CHAPTER I.
A GROWLING PASSENGER.
"Boy, I told you to bring me some pickles," said Major Billcord, a passenger on a Lake Champlain steamer, to a boy in a white jacket, who was doing duty as a waiter at dinner in the cabin.
"Yes, sir; and I brought them," replied Dory Dornwood, as he took the dish of pickles almost from under the passenger's nose, and placed it quite under his nose.
"No impudence to me, boy!" exclaimed Major Billcord, as he bestowed a savage glance at the young waiter.[Pg 14]
"I beg your pardon, sir: I did not mean to be impudent," replied Dory meekly.
"Waiter, bring me a piece of roast beef rare. Now, mind, I want it rare," said the passenger sitting next to the major.
"Yes, sir; in a moment, sir," added Dory, to indicate that he heard the order.
"When I send you for any thing, you should put it where I can see it," added Major Billcord sternly.
"I thought I put the pickles where you could see them," answered Dory, as he started for the pantry to obtain the roast beef rare.
"Here, boy, stop!" called the major. "Where are you going now? Bring me the boiled onions, and I want them well done."
"Yes, sir," replied the waiter, as he darted after the onions, and returned with them in an instant; for he found the dish in another part of the table. "The boiled onions," he added, as he placed them beside the snappy passenger's plate, so that he should be sure to see them.
"Isn't it about time for my roast beef, waiter?" asked the next gentleman.
"In a moment, sir."[Pg 15]
"These onions are not half done, boy!" exclaimed the major. "I told you to bring me onions well done, and not raw onions."
"I don't cook them, sir; and I brought such as I find on the table," pleaded Dory, as he started to fill the order of the next passenger.
"Here! come back, boy! I want boiled onions well done, and I don't want any impudence," snarled the major.
Dory brought another dish of onions, and placed them by the side of the gentleman's plate. He repeated the order of the next passenger to assure him that he had not forgotten it, and was in the act of rushing for it, when Major Billcord broke out again.
"These onions are no better than the others: they are not half cooked. Now go to the steward, and tell him I want boiled onions well done."
"Get my roast beef first," added the next passenger.
"Here, waiter! bring me a sidebone of chicken, some green pease, string-beans, pickled beets, boiled cabbage, a plate of macaroni, and any other vegetables you may happen to have; and don't be[Pg 16] all day about it," said the passenger on the other side of Major Billcord.
advertisement