“By the great horn spoon, Wolf, you have a long head!”
“Thank you, Waddie!”
“But you have not told me about your plan.”
“I’m afraid I have not time to do so now,” I replied, looking at my watch. “It is nearly half-past eight.”
“Well, I will see you when you return from Ucayga.”
Waddie remained with me till I gave the order to cast off the fasts and haul in the planks. It was evident by this time that the boat from Hitaca was not coming to Centreport until after we had started; and at precisely half-past eight the Ucayga left the wharf. We had quite a respectable number of passengers, though, of course, we had not a single one from up the lake; and, under the new arrangement, we could not possibly have one in the future. It was certainly vexatious, as Waddie had suggested, to be checkmated in this manner, and I knew that Colonel Wimpleton would storm furiously when he heard of it.
I had expected it; and, after the first shock, I felt reconciled to the misfortune. Under the present arrangement, the Ucayga accommodated only Ruoara and Centreport, and till we could offset the movement of Major Toppleton, she must be run only for their benefit. There was not more than half business enough to support her. The plan which I had devised, and of which I had spoken to Waddie, had its advantages and its disadvantages; but I was sure that it would be a paying operation for the steamer. I was very anxious to state it to the colonel and Waddie.
As soon as the Ucayga left the wharf, the Hitaca boat started for Centreport. The major did not intend to lose any Centreport trade, and by the arrangement he saved his up-lake passengers for that town. Doubtless he was a happy man, and Tommy was satisfied that he had again thrown the magnificent steamer into the shade. Well, they had, to a certain extent; but it was our next move.
We were at the wharf in Ruoara on time; for the Ucayga, under favorable circumstances, rather exceeded her rate of sixteen miles an hour. Waddie had sent up the two trucks which I required, and we made our landing in about five minutes. I took the wheel when the boat left the wharf, and carried her safely through the Horse-Shoe Channel; and this time without a particle of the nervousness which had disturbed me before. I gave Van Wolter the bearings, so that he could be preparing himself for the task when occasion should require.
But, really, there was now no reason to go through the narrow channel. As we had no possible chance of obtaining any through passengers, it was useless to wait for the up-lake boats, though under my proposed arrangement it would have enabled me to save the day. The mate carefully noted the bearings I pointed out to him, and the operations which I explained. He was a skilful man in his business, and I had no doubt he would soon be a competent pilot for the channel.