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 Afloat in a great City 
 
 A STORY OF STRANGE INCIDENTS 
 
 BY / 
 
 FRANITa/'muNSEY /i 
 
 £ 
 
 NEW YORK 
 
 FRANK A. MUNSEY 
 
 1S97
 
 COPYRIGHT, l8Q7 
 BY 
 
 FRANK A. MUNSEY
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 i. 
 
 /^VN a dark November night — the wind blowing 
 ^~ > ^ strongly from the east, chilly and dispirit- 
 ing — a boy, thinly and most shabbily dressed, 
 emerged from a side street carrying in his hand 
 a coarse sack partially filled. He walked aim- 
 lessly up Broadway till he reached Union Square, 
 and there, taking a position opposite Fourteenth 
 Street, leaned wearily against a tree. 
 
 He had no especial object in going there 
 rather than to any other part of the great city. 
 He drifted there as a deserted boat drifts upon 
 the ocean ; and yet there was a stronger influ- 
 ence operating upon him than the effect of wind 
 and current upon the boat — a mysterious some- 
 thing that directed his steps to this point. 
 
 The scene about him was picturesque. The 
 broad branches of the tree against which he 
 rested, together with their leaves and twigs, 
 were photographed, by the electric light, in 
 shadows of rare beauty upon the stone walk at 
 his feet.
 
 2 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 A little to the left was the great statue of 
 Washington upon his horse in full military 
 armor, and still nearer was Lafayette ; while to 
 his right stood, facing him, the monument of 
 Abraham Lincoln. 
 
 Just across the street were tall, handsome 
 buildings, and directly in front of him, on the 
 sidewalk, were many richly dressed ladies and 
 gentlemen hurrying along Fourteenth Street 
 on their way to the Star Theater to see a famous 
 tragedian in one of Shakspere's great plays. 
 
 They passed gaily by without being heeded by 
 him or giving him a passing thought, though in 
 his rags he was a conspicuous figure amid the 
 more cheerful objects that surrounded him. 
 
 Presently a lady and gentleman drew near, 
 accompanied by a boy who had seen, probably, 
 about sixteen summers. 
 
 The boy's dress was that of extreme elegance. 
 He carried lightly in his hand a small silver 
 headed cane, and wore upon his head a hat of the 
 latest shape. His feet were encased in patent 
 leather shoes of the most pointed style, while his 
 trousers fitted tightly to his long, slim legs. 
 
 Upon his upper lip was a down like substance, 
 barely visible by the strong rays of the electric 
 light. Altogether he presented the appearance 
 of an exquisite dude. 
 
 For some reasons this party especially attracted
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 3 
 
 the attention of the friendless boy by the tree. 
 He looked at them sharply to determine whether 
 he had ever seen them before. He concluded 
 that he had not, and yet he felt a strong fancy to 
 know something of them. 
 
 He had never felt so keen an interest in any 
 one before ; and why in these people, more than 
 in others, he asked himself. 
 
 " Perhaps it's that dude's long legs," he said 
 to himself with a smile. 
 
 The party was now directly opposite him, and 
 the lady turned her sweet, motherly face, and 
 gave him a look of sympathy that passed over 
 him like an electric current, and awakened within 
 his breast a tenderer feeling than he had ever 
 before known. 
 
 "Poor boy, how I pity him, and what a sad, 
 sweet face he has ! ' ' 
 
 This much our young friend heard the kind 
 woman say, and the warmth of his poor, starved 
 nature went out to her, while the crystal drops of 
 gratitude that rolled down his cheeks told her, in 
 one hasty glance, the effect her kind words had 
 had upon him. 
 
 " He is no ordinary street boy," she thought, 
 and, notwithstanding his repulsive dress, she 
 would gladly have stopped, had not the gentle- 
 man hurried her along that they might reach the 
 theater in time to see the opening of the play.
 
 4 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 "Such sympathy for a ragged little Arab like 
 that — te-he-he-he ! aw, it's quite too funny, you 
 know ! " 
 
 This remark from the exquisite youth, and his 
 thin, irritating laugh of ridicule, in which his 
 father joined, speedily froze the warrnth of our 
 young hero's feelings and aroused his indignation. 
 
 His manliness and naturally high spirit rebelled 
 against being insulted by any one, and instantly 
 he dropped his sack and started out to teach 
 the young dandy a much needed lesson in 
 civility. 
 
 The crowd of theater goers was so large, how- 
 ever, that he could not easily reach him, and it 
 was fortunate that he did not, for upon reflection 
 he saw plainly the folly of such an act. 
 
 He followed closely behind the unknown party 
 that had so suddenly stirred within him these 
 extreme emotions, and overheard the following 
 conversation : 
 
 "You ought to be ashamed, Perry, to speak in 
 that spirit about any one," said the lady, reprov- 
 ing the owner of the long legs and patent leather 
 shoes. 
 
 "So his name is Perry," thought our hero. 
 "lam glad to learn so much, any way." 
 
 " Why, he is only a gamin — a mere ragpicker," 
 answered Perry contemptuously. 
 
 Again our young friend found it difficult to
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 5 
 
 restrain himself from collaring the author of this 
 remark ; but said he to himself, "the time of 
 reckoning will come for you, my fine fellow, and I 
 shall make it a point to be present on that day. ' ' 
 
 ' ' Whatever he does for a living, he is never- 
 theless human, and is therefore entitled to the 
 sympathy of all," replied the lady. 
 
 " Aw, yes, but you see we men don't have as 
 much sentiment as ladies." 
 
 " It is quite evident that you have not, Perry. 
 But suppose, for instance, your position were 
 exchanged with that of the boy of whom you 
 speak so scornfully. Would you not then crave 
 some sympathy and assistance? " 
 
 " Aw, good gwacious ! what an absurd supposi- 
 tion ! The very ideah of me being dressed like 
 that gamin and picking rags for a living ! Oh, it 
 is quite too funny, eh-ha-ha-ha ! " and again his 
 father laughed approvingly. 
 
 ' ' But you have not answered my question. ' ' 
 
 " Oh, but don't you see, I can't imagine myself 
 in such a position," replied the boy. 
 
 "Why not?" 
 
 " Because, eh — really, you see — I wouldn't 
 know how to be a ragpicker. ' ' 
 
 ' ' Well, I hope you will never have to learn 
 how ; but remember, my boy, wealth often leaves 
 one very suddenly, and then it is but a single 
 step from a palace to poverty. ' '
 
 6 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 "You are quite right," answered the father, 
 ' ' but you see Perry is young, and does not look 
 upon these matters as we do, so do not be too 
 hard on him." 
 
 Perry winced, for he thought himself a great 
 man, and did not care to be looked upon as 
 young. 
 
 " I do not wish to be hard upon him," replied 
 the lady, "but I should like to see him grow 
 more thoughtful and humane." 
 
 A cold wind blew up Broadway, bringing with 
 it a cloud of dust. 
 
 ' ' I know he must be cold this chilly night in 
 his tattered garments," said she, referring to 
 the poor boy, and she drew her wraps more 
 closely about her with a shiver. 
 
 Father and son shrugged their shoulders. 
 
 " Oh, he is tough," answered the latter heart- 
 lessly. 
 
 " What makes you think so ? " 
 
 " Well, eh — because he is, you know." 
 
 "I do not know it, and besides you give no 
 reason. ' ' 
 
 " I meant — eh — the}' all are." 
 
 ' ' He means, ' ' said his father, coming to his 
 aid, " that these gamins are so accustomed to 
 exposure that they do not feel the cold as much 
 as you would suppose." 
 
 "Yes, undoubtedly they are often subjected
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 7 
 
 to cold and hunger ; but yet they cannot stand 
 everything. ' ' 
 
 "Very true, but most of them seem rather 
 happy in their peculiar existence. ' ' 
 
 "The buoyancy of youth, I suppose, gives 
 them that appearance. Still many of them seem 
 like little old men." 
 
 "They are men — full grown meu — in the 
 experience of the rough side of life, while yet 
 mere bo} T s." 
 
 " It makes my heart ache to think of their 
 condition," answered the lady tenderly. 
 
 " It is a sad feature of our great city, to be 
 sure ; but what can one do ? There are so many 
 of them that one does not know where to com- 
 mence with charity," he replied, as if acts of 
 charity were sweet to him, when in reality he 
 cared only for his self interest. 
 
 ' ' I think you would be safe in commencing on 
 this boy," answered the lady. "He looked 
 hungry as well as cold." 
 
 " Come, come, I fear you are getting senti- 
 mental over this young gamin," said he, skil- 
 fully avoiding the point; "but why over this 
 boy more than any other ? ' ' 
 
 " I cannot explain why. I could not express 
 it in words, and yet ' ' 
 
 "It is decidedly a vague impression, then," 
 interrupted — shall I say her husband ? But I do 

 
 8 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 uot know, for they are total strangers ; and yet 
 if I were forced to give a guess upon the matter 
 I should say that the three compose one family — 
 father, mother, and son. 
 
 " Yes, it is an impression," answered the lady, 
 " but one that has taken a deep hold upon me." 
 
 " How very odd," put in Perry, " and such a 
 horribly ragged specimen ! " 
 
 ' ' It was his face that impressed me. It was 
 intelligent — handsome even." 
 
 Imagine our young friend walking behind this 
 party and hearing himself discussed in this man- 
 ner. What must have been his feelings, and 
 what a conflict of emotions there must have been 
 in his breast ! 
 
 ' ' I hope you would not lose the chance of see- 
 ing this great actor simply to look after that 
 unknown boy," said the man presently. 
 
 " No," answered the lady, after a little thought 
 in which she sought to learn her duty. " No, on 
 your account I would not ; but ' ' 
 
 Here her reply was suddenly interrupted by a 
 party of friends who just then came up and joined 
 them. 
 
 The poor lad looked wistfully after them as 
 they left the sidewalk and passed through the 
 great doors of the theater.
 
 II. 
 
 " " NEVER saw any one look at me as that 
 
 A lady did," thought the shivering boy, 
 while he retraced his steps to his old position on 
 the square. ' ' I know from her face she is a good 
 woman, and she spoke so kind and pitying like. 
 How I would like to work for her ! I am sure 
 she would dress me up — well, more than I am 
 now, anyway. 
 
 " But her son ought to be taken down a peg," 
 he continued, discussing the matter in his mind ; 
 1 ' and I would like to do it, too. He is a regular 
 dude, and a hateful one at that ; but I think he 
 is about like his father. I shall get square with 
 him yet, and perhaps some day I will have as 
 good clothes as he has on, and then no one will 
 know I ever wore rags. 
 
 " I wonder who I am, anyway, that I should 
 live in that den, and if I ever had a father and 
 mother like other boys," mused he, as he once 
 more rested against the tree. 
 
 "Of course I must have had a father and 
 mother like everybody else ; but it does seem 
 to me sometimes as if I never had any. If I 
 
 9
 
 IO AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 had, why did they ever give me to that wicked 
 old woman, to live in that place and endure her 
 abuse ? 
 
 ' ' Perhaps she and her gang stole me away 
 from them, and they have been hunting for me 
 all this time — ever since I was a baby. Who 
 knows ? I wonder how long ago that was ? I 
 think I'm about fourteen, but I'd like to know 
 exactly; for now I never have a birthday, 'cause 
 I don't know when it is," said he sadly. And 
 the next thought in this mental problem, and the 
 one which naturally forced itself upon him, made 
 his young heart ache with grief. 
 
 "Yes," he admitted sorrowfully to himself, 
 ' ' they may be dead — my own father and mother. 
 How I wish I could remember them ! ' ' and for 
 the second time that night the tears rolled down 
 his pale cheeks. 
 
 ' ' I wonder if I look like them, and if they were 
 rich or poor!" he continued, speculating upon 
 this subject, which for him had a strange fasci- 
 nation. 
 
 He felt a keen desire to know something of his 
 ancestors — something about the people who were 
 his own flesh and blood. 
 
 He felt that those with whom his lot had been 
 cast were none of his kin, for he was in no sense 
 like them — coarse, low, and repulsive. How he 
 came to be with them was a mystery that he was
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 1 1 
 
 most anxious to solve. The story of his early 
 life — that part which memory could not recall — 
 he longed to know. He had tried every means 
 at his command to obtain some light upon this 
 question. 
 
 He had asked the squalid old woman, with 
 whom he had passed all his remembered life, to 
 tell him his story. 
 
 But the request only brought down upon him 
 more abusive treatment, while the much coveted 
 information was withheld by this repulsive speci- 
 men of humanity, almost devilish in character. 
 
 From others of her gang he had tried, by coax- 
 ing and bribing, to get a clue that would aid him 
 in solving this problem. 
 
 But all proved to no purpose. That they knew 
 much he felt sure, and the fact that each guarded 
 the secret so carefully led him to believe there 
 was a deep plot connected with his early life — a 
 mystery surrounding it, so dark that it seemed to 
 him he could never penetrate it. 
 
 And this thought gave the subject additional 
 interest — so much so that he found himself hour 
 after hour indulging in the wildest speculations 
 upon the matter, as he knocked about hither and 
 thither among the rubbish of a great city. 
 
 But he was more than a dreamer, more than a 
 mere speculator upon the past, though with him 
 there were the strongest reasons for such a
 
 12 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 tendency. Nevertheless, he had an eye to the 
 future ; for he possessed a strong ambition, and 
 a degree of intelligence rarely seen in a boy of 
 his age. 
 
 His education, such as it was, had been picked 
 up in the busy streets of New York, by observa- 
 tion and by the hardest kind of experience. He 
 was older than his age, so long had he been in 
 contact with the world. He had grown up 
 literally between kicks and cuffs, and deprived 
 of the love and the privileges that make a 
 boy's life sweet and happy — that make it worth 
 living. 
 
 Almost all boys growing up amid such sur- 
 roundings would become coarse and degraded ; 
 but it was not so with him. He must have 
 inherited from his parents, whoever they were, a 
 capacity for good behavior and manly conduct. 
 And now the events of this evening, the slurs 
 heaped upon him by Perry, kindled anew his 
 ambition and determination to make a break in 
 his present life, and to leave the old woman and 
 her filthy ragpicking forever. 
 
 But when he considered what a fierce storm 
 this would raise, and how cruel she and the 
 gang about her could be in a matter of revenge, 
 he hesitated, and trembled at the result that 
 might follow. 
 
 True to his purpose, however, and with manly
 
 AFLOAT IN A GRKAT CITY. 1 3 
 
 courage, he said slowly and firmly, as if measur- 
 ing the force of each word : 
 
 ' I am not her boy, and I will not be her slave. 
 I shall leave her, come what may, and commence 
 a new life. ' ' 
 
 Presently he raised his head, and turning to 
 the right saw, at a little distance, the figure of 
 a man whose eyes were fixed intently upon him. 
 
 His face was kind and sympathetic, thought- 
 ful and sad, generous and humane. It was the 
 great statue of Abraham Lincoln. 
 
 Our young friend was not superstitious, and 
 yet he felt peculiarly impressed — almost as if 
 his very thoughts had been read by the bronze 
 likeness of the martyred president. 
 
 Then he called to mind the stories he had 
 heard of him — of his early hardships in life. 
 Though of a different character from his own, 
 they were perhaps quite as hard to overcome, 
 and the thought encouraged him to push on in 
 his purpose to make a man of himself. 
 
 "It is so cold and so late, I will go home 
 tonight," he said to himself, and he reached 
 down mechanically for his partially filled sack. 
 
 It was not there, much to his surprise and 
 regret. He looked all about the tree, but could 
 not find it. 
 
 "I must have left it by the other tree," he 
 thought.
 
 14 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 Again he was disappointed, for here he could 
 find no trace of it. 
 
 " It has been stolen," he was forced to admit. 
 " Somebody took it while I followed that dude to 
 the theater. Oh, I wish I had never seen him," 
 he sighed, and he threw himself upon a bench to 
 think. 
 
 " If I go home without that sack of rags there 
 will be trouble. The old woman will be mad, 
 and will make a lively row." 
 
 He shrank from encountering her wrath. He 
 knew she would say he sold it. This of course 
 he would deny, and yet what explanation could 
 he give ? He felt that a crisis had come, and he 
 decided to maintain his dignity, and not submit 
 tamely to her abuse. 
 
 " Why go home at all? " said he, " for I am 
 going to leave her tomorrow, anyway." 
 
 But the cold wind, which had now become 
 more penetrating, helped him to decide the point ; 
 and he started with a heavy heart for the place 
 he called home — a hovel, filthy and in all senses 
 most unhomelike. Still it was a shelter from the 
 chill night air. 
 
 He walked down Broadway for a number of 
 blocks, then turned to his left and followed this 
 course till he found himself in the vicinity of 
 Cherry Street and the East River. I will not 
 locate the place definitely, but will say that his
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 1 5 
 
 destination — the place he called home — was not 
 many blocks either way from this neighborhood. 
 
 He groped his way through a dark narrow 
 passage that led into a court, and thence to the 
 outer door of the old building in which he lived 
 — a sort of human hive, so closely were its numer- 
 ous denizens crowded together. Our young friend 
 opened the door and entered. The passageway 
 was dark — dark as the blackest ink — and the air 
 was heavy and foul, as if the very wood of the 
 old structure were combining with rags and rub- 
 bish to produce this peculiar compound odor. 
 No wonder the poor boy looked thin and pale 
 after breathing such air. 
 
 He ascended the stairs till he reached the 
 fourth floor, and walking a few steps to the left, 
 placed his hand upon the latch of a door. 
 
 Something told him to pause a moment and 
 listen before entering. He did so, and heard 
 what seemed to him like angry voices. 
 
 "Shall I go in now I am here?" he asked 
 himself. "Yes, I will not turn back, but will 
 meet the worst bravely," and he opened the door 
 and passed in.
 
 III. 
 
 '~PHE room was large and dirty. Here and 
 there were piles of rags and scraps of paper, 
 as they had been sorted into the various grades. 
 In one corner was a lot of bones — beef bones, 
 probably — for the manufacture of bone ware. 
 Another corner contained a large pile of old 
 shoes — some good enough to be mended, others 
 suitable only to be worked over into cheap shoes, 
 and the poorest of the lot good for nothing but 
 to be converted by chemical process into imita- 
 tion gutta percha, from which buttons, combs, 
 etc. , are manufactured. 
 
 Old tin cans, bottles of all descriptions, bits of 
 iron, nails, brass, etc., formed a part of the col- 
 lection to be turned into money. On a shelf was 
 a well filled box of cigar stubs, picked up from 
 the sidewalk, from spittoons, and from the gut- 
 ter, to be converted into "choice cigarettes," or 
 ground into snuff. 
 
 The walls were black with dirt, and the ceiling 
 was low, and dingy with smoke and dust. An 
 old cook stove served to keep the room warm, 
 while the only light came from an old lamp with 
 
 16
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 17 
 
 a broken chimney — one probably found among the 
 waste rubbish of the city. 
 
 And this den — for it was nothing more than a 
 den — so filthy and squalid, was what this poor 
 boy called home ! It was the only home he knew, 
 and, much as he loathed it, it served as a shelter 
 from the cold and gave him a place to lay his 
 weary head at night. 
 
 Unattractive and unhomelike as this place was, 
 it did not in any sense compare in ugliness with 
 the spirit that ruled over it — an old woman of 
 most repulsive appearance. 
 
 Her forehead was low and receding ; her eyes 
 small and deeply set under heavy, overhanging 
 brows, and her skin wrinkled and coarse. She 
 had a large, long nose, hooked like a vulture's 
 beak, which had become red through heavy 
 drinking, and thus it contrasted strongly with 
 the rest of her face, which had grown dingy and 
 almost black, like the surroundings in which she 
 lived. 
 
 Her teeth, the few scattered ones still remain- 
 ing, black stumps as they were, added much to 
 her forbidding appearance. 
 
 The dress she had on — or more properly the 
 apology for a dress — was filthy and tattered, and 
 her whole manner was coarse and low. 
 
 The peculiar action of her little eyes, reddened 
 by drink, and set far back in her head, was a
 
 1 8 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 sight that might well cause a shudder. Hers was 
 indeed an evil eye. 
 
 "I heard voices, surely I did," thought the 
 lad, as he entered the room and found no one 
 there save the old woman. ' ' I must have been 
 mistaken," he finally concluded, "but I did 
 think I heard a strange voice ; and she looks 
 ugly, too, as if she had been quarreling with 
 some one. It is strange. ' ' And here his thoughts 
 were interrupted by Mother Grimmis, for that is 
 the name by which she went. 
 
 "Where have you been all this time, you 
 young imp ? ' ' demanded she angrily, as the boy 
 entered the room. 
 
 A frown passed over his face at this greeting. 
 He paused a moment, thinking how best to reply, 
 for he saw she was much excited, and badly under 
 the influence of drink. 
 
 " Answer me or I'll make yer wish yer'd never 
 got here alive, yer good for nothing, you ! " and 
 she stamped her heavy shoes ominously upon the 
 floor. 
 
 ' ' Where should I have been ? " he asked, by 
 way of answering her question. 
 
 " Yer orter been earnin' me some money." 
 
 " That is what I started to do." 
 
 "What yer started to do — didn't yer do it, 
 yer good for nothing ? ' ' 
 
 " I did earn some, and "
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 1 9 
 
 "I'd orter turn yer into the street, yer soft 
 mouthed pauper, you ! " 
 
 "I'm not a pauper, nor ever was," said the 
 boy, firing up. 
 
 He was not sure of this, but he ventured the 
 statement. 
 
 "Oh, yer not, are yer?" 
 
 "No, I'm not," replied the lad firmly and 
 with proper dignity. 
 
 " "Tis only me that keeps yer from it, then — me 
 that feeds yer and gives yer a place to sleep. ' ' 
 
 " You don't keep me from it, for I earn you 
 three times as much as I get out of this miserable 
 hovel. ' ' 
 
 " Miserable hovel, is it? Bad luck to the day 
 I ever saw yer ! ' ' replied she more excitedly. 
 
 Our young hero saw the battle had actually 
 commenced, and he felt he might as well speak 
 his mind fearlessly. It was useless to go back 
 now. 
 
 "It was worse luck for me," he retorted 
 indignantly. ' ' I might have been something 
 besides a street ragpicker if I had never seen 
 you." 
 
 This was too much for her, and she made a dive 
 at him as if her purpose were annihilation ; but 
 he eluded her wicked grasp by a marvelous leap 
 which took him completely over a table and put 
 him out of her reach. So, instead of grabbing
 
 20 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 him as she intended, she clutched frantically at 
 the air, and the resistance of this was so slight 
 that she fell headlong upon the pile of old 
 shoes. 
 
 This made her desperate, and she hissed 
 between her scattered teeth an imprecation that 
 I forbear to give ; but by way of making the 
 most of her defeated purpose she grabbed one of 
 the big heavy shoes at her feet and threw it sav- 
 agely at his head. 
 
 He dodged the missile skilfully and made 
 toward the door, thinking to stop the battle by 
 leaving instantly. But now he was not so for- 
 tunate, for Mother Grimmis, suspecting his pur- 
 pose, and being nearer the door, quickly took a 
 position between him and the only means of exit. 
 
 " No yer don't ! " she shouted triumphantly. 
 "I'll show yer who I am, yer miserable imp." 
 
 "I don't want a row with you," he said 
 calmly. 
 
 " I'll row yer to yer sorrow." 
 
 "Well, you won't, for I'll not stay another 
 day in such a den." 
 
 " Yer won't, won't yer ? " 
 
 "No, I will not." 
 
 " Yer' 11 see to your sorrow, for I've got yer 
 and I'll keep yer a prisoner '." 
 
 The word ' ' prisoner ' ' came out with a terrible 
 emphasis, and made the boy positively shudder.
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 21 
 
 Her little eyes snapped fire, and her wrinkled 
 visage looked dark and threatening, like the 
 great black clouds before a furious tempest. 
 
 "I don't belong to you, and you have no 
 right to keep me." 
 
 He felt now more than ever that he was of 
 different kin, and he asserted this boldly. 
 
 " I've got yer in my clutches, and I'll keep yer 
 there," said she, with tremendous force, thrust- 
 ing her hands from her in a demoniacal gesture 
 that fairly terrified the boy. He had never seen 
 anything in all his life so awful as was this wom- 
 an's attitude toward him. 
 
 She seemed possessed of a mad frenzy, and the 
 action of her long bony fingers sent a chill through 
 the lad's frame, as they worked so threateningly. 
 The nervous twitching of her mouth, the move- 
 ment of her deep sunken eyes — spiteful, even 
 wicked as it was — and the ominous grating to- 
 gether of the few black stumps in her mouth, 
 alarmed him. He instinctively drew farther 
 away from her, that he might be the better pre- 
 pared for whatever movement she made, and said 
 in reply : 
 
 ' ' Yes, you probably stole me from my friends, 
 or you never would have had me. ' ' 
 
 " I'd better never seen yer," said she. 
 
 " You don't deny it, then ? " replied the boy, 
 feeling he had gained a point.
 
 22 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY 
 
 "I do deny it — steal an imp like you ! ' ' she 
 snarled derisively. 
 
 "How did you get me, then?" said he, fol- 
 lowing up the slight clue to the subject so dear 
 to him. 
 
 ' ' None er yer business. ' ' 
 
 "It is my business, and I have a right to 
 know it." 
 
 Mother Grimmis held fast to the door, fearing 
 that if she left it he would in some way dodge 
 her and make his escape. 
 
 The boy noticed this, and was shrewd enough 
 to try and hold her to this subject till she should 
 become calmer. He feared that if, while so 
 excited, she were to discover that he brought 
 home no sack of rags, serious trouble would fol- 
 low. And she had grown somewhat quieter 
 when she made the dreaded discovery. 
 
 Immediately firing up again, she demanded to 
 know where the pack was. 
 
 "I don't know. I " 
 
 " Don't know? " interrupted she angrily. 
 
 " I was going to explain," he replied. 
 
 " Yer better — mighty quick, too." 
 
 " But you interrupted me " 
 
 " Tell me, I say, what you done with it," 
 again interrupting him. 
 
 " I stopped to rest, and set it down beside me, 
 and "
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 23 
 
 "A pretty lie ; yer sold it to get money for 
 yourself, yer thief." 
 
 " I told you the truth, and I am not a thief, 
 much as you have tried to make me one," replied 
 the boy, with burning indignation. 
 
 "I'll show you whether it's a lie or not," 
 shouted the old hag ; and, grabbing a cudgel, she 
 made a desperate plunge toward the defense- 
 less lad, who prepared to make the best resist- 
 ance he could. 
 
 "Stop where you are," suddenly shouted a 
 heavy voice, and a tall, strong man sprang between 
 Mother Grimmis and the boy. 
 
 This voice terrified her, and she retreated again 
 to the door. 
 
 "This has gone far enough," shouted he, in a 
 resolute, determined tone. 
 
 ' ' What business is it to you ? ' ' retorted the 
 old hag, fairly trembling with anger. 
 
 "I'll make it my business to protect him from 
 any further abuse from you. If I'd known this 
 sooner, he shouldn't have stayed here as long as 
 he has." 
 
 " Yer robber, you," hissed the old woman. 
 
 But the tall man made no reply, and turning to 
 the boy, he said : 
 
 " Ben, has this woman always abused you like 
 this?" 
 
 Ben — such was this boy's name ; and when my
 
 24 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 readers learn that, they know nearly as much 
 about him as he knew himself. 
 
 But Ben was almost paralyzed with surprise — 
 so much that he paused before replying, and said 
 to himself : 
 
 ' ' Who is this strange man ? He must know 
 me, for he calls me Ben. Have I ever seen him 
 anywhere before — and why does he take such 
 interest in me?"
 
 IV. 
 
 r ~PHE man was above the average height, had 
 a dark complexion and wore a full beard, 
 rather long and very black ; so black, indeed, that 
 it gave him a swarthy look. A deep scar was 
 prominent upon his face. 
 
 It started downward near the top of the ear, on 
 the right cheek, and rounded well up under the 
 cheek bone. His eyes were as black as his beard, 
 his features were hard, and stamped him as a man 
 without refinement, whose sense of morality was 
 withered by long contact with evil. 
 
 And ) T et this man, forbidding as was his appear- 
 ance, had a better heart, a tenderer sympathy, 
 than old Mother Grimmis. 
 
 Woman is better than man. Her moral 
 standard is much higher. She is kinder, more 
 sympathetic, and more generous to those in 
 trouble, and yet when she falls, she falls to a lower 
 depth of infamy than man. She will do things 
 from which he would turn away, against which 
 his nature, sordid and evil as it might be, would 
 rebel. 
 
 I do not know whether my readers will agree 
 
 25
 
 26 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 with me in this view, but I believe there are facts 
 that will bear me out in the statement. 
 
 Mother Grimm is was a fair illustration of this 
 theory, though there have been still more marked 
 cases of feminine depravity than hers. 
 
 I speak of this that I may not be criticised for 
 representing this old woman as she really was — 
 wicked and heartless. 
 
 While Ben was leaning against the tree on 
 Union Square, busily forming his plans for the 
 future, she had been quarreling with this strange 
 man. Neither would yield to the other in the 
 matter for which each was contending. The 
 scene became a stormy one, and at its very height 
 our hero returned home. They heard him ascend 
 the stairs, walk to the door of the room, and place 
 his hand upon the latch. 
 
 " Who is it ? " asked the man excitedly. 
 
 " It's the boy," she replied sulkily. 
 
 ' ' Are you sure ? ' ' 
 
 " Yes, I know his step." 
 
 "I must not be seen by him," he replied 
 uneasily ; and grabbing his hat he stepped 
 quickly into a small closet, the door of which 
 happened to have in it quite a large hole. 
 Through this he had a good view of the room, 
 and saw the boy as he entered. 
 
 Mother Grim mis had become so enraged at the 
 man that she could hardly contain herself ; and,
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 27 
 
 unable to vent her spite upon him, she turned 
 upon the boy iu the cruel manner shown in the 
 preceding chapter. 
 
 The man witnessed this treatment from his 
 retreat, and his whole nature protested against 
 such mad abuse. 
 
 "But it won't do for me to show myself to 
 the boy, much as I would like to protect him," 
 said he to himself. 
 
 When, however, the old hag made the dive for 
 the boy that resulted in her fall, the man could 
 hardly restrain himself from rushing out and 
 punishing her as she deserved. 
 
 He was upon the very point of doing so, when 
 he saw the lad escape her grasp by his marvelous 
 leap. 
 
 "By Jove, he's a keener — that boy is," 
 exclaimed he, almost aloud, and he felt a thrill 
 of delight. 
 
 He noted well the old hag's manner from his 
 hiding place, so awful it had become ; and his 
 sympathy for the boy was so fully aroused that 
 when her final plunge came, he, no longer able 
 to restrain himself, rushed from the closet and 
 saved the lad from a blow that might have proved 
 serious. 
 
 So sudden, so unexpected, was the man's 
 appearance, that it was not surprising that Ben 
 became speechless for a few moments.
 
 28 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 But after he recovered from the surprise, he 
 reached his hand out to the tall stranger, and 
 thanked him sincerely for shielding him from the 
 old hag's fury. 
 
 "I am very glad to protect you," was the 
 reply. 
 
 " Thank you, sir. It did look as if I needed 
 some protection about that time. ' ' 
 
 ' ' I should say so, and it is fortunate I was 
 here. But tell me," he continued, "how long 
 has this been going on ? " 
 
 " It was never like this before, sir." 
 
 "Have you never been abused, then, till 
 tonight?" 
 
 " I can't say that and tell the truth ; but " 
 
 " Don't be afraid to speak out." 
 
 "But it might be worse for me," said Ben 
 cautiously. 
 
 ' ' I will protect you from her. I want to 
 know what sort of treatment you have received. 
 It has been bad, I feel sure," said the stranger, 
 casting a threatening glance at Mother Grimmis, 
 who was now walking backward and forward by 
 the door, like a caged lioness — furious with anger. 
 
 " Yes, it has been nothing but abuse ever since 
 I can remember, ' ' replied the boy boldly ; ' ' but 
 I have made up my mind to stand no more of it." 
 
 " You are right. I would not stand it if I were 
 you."
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 29 
 
 "I don't think it would be safe to remain 
 after tonight's performance." 
 
 ' ' No, it would not ; and I only wish I had 
 known before about this treatment — you shouldn't 
 have stayed all this time. ' ' 
 
 "No, I suppose not," answered the boy 
 mechanically, while he repeated to himself these 
 words, " I only wish I had known before of your 
 treatment — you shouldn't have stayed all this 
 time," and he looked closely at the man to try 
 to make out if he had ever seen him before. 
 
 He could not decide this point satisfactorily to 
 himself. Had he seen him on the street he 
 would have said, "No, I have never seen this 
 man. He is a stranger to me. ' ' But now he felt 
 that he remembered the ugly scar on his cheek, 
 though he did not recognize the face in any way. 
 
 ' ' I am certain I have seen that scar before, or 
 one just like it," said he to himself finally ; 
 " but I can't remember when or where — it seems 
 so far away', so dim an impression." 
 
 ' ' Have you any place to go to ? " asked the 
 stranger, after a pause. 
 
 " No ; nowhere in particular." 
 
 ' * Nor any money ? ' ' 
 
 "No, sir." 
 
 "How will you get along, then? " 
 
 "Oh, I will manage it all right," replied the 
 bov cheer fullv.
 
 30 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 " Remember, it is a cold night." 
 
 ' ' Yes, I know it is, but I am accustomed to 
 the cold." 
 
 " If I had any money I would give it to you." 
 
 "Thank you, sir, you have already been very 
 kind ; but I can manage in some way. ' ' 
 
 ' ' If you prefer to remain here till morning I 
 will stay with you and see that you are not 
 harmed; that would be better for you than 
 wandering in the streets on a cold, stormy night. " 
 
 " No, I would not wish you to do that; and 
 besides, I want to go. I prefer to get away from 
 this place forever." 
 
 Mother Grimmis looked daggers at him, and 
 muttered a characteristic threat. 
 
 "Then you shall go," replied the man, as if 
 he had absolute authority. 
 
 "I am very thankful to j^ou, sir, for your 
 kindness. I am ready to go, as soon as I can get 
 away. ' ' 
 
 ' ' Have you nothing to take with you ? ' ' 
 
 "No, nothing." 
 
 "No clothes?" 
 
 ' ' No, sir, only the ones I have on. I want 
 nothing else from here. ' ' 
 
 Ben was most anxious to leave at once. He 
 feared that, if he delayed, something might pre- 
 vent his escaping from the old woman. The 
 strange man had certainly been kind to him, and
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 3 1 
 
 yet he feared him. His appearance was forbid- 
 ding, and for some reason the boy instinctively 
 shrank from him. 
 
 "Very well, you may go, then," said the man 
 coolly, as if there remained now no further 
 obstruction. But there was an obstruction be- 
 tween the boy and the door, a very lively one, in 
 the shape of Mother Grimmis herself ; and she 
 objected most emphatically to the permission 
 granted by the newcomer, and hot words followed 
 fast between them. 
 
 She guarded the door carefully for a while, but 
 as the scene grew more lively, and her uncon- 
 trollable temper rose higher, she neglected this 
 important post. 
 
 Ben had been watching eagerly for a chance to 
 reach the door, and when the opportunity came 
 he shot by her like an arrow, and was on his way 
 down the old stairs, covering half a dozen steps 
 at a leap. 
 
 And he did not stop when he reached the street, 
 but kept on running till he found himself on the 
 corner of Grand Street, when he paused for 
 breath and looked back, half expecting to be 
 grabbed and taken back to old Mother Grimmis' 
 den.
 
 V. 
 
 A ND here he waited, listened, and wondered, 
 ^^ but no step did he hear. 
 
 No one in that vicinity was moving. The street 
 lamp on the opposite corner burned dimly ; but 
 it was very dark in that squalid, dingy part of 
 the city. Not far away was the great East River. 
 In that direction all looked black, and the 
 melancholy lapping of the waves, raised by the 
 occasional passing of a late boat, had an unpleasant 
 effect upon the nerves of the lad. 
 
 Yet he felt happy over his escape, and his mind 
 became absorbed in thinking over the dramatic 
 scenes through which he had just passed, and in 
 speculating as to who the tall stranger, with the 
 ugly scar upon his face, could be. 
 
 " Why didn't I ask him ? " said he to himself ; 
 ' ' perhaps he would have told me. I would like 
 to know him. He talked as if he knew me, and 
 had authority to act with me as he chose. The 
 longer I think, the more it seems to me I have 
 seen him before. He may know all about me — 
 what my real name is and where I came from. 
 He has been so kind to me that perhaps he would 
 
 32
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 33 
 
 tell me. But then he may not know. I believe 
 he does, though, from the waj 7 he talked. He 
 wouldn't have allowed me to remain there, he 
 said, just as if I were his own boy, or he had a 
 right to do with me as he pleased. 
 
 " If he had never seen me before, he wouldn't 
 have talked that way," continued the boy in his 
 process of speculation and reasoning. " I won- 
 der why he hid when I went into the room. I 
 was sure I heard voices, and now I know he 
 didn't hide for nothing. If he didn't want to see 
 me, there must be some cause for it, and that is 
 what I want to find out ; but how am I to do it ? 
 If I had had any sense I would have asked him 
 to tell me where I could see him ; but I didn't 
 think then, as I wanted to get away from him 
 and old Mother Grimmis. 
 
 "I wonder why he was there with her, and 
 what they were quarreling about. Perhaps they 
 are having a lively time now, and one or the other 
 of them may get hurt. I'm glad I'm away from 
 that wicked old hag, and I hope I will never set 
 eyes on her again ; but I will be lucky if I don't, 
 for she will try to have me captured by her 
 gang; and if she does get me — well, I don't 
 know; I don't like to think about it; it fairly 
 makes me shudder. ' ' 
 
 Thus he spent a little time in thought, and 
 then wondered how he should pass the night.
 
 34 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 His situation was a forlorn one. Where should 
 he go ? What should he do ? Not a cent in his 
 pocket, not a friend had he to whom he could go 
 for shelter. The cold wind, blowing up from the 
 river, pressed him for an answer to this question. 
 He felt that he must do something ; standing 
 there — surrounded by those old buildings, in a 
 locality about which he had heard frightful stor- 
 ies — was not to his liking. 
 
 The stillness of the night was oppressive. The 
 clock in a distant church tower now commenced 
 striking. Ben counted eleven strokes, and how 
 clear and loud they w r ere ! He had never before 
 heard them sound like that. Again it was still, 
 very still, and the lad felt oppressed with a sense 
 of loneliness. With a heavy heart he turned to 
 go. His muscles worked stiffly, and a cold chill 
 passed over him as he stepped on the crossing, 
 where the wind struck him more pitilessly than 
 ever. 
 
 And now suddenly came a crashing sound, only 
 a little way up the street, as if something had 
 been moved, and in moving had fallen to the 
 sidewalk. All was quiet again, not a sound to 
 break the stillness ; and the boy felt a sickening 
 sense of fear. What could it be ? Was it a rob- 
 ber, or was it a repetition of one of* the old scenes 
 — stories to which he had listened with open 
 mouth and boyish terror ?
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 35 
 
 These thoughts hastily passed through his 
 mind, and again he listened. Now he thought 
 he heard a faint noise — yes, he was sure of it, 
 for the sound was approaching him. Almost any- 
 thing would have alarmed him, and his fear 
 increased till he thought a change in his loca- 
 tion especially desirable ; and yet he was curious 
 to see whoever or whatever was coming down 
 the street. 
 
 As a compromise, however, between his desire 
 to get away from that corner and his curiosity 
 for investigation, he walked part way across the 
 block, and there took a position in a secluded 
 niche, where he was shielded from the light on 
 the corner, and yet would be able to see any 
 object passing down the street. 
 
 He had scarcely taken this position, when a 
 big shaggy dog came in sight, and stopping 
 directly under the gaslight, looked about him 
 and sniffed the air. He was very large and power- 
 fully built. 
 
 ' ' Perhaps he is waiting for his master, ' ' 
 thought Ben ; " a robber or something worse ; who 
 knows ? ' ' 
 
 But as no one appeared, the boy concluded 
 that the noise up the street was caused by the 
 dog — possibly by tipping over a barrel, or some- 
 thing of that sort ; and his fear commenced to 
 abate.
 
 2>6 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 He was almost ashamed of himself for having 
 been so badly startled. He need not have felt 
 this, for in such lonesome surroundings a very 
 slight sound, aided by a frightened imagination, 
 will seem like almost anything naturally to be 
 dreaded. 
 
 After sniffing the air for a while, the dog 
 deliberately turned and came toward our young 
 friend with a sort of a swinging trot. 
 
 Ben saw this, and instantly became alarmed 
 again, as well he might. It had not till now 
 occurred to him that this huge brute might prove 
 a worse enemy than man. 
 
 "Shall I run?" he asked himself, but very 
 sensibly he concluded that such an act would 
 prove dangerous. 
 
 The dog was fast approaching, and the boy 
 groped about in the darkness, searching for a club 
 or anything that would serve as a weapon of 
 defense. But he could find nothing, and he 
 decided to stand well in the shade, and keep so 
 still, if possible, that the dog would pass by with- 
 out noticing him. 
 
 Nearer and nearer he came, till within a few 
 yards of Ben ; and then he suddenly stopped and 
 looked back. 
 
 The lad's anxiety deepened. Would the dog 
 turn and go the other way, or would he come on 
 and attack him ? This suspense continued but a
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 37 
 
 few moments, for after renewed sniffing the great 
 St. Bernard again fell into a lazy trot. 
 
 Now he was almost opposite the boy's partial 
 hiding place. The trot still keeps up ; soon he 
 has passed him. 
 
 At this the boy's heart bounds with a feeling of 
 relief, and yet he keeps as still as death. A long 
 breath, even, might attract the dog's attention. 
 
 Now the dog comes nearer again, but the boy 
 doesn't move, except to shrink within himself. 
 A man would have been scarcely less frightened, 
 for there is hardly anything more terrifying in 
 the night than the growl of a great dog. With 
 no means of protection, one feels keenly his help- 
 lessness against the possible attack of the savage 
 brute. It is a trying position, and one that w 7 ill 
 make the strongest man shudder. 
 
 Not being able to defend himself, Ben saw that 
 his only wise course would be one of kindness, 
 and he attempted to speak. His mouth opened, 
 but there did not seem to be air enough left in 
 his lungs to produce an intelligible utterance. 
 
 Failing in this, he reached out his hand, with 
 the palm down, as if to stroke the dog. 
 
 Herein he showed rare presence of mind. The 
 growl ceased, and as that ceased speech returned 
 to the lad, and he spoke kindly to the big St. 
 Bernard. The dog wagged his tail in a way that 
 seemed to say :
 
 38 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 ' ' I accept your greeting, and am glad to be 
 friends with you ; ' ' and by way of apology for 
 his gruff manners, he stepped up and licked Ben's 
 hand affectionately. 
 
 In return for this, he got several reassuring 
 pats on the head ; and then their friendship was 
 sealed.
 
 VI. 
 
 "DEN'S fright was over now, and, though weak 
 from its effect, he felt glad the dog had 
 come along, for he was a fine, great fellow, and 
 seemed more of a friend than the people with 
 whom his life had been thrown. 
 
 The dog was a fine specimen of the St. Bernard 
 breed. A collar was around his neck — a hand- 
 some, silver plated one ; and it bore this name : 
 
 "William Montgomery, No. Lafayette Place, 
 
 New York." 
 
