red to cast them off at a moment's notice, as soon
as they should hear that the despatch bag was found. They did not know
that the children were at the top of the ladder, waiting to come on
board; for it was so dark that nothing could be seen distinctly except
where the lanterns were directly shining, and the noise made by the
roaring of the steamer was so great that very little could be heard.

Mr. Chauncy found the despatch bag very soon in the after part of the
vessel, where somebody had put it in a safe place. As soon as he saw it,
he said, "Ah, here it is. All right!"

"All right! all right!" said the sailors around him, repeating his words
in a loud tone, when they heard him say that the despatch bag was found.
Mr. Chauncy immediately hurried back to go up the ladder to the
children; but he was too late. On hearing the words "all right!" the men
had immediately drawn down the ladder, and cast off the fastenings, so
that, by the time that Mr. Chauncy reached the paddle box, the noise of
the steampipe had suddenly stopped, the paddle wheels were beginning to
revolve, and the little steamer was gliding rapidly away from the vast
and towering mass under which it had been lying.

"The children!" exclaimed Mr. Chauncy, "the children!"

"Never mind," said the captain, in a very quiet tone. "It's too late
now. I'll take care of them to-morrow morning."

The captain spoke in a manner as calm and unconcerned as if the children
being left in this way was not a matter of the slightest consequence in
the world. In fact, the commanders of these steamships, being accustomed
to encounter continually all sorts of emergencies, difficulties, and
dangers, get in the habit of taking every thing very coolly, which is,
indeed, always the best way.

Then, turning to the children, he said,--

"It's all right, children. Go below and get into your berths again, and
I will send you on shore to-morrow morning when the rest of the
passengers go."

So Rollo and Jennie went below again. The chambermaid was surprised to
see them coming back; and when she heard an explanation of the case, she
advised them to undress themselves and go to bed regularly. This they
did, and were soon fast asleep.

The next morning, very soon after sunrise, another steamer came off from
the shore, bringing several custom-house officers to examine the
passengers' baggage. By the time that this steamer had arrived, a great
many of the passengers were up, and ha