d to rob any man of his
berth. He had accepted one concession, however, by throwing his blanket
on the floor of the texas, where he not only would be close to his
niece, but removed from the other men of the _Belle_, many of whom were
not at all reassuring in the matter of personal cleanliness. Arising,
Tom went to a window and looked out, seeing a clear sky and green,
rolling hills and patches of timber bathed in the slanting sunlight. A
close scrutiny of the bank apprised him that they were not far from
Independence Landing and he stepped to the rail to look up the river.
Far upstream on a sharp bend on the south bank were the remains of Old
Fort Clark, as it was often called. About twenty miles farther on the
same side of the river was his destination. He turned to call Uncle Joe
and met the captain at the door of the texas; and he thought he caught a
glimpse of a head bobbing back behind the corner of the cabin. As he
hesitated as to whether to go and verify his eyes, the captain accosted
him, and he stood where he was.

"Fine day, Mr. Boyd," said the officer. "Sleep well on the soft side of
the deck?"

Tom laughed. "I can sleep well any place, captain. If I could have
scooped out a hollow for my hips I wouldn't feel quite so stiff."

"Let me know as soon as Miss Cooper appears and I'll have some breakfast
sent up to her. If you'd like a bite now, come with me."

"Thank you; you are very considerate. I'll call Uncle Joe and bring him
with me."

"You will, hey?" said a voice from the texas. "Uncle Joe is ready right
now, barring the aches of his old bones; and I've just been interrupted
by Patience. She says she can chew chunks out of the cups, she's so
hungry. What's that? You didn't? All right; all right; I'm backing up
again! Have it your own way; you will, anyhow, in the end."

"You stay right where you are, Miss Cooper," called the captain. "I'll
send up breakfast enough for six, and if you keep an eye on this pair
perhaps you can get a bit of it. And let me tell you that it's lucky
that you're real hungry, for the fare on this boat is even worse than it
was on the _Belle_. I'll go right down and look to it."

Breakfast over, the three went out to explore the boat, Patience taking
interest in its human cargo, especially its original passengers, and she
had a good chance to observe them during the absence of the rescued
passengers of the _Belle_, to whom had been given the courtesy of the
first use of the