The Hilltop Boys on the River | Page 3

boat, and then proceeded to deck it over forward, having
already remedied any defects that it had, and making it perfectly
watertight, and like a new boat with a fresh coat of paint and varnish.
He was a week on the work, but at last his boat was ready and was put
in the water with the aid of two or three men from the shop.
He took a run of a mile or so up the river, and then back to the shop,
greatly satisfied with the result, having fitted up a boat for less than half
what a craft of the cheapest kind would have cost him had he bought it
at retail.
He tied his boat up, covered it over and told the foreman that he
intended to leave it there for a day or so, and would then call for it.
"Looks to me as if you had a pretty good boat, Mr. Sheldon," said the

foreman. "I saw you going up the river. You made a good ten-mile gait,
I shouldn't wonder."
"Yes, and I can do better yet," said Jack, smiling. "I was just warming
her up a bit. She'll do better when she gets seasoned."
All this time Jack had said nothing to Percival about his boat, which
certainly did not look like a made-over affair now that she was painted
and decked over, had her lights and all her appurtenances, an engine in
her hold and a flagstaff at her bow, meaning to give his friend a
surprise.
The day before they were to leave the Academy and go into camp on
the river Percival asked Jack if he had secured his boat yet, and added:
"I have mine, and she is a beauty, cost me three hundred dollars, but it's
worth all that."
"Mine did not cost me a hundred," said Jack, "and she is sixteen feet
long, and makes good speed. I'll have her down to-morrow when we go
to camp. She is in a machine shop in Riverton, and it will be easy
enough to take her down to our quarters."
"So you have one, eh?" exclaimed Dick. "Where did you buy it?
You've been very quiet about it. Did you send to the city for it?"
"No, I got everything around here, as I said I would, fixed it up myself
from one thing or another, but I don't think you'd know it, for she is like
a new boat."
"And you did all the work on her yourself?"
"Certainly," laughed Jack. "It is nothing new for me to wear overalls
and a jumper, and get my hands greasy. I can wash them."
"The first time I saw you it was in overalls. Dress doesn't make a boy. I
believe you'd look all right in anything. But I'd like to see the boat now,
Jack, and not wait till to-morrow."

"Well, I don't mind showing her to you, Dick, so if you will get out
your runabout we'll go down and I'll give you a trip on the river."
"To be sure I will," replied Percival eagerly. "Come along."

CHAPTER II
TRYING OUT THE NEW BOAT
In half an hour the two boys were at the wharf of the machine shop, and
Jack was showing his new acquisition to Percival, whose delight could
hardly be expressed in words.
"Why, I say, Jack, she looks as if she had just been turned out of the
shops. Why, she's a beauty and no mistake. And you did all the work
on her yourself?"
"I did not build the boat, Dick, but I fixed her up, caulked, painted, and
decked her over forward, put the rail around the standing room, and put
in the seats, installed the engine, set the propeller, and got her in the
shape you see her now. She's all right?"
"All right? Well, I should say she was. I'd never believe that you hadn't
just got her brand new from the shop. No wonder you get along, Jack.
A fellow who shows a knack for doing things that you do and goes
ahead in spite of all obstacles is bound to get on. Come on, let me see
how she can go. My boat is a lot fancier than yours, but I doubt if she
can make the same speed or last as long. Come ahead, get aboard!"
The boys got on board, and Jack took his seat, started his engine, took
the tiller and glided out upon the river, and then down toward the
railroad station, Percival noting the speed, the smoothness with which
everything worked, and the apparent ease with which Jack managed it
all, as though he had always been used to such things.
"You're doing fine, Jack," he chuckled. "I suppose you can go