Over their lunch the boys laid out their work, dividing it among themselves so as to get it all done in time. Bob was to attend to the shipping arrangements, Ned to refitting the boat, and Jerry said he would sort over the portable camping outfit the boys always took with them.
The Dartaway was a fine, stanch craft, of four cylinders, as speedy as one could wish. It had many new appliances, such as three speeds forward and one reverse, and was well fitted up. There was a small galley where a meal could be cooked, and a folding table to serve it on. The stove burned gasolene.
There was a portable awning which had side curtains, so the whole boat could be enclosed in stormy weather. There were also collapsible bunks, so, if necessary they could remain on board several days without going ashore. There were food lockers and a good sized storage tank for gasolene.
In anticipation that they might make rather lengthy trips the boys got a larger searchlight for their craft than the one they had first used, and also a larger saluting cannon. A more reliable compass was added to the equipment, and the size of the whistle was increased, to give better precaution in case of fogs.
An anchor, as large as could be carried, was installed, and, with several other minor, but necessary improvements, the boys felt they had a motor craft second to none for its size.
It was no easy task to box the boat and ship it to Harmon Beach. But the boys worked like Trojans, and accomplished much that less enthusiastic persons would have shrunk from undertaking. Finally they saw the Dartaway loaded on a flat car at the freight office.
“Now to get ourselves off,” said Jerry.
But this was an easier task. Three days later found Mrs. Hopkins at her summer cottage. It would not be quite correct to say that the boys were there also, for they had no sooner alighted from the train than they hurried to the freight office to see if their boat had arrived.
“There she is!” cried Jerry, pointing to a bulky object on the station platform. “Now for a spin on salt water.”
But there was a wait of several hours before the boys’ desires were realized. Only their boundless enthusiasm and their tireless energy made it possible, but, by evening the boat had been hauled to the small dock near Mrs. Hopkins’s cottage, and launched.