e major, straining his eyes to
discover it. "I don't see it."

"Take my glass, and you can see it," added the captain, more faintly
than before. "I don't think I can stand it any longer, Major Pierson."

"But we can't get along without you, Pecklar. We haven't another hand
that knows how to steer," replied the major, as he hastened up to the
pilot-house, followed by Christy.

Captain Pecklar had fainted and fallen from the wheel.

CHAPTER XIX

THE REPORT OF THE SCOUT FROM THE SHORE

Captain Pecklar had held out as long as it was possible for him to stand
it, and he had only given up when his senses deserted him. Major Pierson
raised him from his position on the floor of the pilot-house, and, with
Christy's assistance, bore him out into the air.

The wheel had gone over when the sick man could no longer hold it, and
the tug was beginning to whirl about in an erratic manner, when the
major rang the bell to stop the engine. The captain was carried down to
his room, and put into his berth, where one of the soldiers was detailed
to act as his nurse.

"I haven't a man on board that knows the first thing about handling a
steamboat; and I am not a bit wiser myself," said the major, when the
sick man had been disposed of. "Every man that is fit to be made into a
soldier is sent to the army; and we have nothing but the lame, and the
halt, and the blind to handle these boats."

"It does not look like good policy," added Christy.

"Dallberg and his two men are soldiers, and they know no more about a
steamboat than the rest of us," continued Major Pierson. "It looks as
though we should have to stay here till some other boat comes along; and
that may be in three days or a week, for steamers have no occasion to
come up here now."

"Perhaps you may find a pilot among the men in that boat," suggested
Christy, as he looked about the pilot-house, where the conversation took
place.

The captain's glass was lying on a shelf in front of the wheel, and he
took a look through it in order to find the boat. After searching in
every direction, he discovered the boat, which was pulled by two men,
with a third in the stern-sheets. He indicated the position of it to the
major, and gave him the glass.

"That's Dallberg, without any doubt; but he must be five miles off. He
can't reach the steamer for a long time," said the major, when he had
examined the boat. "But we shall be no better off than we are now when
she gets here,