They
finally determined to accomplish this in some way at St. Louis, and so
matters stood when they made their stop at Alton. Here they intended
remaining until they had transacted a satisfactory amount of business.
Thus, on the foggy morning following Don Blossom's escape from the
_Whatnot_, Messrs Gilder and Plater had gone into the town to
familiarize themselves with its localities, while Grimshaw was left to
look out for the raft. Now Winn Caspar had accidentally discovered it,
and recognized it as the _Venture_.
He did not know the man standing in the doorway and looking so
curiously at him, nor did he suppose himself known by the other. So,
with a great effort, he strove to conceal the tumult of his feelings,
and to appear natural and self-possessed. He answered the man's curt
inquiry regarding his business there by saying, in as pleasant a tone
as he could command, that he was searching for a lost monkey, which he
thought might have taken to the timber beside which this raft was
moored. "You startled me by throwing open your door so suddenly just
as I was about to knock," he continued; "but you haven't seen anything
of a stray monkey this morning, have you?"
"Not until this moment," answered the man, surlily, "and I don't want
to see any more of him. Good-day."
With this he slammed the door in the boy's face, and then, stealing on
tiptoe to a window, watched for his departure from the raft.
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