gh long, gray
years, buoyed up by the hope of a comfortable haven in old age to
compensate them for a lifetime on the treadmill. Some of them were
farmers, some small-towners, two or three were from cities; and the
spell of dreams, and of Granger, was upon them all. They were dazzled,
dazed. On their native heaths, perhaps as shrewd as any, here they
were pleased, hopeful children in a master's hands. Ponce de Leon's
Fountain of Youth, a plot of land in perpetual sun, where crops grow
without work or worry, big land profits, easy money, something for
nothing--the lure is as innate and potent as the eternal lure of gold!

At breakfast the rumor began to spread somehow that something had
happened, and the trip up the river to the colony would have to be
delayed a few hours. Then it was rumored that the delay would be a
day, two days; it was dangerous to go upstream; it was impossible. It
was doubtful if the trip could be made for a long time.

Granger was very busy and concerned, flying about the boat, off it and
on again; his brow wrinkled, his lips compressed with determination.

"Anything gone wrong, Mr. Granger?"

"Nothing to speak of, brother. I'll get it straightened out. Do not
worry, brother."

"Ain't worryin' 'tall, long's you're in charge, Mr. Granger."

The women on board began to feel sorry for Mr. Granger, the way he was
rushing and worrying about for them.

"Yes, Granger's all right. He'll do the best any one can by us."

More and more Granger rushed; more and more his countenance became
marked with the lines of deep concern. He was heard the length of the
boat in protest to some news imparted by the captain.

"But I tell you we must go up to-day, Captain Sayles. Do you think I
will disappoint these good friends of mine? I have a reputation to
sustain; I have never broken my word in my life; and I've promised to
pilot these good friends to our Colony to-day."

"Can't be done, Mr. Granger. Dangerous. Don't want to wreck and drown
your people, do you?" The captain raised his voice. "The government
inspectors have closed the river for a week."

The news spread over the Swastika. But Granger was not one to give in
even to such a diction. He rushed about some more. One of the women
thought she saw him enter his stateroom for a moment of prayer. All of
no avail. Even Granger had to submit; and in the end, with apparent
reluctance, he assembled his flock in the saloon.

"Folks--ne