"Yes," said Forester. "I have paddled over the water many a time in her." "How many oars does she pull?" asked Marco. "Oars?" said Forester, "no oars; they use paddles." "I wish they had some oars," said Marco, "and then I would get a crew of boys, and teach them to manage a boat man-o'-war fashion." "How do you know any thing about it?" asked Forester. "O, I learned at New York, in the boats at the Battery." "Well," said Forester, "we'll have some oars made, and get a crew. I should like to learn myself." "Let us go down and see the boat," said Marco, "now." "No," replied Forester, "it is time to go to dinner now; but we'll come and see the boat the next time we go to take a walk." So Marco and Forester came down the hill, and thence went across the fields home to dinner. They dined at half-past twelve o'clock, which seemed a very strange hour to Marco. Chapter V. Studying. The little building where Forester's father had his office, had a small back room in it, which opened from the office proper, and which was used as a library and private study. It had a small fire place in it, and there was a table in the middle of the room, with a large portable writing-desk upon it. This desk was made of rosewood. The sides of the room were lined with book-shelves. There was one large window which looked upon the yard and garden behind. The books in this room were principally law-books, though there were some books of history and travels, and great dictionaries of various kinds. Forester conducted Marco into this room, a day or two after their arrival in the village, saying, "Here, Marco, this is to be our study. How do you like it?" "Very well," said Marco. "It is a very pleasant room. Am I to study all these books?" "Not more than one at a time, at any rate," said Forester. "_This_ is my place, I suppose," said Marco; and so saying he sat down in a great arm-chair, before the portable writing-desk, which was open on the table. [Illustration: THE STUDY.] "No," said Forester, "that is _my_ place. I am going to arrange your establishment near the window. James has gone to bring your desk now."