Well, no matter; the Captain shall bring his
marline-spike along some day, and help you bag them. But, my
affectionate pup, do you take a turn in that tail, or you'll wag it off
some windy day."

So Ugly sat down--a long, red, wet tongue hanging from the side of his
mouth--and whipped the grass between the Captain's boots with that
restless tail until we came up.

"Why, Captain Mugford," said Walter, "I did not know you ever wanted
_us_."

"No? Well, I do though, just now. You see, boys, as to-morrow will be
Saturday, with every prospect of fair weather and a good breeze, I
thought we might go on a cruise--start early, get our meals on board,
run off to the fishing-grounds, and make a voyage of general
exploration. And to do this we must get our traps aboard this evening,
and see that everything is in order on board the _Youth_."

"Good! nothing could suit us better, Captain. I'll run to the house
with the guns," said Harry, "and we can all go at once off to the
_Youth_."

"Mr Clare," continued Captain Mugford, "can't go with us, he says, but
must walk over to Q---town and spend the day. That's a pity, for I
calculated on having a capital time all together, on a voyage like this
one we propose."

"Well, we boys," said Walter, "will ask him this evening to put off his
visit. Perhaps he may change his mind."

When Harry returned we went down to our cutter, all in great spirits on
account of the fun proposed for the next day.

Getting on board, we mopped and swabbed her out well, overhauled the
ropes and sails, and hauled down the pennant to take home with us for
Juno to mend where it had frayed out on the point. That work being
completed, we went to the house for such provisions as we should want on
our excursion. Juno put up a large supply for one day--ground coffee,
eggs, biscuit, cold mutton, a cold turkey, and several currant and apple
pies, besides butter, salt, etcetera--and Clump conveyed it down to the
_Youth_ for us on a wheelbarrow.

The provisions were carefully stowed in the forepeak, and everything
being arranged, we appointed Ugly to act as a guard over our craft
during the night.

Harry briefly explained it to him. "Look here, Ugly, you are to stay
here to-night and look after the things. Of course you are not to come
ashore or leave duty for a minute. We shall be down early in the
morning. Be ready to receive us with proper ceremonies, for we are off
on a cruise, old boatswain,