 "He has strayed away from his owner," 
 thought Ben, "and I must take him home. 
 Perhaps a reward will be offered — of course it 
 will, for so valuable a fellow as he seems to be ; 
 but it didn't cost me anything to find him. It 
 was he that hunted me up ; but what a fright he 
 gave me! You did, didn't you, old fellow?' 
 addressing his canine friend, and patting his head 
 affectionately. 
 
 The dog answered ' ' yes ' ' with a wag of his 
 tail — his chief means of expressing approval. 
 
 1 ' I guess this is a piece of good luck — a sort 
 of blessing in disguise — getting you," said Ben, 
 
 39
 
 4° AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 still talking to his dumb friend; "I'm glad to 
 have you, anyway ; you are a nice old fellow." 
 And the dog licked his hand in return for this 
 expression of kindness. "I'd like to keep you ; 
 but you do not belong to me, so I shall take you 
 to your owner. ' ' 
 
 They were now walking along side by side, the 
 St. Bernard evidently as well contented with his 
 temporary master as if he had been with him for 
 years. 
 
 Presently they reached the Bowery, and, turn- 
 ing to the right, walked up that peculiar street. 
 
 The Bowery, a single wide street of about a 
 mile in length, is a town within itself. No other 
 American city has a place like it. There is but 
 one Bowery on our continent, and that one is in 
 New York. 
 
 It is a market place, and a place of residence, 
 where men, women, and children are almost in- 
 numerable. They live, such as their living is — 
 in the rear of the shops, in the shops, under the 
 shops, and over the shops — wherever room can be 
 made at night to stow away the children and 
 stretch themselves out for a few hours' sleep. 
 
 Every nationality is represented there, and 
 consequently every form of religious belief has its 
 followers — the majority, however, being of the 
 Jewish faith. 
 
 Everything imaginable can be found for sale
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 41 
 
 in the Bowery shops, and at prices adjusted to 
 the customer's inexperience, his means, or his 
 credulity. 
 
 The Bowery trader is a peculiar character. He 
 is not a modest individual, and there is nothing 
 delicate about his sensibilities. To hear him talk 
 you would think he was giving his goods away, 
 when actually he is getting a very large price for 
 most inferior articles. 
 
 He is a philosopher, and his philosophy tells 
 him to get people into his shop — get them in, get 
 them in by some means, no matter what. And 
 then for the fine work — the work of a born 
 philosopher, of one who reads character, thoughts, 
 and purposes. He draws out his victim, by one 
 device and another, learns how much mone)' he 
 has, what he wants, and what he can be talked 
 into buying. 
 
 I say victim, for the chances are that he will 
 become the victim of a sharp transaction, how- 
 ever small it ina}'' be, before he gets out of the 
 store. 
 
 Many clever dodges are employed by the mer- 
 chant to draw people into his shop. The most 
 effective way, and the one most practised in the 
 Bowery, is to stand on the walk before the shop 
 door and forcibly lug customers in, so to speak. 
 
 The shopkeeper hails them as they pass, calls 
 their attention to something in his window, and
 
 42 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 in some instances lays his hands upon the victims' 
 shoulders and walks them into the shop. 
 
 Some of the larger stores employ several men, 
 known as "pullers in," simply to run in cus- 
 tomers. 
 
 And when I say that these men are generally 
 paid according to the number of people run in, 
 my readers will perhaps be able to form a slight 
 idea of the noise and persuasive eloquence peculiar 
 to the Bowery. 
 
 The street is always well filled with people, 
 often crowded. Children are everywhere — in the 
 shops, on the sidewalks, and in the street. 
 
 Through this din Ben passed proudly, with 
 his handsome St. Bernard sticking closely to him. 
 
 The dog attracted much attention, and being in 
 the hands of a ragged lad like Ben, the shrewd 
 ones readily concluded that he had found or had 
 stolen him, and w T as taking him home to hold for 
 a reward. 
 
 They saw money here — ten, twenty, perhaps 
 fifty dollars — and they looked covetously at the 
 valuable dog. 
 
 At almost every shop door he was hailed. 
 Great efforts were made to get him inside the 
 shops with his prize. A dozen men wanted to 
 trade the lad a suit of clothes for the St. Bernard. 
 Much as he needed clothes, in his ragged, chilled 
 condition, he refused these offers, and kept on
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 43 
 
 as fast as he could make his way through the 
 crowd. 
 
 A pawnbroker, the owner of a very red face 
 and a long, hooked nose, accosted him. 
 
 " Vhere you find him? " said he, referring to 
 the dog. 
 
 Ben made no reply. 
 
 "I say, vhere you find him — the dog mid 
 you?" 
 
 "I'm not obliged to tell you, ami?" 
 
 " It vas a civil question, vasu't it? " 
 
 " Yes, it was civil, but is it your business? ' 
 
 " I vood make it my pishness, and your pish- 
 ness mit fife dollar." 
 
 " What do you mean ? " asked the boy. 
 
 " I mean dis. I gife you fife dollar " 
 
 " But I can't sell him. He is not mine." 
 
 " You need de money, I see," said the man, 
 taking hold of Ben's thin jacket. 
 
 "So I do, but I want to get it honestly or not 
 at all." 
 
 " You can leave him mit me ; I lend you ten 
 dollar on him." 
 
 "But how can I get him back, if I should 
 spend the ten dollars ? And if I don't spend it, 
 what good will it do me? No, I will not do it." 
 
 ' ' I gife you den twenty [dollar. Here it is, 
 two ten dollar greeupacks," said the man, hold- 
 ing out the money to the lad.
 
 44 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 They were new, crisp bills, and looked very 
 tempting. Twenty dollars all his own — it would 
 be a small fortune for him. But no, he must 
 refuse it. He was commencing a new life, and 
 he wanted to commence it right. 
 
 "No, sir, I can't take them," said he de- 
 cidedly. 
 
 " You get not so much as mit me," persisted 
 the sharp money getter. 
 
 "Perhaps I won't get anything," replied the 
 boy. 
 
 " And you voodn't take twenty dollar mit my 
 money ? ' ' 
 
 " No, sir, I have no right to take your money 
 for this dog, and I will not do so under any con- 
 ditions. But when I have one to sell I will come 
 and see you." 
 
 The man shrugged his shoulders expressive of 
 his disgust at the boy's honesty ; and after a 
 little further parley, he returned to his shop door. 
 
 One fellow with a villainous face followed the 
 boy and claimed the dog as his own, and said he 
 had lost him a few hours before. 
 
 But Ben knew this was false, and refused to 
 give him up. Then the man threatened desper- 
 ate measures ; but, not succeeding in frightening 
 the lad, he boldly attempted to take the dog by 
 force. He, however, changed his mind very 
 soon ; for when he placed his hand on the collar,
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 45 
 
 of which Ben held a firm grasp, the big dog 
 growled threateningly and turned upon him in a 
 savage manner. Instantly the sneak abandoned 
 his purpose and started to run, when the St. 
 Bernard jumped at him and bit him. 
 
 A terrified howl came from the fleeing man, 
 while the crowd yelled derisively as the man 
 wheeled around a corner and disappeared from 
 view. 
 
 Ben joined them in laughing at the comical 
 side of the matter, and proceeded on his way. 
 
 He was now almost up to the Cooper Union, 
 the great stone library built by Peter Cooper 
 for the benefit of the poor classes ; and turning 
 to his left soon found himself in Lafayette Place. 
 
 He walked down the street in search of the 
 number corresponding to that on the dog's collar. 
 
 The night was so dark that he could not read 
 the numbers, as they were dimly printed. 
 
 After searching carefully, and failing to find 
 the right house, he retraced his steps to the 
 beginning of the street, where he found a num- 
 ber from which he counted his way back to the 
 middle of the block. 
 
 If he had made no mistake in counting, he was 
 now before the right house ; but there was one 
 building larger than the rest. Whether that 
 should have been counted as one number or 
 more he felt uncertain, and consequently was not
 
 46 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 sure whether he was now ascending the steps of 
 William Montgomery's house or not. 
 
 However, he pulled the bell, and waited for a 
 response. All was dark in the house, so far as 
 he could judge, and not a sound was to be heard. 
 The place seemed deserted. So much time 
 elapsed that Ben grew uneasy and began to think 
 no one was living there.
 
 VII. 
 
 A NOTHER vigorous pull at the bell, aud 
 presently Ben heard a sound ; a window 
 went up directly above his head, and a man's 
 voice called out : 
 
 " Who is it, and what do you want? " 
 
 "I want to know if this is where William 
 Montgomery ' ' 
 
 "Ah, I see ! my dog, my dog ! " exclaimed the 
 man in a tone of mingled pleasure and surprise 
 as he got a glimpse of his highly valued St. Ber- 
 nard, and without waiting for the boy to finish 
 his sentence. 
 
 " Sallie, here is the dog — a boy has him on the 
 stoop now," said Mr. Montgomery, suddenly 
 drawing his head in, and speaking with almost 
 childish enthusiasm. " Wait a minute, boy, and 
 I will come down and let you in — hold fast to the 
 dog!" 
 
 This was spoken to Ben, and the window closed 
 abruptly. It was but a few moments before Mr. 
 Montgomery appeared at the door. 
 
 "Come in," said he kindly, "and tell me 
 where and how you found him ; ' ' and he took the 
 
 47
 
 48 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 dog by the collar, and all stepped into a warm, 
 luxuriously furnished room. 
 
 The great dog jumped upon his master, and 
 showed plainly his pleasure at getting home from 
 his aimless wanderings ; while the man played 
 with him, and by affectionate words and acts 
 showed almost a boyish delight at his good for- 
 tune in recovering his dumb friend. 
 
 And now his wife appeared on the scene. With 
 an expression of pleasure she threw her arms 
 about the neck of the returned wanderer, and 
 petted and talked to him almost as if he were a lost 
 child come home again. The dog kissed her, and 
 wagged his tail in his most expressive manner, 
 trying to make evident his appreciation of the 
 warm welcome he had received. 
 
 Ben watched this scene with profound astonish- 
 ment. In all his life he did not remember to have 
 seen so much affection displayed, and that it 
 should be bestowed upon a dog seemed to him 
 beyond all reason. 
 
 "By Jove," said he to himself, "it beats all 
 the stories I ever heard. I wonder what old 
 Mother Grimmis would think if she could see 
 this splendid room, and these folks going on in 
 this way ! ' ' 
 
 " But tell me, where did you get him? " said 
 Mr. Montgomery ; and he took his eyes from the 
 dog almost for the first time, and fixed them
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 49 
 
 searchingly upon the boy before him, so ragged 
 and pinched. What a contrast was he to the rich 
 surroundings, as he stood in that handsome draw- 
 ing room ! On every side was expensive furniture, 
 bric-a-brac, with here and there a valuable work 
 of art. 
 
 How soft the thick, rich carpet felt to Ben as 
 he stood awkwardly upon it ! Yes, he felt awk- 
 ward and out of place in the midst of such luxury. 
 He was amazed at the display of wealth ; and as 
 he chanced to contrast his own self with the scene 
 before him, the thought overcame him, and he 
 instinctively moved back, as if to leave the house 
 unnoticed. 
 
 It was this movement that attracted Mr. Mont- 
 gomery's notice, and caused him to turn his atten- 
 tion to our young hero. 
 
 The man's face changed as he gazed at the 
 scantily clothed lad. That look of pleasure pro- 
 duced by the return of his St. Bernard gave place 
 to one of kind sympathy and sorrow. 
 
 And without saying another word he touched 
 his wife's arm expressively. She looked at him 
 hastily, then turned her eyes in the direction of 
 his gaze. His thoughts were plain to her, and 
 with all her heart she joined him in his sympathy. 
 
 " Come and sit here, my son," said the man 
 kindly, as he drew a richly stuffed chair before 
 the sofa, and seated himself upon the latter.
 
 50 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 His wife came and sat beside him, and both 
 faced Ben as he occupied the chair drawn up 
 before him. 
 
 " Tell me all about it, now, my boy ; tell me 
 who you are and how you came by my dog." 
 
 The man spoke so kindly, and with such evi- 
 dent interest, that Ben began to feel quite at 
 ease, and told the story as I have told it to you. 
 He told his experience at Union Square during 
 the early part of the evening, and what he over- 
 heard while following Perry Boggs and his com- 
 panions — of his subsequent resolution to com- 
 mence a new life — of the dramatic events later on 
 at Mother Grimmis' — of his escape and medita- 
 tions — of his thrilling adventure in finding the St. 
 Bernard — of his difficult progress through the 
 Bowery, and the money offered him by sharpers, 
 and told them also how little he knew of his early 
 life, and how earnestly he desired to learn more. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery listened eagerly to 
 this sad dramatic story, made more forcible by 
 the pitiable appearance of the lad, and the part 
 they themselves had played in it through their 
 own St. Bernard. 
 
 Many times they interrupted him, asking ques- 
 tions upon this and that point, and during the 
 recital of the most pathetic incidents he saw the 
 lady press her handkerchief to her eyes, while 
 her breast heaved with pity.
 
 VIII. 
 
 TV j{ R. MONTGOMERY now rested his head in 
 "*■ his hand, apparently in careful study. 
 
 "And you put a notice in the Herald?" asked 
 his wife. 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 ' ' How much reward did you offer ? ' ' 
 
 " Fifty dollars." 
 
 ' ' A pretty good sum of money ? ' ' 
 
 " Yes, to be sure ; but I wanted the dog." 
 
 " Yes," she said thoughtfully, "I would rather 
 have given five hundred dollars than lose him." 
 
 ' ' Five hundred dollars ! ' ' repeated Ben to him- 
 self, and he could hardly believe his own senses. 
 ' ' The idea of paying five hundred dollars for only 
 one dog ! " and his amazement was strongly pic- 
 tured on his face. 
 
 ' ' You are very much indebted to this poor 
 boy, then," said the lady, with a kind look. 
 
 "lam indeed, and he is entitled to great credit 
 for withstanding the temptations and eluding the 
 various dodges of those Bowery sharpers. If the 
 dog were in their hands, I should have to pay 
 roundly to reclaim him." 
 
 51
 
 52 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 Ben was proud to be so handsomely com- 
 mended, and yet he felt embarrassed, and moved 
 about nervously in his chair, as if he would be 
 gone. Mr. Montgomery noticed this, and realiz- 
 ing that they were all losing sleep, rose up from 
 his seat and said : 
 
 " Your name, you say, is Ben ? " 
 
 "Yes, sir; Ben." 
 
 " No other name?" 
 
 " No, sir ; none that I know of." 
 
 "That is strange. I may, however, be able 
 to help you to find out your true name and real 
 history, as I am a lawyer. You have interested 
 me deeply, and I am under many obligations to 
 you." 
 
 " Oh, sir, do you think you can? " exclaimed 
 Ben eagerly. 
 
 "I can't say, of course; but doubtless some 
 light can be shed upon the matter. ' ' 
 
 This really was not quite so assuring as Ben 
 would have liked ; nevertheless, he felt hopeful, 
 though he was not quite clear as to what ' ' shed- 
 ding light upon the matter " meant. 
 
 "Yes, I will do my best for you, my boy," 
 continued the lawyer, after a slight pause. 
 
 " If you will and can find out who I am, I will 
 do anything for you — anything in this world 
 that I can do," replied the lad with heartfelt 
 sincerity.
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 53 
 
 ' ' I will promise you to do all I can, for you have 
 done enough for me already. ' ' 
 
 " Oh, I haven't done anything. He was good 
 company, and I liked him as well as he did me ; 
 so I don't count that doing anything," said our 
 hero, referring to the dog. 
 
 ' ' You certainly did do a very important act ; 
 doubtless a more important one than you can 
 realize." 
 
 "What did I do, then, that was of so much 
 importance?" asked the lad, really curious. 
 
 "You proved yourself an honest boy, a boy 
 worthy of assistance." 
 
 "Thank }-ou, sir, for saying so," said Ben 
 gratefully; "something always told me to be 
 honest, though .old Mother Grimmis tried to make 
 me steal." 
 
 "You were wise to follow your own well 
 balanced sense of right and wrong, rather than 
 obey a wicked command. Always act as rightly, 
 and work honestly and faithfully to help your- 
 self, and you will come out at the top. Remember 
 this, my boy, for it will be of service to you many 
 times in life." 
 
 "I hope I will; and what you "say, sir, en- 
 courages me." 
 
 "lam always glad to encourage boys to make 
 men of themselves," said Mr. Montgomery, as 
 he drew a large roll of bills from his pocket.
 
 54 
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 " No, please do not pay ine money, sir," said 
 the shabby, hungry boy. 
 
 "Why not?" 
 
 " Because I would so much rather you would 
 help me as you said, for I want to know who I 
 am. Besides, old Mother Grimmis and her gang 
 might get me again, and — well, I don't like to 
 think what might happen to me. The money 
 would do me no good, for she would take it from 
 me." 
 
 " But I will help you just the same," said the 
 kind hearted man. " Where will you spend the 
 uight, if I don't aid you with money? " 
 
 " I don't know yet, but I will find some place, 
 I guess." 
 
 "Can't he remain here?" asked Mrs. Mont- 
 gomery. " I can fix a room and bed." 
 
 " Oh, no, no, but I thank you all the same," 
 said the lad ; and he moved toward the door. 
 
 " Then if you would rather go, you will take 
 this money, so that you can purchase a night's 
 lodging and a good breakfast. Come to my office 
 tomorrow morning at ten o'clock. You will find 
 me at No. — Broadway, near Wall Street, and I 
 will go with you and get you a warm and com- 
 fortable suit of clothes, and will provide for your 
 immediate wants. I will also look into your 
 case more fully, and see what can be done." 
 
 "Thank you a thousand times, sir, for your
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 55 
 
 kindness. It is the first kindness I have ever met 
 with, and I do not know how to thank you for it 
 all as I ought to. ' ' 
 
 " You could not show yourself more thankful, 
 my boy ; so feel at ease on that point, and con- 
 sider both my wife and myself as your friends. 
 We shall be glad to do all we can for you." 
 
 "We shall, indeed," said Mrs. Montgomery, 
 " and I shall expect to hear from you again to- 
 morrow evening through my husband." 
 
 "Yes," said the latter, " I will tell you then 
 what there is in the case. ' ' 
 
 ' ' Be sure and come to my office at the time 
 appointed — ten o'clock — will you?" said he, 
 addressing the boy. 
 
 " Oh, yes, sir ! I shall only be too glad to do 
 so." 
 
 "All right, then I shall expect to see you 
 promptly. Good night." And both Mr. and 
 Mrs. Montgomery grasped him warmly by the 
 hand as he left the house. 
 
 ' ' I wish I had ascertained where he has been 
 living with that old woman — Grim — eh — Grimes 
 — was that it?" said Mr. Montgomery, as he 
 and his wife entered their pretty sleeping room. 
 
 " Grimmis — wasn't it? " replied his wife. 
 
 " Grimmis, ah, yes, that is it." 
 
 " I remember it struck me as an odd name, but 
 quite an appropriate one. ' '
 
 56 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 "That is so." 
 
 ' ' Why do you wish you knew her address ? ' ' 
 
 " Well, I suppose there isn't one chance in ten 
 thousand for her to recapture the boy before ten 
 o'clock tomorrow morning ; and still I should 
 feel safer if I knew her address. " 
 
 "I didn't think of that." 
 
 "Neither did I till too late. Well, we will 
 hope for the best." 
 
 " Suppose he shouldn't come to your office in 
 the morning ? ' ' 
 
 "Why, I should believe he had been recap- 
 tured, or that something unimaginable had hap- 
 pened to him. He has proved himself one boy 
 out of ten thousand, when it is considered the 
 sort of life he has led." 
 
 ' ' Yes, I agree with you ; and, moreover, he 
 has every reason for seeing you." 
 
 " Certainly, and he will be there if nothing 
 prevents him." And thus the conversation ended 
 for the night. 
 
 " I'm rich," said Ben to himself, as soon as he 
 had left the house ; " five dollars, and all my 
 own ! By Jove, I'm lucky ! This is a great 
 night." 
 
 His heart was as light as the air, and the cold 
 had lost its dispiriting effect upon him. 
 
 ' ' I wonder what old Mother Grimmis w r ould 
 think if she only knew all that had happened to
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 57 
 
 me," he asked himself; and he broke into a 
 brisk run, unable to restrain himself from some 
 physical exhibition of his buoyant spirit. 
 
 He didn't feel sleepy, and was therefore in no 
 hurry to secure a lodging for the night. 
 
 He was now on the corner of Eighth Street 
 and Broadway. Why he was there he did not 
 know — did not even stop to think. He realized 
 he was there, and that was all. He would not 
 have realized even this had not the question 
 whether to turn up or down Broadway forced 
 itself upon him for an answer. He thought for 
 a moment or two — thought honestly and soberly 
 — when his hand found its way into his pocket 
 and touched the new, crisp bill. 
 
 He was standing under a street light at that 
 moment, and instantly the bill came out for 
 another admiring glance. 
 
 He was too rich and too happy to think of 
 anything but his good fortune, and herein he 
 was not unlike the rest of the human race. 
 
 Accustomed to nothing but abuse and poverty, 
 a few dollars and a few friendly, sympathetic 
 words were more to him than a thousand times 
 as much money and kindness would have been to 
 Perry Boggs or any other boy with a cheerful 
 home and all its luxuries. 
 
 He again commenced drifting, as he speculated 
 upon the possible outcome of his interview with
 
 58 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 lawyer Montgomery tomorrow ; drifting without 
 apparent motive. Yet his wanderings that night 
 brought about subsequent events that entered so 
 deeply into this boy's life, that one would almost 
 think he was influenced by some secret power, 
 whose nature I cannot explain. 
 
 And influenced by this unknown force — if such 
 force there really was — he drifted up Broadway ; 
 not as he had in the early part of the evening, 
 oppressed and discouraged, but with a light and 
 happy heart in the thought of the prospect before 
 him. 
 
 /
 
 IX. 
 
 [T was a curious coincidence that he should 
 have reached Thirteenth Street just as the 
 play was over at the Star Theater, and the people 
 were coming from the building ; and more curi- 
 ous still was the fact that the first persons upon 
 whom he fixed his eyes were Perry and his com- 
 panions. 
 
 He had not planned this second meeting — had 
 not even thought of it. It was in fact long after 
 the usual hour for the theater to close. 
 
 But it happened that this was a special occa- 
 sion, and extra time had been given to the pro. 
 duction of the play. 
 
 Ben was greatly surprised at so soon and so 
 unexpectedly meeting this party again ; for since 
 the more dramatic scenes through which he had 
 passed that evening he had not thought of them, 
 except in the recital of his life story to Mr. and 
 Mrs. Montgomery. 
 
 But now, thrown in with them again, by 
 chance or otherwise, something of the magnetic 
 influence experienced some four hours before, 
 when he first saw them, as he stood against the 
 
 59
 
 60 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 tree on Union Square, seemed once more to pos- 
 sess him. 
 
 The sweet motherly face of the woman did not 
 seem at all dimmed to him by his brightened 
 prospects, and by the brief happiness that was 
 now his. 
 
 The warm feelings in his breast that invited 
 her love and sympathy were now warmer and 
 deeper, though he seemed less in need of such a 
 friend as he felt, and even knew, that she could 
 be to him if only he could come before her notice 
 and within the range of her kind, motherly affec- 
 tion. But in deep contrast with this sentiment 
 was the bitter repugnance which forced itself 
 upon him as he studied the vain, cold faces of 
 Perry and his father. 
 
 ' ' I will follow 7 them now and find out where 
 they live," said Ben to himself triumphantly, as 
 the thought suggested itself to him. 
 
 But to his dismay a carriage just then drew up 
 to the sidewalk, and the lady and gentleman 
 stepped into it. 
 
 " It is no use after all," he thought, "for I 
 can't follow the carriage ; " and the feeling that 
 he was baffled in his project dulled the edge of 
 his keen spirits. 
 
 " Come, Perry, don't keep us waiting here in 
 the cold," called out the boy's father. 
 
 The former was talking with a boy of about
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 6 1 
 
 his own age, who was evidently a dude like him- 
 self. 
 
 "You needn't wait," answered Perry, with an 
 air of independence ; " I will walk up with my 
 friend George." 
 
 " You had better come with us, for it is already 
 late, and very cold." 
 
 But after a little further parley, Perry suc- 
 ceeded in carrying his point, as he usually did, 
 and started up Broadway arm in arm with his 
 chosen companion, happy in his power to over- 
 rule his father's wishes. 
 
 Our young friend followed close enough to 
 keep a sharp eye on him. 
 
 " Ah, here is Tiffany's," said Perry, as he and 
 his friend neared the great jewelry store. " I 
 bought myself a new watch here the day before 
 yesterday." 
 
 "A gold one, I suppose? " said George. 
 
 " Well, I should think so. Do you suppose I 
 would carry anything but gold ? ' ' 
 
 "Oh, no; I meant — er, I said I supposed it 
 was gold." 
 
 " Yes, it ought to be, for it cost two hundred 
 and fifty dollars," said Perry proudl)'. 
 
 " So much as that ? It ought to be a regular 
 swell." 
 
 " I should think so. In fact, George, it is a 
 gentleman's watch, a regular gentleman's watch."
 
 62 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 Thus they chatted till they reached Delmon- 
 ico's, America's most fashionable restaurant. 
 
 "Let's go in and have a bottle and a little 
 supper," said Perry, with a man of the world air. 
 
 " I don't care if I do," replied George, who 
 had the erroneous notion that ' ' a bottle ' ' after 
 the theater was quite the proper thing. 
 
 They took seats facing each other at a small 
 table near a window. The room was well filled 
 with fashionably dressed ladies and gentlemen, 
 who were eating, and drinking wine. 
 
 Perry ordered raw oysters on the shell and 
 other refreshments — in all, a hearty meal — which 
 he and his companion washed down with a bottle 
 of expensive champagne. 
 
 Ben watched them through the window and 
 studied the movements of the busy waiters, in 
 swallow tail coats, as they hurried hither and 
 thither with tempting dishes. 
 
 It was another world to him. Beautiful ladies 
 toyed with dainty viands which had taxed the 
 skill of artist cooks, and yet did not tempt their 
 appetites, for they were not hungry. Eating, or 
 more properly toying with food, at this late hour, 
 was with them a social pastime. 
 
 How sweet those dainty dishes would have 
 tasted to our young friend, who had known only 
 the coarsest and most unpalatable food ! 
 
 But this luxury was beyond him — so far beyond
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 63 
 
 that to suppose himself there would have required 
 a considerable stretch of imagination. And yet 
 the gulf was not too great for this poor boy's 
 hopes to bridge ; for he looked ahead to the time 
 when he would be able to dine at so fashionable 
 a place as Delmonico's. 
 
 He saw Perry enjoying all these luxuries, and 
 saw himself — felt himself — half starved and 
 nearly frozen in the cold night wind. He 
 would not give up his object, however, for he felt 
 determined to ascertain where the young dude 
 lived. 
 
 When Perry and his companion appeared again 
 on the sidewalk, they were feeling merry. The 
 wine had commenced to do its work and they 
 were very talkative. 
 
 As Perry and his friend neared the "White 
 Elephant," a well known billiard saloon on 
 Broadway, the former chanced to look back, and 
 in doing so saw Ben following but a little distance 
 behind him. 
 
 He at once recognized him as the gamin who 
 had provoked the discussion in the early part of 
 the evening, and on this account he felt a grudge 
 against him. 
 
 He had drunk just enough to feel that he could 
 " do up " an ordinary prize fighter, and that with 
 very little effort. He wanted both exercise and 
 revenge, and consequently he decided that Ben
 
 64 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 should become a target for his science ; and this 
 decision was made without even asking our hero 
 if he were willing to accept so grave and respon- 
 sible a situation. 
 
 The idea pleased the would be pugilist so much 
 that he could scarcely restrain his feelings of joy 
 till the action should commence. 
 
 "See how I'll knock that dirty gamin out in 
 the first round," said he; and then he worked 
 his arms in what he supposed a scientific manner, 
 and in other ways made himself ridiculous. 
 
 " He is crazy," thought Ben, " but I guess he 
 means me ; ' ' and he laughed at the ridiculous 
 actions of the exquisite youth. 
 
 "What do you mean by insulting me, you 
 ragamuffin?" shouted Perry, by way of intro- 
 duction. 
 
 "I have not insulted you that I know of," 
 replied Ben firmly, as he attempted to pass on and 
 avoid trouble. 
 
 "You haven't, have you?" exclaimed Perry 
 hotly, as he squared away in professional style. 
 
 " I have not, and I would advise you to keep 
 at a safe distance, if you don't want to get hurt," 
 replied our hero indignantly. 
 
 ' ' Get hurt by you ! ' ' Perry laughed derisively ; 
 then making a savage lunge at his supposed tar- 
 get, he shouted, "Take that, and see if I need 
 your advice ! ' '
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 65 
 
 But the target was alive — very much alive, in 
 fact — and warding off his opponent's blow re- 
 taliated with a stinging "tap" under his left 
 ear. 
 
 Further sparring followed, and then the target, 
 becoming more and more alive, ' ' tapped ' ' the 
 exquisite youth heavily upon the cheek. 
 
 This brought Perry's temper to a boiling point. 
 He was furious at his inability to handle a boy so 
 much smaller than himself, and sore from the 
 severe treatment he was receiving. 
 
 " I thought you were going to knock him out 
 so easily," said George in a taunting way. 
 
 It was a cruel remark for a companion to utter, 
 and it enraged Perry to a high degree. 
 
 Without replying, however — and in fact he had 
 not much time just then for outside conversation 
 — he withdrew a little, and then rushing upon 
 Ben, made a furious pass ; but the latter skilfully 
 dodged the blow, and put in a rejoinder that 
 lifted Perry off his feet, and sent him sprawling 
 upon the sidewalk. 
 
 " Police ! Police ! " shouted the bold pugilist ; 
 ' ' take him away from me!" and he groaned from 
 miugled pain and fear. 
 
 In the mean time, a crowd had gathered to 
 witness the excitement. This drew the attention 
 of a policeman who just then came running up to 
 see what was wrong.
 
 66 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 He heard Perry's call, and dashing through the 
 throng, seized him by the collar and quickly set 
 him on his feet. 
 
 " There is the villain," said the latter, pointing 
 to Ben, who stood calmly by awaiting the police- 
 man's action. But now the official's big hand of 
 authority grappled his arm tightly. Perry said 
 he had been assaulted by Ben, and without provo- 
 cation. The latter denied the charge, and 
 attempted to tell his story, when the man of brass 
 buttons cut him short, to listen to further state- 
 ments from Perry, who wore fashionable clothes, 
 and thus seemed to belong to a fashionable family. 
 He gave his name as Perry Boggs, number eight 
 hundred and — Fifth Avenue. 
 
 " That's a fashionable neighborhood," thought 
 the policeman ; and, accepting young Boggs' 
 statement of the case, he let him go free, while 
 the innocent and friendless boy was marched off 
 to the station house.
 
 X. 
 
 HP HIS had been an eventful night to our young 
 hero, crowded as it was with incidents of 
 an unusual nature ; events among themselves 
 contradictory, and yet all of so important a char- 
 acter that they seemed certain to exert a forcible 
 influence upon his whole career. 
 
 1 ' What can it all mean ? ' ' asked Ben of him- 
 self, as he sat in the station house cell, with a 
 heavy heart, meditating, wondering, and now 
 wiping away a sad tear as it rolled down his 
 cheek. 
 
 ' ' It seems like a dream ; why did I follow that 
 boy and get into this trouble, and when I was so 
 happy, too ? " and thus he thought and wondered, 
 with his head buried deep in his hands. 
 
 He was not sleepy, and could not sleep, so 
 utterty crushed were his spirits, as he reflected 
 on his position, locked in a cell. 
 
 For an hour or more he studied the most dis- 
 mal side of his situation, and found, not unlike 
 many others, a sort of cold, gloomy pleasure in 
 dwelling upon his own misery. 
 
 His mind had been strained, almost beyond its 
 
 67
 
 68 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 capacity, in contemplating the saddest possibility 
 of his case. Now, however, it rebounded, and 
 took him to the more favorable side, and after a 
 while his eyes grew heavy, and he slept soundly 
 upon his prison couch. 
 
 In the mean time, Perry had returned home, 
 and he, too, was not altogether happy. In fact, 
 there was no very good reason why he should 
 feel particularly light hearted. His right eye 
 was badly swollen, and had grown very black, 
 while his face showed various traces of the 
 struggle. His fine clothes were soiled with blood 
 and the mud of the street. His spirits, no longer 
 exhilarated by champagne, had sunk to a very 
 low ebb, so that altogether he was, for the time 
 being, little better than a wreck. As his vanity 
 could not tolerate this condition, he speedily 
 summoned his father to his assistance on his 
 arrival home. 
 
 Boggs senior made a hasty toilet, and hurried 
 down to the drawing room with a feeling of 
 alarm, wondering what could have happened to 
 his son. 
 
 But the father's face grew whiter when he 
 stood before his boy, and the feeling of wonder 
 changed to one of amazement and pity — pity with 
 an undercurrent of indignation ; for Perry had 
 brought this upon himself by a wilful disregard 
 of his parent's wishes and advice.
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 69 
 
 And now he looked him over and took an 
 inventory of him, as he stood, to see how much 
 value he represented, and what repairs would be 
 necessary to put him once more into running 
 order ; if, indeed, it could be done at all, which, 
 at the present time, seemed doubtful. 
 
 A hasty explanation followed, Perry's story 
 being, of course, colored so as to favor himself. 
 
 Whether the father believed it all I have seri- 
 ous doubts. Certain it is, however, that he looked 
 troubled and anxious. 
 
 " It w T as the same boy, you say, that we met 
 tonight at Union Square — the one who provoked 
 so much discussion? " said Mr. Boggs, evidently 
 hoping there might be some mistake. 
 
 " Yes, the same one," replied Perry feebly. 
 
 ' ' Are you sure ? ' ' 
 
 "Yes, I am," returned the son peevishly, 
 1 ' but what difference does it make ? ' ' 
 
 1 ' It will make a greater difference than you 
 would like, perhaps," answered the father some- 
 what tartly. 
 
 " What do you mean ? " 
 
 " Never mind now." 
 
 " But I want to know," demanded Perry. 
 
 " No, it is nothing," was the evasive reply. 
 
 But there was a strange nervousness about his 
 father's manner which made Perry feel that such 
 was not the case, and the mystery aroused his
 
 70 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 curiosity. After further conversation of an un- 
 important character, and after the application of 
 suitable remedies to the bruises of the youthful 
 wreck, he was put to bed, even more demoralized 
 and unhappy than our young friend, now in 
 custody of the city. 
 
 During the performance in the theater, Mr. 
 Boggs' mind had often reverted to Ben, and the 
 discussion his presence had started. The case 
 began to interest him, and the more thought he 
 gave to it the more troubled he grew. 
 
 Was he troubled because he had not exercised 
 the charity that this opportunity offered him? 
 Was this the cause, or was it something deeper 
 and more mysterious that stirred his feelings? 
 
 The matter had taken so deep a hold of him 
 that he was unable to bury it in sleep on retiring 
 to bed. He rolled and tossed, harassed with con- 
 tradictory conjectures and conclusions until Perry 
 summoned him down stairs. 
 
 And now that he had heard his son's story — 
 heard again, by a most remarkable coincidence, 
 at such a late hour of the night, of this street 
 boy, and had witnessed the painful effects of his 
 encounter with Perry — he felt a strange sense of 
 uneasiness, whether through superstition or 
 otherwise will undoubtedly be known in the fuller 
 development of our hero's life story. 
 
 Early in the morning, after a sleepless night,
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 71 
 
 Mr. Boggs dressed himself in a bold plaid business 
 suit, and started for the station house in search 
 of Ben. 
 
 On the previous night he had been dressed in 
 black, with his beard combed down to a point. 
 Now his dress was entirely different, and his 
 beard was parted in the middle and brushed 
 back. 
 
 With these changes and several other slight 
 touches of disguise, he hoped our young friend 
 would not recognize him. 
 
 By making it an object to the man in charge at 
 the station house he gained admission to Ben's 
 cell, after the latter had been rudely awakened 
 from a sound slumber by the officer on guard. 
 
 " Here's a man who wants to talk with you, 
 young feller," said this authority, and he strode 
 out, leaving the strange man and the boy together. 
 Ben rubbed his eyes, and wondered what this 
 call meant. Then it occurred to him that such 
 visits might be the usual thing in station houses, 
 so he made an effort not to appear surprised. 
 
 ' ' I came down to have a little talk with you, ' ' 
 said the man. 
 
 "Yes," answered Ben cautiously. 
 
 " Yes, I saw you arrested last night, and I want 
 to know if I can help you in any way," replied 
 the strauger, with apparent candor. 
 
 " You are very kind, sir, and "
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 ' ' No, not especially kind ; I came here because 
 your case excited my sympathy," interrupted the 
 man. ' ' I did not think you had fair play, for 
 the other boy seemed to escape scot free." 
 
 " It wasn't fair at all, for he picked the quarrel 
 with me," replied the lad. 
 
 " So it seemed to me," replied Boggs, as if he 
 had actually been an eye witness. 
 
 " Then you saw it all? " inquired Ben eagerly, 
 for he hoped he had found a witness who could 
 help him out of his difficulty. 
 
 " Certainly, or how could I have known you 
 were the innocent one ? ' ' returned the stranger, 
 without a show of embarrassmeut at this false- 
 hood. 
 
 He was working for a point that our hero little 
 suspected, and hardly shrank from any means of 
 accomplishing his purpose, as will be made 
 apparent a little further on. 
 
 " That is so," replied the lad, convinced ; " I 
 wonder if you can help me prove that I'm not to 
 blame !" 
 
 • ' That is just what I came down for, ' ' answered 
 his pretended benefactor. 
 
 ' ' Thank you, sir, a thousand times ! And do 
 you think I will get out ? Oh, I don't want to 
 go to the Island ! It makes me almost sick to 
 think of it!" 
 
 " No doubt I can make it all right for you, as
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 73 
 
 the other boy was in the wrong. You ought not 
 to be punished for his offense. ' ' 
 
 " That is so, and I don't think anybody ought 
 to be blamed for letting a sick looking dude like 
 that fellow have one or two good ones ! ' ' 
 
 Boggs senior winced at this, and coughed as a 
 substitute for a reply. 
 
 Ben mistook this for a signal of approval, and 
 consequently he continued in the same strain. 
 
 " He acted like an idiot, and I think he must 
 be one to do as he does. If he had gone home, 
 as his father wanted him to, he would have 
 shown some sense, and I wouldn't be in this 
 trouble now." 
 
 "As his father wanted him to ! " exclaimed 
 the man, nervous and pale with anger. " Do you 
 know "his father? " 
 
 Ben's remarks about Perry were cutting words 
 for a father to hear spoken about his own son, 
 while he was unable to remonstrate. 
 
 "Well, yes," answered the lad, "I saw the 
 old duffer last night a couple of times, and I 
 don't like him any better than his spindle legged 
 boy." 
 
 The perspiration now stood out upon the man's 
 face. He would have paid handsomely for the 
 privilege of thrashing our young friend ; but pol- 
 icy ruled him, and he adroitly turned the conver- 
 sation to the point to which he had been leading
 
 74 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 it, hoping to accomplish the real object of his 
 visit. 
 
 " Have you no influential friend whom I can 
 get to help me in getting you out of this scrape? " 
 asked he. 
 
 "No," replied the boy, after a slight pause, 
 in which he was occupied in studying the man's 
 face. 
 
 "I have seen him before," thought Ben, but 
 where he could not determine. 
 
 ' ' But where are your people — your father and 
 mother?" continued Boggs, now getting down 
 to the very core of his mission. 
 
 " I don't know ; perhaps they are dead," came 
 the reply sadly. 
 
 " Don't know ! Why that is very strange. 
 Where do you live ? Tell me all about yourself, 
 and perhaps I can be of service to you," said the 
 designing man. 
 
 He had gained the boy's confidence, and now 
 heard the main facts of his history — facts, by the 
 way, that made the muscles of his face twitch, 
 and caused him to move about nervously upon 
 his seat. 
 
 He noted down old Mother Grimmis' place of 
 abode, and also took the address of Mr. Mont- 
 gomery, to whom Ben referred, speaking of his 
 engagement to meet him at ten o'clock that very 
 morning.
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 75 
 
 Boggs soon thereafter took his departure from 
 the station house a very nervous and unhappy 
 man. 
 
 His worst fears, that had haunted him through- 
 out the night, were true. This interview had 
 confirmed them beyond a doubt. 
 
 He walked rapidly up the street, with his head 
 bowed in deep thought. 
 
 ' ' It shall be done, ' ' he suddenly broke out 
 aloud, as if to emphasize his own determination. 
 
 The peculiar, nervous utterance of this sen- 
 tence, the gesture with his clenched fist, and his 
 whole manner, would have impressed an observer 
 that something of awful importance rested upon 
 this man's mind. 
 
 Coming directly from an interview with our 
 young hero, in so excited a state, it would seem 
 that this determined purpose might in some way 
 refer to him.
 
 XI. 
 
 A T the usual morning hour for clearing the 
 police docket, Ben, with others who had 
 been locked up in the station house during the 
 night, was brought before the police justice 
 either to get his discharge or to receive sentence 
 for his misconduct. 
 
 He expected to find there the kind hearted 
 friend who had promised to come and prove his 
 innocence. But he was nowhere to be seen. 
 
 The court now opened, and a tough looking 
 customer was brought up first. 
 
 ' ' Drunkenness, and an old offender, ' ' said the 
 policeman who had arrested him. 
 
 " Three months at the workhouse," was the 
 sentence of the keen, business like little judge ; 
 and the prisoner was sent down in charge of an 
 officer. 
 
 Ben shuddered at this lightning like process of 
 dealing out justice, and looked anxiously about 
 for his friend. 
 
 He began to grow nervous, fearing he might 
 be disposed of in like manner before assistance 
 should arrive. 
 
 76
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 77 
 
 And now another unfortunate had gone down 
 with a similar sentence. 
 
 The door opened, and several gentlemen came 
 in. Our young friend watched anxiously for his 
 man till it closed, and then his heart grew sick 
 at the prospect before him. Now his turn came, 
 and he stood up before the keen eyed judge. 
 "Fighting in the street," was the policeman's 
 charge. 
 
 "But, sir," ventured Ben in a frightened 
 
 voice, " he struck at me first, and " 
 
 " That is an old story," interrupted the judge, 
 whose heart had become hardened, so many 
 similar cases were daily brought before him ; 
 " thirty days on the Island." Our young friend's 
 doom was sealed, and he was marched off ; while 
 the philanthropic Boggs was in his own room, 
 plotting, plotting, forced to do so in self defense. 
 Our young hero, no longer his own master, 
 failed, of course, to keep his engagement with 
 Mr. Montgomery. 
 
 The latter was much disappointed at not seeing 
 Ben as he expected. The matter troubled him 
 throughout the day, and at night he talked it 
 over with his wife, who was no less disappointed 
 than her husband. 
 
 Both had conceived a liking for the lad, and, 
 moreover, were strongly moved by the force of 
 sympathy they felt for him.
 
 78 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 Mr. Montgomery rang for a messenger boy, and 
 by this means summoned a detective whom he 
 knew to be an able and reliable man. Into his 
 hands he placed the case, and instructed him to 
 hunt up the boy. 
 
 Mr. Diggs, Artemas Diggs — for that was the 
 name of the detective — promised to do his best, 
 stating he would report the result during the 
 morrow. He accordingly departed and set about 
 his task. His first act was to put a notice in 
 the Herald, in which he offered a reward for 
 information regarding Ben's whereabouts. It 
 stated that he had lived with an old woman 
 known as Mother Grimmis, who kept a ragpick- 
 ing establishment somewhere on the East side, 
 near Cherry Street. He (the detective), it went 
 on to say, had important information for the lad. 
 
