
 turned and walked over to the place where Mrs. Over- 
 ton was seated. 
 
 " Excuse me, but I have not your name," said Mr, 
 Overton. 
 
 « Captain Penniman," I replied. 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE TTCAYGA. 227 
 
 I walked with hirn into the immediate presence of 
 his august lordship. 
 
 "Lord Palsgrave, Captain Penniman," said Mr. 
 Overton. 
 
 His lordship had adjusted his eye-glass as he raised 
 his head from the lady. 
 
 " Captain Penniman ! " exclaimed he ; and his face 
 turned as red as a blood beet. 
 
 " Nick Van Wolter ! " I almost shouted, as I recog- 
 nized the distinguished nobleman. "I hope your 
 lordship is quite well." 
 
 "By the great horn spoon! It is Nick 'Van Wol- 
 ter!" cried Waddie. 
 
 "Do you know these persons, Mr. Overton?" said 
 his lordship, recovering his self-possession, and adjust- 
 ing his eye-glass with particular care. 
 
 " I do not." 
 
 " Don't you know me, Lord Nick Van Wolter ? " 
 I asked, laughing heartily at the airs of his lordship. 
 
 " Certainly not," he answered. 
 . " Then I have the advantage of your lordship." 
 
 " So have I," added Waddie ; " and that's two 
 against one." 
 
228 BEAB AND FORBEAB, OR 
 
 "Who are these persons?" demanded his lordship, 
 still squinting at us through his eye-glass. 
 
 " I don't know them ; but one of them informs me 
 that he knows where Miss Dornwood is, and is willing 
 to inform your lordship," replied Mr. Overton. 
 
 "I am that person, and I shall be happy to give 
 his lordship all the information in my power," I an- 
 swered. 
 
 " What do you know of the lady ? " asked his lord- 
 ship, in supercilious tones. 
 
 " She went down the lake in the Belle last night 
 — his lordship knows the Belle very well." 
 
 " The belle — pray, sir, do you refer to Miss Dorn- 
 wood ? " said Lord Palsgrave, squinting at me through 
 the glass. 
 
 " I do not. I refer to the sloop boat Belle, in which 
 your lordship has sailed more than once." 
 
 " What do you mean by that, fellow ? " 
 
 " Come, Nick, this farce is played out." 
 
 "Nick! What do you mean, fellow, by applying 
 such an insulting epithet to me?" exclaimed his 
 lordship. 
 
 " I hope you will treat Lord Palsgrave with proper 
 respect," interposed Mr. Overton. 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OP LAKE ITCAYGA. 229 
 
 " Well, sir, I happen to know that Lord Palsgrave 
 and Nick Van Wolter, the son of the present captain 
 of the steamer Ucayga, are one and the same person. 
 In other words, Mr Overton, he is a humbug." 
 
 " Fellow ! " ejaculated his lordship. " How dare you 
 insult me ? " 
 
 " O, I dare, if you call the simple truth an insult," 
 I replied. 
 
 "I will not endure this insolence," said his lordship, 
 rushing towards the door. 
 
 " Yes, you will," I interposed, placing myself before 
 him. 
 
 " I will call the landlord, and have you ejected from 
 the premises." 
 
 "Not yet. I will send for the landlord, and save 
 you that trouble. Waddie, will you call him?" and 
 I nodded to him to indicate that Captain Synders 
 might also be introduced. 
 
 By this time there was a great excitement in the 
 parlor. The guests of the house who were waiting 
 for dinner had become interested in the affair. Nick 
 Van Wolter, while he still attempted to maintain his 
 assumed character, was evidently very much discon- 
 
230 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 certed, and was thinking how he should get out of 
 the room, and make his escape. When Captain Syn- 
 ders entered the parlor, his jaw fell. 
 
 "Nick Van Wolter, as true as you live," said the 
 constable, as he came in, Waddie having previously 
 informed him who the victim was. 
 
 " Captain Penniman, you promised to tell his lord- 
 ship where Miss Dornwood * is," interposed Mr. Over- 
 ton. 
 
 " I am entirely willing to do so," I replied. " But 
 I am surprised to find that his lordship does not re- 
 member the Belle. Why, when his lordship and the 
 other gentleman — who, I believe, does not pretend to 
 be a lord — were crossing the lake last night, after mid- 
 night, the Belle actually ran into his boat. I will add 
 that Miss Dornwood was on board of the Belle at the 
 time, though she was asleep in the cabin." 
 
 "His lordship in a boat?" repeated Mr. Overton. 
 
 "Exactly so; and if his lordship will pardon the 
 freedom of my speech, he and the other gentleman 
 — who is not a lord — robbed the Centreport Bank 
 of fifty or sixty thousand dollars." 
 
 " Robbed a bank ! " exclaimed Mr. Overton. 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCATGAo 231 
 
 Lord Palsgrave's face was deadly pale, and his frame 
 quivered with emotion. • 
 
 " His lordship is well acquainted with Captain Syn- 
 ders, constable of Centreport, who is here for the pur- 
 pose of arresting him." 
 
 " O, yes ! I know his lordship like a book," replied 
 the constable. " I have known him for a good many 
 years, and I'm sorry to say, I never knew much good 
 of him." 
 
 At this moment the gong for dinner sounded ; but 
 none of the guests in the parlor manifested any dis- 
 position to regard the summons. 
 
 " I have heard enough of this nonsense. Mrs. Over- 
 ton, allow me to escort you to the table," said his 
 lordship, trying to stiffen his joints again, as he 
 stepped up to the lady, and extended his arm to her. 
 
 " I hope Mrs. Overton will excuse your lordship, for 
 we have not finished our business yet," I remarked, as 
 the constable stepped up to his victim. 
 
 His lordship was evidently very much disgusted and 
 disheartened. 
 
232 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 THE END OF LORD PALSGRAVE. 
 
 K "1 ANDLORD, I have been outrageously insult- 
 
 H A ed in your house, and if you do not instantly 
 expel these insolent persons, I shall be obliged to leave 
 myself," said Lord Palsgrave, approaching the landlord, 
 who had just arrived at the scene of the excitement. 
 
 "Not just yet, I guess," replied Captain Synders, 
 who did not permit his victim to get out of the reach 
 of his arm. 
 
 " I know nothing about this business," replied mine 
 host. " Captain Synders is a constable, and I presume 
 he knows what he is about." 
 
 " I do know just what I'm about," added the con- 
 stable/ 
 
 "I think it is quite proper for the officer to show 
 his warrant," added the landlord. 
 
 "I haven't any warrant; but we don't let a bank 
 robber escape for the want of one." 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE XJCATGA. 233 
 
 "At least you ought to show some ground for ar- 
 resting this gentle man." 
 
 " I'm going to search him, and if I don't find twenty 
 or thirty thousand dollars in bills of the Centreport 
 Bank upon him, I shall be willing to wait till I get 
 a warrant, before I take him." 
 
 " Search me ! Do you think I will submit to such 
 an unheard-of indignity ? " demanded his lordship, 
 stamping his foot with rage, which, however, was 
 manufactured for the occasion. 
 
 "I guess you will, Nick," quietly replied the con- 
 stable. 
 
 " Don't call me Nick, fellow," foamed the victim. 
 
 " Captain Penniman, before you proceed to extreme 
 measures in my house, I hope you will give me some 
 assurance that there is no mistake about the person," 
 interposed the landlord. 
 
 "I demand it as my right," added Lord Palsgrave. 
 " I will appeal to the British minister at Washington, 
 who is a particular friend of my father." 
 
 " I shall be very happy to satisfy you, jrnd all present, 
 that there is no mistake in regard to the person," I 
 replied. " A man who called himself Schleifer — 
 
234 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 though that is probably not his real name — was 
 taken out of a burning canal-boat on the lake, Tast 
 evening, by our party. That man was one of the 
 bank robbers." 
 
 "I never saw or heard of such a man," protested 
 Lord Palsgrave, violently. 4 
 
 " I beg his lordship's pardon, but he rode away from 
 the stable of this hotel with that man. The stable- 
 keeper assured me the person who went with him was 
 Lord Palsgrave. I am sure they went off together. 
 The other man has been arrested." 
 
 I saw that his lordship was startled by this infor- 
 mation. 
 
 " Did you recognize Lord Palsgrave in the vehicle 
 with the other man ? " asked the landlord. 
 
 " I did not, for I could not see his face," I replied. 
 " But I did recognize the man who has been arrested, 
 and the stable-keeper said the other one was his lord- 
 ship." 
 
 "As you did not identify Lord Palsgrave yourself, 
 there may still be some mistake." 
 
 " There is a mistake," said his lordship, warmly. 
 
 "Further, this person is not Lord Palsgrave, but 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OP LAKE TJCAYGA. 235 
 
 Nick Van Wolter, the son of Captain Van Wolter 
 of the Ucayga. Here are three of us who have 
 known him for years." 
 
 " If that's the case, I have nothing to say," added 
 the landlord. - 
 
 "Come, Nick, let's see what you have in your 
 pockets," said Captain Synders. 
 
 "Landlord, will you suffer this indignity to be 
 inflicted upon me in your house ? " appealed Nick. 
 
 "I haven't anything more to say about it. Din- 
 ner is ready, ladies and gentlemen," he replied. 
 
 But no one was disposed to dine while the issue 
 was pending. 
 
 "Mr. Overton, I assure you this is an outrage," 
 protested Nick. 
 
 "If you are not what you represented yourself 
 to be, I have no sympathy with you," rejjlied the 
 gentleman addressed, who evidently thought it ne- 
 cessary to free himself from any suspicion of com- 
 plicity with the bank robber. 
 
 Nick glanced around the room with all the dig- 
 nity he could summon to his aid, and then made a 
 leap towards one of the open windows. The vigi- 
 
236 BEAR AND F0EBEAE, OE 
 
 lant constable was too quick for him, and placed a 
 heavy hand upon him. 
 
 "Don't be in a hurry, Nick," said the officer, tak- 
 ing from his pocket a pair of handcuffs. 
 
 "What have you there?" demanded Nick. 
 
 "Only a pair of irons!" 
 
 "Irons! Has it come to this? They will pierce 
 my soul ! " exclaimed his lordship, who had evidently 
 borrowed this fine expression, as he had his knowl- 
 edge of heraldry, from the novels he had read. 
 
 "They won't touch your soul, Nick; I'm only go- 
 ing to put them on your wrists, so that you will 
 hold still, and not jerk about so," added the con- 
 stable, as, with some force, he snapped the irons 
 upon his prisoner. "Now, we want to know what 
 you have in your pockets, Nick. It's no use to 
 jerk; you can't get away." 
 
 Captain Synders searched his pockets, but did not 
 find anything to implicate him in the robbery; but 
 he took possession of a bunch of keys, which he 
 handed to me, and requested me to examine the 
 prisoner's effects in his room. The landlord went 
 with us, and we opened his trunk. 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE TJCAYGA. 237 
 
 " These are the clothes he had on last night," said I, 
 taking from the trunk a tweed suit. " You see they 
 are very much soiled with smut and oil." 
 
 " Do you find any tools ? " asked the landlord. 
 
 "No; I think the other robber provided them," I 
 replied, as I pulled all the clothing out of the 
 trunk. 
 
 In the bottom of it I found a packet dene up in 
 brown paper. It was about the length and . width 
 of a bank note, and I was sure it contained money. 
 I opened it. 
 
 "There's no mistake about that," said the land- 
 lord, as I came to the bills. " Centreport Bank," he 
 added, looking at the face of the notes. 
 
 "I was sure of my man. See here," I replied, 
 pointing to the address of the cashier on the brown 
 paper, which had probably enclosed some article 
 sent to Mr. Barnes at the bank. 
 
 " That's a pile of money," added the landlord, as 
 I turned over the notes. 
 
 "I judge, from what the other robber said, that 
 there must be twenty or thirty thousand dollars." 
 
 We returned to the parlor, and exhibited the re- 
 
238 
 
 suit of the search. There was no longer any doubt 
 as to the guilt of his lordship, and the guests went 
 to their dinner, congratulating themselves, perhaps, 
 that, after all, Lord Palsgrave was not "the biggest 
 toad in the puddle." Mr. Overton, however, did 
 not go with them, but paced the room in high ex- 
 citement. It was easy to understand that the sit- 
 uation was very far from being agreeable to him. 
 
 "Well, I suppose we may as well be getting 
 back to Centreport as fast as possible," said Captain 
 Synders, who was probably in a hurry to march his 
 prisoner in triunrph into the town. 
 
 " His lordship has not dined yet," suggested Waddie. 
 
 " I don't want any dinner," said Nick, bursting into 
 tears, as the extent of his reverses crowded upon 
 his mind. 
 
