n that score; he had worked
the whole plan out before he had chosen the first plank.

The miniature side-paddle river-boat was christened the _George
Washington_, and launched in a still reach of the Conestoga. It was an
exciting moment when Robert laid hands on the crank and started the two
wheels. They turned easily, and the boat pulled steadily out from shore,
and at a twist from the steering-oar headed down-stream. It was a proud
moment for the young inventor. As they went down the river and passed
people on the banks, he could not help laughing as he saw the surprise
on their faces.

Fishing became better sport than ever when one had a boat of this sort
to take one up-or down-stream. Very little effort sent the paddles a
long way, and there were always boys who were eager to take a turn at
the crank.

[Illustration: ROBERT FULTON'S FIRST EXPERIMENT WITH PADDLE WHEELS]

The Lancaster schoolmaster heard of the boat, and said to a friend:
"Take my word for it, the world's going to hear from Rob Fulton some
of these days. He can't help turning old goods to new uses. And he
doesn't know what it means to be discouraged. I met him the afternoon of
the third of July and he told me that he was going to make some rockets,
and I said I thought he would find such a task impossible. 'No, sir,'
says Robert to me, 'I don't think so. I don't think anything's
impossible if you make up your mind to do it.' That's the sort of boy he
is!"

A large number of Hessian troops were quartered near the Conestoga, and
the Lancaster boys thought a great deal about the War for Independence,
as was natural when the fathers and brothers of most of them were
fighting in it. Such thoughts soon turned Rob Fulton's mind to making
firearms, and as soon as his boat had proved itself successful, he
planned a new type of gun, and supplied some Lancaster gunsmiths with
complete drawings for the whole,--stock, lock, and barrel,--and made
estimates of range that proved correct when the gun was finished.

But Rob Fulton had remarkable talents in more lines than one. His
playmates had nicknamed him "Quicksilver Bob" because he was so fond of
buying that glittering metal and using it in various ways. The name
suited him well, for he could turn from one occupation to another, and
appeared to be equally good in each. Usually, however, when he was not
inventing he was learning how to paint, and he had a number of teachers,
one of whom was the famous Major