“Oh, I’ll make it worth your while, too,” continued the squire. “I’m willing to pay handsomely for it. You see, I’ve got a party of friends coming down the bay, and I want to meet them at Mayville and give them a few days’ cruising. I’ll admit there’s a little business in it for me, too. Now I want to do the thing up in good shape, and my boat isn’t fit for putting on style. I want the Viking for just one week, and I’ll pay you twenty dollars for it.”
There was no immediate response. Henry Burns and Harvey looked at each other doubtfully. The offer was almost tempting.
“Well,” cried the squire, seizing the opportunity, “I’ll not stand at five dollars at a time like this. Say twenty-five dollars for a single week, and the money is yours.”
“In advance?” asked Henry Burns.
“Yes, sir,” replied Squire Brackett, “in advance—though I reckon my name on a piece of paper is good for that amount anywhere in this county. Yes, and I’ll do more. I’ll sign an agreement to deliver the yacht back to you in this harbour, one week from the time of hiring it, in as good condition as when I get it, or pay for the difference.”
Henry Burns looked at Harvey, inquiringly. Harvey nodded.
“Well,” said Henry Burns, “on those conditions I think we’ll let you have her—but only for one week. You’ll have to wait two days, though. We’ve got some fresh enamel on part of the woodwork, and some of the mahogany finish has been scraped and newly oiled, and it isn’t quite dry enough for hard usage yet. Let’s see, to-day is Wednesday. You may have her on Saturday morning, if you’ll bring her back the next Saturday, any time before night.”
“Here’s the money,” said Squire Brackett, promptly. “We’ll consider the bargain closed, eh?”
“Yes,” assented the two yachtsmen.
“Now what do you make of that?” exclaimed Harvey, as the squire rowed awkwardly ashore.