 This notice found a place in the columns of 
 the morning Herald, while on another page of the 
 same paper Mother Grimmis' name appeared 
 again, and this time in bold headlines, which 
 conveyed the intelligence of her death. 
 
 Mother Grimmis had ended her unfortunate 
 career — for she was most unfortunate in the 
 inheritance of degraded tendencies, or in being 
 surrounded by influences that blighted the growth 
 of her better nature, and molded her to the evil 
 thing she was. But the manner of her death 
 was a mystery.
 
 XII. 
 
 'T^WO men read this startling report with 
 unusual interest. They were William 
 Montgomery and Anthony Boggs. It was the 
 connection of our young hero with the murdered 
 woman that caused this feeling in the minds of 
 each. But the motives of their interest in him 
 differed widely. The former thought only for 
 the boy's good, while the latter would have felt 
 happy had the lad lain dead. 
 
 Mr. Montgomery was puzzled. The circum- 
 stance was a most remarkable one. The suspicion 
 that Ben was connected with the crime suggested 
 itself to him, and not unnaturally. But he would 
 not entertain this view. "For," said he, "the 
 boy proved himself honest and worthy of my 
 confidence, and it shall not fail him now. Before 
 this mystery is cleared up he may need it, and 
 need, too, the help of a friend," continued the 
 kind hearted lawyer. 
 
 On the other hand, the scheming Boggs was 
 busily revolving dark plans in his mind — plans 
 that were designed to penetrate to the very foun- 
 tain head of our young hero's life, and turn his 
 
 79
 
 80 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 sunny nature from its natural course to a chilly 
 and cheerless existence. 
 
 "The night before last, according to his own 
 story, he had trouble with her, and left her house 
 at a late hour," argued Boggs to himself, as he 
 studied the various plots that had suggested them- 
 selves to him. 
 
 ' ' I can prove this by his quarreling with my 
 boy at midnight. This shows he was not at 
 home, and why wasn't he there? That's the 
 question which he will have to answer, and the 
 paper said she had been dead probably twenty to 
 forty eight hours. 
 
 " Ah, I have it at last ! " said the villain, rub- 
 bing his long, thin hands together, and smiling a 
 cold, triumphant smile; "I have it — he shall be 
 the murderer ! ' ' 
 
 This utterance, awful as it may seem, referred 
 to the helpless lad, now on the Island, and that 
 through the acts and falsehoods of Perry Boggs 
 himself. 
 
 " And why not ? " continued the wily schemer. 
 " He is now a prisoner, and this fact alone would 
 go against him ; arrested on the very night of the 
 murder, and in a quarrelsome mood, too ! The 
 very best of evidence ; yes, the very best. 
 
 " He has no friends, and no one to help him ; 
 no friends," and the man's countenance fell as he 
 repeated the last two words.
 
 AFLOAT IN A GRKAT CITY. 8 1 
 
 William Montgomery, the noted lawyer, sprang 
 before him in his imagination, and he saw him 
 befriending and defending the lad ; saw him sift- 
 ing the evidence and penetrating deeply into the 
 case as if aided by intuition ; saw him reading 
 acts, motives, and interpreting them without 
 hesitation ; saw him review the boy's history, and 
 look beyond him and beyond the dead woman ; 
 ' saw him fix his keen, penetrating eyes upon others 
 — upon one other ! 
 
 Ah, this was the thought that blanched his 
 cheek, and froze the very blood in his veins ! 
 
 He rose, and walked excitedly up and down the 
 room ; then, feeling himself unable longer to 
 bear the strain unaided, poured from a decanter 
 a large glass of brandy and drank it at a single 
 gulp. 
 
 This soon revived his spirits, raising them so 
 effectually that he warmed again over this evil 
 plot. 
 
 Another glass of brandy gave him confidence 
 in himself and in his ability to overcome opposi- 
 tion. 
 
 And now he felt determined to push his plan, 
 which was to have Ben apprehended as the 
 murderer. 
 
 Mr. Montgomery's importance dwarfed — and 
 the probability that he would trouble himself for 
 a gamin was most remote.
 
 82 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 "In fact," said he, "the boy told me he had 
 only seen this man once, so I need not worry 
 about him. I've always got through with my 
 business in some way, and I'll succeed in this, too, 
 or my name ain't Anthony Boggs. " 
 
 And by way of emphasis he brought his fist 
 down upon the table. 
 
 "Yes," he continued, now well warmed by 
 the brandy, " my mind is made up ; that gamin 
 is the murderer, and he will have to pay the 
 penalty. He must be arrested at once. I will, 
 I— er— I " 
 
 But here was the rub. What could the author 
 of this plot do without implicating himself ? This 
 idea just occurred to him when he found it 
 necessary to decide upon his action. 
 
 He wished to keep himself in the background, 
 and remain entirely unknown in the matter ; but 
 how could it be done ? Some one must point sus- 
 picion to the boy, or the plot would fall through. 
 
 " But who will do it ? " asked Boggs of him- 
 self, puzzled to know how to proceed. 
 
 He was wise enough to realize that a plot on 
 which turned life and death was a pretty serious 
 matter, and one that might prove disastrous to 
 its author. 
 
 " If I said anything," he argued to himself, 
 " that would cause his arrest, I should be dragged 
 into court."
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 83 
 
 This thought reduced his temperature to quite 
 a frosty point once more. He seemed to dread 
 the sight of all places of justice. 
 
 " But it must be tried," said he to himself, 
 with an emphatic gesture, " for this boy once 
 out of the way, and then ' ' 
 
 At this point this scheming rascal's thoughts 
 were interrupted by Perry, who burst in upon 
 him. 
 
 Perry knew nothing of Ben's life. He did not 
 even know his name, and had no knowledge of 
 his father's visit to the boy in the station house. 
 He knew simply that Ben was a ragpicker — a 
 very lively gamin, by the way — and as he read 
 the notice inserted by Artemas Diggs, the detec- 
 tive, he recognized Mother Grimmis' name as the 
 same as that of the murdered woman. 
 
 It was a coincidence that struck Perry as 
 " quite too odd, you know," and the thought 
 actually suggested itself to his thin intellect that 
 the boy, for whom the reward was offered, might 
 possibly be the same one who had frescoed his 
 face but a few hours before. 
 
 And the touches of the artist's hand were still 
 most conspicuous in the vicinity of the young 
 dude's left eye, where a very dark color had been 
 spread as an artistic contrast to the lighter and 
 brighter tints which were effectually daubed 
 about his entire face.
 
 84 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 Acting upon this supposition, Perry went to 
 his father's room, paper in hand, and called his 
 attention to Mr. Diggs' notice. 
 
 Boggs senior read it hastily. ' ' Curse that 
 boy," was his vindictive reply, as he savagely 
 threw the paper upon the floor. 
 
 "Why, what is wrong now?" asked Perry, 
 frightened at such a display of temper. 
 
 " Everything is wrong ! It is enough to drive 
 one mad ! " was the petulant reply. 
 
 ' ' What is it that would drive you mad ? ' ' 
 
 Not for thousands of dollars would he have 
 answered the question, even to his own son. 
 
 "This infernal worry and anxiety, and all for 
 you, too ! " answered the father. 
 
 ' ' All for me ! " exclaimed Perry, alarmed at 
 his father's words and manner. 
 
 "Yes, for you. But leave me alone. I don't 
 want to talk to you now ; I have matters to think 
 about." 
 
 And so had Perry ; for this revelation from 
 his father caused him to think as he never had 
 thought before. 
 
 That something of a mysterious nature formed 
 a connecting link between his father and our hero 
 now seemed certain to him. 
 
 And he studied and pondered over the matter, 
 thinking as earnestly and steadily as one of his 
 caliber could think. But had his mind been
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 85 
 
 teu times more logical and powerful, he would 
 have accomplished nothing more in the way of 
 solving the mystery ; for the cold, wicked facts 
 were too deeply hidden for him to penetrate to 
 them. 
 
 Left alone once more, the schemer studied his 
 plot in the light of the new revelation made by 
 this notice of Artemas Diggs. 
 
 It looked less feasible now than ever. The 
 result, if it could be gained, would be a perfect 
 triumph for him and his ; it would silence for 
 all time the ever watchful something within, 
 which was crying, by day and by night as well, 
 danger, danger, danger ; and yet the chance was 
 too hazardous for him to take. He shrank from 
 the consequences that might ensue. 
 
 "No," he said decisively, "it won't do. I 
 must fall back upon my first plan." And he 
 immediately walked to the side of the room and 
 rang the bell for his coachman,
 
 XIII. 
 
 \XT HILK our hero is watched by the sleepless 
 eye of city justice, and while the plotting 
 and anxious Boggs is bringing about measures 
 for the fulfilment of his nefarious scheme, I will 
 invite you to accompany me to another scene, 
 where I will present you to some new friends. 
 
 In the " up town " portion of the city, on one 
 of our famous avenues, where residences as fine 
 as any in the world are numerous, Commodore 
 Hopkins sat in the beautiful drawing room of his 
 palatial home, with his wife and only child — a 
 daughter of perhaps fourteen years of age. 
 
 Fairer features than hers are seldom seen, and 
 yet they were rendered less noticeable by her still 
 more fascinating eyes. 
 
 She lay in a half reclining position, with her 
 long dark hair falling in natural waves over the 
 pillow upon which she rested. 
 
 Her complexion, naturally white and delicate, 
 was yet paler now, as if bleached by the early 
 symptoms of disease. 
 
 Her father and mother looked anxiously at her 
 pale and fast fading cheek, and, as if moved by a 
 
 86
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 87 
 
 single purpose, each struggled to repress a sigh, 
 that the other might be spared the pain it would 
 produce. For each knew only too well the sad 
 message it would bear. 
 
 Presently the door bell rang, and Dr. Chad- 
 bourne, their family physician, joined them in the 
 drawing room. 
 
 "And how is my little girl today?" said the 
 doctor as he took his patient by the hand, after 
 having received a warm greeting from Commodore 
 Hopkins and his wife. 
 
 "I hope I am better, doctor," was Bertha's 
 cheerful reply. 
 
 " I hope you are," rejoined the physician. 
 
 His manner was closely observed by the 
 anxious father and mother, as he felt her pulse, 
 listened to her breathing, and tested her lungs. 
 
 "I think, commodore," said the physician, 
 11 that a change would do Bertha far more good 
 than medicine." 
 
 " I have thought of that myself," replied the 
 father ; ' ' but what sort of a change would you 
 recommend ? ' ' 
 
 "If her lungs were really affected, I would 
 make a different suggestion ; but as I believe her 
 weakness is entirely due to an exhausted state 
 of the system, I would advise a long sea voyage. 
 Nothing, in my judgment, would do her more 
 good."
 
 88 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 " It seems a little strange, doctor, that we 
 should both have come to the same conclusion. 
 I have talked the matter over with my wife, 
 and had decided to ask you for your opinion 
 upon such a treatment." 
 
 "It is odd, to be sure, but your early life on 
 the sea taught you, no doubt, the benefits to be 
 derived from an ocean voyage." 
 
 ' ' Do you mean a trip to Europe ? ' ' asked Mrs. 
 Hopkins. 
 
 " Oh, how jolly it would be to go there ! " put 
 in Bertha. 
 
 "Yes, it is always jolly to go to Europe," 
 replied the doctor ; ' ' but I mean you shall take a 
 much longer trip, say to Australia, or perhaps to 
 China ; and go by a sailing vessel, away from the 
 nauseating smell of a steam engine." 
 
 Bertha looked thoughtful now. It seemed such 
 an awful distance, that she hardly knew whether 
 to feel pleased at the prospect or not. 
 
 ' ' Would Australia be a good objective point ? ' ' 
 asked the commodore. 
 
 "Yes, I think, in fact, as good as any that 
 could be named. ' ' 
 
 " It seems so to me, for the winds on the Pacific 
 are warm and invigorating." 
 
 1 ' Yes, and then the trip in a sailing vessel will 
 consume seven months. A long ocean voyage is 
 just what she should have."
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 89 
 
 "If you settle upon Australia," continued 
 the commodore, " we will go in one of my own 
 ships, for I have one now in port loading for 
 Sydney." 
 
 "That is fortunate, indeed," returned Dr. 
 Chadbourne, and his face lighted up as if some 
 piece of good luck had befallen him personally. 
 
 "But how soon does she sail?" asked Mrs. 
 Hopkins, wondering if they could get ready in 
 time. 
 
 " In about a week, I think," replied her hus- 
 band. 
 
 " Is she a safe ship ? Of course she is, though," 
 put in the doctor. 
 
 " She is one of the best on the ocean," replied 
 Commodore Hopkins, " and is almost new." 
 
 " Oh, papa, is it my ship ? " asked Bertha, who 
 was an interested listener. 
 
 ' ' Yes, it is the Bertha Hopkins, ' ' replied her 
 father affectionately. 
 
 " Oh, won't it be jolly to sail in her — in my 
 own ship ! ' ' exclaimed Bertha, with some enthu- 
 siasm. 
 
 ' ' We will go in her, then, ' ' returned Commo- 
 dore Hopkins, " if the doctor really advises it." 
 
 "I do, indeed," said Dr. Chadbourne. "I 
 have given the matter careful thought, and am 
 satisfied that you could make no wiser move. ' ' 
 
 "I think so myself; and besides, we shall
 
 9° AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 have many advantages on board of our own 
 vessel. ' ' 
 
 " My own vessel, papa," suggested Bertha. 
 
 "Yes, your vessel, my dear, for everything 
 that belongs to your mother and myself is yours." 
 
 " Oh, how rich I am, if I have so many ships 
 and all your business and mouey, and this house 
 and furniture ! " 
 
 " I wish I were worth half as much," said the 
 doctor good naturedly ; ' ' but now, my little 
 girl, you must make up your mind to get well 
 and strong, so that you can enjoy all these 
 riches." And after consulting further with the 
 commodore and his wife, and advising them 
 how to prepare for the journey, he took his 
 leave. 
 
 The excitement attendant upon the prepara- 
 tions for so long a journey had an excellent 
 effect upon Bertha's health ; so when the day 
 came for saying good by to her dear old home, 
 and taking the carriage for the pier from which 
 they were to start, she did it bravely, and showed 
 such physical vigor that both her father and 
 mother stepped upon the ship with lighter and 
 happier hearts than they had known for many 
 days.
 
 XIV. 
 
 A NTHONY BOGGS directed his coachman 
 to take him directly to a certain solicitor, 
 whose office was in the lower part of the city. 
 
 Here he arranged with the lawyer to get Ben's 
 discharge from the Island. 
 
 " Make all possible haste," said Boggs, "for 
 there is no time to be lost. ' ' 
 
 " You shall be obeyed, sir," was the response. 
 
 " And have him taken to your office, and kept 
 there till you receive further orders from me." 
 
 " I understand your wishes perfectly." 
 
 " Of course, if you hear from me before he is 
 brought from the Island, you will act on my 
 latest advice, and take him wherever I direct." 
 
 "Certainly." 
 
 "Very well, then, I will rely upon you," said 
 Boggs, as he hurried from the room. 
 
 He now drove to one of the docks on the East 
 River, beside which lay a large, handsome ship, 
 and quickly leaving his carriage went aboard. 
 
 Everything was bustle and confusion ; sailors 
 and stevedores were hurrying hither and thither, 
 loading the vessel and making ready for a start. 
 
 91
 
 92 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 "You are just in time, Anthony, to see me 
 again before starting," said a large, dark com- 
 plexioned man, with easy familiarity. 
 
 This was the captain of the ship, and his manner 
 indicated that he and his visitor were old friends. 
 Caleb Steel was his name. 
 
 "lam glad I am not too late," answered Boggs 
 nervously. 
 
 " So am I ; but tell me, old fellow, what excites 
 you so much." 
 
 ' ' I was afraid I would not be in time to catch 
 you, and I have been hurrying." 
 
 " Well, the time is limited, for a fact." 
 
 " Why, how soon do you sail? " asked Boggs, 
 now fearing that he might be too late to accom- 
 plish the purpose he had in view. 
 
 " Well, about two hours from now I'll be say- 
 ing good by to New York. ' ' 
 
 " Couldn't you delay starting for an hour or so 
 longer, to accommodate me, if I need the time? " 
 asked Boggs. 
 
 " What, old fellow, do you want to come with 
 me?" 
 
 ' ' No, not exactly myself, but I want you to do 
 me a favor." 
 
 ' ' You can rely upon me to do Anthony Boggs 
 a favor at any time," returned the captain. 
 
 " I knew I could, and now come with me to 
 your cabin, and I will tell you what I want."
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 93 
 
 In the cabin Boggs went on to say : 
 
 ' ' A matter that has annoyed me a good deal 
 has come up since I saw you, and I want to put 
 a stop to it at once. It is so foolish in itself that 
 I don't like to explain it, and moreover it is some- 
 times delicate, as you know, to talk over family 
 matters even with so good a friend as I know you 
 to be to me. Feeling, then, as I do, I know that 
 you will not ask me for my motives in pursuing 
 the course I have decided upon. ' ' 
 
 Caleb Steel was quite off his guard. 
 
 "Certainly not," said he; "Captain Steel 
 pry into a friend's family affairs ! Well, I guess 
 not." 
 
 Boggs had thrown him entirely off the track by 
 his adroit deceit, and had effectually silenced his 
 curiosity for the present. 
 
 " I knew you would spare me the embarrass- 
 ment, captain, and yet be equally ready to do 
 me a favor. Some men have so little regard for 
 others that their curiosity must be satisfied 
 before they stir an inch, but not so with Captain 
 Steel." 
 
 This flattery pleased the captain greatly. He 
 was conceited, and he enjoyed nothing better 
 than having his conceit tickled. 
 
 "You are right, Anthony, you are right ; but 
 tell me what I can do for you," said he. 
 
 " That is what I am coming to now," returned
 
 94 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 the schemer, and laying his hand on the captain's 
 shoulder, he continued : 
 
 "I have sent for a boy, or rather sent my 
 attorney to bring him here as soon as possible. 
 He is the one whose association with my family 
 has caused all my uneasiness, and I want to get 
 him out of the way before his evil influence pro- 
 duces any worse results. ' ' 
 
 This was most effective in convincing the 
 captain that he should not try to get at the secret 
 that prompted his friend's action. On the con- 
 trary, it quite satisfied him that he knew well 
 enough already what the nature of the trouble 
 must be. 
 
 "And you are just right in guarding your 
 family and keeping Perry away from bad associa- 
 tions. I tell you, Anthony, bad company will 
 spoil the best boy in the world," said Caleb Steel, 
 with a show of knowledge. 
 
 "Yes, I know that only too well," said the 
 scheming Boggs sadly, as if the captain had 
 touched upon the true cause of his sorrow, while 
 really he had to struggle to restrain a smile of 
 triumph at his own cunning in misleading so 
 effectually the one to whom he now looked for 
 relief. 
 
 ' ' And as you wish to get him out of the way 
 I suppose you want me to take him," said the 
 captain.
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 95 
 
 " Yes, that is just it. I hated to come to you, 
 fearing it would be a bother, and then I remem- 
 bered what you told me, when I helped you out 
 of j^our difficulty, about doing me a favor, so I 
 decided to come." 
 
 ' Well, as I told you then, nothing in reason 
 would be too much trouble for me to do it for 
 you, so you can bring the boy on, and I will take 
 him as you wish," returned the master of the 
 ship heartily. 
 
 "Thank you a thousand times," said Boggs, 
 taking his friend's hand in his own. "I knew 
 you would say yes, and wishing to show you 
 some proof of my appreciation I have ordered 
 sent to you for your own use a dozen cases of 
 champagne and an equal amount of old Ken- 
 tucky whisky." 
 
 This statement made Caleb Steel very happy, 
 as nothing suited him better than for his friends 
 to show their appreciation of him in precisely 
 this way, for Caleb was not a teetotaler either in 
 sentiment or practice ; and now he thanked Boggs 
 as warmly as the latter thanked him. 
 
 " By the way, how old is the boy ? " asked the 
 captain. 
 
 ' ' Fourteen or fifteen, I should say — old enough 
 to work, anyway," was the reply. 
 
 ' ' That is what he will have to do on this 
 ship."
 
 96 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 " And that is what he should do. Understand 
 me, captain — I have no tender sentiment about 
 this gamin ; " and he again placed his hand on 
 Caleb's shoulder and winked significantly. 
 
 ' ' I think I understand you. ' ' 
 
 " I hope you do, for otherwise you might 
 shield him from the dangerous places, thinking 
 you were doing me a favor," said the villainous 
 schemer. 
 
 " Yes, I see," returned the master of the 
 vessel thoughtfully. 
 
 "There are dangerous places, I believe, cap- 
 tain, in the life of a sailor." 
 
 "Dangerous places! Well, that don't half 
 express it. ' ' 
 
 ' ' Just so, and when you have anything very 
 dangerous to be done, you order your least valu- 
 able help to do it, I suppose." 
 
 " Why should you think so ? " asked the cap- 
 tain in lieu of an answer. 
 
 " Well, you see, I argued that, if the boy who 
 did it were lost overboard, the loss to you would 
 be less," said Boggs, in so suggestive a manner 
 that his meaning was clear to the captain. 
 
 "Why, do you think I would intentionally 
 have the boy drowned ? ' ' asked the latter in 
 surprise. 
 
 " N-n-no, I didn't say that, captain, but — 
 er-er — well, of course I would not w r ant you to
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 97 
 
 be responsible for any accident that might befall 
 him, and you wouldn't be, either, if misfortune 
 should overtake him in the shape of an accident ; ' ' 
 and Boggs looked straight at the captain, and 
 again winked in the same suggestive manner as 
 before. 
 
 "I understand from what you say, and your 
 manner, that you would be glad if the boy were 
 never to return home again," rejoined the mas- 
 ter of the ship. 
 
 "You understand me perfectly now, and know- 
 ing you friendship for me, I shall have bright 
 hopes of the outcome. ' ' 
 
 Caleb Steel paused and looked down to the 
 floor in deep study. Presently he was interrupted 
 by the mate, who said he was wanted in another 
 part of the ship. 
 
 "In the meantime," said Boggs, "I will go 
 and get the boy, and return as quickly as pos- 
 sible. Do not sail till I get the boy aboard ; ' ' and 
 he hurried to his carriage and drove back to the 
 solicitor's office.
 
 XV. 
 
 "\ \ rHILE Boggs was on the ship arranging the 
 more important details of his plot, his 
 solicitor was busy effecting Ben's release from 
 city custody. 
 
 At the Jefferson Market Police Court the solici- 
 tor got the lad's discharge, by giving bonds to the 
 extent of three hundred dollars as a guarantee of 
 Ben's good behavior for thirty days. 
 
 This of course had been provided for by 
 Boggs, so his attorney took no personal risks in 
 the matter. The discharge paper went through 
 its regular course and was then taken to the 
 Island. 
 
 The solicitor made arrangements to have Ben 
 brought immediately to his office on his return to 
 the city, and then returned to his sanctum to 
 await further orders from his client. 
 
 Soon after this Boggs came in, as expected, 
 and was fully informed of all that had been done. 
 
 "How soon will he be here?" asked he 
 anxiously, for every minute seemed an hour, for 
 it was nearly time for the ship to sail. 
 
 " I am expecting him now," was the response. 
 
 98
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 99 
 
 ' ' Bring him to me as soon as lie comes — do not 
 trust him to any one, but come yourself," com- 
 manded the scheming villain. 
 
 ' ' Yes, sir, but— er ' ' 
 
 " But what ? " interrupted Boggs peevishly, as 
 the possibility of some unexpected delay sug- 
 gested itself to him. 
 
 " I started to ask you, sir, where you can be 
 found. Without knowing this, I cannot very 
 well take the boy to you," returned the attor- 
 ney, with a tinge of sarcasm, however dangerous 
 to his business interests it might prove. 
 
 "Ah, yes, I forgot that ! Come direct to the 
 ship Bertha Hopkins, on the East River, near 
 Wall Street — you can easily find her." 
 
 " You will be on board, I suppose ? " 
 
 " Yes, and in the captain's stateroom." 
 
 " But how shall I explain to the boy why I 
 rush him aboard that ship ? ' ' 
 
 ' ' You may say to him that the gentleman who 
 called at the station house to see him, and who 
 promised to be present at the trial to get him 
 free, wants to see him — that he is spending the 
 day with the captain of the ship Bertha Hopkins, 
 and that he wants to see him at once on his 
 release from custody, and that is why he asks 
 him to come on the ship. ' ' 
 
 Ben was most agreeably surprised at being 
 returned from the Island. And now, when he
 
 IOO AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 entered the solicitor's office and learned the story 
 of his release from the island of city justice, his 
 heart went out to his benefactor, and he con- 
 demned himself for having so hastily formed a 
 prejudice against him. 
 
 So instead of going to the ship with a feeling 
 of suspicion, he went with a light heart, prepared 
 to thank the man, over and over again, who had 
 done so much for him. 
 
 "Oh, what a pretty ship," exclaimed our 
 young friend as he drew near the Bertha Hop- 
 kins. ' ' I almost wish I was going on her 
 myself." How little he knew then of the plot 
 that was being sprung upon him ! Could he 
 have known this, and the wicked purpose of 
 Boggs, how he would have shunned the vessel ! 
 
 Just ahead of him, passing up the gang plank 
 into the ship, were Commodore Hopkins and wife 
 and daughter and nurse. 
 
 Ben eyed them critically, and thought if he 
 were a sailor on that ship he should be glad to 
 have such pleasant looking passengers. He had 
 no idea, however, of being a sailor then, and 
 gave them no further thought for the present. 
 
 The solicitor hurried him toward the captain's 
 room. 
 
 Now Boggs had made it plain to the master of 
 the ship that Ben must be betrayed into going to 
 sea with him.
 
 AFL.OAT IN A GREAT CITY. IOI 
 
 Iu justice to the captain I will record the fact 
 that he did not take kindly to this idea, and yet 
 he disliked to offend one who had previously 
 done him a favor, so he yielded to Boggs' vil- 
 lainous project. 
 
 " If I had known half as much of this scheme 
 as I do now," he said to himself, " I would have 
 had nothing to do with the boy. I do not like 
 smuggling him off to sea, anyway. Ten chances 
 to one it will bring us bad luck," and he looked 
 as if almost persuaded now to refuse point blank 
 to have the boy come into the ship. Boggs 
 noticed this, and was shrewd enough to change 
 his tactics at once. 
 
 He had been trying to get the captain to take 
 Ben into his room, and thus hold him till after 
 the ship had got well to sea, but the latter's atti- 
 tude in the matter had changed so conspicuously 
 that he decided to remain aboard the ship himself 
 till she had put to sea, and then to return to the 
 city on the tugboat that towed her down the Bay. 
 
 Acting on this plan, he left the master of the 
 ship, and went to the latter's room, where he 
 waited alone for the appearance of the solicitor 
 and Ben. 
 
 The ship was nearly ready to leave the pier ; 
 the captain was busy with preparations for start- 
 ing, and was, moreover, not in the mood for 
 further discussion of the boy's future.
 
 102 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 Therefore the schemer occupied his time in 
 writing a letter to the captain which showed very 
 clearly his wishes. It was a cruel piece of 
 villainy, that urged measures regarding our young 
 friend which for the present I forbear to give. 
 And before this letter was finished he was inter- 
 rupted by the arrival of his solicitor and Ben. 
 " Here is your young friend," said the attorney 
 as they stepped into the room. 
 
 Boggs looked up nervously, and as he saw the 
 lad before him, with his fine, well formed features 
 and manly appearance, he even colored with 
 shame at his own villainy. 
 
 Ben had expected to see his benefactor — the 
 kind gentleman who had called upon him at the 
 station house and who had now secured his release 
 from the Island. And he looked at the solicitor 
 questioningly, as much as to say, "This is not 
 the man. Why did you bring me here ? " 
 
 ;< Good morning, young man," said Boggs, by 
 way of opening the conversation. 
 
 "Good morning, sir," said Ben suspiciously. 
 
 "lam afraid you thought I neglected you the 
 morning of your trial, but I met with an accident 
 that kept me from being present as I promised 
 you." 
 
 " As you promised me!" exclaimed our hero. 
 " When did you promise me that ? " 
 
 "Why, in the station house when I called to
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 1 03 
 
 see you a few mornings ago. I should think you 
 would remember that." 
 
 "I do remember it, sir, but — er — well you 
 didn't look the way you do now." 
 
 Boggs grew very red in the face. He had, 
 through his excitement and anxiety, forgotten 
 .his disguise on that morning, and now he was 
 caught by the lad in this piece of trickery. 
 
 He stammered out an apology for an explana- 
 tion, which was too transparent to deceive Ben. 
 
 The latter studied his face carefully, and saw 
 that the features were the same as those of the 
 man who called upon him that morning. But the 
 man's face, as it now appeared, he felt sure he 
 had seen before the episode of the jail. 
 
 Boggs questioned him about the Island, and 
 impressed him with the idea that he had had very 
 hard work to secure his release, but he added 
 that whatever effort he had put forth had been 
 done cheerfully. 
 
 Our young friend thanked him sincerely for his 
 assistance, and began to feel very kindly toward 
 him, whoever he was. 
 
 " I am only too glad that I could help you out 
 of the trouble, for you did not get fair play. As 
 I told you before, the other boy was responsible, 
 for he commenced the fight." 
 
 This was an unfortunate remark for Boggs, for 
 it suggested a new train of thought to Ben.
 
 104 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 "Yes, but the judge would not believe me," 
 said lie abstractedly, and he looked sharply at the 
 man before him. 
 
 "Perry Boggs commenced the trouble," he 
 said to himself. "Boggs, Boggs," he repeated 
 several times over — ah, that name kindles anew 
 his memory, and starting from the scene in front" 
 of the " White Elephant," where he first learned 
 Perry's full name, he followed the trail back in 
 his thought till he came to the carriage at the 
 Star Theater. 
 
 And here he sees Perry, his father, and the kind 
 hearted lady j list as he saw them on that eventful 
 night. 
 
 He compares the pictures in his mind with the 
 man actually before him, and starts back with a 
 sense of alarm as the fact dawns upon him that 
 his supposed benefactor is no other than Perry's 
 father.
 
 XVI. 
 
 A GUILTY conscience is always alive to dan- 
 ♦"*" ger, always watchful, suspicious, anxious ; 
 thus Boggs followed every look and act of Ben 
 with keen, nervous eyes. 
 
 So when the latter stared back with alarm at 
 his sudden discovery, the wily villain instantly 
 knew the meaning. He read the lad's very 
 thoughts — thoughts that made him turn pale at 
 the mere suggestion of his own rascality. 
 
 But he had been too long accustomed to evil to 
 easily lose his presence of mind, and now he 
 showed a deep knowledge of human nature by 
 skilfully hurling Ben's discovery back upon him. 
 
 " You act as if you had made some startling 
 discovery," said he, looking the lad sharply in 
 the face. 
 
 Boggs' bold assurance threw Ben somewhat off 
 his guard, and tended to embarrass him, as if he 
 had done some unbecoming act. 
 
 " Yes," he faltered in reply. 
 
 "Then it is very startling," pursued Boggs, 
 vigorously taking advantage of the lad's embar- 
 rassment — " startling that I should go your bail 
 
 105
 
 106 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 and make all the effort to get you away from the 
 Island — startling, and why? Simply because you 
 think perhaps you have seen me before, or some 
 other nonsense ? ' ' 
 
 Ben was figuratively driven into a corner, and 
 did not know what to say for himself. He had 
 been attacked in a way that he little expected, 
 and for a time could think of no suitable reply. 
 But soon his self possession came to him again, 
 and knowing he was right he said, somewhat 
 sharply : 
 
 "I don't think I was surprised at nonsense, 
 sir. It was because I just remembered where I 
 saw you first. ' ' 
 
 ' ' And where was that ? ' ' asked Boggs, while 
 he dreaded the answer. 
 
 " It was in Union Square a few nights ago, and 
 later in the evening as you came out of the Star 
 Theater," answered the lad, now making his 
 enemy wince and grow very red in the face. 
 
 ' ' I suppose you are sure of that ? ' ! 
 
 ' ' Yes, sir, I am sure of it. ' ' 
 
 ' ' What if you did see me?" 
 
 "Simply seeing you there didn't amount to 
 anything. ' ' 
 
 ' ' What do you mean by ' simply seeing me'?" 
 
 ' ' I should think you would know without 
 asking." 
 
 ' ' Whv so ? " 

 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. IOJ 
 
 " Do you remember what you said to me in 
 the station house about seeing the fuss between 
 Perry Boggs and me ? ' ' 
 
 ' ' Yes, but what of that ? ' ' 
 
 ' ' You saw us, did you ? ' ' 
 
 "Yes, I said." 
 
 "And then told me afterward that Perry — 
 your son ' ' 
 
 "My son !" 
 
 "Yes, sir ; your son, or the chap you called 
 son." 
 
 " You must be crazy." 
 
 "No, I'm not crazy. I heard you call him 
 your son, and saw j<ou try to get him into your 
 carriage after the theater. And I saw you drive 
 off, too, with a lady, so I can't understand how 
 you could see Perry and me," said the lad firmly. 
 
 It seemed now Ben's turn to drive his enemy 
 into the corner, and he did it so successfully that 
 Boggs appeared staggered by the boy's boldness. 
 
 But he was a crafty villain, and he did not 
 allow himself to lose his temper at so critical a 
 moment ; so, however disagreeable this catechis- 
 ing, he submitted as best he could, that Ben 
 might continue to be absorbed in the subject. 
 
 He even managed the conversation so that it 
 grew more and more spirited, and thus the time 
 passed till the ship had cleared the dock, and 
 Boggs had gained his point.
 
 IoS AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 A heavy lurch of the vessel was now felt, and 
 the solicitor jumped up with an alarmed look, 
 and grabbed the door knob. 
 
 "Come back to your seat," demanded Boggs 
 roughly, and the solicitor obeyed meekly. 
 
 " But I felt the ship roll," he faltered apolo- 
 getically. 
 
 " Nonsense, you are dreaming." 
 
 ' ' Well, I felt it move, and I am not dreaming," 
 put in Ben. 
 
 " Something probably fell and jarred it, then," 
 answered Boggs. 
 
 The lad felt uneasy, and as if some conspiracy 
 were on foot ; but it did not at first occur to him 
 that he was in danger of being taken to sea, so 
 long as Boggs and the solicitor remained on 
 board. 
 
 And suppose he had realized it, what could he 
 have done? 
 
 He might have protested, to be sure, but he 
 was yet practically a prisoner — only out of jail by 
 being under a bond for good behavior, and thus 
 Boggs actually had him in his power, for at will 
 he could have sent him back to the Island. 
 
 But now the solicitor's feeling of alarm spread 
 to Ben, who felt the motion of the ship as if she 
 were moving through the water, and for the first 
 time the thought of a compulsory sea voyage 
 occurred to him. A shudder passed over him at
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 1 09 
 
 this prospect, and then he determined to find out 
 if it were ahead}- too late to get ashore. 
 
 Accordingly he made a move for the door, but 
 was prevented from reaching it by Boggs, who 
 suddenly sprang before him and placed himself 
 against it. 
 
 ' I want 3-0U to let me out, ' ' said Ben in- 
 dignantly. 
 
 " Is that so ? " returned Boggs sueeringly. 
 
 This made the fire show in the lad's eyes. 
 ' Yes, it is so," he answered in a most 
 determined tone. 
 
 " Well, I won't," was the reply. 
 
 "You are a cowardly villain, and this proves 
 it," said the boy boldly. 
 
 ' Be careful what you say," replied Boggs 
 savagely, for his temper had now come to the 
 front. 
 
 ' ' You have smuggled me aboard this ship to 
 get me away from Xew York. Perhaps you are 
 afraid I will get after that dude son of yours 
 again. ' ' 
 
 Boggs made no reply to this, only he looked 
 very ugly. 
 
 ' ' And perhaps before I get through with you 
 I mav find out another reason for vour wanting: 
 to get me out of the way," continued the lad. 
 
 This thrust made Boggs wince so noticeably 
 that Ben remarked the effect with surprise. He
 
 HO AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 had spoken at random, as it were, but the words 
 touched the schemer on a tender spot. 
 
 At this moment the captain entered his room 
 and looked sharply at Ben. 
 
 "Well, captain, here he is," said Boggs in a 
 confused manner, as he pointed to Ben. 
 
 "So I see," returned the officer, with a dark 
 look. 
 
 " I will turn him over to your care now," said 
 Boggs, as if he had authority to do with Ben as 
 he chose. 
 
 " But he has no right to turn me over to you, 
 captain, or to any one else," said our hero indig- 
 nantly. 
 
 "Enough of that, youngster," said the cap- 
 tain, in a severe tone, that fairly froze the lad's 
 spirits. 
 
 He saw that it was useless to protest further. 
 He had been ensnared by Boggs and his solicitor, 
 and now must make the best of his situation. 
 
 The captain called one of his mates, and taking 
 him aside, talked so low that Ben could not make 
 out what was said. That the conversation was 
 about himself he felt sure by their manner, and 
 he strained his ears to try and catch a few 
 words. 
 
 Presently the mate turned to him and said, 
 " Come with me, my lad," and our hero followed 
 him, leaving Boggs, the solicitor, and Captain
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 1 1 1 
 
 Steel alone in the stateroom. This was the 
 boy's real separation from the land — from old 
 New York, and from every one he had ever 
 known. 
 
 What a sickening sensation crept over him as 
 he thought of this, and then of the dangers of the 
 sea and the cruel treatment he would perhaps 
 receive ! 
 
 At first he felt very bitter toward Boggs, who, 
 by his treachery, had brought him there, but now 
 he was more sick at heart than otherwise, and for 
 the moment too greatly depressed to feel a just 
 sense of indignation at the gross wrongs that had 
 been done to him. 
 
 The mate, in whose charge he had been placed, 
 informed him that he must act as cabin boy, and 
 that meant that he must wait upon the officers 
 and passengers of the ship. 
 
 These are the chief duties of a cabin boy, but 
 sometimes other service is thrust upon him, as 
 Ben learned to his sorrow. 
 
 Off Sandy Hook, Boggs and the solicitor left 
 the ship and got aboard the tug that had towed 
 the Bertha Hopkins from port ; in this way they 
 returned to New York — the one going to his 
 barren law office, and the other to his rich home 
 on Fifth Avenue. 
 
 Just before they left the ship, Boggs handed a 
 letter to the captain which he had written in the
 
 112 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 latter' s cabin, and which contained some very 
 plain suggestions regarding Ben — suggestions of 
 so wicked a nature that he feared the master of 
 the ship might rebel, even now, against taking 
 the lad with him, had he personally urged the 
 points contained in this letter.
 
 XVII. 
 
 "DEN saw Boggs and the solicitor climb aboard 
 *~* the tug, and watched the little boat with 
 intense interest as it turned around and steamed 
 away for home. 
 
 How he washed himself aboard of her to be 
 taken back to New York, where he could make 
 known Boggs' rascally acts ! 
 
 He felt sure that Mr. Montgomery would help 
 him in this, and would do everything possible to 
 secure the villain's punishment. 
 
 And this thought reminded him that he had 
 not let Mr. Montgomery know anything of his 
 whereabouts. 
 
 " If I had only done so," he said to himself 
 sorrowfully, ' ' he might have kept me out of 
 Boggs' clutches, and now I wouldn't be in this 
 great ship bound for, I don't know where — per- 
 haps the bottom of the ocean. ' ' 
 
 "The bottom of the ocean." He repeated 
 these words with a shudder. How he wished 
 there was yet some way for him to escape ! 
 
 Greater and greater the distance grew between 
 himself and the little tug. He watched her with 
 an intense eagerness, while the idea of escaping 
 
 113
 
 H4 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 frotn the ship took, every minute, a firmer hold 
 upon him. 
 
 ' ' I was smuggled on here, any way, and am 
 under no obligations to remain, so I will leave 
 the very first chance I get, and go back to New 
 York." 
 
 This was a very easy resolution to form, and 
 quite a natural one, under the circumstances ; 
 but to put it into effect meant much more than 
 he imagined. 
 
 He formed, however, several hasty plans, one 
 of which was to slip away from the ship at her 
 first stopping place ; but this did not promise 
 very well for him, as he afterward learned, for 
 the captain did not intend making port till he 
 reached the Cape of Good Hope. 
 
 Now the tug had entirely disappeared from 
 view, and no longer was there a bit of land 
 within the reach of his eye. 
 
 The sky was overcast, and a thick fog that 
 settled upon them hastened the darkness. 
 
 He was called upon for this and that — work 
 that naturally falls upon the cabin boy. 
 
 These duties he performed gladly, as the 
 employment drew his mind from himself. 
 
 Presently the captain sent for him to do some 
 work in his cabin. Ben was nervous, and fast 
 becoming very dizzy from the motion of the 
 ship, which was now pitching and tumbling
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 1 15 
 
 more than was altogether good for the lad's 
 stomach. 
 
 Consequently he did not catch the captain's 
 ideas as quickly as the latter thought he should, 
 and being already provoked that the boy was 
 forced upon him he fired up at the slightest pre- 
 text, and pushed him roughly against a chest, 
 saying : 
 
 " You landlubber ! Don't you know anything?" 
 
 " I tried to do the best I could, sir," replied 
 Ben timidly. 
 
 ' ' Do you call this the best you can do ? If so, 
 you'd better throw yourself overboard, and then 
 I'd be rid of you." 
 
 And he said this as only an ugly sea captain, 
 who is absolute monarch of his ship, can speak. 
 
 ' ' The work is new to me, ' ' the lad ventured to 
 reply. 
 
 ' ' You ought to know enough to do it if it is. ' ' 
 
 " I shall try to please you, captain," faltered 
 Ben, as he reeled and fell heavily against the 
 captain's bunk, from the sickness that had now 
 got the better of him. 
 
 Captain Steel now realized the cause of the lad's 
 awkwardness, and he actually felt a tinge of 
 regret that he had been so hard upon him. 
 
 He stepped to his cabin door for some one to 
 take the boy away. At that moment the boat- 
 swain happened to be passing.
 
 Il6 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 " Here, boatswain, take charge of this boy till 
 he gets over this sickness, and get him out of my 
 cabin," said the master of the ship. 
 
 The sturdy sailor obeyed at once, and removed 
 Ben from the captain's room to his bunk. 
 
 Ben was deathly sick. 
 
 " Don't mind it, lad," said the old tar encourag- 
 ingly ; ' ' you will soon feel better. ' ' 
 
 "I hope so," returned Ben feebly, but most 
 thankful for these kind words. 
 
 " Boys are most always sick, but it does them 
 good in the end," the sailor continued. 
 
 Ben made no reply to this — he was much too 
 busy just at that instant. 
 
 "I knew it," laughed the sailor good na- 
 turedly. 
 
 "Well, I'm feeling a thousand times better, 
 any wa}%" answered Ben, after a few moments. 
 
 " Of course you are, but you're not off watch 
 yet." 
 
 " I don't understand you." 
 
 " I mean you've not got your legs yet." 
 
 " Let me see," said Ben, and he stood upon his 
 feet — only for an instant, however, for he seemed 
 to get the impression, and he got it without 
 apparent delay, that standing was not becoming 
 to him. 
 
