f the rowers. "Take you all; no sink the
boat."

Although the boat sank nearly to the gunwales when they were all on
board, and they were uncomfortably crowded, still the water was calm and
the trip to the yacht, which was anchored about a quarter of a mile out,
was made without any mishap.

"Well, what do you think of my ship?" asked the professor, when they
drew up alongside the Storm King.

"She's as pretty as--as--" began Jo.

"As a picture," added Tom.

"As a pink," supplemented Juarez.

"As she can be," finished Tom.

"Wait until you get on board," interposed the professor.

"We have been on board," put in Jim.

"Indeed!" exclaimed the professor. "When?"

"Yesterday," replied Jim. "Berwick and I called on the captain. We
thought perhaps we could secure her for our trip."

"That expresses your opinion," said the professor with a laugh. "You
wouldn't have wanted her unless you thought she was pretty good."

"That's right," agreed Jim. "She looked good to me."

"Good morning, captain," called the professor to Captain Wilkins, who
was standing by the gangway waiting to receive them. "I have brought out
some young men who are going to show us how to sail the yacht."

"Good morning, professor," replied the captain. "Same to you, gentlemen.
They say you can't teach an old dog new tricks, but I think it is never
too late to learn. If you have any new tricks of seamanship I shall be
glad to learn them."

"That's only a joke of the professor's captain," replied Jim. "All we
know is enough to stand watch, and do our trick at the wheel if need
be."

"Well said, lad," responded the captain, heartily. "Are you going to
make a voyage with us?"

"Yes," replied the professor, "they are booked for the trip. Now, how
soon do you think we can get away?"

"Well, now that depends," replied the captain, rubbing his chin,
thoughtfully. "Did you bring the new engineer along with you?"

"The new engineer?" asked the professor. "What do you mean?"

"Don't you know, sir," replied the captain, "Mr. Ward has gone? 'Twas
day before yesterday he went ashore, and when he came back he had
another man with him. Said he had a better job, and was going to leave.
Said this other man was going to take his place. Thought he had it all
arranged with you."

"The first I have heard of it," said the professor.

"I told him I had nothing to do with it," went on the captain. "If you
said it was all right, it was all right."

"So