The Search for the Silver City | Page 3

Neal signaled from the pier, two of the crew came ashore in the
captain's boat, and the boys went on board where, during the remainder
of the day, they were busy examining and admiring the jaunty little
craft.
Leading from the main saloon were two state-rooms on either side, and
in one of these Neal had already stored such of his belongings as he
intended to take on the cruise.
"This is our room, and now that we are here I wonder why we were so
foolish as to carry your baggage up to the house. If it was with us we
would remain on board, for it is very much more pleasant than in the
hot town."
"There is nothing to prevent our bringing it down," Teddy replied with
a laugh. "I had certainly rather stay here to-night."

"Come on, and then we shall feel more at home when the cruise
begins."
The boys were rowed ashore, and the sailors instructed to remain at the
pier until their return.
Then a short visit was made to Mr. Emery's office, where Neal
explained what they proposed to do, and having received permission to
occupy the quarters slightly in advance of sailing time, Teddy's
baggage was soon in the small apartment which to both the boys looked
so enchanting.
"I wish we were to be gone three years," Teddy said as he threw
himself on a locker and gazed around.
If he could have known just at that moment how long the cruise would
really last it is very certain he would not have expressed such a desire.
"Next year father says he will start early in the season, take mother with
us, and not come back until it is time for me to go to school."
"And you must get an invitation for me," Teddy replied, his eyes
glistening with pleasure at simply contemplating such an excursion.
"There won't be any difficulty about it. He has already promised that if
nothing happens he will speak to your father."
"And in the meanwhile we've got before us the jolly fact that we're to
stay on board a month."
"Yes; but there's no good reason why we should remain below where it
is so warm. Come on deck for awhile, and then we'll have a look at the
engine-room."
The engineer, Jake Foster, was under the awning aft, and Neal
introduced his friend, saying as he did so:
"Teddy has never been yachting before, not even in a sailing craft."

Jake, a stout, jolly looking fellow hardly more than twenty-five years of
age, gazed at the visitor curiously a moment, and then said with a
hearty laugh:
"He'll have a chance to find out what an acquaintance with the ocean
means, for I understand that Mr. Emery is going to run well over to the
Bahamas before he comes back."
"Father has business there which it would be necessary to attend to not
later than next fall, so intends to make it a portion of the pleasure trip."
"Are we likely to have much rough weather?" Teddy asked, realizing
for the first time that it was more than possible he might be called upon
to pay Neptune a tribute.
"Not at this time of the year; but its more'n probable the Sea Dream
will kick up her heels enough to show something of what is meant by a
life on the ocean wave before she pokes her nose into this port again."
Then the engineer was summoned from below, and the boys remained
aft recalling to mind all they had studied relative to the Bahama banks.
The stores were on board; everything was in readiness for the start as
soon as the owner should arrive, and when the steward summoned them
to supper it seemed as if the voyage had really begun.
CHAPTER II.
UNDER WEIGH.
It was a long while before the boys could close their eyes in slumber on
this first night aboard the Sea Dream, owing to the novelty of the
surroundings. It seemed as if Teddy would never cease admiring the
snug quarters with the guns and fishing rods hung where they could be
seen to the best advantage, and Neal had very much to say regarding
the plans he proposed to carry into execution during the cruise.
Despite such enchanting topics of conversation they were not able to

remain awake all night, and when finally the journey into dreamland
was made, neither returned to a full realization of the situation until
quite late in the morning.
Teddy was the first to open his eyes, and in a very few seconds the
throbbing of the screw, as well as the invigorating draught of cool air
which came through the open port-hole, told him that the voyage had
really begun.
"Neal, Neal,"