"Why, Miss Bertha?" inquired the captain.
"I think I should have let him go on the bank, sir!" and with a ringing laugh, in which all joined but Arthur, she disappeared from Ben's vision.
For a few moments Cleveland stood gazing vacantly at the railing of the upper deck. He half wished that they had left him in the river. Why, he could not reason, but he felt that a greater barrier than ever was now insurmountably raised between the idol of his dreams and himself. Back he went to the battery of boilers, and with many a joke from the dusky fireman dried himself quickly in the hot blast from the fire-doors. This done he sought out Tommy, who having been engaged in scouring dishes in the cook's galley was unaware of what had transpired in front.
After relating his late adventures he said:
"Tommy, do you know who is on board of the boat?"
"There are a great many people on board of her," cautiously replied Tommy.
"But do you know of any friends of ours?"
"No, I know of no friends of ours," replied the boy sullenly.
"The man that struck you in the street that evening in New Jersey City is here," said Ben.
"Well?" answered Tom, not at all surprised at the information.