en the world could he have learned what it was; but
neither he nor Sam was allowed to catch a single expression.

The next morning the Simoon left the wharf and started up the Hudson. Mr.
Hornblower had decided to effect a "change of venue."

Chapter XVI.

But for the dark fear which impended over him, James Travers would have
looked upon his sail up the Hudson on that spring morning as one of the
most delightful experiences of his life.

The sky was clear as Italy's; the air was balmy, and the steamers and
shipping on the broad stream, as well as the roar of the train thundering
along shore, formed an element in the romantic scenery which has well
given the name of the Rhine of America to that noble river.

But the boy had little heart for all these. He was speculating upon the
probabilities of the near future.

It was during the afternoon, while gliding up the river, that they passed
so close to a downward-bound steamer that the features of the passengers
on deck were plainly seen.

Jim was leaning idly on the gunwale, looking at them, when he observed a
lady, with a child seated beside her, the mother pointing out to the child
the varied beauties of the scene as they moved swiftly by. He straightened
up on the instant, as if he had received an electric shock; for the
conviction came like a flash that he had seen the face of that child
before.

But where? He might as well have asked himself what there was in such a
sweet, angelic countenance to affect him so strangely.

Ah! he had it. That was the girl that Tom had rescued from the icy water
the winter before.

Going in opposite directions, and with such speed, the steamer and
schooner were soon far apart, and the straining gaze of the lad was unable
to tell where the mother and child were seated.

The two had not even looked at him, and he could only sigh that the
glimpse was such a passing one.

"I wonder whether Tom has ever seen them since. He would be a great deal
more delighted than I."

The Simoon sailed steadily upward till the day wore by, by which time she
was a good many miles above the metropolis.

It was no more than fairly dark when Sam managed to whisper in the ear of
the boy,--

"_You mus' leab de boat to-night!_"

These were alarming words, though the lad could not understand how harm to
him was to benefit any one, unless it was that Hornblower and his
confederates were afraid of the consequences of discovery, and prefere