Uncle Ralph had a great deal to talk about. His exciting sea tales found attentive listeners, and the captain seemed equally interested in hearing about some of the adventures of the Rambler Club.
“Sorry I can’t tell you a thriller with a trip on a motor yacht as the subject,” laughed Bob.
For an instant Uncle Ralph made no reply. Then he said, slowly:
“Come down in the cabin, boys. I have a few things you may enjoy looking over.”
On reaching the saloon the captain walked to a bookcase, opened it and brought out a large album.
“My own snap-shots,” he explained, with a touch of pride.
“Some dandy views here,” said Bob, turning the leaves. “What! Are you going to leave us already, captain?”
“Just a few minutes, Bob. When you get through you’ll find another volume on the shelf.”
Bob and Charlie soon became so deeply absorbed in their pleasant task of following the captain on some of his foreign voyages by the aid of pictures that various sounds of activity in the engine room, besides numerous noises on deck, failed to make more than a vague impression on their minds.
The sudden starting of a gasoline motor, together with an unmistakable gliding movement on the part of the “Fearless,” however, caused both to look up with exclamations of surprise.