Part 13 (2/2)
”Well, he was always preaching to me about doing the right thing; and now he's fallen off the horse-block himself,” added the young man, with a slight chuckle.
”It's bad for Mr. Wilford and his family.”
”That's so. Where's Lawry now?”
”He has gone over with the ferry-boat.”
”I reckon Lawry has to run the machine now.”
”He has to run the ferry-boat.”
”Well, he knows how. Lawry's smart--he is. I suppose you don't know me.”
”I do not.”
”I'm Lawry's brother; and that makes it that Lawry is my brother.”
”Then you are Benjamin Wilford?”
”That's my name; but Ben Wilford sounds a good deal more natural to me. I heard the old man had got into trouble, and I came up to see about it, though I'm out of a job just now, and couldn't do anything better. I hear that Lawry owns a steamboat, and I didn't know but he'd want some help. Where is she?”
”She's on the bottom, out there by the Goblins,” answered Ethan, pointing to the raft. ”We are at work raising her.”
”Can you get her up, do you think?”
”Yes; I have no doubt we shall have her at the top of the water by to-morrow night.”
”I've come just in time, then,” added the young man. ”I think I know something about a steamboat.”
Ethan did not like the looks of Lawry's brother. His bloated face was against him, and the young engineer, without knowing anything more about him than his swaggering manner and red face revealed, wished he had stayed away a few days longer.
”I'll go in and see the old woman, and get some breakfast; then I'll go up with you and see what you are doing,” said Ben Wilford.
”We are going up as soon as Lawry comes back,” answered Ethan, pointing to the ferry-boat.
The dissolute young man, who had just been discharged from his situation as a deck-hand on one of the steamers, for intemperance and neglect of duty, sauntered into the house; and the fresh breeze soon brought the impatient Lawry to the sh.o.r.e.
”Lawry, we have got some help,” said Ethan.
”Who?”
”Your brother has just come.”
”Ben?” asked the young lad, a troubled expression gathering on his face.
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