swung
lazily to and fro at her cable as if husbanding strength against the
time when speed and endurance would be required.

Neal signaled from the pier, two of the crew came ashore in the
captain's boat, and the boys went on board where, during the remainder
of the day, they were busy examining and admiring the jaunty little
craft.

Leading from the main saloon were two state-rooms on either side, and in
one of these Neal had already stored such of his belongings as he
intended to take on the cruise.

"This is our room, and now that we are here I wonder why we were so
foolish as to carry your baggage up to the house. If it was with us we
would remain on board, for it is very much more pleasant than in the hot
town."

"There is nothing to prevent our bringing it down," Teddy replied with
a laugh. "I had certainly rather stay here to-night."

"Come on, and then we shall feel more at home when the cruise begins."

The boys were rowed ashore, and the sailors instructed to remain at the
pier until their return.

Then a short visit was made to Mr. Emery's office, where Neal explained
what they proposed to do, and having received permission to occupy the
quarters slightly in advance of sailing time, Teddy's baggage was soon
in the small apartment which to both the boys looked so enchanting.

"I wish we were to be gone three years," Teddy said as he threw himself
on a locker and gazed around.

If he could have known just at that moment how long the cruise would
really last it is very certain he would not have expressed such a
desire.

"Next year father says he will start early in the season, take mother
with us, and not come back until it is time for me to go to school."

"And you must get an invitation for me," Teddy replied, his eyes
glistening with pleasure at simply contemplating such an excursion.

"There won't be any difficulty about it. He has already promised that if
nothing happens he will speak to your father."

"And in the meanwhile we've got before us the jolly fact that we're to
stay on board a month."

"Yes; but there's no good reason why we should remain below where it is
so warm. Come on deck for awhile, and then we'll have a look at the
engine-room."

The engineer, Jake Foster, was under the awning aft, and Neal introduced
his friend, saying as he did so:

"Teddy has never been yachting before, not even in a sailing craft."

Jake, a stout, jolly looking fellow hardly more than twenty-five