Plane and Plank; or, The Mishaps of a Mechanic

been guilty of treachery to me and to the Gracewoods. I went all over the boat, from the wheel-house to the main deck; but the captain was no

e boat leave Kans

ck; possibly it was

anything of t

e days," replied the engineer. "She can't keep up with the Fawn. Besides, we a

growled, as I l

e. This exercise had a tendency to cool my hot blood, and I considered the situation in a calmer state of mind. I could be of no service to the Gracewoo

had left the table. I suspected that he did not wish to see me; but that did not p

e Kansas City till the Daylight

would probably be there in the mo

eave, then, be

ndignant at the delay I had a

was

dy, P

to serve me s

u are slightly mistaken. I have done more now than most captains would have done.

exed that I had spoken so hastily. "I do feel

e best I could to h

avis. Excuse me for

a poor way to blame your fr

d all my money except what I lo

is, and, when the Fawn arrives there,

very kind to me, and I am sorry

ll come down in the Daylight, and then all will be wel

ouple of days more, and the Daylight would soon follow us. I watched the ever-changing scene on the shores of the river with far less delight than when Ella Gracewood sat at my side. We passed large towns and small ones, and I saw the ca

what an insignificant mite I was in the mass of humanity. At the Castle, where I was brought up, I was a person of no little consequence; but here, if I were to figure at all, it must be as

ost alone on the boiler deck, from which I viewed the panorama of civilization, so new and strange, which was passing before me. The drays were carting off the freight which we had brought, some of it from the vicinity of the Rocky Mountains. The captain had told me I might occupy my state-room, and take

ns of a green boy as he gazed for the first time upon the elegant public buildings of St. Louis, and at the splendid private residences. All day long I wandered about the city, with my mouth, as well as my eyes and ears, wide open. I gazed at the rich displays of dry goods in the shop windows, and concluded that the people o

The next day I repeated my explorations; but at dinner time I examined all the steamers at the levee to satisfy myself that the Daylight had not yet arrived.

It was time for me to commence my new career of existence. In my walks through the city, I had stopped frequently to observe the work where new buildings were in process of erection.

aptain Dav

d Captain Davis, as I came in to supper aft

glad!" I

I will go with you then to

he Gracewoods are

ut I should not be at all al

y n

at anything again. The Daylight passed us just as

ed down the levee, and were soon on board of the Daylight. The passengers were just going on shore, and I watched the stairs by which they were descen

wed, actually trembling with anxiety. We found t

ssengers at Delaware Ci

dozen

e name of

lerk, after he had

ked, unwilling to believe

y su

look agai

y busy. There is the list; yo

mes, but that of Gra

ere, Phil," sai

not," I repl

he hurry is over, and then we may as

that transpired. The deck hands were landing freight and baggage, and

l drowned if I don't hear som

have positive evidence of it. It is just as easy, and a great deal more pleasant,

interest in the matter

h your friends. But I must say, if you don't hear from them to-day, we must make different arrangements for you, for my ow

ith Mr. Gracewood's

was wheeling a box on shore. "That is one of the hands who went with the Gracewoods in th

nd I hastened down to question them; but the master of the steamer would not release them from their