"Yes; he told us of it before we came down. We are going to look for her now," answered Lawry. What Lawry had said excited the suspicion of his mother, as she thought of the malicious words of her older son on the preceding evening. She was excited and indignant; she feared he had executed the wicked purpose which she was confident he had cherished. She went into the house, and upstairs to the room where Ben still lay in bed. "Benjamin, what have you done?" demanded she. "I haven't done anything. I'm a nobody here!" replied the inebriated young man, with surly emphasis. "What did you mean last night when you said that you should run that steamer, or nobody should?" asked Mrs. Wilford. "I meant just what I said. You and Lawry both said I shouldn't run her--and she has gone to the bottom again; she'll stay there this time." "Oh, Benjamin!" said his mother, bursting into tears. "How could you be so wicked?" "Did you think I'd stay round here, and be a nobody?" growled the wretched young man. "Did you sink that steamer?" "What if I did?" "Oh, Benjamin!" "You needn't cry about it. Next time, you'd better not try to make a nobody out of me." "Don't you think I've had trouble enough, without trying to make more for me?" sobbed the distressed mother. "If you had told Lawry to give me the charge of the steamer, he would have done it," whined Ben. "I shouldn't tell him any such thing!" replied Mrs. Wilford indignantly. "A pretty captain of a steamboat you would make! You are so tipsy now you can't hold your head up!" "I'm as sober as you are." Mrs. Wilford knew that it was useless to talk to a person in his condition, and she left him to sleep off the effect of his cups if he could, after the evil deed he had done. Full of sympathy for Lawry, under his great affliction, she left the house, and hastened down to the landing, to learn, if possible, the condition of the _Woodville_. Lawry and Ethan were in the wherry, returning to the shore, when she reached the landing. "Hurrah! hurrah!" shouted both of the boys, in unison, as Mrs. Wilford came in sight. "What now?" asked the anxious mother. "She's safe, mother! She has not sunk," replied Lawry. "Where is she? I don't see her anywhere," added Mrs. Wilford, scanning the lake in every direction. "Over on the other side," replied Lawry. "What's the reason she didn't sink?" continued his mother. "The casks kept her up, of course. We want something for breakfast and for dinner, mother, for she is so far off we can't come home till we have pumped her out, and I won't leave her again till I am sure she's all right." "What shall I do about the ferry, mother?" asked Lawry. "Will Ben run the boat to-day?" "Don't trouble yourself about the ferry, Lawry. If Benjamin won't take care of it, I will." "I don't want you to do it, mother." "I think your brother will run the boat; at any rate, you needn't give it a thought."