 Doubtless he was right in this conclusion. 
 There are times, I have observed, when men —
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 117 
 
 big, broad shouldered fellows, too — feel the 
 same way — feel so all the way down to their boot 
 straps. 
 
 There was something, however, about the situa- 
 tion that pleased the boatswain, and he laughed 
 the laugh of a jolly sea dog. 
 
 Such levity on the part of the sailor might not 
 have seemed to Ben quite the proper thing. But 
 it is certain that he offered no remonstrance — he 
 hadn't the time, then, for discussing fine points of 
 etiquette, for again he was devoting his entire 
 attention to himself, and with a good deal of 
 vigor, too. In fact, it seemed to him he had 
 never before been so diligent in all his life. 
 
 "If it's all the same to you, I won't walk 
 around any," said he comically, when he thought 
 it safe to venture a sentence of this length. 
 
 "No, I guess you won't, lad," laughed the 
 boatswain. 
 
 "Then I'll make myself as comfortable as I 
 can." 
 
 " There ain't much fun for you tonight on the 
 Bertha " — he called the ship this for short. 
 
 " No, it don't seem much like fun," returned 
 Ben. 
 
 " Well, lad, don't mind it. If you're going to 
 be a sea dog, you'll get used to hard knocks." 
 
 " But I'm not going to be a sailor." 
 
 ' ' Not going to be a sailor ? ' '
 
 Il8 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 "No." 
 
 " What are you here for, then? " 
 
 " 'Cause I was smuggled aboard." 
 
 ' ' Smuggled aboard ! ' ' exclaimed the boatswain, 
 and he gave a low, expressive whistle. 
 
 ' ' Yes, ' ' reasserted Ben. 
 
 "How did it happen ? " ' 
 
 The lad explained, while the old sailor listened 
 with rapt attention. 
 
 1 ' You say he and the old man acted like 
 friends ? ' ' 
 
 ' ' You mean the captain ? ' ' 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "Yes, they did, and the captain called him 
 Anthony, as if they were old friends." 
 
 "There's something wrong here, you may 
 depend upon it," said the sailor thoughtfully. 
 
 " The captain was ugly to me in his cabin, and 
 because I didn't quite suit him he said something 
 about my throwing myself overboard, and theD 
 he would be rid of me." 
 
 " 'Pears as if he don't want you, then." 
 
 " If he don't why did he smuggle me on here?" 
 
 "Perhaps the other man had a hand in the 
 pie." 
 
 "So he did." 
 
 " L,ikely enough he wanted to get you out of 
 the way for something." 
 
 " I don't see what it could be."
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 1 19 
 
 "There might be a heap of reasons, and if 
 you're smart you'll follow him till you find out. 
 I like your cut, lad, and you can depend upon 
 Dan Spiker for a lift in furlin' that villain's 
 sails. I've knocked about these twenty years, 
 and seen a great deal of cusseduess off and on in 
 m}^ time. 
 
 "Depend upon it, I say, there is somethin' 
 crooked with this Boggs. And you say he is 
 rich, and lives on the swell avenue in New 
 York?" 
 
 " Yes ; he lives on Fifth Avenue, and seems to 
 be a rich man." 
 
 The sailor made no reply, but whistled softly, 
 as seemed to be his custom when thinking closely.
 
 XVIII. 
 
 "DEX felt he had made a friend in Dau Spiker, 
 who would stand by him -while on the ship. 
 He had told him as much, and his honest, big 
 hearted manner convinced the lad of his sincer- 
 ity. Feeling thus assured of the boatswain's true 
 friendship, Ben was less gloomy than before. 
 
 For the captain he felt a strong dislike, as he 
 had good reasons for doing ; but this was of little 
 importance in comparison with the bitter senti- 
 ment he now felt toward Boggs. 
 
 The conversation with Dan Spiker suggested 
 a new train of thought to Ben. In fact, he had 
 not examined into Boggs' motives for spiriting 
 him away, but now, as he argued the matter to 
 himself, he saw that the latter must have had 
 some strong purpose in getting him away from 
 Xew York. 
 
 ' He shall suffer for this villainy if it takes me 
 all my life to get square with him," said Ben to 
 himself with determination. 
 
 And then he wondered again and again what 
 mystery connected him with Anthony Boggs. 
 That there was something of the kind he felt 
 
 I20
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 12 1 
 
 fully convinced, and he determined to unravel it. 
 
 The next morning he awoke possessed of a 
 ravenous appetite, and feeling the perfection of 
 health. 
 
 "Good morning, lad," said Dan Spiker, when 
 Ben appeared on deck. "You look like a new 
 boy." 
 
 " Well, I feel like one, too — new all through," 
 returned Ben. 
 
 " Read this," said the boatswain, pointing to a 
 small notice in a copy of the New York Herald, 
 which he drew from his pocket. 
 
 Our hero ran his eye over it, and the color 
 faded from his cheeks. 
 
 ' ' After what you told me last night I thought 
 it might mean you," said Dan, referring to the 
 notice. 
 
 " I think it does," answered the lad, with a very 
 puzzled look. 
 
 " What does it mean? " 
 
 "I don't know." 
 
 " Do you know Artemas Diggs, the man whose 
 name is printed here ? ' ' 
 
 " No ; I never heard of him before." 
 
 " If it means you it's curious what he wants." 
 
 "I can't tell nor can't guess who he is." 
 And now Ben opened the paper, and looking upon 
 the first page saw, to his intense surprise, the 
 big headlines announcing Mother Grimmis' death.
 
 122 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 This was the first intimation he had had of the 
 affair, and to say that he was greatly surprised — 
 startled even — would but faintly express his real 
 feelings. "A probable murder," and he read 
 the line over several times, as if to be sure of 
 his own senses. 
 
 "Are you growing sick again, lad?" asked 
 Dan, as he noticed the boy's pale face. 
 
 " No — er — but I can't understand this matter." 
 
 The sailor understood him to refer to the 
 notice, and Ben was glad he construed his words 
 in this way, for he felt that his situation was a 
 delicate one — so delicate that he dare not make a 
 confidant of any one at present. 
 
 " Mother Grimmis dead," said he to himself, 
 " murdered probably, and some one advertising 
 for me — some one I never heard of, a detective, 
 maybe ; who knows ? ' ' 
 
 This view of the case startled him. 
 
 "Perhaps I'm suspected of being the mur- 
 derer," he continued, and the thought made the 
 cold perspiration start. 
 
 Brutal as the old woman had been to him, he 
 felt a degree of sadness at her sudden death, for 
 she had made for him the only home he ever 
 knew. 
 
 And now she had gone, he felt more alone than 
 ever. The secrets concerning his early life, which 
 she knew, were buried with her.
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 123 
 
 " One thing is sure," said he to himself, by way 
 of consolation, " if the officers are hunting for 
 me, I'm better off on this ship than I would be in 
 New York." 
 
 He had already spent some time in Commodore 
 Hopkins' staterooms, helping the latter arrange 
 things for the voyage. Ben found him very kind 
 and social ; but what pleased him far more than 
 all this was the appearance of another — a sweet 
 young girl of about his own age, the commodore's 
 daughter — Bertha Hopkins. 
 
 She had watched him with much interest as 
 he did his work. Now and again she asked him 
 some question which he answered timidly. 
 
 There was something odd about being addressed 
 by such a pretty girl — odd indeed for him — for in 
 his rough life he had never spoken to one of 
 Bertha's station. 
 
 He knew nothing of girl life, and like all boys 
 growing up as he had, without their association, 
 felt a prejudice against them, though if asked to 
 define this prejudice he could have given no good 
 cause. 
 
 However much .Ben's mind might have been 
 warped in this way, it is certain, judging from 
 late developments, that he made at least one 
 exception to this rule ; for as he became better 
 acquainted with Bertha, he constantly planned to 
 spend as much time as possible in her presence.
 
 XIX. 
 
 T T is not the purpose of this story to recite the 
 unimportant events that occurred on board 
 the Bertha Hopkins farther than is really neces- 
 sary that the reader may get the true coloring of 
 the narrative. 
 
 Incidents, however, which in themselves seem 
 trivial and commonplace, often grow in import- 
 ance when connected with later developments. 
 
 My purpose is to bring together the various 
 incidents in the life of our hero, and to arrange 
 them so that the real bearing of one upon the 
 other, and of each upon all, will be easily recog- 
 nized by every one who follows Ben through his 
 strange career. 
 
 During the first ten days of the lad's sea life 
 nothing extraordinary occurred. 
 
 In this time, however, he became well 
 acquainted with all on board, except the captain, 
 and the more he saw of him the less he felt he 
 knew of him. 
 
 Through Dan Spiker, the boatswain, the crew 
 learned that Ben had been mysteriously smuggled 
 aboard and forced into becoming cabin boy. 
 
 124
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 1 25 
 
 And this fact gave them a natural sympathy 
 for him. Besides this, however, they liked him 
 for his generous nature and agreeable manner. 
 Therefore, he speedily became a favorite with 
 sailors and officers alike — all except one, the 
 captain. 
 
 The latter was severe, and sometimes almost 
 cruel in his treatment of the boy. 
 
 Commodore Hopkins, much of whose life had 
 been spent upon the sea, knew thoroughly the 
 difference between proper discipline and abuse. 
 He had noticed repeatedly the way Captain Steel 
 treated our hero, and he felt sorry for him, and 
 much annoyed that the master of the ship was 
 capable of such cruelty. 
 
 Thus it happened one day, when the captain 
 was unusually abusive to Ben, that the merchant, 
 for such was Commodore Hopkins, approached 
 unobserved and overheard the most vigorous por- 
 tion of the tirade. 
 
 "Captain," said he indignantly, and with a 
 depth of meaning, "this abuse has gone far 
 enough. This is not the first time I have noticed 
 it ; and while I dislike to meddle with the captain 
 of a ship, yet common humanity forces me to 
 speak in behalf of this lad." 
 
 Caleb Steel, the captain, grew very red in the 
 face. Instantly his temper was at boiling point, 
 and his pride was deeply cut.
 
 126 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 "The discipline of this ship belongs to me, sir, 
 I believe," said he, as soon as he recovered from 
 the surprise caused by this rebuke. 
 
 " Discipline ! " exclaimed Commodore Hopkins. 
 " Is that what you call it? " 
 
 " Yes, that is what I said," doggedly came the 
 answer. 
 
 " Then if such abuse as this is your idea of 
 discipline, you shall never discipline another 
 crew on my ships," returned the merchant 
 firmly. 
 
 This was a forcible argument to Caleb, for the 
 very thought of losing his place, after all these 
 years of hard work, gave him a sickening sensa- 
 tion, and he humbled himself before the owner of 
 the ship sufficiently to apologize for his treatment 
 of Ben. 
 
 He was a coward at heart, as bullies usually 
 are, and therefore was easily cowed. 
 
 ' ' He does nothing as he ought to, ' ' said Steel 
 falsely, referring to the lad, hoping by this remark 
 to put himself in a more favorable light. 
 
 " Even if that is so, it does not warrant such 
 cruelty ; and, moreover, the boy has done every- 
 thing for me with unusual intelligence," returned 
 the commodore ; ' ' but in my rooms he is treated 
 kindly." 
 
 The last part of this sentence had a sarcastic 
 ring to it that made Steel wince.
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 1 27 
 
 But, regardless of his own bitter feelings, he 
 felt there was but one card for him to play, and 
 that one was marked "policy." Consequently 
 he tried to excuse the matter, and promised 
 Commodore Hopkins that he should have no 
 further cause for complaint ; hoping by this means 
 to reinstate himself again in the good opinion of 
 the merchant. 
 
 Ben witnessed this scene with no little surprise. 
 He had learned to look upon the captain of a ship, 
 especially the captain of the Bertha Hopkins, as 
 an absolute monarch. 
 
 How a passenger could have the hardihood to 
 talk in this way to him he could not understand ; 
 but that he appreciated the merchant's kindness 
 is most certain. 
 
 Captain Steel retired to his cabin, and nursed 
 his temper till he worked himself into an inordi- 
 nate rage. 
 
 "The cursed lubber!" said he to himself, 
 meaning Ben. " I'll make him walk the mark 
 and pay for this mighty dear. I wish old Hop- 
 kins would tumble overboard, and that lubber 
 with him." 
 
 Overboard ! 
 
 Ah ! This is a suggestive thought ; he thinks of 
 it as if it might, by some accident, actually occur, 
 and should it, he would once more be lord of the 
 ship.
 
 128 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 ' ' Overboard ! ' ' and he whispers the word to 
 himself to see how it sounds to his ear — now a 
 little louder he repeats it, and still again, while 
 he takes from his pocket a letter. 
 
 Hastily running his eyes over it he reads these 
 words in an undertone : 
 
 You will remember wbat I said to you this morning about 
 dangerous places. You understood my meaning, I am sure. 
 Carry out my suggestion and the house I own in Jersey City, 
 worth $5,000, shall be yours. 
 
 "Yes, I do remember what he meant," said 
 Caleb Steel to himself, as he meditated upon the 
 dark thought before him. 
 
 "A five thousand dollar house, and no more 
 trouble with old Hopkins on his account, ' ' said 
 Steel covetously. "Who would miss him any 
 way — a ragged gamin without any friends ? ' ' 
 
 "Curse Boggs for bringing him on my ship," 
 he broke out savagely, after a pause, in which 
 he seemed to study the possibilities of the case. 
 ' ' Why should he ask me to do his dirty work ? ' ' 
 said he, with an ugly scowl. 
 
 "But " 
 
 Ah ! the five thousand dollars comes up before 
 him again. 
 
 "Well, it's more than the lubber is worth," 
 said Steel to himself, by way of compromising 
 with his conscience. 
 
 " Five thousand dollars ! "
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 1 29 
 
 How strangely fascinating these three simple 
 words are to him as he speaks them aloud ; and 
 what a forcible argument they present. Now he 
 drops his head into his hands and thinks. 
 
 His brows are knitted, as if some question of 
 awful importance were pressing for an answer. 
 
 Doubtless his conscience is battling with the 
 argument of the five thousand dollars. The 
 former is sustained by his sense of right, by the 
 laws of the state, by humanity, by the thought 
 of his own family, by everything that is sacred 
 aud pure, and by Heaven itself. But against all 
 this force stands boldly pitted a very subtle, dan- 
 gerous enemy — hard cash. Which will appeal 
 most strongly to this man, I wonder ? 
 
 Ah, how he jumps at a slight noise, as if 
 already guilty of crime ! And thus startled, he 
 looks pale and trembles like a convict. 
 
 " Curse this business ! " he mutters with 
 clinched teeth, and strikes his hand out forcibly, 
 as if to hurl the thought from him. 
 
 But this was not so easily accomplished ; for 
 once having gained access to his mind, under 
 favorable consideration, it clung there with demo- 
 niacal tenacity till it poisoned the man's very 
 thoughts. 
 
 Thus agitated, he opened a closet in the cabin 
 and took from a case a whisky bottle — one of the 
 very lot sent by Anthony Boggs. From it he
 
 13© AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 poured a large potion — larger than was his cus- 
 tom to take — and drank it with a smack, hoping 
 by this means to drown his present annoyance. 
 
 " Old Crow," said he, reading the label on the 
 bottle ; ' ' mighty fine flavor, too, and went plumb 
 to the right spot. I think I'll try a little more." 
 And now another smack of approval. 
 
 Dev'lish good of Anthony, anyway, to send 
 me this kind of stuff. There ain't no better any- 
 where." 
 
 Whisky — Anthony Boggs — Five thousand dol- 
 lars. 
 
 Somehow they seemed all connected, and not 
 only linked together, but attached to him as well. 
 
 "Yes— eh " 
 
 And now he paused and rested his head on his 
 hand. 
 
 "Well, if I must do it, I shall have to be 
 mighty careful, that's all," said he, as if he 
 had secretly given himself over to his devilish 
 purpose. 
 
 "If I'm found out," he continued— " but I 
 won't be. Caleb Steel knows what he is about. 
 I'll just wait my time, and then " 
 
 The word ' ' then ' ' came out with emphasis, 
 and there he stopped, for at that moment he was 
 interrupted by one of the mates, who asked for 
 certain orders concerning the sailing of the ship.
 
 XX. 
 
 "\ 1 rHILE our young friend had been getting a 
 little used to sea life, matters had taken 
 a turn in New York that placed him in a most 
 unfortunate position. 
 
 A post mortem examination had been held over 
 the remains of old Mother Grimmis. 
 
 A heavy bruise was found on her forehead, as 
 if she had received a terrible blow from a club, or 
 something of that nature. 
 
 The skin was hardly broken, but the swollen, 
 puffy condition of the flesh gave sufficient evi- 
 dence to show that her head had, by an unknown 
 means, come into forcible collision with some 
 hard substance. 
 
 And whether this powerful blow had been 
 leveled at her head by an assassin, or whether she 
 inflicted it upon herself in falling, was a question 
 that puzzled the inquest. 
 
 There were reasons in support of both theories. 
 
 The natural conclusion, however, was that she 
 had been struck down with a cudgel, and that the 
 blow had caused her death. 
 
 But careful examination showed that this was 
 
 131
 
 132 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 not necessarily true, for her death might be 
 accounted for in another way, and very naturally, 
 too. When found, her head lay very near the 
 stove, only a few inches from the edge of the ash 
 pan — a cast iron pot with a thick edge. On this 
 she might have fallen, and received her death blow. 
 
 " But would she have been likely to fall thus? " 
 the jurors asked each other. 
 
 No, they thought she would not — not unless 
 some special cause existed that would tend to 
 produce such a result — a cause like heart disease, 
 apoplexy, dizziness, or intoxication. 
 
 The autopsy revealed the fact that she had 
 been a hard drinker. The tissues of her stomach 
 were terribly inflamed and partially eaten away 
 by alcohol. 
 
 It was further shown by chemical analysis that 
 she was, at the time of her death, well under the 
 influence of liquor. The gray and white matter 
 of the brain showed signs of congestion. In fact, 
 her whole system was so deranged that several 
 diseases might have developed at any time, any 
 one of which would have led to this fatal result. 
 
 It was, therefore, a very difficult case for the 
 coroner, but one that doubtless would have been 
 passed over lightly, owing, in part, to the woman's 
 obscurity and miserable character, but for evi- 
 dence which came out in the inquest and which 
 pointed to foul play.
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 1 33 
 
 Almost immediately after the discovery of her 
 dead body, several of the toughest characters who 
 habitually frequented her den, and were spoken 
 of as Mother Grimmis' gang, were arrested and 
 held for appearance when wanted. 
 
 At this inquest, however, all were able to prove 
 an alibi, and the evidence was of so strong a 
 nature that they were discharged after being de- 
 tained to give testimony upon the case. 
 
 And in this evidence Ben's connection with 
 the old woman's den was clearly brought out. 
 
 The jurors looked at each other significantly. 
 Here was a clue that promised fruitful results. 
 
 The " gang " were sharp enough to note this, 
 and, that they might appear further removed 
 from suspicion, gave their testimony a coloring 
 that reflected very darkly upon Ben. 
 
 Inmates of the building were summoned, but 
 none had seen any stranger enter Mother Grim- 
 mis' apartments, or leave them, on that fatal 
 night. 
 
 It was learned from questioning the " gang" 
 that the lad and Mother Grimmis had frequently 
 quarreled. 
 
 This statement strengthened the theory now 
 forming in the jurors' minds. 
 
 Circumstances were woven around Ben in such 
 a way that suspicion pointed strongly to him, 
 and the inquest took this view of the case.
 
 134 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 They felt there was no positive evidence that 
 the woman had been foully dealt with. It was 
 one of those peculiar cases where death might 
 have resulted from natural causes, or might have 
 been the work of an assassin. 
 
 There were more reasons, however, for believ- 
 ing the former, and the coroner's verdict would 
 have been rendered in accordance with this view 
 but for the mysterious disappearance of Ben. 
 
 This in itself was so suspicious that the in- 
 quest did not feel justified in dropping the case 
 without a proper investigation on the part of the 
 courts.
 
 XXI. 
 
 PHE result of the coroner's inquest was pub- 
 lished in the city papers much as I have 
 given it in the chapter just ended. 
 
 And there were two men who read it with far 
 greater interest than any others in the whole 
 metropolis. 
 
 They were William Montgomery and Anthony 
 Boggs. 
 
 The former was astounded at the idea. It 
 seemed so improbable that the lad could be con- 
 nected with such a crime, and yet there was 
 before him the same circumstantial evidence that 
 had been given to the coroner. 
 
 He handed the paper to his wife, pointing to 
 the article for her to read, but said nothing. 
 
 They were at breakfast at the time. 
 
 "Oh, William! Can it be possible?" she 
 said ; ' ' and he is the boy for whom we felt such 
 sympathy." 
 
 " I can't believe it," replied Mr. Montgomery. 
 " The evidence says nothing about the man 
 who stepped out of a closet, and came between 
 Mother Grimmis and the lad," he continued. 
 
 i35
 
 * 36 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 ' ' That is so, but you know you have only the 
 boy's word for that." 
 
 1 ' That is very true ; but still, I believe what 
 he told me. I am seldom deceived in reading 
 character. Moreover, there is every reason for 
 believing his story. In the first place, he showed 
 himself an honest boy by bringing my dog to me, 
 when he could easily have sold him for a good 
 price. Again, if he had been guilty of this deed 
 he never would have told us the story he gave of 
 his life, and certainly he would never have let 
 us know where he had lived — giving the name 
 of the old woman — which he did, the very same 
 that is here published." 
 
 ' ' Your view seems very reasonable, and I fully 
 agree with you ; but where do you suppose he is 
 now ? ' ' returned the lady. 
 
 "Ah, that is a mystery; but probably the 
 secret will come out now, if he has not been 
 spirited away for some purpose or other, by some 
 designing villain." 
 
 ' ' I almost think he has, or he would have come 
 to you as he promised. ' ' 
 
 " So I think, and I shall see what I can find 
 out." 
 
 ' ' Has your detective brought you any word 
 yet?" 
 
 "No, I have not seen Artemas Diggs for 
 several days," answered Mr. Montgomery ab-
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 1 37 
 
 stractedly ; "but I shall send for him to come 
 and see me tomorrow about this matter," he 
 added after a pause. 
 
 Anthony Boggs, on the contrary, had been 
 hoping that this suspicion might fall upon Ben, 
 so when he saw the report of the inquest he 
 shouted to himself : 
 
 ' ' Triumphant at last ! Anthony Boggs, you 
 are safe from all the harm this young Arab can 
 do you." 
 
 And he could hardly restrain his joy over the 
 terrible misfortune that threatened the very life 
 of our young friend. 
 
 Now he thought of the five thousand dollars he 
 had promised Caleb Steel conditionally, and he 
 wondered if there was no way by which he could 
 withdraw the offer. 
 
 " For," said he, " it is like throwing so much 
 money away, for if the gamin ever gets here alive 
 the authorities will nab him, so he cannot bother 
 me. I'll cable Captain Steel at Cape Town and 
 tell him I withdraw my offer, and direct him 
 not to do anything on my account. He said 
 his first stopping place would be Cape Town. 
 But, then, he won't be there for three or four 
 weeks yet, and then, perhaps, it will be too late. 
 The job may be done already, and he will claim 
 his money — the dog ! ' ' 
 
 If Caleb Steel could have seen this villain's
 
 138 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 expression as he uttered this remark his blood 
 would have boiled. 
 
 "Anyway, I'll send the cablegram," he con- 
 tinued, "and I'll make Steel prove when the 
 accident took place if he ever asks me for the 
 money. I can find out if the boy is on the ship 
 when it arrives there, and the messenger's receipt 
 will tell if Steel gets the message. ' ' 
 
 Accordingly the cablegram was sent to Cape 
 Town with instructions to hold till the arrival of 
 the Bertha Hopkins. 
 
 It was a queer thing to do, to cable so long be- 
 fore the vessel was due, but Boggs was so intent 
 upon saving the five thousand dollar house that 
 he acted on the impulse of the moment — not that 
 he cared to prevent the crime he had incited. 
 
 But in the course of a day or two a new phase 
 of this case began to be developed, which struck 
 terror to the heart of Anthony Boggs. 
 
 The city authorities started out two detectives, 
 to try to find Ben. 
 
 It was learned by them that a boy answering 
 to his description had been sent to the Island for 
 fighting, but that he had been returned on the 
 surety of one Grymes Jessup, an attorney. They 
 learned the date of the fight and then went to the 
 policeman who made the arrest, to get the exact 
 time of night when it occurred. 
 
 From him they learned the particulars of the
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 139 
 
 trouble, and got the name and address of Perry 
 Boggs, which they entered in their notebooks. 
 
 Next they proceeded to the office of Grymes 
 Jessnp, the attorney. 
 
 The latter had been uneasy ever since seeing 
 the report of the inquest, and now he showed 
 positive alarm the minute the two detectives 
 entered his scantily furnished office. 
 
 They proceeded at once to business, and asked 
 him what relation he bore to Ben. 
 
 " A professional relation," was his answer. 
 
 1 ' Did he solicit your services ? ' ' asked one of 
 the men. 
 
 " No, sir, I can't say that." 
 
 " Why did you act for him, then ? " 
 
 ' ' It was my client I acted for. ' ' 
 
 ' ' And the three hundred dollars bail you gave 
 in your own name was for your client ? ' ' 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " He authorized you to give it for him ? " 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " May I ask you the name of this client? " 
 
 " His name is Anthony Boggs." 
 
 " Boggs, did you say ? " 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 The two detectives looked significantly at each 
 other, and drew out the notebooks which con- 
 tained the name of Perry Boggs. 
 
 ' ' And he lives on Fifth Avenue, number — ? ' :
 
 HO AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 ' ' Yes, that is where he lives. ' ' 
 
 "Thank you," said the speaker. "But can 
 you tell me where this boy Ben is now ? ' ' 
 
 "You will have to see Mr. Boggs for that 
 information. That is his private business, so 
 it would not be proper for me to talk about the 
 matter." 
 
 ' ' Just so. Well, thank you for what you have 
 said ; we will not bore you further at present, but 
 may call again." 
 
 And the detectives passed out and started for 
 the residence of Anthony Boggs.
 
 XXII. 
 
 IMMEDIATELY after the two detectives left 
 the office of Grymes Jessup, the latter hurried 
 to a neighboring sanctum where a telephone was 
 kept, and with this instrument called up Anthony 
 Boggs. 
 
 "Some men just left my office to see you," 
 said he nervously. 
 
 " Who were they ? " asked Boggs, alarmed lest 
 some evil should, after all, overtake him. 
 
 ' ' Detectives, ' ' was the reply. 
 
 "What?" gasped the schemer, though he 
 understood the word all too well. 
 
 " Detectives ! " repeated Grymes Jessup, louder 
 than before. "Don't you see them. Be sure." 
 
 Boggs supported himself against a table to 
 keep from falling. ' ' Detectives coming for me ! ' ' 
 said he to himself, and he trembled from head to 
 foot. 
 
 At this instant a lady opened the library door 
 and entered the room. 
 
 And there before her was Boggs, white with 
 terror, and looking as if he would faint as he held 
 the telephone close to his ear. 
 
 141
 
 142 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 "Why, what in the world is the matter?" 
 exclaimed she, alarmed at his appearance. 
 
 The blood instantly rushed to his face, and his 
 color became crimson. 
 
 " Let me finish with this man, then I will tell 
 you," said he, to gain time. 
 
 "Anything more to say ? " shouted he through 
 the telephone to Grymes Jessup. 
 
 " You had better come to my office at once," 
 returned the attorney. 
 
 " All right," was the reply. 
 
 "Good by," said Grymes, and hanging the 
 telephone up he returned to his sanctum. 
 
 But Anthony Boggs pressed the instrument 
 closer to his ear, and seemed to listen with renewed 
 interest. 
 
 His back was now to the lady as he looked 
 toward the transmitter, and he dreaded facing her, 
 so he very cleverly pretended to be talking still, 
 that he might have time for thought. 
 
 " I don't understand you," he called out, as if 
 still actually talking to some one. 
 
 " Oh, yes, I see now ; " and again he said, " is 
 the market more quiet ? " 
 
 All this deception was to avoid meeting the 
 eyes of this lady. What should he say to her ? 
 It seemed to him that she was reading his very 
 thoughts, and now saw him in his true character. 
 
 " Don't keep me in this suspense, Anthony, but
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 143 
 
 tell me what has happened," said the lady, alarmed 
 and yet puzzled at the sudden change that had 
 come over him as she entered the room. 
 
 ' ' The bottom has tumbled out of one of my 
 investments," said he falsely. 
 
 This excuse he invented while pretending to be 
 engaged with the telephone. 
 
 " Oh, I'm so sorry," said she feelingly. "Will 
 you lose heavily ? ' ' 
 
 "A good stroke," said Boggs to himself, and 
 he smiled at his own evil cunning. "I'm safe 
 now from her suspicion, so I'll just cut this con- 
 versation short." Accordingly he shouted : 
 
 "Expect me in half an hour. I'll start at 
 once. Good by ; " and he turned and faced the 
 lady. 
 
 She was a woman who would everywhere 
 attract attention by her perfect figure and fine 
 intellectual face, with its kindly, sympathetic 
 expression. She was richly dressed, and her 
 manner was commanding and refined. Could 
 our young hero have seen her now he would at 
 once have recognized her as the lady whom he 
 saw on Fourteenth Street, as he leaned against 
 the tree on that eventful night. 
 
 The peculiarity of Boggs' manner aroused her 
 suspicions, and she fixed her eyes searchingly 
 upon him, much to his visible discomfort. 
 
 His eyes fell before her steady, penetrating
 
 144 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 gaze, and he moved toward the door like one con- 
 victed. 
 
 "The market," he muttered confusedly, "the 
 market has " 
 
 But he never finished the sentence, for at this 
 instant a sharp pull at the door bell made him 
 jump as if hit with a rifle bullet, and again the 
 color left his face as completely as if he were 
 dead. 
 
 "I must not be seen," said he excitedly, 
 before he realized in what a suspicious light 
 these words would place him. " Say I am not 
 at home." 
 
 "But you are at home," returned the lady, 
 ' ' and I am not in the habit of saying what is 
 not so." 
 
 " Take a seat in here, I will call Mr. Boggs," 
 said the servant, as she ushered the two men 
 into the drawing room. 
 
 "Here they come now," gasped Boggs, and 
 there being no other avenue of retreat, he rushed 
 into a closet like one demented. 
 
 1 ' I thought Mr. Boggs was in here, ' ' said the 
 servant as she came to the door to call him. 
 " Two men want to see him." 
 
 " Apparently I am the only one here," an- 
 swered the lady in her peculiar dignified manner. 
 " But I will go with you and see what they 
 want."
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 1 45 
 
 Boggs heard this and groaned. 
 
 ' ' Would you like to leave any word for Mr. 
 Boggs ? ' ' said the lady to the detectives as she 
 entered the hall. 
 
 " We wanted to see him personally, madam," 
 said one of the men. ' ' But perhaps you can tell 
 us something about the matter," he added, after 
 pausing for a moment's thought. 
 
 " I may be able to do so," returned the lady, 
 who seemed to know intuitively that some dark 
 mystery was afloat. 
 
 " Well, then, what we want," he replied, " is 
 to learn the whereabouts of the boy whose 
 release from the Island Mr. Boggs secured by 
 giving a bond for his good behavior, or rather, 
 by instructing his attorney to do so for him." 
 
 "Mr. Boggs took a boy from the Island?" 
 said she incredulously. 
 
 ' ' Yes ; and do you know nothing of the 
 matter?" 
 
 " This is the first I have heard of it, sir." 
 
 ' ' Then evidently we can learn nothing from 
 you that will aid us in finding him. ' ' 
 
 " No, not unless you state the particulars 
 about the boy, for if you do this, I might pos- 
 sibly call the case to mind," said the lady, who 
 was now trying to gain some information regard- 
 ing the matter. 
 
 Little by little, and by skilful tact, she got
 
 I4 6 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 the story from the detectives, all the facts they 
 had learned, and now, for the first time, she 
 knew the true cause of Perry's badly battered 
 face. 
 
 And when she remembered that this occurred 
 on the very night that she saw the lad by the 
 tree on Fourteenth Street — the lad who impressed 
 her so peculiarly — she naturally associated him 
 with Perry's misfortune, because, in fact, the 
 description of the boy by the detectives was 
 quite true to him. 
 
 The matter troubled her so much that she 
 found it impossible to throw it from her mind. 
 There was a mystery about it that she could not 
 understaud. 
 
 She retired to her room to think as soon as the 
 detectives had gone. She could not bear to join 
 Boggs in the library — such a coward ! And 
 worse, for he was, as it now seemed to her, 
 guilty of some crime, or he would never have 
 acted as he did. 
 
 And now she had discovered the true cause of 
 Perry's black eye and knew that he had told her 
 a falsehood about it. This was beyond question, 
 and the thought froze the affection she had felt 
 for him.
 
 XXIII. 
 
 "DEFORE the detectives had got many blocks 
 away, Boggs slipped out of his house, 
 carefully avoiding all the inmates, and made his 
 way, w r ith all possible haste, to the office of his 
 attorney. 
 
 He was nervous and agitated, and his face 
 wore a look of unmistakable fear as he entered 
 the presence of Grymes Jessup, Esquire. 
 
 ' ' Have you seen them ? ' ' asked the latter, in 
 a manner that showed his own alarm. 
 
 "No, but what is the row?" asked Boggs, 
 while he seemed to shudder in anticipation of the 
 answer. 
 
 " That boy," replied the attorney. 
 
 " Curse him ! He will be the ruin of me yet," 
 returned Boggs bitterly. 
 
 " And perhaps me, too," suggested Grymes 
 Jessup coolly. ' ' It was a bad piece of business, 
 and they know it all. ' ' 
 
 Boggs' hands twitched nervously, and the 
 color left his face. 
 
 ' ' How did they find it out ? ' ' gasped he. 
 
 Grymes Jessup explained so far as he knew, 
 
 M7
 
 1 43 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 and after discussing the matter for a time, he 
 and his client went to a noted counselor and 
 sought advice. 
 
 From this legal light they learned that no law 
 existed that would compel them, or either of 
 them, to say anything whatever about the miss- 
 ing boy. 
 
 This view of the case was a surprise to Mr. 
 Jessup, who thought he knew tolerably well what 
 the law should be, even if, in fact, he knew very 
 little of what it really was. 
 
 He looked at Boggs as if he questioned the 
 soundness of the learned lawyer's advice, and 
 Boggs, in turn, looked questioningly at the legal 
 gentleman of great fame. 
 
 The latter, however, satisfied them that they 
 could not be molested or forced to incriminate 
 themselves in any way. 
 
 This information had a most cheering effect 
 upon both Boggs and Grymes Jessup, and they 
 agreed together to answer no questions touching 
 upon Ben's whereabouts. 
 
 Nevertheless, their refusal to say anything 
 upon the matter made their position all the more 
 suspicious. 
 
 I^ater in the day, Artemas Diggs, the special 
 detective employed by William Montgomery to 
 look into the case, reported to the latter all the 
 facts regarding Ben's trouble with Perry Boggs,
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 1 49 
 
 his arrest and conviction, and how his pardon 
 was secured by Anthony Boggs, the father of the 
 boy Ben punished so severely. 
 
 This information only served to increase Mr. 
 Montgomery's interest in our young friend, and 
 it strengthened his purpose to try and discover 
 Ben's whereabouts, and to protect him, as far as 
 possible, from suffering unjustly. 
 
 " This explains, then, why the lad did not keep 
 his engagement and call upon me that morning," 
 said the lawyer to himself ; and he felt more than 
 ever convinced of the boy's honesty. 
 
 But Ben was well at sea now, far away from 
 Mr. Montgomery's aid, and from the strong hand 
 of the law, which was waiting to grasp him on a 
 charge of capital crime. 
 
 It was fortunate that he knew nothing of the 
 suspicion that had been raised agaiust him 
 regarding Mother Grimmis' sudden and peculiar 
 death. 
 
 Had he known this, his trials would have been 
 almost beyond his strength to bear — a mere boy 
 as he was — for, as I have already shown, his life 
 on board the Bertha Hopkins was anything but 
 desirable. 
 
 Since Commodore Hopkins' interference in his 
 behalf, however, he saw a very favorable change 
 in Captain Steel's manner toward him, and he 
 tried to make the best of his enforced voyage,
 
 15° AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 always performing his duties in the most faithful 
 manner. 
 
 Every day seemed to give him new life and 
 new strength. The sea air robbed him of his 
 pallor and gave him a rich color that indicated 
 perfect health. 
 
 But the good effect of the ocean breezes was 
 even more noticeable upon Bertha Hopkins than 
 upon him. The salt air was a tonic to her ; it 
 quickened her appetite and invigorated her whole 
 system. The cough that had so alarmed her 
 parents was forced to give up its hold. Her 
 strength returned, and the rosy color which had 
 once been hers now came to her cheeks again. 
 
 Ben thought she was very pretty, but he liked 
 her most for her kindness and agreeable ways. 
 He had become very well acquainted with her, 
 and during his spare moments they were together 
 a great deal. 
 
 She liked the sea, and was out on deck much 
 of her time, where she chatted familiarly with 
 officers and sailors alike. But Ben being about 
 her own age, and the only young person on board 
 the ship beside herself, she naturally drifted 
 toward him whenever she felt weary of reading 
 and wanted a chat with some one other than her 
 mother and father. 
 
 And thus the friendship of Ben and his fair 
 young companion grew day by day. She told
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 151 
 
 him of her friends in New York, of her own 
 elegant home, and pictured the life of luxury she 
 had lived. 
 
 He listened to all this with the rapt attention 
 that the average boy would show at the recital of 
 an Indian war tale ; and in return he told her, 
 little by little, much of his own peculiar experi- 
 ences which he passed through on the busy 
 streets of New York. 
 
 This phase of life was quite as new and inter- 
 esting to her as the glimpse of wealth which she 
 gave was to him. 
 
 And these simple anecdotes possessed a peculiar 
 charm for each of these young people, situated as 
 they were, away out in mid ocean, away from 
 dear old New York and all former companions. 
 
 They were largely dependent upon each other 
 for entertainment, but this burden — if burden 
 it can be called — seemed to grow lighter day by 
 day. 
 
 The books that Bertha brought with her some- 
 how appeared to grow less and less interesting, 
 while the stories of New York as related by Ben 
 fascinated her. 
 
 But it is quite probable that this was due more 
 to congenial company than to the merit of his 
 stories or his superior way of relating them. 
 
 And now he began to think the life of a sailor 
 was not so bad after all.
 
 152 
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 His resolution to desert the ship at the first 
 port seemed unwise — in fact, the idea presented 
 so many dangers that he very surprisingly decided 
 to give up his purpose. 
 
 He learned that Bertha was bound for Aus- 
 tralia, and it seemed to him all at once that he, 
 too, would like to see that country.
 
 XXIV. 
 
 /^APTAIN STEEL noted the friendship that 
 — had grown up between Ben and Bertha 
 during their few weeks' association on shipboard, 
 and he envied the lad the unmistakable pleasure 
 he found in her presence. But as Caleb Steel 
 was trying to win back Commodore Hopkins' 
 good opinion, he dared not do anything to offend 
 him. Therefore he did not interfere with Ben, 
 saying to himself always, " Your time will come, 
 you young lubber. Old Hopkins can say nothing 
 to me if you meet with an accident some day," 
 and then he would look at the weather to see if 
 any signs of an approaching storm could be seen. 
 
 The Bertha Hopkins had been out nearly five 
 weeks, and had encountered no storm of any 
 consequence. 
 
 Fine weather continued day after day — just 
 such weather as would ordinarily keep the master 
 of a ship in high spirits, but on this occasion it 
 was not so with Captain Steel. 
 
 He wanted to see a storm — not a light one — 
 but one that would enable him to carry out his 
 wicked plans. 
 
 i53
 
 154 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 At last it came, and struck the ship suddenly 
 and with great fur}', when she was not prepared 
 for such a blast. 
 
 It was nearly night at the time, and the dark- 
 ness shut in upon them almost without warning, 
 as the storm itself had advanced. 
 
 The rain began falling in torrents, and the 
 wind blew a fierce gale. The ship plunged and 
 trembled as if it were a mere plaything tossed by 
 the fury of the elements. All the crew were 
 ordered aloft to take in sail, Ben being among 
 the number. The great masts creaked and 
 groaned with the terrible strain upon them, and 
 swayed violently as the ship rolled and pitched 
 in a way that threatened her destruction. 
 
 This was more of a storm than Caleb Steel had 
 hoped to see, and every minute the force of the 
 wind and rain seemed to increase. 
 
 He darted hither and thither, giving orders for 
 the safety of the ship. The canvas could not be 
 reduced quickly enough. 
 
 And now came a crash that painted terror upon 
 every face — the foremast was gone — snapped like 
 a reed before the fury of the gale. 
 
 The sails beat loudly as the men strove to take 
 them in, and the rigging rattled so that it could 
 be heard above the roar of the tempest. 
 
 In the excitement and anxiety of the hour, the 
 captain quite forgot Ben and the plan he had
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 1 55 
 
 formed concerning him. But now, as he saw the 
 brave tars make their way hand over hand in the 
 ratlines, he called to mind his wicked purpose, 
 and instantly sent for the lad. 
 
 The latter responded promptly to the sum- 
 mons, and was ordered sternly by the captain 
 away to the main topgallant crosstrees to clear 
 the rigging. The boy looked at the officer ques- 
 tioningly, as if he doubted his own senses. 
 
 "Start, you lubber ! " shouted Caleb Steel, in 
 a way that no longer left any doubt in the lad's 
 mind as to the captain's purpose. 
 
 Instantly he commenced the perilous ascent that 
 promised, inexperienced as he was, to terminate 
 his life. 
 
 " It is brutal to send that lad aloft," said Dan 
 Spiker indignantly to Commodore Hopkins. 
 
 'What, has the boy been ordered aloft?" 
 returned the latter anxiously. 
 
 "Yes, and away to the topgallant crosstrees," 
 replied the boatswain sorrowfully, as he rushed 
 to another part of the ship. 
 
 " Cruel ! cruel ! " muttered the commodore to 
 himself. "He will never come down alive, the 
 poor lad." And through the darkness he caught 
 a partial glimpse of the boy as he mounted 
 higher and higher into the black tempest above. 
 
 On and on Ben climbed, thinking less of his 
 own danger than the safety of the ship.
 
 156 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 When the foremast gave way and came crash- 
 ing down, he thought of Bertha, and asked him- 
 self what he could do to save her from perishing 
 if the ship should become disabled, as he imagined 
 she would. 
 
 It is but natural he should have thought of 
 her safetj r , for she had entered more into his 
 life and thoughts than any one else on board — 
 than any one ever had before in all his past 
 experience. 
 
 Starved as his whole life had been for the lack 
 of a mother's love and kindness, and ignorant as 
 he was of the refining influence of woman in her 
 better development, he appreciated highly his 
 association with a sweet, sunny natured girl like 
 Bertha. 
 
 And day by day, as they chatted carelessly 
 together, he had learned to look upon her as a 
 sister, or as he thought he would feel toward his 
 own sister if by penetrating the mystery of his 
 life he were to discover one like Bertha. Thus, 
 as he made his way into the rigging against the 
 fury of the storm, the thought that perhaps his 
 own efforts would save her life, as well as the 
 lives of others, gave him the courage and strength 
 to accomplish what would have been impossible 
 under other circumstances. He had the advantage 
 of being light and wiry, and his nimble fingers 
 clung to the ropes with an unyielding grasp.
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 157 
 
 And still on he climbed, bidding defiance to the 
 angry elements. But the rain beat upon him with 
 awful fury, and the wind almost tore him from 
 the mast to which he clung determinedly with 
 hands and legs. 
 
