sed to telegraph Nat the result of his
efforts, as soon as possible, and the pilot gave Mr. Scanlon a list of
the ports at which the _Mermaid_, his new vessel, would call.

"In case anything happens, you can notify us," said the pilot.

The lawyer and his son bade the others good-by, as, now that they had
an object in view, the Scanlons wanted to begin their trip at once.

"Good luck!" called Nat to his new friends. "I hope you get him."

"Oh, we'll get him," replied John confidently.

"Well, Nat, there's been quite a change in your prospects since you
jumped overboard, a few hours ago, and rescued Sam Shaw," remarked Mr.
Weatherby as, with our hero and Mr. Clayton, they went back to their
hotel.

"Yes, I seem to have more friends than I thought I did."

"And one or two enemies. Don't forget that. You've been through some
perils already, and I hope they're at an end."

But there were yet more dangers ahead of Nat Morton--dangers of which
he did not dream, for indeed, as the pilot had said, he had at least
one relentless enemy who would have been well satisfied to see Nat out
of his way.

Two days later the _Mermaid_ arrived at Detroit, and the pilot and Nat
went aboard. Mr. Clayton had previously sailed on his trip to Lake
Superior, to be gone some time, but he promised to come, whenever
wanted, to testify against Bumstead, in case the mate was brought to
trial.

The _Mermaid_ was a fine passenger steamer, which called at all the
principal ports on Lakes Huron, Michigan and Erie. She carried
passengers chiefly, but also took some freight. Nat, however, found he
had nothing to do with that department. He was assigned to the
captain's cabin, where he would have certain light duties to perform,
but it had been arranged, by Mr. Weatherby, that his young _protege_
was to receive more instruction in piloting than had been possible
aboard the freighter.

So the most of the day, and part of the night, found Nat with his
friend in the pilot-house. The _Mermaid_ steered by steam, and instead
of an immense wheel, there was only a small one. A simple turn of it,
with one hand, would send the great steamer on any desired course.

"This is another reason I wanted to change," remarked Mr. Weatherby,
as he explained to Nat how the steam steering gear was operated. "That
big wheel was getting too much for me to handle, especially in a
storm. We'll have it easier now, and it will be more pleasant."

There was no doubt abo