By the time order was restored, daylight was beginning to
appear, and the young man saw that he was far enough below the island
for it to be safe to again cross the river and head for Dubuque. He
reached this place soon after sunrise, or about an hour after Winn
passed it, and a few minutes after the departure of the _Whatnot_.
A hasty inspection of the various craft lining the water-front of the
city convinced him that the raft was not among them. He found several
persons who knew Sheriff Riley's skiff, but none of them had seen it
that morning. This, however, did not discourage the young engineer,
for a skiff is so much smaller than a raft as to be easily overlooked.
He would make a more thorough search after visiting the hotel, where he
hoped Winn might also have gone for breakfast.
On his way he stopped at the telegraph office, and sent the following
despatch to both Mrs. Caspar and to the Major at Madison:
"Have heard of Winn, and am on his track. The boy is all right.----W.
B."
"That is true so far as it goes," soliloquized Billy Brackett, "and
will relieve their present anxiety. By to-morrow, or perhaps within a
few minutes, I shall certainly have something more definite to wire."
At the hotel he was greatly disappointed to find no trace of the
missing lad, and after eating a hearty breakfast he made a thorough
search of the water-front, though of course without avail.
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