“No, I’m not. I don’t wish him any harm; but while I’m paid for serving the steamboat company, I intend to serve it. I’ve nothing to do with the great men’s quarrels; but I’m going to be on time, and do the best thing I can for my employers. I’m going to put her through by daylight.”
By this time the steamer was approaching the Horse-Shoe Channel, and I went up to the wheel-house. I had taken the bearings so as to pilot the boat through in this direction as well as in the other. By the same process, and with the same precautions, I steered the Ucayga safely through the narrow passage, and we reached the wharf at Ruoara about three minutes inside of the time I had proposed, for the strong wind helped us in going up the lake.
CHAPTER XVI.
TOMMY TOPPLETON MOUNTED.
“On time!” exclaimed Waddie, as I came out of the wheel-house, after the boat was secured at the wharf.
“Yes, and more too,” I replied. “We are ahead of the Lightning Express this time.”
“I want to be reasonable, but I never felt so much like crowing as I do to-day. By the great horn spoon, I think we have all been asleep on this side of the lake since the Ucayga commenced running,” added Waddie, with enthusiasm.
Van Wolter was already moving the freight and baggage on shore; and his zeal had not suffered a particle of diminution. He worked well, and did not permit a single instant to be wasted. We had only two trucks, but all the luggage and merchandise they could contain had been piled upon them; and they held nearly all we had to be landed. I wanted two more of these machines, for they could be loaded by the shore men before the arrival of the boat. Then we need stay only long enough to wheel the two trucks on board ashore and the two on the wharf to the deck. I expected to reduce the delay to three or five minutes.
I stood on the hurricane-deck, by the wheel-house, where I could overlook the operations of the mate and the deck-hands, and be in readiness to start the boat the instant the last piece of freight was on board. I was delighted with the zeal of the mate, and, I may add, with his politeness and discretion. He did not break things, and he did not tip over the passengers as they came on board. He did not yell like a wild Indian, and say impudent things to gentlemen who incautiously placed themselves in his way. I liked the man, notwithstanding his contempt for me as a boy, manifested at our first meeting. Perhaps I should not blame him for that; but when I had taken the boat through the Horse-Shoe Channel, he had done me full justice, and I forgave him. He was my friend, and I was very glad to have done a good thing for him in causing his wages to be raised.
The other steamer would be ready the following spring, and I could not help thinking that Van Wolter would make a first-rate captain for her. At any rate, if he continued to do as well by me as he had thus far, I was determined to speak a good word for him.
“Mr. President, I shall be obliged to ask the company for two more trucks for this landing,” I continued, turning to Waddie.