in a boat?
Won't they get drowned?"

"There is always more or less danger in boating," replied Uncle John;
"but the boys can swim; and they can not learn prudence and
self-reliance without running some risks. Yes, it is a good plan, I am
sure. It will give them plenty of exercise in the open air, and will
teach them to like manly, honest sports. You see that the reason Harry
likes piratical stories is his natural love of adventure. I venture to
predict that if their cruise turns out well, those four boys will think
stories of pirates are stupid as well as silly."

So the matter was decided. Harry found that Tom Schuyler and the Sharpe
boys were delighted with the plan, and Uncle John soon obtained the
consent of Mr. Schuyler and Mr. Sharpe. The boys immediately began to
make preparations for the cruise; and Uncle John bought a row-boat, and
employed a boat-builder to make such alterations as were necessary to
fit it for service.

The boat was what is called a Whitehall row-boat. She was seventeen feet
long, and rowed very easily, and she carried a small mast with a
spritsail. By Uncle John's orders an air-tight box, made of tin, was
fitted into each end of the boat, so that, even if she were to be filled
with water, the air in the tin boxes would float her. She was painted
white outside, with a narrow blue streak, and dark brown inside. Harry
named her the _Whitewing_; and his mother made a beautiful silk signal
for her, which was to be carried at the sprit when under sail, and on a
small staff at the bow of the boat at other times. For oars there were
two pairs of light seven-foot sculls, and a pair of ten-foot oars, each
of which was to be pulled by a single boy. The rudder was fitted with a
yoke and a pair of lines, and the sail was of new and very light canvas.
On one side of the boat was a little locker, made to hold a gun; and on
the other side were places for fishing-rods and fishing-tackle. When she
was brought around to Harlem, and Harry saw her for the first time, he
was so overjoyed that he turned two or three hand-springs, bringing up
during the last one against a post--an exploit which nearly broke his
shin, and induced his uncle to remark that he would never rise to
distinction as a Moral Pirate unless he could give up turning
hand-springs while on duty.

Harry could row very fairly, for he belonged to a boat club at school.
It was not very much of a club; but then the club boat was not very much
of