constructed, she rode the waves like a thing of life. Her engines, which
by common consent had been reduced to half speed in deference to the
law, worked perfectly, driving the powerful hull through the water
easily. Just now she met the oncoming waves, driving into them with a
good deal of spray about the bows.

Jack Stanley, Scout Master of the Beaver Patrol of Chicago, Boy Scouts
of America, was Captain of the Fortuna. His father was president of a
bank in Chicago and had requested Jack and his chums to take the Fortuna
from Chicago to Southern waters where they would later on be joined by
the banker for a cruise among the islands and points of interest in that
vicinity. Jack was a fine, manly lad who well deserved the honors
bestowed upon him. His companions were equally clean and worthy young
boys who were members of the Beaver Patrol and who all were devoted to
Jack.

Harry Harvey, an orphan, worked as messenger for one of the large
telegraph companies. He had seen a great deal of life and was far older
than his years. Tom Blackwood worked as an inspector in one of the great
department stores of State Street while Arnold Poysor was an apprentice
in a printing establishment and was possessed of an ambition to become a
great journalist.

Without doubt it would have been difficult to find four more congenial
lads than the crew of the Fortuna. Widely different in their appearance
they still gave one the impression that they all belonged to each other.
There was the same fearless, honest look in their sparkling eyes, the
same erectness of carriage, the same confident walk that bespoke clean,
ambitious, well-trained lives.