"You had best return to Roanoke City instead," urged Mr. Burrage, aghast. "Need wood for _that_!" "But the boat will be captured by the Rebels. Why don't you burn the freight?" "Beeves ain't convenient for fuel on the hoof." "Oh, I reckon the captain can wood and get off," said Julius, good-naturedly, reassuring Mr. Burrage. "Nobody is thinking about this boat now." Then, as a sharper volley smote the air, he added, "I think I'll look into this a bit," rose and took his way through the groups of excited passengers and down to the lower deck. The "mud clerk," the roustabouts, the wood-yard contingent, made quick work of fuelling the steamer, and she was once more in midstream, forging ahead at high speed, before it occurred to Mr. Burrage to compare notes with his young colleague and ascertain if he had learned aught of what forces were engaged. He was not easily found, and Mr. Burrage asked the captain of his whereabouts. "He must have got left by the boat," said the captain, as if the packet were a sentient thing and subject to whims. Mr. Burrage, gravely disturbed, caused inquiry to be circulated among the hands and officials,--all, in effect, who had set foot on _terra firma_. "Who? that young dandy with the long hair?" said the "mud clerk," staring, his measuring staff still in his hand. "Why, that man _intended_ to land. He had his portmanteau and walked off along the road as unconcerned as if he was going home. I was too busy measuring the wood to pass the time of day, thinking the riverbank was alive with guerillas." His departure remained a mystery to Mr. Burrage. As to the topographical features of his involved scheme he was powerless to prosecute this phase alone. The simple expedient of sticking to the packet and retracing his way on her return trip brought him at last to a consultation with his _confrères_, who also long pondered fruitlessly on the strange meeting and its result. About this time the agent or guide, provided by the Company, presented himself with due credentials from the main office,--a heavy, dull, somewhat sullen man, with no further capacity, or will, indeed, than a lenient interpretation of his duty might require. "I always shall think," Mr. Wray used to say, "that we suffered a great loss in that young man--that John Wray, Junior." CHAPTER XIII