“If any one is to blame, I am the one, for I told Wolf to run the boat to this place to-day,” interposed Waddie.
“But what are you here for?”
“We were compelled to come, sir,” I replied. “The action of the railroad line left us no other course. If you will walk into my room, sir, I will explain the whole matter; and I hope it will prove satisfactory to you.”
“But this is a very strange movement on your part; and without a word from me,” said Colonel Wimpleton, as I led the way into my stateroom. “You have broken up your trips to Centreport, and there will be a howl of indignation there when I return.”
“Not at all, sir. We shall run every trip from Centreport to Ucayga, as usual.”
“Well, explain yourself,” continued the magnate impatiently. “Does the boat need repairs, that you have brought her up here?”
“No, sir; she is in good order in every respect. This morning, Major Toppleton made his next move, and we have not had a single through passenger on the down trips to-day. As I supposed he would do, he ordered his boat not to go to Centreport until after our steamer had started. He took his yacht and went over to Gulfport early this morning, so that the first boat did not touch on our side of the lake till the Ucayga had sailed.”
“That’s one of his tricks.”
“Well, sir, I don’t know that I blame him. He means business, and he meant to keep all the through passengers. At Ucayga, to-day, he and Tommy crowed over me, and defied me to do anything I pleased. Now, sir, if you look at my time-table, you will see that we can, by hard work, make two trips a day from Centreport, and one from Hitaca, to and from the foot of the lake.”
The great man put on his spectacles, and proceeded to examine the program which I had placed in his hands. With the explanations I made, he comprehended the whole subject. His countenance lighted up with pleasure as he realized that he had the means in his hands, even now, to win the day in the battle with his great enemy.