Part 12 (1/2)
”Then we won't divide it,” said Henry Brown.
”Very well; I will agree to that. We shall be equal owners then,”
replied Tony, with a smile of triumph; for in either case his point was gained.
”But what shall we do with it? Four hundred dollars is a heap of money.
What's the use of saving it up without having some idea of what we mean to do with it?”
”We can put it to a dozen uses.”
”What, for instance?”
”Why, enlarging our library; buying an apparatus, as the Zephyrs are going to do; giving it to the poor,” replied Tony. ”But I was thinking of something before the meeting.”
The boys all looked at the chairman with inquiring glances.
”Out with it,” said several of them.
”There are lots of fellows round here who would like to get into a boat club.”
”More than twenty,” added Little Paul.
”We have money enough to buy another boat.”
”Hurrah!” exclaimed several of the members, jumping out of their chairs in the excitement of the moment. ”Let us buy another boat!”
”What shall we call her?” added d.i.c.k Chestor.
Several of the boys began to exercise their minds on this important question, without devoting any more attention to the propriety or the practicability of procuring another boat. That question was regarded as already settled.
”Ay, what shall we call her?” repeated Joseph Hooper.
”What do you say to the 'Lily?'”
”The 'Water Sprite?'”
”The 'Go-ahead?'”
”Name her after Mr. Walker.”
”No; after Tony Weston.”
”You are counting the chickens before they are hatched,” added Tony, laughing heartily.
”The--the--the 'Red Rover,'” said Joseph Hooper.
”That's too piratical,” replied Little Paul.
”I wouldn't say anything about the name at present,” suggested Tony.