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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
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