"That's a pretty good sign of rain, that seldom fails. But what do we care! Our roof don't leak, Thad!" "No, but it will be tough if the downpour comes just when we want to look for George Stormways and Bunny. I suppose, though, we could tie up at Morehead and wait till it passes by." "Hope we haven't passed it already," said Maurice, looking serious. "Oh! I don't think that could be possible, do you? If the place is big enough to get marked on the chart, it ought to be of a size for two fellows to see it in passing. And the two landings we did notice were other settlements, for we asked their names. One man said Morehead was below a piece. I'm expecting to see it soon." "Suppose we don't till dark?" remarked Thad, always on the lookout for trouble. "What are you going to do then?" "Keep right along, sonny, until we see lights, when we can push in and tie up. It's Morehead or bust!" "All right, you're the skipper, I told you, Maurice. The cook has ideas of his own, but he ain't going to run counter of an experienced navigator like the boss. But I hope we come across that station before dark. You know the moon don't rise till about nine now; so we can count on several hours of black sailing." Thad said no more, neither did his comrade make any attempt to continue the argument; for both of them were still hoping that Morehead would consent to show up inside of another hour. But for some reason distances seemed unduly lengthened on this particular day, and the gloaming swooped down upon them with the coveted goal still undiscovered ahead. Maurice was grimly set upon keeping his word. As a usual thing they discouraged night traveling on the great river, because of the aggravated perils involved; but this was a case that was out of the common. Thad went in to look after the wood fire, and wrestle with the problem of what to have with the baked 'possum, that had been cooking much of the afternoon. There were no sweet potatoes now, since the last one had been devoured on the preceding day; so after mature thought the cook was compelled to put on some "grits," as they fortunately still had quite a little stock of this famous Southern staple, which in the North goes by the name of hominy alone. He hoped that by the time supper was ready they might have reached their haven; either that, or the determination of Maurice to keep moving have suffered a change. If it were otherwise they must eat one at a time, while the other attended to the sweep, and kept watch and ward. He had things pretty well along when a welcome shout from the pilot outside came to his ears. "What ho?" asked Thad, as he thrust his head out of the cabin door. "Lights ahead on the shore, and I reckon we must be close on that old Morehead," returned Maurice. "I can hear roustabouts chanting," said the cook, as he bent his ear; "and I bet you that's a steamboat getting wood aboard."