"But we claim to be gentlemen, sir," exclaimed Mad, indignantly.
"The claim is not admitted. When our boys first saw you the other day you called them 'members of the Tinkers' Institute,' 'chip-makers,' 'greasers,' and many other offensive epithets. You stole their clothes while they were in the water, and since that you attempted with your associates, the Topovers, to steal our boats. When you have learned to be true gentlemen, I will withdraw all objection. Go ahead, pilot!"
The commodore of the barge fleet wanted to discuss the matter, but the Sylph steamed away before he had a chance to get in a word. Ben Ludlow thought they were even with the Chesterfields then, and in half an hour the boys were looking over the site of the boat-house and wharf.
CHAPTER XXIV. THE NEW CAPTAIN OF THE SYLPH.
Mr. Brookbine had been hard at work over the plan of the building in getting the amount of timber required for the frame. Captain Gildrock had assured him that no material change would be made in the drawing of Bolly. They might alter the arrangement of the store-rooms, and use a portion of the immense vestibule on the second floor for a library, or committee-room.
Bolly had suggested a gallery or balcony on the water side of the second story, which might be added, but none of these changes would affect the frame. When the captain had returned from Whitehall the master carpenter gave him the list of timber required for the frame.
The granite quarry in the rear of Beech Hill was owned by the shipmaster, and about all the building-stone used in Genverres was taken from it. The owner did not care to be bothered with it, and a quarryman managed it, paying so much a cubic foot for all the stone taken out of it.