Frank Merriwells Cruise | Page 2

received your telegram stating that you would be on hand. Any
trouble in persuading the mother?"
"Not much, though she said it did seem that I might remain at home a
while longer, and she told me to tell you that she is beginning to get
jealous of you, as I spend so much of my time during vacations with
you."
"How you vos, Shack?" said Hans, getting hold of Diamond's free hand,
the latter having dropped his traveling bag. "I vos a sight vor sore eyes,
ain'd you! You don'd knew how dickled you vos to seen me."

Hodge came forward and shook hands, expressing his pleasure, and,
with sundry grunts, Browning succeeded in getting upon his feet,
saying as he rose:
"Suppose I'll have to stand to shake, or you'll challenge me. You
Southerners are so confoundedly particular about courtesy and all that."
Jack smiled.
"I know you too well to resent it if you lay on your back and offered to
shake hands with me. In fact, it surprises me to discover you hadn't
rather fight a duel after you were obliged to get up than to get up when
not absolutely forced to do so."
"What baggage did you bring?" asked Merry.
"A trunk. It will be brought to the hotel here."
"There is no room for trunks on board the White Wings," said Frank.
"You'll have to store your trunk and such stuff as you do not absolutely
need till we get back here."
"The White Wings? Is that the name of your yacht?"
"Yes."
"Good name. How did you happen to buy a yacht?"
"Got a bargain of her. I came on to Boston with Miss Burrage, whose
aunt was waiting here for her. I met Jack Benjamin. You remember
him?"
"Harvard man?"
"Yes."
"Plays football?"
"Yes."

"I remember him. His sister is a stunningly handsome girl."
"Huah!" grunted Browning. "That explains how you happen to
remember him."
"Well," Frank went on. "Benjamin turned out to be a fine fellow.
Invited me over to his house, treated me beautifully. He knows a lot of
sporty chaps. Among them was Walter Pringle, who owned this yacht.
Pringle took a party of us out for a cruise down the bay, and we had a
grand time. Went to Nantasket. Coming back Pringle said he had
planned to cruise down to the eastward this summer with a party of
friends, but something had come up that knocked out the arrangement.
Then it was that I thought of a talk we once had while at Fardale about
making a cruise down along the Maine coast, and I spoke of it. Said I'd
like to own his yacht. Saw Pringle looked a little queer. He stared at me
a few moments, and then asked what I would give for the White Wings.
I questioned him some about her, and then made an offer. He didn't
take me up, but the next day he came and told me the yacht was mine. I
was astonished, for I didn't offer much more than one-half what she is
really worth. But he said he must have the money without delay, as he
was going to get out of Boston in a hurry. I dispatched Prof. Scotch,
and he wired me the amount. I bought the boat, and now I hear Pringle
has left for Seattle, on his way to Alaska. His father is hot over it, for
he didn't want his son to go. Pringle had the fever, and he sold the yacht
in a hurry to raise money to go with. I have a bargain. We can make our
cruise, and then, when it is over, by looking about, I'll be able to get rid
of the White Wings for more than I paid for her."
"Are you sure the transaction is all right?" asked Diamond.
"All right? How do you mean?"
"Why, strictly on the level. Pringle is not a minor?"
"No," grunted Browning; "but he has gone to be a miner."
"Here! here!" cried Frank, quickly; "that won't do. It's prohibited."

"It may be when we get on board the White Wings, but we're ashore
now, and you are not Capt. Merriwell yet."
"Pringle is twenty-one," said Frank, answering Diamond's question.
"He is all right."
"And he was sole owner of the yacht? He had the right to sell her?"
"Of course. Benjamin told me Pringle was strictly on the level."
"Well, you're always lucky!" exclaimed the lad from Virginia. "Now
you will get the fun of this cruise, and, when it is over, you'll be likely
to sell the yacht for enough so that you will come out ahead on the
whole deal, expenses included."
"I hope to," acknowledged Frank, laughing. "I considered it a snap, but
that was not why