Part 8 (2/2)
She took a packet-boat on the canal for Buffalo At Buffalo, with the assistance of friends she had made on board the boat, she found the captain of a schooner, who agreed to give her a passage around the lakes to Chicago, for four dollars There were no railroads through Northern Ohio and across Michigan and Indiana in those days; and although there were steae on one of thelad to go in the schooner
The weather was fine, the winds favored, and the Heron made a quick trip Vinnie, after two or three days of sea-sickness, enjoyed the voyage, which was made all the more pleasant to her by the friendshi+p of the captain and his wife
She was interested in all she saw,--in watching the waves, the sailors hauling the ropes, the swelling of the great sails,--in the vessels they met or passed, the ports at which they touched,--the fort, the Indians, and the wonderfully clear depth of the water at Mackinaw But the voyage grew tiresome toward the close, and her heart bounded with joy when the captain ca and announced that they had reached Chicago
The great Western ht or ten thousand inhabitants, hastily and shabbily built on the low level of the plain stretching for miles back from the lake shore In a short ith the captain's wife, Vinnie saw about all of the place she cared to; noting particularly a load of hay ”slewed,” or mired, in the ht of whichcity could ever be built there!
Meanwhile the captain, by inquiry in the resorts ofto drive out to the Long Woods settleon to the wharf where the Heron lay, and take off Vinnie and her trunk
”O, how fortunate!” she exclaiood everybody is to ht!”
CHAPTER IX
VINNIE'S ADVENTURE
In due tion was backed down upon the wharf, and a swarthy h, hooked nose, like the inverted prow of a shi+p, boarded the schooner, and scratched his head, through its shock of stiff, coarse hair, by way of salutation to Vinnie, who came on deck to meet hion, on a stiff board seat”
”O, I sha'n't o
”What part of the settleoin' to?” he asked, as he lifted one end of the trunk, while the captain took up the other
”To Mr Betterson's house; Mrs Betterson is my sister,” said Vinnie
The lared at her
”You've got holt o' the wrong on to the house of no sich a man as Lord Betterson Ye may tell him as much”
”Will you take me to any house near by?” said the astonished Vinnie
”Not if you're a connection of the Bettersons, I won't for no money!
I've nothin' to do with that family, but to hate and despise 'em Tell 'em that too But they know it a'ready My name's Dudley Peakslow”
And, in spite of the captain's rery man turned his back upon the schooner, and drove off in his wagon
It took Vinnie a ave her Then she smiled faintly, and said,--
”It's too bad I couldn't have a ride in his old wagon! But he wouldn't be very agreeable company, would he?” So she tried to console herself for the disappoint: ”If I can do no better, I will take the stage to North Mills; Jack will help et over to ht have to take that route
The schooner was discharging her roceries, hardware, boots and shoes,--and the captain was toorew restless under the delay; and feeling that she ought toWoods, she set off alone to make inquiries for herself