"You are old enough to behave better." "How do you expect me to be anybody here, when I have to knock under to my younger brother? I say the steamer don't belong to Lawry any more than she does to me. I have just as much right in her as he has." "What do you mean by talking so, Benjamin? You know that Mr. Sherwood gave the steamer to Lawry, and the bill of sale is in Lawry's name." "I don't care for that! she's just as much mine as she is his, and he'll find that out when she gets to running. Lawry's a minor, and can't hold any property; you know that just as well as I do." "What if he is? I think he will be permitted to hold the steamboat, and run her." "I don't think so. I was talking with Taylor, who holds the mortgage on this place, and he don't think so," added Ben, in a tone of triumph. "What did he say?" "Well, he means to attach the steamboat on the note he holds against father." "He will not do that!" replied Mrs. Wilford. "He says so, anyhow." "He will foreclose the mortgage on the place if he wants to get his money." "The place will not sell for enough to pay his note, and he knows it. No matter about him--the steamboat belongs to father, just as much as the ferry-boat does; and I think I ought to have something to say about her." "If you want to do anything for the family, why can't you run the ferry-boat, Benjamin?" "And let Lawry run the steamboat? Not if I know myself!" replied Ben, with savage emphasis. "He may run the ferry-boat, and I'll run the steamer." "That would be neither fair nor right. The steamer belongs to Lawry, and I will never consent that he shall be turned out of her." "I don't want to turn him out of her. I'll take charge of her, and he may go pilot; that's all he's good for." "You mean that you'll be captain?" "That's what I mean." "I don't think Lawry will want any one to be captain over him. "If I don't run that steamer, nobody shall!" said Ben angrily, as he rose and left the house. "Good evening, Mrs. Wilford," said Mr. Sherwood. "Has Lawry gone to bed?" "Yes, an hour ago." "Is he asleep?" "I suppose he is." "All right, then." "What in the world are you going to do with such a crowd of men, Mr. Sherwood?" "I'm going to help the boys finish their job. Ethan told me they had stopped the leak, and it only remained to pump out the steamer. I am going to do this job; and I have men enough to finish it in a couple of hours." "I should think you had," added Mrs. Wilford. "I have gathered together all the men I could find. Don't say a word to the boys, if you please. I intend to surprise them. They will find the steamer free of water in the morning." "You are very kind, Mr. Sherwood, to take so much trouble." "The boys have worked so well that they deserve encouragement. May I take the ferry-boat to convey my men up to the steamer?" "Certainly, sir."