 Little by little, however, he progressed till he 
 reached the topgallant, where the terrible pitch- 
 ing of the ship almost hurled him from his place. 
 The tall mast bent and cracked beneath him, so 
 that every instant it seemed as if it would break 
 and go crashing down upon the deck, or plunge 
 into the mad ocean. 
 
 This thought almost paralyzed him with fear, 
 and weakened his grasp so much that he came 
 near being torn from his hold. 
 
 The wind shrieked through the rigging, and 
 seemed to mock his efforts as he attempted to cut 
 away the tangled rope. 
 
 It was so dark that the lad could see nothing 
 — not even his hand, in which he held the knife, 
 and 3 T et he persevered, determined to accomplish 
 his task. 
 
 The ship rolled so much that on deck even the 
 sailors could not stand without holding fast to 
 something by which to steady themselves. But 
 away above them, eighty feet in mid air, where 
 our young hero clung to the mast, how much 
 greater and more violent was the motion ! 
 
 At one minute it seemed to him as if he were
 
 158 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 being flung to the bottom of the ocean, and the 
 next instant the sudden reverse motion threatened 
 to hurl him through miles of space to some other 
 planet. 
 
 His situation was perilous in the highest degree, 
 but, notwithstanding this, he cut away at the 
 rigging, little by little, whenever an instant could 
 be found between the terrible plunges of the ship. 
 
 And when he had accomplished this task he 
 commenced his descent. Slowly he made his way 
 down, being sure of his hold every time he moved 
 his hands and legs. 
 
 And as he neared the deck, when the strain 
 upon him was less, he felt an honest pride in 
 what he had accomplished, and he wondered 
 what Bertha would say to him — if she would 
 praise him for the courage he had shown and the 
 effort he had made for her. 
 
 Now came a terrible blast of wind that snapped 
 the topmast with a triumphant shriek ; and as the 
 heavy spar crashed down through the rigging, 
 it struck Ben a glancing blow upon the head, 
 and instantly he fell as if lifeless upon the deck. 
 
 Commodore Hopkins, as well as Dan Spiker, 
 had been on the lookout for the lad, but when 
 they saw him strike the deck with a heavy thud 
 and lie there motionless, a sickening sensation 
 paralyzed them for an instant. Then they made 
 their way to him as best they could.
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 1 59 
 
 " Ben, my lad, are you hurt much ? " said Dan 
 feelingly, as he raised him up with the commo- 
 dore's aid. 
 
 "Speak, lad! Veil us where you are hurt 
 most," continued the big hearted boatswain. 
 
 But no sound came back to cheer or give them 
 courage — only the shrill sound of the wind greeted 
 their anxious ears. The lad's body was limp and 
 showed no signs of life. 
 
 " He is gone, the poor lad," said Dan, in a 
 broken voice. 
 
 "I am afraid so," returned Commodore Hop- 
 kins, with deep emotion. 
 
 "The cap'u is to blame for it all. It was 
 cruel — beastly cruel to send the lad up there. ' ' 
 
 ' ' It was an outrage — little better than murder. ' ' 
 
 " But he had a grudge against the lad, I 'low, 
 and that's why he done it." 
 
 Commodore Hopkins made no reply to this, 
 whether because he was too much overcome with 
 emotion or because he was revolving plans for 
 Caleb Steel's punishment, I cannot say. 
 
 " Shall I call the cap'n to know what we will 
 do with the lad ? " asked Dan. 
 
 "No," said Commodore Hopkins emphati- 
 cally, as if he could not endure the thought ; " I 
 will take charge of him. We will take him to my 
 stateroom at once. ' '
 
 XXV. 
 
 /"~\N the way to his stateroom it occurred to 
 ^-"^ Commodore Hopkins that it would not do 
 to take Ben in that condition into the presence of 
 his wife and daughter. 
 
 But there was an unoccupied cabin beside his 
 room, and he decided that the lad should be taken 
 there. 
 
 Caleb Steel, the master of the vessel, approached 
 now. 
 
 " See what you have done," said Commodore 
 Hopkins to him, as he pointed to the limp body 
 of the lad. 
 
 "I?" said Steel, and he turned white with 
 fear. 
 
 " Yes, you ! " answered the merchant firmly. 
 " It is little better than murder. Such brutality 
 is beyond my conception." 
 
 "The ship had to be relieved or go down," 
 stammered Steel in self justification, while his 
 head hung like that of a convict. 
 
 " I have no time now to settle this matter with 
 you. Give me the key to the stateroom adjoin- 
 ing mine." 
 
 1 60
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. l6l 
 
 Caleb Steel delivered up the key without a 
 word, and slunk away to another part of the ship, 
 repeating to himself these words : 
 
 " He has no time now to settle with me," and 
 his manner showed his alarm only too plainly. 
 
 Ben was placed upon a bunk in the stateroom, 
 and then Commodore Hopkins commenced an 
 examination, such as would have been made by a 
 physician. At first he thought the boy was 
 dead ; but when he placed his ear over the lad's 
 heart he detected a faint beat. 
 
 This gave him courage, and he went to work, 
 vigorously applying the remedies best suited to 
 restore him. 
 
 He went into his own stateroom, and told his 
 wife and daughter that Ben had received a severe 
 fall, and was now unconscious. He cautioned 
 them not to be alarmed, but nevertheless they 
 were, and Bertha cried as if her heart would 
 break. They went with him to where our young 
 hero lay, unconscious and white, as if dead. 
 Mrs. Hopkins could no longer restrain her tears, 
 and Bertha buried her face in her hands, and 
 sobbed with deep emotion. 
 
 A large swelling had now risen up on the lad's 
 forehead where the spar had struck him. The 
 merchant considered this a good sign, and he 
 worked upon him with renewed courage. 
 
 Bertha held smelling salts to his nostrils, while
 
 1 62 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 her father and mother rubbed him, and did 
 whatever seemed most likely to restore him to 
 consciousness. 
 
 At last the muscles of his face twitched, and 
 now came a long breath, then a lull again, which 
 was followed soon by a still longer respiration. 
 In another moment he moved his right hand, 
 raised it to his eyes, and drew it back and forth, 
 as if to remove a film that had gathered over 
 them ; the lids opened, and he looked around, 
 but seemingly saw nothing, and again they closed. 
 But now his brow contracted, as if thinking, or 
 as if memory were again asserting itself. 
 
 All looked on with almost breathless suspense, 
 wondering what the next indication of returning 
 life would be. 
 
 Bertha stood by the side of the bunk, still 
 holding the salts to his nostrils. 
 
 Presently he opened his eyes again and looked 
 around — not with a dull, vacant stare, as before, 
 but with a natural expression, mingled with sur- 
 prise ; and they fell upon Bertha, as she bent 
 over him. 
 
 For an instant he looked serious and puzzled, 
 and then a smile of recognition appeared. How 
 this smile lighted up the faces of the three 
 watchers ! 
 
 "You know me, don't you, Ben?" asked 
 Bertha tenderly.
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 1 63 
 
 " Yes," answered the lad faintly, " of course I 
 know you. But what has happened? " 
 
 Commodore Hopkins briefly explained about 
 his fall, and urged him to keep quiet, fearing 
 that too much excitement might prove bad for 
 him. 
 
 He was very much exhausted, and complained 
 of his head aching severely. 
 
 ' ' The blow you received probably caused that, ' ' 
 said Commodore Hopkins. "You must have 
 struck your head against the deck." 
 
 "No," said Ben, " it was something that hit 
 me. I remember dodging my head as I heard it 
 crashing down." 
 
 ; ' It was the topgallant mast that broke. ' ' 
 
 "The topgallant?" repeated Ben, as if he 
 could not realize it. 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " And I had just left it," said the lad with a 
 shudder, as he thought how near he came to 
 going with it. 
 
 This was the first time Bertha and her mother 
 had heard of the terrible danger to which our 
 young friend had been exposed, and they 
 trembled with fear at the very thought of his 
 peril. 
 
 And now, as Ben attempted to raise his left 
 arm, a cry of pain came from his lips, that inten- 
 sified the alarm felt by his friends around him.
 
 1 64 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 "Oh!" groaned the lad, and he grew faint 
 from the acute agony. 
 
 The tears streamed down Bertha's cheeks as 
 she looked with w T arm hearted, generous sym- 
 pathy upon the suffering boy. 
 
 Commodore Hopkins noticed the limp action of 
 the lad's forearm, as he tried to raise it. 
 
 " My boy, where do you feel the pain? " asked 
 the kind man tenderly. 
 
 But no reply came back. 
 
 " Ben ! " said he, trying to rouse him. 
 
 But again no answer greeted him. 
 
 " He has fainted," said the commodore, and a 
 fresh fear spread over the faces of all. 
 
 Then he took hold of the lad's left arm, and 
 examined it hastily. 
 
 "This is what caused the pain," said he. 
 ' ' It is broken between the elbow and wrist. ' ' 
 
 ' ' Poor boy ! ' ' said Mrs. Hopkins feelingly. 
 ' ' Bertha, can you apply the salts again ? We must 
 do something to restore him to consciousness. ' ' 
 
 Bertha did as she was directed, and after a 
 brief time he came out of his faint, looking whiter 
 and more exhausted than ever. 
 
 Commodore Hopkins was afraid Ben had sus- 
 tained internal injuries, and also that his skull 
 might have been fractured. It was a fearful 
 fall, which might have produced a complication 
 of injuries.
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 1 65 
 
 Now Ben moved his head so that he got a 
 good look at Bertha, which disclosed the tears in 
 her eyes. 
 
 "Don't cry," said he, speaking to her softly. 
 1 ' I guess the ship will come out all right. ' ' 
 
 "lam not thinking of the ship," said she, in 
 a way that made him realize that her tears were 
 for himself. 
 
 This thought brightened up his face, and sent 
 some color to his cheeks ; and the action of 
 the blood seemed to give him a little temporary 
 strength, and for a time he felt more like his old 
 self. 
 
 Commodore Hopkins felt encouraged at this 
 change in his appearance, and prepared to dress 
 his arm. 
 
 He understood enough of surgery to be able to 
 set the broken bone — provided it was a simple 
 break. 
 
 He made some splints, while Mrs. Hopkins 
 prepared some linen swathes to wind around the 
 arm. 
 
 Dan Spiker having got a minute from his work, 
 rushed down to the cabin to learn Ben's condition. 
 The warm hearted sailor was very happy when 
 he found the lad was alive and conscious. 
 
 Ben smiled when he saw him, and asked after 
 the safety of the ship, which was still rolling 
 frightfully.
 
 1 66 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 " It don't blow as hard as it did, so don't be 
 worry in', lad. We will come out all right." 
 
 " I hope so," rejoined Ben. 
 
 " It is you that I'm worry in' about, and not the 
 ship," said Dan, and he placed his rough, honest 
 hand tenderly on the boy's head, where the great 
 bunch had swollen up. 
 
 " Oh, you here, Dan," said Commodore Hop- 
 kins, who came in from his own stateroom with 
 the splints. " Stop a minute or two and help me 
 if you can. Ben has injured his arm, and I want 
 to put these splints on it." 
 
 Commodore Hopkins was careful not to say 
 before Ben that the arm was broken, as he did 
 not wish to frighten him. 
 
 He realized fully the suffering the boy must 
 undergo in having the arm set. There was no 
 ether or chloroform on board that could be 
 administered to him to deaden the sense of pain. 
 
 The commodore knew very well that it would 
 not do to be tender hearted, no matter how heroic 
 the treatment. So he set about the operation. 
 
 Our young hero tried to be brave and make no 
 complaint, but the pain was so intense as the 
 bones were pulled back into place that he cried 
 out as if pierced to the heart with a sword. 
 
 But this one outburst was all the complaint that 
 he made. His face grew white once more, and 
 he was lost in a dead faint.
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 1 67 
 
 "This is what I hoped would occur," said Com- 
 modore Hopkins. ' ' He will not suffer now while 
 we are setting these bones." 
 
 ' ' Are both the bones broken ? ' ' asked Mrs. 
 Hopkins. 
 
 ' ' Yes, both snapped off, and very near together, 
 too." 
 
 "Will his arm be spoiled?" asked Bertha 
 anxiously, as she wiped a tear from her eye. 
 
 "No, I hope not," replied her father; "and 
 if the bones are not slivered or badly shattered, I 
 think I can bring it out all right." 
 
 When the bones had been carefull)' set, and 
 the splints put in place and firmly secured by 
 means of the bandage, then restoratives were 
 applied again to Ben, and he returned to con- 
 sciousness.
 
 XXVI. 
 
 *\A/"HEN the wind calmed, and the ship no 
 longer seemed in danger of being lost, 
 Captain Steel went to his cabin, agitated with 
 fears and doubts. He wondered whether Ben 
 was dead or alive. He did not know the exact 
 cause of his fall, but the fact that he landed 
 on deck led him to suppose that he did not 
 tumble from the topgallant mast. 
 
 He was anxious to know if his purpose had 
 been accomplished, and if he were now actually 
 the owner of a nice house in Jersey City. 
 
 " But what if he is not dead ? " asked Caleb 
 Steel of himself. And then he meditated upon 
 the matter for a long time. 
 
 He dare not go to the stateroom where Ben 
 lay, to ascertain his condition, for he knew he 
 would see Commodore Hopkins there, and he 
 dreaded meeting him. He felt his own guilt 
 forcibly — so forcibly that he looked upon himself 
 almost as a murderer, as well he might. 
 
 Ben's limp and apparently lifeless form was 
 constantly before him, till at last he hoped that 
 the boy was still alive. The house, he felt, 
 
 168
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 169 
 
 would only haunt him if it should fall into his 
 hands, and he condemned himself for his wicked 
 purpose. 
 
 He realized how fully he had incurred Commo- 
 dore Hopkins' displeasure by this cruel act, and 
 he saw that without doubt he would lose his ship, 
 for he had no further hope that the merchant 
 would allow him to command her again. 
 
 Caleb Steel was wretched. He now began to 
 see the position in which he had placed himself. 
 
 " Everything has gone wrong with me," said 
 he dejectedly, " and it is all because I listened to 
 Anthony Boggs and yielded to his devilish pur- 
 pose. I only wish he had crashed down on the 
 deck instead of that lad ; and if the fall had 
 killed him the world would be rid of one more 
 villain." 
 
 He drew Boggs' letter from his pocket with 
 the purpose of destroying it, that it might no 
 longer tempt him. He opened it, looked at it for 
 a moment with a scowl, and then prepared to 
 tear it in pieces. There was a bitter expression 
 on his face and his eyes snapped fire as he 
 clutched the poisoned paper in his hands, in the 
 act of rending it into fragments. 
 
 " But stop ! " said he with surprising sud- 
 denness. ' ' I may need this scrap of paper for 
 evidence. What if the boy is already dead?" 
 And he laid the letter upon a table before him,
 
 170 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 and then turned in his chair and buried himself 
 in thought. 
 
 A knock sounded presently at his door. 
 
 " Come in," said he mechanically, as he con- 
 tinued thinking, and Commodore Hopkins opened 
 the door. 
 
 Caleb Steel was not expecting him, and, in 
 fact, little realized what he had said when he 
 asked him in. 
 
 And as the owner of the ship faced him, he 
 grew very white for a moment, and then his face 
 became exceedingly red, and his embarrassment 
 was painfully apparent. 
 
 The two men looked at each other for an 
 instant without speaking, and then Caleb Steel 
 dropped his eyes and seemed to shrink from 
 the merchant's penetrating gaze — a look that 
 charged him at once with the crime he had 
 attempted. 
 
 This peculiar manner of censure was terrible for 
 Caleb to bear. Ke felt his own guilt and knew 
 that his very look betrayed him to Commodore 
 Hopkins. If the latter had only spoken, and 
 actually charged him with killing the boy, he 
 would have been more at ease and could have 
 attempted some defense ; but now what was 
 there for him to say, and how should he brave 
 the withering silence that condemned him with a 
 force beyond the power of words to equal ? At
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 171 
 
 length Commodore Hopkins spoke with a pecu- 
 liar emphasis, and said : 
 
 " You did not accomplish your purpose after 
 all." 
 
 " My purpose ? " returned Caleb Steel. 
 
 " Yes, that is what I said." 
 
 " I don't know what you mean, sir." 
 
 " Very well," replied the merchant, as he eyed 
 him sharply. 
 
 This answer seemed to put an end to discussion, 
 and now silence ensued again. 
 
 Presently, however, it was broken by Commo- 
 dore Hopkins. 
 
 " But the boy is still alive," he said, in a way 
 that made his meaning clear — so clear that Caleb 
 shrank within himself, and his face became the 
 picture of guilt. 
 
 Another knock was now heard at his door, and 
 how welcome was the sound to him ! 
 
 Instantly he brushed by Commodore Hopkins, 
 and opened the door, feeling an indescribable 
 sense of relief. There he found the first mate, 
 who wished to consult with him about the man- 
 agement of the ship ; for the storm was still run- 
 ning high, and the vessel was badly disabled. 
 
 Caleb Steel was too shrewd to miss so good an 
 opportunity as this to escape from the presence of 
 his employer. Consequently, he said to the latter 
 that he was wanted on deck, and, without wait-
 
 172 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 ing for a reply, immediately started for that part 
 of the ship. 
 
 Commodore Hopkins thus found himself alone 
 in Captain Steel's cabin, and he turned and started 
 to leave the room. But in turning his eye fell 
 upon an open letter lying upon a table. On the 
 instant he thought nothing of this ; but before he 
 reached the door, something told him to go back 
 and see that letter. 
 
 He obeyed this impulse, and took the scrap of 
 paper in his hand. 
 
 It ran like this : 
 
 New York, November 21st, 188 — . 
 Friend Steel : 
 
 I know you are too busy, in preparing for a start, to discuss 
 the matter I suggested this morning. Of course, 3 r ou naturally 
 felt a little alarmed, when I first mentioned it to you, but the 
 more you think of it the easier it will seem. The boy is here 
 in your cabin with me now as I write you this note. He is 
 only a street gamin, as I told you before, so nobody would 
 ever miss him, if some accident should happen to prevent 
 his ever returning to New York alive. You have been my 
 friend for a long time, and I have found that I could always 
 depend upon you, so I have no doubt about your finding some 
 way to carry out our plan. 
 
 I own a nice house in Jersey City — on the Heights — that is 
 worth five thousand dollars in cash. If you will do as I wish 
 — and you understand what I mean — that house shall be yours. 
 I will give you a deed of it, when you furnish me with proof 
 that this gamin will never show up again in New York ; and 
 you know as well as I that we could never feel sure about 
 this so long as he is alive. 
 
 As I suggested, he might be put into the most dangerous 
 places — perhaps sent aloft in a bad storm — way up to the
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 1 73 
 
 highest point. But you know all about this, so there is no use 
 in my writing about that part of the program. Remember 
 the five thousand dollar house is yours if you do not fail me, 
 and I am so sure you will not that I shall have the house 
 put in first class order, ready for your family to move in when 
 you return home. 
 
 Captain Steel never disappointed any one, and I know he 
 will not desert his old friend — myself. 
 
 Very truly, 
 
 Anthony B . 
 
 P. S. I hope you will have a successful voyage.
 
 XXVII. 
 
 A S Commodore Hopkins read this wicked 
 "**■ letter he felt his blood boil with anger. 
 The whole matter was clear to him now. 
 
 The master of his ship — the man in whose 
 hands he had placed his own life and the lives 
 of his wife and daughter — was a hired assassin. 
 
 His indignation was almost beyond his control, 
 and he felt like having the miserable scoundrel of 
 a captain punished as he deserved. But he knew 
 too well the difficulties in the way, so he decided, 
 after becoming a little calmer, to wait develop- 
 ments, and not make any hasty move. 
 
 He folded Boggs' letter, and placed it in his 
 own pocket, feeling that he had a right to strain 
 propriety in a case of this kind. And now he 
 returned to his own cabin. 
 
 ' ' Where is Bertha ? ' ' asked he of his wife 
 nervously. 
 
 " She is watching with Ben," returned Mrs. 
 Hopkins. 
 
 "Oh, yes, yes; I almost forgot about his 
 injuries, poor boy. How is he now ? " 
 
 "He seems to be resting comfortably ; but 
 
 i74
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 175 
 
 what has happened? You look pale and agi- 
 tated." 
 
 "Yes, I feel so, and this is the cause," said 
 he, handing Anthony Boggs' letter to her to 
 read. 
 
 Mrs. Hopkins ran her eyes quickly over the 
 pages and then shuddered, as she realized the 
 awful purpose it revealed. 
 
 " Well, he wasn't successful in this attempt, 
 anyway," said Commodore Hopkins, "for the 
 boy is still alive, and, so far as I can judge, ought 
 to recover. ' ' 
 
 " I certainly hope he will. He has a sunny 
 nature and a warm heart. Bertha has already 
 become much attached to him." 
 
 " Yes, I have noticed she finds him enter- 
 taining ; but that is not unnatural, as he is the 
 only young person besides herself on board with 
 us." 
 
 Mrs. Hopkins made no reply, but appeared 
 absorbed in thought. Commodore Hopkins re- 
 ferred again to the Boggs letter, which he held 
 in his hand and studied carefully. 
 
 " Steel's purpose," he continued, " was to get 
 the five thousand dollar house ; but this man 
 must have a stronger motive than that for wish- 
 ing the boy dead." 
 
 " You will keep the letter, I suppose," replied 
 Mrs. Hopkins thoughtfully.
 
 176 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 " Most certainly I shall." 
 
 " What if Caleb Steel misses it ? " 
 
 "Yes, he will doubtless miss it, but you can 
 feel sure he will never ask me about it." 
 
 " Will he suspect that you took it from his 
 cabin?" 
 
 " Without doubt he will." 
 
 " And will he make no effort to get it back? " 
 
 " I can't think of any that he would be likely 
 to make." 
 
 "He has shown himself a dangerous man — 
 one ready to do anything, however cruel and 
 wrong," said Mrs. Hopkins, and she looked wor- 
 ried, as if she feared something serious might 
 happen to her husband. 
 
 And now Commodore Hopkins and his wife 
 went into the stateroom occupied by our unfortu- 
 nate hero. 
 
 Close beside his cot sat Bertha. She was 
 watching him attentively, and doing whatever 
 she could to make his suffering less. 
 
 ' ' How do you feel now ? ' ' asked Commodore 
 Hopkins. 
 
 "lam more comfortable, thank you," said Ben. 
 
 ' ' Have you had good attention since I went 
 out? " asked Mrs. Hopkins. 
 
 " Oh, yes," said he, and his eyes met Bertha's 
 with an expression of grateful appreciation, while 
 a faint color spread over his cheeks.
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 177 
 
 But much more plainly did this crimson tint 
 show itself on Bertha's face, as her eyes fell to 
 the floor. She toyed with her handkerchief, 
 like one embarrassed, though why she should 
 have felt so even she herself could not have told. 
 
 The honest hearted boatswain now came into 
 the room. He was just off watch, and intended 
 to spend this time with Ben. 
 
 " I came in to relieve you, so you can get some 
 rest," said he to Commodore Hopkins. 
 
 " But will you not need the rest yourself?" 
 returned the latter. 
 
 "Oh, no," said he, "and besides, I would 
 rather stay with the lad than not. ' ' 
 
 So it was settled that Dan should remain with 
 Ben during his off watch. 
 
 " Call me if there is any change for the 
 worse," said Commodore Hopkins, as he left the 
 room. 
 
 Bertha was the last to say good night. She 
 seemed loath to leave him as she lingered beside 
 his cot and placed her soft, white hand upon his 
 burning head. 
 
 This touch, so gentle and sympathetic, was 
 healing medicine to our young friend, and his 
 eyes expressed clearly the pleasure that her 
 tender solicitude had given him. 
 
 And she noticed this, and thought of it when 
 she had reached her own room — thought of it
 
 178 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 with the simple pleasure of a child at making 
 one happy ; and yet with something of inspira- 
 tion in the thought. 
 
 The boatswain, realizing how much his young 
 friend needed sleep, urged him to lie quiet and 
 try to drop into a doze. And after a while he did 
 so, and slept soundly at intervals throughout the 
 night. 
 
 When Dan's off watch had expired, he arranged 
 with one of the sailors to take his place as nurse, 
 so that the boy would not be left alone for any 
 length of time. 
 
 As he came out of the room occupied by Ben 
 he met the captain of the ship. 
 
 "Where have you been?" asked the latter 
 nervously, though he could not have helped 
 knowing, as he saw him come through the door. 
 
 " With the cabin boy, sir," answered the boat- 
 swain. 
 
 "Is he alive?" inquired Caleb Steel, with 
 unmistakable anxiety. 
 
 " Yes, but that's about all. His arm is broken, 
 and he may be a deal worse smashed up, for all I 
 know. ' ' 
 
 ' I hope not," said the captain uneasily. The 
 latter had discovered the loss of the Boggs letter, 
 and he was therefore in a wretched state of mind. 
 He remembered leaving it on the table, and felt 
 certain Commodore Hopkins had taken it.
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 1 79 
 
 What would he not have given to get that 
 letter back, and how soon he would have torn it 
 into a thousand pieces ! But now it was too late, 
 and the worst possible phase of fear haunted him. 
 
 " If the lad should die," said Caleb to himself, 
 ' ' and from what the boatswain told me this does 
 not seem improbable, where should I be then ? " 
 
 Caleb Steel's face became ashy white at this 
 thought. He saw himself arrested, charged with 
 murder, and proved guilty by the letter of 
 Anthony Boggs. 
 
 He knew Commodore Hopkins would use it 
 against him, so he looked for no mercy from the 
 merchant, who, he felt, must look upon him as 
 too vile to live.
 
 XXVIII. 
 
 HP HE next morning Ben was somewhat feverish, 
 as Commodore Hopkins had expected, but 
 in the main his symptoms were favorable, and 
 throughout the day he showed signs of improve- 
 ment. 
 
 He was terribly bruised and thoroughly shaken 
 up. His right ankle was so badly sprained that 
 it gave him nearly as much pain as the broken 
 arm. 
 
 But the fact that no signs of internal injuries 
 had appeared led Commodore Hopkins to feel 
 highly encouraged about his young patient, who 
 received the best of nursing from Mrs. Hopkins 
 and Bertha. 
 
 The latter, especially, lost no opportunity of 
 showing Ben any little attention that would add 
 to his comfort or pleasure. She kept wet, cool 
 napkins constantly upon his aching head, and 
 chatted encouragingly in a sweet and low tone. 
 
 What a rare luxury this attention was to Ben ! 
 It almost repaid him, as he thought, for the 
 injuries he had received, and for the pain he was 
 now suffering. 
 
 180
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 181 
 
 Every one seemed kind, attentive, and anxious 
 for his recovery. 
 
 But what seemed stranger than all else was 
 Captain Steel's manifest interest in his improve- 
 ment. A stronger motive, however, than that of 
 mere kindness prompted this feeling, for it was 
 now a question that touched his own interest — 
 his own life even — and this was the cause of his 
 anxiety. 
 
 The weather had cleared, and the sun shone 
 bright and warm upon the ship as she sailed 
 merrily along over the sparkling waves. 
 
 Sailors worked with a light, cheerful heart, 
 repairing the damages caused by the terrible storm 
 of the night before. 
 
 Bertha appeared on deck several times during 
 the day, and filled her lungs again and again with 
 the soft, exhilarating air. Ordinarily she would 
 have found rare enjoyment in the warm sun- 
 light, but now she sacrificed this pleasure to 
 spend her time with our young hero in the cabin 
 below. 
 
 How delighted he was withthe story of ' ' Rob- 
 inson Crusoe," which she read to him ! He was 
 ignorant till now of the rich treasure to be found 
 in books, and this charming story — one of the 
 best that ever was written — completely fascinated 
 him. 
 
 But doubtless the reader gave it many addi-
 
 1 82 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 tional charms. He watched her as she pro- 
 nounced the words musically and without seem- 
 ing effort. It seemed to him as if she must have 
 the whole story committed to memory in order to 
 slide over it so easily. 
 
 They discussed Crusoe's life on his island as 
 fast as they progressed with the story. 
 
 Bertha got her map, and pointed out to him 
 where the supposed island was situated, and then 
 explained the map, and gave him a few hints on 
 geography. This interested him and kindled his 
 thirst for more knowledge of the same subject. 
 
 Bertha promised to teach him something of 
 this study, and then they returned once more to 
 the story. 
 
 Ben listened with the keenest attention and 
 admiration, as she progressed with the strange 
 tale. When she read of the footprints Crusoe 
 saw upon the beach, he trembled with excite- 
 ment and drew nearer to the fair reader, as if to 
 catch the words so much the sooner from her 
 pretty lips. 
 
 ' ' Who could have made the footprints ? ' ' 
 interrupted Ben excitedly. 
 
 ' ' That is what Crusoe wanted to know, ' ' 
 laughed Bertha; " but let me read on, and see 
 what he thought about it. ' ' 
 
 And as the story pictured Crusoe' s alarm, Ben 
 took on something of the same feeling, and
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 1 83 
 
 looked as if he were about to be massacred by a 
 band of roving cannibals. 
 
 "Why, what makes you so pale?" asked 
 Bertha, as she looked up from her book. But as 
 Ben realized that it was caused only by the 
 thrilling scenes of which she was reading, and 
 saw how little excitement she showed, he blushed 
 and tried to appear unconcerned. 
 
 But Bertha refused to read any more to him on 
 that day, fearing the excitement would not be 
 good for him ; so they chatted pleasantly for a 
 while about the story, and then she told him 
 something of the books she had read. 
 
 This subject interested him, and he made up 
 his mind that he would not always remain igno- 
 rant. 
 
 ' ' I wish I could go to school and get some 
 education," said he, when a pause had been 
 reached in the conversation. 
 
 " I wish, too, that you could, Ben," said 
 Bertha. 
 
 "But of course I can't, for that takes 
 money," replied he wistfully. 
 
 Bertha looked thoughtful and sober. 
 
 "Will you let me teach you?" she asked, 
 after a pause, her face brightening up. 
 
 "You teach me? " 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " But you wouldn't want to do that ? "
 
 1 84 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 ' ' Yes, I should be glad to. ' ' 
 ' Thank you. You are as good as you can 
 be," said Ben, with sincere, childlike gratitude, 
 and he reached out his well arm and pressed her 
 hand in his. 
 
 But this act was not so much like that of a 
 child. It seemed prompted rather by intuition, 
 for it was a most unnatural thing for a street 
 gamin to do. 
 
 Bertha stammered in return some gentle pro- 
 test as the color rose to her cheeks. 
 
 " And I would only be too glad to have you 
 teach me," continued Ben. 
 
 " Then I shall do so with pleasure," answered 
 his fair companion, ' ' and we will commence in a 
 few days, as soon as you are a little stronger. ' ' 
 
 Our young friend was very happy over this 
 prospect, for he felt hungry for a better educa- 
 tion ; and it is just possible that he liked the 
 prospect of being taught by so charming a 
 teacher — most boys would. 
 
 During the next day they continued the read- 
 ing of " Robinson Crusoe." When it described 
 the cannibals, and the capture of the one whom 
 Crusoe named " Friday," Ben's interest reached 
 as high a point as that recorded on the previous 
 day. 
 
 During that part of the story which treated 
 of the cannibals he wore a look of the deepest
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 185 
 
 amazement. He knew he had seen some tough 
 people in the worst districts of New York, and 
 he supposed they were about as bad a lot as any 
 to be found in the world ; but, as he put it, 
 " they don't eat each other." 
 
 In fact, he commenced to doubt the truth of the 
 whole story now, for he couldn't realize how 
 people could eat one another. 
 
 Bertha assured him, however, that there are 
 those who do so. 
 
 Of course he believed the story now, but he 
 thought the cannibals must surely be a species of 
 beast. 
 
 On and on they read till but a few pages yet 
 remained. He counted them one by one, anxious 
 for more and more of the charming tale, and yet 
 dreaded the approach of the end. 
 
 That was the first book he had ever heard read, 
 and it seemed to him that he would never find 
 another so good ; so he wished, as many others 
 have wished before him, that it might be pro- 
 longed indefinitely. 
 
 When, however, the end was at last reached, 
 Bertha consoled him with the assurance that she 
 had with her many other books, some of which 
 she thought would please him quite as well as 
 "Robinson Crusoe," and these she promised to 
 read to him.
 
 XXIX. 
 
 J]) AN SPIKER had dropped into Ben's state- 
 room several times during the reading of 
 "Robinson Crusoe." He had read it years 
 before, but now it seemed almost new to him, and 
 his interest in the story was scarcely less than 
 that manifested by our young hero. 
 
 Bertha selected the ' ' Swiss Family Robinson ' ' 
 as the next to read, believing it would please 
 Ben nearly, if not quite, as much as the one just 
 finished. 
 
 Dan Spiker managed to listen to a good propor- 
 tion of this story also, and he pronounced it better 
 than ' ' Robinson Crusoe. ' ' 
 
 "Now, Dan," said Bertha — it was perfectly 
 proper to speak thus familiarly on shipboard — 
 ' ' you have heard me read two big books, so I 
 think it is your turn to entertain Ben and me with 
 a story. ' ' 
 
 " But I'd a deal rather hear you read, miss," 
 said Dan, trying to shirk the obligation. 
 
 1 ' Well, I would rather have a story from you, ' ' 
 returned Bertha. 
 
 " Yes, give usagoodoue, Dan," chimed in Ben. 
 
 1 86
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 187 
 
 As a matter of fact, however, he also would 
 have much preferred listening to another story 
 from Bertha ; but he saw she really wanted to hear 
 one of the boatswain's yarns, so he was prompted 
 to urge him to the task. 
 
 «.' What shall it be? " asked Dan. 
 
 "Oh, anything that will be exciting," answered 
 Bertha. 
 
 ' ' Would you rather have a true story or a 
 regular sailor's yarn ? " 
 
 "A true story," answered Bertha. 
 
 "Yes, give us the true story," joined in Ben. 
 
 The latter had now so far recovered from his 
 fall as to be up and dressed. His broken arm was 
 supported by a sling. The swelling on his fore- 
 head had entirely disappeared, but the sprained 
 ankle was still very troublesome, and he could 
 not use it at all. 
 
 This alone kept him a prisoner in his state- 
 room, but a very happy one, owing to the almost 
 constant presence throughout the day of his fair 
 young companion. 
 
 Had she not been with him, his confinement 
 would have been a great trial to him, for he had 
 spent almost his whole life in the open air, drift- 
 ing about the streets of New York. 
 
 "Well, if you want a true story, I will tell 
 you something that happened in my own experi- 
 ence," said Dan Spiker.
 
 1 88 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 "Oh, that will be ever so jolly," exclaimed 
 Bertha. 
 
 " Yes, if it's only exciting," put in Ben, " for 
 you know that is what you said you want." 
 
 "We will wait and see," said she. "And 
 now let us keep quiet so that Dan can com- 
 mence. ' ' 
 
 " Thirteen years ago last summer," began the 
 boatswain, after clearing his throat and assuming 
 an unnatural tone of voice, as if to deliver a dec- 
 lamation, " I was a young sailor on a big pas- 
 senger steamer bound for ' ' 
 
 Here he was interrupted by the appearance 
 of Commodore Hopkins, who now entered the 
 room. 
 
 " A social chat you all seem to be having," 
 said the latter, as he noticed the expression of 
 interest on the faces of Ben and Bertha. 
 
 "Yes," said his daughter, "Dan has just 
 commenced a story." 
 
 ' ' That is a favorite way of whiling away time 
 on shipboard," returned her father. "When I 
 used to follow the sea I enjoyed these sailor's 
 yarns hugely." 
 
 "But this isn't a yarn at all ; it is a true 
 story," rejoined Bertha. 
 
 "Then probably I never heard it, and if Dan 
 doesn't object I should like to become a listener 
 with you and Ben. ' '
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 1 89 
 
 This proposition made Dan show more signs of 
 embarrassment than a country schoolboy exhibits 
 on the occasion of his first declamation. 
 
 "Oh, do let papa stay and hear it," pleaded 
 Bertha, who saw that the boatswain appeared 
 somewhat upset, and now hesitated about pro- 
 ceeding with his story. 
 
 At length, however, he yielded to the solici- 
 tations of all three, and prepared for a fresh 
 start.
 
 XXX. 
 
 " '"THIRTEEN years ago last summer," re- 
 peated Dan, with evident embarrass- 
 ment, '■ I was a sailor on board a large steamship 
 called the Meguntuck." 
 
 "That's an awful funny name," remarked 
 Ben comically, and all laughed, including the 
 boatswain himself. 
 
 "Yes, 'tis kinder odd, but I believe it is an 
 Indian name," replied Dan, and as no further 
 interruption came, he proceeded as follows : 
 
 " We were on the return voyage from Cuba to 
 New York. The steamer had a full list of pas- 
 sengers, and everything went well till off Cape 
 Hatteras ; and then things took a bad turn. The 
 heaviest fog I ever saw settled down on us one 
 afternoon about four o' clock. It was so thick we 
 couldn't see anything ; all night it seemed to 
 grow blacker and blacker. There was no telling 
 what danger we were running into, but it was 
 just as safe to go ahead as to stop, so we kept on 
 going till about four o'clock in the morning, 
 when suddenly we felt a tremendous crash, and 
 the steamer lurched as if struck a death blow. 
 
 190
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 191 
 
 " And before we had time to think of anything 
 word was passed from one to another that a big 
 hole had been knocked in the steamer's side 
 below the water line. This spread consternation 
 among all on board — sailors and passengers alike 
 — and in a few minutes the captain ordered the 
 lifeboats lowered with all possible haste. 
 
 "The steamer was rapidly filling with water, 
 which rushed in with awful force through the 
 great hole made by some unknown object. 
 
 " But whatever hit us we never found out. If 
 it was a vessel, she might have gone to the bot- 
 tom like a rock, or slipped quietly away in the 
 fog, if she was not too badly smashed by the 
 collision. 
 
 " Everything was confusion. 
 
 ' ' The passengers and most of the crew rushed 
 around in a regular panic. Everybody grabbed 
 a life preserver and crowded toward the boats. 
 
 ' ' Some of them acted perfectly crazy, as they 
 fought their way to the front with, perhaps, but 
 half their clothing on. Not much time was 
 wasted in dressing, I can tell you. It was a 
 terrible struggle for life, when every one fought 
 for himself. 
 
 ' ' But the saddest of all was when a nurse girl 
 deserted a baby, and left him to the mercy of the 
 sea, while she plunged into the struggling crowd, 
 and made her way toward the lifeboats.
 
 192 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 "I tell you, commodore," said Dan tenderly, 
 " that sight touched me down deep. I hadn't the 
 heart to see that baby drown with no one trying 
 to save him. How he cried, poor little fellow, 
 when the nurse left him, and held out his little 
 hands for help ! " 
 
 "Oh, how terrible," said Bertha ; " how could 
 she be so cruel ? ' ' 
 
 " Yes, it was indeed terrible." 
 
 ' ' But what became of him ? ' ' inquired Ben 
 eagerly. 
 
 " I rescued him myself," replied Dan, with the 
 sparkle of honest pride in his eyes. 
 
 "So he was really saved ? And you did it all 
 yourself," said Bertha. " How good you are, 
 Dan !" 
 
 The latter blushed at this compliment. 
 
 " Yes, you deserve great credit," said Commo- 
 dore Hopkins, who was an interested listener to 
 the boatswain's story. 
 
 "What did you do with him?" asked Ben, 
 whose interest was now excited. 
 
 " I took him to New York." 
 
 ' ' Where were his father and mother ? ' ' inquired 
 Bertha. 
 
 ' ' That is what I have never found out. I 
 suppose they were drowned, but I don't see why 
 they were not with the child before the boat went 
 down."
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 1 93 
 
 ' ' So the steamer was really lost ? ' ' 
 
 ' ' Yes, she went down soon after I had left 
 her." 
 
 1 ' And were there a lot of people drowned ? ' ' 
 
 " I really can't say. The fog was so thick I 
 couldn't see any one, and after the boats had left 
 the steamer they soon separated. But I think a 
 lot of lives must have been lost." 
 
 ' ' How old was the child ? ' ' asked Ben thought- 
 fully. 
 
 " I should think he was about a year or fifteen 
 months old. He could walk, and was as bright 
 and pretty as could be." 
 
 ' ' And that was thirteen years ago ? ' ' pursued 
 our hero. 
 
 ' ' Yes, thirteen years ago last summer. ' ' 
 
 " Then he must be about fifteen now? " 
 
 " Yes, about that, poor child, if he is alive," 
 said the boatswain sadly. 
 
 " Why, don't you know where he is? " asked 
 Bertha, with surprise. 
 
 " No, I do not, though I've spent a lot of time 
 and money hunting for him." 
 
 1 ' How is that ? ' ' inquired Commodore Hopkins. 
 
 " Well, he disappeared very mysteriously, and 
 that is all I know about it." 
 
 " What do you suppose became of him? " 
 
 "I always thought, sir, that he was stolen 
 from me."
 
 194 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 "Stolen!" exclaimed Ben, with a peculiarly 
 eager expression. 
 
 " Yes, stolen ; that's what I believe." 
 
 " But why should the child be stolen from 
 you?" asked Commodore Hopkins. 
 
 "That's the mystery, sir," returned the boat- 
 swain, " aud I've never been able to settle the 
 question in my own mind." 
 
 ' ' And you feel sure that no accident could have 
 befallen him, such as tumbling into some hole or 
 something of the sort where he would have died ? ' ' 
 
 " That couldn't have happened, for there were 
 no such dangerous places around my home." 
 
 1 ' Then it is possible that he strayed away and 
 got lost." 
 
 " Yes, I know it is, but I don't believe he ever 
 did so. As I said before, I think he was stolen 
 by some one;" and the boatswain's manner 
 indicated that he had no doubt upon this point. 
 
 Yet it was not at all improbable that he was mis- 
 taken, for his education on the sea did not neces- 
 sarily make him a good detective. 
 
 " But, if he were stolen," argued Commodore 
 Hopkins, "there must have been some object 
 that prompted the kidnapping." 
 
 " Yes, I suppose that is so." 
 
 "You never heard a word from him since 
 he disappeared?" continued the commodore 
 thoughtfully.
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 1 95 
 
 " No, not a word, sir." 
 
 "That shows, then, that he could not have 
 been stolen with a view to getting a reward for 
 his return. ' ' 
 
 "No, it wasn't that, for of course I couldn't 
 have given much reward." 
 
 " Do you imagine he was taken by his parents, 
 or possibly by the nurse girl ? ' ' 
 
 "No, I don't think so." 
 
 ' ' That is the only explanation I can think of. ' ' 
 
 " It don't seem likely to me, though, for the 
 child's father and mother were fine appearing 
 people. No, sir, I don't think they would do 
 anything like that, for they must have been 
 rich, and would have paid me handsomely for 
 saving his life. ' ' 
 
 "Doubtless you are right on that point, but 
 tell me how long had you been in New York 
 with the child when he disappeared ? ' ' 
 
 1 ' Only about three months, sir. ' ' 
 
 " Well, it is a mystery. I cannot understand 
 it," said Commodore Hopkins finally, as he 
 stroked his beard in thought. 
 
 1 ' Thirteen years ago last summer — over a year 
 old then — about fifteen now — a boy, too — father 
 and mother drowned — rich folks — child stolen — 
 never found." 
 
