The man in the boat stopped rowing abruptly, and turned in his seat. But if he was surprised to find anybody aboard the _Viking_ he did not show it. “So I am,” he replied. “Don’t you want to go up with me?” “Can’t do it,” replied Little Tim. “I’m on watch. You’d better hurry, though. The tide is about up. She’ll be afloat soon now.” Mr. Carleton rowed away. But he was not over-impatient, it would seem, for he rowed leisurely. In fact, he did not get up to the place of the launching at all, but paused off the wharf and sat idly in the stern of his boat, smoking and enjoying the beauty of the rising moon. The yacht _Surprise_ was at last afloat in all its glory of new paint and shining spars. She came around the point presently, towed by two boats filled with the boys, the string of lanterns, with candles lighted, swaying almost dangerously in the night breeze. The rowers halted abreast the _Viking_, the report of the cannon rang out over the waters and up through the quiet town, and the _Surprise_, now at anchor, lay waiting for the morrow, when Captain Sam should stretch the sails. “Great success, wasn’t it?” cried Tom Harris to the occupant of a rowboat that had drifted up to them. “Great!” replied Mr. Carleton. “Great! Sorry I didn’t get over in time to see her go into the water.” Mr. Carleton made up for his delinquency the next day, however, for he was on hand early, and was much interested in the work of Captain Sam. He knew something of reeving rigging, too, it seemed, and lent a hand now and then. Joe Hinman and the crew liked him better than ever for it. He was down again after dinner, too, and ready as ever to be of assistance. “Hello,” he said, looking over toward the _Viking_, “are the other chaps going to play truant this afternoon, and leave us to rig the _Surprise_? I see they’ve got sail up.” “Oh, they’re off for a week’s fishing down among the islands,” said Joe. “Jack said for us to go ahead and run the _Surprise_ as soon as Captain Sam gets her ready. There they start now. They’ve cast off.” The _Viking_ was, indeed, under way, with Henry Burns and Harvey and Tom and Bob waving farewell. “Where are you bound?” called Mr. Carleton, springing to the rail and hailing the _Viking_. “Down the bay, fishing,” answered Harvey. “Great!” cried Mr. Carleton. “Bring her up a minute, and I’ll come aboard and make the trip with you.” Harvey looked at Henry Burns inquiringly. Henry Burns glanced back at Mr. Carleton, but without altering the course of the yacht. “Good-bye,” he called, pleasantly. “Sorry, but we’ve got a full crew. Couldn’t pay you high enough wages, anyway. Next trip, perhaps. Good-bye, fellows.” Mr. Carleton watched the yacht, footing it fleetly southward; and there was a look of genuine disappointment on his face. “Never mind,” said Joe Hinman, “come along with us. We’re off for a little cruise ourselves, in the morning. We’d like to have you go.”