nted. Colonel Oddminton at the end of a
week had engaged Hans Christian on the strength of his name, without
further references, at a salary of one hundred and twenty-five dollars a
month, with the proviso that his new captain should hold his tongue and
obey orders. This was about the first of November. During the last week
of the same month the yachting world, and indeed the whole maritime
contingency, were interested in the following paragraph, which was duly
copied and commented upon by the national and foreign press:

"_The famous builders, the Herreshoffs, have taken a contract
to build a steel yacht that shall develop the enormous speed of
35 knots an hour. They are given 'carte blanche' for everything
that pertains to increase of speed. The new phenomenon will be
about a hundred and fifty feet long, as less water line will
not admit of the speed contracted for. A bonus of $500, it is
rumored, will be paid for each additional one half-knot speed
over the contract requirements of 35 knots. The engines that
will effect this speed will be of a new and untried pattern.
They will not be exhibited unless the vessel prove a success.
The owner of this phenomenal craft, which will be the fastest
in the world, is unknown. It is suspected that it will go to
the Swedish government for use as a torpedo boat. The yacht
will be finished in five months, and her name is undecided. We
should respectfully suggest 'Sheet Lightning.'_"

At this time Colonel Oddminton and his son began to travel restlessly.
They kept it up all winter until the first of May. The lad had developed
as much aptness for the land as he had for the water. There were two
things the boy did admirably, and for which he was conspicuous beyond
his years. He held his tongue and obeyed his father; moreover, he was
clever enough to take care of himself.

With the first of May the ceaseless journeying came to an end, and
Rupert Oddminton was sent to Washington to put his father's old schooner
in readiness for future orders.

The press, which had volunteered during the winter much plausible but
little real information about the wonderful new Herreshoff model, now
blazed into the rare glory of fact.

"_The first trial trip of the unknown took place yesterday. The
marvellous witch astonished spectators by showing up to the
tune of 35-1/2 knots, and it is suspected the end was n