"Same here, but perhaps Uncle Si's a better reader of character than you or I."
"It's not impossible," Jack acknowledged slowly.
"Gee, but you sure do hate yourself," Bob laughed as he rose and pushed back his chair.
They were at the wharf at a quarter to two and a few minutes before the hour their uncle joined them, and in another ten minutes they were all on board.
"Crew all on board?" Mr. Lakewood asked as Captain Ole Olsen greeted them.
"All here, sir, and we can start in ten minutes if you're ready."
"The sooner the better, eh, boys?"
"You bet," they both replied.
The captain at once gave the order to up anchor, and almost immediately the voyage had begun.
"And many a stormy wind may blow e'er Jack comes home again," Jack sang as the boat swung her bow around and headed for the Upper Bay.