howed
what a beautiful boat she was. It was wonderful how we danced over the
waves with close-reefed canvas. But he'd had enough, gave me my orders
to bring her here to Dartmouth, and he went back to Marseilles by one of
the Messageries Maritimes, and across home. When we got back, first
thing I saw was the advertisement that she was for sale."

"You have a good crew on board then?" said Sir John thoughtfully.

"As good a crew as I could pick, sir, and they are well up to their
work. For I'm rather a hard man, young gentleman," continued the
captain, turning to look sharply at Jack, "as stern about discipline as
they are in the Royal Navy; but work done, I like to see my men play,
and somehow I think they get on very well with me. But of course,
gentlemen, if you bought the yacht, you are not bound to take the
captain and crew."

"Oh no, of course not," said Sir John quietly.

"There, gentlemen, I've been doing all the talking: Perhaps now you
would like to ask me a few questions."

"I think we might defer most of them till we have seen the yacht, eh,
Meadows?" said Doctor Instow.

"Yes, certainly, unless anything occurs in our conversation with Captain
Bradleigh."

"Anything you like, gentlemen, though there is very little that I could
say more than I have said. She's a splendid craft in every respect.
There is only one fault in her from a buyer's point of view."

"What is that?" said the doctor sharply.

"Price, sir."

"But to a man of means, who would give his cheque down, Mr Ensler would
take considerably less?"

The captain shook his head.

"No, sir, I don't believe he would. He don't want money, and I have
always lived in the hope that he would take a fresh sea-going trip; but
it does not come off. He has had several offers for the boat, but sent
a sharp answer back that he had fixed his price."

Sir John sat tapping the table with his finger-tips, watching his son,
who seemed to be brightening up, evidently in the hope that the
transaction would fall through.

"So you are going to have a few cruises, young gentleman," said the
captain, turning to Jack, for the doctor too was looking very
thoughtful, and was nibbling at his nails as he glanced at Sir John. "I
suppose so," said the lad coldly. "Do you good," said the captain.
"Fine thing the pure sea-air. Why a trip round the coast for a few
weeks, and you'd be quite a new man. Like the sea?"

"I? Like the sea?" said Jack with a shi