“I was trying to show you, dad, how Sheridan and I are learning our paces together,” replied the youngster. He was a rather slightly built boy, with clustering yellow hair and gray eyes. He wore a khaki suit and a sombrero modeled after the Army campaign hat. Even his saddle was of the Army type, being a miniature McClellan in model.
Tom liked this lad after the first look. There was something whole-souled about this little fellow with the laughing eyes. And, though he had been reared in a home of wealth, there was nothing in the least snobbish in the way he suddenly turned to regard the Motor Boat Club boys.
“Ted, Captain Halstead and his friend, Dawson,” said Mr. Dunstan. “You’ll be glad to know that they’ve got the ‘Meteor’ in running order again.”
Ted was careful to dismount before he offered his hand, with graceful friendliness, to each of the boys.
“You’ve made dad happy if you’ve got his boat to running again,” laughed Master Ted.
“And you? Aren’t you fond of motor boating?” queried Tom.
“Oh, yes; after a fashion, I suppose,” replied the Dunstan hopeful deliberately. “But then, you see, I’m cut out for a soldier. I’m to go into the Army, you know, and anything to do with salt water smacks a bit too much of the Navy.”
All of which remarkable declaration Master Ted made as though he imagined these new acquaintances understood all about his future plans.
“The Army is fond of the Navy, of course,” the lad added by way of explanation. “Yet, to a soldier, the Army is the whole thing.”
“Oh, I see,” smiled Captain Tom, though in truth he didn’t “see” in the least.