The Secret Chart

ear the mouth of Spuyten Duyvil Creek the yacht Day Dream lay at anchor on a certain day in September, two years ago. The driving rain only served to give her white hull, with its trimmings of gold, an additional luster, bringing into yet bolder relief the polished mahogany and walnut inboard woodwork. Two sailors and an old colored steward remained below to escape an unnecessary wetting, and the fifty-ton beauty tugged at the cable as if trying to escape from her moorings before her caretakers should be aware of the fact. On the river bank, half-hidden by a clump of trees, was the old stone house owned by Henry Mansfield, formerly a captain in the China trade, but now retired. Having accumulated considerable wealth, he believed it would be more pleasant to remain ashore permanently; but, after a short time of idleness, his love for the sea returned with redoubled force, and, as a result, the Day Dream was purchased.