Elsie's Journey on Inland Waters

by Martha Finley

  CHAPTER XIII.

  When the _Dolphin's_ passengers awoke the next morning they found shehad reached Quebec and was lying quietly at the wharf there. Anxiousto view all places of historic interest in and about the city andto be again on their eastward way, they set out as promptly as theyconveniently could after leaving the breakfast table.

  There were so many points of interest, and at some they tarried solong, that the sun had set and shadows were already creeping over landand water as they regained the _Dolphin's_ deck.

  Ned was fast asleep in his father's arms, little Elsie hardly able tokeep her eyes open, and they were taken at once to their stateroom bytheir parents, the others hurrying to theirs to make due preparationfor a suitable appearance at the supper table.

  The saloon through which they passed was but dimly lighted as yet,and no one noticed a lady and gentleman sitting side by side in a farcorner where the shadows were deepest. As the last stateroom doorclosed upon its occupants, the gentleman leaned down over the lady,saying in a tone scarcely above a whisper, "Ah ha, ah ha, um h'm! theyare all safe in their rooms for the present, and now let us go upondeck while we may unperceived. Raymond will be sure to be up therepresently, if none o' the rest."

  The lady returned a silent assent, both rose, crossed the roomnoiselessly, ascended the cabin stairway, and in another minute wereseated side by side in the shadow of the pilot house, the man at thewheel greeting them with a quiet smile of amusement.

  "They didn't see you, sir?" he asked in an undertone.

  "No. And you kept our counsel?"

  "An easy thing to do under the circumstances, as the captain askedno question, but passed quickly on down into the cabin. But I think,sir, you'd best let him know you're here pretty soon, or the yacht maybe starting with you and the lady on it, and you haven't any baggageaboard."

  "That's true; but the captain shall know of our presence and give ustime to land before he weighs anchor."

  "And here he comes now, sir," as at that moment Captain Raymond's stepand voice were heard near the companion-way. "There, do you hear, sir?he's giving the order to weigh anchor and proceed down the river."

  "Hallo, there, cap'in! jest you wait a bit, sir. There's a couple o'stowaways aboard and I'd advise ye to get rid o' them afore ye start,"called a voice that seemed to come from some part of the vessel in thecaptain's rear.

  He turned quickly, asking, "And you are one of them?"

  "Well, sir, that's neither here nor there," returned the voice; "but ifI was in your place, I'd put 'em off afore starting."

  "But perhaps the poor fellows need some help," returned the captain."Tell them to show themselves and I'll not be hard upon them."

  "Well, now," exclaimed the invisible speaker, "I must say you're agood, kind-hearted sort o' man, spite o' owning this grand yacht and alot o' money, so I'll call 'em. Halloo, here, mates, don't be afeard toshow yerselves and I reckon ye'll git some grub if nuthin' else."

  "Wait a little till this matter is settled," Captain Raymond said,reversing his order about the anchor, then asked, "Have any strangersbeen allowed to board the yacht during my absence?" addressing hisquery to the man at the helm.

  "Well, no, sir; not to say strangers," answered the man, hesitatinglyand with a slight laugh.

  "Ah! some old friends, though; just as I suspected," and with the wordsCaptain Raymond glanced searchingly about, then with a quick step drewnear the hiding place of the stowaways.

  "Ah, cousins, I see my guess was not wide of the mark," he said, withhis good-humored laugh and giving a hand to each. "You are as welcomeas sunlight in the morning and shall have all the 'grub' you can stowaway. But why not send for your baggage and go on home with us? Youhave seen all the sights of Quebec, have you not?"

  "About all, captain," replied Mr. Lilburn, "and we thank you heartilyfor your very kind invitation. But though travel on the _Dolphin_,especially in such good company, is most delightful, we would crowd youtoo much, I fear."

  "Yes," said Annis, "and it would be very selfish to give ourselvesso much pleasure at the cost of such inconvenience to our kindfriends--our dear relatives. But seeing the _Dolphin_ lying here, wefelt that we could not deny ourselves the great pleasure of a peep atyou all."

  "The voyage is not likely to be a long one, or the crowding worthmentioning," returned Captain Raymond in his most cordial tone; "andthe slight inconvenience will be paid for over and over again by thepleasure of your company."

