“Hoo-rah!” he cried. “It’s a plan for a new patent steamboat, and I shall make one, and gain a fortune, while poor old Vane will be left out in the cold.”
“Let’s look,” said Gilmore.
“No, no. It’s too bad,” cried Vane, making a fresh dash at the paper.
“Shan’t have it, sir! Sit down,” cried Macey. “How dare you, sir! Look, Gil! It is a boat to go by steam, with a whipper-whopper out at the stern to send her along.”
“I wish you wouldn’t be so stupid, Aleck. Give me the paper.”
“Shan’t.”
“I don’t want to get up and make a struggle for it.”
“I should think not, sir. Sit still. Oh, I say, Gil, look. Here it all is. It’s not steam. It’s a fellow with long arms and queer elbows turns a wheel.”
“Get out!” cried Vane, laughing; “those are shafts and cranks.”
“Of course they are. No one would think it, though, would they, Gil? I say, isn’t he a genius at drawing?”