 Half an hour before, every one treated him with 
 profound respect and great consideration; now every 
 one despised him, and looked down upon him with 
 contempt. His tears were moving, and, as he had 
 laid aside his lordly airs, .we were not disposed to 
 ridicule him. If he had been sincerely repentant 
 over his crime, instead of being sorry for its mere 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPEE OF LAKE UCATGA. 239 
 
 exposure, we could have pitied and sympathized 
 with him. 
 
 "Take me away from here as quick as you can," 
 added Nick. "I hope you will let me go to my 
 room and change my clothes." 
 
 " That suit is good enough," replied the constable. 
 
 " I would rather not go to Centreport in this dress." 
 
 Waddie and I interfered in his favor, for we were 
 not disposed to increase his suffering, and the constable 
 consented to take him to his room to clothe himself 
 in a more becoming suit. 
 
 "Captain Penniman, you have not told me yet 
 where Miss Dornwood is," said Mr Overton. 
 
 " I did not agree to tell you, but only your friend," I 
 replied. 
 
 "He is not my friend now. He is an impostor," 
 added Mr. Overton, warmly. 
 
 Nick glanced at him as he uttered these words, 
 and appeared to regard the epithet as very unkind 
 from him. 
 
 "Tell him, Wolf," said Waddie. 
 
 " Miss Dornwood is at Mr. Pinkerton's, in Ruoara," 
 I added. 
 
240 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 The guardian bit his lip, and seemed to be very 
 much disconcerted. His plans for the fortune, as well 
 as those of Nick, were doubtless very much deranged. 
 He said no more, and Captain Synders conducted' his 
 prisoner to his room. As the injury which Tom 
 Walton had received rendered it doubtful whether 
 we should return to complete my vacation in this 
 part of the lake, I concluded that I would take my 
 bear home in the Belle. I promised to meet the rest 
 of our party at the boaf in a short time, and hastened 
 over to Captain Portman's. I found him at home; 
 and, as we walked out to the quarters of Bruin, he 
 told me he had another bear on his hands. 
 
 "Another!" I exclaimed. 
 
 "Yes, the twin brother of mine," replied Captain 
 Portman. "Major Tompkins, a friend of mine in 
 Hitaca, brought them down from the woods, where 
 an old hunter had reared them as pets. They amused 
 him so much that he bought them to keep in his gar- 
 den ; but the illness of his wife compelled him to go to 
 Europe, and as he expected to be absent two or three 
 years, he gave one to my neighbor, Mr. Walker, and 
 the other to me. Mine has never been cross, though 
 
THE YOTJNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 241 
 
 they say the other one has been a little ugly ; but I 
 found they had almost choked him by buckling the 
 strap too tight around his neck. He has been as 
 pleasant as a kitten since he has been here. Now, 
 Wolf, if you want both of them, you shall have them." 
 
 I did not want both of them, and I was rather 
 embarrassed by the offer; but when we reached the 
 quarters of the two bears. I changed my mind. I saw 
 them play together, and I laughed till my sides ached 
 at their gambols. It was a pity to part two such ex- 
 cellent friends, and I decided to accept Captain Port- 
 man's offer. I stepped up to the one whose acquaint- 
 ance I had made before. He appeared to recognize 
 me, stood up, and presented his paw. The other had 
 been trained in like manner, and performed the same 
 trick. I shook hands with them, and found they were 
 both ready for a frolic, in which, however, I had not 
 time to engage. 
 
 I told the two men whom Captain Portman called 
 where the Belle lay, and they led the bears down to 
 the lake, while their employer walked with me. I 
 related to him the particulars of the bank robbery 
 and the capture of the robbers. He was very much 
 16 
 
242 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 astonished to learn that the lord at the hotel was 
 one of the criminals. 
 
 When we reached the lake, I found Captain Synders 
 and Waddie with the prisoner, who was still in irons. 
 The constable was very impatient, and when he saw 
 the two bears, which were to be his fellow-passengers, 
 he declared he would not go in the boat with them. 
 Indeed, I found myself that two bears were rather too 
 many for the space the Belle afforded; but Captain 
 Portman relieved me of the difficulty by promising 
 to send one of his men to Middleport with them in 
 the steamer the next day. 
 
 Captain Synders embarked his prisoner, an<J we 
 were soon driving down the lake. Nick Van Wolter 
 was the image of despair. His brilliant calculations 
 for the future had utterly failed, and instead of marry- 
 ing an heiress, he was to spend a long time in the pen- 
 itentiary. I have no doubt he was willing to believe 
 that " the way of the transgressor is hard." 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE ITCAYGA. 243 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 THE ADVENTURES OP NICK VAN WOLTER. 
 
 " % \'TOJjF' i you have been a thorn in my path," said 
 f f Nick Van Wolter, as the Belle stood down 
 the lake. 
 
 "Do you regard me as the author of your mis- 
 fortunes ? " I inquired. 
 
 "Certainly I do." 
 
 " You are mistaken. You are the author of them 
 yourself, Nick." 
 
 " I don't think so. Everything was going very well 
 with me till you came up here," he added, bitterly. 
 
 "I did not instigate you to rob the bank." 
 
 "No; but I should have got off if you had not 
 turned up." 
 
 " You don't seem to think that your crimes are the 
 cause of your misfortunes, Nick. If you had been an 
 honest and upright young man, I could not possibly 
 have done you any harm." 
 
244 BEAR AND FOEBEAE, OB 
 
 "That may be true, but you have upset all my 
 calculations." 
 
 "You should not have had any such calculation 
 as the robbing of a bank." 
 
 " Well, I suppose it will not make any difference 
 now. This is the end of me," he replied^ as the tears 
 filled his eyes again. " Ten or twenty years in prison 
 is not a pleasant thing to think of." 
 
 "You ought to have thought of that before you 
 robbed the bank." 
 
 " Of course I had, but I didn't. I hadn't the least 
 idea that I should be detected. I didn't think it was 
 possible ; and it wouldn't have been, if you had kept 
 out of the way." 
 
 "You were blind, Nick. Murder will out. Those 
 who commit great crimes are almost always discovered. 
 I don't believe a man who commits a crime has more 
 than one chance in a hundred of escaping the con- 
 sequence of it, even in this world," I added, warmly. 
 
 " Do you think any one would have suspected me of 
 robbing the bank if you had been out of the way, 
 Wolf?" 
 
 " I think it would have come out. There is always 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OP LAKE UCAYGA. 245 
 
 a screw loose somewhere in this kind of business. 
 You did not know I was near the hotel till Mr. 
 Overton introduced me." 
 
 " Yes, I did ; I saw you yesterday afternoon, when 
 you landed at the grove. I saw Waddie coming to- 
 wards the place when Miss Dornwood and myself 
 were walking. I was afraid he would see me, and I 
 told the lady I would get a team and drive her along 
 the shore road, if she would wait where she was." 
 
 "We saw you hastening towards the hotel," said 
 "Waddie. 
 
 " I heard Miss Dornwood scream, and saw the bear 
 before her, but I could not return because you were 
 there. I stepped back into the grove, and saw all that 
 
 " And you expected to marry Miss Dornwood ? " I 
 asked. 
 
 " Yes, I expected to do so, though she refused me 
 once. Mr. Overton assured me he could make it all 
 right, and I had no doubt he would. The girl was 
 pretty and interesting." 
 
 "Did Mr. Overton know you were not what you 
 represented yourself to be ? " I inquired, finding that 
 Nick was disposed to be communicative. 
 
246 BEAR AND FORBEAE, OR 
 
 " Of course I never told him who I really was ; but, 
 after the talk we had together at Cape May, I think he 
 understood the matter well enough. It was very fine 
 for him to call me an impostor, after we had under- 
 stood each other for a month," replied Nick, sourly; 
 and he seemed to be as much disgusted with Mr. 
 Overton as with me. 
 
 "You had an understanding with him, then?" 
 
 "It was not in black and white; but I knew what he 
 meant, and he knew what I meant." 
 
 "What did he mean?" I asked. 
 
 Nick hesitated, and looked in the bottom of the 
 boat, as if considering whether he should answer the 
 question or not. 
 
 "I think Mr. Overton has used me in a shabby 
 manner," said he, at last. " He did not even offer 
 to help me out of my trouble, but called me an im- 
 postor. I don't know that I am under any obligation 
 to conceal his tricks." 
 
 " If he means any wrong towards Miss Dornwood, 
 you ought not to conceal it," added Waddie. 
 
 " She is a good girl, and I liked her. I don't wish 
 her any harm ; and that is what Mr. Overton means. 
 He intends to rob her of her fortune." 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 247 
 
 " Are you sure of that, Nick ? " 
 
 "I am. I'll tell you the whole story, Wolf; and if 
 you have a chance to do me a favor, I hope you will 
 do it." 
 
 "I shall be glad to do anything that is right for 
 you," I replied. 
 
 "I don't want to be paraded through the streets 
 of Centreport, and stared at by all the folks I used 
 to know," said Nick, glancing at the constable, as 
 though he knew him well enough to understand that 
 he would make the most of his victim. 
 
 The prisoner evidently expected me to save him 
 from this painful exhibition, and I was willing to do 
 so if it was in my power. 
 
 " I do.n't owe Mr. Overton anything, certainly," con- 
 tinued Nick. "I could have choked him when he 
 introduced you to me, Wolf." 
 
 "Didn't he speak to you beforehand about me?" 
 I asked. 
 
 " Not a word. Do you think I should have showed 
 myself to you? Not at all. If I had known you 
 were in the honse, or anywhere near it, I should have 
 taken myself off. When I came back in the morning, 
 
248 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 Mr. Overton told me your boat was gone, and he could 
 not find any of the party who belonged to her. This 
 made me perfectly easy. I was going to New York 
 this afternoon, and I had no more idea of seeing you 
 than I had of meeting the Queen of England." 
 
 "By the way, Nick, how did you get back to the 
 hotel?" inquired Waddie, who had been much mys- 
 tified on this subject. " We sent two men by the 
 upper road, and Captain Synders and myself came by 
 the shore road." 
 
 " When I met Cutter last night — " 
 
 "Who?" 
 
 "Cutter — the man who went down to Centreport 
 with me." 
 
 " Schleifer," I added. 
 
 " He has as many names as a Spanish Infante," said 
 Nick. " When I met him, we changed our plans. He 
 was to go to Middleport as quietly as he could, and 
 took a canal-boat, so as not to let many people see him. 
 You know how he happened to come ashore here. I 
 was to meet him on the wharf at Middleport, as soon 
 as everything was still, and I intended to drive down 
 after dark, so that no one could see me. After Miss 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 249 
 
 Dornwood came back to the hotel, and Mr. Overton 
 had locked her into her room, I went down to the bar 
 to get a glass of wine, for I was alarmed, and wanted 
 something to raise my spirits. I met Cutter there, and 
 he decided to ride with me to Middleport. 
 
 " I took a team, and told the stable-keeper I should 
 not be back till late, if I returned before morning. I 
 ^rove to Highlandville, where we put the team up at 
 one stable, and hired a horse and buggy at another. 
 At Middleport, where we arrived at half past eleven, I 
 put the team in the shed at the store near the head of 
 the wharf. I knew just where to find a boat, and we 
 started to cross the lake. In the darkness I made out 
 a sail-boat, going through the Narrows. She was close 
 aboard of us when I discovered her. Then the sail- 
 boat kept away a little, and ran into us." 
 
 " Did you know what boat it was ? " asked Waddie. 
 
 " I did not. I knew the Belle was up the lake, and 
 it did not occur to me that it was she, even when the 
 fireworks blazed up. We ought to have given up the 
 job then, but Cutter said it was all right. We got out 
 of the way as quick as possible. We walked over to 
 the Institute, and soon saw the sail-boat go down the 
 
250 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 lake. We were satisfied then, and went to the bank. 
 We approached the building by the back way, and did 
 the job. It took so long to cut the hole through the 
 door, that we did not finish till nearly daylight; and 
 even then we heard the porter in the building. 
 
 " In a few minutes there was a commotion, and we 
 realized that our work had been discovered. I led the 
 way to the steam-mill by the back alleys, lioping to, 
 find a boat there. We were disappointed, and as there 
 was no one in the way, we hastened to the steamboat 
 wharf. I jumped into the tender of the Grace; but 
 Cutter said he would not leave the Raven, which lay 
 there, for some one to use in following us. "We de- 
 cided to separate then, in order to divide and bother 
 our pursuers. I pulled across the lake, and got my 
 horse at the shed. I took the upper road; but the 
 horse was not fast, and I soon heard the rattle of a 
 wagon behind me. Seeing a road into the woods, 
 I drove in, taking care to remove the tracks of the 
 wheels and the horse, so that they might not attract 
 the attention of my pursuers. I suppose they had 
 not heard the rattle of my vehicle, for presently they 
 passed my hiding-place at a furious speed. 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OP LAKE UCAYGA. 251 
 
 " Resuming the road, I continued on my way, and 
 reached Highlandville without seeing any person. 
 Returning the horse I had hired here, I obtained 
 the one I had driven from the hotel, and went lei- 
 surely back without seeing any of the pursuers. I 
 believed I was all right then ; and I should have been, 
 if Wolf had not crossed my path." 
 
