“Isn’t that a dandy?” demanded Jack, with enthusiasm.
“I should say so,” answered Bob.
The house-boat was provided with a deck that extended about three feet in front of the cabin. The interior was roomy and comfortable, and contained bunks, several chairs, a table, cooking stove, lockers for their supplies, and various wooden pegs upon which to hang clothes. A bench ran around two sides. Four windows admitted light, and, as its former owner had been a man of rather fastidious tastes, neat curtains helped to give the interior a pleasant, homelike appearance.
“Fall on board, and get out of this heat,” said Jack.
He leaped lightly to the deck, threw open a door, and the others quickly followed.
“There’s plenty of room, fellows,” said Jack. “Now, really, aren’t you going with us?”
“I’d like to the worst way,” cried Tommy.
“So should I,” admitted Bob.
“This cozy interior appeals to me,” said Dave, slowly. “My compliments to the man who had sense enough to buy this chair.” He sighed contentedly. “On a nice moonlight night——”
“You’d get enough inspirations for two volumes of poems,” laughed Bob. “The gurgle and lament of restless waves, and all that sort of thing—what’s that?”