Orleans on your steamer, I will work my
passage, and be everlastingly obliged to you besides," persisted Nick,
coming all at once to the point.

"No, Nick, I shall not do anything to provoke your father, or give him
just cause to complain of me. So far as your leaving your present
business is concerned, you must settle that for yourself," I replied,
firmly.

I refused all his entreaties to be allowed to go in the Sylvania. I
told him that the relation between his father and myself would not
permit me to do anything to assist him. He seemed to be reconciled to
my decision, and was as pleasant as possible. He asked me about the
Islander, and I told him all I knew about her. I inquired what had been
done about the robbery. Nothing more had been done, but everybody was
satisfied that Buckner was the guilty person, and the police were still
searching for the missing package. Nick was going on board of the
Sylvania next, and I wrote on a card a request to Cobbington to show
him over the vessel.

While we were talking the mail arrived. Colonel Shepard rushed to the
post-office, and I was talking to him while the mail was in process of
sorting and distribution. Nick stood by me all the time, and listened
to all that we were saying. At last Colonel Shepard received his
letters. He opened one of them with feverish haste.

"All right! I go with you, Captain Alick!" exclaimed the colonel,
evidently as much delighted as a child would have been. "I will follow
you up the Mississippi. What time do you sail, Captain Alick?"

"At seven; that will bring us to the bar at about the right time," I
replied.

"I must send word on board to Captain Blastblow to be ready at that
time."

The colonel appeared to be searching his pockets for a piece of paper,
and I handed him one of my blank cards. He wrote something on it, and
intimated that he wanted to find some one by whom he could send it on
board of the Islander.

"I am just going on board of the Sylvania, and I will leave it on board
of the Islander as I pass her," interposed Nick.

Colonel Shepard asked me if I knew the young man, and I told him I did.
He gave him the card, and Nick hastened off in the direction of the
boat-club building. I wondered if he was not intending to look for a
passage to New Orleans in the Islander. It was not impossible, and I
determined that my late passengers should not be burdened with his
company.

I went to the Carlton, and found that my passe