."

"And rubber coats, and blankets--"

"Jonathan! Should we camp?"

"Might have to."

"Let's, anyway."

"How does that coast-line run? Where's a map?"

All we had were some railroad maps and an old school geography--just enough
to tantalize us--but we fell upon them eagerly. It is curious what a change
comes over these dumb bits of colored paper at such times. Every curve of
the shore, every bay and headland came to life and spoke to us--called to
us.

* * * * *

We decided on the September plan, and for the next eleven months our
casual talk was starred with inapropos remarks like these:--

"Jonathan, I know we shall forget a can-opener."

"Better write it down while you think of it. And have you put down a
hatchet?"

"The camera! It isn't on the list!"

"Hang it! Those charts haven't come yet!"

"What can we take to look respectable in when we go ashore?"

Meanwhile the little boat was stirred out of its long sleep in the cellar,
overhauled, and painted, and shipped to a port up in Narragansett Bay. And
on the last day of August we found ourselves walking down through the
little town. Following the instructions of wondering small boys, we came
to a gate in a board fence, opened it and let ourselves into a typical New
England seaport scene--a tiny garden, ablaze with sunshine and gorgeous
with the yellows and lavenders of fall flowers, and a narrow brick path,
under a grape-vine arch, leading down to the sand and the wharf and the
sparkling blue waters of the bay. As we passed down through the garden, we
saw a little boat, bottom up, dazzling white in the sun.

"There it is!" I said, with a surge of reminiscent affection.

"That little thing!" said Jonathan. "I thought you said twelve feet."

"Well, isn't it? Anyway, I said _about_. And it's big enough."

He was spanning its length with his hands.

"Eleven foot six. Oh, I suppose she'll do. My boat was fourteen."

"Now, don't be so patronizing about your boat. Wait till you see how mine
behaves."

He dropped the discussion and got her launched. Is there anything prettier
than a pretty boat floating beside a dock!

The next morning when we came down we found her half full of water.
"She'll be all right now she's soaked up," said Jonathan, and we baled her
dry and went off to get our stuff.

I delayed to buy provisions, and when I came back I found Jonathan
standing on the float surrounded by plunder of all so