 These thoughts shot through Ben's mind like 
 lightning, as he listened to the boatswain's story
 
 196 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 with the keenest interest. The idea at once 
 suggested itself to him that he might be the 
 very lost child — "and why not?" he argued. 
 " I'm about as old as that boy would be now, 
 and if I was stolen and taken to old Mother 
 Grimmis' den — as I believe I was — why it is just 
 as likely that I was taken from Dan Spiker as 
 from anybody else." 
 
 " Why, what makes you look so queer, Ben? " 
 said Bertha, who then noticed his expression. 
 
 Instantly all eyes were turned upon him, and 
 this brought the color to his cheeks. 
 
 " I was thinking about the child," returned 
 he with evident embarrassment, for he felt that 
 his own thoughts had been read. 
 
 "So was I," returned Bertha laughingly, 
 "but I know I didn't look the way you did." 
 
 "Why, how did I look ? " asked Ben. 
 
 " I can't tell, only you looked awfully funny, 
 with your head resting in your hand, your mouth 
 open as if you were swallowing every word, and 
 your eyes fixed upon Dan in ' ' 
 
 " Oh, come now, don't make fun of me in this 
 way," interrupted our young friend, who felt 
 uncomfortable at being so freely discussed. 
 
 " No, I am not making fun, for truly that is 
 just the way you looked." 
 
 "Well, Dan is the cause of it, for his story 
 interested me."
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 197 
 
 " I should think so from your appearance, and 
 I feel quite jealous of Dan, for I read two whole 
 books to you, and you didn't show half so much 
 interest as you do in this story." 
 
 The boatswain protested that he had not in- 
 tended or even hoped to outdo Bertha. 
 
 " It must be the application of the story that 
 so interested Ben," said Commodore Hopkins, 
 who guessed at the secret, and he hit so near the 
 truth that Ben's cheeks again grew crimson. 
 
 "I don't quite understand you," said Dan, 
 puzzled at the merchant's remark. 
 
 ' ' I mean to say that Ben is perhaps applying 
 your story to himself," returned the commodore. 
 
 At this the boatswain fell into his old custom, 
 and whistled softly to himself, as he eyed Ben 
 keenly. 
 
 Bertha looked surprised and incredulous, but 
 said nothing. 
 
 Commodore Hopkins moved about nervously, 
 as he watched the boatswain studying the lad's 
 features with such intense earnestness. 
 
 Ben himself breathed quickly and nervously, 
 as he, with Bertha and her father, waited for the 
 verdict — waited with never a word to break the 
 silence till the boatswain should speak. 
 
 The latter is oblivious of this pause — oblivious 
 of everything except the subject in his mind, as 
 his thoughts go back to the lost steamship, to
 
 198 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 the babe as he sees him, with outstretched hands, 
 crying so imploringly. Then he passes to the 
 scene at his own happy home, with the little 
 fellow playing lovingly about his mother and 
 sisters. 
 
 And now a light flashes in the sailor's honest 
 eyes, and he almost fancies he sees before him 
 the same features that appealed so strongly to 
 him on that terrible night. 
 
 But at length he shakes his head with a sigh, 
 as if unable to decide in his own mind whether 
 or not our young hero is the lost child of his 
 story ; and as he takes his eyes from Ben, and 
 realizes the situation — sees all waiting for him to 
 speak — he says awkwardly, as if to apologize for 
 his manner, "I can't make up my mind. His 
 eyes are the same, and — well, it's been so long, I 
 won't say."
 
 XXXI. 
 
 A I*L felt disappointed at the boatswain's 
 **■ words, but none so much as Ben himself. 
 He had hoped the sailor might recognize him as 
 the lost child. 
 
 Commodore Hopkins and Dan discussed the 
 matter at some length, and then Ben asked what 
 the child's name was. 
 
 " Victor Van Vleet," answered Dan ; "or, at 
 least, I suppose that was his name, as I found it 
 engraved on the inside of a small gold ring that 
 was on his finger." 
 
 ■ ' Victor Van Vleet, ' ' repeated Bertha. ' ' Well, 
 that name doesn't seem to fit you at all, Ben." 
 
 "No, I shouldn't know myself by it," he 
 replied. 
 
 " Still, if it should turn out that you are the 
 stolen child," said Commodore Hopkins, "the 
 fact that your name was changed would not be 
 at all strange." 
 
 " And you know he only has one name — Ben 
 — now," said Bertha, addressing her father. 
 
 " Yes, I know that," returned the latter ; and 
 then, turning to the boatswain, he said, " Al- 
 
 199
 
 200 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 though you cannot identify Ben as the lost child, 
 there is, on the other hand, nothing, as I 
 understand you, to disprove the theory that he 
 and the little fellow you rescued from the doomed 
 ship are one and the same." 
 
 "That's it," said Dan, still eying our young 
 hero thoughtfully. 
 
 "The fact, then, that Ben is about the right 
 age, the probability that he was kidnapped when 
 very young, and the similarity of features and 
 eyes between him and the child, all favor the 
 belief that he is j^our lost boy." 
 
 Ben's face brightened at this view of the case, 
 and Bertha seemed much pleased at the prospect 
 of her young friend's identification. 
 
 "And you say that the child's parents were 
 rich? " said Ben. 
 
 ' ' Yes, it was said on board the steamer that 
 they were very rich," replied Dan. 
 
 ' ' Was this babe the only child with them ? ' ' 
 asked the commodore. 
 
 ' ' Yes, the only one I saw. ' ' 
 
 " Then, if his identity could be established, he 
 would inherit all this wealth, providing his parents 
 were lost at sea, as you think they were." 
 
 " Yes, I suppose so." 
 
 " To be sure he would." 
 
 " But what do you imagine has become of the 
 property ? ' '
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 201 
 
 " It probably went to his relatives." 
 
 " And would they have to give it up if this 
 child could be found ? ' ' 
 
 ' ' Yes ; without doubt they would have to turn 
 it over to him." 
 
 Ben's eyes dilated at this turn of the conversa- 
 tion. He imagined himself rich — very rich — 
 that is, if he really was Victor Van Vleet. 
 
 But even if he was, there seemed to him no 
 way, after all these years, in which he could 
 establish the legal proof. 
 
 To Commodore Hopkins, however, it did not 
 seem so improbable, for he already had a clue, in 
 the shape of Anthony Boggs' letter to Caleb 
 Steel, which might, as he thought, unearth the 
 whole secret. 
 
 The commodore became deeply interested in 
 the case, and talked with Ben till he had learned 
 all that the latter knew of himself, and then, as 
 the ship sailed on day after day, he discussed the 
 matter at great length with Dan Spiker, hoping 
 the boatswain might see something in our young 
 friend to connect him with Victor Van Vleet. 
 
 It happened one da3^ that Ben saw Bertha 
 writing several letters to friends in New York. 
 This suggested the idea to him of informing 
 William Montgomery, the lawyer, why he failed 
 to keep his engagement with him. But he had 
 never learned to write well enough for this pur-
 
 202 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 pose, so he invoked Bertha's aid, and she cheer- 
 full}' complied with his request. 
 
 In the letter, Ben told in brief everything that 
 had occurred in his life since the night he found 
 the big St. Bernard. He stated in full the part 
 Perry Boggs and his father had acted, including 
 the smuggling of himself on board of the Bertha 
 Hopkins. He made clear his purpose to bring 
 Boggs senior to justice if possible, and said that 
 his ship was bound for Australia, and would not 
 return to New York for seven or eight months. 
 
 When this letter was finished, placed in the 
 envelope, and addressed, Bertha put it with others 
 that were ready for mailing. 
 
 Shortly after this Commodore Hopkins chanced 
 to notice this letter. 
 
 "William Montgomery," said he, with surprise; 
 "why, that is strange — my lawyer — and why is 
 Bertha writing to him, I wonder? " 
 
 The latter, on being questioned, said she had 
 written the letter for Ben. But it seemed very 
 odd to the commodore that this boy should know 
 so distinguished a lawyer as William Montgomery 
 well enough to write to him in a friendly way. 
 
 Ben, however, explained the matter to his 
 satisfaction. Indeed, he was greatly pleased by 
 the lad's recital of his Bowery experience, and 
 glad to know that he had won the friendship of 
 so generous and kind a man as Mr. Montgomery.
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 203 
 
 11 1 think, Beu, your case had better be placed 
 in his hands," said he, apparently having given 
 the matter careful thought. 
 
 ' ' My case ? ' ' questioned Ben. 
 
 "Yes, the matter of finding out if you and 
 Victor Van Vleet are really one and the same." 
 
 "But I have no money to pay him, sir." 
 
 " Never mind that, my boy. He has charge 
 of all my legal matters. I will write to him to 
 work up the case, and charge the expense to 
 me." 
 
 " You are very, very kind, but I do not like to 
 have you spend so much money for me," replied 
 Ben, with a spirit of thankfulness. 
 
 "Oh, that's nothing," said the commodore 
 carelessly. ' ' I feel enough interest in your case, 
 since listening to the boatswain's story, to pay 
 the expense cheerfully myself, for the sake of 
 having the mystery cleared up. I will write to 
 Mr. Montgomery all the particulars of the case, 
 and instruct him to go ahead with it ; but first I 
 want you to tell me all you know about Anthony 
 Boggs, and his reasons for wanting to get you 
 out of the way." 
 
 " I don't know," answered Ben. " I told you 
 about the fight with Perry, his son, about his 
 calling to see me at the station house, and about 
 his getting my release from the Island, and bring- 
 ing me on board this ship."
 
 204 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 ' ' And that is all you know about it ? " 
 
 "Yes, sir, everything." 
 
 ' ' Very well, I will go now and write the letter, ' ' 
 said the commodore, and he commenced his task 
 at once. 
 
 He stated to Mr. Montgomery all the essential 
 facts of the case as I have related them. He gave 
 him a copy of the letter Boggs had written to 
 Caleb Steel, and narrated the cruel treatment the 
 latter had heaped upon the lad. He gave it as 
 his belief that there was some mysterious connec- 
 tion between Boggs and our young hero, and said 
 that the fact that the former now played the part 
 of a rich man led him to believe that some foul 
 play might have been practised upon Ben by the 
 villain who sought his life. The commodore 
 closed his letter by saying : 
 
 " You will remember that the name found on 
 the child's ring was ' Victor Van Vleet.' This 
 may furnish a clue that will help you. Do all 
 you can, and charge the expense to me. I have 
 become much interested in this lad Ben, who 
 says he knows you, and did you a service in find- 
 ing and returning a valuable dog, that had strayed 
 away from home."
 
 XXXII. 
 
 " 1\/T Y b °y>" said Commodore Hopkins to Ben 
 one day, as they were nearing the Cape 
 of Good Hope, " we shall soon make port. How 
 would you like, upon our arrival, to return at 
 once to New York ? ' ' 
 
 The suggestion surprised the lad, and he hesi- 
 tated a moment before replying, and then asked, 
 ' ' Shall you return, too ? " 
 
 " No, I do not expect to return at present, but 
 it has occurred to me that it might help your 
 case if you were in New York. ' ' 
 
 1 ' Yes, it might — er — ' ' and he looked at Bertha 
 for a moment, and then added, as the color 
 mounted to his cheeks, ' ' but I do not like to leave 
 you." 
 
 "Don't want to leave me?" said the com- 
 modore, and he seemed to emphasize the word 
 "me." 
 
 " No — er — " returned the lad, becoming more 
 and more confused, " you have been so kind to 
 me, you know." 
 
 It was only a few weeks before this that Ben 
 had formed a rash but determined purpose to 
 
 205
 
 206 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 leave the ship at the first possible opportunity ; 
 but having met with such consideration as he 
 was receiving now, it could not be expected that 
 he would be in a hurry to get away. He actually 
 preferred remaining on board of her to returning 
 by a quick and agreeable passage to New York, 
 where he might, through the efforts put forth in 
 his behalf, discover himself to be the happy 
 possessor of a great fortune. 
 
 The charm of sea life possibly enchained him to 
 the ship — yes, perhaps so, and still there might 
 have been another — a more gentle influence that 
 fascinated him. 
 
 Be this as it may, he made it plain that he pre- 
 ferred remaining with those who had proved his 
 friends, and so the commodore concluded to say 
 no more for the present about his returning to 
 New York. 
 
 In the course of a few days the ship anchored 
 at Cape Town, where a stay of nearly a week was 
 to be made for the purpose of repairing the dam- 
 ages which the ship had sustained during the 
 heavy gale. 
 
 Ben, with his broken arm still in a sling, but 
 evidently doing well, went ashore with Commo- 
 dore Hopkins and his family, as if he were one of 
 them. They went to a hotel and engaged rooms 
 for the length of time their ship would be in 
 port.
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 207 
 
 As soon as they were settled in their tempo- 
 rary quarters, Commodore Hopkins wrote the 
 following letter to Captain Steel : 
 
 Cape Town, 188— 
 
 Captain Caleb Steel : 
 
 Dear Sir — I would advise you to take advantage of our 
 stay in this port by at once resigning your command of the 
 Bertha Hopkins. When the ship and cargo are properly 
 turned over to me, as the owner of both, I will pay you the 
 amount of salary due you up to this date, and also an allow- 
 ance on the probable percentage of profit that would be 
 yours were you to complete the entire voyage. I will, more- 
 over, give you a sufficient amount to take you back to New 
 York by steamer. 
 
 1/ you are wise you will accept this proposition without 
 delay. Facts of a sterling character, to which I have been an 
 eye witness, when connected with a writing now in my pos- 
 session, force me, in justice to my family, whose lives have 
 been intrusted to your care, to take this step unhesitatingly. 
 You will understand me, I think, without further explana- 
 tion. You may return an answer to me at this hotel. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 Elisha Hopkins. 
 
 On receiving the cablegram from Anthony 
 Boggs, withdrawing his offer of the five thou- 
 sand dollar house, Caleb Steel became very angry. 
 
 " The infernal villain," said he, as he stormed 
 back and forth in his cabin. " A nice time to 
 refuse me the reward, after I have ruined myself, 
 and all for him, too." 
 
 Just then a letter was handed to him by a boy. 
 He took it in his hand and instantly recognized 
 the writing as that of Commodore Hopkins.
 
 208 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 Opening it hastily, and with trembling fingers, 
 he ran his eye over the page, while the color 
 faded from his cheeks, and he shook with nerv- 
 ous agitation. 
 
 He threw himself upon a bench to think — 
 wretched and disheartened. 
 
 " Oh, why was I such a fool ! " he moaned, 
 ' ' when I had a ship like this ? Now I am 
 ruined, and my poor family " 
 
 Here he broke down and cried like a child, 
 penitent and sorrowful. 
 
 " Poor boy, poor boy ! " said he ; " how near 
 I came to murdering him. I must have been 
 crazy to listen to the miserable villain's poison 
 talk. And now I am ruined ! No ship, no 
 money, no reputation — everything gone. Curse 
 Anthony Boggs, I say — the wicked scoundrel ! ' ' 
 
 "Yes, he is right — the commodore is right," 
 said Caleb Steel, after a pause. " He knows all, 
 and has Boggs' letter ; so of course he could not 
 be expected to let me continue in his employ any 
 longer." 
 
 The result was that Caleb Steel resigned his 
 position before the day was over, and settled 
 up his accounts on the terms proposed by Com- 
 modore Hopkins. After this was done he made 
 all possible haste to get away from Cape Town, 
 and beyond the sight of those who knew his 
 disgrace.
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 209 
 
 The first mate, William Maxwell, a deserving, 
 intelligent fellow, was promoted to the command 
 of the ship. All the other officers were advanced 
 one place, and Dan Spiker was elevated to the 
 position of mate. 
 
 In a few days the ship had been fully repaired ; 
 then the anchor was weighed, and once more she 
 put out to sea with all her canvas spread. 
 
 " I am glad to be on board again," said Bertha, 
 as she and Ben stood on deck, watching the sea 
 birds that sported in the sunshine. 
 
 " So am I," returned he, as he looked admir- 
 ingly into her pretty eyes. 
 
 One can appreciate a picture, a sunset, or a 
 beautiful landscape without being sentimental ; 
 so, too, it is possible that a boy should admire 
 the charming manners and pretty features of so 
 sweet a girl as Bertha, and still look upon her as 
 a friend or sister. 
 
 But while Ben would soon have become tired 
 of the landscape, he did not become weary of 
 Bertha's presence. 
 
 He was now a passenger on board the ship, like 
 a member of Commodore Hopkins' own family, 
 and he and Bertha played together, read, studied, 
 laughed, and talked, much as a brother and sister 
 would have done — that is, if they had been sev- 
 enty six times as fond of each other as brothers 
 and sisters usually are.
 
 210 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 Under the command of the new captain every- 
 thing went smoothly, and all on board — sailors 
 and passengers alike — seemed in the best of 
 spirits. 
 
 Dan Spiker was delighted with his promotion, 
 and felt, as he had good reason for feeling, from 
 his intimate relations with Commodore Hopkins, 
 that he was at last in a fair way to become master 
 of a ship in the near future. Indeed, the com- 
 modore had intimated as much to him, and he 
 felt very happy over the prospect.
 
 XXXIII. 
 
 "C*OR ten days out the weather was clear and 
 beautiful. Then they encountered a storm 
 scarcely less powerful than the one which caused 
 Ben's almost fatal fall. Through it, however, 
 they passed with perfect safety, and on the follow- 
 ing day sighted a vessel in distress. 
 
 As the Bertha Hopkins drew near to the dis- 
 abled ship, Captain Maxwell discovered, by the 
 aid of his glass, that she was an American vessel. 
 Presently he recognized the name as that of a 
 vessel which had cleared from the port of New 
 York only two days before his own ship. 
 
 The Leo Martin was the name of the unfortu- 
 nate ship. 
 
 It seemed that the storm struck her with relent- 
 less fury when she was under full sail. Her 
 masts were carried away, and the hull so badly 
 strained that she soon began to leak at an alarm- 
 ing rate. 
 
 All hope of saving her was very soon abandoned, 
 yet the sailors worked incessantly at the pumps 
 to keep her afloat, if possible, till assistance could 
 be had. 
 
 211
 
 212 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 The crew was speedily transferred to the Bertha 
 Hopkins, and the Leo Martin, with her entire 
 cargo, was abandoned — left to herself upon the 
 broad ocean, soon to sink below the turbulent 
 waves. 
 
 Ben stood on deck as the sailors came on board, 
 and watched them with careful scrutiny. 
 
 He knew that they hailed from New York, and 
 he wondered if he had ever seen any of them in 
 the great city. 
 
 Presently he started back, as if alarmed or 
 startled at some extraordinary discovery. 
 
 "Why, what makes you jump so?" said 
 Bertha. ' ' You are as white as you can be ! " 
 
 "I was frightened, I guess, or something of 
 that sort, ' ' returned our hero, still trembling with 
 excitement. 
 
 " Why, what could have frightened you so? " 
 asked Bertha, with surprise. 
 
 ' ' Do you see that tall man with the big scar 
 on his right cheek? " said Ben, indicating. 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " Well, he is the one that frightened me. Do 
 you remember what I told you about the strange 
 man stepping between Mother Grimmis and me 
 the night I escaped from her den ? ' ' 
 
 "Yes, certainly, I remember it perfectly." 
 
 " Well, that fellow, that I just pointed out to 
 you, is the man."
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 21 3 
 
 "It doesn't seem possible," said Bertha, 
 mystified. 
 
 " No, it doesn't, but it is so all the same." 
 
 "What shall you do?" 
 
 " I don't know ; I am glad he is here, and still 
 I hate to meet him." 
 
 " If he saved you from that wicked old woman's 
 abuse, I should think you would be glad to see 
 him." 
 
 "So I am on that account, and for another 
 reason, too, and still I feel almost afraid of 
 him." 
 
 The thought of Mother Grimmis came to him, 
 and he wondered if the man had actually murdered 
 her. He shuddered at the very idea. How terrible 
 a murderer seemed to him ! He shrank from 
 meeting this fellow, though he had no proof that 
 he was an assassin. 
 
 Ben had carefully avoided, in all conversation 
 touching upon his history, any reference to 
 Mother Grimmis' unnatural death. The matter 
 came so near home, he feared suspicion would 
 point to him. He knew nothing, of course, of 
 the result of the coroner's inquest in New York ; 
 but, nevertheless, he chose not to reveal to Bertha 
 his true reason for dreading to meet the man with 
 the ugly scar. 
 
 Our hero now felt that he needed some advice. 
 If Mother Grimmis had actually been killed, it
 
 214 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 seemed to him that this man must have done the 
 deed ; " for," said he, " it occurred on the very 
 night that I left him with her. I will go and 
 see Commodore Hopkins, and talk with him 
 about it." 
 
 Consequently, he made his way below, and in 
 a short time found himself alone with Commo- 
 dore Hopkins, to whom he told all he knew about 
 the man. 
 
 "And you think this man might have mur- 
 dered the old woman ? ' ' said the commodore 
 thoughtfully, after having listened with much 
 interest to Ben' s story. ' ' By the way, ' ' he added, 
 ' ' I have brought with me a large bundle of 
 New York papers that were forwarded to me 
 at Cape Town. Let us see what is said about 
 the affair." 
 
 Ben shrank at the thought of what those papers 
 might reveal, but he offered no protest to the 
 commodore's suggestion. 
 
 ' ' I remember seeing the bold heading about 
 the murder of an old woman on the east side of 
 of the city, ' ' said the latter, as he spread the papers 
 out before him, " but I seldom read murder cases, 
 so I did not pay much attention to this one. 
 Ah, here it is," he continued, as he read the 
 identical report of the coroner's inquest, and 
 now all at once the color seemed to depart from 
 his face.
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 215 
 
 "What, what!" said he. "Why, I don't 
 understand this. A boy called Ben is suspected 
 of having committed the crime, and he has now 
 disappeared and cannot be found. This is alarm- 
 ing — it is, indeed. Charged with murder " 
 
 " Oh, don't, don't, commodore," cried out our 
 young hero, in pain at this terrible revelation. 
 
 He had dreaded, and even suspected, that it 
 might come to this, but had hoped that it might 
 not. And now that the blow had come, he felt 
 crushed, disgraced, disheartened. 
 
 " Oh, why do they say such wicked things," 
 he sobbed through the fast flowing tears, as his 
 face was bent low upon the sleeve of his jacket. 
 
 For a time Commodore Hopkins said nothing, 
 but put his mind upon the revelation made by 
 the paper. 
 
 He studied the case logical^, and quickly 
 concluded that Ben was entirely innocent of all 
 guilt. 
 
 Having decided this in his own mind, he pro- 
 ceeded to restore our hero's courage, by assuring 
 him of his support and friendship in this trying 
 matter. 
 
 "If murdered at all," said he, "this man 
 might have committed the crime, and might not. 
 It is possible some one else did it. But, regard- 
 less of all this, our point is to have this mau clear 
 you. If we can only get him to confirm what
 
 216 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 you have said about the row at this old woman's 
 den, and have a witness to the same, why, you 
 will then be in a position to prove yourself beyond 
 suspicion." 
 
 "Then we must say nothing about the mur- 
 der ? ' ' said Ben. 
 
 " No, certainly not." 
 
 " What shall I say to him, then ? I can't help 
 meeting him now he is on the ship." 
 
 "That is just [what you should do by all 
 means, and you should appear to be very glad to 
 see him again." 
 
 " So I shall be, on one account, for I think he 
 knows something about me — perhaps all about 
 who I am, and how I came to be with old Mother 
 Grimmis." 
 
 ' ' It seems to me, then, most fortunate that he 
 is here."; 
 
 " Yes, I don't know but it is," said Ben, feel- 
 ing more cheerful. 
 
 ' ' We must work carefully, so that he will 
 not suspect our purpose. Tell him how much 
 indebted you feel to him for saving you from 
 old Mother Grimmis' abuse. I will make it a 
 point to be with you, so that I can watch the 
 effect. If he is guilty, I believe I can tell by his 
 manner."
 
 XXXIV. 
 
 TN the latter part of the day on which the crew 
 
 of the Leo Martin was rescued, it chanced 
 
 that the tall, dark man with the ugly scar drew 
 
 away from his companions and stood alone by 
 
 himself at a far end of the deck. 
 
 He appeared to be deeply absorbed in medita- 
 tion, as he looked with a blank expression into 
 space. 
 
 While in this mood, our young hero approached 
 quietly to where he stood. But the man was so 
 deeply in thought that he did not heed the lad's 
 step till the latter stopped beside him and held 
 out his hand for a friendly welcome. 
 
 This brought the man to his senses, and as he 
 turned and dropped his eyes on Ben, he jumped 
 back as if confronted by a ghost. 
 
 "Don't be alarmed," laughed the boy, who 
 rather enjoyed the man's fright. 
 
 " But I was," returned the latter, " for I would 
 have expected as soon to see the ghost of Captain 
 Kidd as to meet you here." 
 
 "Well, I'm not much of a ghost," answered 
 
 the lad. 
 
 217
 
 218 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 " No, I should think not, with those red cheeks. 
 You have made a wonderful change since I saw 
 you last." 
 
 ' ' Yes, I suppose so, and I feel as much better 
 as I look." 
 
 " But tell me how you came on board this 
 ship." 
 
 A hasty explanation followed, wherein Ben 
 said he had shipped as cabin boy, but he care- 
 fully avoided saying anything about being 
 smuggled on board. 
 
 " We must have sailed about the same time," 
 said the man. 
 
 "Yes, that is so, but your ship proved less 
 fortunate than this one. On that account I am 
 sorry, but I am glad to see you all the same." 
 
 "Well, Ben, you seem to be getting ac- 
 quainted," said Commodore Hopkins, who had 
 approached quietly and unobserved. 
 
 "Yes — getting more acquainted," he replied, 
 " and I hope you will get acquainted, too." 
 
 "I should be glad to," replied the merchant. 
 
 Ben attempted to introduce the two men, but got 
 somewhat confused, inasmuch as he didn't know 
 the stranger's name. 
 
 " Hansel — John Hansel is my name," said the 
 man, coming to Ben's aid. 
 
 "lam glad to meet you, Mr. Hansel," replied 
 the merchant pleasantly.
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 219 
 
 "Mr. Hansel is the man, commodore, who 
 saved me from old Mother Grimmis' clutches the 
 night I got away from her den. If it had not 
 been for him I don't know what would have 
 happened to me. ' ' 
 
 "Ah, indeed! Well, Mr. Hansel, you did a 
 noble act. I congratulate you for having done 
 Ben so good a turn — better, even, than I have done 
 him since he came on board this ship." 
 
 Hansel's face flushed with pride. 
 
 " Thank you for the compliment," he returned, 
 " but what have you done for him? " 
 
 Commodore Hopkins related briefly how he 
 had protected the lad from Captain Steel's abuse, 
 and then, leading up to the subject which he 
 wished to discuss, said : 
 
 ' ' Ben has told us a very interesting story of 
 his life at the old woman's den — Mother Grimmis, 
 is that her name? " 
 
 "Yes," answered Hansel, and then a frown 
 passed over his face, as if he regretted having 
 admitted any knowledge of the old woman. 
 
 He fixed his eye sharply upon the commodore 
 to try and make out his purpose, but the latter' s 
 genial manner threw him off his guard. 
 
 "Well, it must have been a dramatic scene 
 when you sprang between her and the boy. It is 
 lucky, Mr. Hansel, that you were there, or he 
 might have been killed by the infuriated old
 
 2 20 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 hag," said the commodore, in a generous, com- 
 plimentary way. 
 
 " Yes, I suppose so," answered Hansel. 
 
 " I guess it was," put in Ben. " I've wished 
 ever since that I might see you to thank you for 
 your kindness." 
 
 "Oh, that's all right, and besides you thanked 
 me at the time." 
 
 "Well, I didn't take time for much of any- 
 thing, I was so anxious to leave that den." 
 
 " I didn't wonder at your haste in leaving, but 
 I was afraid she would recapture you." 
 
 "No; she did not, and I guess never will 
 now. ' ' 
 
 ' ' Why do you say ' now ' so emphatically ? ' ' 
 asked Hansel, with a troubled look. 
 
 "I didn't intend to speak it that way," said 
 Ben. " I only meant that I am so far away she 
 cannot get at me very well. ' ' 
 
 "Yes, that is so," returned Hansel, more 
 cheerfully than before. 
 
 Perhaps he thought by the boy's remark that 
 he still supposed Mother Grimmis alive. 
 
 That certainly would have been the natural 
 conclusion, but whether or not this was the 
 thought that cheered him up I cannot say. 
 Something, however, seemed to remove a burden 
 from his mind, and his reticent manner changed 
 to one of more frank geniality.
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 221 
 
 " When we get back to New York again," 
 said Commodore Hopkins, still holding to this 
 subject, " I will see that she doesn't get him in 
 her clutches again — that is, if he is not able to 
 take care of himself." 
 
 This remark convinced Hansel that neither the 
 commodore nor Ben knew anything about Mother 
 Grimmis' suspicious death, so thereafter he talked 
 with careless freedom. 
 
 In the conversation that followed Commo- 
 dore Hopkins skilfully drew from Hansel the 
 fact that he had known Mother Grimmis for 
 fully fifteen years. This made it seem probable 
 that he might be well acquainted with Ben's 
 history.
 
 XXXV. 
 
 COULDN'T think, papa, where you and 
 Ben were," said Bertha, who now joined 
 them on deck. 
 
 We have been here for some time, having a 
 pleasant chat with Mr. Hansel. ' ' 
 
 •"You always make friends, and enjoy your- 
 self talking. But I almost forgot what I came 
 for. Mamma wants to see you in the state- 
 room." 
 
 ' ' All right, my dear, we will go at once ; " and 
 turning to Hansel, the commodore said, ' I will 
 see vou again soon." 
 
 "Aren't you coming with us, Ben?" asked 
 Bertha, as they moved away. 
 
 "I will be down directly," replied he; and 
 he wished he might join her at that instant, but 
 he wanted to talk further with the newcomer. 
 
 ""He is a pleasant man," said Hansel, when 
 the commodore had passed from view. 
 
 "Yes, and a very kind one," replied Ben. 
 ' He is the owner of this ship, too. ' ' 
 
 " The owner? " 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 222
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 223 
 
 " What is he doing here ? " 
 
 "He is taking a trip to Australia for his 
 daughter's health." 
 
 " Well, he seems to have taken a liking to 
 you." 
 
 ' ' Yes, I know he has. ' ' 
 
 "You are in big luck, boy. If you work him 
 right, you can make a stake out of him." 
 
 "I don't want to work him at all. Why 
 should I?" 
 
 "To make some money, to be sure." 
 
 " I don't want to get my money in that way, 
 and besides, I would prefer his friendship." 
 
 " I wouldn't be a chump, if I was you. Money 
 is the best friend you can have, youngster. " 
 
 ' Well, suppose I have both friendship and 
 money ; wouldn't that still be better ? " 
 
 " Wiry, how can you have both?' asked 
 Hansel curiously. 
 
 He was alive to the subject of money, and now 
 showed much interest in the conversation. 
 
 "Well, through Commodore Hopkins' assist- 
 ance, I may learn that I am already rich," replied 
 Ben ; and he watched the man carefully, to note 
 the effect. 
 
 The lad was leading up to the subject so dear 
 to him — that of his early history. 
 
 Hansel's face instantly took on an eager, sur- 
 prised look.
 
 224 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 " Rich — you, rich? " said he, as if he doubted 
 his own senses. 
 
 "Yes, I may be, but perhaps you know more 
 about it than I," said Ben, feeling that he was 
 making good headway. 
 
 (I J? M 
 
 "Yes, you." 
 
 "Why, you talk like a child." 
 
 " Well, I don't think like one, for I know pretty 
 well what I am talking about. ' ' 
 
 Hansel became nervous and moved about un- 
 easily. 
 
 1 ' So you think I know more about you than you 
 know about yourself ?" said he, after a moment's 
 thought. 
 
 "Yes, that is what I meant," said the lad, with 
 assurance. 
 
 ' ' What makes you think so ? " 
 
 " I have very good reasons for believing as 
 I do." 
 
 "Suppose you state them, then." 
 
 ' ' That would be useless. ' ' 
 
 "Why so?" 
 
 " Because you wouldn't tell me any sooner how 
 I came to be with old Mother Grimmis " 
 
 "You talk as if I knew," interrupted Hansel. 
 
 " Yes, I know I do," was Ben's quiet response. 
 
 Hansel eyed Ben sharply, with his brows knit 
 in thought.
 
 AFLOAT IN A GRF,AT CITY. 225 
 
 " Well," said he, after a pause, " what has that 
 to do with the money — the money that you 
 imagine you are worth ? " 
 
 " Everything, sir ; for if I knew my early his- 
 tory, I could trace the money." 
 
 A grasping, covetous look came into Hansel's 
 face. Money — he wanted a share of it. Where 
 was it ? How could it be got ? 
 
 " Is it possible this lad is rich ? " he asked him- 
 self, as he walked across the deck with his hands 
 thrust deep into his trousers pockets, and his head 
 dropped as if in deep study. 
 
 Ben watched him with surprise, and a still 
 keener interest, to try and make out his thoughts. 
 
 ' What makes you think you are worth 
 money?" asked Hansel, standing again beside 
 the lad. 
 
 ' ' There are several reasons for thinking so, ' ' 
 answered Ben cautiously. 
 
 ' ' And what are they ? ' ' pursued the man. 
 
 " I don't care to repeat them at present." 
 
 " But you want to pump me and find out all 
 I know," sneered Hansel, with a flash of temper. 
 
 " I didn't ask you to tell me." 
 
 ' ' No, but you tried to find out without asking. ' ' 
 
 "Well, I can find out," said Ben, somewhat 
 independently, "just as I had planned to before 
 you came on board, and when I never expected 
 to see you again. ' '
 
 226 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 " You had better do so, then." 
 
 " So I shall, but it will take time and money to 
 get at the facts. ' ' 
 
 Ben discovered that the word ' ' money ' ' pro- 
 duced a peculiar effect upon this man, so he pur- 
 posely alluded to it. 
 
 " How much will it cost you," asked Hansel, 
 " and who will pay the bills ? " 
 
 ' ' Whatever the expense is, Commodore Hop- 
 kins will pay it until I get my money." 
 
 "Will he?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " Suppose I could furnish the information, how 
 much would it be worth to me?" said Hansel, 
 with a grasping look. 
 
 Ben trembled with emotion. He felt that the 
 man before him knew the story of his life, and 
 how eager he was to possess it ! 
 
 " I don't know, but I will ask the commodore 
 for you," he returned. 
 
 " What shall you say to him ? " asked Hansel 
 suspiciously, for he feared some complication 
 might arise that would be bad for him. 
 
 "I'll tell him that you know who I am, and 
 how I came to be with old Mother Grimmis, but 
 that you think the information is worth something 
 to you." 
 
 "No, don't put it in that way," said Hansel 
 nervously.
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 227 
 
 " But that is the fact, isn't it ? " 
 
 " I didn't say so." 
 
 " Well, I don't want to play the part of a fool," 
 said Ben independently. " If you have no infor- 
 mation to sell, what is the use of my talking to 
 Commodore Hopkins ? It would only throw him 
 off the trail he is on now." 
 
 " Don't get too uppish, young man," returned 
 Hansel. " I am careful what I say — mind 5'ou, 
 what I actually say — but if you want to imagine 
 that I know all about your early history, why, 
 very well ; I am ready to negotiate." 
 
 " I think I understand you now. I will see 
 the commodore as I proposed. ' ' 
 
 ' ' It will be no use for him to offer a mean 
 sum," remarked the man, as Ben was about 
 to go. 
 
 ' ' And it will be useless for you to demand an 
 unreasonable sum, for you know he has another 
 way of getting at the point." 
 
 " I will be fair. You may say that I will ask 
 only a fair price," said Hansel, alarmed lest he 
 lose the chance to turn his information to good 
 account. 
 
 Ben hastened to Commodore Hopkins' state- 
 room, more excited than the small boy is on the 
 arrival of the annual circus. He repeated the 
 conversation between himself and John Hansel, 
 substantially as I have given it,
 
 228 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 " So he practically admits that he knows who 
 you are, and how you came to be with old Mother 
 Grimmis," said the commodore. 
 
 " Yes, that is it," answered Ben excitedly. 
 
 " Well, I'm not surprised, and it may turnout 
 that he had something to do with kidnapping 
 you. I will see him in the morning, and try and 
 fix upon a plan for getting whatever informa- 
 tion he possesses." 
 
 " In the morning? " repeated Ben, in a tone 
 that expressed his disappointment. 
 
 " Yes, that will be soon enough. It is best not 
 to seem too anxious, my boy. We are in for a 
 long voyage, so there will be plenty of time," 
 said the commodore reassuringly. 
 
 "Yes, I suppose so," answered the lad, but 
 the words did not flow naturally. He had to 
 force them reluctantly from his lips, though he 
 little realized the danger this delay might occa- 
 sion — a delay of a few hours only.
 
 XXXVI. 
 
 HP HE day had been sunny and beautiful. In 
 the whole broad firmament not a cloud could 
 be seen. The air was pure and exhilarating, and 
 it tempted our two young friends into remaining 
 on deck long after the great, red sun had dipped 
 into the ocean, and sinking from view, reflected 
 its gorgeous tints upon the western horizon. 
 
 They watched these shifting scenes with admi- 
 ration, and chatted lightly with happy hearts, 
 as the gallant ship plowed merrily through the 
 waves. 
 
 After a time the brilliant colors of the sunset 
 faded, and a reddish hue spread quickly over the 
 entire heavens. 
 
 "Why, how queer everything looks," said 
 Bertha ; " and the whole sky has a peculiar tint. 
 I wonder what it means ? ' ' 
 
 "I don't know, I'm sure," replied Ben. " I 
 noticed it just before you spoke." 
 
 " I hope nothing bad will happen, with us 
 away out on this ocean. " 
 
 " I hope not, surely, and I can't imagine any- 
 thing except a storm that would bother us." 
 
 229
 
 230 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 ' ' It has been so pleasant all day that it 
 doesn't seem as if we could have much of a 
 storm so soon," replied Bertha, looking into 
 Ben's eyes. 
 
 " No, that is so," returned he reassuringly. 
 
 "But on this ocean they come up suddenly. 
 I remember having read about frightful wind 
 storms sweeping down over deserts and out upon 
 the ocean." 
 
 "Do they come so far out as this?" asked 
 Ben, with a wholesome dread of another storm, 
 and he drew nearer to the sweet girl beside him, 
 as if for mutual protection. 
 
 " Yes, I think so," replied she. " They blow 
 ships far out of their course sometimes. These 
 winds are called ' simoons. ' ' ' 
 
 ' ' Simoons ? ' ' 
 
 "Yes.; I believe the word is also spelled 
 1 simooms.' It means a hot, dry wind that arises 
 in the deserts." 
 
 " I hope it won't strike us, for I don't want 
 another broken arm," said Ben, as he nursed the 
 one previously fractured ; and looking up he saw 
 a black, ominous cloud that had appeared sud- 
 denly since the sun went down. 
 
 Placing his hand upon Bertha's arm, with a 
 slight shudder, he called her attention to his dis- 
 covery. Without speaking, she drew nearer to 
 him, as a sense of fear came to her.
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 23 1 
 
 Small clouds were now driven hither and 
 thither. The reddish shade had gone, and dark- 
 ness seemed to fall with unusual rapidity. 
 
 " I am afraid a storm is really coming," said 
 Ben, and he tightened the pressure upon Bertha's 
 arm, and drew her yet closer to him as they 
 watched the movements of the black clouds. 
 
 More and more threatening they appeared, and 
 now the wind came with a greater force, and from 
 a different quarter. 
 
 The approaching storm had been observed by 
 the officers of the ship, and she was hurriedly 
 put in readiness to withstand its fury. 
 
 How little our two young friends thought, as 
 they leaned side by side against the bulwarks, 
 that this was their last night on board that beau- 
 tiful ship ! But such was the fact, for twelve 
 hours from that time she was a wreck — stranded 
 upon an unknown reef. 
 
 The velocity of the wind increased every min- 
 ute, and in less than half an hour it was blowing 
 a fearful gale. The darkness closed in upon 
 them — such an intense darkness as seldom occurs. 
 
 The gallant ship rode nobly over the monster 
 waves, and inspired all on board with a confi- 
 dence in her powers ; and well did she deserve 
 the praise bestowed upon her by officers and 
 crew, for never before had she shown such supe- 
 rior seaworthiness.
 
 232 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 A danger, however, foreign to the thoughts of 
 all on board, lay buried beneath the waves for 
 her destruction. 
 
 About four o'clock in the morning, while it 
 was yet dark, she struck with terrible force upon 
 a reef in raid ocean. The shock was tremendous. 
 Everything on board the ship was overturned, 
 and consternation reigned supreme. 
 
 The crew — brave, courageous men — hurried 
 hither and thither, with fear and anxiety pic- 
 tured on every face. What to do first no one 
 seemed to know. That the ship had struck a 
 reef all those familiar with the sea felt certain, but 
 it was so dark nothing definite could be learned. 
 The wind had abated somewhat, but the sea 
 was still running high, and the force of great 
 waves thrashing against the stranded ship 
 wrenched her so badly that it seemed she must 
 break up before the dawn of day. 
 
 The situation was perilous in the extreme — the 
 captain dare not lower a boat, and yet every min- 
 ute it seemed as if the ship must go to pieces. 
 Presently an enormous wave struck her a 
 crashing blow, and she groaned and creaked as 
 she ground upon the reef, and then settled as if 
 breaking up. 
 
 Captain Maxwell ordered the boats lowered 
 at once, knowing that to remain longer on board 
 would mean certain death for all.
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 233 
 
 The first man to leave the ship was John Han- 
 sel. He was closely followed by the crew of the 
 Leo Martin, who, taking him as a leader, madly 
 rushed into the first boat that was lowered, and 
 pushed off, regardless of the safety of others. 
 
 Another boat was quickly lowered, and Captain 
 Maxwell ordered that the passengers of the ship 
 — Commodore Hopkins, Mrs. Hopkins, Bertha, 
 and Ben — should be the first to enter this boat. 
 His order was obeyed, and then Dan Spiker, 
 with four sturdy sailors, was sent down to man 
 the craft. 
 
 Then a cry reached them that froze their very 
 blood — a single piteous appeal from one, two, 
 three, a dozen throats, and all was over ! 
 
 All knew the meaning of this cry, but no one 
 spoke — feeling that in the next few moments, 
 perhaps, their fate would be the same as that 
 of those who now sent back this hopeless 
 appeal. 
 
 Water and provisions were loaded into the boat. 
 By this time the darkness had so far lifted that 
 Dan Spiker discovered that the reef at a little dis- 
 tance beyond rose to some height out of the water, 
 and as the daylight increased he found that an 
 island of some size lay before them. 
 
 Instead of attempting to reach the shore from 
 that point, Dan ordered the boat put off, and 
 directed the men to circle the island at a safe dis-
 
 234 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 tanee, to avoid being dashed to pieces on the 
 reef. 
 
 On the opposite side of the island a little cove 
 was found, where the water was comparatively 
 quiet ; and here the boat was run in, and all were 
 safely lauded upon the narrow beach. 
 
 Presently the third boat, containing those left 
 on the doomed ship, including Captain Maxwell 
 and the captain of the Leo Martin, followed the 
 course taken by Dan Spiker, and in due time 
 landed all safely upon the beach. 
 
 The boats were firmly secured, and then the 
 party started across the little island, thankful for 
 their own safety, but with heavy hearts and sad 
 faces as they thought of the terrible, fate of those 
 aboard the first boat. 
 
