This structure was seventy-five feet long, with plenty of windows, and was entirely open on the water side. In accordance with the general policy of the principal, its use had not been explained; but all the students believed it was to contain the ways on which the boat was to be built. It looked now as though the desired information in regard to the building of the boat was to be communicated to them. "I need not ask you if you have noticed these drawings, and this model of a vessel," said Captain Gildrock, after he had finished what he had to say about the moving of the cottage; "for you have been looking at these things most of the time since you came into the school-room." "Are we to begin on the boat to-day?" Lon Dorset asked; and he was one of the new students, not yet thoroughly broken in with the customs of the school. "When I set you at work you will begin; not before. It always affords me very great pleasure to answer sensible questions, boys, and I shall do everything I can to encourage you to ask them; but I don't believe in foolish questions. Such is the character of all questions relating to what we are going to do. You are never required to do anything until an order is given. Foolish questions take up as much time as sensible ones." Lon Dorset was somewhat abashed at the manner in which his inquiry had been treated; but the principal knew that some of the boys would talk all day about nothing, if permitted to do so; and the questions he tolerated and encouraged were those which brought out real information, and revealed the condition of the inquirer's mind. "The building of the boat has been somewhat delayed on account of the difficulty of obtaining suitable lumber," continued the principal. "A load which came from Boston yesterday will enable us to make a beginning." Some of the new pupils were disposed to give three cheers. CHAPTER X. A LECTURE ON SHIP-BUILDING. "We are not ship-builders, boys; in fact, there is not a ship-builder connected with the school, and I do not intend to engage one even as an instructor," said the principal, continuing his remarks on the platform. "In the present depressed state of this important industry, perhaps it is not advisable to devote much time to the study of scientific construction in ship-building. It looks now as though the ships of the future were to be of iron; and many vessels of this material are built in this country at the present time. "But perhaps ship-building is rather too ambitious a term to apply to our intended operations. We shall build a boat of considerable size, and while we are doing the work we shall learn what we can about ship-building. Many years ago I built a ship for myself, and superintended its construction from the keel to the trucks. In building our boat we shall not put in every stick used in a ship. "Did any of you ever tow a log in the water?" asked the principal, pausing for a reply.