beautiful, he could see that she was strong; in fact, she was
massive. But he thanked his stars he had not assisted in the test.
He shuddered at the very idea, thinking gratefully that to reach
Bordeaux the Paris-Orleans Railway was good enough for him.

But, realizing it was expected of him, he began praising the boat,
until the unsuspecting Hilliard believed him as enthusiastic as
himself.

"Yes, she's all of that," he agreed. "Come aboard and see the
cabin."

They descended a flight of steps let into the front of the wharf,
wet, slippery, ooze-covered steps left bare by the receding tide,
and stepping over the side entered the tiny deckhouse.

"This is the chart-house, shelter, and companion-way all in one,"
Hilliard explained. "All the engine controls come up here, and I
can reach them with my left hand while steering with my right."
He demonstrated as he spoke, and Merriman could not but agree that
the arrangements were wonderfully compact and efficient.

"Come below now," went on the proud owner, disappearing down a
steep flight of steps against one wall of the house.

The hull was divided into three compartments; amidships the engine
room with its twin engines, forward a store containing among other
things a collapsible boat, and aft a cabin with lockers on each
side, a folding table between them, and a marble-topped cupboard
on which was a Primus stove.