CHAPTER XIV.

COLONEL WIMPLETON BIDS HIGH.

During the run of twenty miles down the lake, I had sat alone at the helm the greater portion of the time, for my companions were disposed to sleep. Colonel Wimpleton snored so that I could hear him in the standing-room. Skotchley had turned in, occupying the port state-room, while Tom Walton lay on a locker, where I could call him in a moment if his services were needed. While I sat there I did a great deal of heavy thinking, mostly over the relations of Toppleton and Wimpleton. When that magnificent steamer was completed, there would be lively times on the lake.

The offer which Colonel Wimpleton had made me of the position of engineer on board the new steamer was very tempting to me, and I wished very much that I could honorably accept it; but it was no use to think about it. Whatever might be said of Major Tommy, his father had invariably treated me very handsomely. He had come to my father’s assistance at a time when he needed help, and had actually put over two thousand dollars into his pocket. I felt it to be my duty to endure a great deal from the son for the sake of the father, as, it now appeared, the former was the chief man of the two.

As we approached Middleport, I called Tom Walton, and, with as little noise as possible, anchored the Grace. It was a moonlight night, and since the wind had come up from the southward, the weather was warm and pleasant. The sleepers below had not been disturbed; but, after Tom and I had made everything snug on deck, I waked Colonel Wimpleton, and told him where we were. I offered to row him across the lake in the little tender of the Grace.

“Thank you, Wolf. I will get up at once,” said he. “What time is it?”

“About half past two, sir.”

“I have slept well. I had no idea of getting home to-night.”

“We are at anchor off Major Toppleton’s house.”

“Then I think I had better leave as soon as possible. I hope the major won’t punish you for what you have done for me.”

“I don’t think he will. We get along very well together, sir.”

“Better than you did with me, I suppose,” replied he, with a grim smile. “But I never knew you before, Wolf. It would be different if you should come over to Centreport again.”

“I will have the boat ready in a few moments,” I replied, wishing to change the subject.

I carried the colonel’s clothing to him. It had been nicely dried, and in a few moments he appeared on deck. I could hardly believe he was the Colonel Wimpleton who had been so unjust, not to say savage, towards me. He was a lamb now, and I was very willing to believe that his three hours of peril had done him a great deal of good, though I was afraid the impression would be removed when he returned to his usual associations. I helped the great man into the boat, and pushed off.

“Have you thought of the offer that I made you, Wolf?” said the colonel, as I gave way at the oars.

“It is useless for me to think of it, sir. I cannot leave Major Toppleton while he wishes me to stay with him.”

“But I offer you double your present wages.”

“The major has been very kind to me, and was a good friend to our family when we needed a friend. It would not be right for me to leave him, and I cannot think of such a thing.”

The magnate of Centreport seemed to me to be more nettled by my refusal than I thought the occasion required. But I enjoyed a certain triumph in finding him thus teasing me to return to his side of the lake--a triumph which was none the less grateful because I had won it by kindness. The colonel was silent for a few moments, hitching about in the boat as though the seat was not comfortable.

“How old are you, Wolf?” he asked, with sudden energy.

“Sixteen in July, sir.”

“I have one more offer to make you,” he added.

“It won’t do any good, Colonel Wimpleton; for, as I have said, I never desert my friends while they use me well. If you would fill this boat up with gold, it wouldn’t make any difference with me,” I replied, rather warmly.

“Don’t be obstinate, Wolf.”

“I am very much obliged to you, sir, for your kind offer, and I would accept it if I could.”

“You shall be captain of the new steamer, and have two dollars a day for your services. You will have a nice state-room in the boat, and nothing to do but superintend the management of her. I find you are very popular, not with the boys alone, but with the men and women, and it is for my interest to have you on the steamer.”

“I thank you very much, sir; but I cannot leave my present place.”

“Think of it, Wolf; and talk the matter over with your father. If you like, he shall be the engineer of the steamer.”

“I thought the boat was to be managed by boys.”

“But I can’t trust every boy in the engine-room. If I can’t get you as engineer, I must have a man.”

“I should be very glad to take either of the places you offer me, but I cannot, sir. Major Toppleton has done the handsome thing for me and for my father, and I think you would despise me if I turned against him.”

He continued to press the matter with so much earnestness that I came to think I was of a great deal more importance in the world than I really was. But I was steadfast in my allegiance to the friend who had served our family when we were in distress. I pulled the boat up to the steps in front of the colonel’s house, and assisted him to get out. He invited me to go in with him, but I declined.

“Now, Wolf, I’m not going to let this affair pass off without doing something for you. I feel that you have saved my life,” said he, as I seated myself at the oars.

“It’s all right as it is, sir.”

“No, it isn’t. You will hear from me again soon.”

