Loud cheers from the crowd on shore greeted the yacht as she went into the embrace of her chosen element. The ladies waved their handkerchiefs, and the gentlemen their hats. Maud and Nellie returned the salute, and so did Sam Rodman; but Donald was too busy, just then, even to enjoy his triumph. As the hull slid off into the deep water, the boat-builder threw over the anchor, and veered out the cable till her headway was checked. The Maud rested on the water as gracefully as a swan, and the work of the day was done. Hardly had the yacht brought up at her cable, when the Juno, in which Laud Cavendish had been laying off and on where he could see the launch, ran alongside of her. "Keep off!" shouted Donald; "you will scrape her sides." "No; hold on, Don John; I have a cork fender," replied Laud, as he threw his painter on board of the Maud. "Catch a turn--will you?" "Don't let him come on board, if you can help it," whispered Nellie Patterdale. "He is a terrible bore." "I can help it," replied Donald, as, with a boat-hook he shoved off the bow of the Juno. Then, for the first time, he observed that Laud had a passenger, a man whom he remembered to have seen before, though he did not think where. "What are you about, Don John?" demanded Laud. "Keep off, then," replied Donald. "We don't want any visitors on board yet. We are going to haul her up to the wharf at once." "But I came off to offer the ladies a passage to the shore," said Laud. "They don't want any passage to the shore." "Good morning, Miss Patterdale," added Laud, as Nellie went to the rail near the Juno. "Allow me to offer you a place in this boat to convey you to the shore." "Thank you, Mr. Cavendish; I intend to remain where I am," replied she, rather haughtily. "I shall be happy to take you out to sail, if you will do me the honor to accompany me; and Miss Rodman, too, if she will go." "No, I thank you; I am otherwise engaged," answered Nellie, as she retreated to the other side of the yacht. "I say, Donald, let me come on board," asked Laud, who was desperately bent upon improving his acquaintance with Nellie Patterdale. "Not now; you can come on board at the wharf." Donald was resolute, and Laud, angry at his rebuff, filed away. "Here is a man that wants to see you, Don John," shouted Laud, as he ran his boat up to the Maud again. "I can't see him now," replied Donald.