a model to experiment with, I s'pose," reflected
Willie.

"Oh, we could fix that easily enough," Bob cried with rising enthusiasm.

"_We_?"

"Sure! I'll help you."

The announcement did not altogether reassure the inventor, and Bob
laughed at the dubious expression of his face.

"Of course I'm only a dry-land sailor," he went on to explain
good-humoredly, "and I do not begin to have had the experience with
boats that you have. I did, however, study about them some at Tech and
perhaps--"

"Study about 'em!" repeated Willie, unable wholly to conceal his
scepticism and scorn.

Again the younger man laughed.

"I realize that is not like getting knowledge first-hand," he continued
with modesty, "but it seemed the best I could do. As to this plan of
yours, two heads are sometimes better than one, and between us I
believe we can evolve an answer to the puzzle."

"That'll be prime!" Willie ejaculated, now quite comfortable in his
mind. "An' when we get the answer to the riddle, Jan Eldridge will
help us. You ain't met Jan yet, have you? He's the salt of the earth,
Janoah Eldridge is. Him an' me are the greatest chums you ever saw.
He mebbe has his peculiarities, like the rest of us. Who ain't?
You'll likely find him kinder sharp-tongued at first, but he don't mean
nothin' by it; and' he's quick, too--goes up like a rocket at a
minute's notice. Folks down in town insist in addition that he's
jealous as a girl, but I've yet to see signs of it. Fur all his little
crochets you'll like Jan Eldridge. You can't help it. We're none of
us angels--when it comes to that. Hush!" broke off Willie warningly.
"I believe that's him now. Didn't you see a head go past the winder?"

"I thought I did."

"Then that's Jan. Nobody else would be comin' across the dingle. Now
not a word of this motor-boat business to him," cautioned Willie,
dropping his voice. "I never tell Jan 'bout my idees 'till I get 'em
well worked out, for he's no great shakes at inventin'."

There was an instant of guilty silence, and then the two conspirators
beheld a freckled face, crowned by a mass of rampant sandy hair,
protrude itself through the doorway.

"Hi, Willie!" called the newcomer, unmindful of the presence of a
stranger. "Well, how do you find yourself to-day? Ready to tackle
another pump?"

With simulated indignation Willie bristled.

"Pump!" he repeated. "Don't you dare so much as to mention pumps in my
hearin' fur six m