The tree-cutters passed, singing and laughing. The boat steamed by like a bird. The people waved. As the boat neared the bank where Ann Rutledge and her mother and Mrs. Cameron and Nance stood, Abe Lincoln lifted his hat and held it clear of his head, and Ann waved her bonnet and laughed and sang a snatch of song. As the boat passed from view the shrill whistle sounded several times. Ann listened. "Nance," she said, "I like the horn better than the whistle. The horn has a gentleness, and it makes me think of plum blossoms. I would like to hear it again, just as it sounded a year ago. The whistle--it is hard--it sounds like blackberry briars." Nance laughed. "But thorns go with blackberries," she said; "and travel must have its thorns, too, if it keeps up with what Abe Lincoln calls progress." John McNeil joined the girls. "Ann," he said, "you look very happy to-day." "Yes," she replied, "I'm so glad about the steamboat." "It's just about a year since Abe Lincoln first saw this town," he observed. "Yes--it was April 19th, last year." "You remember the date well." "That was the day I found the first plum blossoms." "And you found them just in time to wave at Abe Lincoln." "I was glad he got his boat off the mill dam." "Ann, what do you suppose Abe Lincoln came to New Salem for?" "Maybe the same thing you did, John." "I came to make money, and I'm making it. He didn't come to make money. He don't know how to make money and never will. Besides he gives away all he does get hold of." "How do you know?" "I found out. And who do you suppose he gives it to?" "I don't know." "His step-mother--step-mother!" and there was a strange tone in his voice whether of contempt or pity, Ann could not tell. "Perhaps she is old and helpless," she said. "Well, suppose she is, she's only his step-mother. If a man ever expects to get ahead he must save his pennies and let them make other pennies for him. That's the way to make money." "I guess you know, John." Ann answered rather absently. CHAPTER XVII CAPTAIN LINCOLN John Rutledge and John McNeil were discussing Abe Lincoln as they sat around a low-burning fire on an early April evening. John Rutledge had just announced it as his opinion that Abe Lincoln had uncommon stuff in him and would make his mark in the world some way. "I think Abe is a fine fellow," John answered, "but he'll never get anywhere." "What makes you think that?" "He doesn't know enough to get on the right side of a question. He's always taking up for something like nigger slaves. How's a man going to get anywhere in politics taking up with such notions?" "I've never heard him say much about negro slaves, one way or another," Rutledge said. "But the general principle of one man being held as property by another man, that's what Abe Lincoln gets after, and I think he's right." "Do you know what he's taking up for now?" John McNeil asked. "Haven't heard. What is it?"