Island. If that is refused, when and where are we likely to overhaul the
_Antelope_?"

"_Antelope_? Let's see. We'd still be a-many a bend behind the
_Antelope_ at sundown but fo' one thing. At Natchez she's got to
discharge an all-fired lot o' casting an' boilers, things she can't put
ashore 'ithout han'spikes, block-an'-taickle an' all han's a-cuss'n' to
oncet. Like as not we'll catch her right there."

"Good again; sundown!" said the senator. "Now, commodore, this petition
begs----"

The commodore tried to wave him to Hugh but the senator's big hand
gently prevented. "It begs," he went on, "and every friend of Gideon
Hayle and John Courteney on this boat insists, that Madame Hayle be
required to leave this suicidal work she's doing and with her daughter
and youngest son be put aboard the _Antelope_ to join her husband ahead
of all bad news." With his under lip pushed out he smiled into the
commodore's serene face.

Hugh spoke. "The _Votaress_ being slow?" he inquired.

"Not at all! But, my young friend, the _Votaress_ can't hold funerals
and outrun the _Antelope_ at the same time."

The commodore had turned to Watson: "Want to see me?" The two moved a
few paces aft.

"Then it isn't," Hugh asked the senator, "that your hundred signers of
this thing are afraid madame will get the cholera?" He took the
petition's free end between thumb and finger and softly pulled. But its
holder held on.

"Why, yes," said the holder-on, "we fear that, too. Good Lord, she may
have the contagion now!" It gave him grim amusement to note that the
grandson's face was as quiet as the old man's, yet as hard and heavy as
any of the _Antelope's_ big castings. He thought how much better it were
to have this chap for an adherent than opponent.

"Yet you're all willing," slowly pressed Hugh, while--with their pull on
the paper increasing--they here and the commodore and Watson yonder
returned the bow of the bishop as he came from below and passed on up to
the sick-room--"you're willing to send the cholera aboard the
_Antelope_?"

"Willing, my God, no, sir! compelled!--to risk it--for the sake of
Gideon Hayle and his people and of you and yours, in a great public
interest centring in you and them." The speaker smilingly tapped the
hard-pulled document so lately urged upon the grandfather. "We couldn't
_write_ that--in this paper. When I've explained _that_ I'll hand you
_this_--don't pull it."

"Well, then, let go of it," said Hugh,