Mr. Sherwood had already selected Lawry Wilford as the pilot of the _Woodville_. He was small in stature, and would look better in the wheel-house than a full-grown man. He had often met the young pilot, and had been greatly pleased with his energy and decision.
Lawry had been employed by Miss f.a.n.n.y several times to row her on the lake; and he had served her so faithfully that her influence was not wanting in procuring for him the situation.
Lawry, not yet informed of the honorable and responsible position which had been awarded to him, walked up to Mr. Sherwood"s house. He had heard Miss f.a.n.n.y speak of the _Woodville_, while in the boat with him, and had listened with delight to her enthusiastic description of the beautiful craft. He was quite as anxious to see her as any of the party who were more directly interested in her.
"Can I see Mr. Sherwood?" asked Lawry.
"He has gone away," replied the man.
"Where has he gone?"
"To Port Henry; he went in the carriage, and is coming back in the new steamboat."
"Has he got a pilot?" continued Lawry anxiously.
"I don"t know; he expected you, I believe; but when you didn"t come back, he couldn"t wait any longer. I heard him say he could pilot her himself, and I suppose he is going to do so."
"I"m sorry I didn"t see him; I have but just got home," replied Lawry.
He wanted to pilot the beautiful little steamer up from Port Henry.
He wanted to see her; wanted to make her acquaintance, for she promised to be the belle of the lake. He was sorry to lose the chance, for it might prove to be a valuable one to him. Mr. Sherwood was very liberal, and he hoped he would not engage another pilot. It was no use to complain, and Lawry walked back to the ferry, where he could see the steamer when she arrived. When he reached the landing-place, the ferry-boat was about halfway across the lake, and his attention was attracted by the strange movements of those on board of her. His father was laboring at the steering-oar with a zeal which indicated that some unusual event had occurred. The ferry-boat was thrown up into the wind, and while Lawry was waiting to ascertain what the matter was, his father leaped into the water.
It was now evident to Lawry that something serious had happened, and he sprang into the small keel-boat, used for conveying foot-pa.s.sengers across the lake, which was fastened to a stake on the sh.o.r.e. Taking the oars, he pulled with all his might toward the ferry-boat. He was a stout boy, and handled his oars very skillfully; but before he could reach the scene of the excitement, his father had returned to the bateau.
"There"s your coat," said John Wilford.
Mr. Randall seized the garment with convulsive energy, and with trembling hands felt for the pocketbook in which the six thousand dollars had been kept.
"It is gone!" gasped he; and he seemed ready to sink down in the bottom of the boat when he discovered his loss.
"Gone!" exclaimed John Wilford.
"What"s the matter?" asked Lawry.
"I"ve lost my pocketbook with six thousand dollars in it," groaned the bank director.
"How did you lose it?" demanded Lawry.
"That drop came down and let my coat into the lake; but I don"t see how my pocketbook could get out of the coat."
"I don"t believe the money was in the pocket," added the ferryman.
"Yes, it was," persisted Mr. Randall.
"I don"t see how it could fall out of the pocket," said John Wilford.
"Nor I; but the money is gone," answered the bank director, with a vacant stare. "I"m ruined!"
"Well, I can"t help it. I"ve done all I could for you. I tried to save it; and if I get the rheumatism for a month or two, it will be a bad job for me."
"Wasn"t the pocketbook in the pocket when you picked up the coat?"
asked Mr. Randall, walking up to the ferryman.
"How should I know?" replied John Wilford. "I gave you the coat just as I found it."
"I don"t believe the pocketbook would sink," added the director.
"There was nothing but paper in it."
"Of course it wouldn"t sink, then," interposed the owner of the vehicle in the ferry-boat.
"I don"t think it would," said Mr. Randall.
"I know it wouldn"t," protested the stranger. "I dropped my pocketbook into the lake once, and it floated ten minutes before I could get it again."
"Then it must be floating about on the water," added Lawry. "I will try to find it."
"I"ll go with you," said Mr. Randall.
They got into the boat, and Lawry pulled about the spot where the coat had fallen into the water for half an hour without discovering the pocketbook.
"I suppose I must give it up," sighed the director.
"I"m sure it"s not on the water," replied Lawry.
"Do you suppose it would sink?"
"I don"t know; the gentleman in the ferry-boat says it wouldn"t."
"Stop a minute, boy, and I will soon find out," continued the unfortunate loser of the money.
He took all the money and papers out of his wallet, and stuffed it with pieces of newspaper which Lawry gave him. Having thus prepared the wallet, which he said was of the same material as the lost pocketbook, he placed it on the surface of the water, holding his hand underneath to save it, in case the trial should result differently from his antic.i.p.ations. It floated, and he removed his hand from under it to exhibit his confidence in the law he had tested.
"That"s plain enough," said he. "My pocketbook hasn"t gone to the bottom."
"It certainly has not," replied Lawry.
"Then where is it?--that"s the next question."
"Are you sure it was in your pocket when you got into the ferry-boat?"
"Just as sure as I am that I sit here."
"You were very careless about your coat on board of the sloop."
"I know I was."
"I don"t see how a man could throw down his coat with six thousand dollars in the pocket," said Lawry.
"I know I"m careless; but I"m so used to carrying money that I don"t think much about it. I always carry it in a pocket inside of my vest," continued the director, putting his hand in the place indicated; "but this is a new vest, and hasn"t any such pocket.