Lawry, chuckling with delight at what he had done, rang the hand-bell he found in the kitchen, at the door. If Ethan had smelled the savory viands in the course of preparation for him, he had made no sign; but he was probably too busy to heed anything but the darling engine he was so affectionately caressing with handfuls of packing and spurts of oil. "What's that bell for, Lawry?" shouted he. "Breakfast's ready," replied Lawry. "I wouldn't stop to eat now--would you?" "Things will be cold if you don't." "Cold?" laughed Ethan. "Yes--cold. What's the use of having a kitchen if you don't use it?" "You're a good one!" shouted Ethan. "Why didn't you tell me what you were about?" "I didn't want to spoil your appetite." "You are a first-rate fellow, Lawry. Your breakfast looks tip-top, and I shall do full justice to it; but I must go and look at the boiler and the fires before I eat." They sat down to breakfast when Ethan had returned and washed the smut from his face and hands. Lawry poured out the coffee, and helped his companion to ham and potatoes. The engineer ate with good relish. "Your ham and potatoes are first-rate, Lawry; but I've seen better coffee than this," said he. "I had nothing to settle it, and there is no milk on board." "We had some fish-skin, and there is plenty of condensed milk on board," replied Ethan. The coffee was subjected to a new process, and the condensed milk prepared for use. By the time the substantials of the feast had been discussed, some pretty good coffee was ready for them. The boys ate their breakfast with a zest they had never known before. "Ethan!" exclaimed Lawry. "What, Lawry?" "Hold me down!" shouted the proprietor of the _Woodville_. "What's the matter?" "Hold me down! I shall go up if you don't. I can't hold in any longer. I'm so tickled, I feel as though I should fly away." "Don't do it," laughed Ethan. "But I must go and look after the engine, or we may both go up, in a way that won't suit us;" and Ethan hurried down into the fire-room. After taking a turn up and down the deck, Lawry curbed down his superfluous enthusiasm, and returned to the kitchen, where he extinguished the fire in the galley, and put away the dishes and kettles which had been used in getting breakfast. By this time Ethan had finished his work on the engine, and the steam gage indicated a sufficient pressure to work the machinery. "All ready, Lawry!" shouted he. "Is everything all right?" "Yes, as good as new. Now, if you will go into the wheel-house, we will see what she will do." "Hurrah!" shouted Lawry. He pulled the bell for starting her, and with a thrill of delight he heard the wheels splashing in the water; and the great splurges began to roll up on the shore. "Does she move?" asked Ethan, through the speaking-tube which communicated with the engine-room. "No, she sticks fast," replied Lawry. "Give her a little more of it."