“What’s wanted?” yelled the captain from the upper deck.
“Is Sergt. Thomas Burke on board?” replied the big policeman.
“Blast my eyes if I know,” retorted the captain “And I’ve no time to find out, either. You can settle your little business with him some other day,” probably thinking the sergeant had been out on a lark.
Burke’s comrades had found him in the meantime and he came to the side of the boat, and as he caught sight of the party, he said with a voice choked with emotion.
“Kate!”
“Oh, Tom!” responded Kate.
“Let me off the boat!” shouted Tom.
“Too late,” replied the captain.
The big wheels of the steamer were churning the water when our colonel, who had been attracted by the loud talking, appeared and asked what was the matter.
Burke, tall, straight and every inch a soldier, but pale and thin from the effects of a wound received in the last fighting, saluted his superior and said: