, until his visit to New York, three years before, he had not
supposed there was any one living so cognizant. He had seen a rumor
that the vessel in which Jacob and his young charge went out to
Australia was wrecked, and he imagined, or rather hoped, and so
persuaded himself, that his dangerous nephew and his guilty accomplice
were dead. But his recognition of the boy who blacked his boots on the
steps of the Astor House undeceived him as to this point. Still, it
seemed altogether unlikely that the boy would ever become aware of his
identity.

"If he does," thought James Grey, "he is not likely to find me here on
the banks of the Mississippi, fifteen hundred miles away."

According to the doctrine of probabilities, he was doubtless correct.
It was not likely, but then events often bid defiance to the
probabilities, and such was the case now.

At the time we introduce Mr. Grey at home, he was sitting at breakfast
in a handsome breakfast-room, from the windows of which the river was
visible. He held in his hand a copy of a St. Louis morning paper of the
morning previous, and was reading its columns, while sipping a cup of
coffee at his side.

A boy of seventeen entered the room.

"You are very late, Jasper," said his father, consulting his watch.
"Can't you get to breakfast earlier than ten o'clock, sir?"

Jasper was dark and effeminate in appearance, not strong and sturdy,
nor had he the look of self-reliance and calm power which characterized
our hero, who was his cousin. He was smooth, deceitful, and vain,
running to dissipation, as far as he had opportunity.

"I was tired, sir," he answered.

"What made you tired?"

"I didn't get home till late last evening."

"Where had you been?"

"I was at Alton."

"Without my permission," said his father, frowning.

"I am seventeen, sir. I am old enough to go off by myself."

"By heavens, you are not!" said his father, angrily. "It seems to me,
sir, you are getting mighty independent."

"There is nothing to do here in this hole," said Jasper, disdainfully.
"I get tired of moping here."

"I manage to content myself here," said Mr. Grey.

"I don't see how you do it," said Jasper, shrugging his shoulders.

"Well, what did you do at Alton?"

"Not much. I just went up there in the morning, and came back at night.
I didn't have long to stay."

"I missed you at dinner, but thought you were out riding."

"I am going out to ride after breakfast. By the way, fathe