Even if the
channel hasn't been dredged in ten years."

I shrugged and gave up. What was the use of arguing?

We drove back to the _Queen Elizabeth_ and I had to admit that there
was a certain attraction about that big old dowager. We all got out
and strolled down the pier, looking over as much as we could see.

The pier had never been cleaned out. It bothered me a little--I mean I
don't like skeletons much--but Amy didn't seem to mind. The _Queen_
must have just docked when it happened, because you could still see
bony queues, as though they were waiting for customs inspection.

Some of the bags had been opened and the contents scattered
around--naturally, somebody was bound to think of looting the _Queen_.
But there were as many that hadn't been touched as that had been
opened, and the whole thing had the look of an amateur attempt. And
that was all to the good, because the fewer persons who had boarded
the _Queen_ in the decade since it happened, the more chance of our
finding it in usable shape.

Amy saw a gangplank still up, and with cries of girlish glee ran
aboard.

I plucked at Vern's sleeve. "You," I said. "What's this about what the
_Major_ won't settle for less than?"

He said: "Aw, Sam, I had to tell her something, didn't I?"

"But what about the Major--"

He said patiently: "You don't understand. It's all part of my plan,
see? The Major is the big thing here and he's got a birthday coming up
next month. Well, the way I put it to Amy, we'll fix him up with a
yacht as a birthday present, see? And, of course, when it's all fixed
up and ready to lift anchor--"

I said doubtfully: "That's the hard way, Vern. Why couldn't we just
sort of get steam up and take off?"

He shook his head. "_That_ is the hard way. This way we get all the
help and supplies we need, understand?"

I shrugged. That was the way it was, so what was the use of arguing?

But there was one thing more on my mind. I said: "How come Amy's so
interested in making the Major happy?"

Vern chortled. "Jealous, eh?"

"I asked a question!"

"Calm down, boy. It's just that he's in charge of things here so
naturally she wants to keep in good with him."

I scowled. "I keep hearing stories about how the Major's chief
interest in life is women. You sure she isn't ambitious to be one of
them?"

He said: "The reason she wants to keep him happy is so she _won't_ be
one of them."

V

The name of the place was Bayonne.

Vern