“But you are trying to do it,” added Tommy.
“I intend to work for the interests of my employers. If I have an opportunity to serve you, I shall do so, but not by being unfaithful to those who pay me for my work.”
“That’s just what you did when in my employ,” said the father. “You made your peace with Wimpleton in my yacht, feeding him and taking care of him at my expense.”
“I did only an act of humanity toward him,” I answered, stung by the charge.
“No matter! You are a traitor and a renegade. Go your way, and take the consequences of your treachery. But let me tell you and Wimpleton that when I have made my next move, your steamer might as well be at the bottom of the lake as to attempt to compete with the road.”
I bowed, and left, though I did not escape till Tommy had again poured out the vials of his wrath upon me. If the major had published his “next move” to the world I could not have understood it any better. The up-lake steamers were no longer to make a landing at Centreport, where the Ucayga could get any of her through passengers. I went home and told my father the result of the interview. He only laughed at the impotent rage of the two majors.
Early on Monday morning, as my father and I were pulling across the lake in my old skiff, we saw the Grace—Major Toppleton’s yacht—get under way and stand up the lake. This movement explained what occurred on the arrival of the morning boat from Hitaca.
CHAPTER XIX.
THE MAJOR’S NEXT MOVE.
On Monday morning, at quarter-past eight, the Ucayga was in readiness to start as soon as the steamer should arrive from Hitaca. She was in sight, and our runners were on the wharf, prepared to induce through travelers to leave her for our more elegant and spacious boat. Waddie was on board, as excited as though the success of the whole scheme depended entirely upon him.
The up-lake steamer was approaching the Narrows; but, instead of heading directly toward the pier on the Centreport side, as usual, she hugged the west shore. We did not suspect that any change in her movements would be made at present; at least not before it was duly announced in the advertisements and posters of the company. I expected to hear of a different arrangement in a week or two, after Major Toppleton had thoroughly tested the capacity of the railroad and steamers.