Part 15 (2/2)
”I wish you wouldn't use those slang phrases. You let them out before Captain Littleton, just as though he were one of the fellows.”
”He's one of 'em, anyhow. He's a trump!”
”Will you quit using slang words?”
”I'll try.”
It must not be supposed that Paul was always so particular in regard to the choice of words; but at the present time, the idea of being owner of such a craft as the Fawn, and being the friend of such a man as Captain Littleton, inspired him with a dignity he did not always possess.
”Talk like a gentleman, if you can, now there is some prospect of your becoming one,” continued Paul.
”I will try; but I want to talk about the boat now. Isn't she a--a beauty! I should like to try her with the s...o...b..rd.”
”Very likely we may have a chance. She's too good to go a fis.h.i.+ng with,”
said Paul, glancing around him at the cus.h.i.+oned seats in the standing room.
”It won't hurt her any; we can take the cus.h.i.+ons out when we fish.”
”We must use her for that, I suppose. But Jack Starr lets his boat, which is not half as good as this, for four dollars a day. Perhaps we can do a little business of this kind.”
”Very likely we can; folks always want to go down in the best boat.”
”We can suit them, then. Where are you going now, Paul?”
”I am going to run in, and let mother see her.”
”Good! Won't her eyes stick out?”
”She will be surprised,” replied Paul, in tones of gentle rebuke.
The Fawn was run carefully upon the beach, and John was despatched for his mother. While he is absent, we will improve the opportunity to give our young readers a better idea of the new boat than they have yet obtained. She was about eighteen feet long, and very broad for her length. Her bow was very sharp, and her build combined the advantages of being a safe boat and a fast sailer. She was schooner-rigged, carrying a jib, foresail, and mainsail; and there was a staysail in the cuddy for use when the wind was light.
The deck of the Fawn extended over about half her length, and under it was a cuddy, or small cabin, containing two berths, both of which were furnished with proper bedding. There were four lockers, or closets, accessible from the standing room, where the boys could keep their fish lines, knives, spare ropes, and other articles required on board.
The Fawn was rather large for a boy of Paul's age to handle, but as this fault would be corrected in a year or two, Captain Littleton thought it would be well to prepare for the future as well as the present. But the rigging was so arranged that the new boat was hardly more difficult to manage than the old one, and she was capable of saving at least one half the time which the Blowout occupied in going to and returning from the fis.h.i.+ng ground.
While John was absent, Paul again examined every part of the Fawn. He looked into all the lockers, sounded the copper air-chambers, lay down upon each of the berths, and hoisted the mainsail, just to see how easily it could be done. The examination was satisfactory in every respect.
”Mother, mother!” shouted John, as he rushed breathless into the house, where Mrs. Duncan was getting tea; ”come down to the beach just as quick as ever you can.”
”What is the matter, John? What has happened?” asked Mrs. Duncan, alarmed by his earnest manner.
”Come down quick, mother; don't stop a minute!”
”What has happened?”
”Nothing, mother; only come.”
”Is anything the matter with Paul?” she inquired, as she hastily grasped her sun-bonnet, and followed John out of the house.
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