ighborhood, and women's names.
The Captain laughed at their wild hazards.
"It isn't the name of any ship or famous naval hero?" Ernest asked this
question for the second time.
The Captain shook his head. "Some of your neighborhood guessers were the
nearest. There's one thing I'm sure of, Chicken Little won't guess it."
This was hint enough for Sherm. "Chicken Little," he sang out instantly.
"Bright boy, the elephant is yours."
"Did you really?" Chicken Little eyed the long strip of cardboard that
concealed the name, incredulously.
The Captain took out his penknife and deftly ripped the covering off.
There it was--the letters an inch tall in white paint: "Chicken Little."
"I think we should have a proper christening ceremony while we are at
it. Ernest, would you mind stepping up to the house and asking Wing for
a bottle of ginger ale?"
When Ernest returned with the bottle of amber-colored liquid, Captain
Clarke turned to Gertie.
"We must divide the honors, will you break the bottle over the bow while
Sherm pushes off? Champagne is customary, but this is better for a
prohibition state, and for young folks in any state."
Gertie took the bottle and waited for directions. The others looked on
curiously. Sherm untied the boat, and, holding the cord in his hand,
also waited.
"Perhaps we'd better consider Ernest the crew; that cord is hardly long
enough to permit the _Chicken Little_ to float off in style, and we
don't want to have to swim, to bring her back. Jump in, Ernest; you know
how to handle an oar in fresh water, don't you?"
"I think I can manage it."
Captain Clarke explained to Gertie exactly how to strike the blow that
should send the ginger ale foaming over the bow, and repeated the formal
words of christening until she knew them by heart. Gertie was so
interested she forgot to be shy, and performed her office with much
spirit, repeating the "I christen thee, _Chicken Little_," as
solemnly as if she were standing beside a battleship instead of a
blue-and-white row boat. It was a pretty ceremony, but it took so long
that Wing Fan came to announce supper before they were all fairly packed
away in the boat for their promised ride. The six were a snug fit.
Supper was served on the uncovered veranda. A stream of late afternoon
sunshine filtered through the trees, and, with the lengthening shadows,
cast a sunflecked pattern of branch and foliage on the white linen
tablecloth and shining gla
|