"The _Woodville_ is engaged to me for to-morrow," added Mr.
Sherwood.
CHAPTER XV
THE NEW CAPTAIN
Lawry was bewildered by the magnificence of the arrangements suggested by Mr. Sherwood; but if the _Woodville_ was to be employed in taking out parties of genteel people, nothing less magnificent would answer the purpose. His influential friend, it appeared, had already exerted himself to procure employment of this kind for the steamer, and the proprietor of the beautiful craft was not only willing to conform to his ideas, but was grateful for the kindly interest he manifested in the prosperity of the enterprise.
Mrs. Wilford had engaged a cook, and two girls for the steward"s department; the fireman was sent for; and two boys were employed as deck-hands.
Now, Lawry thought it was quite necessary that his crew should be trained a little before any pa.s.sengers were received on board, and after Mr. Sherwood and his party had gone home, the fires were revived, and a short trip down the lake determined upon. As soon as there was steam enough for the purpose, the pilot, now the captain, rang his bell to back her, and the deck-hands were instructed in getting the fasts on board. Ben Wilford, who was standing on the wharf, cast off the hawsers, and then jumped aboard, himself. The bells jingled for a few moments, and then the _Woodville_ went off on her course.
"This is all very fine," said Ben.
"First-rate," laughed Lawry.
"What am I to do?" demanded Ben, rather gruffly.
"You?" said the pilot.
"Everybody seems to have something to do with her except me."
"What do you want to do?"
"I suppose you think I"m not fit for anything."
"I had an idea that you would stay at home, and run the ferry-boat."
"Did you?" sneered Ben.
"Some one must do that; and of course I can"t now."
"Hang the ferry-boat!"
"It must be run, or we shall forfeit the privilege."
"I shall not run it, whatever happens."
"I don"t see how I can."
"Lawry, I don"t think you are using me right," added Ben sourly.
"Why, what have I done?"
"You"ve got this boat, and though you know I"m a steamboat man, you don"t say a word to me about taking any position on board of her."
"I don"t know what position there is on board for you, unless you take a deck-hand"s place."
"A deck-hand!"
"That is what you have always been."
"Do you think I"m going to be bossed by you?"
"Ben, if you will tell me just what you want, I shall understand you better," said Lawry, rather impatiently.
"You know what I want. There is only one place in the boat I would be willing to take."
"You mean captain."
"Of course I do."
"I intended to be captain myself."
"I thought you were going to be pilot of her."
"So I am; and captain, too."
"Then you mean to leave me out entirely."
"Ben, I don"t want to have any row; and I won"t quarrel with my brother; but I don"t think it is quite fair for you to ask so much of me."
"Don"t I know all about a steamboat?"
"Can you pilot one up and down the lake?"
"Well, no; I never did that kind of work."
"Can you run an engine?"
"No; and you can"t, either. The captain doesn"t have to be a pilot, nor an engineer."
"What must he do, then?"
"He must look out for everything, make the landing, and see that the people on board are comfortable."
"I intend to do all that."
"How can you do it, and stay in the wheel-house?"
"I shall not stay there all the time. The deck-hands know how to steer. I want to do what"s fair and right, Ben. The steamer was given to me; and I don"t exactly like to have any one to boss me on board."
"The captain don"t have much to do with the pilot, and I sha"n"t boss you."
"Suppose the question should come up, whether or not the boat should take a certain job; who would decide the question--you or I?"