rent view of the matter.

"Do you mean to go up to Lake Itasca?" asked Colonel Shepard, as he
lighted his cigar, indicating that he meant to have the talk out, and
the future course of the steam yachts decided upon.

"It would be rather difficult to get over the Falls of St. Anthony," I
replied. "Billy Bell don't know the way up there."

"Of course you mean to sail around to New York, and from thence to Lake
St. Clair by the way you came?" suggested the colonel.

"I am happy to say that I don't mean anything of the kind," I answered
with a smile. "I am afraid it would be rather tedious for our
passengers to go over the same route again so soon."

"I supposed they would cut across the country by railroad and
steamboat. I had intended to go from St. Louis to Pittsburg by boat."

"I hope you won't give up the voyage so soon," I protested. "I am only
afraid the ladies will be sea-sick again."

"Give up!" exclaimed the colonel. "Of course there is an end to
navigation in this direction. We can run up the Missouri for a week or
two, up to St. Paul's, or up to Pittsburg; but I do not see the point
of following either of these routes, unless it be the latter, which
will bring us so much nearer to New York."

"I don't think the Sylvania has any particular business in New York,
and I had not thought of taking her there again," I added. "I can't say
that I should care to descend the Mississippi, cross the Gulf of
Mexico, and follow the coast by the way we came. I am in favor of
variety in our yacht trips."

"So am I; and for that reason, I am in favor of going to New York by
steamer and railroad from here. I have three weeks more to spare, and
if you wish to go up to St. Paul's or Pittsburg, I am entirely willing
to go with you, Captain Alick."

"As your plans seem to be different from mine, we ought to have
considered this subject at Cairo, for you have come over two hundred
miles out of your way, if you intend to go to Pittsburg."

"It makes little difference to me, or to my family, where we go, for we
have enjoyed this trip so much that none of us were in a hurry to bring
it to an end. Mrs. Shepard has entirely recovered from her nervous
debility, and I know she will be sorry when we have to part company."

"Then you had better allow the Islander to continue in the fleet; and I
promise that you shall not be any farther from New York at any time
than you are now, or at any point where it will take you longer to get