Part 34 (1/2)

Doubtless this was good advice, and the little captain had so much confidence in his friend and benefactor that he could not help adopting it. Mr. Sherwood went into the cabin again, without any conversation with the subject of his severe but just comments. Lawry was on the point of leaving the hurricane-deck, where he had talked with his adviser, when he noticed that the boat was headed toward the sh.o.r.e, and in a moment more would be aground in the shoal water off Barber's Point. He rushed into the wheel-house, and found that Ben had abandoned the helm. Grasping the wheel, the pilot brought her up to her course, and then turned to his brother.

”What do you mean, Ben, by leaving the wheel?” demanded Lawry, filled with indignation at his brother's treachery.

”Don't talk to me,” growled Ben.

”The boat would have been aground in a minute more.”

”I wish she was.”

”What's the matter, Ben?”

”I thought you were my brother; but you are not.”

”I'm sorry to hear you talk so; and I didn't think you would do so mean a thing as to run the boat ash.o.r.e.”

”I'll do anything now. I heard what Sherwood said to you, and what you said to him. I didn't think you would let any man talk about your brother as he did. Do you suppose I would let any man talk like that about my brother? I'll bet I wouldn't! I'd knock him over before the words were out of his mouth.”

”Why, what did he say, Ben?”

”What did he say! Didn't you hear what he said? Didn't he tell you I was a drunken fellow, and couldn't be trusted?”

”Well, he certainly did,” replied Lawry moodily.

”And you heard him! And you didn't say a word!” said Ben furiously.

”What could I say when Mr. Sherwood spoke only what I know is true?”

”Then you think I'm a drunken fellow, and can't be trusted?”

demanded Ben, with an injured look.

”Don't you drink too much sometimes?”

”No, I don't! I drink what I want; but no one ever saw me the worse for liquor. Who says I can't be trusted?”

”When I gave you the wheel, at your own request, you left it, and the boat would have been ash.o.r.e in another minute. Does that look as though you could be trusted?” added Lawry.

”That was because you wouldn't trust me. I was mad.”

”One who would expose the lives of twenty or thirty persons when he got mad ought not to be trusted.”

”Lawry, you are no longer my brother. You and your mother, and Sherwood here, have been trying to put me down, and make a n.o.body of me. You can't do it. I'm your enemy now. You have made me mad, and you must take the consequences. I'll burn or smash this boat the first chance I get! As for Sherwood, I'll teach him to talk about me!”

The angry young man rushed out of the wheel-house. If Mr. Sherwood had heard his insane threats he would probably have insisted that he should be immediately put on sh.o.r.e; but Lawry did not think his brother capable of the madness of malice his speech indicated; he was in a pa.s.sion, and when he cooled off he would be reasonable again.

Ben sat down on the forecastle where the pilot could see him, and nursed his wrath till the _Woodville_ arrived at Burlington. He was in deep thought all the time, and did not heed the singing or other amus.e.m.e.nts of the party on board, who were enjoying themselves to the utmost. Apparently with no perception of his own faults and shortcomings, he regarded himself as a deeply injured young man. His mother and his brother had turned against him, and were persecuting him to the best of their ability. He had come on board to gain his purpose by conciliation; he had failed, and, in his own view, there was nothing left for him but revenge.

The boat touched at Burlington, and to the great relief of Lawry, his brother followed Mr. Sherwood on sh.o.r.e. At three o'clock the _Woodville_ returned from Port Kent with the happy excursionists.

While the steamer lay at the wharf, waiting for Mr. Sherwood, many persons, moved by curiosity to inspect the beautiful craft, came aboard; and whenever she stopped, she had plenty of visitors of this description. Among them Lawry saw his brother, accompanied by two men, who, from the remarks they made, were evidently familiar with the machinery and appointments of steamers.