gone. Stevens, due south
not many miles is the St. Louis-Independence wagon road. It is heavily
traveled this time of the year. You can't miss it. Besides that there
are numerous cabins scattered about the bottoms, and not far upstream is
a settlement. Take 'em away." Glancing over the cabin again and letting
his eyes rest for a moment on Ephriam Schoolcraft, he wheeled and
started for the door, but paused as he reached it. "If there's any
further trouble I'll be on the hurricane deck, for'rd. We're going to
run all night if we can. I don't want any more disturbance on this
packet."

As the captain left, Uncle Joe thanked Tom and the trappers and joined
them at their table, providing the refreshment most liked by the
plainsmen, and the reminiscences became so interesting that the little
group scarcely noticed Tom arise and leave it. He was too restless to
stay indoors and soon found a place to his liking on the deck below,
near the bow, where he paced to and fro in the darkness, wrestling with
a tumult of hopes and fears. Reaching one end of his beat, he wheeled
and started back again, and as he passed the cabin door he suddenly
stopped and peered at the figure framed in the opening, and tore off his
hat, too surprised to speak.

"Mr. Boyd?" came a soft, inquiring, and anxious voice.

"Yes, Miss Cooper; but I thought you were fast asleep long ago!"

"I was," she replied; "but something that sounded like a shot awakened
me, and thinking that it seemed to come from the card tables, I became
fearful and dressed as hurriedly as I could in the dark. Is--is Uncle
Joe--all right?"

"In good health, good company, and in the best of spirits," replied Tom,
smiling at how the last word might be interpreted. "I left him only a
moment ago, swapping tales with some trappers."

"But the shot. Surely it _was_ a shot that awakened me?"

Tom chuckled. "Sleeve pistol fell to the floor and went off
accidentally," he explained. "Luckily no one was hurt, for the ball
passed out of a window and went over the river. Are you warm enough?
This wind is cutting." At her assent he took a step forward. "I'll see
you to your room if you wish."

"I'm too wide awake now to sleep for awhile," she replied, joining him.
"Didn't the boat stop?"

"Yes; two passengers went ashore in the yawl," he answered. "These
packets are certainly accommodating and deserve patronage. Why, Miss
Cooper, you're shivering! Are you sure you are warm enough?"

"Y