shore, and the little old town of Nyack was dimly seen.

They waited a few minutes, and as no one appeared, the driver went in
search of the boatmen, saying a few extra shillings would make it all
right with them. And while he was gone the stranger paced nervously and
with rapid steps up and down, every few seconds pausing at the pier-head
and looking intently in the direction of Nyack. Was it joy he
anticipated, or disappointment he feared? Something was agitating his
heart and filling his eyes with tears, for he several times turned his
head and wiped them away. And yet the more he watched in the direction
of Nyack, the more restless and impatient he became.

The driver returned after an absence of ten minutes, accompanied by two
sturdy fellows, both of whom affected to be in bad humor at being called
on to ferry a traveller at that hour. With their hands thrust deep into
their nether pockets, they moved reluctantly about, scanning the
stranger from head to foot. "Couldn't stop this side till morning?"
enquired one of them, in a grumbling tone. "I must cross to-night,"
replied the stranger, in a decided voice. "Cross to-night, eh? Well,
it's a long pull across there now," muttered the man, blowing the ashes
from his pipe and still affecting an air of indifference. Then raising
his eyes and breaking a piece of tobacco between his fingers, he
resumed: "Worth a matter of twelve shillin' extra--isn't it? Wouldn't
mind a trifle like that--I take it."

"I must yield to your demands--of course. It is a necessity with me to
get across as quick as possible," replied the stranger, and drawing from
his pocket two Spanish dollars, he gave them to the boatman, saying: "We
will settle the matter now. Here is your pay in advance."

The man took the money and at once became active and civil. "We must set
the gentleman across, Tom," said he, addressing his comrade, and
exposing the silver, "this makes it all right."

The stranger now dismissed the driver with an extra dollar, for which he
considered himself lucky, for he had not kept his promise to reach the
ferry by sundown.

The boatman who acted as spokesman, in attempting to lift the valise
from the wagon, let it fall to the ground, such was its great weight.
"There's somethin' more nor clothes in that," said the man, shaking his
head and raising his hands in an attitude of alarm. Then, with an
inquisitive look at the stranger, he continued: "Hadn't no connection
with them