nse
forests of walnut and cottonwood, interspersed with rich bottoms masked
by tangles of brush. Farther up he knew the sight would change into an
almost treeless expanse of green prairies, gashed by scored bluffs of
clay. The surface of the river was not smooth and the wind already had
reached disturbing strength, while an occasional gust of chilling rain
peppered the water and assaulted the boat. From the beat of the paddles
and the high frequency of the vibrations he knew the _Belle_ was going
ahead under full steam, but his momentary frown was effaced by the
thought that the pilot was competent and knew what he was doing. Still,
he felt a little uneasy, and went forward to pay the pilot a visit.

Reaching the hurricane deck he saw both pilots at the wheel and also a
lookout on the roof of the little house, while in the very point of the
bow, on the main deck, another lookout was scrutinizing the river ahead.

"We're makin' good time," said Tom pleasantly as he poked his head in
the pilot house.

"Yes," came an answering grunt; "too good, mebby."

His words and manner were not calculated to encourage conversation and
the visitor went down to see about breakfast. Fortified by a cup of
coffee he felt able to wait until the meal was ready and went out on
deck again, standing in the shelter of an angle of the cabin, pretending
to be interested in the slowly shifting panorama, but really impatiently
waiting for the appearance of Patience Cooper. He had waited for about
an hour, hardly stirring from his post near the door which she had used
the morning before, when he caught sight of her crossing the cabin.
Turning from the window and stepping forward he opened the door for her
and after a short, cheerful talk about being under way again, led her to
the breakfast table, ignoring the scowling horse-dealer who sat at a
table in a corner talking to Elias Stevens.

Their breakfast did not take as long as it had on the previous morning,
one reason being that while they ate they sensed the boat turn toward
the shore and before they had finished it stopped along the bank and
moored again.

"I do believe the rain has ceased for the day," Patience observed,
peering out of the window by her side. "It is growing brighter every
minute. I wonder why the boat has stopped?"

"Too much wind," answered her companion, nodding at the waves running
past the boat.

"If that is all, I'm going ashore," she declared.

"You may find it