"Fun?" demanded the boatbuilder, regard them with a dry smile.

"Yes, sir," Jack nodded. "That is, the kind of fun we find in our work.
We want to get some metal, a few tools and other things, to rig up
something that we think may serve well aboard the 'Pollard.'"

"Run right along then," rejoined Mr. Farnum. "Get a bill for whatever
you spend at the toolshop and turn the bill in as expense account."

"Thank you. Good morning, sir."

"Say, did you ever see that beat?" demanded Eph, all aglow with
enthusiasm, as the boys stepped across the yard. "My, but didn't Mr.
Farnum call the trick with those fellows?"

"We've been doing a heap of useless worrying over what Don Melville let
drop the other day, haven't we?" asked Hal, quietly.

"Fellows," stated Captain Jack, earnestly, "as long as we work for this
pair of men I'm never going to be uneasy again over anything but
displeasing them. They're bricks! They can count on us, every time!"

Up the street, a little way past the gate of the boatyard, the Melville
party had halted to light cigars.

"I'm afraid, Melville," said one of the capitalist's associates, "you
didn't go at the matter with quite your usual tact. You showed your
hand too soon. You came out a little to hard, just a little, too early
in the proceedings.