CHAPTER V
Bee Composes an “Ode to The Sea”
Jack was promptly on time the next morning, the Crystal Spring crowding her nose into the basin just as the clock in the white tower of the City Hall struck nine. Behind the water boat came the launch. By the time Jack had made a landing Hal and Bee came down the gangway to the float.
“I got the engine together all right,” explained Jack as the boys viewed the launch from the stern of the sloop, “but I couldn’t make her start. I’m pretty sure the trouble’s in the wiring. I didn’t have time to go over it thoroughly, Hal. If I were you I’d start at the battery and follow it right up.”
“But I couldn’t tell whether it was right or wrong,” Hal objected. “I guess I’d better get a man to come and fix her up, Jack.”
“Well—but he will charge you three or four dollars, Hal.” Jack frowned thoughtfully. Then, “I tell you what I’ll do. You leave her here until noon, and I’ll come back and look her over, Hal. I’d do it now but there are two or three schooners coming in and they may want water. I’ll come back about twelve. Will you be here?”
“I guess so.” He looked enquiringly at Bee. “There’s nothing especial to do, I suppose.”
“Let’s loaf around the wharves,” said Bee, “and come back here at noon. There’s lots I want to see, Hal. I want to know how they dry the fish, and what the difference is between a haddock and a pollock, and why is a codfish and—oh, lots of things! I think it’s dandy of Herrick to take so much trouble with your old chug-chug and the least we can do is to be on hand and encourage him with our cheerful presence. Besides, it’s quite necessary, if we’re to find that buried treasure, to have this thing fixed up so she’ll take us over to the island.”
“Well, I’ll try to get here by twelve,” said Jack, as he pushed the nose of the sloop away from the landing and swung himself aboard. “And if you can be here you’d better. We may have to have some new wiring or connections or something. And, by the way, Hal, why don’t you stop at Whiting’s and buy a folding anchor and some rope? You oughtn’t to go out again without it, you know.”
“I will. And some other stuff, too. She’s got to have lanterns and a fog-horn, I suppose. And a compass, and—”