e," he objected
simply.

"See here," replied Thorpe, "I've just got to get that boat. It's worth
twenty dollars to me, and I'll square it with the captain. There's your
twenty."

The Scotchman deliberated, looking aslant at the ground and thoughtfully
oiling a cylinder with a greasy rag.

"It'll na be a matter of life and death?" he asked hopefully. "She aye
stops for life and death."

"No," replied Thorpe reluctantly. Then with an explosion, "Yes, by God,
it is! If I don't make that boat, I'll kill YOU."

The Scotchman chuckled and pocketed the money. "I'm dootin' that's in
order," he replied. "I'll no be party to any such proceedin's. I'm goin'
noo for a fresh pail of watter," he remarked, pausing at the door, "but
as a wee item of information: yander's th' wheestle rope; and a mon
wheestles one short and one long for th' boat."

He disappeared. Thorpe seized the cord and gave the signal. Then he
ran hastily to the end of the long lumber docks, and peered with great
eagerness in the direction of the black smoke.

The steamer was as yet concealed behind a low spit of land which ran out
from the west to form one side of the harbor. In a moment, however, her
bows appeared, headed directly down towards the Straits of Mackinaw.
When opposite the little bay Thorpe confidently looked to see her turn
in, but to his consternation she held her course. He began to doubt
whether his signal had been heard. Fresh black smoke poured from the
funnel; the craft seemed to gather speed as she approached the eastern
point. Thorpe saw his hopes sailing away. He wanted to stand up absurdly
and wave his arms to attract attention at that impossible distance. He
wanted to sink to the planks in apathy. Finally he sat down, and with
dull eyes watched the distance widen between himself and his aims.

And then with a grand free sweep she turned and headed directly for him.

Other men might have wept or shouted. Thorpe merely became himself,
imperturbable, commanding, apparently cold. He negotiated briefly with
the captain, paid twenty dollars more for speed and the privilege of
landing at Mackinaw City. Then he slept for eight hours on end and was
awakened in time to drop into a small boat which deposited him on the
broad sand beach of the lower peninsula.

Chapter XXII

The train was just leisurely making up for departure. Thorpe, dressed as
he was in old "pepper and salt" garments patched with buckskin, his hat
a flopping tr