It's in the sounding-boat.' 'It ain't, either.

It's been new-painted; and it's been up on the ladies' cabin guards two days, drying.' I flew back, and shortly arrived among the crowd of watching and wondering ladies just in time to hear the command: 'Give way, men!' I looked over, and there was the gallant sounding-boat booming away, the unprincipled Tom presiding at the tiller, and my chief sitting by him with the sounding-pole which I had been sent on a fool's errand to fetch.

Then that young girl said to me-- 'Oh, how awful to have to go out in that little boat on such a night! Do you think there is any danger ?' I would rather have been stabbed.

I went off, full of venom, to help in the pilot-house.

By and by the boat's lantern disappeared, and after an interval a wee spark glimmered upon the face of the water a mile away.
Mr.Thornburg blew the whistle, in acknowledgment, backed the steamer out, and made for it.