 " Did you divide the money ? " asked the constable. 
 
 " No ; we each took what we happened to have. 
 Cutter carried the gold in his bag. We were to meet 
 in New York, and make a fair division, expecting the 
 newspapers to tell us how much the bank had lost, so 
 that neither could cheat the other." 
 
 " Where have you been since we parted above 
 Hitaca, Nick ? " I inquired, in order to bring him back 
 to the Overton business. 
 
 " I went to Philadelphia first. I meant to go into 
 some kind of business, and save the money I had ; but, 
 while I was at a hotel in the city, I met Cutter, who 
 persuaded me to visit a gambling saloon, where I lost 
 about half of my money. I found that Cutter was 
 employed by the establishment to visit the hotel, and 
 bring in customers. I had wit enough to stop playing 
 
252 BEAR AND FORBEAE, OR 
 
 when I found it was a losing game. Cutter took a 
 fancy to me, and put me in the way of making a little 
 money at this gambling house. I was employed as c a 
 young gentleman from the country.' When any one 
 came in, I was allowed to win largely, for the en- 
 couragement of other young men from the rural 
 districts, but of course my winnings went back to 
 the banker. 
 
 "As the season advanced, a gambling house was 
 opened at Cape May, and Cutter and myself went 
 down to influence customers. I did not like the 
 business, and he was dissatisfied with his salary. He 
 informed me that he had been a machinist, and 
 through many stages the conversation went on till 
 he told me he meant to make a grand strike by emp- 
 tying the vault of some bank. He talked to me 
 about the plan for weeks before I would consent to 
 have anything to do with it. Then I suggested the 
 Centreport Bank. All this time we boarded at the 
 best hotel, and no one except an occasional victim 
 knew who or what we were. We bathed in the surf, 
 danced, dined, and flourished in the drawing-rooms. 
 
 "There was a rumor about the hotel that an 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 253 
 
 English lord, incog. , was staying there. Every one 
 wanted to penetrate the mystery; but, if there was 
 any lord there, he kept his own secret. As a joke, 
 Cutter whispered confidentially to some of the guests 
 that I was the lord. I soon found that I was treated 
 with great consideration, though, as my friend had not 
 told me what he was about, I did not understand the 
 reason. Fathers and mothers introduced me to their 
 daughters, and I was a lion in spite of myself. Among 
 those to whom Cutter had imparted the great secret 
 was Mr. Overton, and I made the acquaintance of Miss 
 Dornwood. Will you give me a drink of water, 
 Wolf ? I feel quite faint," said Nick, who was really 
 very pale. 
 
 I brought him some water, and also some crackers 
 and cheese, for I knew he had not been to dinner ; but 
 he would not eat. 
 
254 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 NICK soon declared that he felt better, and 
 continued his story. - 
 "I was very much pleased with Miss Dornwood, 
 especially when I learned that she had a fortune of 
 two hundred thousand dollars. A few days after I 
 was introduced to her, I had the pleasure of sav- 
 ing her from drowning while she was bathing in the 
 surf. She was not as grateful to me as I supposed 
 she would be, but I hoped soon to win her regard. 
 One day Mr. Overton came into the gambling sa- 
 loon where I was employed. I was engaged in in- 
 ducing a man from the country to play, and I did 
 not notice the presence of the guardian of Miss 
 Dornwood for some time. He knew enough of the 
 world to understand my position. If I had seen 
 him sooner, I should not have committed myself. 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 255 
 
 But Mr. Overton did not seem to have any less re- 
 gard for me, when he met me about the hotel, 
 and encouraged my advances to Miss Dornwood. 
 
 "I told Cutter what I was doing in this direction. 
 He laughed, and informed me of the practical joke 
 he had played upon me. He advised me to follow 
 up the affair, and not to take the trouble to deny 
 that I was an English nobleman. I was pleased 
 with the attentions bestowed upon me by the guests, 
 and was not disposed to ruin myself in their esti- 
 mation. I continued to be very devoted to Miss 
 Dornwood ; and, as her guardian and his wife would 
 not permit her to make other acquaintances, watch- 
 ing her every moment of the time, I was almost 
 her only companion. I gave up my place in the 
 gambling saloon, lest it should compromise me, and 
 I had plenty of time to give to Miss Dornwood. 
 She seemed to like me very well, and I soon pro- 
 posed to her; but, to my chagrin and astonishment, 
 she gave me a decided refusal. 
 
 "I did not believe she meant it, and I was con- 
 fident that I could change her mind in due time. 
 After this she tried to avoid mej but I managed 
 
256 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 very carefully, devoting myself quite as much to 
 the guardian as to the ward. Miss Dornwood cer- 
 tainly treated me very kindly, though she was rather 
 shy. Mr. Overton thought she was making too 
 many friends at Cape May, and decided to spend a 
 few weeks at Newport. The family went there, 
 and Cutter and myself went also. On the journey 
 I thought Miss Dornwood had relented towards me, 
 and soon after our arrival I had a talk with Mr. 
 Overton, in which I boldly pleaded for the hand of 
 his ward. He had no objections, and told me that, 
 according to the terms of Mr. Dornwood's will, his 
 ward could not marry unless with the guardian's 
 consent, without losing three fourths of her fortune. 
 "The conversation was a long one, for Mr. Over- 
 ton was very guarded in his remarks ; but I un- 
 derstood him perfectly, even while he did not fully 
 commit himself. He said that, as usual, some very 
 extravagant reports had been circulated in regard 
 to the extent of her fortune. He did not wish to 
 have any mistakes or disappointments, and he told 
 me he would give me on our wedding day fifty 
 thousand dollars. He wished to be distinctly un- 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE TJCAYGA. 257 
 
 derstood that this was all she was entitled to; and 
 he added that, as I was an English nobleman, money 
 could not be any object to me. I did not deny 
 that I was a lord, and told him I was satisfied with 
 the dowry of his ward. I understood Mr. Overton 
 as well as he understood me; and I was satisfied I 
 could obtain the rest of Miss Dornwood's fortune 
 after our marriage. 
 
 "Life at Newport made sad inroads upon my 
 funds, and it was necessary for them to be replen- 
 ished very soon. I intended to obtain my supply 
 from the vaults of the Centreport Bank, and Cut- 
 ter and I completed our plans for the job. I sug- 
 gested to Mr. Overton that the Cataract House was 
 a capital place to spend a few weeks, when he spoke 
 of leaving Newport, and it was decided that we 
 should go there. Cutter and I agreed upon the night 
 for the visit to the bank, but we separated before 
 we reached the Cataract House. You know the rest 
 of the story, Wolf." 
 
 "Did you really expect to marry Miss Dorn- 
 wood ? " asked Waddie, who appeared to be disgusted 
 with the conceit of Nick. 
 17 
 
258 BEAK AND E0EBEAE, OK 
 
 "Certainly I did; and I think she had changed 
 her views since she refused me." 
 
 " Did you acknowledge that you were a lord ? " 
 
 "When we went to the Cataract House I did. 
 Cutter wrote me some letters, and insisted that I 
 should do so, because it would prevent suspicions in 
 regard to us." 
 
 "I believe you are only nineteen, Kick: did you 
 intend to marry immediately ? " I inquired, rather 
 amused at the calculations of the strategist. 
 
 "No; not at once. I expected to get twenty or 
 thirty thousand dollars from the bank, and to spend 
 a year or two in Europe, as Mr. Overton talked of 
 going there. Well, a change has come over my 
 dreams," added Nick, sadly, as he glanced at the 
 irons on his wrists. "I did not see how anything 
 could go wrong, and yet everything has failed me." 
 
 His case was only a repetition of the common ex- 
 perience of evil-doers. 
 
 Night came on, and the wind, which had blown 
 fresh all day, subsided, so that we did not reach 
 our destination till after nine o'clock in the even- 
 ing. Captain Synders took his prisoner to the town 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 259 
 
 lock-up for the night, and the next day conveyed 
 him to the county jail, to await his examination 
 and trial. 
 
 The day had certainly been an eventful one, and 
 I was very much fatigued; but I was not willing to 
 go home until I had seen Colonel Wimpleton. I 
 was anxious to know whether the Union Line was 
 to be broken up, and the war between the two 
 magnates resumed. I hastened with Waddie to the 
 house of the great man. We found him in his 
 library. 
 
 "Ah, Wolf, I didn't expect to see you to-night; 
 but I heard at Ucayga that you had captured one 
 o£ the robbers, and recovered part of the money," 
 said he. 
 
 "We have captured both of the robbers, and re- 
 covered all the money," I replied. 
 
 "Indeed! You have done well." 
 
 "I don't mean to say I have done all this," I 
 protested. " I think Tom Walton has done the most, 
 and fared the hardest." 
 
 "I heard he was shot in the arm." 
 
 "Yes, sir;" and I explained the nature of his 
 wound. 
 
260 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 "I was told that Waddie and Captain Synders 
 could find nothing of the other robber." 
 
 "We could not; but Wolf knew just where to 
 put his hand upon him," added Waddie. " We found 
 him at the Cataract House; and who do you sup- 
 pose he is, father?" 
 
 " I haven't any acquaintance among that class of 
 people, and could not be expected to know him." 
 
 "It is Nick Van Wolter." 
 
 "Nick!" exclaimed the colonel, with a frown. 
 
 "Yes, sir, it is Nick, otherwise Lord Palsgrave," 
 laughed Waddie. 
 
 The colonel was anxious to learn the particulars 
 of the capture of the robbers, and Waddie and .1 
 related the adventures of the day. I delivered to 
 him the package of money found in Nick's trunk, 
 which had been intrusted to me by the constable. 
 
 "You have had a stirring time of it," said Colo- 
 nel Wimpleton, when we had finished. "I have 
 been in Ucayga all day, and did not know what was 
 going on. I had not been in the house an hour 
 when you came. I had considerable difficulty in 
 raising the money to pay my note." 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE TJCAYGA. 261 
 
 "Have you seen Major Toppleton?" I asked, though 
 it required some courage to ask the question, for I 
 dreaded another explosion. 
 
 "Seen him! No!" replied Colonel Wimpleton, 
 rising hastily from his chair, and beginning to march 
 up and down the library. "I have heard from him, 
 though. He was at Ucayga this morning, raising 
 money, to prevent me, I firmly believe, from getting 
 what I wanted. There was almost a panic in money 
 matters at Ucayga to-day. . Toppleton got all he want- 
 ed, and came clown by the ten o'clock train, and every- 
 body was short by the time I arrived. But I raised, 
 the money, and paid my note. He came over to 
 see me, after his return, I learn, — to apologize, I 
 suppose, for his shabby conduct. He wanted to see 
 me very much, I am told." 
 
 "Perhaps he came over to bring you the money 
 you wanted," I suggested, very mildly. 
 
 "Not he!" sneered the colonel, determined to 
 put the worst possible construction on the actions 
 of his former rival. 
 
 After a longer experience of human life than I 
 had at that time, I am satisfied that it is always 
 
262 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 the safest way to credit other people, especially 
 friends, with good intentions. Those who believe 
 that others mean well are seldom disa]3pointed ; and 
 it is equally certain that those who do not believe 
 others mean well, as seldom fail to realize their ex- 
 pectations. The very want of trust and confidence 
 in others begets suspicion and evil dealing, while 
 most people are ashamed to fall below what others 
 give them credit for. 
 
 " Toppleton is not the man I took him for," added 
 the colonel, after pacing the room for a time in 
 silence. "As soon as practicable, Wolf, our boat 
 must go through from Hitaca to Ucayga." 
 
 "Don't do that, father," interposed Waddie, as 
 much alarmed as I was. 
 
 "It shall be done, Waddie. We can take all the 
 through travel on the lake, and I shall no longer 
 put money into Toppleton's pocket." 
 
 "But, father, you judge Major Toppleton too 
 harshly." 
 
 "No, I don't. When I go to a friend in such an 
 emergency as that of this morning, I do not like to 
 have him make excuses, and put me off," replied 
 the colonel, bitterly. 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 263 
 
 "We must bear and forbear, at least until we 
 know what others mean." 
 
 "So Wolf says; but I don't want to hear any 
 such stuff," added the magnate, angrily. 
 
 It was useless to say anything more, and Wad- 
 die had the good sense to hold his peace. We left 
 the room together, and, tired as we both were, we 
 could not separate for the night till we had thor- 
 oughly considered the perilous situation. 
 
 "I think myself it was rather shabby of the ma- 
 jor to leave my father in the lurch, after what had 
 happened," said Waddie. 
 
 " So it was, if he did leave him in the lurch ; but 
 we must hear the other side of the story. It appears 
 that Major Toppleton came over to see your father 
 this forenoon, after he had been to Ucayga to raise 
 money." 
 
