Activate Javascript or update your browser for the full Digital Library experience.
Previous Page
–
Next Page
OCR
514
GOLDEN DAYS.
JuLx 7, 1888,
log-book,”” said 1. ‘“And when you made
the suggestion, I added, ‘And our log-book
of next summer will contain an account of
the Trio Club afloat.” You have no idea of
backing out, I hope 2**
“You know that I wouldn’t do that, Cap,
but we have been discussing this summer’s
cruise all winter, and are no nearer a start
than we were at the beginning. We have-
n't got a yacht yet,”” and Frank shook his
head doubtfully. “Now I'll leave it to you
if we can go on a cruise without something
to cruise in, and our vacation begins in just
one week.”
“The outlook 7 pretty discouraging,” ad-
mitted Ned Chipman, whom we never
thought of calling anything but Chip. *“We
have been hunting the piers of Philadelphia
for a boat, but have seen mnothing that we
liked. Suppose we can’t find one, Cap ?”
““Oh, but we must find one,” I replied, em-
phatically. ‘It may be necessary to run
over to New York, or perhaps, Chip, you
will have to hunt for one in Bgston, but I
hope not.”
“Why, have you got a clue ?”” asked Chip,
eagerly.
“T don’t know whether I have or not, but
I have got an advertisement, at all events,”
and 1 srread out a copy of a newspaper
which I had stumbled over by accident.
It contained a notice of a sheriff’s sale of
a yacht, and the description of the boat
pleased me.
“Why, the sale is to-morrow,” Chip an-
nounced, when he had read it carefully—
““to-morrow, in Philadelphia.”
“Exactly. To-morrow is Saturday, and a
holiday, and I propose that the Trio Club go
up in a body and attend the sale. What do
you say ?”’
“1 say yes,”" cried Chip.
“I'm with you,” added Frank.
And so the matter was settled.
CIHAPTER IL
BUYING THE YACHT.
We were not very sanguine that anything
would come of the visit to Philadelphia. We
had been to see a good many yachts, but no-
thing had suited our faney.
Some were too large, others were too
small. Some cost too much, others were too
lightly constructed for anything but river
sailing, while we wanted something that
could venture out upon the ocean and stay.
We had decided to limit our expenditure
for the vacht to fifteen hundred dollars.
This ought to buy a first-class boat.
We had argued that plenty of bargains
were to be had if we could only happen on
them. Somehow we had never flappened on
them.
We were determined not to make a pur-
chase until we were perfectly satisfied, and,
as I have said, we had met with so many
disappointments that we were afraid to place
too much faith in this new chance.
However, we hoped for the best, and with
not a little anxiety, too, for in a week more
vacation would be upon us. If we should
be obliged to spend most of the summer in
a hunt for a boat, there would Dbe little time
left for the contemplated cruise.
The sale was advertised for eleven
o’clock, and early in the morning we
boarded a train for Philadelphia, and were
soon landed amid the noise and confusion of
the city. There was time enough before the
sale, and we sauntered down Market Streei.
“\We will have to get some money,” I
said, as we halted before my father’s place
of business. ““We will be obliged to make a
deposit if we conclude to purchase the
yacht. We can’t ver{ well get at our
money, as it is in bank, but [ guess father
will lend us enough to see us through.””
We filed into the counting-room, where
we waited half an hour, until father came.
“Hullo! What does all this mean?"’ he
Jaughed, good-naturedly. —“llas the Trio
Club started out on a rampage ?”
I told him briefly what we were doing in
the city.
“And where did you say the yacht is ly-
ing 2"’ he asked.
“Up above the Tort Richmond coal
wharves, at a ship-yard.”
“That’s too far away for me. 1 wish I
could spare the time to go with you, but I
can't.”
He filled out a check and handed me, and
then wrote a name on a slip of paper.
“There is an old friend of mine, an old
sea-captain, who knows all about everything
that floats. You will find him at the coal
wharves. ~Take him along with you, and if
he says the yachtis worth buying, you can
rel{‘ on his judgment.””
hat was a good suggestion, and of
course we jumped at it at once.
My father wheeled about in his revolving
chair, and called toa young man who was
struggling with a ledger and adding up fig-
ures :
“Mr. Williams !I”"
Mr. Williams responded promptly.. He
had studied law, bat had deserted it for
book-keeping, and my visits to the office had
been frequent enough to place us on good
terms.
“5ir. Williams, you had better go along
with these boys. ~If they conclude to buy,
you ean overhaul the papers and see that the
transfer is ship-shape. See that all the legal
requirements are fulfilled, and of course you
can offer cash the moment they are.” .
“Why, father, you seewm to think there is
no doubt that we shall purchase,”” 1 laughed.
