Tip JOPWEEKLY. *¢ \N IDEAL PUBLICATION FOR THE AMERICAN YOUTH Tesued a By Stbser intion ¥. 50 per year. Entered as Second Class Matter ‘at the N. Y. Post Office by STREET & SMITH, No. 104. h NE Ww YORK, Apnt 9, 1898. Price 5 Gents. it tims, | i wii tl? wy mili . ‘© REEF YOUR RUDDER. VRANKIE! ’?’ YELLED HANS. & € 8 we “AN IDEAL PUBLICATION FOR THE AMERICAN YOUTH.” Tire Tor Issued VV oe —By Subscription $2.50 per year. Lntered as Second Class Matter at the N, WEEKLY. Post Office. SvReEKT & SMITH, 238 William St. Y. nutered Aceording to Act of Congress, in the Year 1898, in the Office of the ibe ‘arian of Congress, VW ‘ashington, te No. 104 NEW YORK, April 0, 1808. Price Five Cents. Contents of This Number. FRANK MERRIWELL AFLOAT; or, The Cruise of the White Wings - = ONE HUNDRED PRIZES - - TALKS WITH TIP TOP READERS - - A SHARP BOY - 5 ig RIDING AN ALLIGATOR 2 - : STRAY ITEMS - - é : 2 APPLAUSE - ° - - . = Frank Merriwe Page, I. : . ; 29, . ; ‘ : ‘ : 29, : : : . . . 30. ; : ‘ 3 30. "i o n Oat OR, THE CRUISE OF THE WHITE WINGS. By the Author of ‘‘FRANK MERRIWELL.”’ CHAPTER I. THE MEETING -IN BOSTON. “Mr. John Diamond, ‘‘Lexington, Va., “Tf you wish cruise in Down Kast waters, join me Monday next at American Hotel, Boston: Have purchased yacht. Hodge and Browning will be in party. Great Sport anticipated. ‘*Merriwell,’? Jack Diamond was reclining in a ham- mock suspended: in the shade of an artifi- cial arbor when this message was handed to him by a boy. He tore open the en- velope and read it, his eyes beginning to sparkle and a flush cuming to his hand- some, aristocratic face. Jack had been at home exactly one week, and already he was beginning to fee] the monotony of home life after the excitement of the late adventures and events participated in at Fardale. At the time of receiving the telegram quoted here he had supposed Frank Merriwell was also resting at his home. Now, how- ever, he saw that Merry was in Boston and had made arrangements for another jolly outing during the summier vacation. ‘*Just like him !’’ exclaimed Jack. ‘‘Be- fore leaving Fardale he aroused our cu- © riosity about that part of the country, and now he proposes taking us down there in his own yacht. Will I go? WillI? I wouldn’t miss it for the world!”? It had not taken him a minute to de- cide. A cab rattled up to the front of the American Hotel, on Hanover street, Bos- — The door flew open, — ton, and stopped. oe aes “Ean eos + 2 and out stepped a smartly-dressed young man, wearing russet shoes, a light-colored box coat and a,brown Alpine hat. He carried a handsome alligator-skin travel- ing bag in his hand. ‘Paying cabbie without speaking a word, this youth turned and walked into the hotel. As he entered, a colored boy has- tened forward and relieved him of his traveling bag. He stepped up to the clerk’s desk and said: “T am Jack Diamond, of Virginia, and I wish to see Mr. Frank Merriwell, who is stopping here.”’ ‘‘Ves, sir,’’ said the. clerk, politely. ‘‘Mr. Merriwell left orders that you be shown up immediately on your arrival. ‘Twenty-three, show Mr. Diamond to Mr. Merriwell’s rooms. = ‘Right this way, sah,’’? said the col- ored boy.’’ Jack followed the uniformed bell boy, who paused at the elevator shaft and pressed a button. Inamoment the ele- vator came gliding noiselessly down, the ‘door slid open, a lady and a gentleman _ stepped out, and Diamond stepped in. . ‘Third,’ said the bell-boy, and then he turned and disappeared, while the elevator man closed the door and sent the car gliding upward. He stopped at the third floor, and, to Jack’s surprise, the bell-boy with the grip was there, calmly awaiting his arrival. Jack followed him to the door ofa . room at the front of the house. As the boy lifted his hand to knock at the door, there was a burst of laughter within, plainly heard, as the transom was open, ~ and Frank Merriwell’s voice cried: ‘Hans, if you could tellthat story on the stage just as you told it then, you ~ would make your fortune.”’ “ot vos der madder mit me?’ ex claimed the voice of Hans Dunnerwust. “Dot nefer vos a funny stories! You don’d seen vot I larft ad! Dot peen a 4 athetic sdory. J oxbected you vould | FRANK MERRIWELL AFLOAT. took mein handkersheft oudt und cried id indo, but you sed roundt und laugh ad dot bathetic sdory like I vos a lot uf mon- keys.. You don’d like dot as vell as I might!” Then there was another burst of laugh- ter, and the knock of the bell-boy was not heard. ‘‘Never mind,’’ said Diamond, taking his traveling bag and giving the boy a dime; ‘‘I’ll go right in.”’ 7 He opened the door and stepped \ into the room. Hodge, Browning, Merriwell and Dun- nerwust were there. Bart was tilted back in a chair, with his feet on the table, while lazy Bruce was half-sitting and half-reclining on a sofa. Frank sat astride a chair, looking over the back of it at Hans, who had stood in the middle of the room as he told his ‘‘bathetic sdory.”’ ‘ Hello fellows!’’ cried the lad from Virginia, heartily. : There was a shout of welcome. Frank sprang forward quickly and grasped Dia- mond’s hand. ; “Delighted, old man!’ laughed Merry. ‘‘T was afraid you wouldn’t come till I received your telegram stating that you would be on hand. Any trouble in per- suading the mother ?’?’ ‘‘Not much, though she said it did seem that I might remain at homea while longer, and she told me-to tell you that she is beginning to get jealous of you, as I spend so much of my time vacatious with you.’ ‘“How you vos, Shack ?’’ said Hans, getting hold of Diamond’s free hand thie latter having dropped his traveling-bag, ‘*T vos a sight vor sore eyes, ain’d you! You don’d knew how dickled you vos to seen me.’’ Hodge came forward and shook hands, ‘expressing his pleasure, and, with sundry grunts, Browning sineaeeded in getting upon “his feet, saying as he rose: Sete natn inagh iene ~~ sis : olin. if peng anneal... : ‘Suppose I’il have to stand up to shake, or you’ll challenge me. You Southerners are so confoundedly particular about courtesy and all that.”? Jack smiled. ‘T*know you too well to resent it if you lay on your back and offered to shake hands with me. In fact, it surprises me to discover you hadn’t rather fight a duel after you were obliged to get up than to get up when not absolutely forced to do so.’? “What baggage did you bring?’ asked Merry. “A trunk. It will be brought to the hotel here.’ ‘“There is no room for trunks on board the White Wings,’ said Frank. ‘‘You’ll have to store your trunk and such stuff as you do not absolutely need till we get back here.?? ‘“The White Wings?. Is that the name of your yacht ?”’ eee ‘‘Good name. How did you happen to buy a yacht?’ “Got a bargain on her. I came on t Boston with Miss Burrage, whose aunt was waiting here for her. I met:-Jack Ben- jamin. ~ You remember him ?’’ ‘*Harvard man ?”? (Ves. ‘*Plays football ?”’ (Vas, ? ‘‘} remember him. His sister is a stun- ningly handsome girl.”? “Wuah!’ grunted Browning. ‘That explains how you happen to remember him.’’ . Well,’? Frank went on, ‘‘Benjamin turned out to bea fine féllow. Invited me over to his house, treated me beautifully. He knows a lut of sporty chaps. them was Walter Pringle, who owned this yacht. Pringle took a party of us out for a cruise down the bay, and we had a grand time. Went to Nantasket. Com- ing back Pringle said he had planned to Among FRANK MERRIWELL AFLOAT. 3 cruise down to the eastward this summer with a party of friends, but something had come up that knocked out the ar- rangement. ‘Then it was that I thought of our talk while at Fardale about mak- ing a cruise down along the Maine coast, and I spoke of it. his yacht. Said I’d like to own Saw Pringle looked a little queer. He stared at nie a few moments, and then asked what I would give for the White Wings. I questioned him some about her, and then made an offer. He didn’t take me up, but the next day he came and told me the yacht was mine. I was astonished, for I didn’t offer much more than one-half what she is really worth. But he said he must. have the money without delay, as he was going to get out of Boston in a hurry. I dispatched Professor Scotch, and he wired me the amount. I bought the boat, and now I hear Pringle has left for Seattle, on his way to Alaska. His father is hot over it, for he didn’t want his son to go. Pringle had the fever, and he sold the yacht in a hurry to raise money to go with. I have a bargain. We can imake our cruise, and then, when it is over, by looking about, I'll be able to get rid of the White Wings for more than I paid for her.?’ ‘Are you sure the transaction is all right?’ asked Diamond. *fAll right? How do you mean???’ ‘Why, strictly on the level. Pringle is not a minor ?”’ ‘‘No,’? grunted Browning; ‘‘but he has goue to be a miner.’’ ‘*Here, here!’? cried Frank, quickly ; ‘‘that won’t do. It’s prohibited.”’ 7 “It may be when we get on board the — White Wings, but we’re ashore now, and you are not Captain Merriwell yet.’’ ”» said Hranle answering Diamond’s question. ‘Hei is _ all right.”? or ‘“And he was ais owifer of Ge yacls a He had the right to sell her?” . 6s ‘Pringle is twenty-one, “Of course. Benjamin told me Pringle was strictly on the level.’’ “*Well, you’re always lucky!’ ex- claimed the lad from Virginia. ‘‘Now you will get the fun of this cruise, and, when it is over, you’ll be likely to sell the yacht for enough so that you will come out ahead on the whole deal, expenses included.”’ ‘‘T hope to,’’ acknowledged Frank, laughing. ‘‘I considered it asnap, but that was not why I wanted the boat. I wanted to make the cruise with my friends. Rattleton couldn’t come. Mulloy has disappeared, and I don’t know where the fellow is. Gallup has gone into Ver- mont, to see the old folks ‘to hum on the farm.’ Jones says he enjoyed enough excitement while in Fardale-to shatter his nervous system, and begged to be ex- cused. But here are five of us, and that is all the White Wings will carry with absolute comfort. ‘There is plenty of room for us. We'll make a jolly cruise of it, fellows, and I don’t believe we’ll ever regret going. I have the boat tailors up by Schollay square are at work on uniforms for four of us., We'll go out re right away, Jack, and you shall be meas- ured for yours. Coine on.’’ — CHAPTER II. INZA AND PAULA. Frank and Jack House and_ turned square. ‘These tailors are rushers,’’ said Merry. ‘They have made a reputation by turning out work in short order. That is why we ordered the suits of - them. You know we sail to-morrow - morning.”’ . “What? Not to-morrow ?”’ Ae Site C4 . - Well, they will not have time to make up a suit for me.’’ as : left the American toward Schollay - FRANK MERRIWELL AFLOAT. stocked with provisions, and some Jew ’ *“Oh, yes, they will.” ‘*Impossible.”’ ‘Not at all, old man. They will get the work out in a hurry, as I shall pay them to do it.”’ ‘*But I never heard of such a thing.’ ‘*Possibly not. You are in Boston now. In Virginia they require more time to ac- complish anything. Down in this part of the country things move.”’ Diamond could hardly believe that he could obtain a suit to order in sucha short time. They came to Schollay square, into which trolley cars were pouring from various sections, and soon they reached the store of the Jew tailors. It was a large store, and at least a dozen customers were looking over samples, striking’ bar- gains or being measured. However, the boys were not forced to wait, for one of the proprietors came forward, greeted Frank by name, and said: ‘*Vour order will be ready for you on time, Mr. Merriwell.”’ ‘(We sail at nine o’clock to-morrow morning,’’ said Frank. ‘‘Here isa friend of mine who will require a suit like the others.” 3 ‘That is crowding us somewhat, sir,’’ smiled the tailor. ‘‘I hardly think we eat)? ‘*T will pay five dollars extra if the suit is delivered at the American House at six o’clock in the morning,’’ said Frank, quietly. “Very well, sir. ‘‘I think that will cover the extra expense of rushing it through. If the gentleman will step back > this way, his measure will be taken.’’ So Jack was measured, and, ten min- utes after entering the store, the boys left it. ‘‘He didn’t even ask a deposit of you, Merry,’’ said Jack, in surprise. . “ “No, Benjamin vouched for me, and that was all that was necessary. No de- - pe at a a I ue eT oe a ee we is posit was required under such circum- stances. ’’ ‘*What round on time ?”’ ‘‘He won’t. He wouldn’t want them left on his hands.”’ Frank’s confidence reassured Jack, and they strolled over toward Tremont street and finally came out at the Com- if he fails to get the suits mon. ‘*T’d like to have a little time to look 3eston over,’’ said Jack. ‘You can do that when we come back. If you were to stop long enough to take in all the interesting siglits, we wouldn’t get down into Maine this summer. I want to spend a little more time in Bos- ton, although I have seen Fanueil Hall, the new Public Library building, the Old South Church, Bunker Hill Monu- ment and a hundred other things. The business portion of Boston is not particularly attractive, but the suburbs and the aristocratic dwelling sec- tions are beautiful.”? They walked across the Common to the Public Gardens, then turned round and strolled back. From Tremont Row they went down Temple street to Washington, and just as they reached Jordan, Marsh & Co’s store, two girls stepped out upon the slidewalk and came face to face with them. ‘‘Miss Burrage!’’ exclaimed Diamond, lifting his hat. “Tnza!l’? cried Frank, also lifting his hat. ‘‘Miss Benjamin, too! unexpected pleasure. Miss permit me to present a particular friend Jack Diamond, of Vir- 3enjamin, of mine, Mr. ginia,’’ Paula Benjamin was a pretty’girl. Her eyes met Jack’s, and she showed her _ pearly teeth in a most bewitching smile _ as she bowed, saying: **T have heard of Mr. Diamond.”’ ‘‘Indeed!’’ exclaimed Jack. ‘‘I was not aware I was quite as famous.”’ FRANK MERRIWELL AFLOAT. interesting | This in an, 5 ‘“Ves. My brother mentioned you. Per- haps you know something of him—his name is Jack. He plays on the Harvard eleven.’’ ‘And he spoke of me? That is sur- Don’t see what he could have said about me.’’ z prising. ‘*T don’t believe I will tell,’’? laughed the girl, and her manner aroused all of the Virginian’s curiosity. ‘*Please tell,’’ he urged, smiling. ‘“‘Well,’’? hesitated Paula, still laugh- ing, ‘‘before the he said you were Frank Merriwell Harvard eleven. you weren’t half fof, game on Jarvis Field, fool enough to think could beat the whiole After the game he said the fool he took you This caused them all to laugh, and, as the street was crowded, they strolled on together. ‘Oh, Frank!’’ exclaimed Inza; ‘‘you can’t guess what we are going to do!”’ “Then I will give it up without try- ing. What is it??? ‘‘Paula and I are going to Bar Har- bor.”’ ‘*What?”? so ate thee ‘TY am. astonished !”’ “T knew you would be. We've been talking about it, you know—saying we’d like to go. Yesterday Paula hada letter from her cousin who is spending the summer down there. Her cousin urged her to come. Paula’s mother said it was impossible, as two girls like us should not be traveling about alone. Abigail said she’d like to spend a week or two in Bar Harbor herself, and she — volunteered to chaperone us. After a while, Paula obtained her mother’s con- sent, and we take the Bangor boat for — Rockland to-morrow night.”’ ae ‘‘By Jove, this is interesting! We'll — have to run in to Bar Harbor and see you on our cruise. I didn’t suppose we would Then Aunt —- see much of each other after leaving Fardale.’’ ‘“*T didn’t know as you would care about that,’’ said Inza, carelessly. ‘*Care!’’ exclaimed Frank. ‘fVYou should know I would care. How can you What made you imagine I wouldn’t care???’ say anything like that! **Oh, something !’’ ‘‘Something! What was it? ‘Tell me, Inza.”? ‘‘Sometime—perhaps.”’ “Tell me now,’’ urged Frank, in his masterful way. ‘‘During the last of my stay in Fardale I noticed a change in your treatment of me, Inza.”’ “*Did you?’’ she murmured, lifting her eyebrows. ‘ cw Oe. seemed to shun me. You were cold toward me, and you If I tried to be friendly, as in the old days, you would not give me the opportunity. I did not understand it.’’ ‘That is singulat. The reason was plain enough.”’ ‘If so, I must have been thick- witted.’? ' ‘(Bisie Bellwood was there.”’ ‘Tagen, ; ‘*T read your secret. You made your choice between us.’’ Frank was astounded. ‘“Choice? What can you mean, Inza? I did not make any choice.”’ ‘Oh, but you did!’’ “Tf you say so—but I—really—— “Vou made your choice that time when the boat upset and we were strug- gling in the water, Elsie and I. You plunged in to her rescue. I was quite as near to you as was Elsie—nearer, if any- etnies Frank caught his breath, beginning to realize what she meant. Inza went on: “Vou swam to KElsie’s rescue—you _ saved her. That was the test. I brought it about, for I upset the boat intentionally to settle the point. I wanted to know ”) 4 ¥ FRANK MERRIWELL AFLOAT. , Swiin ?”? which one of us you cared the most for— and I found out It was her, Frank realized that. He knew she was telling the truth when 1) like she said she upset the boat intentionally. ‘“But you—you could swim some, Inza.. I knew it.’ “Did you know KHlsie could not ‘““N—no.” — ‘‘She is the daughter of a sea captain, and she has been with him on many voyages. There was every reason to sup- pose that she could swim quite as well as I—or better. choice between No, Frank, you made your that day. It’s all tight,’’? and she forced a laugh that was not very musical. ‘‘I don’t deny that, at one time, I did think more of you than any other fellow. There was every reason why I should. You saved me from a mad dog, saved me froin death beneath a rail. road engine, saved me from drowning. But Iam not a fool, if I ama girl! I 7 us ‘have not been taking stock in all the passionate love stories I have read. I got out. of the way. I remained Elsie’s friend, for she is the sweetest girl I know. Idon’t blame you for thinking more of her than you do of me.’’ " anzaP? Frank uttered the word in protest; it was all he could say. ‘‘You can’t deny it, so don’t try,”? came almost harshly from the girl. ‘‘It’s all right. We’re still friends. We'll always be friends—nothing more. Some- time Il] be bridesinaid at the wedding, and——’? 3ut Frank had heard enough, and he stopped her. ‘‘{ ain not likely to marry any one very soon,’’ he said. ‘‘Elsie knows that. Let’s talk about something else. happen we met you??? Inza seemed willing enough to permit. the conversation to be turned into another channel. How did it ee et ec en ail penance, patatnittein tinea St: Bail > tt ~ Y — ig ies es AS Baa ted ain sin ee; ——_ a cnet ? ing, ‘'We were out shopping, you know— making our last purchases before starting for Bar Harbor. You must take us out on your yacht after we all “Til. do it. Your aunt——’’ ‘*Oh, she will not object. You know she fini you the finest fellow in all the world. She will come.along.”’ At last the boys were forced to part from the girls, but Jack had made such progress with Paula that she offered him her hand at parting, saying laughingly: “Next fall you will not pick the win- ner if you pick Yale, even if Mr. Merri- well is on that eleven. If you want to keep your record for wisdom, be careful.”’ **Tove!’’ exclaimed Jack, after they had seen the girls on board a car. ‘‘She’s a way-upper, Merry !”’ **She’s a good sample of the Boston girl.’? ‘“EKh? Where’s her glasses ?”’ “Vou have been reading the comic get down there.”’ papers. ’”’ “She. didn’t mention Emerson or -Browning.”’ ‘‘And that surprised you?”? ‘“‘Why, I didn’t suppose the genuine 3oston girl could talk ten minutes with- out doing so.’ ‘*Boston girls are very much like other nice girls, old man. ‘They are well edu- cated, refined, and all that, but they are not always quoting Emerson and Brown- are' not all cold and freezing, and they are handsome.”’ They came to Cornhill. A car was coming down from Schollay square, and they paused close to it to let it swing out upon Washington street. | Just as the front of the car approached, Frank Merriwell received a push from behind that sent him flat upon the track directly in front of the car wheels! FRANK MERRIWELL AFLOAT, they do not all wear glasses, they. . CHAPTER IT. WAT SNELL. did not have a fender, and it seemed that Frank must That particular car beneath the wheels. ~The motorman saw the lad go down and put be mangled on the brake hard, but he could not stop the car in time. Frank realized that he had been pushed upon the track liberate purpose it was to maim or mur- der him, but he could not save himself. He struck the paving, and the iron wheels seemed right upon him. But Jack Diamond moved with mar- vellous quickness. He made a grasp at Frank as the latter fell, almost caught him, then stooped, grasped his. coat and yanked Merry from the track. The car brushed Frank as it passed, but he was not injured. | “Thank you, old well, as he quickly ‘You saved me that pushed ine?”? They looked about. A small crowd had witnessed Frank’s peril and gathered. In the crowd was a person slipping away. With a bound Frank was after him, caught him by the shoulder, swung him to get a look at his face. ‘*Get out !”’ The fellow snarled the words and struck at Frank’s face with his clinched hand. Frank dodged. : “Wat Snell!’’ they cried astounded.. ‘“Ves, Wat Snell!’ grated the other, who was his oldtime Fardale enemy. ‘*You pushed me!’’ accused Frank. ‘You jie! I did not touch you! feli:?? ; ““T felt you push me, you miserable dog !’? ee “Don’t dare talk like that to me!’ | hissed. Snell. “Tl have you———" “What? You don’t ee do govthing by somre one whiose de- man,’’? said Merri- rose to his feet. time. But who You that is not cowardly and treacherous! You did push me!”’ ‘That's right!’’ exclaimed a boy. ‘‘I seen him do it!”’ There was a murmur from the crowd that began to gather about. Black looks were directed toward Snell. ‘*He ought to be lynched,’’ blustered a little old man. Then there were threats, and Snell grew pale, looking around or some means of escape. He saw accusing and angry faces on all sides, and he quailed and trembled. ‘It was an accident,’’ he whined, hum- bly. ‘‘I ran against you by accident. I7J] swear I didn’t recognize you, and I didn’t mean you any harm.’’ “Call an officer!’’ cried the little old man. ‘‘It was’ an attempt at murder! Have him taken care of!’ ‘With a gasp, Snell plunged through the crowd and took to his heels. Some tried to stop him, but he ran like a deer up Cornhill. There was a short pursuit, but the fellow doubled and dodged, es- caping his pursuers. het. Hin > po?” sas Prank, 2S wouldn’t make a charge against him, for it would detain me, and we must get away in the morning, wind and weather permitting. ’’ | ‘*He ought to be punished,’’ said Dia- mond. ‘‘He tried to kill you.”’ ‘It isn’t the first time he has tried to do something to me. We are old, old foes.”’ : ‘‘Why, I supposed him in Fardale.” §*So did I.” “‘Tt’s singular he’s here in Boston.”’ coat efi. * ‘‘What is the meaning of it?” “I can’t tell. Don’t ask me. He bobs up anywhere. You know I met him in - Japan. Anyhow, we’re not liable to see - him again for some time after we leave here to-morrow.”’ They returned to the hotel and told the 8 FRANK MERRIWELL AFLOAT. others of their adventures. All the boys were astonished to learn that Wat Snell was in the city. : ‘*His principal Fardale friends can’t be here,’’? said Browning. ‘‘Those not in hospital are in jail.’’ ‘‘He will land in jail before long,’’ said Diamond. — —— CHAPTER IV. A HOODOOED YACHT. Promptly at six o’clock the following morning the uniforms were delivered at the American House. Without delay the boys put them on, and they proved satis- factory in every way, so Frank paid the bill and the messenger who brought them departed satisfied. The boys ate an early breakfast, and all had good appetites. The American House dining-room is rather sombre, but they joked and laughed in the best of spirits. After breakfast final arrangements for the care of their baggage were made, then a cab was ordered, and they all piled in and were rattled away toward Atlantic avenue, : Jack had not seen Frank’s yacht, and he was curious concerning her appear- ance. Not far from the pier of the Bangor boat lay the White Wings, guarded by a watchinan, who saluted Merriwell as the — boys went aboard. The White Wings was a sloop yacht with club and jib topsails. She was not large, and it did not strike Diamond that she would prove to be fast, but she looked comfortable, and comfort was what they sought. ‘They were not thinking of rac- ing. Frank paid the watchman for his ser- vices and gave him something extra, whereupon the man departed greatly satis- fied. a —— ee - “Come, fellows,’’ called Merry; ‘‘we’ll | = 3 im i“ ¥ ili en oa ma: ers ‘ 3 aay £ en re — a ee epee 1 wine en FRANK MER go below and see how she looks down there.”’ They descended into the cabin, which was locked, Merry having the key. Jack was astonished when they entered the cabin, for it was far more roomy than he had supposed possible. A glimpse at the curtained berths showed there was plenty of sleeping room for all of them. There was a folding table, an oil stove, comfort- able seats on the lockers, and everything looked inviting. Four handsome repeat- ing shot-guns and a magazine rifle hung above the lockers. ‘“‘How does she look down here, fel- lows??? asked Frank. “She looks all right,’’ grunted Brown- ing, as he lazily rolled into one of the bunks. ‘‘Excuse me. I want to see what kind of a place I'll be stowed in when I am seasick.’ “What do you think you will do with those guns, Frank ?’’ asked Jack. ‘‘Can’t tell,’? smiled Frank. ‘‘Remein- ber we are going down into Maine.”’ ‘‘Ves, but you told us Maine was a civ- ilized State. From your talk when we discussed the matter at Fardale I didn’t suppose guns would be needed down there.’ “Is Virginia civilized?’ ‘‘Well, rather.’ ‘Ever find anything to shoot up in the mountain region?’’ ““Oh, yes, but——”’ ‘That’s all. New York is civilized, but there are bears and deer in the Adi- rondacks.”’ ‘Well, [ didn’t know we were going anywhere near a portion of Maine where there was gaime.’’ ‘*Can’t tell where we may go.”’ “Besides, if they have game laws down there, it must be close time for hunting.’’ “It is, but all the same, it will be a good scheme to have these guns along. We're going to rough it a great deal, and we may need them, I have brought all sorts RIWELL AFLOAT, 9 .of rigs for fishing, and I have two tents on board. My idea, gentlemen, is to” make this a regular outing trip, and, when we are not on board the White Wings, we do not want to spend our time in hotels.”’ ‘Not much,’’ nodded Hodge. ‘*Say, Merriwell,’’ cried Diamond, in admiration, ‘‘you are a dandy. You have planned all our outings for the past two years, and we have had sport galore; but what makes me sore is the fact that you pay all the bills.”? **No, not all of them,’’ laughed Frank. ‘*Pretty near all.’ ‘‘Well, in every case it does not cost me much. I paid for the Fardale trip with the money I won on the spring races.’’ ‘What if you had lost?” ‘’There would have been no Fardale trip. But there was no chance for me to lose as I bet, and I knew it. I was forced into every bet I made, as I do not believe in betting, but had to back up the talk I made. I knew Harvard could not get © her crew into shape to row in the English style and win in one year. I tell you I knew it. When I told some fellows before the race that I knew this they took me for a chump and sought to play me for a sucker right away. It was not my fault that they were bitten. If they had not been so fierce to stick me they might have saved their money. I took the money I won and we made the trip to Fardale. If we didn’t have a screaming old time, I’m daffy.’ ‘‘Id vos a recular slew-lu uf a dime, Vrankie,’’ said Hans. “But this trip,’? said Diamond—‘‘you will not get out of this whole.” “I don’t know about that. If I sell the: White Wings for her real value, I shall.’ A truck team came rumbling down onto ~ the wharf, and Hodge looked around. : ‘Baggage,’ he called. os A truckman had arrived with their inva gage from the hotel, The bay S, excepting 10 Browning, went on deck and brought the stuff aboard. As Frank was settling with the truck- man, the latter said: ‘J wish you good luck, young man, but I doubt if you’ll have it taking a cruise in that craft.’ ‘“Why is that?’’ asked Merry. is the matter with that craft ?”’ ‘Well, sir, they do say as how she is hoodooed.”’ ‘Indeed !”? ‘“Yes, sir. Everybody as has owned her in the last two years has had hard luck.’’ ‘*What ‘“This is interesting.’ ‘‘T hauled her first load of provisions, and I have known her along time. On her trial cruise she capsized before she got out of the harbor.”’ ‘*Ts that all?”’ ‘‘Hardly. Her first owner cominitted suicide on board of her—cut his throat ‘down below. They say she has been haunted by his spook ever since.”’ Megry laughed. ‘This is decidedly interesting. I'd have given more for her if I had known she owned a spook. I am very fond of spooks. They are interesting.”’ ‘Boo!’ shivered the truckman. ‘‘Don’t want none in mine.’’ ‘“Have you told ime all the unlucky things that have happened to the White “Wings?” | ‘‘No. Next fellow that owned her ran down a row-boat and drowned a_ boy. Then he put her on top of a ledge, but got her off without doing her much dam- age. He sold her for a song.”’ ‘(What happened next?’’ ‘Next fellow as gwned her went crazy andisinan asylum. They say he saw the spook go through the suicide act in the cabin, and that was what crazed him.’? . _ “The interest increases. The horrors are piling up. | Anything more?”’ “Benjamin owned her next.’’ FRANK MERRIWELL AFLOAT. _the stranger. ‘‘Anything happen to him ?”? Ves»? ‘*What ?”? ‘‘He got the Klondike fever.”’ SParat.-alie*’ ‘‘Ain’t that enough? He’s runs away to Alaska, and his father’s rich as mud. He didn’t have no need to go up there into that infernally cold region and freeze and starve. His old man’s so mad he threatens to cut him off.”’ ‘*Well,’? laughed Frank, ‘‘the White Wings is mine now, and I don’t fancy all the spooks of the infernal regions could scare me away from her. In fact, I’d rather enjoy having a call from a few spooks.’ ‘*You’ll have some kind of. bad luck,”’ declared the truckman, as he prepared to go. ‘‘I don’t like to tell you that, but I think you oughter be looking out.’ A young man with a small curly black © mustache came hurrying onto the pier. He was well dressed and carried a cane. He came straight up to Frank and the truck- nan. ‘‘Where is the person known as Frank. Merriwell ?’’ he asked. “TIT am Frank Merriwell,’’ Merry an- swered. ‘‘What can I do for you?”? ‘*You are the chap I want to see,’’ said ‘‘T understand you bought the White Wings of Jack Benjamin ?”’ ee sites ‘‘And he sold it to you as clear and free of encumLrance ?”’ ‘tie didi” ‘‘He beat you.’ ‘* How is that ?”’ ; ‘“*T hold a bill of sale of that yacht, and I am here to claim it as my property!” — was the answer. ci tee» ste | poe shits Mina . ie ee you before a certain time. CHAPTER -V. WHO OWNS THE VACHT? Frank was surprised. The truckman slapped his hand against his hip and muttered: “T told him! The thing is hoodooed! Atybody as has anything to do with it is bound to buck against hard luck.”’ ‘““This is rather surprising informa- tion,’’ said Frank Merriwell, speaking with the utmost calimness, while he stud- ied the face of the stranger with piercing eyes. ‘‘I hardly understand it. I believe Jack Benjamin has the reputation in Bos- ton of being on the level, and so I hardly understand a piece of business like this.”’ ‘‘Perhaps Benjamin, was stuck, found it out, and got out of the hole the best way he could.” ‘*How do you mean ?”’ ‘*Perhaps at the time he bought the boat, he didn’t know I held the bill of sale of her.’’ Frank started. **Ha!’’? he exclaimed. ‘‘Then Benja- min did not give you the bill of sale?” ‘**No. did. His name is Fearson.”? ‘‘Fearson? Is he the one who went crazy?” “The very saine,’? put in the truck- Chap that owned her before that man. ‘When did he give you this bill of sale ?’’ ‘Don’t remember the exact date.’’ ‘The bill will show.”’ “Sure. Why do you want to know?” ‘‘T want to find out if he gave it to That’s all.”? The strange claimant of the yacht was suspicious. ‘IT don’t see the point,’’ he said. ‘“‘I hold the bill, and I claim the yacht. Just found out what Benjamin had doue, and I came down in a hurry, after getting track of the boat, to warn you not to try to move her. I won’t have it.’’ “cast off from the pier. sinart for it.’’ aa FRANK MERRIWELL AFLOAT. 11 ‘It began to look like a scrape, but Frank was not flustered in the least. He kept his head, saying: ‘“Have you the bill of sale with you, git Pe Ves? ‘Will you be kind enough to permit me to look at it?’’ started to do so, but seemed to change hs mind of a sudden, The stranger and said: ‘*No, I won’t bother. I tell you not If you do, I'll make you pay a big sun for damages, so look out.”? to move her. Frank smiled sweetly. ‘“That is a very silly threat,’’ he mur- mured. document I shall not believe it exists.’’ ‘‘If you do not show me the ‘““That doesn’t make any difference iyo cies? “It makes this difference: It is now At nine I shall Wind and tide being right, it will not take me long to get out of the harbor.’? ‘*You wouldn’t dare!”’ ‘“What is there to dare? anything.’’ . ‘*‘Why, confound you! I’d make you twenty minutes to nine. I fail to See ‘You couldn’t, You have made.a lot of bluffing talk about holding a bill of sale, but Ido not take any stock in that till you produce the document. Ihave purchased this yacht, and, as long as I believe myself her rightful owner, I shall do with her as I see fit. At nine o’clock she sails.’ The fellow hesitated, and then snapped out: ‘‘Oh, I can prove to you that I am not lying. I will prove it. Here is the bill—\ see for yourself.’? _ He took a number of papers from his pocket, and selected one among then, which he opened and held before Frank. Metriwell looked the document over care: % , fully. It was a bill of sale of the yacht — slightest claim upon, 12 White Wings from Fergus Fearson to Parker #lynn. ‘Ts your name Parker Flynn?’’ asked Frank. Sit ise ‘And you bought the yacht of Fear- son ?’?’ “Vou bet!’ nodded the claimant, triumphantly. ‘‘I rather think this docu- ment settles it.’? “Tt does,’’ nodded Frank, quietly. Then he turned to the truckman, and asked : ‘“‘When was Mr. Fearson committed to the asylum ?”’ ‘“'The last of May sometime.’’ ‘(And this bill is dated May 21. The fellow must have been deranged then.’’ “Oh, you can’t make that go!’ cried Flynn, quickly. ‘‘It’s no use for you to try to crawl out of a little hole like stat.” ‘‘Why have you not claimed the yacht before? Holding this bill, why didn’t you claim it while it was in Benjamin’s possession? Answer that question !”’ ‘“T was away—out of the city,’’ faltered Flynn. ‘* AJ] the time?’’ ‘“Most of the time.”’ ‘Very well. Here is your bill. I advise you to destroy it without delay, or it may get you into seriotis trouble.’’ “What?” cried the man, angrily. “Destroy it? Ill have that yacht. This bill gives me the right to it.”’ ‘That bill gives you the right to noth- ing!’ canie clearly and distinctly from -Merriwell’s lips. ‘‘Kither you have heen ‘badly fooled or you are a rascal trying to obtain property that you have not the : It looks as if the latter were the real condition of affairs. Fergus Fearson is confined in a mad- house, and so he’ cannot deny that he ever gave you a bill of sale of this yacht.’ 53 “Deny a Here i is his Senate) "RANK MERRIWELL AFLOAT. I tell you ‘*And that may be forgery! to be careful!’ ‘It is not forgery! It is genuine! Youi bluff will not go, sir! The yacht is mine, and I will have her.”’ ‘‘Kven if the signature is genuine, the bill is not worth the paper it’s written on!’? declared Merriwell, with the utmost coolness. **More bluffing! You are crazy! Why isn’t it good ?’’ ‘“Because it is dated May a21.”’ ‘“What of that?’ ‘The date is exactly four days after John Benjamin purchased and paid for this yacht, as I can prove by documents in existence. If Fergus Fearson sold you the White Wings on May a1, he sold you property that did not belong to him. That’s all, Mr. Flynn.”’ The claimant of the yacht turned pale and stared at the bill and then at Frank, who was standing there so coolly before him. On the deck of the yacht were three boys who had heard the most of the con- versation. Now Hodge exultantly ex- claimed: “That was a_ body blow! floored him !”? ‘“That’s right,’? nodded Diamond. ‘‘Rrank has the best of it, but it did seem that we were in a scrape.’’ Flynn gasped for breath. “T don’t believe it!” he cried. ‘The boat is mine, so don’t dare cast off from this pier.” ‘“The White Wings sails at nine o’clock,’’ said Frank, turning away. Flynn’s face, that had been so pale, flushed and turned purple with anger. All at once, he lifted his walking stick to bring it down on Merry’s head. A cry from the boys on the yacht warned Merriwell, who ducked and dodged—just in time. Whizz!—the cane cut through the air, but Merry was not touched. Merry has Sei Fe q ‘ ap apis 4 see sae * I aS Sg Pie ee * Quick as thought, Frank turned and grappled with Parker Flynn. He wrenched away the cane, and, with a quick motion, broke it across his knee. Then, as he coolly tossed it into the water, he said: ‘‘If you try any more funny business, sir, you’]] follow your cane.”’ ‘Oh, Vil fix you!’” Flynn almost screamed. ‘‘I’]] get a warrant for you! Ill be back in a hurry! Don’t dare leave till I return !”’ He dashed away on the run. **T told you you would have bad luck,’’ said the truckman. ‘‘Its begun.”’ *‘Oh, I don’t know!’ laughed Frank. “If Flynn paid money for the yacht, he 4s the one in hard luck.’’ At nine o’clock the White Wings cast off from the pier. Her sails were hoisted, and, aided by the out-running tide, she soon got away enough to catch a breeze, And Parker Flynn had not returned. CHAPTER VI. IN THE FOG. ‘*Tt’s no use, fellows, we can’t yo any further in this fog to-night,’’ said Frank Merriwell on the fourth day after leaving Boston. ‘‘We must go farther!’’ exclaimed Diamond. ‘‘There is no anchorage here.”? ‘*How do you know? We haven’t tried for it.”? ‘‘But we are notin a harbor.”’ “No. We are somewhere near the Whitehead Islands, near the mouth of Penobscot bay.”’ ‘Well, let’s keep on as long as there is a breath of wind. I don’t fancy anchor- ing here. We might be run down in the night.’’ ‘*And, if we keep on, the chances are two to one that we’ll run onto a reef or pile up on an island. I had much rather take the chances of anchoring here and being run down, The wind is dying out, FRANK MERRIWELL AFLOAT. 13 -and this fog is shutting down,thicker and thicker.”’ ‘*Well,’’? said Jack, in a dissatisfied way, ‘“‘this is your boat and you are in cominand. You can do as you like.”’ ‘{1’]] do as the majority believes best.” ‘“Then anchor,’’ grunted Browning. ‘‘T don’t fancy this prowling about in the fog.” Hodge was in favor of anchoring, and Hans agreed with them, so Jack was the only one who felt like going on. He gave up in disgust. While they were talking the last faint breeze had fallen swiftly, and, by the time it was definitely decided, the White Wings lay becalmed, rolling helplessly on the swells that caine in from the open sea. ‘‘Shimminy Gristmas!’’? groaned Hans. ‘I don’d like dot roll up und drop avay motions. Id makes me feel sick to your - stomach.”’ ‘You will get enough of that as long as we remain anchored out here,’’ said ‘Diamond, unpleasantly. Frank gave the orders, and down came the sails. A sounding showed they could — anchor without trouble, and then the anchor was cast. The sails were not reefed, for it was not known when they might be required. Arrangements were inade for raising them on short notice, Night came down swiftly. Lights were set, but the boys felt that a light was poor protection for them in that darkness and fog. ; -< “If we are in the course of the steamers we’l] be run down,’’ grumbled Jack. “There'll have to be a regular watch to-night,’’ declared Frank; ‘‘and the fog — horn must be used.”’ Browning had managed to crawl on > deck, and he looked disconsolate and dis- gusted. seg ‘This is what they call a life on the ocean wave,’ he grunted. ‘Oh, it is more fun than a minstrel show!”’ ; 14 “We'll haye to put up with some dis- comforts,’” said Merriwell. ‘"We made a mistake in coming further east than Portland,’’ put in Jack. ‘‘That was a good place to stop.”’ ‘*Wait till the sun comes out to-morrow aud we run into Rockland Harbor,’’ laughed the owner of the White Wings. **You will change vour tune.”’ ‘*Well, I hope so.’’ Hans was given the first watch, and he remained on deck while the others went below and had supper. At intervals he blew a blast on the horn, which sounded like some lost animal bellowing in the fog. Frank laughed and joked, and he suc- ceeded in putting the others in better ‘spirits after a time. It was comfortable in the cabin, for all of the fog outside.”’ Hodge made coffee, and the smell of it as it bubbled over the blaze of the oil stove gave all of them_.a ravenous feeling of hunger. The little folding table was let down and spread, and the sight of the food and smell of the coffee took their minds off the unpleasantness of «their situation. ‘It was a foolhardy thing running down here without somebody who knew the coast,’? said Jack. ‘‘My dear fellow,’’ smiled Frank, ‘‘we have our chart, gad compass, and I know a little something about navigation. Quit ‘your worrying. J’ll land you in Rock- Jand to-morrow all right.’’ ~ “Vou were going to land us there to- day.”’ ‘‘And so I would had the wind held tight and this fog kept off.”’ *‘T believe there is a fog factory down this way somewhere,’ said Browning. Hodge announced that ‘supper was regular swell, so- they\were not shaken up down there, and they found they could eat without discomfort. PRANK MERRIWELL AFLOAT. ready, and they gathered about the table. The White Wings was riding on a steady; Browning was hungry as a bear, and he ‘‘pitched into the spread.”’ ‘*Well, I don’t know as this is too’ bad after all,’’ he confessed, taking a third slice of tongue. ‘‘We’ve been in worse places. ”’ ‘“That’s right,’’? nodded Hodge. ‘‘Pass_ the sugar. I wanta little of this coffee myself. I made it.”? ‘“The coffee is good,’’ acknowledged Jack. ‘It warms a fellow up. A little gtog wouldn’t go bad in a case like this.’? ‘“’There is no grog on this boat and will not be as long as I own her,’? declared Merriwell. ‘‘It’s a foolish thing for a lot of fellows on a cruise like this to think that they must have grog.”’ ‘‘Oh, I didn’t suppose you had any on board, Merriwell,’’ said~ Diamond. ‘‘] know your temperance principles too well to look for anything like that.’’ By the time they finished eating all were in much better spirits. No one but Hans had been troubled with seasickness thus far on the cruise, and the Dutch boy had not been very sick. Hans was called down to eat, and Bart took his place while he was below. “Uf I can haf some of dot coffee id vill done you goot,’’ said the Dutch lad. “] don’d pelief I vant to ead much. Mein stomach felt like id don’d been poi to held much uf a loadt. Yaw.”’ So Hans drank some coffee and ate a little hardbread, after which he returned to his duties on deck, having donned a suit of oil-clothes. Frank got out this guitar and put a tune. |‘ That’s right, Merry,’’ | grunted Browning, rolling into his bunk. ‘‘Give us a song to cheer*us up.’”’ ‘What shall I sing ?”’ ‘‘Some of the old college songs.’? ‘They'll make me homesick,’’ said Diamond. | “It’s a pleasant thing to feel homesick rr 5 pgs ae for Old Yale,’’? murmured Frank. ‘‘Dear Old Yale!” “Give us ‘Stars of the Summer Night,’ ’’ urged Hodge. So Frank the song that has sounded beneath the elms at Yale so | many times. It was a beautiful song, and | it awakened in the memories of the listening lads thoughts of the gay times at college, the the sang moonlight nights, roistering lads, the lighted windows of the Quad and the groups gathered at the Fence. Jack brushed his eyes. | ‘‘Don’t sing anything more like that,”’ re he urged. ‘‘Make it something lively— ‘Solomon Levi,’ or any old thing.”’ So ‘‘Solomon Levi’’ followed, and they all joined in on the chorus. Other lively songs were sung, and, by the time Frank put aside the guitar-all were in fairly q good spirits. z Merriwell arranged the programme of , standing watch. Hans was relieved before they turned in. All through the night they took turns at standing watch and blowing away at intervals on the fog horn. And the night passed quickly enough without event. When morning came, however, the fog still hung on the surface of the water. They ate a light breakfast, and Frank fell to walking the deck impatiently. “If there was a breeze this fog would fe oS Fh sai Soe 5 nae pr EL TT be liable to lift,’ he said. ‘‘It is disgust- : ing.’? eee After a little a light breeze rose, but it did not clear away the fog entirely. However, the coming of the sun had -Some effect on it, and it was not long be- fore Merry decided to get up anchor and run up the sais. : . The anchor was hoisted and the sails set. Frank took the wheel. During the night the night the old _ swell had run out. Frank had studied his _ chart till he believed he knew about * FRANK MERRIWELL AFLOAT. 15 where they lay, and he set his course by the compass. Not. ten minutes way they found they after getting under were headed straight for an island. In their vicinity the fog was not heavy, but out beyond the island lay a bank of it. 3 Immediately on sighting the island, Frank changed the course of the yacht, bringing her almost about. Then he ran out past the island, headed for the fog bank, All at once there was a strange sound, a roaring swish of water. Not one of them was certain which direction the sound came from. **Vot dot vos?”’ alarm. ‘‘Keep still!’ ordered Frank. The sounds grew louder. Then, all at -once, Hans flung = his hands and shouted: ‘Reef your rudder, Vrankie! running a sdeampoat ofer us!’ Out of the fog bank just ahead came a large side-wheel steamer, headed straight toward them! : exclaimed Hans, in You vos ° CHAPTER VII. ON THE ‘‘CITY OF BANGOR.”?’ Frank sighted the steamer at the same _ moment Hans saw it, and he realized — their peril. It was the Boston boat, ‘City of Bangor,’’ on its course up the | bay. : In the twinkling of an eye, Merriwell — threw the wheel over and over, the White Wings swung to port, but headed straight across the course of the great steamer. Hoo-oo-oot! hoo-oo-oot! hoo-oo-oot !?? sounded the hoarse warning whistle from the steamer. “Tf you had beén whistling through that fog bank all would have been right,”’ muttered Merriwell ieee 1 his set teeth 16 ‘‘Now, if you run me down, you’ll pay for this yacht!’’ There was a jangling sound of a bell ou board the steamer, and the pilot in the pilot house was seen to send his wheel spinning over with frantic haste at the same moment that the headway of the steamer grew less. ‘*Will she clear us?’’ cried Hodge ‘She is bound to cut us in two!”? shouted Diamond. ‘‘There enough for us to get out of her way!”’ ‘Were vos. der _ life-breserfers?’? squawked Hans. ‘‘I vant to got ine onto a life-breserfer a hurry in!”’ The Dutch lad made a headlong leap for the companionway. At the head of the steps he stubbed his toe and down he went head first. It happened that Bruce Browning had heard the commotion on deck, and, strange to relate, it had aroused him so that he was coming up. Bruce had just started to go above when Hans came flying through thé air like a huge toad, struck him full and fair, and both went down in a heap on the cabin floor. **Dot seddles id!’ yelled the frightened — Dutch lad. I vos a goner!”? “You blundering Dutch gasped Bruce, when he could breath. ‘‘What is the matter??? s ““Didn’t you toldt ime der yocht vos -sunkin’?”? shrieked Hans. ‘‘Id haf run _ofer a pig sdeampoat! Uf you kept my- seluf drowuting from I vill haf to got - oudt und valk ashore!’’ Browning managed to get himself to- - gether and rise to his feet. Then he hur- - tied up the companionway and reached the deck just in time to see the huge isn’t breeze ‘Der yocht vos sunkin’ und chump!’ catch his SY ane yacht. Pee date Merriwell’s prompt action and steady, nerve had saved the White Wings, for the ‘steamer, meh motionless paces FRANK MERRIWEI white hull of a steamboat looming above | iL AFLOAT. wheels, was slipping past, the yacht having cut square across her course. It was a faces looked over the forward starboard close shave, and a few white rail of the huge steamer. ‘Tf you chaps knew your business you would be at anchor instead of cruising round in this fog,’’ called a hoarse voice from the steamer. : ‘Tf you knew your business you would blow your fog whistle while through a fog bank,’’ returned Frank Merriwell, promptly ‘“That’s the stuff, Merry!’ grated Hodge, whose face was still pale. ‘‘How running do you suppose they happened to do such a thing ?’’ ‘*Probably that bank of fog is narrow, and they only ran into it a few minutes ago. Perhaps they did not strike heavy fog till just before they broke through and caine into view.’’ “Well, it was a piece of reprehensible carelessness, and it’s lucky the White Wings was not cut in two.’’ As the huge steamer slipped past the boys saw not many persons were astir on her. She had made an all night run from Boston, and the passengers were still sleeping in their seis with a few exceptions, Near the stern of the steamer were two persons in mackintoshes. They seemed to regard the yacht with interest, not to say excitement, and their movements at- tracted the attention of the boys. One of the passengers clutched the other by the arm and pointed out the White Wings, then both leaned over the rail. Jack Diamond leaped to Merriwell?s side, grasped Merry by the shoulder, cried in his ear: ! “Took, Merriwell—look !”’ WAN Heer “On the steamer there! fellows astern !”’ ‘ST -gee them, ~* The two. | ‘ BR Lc ER alee 2 a ner penrtigin map hitine alc | * Fa < @ Bo 4 a FRANK MERRIWELL AFLOAT. a ‘*K now theim ?”’ “(By Jove! I believe I do!”’ ‘One of them is——”’ ‘Wat Snell!’ “Sure! And the other is—— “The chap who claimed this yacht— Parker Flynn!” Wisach yi" ‘Great Scott! What are they doing on that boat???’ ‘Following us!’ ‘(Perhaps they are.’’ “Perhaps! ‘There is no perhaps about it! Of course they are!”’ ‘(But Snell and Flynn together—how does that happen ?”’ “T can’t tell that, but they are to- gether, and they are following us—that’s sure. You are not done with Flynn, it seems, ’’ ‘He will get into trouble if he bothers me any more. I shall not stand any non- sense from him. As for Wat Snell, all I want is a good chance to square up with him. I will make him sorry he ever heard of me!’’ >? ‘That's the talk, Frank!’ exclaimed. Diamond, approvingly. ‘‘Snell will be easier to dispose of than the other chap, for it is probable that Flynn believes he can take this boat away from you because he hes a right to it, or he would not be following us.”’ “He has no right to it, and he will not be able to take it.’’ ‘See, Frank! what is the to—— Look out!” ‘On the steamer Flynn had been seen to hastily unbutton his mackintosh, jerk something bright out of his hip pocket and point it toward the yacht. . It was a revolver! - Jae¢k Diamond realized the desperate _ fellow’s purpose, and he caught hold of ‘Frank Merriwell and gave him a snap fellow going = threw him to the peek beside the eePhete was a flash of fire from the re-— volver, a puff of smoke, and then a bullet whistled over the yacht, striking the water beyond. ‘‘Well, of all the foolhardy, tricks.I believe that takes the premiuin !’’ said Frank, as he arose and grasped thie ‘That man is drunk or cowardly wheel again. crazy |” The moment Flynn fired Snell took to his heels and scudded out of sight, disap- pearing on the other side of the steamer. Flynn hastily put up his revolver, shook his fist toward the yacht, and then fol- lowed Snell, both of them getting out of the way before any one attracted by the sound of the shot came aft to investigate. The big paddle-wheels of the steamer were in motion again, and she was forg- ing on her course, as if nothing had. hap- pened. Frank brought the White Wings round aud set his course to follow as closely as the wind would allow. Ina short time the steamer was almost out of sight in the thin mist that hung over the water where there was no fog. Then, at last, Hans Dunnerwust came puffing and stumbling on deck, fairly loaded down with life-preservers. He fell at the head of the companionway, and the life-preservers flew all over the deck. “Put me onto them kvick!’’ he squealed. ‘‘Uf I don’d haf a life bre- searfer on ven der yocht sinks you vos a goner !”? The boys laughed at his ludicrous ap- pearance, and he sat up on the deck, staring around blankly. ‘(Vere dot. sdeampoat vos?” he poked. in astonishment. “Why, the steamer is a mile away by © this time,’’ said Hodge. ‘If she had run into us we’d been at the bottom long before this,”’ Frank. ‘‘You are too slow, Hans.’’ | ‘Wale, I done your duty, anyhow,?? — stuartity declared the Dutch PON “You, laughed 18 FRANK MERRIWELL AFLOAT. don’d got me to makin’ no mistake in dot.”’ Then he was set to gathering up the life-preservers and carrying them below again. 5 The encounter with the steamer the desperate action of Parker Flynn furnished food for conversation on board the yacht. ‘The boys talked it over and over, and it was the general opinion that and the presence of Flynn and Snell in com- pany on the steamer was not an accident. ‘“We?ll see more of those fellows before long,’’ prophesied Diamond. ‘‘And «it strikes me that Flynn is more dangerous than Snell, for he is a desperate fellow. If he had shot anybody on this boat there ‘was no way of making it seem‘an acti- dent. When Snell pushed you in front of the car he could have sworn it was an accident if the car had killed you. Look out for Parker Flynn.’’ “YT will,’’ said Merriwell. It was nearly nine o’cloek before they rounded Owl’s Head and pointed into Rockland harbor. The mist still hung on the water, and the outlines of the city were hidden. Frank, however, felt con- fident that he was all right. ‘(We'll take dinner ashore if you say so, fellows,’’ he said. Oh, I don’t know,’’ said Jack. ‘I don’t believe these natives down in this country know how to cook anything fit to eat.’’ Frank smiled. “T fancy you have a few notions that will be knocked out of your head after you have been down this way a short tine. You still seem to fancy you are going into a howling wilderness where there are only savages and half-civilized white people.’’ ; ‘Perhaps we are,”’ said Jack, by way of being odd. ‘* You don’t know yourself, for this is your first visit down here.”’ peer Ont through the mist came a tiny x ee * o . P. i interested immediately the situation was steam launch. All at once it was headed straight toward the White Wings. ‘‘She acts as if she is coming for us,”’ said Hodge, scowling. As the launch came nearer five persons The interest of the boys increased rapidly, for everything were seen in her. seeined. to indicate that she was making straight for the yacht. All at once Diamond uttered turned to Frank, and swiftly said: ‘‘I knew it! I told you We’d see more of him! See the fellow in the bow of that launch? It’s Parker Flynn!”’ a cry, CHAPTER VAL, A BOARDING PARTY. “Sure as OTe AS, tH plain.’’ ‘‘Yes, he couldn’t wait till we got into the harbor.”’ oe “It’s probable he thought we might not come into Rockland after seeing him on the steamer, and so, as soon as he could get ashore, he hired the launch to run out and head us off.’’ ‘‘Suell is with him,’’? said Hodge. “Oh, P’'d like to get a crack at that fellow !?? . ‘You may have a chance,’ smiled Merriwefl, coolly. ‘*How ?”’ ‘‘T don’t propose to let those chaps come aboard my yacht unless they show that they have a right to do so.”’ ‘‘“Good for you!’ cried Bart, his face growing stern. ‘I am with you, Merry!” “And I!” exclaimed Diamond. ‘Vale, Idon’d knew but I vos.redy vor a liddle schraps,’’ observed Hans. » ‘Then we will stand by td repel boarders if they try the trick,’ said Frank, ‘‘Call Browning on deck.”? | So the big Yale man was called, and he came up in his shirt-sleeves. He was shooting!’ nodded Frank. a hurry to see me—that’s ‘ 27 board!’ exclaimed Diamond. Still in for keeping them off, Merry ?”’ “You bet!’ nodded Frank, grimly. | explained to him, and he seemed well pleased when Frank expressed his inten- tion of preventing the boarding without authority. strangers from ‘“This promises to be a_ real warn morning,” he said, with a lazy smile. **T’m rather glad I’m here.”’ By this time the launch was close at hand. : ‘‘ Ahoy the yacht!’ called a voice. ‘Ay, ay,’’ called back Merriwell, in true ‘*On the launch, what’s wanted ?”’ “Tay to. We have business with you.”’ ‘Keep off. with you.”’ “Don’t act foolish!’ was the angry exclamation.. ‘‘If. you do, you will be gouty’ ‘*If you bother us without a tight, you will be sorry,’’ flung. back ‘‘We are not to be trifled with this morning.”’ The launch made a circle and swung round so that she was heading in. the nautical style. board We haven’t time to bother legal Frank. saine direction as the yacht. ‘*Tf you don’t lay to,’’ said the spokes- on man board tne launch, ‘‘we’ll run ‘alongside and board you.”’ “Try it, You will find the warmest job you ever struck !”’ “Why, vou will not resist officers of the law ??’ “Not if we know the officers have authority.’’ : ‘‘Well, we have the authority, so head up into the wind.’’ ‘“VYou say you have authority, but I do not eyen know you are an officer, In fact, judging by the company you are in I should take you for anything else.’’ There were muttered words on the ~ Jauncli, savage suppressed oaths and a stir that was significant. They do mean to run alongside and ‘‘Are you FRANK MERRIWELL AFLOAT. 19 ‘lf >I decide otherwise, 1 will give you the word in time.”’ Bruce Browning began to roll up his There was a flush on his face and an eager look sleeves, baring his brawny arius. in his eyes. ‘‘Some of those gentlemen will take a bath this morning,’’ he said. 30th Diamond and Hodge flung aside their coats. The men on the launch saw these sig- nificant movements and could not mis- understand them. ‘They were surprised by the attitude of the crew of the White Wings. ‘‘Vou fools!’’ cried the spokesman of the party, who had a full black beard, ‘‘Vou will get yourselves jailed if you make any resistance, I am Sheriff Ulmer of Rockland!?’ ‘‘Where is your badge?’’ Frank. ‘Show that.’? The man who claimed to be the sheriff hesitated. “Fle can’t do it!’’ muttered Hodge, triumphantly. ‘‘T have papers to serve on you,’’ said the black-bearded man. ‘You can when I conte ashore,’? returned Frank. ‘‘Iam going into the harbor, and I shall be ashore in thirty minutes after dropping a1chor.’’ “But you are on a stolen yacht, and I am here to take possession of it.”’ ‘Tam not on a stolen yacht, and Ido not mean that you shall take possession of it unless you have the right to do so. This yacht belongs to me. I bought it and paid for it with good money, and I mean to hold it. If you really are Sheriff Ulmer, which I am inclined to doubt, ‘you have been deceived by that rascal in the bow ot the launch. He holds a worth- | less bill of sale of this boat, which, if it is not a forgery, was made out by a crazy man who did not own the boat at the time.’ eee “Its a lie!’ snarled Flynn, ‘The bill | demanded serve them 20 of sale is all right, and we’re going to take that yacht!”? **Vou will have to fight for her, if you do!’ “Tf you fight, you fool, you will go to jail. There is a first-class jail in Rock- land, too,’’ “Tl take my chances of going to jail. Keep off! By this time the launch was close to the yacht, and the faces of all the per- sons in the small boat could be seen and studied. Wat Snell was pale, and it was plain he did not relish his position. With the fellow who claimed to be sheriff was a hang-dog looking chap who looked like a fighter. The man who was running the launch acted as if he had no intention of - taking any part in the fight, if one should occur. It was plain he had been hired to set the others on board the White Wings, and he did not mean to do anything more than that. ““Hans,”’ ~ called. Frank, ‘‘take, the wheel and hold her steady as she is. You will get out of the scrimmage, and I want to have a hand in that.”’ Hans took the wheel, and Frank pre- pared to take a hand in the repulse if the enenly tried to board. The man in the launch who had claimed to be sheriff stood up and waved his clinched fist above his head. ‘In the name of the law I command you to surrender !’’ he shouted. ‘‘Show your authority,’’? calmly re- turned Merriwell. “Here it is—the bill of sale of that yacht.”” ‘That is no authority. Do you think you can bluff us because we are young? You will find you have made a big mis- This isa fair warning.’’ take.’? “Board them!’ cried Flynn. ‘Take the yacht! That is the only way to do it!” — “You will find that is a mighty hard ‘way to do it! grated Bart Hodge. “Come on, Snell! I want to get at you!” FRANK MERRIWELL AFLOAT. The launch ran alongside the yacht; and the man with the fellow who claimed to be the sheriff caught the rail of the White Wings with a boat-hook. ‘*Come on!’’ roared the*black whiskered chap. ‘Stand by to repel boarders!’ rang out Frank’s clear voice. CHAPTER IX. THE STRUGGLE FOR THE YACHT. The big man with the whiskers was the first to make an attempt to reach the deck of the yacht. He gave a leap that landed him on the rail. Then Brtice Browning picked him up and tossed him - back into the launch. The man was surprised, but he made another rush to get onto tle White Wings. In the meantime, Parker Flynn had tried to get aboard, but had been struck on the jaw by Merriwell’s hard fist and knocked back into the launch. Snell started to climb over the rail of the yacht, but tumbled back of his own accord when Hodge made a rush for him. The hang-dog appearing chap was the spryest man on the launch. With a cat- like leap he cleared the rail of the White Wings and reached the deck. He found himself face to face with Jack Diamond, and a second later they clinched. ‘You are not wanted here!’’ .ex- claimed Jack. ‘‘But I’m going to stay here!’’ said the other. Diamond was strong and smart, but he found his hands full. Had-he not taken the chap at a slight disadvantage in get-. ting the first hold, the stranger would have been his master. As it was, they slipped and staggered about the deck, the ~ stranger struggling to break Jack’s hold. In his excitement, Hans failed to hold — the yacht steadily on her course, as Frank had directed, and suddenly she swung, so. the main boom swept across the deck. It struck Diamond’s antagonist on the back of the head and stunned him for a mo- ment. That moment was long enough for Jack to lift him and drop him over into ~ the launch. : Hans sent over the wheel and brought the yacht back, so the boom swung out + a eee —— _ the fly. of the way, but his negligence had aided Diamond to a large extent. On falling back into the boat, Snell had scrainbled up and stood snarling at Hodge, who was urging him to come within reach. ‘Oh, I do want to get my hands on you!’’ said Bart. ‘‘I’ll give you some- thing to remember me by, you sneaking eur !’? “You are a sneak yourself,’’ cried Snell, ‘‘or you would not be hanging around with Frank Merriwell after he licked you and got the best of you in everything you did!” “It is a compliment to be called a sneak by you, you coward! Come up here! Let me give you a black eye!”’ But Snell kept just out of reach, although he made several bluff attempts to board the White Wings. Probably the most astonished man was the big fellow with the black whiskers. He realized that Browning had handled him easily and carelessly, but still it did not seein possible that the rather fleshy, smooth-faced chap could have much strength, large as he was. “Better stay down there,’’ advised Bruce. ‘‘Next time I shall throw you farther.’’ “Next time you won’t throw me at all!’? came from the professed sheriff, as he made another spring for the yacht. It seemed that Bruce caught him on Now the big fellow was fully aroused, and he swung the stranger over his head and gave him a terrific heave. The man whirled through the air, passed clean over the launch, struck the water beyond and disappeared from view ! At that very moment, Frank Merriwell got another crack at Parker Flynn, who had not learned his lesson by his first ex- perience, and again tried to board. Smack !—the blow sounded, and, with pr4ig groan, Flynn. dropped down into the ~ Jaunch. The man who was running the launch seemed satisfied, for he suddenly let go with the boat-hook, and the yacht swung away from her foe. The self-styled sheriff came to the sur- face and was pulled aboard the launch. The ducking seemed to have taken the spirit out of him. He glared at the yacht, FRANK MERRIWELL AFLOAT. 21 but all his eagerness to board her seemed gone. Parker Flynn sat up and swore, holding on to his aching jaw. He had not realized that there was a set of fight- ers on board the White Wings, although Wat Snell had warned him to that effect. Now he realized that the yacht could not easily be captured in the manner in which he had attempted to accomplish the feat. The meeting of Flynn and Snell came about in this way. Snell, on finding Frank and his friends were in Boston, had played the spy on the party. He followed them to the pier- the morning they went aboard the White Wings, and he saw the encounter between Frank and Flynn. When Flynn left the pier Snell followed and spoke to him. After that it did not take Wat long to work into the good graces of Flynn. Infuriated by his failure to obtain pos- session of the yacht, Flynn proceeded to get drunk and stay so. On the second day of his spree he determined to pursue Merriwell and take the yacht by force, if it could not be obtained in any other manner. ‘Then he hunted up Snell, and it was not hard to induce Wat to accom- pany him. Flynn knew the ‘‘poker gang’ in Rockland, and he knew there were a few desperate fellows among those who made up the gang. He had ‘‘dropped his roll” in Rockland once when he struck the town with an idea in his head that he was ‘‘getting against a lot of jays,’’ and on that occasion he became friendly with Peter McSwatt and Hunk Gardman. Gardman did not belong in Rockland, but he came in frequently from an ad- joining town to play poker. He was a crook and a sneak, and he showed it in his face. McSwatt was not quite as ‘“smooth’’?’ as Gardman, he could not ‘‘handle the cards’’ as well, but he could sit into a game with Gardman and play what his crooked pal dealt him, so that, after every game, there was usually an - ill-gotten pot to be divided. If there was any trouble, McSwatt did the fighting, Flynn telephoned McSwatt and told him when he would be in Rockland, ask- ing to be met at the boat by McSwatt— and a good man who would stand by in a scrap. He ended by saying there was good money in it, and his offered induce- 22 ments led McSwatt and Gardmau to be on hand at the time set. Flynn was still under the influence of liquor. Had it been otherwise he would not have fired. at the White Wings from the deck of the ‘‘City of Bangor. On arriving in Rockland, he found his chosen tools waiting for him, and he ex- plained that the yacht White Wings had been stolen from him, To convince Mc- Swatt and Gardman he showed the bill of sale which he held. He explained that he could not afford the time to recover the boat by regular process of law and said that it would be an easy thing to ‘take it from the boys who were on board. He showed money aud paid his tools some- thing in advance. A few drinks of liquor put them in the mood for almost any- thing, and then the steam launch was hired to go out in search of the White ‘Wings, as Flynn feared the yacht night not come into Rockland at all. The owner of the launch was convinced that Flynn really owned the yacht and had a right to take her by force if meces- sary, but he did not agree to have any- thing to do with the seizing of the boat further than putting the party along- side. Snell had warned Flynn that the party on the White Wings was made up of figliters, but the man sneered at them as a lot of boys. It was not believed that there would be any real difficulty in ob- taining possession of the yacht, but it was thought best that McSwatt should claim _to be an officer. Thus it came about that the White Wings was met by the steam launch as she headed into Rockland harbor. But the crew on board the launch met with the surprise of their lives, and were thoroughly disgusted when they were beaten off without much difficulty. The two \cracks Frank had given Flynn knocked soine of the conceit and bravado out of. him, and, for some tiine ‘after the yacht and the launch swung apart, he sat still and swore. _ McSwatt was not in a pleasant mood as he wrung the water out of his clothes. _ He glared at Flynn and snarled: “Thought you said they were a lot of boys who could be scared out of their _skins!’ Boys! Why, they are yoting aes FRANK MERRIWELL AFLOAT. they devils! The fellow I went against is a regular Samson!’ They? te in a bad scrape now,’’ said Flynn, with an attempt at fierceness. ‘““They have resisted the rightful owner of that yacht, and they shall smart for it. ) ‘*That’s all right, but they might have been fooled ina ‘different way. Here they are running right into the harbor, and they will stop there. We might have watched till the most of them went ashore, and then we could have taken her easily.” ‘*How did I know they would run in here? They might have kept on up the bay. And I didn’t suppose a lot of beard- less chaps could put up such a scrap.”’ ‘*Well, we have done all you asked of us, and we want our pay.’ “Done! You haven’t done anythin I hired you to help me‘take the yacht. ‘‘And misrepresented the’case to us, You will pay me, or Il] chuck you over- board !”” There was a glare in McSwatt’s e that cowed Flynn. ‘‘Oh, we musn’t quarrel,’’ he quiekly said. “Of course I will pay you as I agreed.’?” “Tt thought so.”’ ‘‘And I will double the sum if. you stand by me a while longer. I tell you I can’t fool with those chaps—I can’t waste time. I must get possession of my boat at once.” ‘Well, if you are thinking of attempt- ing to board her again, you’ll have to get soinebody in my place. I have had enough of that kind of work.”? Flynn saw that McSwatt meant it. ‘‘A] right,’’? he growled. ‘‘We’ll stay out and keep watch of her till she drops anchor. I want to be sure they mean to stop here.’’ So the launch cruised about, keeping a! 12g ” \ in sight of the White Wings till the yacht ran into the harbor slowly and let fall her anchor in the vicinity “of half a dozen other pleasure yachts laying near together. CHART HR: oo ARRESTED IN ROCKLAND There were some indignant board the White Wings. t lads on ~ “A regular case of piracy |”? declared alee a Be: Diamond. ‘‘If we had not been too much aa for that gang, they would have seized the boat.”’ ‘‘Sure,’? nodded Hodge, whose eyes were gleaming, while his breast, across which his arms were folded, rose and fell with excitement. ‘‘We handled them too easy,’’ grunted Browning. ‘‘It would, have served them right if we had split the skull of every man who tried to come over our rail.’’ “Der pig poom come britty near sblit- ting der skull up one,’’ grinned Hant. } “Vou pet dot chap haf a swelt head on me.’ “. Frank had returned to the wheel. He | did not say much but his cheeks were ee flushed with excitement and his lips were ee pressed together. £ “Remember what the truckman told % you, Merry ?’’ questioned Diamond, -- “What was that?” a “Why, about this boat being hoo- a doced.’’ (Ves?) : ‘It begins to look as if he was right.”? 2". ‘(Oh, I don’t know.”’ 4 ‘‘Well, if this hasn’t been a hoodoo . ‘cruise from Boston I don’t know a thing!’ ; - * “Tt has been rather eventful,’’ admitted : Frank, his face relaxing somewhat. ‘“Uf you vos lookin’ oxcitement for, we haf found him,’’? putin Hans. *“Those chaps are keeping watch of us ‘now,’? said Frank. ‘I suppose they think of trying the trick again.’? | ‘‘Ton’t believe they will,’’ said Hodge. ‘*Well be in the harbor pretty soon, and they won’t‘dare make another attempt jike that.”’ As they ran in the mist lifted and van- ished, and they saw the city stretched be- fore them. ‘Io the north was the break- water that protects the harbor, and away in the distance loomed some mountains. ‘“‘What are those hills there?’’ asked Diamond. ‘Those are the famous Camden moun- tains,’ answered Frank. ‘‘The town lays at the foot of those mountains, and Thomas Wentworth Higginson says the scenery in the vicinity of Camden is the most varied and beautiful to be found or Dee thete 3 in the world.”’ _ “Are we going to stop at Camden?” } FRANK MERRIWELL AFLOAT. ~We’ll run up there to-morrow.”’ ashore.’”’ ‘“‘Well, that is om the programnie. They anchored near the other yachts and vessels, purposely running into the very midst of them. ‘*As long as one of us stays on board, those chaps will not attempt to seize the yacht by force while we remain 1 here,” said Merriwell. “Don’t be too sure of that,’’ warned Hodge. ‘‘T'hey are desperate characters, and there is no telling what they will toyed! They watched the launch run intoa wharf and saw the party leave her. Not one of the baffied boarders remained in the vicinity, but all quickly disappeared. ‘*T believe they are afraid of the con- sequences now,’ said Merry. ‘‘They are getting out of the way in a hurry.”’ It was not long before the others were of the saime opinion. However, Frank was not certain but this movement on the part of the enemy was a ruse to lull their suspicions. “Three of yacht,’’ he said. us will remain on thie ‘‘Jack and Iare going ‘How?’ asked Diamond. ‘'We have no boat, and we are anchored off here in the bay.”’ ‘‘T am going to buy a boat here. I think we can get one of.the boats from some of these vessels to set us ashore.”’ The nearest vessel was hailed, and it did not take long to get a sailor with a boat to come over to the yacht and take Frank and Jack off. He rowed them to the steamboat wharf, and wouid not take a cent for doing so. ‘‘All right, mates,’? he said, in a hearty way. ‘‘I’ll want a turn sometime, perhaps,’’? Then, after telling them that, if they did not get a boat they could whistle him up and he would bring them off to their yacht, he rowed away. There were a number of truck teams about the wharf, loading with the freight left there that morning by the steamer. Frank inquired of one of the truckmen where to find a man who would sell them a first-class rowboat, and the truckman directed him to a man who had boats to let and to sell. This man the boys sought without dex lay, but he was not at his shop. They 5 24 were told that he had gone up town, and so they walked up Sea street into the heart of the city. As they came out on Main street Dia- mond halted with an exclamation of as- tonishment. ‘(great Scott!’’ burst from his lips. ‘‘Is this real ?”’ ‘Is what real ?’? asked Frank. ‘Do I really see a trolley car running along the street here? or am I dreamn- ing??? ‘‘Oh, come along!’’ laughed Frank. ‘They have trolley c cars down in this country, and I don’t think it looks quite as wild and uncivilized as you expected.”’ They entered the Thorndike Hotel to- gether, and, just as they passed through the door, Frank suddenly clutched his friend’s arm, giving a gasp of astonish- ment himself. Jack saw Merry was staring toward the flight of stairs. He looked up, and there on the stairs, descending toward them, were two girls, Inza Burrage and Paula Benjamin ! Merriwell recovered his composure im- mediately aud stepped forward to meet the girls at the foot of the stairs, accom- panied by Diamond. ‘The boys lifted their hats, and Frank said: ‘Another unexpected pleasure! We didn’t dream of this. Supposed you were in Bar Harbor.’’ The girls shook hands with then, and both seemed to show confusion. “Tt is a pleasure,’’ declared Inza. ‘‘We are stopping herein Rockland a few days.’ Frank longed to ask questions, but he knew it would be an act of rudeness, and he refrained. However, Paula seemed to think that Inza’s explanation was_ not sufficient, and she added: ‘Yes, we decided to stop off here a day, aud we are so interested with the city and the surrounding country that we will re- main a little longer. ie ‘That will be pleasant,’’ said Frank. ‘We've just got in, and are rather salty now, but we mean to brace up and. get _ some of the brine out of us, Perhaps we may have the pleasure of seeing you often - while we rémain here.’ = “ST hope we may,’ put-