CHAPTER XII

  ON THE ROAD TO CONNEAUT

  STEVE had no further difficulty at the restaurant, though he noticedthat the proprietor of the place was watching him and scowling at himall through the meal.

  "I usually get what I go after," thought the boy. "In this case it isfood."

  After paying his bill he hunted up a clothing store, where he fittedhimself out with a new suit, shirt, necktie, straw hat and a suit ofunderwear, for everything that Steve had on was practically ruined.This, with a pair of shoes purchased at another store, made him lookquite like his usual self.

  Arrayed in his new suit Steve had no difficulty in getting into one ofthe best hotels in the city. He left a call for six o'clock that hemight catch a train to Detroit, where he hoped to catch the "Wanderer."

  He nearly missed the train next morning, because of his longing for acat nap. Arriving at Detroit he visited a newspaper office and inquiredif the ship had been sighted.

  "Passed down during the night," was the discouraging answer.

  "Where for?" questioned the boy, as the ships usually got theirdestination orders when they passed Detroit.

  "Conneaut. See here, you are not one of the men who were on that shipare you?" questioned the newspaper man.

  "Thank you, sir. I will be going. Can you tell me what time I can get atrain for Conneaut?" answered Rush, avoiding the question.

  Steve felt that he would be called upon to make a report of his share inthe disaster, and his good judgment told him that he should not make afirst statement to any one outside the company.

  The next train out did not leave until late in the afternoon, so Rushemployed the time in going about the city. He visited all the places ofinterest, getting his luncheon at a large hotel on the hill. The hotelwas named after a famous Indian Chief, but the prices asked for theluncheon made Steve gasp.

  "My wages would keep me here about three days," he muttered.

  Later the lad boarded a train and hurried toward his destination. He didnot know whether he should find his ship in port or not, reasoning thatthe craft would have to proceed under reduced speed the rest of the waydown on account of the smashed-in bow.

  Shortly after dark the boy arrived. Inquiring his way to the ore docks,he hurried down toward the inlet. This was a narrow canal, leading upinto the lower part of the town for some distance. Ships were packed inthe inlet, side to side, like sardines in a box. Most of them were lyingwith anchor lights up; others with their running lights still lighted,showing that they had just arrived in port. On either side of the inletloomed the dark trestles, from some of which the rattle and roar ofunloading machinery arose in a deafening chorus.

  "This is about all a man's life is worth to face," decided Steve, as hedodged a swiftly moving car that towered above him loaded with ore. Thenhe narrowly missed being ground under a traveling crane that was inoperation unloading a ship.

  "Can you tell me, sir, if the 'Wanderer' has arrived?" asked the boy ofa yard policeman who approached the lad to find out what he was doingthere.

  "She's outside the harbor now. I heard her whistling for a tug a fewminutes ago. But we don't allow strangers in the yards here. It is toodangerous."

  "I belong on the 'Wanderer,'" explained Steve.

  "Oh, you do, eh?"

  "Yes."

  "Then what are you doing here?"

  "Waiting for her."

  "When did you leave her?" questioned the officer suspiciously.

  "A couple of days ago, somewhere about the middle of Lake Huron. I wentdown when the wreck occurred."

  The story of the wreck and the sinking of the coaler had by this timebeen spread all over the country. The policeman gazed at the boy withwondering eyes.

  "You don't say?"

  "Yes, sir."

  "Tell me about it."

  "I am sorry, but I think I had better say nothing until I have talkedwith Captain Simms. Do you know where the 'Wanderer' is going to berth?"

  "See that pig there, just shifting her position?" referring to awhaleback, the latter style of boats being known to sailors on the lakesas "pigs," because of their pig-like bow.

  "Yes."

  "The ship you want is coming into that berth. See, there's a crowd ofreporters waiting around there now to interview the captain."

  "I guess I'll keep out of their sight, then," laughed the lad.

  Steve paced up and down the dock keeping well in the shadow, watchingthe channel with eager eyes. He could hardly wait until the ship got in,so anxious was he to relieve the anxiety of his companion, Bob Jarvis.

  "There she comes," announced the policeman.

  Steve shaded his eyes and gazed intently. Yes, sure enough it was the"Wanderer." He could make out her broken nose now and the peculiar setof her sticks. The lad had never before realized the size of the ship.She seemed to loom up in the air higher than any of the buildings on theopposite side of the inlet. All was dark on board her, no light save herrunning lights showing; but up there in the darkened pilot-house Steveknew, keen, cautious eyes were watching out for the safety of the boatas well as for the safety of others in the harbor.

  Rush heard the rasping sound of the bridge telegraph as the signal wasgiven to reverse. The spring-rope came whirling through the air and amoment later the big hawser struck the water with a splash, beingquickly drawn to the dock by the dock hands.

  All this was very interesting to Steve Rush, for it will be rememberedthat he had never watched the docking of an ore boat before. The figureof Mr. Major, the first mate, was faintly outlined at the rail, lookingdown and giving orders to the men on the dock in a sharp, business-liketone.

  "Put out the ladder!" the mate commanded.

  The ladder came over the side, and was let down carefully until itrested on the dock. Before any of those on board had an opportunity togo over the side Steve had sprung to the ladder, up which he ran nimbly,swinging over the rail to the deck of the "Wanderer."

  "See here, young fellow, what do you want?" demanded the mate. Then heleaned forward, gazing keenly at the newcomer.

  "Wha--what----"

  "Steve!" screamed Jarvis, rushing across the ship and throwing his armsabout young Rush. Jarvis was so overcome with emotion that for themoment he found himself unable to utter another sound.

  "Rush!" cried the mate, fairly pulling the boy away from his companionand wringing both Steve's hands. "Why, why, we thought you went downwith the coaler."

  "I did. I guess I'm too tough to die. I surely have had plenty ofopportunity to do so."

  "Wait till I get through docking the ship, and then tell me all aboutit."

  "I must see the captain first. Is he up in the house?"

  "No; I think he just went down to his cabin."

  "Were any of our men lost?"

  "Two of them. Jarvis here leaped overboard and saved four men from theother ship, who were drowning while trying to swim out to us."

  "Good boy, Bob," said Steve as he patted his companion affectionately."You must tell me all about it when we get to our cabin, by and by. Ihave had some experiences, too, some that will make you laugh."

  Others of the crew were pressing forward to shake the hand of the pluckyIron Boy, for both boys were popular with all hands save the stoke-holecrew.

  "I must see the captain, Bob. I'll be back in a few minutes."

  Steve hurried up to the forward deck, rapped on the door and was biddento enter. Captain Simms looked, then blinked rapidly as his eyes fixedthemselves on the boy framed in the cabin doorway.

  "Hello, is that you, Rush?"

  "Yes, sir."

  "I thought there wasn't water enough in Huron to drown your kind."

  "No, sir."

  "Come in and sit down. I want to talk to you."

 
Percy F. Westerman's Novels