CHAPTER XIX. THE MAJOR’S NEXT MOVE.

On Monday morning, at quarter-past eight, the _Ucayga_ was in readiness to start as soon as the steamer should arrive from Hitaca. She was in sight, and our runners were on the wharf, prepared to induce through travelers to leave her for our more elegant and spacious boat. Waddie was on board, as excited as though the success of the whole scheme depended entirely upon him.

The up-lake steamer was approaching the Narrows; but, instead of heading directly toward the pier on the Centreport side, as usual, she hugged the west shore. We did not suspect that any change in her movements would be made at present; at least not before it was duly announced in the advertisements and posters of the company. I expected to hear of a different arrangement in a week or two, after Major Toppleton had thoroughly tested the capacity of the railroad and steamers.

“What does this mean, Wolf?” demanded Waddie blandly, as the Hitaca boat stopped her wheels near the Middleport landing.

“It means that she is not coming to Centreport with her through passengers,” I replied, hardly less chagrined than the president of the steamboat company.

“But she has no right to do that,” protested Waddie, who, like the two great men, had the idea that no one could be justified in acting contrary to his interest and his wishes.

“I suppose the owners of that line have the right to run their boats where they please.”

“But they have not advertised any change in their arrangements.”

“They are responsible for what they do,” I added.

“They must have passengers on board who wish to come to Centreport.”

“Probably the boat will come over here after the _Ucayga_ starts. Of course this is a plan on the part of Major Toppleton to prevent us from taking any of his through passengers. We can’t expect the railroad company, which controls those boats, to play into our hands.”

“But we can expect fair play.”

“Hardly,” I replied.

“But what can we do?” demanded Waddie, intensely nettled by this movement of the other side.

“We can do nothing, just now. I expected this thing, though not quite so soon.”

“As the matter stands now, we are beaten.”

“Just now we are; but I think we shall not stay beaten long,” I continued good-naturedly. “Your father understands the matter perfectly, and has not lost a moment in preparing for the emergency. When we have the other steamer, we shall be on the top of the wave again.”

“But must we keep quiet until the other boat is completed?”

“Perhaps not, Waddie, though we cannot fully compete with the other side till we have the new boat. I wonder if your father came down in that steamer.”

“I don’t know. I think not. He has not had time to do his business in Hitaca.”

“I have a plan to propose and, when we have time, I will talk it over with you.”

“You always have a plan to propose,” said Waddie, beginning to look more hopeful. “Perhaps I will see you when you return, for I must go to school this morning. I haven’t forgotten what I said on Saturday.”

“I hope not. If I were you, I would not say anything to any one that I had made certain good resolutions. Let them find it out by your actions rather than your promises.”

“I will, Wolf; but I am so excited about that steamboat business that I can’t think of much else.”

“Control yourself, Waddie. Do your duty faithfully at school, and I will try to have everything go right with the boat.”

“I am vexed at this change in the running of those boats. It throws us completely out of our plans.”

“We must expect such things. We can’t have it all our own way, and we must make the best of the circumstances as we find them.”

“Major Toppleton is smart.”

“I told you he would not be content to have the wind taken out of his sails. He rose early this morning, and went up the lake in his yacht. Probably he went on board of that steamer at Gulfport, and directed her captain to proceed directly to Middleport, instead of coming to Centreport first.”

“What is your plan, Wolf? I am curious to know about it. Do you mean to start from Middleport?”

“No, we can’t do that. Major Toppleton controls the water-front of the town, and we could not get a landing-place there.”

“But don’t my father control the water-front on this side? Don’t we let the major’s boats land here?”

“Certainly; and it would be very unwise in your father to prevent them from doing so; for he would thus shut off from Centreport all direct communication with Hitaca, and the other towns up the lake. When he has established a through line, he can afford to keep his wharves for the exclusive use of his own boats, though I question the policy of doing so, even then.”

“By the great horn spoon, Wolf, you have a long head!”

“Thank you, Waddie!”

“But you have not told me about your plan.”

“I’m afraid I have not time to do so now,” I replied, looking at my watch. “It is nearly half-past eight.”

“Well, I will see you when you return from Ucayga.”

