Part 30 (2/2)
”But I do. Madam, if your son had been five minutes later than he was when the little steamer went down, Miss f.a.n.n.y Grant would certainly have been drowned, and my wife would doubtless have shared her fate. And when I think that this exposure of their precious lives was my own fault; that my wife and her sister had nearly perished by my foolish haste and recklessness, I feel like giving every dollar I have in the world to Lawry. You don't understand this matter as I do, Mrs. Wilford.”
”I didn't think you were in any great danger.”
”Miss f.a.n.n.y would certainly have been drowned; and I don't think it would have been possible for me to save my wife, for I was nearly exhausted when Lawry came. Now, Mrs. Wilford, do you suppose I shall mind one, two, or ten thousand dollars, where my brave deliverer is concerned? In one word, I will never take a dollar which I have expended for Lawry or the family. Your son is a manly and independent boy, and I don't like to hurt his feelings; so I shall not say anything about this money at present.”
”Lawry is a good boy,” said Mrs. Wilford proudly.
”He is worth his weight in gold. I am sorry your oldest son is not more like him.”
”I don't know what to think of Benjamin.”
”Where is he now?”
”I don't know; I haven't seen him since the steamer left, this morning.”
”Lawry is a good deal troubled about the ferry-boat.”
”He needn't be.”
”Can you hire a man to run the boat?”
”Yes; I can get a boy who will do it for half a dollar a day, and be glad of the chance. I will engage one.”
”Lawry goes to Burlington to-night to take out a party to-morrow.”
”To-night?”
”Yes; he must be there by eight in the morning.”
Mrs. Wilford thought her son was having a hard time with the steamer; but she knew he would be satisfied as long as he was doing well. Mr. Sherwood, a.s.sured that there was nothing at home to detain the young pilot, left the house. Lawry soon after entered; but he had not time to tell his mother the particulars of his first trip on the _Woodville_. He could remain but a few moments, while the hands were ”coaling up,” from a cargo of coal deposited on the wharf that day, by the order of Mr. Sherwood.
At nine o'clock everything was ready for the departure. The fireman grumbled at being called upon to work at night; but Lawry promised to get another man to keep watch as soon as he could. It was a long day's work for all hands. When the young captain had gone to the wheel-house to start the boat, Mr. Sherwood rushed down the wharf, and jumped aboard.
”I was afraid I should be too late,” said he, as Lawry met him on the main-deck. ”I have been all over the village to find you another fireman, and I have succeeded in getting you a first-rate one--an old hand at the business.”
”Thank you, sir; you are taking a great deal of trouble for me.”
”There's another thing I quite forgot; I didn't pay you for the trip nor the dinners. Here is the money.”
”I can't take it, Mr. Sherwood,” protested Captain Lawry.
”But you must take it; if you don't I can't engage the boat again.”
”Not from you, sir.”
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