e hull sank
sullenly into the water as the man at the wheel guided the boat in the
direction of the float. Then Gregory caught sight of the letters painted
on the side:

RICHARD

"Can you tell me where I can find Mr. Gregory?"

The man in the boat looked up questioningly.

Gregory walked slowly to the float.

"I'm Mr. Gregory," he answered lifelessly. "I was almost wishing I
wasn't if that's the launch I ordered."

The driver of the craft rested his arms on the big steering wheel and
laughed outright.

"Don't like her, eh?" he grinned.

"Can't say that I do," Gregory answered. "It looks to me like Mr.
Barrows misunderstood my orders."

The stranger's face grew instantly serious.

"You wanted a sea-going craft which could stand rough water and beat the
_Fuor d'Italia_ we built for Mascola," he said slowly. "And you left the
lines and everything else entirely up to us. Is that right?"

Gregory nodded. Then a gleam of hope lighted his eye.

"You think this one will fill the bill?" he questioned.

"If she doesn't, it's up to us," the man answered. Noting the skeptical
look in Gregory's face, he went on: "Don't make the mistake of trying to
judge a boat from the dock, Mr. Gregory. 'You can't tell by the looks of
a frog how far he can jump,' or how fast either. Barrows has been at the
game long enough to quit guessing. When he tackles a proposition like
yours, he wants your money, not your boat. I came down this morning to
take you out for a trial. Then if there's anything you want changed we
can fix it up before we turn her over to you to beat Mascola. If you can
spare the time I'll take you back with me to Port Angeles. That will
give you a good chance to see her perform in rough water as it's blowing
up nasty off the breakwater."

Gregory's face cleared. The suggestion had two-fold value. By acting
upon it at once he could combine business with pleasure. Visit the
jobbers in the city and at the same time test out the launch.

"I'll be ready in half an hour," he answered.

The boatman nodded. "I'll run down-town," he said, "and get a bite to
eat. Don't forget to bring a rain-coat with you. You're liable to get
wet."

Gregory promised and hurried away. In the cannery he found McCoy and
outlined his plans.

McCoy objected. "Better take it easy for a day or two," he counseled.
"No use trying to hit the ball too hard at the start."

Gregory smiled brightly. "I'm feeling l