afternoon," announced the motor-boat captain, who was also the
crew. "Billed for the Winthrop bungalow--that right?"

"Right!" Father Blossom cheerfully assured him. "Now if you have
room for us all, Captain--"

"Jenks, very much at your service," said the captain, with a
flourish. "I suppose you'd like to go right over?"

"We should, if you can take us," said Mother Blossom. "The
children are hungry and it must be after noon."

Captain Jenks assured her that he could take them to Apple Tree
Island without stopping at any other port, and as soon as they
were comfortably on board he started his engine.

"Chug-chug-chug!" coughed the little motorboat.

It wasn't so little, of course, when it could carry seven
passengers. Indeed it had a neat little forward deck and a tiny
cabin upholstered in red leather that would be very cozy in bad
weather. Captain Jenks thought his boat was a beauty. Bobby
thought so, too.

"Like boats?" the captain asked him, finding the little boy at his
elbow.

"I don't know much about them," admitted Bobby. "Shall we have a
boat like this? Daddy left the car in the garage."