could recover our headway. I saw Captain
Blastblow waving his adieus to me, as though he intended to run away
from us, notwithstanding his former experience.

"Let her out, Moses," I called to the engineer through the
speaking-tube.

The chief engineer understood me perfectly, and I immediately heard the
sound of the coal-shovel in the fire-room. I saw from the smoke issuing
from the smoke-stack of the Islander, that her captain intended to
hurry her. I had beaten her several times to my own satisfaction; and I
was certain that he could not sail her any faster than those who had
handled her on the Great Lakes. I did not like the idea of having the
Sylvania beaten, though I was not much inclined to race for any reason.

It was Washburn's watch, and I gave him the wheel. I had run the
steamer over on the left bank of the river, and the mate kept her at a
safe distance from the shore. It was soon evident to me that we were
gaining on the Islander. We were overhauling her as we had done many
times before Captain Blastblow had proved that he was a good seaman, as
well as an upright and straightforward man. He had intimated that he
could sail the Islander faster than I could the Sylvania; and I only
desired to show him that he was mistaken.

While the race was in progress, I went down into the cabin to arrange
about changing the passengers into other quarters. Four of the late
occupants of the cabin, besides Chloe, had gone on board of Colonel
Shepard's yacht, and four were left in the Sylvania. There was a
state-room for each of them, and I proposed that they should arrange
the matter among themselves. But my father insisted that I should do
it myself. I put my father and Mr. Tiffany into the two large
apartments, and Miss Margie and Owen into the two small ones.
Cobbington and the new waiter each had a berth, and there were still
two spare ones. Everybody was entirely satisfied, though I could see
that Owen was very sorry that Miss Edith had moved into the Islander.

When I went on deck the Sylvania was abreast of the Islander. Both
steamers were tugging hard against the current, and each was carrying
all the steam it was safe to put on. Slowly we walked by the Islander,
and I could not help going aft to see how Captain Blastblow liked the
looks of the stern of the Sylvania. When he saw me, he laughed
pleasantly, and I was convinced there was no bad feeling in his heart.
I had no feeling of personal triumph, for I was