Part 16 (1/2)

So Eph, with a comical sigh, fitted himself to a uniform and donned it.

”Maybe I'll have a chance to strut about in this for an hour, until the owner comes aboard and throws me into the water, after stripping me,”

murmured Eph, wistfully.

Then, as young Somers caught a glimpse of himself in one of the state-room mirrors, he stood up unaccountably straight, inflating his chest and bulging it out.

They had to go up on deck again. It all seemed so much like a dream that all hands wanted to get up where they could stare at the hull, the water and at anything else that could make them realize that the ”Pollard” was launched and they were aboard.

A boat-load of men soon put out.

”They're special workmen, coming to finish up on the air-compressors,”

explained Grant Andrews. ”We have nothing to do with their work. All we've got to do is to take things easily for the present.”

”I'm going to get busy, if they'll let me help at anything,” declared Eph. ”When the two bosses come aboard I'm mighty anxious to have them think I look natural here.”

”Are you going to try to join the crew, Eph?” asked Jack, in an undertone.

”Well, I'm not going to be put ash.o.r.e, except by force,” declared young Somers, wistfully. ”I've been dreaming about this old boat for three months back. Say, I'd give anything I had, even if it was a lot, to stay aboard this craft for good and all.”

”I know how you feel,” nodded Jack Benson. ”And I don't blame you.

It's going to be a grand old life, and, Eph, I hope you're to be in it.”

As soon as the special workmen were aboard Eph followed them below. He hung about until he saw a chance to help, then joined in the work. He was as industrious as the proverbial beaver when Messrs. Farnum and Pollard at last came aboard and went below.

”Hm! Does that new boy figure that he belongs aboard with us?” asked David Pollard, of Jack, when the pair came on deck again.

”He's frightfully anxious to be of the crew, sir,” Benson answered.

”And he seems like a splendid fellow.”

”We might as well let him stay aboard, Dave,” proposed Mr. Farnum. ”He's a good, straightforward young chap, and comes of good water stock. I know what it is to be a youngster and to have ambitions.”

”All right, then,” nodded the inventor. ”Let him stay. I dare say we can use his time.”

”May I, as a great favor, go below and tell him he may stay?” asked Jack, eagerly.

”Why, you seem to take a personal interest in young Somers,” laughed the yard's owner.

”I do. And he was useful in your interests this morning, Mr. Farnum.”

”Run along and tell him, then,” nodded the yard's owner.

When Eph heard the news he stopped work long enough to dance an exultant jig on the cabin floor.

”Oh, Jack Benson, if ever you want a favor--a great, big one, with tr.i.m.m.i.n.gs--come to me!” begged young Somers, imploringly as soon as he caught his breath again.

Then, to keep his rising spirits down, Eph returned, to work as soberly as he could.

Later Grant Andrews, with Eph's help, cooked a meal at the galley fire, and this all hands ate while the special workmen kept at their task.