I gave way at the oars, and he walked towards his house. I had conquered him, and it was certainly very remarkable that I had, at this moment, both the mighty men as my friends, though my relations with Tommy Toppleton threatened to make a breach with one of them. I felt that I had carried out the spirit of my mother’s instructions, and I ought not to be blamed for thinking very kindly of myself, because I had discharged my Christian duty to one who had taught me to be his enemy. In this frame of mind I pulled back to the Grace, and leaped upon deck.

“What have you been doing, Wolf?” demanded a stern voice, as a tall form emerged from the cabin.

Whew! It was Major Toppleton! I could not imagine what had brought him out of his bed at that unseasonable hour; and I was speechless with astonishment.

“What have you been doing, Wolf?” repeated he; and I saw that all hands had been called.

“I have just landed Colonel Wimpleton at his house, sir,” I replied, with due deference.

“And you have been entertaining my greatest enemy in my yacht--have you?” added the major, in a tone which seemed to threaten the pleasant relations that had thus far subsisted between us.

“I picked him up on the lake, when he was perishing with the cold, and in danger of being drowned.”

“I don’t object to your picking him up when he needed help. One must do that for a dog. But why didn’t you put him ashore at the nearest land--in the woods or on the rocks?”

“Because he was so benumbed with cold that he was nearly helpless.”

“You gave him a supper at my expense; you could not have used me any better in my own yacht than you did him.”

“I did everything I could for him, sir,” I replied, humbly.

“You did--did you? Didn’t you know that he is a scoundrel? that he is my bitterest enemy?” demanded the major, warmly.

“I did, sir; but I thought it my duty to take care of him when he was suffering.”

“Fiddledy-dee! What do you mean by talking such bosh as that to me? I believe you have a soft place in your head, Wolf. Joe Poole says you treated him like a lord. I don’t keep a yacht for the accommodation of Wimpleton. If you mean to sell out to the other side, do so at once.”

“I have no such intention;” and I was on the point of defending myself by saying that the colonel had made me several handsome offers, which I had declined; but I concluded such a defence would do me no good, and only irritate the major.

“Of course I should not expect you to let even Wimpleton drown; but you have overdone the thing; you ought to have put him ashore at Southport, or Port Gunga.”

“He wanted to come home, sir.”

“No matter if he did; I don’t keep a yacht for his use.”

“I am sorry I have offended you, sir,” I added; but I could not regret what I had done.

“Don’t do it again. The less you do for the other side, the better you will suit me,” he continued, more gently, evidently because his anger had expended itself, rather than because he accepted my apology. “How did you get along with the boat?”

“First rate, sir.”

“Wolf, I have been uneasy all night about those boys on the island. I have been afraid the Wimpleton scoundrels would tear up the railroad track, and I have kept the dummy going every hour since dark. I am tired out. I am afraid they will have a fight up at the Horse Shoe, and somebody will get killed. I’m going to bed now; but I want you to run up there, and have an eye upon the boys. You need not go very near the island, but be sure you know what the students are about. The Wimpleton boys have camped on the Shooter, and the two sides are not more than forty rods apart. If things go wrong there, you will run over to Grass Springs, and send me word by Lewis Holgate.”

Having delivered his instructions, Joe Poole landed the major before his house. With the assistance of Skotchley and Tom Walton, I hoisted the mainsail and got up the anchor. When Joe returned, both of my companions “pitched into” him for telling the major that I had treated his enemy “like a lord.”

“I only told the truth,” replied Joe. “But I didn’t mean to do Wolf any harm.”

“Didn’t you know any better?” added Tom.

“I thought I was doing a good thing for Wolf, when I said that he had treated the colonel so well, after he had used him so shabbily.”

“Humph, you are a Sunday school scholar!” sneered Tom.

“So am I, Tom,” I interposed. “I don’t blame Joe for telling only the truth, and I should have told the major myself if he had not.”

This remark quieted the sneerer, and I think that Sunday school doctrine had the better of the argument. Tom ran up the jib, and, passing through the Narrows, I headed the Grace for the Horse Shoe. Tom had slept three or four hours, while I had not yet closed my eyes. I gave him the helm, and directing him to call me when we came up with the islands, I stretched myself on the cushioned locker, and dropped asleep.

The day was dawning when the helmsman called me. I had not slept more than an hour and a half; but my interest in the mission upon which I had been sent thoroughly roused me. I took the helm, and going to the eastward of the South Shoe, I headed the Grace through the narrow channel between the Horse Shoe and the Shooter, which would enable me to obtain a fair view of both camps. Major Toppleton’s fears were not groundless, for I found that the Wimpletonians had not devoted the night to sleep, as the Toppletonians evidently had, for the former had just effected a landing on the northern part of the Horse Shoe. As the Grace passed out of the channel, I saw the bateaux, loaded with tents and baggage, landing their freight.

A battle impended.