CHAPTER XIV.
Such a bleak and piercing wind swept across the deck of the Simoon that Jim Travers was glad to spend most of his time in the cabin, where a warm fire was always going.
The first day out the boy succeeded in picking up a few scraps of knowledge, which served rather to deepen than to clear up the mystery of his abduction.
The schooner was a good sailer, and was well furnished with coal, wood, water, and provisions, as if she were intended for a long voyage.

There was no real cargo, as he could see; and the two men who managed the craft did not drop a word which could give any clew as to their destination.
It can scarcely be said that they treated the boy well or ill.

Their conduct was more of the character of indifference, since they paid not the least attention to him, further than to notify him to keep out of their way.
This indifference might be considered kindness, inasmuch as it relieved the boy from attempting work which would have proven of a perilous nature.
This also relieved him in a great measure of the fear which made existence a burden during the first twenty-four hours.
On the third morning out from New York, Jim made the discovery that the rising sun was on his right, from which it was certain he was sailing toward the north.

Other evidence led him to conclude, from his knowledge of geography, that they had entered Delaware Bay, and were approaching Philadelphia.
"It's a queer way of getting back home again," was the reflection of the boy when convinced of the fact.
However, the Simoon did not propose to visit the Quaker City just then, and she came to anchor in a broad part of the bay, fully a half-mile from shore.
It was late in the afternoon that this stop was made; and just as night was closing in, a small boat containing two persons was discerned rowing out from land.

When they were nigh enough to board the schooner, Jim saw that one was Mr.Hornblower, and the other was a herculean negro, who was swaying the oars with the ease of a professional.
As both came on deck, the white man signified to the lad that he was to follow him into the cabin, where the door was shut, and they sat down facing each other.
"I might as well own that I deceived you when I pretended I wanted to hire a clerk," began Hornblower, "but I had good reason for doing so; that reason I can't give for the present.