problem. You'll be bored often enough, but you'll learn a lot, too, and they will go away telling everybody what a charmin' girl you are.
'You learn to listen, or at least act like you're listening and you'll find menfolks doin' all sorts of things for you. Smooths the way, y' know? An' if you're modest about it an' don't flaunt yourself around, the women will like you too.
'A man, he's got to get along mostly with hard work an' persistence, but with a woman it is mostly maneuver. Men have to maneuver too, especially so when it comes to womenfolks.'
'You see,' the young officer was saying, 'there's two lines of cabins, with the main cabin in between. The doors from the cabins open on the main cabin, where folks can mingle and get acquainted. We serve meals there, too.
'Most of the cargo is stowed on the main deck, but sometimes bales of cotton or whatever are piled higher than the deck we're on.'
His name was Robinson and he seemed a nice young man. 'If there is anything I can do for you, just call on me.'
At supper in the main cabin there were three tables. Sure enough, I was seated at the same table with that tall young man. The captain introduced everybody to everybody else, and sure enough, he was Dorian Chantry. When my name was mentioned, he looked across the table and our eyes met. He flushed and looked away, which seemed odd, for he was supposed to be a ladies' man.
There was an older man at the table, a stocky man, taking on some fat at the belt, with thinning white hair, but a face that seemed young for the hair. He glanced at me when my name was mentioned, but said nothing. His name was Ginery Wooster.
At the third table, Timothy Oats was seated close to Essie Buchanan. They were talking. I did not look at them, not wanting them to realize I'd noticed. I had to get away; I had to get off this boat, somehow, some way.
Suddenly I felt trapped, closed in. I did not trust that woman, and now she was talking to Oats. Probably it was idle conversation, but I dared not risk it.
I glanced across the table at Dorian Chantry. Did I dare ask his help? Did he even know about me? If I could just get off, in the middle of the night, when no one suspected .
I was a fool to be thinking of him. He had not so much as noticed me. It was my family I must consider, and what this money would do for them. We had been poor for such a long time. We lived all right because we could hunt, but now it could be different.
Very different.
What I needed now was time to think, to plan. If I could get off this steamboat now, or soon, I could get a horse and ride south. It was closer to home than Cincinnati, although wilder country, I believed.
If I only had a map of the river! Often the steamboat stopped at small places, sometimes only landings. If I could get off without anybody knowing, get off in the middle of the night ...
That nice young man, Robinson. He would know. He had offered to help.
He wasn't thinking of that kind of help, I warned myself. Still, if I could just get off somewhere ...
I could get Mr. Robinson to show me a chart of the river. I knew they must have some in the pilothouse. Suddenly I was startled from my thinking. He was speaking to me. Dorian Chantry was speaking tome !
Chapter 12
'Did I understand you to say, Miss Sackett, that you are leaving the steamer at Cincinnati?'
'That is my present plan, Mister ... is it Chantry?'
'Dorian Chantry, at your service. I believe you know my Uncle Finian?'
'I've had the pleasure, and indeed it was a pleasure. He is a very fine man, a remarkable man.'
'And a stern one, very stern.'
'With reason, perhaps?'
His glance was cool. 'No doubt he feels it so.' He resumed the former topic. 'From Cincinnati you go home, I believe? Is not that very rough country?'
'Some might think it is.'
'But there is a stage? Or can you take another steamer?'
'There is, I think, but right across country is quicker.'
He was irritated. How foolish of her to come so far, unprotected and alone! Because of it he had to leave everything and come on this wild-goose chase, escorting a girl who did not seem in the least grateful. She was pert, almost impudent.
'I am astonished that your family would permit it. Suppose you met a bear? Or a man of evil intention?'
I made my eyes very wide. 'I'd take him home for supper.'
'What? You'd invite such a man to your home?'
'I meant the bear.' I smiled innocently. 'Could I do less?'
His expression showed his exasperation. 'Uncle Finian said I was to see you safely home. He was quite worried about you. He said there were - '
'They are here.'
Startled, he looked up.'Here?'
Before he could say more, I said, 'It is very nice of your Uncle Finian to worry about me, but I shall be quite all right. I would not want you to go to so much trouble. There are bears where I am going, and quite a few men, but most of them are very nice.'
'It is preposterous for you to travel alone.' He glanced at the woman who sat beside me. 'Don't you agree?'
'I should say I do! And across country? Dear me!'
'But there was no one else. My uncle was not well, and the trip must be made. Anyway, it is nearly over now. Soon I shall be home.'
Irritated, he looked down at his plate. What must he think of me? Yet I could not keep from teasing him. He looked so exasperated, and so handsome.
'You must not worry, sir. I shall be all right, and there will be no need of an escort. I shall manage very nicely.'
He was very cool. 'I am not at all sure of that. From what I have heard, you have had your bag stolen from you already - '
'I have it back.'
'And you disappeared from the stage for several days. I had no end of trouble finding you.'
I gave him my prettiest smile. 'But youdid find me! I can't thank you enough! I don't know what I'd have done without you!'
He gave me a very cool, level glance. 'Miss Sackett, my uncle insisted I see that you got home safely. I shall do my best to do just that.'
I glanced at the third table. Timothy Oats was gone. Essie Buchanan was rising. Where was Elmer?
From where I sat, I could see the door to my cabin, but of course, there was an outer door, too. It was locked, I had made sure of that, but such men know how to open locks as simple as that would be. 'If you will excuse me ... ?' I pushed back my chair and arose.
Dorian Chantry got to his feet also. 'Will I see you at breakfast, Miss Sackett?'
He was certainly tall. 'I believe so. Thank you, Mr. Chantry.'
As I walked away, I heard the woman who had sat beside me say, 'She's very pretty, you know.' I did not hear his reply, if he made one, although I very much wanted to.
Our cabin was empty when I reached it, my carpetbag untampered with. I turned and looked at myself in the mirror. That blue dresswas becoming.
I shook my head. I must stop thinking such thoughts. What I must do now is get home with the money. It would do so much for us, make my mother's years so much more comfortable. As for Regal, he was probably recovering very well, but how did we know? Several men who had been clawed or chewed by bears had never really
