"Can you get her up, do you think?"
"Yes; I have no doubt we shall have her at the top of the water by to-morrow night."
"I've come just in time, then," added the young man. "I think I know something about a steamboat."
Ethan did not like the looks of Lawry's brother. His bloated face was against him, and the young engineer, without knowing anything more about him than his swaggering manner and red face revealed, wished he had stayed away a few days longer.
"I'll go in and see the old woman, and get some breakfast; then I'll go up with you and see what you are doing," said Ben Wilford.
"We are going up as soon as Lawry comes back," answered Ethan, pointing to the ferry-boat.
The dissolute young man, who had just been discharged from his situation as a deck-hand on one of the steamers, for intemperance and neglect of duty, sauntered into the house; and the fresh breeze soon brought the impatient Lawry to the shore.
"Lawry, we have got some help," said Ethan.
"Who?"
"Your brother has just come."