"And—and to puppies?" asked Frances, leaning forward to stroke Periwinkle's head.
"Always," replied the Admiral once more.
"Well, then," said Frances, "let us start at once. We should be so sorry if we were late; and we are not at all afraid of the dragon any more, are we, Margaret?"
"Not the least," replied her sister. "So, let's start again at once."
"Very good," said the Admiral; and with that he jumped into his chair again and gave a push off with his right foot. Round spun the chair with the Admiral in it, and away went the boat, skipping over the tops of the waves, as a boy can make a flat stone skip across a pond—and a girl can't.
"How beautifully it goes!" cried Margaret. "It's almost like flying. What is the boat's name? Has it any name?"
"Certainly," replied the Admiral. "The name is painted on the bows. You can see it yourself through the glass."
"Oh, yes! So I can! I wonder if I can read it. 'M, A,—' Why! The letters are all turned the wrong way! What is that for?"
"That is because they are painted on the other side of the glass. You are looking at the backs of the letters. Begin at the other end, and then you will see."