"But Captain Gildrock has all the boys now that were out in the Goldwing. What do you suppose he is going to do with them?"
"I haven't the least idea. I should as soon think of asking the minister what he is going to preach about next Sunday, as of asking my uncle what he is going to do."
"I should think he would tell you without asking."
"Sometimes he does, but not often; and when we are going to do any thing on shore, or on board of the boats, the orders come as a surprise to us."
As the steamer approached the mouth of the river, Captain Gildrock came on the hurricane deck, but he did not even look into the pilot-house. He began to walk up and down, and Lily watched him for a few minutes with interest.
"He looks as though he had something in his head now," said Dory, as he observed the thoughtful expression of his uncle.
"He must be thinking about those boys," suggested Lily.
"Very likely: they have been a great nuisance to us, for they have stolen the boats a great many times before (that is, the row-boats), when they have been left on shore."
"Do you know those boys?"
"Some of them: we have had some dealings with the Topovers when they ran away with the barges. But there is a lot of new fellows among them now that I hardly know by sight. Within a week I have heard my uncle drop some few remarks about the bad boys of Genverres, as though he was thinking about them. This affair with the Goldwing is perhaps the text of his thoughts. But it will all come out, if there is any thing, very soon."