 "My father is rather hasty in his conclusions 
 sometimes, and I hope the major will be able to explain 
 his conduct." 
 
 "It is doubtful whether he obtains an opportunity 
 to explain," I added. 
 
 "We must be peacemakers again, Wolf." 
 
264 BEAB AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 "We can't do much in an affair of this kind. I 
 think, if your father had waited a little longer this 
 morning, instead of leaving Middleport without see- 
 ing the major, all would have been well." 
 
 "Let us hope for the best, Wolf; and in the 
 mean time don't say a word about breaking the 
 union to any one." 
 
 I promised to keep still, and we separated. I 
 went home, crossing the lake in the Belle; but, in 
 spite of the good fortune which had attended our 
 efforts in the pursuit of the robbers, I had not been 
 so .sad for many a day. 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OP LAKE UCAYGA. 265 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 MAJOR TOPPLETON EXPLAINS. 
 
 I SLEPT soundly enough that night, in spite of 
 my anxiety concerning the perilous condition of 
 the relations between the two sides of the lake. In 
 the morning I called upon Tom Walton. His wound 
 was doing very well, and he was quite comfortable. 
 He was astonished when I told him that Nick Van 
 Wolter was the other bank robber, and that he was 
 Lord Palsgrave. But I was in a hurry to see Major 
 Toppleton, and I could not stay long, though I gave 
 Tom a bill of sale of the Belle, and received the pay- 
 ment for her. 
 
 I found the magnate of Middleport at home, and of 
 course I had to tell him all about the bank robbers 
 before anything could be said, though I had become 
 rather tired of the subject, especially with another and 
 more interesting one uppermost in my mind. 
 
266 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 " You had a breezy time of it, Wolf," said the major. 
 
 " Rather exciting, sir." 
 
 "Where was Colonel Wimpleton all day? I could 
 not find him." 
 
 " He was at Ucayga, looking up the money to pay a 
 note which came due yesterday." 
 
 " Precisely so ; he came over to see me about it in 
 the morning. He was in a tremendous hurry, and 
 very much excited about the robbery," added the 
 major. 
 
 " He was excited about something else when I saw 
 him." 
 
 " You don't mean — " 
 
 " O, no, sir," I promptly interposed, when I saw that 
 he supposed the magnate of Centreport had been 
 drinking again. " Nothing of that kind." 
 
 " You understand me. Well, I am glad that he has 
 not fallen back. Your remark startled me, Wolf." 
 
 " I am afraid the colonel is not as kindly disposed 
 towards you as formerly." 
 
 "Why, what's the matter?" demanded the major, 
 evidently alarmed at my suggestion. 
 
 "I think there is a misunderstanding. He came 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OP LAKE UCAYGA. 267 
 
 over, to see you yesterday morning, and he thought 
 you were not inclined to assist him in the emer- 
 gency." 
 
 " What an idea ! I intended that his note should 
 be paid, even if my own was not, though I hurried 
 home to attend to the payment of it. This is very 
 strange," mused the major. " I was not aware that 
 I said or did anything that could give offence to 
 him." 
 
 "I am confident there has been a mistake; but I 
 do not know that I ought to repeat anything he said 
 to me." 
 
 " In the interest of peace and friendship you may 
 do so, Wolf. What did he say?" asked the major, 
 anxiously. 
 
 " He said that when he informed you he had a note 
 of twenty thousand dollars to pay, and that the bank 
 had been robbed, instead of helping him out, you an- 
 swered that you had a note to pay yourself." 
 
 " I certainly did tell him that I had a large sum to 
 pay ; but I also told him that I would see what could 
 be done. I invited him to breakfast with me, and told 
 him I would go* and see the cashier of our bank. I 
 
268 BEAR AND FORBEAE, OR 
 
 did not suppose he had any doubt of my willingness 
 to help him ; and the only question with me was, how 
 it was to be done. He was in a desperate hurry, and 
 could not wait a minute. The steamer was coming 
 over after him, before she went up the lake in pursuit 
 of the robber. I told him then that I would see him 
 on the wharf in ten or fifteen minutes, and hastened to 
 find the cashier. He was not at home; but I soon 
 found him, and learned that the funds in our bank 
 were not sufficient to pay both notes. I immediately 
 decided to raise the amount needed to pay the 
 colonel's note, in Ucayga. I sent an order to Lewis 
 Holgate to get up steam on the dummy, and then 
 Went as fast as I could walk to the wharf. The steam- 
 er was just leaving the pier when I came in sight 
 of it." 
 
 " The colonel waited for you till the time expired," 
 I added. 
 
 " I was not five minutes behind time. The absence 
 of the cashier had detained me a little, but I could 
 not help it. However, I supposed the colonel would 
 return before eleven o'clock to raise the money to 
 pay his note." 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 269 
 
 " He was very much excited about it." 
 
 " I am really very sorry. Perhaps I did not speak 
 as explicitly as I ought to have done; but it never 
 occured to me that he would misunderstand my mo- 
 tives. The dummy ran down to Hitaca as a special 
 express to convey me. I raised the money, and 
 returned by the ten o'clock train. The steamer had 
 come back from up the lake; but I could not find 
 Colonel Wimpleton. In the afternoon I heard that 
 he had gone to Ucayga, and I was on the lookout 
 for him till the last train arrived. The money has 
 been in our bank since eleven o'clock yesterday, and I 
 have a check for the amount in my pocket now." 
 
 " The colonel was rather too hasty in his conclusions. 
 The steamer returned to Middleport at ten, and he 
 took the train for Ucayga, where he raised the money 
 and paid the note himself." 
 
 "I regret that he has any feeling on the subject," 
 added the major, with much anxiety. "I must go 
 over and see him." 
 
 " I am afraid your meeting will not be a pleasant 
 one." 
 
 "I will state*'the facts just as they are, and I hope 
 
270 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 he will see that there has been a mistake. The Ucay- 
 ga is coming in, and the ferry steamer will start in 
 a few minutes." 
 
 We walked down to the wharf together. My two 
 bears had just been landed from the steamer, in 
 charge of one of Captain Portman's men. They 
 were very tractable, and were the centre of attrac- 
 tion on the wharf. They were willing to shake 
 hands with everybody, and seemed to be enjoying 
 themselves very much. I took charge of one of them, 
 while the man retained the other, and we led them 
 towards my father's house, followed by a large escort 
 of loafers and juveniles. We had a small barn on the 
 place, in which we secured the bears. 
 
 My sisters were very much afraid of them, and my 
 mother declared she could not have the brutes on the 
 place ; but I hoped all of them would think better of 
 it, and make friends with my pets. After- the man had 
 gone, I brought out my carpenter's tools, and proceed- 
 ed to fit up the bam for the accommodation of the 
 bears. The animals were so full of fun they would 
 not let me work, and I was obliged to tie them to 
 a tree in the garden. My mother and my sisters 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE TJCAYGA. 271 
 
 stood at the windows of the house watching them; 
 but I could not induce them to make the acquaintance 
 of my new friends. When I found that my sisters 
 were really afraid of the bears, I was rather sorry I 
 had brought them home. 
 
 While I was at work I was surprised by a visit from 
 Colonel Wimpleton and Waddie. As they entered 
 the yard, both bears stood up, and offered to shake 
 hands with the visitors. Waddie accepted the prof- 
 fered paw, but the colonel was more particular in the 
 choice of his acquaintances. 
 
 "Have you seen Major Toppleton this morning?" 
 I inquired of the colonel. 
 
 " No ; and I have no desire to see him," replied the 
 magnate, coldly. 
 
 "He went over to see you about nine o' clock." 
 " I was not at home. Have you done anything 
 about the steamer, Wolf?" 
 
 "No, sir. What do you wish to have done?" 
 " Didn't I tell you yesterday what I wished to have 
 done?" 
 
 " I haven't done anything yet, sir." 
 
 " I told you to make the new arrangement." 
 
272 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 " I hope you will see Major Toppleton before any- 
 thing is done." 
 
 " I shall not see him," answered the colonel, sourly. 
 "You may notify the Railroad Company that the 
 present arrangement will be discontinued, say from 
 the first of next month." 
 
 " Of course I shall do as I am directed, but I am 
 quite sure there is a misunderstanding between you 
 and the major." 
 
 " I don't care to argue the matter. What are you 
 going to do with these bears, Wolf?" 
 
 " I'm going to keep them as pets." 
 
 At this moment the one which had frightened Miss 
 Dornwood stood up, and expressed a desire to shake 
 hands with Colonel Wimpleton. 
 
 "They are perfectly harmless, sir," said I, seeing 
 that the great man was in doubt. 
 
 "Won't they bite?" 
 
 " No, sir." 
 
 Thus assured the colonel took the offered paw of 
 the bear, and in a few moments they were excellent 
 friends, for Bruin's ways were very winning. Waddie 
 was playing with the other, and both my visitors were 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OP LAKE UCAYGA. 273 
 
 very much interested in the animals. "While they 
 were occupied in this manner, Major Toppleton pre- 
 sented himself in the yard. 
 
 " Good morning, colonel," said the major. 
 
 "Good morning," replied the magnate of Centre- 
 port, very stiffly. 
 
 "I heard you were here, colonel, and I came up 
 to see you. I looked for you all day yesterday, and 
 have been looking for you all the morning." 
 
 " Sorry you gave yourself so much trouble." 
 
 I saw that Major Toppleton was nettled at the 
 coldness of his reception, and I was afraid he would 
 be angry. As he approached the bears, both of them 
 rose and offered their accustomed greeting. The 
 major shook hands with both of them, for he had 
 already made their acquaintance on the wharf. 
 • " When I went down to the wharf yesterday, your 
 steamer had been gone only a few moments," con- 
 tinued the magnate of Middleport. "I was sorry 
 that I missed you." 
 
 "It didn't make any difference," said the colonel. 
 " You will attend to the matter of which I spoke to 
 you, Wolf," he added, edging off towards the gate. 
 18 
 
274 BEAK AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 "Perhaps it didn't make any difference to you, 
 but it did to me," continued the major. " I am afraid 
 I did not, in the excitement of the moment, express 
 myself as clearly as I should have done." 
 
 " As clearly as was necessary. I understood you 
 perfectly," replied the colonel, still edging towards 
 the gate. 
 
 " Then you understood that I intended to raise the 
 money you wanted." 
 
 "No, I did not. You told me you had a note to pay 
 yourself, and that was as much as to say you could 
 do nothing for me." 
 
 " There was, indeed, a mistake then ; and I am very 
 sorry that I did not express myself more clearly." 
 
 "I paid my note, and nothing more need be said 
 about the matter," growled Colonel Wimpleton. 
 
 "My dear colonel — " 
 
 "Don't 'dear' me after this." 
 
 I trembled for the major when this rude remark was 
 uttered, for his temper was not always to be depended 
 upon, and certainly the provocation was very strong. 
 I never saw a better opportunity to get up a quarrel, 
 and nothing but a little forbearance on the part of 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCATGA. 275. 
 
 the only one of the two who seemed to be capable 
 of exercising this virtue could ward off the calamity. 
 The colonel was unreasonable ; but the major felt that 
 he had not plainly stated his intentions. As usual, 
 there was blame on both sides. 
 
276 BEAK AND FOEBEAE, OE 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 BEAE AND FOEBEAE. 
 
 "/"^OLOKEL WIMPLETOST, there has been a 
 
 V_y misunderstanding between us," said the major, 
 with dignity. " I feel that I am not without blame." 
 
 " I don't demand any apology," added the colonel. 
 
 "I wish to make an explanation. If after that 
 you are not satisfied, I will not complain." 
 
 "I don't ask any explanation." 
 
 "But I desire to make one, if you will do me 
 the favor to hear it," continued Major Topjrieton, 
 taking from his pocket the check he had drawn the 
 day before, and handing it to the colonel. 
 
 "It is too late," said the latter, as he glanced at 
 the check. 
 
 "It was written yesterday at eleven o'clock, and 
 the money was in the bank to cash it. If I failed 
 to say yesterday morning that your note should be 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OP LAKE UCAYGA. 277 
 
 paid whether mine was or not, I failed to say all 
 that I felt and all that I intended." 
 
 "You didn't say that," replied the colonel, relax- 
 ing the frown upon his brow a little. "You sim- 
 ply told me you had a note to pay, but would see 
 what you could do." 
 
 "I ought to have said more, for I meant more. 
 When I found you had gone, I went express to 
 Ucayga, and raised the money for you, returning to 
 Midclleport at eleven." 
 
 "Did you really raise the money for me?" 
 
 "I did, as I intended to do from the first." 
 
 Colonel Wimpleton's face was changed, and had 
 almost relaxed into a smile. 
 
 "I didn't understand you," said he. "When you 
 said you had a note to pay, I took it as an excuse 
 for not helping me out of my difficulty." 
 
