"There comes the Marian!" exclaimed Hop Cabright, as the new steam-yacht came shooting across Beechwater as though it had been discharged from a rifle. "I believe she is faster than the Sylph." "Come to, Thad!" shouted Luke Bennington, the captain of the swift little steamer, from the pilot-house. "What's up now?" said the skipper of the Goldwing, as he put his helm down. The boat came up into the wind, with her sail banging furiously in the lively breeze; and the Marian went alongside of her. Luke handed Thad a little bundle of papers, which the principal had forgotten to give to the temporary instructor in sailing. The steamer started her screw again, and dashed into the creek leading to the river. Thad filled away again, and followed her. As soon as he had the boat under way, he opened the package. "Here is just what we want; and it will prevent you fellows from spilling yourselves into the drink in looking at my drawing," said Thad, as he produced the contents of the parcel. "I have heard something about these before." "What are they, Thad?" asked Archie. "A copy for each one of you of a sloop, with letters to indicate the parts," replied Thad, as he distributed them among his crew. "It is a picture of a sloop from Captain Douglas Frazar's book, called 'Practical Boat-Sailing.' The principal says it is a most excellent little book, containing a vast amount of simple and useful information for those handling sail-boats. Captain Gildrock is well acquainted with the author, and knows him to be a thorough seaman as well as a skilful yachtsman. Now, look at the picture, and imagine that it is the Goldwing." "But the Goldwing has but one jib," replied Ben Sinker. "And you have but one hat," returned Thad. "I have another in my room." "This sloop has another jib in her room, which is the sail-room in the boat-house. She don't wear it just now, as you don't have on your other hat. Now, Archie, what is the upright stick in the forward part of the sloop? Be practical about it, and don't talk any moonshine, if you please." "It is the mast," replied Archie confidently. "That isn't the name of it." "Not the mast?" asked Archie, perplexed. "It is the mainmast." "The mainmast! Then, where is the foremast?" demanded Archie, with a good deal of faith in his argumentative question. "She don't happen to have any." "Then, what's the sense of calling it the mainmast when she has no other mast?" "Excuse me, Archie, but you remind me of the Dutchman," laughed Thad. "'Do you know der reason wot we call our boy Hans for?' They could not guess the reason, and the father explained. 'Der reason wot we call our boy Hans for, is dot's his name.' With your permission, Archie, we will call this stick the mainmast, for the same reason. If it is not the right name, it is neither Captain Frazar's fault, nor mine." "I accept the amendment; and c c is the mainmast," added Archie.