rtsmouth harbour."

"I suppose, as she's such a flyer, that one of the crack English
builders put her together?" inquired Johnson.

"No, indeed," said Lance. "She was built at Weymouth by an ordinary
shipbuilder, who, for aught I know, had never in his life built a yacht
before. I was stationed there at the time, and I designed her myself,
and of course superintended her construction."

"You don't say. Waal, I knew that the soldiers did most everything; but
I didn't 'low that they designed yachts!" exclaimed Johnson.

"Neither do we, professionally," admitted Lance; "but some of us, of
whom I happen to be one, take up the study of naval architecture as an
amusement; and those who, like myself, belong to the Engineer corps, are
to some extent qualified by our technical education to achieve
excellence in the art. I can assure you that some of the officers in my
corps have turned out exceedingly creditable craft."

"Waal now, that beats ah," exclaimed Johnson. "So you're an Engineer,
and can design yachts into the bargain! Stranger,"--laying his hand
impressively on Lance's arm--"I'm real glad I took you all aboard.
About this schooner of yours--she _is_ a schooner, I reckon!"

Lance nodded an affirmative.

"Waal, about this schooner of yours, is she a pretty sea-boat?"

"She is as comfortable a vessel as I would ever wish to have under my
feet," answered Lance with just a slight touch of enthusiasm. "She will
face any weather a frigate would dare to look at; and in a gale of wind,
such as once caught us in the Bay of Biscay, is a great deal drier and
more comfortable than many frigates would be."

"Waal now, I call this real interesting," exclaimed Johnson with
sparkling eyes. "And I s'pose she was tol'able weatherly?"

"About the same as other vessels of her class. _All_ yachts, you know,
if they are the least worthy the name, go to windward well; it is one of
their strong points."

"Do you think now, colonel, you could recollect enough to design another
yacht just like your own schooner?" asked Johnson eagerly.

"Well," said Lance, slowly, as he first began to perceive the direction
in which Johnson's thoughts were tending. "I am by no means sure that I
could. However," as a brilliant idea dawned upon him, "I am certain
that, with the experience I have gained since I designed the
_Fleetwing_, I could build one which should excel her in all respects."

"Waal now, this is what I call a real pleasa