the lads, and venturing into any craft of their construction, was so
ludicrous that she forgot her vexation and laughed heartily. "Faith,
it's fine ballast I'd be for ye!" she said. "And is it in the middle
of the river ye'd be landin' me? Thank ye kindly, but I'll not go a
pleasurin' with ye. And as for an 'evil eye,' troth ye're but makin'
game of my want of book-larnin'. But well I know there's no such
thing; and if there was, it could never harm ye or yer work if ye were
doin' right. So now be off with ye to the store, and bring me five
pounds of sugar, quick as ye can. And if ye take the molasses jug
along and get it filled--well, this once I'll beat up a batch of
cookies, so ye can have some for yer lunch at school to-morrow."



III.

At last the wonderful boat was pronounced finished. It had obviously
not been modeled with an eye to beauty--was flat as the barn floor,
square at both ends, and entirely lacking in the curves which
constitute the grace of the seabird-like craft which are the delight of
yachtmen. Nevertheless, the boys were proud of it. It was their own:
they had built it themselves.

"There she is, complete from bow to stern!" exclaimed Jack, with a
satisfied air.

"Yes," responded Leo, admiringly. "But"--hesitating--"but--which is
the bow and which the stern, you know--eh?"

"Why, this end, stupid! Don't you see I've marked it with a cross?"