y. "If you put it that way I'll borrow
this money."

"That's the way to talk. Now you'd better go, buy what you need, and
then come back to me this evening," went on Mr. Weatherby, handing Nat
some bankbills. "I will then take you down to the ship and introduce
you to Captain Marshall. You'll probably stay aboard all night, so you
had better tell your friends good-by."

"Where is the ship going to?"

"I don't know exactly. We'll probably call at several lake ports to
unload or take on cargo. Now you'd better go, and be back here about
seven o'clock."

Nat hurried back to the wharf to tell Mr. Miller the good news. His
friend rejoiced with him, though he was sorry to see the boy leave.
When Nat reached the tenement and told Mrs. Miller, that lady cried a
little, for she had grown to love the boy almost as a son. She went
out shopping with him, and in a few hours Nat was ready to step aboard
the _Jessie Drew_ and take a long voyage.

It was not easy to part from his kind friends, but he was consoled by
the thought that he would soon see them again.

At the appointed hour he was at Mr. Weatherby's boarding-house, and a
little later the two were going aboard the big lake steamer.

"Ah, Mr. Weatherby!" exclaimed a man as Nat and the pilot stepped on
the deck, "you're aboard early, I see."

"Yes; I didn't want to get left. Mr. Bumstead, let me introduce a
friend of mine to you. He did me a great service. This is Nat Morton.
Nat, this is Mr. Bumstead, the first mate."

Nat shook hands with the mate. That official was not a very kindly
looking person. He had red hair, and he seemed surly, even when he
smiled, which was not often.

"Is he going to take a voyage with you?" asked the mate of the pilot.

"Yes. He's going to help out in the purser's office. I got him the
job."

"You did!" exclaimed the mate.

"Yes. What of it? You seem quite surprised, Mr. Bumstead. I
recommended Nat for the place because he saved my life."

"Has Captain Marshall given him the place?" asked the mate in a surly
tone.

"Yes. Why?"

"Because I had recommended my nephew for the place, and he would have
got it, too, if you hadn't interfered. I'm going to see the captain
about it later. It's not fair, giving a landlubber a good job aboard
this ship. I'll have him put ashore. I told my nephew he could have
the job, and he's going to get it!"

With that the mate strode off, muttering to himself.

"I'm sorry about that," said Mr. Wea