I was of his opinion, though I could not help worrying about them. I went to my room and retired. I was very weary; but, though disposed to consider still further the events of the evening, I fell asleep in spite of myself. When I awoke the next morning, the boat was lying at the landing in Leavenworth. It was only a little after sunrise, but the hands were busy loading and discharging freight. I hastily dressed myself, wondering how I could have slept so long; but I had walked not less than fifteen miles the preceding evening, and perhaps it was more strange that I waked so early.
"Have you found the boat, captain?" I asked, with breathless interest, as I hastened to the main deck, where I found the master of the steamer.
"No, Phil; and I am a good deal worried about your friends," he replied.
"Why, where are they?"
"I have no idea; but I have been up and down the levee from one end of the town to the other, and I can't find the boat. I don't understand it."
"I could not find it last night. I asked twenty persons, but no one had seen such a party as I described," I added.
"Do you know the name of the person they intended to visit?"
"I do not. I may have heard it, but I don't remember anything about it."
"The boat will not start before noon, and we may hear of them before that time," said the captain.
"Did you look along the shore as you came down?" I asked.