It was during the afternoon, while gliding up the river, that they passed so close to a downward-bound steamer that the features of the passengers on deck were plainly seen.
Jim was leaning idly on the gunwale, looking at them, when he observed a lady, with a child seated beside her, the mother pointing out to the child the varied beauties of the scene as they moved swiftly by. He straightened up on the instant, as if he had received an electric shock; for the conviction came like a flash that he had seen the face of that child before.
But where? He might as well have asked himself what there was in such a sweet, angelic countenance to affect him so strangely.
Ah! he had it. That was the girl that Tom had rescued from the icy water the winter before.
Going in opposite directions, and with such speed, the steamer and schooner were soon far apart, and the straining gaze of the lad was unable to tell where the mother and child were seated.
The two had not even looked at him, and he could only sigh that the glimpse was such a passing one.
"I wonder whether Tom has ever seen them since. He would be a great deal more delighted than I."
The Simoon sailed steadily upward till the day wore by, by which time she was a good many miles above the metropolis.
It was no more than fairly dark when Sam managed to whisper in the ear of the boy,--
"You mus' leab de boat to-night!"