“Yes, sir,” said Fred promptly.
“I chanced to overhear your remarks while I was at breakfast and I thought perhaps you might be willing to give me a lift.”
“Do you want to go there?” asked John.
“Near there,” said the stranger quietly. “I find there isn’t another motor-boat to be had. I am going to take a skiff and my man and if you can find a place for us on board your motor-boat I shall gladly bear my part of the expense and also appreciate your courtesy very much.”
“Of course you can come,” said Fred quickly.
“I shall not trouble you about coming back. I may not be ready to come when you are, or I may want to come before you do. In either event, I want to pay for my share of the Gadabout for the day.”
“We’ll talk about that later,” said Fred. “Are you ready to start?”
“Yes, my man is at the dock with his skiff.”
“All right,” said Fred. “Go right down there and we’ll all be down in a minute.”
“Well, Captain,” said John, when the boys approached the dock and found their boat already at hand. “We’re going to take a couple more passengers.”