running his boat into this mistake." The sleek pair rose, evidently to
begin their part.

The senator rummaged his mind for a word that would give him creditable
exit but had to hurry off without it. Turning, the two exchanged a calm
gaze and one luxurious puff, which meant that the "old sucker's" use of
them would suit them exactly. They rummaged for no words; had no more
need for words than two leopards.

Before falling to work they glanced out over the flood. This was
Horseshoe Cut-off. Kangaroo Point was just astern in the west. Yonder
ahead, under the old moon, came Friar's Point. In these hundred miles
between Napoleon and Helena they were meeting one by one the Saturday
evening boats out of Saint Louis. Now one came round the upper bend,
four days from Cincinnati. They knew her; the Courteneys' fine old
_Marchioness_. The young _Votaress_ swept by her saluting and saluted
like the belle of a ball, a flying vision of luxury, innocence, and joy.

XLVIII

"CALIFORNIA"

Under the benign stars, as we have said, Hugh hastened from Basile to
his father.

Those were the same heavenly lights with which only two nights earlier
he and that father had so tranquilly--and the dead boy's sister so
airily--communed. With a hand yet on the door that he was leaving, and
while his distress for what had befallen in this room brought a
foreboding of what might impend in the other, he felt the chiding of
that celestial benignity and was dimly made to see its illimitable span
and the smallness of magnifying the things we call trouble.

All the more, then, a melting heart for the tearful mother and sister,
to whom no word of this could be said; but a stout heart, stouter than
he knew where to find, for whatever was yet in store. Also a preoccupied
good-by to sweet companionship. Nay, a mind too preoccupied for any
good-by to any companionship for the remainder of this voyage, if not
forever. It was humiliating to have even so much thought of such a kind
at such a time; yet suppress it as he might, he could not wholly stifle
it, even at his father's door.

Three hours later the senator, coming up in search of him, gradually
discovered the presence of more people than he was looking for or cared
even to find awake--being who they were. At the top of the steps he told
the watchman sleeplessness had driven him up here for fresh air. It is
but human to explain to a watchman.

But how was the captain? And how was the co