  "It is most kind in you to say so, captain," said Annis, with a pleasedlook, "but are you quite sure the others would be equally willing toendure the inconvenience?"

  "I haven't a doubt of it," he replied emphatically, "and I know ofnothing that could happen just now that would afford our dear mothermore pleasure; for I have often heard her speak of you as her very dearfriend and cousin, and I know she has missed you sadly since you leftus for your bridal trip. If you have seen all you care to of the city,do let me send at once for your baggage and give her and the rest thepleasant surprise of finding you presently at the supper table."

  "Thank you very much," she said, smiling up into his pleasant face;"you don't know how tempting your kind offer is. We have seen all wecare to of this interesting old city and were intending to leave itto-night; but----"

  "Ah, my dear cousin, just omit the objections," interrupted CaptainRaymond laughingly, "give me the address and let me send at once foryour trunks. Excuse my rudeness in not waiting to hear all you couldsay against my plan, but it is growing late and I can hear it allafterward if you care to have me do so. Ah, here comes mother and mywife now," he added, as the two stepped upon the deck at that moment.

  Then moving quickly toward them, "I have something to show you, motherand Vi," he said; "a couple of uncommonly interesting stowaways, aboutthe disposal of whom I should like to have your advice."

  "Stowaways?" repeated Violet, in accents of surprise. "Do they think weare about to cross the ocean?"

  "Suppose you come and have a little talk with them," said her husband,leading the way toward the intruders, the ladies following close in hisrear.

  "Oh, Cousins Annis and Ronald! How delightful!" both exclaimed at sightof the intruders, Vi adding in gleeful tones, "We'll stow you awaysafely and keep you as long as possible."

  Then, as Annis began repeating her objection on the score of theinevitable crowding, "Oh, that will only be fun," she said. "I amnot urging you out of politeness, but because I really want your andCousin Ronald's pleasant company, and know that all the rest will bedelighted to have it."

  "Certainly they will," added Grandma Elsie. "And you surely cannot beso unkind, Annis dear, as to refuse us that pleasure."

  "Ah, Annis, my bonny bride, with such assurances we need not hesitate,"laughed Mr. Lilburn. "Let us accept the kind invitation and do our bestto add to the pleasure of our generous-hearted entertainers."

  "You can hardly refuse to follow such good advice coming from such asource, Annis," said Violet, while Captain Raymond again inquired ofMr. Lilburn where he should send for the trunks.

  The requested information was given, a messenger at once despatchedfor the luggage, and, as the summons to the supper table came at thesame moment, all the company upon the deck at once descended thecompanion-way and met the remainder of the family party at the table.The bride and groom had no reason to complain of their reception, foreveryone seemed delighted to see them.

  Fatigue was forgotten in the enjoyment of each other's society, thetoothsome viands and the interest of comparing notes as to theirexperiences--all they had seen, heard, and done--since the parting of afew days before, when the bride and groom left the _Dolphin_ for therailroad train at Michigan City.

  The luggage had arrived and the vessel was in motion down the riversome time before they left the table.

  "You will hardly make another stop in this part of Her Majesty'sdominions, captain, but go directly home, I presume?" remarked Mr.Lilburn inquiringly, at a pause in the conversation.

 
"Yes and no," returned Captain Raymond in playful tones, "I hardlyexpect to stop again until we reach Narragansett Bay; but there weexpect to visit Newport, and Paradise Valley, a few miles out of it,on the same island. We have some cousins summering there now, who aremost urgent with us to come and take temporary possession of a vacantcottage very near the one occupied by them; and we have decided to doso, should nothing interfere. And now, I hope you and Cousin Annis willdecide to go there with us, and afterward return home with us in the_Dolphin_."

  As soon as the captain had ceased speaking, Mrs. Travilla and Violet,the young people also, joined their urgent solicitations to his, and asAnnis seemed much pleased with the idea, and Mr. Lilburn himself hadreally no objection, it was presently decided that they would acceptthe invitation.

  They now left the table and gathered upon the deck for a time; butas there was no moon that night little could be seen of the countrythrough which they were passing, and all being somewhat weary withthe exertions of the day, they presently held their regular eveningservice of prayer, praise, and reading of the Scriptures, then bade anaffectionate good-night and retired to rest.