"I've been thinking," said Frank one morning as they sat together at breakfast.
"Have you really?" said Fred, pretending to look very much surprised.
"Yes, really and truly, Fred."
"Well then, Frank, will you be pleased to enlighten us all as to the nature and result of your cogitations?"
"Well, Noah the Second, instead of worrying your self into skin and bone over this yacht business, why don't we build a raft and be done with it? If we once embarked on a raft we would get blown somewhere."
"No doubt of it, wise Frank, we might very likely be blown on to a coral rock in mid-ocean, and have to begin life all over again, only in this case it would be the life of a cockroach that has tumbled into a basin of water, very brief but full of excitement."
"Very well," said Frank, "I shan't think any more. I beg leave to descend from the platform. Pass the clams."
"That's better for you, Frank."
* * * * * *
But one day an event occurred that gave Fred quite a fresh impulse, and made him determine to proceed with the building of his yacht against every difficulty that could be thought or dreamt of.