ou'll find
reasons enough; but at the same time you ought to have let me known
before."

"Darsn't, sah," said Solomon.

"Why not?"

"Fraid you'd not let me go," said Solomon, with a broad grin, that
instantly was suppressed by a demure cough.

"Nonsense," said the doctor; and then turning away, he spoke a few
words apart with Mr. Long.

"Well, boys," said the doctor, at last, "this project of yours doesn't
seem to me to be altogether safe, and I don't like to trust you in this
way without anybody as a responsible guardian."

Bart smiled.

"O, sir," said he, "you need not be at all uneasy. All of us are
accustomed to take care of ourselves; and besides, if you wanted a
responsible guardian for us, what better one could be found than
Captain Corbet?"

The doctor and Mr. Long both shook their heads. Evidently neither of
them attached any great importance to Captain Corbet's guardianship.

"Did you tell your father how you were going?" asked the doctor, after
a few further words with Mr. Long.

"O, yes, sir; and he told me I might go. What's more, he promised to
charter a schooner for me to cruise about with Phil and Pat after I
arrived home."

"And we got permission, too," said Bruce.

"Indeed!" said the doctor. "That changes the appearance of things. I
was afraid that it was a whim of your own. And now, one thing
more,--how are you off for provisions?"

"Wal, sir," said Captain Corbet, "I've made my calculations, an I think
I've got enough. What I might fail in, the boys and Solomon have made
up."

"How is it, Solomon?" asked the doctor.

Solomon grinned.

"You sleep in the hold, I see," continued the doctor.

"Yes, sir," said Bruce. "It's whitewashed, and quite sweet now. We'll
only be on board two or three days at the farthest, and so it really
doesn't much matter how we go."

"Well, boys, I have no more to say; only take care of yourselves."

With these words the doctor and Mr. Long bade them good by, and then
walked away.

The other boys, however, stood on the wharf waiting to see the vessel
off. They themselves were all going to start for home in a few
minutes, and were only waiting for the departure of the Antelope.

This could not now be long delayed. The tide was high. The wind fresh
and fair. The luggage, and provisions, and stores were all on board.
Captain Corbet was at the helm. All was ready. At length the word was
given, the lines were cast off; and the Antelope mo