"Indeed!" exclaimed Lawry, who had intended to discharge this debt with the first money he earned. "She is very kind. I don't deserve so much from her and you." "More, my boy. We haven't done anything at my house but talk about you for a week. Now, you must be reasonable. We intended to give you a good start. Miss Grant wishes to put an upright pianoforte in the saloon. There is just room for it at the end of the stateroom on the starboard side. When that is put in, we shall let you alone. Now, Lawry, take this money; if you don't, I shall be offended." "I don't like to do so," pleaded Lawry. "It makes me feel mean." "It need not; take it, Lawry, for you will want money to provision your boat in the morning." Captain Lawry took it, though it seemed to burn his fingers. "Now, my boy, you shall have your own way. I will force nothing more on you, except what I fairly owe you, and you shall make your fortune without any help or hindrance from anybody." "I owe you now---" "Silence, Lawry!" laughed Mr. Sherwood. "There comes your second fireman." As the man came down the gangplank, he handed Mr. Sherwood a long package, done up in brown paper. "One thing more, Lawry," said his munificent friend, as he led the way to the engine-room, which was lighted by a lantern. "Will you let me put this sign up over the front windows in the wheel-house?" "Certainly, sir. What is it?" "It is the motto of the steamer, and fully explains how I lost the boat," replied Mr. Sherwood, as he unrolled the package. It was a small sign, about three feet in length, elegantly painted and gilded, on which was the motto: HASTE AND WASTE. "While you were at Port Henry, repairing the boat, I went up to Burlington, where I ordered this to be done. It came down to-day, and I want it put up in the wheel-house, where it will be constantly before your eyes, as the best axiom in the world for a steamboat man. It will be the history of the _Woodville_ to you, and I hope you will always act upon it, never running your boat above a safe speed, nor leave your wharf when it is imprudent to do so." "I shall be very glad to have those words always before me," replied Lawry. "When you are ready to go, captain, we are," said Mr. Sherwood. "I'm all ready, sir." Lawry turned, and to his astonishment saw Mrs. Sherwood and Miss Fanny, who had been looking over his shoulder at the pretty sign. "We are going with you, Captain Lawry," added Mr. Sherwood; "that is, if you won't charge us anything for our passage." "I am very happy to have you as passengers," stammered Lawry. "We are so much in love with your boat, Lawry, that we could not stay away from her," added Mrs. Sherwood. "And her captain," said Miss Fanny. Lawry was good for nothing at complimentary speeches, and he went aft to give the girls directions to light up the cabin and the two staterooms for the accommodation of his unexpected passengers.