 When they arrived on that side of the island 
 where the treacherous reef stretched far out under 
 the boiling surf, their eyes fell upon the mangled 
 bodies of three of the unfortunate men, hurled by 
 the augry waves far up on the coral strand. 
 Portions of the shattered boat lay about them, 
 showing that it had been dashed to pieces against 
 the reef. The bodies of the remaining victims 
 had doubtless been carried out to sea by the 
 undertow. 
 
 The scene before them was a pitiable one. 
 vSileut tears streamed down the sunburned cheeks 
 of the strong, brave men of that little party, while
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 235 
 
 Mrs. Hopkins, Bertha, and Ben sobbed as if their 
 hearts would break. 
 
 The dead bodies were taken up tenderly by the 
 rough, weather beaten hands of the honest sailors, 
 and placed gently upon a soft green plat. John 
 Hansel, the tall, dark man, was one of them. 
 How white he looked as he lay there cold and 
 motionless in death ! 
 
 Ben thought of the kindness he had shown 
 him, and the warm tears of sympathy flowed fast 
 as he recounted these facts and considered his 
 untimely death. 
 
 Whatever evil the unfortunate man had com- 
 mitted in his brief career was not considered now. 
 If he had taken old Mother Grimmis' life, he had 
 now paid the penalty with his own — paid it so far 
 as was possible in this world. 
 
 He had the physique, the bearing, and the intel- 
 lect of a man. He was not by nature inferior to 
 his race ; but if guilty of the crimes of which he 
 was suspected, how crooked, distorted, and scarred 
 he must seem in that world to which his spirit had 
 but just gone. How dwarfed and shriveled and 
 ugly he will appear when surrounded with noble 
 natures developed and rounded out ato a pure, 
 sweet life ! 
 
 Let us hope that the dead man was not guilty 
 of any crime, and therefore that he is now a 
 larger and nobler man in the great eternity than
 
 236 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 he had ever seemed to be in this life of trials and 
 disappointments. 
 
 The ship had broken up, and large portions of 
 the cargo came ashore, together with spars, sails, 
 and rigging. Whatever would prove of value to 
 the survivors was secured and taken to a place of 
 safety. 
 
 The warm, bright rays of the sun now burst 
 through the clouds and shone with unusual splen- 
 dor. An observation was taken by Captain Max- 
 well and Commodore Hopkins which revealed 
 the fact that the ship had been driven nearly a 
 hundred miles out of her course by the storm of 
 the night before ; and this is how she came to 
 strike on the unknown reef. 
 
 The island, which was about a mile long and 
 perhaps three quarters of a mile wide, was green 
 and beautiful with its luxuriant vegetation. 
 
 On a little elevation overlooking the island a 
 single grave was dug for the three bodies. 
 
 All stood with bowed heads as Commodore 
 Hopkins read a chapter from his pocket Testa- 
 ment ; then, dropping upon his knees, the Chris- 
 tian man offered an appropriate and touching 
 prayer. This was followed by the singing of a 
 familiar hymn, which ended the simple but im- 
 pressive service. Every eye was moist, and 
 every heart was stirred as it had never been 
 stirred before.
 
 XXXVII. 
 
 "DEFORE placing the bodies in the grave, Cap- 
 tain John Stoddart, of the L,eo Martin, at 
 the suggestion of Commodore Hopkins, searched 
 the pockets of the dead men to see if anything 
 could be found which should properly be returned 
 to their relatives. 
 
 Nothing of any consequence was discovered 
 save a well worn pocketbook, which was taken 
 from the hip pocket of John Hansel. In it was 
 found a number of papers and several trinkets 
 which were supposed to be of little value. 
 
 The burial was now made, and then the little 
 party retired to a soft, grassy spot near their 
 boats. Here they threw themselves upon the 
 ground and discussed their situation. 
 
 They were on an unknown, uninhabited island, 
 a hundred miles or so from the track of all ves- 
 sels. Their food and water supply were limited. 
 To remain there, waiting for the possible arrival 
 of some stray ship, meant starvation ; to push 
 out upon the treacherous ocean with their frail 
 boats meant perhaps a still more horrible death, 
 yet this they decided to do. 
 
 237
 
 238 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 A lunch was brought from the boats and eaten 
 with some relish, for it was now eleven o'clock 
 in the forenoon. After the meal was over Cap- 
 tain Stoddart opened the pocketbook belonging 
 to John Hansel and began examining the papers, 
 to see if he could learn his residence or any desire 
 that he might have wished to be carried out after 
 his death. 
 
 After going through the papers, he turned to 
 another compartment of the book, and there 
 found a small gold ring — very small, indeed. It 
 was carefully done up in tissue paper, and around 
 that was wrapped a piece of thin, soft chamois 
 skin. It bore the appearance of having remained 
 thus wrapped up for many months, as it was 
 badly tarnished and looked as if it had not been 
 worn for many years. 
 
 "A baby's ring, it looks like," said Captain 
 Stoddart, eying it carefully. "Perhaps it was at 
 one time worn by a child of the dead man, else why 
 should he have given it this affectionate care?" 
 
 All eyes were turned to the little golden 
 object, and each felt curious to know its mysteri- 
 ous history. 
 
 Various surmises were given, and several of the 
 old sailors were inclined to regard it with super- 
 stition. Why they should have felt so I cannot 
 say, for indeed ■ there is no reason to sustain 
 superstition in any form.
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 239 
 
 Beu fixed his eyes upon it with more than an 
 idle curiosity, as also did those who had listened 
 to DanSpiker's story. 
 
 " May not that be the very ring " — he asked 
 himself — " the one that Dan told us about ? " 
 
 Bertha looked at him, and seemed to read his 
 mind, for her thoughts had been running in the 
 same channel. 
 
 He recognized this, as they exchanged these 
 meaning glances, and then she whispered some- 
 thing to her father. Beu felt that she was speak- 
 ing about the ring — knew she was, even — and he 
 became more and more excited. 
 
 Presently the commodore, acting on Bertha's 
 suggestion, asked that he might examine the tiny 
 ring. His request was instantly granted, and it 
 was passed to him by Captain Stoddart. 
 
 How small it looked in the commodore's large, 
 strong hands ! He handled it with great care, 
 lest it might fall, and become lost in the deep 
 grass on which he was sitting. 
 
 Taking his handkerchief from his pocket, he 
 commenced rubbing it on the outside to remove 
 the tarnish. When it had grown bright, he called 
 Dan Spiker to him, and asked that honest toiler 
 of the sea if he had ever seen it before. 
 
 "I can't say that I have, sir," replied Dan, 
 examining it. " Not this same one, as I know 
 of, but I used to see one that looked like it."
 
 240 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 All looked on with surprise at this proceeding, 
 and Ben and Bertha especially became so anxious 
 that they found it difficult to await the process of 
 investigation. 
 
 Next the commodore wound his handkerchief 
 around a small pencil and inserted it in the ring. 
 With a thoroiigh rubbing the tarnish was fully 
 removed, and then, placing his glasses to his eyes, 
 he read this name : 
 
 Victor Van Vleet. 
 
 Ben had watched him with intense interest, 
 and as he saw his face light up he suspected the 
 truth. 
 
 Without speaking, however, he passed the ring 
 again to Dan, who instantly placed it to his eye, 
 and, after a moment, said aloud, in a peculiarly 
 surprised tone : 
 
 "It is the very ring — Victor Van Vleet ! How 
 could it be in this man's possession? " 
 
 Every one looked puzzled and surprised. Com- 
 modore Hopkins smiled, for he regarded it as a 
 very happy find. Ben moved about nervously, 
 with flushed face and dilated eyes, too excited for 
 the moment to know what to say. 
 
 ' ' What does it all mean ? ' ' asked Captain 
 Stoddart of Captain Maxwell. 
 
 '•' I don't know," replied he. "I am as much 
 puzzled as you."
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 24 1 
 
 Overbearing this, Commodore Hopkins thought 
 it only proper to explain, and he said : 
 
 " Our friend here, Mr. Spiker, rescued a child 
 from a wrecked steamer a number of years ago. 
 Upon its finger was a small gold ring, inside of 
 which was engraved the name ' Victor Van 
 Vleet.' He took the child to his home in Jersey 
 City, and cared for it as he would have cared for 
 one of his own. After it had been with him for 
 several months it mysteriously disappeared, and 
 has never been heard of from that day to this. ' ' 
 
 "And now we have the very ring," put in 
 Dan. 
 
 " It is a remarkable coincidence," said the two 
 captains, and the several sailors nodded their 
 agreement with the officers. 
 
 "Yes, so it is," assented the commodore; 
 "but what makes it still more remarkable is that 
 we believe this boy ' ' (laying his hand upon Ben) 
 "is the very one who once wore this ring, and 
 that his true name is Victor Van Vleet." 
 
 " Is it possible? " exclaimed Captain Maxwell, 
 as if hardly believing his own ears. 
 
 " Yes, it is ; and I believe this little ring will 
 enable us to prove his identity." 
 
 " I hope so," said the captain. 
 
 " And so do I," " and I," "and I," responded 
 every one, for Ben had become a great favorite 
 with all.
 
 242 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 With burning cheeks he thanked them for their 
 good wishes — thanked them as an embarrassed 
 boy naturally would when he- found himself the 
 object of so many eyes. 
 
 " Don't be frightened, Ben," laughed Bertha, 
 amused at his confusion. 
 
 This remark, together with the lad's nervous- 
 ness, made every one for the moment forget the 
 sad events of the day, and join Bertha in a harm- 
 less laugh at the boy's expense. 
 
 ' ' I should like to keep this ring for the present, ' ' 
 said Commodore Hopkins, addressing Captain 
 Stoddart. 
 
 " Certainly you can," replied the latter. " It 
 will doubtless be of service to you and our young 
 friend there," meaning Ben. 
 
 " Thank you," returned Commodore Hopkins ; 
 and he wrapped the ring as before and placed it 
 securely in his own pocketbook. 
 
 "Now," continued he, "we must commence 
 thinking of our own safety. It is already nearly 
 twelve o'clock. If we are to start today, we 
 should lose no more time." 
 
 " Then we will put the boats in readiness for 
 an immediate start," said Captain Maxwell. 
 
 He then ordered Dan Spiker and a number of 
 the men to get all the sails and rigging that were 
 secured from the wreck. When these were 
 brought, sails were readily bent in both boats.
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 243 
 
 "Which boat shall we go in, papa?" asked 
 Bertha. 
 
 " I11 the long boat, I think, my dear," replied 
 he. 
 
 11 Yes, you will go in the long boat," said Cap- 
 tain Maxwell, who overheard her question. 
 
 "And Ben will be in our boat?" asked she 
 anxiously. 
 
 " Oh, yes," replied he, as if that went without 
 saying ; and then he announced that all was 
 ready for a start. Each man had received his 
 orders, and at once made for the boat to which he 
 had been assigned. 
 
 " Must Dan go in the other boat? " said Ben 
 to Captain Maxwell. 
 
 " Oh, please let him come with us," pleaded 
 Bertha. ' ' We all like him so much. ' ' 
 
 " I had planned to have him go in that boat," 
 replied the captain, " but to please you and Ben 
 I will let him come with us. ' ' 
 
 The honest sailor's face readily showed how 
 pleased he was at this change, and Commodore 
 Hopkins, with Ben and Bertha, felt equally glad 
 to have him with them. 
 
 The two boats now put out, and steering north- 
 east by north entered upon a perilous and uncer- 
 tain voyage. Every heart was heavy with many 
 forebodings as the little island faded from view. 

 
 XXXVIII. 
 
 T3UTTING out upon the mighty ocean in frail 
 boats, searching for some stray ship of res- 
 cue, is a most depressing undertaking. 
 
 How hazardous such a venture seems when the 
 innumerable dangers are considered — dangers of 
 greedy monsters of the deep, of mountain waves 
 and heavy winds, of starvation and burning 
 thirst — thirst that dethrones the mind and turns 
 civilized man into a raving, bloodthirsty animal. 
 
 Our little party thought of all these possibili- 
 ties, as well as of the dreaded Malay pirate ships 
 that are yet found in the Indian Ocean. When 
 night shut in upon them, sadder hearts seldom 
 beat than theirs. 
 
 Ben and Bertha were the least depressed of the 
 party, for they realized the dangers less than the 
 others, and their buoyant, youthful spirits enabled 
 them in a measure to throw off the gloom that 
 had now settled upon the faces of those better 
 able to realize the perils of their position. 
 
 "I am sorry, Ben, that I did not do as you 
 wanted me to, and get Mr. Hansel's story before 
 it was too late," said Commodore Hopkins, hop- 
 
 244
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 245 
 
 ing by this conversation to divert his own mind 
 from his surroundings. 
 
 "Yes, I am sorry, too," replied the lad ; " but 
 of course you did not expect the accident that 
 overtook us. ' ' 
 
 " No, certainly not. No one would have looked 
 for such a terrible blow. ' ' 
 
 " That is so. And perhaps, after all, the little 
 ring will serve us as well. ' ' 
 
 " I hope so, and believe it will — the ring, with 
 the other evidence in our possession. Neverthe- 
 less, I wish we had obtained his story, for now it 
 may take us longer to get at the facts." 
 
 "Of course I feel anxious about it, but I can 
 wait all right. I suppose we shall never know 
 now whether old Mother Grimmis was murdered 
 or not," said Ben, his head resting upon his 
 hand, as he leaned upon the rail of the boat. 
 
 " No, I imagine not," returned the commodore. 
 " The secrets of her death were probably buried 
 today with John Hansel." 
 
 "Yes, I suppose so," said the lad, as his mind 
 wandered back over the past ; and thus thiuking, 
 he lapsed once more into silence, and all was still 
 — not a voice was heard as the little boat sailed 
 further and further out upon this vast ocean in 
 its almost hopeless voyage. 
 
 After a time drowsiness crept over them, and 
 all, save those on watch, slept soundly. In the
 
 246 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 morning an observation was taken, which showed 
 that they had made over a hundred miles since 
 leaving the island. This brought them again into 
 the track of vessels plying between Cape Town 
 and the leading ports of Australia. 
 
 The sun rose clear and beautiful. Every eye 
 was strained, looking in all directions for a sail. 
 During the day the tops of several masts were 
 seen, but all were far away. The following day 
 passed with little to encourage them. Toward 
 night the sky became overcast, and soon the rain 
 commenced falling. 
 
 For twenty four hours this weather continued. 
 The outlook became disheartening, and those with 
 the most hopeful temperaments felt as if they 
 would never again see home. Presently, how- 
 ever, the wind changed, and the clouds breaking 
 away, revealed a sunset of the rarest and most 
 brilliant beauty. 
 
 This sight gave the little party new courage and 
 new hope. As the gloom of the storm passed 
 away, their depressed spirits rose higher than 
 they had yet gone since the wreck of their 
 gallant ship. This was a rebound to natures that 
 could not remain long cast down. It could not 
 have been a premonition of a better fate than that 
 which had stared them grimly in the face, though 
 such was but a little way removed. 
 
 Early the following morning, a trim clipper
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 247 
 
 ship discovered their signal of distress, and, put- 
 ting about, soon came alongside of them. They 
 were quickly taken on board. 
 
 ' ' How long have you been in these boats ? ' ' 
 asked the captain of Commodore Hopkins. 
 
 " Nearly four days and nights, sir," the latter 
 replied. 
 
 1 ' Where were you bound when wrecked ? ' ' 
 
 " We were bound for Australia." 
 
 " Indeed. I have just come from there — from 
 Melbourne" — said the officer, with a strong 
 English accent, "and I am now on my return 
 trip to Liverpool." 
 
 " I am glad to know that, for I feel now that I 
 would prefer returning home to going, as I had 
 intended, to Australia." 
 
 ' ' From your pronunciation I take it you are 
 an American." 
 
 " Yes, America is my country." 
 
 ' ' Were you on a pleasure trip ? ' ' 
 
 " Well, not exactly. I came principally for my 
 daughter's health, but I have business interests 
 in Australia that I thought of looking after." 
 
 ' ' Has your daughter improved as you antici- 
 pated?" 
 
 1 ' Yes, I feel more than repaid on her account 
 alone for all my loss and anxiety. ' ' 
 
 "I am glad of that, and I suppose your ship 
 was well insured."
 
 248 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 "Yes, but my personal loss, in the shape of 
 baggage, was heavy. I am anxious to get into 
 port, so that I can get a new outfit of clothing for 
 my family and myself." 
 
 " I dare say you are. Well, in about twenty 
 days I will land you at Suez." 
 
 " In twenty days? " 
 
 " Yes, and in less time if we have good weather 
 and a fair wind." 
 
 " I am glad to know that. The time will soon 
 pass, and when once there we can soon reach 
 London." 
 
 " Yes, it's a short run by the P. & O. steamer," 
 said the captain, as he smoked his cigar with 
 evident relish. ' ' Shall you go direct to London ? ' ' 
 
 " Yes, I think so. Still it is possible that my 
 family may wish to go to Alexandria and a few 
 other places on our return. ' ' 
 
 " I think they would enjoy it. In fact, I should 
 like such a trip myself. But if you will excuse 
 me I will go and make the best arrangements 
 possible for your comfort." 
 
 " Certainly, do not allow me to occupy your 
 time, and do not put yourself out too much for us. ' ' 
 
 " I will look out for that," returned the cap- 
 tain heartily. 
 
 "One word before you go," said Commodore 
 Hopkins, calling the officer back. " You will be 
 well paid for all your trouble and expense."
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 249 
 
 Whether this remark influenced, the captain to 
 do his best, or whether he did it from an inborn 
 desire to make others happy, I cannot say. It 
 is, however, certain that he made our friends very 
 comfortable during the run to Suez. 
 
 Many pleasing incidents occurred to help while 
 away the time, but as they had no direct bearing 
 upon this story, they cannot be recorded in the 
 brief history of our young hero. 
 
 At Suez Commodore Hopkins, his family, and 
 Ben parted company with the crew of the Bertha 
 Hopkins, the former going to Alexandria by rail- 
 road, and the latter direct to Loudon by steamer. 
 
 Dan Spiker disliked leaving them, but as there 
 was no other way he accepted the situation as 
 cheerfully as possible. 
 
 Before they parted, Commodore Hopkins gave 
 him his card and told him he wanted to see him 
 as soon as he returned to New York. He inti- 
 mated very plainly, much to the honest sailor's 
 delight, that he would see him well provided for 
 in the future. 
 
 " And, by the way, I came near forgetting to 
 say that I want your testimony in establishing 
 Ben's identity. This, you see, is important. 
 Gain all the information you can relative to his 
 case." 
 
 ' ' Yes, I will do so ; and I will be on hand 
 whenever you want me."
 
 250 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 " No doubt of that, Dan ; you are always reli- 
 able. I will write you when I shall be at home. " 
 
 "Thank you, sir," said Dan; and shaking 
 hands heartily with the commodore, he went at 
 once on board the London steamer. 
 
 He had already said good by to Mrs. Hopkins, 
 Bertha, and Ben. They all were sorry to part 
 with him, for, though in manner he was only a 
 sailor, yet his heart was that of a nobleman. 
 
 In Alexandria Commodore Hopkins purchased 
 a supply of clothing for his family, and Ben as 
 well. He remained there a few days, during 
 which time he cabled to his house in New York, 
 saying that he had been wrecked, that the vessel 
 was lost and crew all saved. 
 
 A reply came back which advised his speedy 
 return, as business, owing to some unexpected 
 change, needed his personal attention. 
 
 This decided him to go at once to Liverpool, 
 and there take a steamer for New York.
 
 XXXIX. 
 
 r N less than three weeks from their departure 
 from Alexandria our friends found them- 
 selves, one bright winter morning, sailing into 
 New York harbor. How homelike everything 
 looked ! Coney Island, Staten Island, the forts, 
 the shipping, and the tall spires and big build- 
 ings of Brooklyn and New York, were all familiar 
 objects to them. They had had a delightfully 
 pleasant journey home, and Bertha's enthusiasm 
 knew no bounds. She thought, evidently, of the 
 many friends who would welcome her back to 
 their merry circle. She was well and strong 
 now, and what a round of enjoyment she would 
 find in the winter sports, which had but just com- 
 menced ! 
 
 But with our young hero the situation was 
 quite different. What friends had he to wel- 
 come him home ? He thought of this, and of the 
 danger of being arrested and thrust into prison on 
 the charge of murder. He knew, however, that 
 he could prove his innocence, but, nevertheless, 
 the idea of being arrested was depressing. 
 
 Another thought, however, made him feel still 
 
 251
 
 252 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 more sad and lonely. This was the idea of being 
 separated from the commodore and his family — 
 from Bertha in particular. 
 
 He had learned to love them as the kindest of 
 friends, who had made his life sunny and happy. 
 What a sweet, charming nature Bertha had 
 revealed, and how companionable and entertain- 
 ing she had proved herself to him ! 
 
 Now this association he felt must come to an 
 end, and the thought sickened him, and made his 
 heart ache with a sense of untold loneliness. 
 
 Bertha had been standing by his side, looking 
 at the familiar scenes on every hand, which fully 
 engaged her attention. She therefore gave him 
 no thought for the time. In his depressed mood 
 he felt this as a neglect, though it was but 
 natural that she should have done as she did. 
 Looking up now, however, she saw in his eyes 
 tears which he was no longer able to repress. 
 She at once suspected the truth, and in feeling 
 tones asked him what made him so sad. 
 
 "Everything," he answered slowly, and in a 
 broken voice. 
 
 The question was a delicate one to answer. 
 
 "I am very sorry," she replied. " I thought 
 you would feel glad to get home again." 
 
 "I ought to, I suppose, and I would if we 
 could all live as we have during the last three or 
 four months. ' '
 
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 253 
 
 " But of course we can't on shore." 
 
 " No, I know it ; and the thought of the change 
 is what makes me feel so lonely." 
 
 " I wish you wouldn't feel so." 
 
 " I wish so, too, but I can't help it." 
 
 ' ' If you fiiid that fortune, then you ought to 
 be happy. I should think you would be glad to 
 get back to New York to look after it. ' ' 
 
 " So I am on that account, and yet if I had a 
 dozen fortunes I would not be as happy as I was 
 on our ship when you used to read to me, and we 
 had so many good times playing games and roam- 
 ing around on deck." 
 
 " We did have delightful times, didn't we? " 
 said Bertha, with enthusiasm. 
 
 " Yes, we did, and now they are all over — for- 
 ever, perhaps." 
 
 " Oh, don't say that. We may all go on a sea 
 voyage again some time. ' ' 
 
 "I'm afraid that ' some time ' is a long way off. ' ' 
 
 "Well, but there's lots of fun to be had in 
 New York, you know." 
 
 "Yes, if one only has friends, as you have. 
 You know I have no friends here that I care much 
 for." 
 
 " Mamma and papa are here. Don't you care 
 for them ? I am sure they are your friends. ' ' 
 
 " Of course I care for them. They have been 
 so kind and good to me, and so have you, too."
 
 254 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 ' ' Then if you count me you have three friends. ' ' 
 
 1 ' I hope I may consider you one. ' ' 
 
 "Why shouldn't you?" 
 
 " I don't know, unless — well, perhaps your old 
 friends will occupy all your time." 
 
 "You offend me, Ben, if you really believe 
 what you say." 
 
 "I don't want to believe it, surely, and I 
 wouldn't offend you for the world." 
 
 " Why do you say such foolish things, then ? " 
 
 ' ' I don' t know, unless it is because I felt 
 afraid you would not care for me any more as a 
 friend." 
 
 "And you felt badly about it? " 
 
 "I did, indeed." 
 
 ' ' Well, you were mistaken. I do not forget one 
 so easily — one whom I — who has been so agree- 
 able as you have," said Bertha, blushing. 
 
 The color in her cheeks seemed to warm our 
 hero's over chilled spirits. 
 
 "Thank you," said he. "I am glad to feel 
 sure about it. I really didn't think you would 
 forget me." 
 
 "I can't understand why you should have ielt 
 that way. How did you imagine I could forget 
 you, when I shall see you so often ? " 
 
 " See me so often? " 
 
 " Yes, of course. Don't you intend to come to 
 see us at all ? "
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 255 
 
 " Nothing would please me so much." 
 
 " What, then, would keep you from coming ? " 
 
 "Well, you live in great style, you know," 
 said he, with some confusion, " and your friends 
 are rich and educated. You know the way I 
 have lived, and that I have never been to school, 
 so I thought you and your mother might not 
 want me to call at your home." 
 
 Bertha looked pained at this remark, and said 
 tenderly : 
 
 "I appreciate your feelings, Ben, and under- 
 stand you now, but you are entirely wrong in 
 supposing those reasons would tell against you. 
 You can get the education, and whether you 
 turn out rich or not will make no difference to 
 us. Mamma and papa think everything of you. ' ' 
 
 These words were sweet to Ben, and made him 
 feel happy once more. 
 
 The conversation was interrupted by the com- 
 modore and his wife, who now joined them. 
 Passengers crowded closely about on deck, and 
 exchanged pleasant remarks with each other. 
 Many were saying good by to the friends they had 
 made on the steamer, for they knew there would 
 be too much confusion after the steamer landed. 
 
 When our friends were finally landed at the 
 dock, and had gone through the wearisome cus- 
 tom house formalities, Commodore Hopkins called 
 a cab driver, and after exchanging a word with
 
 256 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 him, motioned to his wife to follow him. He 
 placed the small parcels inside the cab, and then 
 handed his wife and Bertha in. 
 
 " Good by," said Ben sadly, at the same time 
 extending his hand to Commodore Hopkins. 
 
 " Why, what do you mean ? " asked the latter. 
 " Do you suppose I'm going to let you shift for 
 yourself now ? Jump into the carriage, and drop 
 such foolish notions at once. ' ' 
 
 Ben flushed with gratitude, and obeyed the 
 command most willingly. 
 
 "So you are going home with us, Ben? " said 
 Bertha, surprised as well as he. 
 
 "It seems so," returned the lad, "though I 
 certainly didn't expect to do so." 
 
 "Well, I am glad you are. We will have 
 just as good a time as we did on our ship, and 
 I have ever so many nice books that I will read 
 to you, unless you prefer to read them yourself." 
 
 1 ' Thank you a thousand times. You are all 
 very kind. I would rather hear you read the 
 books — I enjoy them better." 
 
 The commodore looked at "his wife and winked 
 slyly. 
 
 "Yes, you will enjoy yourself at our home, 
 Ben," said he. " Bertha and her friends can 
 entertain you as well as she and Dan Spiker did 
 on shipboard, when you were laid up with a 
 broken arm, and almost a broken head."
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 257 
 
 " Poor Dan ! " said Bertha. " How he hated 
 to leave us at Suez ! I like him, if he is only a 
 sailor." 
 
 ' ' The fact that he is simply a sailor is no sen- 
 sible reason why you should dislike him," said 
 her father. 
 
 " But many people would, you know." 
 
 " Many people are fools, too, you know. Dan 
 is an intelligent, noble hearted fellow. I liked 
 him myself, and shall give him a chance to show 
 the mettle that there is in him." 
 
 " Oh, good, papa, I hope you will ! I wonder 
 if he has arrived home yet ? " 
 
 "Probably not, but he will be here soon. I 
 shall drop him a letter telling him we are here, so 
 that he will call at my office, as he promised." 
 
 The cab now stopped before the commodore's 
 beautiful residence. The party alighted and 
 passed in. 
 
 " Now make yourself at home, Ben," said the 
 commodore. 
 
 " He is afraid we wouldn't want him to visit us 
 here," remarked Bertha. 
 
 " Nonsense," replied her father, as he passed 
 into another room. ' ' You must entertain him 
 so well that he will see how foolish that idea is. ' ' 
 
 " Now, you see, Ben, what I told you is so," 
 said Bertha. 
 
 " Yes, I see it is, and I believed you then."
 
 258 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 A servant showed him to a pretty room on the 
 second floor, which he was to occupy while a 
 guest of the family. 
 
 It was handsomely furnished, and looked very 
 inviting. He had never seen so pretty a sleeping 
 room before, and he wondered how the soft, 
 plump bed would feel to him. 
 
 During the day Commodore Hopkins advised 
 him to remain in the house, and not expose him- 
 self to any unnecessary danger, until the order 
 for his arrest could be quashed. He was only too 
 glad to act upon this advice, for he was uneasy 
 and anxious, fearing his whereabouts might be 
 discovered. 
 
 ' ' Here is a letter I have written to my attorney, 
 Mr. Montgomery," said the commodore. "I 
 will read it to you." 
 
 It ran thus : 
 
 My Dear Mr. Montgomery : 
 
 I arrived home this morning. My family came with me, 
 also Ben, whose true name is doubtless Victor Van Vleet. We 
 are all well, notwithstanding the shipwreck which came near 
 costing us our lives. I hope you can find it convenient to call 
 and see us this evening. I want to know what you have done 
 in the boy's case. I have some new facts to give you which 
 will go far to sustain the theory I advanced in my letter 
 mailed to you from Cape Town. The order of arrest which is 
 now out against him must be quashed, and the sooner it is 
 done the better. 
 
 Very truly yours, 
 
 Elisha Hopkins.
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 259 
 
 A messenger boy was called, and the letter was 
 sent to Mr. Montgomery at his residence. 
 
 In the evening papers of that day, Anthony 
 Boggs read the arrival of Commodore Hopkins 
 and family, and this simple announcement struck 
 terror to his guilty soul. He had learned from 
 Captain Caleb Steel everything that occurred on 
 the Bertha Hopkins up to the time he was driven 
 from his command. He knew, therefore, of the 
 strong friend Ben had found in Commodore Hop- 
 kins. He knew also that the latter had in his 
 possession the letter that he wrote to Captain 
 Steel, which urged that our hero should be put 
 where he would never again return alive to New 
 York. The thought of these facts made him 
 shudder and grow white with alarm. He dreaded 
 the reckoning that he now felt was sure to come.
 
 XL. 
 
 "liyiUJAM MONTGOMERY received Com- 
 modore Hopkins' letter, and shortly after 
 eight o'clock in the evening called at the latter' s 
 residence. 
 
 ' ' I am very glad to see you home again after 
 your long absence," said he, shaking hands 
 heartily with the commodore and his wife ; ' ' and 
 here is Bertha," he added, taking her proffered 
 hand. " I should hardly know you, you have 
 grown so round and rosy. Your red cheeks are 
 very becoming to you. I am delighted to see you 
 looking so well." 
 
 " Thank you ; but I am afraid you flatter me, 
 Mr. Montgomery," said Bertha, with a blush. 
 
 "No, indeed," protested he, while the com- 
 modore, with the sparkle of pleasure in his eyes, 
 led him to where our hero stood watching them. 
 
 ' ' This is our young friend — the one who found 
 and returned your big St. Bernard. Don't you 
 recognize him? " 
 
 " No, I certainly should not have known him," 
 replied Mr. Montgomery ; and then addressing 
 Ben, he said : 
 
 260
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 261 
 
 " Is it possible, my boy, that you are the same 
 one?" 
 
 " Yes, I suppose I am," said Ben, as the lawyer 
 pressed his hand warmly. 
 
 "So you are ; your voice sounds natural, and 
 now I recognize your features, but you have 
 changed even more than Bertha. Then your face 
 was thin and sallow, and now you are the picture 
 of health." 
 
 He might have noted a greater change yet in 
 the lad's dress, for his thin, tattered suit had 
 been replaced by neatly fitting clothes made from 
 a rich, dark material. 
 
 He was undoubtedly a handsome boy as he stood 
 there with flushed face, the cynosure of all eyes. 
 
 Bertha realized this, and felt proud that she 
 could call him her friend. It seemed to her that 
 he never looked so well before. 
 
 The surprise manifested by Mr. Montgomery 
 told her that he was astonished at seeing such a 
 fine looking boy, one so well dressed, and with 
 such a manly, intelligent face. 
 
 "Well, what good news have you for us?" 
 asked Commodore Hopkins presently. ' ' What 
 have you heard about Ben ? " 
 
 " So far as I can say, the news is good," replied 
 Mr. Montgomery. 
 
 ' ' I suppose you received my letter mailed from 
 Cape Town ? ' '
 
 262 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 " Yes, but it reached me only a few days ago." 
 
 "It must have been delayed, then, for it was 
 mailed over two months ago. ' ' 
 
 "I noticed the date, and was unable to ac- 
 count for the long time it took to come from 
 Cape Town." 
 
 1 ' I am sorry it did not reach you sooner. ' ' 
 
 " I regret the delay myself. Artemas Diggs, 
 the detective who started in the case, has been 
 out of town for the last two weeks. I have been 
 waiting for him to return." 
 
 " So I suppose nothing has been done toward 
 investigating the matter? " 
 
 " No, nothing since your letter came, I am 
 sorry to say. I thought it best to wait for Mr. 
 Diggs, who is an able detective. ' ' 
 
 " Doubtless that was the wisest plan. I know 
 Artemas Diggs by reputation, having often seen 
 his name in connection with important cases." 
 
 " Yes, he is well known. When Ben failed to 
 come to my office as he had promised, I feared 
 old Mother Grimmis had recaptured him at that 
 time, so I started Mr. Diggs on the case. The 
 information he got, together with that contained 
 in your letter, points strongly to foul play." 
 
 Mr. Montgomery then handed the commodore 
 a paper that contained an account of the coroner's 
 inquest. 
 
 " I have seen that," observed the commodore ;
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 263 
 
 " but are there no new developments regarding 
 the old woman's death? " 
 
 "No, nothing since the inquest — none what- 
 ever — and I doubt seriously if she was murdered. 
 Artemas Diggs holds to the same view." 
 
 ' ' How does he account for her sudden death ? ' ' 
 
 ' ' He thinks she died from the effects of strong 
 drink, either directly or indirectly." 
 
 ' ' Well, whatever caused her death will make 
 no difference to us now, as we have the evidence 
 to prove that she was alive when Ben left her 
 hovel." 
 
 "Is it possible?" 
 
 "Yes, there is no doubt about it. We saw 
 the man who came to the boy's rescue, and he 
 confirmed Ben's story in every particular." 
 
 The commodore then related the circumstances 
 that brought John Hansel on board the Bertha 
 Hopkins — told all that passed between the unfor- 
 tunate man and Ben; gave an accountof the wreck, 
 of the drowning and burial, and finally told the 
 story of the small gold ring as it was related in a 
 previous chapter. 
 
 "Victor Van Vleet ; the name is cut plainly," 
 said Mr. Montgomery, as he held the tiny ring 
 close to his eye. " This will go far toward prov- 
 ing the boy's identity. Mr. Diggs will arrive 
 home tonight. I will put him at work on the 
 case again tomorrow morning, and considering
 
 264 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 the points we have already in our possession, I 
 shall hope for big results." 
 
 1 ' I hope so, too ; but in the mean time we must 
 have the order of arrest quashed, if possible." 
 
 " That is a rather difficult thing to do, but I 
 hope we can effect it. ' ' 
 
 Ben looked grave at this answer, for he dreaded 
 the possibility of an arrest. 
 
 ' ' The evidence is so direct I should think it 
 ought to be fixed all right," said Commodore 
 Hopkins, with a look of disappointment. 
 
 " So it ought. I will see the district attorney 
 tomorrow morning, and present the case to him. 
 He will doubtless want to see you, so I will make 
 an appointment for the meeting." 
 
 " All right ; I will be on hand whenever you 
 want me, for I am anxious to get the indictment 
 quashed, so that Ben may feel free and easy once 
 more. ' ' 
 
 ' ' Yes, it must be done. I will give the matter 
 my personal attention," said Mr. Moutgomer3 r , 
 as if he felt more than an ordinary professional 
 interest in the case. 
 
 "When this question is disposed of, we can 
 go ahead with the other, I suppose ? ' ' said the 
 commodore. 
 
 " Oh, that will be started tomorrow morning, 
 without reference to this matter." 
 
 "lam glad of that, for the sooner that villain
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 265 
 
 of a Boggs is brought to justice the better it will 
 be for all." 
 
 "So it will. My suspicious were aroused 
 agaiust him long before your letter came, aud now 
 I am convinced of his villainy." 
 
 ' ' I wonder what is the cause of his malice 
 toward Ben ? " 
 
 ' ' I imagine it has something to do with mone} 7 
 or he w 7 ould never have been willing to offer such 
 a reward as he did to Caleb Steel," said the 
 lawyer, as he rose to go. 
 
 Turning to Ben he invited him to call at his 
 house with the commodore's family, saying that 
 Mrs. Montgomery would be very glad to see him. 
 
 Ben thanked him politely, and wondered at his 
 own good fortune at being entertained by such 
 hospitable people. A few months ago he was a 
 half starved, half clothed street gamin, without 
 friends, or any prospects to encourage him ; now 
 he was the guest of one of New York's best 
 families, with warm friends, and a prospect of 
 finding himself the possessor of a large fortune.
 
 XLJ. 
 
 A RTEMAS DIGGS reported at Mr. Mont- 
 gomery's office early on the following 
 morning, and received the instructions that he 
 was to follow. 
 
 Half an hour from that time he might have 
 been seen in the vicinity of Anthony Boggs' 
 residence. He had commenced his work in 
 earnest, and was now watching for the butcher's 
 wagon. 
 
 Ben might have wondered what this long 
 headed detective wanted of a butcher's wagon, 
 had he known what Mr. Diggs was doing, but 
 the latter had a well formed plan. Presently the 
 long looked for wagon appeared, and Mr. Diggs 
 quickly noted the name of the proprietor and his 
 location. A few moments later he entered the 
 butcher's shop. 
 
 "Good morning," said Mr. Diggs, with a 
 pleasant smile. 
 
 " Good morning," returned the proprietor, 
 hoping he had a new customer. 
 
 " I see you have some choice beef ; I think you 
 may send a roast to my house." 
 
 266
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 267 
 
 ' ' Yes, I have that, sir ; none better in the 
 market." 
 
 " I believe you. My butcher has not sent 
 me any meat that will compare with this, I am 
 sure." 
 
 " I'm glad to hear you say it, and I know, if 
 you were my customer, you'd get the best — none 
 but the best, ' ' said the big, fat butcher, straighten- 
 ing back with pride. 
 
 1 ' There is the evidence all around here to sus- 
 tain what you say, ' ' returned Mr. Diggs, pointing 
 to the several large, fat beef carcasses that hung 
 suspended by strong hooks. "I must tell my 
 wife about your market and ask her to buy her 
 meats of you." 
 
 " Thank you, sir ; thank you ! I like to deal 
 with a man who appreciates a good thing the 
 same as you do." 
 
 "Yes, I think I know good meat when I see 
 it. I suppose you have a large run of trade." 
 
 " Yes, sir, a large run." 
 
 ' ' And a good number of customers on the 
 avenue, no doubt." 
 
 " Oh, yes, sir ; yes, sir ; and they pay well, too, 
 you know." 
 
 " I should think they would. By the way, I 
 saw your wagon, as I came along, before the 
 door of a rich man whom I know a little by 
 reputation."
 
 268 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 ' ' Is that so ? What is his name ? ' ' 
 
 ' ' His name is Boggs. ' ' 
 
 "Oh, Anthony Boggs. Well, I should say he 
 is a good customer. He always wants the best, 
 and nothing is said about the price, either. He 
 is a very rich man, I am told." 
 
 "So I understand from those who know him. 
 I wonder where he made all his money ? " 
 
 "I can't say that, sir. I've heard, though, 
 that he speculates some. Perhaps he made his 
 money in that way." 
 
 ' Maybe he did ; anyhow, I've heard he used 
 to be as poor as any man. He must be an enter- 
 prising fellow," replied Mr. Diggs, feeling very 
 well satisfied with the progress of his interview. 
 
 "He must that, to make a fortune in these 
 days, when so many men are going up. ' ' 
 
 ' Yes, that is so. I wonder how old a man 
 he is?" 
 
 " I should say he may be forty." 
 
 ! ' So old as that ? I supposed him to be a 
 younger man." 
 
 ' I think he can't be much less than forty. 
 He has a son sixteen or seventeen years old. ' ' 
 
 ' ' And he is the oldest child ? ' ' 
 
 " Yes, and the youngest, too." 
 
 ' Then Mr. Boggs has no other children ? " 
 
 " No. His wife has been dead, I believe, a 
 good many years."
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 269 
 
 " Is that so ? Who keeps house for him ? " 
 
 "His sister. She has been with him ever 
 since I have supplied the house with meat." 
 
 ' ' I wonder if this sister is the lady Ben saw 
 with Boggs the night that they went to the Star 
 Theater ? ' ' said Artemas Diggs to himself. 
 
 " Well," said he finally, "I must not neglect 
 my business any longer. You may send that 
 
 roast to my house, number West Forty 
 
 ninth Street. I will see you again before long. 
 Good day." 
 
 "Good day," said the butcher, thinking he 
 had made a customer of a remarkably genial 
 man. 
 
 Artemas Diggs felt that he had made a good 
 start on the case. He knew now that Boggs 
 was at one time a poor man, that he was a 
 widower, and that his property must have been 
 accumulated in a very short time. How it came 
 into his hands was the main question, however, 
 that he was now trying to solve. He bent his 
 energies upon this point, especially while he 
 sought to learn what connection Boggs might 
 have with our hero. 
 
 He started out with the idea that Ben's pres- 
 ence was dangerous to Boggs' interests. This 
 seemed clear, from the course taken by the latter 
 in having the lad spirited away to sea. 
 
 Arguing on this theory, he naturally con-
 
 270 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 eluded that there must be some money question 
 at stake, and he went vigorously to work to 
 determine what it was. 
 
 By the aid of a young man whom Mr. Diggs 
 paid well for his services, he made the acquaint- 
 ance of one of Boggs' servants — a rather talka- 
 tive young woman. This propensity pleased the 
 detective, and he employed every means at his 
 command to keep her tongue wagging. 
 
 Gradually he led up to the subject which 
 brought him there, while he heroically endured 
 her senseless prattle. 
 
 ' ' The butcher told me that Mr. Boggs is a 
 very rich man, and a liberal one, too. I suppose 
 he gives you an easy time?" said the detective. 
 
 "Him give us an easy time?" responded the 
 servant. "I should think he did! He's the 
 crossest old patch I ever seen. No one can do 
 anything to suit him lately." 
 
 " Is he different from what he used to be ? " 
 asked Mr. Diggs quietly. 
 
 " I should say so. He used to be good enough, 
 but for three or four months he's been awful. 
 I've threatened to leave him, but Mrs. Harding 
 has coaxed me to stay, saying he was nervous 
 and irritable." 
 
 " No doubt he is nervous," thought the detec- 
 tive. " I should be if I were in his place; " and 
 then replying to the girl's remark, he said :
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 271 
 
 1 ' Mrs. Harding — who is she ? ' ' 
 
 " She is his sister, the housekeeper." 
 
 "Then he isn't a married man ? " 
 
 ' ' His wife has been dead fifteen years or 
 more." 
 
 " I should think he would get married again," 
 suggested Diggs. 
 
 "So he would, if he could get the one he 
 wants." 
 
 "Why can't he?" 
 
 "She won't have him." 
 
 1 ' I should think she would marry him — a man 
 as rich as he is. ' ' 
 
 "She is rich herself, and don't need his 
 money, though by good rights it is her own 
 money, anyway." 
 
 " What do you mean? " 
 
 ' ' I mean that all his property ought to be 
 hers." 
 
 " Impossible ! You are joking with me," said 
 Mr. Diggs seriously, while he found it difficult to 
 
 suppress his interest. 
 "No, I'm not. 1 
 
 The law gave him over half 
 of her husband's money when he died." 
 
