glowious! I say, Oxenden, did you hear that?"

"What do you mean by a regatta?" asked Oxenden, lazily.

"Oh, I mean a race with these paper boats. We can bet on them,
you know."

At this Featherstone sat upright, with his legs dangling out of
the hammock.

"By Jove!" he exclaimed again. "Betting! So we can. Do you know,
Melick, old chap, I think that's a wegular piece of inspiration.
A wegatta! and we can bet on the best boat."

"But there isn't any wind," said Oxenden.

"Well, you know, that's the fun of it," said Melick, who went solemnly
on as he spoke, folding his paper boats; "that's the fun of it. For
you see if there was a wind we should be going on ourselves, and the
regatta couldn't come off; but, as it is, the water is just right.
You pick out your boat, and lay your bet on her to race to some given
point."

"A given point? But how can we find any?"

"Oh, easily enough; something or anything--a bubble'll do, or we can
pitch out a bit of wood."

Upon this Featherstone descended from his perch, and came near to
examine the proceedings, while the other two, eager to take advantage