f him they had
been travelling hundreds of miles to discover.

"And his friend knew us, and avoided us, Alfred," said old Layton. "Mark
that fact, boy, and observe that, where there is ground for fear in one
heart, there is reason for hope in some other. We must follow them at
once."

CHAPTER XLVII. A HAPPY ACCIDENT

Having written a hurried letter to Quackinboss acquainting him with
the causes which should prevent him from keeping his rendezvous at St.
Louis, and informing him how he had met with his father, he briefly
mentioned that they were about to return to New York with all speed, in
the hope of coming up with Winthrop before he sailed for England. "Come
what may," he added, "we shall await you there. We long to meet you, and
add your counsels to our own." This letter he addressed to St Louis, and
posted at once.

It was ten days after this they reached New York. Their journey had been
delayed by a series of accidents,--a railroad smash at Detroit amongst
the number; and when they arrived at the capital, it was to learn
that the "Asia" had sailed that very morning for Liverpool, and at the
agent's office they found that Mr. Harvey Winthrop was a passenger, and
with him a certain Mr. Jacob Trover.

"Trover!" repeated Alfred, "he came out in the same ship with us, and it
was in his company Quackinboss went down to the South, fully convinced
that the man was the agent in some secret transaction."

As he stood looking at the name on the agent's list with that
unreasoning steadfastness that in a difficulty often attaches us to the
incident which has first awakened us to a sense of embarrassment, he
heard a well-remembered voice behind him exclaim, "What! sailed this
mornin'? Well, darn me considerable, if that ain't takin' the ropes
of us!" He turned, and it was Quackinboss. After the heartiest of
greetings on both sides, Alfred presented his father to his friend.

"Well, sir," said the Colonel, impressively, "there ain't that man
livin' I want to shake the hand of as I do yours. I know you, sir,
better, mayhap, than that youth beside you. I have studied your
character in your writin's, and I 'm here to say there ain't your
superior, if there be your equal, in your country or mine."

"This opinion will make our intimacy very difficult," said the old
man, smiling. "I can scarcely hope to keep up the delusion, even for
twenty-four hours."

"Yes, sir, you can," replied the Colonel; "jest talk the way you