From the engine-room he conducted them on deck and then through a door near the bow. Here was a narrow entry crossing the boat, opening on one side into a bedroom and on the other into a sitting-room. The bedroom was simply and comfortably furnished and had a real brass bedstead in it. The sitting-room was very cozy and inviting, and was the largest room of all. There were two windows on each side and one looking over the bow. A queer circular iron stairway popped straight upward to the pilot-house above. There was a window-seat along the front containing some comfortable leather cushions--the sort a fellow isn’t afraid of soiling--a table in the center, three comfortable chairs, a bookcase half full of volumes and holding a bowl of geraniums, a talking-machine which pointed its horn threateningly toward the front window as though ready to be fired at any moment, and, to Harry’s delighted approval, a big, gray Angora cat asleep on the window-seat. “Isn’t he a perfect beauty,” cried Harry, falling on her knees beside him. “Oh, I never felt such long, silky hair! Dick, maybe you’d better put Snip outside. You know he sometimes chases cats that he isn’t acquainted with.” Dick, who still held the excited Snip in his arms, turned toward the door but his host stopped him. “Put him down, put him down,” he said. “Let him get acquainted with my family. The cat won’t hurt him, and if he wants to tackle the cat--well, I believe in letting folks fight their own battles. It’s good for them. Beastie, observe the fox-terrier. Behave yourself, now. You, too, Jack.” Snip was set at liberty. Approaching Beastie cautiously he gave one experimental bark. Beastie only blinked at him. Whereupon Snip paid no more attention to the cat, but proceeded to make friends with the red setter. “I don’t use this room much,” said their host as they sat down at his invitation, “so I fancy it doesn’t look very well. I’m a poor housekeeper. Well, boys, what do you think of the bear’s den?” “It’s just swell!” answered Chub earnestly. “I shouldn’t think you’d want to sell it, sir.” “No,” murmured Roy and Dick. “Had it four years,” said the painter, “and been all around in it. Besides, it’s too big for comfort. Two rooms are all I need. So I’ll sell when I get a chance. But I’ve been trying to get rid of the thing for over a year and haven’t done it yet.” “Wish I could buy it,” said Dick seriously. “I suppose, though, it would be worth a lot of money, sir?” “Not a bit of it, my boy! You can have it to-morrow for a thousand dollars. It cost me just short of three, engine and all. But I’ll sell it cheap. It’s in the best of condition, too; nothing run down--except the engine.” He chuckled. “Or I’ll take the engine out and you can have the boat for fifteen hundred! Want to buy?” Dick shook his head ruefully. “I’d like to,” he said, “but I guess I couldn’t find that much money right now.”