 "I certainly did not offer it as such. I was think- 
 ing only of the manner of raising the money for 
 you. When I came back from Ucayga, I deposited 
 the money I had brought with me, wrote this check, 
 and hastened over to Centreport to find you. I 
 failed to see you, but I was on the lookout for you 
 all the rest of the day." 
 
278 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 Major Toppleton explained his position as fully as 
 lie had to me. The colonel was satisfied, for he 
 could not be otherwise, when he found that the for- 
 mer had done all that a friend could do to aid 
 him. 
 
 "Major, I wronged you, and I'm sorry for it," 
 said Colonel Wimpleton. "I ought to have given 
 you credit for good intentions, at least. Wolf, you, 
 needn't attend to that matter of which I spoke to 
 you." 
 
 I wanted to give three cheers, and I should have 
 done so, if I had not wished to conceal from the 
 major the length to which the colonel had carried 
 his resentment. As it was, I vented my delight in 
 a grand frolic with the bears. 
 
 "Colonel, I am sorry that I failed to tell you 
 what I intended to do," added the major. "I don't 
 blame you for the construction you put upon my 
 words." 
 
 "But I blame myself. It all looks plain enough 
 to me now, though it did not before. Forgive me, 
 major, and I promise never to misjudge you again." 
 
 "And I hope you will forgive the stupid manner 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE TJCAYGA. 279 
 
 in which I answered you yesterday morning," added 
 Major Toppleton. 
 
 "Here is my hand, major." 
 
 As they stepped forward to shake hands, they 
 came near the two bears. Both of the bruins im- 
 mediately abandoned their play, stood up, and each 
 extended his paw to the magnate near to him. 
 The two gentlemen laughed heartily as they saw 
 the bears; but they shook hands with each other, 
 and then with their humble imitators. 
 
 "This suggests some names for your pets, Wolf" 
 said Waddie, laughing. 
 
 "I thought of that before. This is Beak," I re- 
 plied, putting my hand on the head of my first ac- 
 quaintance; "and this is Foebeae," I added, taking 
 the other by the paw. 
 
 "Bear and Forbear," said Colonel Wimpleton. 
 "You have preached that sermon to me once, Wolf; 
 but I was not in the humor to hear it. I appre- 
 ciate the two bears better now." 
 
 "And you will bear with me next time I make 
 a blunder, and seem to stand in a doubtful posi- 
 tion," added Major Toppleton. 
 
280 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 "Most assuredly I will, if you forbear, as you 
 did to-day, when I made rude and ungentlemanly 
 speeches to you." 
 
 " I think those two bears will make a team which 
 will drag any man through the world with peace 
 and comfort," I ventured to add. 
 
 "You are right, Wolf. I must have those two 
 bears," said the colonel. 
 
 "Well, sir, my mother and sisters are afraid of 
 them, and I don't know that I shall be able to keep 
 them here." 
 
 "I meant bear and forbear," laughed the colonel. 
 
 "Those are the names of these bears." 
 
 "Well, I should be very happy to have the live 
 bears, for whenever I see them, they will remind 
 me of the lesson I have learned to-day." 
 
 "You have a nice place for them over in your 
 grounds ; and I suppose I can see them there when- 
 ever I wish." 
 
 "Certainly you can." 
 
 "If they should get loose when I am away, they 
 would frighten the whole neighborhood, for we have 
 no man to see to them," I added. 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 281 
 
 My mother and my sisters would be delighted to 
 get rid of them; and I was afraid they might do 
 mischief in my absence. Besides, there was such a 
 striking fitness in presenting them to the magnate 
 of Centreport under the circumstances, that I could 
 not have resisted the inclination to dispose of them 
 in this manner, even if they had not promised to 
 be a nuisance to me. It was a fortunate circum- 
 stance that the explanation and reconciliation had 
 taken place in the presence of the bears, for the as- 
 sociation would always be remembered by the colonel. 
 
 I presented the bears to him. 
 
 The two magnates departed together, and Wad- 
 die and I were to remove Bear and Forbear to 
 their new home. 
 
 "I didn't know my father was coming here when 
 we crossed the lake," said Waddie. "I came to see 
 you about another matter." 
 
 "What's that?" 
 
 Waddie blushed. 
 
 "I thought we ought to go down to Ruoara and 
 call upon Miss Dornwood," said he, with some hes- 
 itation. 
 
282 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 " Of course you are moved in this matter by a 
 sense of duty," I laughingly replied. 
 
 "Not wholly, Wolf; but I should like to know 
 bow she is after her cruise." 
 
 "No doubt you would." 
 
 "You may laugh at me if you like, Wolf; but I 
 think Miss Dornwood is a very pretty girl." 
 
 "And a very good girl too, Waddie, which is 
 more and better." 
 
 "I'm going down to Ruoara, and wish you would 
 go with me." 
 
 "I will." 
 
 "We must get the Belle, for the Raven, you 
 know, is moored off High Bluff." 
 
 We called upon Tom Walton to obtain the use 
 of the boat, and then led the bears down to the 
 shore of the lake, where the Belle was moored. 
 "Bear" went on board very readily, but "Forbear" 
 did not seem to like this mode of conveyance, and 
 declined to take the place assigned to him. Wad- 
 die, impatient to reach Ruoara, was disposed to 
 pitch him into the standing-room by force; but I en- 
 treated him to forbear. While he was hoisting the 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE TJCAYGA. 283 
 
 mainsail, I coaxed the animal ; and seeing his brother 
 so comfortable in the boat, he finally yielded his 
 own inclination to mine, and went on board. I 
 fastened them so that they could not fall overboard 
 if they engaged in a frolic on the passage, and 
 "Waddie pushed off. 
 
 When the Belle began to jump on the waves in 
 the Narrows, Forbear exhibited some signs of ter- 
 ror, and was inclined to make himself unhappy; 
 but he soon took part in the game between Bear and 
 myself, and we reached the Centreport shore without 
 any difficulty. I found it was best to bear even with a 
 bear, and to forbear as long as forbearance is a virtue 
 — which is much longer than many people are willing 
 to believe. We marched the interesting couple up 
 to a rustic deer house, in the grounds of Colonel 
 Wimpleton, which had been designated as their fu- 
 ture abode. We made them comfortable, and then 
 left them to enjoy life as they could, and to en- 
 force the great moral lesson which their names illus- 
 trated. 
 
 "I meant to have been in Ruoara before this 
 time," said Waddie, as he led the way to the lake 
 at a pace which was trying to my legs. 
 
284 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 "What's your hurry, Waddie?" 
 
 " I am afraid Mr. Overton will be there before us." 
 
 "What if he is?" 
 
 "I wish to have Miss Dornwood and her friends 
 understand all about her guardian before he sees her 
 again." 
 
 "She evidently understands him quite as well as 
 any one else," I replied, as we embarked in the 
 Belle, and Waddie took the tiller. 
 
 "We have the benefit of Nick's revelation, and 
 I think that is enough to condemn him." 
 
 "I don't think Mck's testimony is worth much, 
 though I have no doubt it is all true. I agree with 
 you that it will be well to have Mr. Pinkerton in- 
 formed in regard to Nick's trade with him." 
 
 "I wonder what Mr. Pinkerton will do?" added 
 Waddie. 
 
 "That will depend upon what Mr. Overton does. 
 I judge, from the temper of Miss Dornwood, that 
 she will refuse to live with her guardian again." 
 
 "I hope we shall get there before he does." 
 
 "Probably we shall. It was too late for him to 
 come up in the afternoon boat when we left the 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 285 
 
 Cataract House It is not likely that he took the 
 morning boat to-day, and we shall be in Ruoara be- 
 fore he can get there, if he takes the afternoon 
 steamer." 
 
 But Wadclie was nervous and uneasy. He talked 
 about Miss Dornwood during the rest of the pas^ 
 sage, which, however, was not a long one. We 
 landed at the wharf, and hastened to the house of 
 the Pinkertons, where we were kindly welcomed by 
 all, including Miss Dornwood. Mr. Overton had not 
 been seen or heard from. 
 
 "I am very glad to see you again, Mr. Wimple- 
 ton," said Miss Dornwood; "for I want to thank 
 you and your friend again for the kind service you 
 rendered me." 
 
 " "We were very glad of the opportunity to serve 
 you," replied Waddie, blushing ; and I could not help 
 realizing that my friend was "fatally insnared." 
 
 "But where is my other friend, the skipper of 
 the Belle, as you called him?" asked the young 
 lady. 
 
 " He was shot in the arm yesterday by one of 
 the bank robbers." 
 
286 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 "I am so sorry! We heard all about your cap- 
 ture of the robber." 
 
 "There was a report this forenoon that the other 
 robber had been caught," said Mr. Pinkerton. 
 
 "Yes, sir; he was captured in the afternoon, at 
 the Cataract House," replied Waddie. "All the 
 money has been recovered." 
 
 "That's very fortunate." 
 
 " Who do you think the other robber was, Miss 
 
 Dornwood ? " asked Waddie. 
 
 « 
 
 "I have no suspicion." 
 
 " Lord Palsgrave." 
 
 " Lord Palsgrave ! " exclaimed she, her cheeks red- 
 dening with confusion. 
 
 "And Lord Palsgrave turns out to be the son of 
 the very worthy commander of the Ucayga — Nick 
 Van Wolter." 
 
 Of course we were obliged to tell the whole 
 story, and by the time it was finished, dinner was 
 ready; and before we had finished that, a servant 
 announced Mr. and Mrs. Overton. 
 
 There was a prospect of a lively breeze. 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPEE OF LAKE UCAYGA. 287 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 WADDIE and I, in the course of our narrative, 
 had fully informed Mr. Pinkerton in regard to 
 the relations of Nick Van Wolter with Mr. Overton. 
 
 "Now, Captain Penniman, you and I will see Mr. 
 Overton. Waddie, if you will go to the office of my 
 lawyer, Mr. Bayard, and state to him all the facts in 
 the case, you will oblige me very much," said Mr. 
 Pinkerton. "In about half an hour return with him." 
 
 "I will do so with pleasure," replied Waddie. 
 
 " Perhaps Miss Dornwood had better go with you. 
 She can tell a part of her story to better advantage 
 than you can." 
 
 Waddie was still better pleased with this arrange- 
 ment, and they left the house by the side door, so as 
 not to be seen by Mr. Overton in the library. I fol- 
 lowed Mr. Pinkerton into the presence of the guardian 
 
288 BEAR AND FOEBEAE, OR 
 
 and his wife. I bowed to them as I entered, but they 
 evidently were not pleased to see me. 
 
 " I am informed that Miss Dornwood, my ward, is in 
 your house, sir," Mr. Overton began. 
 
 " Not at this moment, though she is within call, and 
 will be here in half an hour," replied Mr. Pinkerton. 
 
 " You are aware, sir, that I am her legal guardian ? " 
 
 " I am, sir." 
 
 " Permit me to say, sir, that your conduct in harbor- 
 ing and encouraging her in her present vicious course 
 is entirely unjustifiable," continued Mr. Overton, stern- 
 ly and severely. 
 
 " Permit me to say, sir, that I take an entirely differ- 
 ent view of the matter," added Mr. Pinkerton, very 
 courteously. 
 
 " Then you take a very extraordinary view of it." 
 
 " There is room for some difference of o]3inion on 
 this subject, and, until better informed, I shall be 
 obliged to retain my own view." 
 
 "Miss Dornwood ran away from me. Are you 
 aware of this fact, sir?" 
 
 " I am ; you locked her into her room, and she es- 
 caped. With the assistance of some good friends, 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 289 
 
 she came here, where I purpose to have her remain 
 as long as she is pleased to do so." 
 
 "Allow me to remind you again, sir, that I am 
 her legal guardian." 
 
 " Allow me to remind you, sir, that you have abused 
 your office." 
 
 "That is a very strong statement, Mr. Pinkerton," 
 replied the guardian, who seemed to be surprised at 
 the charge. 
 
 " I have no doubt it can be fully proved, Mr. Over- 
 ton. A young lady of seventeen is legally an infant, 
 but not morally. The duties of a guardian are those 
 of a father." 
 
 " I have endeavored to be as a father towards her," 
 added Mr. Overton, who was plainly unprepared for 
 the step which Mr. Pinkerton's remarks foreshadowed. 
 
 "Do you think a father would lock his daughter 
 of seventeen into a room in a hotel?" 
 
 "If she disobeyed him — yes." 
 
 " Or drag her by force through the grounds of a 
 public hotel?" 
 
 " The law would justify him in doing so, if she re- 
 fused to obey his reasonable commands." 
 19 
 
290 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 " Perhaps it would ; I will leave that matter in the 
 hands of the lawyers. Certainly, if the young lady 
 were not absolutely vicious, the moral sense of the 
 community would not justify either father or guardian 
 in the use of force." 
 
