uncle had sent for _his_ trunk, rang the door bell.
The waiter opened the door.

"I came for a trunk," said the man, "to take to the steamer."

"Yes," said the waiter. "Here it is, all ready. They have just brought
it down."

So the express man took up the trunk, and carrying it out, put it on his
wagon; then, mounting on his seat, he drove away.

Five minutes afterward, the carriage which Mr. George had engaged
arrived at the door. Mr. George and the children came down the stairs.
Mr. George, as soon as he reached the lower hall, inquired,--

"Where is the trunk?"

"The man has taken it, sir," said he.

"Ah, he has, has he? That is all right."

So Mr. George and the children got into the carriage, the driver holding
the door open for them as they did so. As the driver was about to shut
the door, Mr. George said,--

"Steamer Pacific, foot of Canal Street."

The driver, taking this for his direction, mounted his box, and drove
rapidly away.

When the party arrived at the gates which led to the pier, they found a
great concourse of people and a throng of carts and carriages blocking
up the way. The great gate was open, and a stream of carriages
containing passengers, and of carts and express wagons conveying
baggage, was pouring in. Mr. George's carriage was admitted, at length,
in its turn, and drove on until it came opposite the long stairway which
led on board the ship. Here it stopped, and Mr. George and the children
got out.

"Where is the trunk?" said Mr. George, looking before and behind the
carriage. "Why, where is the trunk? You have lost the trunk off of the
carriage, driver, in coming down."

"No, sir," said the driver; "there was no trunk."

"There certainly was," said Mr. George; "and they told me that you had
put it on."

"No, sir," said the driver. "This is the first time I have heard any
thing about any trunk."

Mr. George was now quite seriously alarmed. He looked about this way and
that, and did not seem to know what to do. In the mean time the line of
carriages from behind pressed on, and the drivers of them began to call
out to clear the way. Mr. George found himself compelled to decide upon
something very promptly.

"Drive over to the other side of the pier," said he, "and wait there
till I come."

Then, taking the two children by the hand, he began to lead them up the
long plank by which the people were going on board.

Mr. George said nothing, but continued to lead the chil