After a comprehensive glance at the basket, which certainly appeared well packed, she asked:
"And what is to be the name of the boat?"
"We have not quite decided yet, Mrs. Gordon," began Rob.
"No," interposed Jack. "We think this ought to be the Jolly Pioneer. We let Jim and Leo have the other boat, but we didn't mean to give them the name too. We chose it, and we can't think of any we like so well."
"Oh, keep it, then!" answered Jim, with a wave of the hand like that of a stage hero resigning a fortune. (It was evident that the subject had been broached before.) "We are quite able to choose a name ourselves; we could think of half a dozen others if we wanted to, so you are welcome to call your boat whatever you please."
The permission might, indeed, have been more graciously expressed; but as Jim's words were accompanied by a good-natured smile. Jack wondered if he might not accept it.
Mrs. Gordon stood, with the bottle in her hand, waiting for the decision, but wisely refraining from comment; the boys always settled their little disputes for themselves.
"Well, what shall it be? Speak!" she said.
"The Jolly Pioneer!" cried both.
The next moment there was a crash of broken glass and a dash of ginger-pop on what was called by courtesy the bow.