nths since you bought the schooner."

"Fifteen, boy? You mean fifty."

"Fifteen, uncle; and she was nothing like finished then."

"No, and as soon as the men knew that she was sold, I believe they made
up their minds to spin the job out as long as they could."

"Oh, but, uncle, they did it all very beautifully; and see what a lot of
alterations you had made."

"Had made, indeed! Wasn't I led on into having them done by that old
scoundrel Chubb?"

"No, uncle. He always consulted with you first, and advised this and
that so as to make the vessel better."

"Humph!" grunted Uncle Paul.

"Then see what a lot you had done, fitting up the work-room, and the
bottles and tanks, and getting in the dredging apparatus. It does seem
a long time to you, but see what a lot there was to do. You know you
were never satisfied."

"I was, sir! Don't you get accusing me of such things, Rodney. You
grow more impertinent every day. Now put a regular check upon yourself,
sir. If you are like this as a boy I don't know what you are going to
be when you grow to be a man."

"Well, uncle, I won't say another word about it."

"Ah! No sulking, sir! I command you to go on speaking at once."

"Very well, uncle; but you did say that you would have everything of the
best, and that nothing should be left undone, to hinder the expedition
from being successful."

"Did I say so, Rodd?"

"Why, yes, uncle, over and over again."

"Well, well, I did mean it. But I am getting quite out of heart. Every
day it seems as if there is something fresh to throw us back. Now it's
stores; now it's something else wants painting; now one of the crew
wants a holiday, just at a time too when things are so nearly ready that
I might want to start at any moment."

"Well, I shall be glad when we do get off now, uncle," said the boy
thoughtfully.

"Then you had better give up thinking about it, boy. It looks to me
like another six months before we can be ready."

"Oh no, uncle! Captain Chubb said to me yesterday that if I wanted to
get anything else to take with me I must get it at once."

"Then don't you believe him, Rodd. He's a dilatory old impostor. I
don't believe he means for me to go at all. By the way, did you have
the men up and give them that big medicine chest?"

"Yes, uncle; the day before yesterday."

"Oh, and were those little casks of spirits got into the store-room?"

"Yes, uncle. I saw the men get them on board mysel