take my passage in her in case of the worst," he wrote; "and if
I cannot see Marian and persuade her to come on shore with me, I must go
with her to New York. Heaven knows what power her father may use against
me in the brief opportunity I shall have for seeing her before the vessel
starts; but he can't prevent my being their fellow-passenger, and once
afloat it shall go hard with me if I cannot make my dear girl hear
reason. Do not be uneasy about my health, dear old friend; you see how
well I am keeping up under all this strain upon body and mind. You will
see me come back from America a new man, strong enough to prove my
gratitude for your devotion, in some shape or other, I trust in God."

CHAPTER XLI.

OUTWARD BOUND.

The bustle of departure was at its culminating point when John Saltram
went on board the _Oronoco_, captain and officers scudding hither and
thither, giving orders and answering inquiries at every point, with a
sharp, short, decisive air, as of commanding powers in the last half-hour
before a great battle; steward and his underlings ubiquitous; passengers
roaming vaguely to and fro, in quest of nothing particular, and in a
state of semi-distraction.

In this scene of confusion there was no one to answer Mr. Saltram's eager
inquires about those travellers whom he had pursued to this point. He did
contrive, just about ten minutes before the vessel sailed, to capture the
ubiquitous steward by the button-hole, and to ask for tidings of Mr.
Nowell, before that excited functionary could wrench himself away.

"Mr. Nowell, sir; upon my word, sir, I can't say. Yes, there is a
gentleman of that name on board; state-rooms number 5 and 7; got a
daughter with him--tall dark gentleman, with a moustache and beard. Yes,
sir, he was on deck just now, on the bridge; but I don't see him, I
suppose he's gone below. Better look for him in the saloon, sir."

The ten minutes were over before John Saltram had seen half the faces on
board the crowded vessel; but in his hurried wanderings to and fro, eager
to see that one face which he so ardently desired to behold once wore, he
had met nothing but strangers. There was no help for it: the vessel would
steam out seaward presently, and he must needs go with her. At the best,
he had expected this. It was not likely that, even if he could have
obtained speech with his wife, she could have been prevailed upon
immediately to desert the father whose fortunes she had elec