But in spite of time’s apparent slowness, the seven boys at length found themselves again on the house-boat.
After an hour of tedious waiting Jim Benton slowly approached.
“Here already?” he asked, with pretended surprise.
Some very scornful and indignant looks rewarded him; and Jim chuckled as he stepped aboard the house-boat.
“Now,” he said, “we won’t fasten nothin’ down till it’s tested from A to Z.”
“What comes first?” inquired Joe.
“Push the propeller shaft through the hole in the stern-post; then if she fits, we’ll bolt the stuffing box in place.”
“What’s a stuffing box?” asked Joe.
“I know what a stuffing boy is,” laughed Aleck, as he pointed to a sandwich from which the other was taking huge bites.
“A metal cylinder fittin’ over the shaft,” explained Jim. “It’s filled with packin’ to keep out the water. Jack, you’re a hustler. Bet you’d never work that hard for your livin’, though.”