We tied up at the shore above 21,and got ready.It was a foul night,and the river was so wide,there,that a landsman's uneducated eyes could discern no opposite shore through such a gloom.
The passengers were alert and interested;everything was satisfactory.
As I hurried through the engine-room,picturesquely gotten up in storm toggery,I met Tom,and could not forbear delivering myself of a mean speech--'Ain't you glad YOU don't have to go out sounding?'
Tom was passing on,but he quickly turned,and said--'Now just for that,you can go and get the sounding-pole yourself.
I was going after it,but I'd see you in Halifax,now,before I'd do it.'
'Who wants you to get it?I don't.It's in the sounding-boat.'
'It ain't,either.It's been new-painted;and it's been up on the ladies'
cabin guards two days,drying.
I flew back,and shortly arrived among the crowd of watching and wondering ladies just in time to hear the command:
'Give way,men!'
I looked over,and there was the gallant sounding-boat booming away,the unprincipled Tom presiding at the tiller,and my chief sitting by him with the sounding-pole which I had been sent on a fool's errand to fetch.
Then that young girl said to me--
'Oh,how awful to have to go out in that little boat on such a night!
Do you think there is any danger?'
I would rather have been stabbed.I went off,full of venom,to help in the pilot-house.By and by the boat's lantern disappeared,and after an interval a wee spark glimmered upon the face of the water a mile away.Mr.Thornburg blew the whistle,in acknowledgment,backed the steamer out,and made for it.We flew along for a while,then slackened steam and went cautiously gliding toward the spark.
Presently Mr.Thornburg exclaimed--
'Hello,the buoy-lantern's out!'
He stopped the engines.A moment or two later he said--'Why,there it is again!'
So he came ahead on the engines once more,and rang for the leads.
Gradually the water shoaled up,and then began to deepen again!
Mr.Thornburg muttered--