Waddie remained with me till I gave the order to cast off the fasts and haul in the planks. It was evident by this time that the boat from Hitaca was not coming to Centreport until after we had started; and at precisely half-past eight the _Ucayga_ left the wharf. We had quite a respectable number of passengers, though, of course, we had not a single one from up the lake; and, under the new arrangement, we could not possibly have one in the future. It was certainly vexatious, as Waddie had suggested, to be checkmated in this manner, and I knew that Colonel Wimpleton would storm furiously when he heard of it.

I had expected it; and, after the first shock, I felt reconciled to the misfortune. Under the present arrangement, the _Ucayga_ accommodated only Ruoara and Centreport, and till we could offset the movement of Major Toppleton, she must be run only for their benefit. There was not more than half business enough to support her. The plan which I had devised, and of which I had spoken to Waddie, had its advantages and its disadvantages; but I was sure that it would be a paying operation for the steamer. I was very anxious to state it to the colonel and Waddie.

As soon as the _Ucayga_ left the wharf, the Hitaca boat started for Centreport. The major did not intend to lose any Centreport trade, and by the arrangement he saved his up-lake passengers for that town. Doubtless he was a happy man, and Tommy was satisfied that he had again thrown the magnificent steamer into the shade. Well, they had, to a certain extent; but it was our next move.

We were at the wharf in Ruoara on time; for the _Ucayga_, under favorable circumstances, rather exceeded her rate of sixteen miles an hour. Waddie had sent up the two trucks which I required, and we made our landing in about five minutes. I took the wheel when the boat left the wharf, and carried her safely through the Horse-Shoe Channel; and this time without a particle of the nervousness which had disturbed me before. I gave Van Wolter the bearings, so that he could be preparing himself for the task when occasion should require.

But, really, there was now no reason to go through the narrow channel. As we had no possible chance of obtaining any through passengers, it was useless to wait for the up-lake boats, though under my proposed arrangement it would have enabled me to save the day. The mate carefully noted the bearings I pointed out to him, and the operations which I explained. He was a skilful man in his business, and I had no doubt he would soon be a competent pilot for the channel.

While we were going through the passage, the Lightning Express dashed along the other side of the lake; and I was satisfied, from its increased speed and punctuality, that Lewis Holgate had been superseded. The locomotive was evidently under the charge of a skilful hand. But the spirited competition of Saturday, which I had anticipated would continue for a few days, seemed to be at an end. The _Ucayga_ was on time, and so was the train. The passengers from the latter came over on the ferry, and as they landed, I saw Major Toppleton and Tommy. A great crowd of people had come down on the Lightning Express, the larger part of whom were through travelers.

To my surprise, my late patrons walked towards the boat. Both of them looked extremely pleasant, as well they might, after the large freight they brought down, at two dollars a head, from Hitaca. They saw me, as I stood on the hurricane-deck, overlooking the landing of our merchandise.

“Good morning, Wolf,” said the senior major. “I hope you are very well this morning.”

“Quite well, I thank you, sir,” I replied, as cheerfully as I could.

Both majors laughed; they could not help it after the victory they had won; and I tried to laugh with them, but it was rather hard work. The father and son came on board, and presently joined me on the upper deck.

“This is a magnificent boat, Wolf,” said the great man.

“Yes, sir, she is a very fine boat,” I replied.

“I had no idea she was so well fitted up. You did not have many passengers down--did you, Wolf?”

“Not so many as we desired, sir.”

“I suppose you remember what I said Saturday night?” chuckled the major.

“Yes, sir.”

“I told you it was my next move.”

“Yes, sir, I recollect that you said so.”

“Well, Wolf, I have made that move.”

“I see you have, sir; and, without any disrespect to you, perhaps Colonel Wimpleton will conclude to make the next move himself.”

“The next move!” laughed the major. “We think on our side, that we have him in a tight place.”

“He don’t think so himself, Major Toppleton; and I’m sure I don’t.”

“What do you mean, Wolf?”

“You seemed to be very much pleased with your success, and I congratulate you upon it. It’s all fair.”

“Of course it’s all fair; but what is your next move?” asked the major, trying to conceal a shade of anxiety that crossed his face.

“As you did not tell me what your move was to be, I think I will keep still for the present, especially as it is not yet matured.”

“That’s all gas, Wolf,” interposed Tommy. “You can’t do nothing.”

“Perhaps we can’t; but we can try,” I replied, good-naturedly.

The ferry-boat rang her bell, and my guests departed, though I offered them a passage in the _Ucayga_.