 ' ' So all of this property fell into his hands in 
 that way?" 
 
 "That's it." 
 
 " And she is still rich, you say ? " 
 
 " Yes, and is the nicest woman you ever saw."
 
 272 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 " You know her, I take it?" 
 
 "I should say I did. She gave me ever so 
 many presents when she was here. ' ' 
 
 * ' How long ago was that ? ' ' 
 
 " 'Bout three months ago she visited here." 
 
 " You are in luck to know so many rich folks. " 
 
 " Yes, I s' pose so." 
 
 " What did you say the woman's name is? ' 
 
 "I didn't say, but I'll tell you now. Her 
 name is Mrs. Van Vleet." 
 
 This reply almost took the detective's breath 
 away. 
 
 "Mrs. Van Vleet!" he repeated to himself. 
 " Can it be possible ! " 
 
 " I have heard that name somewhere before," 
 replied Mr. Diggs, as if trying hard to recall 
 where. 
 
 " It isn't a common name," said the servant. 
 
 " No, it is not. Does she live in this city ? " 
 
 " No, she lives with her sister in Boston." 
 
 ' ' And she has no children ? " 
 
 " No, none that's alive." 
 
 ' ' Poor woman ! She was unfortunate to lose 
 both her husband and children," said Mr. Diggs 
 sympathetically. 
 
 " Yes, she was ; but she only had one child, I 
 believe." 
 
 ' ' Did he live to grow up ? " asked Mr. Diggs, 
 assuming that the child was a boy.
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 273 
 
 1 ' No, it was lost at sea the same time her hus- 
 band was drowned." 
 
 " Why, how did that occur? " 
 
 " I don't know exactly, only the steamer went 
 down and they were lost." 
 
 "Were they alone at the time, or was Mrs. 
 Van Vleet on board the same steamer ? " 
 
 " She was with them, and got saved some way. 
 I don't know how." 
 
 ' ' Well, it was a sad case ; and then to think 
 that Boggs should get so much of her property," 
 mused Artemas Diggs. 
 
 "I should say so m)'self ; and Boggs was as 
 poor as he could be then — only a ship carpenter, ' ' 
 said the girl contemptuously. 
 
 The detective had struck a rich mine of infor- 
 mation, and he worked it most successfully. 
 
 " You don't tell me ! " replied Artemas Diggs. 
 " It's enough to make hard working folks like us 
 envy him. Why should he have such luck any 
 more than we?" 
 
 ' ' I says that to myself lots o' times, but some 
 folks does have such luck, you know." 
 
 "Yes, that's a fact. But what relation was he 
 to Mr. Van Vleet?" 
 
 "Why, you see, Boggs' wife was a sister to 
 Mr. Van Vleet." 
 
 " Oh, I see, and that's how it all came about." 
 
 " Yes, but the money is all Perry's, after all."
 
 274 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 "Perry ! Oh, that's Boggs' son." 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 ' ' Of course he was the heir, but I suppose 
 Boggs manages the property. ' ' 
 
 " Yes, he is the guardian, or something of that 
 kind. Anyway, he handles the money as if it 
 was his own." 
 
 "Well, that's what I call luck," said Mr. 
 Diggs thoughtfully. 
 
 After some further conversation, in which he 
 learned Mrs. Van Vleet's Boston address, he and 
 his talkative companion reached the Boggs 
 mansion. 
 
 Leaving her at the basement door, after saying 
 a more or less affectionate good night, he hurried 
 to his home. 
 
 This walk in the cold, still night had been a 
 most successful one for him. 
 
 True, he had played the part of a lover, but he 
 felt that the end justified the means, for now he 
 had all the information necessary for immediate 
 action against Anthony Boggs.
 
 XUI. 
 
 11 /^OOD evening, commodore," said William 
 
 ^■^ Montgomery, extending his hand. " I 
 called to report to you. ' ' 
 
 " I am glad to see you," returned Commodore 
 Hopkins, as they entered the drawing room of 
 his handsome residence, ' ' and am anxious to 
 know what progress has been made. ' ' 
 
 ' ' The progress has been far better than I 
 anticipated. Mr. Diggs has outdone himself." 
 
 ' ' I am glad to hear you say so ; but how did 
 you get on with the district attorney ? ' ' 
 
 1 ' That matter is practically settled. ' ' 
 
 Ben and Bertha now entered the room, looking 
 cheerful and happy. 
 
 After a friendly greeting, Mr. Montgomery 
 said : " I was just saying to the commodore that 
 the matter of your arrest is practically settled — 
 you need feel no further uneasiness now." 
 
 Ben's hearty thanks left no doubt of his grati- 
 tude to the able lawyer for his services. 
 
 The district attorney had promised to quash 
 the indictment, so there was no further danger of 
 arrest. 
 
 275
 
 276 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 ' ' Now let us hear what Mr. Diggs accom- 
 plished," said Commodore Hopkius. 
 
 Mr. Montgomery repeated the story much as I 
 have given it to you. When he reached that 
 part where the servant said the name of the lady 
 who visited Boggs' house was Mrs. Van Vleet, 
 our young hero's heart beat fast with a strange 
 emotion. 
 
 " Then she was the lady I saw with Boggs? " 
 he broke out excitedly. 
 
 "Yes, I imagine she was the one," said Mr. 
 Montgomery. 
 
 " I knew she was not Perry Boggs' mother. I 
 knew it, though I couldn't tell why." 
 
 "It is strange you should have been so im- 
 pressed by her. ' ' 
 
 " And stranger 3 r et is the fact that she seemed 
 at the same time to be equally impressed by you, ' ' 
 said Commodore Hopkins. 
 
 " I don't understand it," said the boy thought- 
 fully. 
 
 " Do you think you would know her should you 
 see her again?" asked Mr. Montgomery. 
 
 " I am sure I should. I shall never forget her 
 face." 
 
 "Well, I hope you will soon have the oppor- 
 tunity of meeting her again." 
 
 "Oh, I do hope so," said Ben, with enthu- 
 siasm.
 
 ( ( 
 
 ( ( 
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 277 
 
 ' ' How would you like to go on to Boston to see 
 her?" 
 
 "I wish I might," replied the lad, his hopes 
 rising. 
 
 " There is no reason why you can't go with 
 Artemas Diggs. " 
 
 Is he going on to see her ? " 
 Well, yes, unless I can persuade }'ou to go 
 instead," said the lawyer to Commodore Hopkins. 
 
 "I?" 
 
 "Yes, I think you would be the proper one to 
 go." 
 
 "Well, I should feel delicate about going on 
 such an errand. ' ' 
 
 " Nonsense ! I can't see why you should feel 
 that way." 
 
 " Well, suppose Ben should not prove to be her 
 child — what then ? " 
 
 ' Why, you would have no cause to feel 
 embarrassed ; and, on the other hand, there is little 
 doubt in my mind that he is her child. ' ' 
 
 "So I think myself." 
 
 "Certainly. All the evidence tends to this 
 view. Otherwise, what logical reason could there 
 be for Boggs' desire to put the boy out of the way ? ' ' 
 
 " None that I can see." 
 
 " That is it exactly. Well, we will get at the 
 bottom of this matter sooner or later. But what 
 about Boston ? Will you go ? "
 
 278 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 " What do you say, Ben? Would you rather 
 have me go with you than Artemas Diggs?" 
 asked the commodore. 
 
 " I would much prefer going with you, for I 
 don't know Mr. Diggs," replied the lad. 
 
 "All right, then, I will go," said Commodore 
 Hopkins, turning to Mr. Montgomery. "When 
 do you wish us to start ? ' ' 
 
 ' ' The sooner the better, as we wish to lose no 
 time." 
 
 ' ' Yes, I suppose so ; and I see nothing to pre- 
 vent our starting in the morning." 
 
 "Very well, then, I will tell Mr. Diggs that 
 he need not go to Boston. Here is Mrs. Van 
 Vleet's address." 
 
 ' ' Thank you ; we shall need that. Now, are 
 there any suggestions you have to offer — any 
 special instructions ? ' ' 
 
 "No, I believe not. You should get the 
 woman's story, and tell her the discoveries we 
 have made — everything from first to last." 
 
 Mr. Montgomery then said good night and 
 returned to his home.
 
 XWII. 
 
 "T^ARIyY the following morning Ben found 
 himself on board a fast train that landed 
 him and the commodore in Boston in about six 
 hours. Immediately they took a cab and drove 
 to the house where Mrs. Van Vleet resided with 
 her sister. 
 
 "You may remain in the cab, Ben, and drive 
 for an hour or so, and then return here. I want 
 to see the lady before taking you into her pres- 
 ence," said Commodore Hopkins, as he stepped 
 upon the sidewalk. 
 
 He was shown into the drawing room, where 
 he waited for Mrs. Van Vleet to appear. The 
 house was handsomely furnished, everything 
 looked neat and suggested the best of taste. 
 
 Presently a tall, fine looking lady, with a kindly, 
 intellectual face, entered the room. It was Mrs. 
 Van Vleet. Commodore Hopkins introduced 
 himself, and then said : 
 
 ' ' I came here today on a peculiar mission, but 
 one which I trust will result in righting a great 
 wrong which I have reasons for believing has 
 been perpetrated upon you and another. ' ' 
 
 279
 
 280 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 The lady looked puzzled. How had she been 
 wronged, and why should this man — a total 
 stranger — take the trouble to come to her on such 
 an errand ? 
 
 These thoughts suggested themselves to her, 
 and her manner, therefore, was guarded and 
 distant. 
 
 " I think, sir, you must have made some mis- 
 take. I am not aware of any injustice that has 
 been done to me." 
 
 " So I supposed, madam, and that is the reason 
 why I came here today, or rather, one of the 
 reasons. No, I think I am not mistaken in the 
 lady. Your husband's name was William Van 
 Vleet, was it not ? " 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 "And he was lost at sea a number of years 
 ago?" 
 
 ' ' Yes, fourteen years ago ; but what has that 
 to do with any injustice that you imagine has been 
 done to me ? ' ' 
 
 ' ' I simply wish to convince myself that I am 
 right. Now I know you are the lady whom I 
 wish to see. I will tell you my stor5 r , and then 
 you will see my purpose in coining to } T ou." 
 
 " Thank you, sir ; I shall be glad to hear what 
 you have to say," said Mrs. Van Vleet, who had 
 begun to be favorably impressed with the com- 
 modore's genial manner.
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 281 
 
 "Last November," said he, " I sailed with my 
 family for Australia. During the voyage the boat- 
 swain of our ship told us the sad story of a steam- 
 ship that was lost at sea. Among the passengers he 
 said there was a wealthy family whose name was 
 Van Vleet. Since returning to New York I have 
 learned by investigation that you were on board 
 that ill fated ship. You are doubtless, then, the 
 Mrs. Van Vleet to whom the sailor referred, 
 though he believed that both you and your hus- 
 band were lost at sea." 
 
 " My husband and my baby were both lost on 
 that fearful night," said the lady, wiping a sad 
 tear from her eyes, " and I was left alone." 
 
 The recital of this event brought back to her 
 afresh the sorrow that had clouded her life, and 
 her breast heaved with a deep emotion. 
 
 ' ' It was very sad, ' ' said the commodore ; ' ' and 
 yet I trust less so than you have supposed." 
 - " Wh)', what do you mean — what do you 
 know? " said she eagerly, and with a gleam of 
 hope leaping into her moist eyes. 
 
 ' ' I believe your baby was saved, ' ' replied 
 Commodore Hopkins assuringly. 
 
 " Saved ? My darling baby ! " 
 
 "Yes, saved by the sailor to whom I have 
 referred." 
 
 "Saved? Oh, no, no, it cannot be," said the 
 lady, bewildered.
 
 282 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 " I believe there is little doubt of it, madam. 
 The boatswain said he saved the child himself." 
 
 ' ' And he has kept him from me all this time 
 — oh, cruel, cruel man ! " she cried excitedly. 
 
 Her face was pale as death, and she seemed 
 struggling with her own reason, as she pressed 
 her hand against her forehead. 
 
 "Have you ever seen this ring?" said the 
 commodore presently, as he handed her the tiny 
 gold band taken from John Hansel's pocketbook. 
 
 "Oh, it wa's his, it was his — my baby dar- 
 ling ! " she cried, almost hysterically, and then, 
 as if by instinct, pressed it to her breast, while 
 the tears coursed silently down her cheeks. 
 
 " So you identify the ring? " said the commo- 
 dore, after a pause. 
 
 Yes, it is like the one my baby wore. ' ' 
 
 " And the name, Victor Van Vleet " 
 
 "Yes, that was his name. But where is he 
 now ? Oh, don't say he is dead, after this hope 
 you have given me ! " 
 
 " No, I will not say that, for I believe he is 
 alive and well. But a cruel plot was entered into 
 to defraud you out of the fortune to which he 
 was the heir. This is why he was spirited away 
 and his identity lost." 
 
 "Oh, tell me all, tell me all. I cannot endure 
 this suspense ! " cried the lady, as the commo- 
 dore hesitated, thinking how best to proceed.
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 283 
 
 He now told Dan Spiker's story of the rescue. 
 She confirmed the honest sailor's statements at 
 every point, and upon relating how the child was 
 deserted by its nurse she cried out as if pierced 
 to the heart with pain, saying : 
 
 "Oh! wicked, wicked woman! How could 
 she be so selfish and cruel as to leave my help- 
 less baby in such an hour ! My husband and 
 myself were prisoners in our own stateroom at 
 the time, or he would have been in my arms — 
 poor, dear baby ! " 
 
 How did it happen that you were prison- 
 ers?" 
 
 "Our door was caught so firmly it could not 
 be opened till it was broken in. ' ' 
 
 ' ' That was caused by the straining of the 
 ship, I suppose." 
 
 ' Yes ; and the instant we were released I 
 went to the stateroom adjoining, which was occu- 
 pied by the nurse and our baby, but they were 
 both gone. We tried to find them, but could 
 not, as we were forced to leave the ship without 
 another minute's delay." 
 
 Commodore Hopkins continued the boatswain's 
 story, giving in full all that had been stated. 
 
 ' ' What could have been their object — the men 
 that stole him away from the sailor ? ' ' asked 
 Mrs. Van Vleet more calmly, and bringing her 
 fine reasoning powers into action.
 
 284 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 " It was doubtless done to defraud you of your 
 husband's property." 
 
 " Oh, I can't think that. How could any one 
 be so cruel? " said she thoughtfully. 
 
 ' ' Such acts have often been done, and we have 
 good reasons for believing that such was the 
 motive in this case." 
 
 ' ' It must have been done by our relatives, 
 then — if at all," she added, as if doubtful. 
 
 " Certainty. Have you never suspected any- 
 thing wrong ? " 
 
 She hesitated before replying, and then said 
 slowly, " Yes, I have, but not exactly in this 
 way. ' ' 
 
 ' ' He covered his tracks well for a time, 
 but " 
 
 ' ' He ? ' ' interrupted the lady with a startled 
 look. ' ' Whom do you mean ? ' ' 
 
 ' ' Under the circumstances there is but one man 
 to whom I could refer. ' ' 
 
 "Oh, it can't be — Anthony Boggs guilty of 
 such a crime ? No, no ! " 
 
 "It is a hard thing to say about any one, 
 madam, but all the evidence tends to this view." 
 
 He then told her how a strange boy, afloat in 
 the streets of New York, had punished Perry 
 Boggs — how he was arrested and locked up — told 
 of Bogg' visit to the station house to see the lad 
 — how he was disguised, and how nervous he
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 285 
 
 seemed. He told how the boy was sent to the 
 Island and afterward released on a bond given 
 by Boggs' attorney, and taken directly on board 
 a ship bound for Australia, and thus spirited 
 away from New York. 
 
 ' ' That explains his strange actions when the 
 detectives called to see him about the boy," said 
 Mrs. Van Vleet. "I felt sure then that some- 
 thing was wrong, and was so disgusted at his 
 cowardice and deception that I cut my visit short 
 and returned here the very next day." 
 
 The commodore now handed a letter to her to 
 read. It was the one written to Caleb Steel, 
 offering the reward to have Ben put where he 
 would never again return to New York alive. 
 
 The color faded from her face as she discov- 
 ered the villain's terrible purpose. Too much 
 shocked to speak, she handed the letter back to 
 the commodore, and bowing her head low, 
 thought silently for a time. 
 
 Presently the commodore continued his story, 
 and briefly related the events that occurred on 
 shipboard. 
 
 "And you think he is my lost child," said 
 Mrs. Van Vleet, at length — " the poor boy whom 
 you protected ? ' ' 
 
 ' ' I have no positive evidence to that effect 
 but there is no other way of explaining Boggs' 
 desire to get him out of the way."
 
 286 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 ' ' When can I see him ? How I wish you had 
 brought him on with you ! ' ' 
 
 " I anticipated your desire, and have brought 
 him with me." 
 
 " Brought him with you? " 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " But where is he ? I can hardly wait to see 
 him." 
 
 ' ' He will be here soon. I instructed the cab- 
 man to return with him in one hour, and the 
 time is nearly up. ' ' 
 
 "Oh, I cannot realize that he is my child — 
 alive and a grown boy." 
 
 " Well, you know it is possible that he is not 
 your son. So you had better not feel too sure." 
 
 " No, I will not— I " 
 
 "Ah, here comes the carriage now," said 
 Commodore Hopkins, looking out of the window. 
 " I will go to the door and call him in." 
 
 "Ben, come here, please," called the commo- 
 dore, and the lad responded with a light, willing 
 step. 
 
 As they entered the drawing room Mrs. Van 
 Vleet arose and stepped forward to meet the boy. 
 Her manner was agitated and nervous, and 
 her face expressed a conflict between doubt and 
 hope. 
 
 I have not the space to picture the scene that 
 followed between mother and son — a sou who
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 287 
 
 had never known a mother, and a mother who 
 supposed that her child had died long years ago. 
 
 To one it was a resurrection from a watery 
 grave ; to the other the realization of his boyish 
 dreams. Now he had a mother — a dear, sweet 
 mother, and his mother had a son whom she 
 pressed to her breast with tender love and pride. 
 
 What a happy meeting after this long and cruel 
 separation — a separation caused by the cunning 
 hand of a wicked villain ! And now incidents 
 and coincidences in the life of our hero of the 
 strangest and most peculiar nature had brought 
 them together once more. 
 
 Her husband's features were so distinctly seen 
 in her son's face that she could not have been 
 mistaken. Almost instantly she recognized 
 him. Instinct was swifter than reason, and she 
 clasped him lovingly in her arms amid tears of 
 joy. 
 
 To Commodore Hopkins this was a refreshing 
 scene, and well repaid him for all the expense 
 and trouble to which he had gone for our young 
 hero. 
 
 ' ' The same face that I saw on Union Square 
 that cold November night," said Mrs. Van Vleet. 
 " My heart condemned me for not going to you 
 then, but how little I supposed you were my own 
 dear boy ! ' ' 
 
 "And I, of course, didn't imagine you were
 
 288 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 my mother. I thought you were Perry Boggs' 
 mother." 
 
 Our hero, whom we will hereafter call by his 
 true uame, Victor Van Vleet, then told his mother 
 how he followed her to the theater door, and 
 heard her reprove Perry for his insolent remarks. 
 
 " I remember that you asked him how he would 
 feel if his position was changed with that poor 
 boy — meaning me — but I little thought it would 
 ever come true. ' ' 
 
 " Neither did I," said his mother ; " but it hurt 
 me to hear Perry speak as he did. ' ' 
 
 "And it hurt me, too, and made me feel like 
 giving him a good licking. I determined then 
 that I would get even with him sooner or later. ' ' 
 
 " That time is very near at hand now, Victor," 
 said Commodore Hopkins, calling him by this 
 name for the first time. 
 
 "I hope it is," replied the boy, "but I don't 
 know myself by that name." 
 
 " You will soon get accustomed to it, as one 
 does to a new suit of clothes. You know your- 
 self, and that is the main thing. Your character 
 will be the same whatever name you go by. But 
 this pleasant conversation must be cut short, as 
 there is important work yet to be done. Boggs 
 must be brought to justice for his infamous 
 villainy, and the property that he now controls 
 shall be yours."
 
 XLIV. 
 
 /^OMMODORE HOPKINS returned home 
 ^-" alone, leaving Victor to visit his mother 
 until wanted in New York. He felt now that his 
 responsibility was at an end. He had shielded 
 the boy from danger, and cared for him as if he 
 had been his own child. But one thing more 
 remained for him to do, and that was to see that 
 justice should overtake Anthony Boggs. 
 
 " Where is Ben ? " asked Bertha with a look of 
 disappointment, as her father entered the house. 
 
 "I left him with his mother," replied the 
 commodore. 
 
 " Then she was really his mother? " 
 
 "Yes, no doubt whatever about it." 
 
 "What did Ben say, and how did he act? I 
 wish I might have seen him." 
 
 "I wish, too, that you could have witnessed 
 the scene," said her father; and then he told 
 the story of their meeting. 
 
 " It must have been a happy reunion," said 
 Mrs. Hopkins. 
 
 ' ' It was, indeed, and they both seem very 
 
 happy now." 
 
 289 

 
 290 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 "So I should suppose; Ben is a charming 
 boy. His mother must be proud of him." 
 
 " She shows that plainly, and he is proud of 
 his mother, as well he may be, for she is a refined 
 lady." 
 
 " But Ben will not stay in Boston all the time, 
 will he? " said Bertha feelingly. 
 
 ' ' I suppose he will ; that is, if his mother 
 continues to reside there." 
 
 A look of disappointment passed over her face. 
 
 " I thought he would come back with you," 
 said she. 
 
 " Well, his mother wanted him to remain with 
 her, and as I had no authority in the matter, of 
 course I made no objections." 
 
 " We missed him very much," said Mrs. Hop- 
 kins, " and Bertha was lonesome without him." 
 
 "We shall all miss him, no doubt," replied 
 the commodore. ' ' He seemed like one of our 
 family." 
 
 " Here is a letter, papa, that came for you yes- 
 terday," said Bertha. 
 
 "Oh, it is from Dan Spiker," said her father, 
 when he had opened the envelope and read the 
 boatswain's name. 
 
 "From Dan? Oh, I am glad he is home 
 again ! " 
 
 "So am I. We may need his testimony in 
 Victor's case."
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 29 1 
 
 " It doesn't sound natural to hear you call him 
 Victor. ' ' 
 
 " I know it does not, but we will soon get 
 accustomed to it." 
 
 " Yes, I suppose so. How glad Dan will be 
 to learn of Victor's good luck ! " 
 
 ' ' I think he will be almost as glad as Victor 
 was himself. He will be at my office today, this 
 letter says. I must not miss seeing him. I can 
 imagine just how anxious he will feel to hear 
 what we have done in Ben's behalf." 
 
 "Don't you mean Victor's behalf?" laughed 
 Bertha. 
 
 "Yes, I accept the correction. I find it diffi- 
 cult, myself, to remember his new name." 
 
 After breakfast was over, Commodore Hopkins 
 went direct to William Montgomery's office. 
 The lawyer greeted him pleasantly, and asked 
 for a report of the Boston trip. On hearing the 
 result he expressed his gratification at the happy 
 outcome. 
 
 ' ' I knew that the trip would repay you for 
 going," said he. 
 
 " It did, indeed — repaid me many times." 
 
 " I am heartily glad it did. You well deserved 
 the pleasure you got from witnessing the happy 
 scene." 
 
 "Thank you, but I fear you overlook your 
 own efforts in the boy's behalf."
 
 292 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 " No, I do not ; for I have simply carried out 
 your wishes in a professional way. ' ' 
 
 4 ' I am sure you wrong yourself, for, had I 
 not asked you to work up the case, you would 
 have done so on your own account. You had 
 already employed a detective to investigate the 
 matter." 
 
 "Well, yes, I must admit that; but then I 
 have done so little for the boy that it seems as 
 nothing in comparison with what you have done 
 for him." 
 
 "I cannot quite agree with you ; and besides, 
 my work is now done. I have gone as far as I 
 can, while there is yet much for you to do in the 
 case." 
 
 ' ' To what do you refer ? ' ' 
 ' ' I refer to legal proceedings against Boggs. ' ' 
 " Oh, I understand you now. Yes, it will 
 doubtless develop into an important contest. ' ' 
 "Yes, I imagine so." 
 
 " The case is somewhat complicated. It may, 
 therefore, take some time and a great deal of 
 work to establish our claim. There is a large 
 sum of money involved, which is now in Boggs' 
 possession. This gives him every advantage. ' ' 
 ' ' But you do not doubt our final triumph ? ' ' 
 " Oh, no. We have plenty of evidence in our 
 possession, and as the case progresses will 
 doubtless secure more."
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 293 
 
 " You will, of course, try to have him punished 
 as well as to secure the property." 
 
 " Certainly. I have already taken steps for his 
 arrest." 
 
 ' ' I am glad of that. I want to see the villain 
 punished." 
 
 " I think we agree perfectly in that sentiment, 
 and trust the time is not far off when justice will 
 overtake him." 
 
 Dan Spiker, the honest hearted sailor, was 
 rejoiced to learn of our young hero's good fortune 
 in regaining his mother, and in finding himself 
 entitled to a large fortune. He was anxious to 
 see Victor and congratulate him, because he felt 
 a real affection for the boy. 
 
 " It will be necessary, Dan, for you to remain 
 ashore for a time," said Commodore Hopkins. 
 1 ' We shall need your testimony to help establish 
 Victor's identity." 
 
 1 ' I would be glad to know about how long I 
 shall be needed here, for I want to get to work 
 again as soon as possible, ' ' said the sailor. 
 
 "I can't say when your testimony will be 
 needed. But you can feel perfectly contented, as 
 you will lose nothing by waiting. ' ' 
 
 " Thank you, sir. I am glad to do anything 
 you want me to," said Dan, with a look of 
 pleasure. He felt assured by the commodore's 
 manner that he would be well provided for.
 
 XLV. 
 
 TV/TR. MONTGOMERY presented our hero's 
 case to the district attorney, who speedily 
 procured from the grand jury an indictment 
 against Anthony Boggs, charging him with 
 having caused the abduction of a child from Dan 
 Spiker's home ; with having spirited a boy away 
 to sea, and with inciting one Caleb Steel to 
 murder. 
 
 These were grave charges to be brought against 
 any man, and Anthony Boggs had good cause for 
 feeling the terror that well nigh overpowered 
 him when the officers placed him under arrest. 
 
 To follow him through the long investigation 
 that succeeded would be tedious and uninterest- 
 ing to my readers. Neither have I the space to 
 record the details of so long and wearisome a trial. 
 It could not properly be made a part of this story, 
 which is simply the history of our hero's strange 
 career. 
 
 But all who have followed through this narra- 
 tive the pale, scantily dressed boy w 7 hom they 
 first met one cold November night on Union 
 Square will, I believe, feel interested to know the 
 
 294
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 295 
 
 result of the legal contest with Anthony Boggs — 
 the man who had wronged him cruelly, and 
 finally, to protect himself, had sought his life. 
 
 When Mr. Van Vleet was drowned at sea 
 Anthony Boggs was at work in Brooklyn as an 
 ordinary ship carpenter. He lived in Jersey City, 
 in a very humble way, his sister then, as later, 
 filling the place of housekeeper. 
 
 The best of feeling did not exist between him 
 and Mr. Van Vleet. The latter's sister had 
 married Boggs against the wishes of her family, 
 and this was the first cause for coolness between 
 them. But a yet stronger reason for this feeling 
 was the difference in the characters of the men. 
 Mr. Van Vleet was genial, refined and intel- 
 lectual ; Boggs possessed none of these desirable 
 characteristics. There was, therefore, nothing 
 to hold them together save relationship, and that 
 merely a connection by marriage. This slender 
 tie was, after a while, severed by the sudden 
 death of Mrs. Boggs, and now the two men 
 drifted farther and farther apart. 
 
 Boggs, chafing at his poverty and made jealous 
 by the rapidly accumulating fortune of his brother 
 in law, grew more and more bitter toward him. 
 There had been no interchange of good feeling 
 between them for several months previous to the 
 sinking of the ill fated steamer — the accident that 
 cost Mr. Van Vleet his life.
 
 296 AFLOAT IN A GR.EAT CITY. 
 
 Boggs had, however, kept a keen eye on the 
 other's movements, and looked covetously to the 
 property he now owned. 
 
 When he learned that his brother in law had 
 been lost at sea, a look of triumph shone in his 
 eyes, and then instantly his mind turned toward 
 the property. 
 
 He had sufficient knowledge of the law to know 
 that his son Perry was the only direct heir except 
 Mr. Van Vleet's own child. 
 
 " If the child is lost, and there is no will, the 
 bulk of his riches will be mine," said Boggs, 
 with avarice in his countenance. 
 
 He employed a lawyer to look after his inter- 
 ests, and gave all his own energies to the case. 
 The money he wanted, and would have if it could 
 be had by any means, just or otherwise. 
 
 Mrs. Van Vleet was prostrated with grief over 
 the loss of her husband and the supposed loss of 
 her child. She gave business matters little atten- 
 tion. 
 
 Boggs, on the other hand, was alert, and 
 keenly watching for any possible development 
 that might yet arise to keep him from gaining 
 his point. 
 
 To his great joy, it was learned that no will 
 had been made by Mr. Van Vleet. He now 
 began to look upon himself as a wealthy man, 
 and proceedings had already been commenced in
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 297 
 
 court to have that property which would fall to 
 an heir set over to his son Perry. 
 
 Everything progressed smoothly, and promised 
 well for his interests, when, to his surprise, he 
 learned, one day, through a sailor, that a child 
 had been rescued from the steamer on which Mr. 
 and Mrs. Van Vleet were passengers. 
 
 The news alarmed him, and he at once took 
 measures to investigate the case. He found that 
 the child was Victor Van Vleet, the direct heir to 
 his father's property. 
 
 Between him, then, and William Van Vleet' s 
 riches stood this boy — and no other barrier. 
 
 He hated the Van Vleets, and coveted their 
 wealth. Why should he allow this puny babe to 
 thwart his purpose ? He asked himself this 
 question, and, with compressed lips, declared 
 that he would not. 
 
 Evidence introduced into the criminal proceed- 
 ings agaiust him showed that he acted promptly 
 upon this decision. It was proved that he gave a 
 reward to have the child kidnapped and taken 
 where his identity would be lost. 
 
 This being done, the property was in due time 
 set over to Perry Boggs as the legal heir, 
 Anthony Boggs being made trustee for his son. 
 
 After a time, he lost all knowledge of our 
 hero. Whether he was living or not, he did not 
 know.
 
 298 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 Years passed by, and no word came from him, 
 and yet Boggs felt always a sense of insecurity. 
 He studied boys by the thousands and tens of 
 thousands, wondering if among them he would 
 ever see Victor Van Vleet, and yet dreading the 
 possibility of such a discovery. 
 
 But the wrongdoer is sure to be punished 
 sooner or later. Nearly fourteen years had 
 passed by since his eyes had fallen upon the boy 
 whom he had so outrageously wronged. In the 
 mean time, his own son had grown to be a young 
 man, and was now accompanying him to the 
 theater when the dreaded discovery was made. 
 
 These facts, together with the chief incidents 
 in our hero's life, were all brought out in the 
 trial which resulted, finally, in Anthony Boggs' 
 conviction. 
 
 His lawyers moved for a new trial, but the 
 court, being convinced of the prisoner's deep vil- 
 lainy, denied the motion, and sentenced him to 
 twenty years' imprisonment at hard labor. 
 
 Boggs' guilt being proved, and our hero's 
 identity being established beyond a doubt, all 
 the property that had fallen to Perry Boggs was 
 retransferred to its rightful owner — Victor Van 
 Vleet. 
 
 "Oh, but don't you see I can't imagine myself 
 in such a position ! ' ' 
 
 This is the reply that was made by Perry Boggs
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 299 
 
 to a question by Mrs. Van Vleet, asking him if 
 he would not crave some sympathy were his posi- 
 tion exchanged with that of our young hero, who 
 at that time was a half starved, half clothed street 
 boy, without relative or friend. 
 
 No, Perry could not then imagine such a transi- 
 tion—he the "swell" youth, with fine clothes 
 and abundant wealth. But now he was forced to 
 realize that it had come true. The change 
 humiliated and crushed him. 
 
 What to do and which way to turn he knew 
 not. His education was most superficial ; he had 
 never been trained to work, and had no means of 
 earning a living. Had he, however, possessed 
 the spirit of a resolute, determined boy, he would 
 have commenced to work at something, if ever so 
 humble ; but, instead of this, he humiliated him- 
 self before Victor and his mother, and asked 
 charity from them. 
 
 Our hero was heartily congratulated by all his 
 friends upon his absolute triumph over the man 
 who had so cruelly wronged him, and upon the 
 great fortune he had inherited. Dan Spiker's 
 heart was overjoyed, but even his congratula- 
 tions were not more sincere than those offered 
 by her whose sweet companionship had made him 
 so happy on that hazardous Australian voyage. 
 
 There was, however, in her voice a strain of 
 sadness that attracted his attention.
 
 300 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 " What troubles you, Bertha ? " he said softly. 
 
 A sweet blush mantled her cheeks, and pausing 
 for a moment, she said, " I suppose you will now 
 return to Boston to live ? ' ' 
 
 This was not an answer to his question, but 
 it enabled him to understand her better than ever 
 before. 
 
 "No," said he, "I am not sure of that. 
 Mother and I have promised to meet your father 
 and Mr. Montgomery tomorrow, to talk over 
 several matters, and probably this question will 
 be settled with the others. You see, it all depends 
 upon what is to be done with me." 
 
 " Why, what is to happen to you now? " asked 
 Bertha, with a look of alarm darting into her 
 pretty eyes. 
 
 "Oh, nothing serious," laughed Victor, " only 
 I am to have a tutor, or be sent off to boarding 
 school. If I go away, mother will probably live 
 in Boston, as she has been doing." 
 
 "And if you do not go away to school, will 
 you and she live here? " 
 
 ' ' Yes, mother has promised me to do that. ' '
 
 XLVI. 
 
 " T THINK your best plan will be to employ 
 a tutor for Victor," said William Mont- 
 gomery to Mrs. Van Vleet. 
 
 The question of our hero's education was the 
 one under consideration. 
 
 " I would prefer doing so, if by that means he 
 will advance as fast," replied the boy's mother. 
 ' ' I can hardly allow him to leave me now after 
 our long separation." 
 
 ' ' This is what I supposed ; and besides, he will 
 doubtless do just as well with a good tutor as he 
 would at boarding school." 
 
 " If I thought not, I would not allow my own 
 feelings to influence his course. I want him to 
 have the best advantages, so that he can get a 
 good education. He seems ambitious for study." 
 
 ' ' Yes, so he is ; and he learns so easily that he 
 will soon overtake those who now have the start 
 of him." 
 
 ' ' I hope your prediction will prove true, and I 
 can see no reason why it should not, providing 
 he applies himself studiously. ' ' 
 
 " Yes, the lack of application alone would pre- 
 
 301
 
 302 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 vent his advancement, but I have little fear of his 
 showing such indolence." 
 
 "Wealth, you know, often handicaps one's 
 ambition, but I sincerely trust his head will not 
 be turned by the fortune he has inherited." 
 
 ' ' I think not ; his early experience taught him 
 the value of money, and, moreover, he is accus- 
 tomed to work, and this habit alone is worth a 
 great deal to him." 
 
 Turning now to Commodore Hopkins, Mrs. Van 
 Vleet asked him what she should do for Dan 
 Spiker. 
 
 ' ' That depends largely upon what you feel like 
 doing for him," replied he. 
 
 ' ' I feel that I should do a great deal for him. 
 He rescued my baby when he was helpless and 
 deserted by every one — rescued him at the risk 
 of losing his own life." 
 
 ' ' That is true ; and he deserves great credit for 
 such an act." 
 
 "He deserves more than that. Victor agrees 
 with me that we should give him a substantial 
 reward for all he has done for him." 
 
 " I fully agree with you, and felt certain that 
 you would feel as you do. He will not expect 
 anything, however. Whatever he has done for 
 Victor was done with a noble spirit ; he had no 
 thought of being rewarded." 
 
 " No, I do not believe he had. But what can
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 303 
 
 we do for hiin ? Would he take money, do you 
 thiuk, and would that be the best thing for 
 him?" 
 
 ' ' No, I do not believe he would accept money. ' ' 
 
 "But he must be paid for the time he has 
 remained out of work on account of the trial." 
 
 " Oh, that, of course, he will accept as a matter 
 of business." 
 
 ' ' I wish you would give the matter some 
 thought, and see what more can be done." 
 
 " I have already considered the problem," said 
 the commodore calmly. 
 
 "Have you, and to what conclusion did you 
 come?" 
 
 ' ' I concluded that it would be better to put 
 him in the way of making money for himself 
 than to present him with money, even if he would 
 accept it." 
 
 ' ' Why so ? Would he not be prudent with it ? " 
 
 " I presume he would, but I do not believe in 
 the principle of giving direct. It is much better 
 to place one in a position where he can build him- 
 self up." 
 
 " I agree with you, and I would be glad to do 
 something of the sort for Mr. Spiker. But what 
 shall it be?" 
 
 " He is thoroughly capable of commanding a 
 ship, and would like nothing better than filling 
 such a position. I looked at a fine vessel yester-
 
 304 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 day that can be bought at a reasonable figure. I 
 have decided to take her, and make Mr. Spiker 
 her captain." 
 
 ' ' Have you really ? ' ' said Mrs. Van Vleet. 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 ' ' But how does that give Victor and me a 
 chance to aid him ? " 
 
 "If you were to take a half interest in the 
 ship, then you would accomplish your purpose, 
 I think. Would you like to make such an 
 investment ? ' ' 
 
 "Yes, if you advise it. I, of course, know 
 nothing of shipping." 
 
 " It would undoubtedly prove profitable ; and, 
 moreover, Mr. Spiker would then feel that you 
 had more than repaid him." 
 
 Thus it came about in a few weeks that Dan 
 Spiker, the boatswain — the honest hearted sailor 
 who always acted well his part — became Captain 
 Spiker, commander of as fine a ship as sails out 
 of New York harbor. 
 
 Our young hero was now most happily located, 
 living with his mother in their own charming 
 home on Fifth Avenue — the house formerly 
 occupied by Anthony Boggs. It had been refur- 
 nished throughout, and handsomely decorated 
 with pictures and rare works of art. 
 
 His own room was cheerful and handsome. 
 Ornaments of various kinds were so arranged
 
 AFLOAT IN A GRKAT CITY. 305 
 
 that the effect was pleasing and artistic. Every- 
 thing about the house suggested refinemeut and 
 wealth. 
 
 His tutor was a genial young man, who entered 
 heartily into his work, and did all in his power to 
 push his pupil ahead in his studies ; and his 
 efforts were not wasted, for Victor applied him- 
 self with determination, to make up the time he 
 had lost while afloat in the great city.
 
 XLVII. 
 
 /^NE bright June morning, just before the 
 ^^^ commencement of our hero's summer vaca- 
 tion, Commodore Hopkius and Bertha drove up 
 to Mrs. Van Vleet's residence and called for 
 him. 
 
 ' ' Come with Bertha and me for a few hours, 
 Victor," said the commodore, with a look of 
 pleasure in his eye. ' ' I want to show you some- 
 thing new." 
 
 He did not need a second invitation. On the 
 contrary, he would have felt disappointed had he 
 been obliged to remain at home. To go off with 
 the commodore for an hour or two was a decided 
 pleasure, as he was fond of the man who had 
 been his benefactor ; but to go with him, accom- 
 panied by Bertha, meant infinitely more to Victor. 
 
 They drove down the avenue and down Broad- 
 way to South Ferry. There they took a boat for 
 Bay Ridge. Both Bertha and Victor wondered 
 what the commodore's object was in taking them 
 there. He told them that they would soon learn, 
 and he would say no more. 
 
 " Oh, what a pretty yacht ! " exclaimed Bertha, 
 
 306
 
 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 307 
 
 as her eyes fell upon one riding at anchor near 
 the landing. 
 
 " She is a beauty," replied Victor. 
 
 " Papa, just look and see her. Isn't she 
 lovely?" 
 
 ' ' Yes, she is rather a pretty yacht, ' ' replied her 
 father indifferently. 
 
 "And her name is — is B — Bertha," said Vic- 
 tor enthusiastically. He was barely able to read 
 the name at so great a distance. 
 
 " Is it, truly? " asked Bertha. 
 
 " Yes ; just Bertha and nothing else." 
 
 " How very strange, when our ship was named 
 Bertha Hopkins." 
 
 ' ' Yes, so it is ; but this boat was probably 
 named for some other Bertha." 
 
 Presently the landing was reached, and our 
 party, to the surprise of Bertha and Victor, got 
 into a rowboat, and were quickly rowed out to 
 the handsome yacht Bertha. 
 
 " This is what I wanted to show you," said 
 Commodore Hopkins, with a smile, as they sur- 
 veyed the handsome craft. ' ' I bought her 
 last week before she had been launched." 
 
 The expressions of gratitude that poured forth 
 from our young friends made clear their delight. 
 
 "How did you happen to buy her?" asked 
 Bertha. 
 
 I bought her because you and Victor are 
 
 (<
 
 3o8 AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY. 
 
 always talking of the sea, and wishing you could 
 live on the water. I thought you would both 
 enjoy cruising along the coast more than going 
 to some summer resort during your vacation. ' ' 
 
 ' ' So we would — a thousand times rather, ' ' said 
 both, in the very ecstasy of joy. Their happy 
 faces went far toward repaying the commodore 
 for his heavy investment. 
 
 Early in the morning of the Fourth of July, 
 when patriotic guns on every side were booming, 
 the Bertha weighed anchor, and spreading her 
 snow white sails, speeded down the Bay. 
 
 Commodore and Mrs. Hopkins, Mr. and Mrs. 
 Montgomery, Mrs. Van Vleet, Bertha and Victor, 
 made up the party on board the beautiful craft 
 which had put out for a two months' cruise along 
 the Eastern coast. 
 
 " It seems pleasant to be on the water again," 
 said Bertha, as she and Victor chatted happily 
 together. 
 
 "It does, indeed," returned her companion. 
 " But I can't help thinking of the strange events 
 that have happened since I sailed over this course 
 about eight months ago. How heartsick I was 
 then at being forced to go to sea ! Now, noth- 
 ing would suit me as well. Then I had no 
 friends, no home, no relatives, no money. Now 
 I have them all. ' ' 
 
 " It sounds like a story, doesn't it? And just
 
 h 
 
 AFLOAT IN A GRKAT CITY. 309 
 
 think, if you had not gone on our ship you would 
 uot have known Dan Spiker, and perhaps you 
 would never have found your mother or secured 
 your property. ' ' 
 
 ' ' Yes, that is so. Good came out of Boggs' 
 villainous purpose after all. I should never 
 have known you, either," replied Victor, in a way 
 that seemed to say he considered her friendship 
 dearer to him than all else. 
 
 The meaning of this remark was so plain that 
 Bertha could not fail to understand him, and the 
 crimson tint that mantled her cheeks, her man- 
 ner, and her reply, all showed that she appreci- 
 ated the tender sentiment he expressed, rather 
 than spoke. 
 
 Triumphant over his enemies, risen above all 
 opposition, happy in his beautiful home, and yet 
 more happy in his present association with the 
 charming companion now chatting merrily by his 
 side, we will wish him and her, and all on board 
 the handsome yacht, a safe and delightful cruise 
 along the picturesque coast of New England. 
 
 THE END.
 
 A A 000 251909