Without
alarming the negro by making his presence known, the big man stole
away, and gaining the pilot-house, rang the engine-room bell that meant
"Go ahead." To the great satisfaction of at least two of the
"river-traders" this order was promptly obeyed. Within a couple of
minutes the city had disappeared, and the _Whatnot_ was slipping down
the fog-enshrouded river.
"What is the meaning of this?" demanded Mr. Gilder, as he followed
Grimshaw into the pilot-house. "Are you crazy that you are going off
with this boat and leaving the raft behind? Or do you mean to run in
to where it is, take our stuff aboard, and continue the cruise in this
craft? Because if you do, you can count me out. This is too
conspicuous a boat for my use. Why, man, she'll be spotted by the
police inside of twenty-four hours!"
"I expect it's about time we counted you out, anyway," answered the
other, gruffly. "Plater and I have about made up our minds that you
are playing a double game, and had some hand in the disappearance of
the raft."
"The disappearance of the raft?" exclaimed the other, blankly. "What
do you mean? How did the raft disappear? And when did it disappear?
And where were you, whom we left to look after it? If you have lost
that raft you'll answer to me for my share in it, and I'll see that you
make it good too, you sneaking--"
"Come, come, Gilder! Simmer down!" interrupted Plater, who had entered
the pilot-house in time to hear these angry words.
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