y well," acknowledged Rob.

"It's capital!" volunteered Leo.

And so the matter was finally settled. The _Jolly Pioneer_ was still
destitute of paint, but the boys were in so great a hurry to launch her
that they decided not to delay on this account. They carried her down
to the creek, and by means of a board slid her into the water. Jack
got into the boat first, while the others held the side close to the
bank. After him came Rob. Jim and Leo were to follow, but the _Jolly
Pioneer_ seemed to have dwindled in size, and did not look half so big
or imposing as when in the barn.

"Hold on!" cried Jack. "I'm afraid you will be too heavy. It won't do
to crowd at first. We'll just row gently with the current a short
distance, and then come back and let you have a turn."

Though disappointed, the little fellows did not demur, but handed him
the oars, and waited to see the two boys glide away. But, alas!
though the _Jolly Pioneer_ moved a little, it was not with the freedom
and confidence which was to be expected of her in her native element.
She seemed to shrink and falter, "as if afraid of getting wet," as Jim
laughingly declared.

"Hello! what's that?" exclaimed Rob, as he felt something cold at his
feet. He looked down: his shoes were thoroughly wet; the water was
coming in through the crevices of the boat.

"Pshaw!" cried Jack. "That is because it is new yet; when the wood is
soaked it will swell a bit. Hurry and bail out the water, though."

"But we haven't anything to do it with," returned Rob, helplessly.

"Oh, take your hat, man! A fine sailor you'd make!" Jack answered,
setting the example by dipping in his own old felt. Rob's was a new
straw yet. Unfortunately for its appearance during the remainder of
the summer, he did not think of this, but immediately went to work.
Their efforts were of no use: the _Jolly Pioneer_ sank slowly but
surely.

"Don't give up the ship!" cried Jack, melodramatically.

So as neither of the boys attempted to get out, and thus lessen the
weight, down, down it went, till it reached the pebbly bed of the
creek, and they found themselves--still in the boat to be sure, but
standing up to their waists in water. The worst of the mortification
was that the little fellows, high and dry on the bank, were choking
with laughter, which finally could no longer be suppressed, and broke
forth in a merry peal.

"What do you want to stand there guffawing for?" called Jack,
ill