I spoke to Waddie on the subject, and he expressed a strong desire to meet Tommy, and to be friends with him. He favored the plan of Major Toppleton, and if he had possessed as much influence over his father as Tommy over his, the arrangement would doubtless have been made. I was not without hope that the plan might yet be adopted.
But I have told my story as a steamboat captain; and anything more would be but a repetition. I had labored to make peace, but had failed. If there were olive branches in the future, there were none in the present. I continued to run the Ucayga during the winter, with the same success which attended her from the first of my connection with her. We did about all the through business, and the Lake Shore Railroad languished under the competition.
At the next meeting of the steamboat company Waddie resigned, to the intense indignation of his father, and Dick Bayard was elected president. He also declined a reelection as major of the battalion, and Ben Pinkerton was chosen to the command. Thus far Waddie was true to his good resolutions, though he had much difficulty with his father on account of the change. He often came to me for advice, for the students of the institute seemed to distrust him still. No mutiny or rebellion occurred on his side of the lake, for the resigning of his offices prevented any collision.
Tom Walton made a good thing out of the Belle, and when the season closed, I obtained a place for him as deck-hand on board of the Ucayga, where he did tolerably well for the winter.
In November our family moved up to Hitaca, for my father and I were compelled to spend our nights and Sundays at that port. Our place in Middleport was let for the winter. Occasionally, while lying at Centreport, I made an errand over to Major Toppleton’s that I might see Grace; but I seldom met her. I hoped, most earnestly, that the two lines might be united, and peace restored between the two great houses. As Waddie was in favor of it, the prospect was not altogether dark. As the union meant peace, I continued to labor for it. If effected, the Ucayga would lie at the wharf in Middleport between trips. I earnestly desired it. Then Grace would be a frequent passenger on the boat.
I have told the story of “The Young Captain of the Ucayga Steamer;” how he became captain, and how well he succeeded in this capacity. The story is complete, and nothing more remains to be said of him; but the history of the great quarrel between the two sides of the lake, which has other phases, is not finished. There is another story to be told; but, as most of its events transpired while I was absent, I could only tell it from hearsay. I prefer that it should be related by an actual witness, and for this reason I have invited my friend Ned Skotchley to take the pen, and write “Switch Off; or, The War of the Students.”
I told Ned not to say anything more about me than he was obliged to do; but he is an obstinate fellow, and I find, by looking over his manuscript, that he has, to a very great extent, disregarded my instructions. But I am not responsible for the praise he bestows upon me, though, whatever he says of me, I am conscious that I have tried to be a Christian, to be faithful to my employers, and always to be “On Time.”
THE END
“Switch Off” is the title of the next volume in the Alger Series, No. 150, by Oliver Optic, in which there are many rare adventures and an ending which is eminently satisfactory.
NICK CARTER STORIES