 " She is absolutely vicious," answered the guardian, 
 boldly. 
 
 "Sir, you insult her!" said Mr. Pinkerton, indig- 
 nantly. " I know her well ; and a more gentle, mod- 
 est, and well-behaved girl does not live in this 
 country." 
 
 " She impudently refused to obey me." 
 
 " Only after you, in the presence of the young 
 gentleman who had assisted her in her peril and terror, 
 had treated her in the most outrageous manner; after 
 you had ordered her to the house, like a child. Your 
 conduct was that of a common bully." 
 
 "Sir!" 
 
 "I wish to be entirely frank with you, sir. You 
 have made her life miserably unhappy by your petty 
 tyranny and contemptible espionage. You have not 
 treated her with any of the consideration due to a 
 young lady who has entered her teens," continued 
 Mr. Pinkerton, calmly. 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OP LAKE UCAYGA. 291 
 
 " Am I to understand, sir, that you intend to remove 
 me from my office of guardian on these grounds?" 
 
 "No, sir, not exactly on those grounds. The law, 
 in most if not all the states, provides that when a 
 guardian becomes ' evidently unsuitable ' for the dis- 
 charge of his duties, he shall be removed." 
 
 "Do you think I am an unsuitable person?" de- 
 manded Mr. Overton, who was very nervous and much 
 alarmed. 
 
 "I do so consider you, sir." 
 
 "If you think I am too strict with her, though I 
 have only acted for her welfare, I will be less so in 
 the future," said Mr. Overton, who now seemed dis- 
 posed to compromise. 
 
 " Miss Dornwood says she will never live with you 
 again under any circumstances, even if she is obliged 
 to earn her own living." 
 
 "Is her will to be the law?" 
 
 " She is entitled to be consulted. But here she 
 comes, and on this subject she may speak for herself. 
 The gentleman with her is Mr. Bayard, her legal 
 adviser and mine." 
 
 Miss Dornwood, attended by Wacldie and the law- 
 
292 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 yer, entered the library. Mr. and Mrs. Overton bowed 
 coldly as they entered. The young lady was very 
 much embarrassed, and seated herself as far from her 
 guardian as the size of the room would permit. 
 
 Mr. Pinkerton informed the legal gentleman what 
 had thus far transpired. Mr. Bayard, who by this 
 time fully understood the subject, explained the law, 
 and said that Miss Dornwood could petition the Court 
 of Probate, or Surrogate, to remove the guardian, and 
 appoint a new one. 
 
 "Prepare the papers as soon as convenient, Mr. 
 Bayard," said Mr. Pinkerton. 
 
 " The petition must be presented to the court having 
 jurisdiction in the cause when the will of Mr. Dorn- 
 wood was admitted to probate. Perhaps Mr. Overton 
 would prefer to resign his office of guardian, which 
 it is competent for him to do," added the lawyer. 
 
 " No, sir ; I don't intend to do that," replied Mr. 
 Overton. 
 
 " Such a course might be best for you." 
 
 " Gentlemen, you speak to me as though I were a 
 monster, and not a gentleman ; as though I were guilty 
 of some base crime," protested Mr. Overton. 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE TJCAYGA. 293 
 
 "That is precisely the view I take of it, after 
 listening to Miss Dornwood's statement, and tliat of 
 Mr. Wimpleton." 
 
 "Sir, do you mean to insult me? I am not on 
 trial." 
 
 " You are not, but you ought to be," coolly retorted 
 the legal gentleman. 
 
 " If there is any law in the land — " 
 
 "Plenty of it," interposed the cool lawyer. "As 
 the attorney of Miss Dornwood, I only hope you 
 will commence the proceedings. You are excited, sir. 
 Pray keep calm." 
 
 " Can I keep calm while I am charged with a base 
 crime ? " fumed Mr. Overton, rising from his chair, 
 and pacing the room in his wrath. 
 
 " I see that you do not understand the case. Let 
 me refresh your memory, and point out to you the 
 bearings of some of your actions. In the first place, 
 you went to the Cataract House with a couple of 
 bank robbers." 
 
 " Only one, sir," I suggested. 
 
 " With one, then ; that is just as bad." 
 
 " But he was an impostor, and I did not know that 
 
294 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 he was not what he represented himself to be," replied 
 the guardian. 
 
 " I think you did. You must have known that he 
 was a common blackleg, for you saw him plying his 
 trade in a gambling saloon at Cape May. You had an 
 understanding with him, after you had seen him 
 at the gambling table, — not as a visitor, but as one 
 who was plundering a victim, — that he should marry 
 your ward, and that he was to accept, as her dowry in 
 full, fifty thousand dollars, though the young lady's 
 fortune was four times that amount. You made this 
 bargain with the blackleg and bank robber." 
 
 Mr. Overton was very red, and then very pale. His 
 limbs were shaky, and he was obliged to resume 
 his chair. He attempted to defend himself, and de- 
 clared that the testimony of a bank robber against 
 a gentleman in his position would prove nothing." 
 
 " I grant that it is a very poor kind of testimony," 
 replied Mr. Bayard. " But, so far as it can be con- 
 firmed by other witnesses, it will be useful. Did you 
 not tell Miss Dornwood that you would not consent 
 to her marriage with any other person than this bank 
 robber and blackleg?" 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE TJCAYGA. 295 
 
 " The - gentleman came to me as an English lord, 
 and I thought it was a good match for her." 
 
 "Lord Palsgrave!" laughed the lawyer. "You 
 knew very well that he was not a lord. You do not 
 answer my question, Mr. Overton." 
 
 "I am not on trial." 
 
 "Will Miss Dornwood answer?" 
 
 " He did tell me that I could marry only Lord Pals- 
 grave with his consent," replied she, with a blush ; and 
 it was plain enough that she had never thought of 
 marrying anybody. 
 
 " Do you intend to drag all this matter into the 
 court?" demanded Mr. Overton. 
 
 "Undoubtedly; and we intend to examine Mr. 
 Dornwood's will very critically, especially that part 
 of it relating to the consent of the guardian to Miss 
 Dornwood's marriage. We believe it has been tam- 
 pered with." 
 
 Mr. Overton appeared to be stunned by this dec- 
 laration. Doubtless, like all other evil-doers, he sup- 
 posed that his deeds were entirely cohered, and that 
 no one suspected him of anything wrong. He was 
 unable again to regain his self-possession, and Mr. 
 
296 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 Bayard restated the grounds on which he proposed 
 to proceed. 
 
 "I will resign," gasped he, at last, after his wife 
 had whispered in his ear. 
 
 "That is the most prudent step you can take," 
 added the lawyer. 
 
 "I wish you to understand that I do not resign 
 because I have done anything wrong, but because I 
 do not . wish to have my name publicly connected 
 with a bank robber. I did not know what he was," 
 protested Mr. Overton. 
 
 "You can put any construction you please upon 
 your own conduct," said Mr. Bayard. " It will be 
 necessary for you to render an account of all your 
 expenditures as the guardian of Miss Dornwood, and 
 deliver her property into the hands of your successor." 
 
 "That's a gratuitous insult," replied the crestfallen 
 guardian. 
 
 But a time was fixed for the transaction of 
 this important business, and Mr. Overton agreed to 
 be present with his resignation. He and his wife 
 departed sadder and wiser than they came. As there 
 was no doubt in the minds of any of us that he had 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 297 
 
 intended to rob his ward of the greater portion of 
 her fortune, we did not pity him. 
 
 Waddie devoted himself assiduously to Miss Dorn- 
 wood during the rest of our stay at Mr. Pinkerton's, 
 and it was quite late in the evening when we re- 
 turned to Middleport. The next day we went up 
 the lake again, and Waddie sailed the Raven down 
 to Centreport. After this he went down the lake 
 as far as Ruoara about every day. At the end of 
 a fortnight, however, when Mr. Pinkerton and Miss 
 Dornwood went to her residence to attend the pro- 
 ceedings at the Surrogate Court, Waddie consented 
 to finish the vacation with me in the upper waters 
 of the lake. Tommy Toppleton went with us this 
 time; Tom Walton was again able to take his place 
 at the helm, and we had a splendid time. 
 
 We were obliged to attend court at the exami- 
 nation of the bank robbers, who were fully com- 
 mitted for trial. Subsequently they were convicted, 
 and sentenced to twenty years in the penitentiary. 
 
 Mr. Pinkerton was appointed the guardian of Miss 
 Dornwood, after the resignation of Mr. Overton ; and 
 the Raven plied very regularly between Ruoara and 
 Centreport. 
 
298 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF THE BANSHEE. 
 
 ""^"YTHAT boat's that?" said Tom Walton to 
 T T me, as we walked down to the shore where 
 the Belle was moored. 
 
 "That's the Banshee," I replied, quietly. 
 
 "Never heard of her." 
 
 "She is new — just finished." 
 
 "She's a first-rate boat, and has a bully name," 
 added Tom, as he critically surveyed the new craft. 
 
 The Banshee was larger than the Grace, and was 
 really a magnificent boat. Tom was delighted with 
 her, and expressed his admiration in the warmest terms. 
 I am willing to acknowledge that there was a con- 
 spiracy against Tom; but the time for springing the 
 trap upon him had not quite arrived. I had engaged 
 him to take out a party to sail that day. We 
 went on board the Belle ; but Tom kept one eye on 
 the Banshee all the time. 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 299 
 
 "Can't we go aboard of her, Wolf?" asked Tom. 
 
 "We haven't time now. There comes Major T.op- 
 pleton, with his family; and we have to go over 
 to Centreport for the rest of the party." 
 
 "I should like to ask how large a party you in- 
 tend to take out in the Belle. There are five of 
 the Toppletons, and you and I make seven." 
 
 " We will go over and see how many there are 
 on the other side," I answered quietly. 
 
 We crossed the lake, and found five Wimpletons, 
 Miss Dornwood, and Miss Pinkerton. 
 
 " Good gracious, Wolf! " exclaimed the skipper, in 
 a low tone, and with a look of infinite embarrass- 
 ment. "The standing-room of the Belle won't hold 
 but ten, and they are crowded at that. We can't 
 carry them all, Wolf." 
 
 "We will try, at any rate." 
 
 "Try! You might as well try to put a ton of 
 hay into an egg-shell. You can't do it. You must 
 sail the Raven, and carry part of them." 
 
 "We will take them over to the other shore, and 
 then decide what shall be done," I added, as Tom 
 ran the Belle up to the landing-steps. 
 
300 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 The party entered the boat, and when they were 
 seated, the standing-room was quite full, for the ladies 
 were considerably expanded. 
 
 "Where do you intend to put the other five, 
 Wolf?" whispered Tom, when we were under way. 
 
 "I don't think we can put them into the Belle," 
 I replied. 
 
 Tom was very much troubled, and worried sorely. 
 Why had I not told him that our party was to con- 
 sist of all Middleport and all Centreport? He would 
 have engaged another boat. He did not believe he 
 had "feed" enough on board for such a crowd. 
 He continued to fret, in his good-natured way, until 
 we were within hailing distance of the Banshee. 
 
 "The Toj)pletons have all gone on board of that 
 new boat," said Tom. 
 
 "They probably want to see her. Suppose we 
 run alongside, and take a look at her," I suggested. 
 
 "I should like to see her, first rate," answered the 
 skipper. "You didn't tell me whose boat she was, 
 Wolf." 
 
 "She was built for Captain Portman." 
 
 "She's a regular out-and-outer; and she will sail 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 301 
 
 like sixty. Look at that bow ! She is sharp enough 
 to cut cheese with ; but she has plenty of beam, and 
 won't be crank." 
 
 Tom ran the Belle under the stern of the Ban- 
 shee, and came up at the accommodation steps on 
 the port side. Like a gallant skipper as he was, 
 Tom assisted the ladies on board of the new boat, 
 and then stepped on deck himself. We walked about 
 the beautiful craft, and the skipper examined every- 
 thing with a critical eye. Passing down the fore- 
 hatch, we entered the cook-room, which was fitted 
 up with every convenience. 
 
 "I should like to be the cook on board the Ban- 
 shee," said Tom, as he examined the appointments 
 of the kitchen. 
 
 "Wouldn't you rather be the skipper?" I asked. 
 
 "Perhaps I would, but I never expect to go skip- 
 per of such a nobby yacht as this." 
 
 "Possibly you may," I added, as we passed into 
 one of the two state-rooms which occupied the mid- 
 dle of the vessel. 
 
 "What's this for?" 
 
 "This is the captain's room." 
 
302 BEAR AND FOEBEAE, OB 
 
 "First rate," said Tom, with enthusiasm. 
 
 We went into the other state-room, and then 
 passed into the main cabin, which was large enough 
 to contain four berths. The floor was richly car- 
 peted, and the table was provided with racks and 
 water pitcher. There was an abundance of lockers 
 and closets, which were stocked with dishes and 
 stores. Rich hangings partially concealed the berths, 
 and everything was as luxurious as the parlor of a 
 gentleman's house. Tom gazed with admiration and 
 delight at the elegant appointments of the cabin. 
 By this time the entire company had assembled in 
 this stately apartment, and all of them were watch- 
 ing Tom. No one noticed any of the rest of us. 
 
