work he
usually led his class and on the athletic field he far outshone the
others. His talents had won him the nickname of Socrates which, however,
was usually shortened to Soc. "Old Soc Jones" was always a favorite.

The fourth member of the group was George Washington Sanders. He was
always good natured and his witty remarks had made him intensely popular
with all who knew him. In honor of the name he bore he sometimes had
been referred to as the father of his country, which appellation,
however, had finally been corrupted to Pop.

"It certainly is busy around here, isn't it?" exclaimed Grant Jones in
response to Fred Button's remarks previously referred to.

"And it's all mystery to me," added John Clemens. "These orders being
shouted and the strange things the men are doing are getting me
bewildered."

"I've been standing here expecting some one of the sailors to mistake
you for a mast and hang a sail on you any minute, String," said Pop
Sanders slyly, at the same time nudging Fred Button.

"Is that so?" exclaimed John Clemens quickly. "At any rate, I'd rather
be the shape of a mast than a bag of ballast."

"That's the way, String," said Grant Jones encouragingly. "Don't let him
get the better of you."

"He never has and he never will," said John complacently.

"Stop arguing," exclaimed Fred Button, "and tell me what kind of a boat
this is that we are on."

"It's a sailing boat," said Pop Sanders. "Did you think it was a
steamer?"

"I mean what kind of a sailing boat is it. Is it a schooner or a bark,
or what?"

"It's a brig," said Socrates Jones. "You can always tell a brig from the
way she is rigged. She has two masts and is square rigged."

"I thought that was a brigantine," protested Fred.

"No," said Grant. "A brigantine is very much the same though. She has
two masts and is square rigged on the foremast, but schooner rigged on
the other."

"Which is called the mainmast," said Fred.

"Quite right," agreed Grant. "I'll make a sailor of you yet."

The _Josephine_ was now sliding through the waters of New York Bay.
The Statue of Liberty was just ahead on her right (or rather her
starboard side) while on the port side was Governor's Island, with its
old fort and parade ground plainly to be seen. Two big ocean liners
loomed up a short distance away. One was just completing her voyage from
Europe while the other was only starting. Saucy little tugs rushed
hither and thither. Ferryboats passed,