"Oh, what a big vessel she is!" exclaimed Grace, as they drew near enough
to obtain a good idea of her size.

"Yes," returned the captain, "she is a full sized model, above water line,
of our coast line battleships _Oregon_, _Massachusetts_, _Indiana_."

"Not a real ship, papa?"

"No; only a model: she is built of brick, on the bottom of the lake, and
merely simulates a man-of-war."

"Only a model!" repeated Walter. "And how about her guns, sir? are they
real?"

"Some of them are wood; but there are enough genuine machines on board to
destroy almost anything of ordinary resisting power within three miles
range. But I expect to go more into particulars when we pay our
contemplated visit."

"I suppose she must have cost a good deal?"

"One hundred thousand dollars."

"How much this Fair is costing!" remarked Evelyn. "Do you think it will
pay, captain?"

"I hope so," he returned cheerfully. "What is worth doing at all is worth
doing well."