“And now the boat is yours, as long as you stay here,” said Charlie, when the final details had been arranged. “I know you will take good care of her.”
“Of course we will,” answered Jerry, “and, if you find, after you get to San Francisco, that you have a chance to come back, we’ll give her up to you.”
“There’s no such good luck as my coming back this season,” said Charlie.
Early the next morning he brought the craft to the Seabury dock, where it was run in the small boathouse. Then, having explained to the boys some minor details of the engine, which was different and more powerful than the one they were used to, Charlie took his departure, having had another letter from his father asking him to hurry to San Francisco.
“I hope you will have a good time,” said the Ripper’s owner, as he bade the boys and girls good-bye. “Don’t get into any dangerous adventures, especially with the girls on board.”
“We’ll not,” promised Jerry, but he did not know how soon Charlie’s warning was to be fulfilled.
“Well, what do you girls say to a ride?” asked Jerry when Charlie had gone, and they stood looking at the powerful boat.
“Do you think you boys can run her?” asked Nellie.
“Run her? Well, I guess we can,” declared Ned.
“Didn’t we tackle the Atlantic in the Dartaway, a smaller boat than this?” asked Bob, “and isn’t the Atlantic worse than the Pacific?”