the last to leave the _Belle_ were Uncle Joe and Tom and as they
started toward the gangplank, Captain Newell hurriedly passed them,
stopped, retraced his steps, and gripped their hands tightly as he
wished them a safe arrival at Independence. Then he plunged out of
sight toward the engine room.

The transfer completed, the fur company boat cast free, raised her
anchors, and sidled cautiously back into the channel. Blowing a hoarse
salute, she straightened out into the current and surged ahead,
apparently in no way daunted by the fate of her sister. Captain Graves
had commanded a heavily loaded boat when he left St. Louis and the
addition of over a hundred passengers and their personal belongings, for
whom some sort of provision must be made in sleeping arrangements and
food, urged him to get to Independence Landing as quickly as he could.
Turning from his supervision of the housing of the gangplank, he bumped
into Uncle Joe, was about to apologize, and then peered into the face of
his new passenger. The few lights which had been placed on deck to help
in the transfer of the passengers, enabled him to recognize the next to
the last man across the plank and his greeting was sharp and friendly.

"Joe Cooper, or I'm blind!" he exclaimed. "Alone, Joe?"

"Got my niece with me, and my friend, Tom Boyd, here."

"Glad to meet you, Mr. Boyd--seems to me I've heard something about a
Tom Boyd fouling the official craft of the Government of New Mexico,"
said the captain, shaking hands with the young plainsman. "We'll do our
best for you-all the rest of the night, and we'll put Miss Cooper in my
cabin. We ought to reach Independence early in the morning. I suppose
that's your destination? Take you on to Westport just as easily."

"Independence is where I started for," said Uncle Joe.

"Then we'll put you ashore there, no matter what the condition of the
landing is. It's easier to land passengers than cargo. But let me tell
you that if you are aiming to go in business there, that Westport is the
coming town since the river ruined the lower landing. Let's see if the
cook's got any hot coffee ready, and a bite to eat: he's had time
enough, anyhow. Come on. First we'll find Miss Cooper and the other
women. I had them all taken to one place. Come on."

Shortly after dawn Tom awakened, rose on one elbow on the blanket he had
thrown on the deck and looked around. Uncle Joe snored softly and
rhythmically on his hard bed, having refuse