answered Jack.

"Perhaps I _am_ stupid," thought Leo; "for I don't understand now how
one end can be both. I wish Jack would be a little more particular
about explaining a thing. It's queer how few fellows are! They jumble
their words all up, and think that because _they_ know what they mean,
you ought to understand, of course."

"Well," observed Jim, quizzically, "she isn't quite as handsome as the
barges on the lake in the park, that float up and down, looking like
white swans. Yes, I guess she'll do."

"We didn't set out to build a gondola, to paddle children and nursery
maids around in," retorted Rob, with a withering glance. "She's a
good, serviceable boat, and safe--"

"Oh, safe as a tub!" agreed Jim, hastily, intending the remark as
conciliatory.

"Huh! Perhaps you never tried to pilot a tub," interposed Leo. "I did
the other day, just for practice, so I'd know how to row when the time
came to use this here punt--if that's what you call it. Jimminy! I
got tipped over into the creek, and a scolding besides when I went
home! I'd be sorry to have her act like that."

"A tub is a tub and a boat is a boat," said Jack, sententiously. "This
one couldn't tip over if it tried. Don't you see it's most square? In
fact, we didn't mean to get it quite so wide; but, after all, it is
better than those canoe-like things, which are always rocking from one
side to the other."