I have before spoken of the narrow passage between the Horse Shoe and the Shooter, where the Toppletonians landed when they took possession of the former island. This channel was very narrow, but it was also very deep. I proposed to run the Ucayga through this passage, and thus save ten minutes on the trip. The steamer made her landing at the end of the wharf, so that she did not have to turn; and all we had to do, making the passage in the direction indicated, was to cast off the fasts and go straight ahead.
Ruoara was built on a broad point of land which projected out into the lake, so that the narrow channel lay due north of the end of the pier. A straight line through the channel, as the needle points, would strike the North Shoe; and this circumstance rendered the navigation beyond the passage rather difficult. But I had thought of the problem so many times that I was satisfied, knowing the channel as well as I did, that I could take the steamer through without any trouble.
“Cast off your fasts and haul in the plank!” I shouted from my position, as I grasped the wheel.
The zealous crew, inspired by the increase of their wages, promptly obeyed the order. I rang the bell to go ahead, just as Van Wolter entered the wheel-house. Perhaps my readers may not feel much confidence in my skill, and it may be necessary for me to repeat the statement that I had spent a great deal of time on board of the steamers on the lake, most of it in the engine-room with Christy Holgate, it is true, but not a little of it on deck and in the wheel-house. I had often steered the boat. I had found the helmsman was as willing to be relieved as my instructor, the engineer, had been. I knew the wheel, and I knew the bells. I rang to go ahead, and gave the wheel a sheer to port.
“You want to back her first, don’t you?” suggested Van Wolter, in a very respectful tone.
“No; I’m going to show you what I can do now,” I replied, with a smile.
“But, captain, you will be aground in three minutes,” protested the mate, laying his hand on the wheel.
“Let me alone! Don’t bother me now,” I replied rather sharply, as the steamer gathered headway.
I snapped the bell again, to go ahead full speed, and away she buzzed toward the narrow channel.
“I don’t know about this!” exclaimed Van Wolter.