launching.

With eager eyes Charlie noticed all the movements of the workmen. He saw
them drive the wedges under the schooner, and heard blow on blow as the
wedges went in farther and farther. He saw them knock away the props
holding the schooner in place, and along the ways, or planed timbers, well
greased for the schooner's ride, he watched the vessel slowly then swiftly
moving. Down, down she went, lower and lower, so deep into the waiting
arms of the blue river, that the waters threatened to go over her, and
then up she came gracefully, bringing a bridal-veil of snowy foam with
her, and exciting the admiration of all the spectators, who vented their
feelings in an uproarious "Hurrah!" One of the fortunate party that had
permission to be in the vessel at its launching was Wort Wentworth, the
skipper's boy.

"I must see every thing that there is," thought the inquisitive boy, and
he turned, finally, into the state-room which the skipper himself expected
to occupy as his quarters in the cabin. "Nice place," he said, climbing
into his father's berth, and there curling up into one corner.

The day had been an exciting one, and yet tiresome, and Wort's next
movement was to gape.

"Sort of sleepy," he said. The wind murmuring at the open window of the
state-room had a drowsy sound, and--and Wort's head gave a sudden fall. He
opened his eyes, and said, "This won't do; I mustn't go to sleep," But the
wind continued to hum its drowsy tune as if saying, "Go to sleep, go to
sleep, tired boy, tired boy; there, there!" Wort's head rose and fell
several times, and each time he made a remonstrance. But the remonstrances
were feebler one after the other, his eyes refused to open, and there in