 " Why, they are getting her under way," said Tom. 
 "Hadn't we better be off?" 
 
 "Not just yet," I replied. 
 
 "But I'm afraid the Belle will be in her way." 
 
 " It's all right ; " and I proceeded to point out the 
 conveniences on board of the yacht. 
 
 In a few moments we heard the rattle of the jib, 
 and the Banshee was off. 
 
 "I think we will go on deck now," I continued. 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE TJCAYGA. 303 
 
 " Why, she's off now ! " exclaimed Tom, springing 
 to the steps. "Where's the Belle?" 
 
 " She is moored all right, Tom," I interposed. 
 "The ladies have concluded to go in the Banshee 
 if you will take the helm." 
 
 "O, this was the game — was it?" laughed Tom. 
 "I didn't see how you expected to carry fourteen 
 in the Belle. I'll take the helm, and glad of the 
 job." 
 
 All the party followed him to the standing-room. 
 Joe Poole, who had formerly sailed with Tom and 
 me in the Grace, had the helm. There were also 
 two men on the forecastle, coiling up the jib-hal- 
 yards. 
 
 "Here, Tom," I interposed, as he was about to 
 take the helm from Joe Poole. "You didn't look 
 at this arrangement for the spy-glass." 
 
 I pointed to the glass, which was secured on a 
 couple of spring brackets, so that it could not be 
 moved from its place by the pitching of the ves- 
 sel. Under it was a large silver plate, upon which 
 an inscription was engraved. It was placed directly 
 over the entrance to the cabin, and in calling Tom's 
 
304 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 attention to the spy-glass, I intended he should see 
 this plate. All the party in the standing-room were 
 watching him with the most intense interest and 
 delight. 
 
 "Good gracious, Wolf!" shouted the skipper, his 
 eyes opening till they were as large as the hawse- 
 holes of the yacht. 
 
 I thought he would be crazy, he was so astonished 
 and delighted. The inscription on the plate was as 
 follows : — 
 
 "Presented to Captain TJiomas Walton by the 
 Directors of the Centreport JSank, in testimony of 
 their high appreciation of his gallant conduct and 
 skilful management in the capture of the robbers of 
 their JBanhP 
 
 "I say, Wolf, won't you make a little speech for 
 me?" said Tom. 
 
 " Make it yourself, Tom. There is the president of 
 the bank," I replied, pointing to Colonel Wimpleton. 
 
 " Colonel Wimpleton, this is handsome of you, and 
 I thank you ten thousand times — call it ten million 
 times. If my heart were as big as the moon, it 
 would shake all over with gratitude. I don't de- 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OP LAKE UCAYGA. 305 
 
 serve this, but I am the happiest skipper that ever 
 trod a plank." 
 
 The entire party clapped their hands, and seemed to 
 be almost as happy as Tom was. 
 
 "The money which that robber had in his bag 
 would pay for a dozen such yachts as this; and it 
 would have been lost without you," said Colonel 
 Wimpleton. "It's only a salve for your wounded 
 arm." 
 
 It was some time before Captain Walton was in 
 condition to take the helm, he was so excited. He 
 went all over the Banshee again, and I attended 
 him. 
 
 "So you were fooling me all the time, Wolf," 
 said he. "But you said she was built for Captain 
 Portman." 
 
 "So she was; but as it was rather late in the 
 season for him, he was kind enough to let the colo- 
 nel have her, and another will be built for him 
 before spring." 
 
 "She's a bully boat." 
 
 " She will make your fortune, Tom, for people 
 will like her." 
 
 20 
 
306 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 "That's so. I can let the Belle, and run the 
 Banshee myself." 
 
 Tom finally cooled off enough to take the helm. 
 He was the lion of the day, and he handled the 
 yacht so as to call forth the admiration of the party. 
 Colonel Wimpleton had consulted me in regard to the 
 reward for Tom, and I had suggested the yacht, be- 
 cause I knew she would enable him to make a great 
 deal of money. The magnate could not wait for a 
 boat to be built, and Captain Portman, to whom I 
 applied for information in regard to the cost of the 
 Banshee, enabled him to obviate this delay. Cer- 
 tainly Tom could not have been better suited if 
 he had been consulted. He was very grateful, and 
 very modest, winning the regard of all on board. 
 
 "We sailed up to the Cataract House, where the 
 company dined; after which the excursion was con- 
 tinued to the head of the lake. All had a splendid 
 time; and, as Grace Toppleton was present, it was 
 one of the happy days of a lifetime to me. "We 
 landed Miss Dornwood and her friend at Kuoara, 
 and came to anchor off Middleport before dark. 
 
 The Banshee was immediately in great demand. 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OP LAKE UCAYGA. 307 
 
 Applications for her came from every town on the 
 lake; and when the season closed, Tom had money 
 enough to pay a quarter down on a house he bought 
 for his mother. Joe Poole ran the Belle when a 
 skipper was needed by her party, and half a dozen 
 row-boats added to Tom's income. One of his brothers 
 attended to the letting of the boats, and the next 
 season Tom did a large business. The family, by the 
 exertions of Tom, was now on the high road to 
 prosperity. 
 
 A lapse of five years has produced no change in 
 the pleasant relations between the two sides of the 
 lake, though it has witnessed many changes in 
 the circumstances of those who have figured in my 
 story. The Union Line is still a unit. The Lake 
 Shore Railroad does a large business. Captain Van 
 Wolter still commands the Ucayga, and the only 
 sorrow of his life is the fact that his son has fif- 
 teen long years of imprisonment before him. All the 
 old students have left the Institutes, and new ones 
 have taken their places. 
 
308 BEAR AND FORBEAR, OR 
 
 Tom Walton, with a great pair of bushy whiskers, 
 still runs the Banshee, and makes money in the boat 
 business. He has built a very comfortable double house 
 near his boat pier, and lives in one side himself, while 
 his mother occupies the other. He is married, and is 
 regarded as one of the solid men of Middleport; he can 
 no longer be called "The Young Skipper of Lake 
 Ucayga," though his heart is as young and fresh as 
 ever. 
 
 There have been quite a number of new houses 
 erected in Middleport and Centreport. Near the 
 mansion of Colonel Wimpleton is the elegant house 
 of Mr. Waddie Wimpleton. Miss Dornwood that 
 was, Mrs. Wimpleton that is, lives there, of course, 
 and is highly esteemed by everybody in town, not 
 only as an elegant lady, but as a useful and benevo- 
 lent woman. By the side of this house is another, 
 occupied by Mr. Thomas Toppleton, for his lady de- 
 sired to live near her mother and brother; and it 
 was whispered that her husband thought his chances 
 of being sent to Congress from the district in which 
 Centreport was situated were better than in the one 
 to which Middleport belonged. At any rate, Tom- 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OP LAKE IJCAYGA. 309 
 
 my has political aspirations, and is a rising man; 
 and I am only sorry that I shall not have the oppor- 
 tunity to vote for him when he is nominated. 
 
 On the other side of the lake, between the man- 
 sion of Major Toppleton and the shore, stands what 
 I regard as a very pretty house. It was erected by 
 the major for the use of his oldest daughter, and 
 we live there. I shall be happy to introduce Mrs. 
 Penniman to any of my friends who call. I wish 
 to say, aside, so that she will not hear me, that I 
 think she is even prettier now than she was on the 
 day when I first saw her, and helped her into the 
 engine-room of the dummy. She is very happy, and 
 I am sure I am. Her father bestowed a very lib- 
 eral dowry upon her when we were married, and I 
 have doubled my little fortune in five years, so 
 that we are abundantly provided with this world's 
 goods. 
 
 I am still the general agent of the Union Line, 
 but I am not obliged to work very hard. I am in- 
 terested in several railroads, including the Great 
 Lake Shore in Ohio, which had the audacity to steal 
 our name. My father still runs the engine of the 
 
310 BEAR AND FOEBEAE, OR 
 
 Ucayga, in connection with Christy Holgate, who 
 has been true to his high Christian aspirations. Lewis 
 Holgate did not turn out very well. He was dis* 
 charged from his place on the Lake Shore Railroad, 
 and the last I knew of him, he was " firing " on one 
 of the main lines. 
 
 My mother comes over to our house almost every 
 afternoon, where she is always warmly welcomed by 
 Grace, who loves her almost as mnch as I do. I 
 often think, when I see her, that the Bible lessons 
 she taught me have been the foundation of all that 
 I am or ever shall be. I shudder when I think where 
 I might have been without her; and- 1 do not think 
 it is egotism for me to say, in view of the facts, 
 that the principle of "Love your enemies," which 
 she imparted to me, was the basis upon which the 
 present happy peace between the two sides of the 
 lake rested; for Waddie and Tommy confessed that 
 they had learned the lesson from me. She is a good 
 mother, and I shall love, and cherish, and pray for 
 her as long as I live. 
 
 The two bears are still alive, though the fun is 
 
THE YOUNG SKIPPER OF LAKE UCAYGA. 311 
 
 all gone out of them. They are now grave, se- 
 date, and dignified bears, and, as such, are fit sym- 
 bols of the Christian sentiment they represent. I 
 am grateful to them for the good they have un- 
 consciously done, and I never call them by any other 
 names than Bear and Forbear. 
 
fflaP 
 
WONDERLAND STORIES. 
 
 x&£mm 
 
 // 'A 
 
 To be completed in six vols. Illustrated. Cloth, $1.25; cloth, gilt edges, 
 $1.50; cloth, full gilt, $1.75. 
 
 Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. 
 The House on Wheels. 
 
 letters Everywhere. 
 
 The Inn of the Guardian Angel. 
 
 (In Press.) 
 
 The Russian General. 
 
 Through the Looking Glass, and what Alice saw there. 
 
 These books are all healthy in tone, and written in a sprightly, at- 
 tractive manner, which makes them very agreeable reading for young 
 people. 
 
 Sold by all Booksellers and Newsdealers. 
 
YOUNG- AMEUICA, AHOY! 
 100,000 Boys and Girls, 
 
 WHO ACCOMPANIED THE ACADEMY SHIP 
 
 "YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD," 
 
 As recorded in the first series of Log Books, under 
 the titles of " Outward Bound," " Shamrock and This- 
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 adventures of her crew, will be given to our Boys and 
 Girls under the title of 
 
 UP THE BALTIC; 
 
 Young America in Norway, Sweden, 
 and Denmark. 
 
 WRITTEN BY OLIVER OPTSC. 
 
 A handsome 16mo volume. Illustrated. Price $1.50. 
 
 TO BE FOLLOWED BY 
 
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 Cross and Crescent, 
 
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 Isles of the Sea. 
 
 Sold by all Booksellers and Newsdealers. 
 
LEE & SHEPARD'S JUVENILF PUBLICATIONS. 
 
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 of personal adventure correct accounts of many stirring scenes of the war. 
 
 — Hartford Courant. 
 
 THE SAILOR BOY ; or, Jack Somers in the Navy. 
 16mo. Illustrated. $1.50. 
 
 11 Jack is the brother of Tom, the Soldier Boy, whose adventures in the 
 army were so much enjoyed. We have only to repeat that there are few 
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 eparkling with animation, the story never drags; there are no stupid task* 
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 boys, impulsive, with superabundant animal life, and the heroes are manly, 
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 The author has used, to the best advantage, the many exciting incidents 
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LEE & SHEPARD'S JUVENILE PUBLICATIONS. 
 
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 volume, 75 cents. 
 LITTLE PRUDY. 
 
 LITTLE PRUDY' S Sister Susy. 
 
 LITTLE PRUDY' S Captain Horace. 
 
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 LITTLE PRUDY'S Story Book. 
 
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 volxime, 75 cents. 
 
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 Read the high commendation of the North American Bevieio, which 
 places Sophie May's Books at the 
 
 Head of Juvenile Literature. 
 
 " Genius comes in with ' Little Prudy.' Compared with her, all other 
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 them. Sam Weller is not more piquant; Hans Anderson's nutcrackers and 
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 Who is our benetactress in the authorship of these books, the world knows 
 not. Sophie May must doubtless be a fancy name, by reason of the spelling, 
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 earth To those oversaturated with transatlantic traditions we recom- 
 mend a course of ' Little Prudy," 
 
 Sold by all booksellers and newsdealers, and sent by mail, post-paid, on 
 receipt of price. 
 
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LEE & SHEPARD'S JUVENILE PUBLICATIONS, 
 
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 YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD. 
 
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 Illustrated by Nast, Stevens, Perkins, and others. 
 
 OUTWARD BOUND; or, Young America Afloat. 
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 regular naval discipline." 
 
