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The next morning, very soon after sunrise, another steamer came off from the shore, bringing several custom-house officers to examine the passengers' baggage. By the time that this steamer had arrived, a great many of the passengers were up, and had their trunks ready on deck to be examined. Among the rest was Hilbert with his trunk, though his father and mother were not yet ready.
"Come, father, make haste," he added, with many impatient looks and gestures, and still holding out his hand. "A ticket? what ticket?" asked his father. As he asked these questions, he put his hand in his pocket and drew out an elegant little purse. "Why, they are going to have a lottery about the ship's run, to-day," replied Hilbert, "and I want a ticket.
He did not think the ship would go quite 270 miles. "And if she does not," said he, "and should happen to go only 267 miles, then I shall have ten pounds; and that is almost fifty dollars." So saying, Hilbert began to caper about the deck in the exuberance of his joy. His antics were, however, suddenly interrupted by the Colonel, who just then came up to him and asked to see his ticket.
Whether it would or would not have been better for him to have communicated the whole truth, is a point which must be left for the readers of this book to discuss and settle among themselves. After dinner, Hilbert, instead of going to his mother, went up upon the deck, leaving his bow and arrows, however, down in the cabin.
"No," said Hilbert, contemptuously, "not Bobby Livingston. Hilbert Livingston." "O, never mind," said the Colonel; "it's all the same thing. Bobby means boy." The plan of the lottery was this: It was generally supposed that the ship's run would be about 270 miles; and it was considered quite certain, as has already been stated, that it would not be more than 280, nor less than 260.
His bows and arrows were on the seat by his side. Rollo went up to the place where Hilbert was sitting, and in a timid and cautious manner informed him that his mother wished to see him. "My mother!" repeated Hilbert, looking up surprised. "Yes," replied Rollo; "she asked me to tell you. But I suppose that she can wait until you have finished your dinner."
When he reached the door of the state room, he opened it, and standing on one side, he pointed the way to Hilbert, saying, sternly, "Go in there!" Hilbert went in. "You will stay there, now," said his father "as long as that bird sees fit to remain on board. It won't do, I see, for you both to be on deck together."
It is probable that Hilbert Torrington also read a meaning in the girl's eyes for he was very active in marshalling his forces for departure. "I think, gentlemen," he said, "we might meet tomorrow to discuss our obligation to Mr. Frencham Altar an obligation by no means covered by the small arrangement we made with him."
People who saw him but had no intimate knowledge of his powers, marvelled that this frail, kindly, stooping old man, with his look of innocence that was almost sublime, could in reality be a giant in the world of money. Such was the case. Mr. Hilbert Torrington had his fingers on the financial pulse of the world and at a pressure could accelerate or decelerate it, to suit his mood.
Hargo then, by a sudden and unexpected movement, pulled the bow and arrow out of Hilbert's hand, and passed them instantly behind him to another sailor, who passed them to another, each standing in such a position as to conceal what they did entirely from Hilbert's sight. The thing was done so suddenly that Hilbert was entirely bewildered. His bow and arrow were gone, but he could not tell where.
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