"Go ahead, if you please, pilot," said Thad, when all was ready.
The propeller was put in motion, but it required a little time to start the heavy tow. When it did start, it butted against the corner of the wharf. The first-class students thought the time of the new captain's defeat had come.
"Stop her!" shouted Thad, as soon as he discovered the nature of the difficulty. "Cast off the port tow-line, Mr. Orwell!"
"Port line clear, sir," reported the second officer, now doing duty as first.
"Go ahead, Mr. Pilot!"
Dory at the wheel rang the bell, and the propeller began to turn again. As soon as he got steerage way, he headed the steamer away from the shore. The starboard line was now doing all the work, and exercised all its force on that side of the caisson. Of course it hauled the tow away from the wharf. But the captain stopped her as soon as the box was clear of the obstruction. The port line was made fast again, and care was taken to see that both tow-ropes were of the same length.
The first class were willing to admit that the getting under way had been well managed, and they were magnanimous enough to give the new captain the credit he deserved. The Sylph tugged away at her heavy burden, and the log showed, when the steamer was off Rock Dunder, that she was making about three knots. There was nothing more to be done with the tow, though the rate of speed was soon increased to four knots.
It was a monotonous trip, but everything was in the usual order on board. Dinner was served at the proper time, and at three o' clock the Sylph was approaching the mouth of the river. When she was within half a mile of it the second pilot, who was on duty, reported that the barges of the Chesterfields were coming out of the stream.
"I am sorry for that," said Dory Dornwood, as he went into the pilot-house to take a look at the approach of the boats.