 SHAMROCK AND THISTLE; or, Young Amer- 
 ica in Ireland and Scotland. $1.50. 
 
 "This volume continues the history of the academy ship and her crew of 
 boys, with their trips into the interior as well as voyages along the coast of 
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 tion of these countries by reading this unpretentious journal of travel, than 
 by weeks of hard study upon the geographies and histories." 
 
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 and waters, and is replete with thrilling adventures and descriptions of noted 
 places." 
 
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 Holland and Belgium. $1.50 
 
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 leries, and their wonderful buildings, giving at every turn vivid impressions 
 of what is seen and heard therein and thereabouts." 
 
 PALACE AND COTTAGE ; or, Young America in 
 Prance and Switzerland. $1.50 
 
 " This volume relates the history of the American Squadron (Young 
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 students to Paris and through a portion of Switzerland. As an episode, 
 the story of the runaway cruise of the Josephine is introduced, inculcating 
 the moral that ' the way of the transgressor is hard.' " 
 
 DOWN THE RHINE; or, Young America in Ger- 
 many. $1.50. 
 This volume concludes the first series of Young America, and is as inter- 
 esting and instrnctive as the preceding volumes. So great has been the suc- 
 cess of this series, that Oliver Optic is now preparing a second. "Up the 
 Baltic" will be the first volume, to be followed by " Northern Lands," "Vine 
 and Olive," " Sunny Shores," " Cross and Crescent" and " Isles of the Sea.' 
 
 Sold by all book-sellers and news-dealers, and sent by mail on receipt of 
 price. ' 
 
 LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston. 
 
LEE & SHEPARO'S JUVENILE PUBLICATIONS. 
 
 TALES OF ADVENTURE. 
 
 THE FRONTIER SERIES, 
 
 Four volumes. 16vno. III. Price, per set, $5,00. 
 
 THE CABIN ON THE PRAIRIE. By Rev. Charles H, 
 Pearson. 16mo. llustrated. $1.25. 
 
 " Ihe Cabin on tlie Prairie is an earnest, healthy book, full of thf 
 hardships, trials, and triumphs of life in our new settlements." 
 
 PLANTING THE, WILDERNESS; or, The Pioneer Boys. 
 By James D. McCabe, Jr. 16mo. Illustrated. $1.25. 
 " Planting the Wilderness tells of the strange adventures of real life, 
 which, more than the fancies of the novel writer, are of absorbing in- 
 terest." 
 
 TWELVE NIGHTS IN THE HUNTERS' CAMP. By 
 Rev. W. Barrows. 16mo. Illustrated. $1.25. 
 " Twelve Nights in the Hunters'* Camp is a pleasant, stirring, sensible 
 book, full of life and incident, and all aglow with the breezy freshness 
 or woods and prairies, lakes and rivers." 
 
 A THOUSAND MILES' WALK across the Pampas and 
 
 Andes of South America. By Nathaniel II. Bishop. 
 
 16mo. Illustrated. $1.50. 
 
 "A Thousand Miles' Walh across South America is a record of the 
 
 experiences of a Yankee boy, full of enthusiasm to see and learn by actual 
 
 experience the wonders of that almost terra incognita.** 
 
 This series of books are of sterling merit, snd while they 
 closely follow real experiences, are full of those thrilling inci- 
 dents which charm both youth and age. 
 
 Sold by all Booksellers and Newsdealers, and sent by mail, postpaid, 
 on receipt of price. 
 
 LEE &. SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston. 
 
LEE & SHEPARD'S JUVENILE PUBLICATIONS. 
 
 By the Author of " Spartacus to the Gladiators." 
 
 ELM ISLAND STORIES. 
 
 To be completed in six vols. III. Per vol., $1.25. 
 
 LION BEN OF ELM ISLAND. 16rao. Illustrated. $1.25. 
 
 " Elm Island lays off the coast of Eastern Maine, a wild and romantio 
 region, and the incidents of the story are recorded as happening when this 
 country was just emerging from its struggle for independence. It is a 
 capital story of the rough-and-tumble life of the early settlers."— Chicago 
 Journal of Commerce. 
 
 CHARLIE BELL, THE WAIF OF ELM ISLAND. 16mo. 
 
 Illustrated. $1.25. 
 
 " This volume tells the story of Charlie Bell, who was thrown upon Elm 
 Island like a Avaif from the ocean, and adopted by Lion Ben. With Yankee 
 boys he shares the exciting adventures of a new country and a rude state 
 of society." 
 
 TEE ARK OF ELM ISLAND. 16mo. Illustrated. $1.25. 
 
 This volume of the series is by no means inferior in interest to its prede- 
 cessors, dealing principally with adventures at sea, which are always 
 delightful to boys. 
 
 THE BOY FARMERS OF ELM ISLAND. 16mo. Illus- 
 trated. $1.25. 
 
 The fourth volume of the series gives, in graphic and earnest style, the 
 efforts of three lads to transform Elm Island from a wilderness to a fruit- 
 ful and productive land. It is full of life, adventure, and fun. 
 
 THE YOUNG SHIPBUILDERS OF ELM ISLAND. 
 16mo. Illustrated. $1.25. 
 
 " Mr. Kellogg is winning laurels as a writer for and educator of youth. 
 Health and vigor are in his writings, and the lad has more of the first-clasa 
 man in him after the perusal." — Providence Press. 
 
 Sold by all Booksellers and Newsdealers, and sent by mail, postpaid, 
 on receipt of price. 
 
 LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston. 
 
REV. ELIJAH KELLOGG'S 
 
 ELM ISLAND STORIES. 
 
 Six vola. 16mo. Illustrated. Per vol., $1.25. 
 
 1. Lion Ben of Elm Island. 
 
 2. Charlie Bell. 
 
 3. The Ark of Elm Island. 
 
 4. The Boy Farmers of Elm 
 
 Island. 
 
 5. The Young Shipbuilders of 
 
 Elm Island. 
 
 6. The Hardscrabble of Elm 
 
 Island. 
 
 "There is no sentimentalism in this series. 
 It is all downright matter-of-fact boy life, and 
 of course they are deeply interested in read- 
 ing it. The history of pioneer life is so 
 attractive that one involuntarily wishes to 
 renew those early struggles with adverse 
 circumstances, and join the busy actors in 
 their successful efforts to build up pleasant 
 homes on our sea-girt islands." — Zion's 
 Herald. 
 
 LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston. 
 
 Illustrated Natural History 
 
 YOUNG HUNTER'S LIBRARY. 
 
 By Mbs. R. Lee. Four volumes. 
 Per vol., $1.50. 
 
 Illustrated. 
 
 The Australian "Wanderers. 
 
 The Adventures of Captain Spencer and 
 his Horse and Dog in the Wilds of Aus- 
 tralia. 
 
 The African Crusoes. 
 
 The Adventures of Carlos and Antonio 
 in the Wilds of Africa. 
 
 Anecdotes of Animals, 
 
 With their Habits, Instincts, &c, &c. 
 
 Anecdotes of Birds, Fishes, Rep- 
 tiles, &c, their Habits and Instincts. 
 
 This is a very popular series, prepared for 
 the purpose of interesting the young in the 
 study of natural history. The exciting ad- 
 ventures^ of celebrated travellers, anecdotes 
 of sagacity in birds, beasts, &c. , have been 
 interwoven in a pleasant manner. This se- 
 ries is not only very interesting but is deci- 
 dedly profitable reading. 
 
 LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston. 
 
 Wonderful Stories. 
 
 JUTLAND SERIES. 
 
 Four vols. Illustrated. Set in a neat box, or sold 
 separate. Per vol., $1.50. 
 
 The Sand Hills of Jutland. 
 
 By Hans Christian Andersen. i6mo. 
 Illustrated. 
 
 Yarns of an Old Mariner. 
 
 By Mrs. Mary Cowden Clarke. Illus- 
 trated by Cruikshank. i6mo. 
 
 Schoolboy Days. 
 
 By W. H. G. Kingston, 
 teen illustrations. 
 
 i6mo. Six- 
 
 Great Men and Gallant Deeds. 
 
 By J. G. Edgar. i6mo. Illustrated. 
 
 Four books by four noted authors comprise 
 this series, which contains Adventures by Sea 
 and Land, Manly Sports of England, Boy 
 Life in English Schools, Fairy Tales and 
 Legends, — all handsomely illustrated. 
 
 LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston. 
 
 The Great West. 
 
 THE FRONTIER SERIES 
 
 Five vols. Illustrated. Per vol., $1.25. 
 
 Twelve Nights in the Hunters' 
 
 Camp. 
 A Thousand Miles' Walk Across 
 
 South America. 
 
 The Cabin on the Prairie. 
 
 Planting the "Wilderness. 
 
 The Young Pioneers. 
 
 The romance surrounding the adventurous 
 lives of Western pioneers and immigrants 
 has suggested nearly as many stories as the 
 chivalric deeds of knight-errantry. These 
 tales of frontier life are, however, as a rule, 
 characterized by such wildness of fancy and 
 such extravagancy of language that we have 
 often wondered why another Cervantes did 
 not ridicule our border romances by describ- 
 ing a second Don Quixote's adventures on 
 the prairies. We are pleased to notice, that 
 in the new series of Frontier Tales, by Lee 
 & Shepard, there is an agreeable absence of 
 sensational writing, of that maudlin senti- 
 mentality which make the generality of such 
 tales nauseous." — Standard. 
 
 LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston. 
 
MISS LOUISE M. THURSTON S 
 
 CHARLEY ROBERTS SERIES. 
 
 To be completed in six vols. Illustrated. 
 Per volume, $i. 
 
 How Charley Roberts Be- 
 came a Man. 
 
 How Eva Roberts Grained 
 
 Her Education. 
 
 Charley and Eva's Home 
 in the West. 
 
 (Others in Preparation.) 
 
 In presenting the above new series the publish- 
 ers believe that they are adding to that class of 
 juvenile literature whose intrinsic worth is recog- 
 nized by those who have at heart the good of the 
 young. 
 
 " They are pleasantly written books, descriptive 
 of the struggles and difficulties of Charley and 
 Eva in attaining to manhood and womanhood, 
 and they are well adapted to stimulate a noble 
 ambition in the hearts of young persons." 
 
 LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston. 
 
 MAY MANNERING'S 
 
 HELPING HAND SERIES. 
 
 Six volumes. Illustrated. Per volume, $i. 
 Climbing the Hope. 
 Billy Grimes's Favorite. 
 
 The Cruise of the Dasha- 
 
 way. 
 
 The Little Spaniard. 
 Salt Water Dick. 
 Little Maid of* Oxbow. 
 
 '"May Mannering' is the nom de plume of*n 
 agreeable writer for the young folks who possesses 
 more than ordinary ability, and has a thorough 
 comprehension of the way to Interest children." — 
 Philadelphia Item. 
 
 "We like the spirit of these books exceedingly, 
 and cordially commend it to the notice of Sabbath 
 School Libraries." — Ladies' Repository. 
 
 LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston. 
 
 "ITarteU anto attractioe." 
 
 VACATION STORY-BOOKS. 
 
 Six vols. Illust. Per vol., 80 cts. 
 
 Worth not Wealth. 
 
 Country Life. 
 
 The Charm. 
 
 Karl Keigler. 
 
 Walter Seyton. 
 
 Holidays at Chestnut Hill. 
 
 ROSY DIAMOND STORY-BOOKS. 
 
 Six volumes. Illustrated. Per vol., 80 cts. 
 
 The Great Rosy Diamond. 
 Daisy, or The Fairy Spectacles. 
 Violet, a Fairy Story. 
 Minnie, or The Little Woman. 
 The Angel Children. 
 Little Blossom's Reward. 
 
 These are delightful works for children. They 
 are all very popular, and have had a wide circula- 
 tion. They are now presented in a new dress. 
 The stories are all amusing and instructive, ex- 
 hibiting human nature in children, and teaching 
 
 some very important practical lessons. 
 
 Hf LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston. 
 
 " jjagctnattng anU Enstructtbe." 
 
 THE PROVERB SERIES. 
 
 By Mrs. M. E. Bradley and Miss 
 Kate J. Neely. 
 
 Six vols. Illust Per vol., $1. 
 
 Birds of a Feather. 
 
 Fine Feathers do Not make Fine 
 Birds. 
 
 Handsome is that Handsome does. 
 
 A Wrong Confessed is half Re- 
 dressed. 
 
 Actions speak louder than Words. 
 
 One Good Turn deserves another. 
 
 " Each volume is complete in itself, and illus- 
 trates, with a story of most fascinating and in- 
 structive interest, the proverb taken for its title. 
 These are just the kind of books that we like to 
 see in a family or Sunday-school library. They 
 will be read by persons of all ages with deep 
 interest, and afford instructive and entertaining 
 conversation with the children."— S. $. Journal. 
 
 LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Botton.