“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 [pg 186] came back I found Jonathan standing on the float surrounded by plunder of all sorts. He answered my hail rather solemnly.
“See here! When this stuff’s all stowed, where are we going to sit? That’s what’s worrying me.”