"It didn't blow much when we went to bed. What time did you come home, Ben?"
"I don't know what time it was," he answered evasively.
"Come, Ethan, let's go and find out what the matter is," continued
Lawry, as he led the way downstairs.
Mrs. Wilford was not up, but she was awake, and was anticipating with great satisfaction the pleasure of the surprise which awaited the boys, when they discovered that the steamer had been freed from water. They left the house, and went down to the ferry. The Woodville certainly was not where they had left her; not even the top of her smokestack could be seen peering above the water to inform them that she still existed.
"Well, Lawry, we may as well go out to the place where we left her.
If she has sunk, we may be able to see her," said Ethan.
They got into the boat; but one of the oars was gone. Ben had lost it overboard when he landed, and it had floated off. There was another pair in the woodshed of the house, and Lawry went up for them. As he entered the shed, he met his mother, who had just risen, and gone out for wood to kindle the fire. The poor boy looked so sad and disconsolate that his long face attracted her attention.
"What's the matter, Lawry?" she asked.
"The steamer has sunk again," replied the son.
"Sunk again!" exclaimed his mother.
"She is not to be seen, and Ben says she has gone down."