as a porter at the Iron House, a hotel situated near the landing.  Here my wife also was employed, and here we remained until spring; when, as the wages were so small in Windsor, I went over to Detroit to seek for more profitable employment.  After some effort, I succeeded in securing a situation, as waiter, in the Biddle House, and remained there two years, when the manager died, and it changed hands; and, much as I disliked to make a change in my work, I found it necessary.  An opportunity soon offered of a position as sailor on the steamer Saginaw, which ran from Green Bay to Escanaba, in connection with the railroad.

* * * * *

A clew to my brother William.

While I was on this boat, one of the men who worked with me said to me, one day:  “Have you a brother, Hughes?” I said, “Yes, but I don’t know anything about him.  We were sold from each other when boys.”  “Well,” said he, “I used to sail with a man whose name was Billy Hughes, and he looked just like you.”  I told him there were three boys of us; that we were sold to different parties, and that I had never seen either of my brothers since.  One brother was named William, but went by the nickname of Billy.  “Has this man had his forefinger cut off,” asked I.  “Oh!” replied he, “I don’t know, Hughes, about that.”  “Well,” said I, “this is all I remember about Billy.  I accidentally chopped off his forefinger one day, when we were small boys in Virginia.  This is the only thing by which I could identify my brother William.”  Nothing more was said upon the matter, and it dropped out of my mind.  I did not realize how important were the words of this man.  It never occurred to me that he held the clew that might bring us together again.

* * * * *

Work in Chicago.

When the sailing season had ended, the steamer tied up at Chicago for the winter.  Upon going ashore, I at once tried to get something else to do, for I could not afford to be idle a day.  One of the first men I met in Chicago was my old friend and fellow-servant Thomas Bland.  He was glad to see me, and told me all about his escape to Canada, and how he had met Will McGee, at Niagara Falls.  He was working at the Sherman House, having charge of the coat room.  I told him that I had been sailing during the summer, but that the boat was now laid up, and that I was anxious for another job.  He said he would try and see what he could do for me.  He went to the proprietor of the hotel, Mr. Rice; and, to my surprise and delight, he was so fortunate as to secure me a position as porter and general utility man.  My family were still at Windsor, Canada; and, when I had secured this place, I got leave of absence to make them a visit, and went there at once.  Two babies had been born only a day before my arrival.  I had hoped to be there on the interesting occasion, but was too late.  However, I was pleased to find two bright little girls to aid in the family greeting, which was delightful after the months of separation.  My wife, her sister Mary and her two children, her mother and the sister we found at Cincinnati were all still here living together.