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While I am speaking of the "Tigris" and our losses, I will just say that the second boat which left the burning steamer was never heard from. We reached our hotel about noon, pretty tired, for we had been rushing things, as it was necessary for father to go home early the next day. On the front steps we found Uncle Chipperton, who had been waiting for us. He particularly wanted to see me.
Chipperton, walked down to the queen's house, to see how she fared and what could be done for her. When we reached Poqua-dilla's hut, we saw her sitting on her door-step. By her side were several joints of sugar-cane, and close to them stood the crown, neatly filled with scarlet pepper-pods, which hung very prettily over the peaked points of brass.
Just as we touched the pier, the man, who was a little astern of us, caught his fish. He jerked it up, and jumped off his post, and, as he looked up in delight at his little fish, which was swinging in the air, I saw he was Mr. Chipperton! I made one dash for Corny's little cubby-hole. I banged at the door. I shouted: "Corny! Here's your father!" She was out in an instant.
"Then this is not the first time you've been in deep water?" I asked. "No," said Corny, "not the very first time;" and she scrambled up on the wharf, where her mother was standing, talking to some ladies. "Why, Cornelia!" exclaimed Mrs. Chipperton, as soon as she saw the dripping girl, "have you been in the water again?"
"Did you come for me?" cried Mr. Chipperton. "No," said the man who had spoken. "We came for this other party, but I reckon you can come along." "For me?" said I. "Who sent you?" "Your pardner," said the man. "He came over in a flat-boat, and he said you was stuck here, for somebody had stole your boat, and so he sent us for you." "And he's over there, is he?" said I.
Chipperton had helped his wife into the boat, and had expected to turn round and take Corny. No doubt he had told the men to be perfectly cool, and not to hurry. And while we were shouting to him and lowering Corny, the other boat had put off. There was a little crowd of men amidships, hard at work at something. We ran there. They were launching the life-raft. The captain was among them.
I want to go up to see old Colbert." I agreed to go, and we got into a street-car. The Colberts lived in one of the up-town streets, and Uncle Chipperton had been at their house, on business. "I never went to see them in a friendly way before," he said. It was comforting to hear that this was to be a friendly visit. When we reached the house, we found the family of three in the parlor.
"I know nothing about a sail-boat," said I. "If we had seen one leave here, we should have gone home in her. Why did you take our boat?" Mr. Chipperton had now landed. "I came over here," he said, "with my wife and daughter. We were in a sail-boat, with a man to manage it. My wife would not come otherwise.
We agreed to be very faithful, and, if Corny had tumbled overboard, I am sure that Rectus and I would have jumped in after her; but I am happy to say that she did nothing of the kind on this trip. Early the next morning, we reached Nassau, the largest town in the Bahamas, on one of the smallest islands, and found it semi-tropical enough to suit even Mr. Chipperton.
"Well," said her mother, "we might go around there once more, especially as your father has never seen the queen at all. Mr. Chipperton, would you like to see the African queen?" Mr. Chipperton did not answer, and his wife turned around quickly. She had been walking ahead with the Chicago lady. "Why, where is he?" she exclaimed. We all stopped and looked about, but couldn't see him.
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