"The stone posts," replied Bolly promptly. "With only about four feet of water I think there will be no difficulty in chinking them up at the bottom."
For an hour longer the boys continued to ask questions, and Bolly was not caught in anything, though it is probable that the architect or civil engineer could easily have tripped him up if they had chosen to do so. But the principal announced the suspension of the school for the rest of the forenoon, in order to convey the visitors to Whitehall in the steamer.
Captain Gildrock took up the two fifty-dollar bills he had laid upon the desk, and turned to the successful competitor, who had been requested to remain on the platform.
"As I said in the beginning, I cannot allow the money obtained for the plans to be fooled away, for one of the most important lessons an American boy ought to learn is how to take care of and use money, as well as how to earn it. What do you intend to do with the hundred dollars, Millweed?" asked the principal.
"I shall give it to my father," replied Bolly without any hesitation.
"That is an excellent use to make of it, and I hand it over to you without asking any more questions," added the principal, suiting the action to the words.
A round of applause saluted Bolly again. He had gone up a hundred degrees in the estimation of his companions, who had been unable to corner him with their questions. The order was given for the boys to put on their steamer uniform, and take their stations on board of the Sylph. Bates had already got up steam, and a plentiful supply of provisions had been put on board. In half an hour the steam yacht departed, and everything on board of her went along in as good order as though she had been a regular packet on the lake. The passengers were to dine on board, and cooks and stewards went to work in their departments at once.
The excursion was a very pleasant one, and the guests spent most of the time on the way up in talking with the boys in regard to what they had learned at the school. They were delighted with the institution, and Mr. Bridges declared that the States could not do better than to establish such schools in place of some of those in which Greek and Latin were the principal branches taught.
Mr. Plint pointed out to the principal a few details in which he thought Bolly's plan could be improved, and after making these alterations he intended to erect the building at once.
"But you do not expect those boys to do all the work?" suggested Mr. Ritchie.