“She’s a fine old boat,” he said, “and she’s just as good as new. I’ve had a lot of fun in her, too. I’ll never have any more fun in the _Viking_ than I’ve had in her, though the _Viking_ is bigger and handsomer. I’d be satisfied with the _Surprise_ if I hadn’t got the other one.” The moment seemed almost opportune for the offer that followed. “That’s a fine craft there,” cried a voice so close in Harvey’s ear that it made him jump, for he had been so lost in the admiration of the _Surprise_ that he had not heard the sound of any one approaching. He turned quickly, and there was Mr. Carleton. “Doesn’t look much as though she had been under water all winter, does she?” asked Harvey. “I should say not,” replied Mr. Carleton. “Looks as though she was just out of the shipyard. I don’t see what you need of the _Viking_ when you’ve got such a boat as this. You’d better let me hire the _Viking_ from you for the rest of the summer.” “Sorry,” replied Harvey, “but I can’t do it. You see, I’ve promised to let the crew have this boat, and they have set their hearts on it. I wouldn’t disappoint them now for a hundred dollars.” “How about two hundred dollars?” suggested Mr. Carleton. Harvey hesitated for a moment. “No!” he cried, determinedly, “not for a thousand dollars. There! I’ve said it, and I mean it. I want the money bad enough, too. But the crew are going to have this boat. We’ve made all the arrangements, and we are using the _Viking_ for fishing, and we’ve got to be off for another trip, too, for we have been about here, earning nothing, for quite awhile now.” “I’ll give you eighteen hundred dollars if you will sell the _Viking_,” said Mr. Carleton. Harvey shook his head stubbornly. “No use,” he said. “But,” he added, “you can arrange with the crew to take you sailing easy enough when we aren’t around here. They’ll be glad to have you go.” “Hm!” exclaimed Mr. Carleton. “Well, all right; but if you change your mind, let me know. “When are you going to launch this one?” he added. “Why, I think we’ll put her into the water this evening,” replied Harvey. “That is, if we don’t get a shower. The moon will be up and the tide right. That’s why we are coming away so early now. We’re going up to the Warren cottage to get out some Japanese lanterns, and get the cannon ready. When we launch her, we are going to run a line from the masthead to the stern, and hang a chain of the lanterns, light them, and tow the _Surprise_ around to the wharf in style, and fire a salute. Then she’ll be ready for Captain Sam to fit the sails in the morning. Better come around and see the fun.” “Will you all be over here?” inquired Mr. Carleton. “The whole crowd,” answered Harvey. “Then I’ll be on hand sure,” said Mr. Carleton—but added to himself, “if I don’t have something else to do.”