“She wants cleanin,” remarked Captain Pratt, after a long survey,--“that’s a fact; an what’s more, she wants corkin--no doubt,--an a good coat o’ tar. She wants new spars, an riggin, an chains, an anchors,--a new deck, too, and pumps wouldn’t be out of the way; and for that matter, while they were about it, they might as well put a new hull onto her. By that time she’d be fit to carry taters, and Corbet might make a little money out of her. But it would cost a good bit to do all that, and so I dar say Corbet’ll sail her as she stands,--if he sails her at all. Arter all, he might as well, bein as she’s jest as good now as ever she was. She never was much; but then she’s been lucky, and did well enough for Corbet. It would be kind of onnateral to see him aboard of any other craft than this here.” “Boys,” said Bart, “something ought to be done in honor of this great occasion; and above all, we ought to make up some way to bring Corbet face to face with his restored Antelope. Shall we tell him at once, and let him come down?” “No, let’s leave it till he finds out. Let’s give him a shock of surprise.” “But how will we know anything about his surprise, unless we are here on the spot at that great meeting between Corbet and his lost but restored schooner?” “O, we’ll have to manage it so as to be here when he comes down to see it.” “We ought to arrange some plan.” “Shall we let him know what has happened, or get him to come down here for something else?” “O, we ought to get him to come for something else, and then his surprise will be all the greater.” “But what else?” “That we’ll have to think over.” “We ought to make haste about it, then.” “Yes, we ought to decide before the end of the week.” “The end of the week! Nonsense! Why not to-day?” “To-day?” “Of course. Now’s the time. We must get him down to-day, while we’re all here. If we don’t, he’ll be certain to hear all about it before tomorrow from some one else.” “Yes, of course.” “To-day’s the time.” “Yes, to-day. We’re all here. I want to see the meeting. I wouldn’t lose the sight for anything.” “Well--what shall we get up to bring him here?” “O, let’s send word that Captain Pratt wants to see him on very particular business.” “That won’t bring him, especially if he’s got the babby. He wouldn’t come down before when the business was still more important.” “We couldn’t send some word about a potato freight, I suppose.” “No, for three reasons; first, because it isn’t the truth; secondly, because he believes that he has no schooner; and thirdly, because he is indifferent to potato freights.” “Well, what shall we tell him, then?”