'n Cod.

The most interesting stories, and those throwing the most light on the
situation, were Winn's and Sabella's. At first they were all puzzled
to know who Mr. Gresham could have been. Then Sabella said, "Why,
don't you know, Uncle Aleck? He was the one who sold you the canoe,
and the one Winn said was a bad man. He brought Don Blossom back, and
I told him all about Mr. Brackett and Winn and the raft and everything,
and he was so glad he started right off to find them. Then he came
back with two other men, and said you were all on the raft, and they
borrowed the _Whatnot_ to go and find you with. He was one of the very
nicest and kindest and best men I ever knew, and was going to be my
'Uncle Billy,' so I could have one as well as Winn, and now he's
drowned, and--"

Here the little girl began to sob bitterly, while Billy Brackett and
Winn and Cap'n Cod looked at each other, and almost simultaneously
pronounced the name "Gilder."

They did not speak it very loud, for the last splendid act of the man's
life had won for him the right to an unstained name. Hereafter they
would only remember him as William Gresham the hero.

Thus was cleared up most of the mystery that, like the fog, had
enveloped the proceedings of that memorable day.

Now what was to be done next? Where was the raft, and was it the
_Venture_ or not? At one moment Winn was certain that it was, while
the next found him again doubtful.

At length it was decided that Solon should remain with his brother for
the present, while the others should go to a hotel in the city across
the river. From there Billy Brackett would telegraph to the
authorities of towns farther down, asking them to watch for an
abandoned raft, and if they found it to hold it until he could go on
and prove ownership. The raft being described as belonging to a Major
Caspar, Winn's name was signed to all these despatches, in order to
prevent confusion.

From the hotel Billy Brackett also thought it best to telegraph Major
Caspar of their safe arrival in St. Louis, though, as they had not yet
recovered the raft, it would be unnecessary for him to come on, and a
promise to write full particulars at once. In the Major's absence from
home this despatch was opened by Mrs. Caspar, who had been growing very
anxious of late concerning the voyagers on the great river. The moment
she read it she sat down and wrote another despatch to her husband, who
was in Chicago. It was: