"What is the trouble here?" asked Captain Hadley, coming up through the crowd.
"The blockhead of a boy dropped that trunk and broke it open."
"He ran into me and made me drop it," retorted our hero. He felt just reckless enough to stand up for his rights, be the consequences what they might.
"Put the trunk to one side, along with the other baggage," said the captain. "We have no time to waste on this just now. Get that other baggage ashore."
"My trunk!" shrieked the maiden lady, rushing forward. "Oh, who broke my trunk?"
"It was an accident, madam."
"And all my dresses spilt out, too! I shall sue the steamboat company for damages."
"We will settle with you, madam. I am sorry it happened," went on the captain, soothingly.
"It was a mean thing to do," said the maiden lady and began to weep. "Two of those dresses are brand-new."
"I guess they are not injured much."