Previously, The B.C. Express prepared to leave Mile 53 for South Fort George.
Joe's bunk-bed rolled gently with the ever-so-slight movements of the B.C. Express. The mighty Fraser's force was limited to an occasional splash against the sternwheeler's outer bow. The ship was securely moored to the Siems-Carey wharf and Joe was sleeping soundly. Then, he began to dream . . .
Joe was standing on the poop-deck of a large sternwheeler, coiling up the mooring ropes. The crowd of people standing on the edge of the wharf were waving good-bye. A large number had turned out for the departure. The B.C. Express was moving away from the dock. Joe looked over the crowd for familiar faces. He thought, perhaps, 'Sand-bar Sam', Mr. Bates or even the Wall Brothers would be there. No, there were only strangers! The ladies on the dock were dressed up in fancy clothing and some were holding sun-umbrellas. Their billowy hats with long white feathers rode high in the air.
One of the women was waving her white handkerchief and calling out to the crewmen onboard. Although she was calling there was no sound coming from her lips. Her movements began to slow down. Joe tried desperately to read the woman's lips. While he was struggling with the words the white handkerchief began to swirl around and around like a miniature slow motion tornado and then started flying through the air right towards Joe.
Then, Joe heard the woman's voice. "Emily! Emily," cried the lady, "Where is that child?" These words were loud and clear to Joe. Now, the sounds of stomping feet and muffled voices and then a violent rattling sound at his cabin door. Joe suddenly woke up. His dream had ended. It was all too real.
Joe listened in the dark as he lay on his bed. There was a real woman's voice coming from just outside his cabin door. "Mr. Anders, kindly bring me your lantern. I can't see anything in this dark hallway," summoned the lady. "This lantern that you gave me is too dim."
"That's the crew's quarters down there," called the steward from the top of the staircase. "I doubt if we'll find her there Mrs. Munshaw.
"But, Mr. Anders, we haven't looked everywhere!" yelled the woman. "That girl has to be on this boat somewhere!"
In the next episode, THE MYSTERY GIRL, Joe discovers a young female stowaway in his cabin. He soon learns that she is actually one of the passengers.