“We have been fooled a good many times,
you know.””
“Oh, weil ! if you don’t want the
there is no harm done ; but you might just
well be prepared. Frow the brief description
in the advertisement, I should judge the boat
to be just about what you are looking for.
But perhaps the price may be too steep.””
The fact of it was that our enthusiasm had
been growing, and all three of us members
of the Trio Club were beginning to think
that at last we were going to be suited.
The immense coal wharves which consti-
tute Port Richmond, located up the Dela-
ware, are easily reached by horse-cars, and,
affcompanied by the ex-lawyer, we started
of
cht,
At another time, we would have been
greatly interested in Port Richmond. Load-
ed trains from the vast anthracite regions of
Pennsylvania were arriving and adding to
the thousands of tons of coal piled up all
about us. Vessels of all sizes were loading
at the docks. Ilere, too, were the steam col-
liers which come into port, load and tlit away
to some New England port before you can
hardly draw your breath.
It is a little city all by itself—a little city of
wharves bristling with activity.
But our thoughts were not in the coal trade
just then. We hunted up our old sea-dog
and hastened on to the ship-yard to get a |
look at the yacht.
There she lay !
And what a beauty she was! .
Chip said afterward that he almost held his
breath when he caught sight of her, and I am
sure that 1 did mine.
“Phew !” whistled Frank. (Ile was the
first one to speak.) ‘‘But #sn’t she a dan-
[
y“A dandy? You mean a daisy, I guess,
don’t you?” laughed Chip. “ You must re-
member that a yacht is a ske, not a ke, and
how can a ske be a dandy 2"
“Oh, go ’way!” ceried Frank. “But isn't
she just a—a—a corker, though 2°*
Well, she was indeed! To my eyes, there
was not a line to mar her beauty. She had
been built evidently for comfort rather than
speed, but in spite of her broad beam there
was speed in her.
She was a keel sloop, and built to buffet
the waves. The single mast raked slightly.
The ropes were all new, and every one of
them was hauled taut. She carried a jib, a
mainsail and topsail for working sails, but
she was large enough to carry a spinnaker, a
balloon jib, and other racing sails if neces-
sary.
Ifow lightly she floated upon the water!
From stem to stern she was painted a milk-
white color. A broad band of gold ran
around her just below the rail. She was as
dainty as a_young girl in a new dress. On
the stern, in scroll-work of gold, was the
name—* Patiie.”
As I stood there and gazed upon this beau-
tiful piece of marine architecture, I could
not recall when I had ever seen anything
half as pretty. .
Chip and Frauk shared my feelings, I am
sure, for we stood there like so many statues
and looked and looked and looked.
We had anticipated nothing like this.
Not so the old sea-captain. Ile was not at
all taken aback by what he saw. Ile pranc-
ed up and down the pier the length of the
yacht, and peered at her with critical eyes.
Then he jumped on deck and disappeared
below, sounding her timbers.
After a while he appeared on deck again,
and, in a bluff voice, announced :
“She’s all right.”
“She’s” in good condition, is she?” asked
Chip.
“Couldn’t be in a finer one. She’s built in
the most substantial manner. She can stand
up against a gale of wind, and you couldn’t
sink her if you tried. Come down in the
cabin and take a look.”
It wanted half an hour yet to the time an-
nounced for the sale, and there was no one
on hand but a watehman, whose duty it was
to show visitors over the Dboat. The cabin
was open and we all ran down the compan-
ionway. i
Well, you should have seen that cabin!
It was small, of course, but it was perfect.
The floor was inlaid with hard woods, and
a rug covered most of it. A handsome
lounge filled the after part, and over it hung
a tell-tale compass. On each side were. two
berths—four in all—hung with silken cur-
tains, much after the fashion of the sections |
of a sleeping-car.
The cabin was large enough for two or
three chairs and a table. The table was
small, but we three members of the Trio
Club could manage to get around it with a
little crowding, and we fancied that a meal
eaten from it would taste especially nice.
The cabin was lighted by a skylight of
thick glass, and below it hung a barometer.
There was a small hangin% case for books.
In fact, there was nothing lacking in it. The
cabin was complete.
Just forward of the cabin were a pantry
and a miniature * galley *” or kitchen. There
were also accommodations for a cabin-boy or
steward.
If we were delighted with the outside ap-
pearance of the yacht, we were carried away
by enthusiasm over the furnishings. We
' could only look at each other, without speak-
as
ing, until the old sea-captain started us off
with the question :
“Well, how do you like her 2"
Then our words of praise knew no
bounds.
“Yes, she is simply superh,” said I, at
length. “There is only one thing @ am afraid
““What's that 2”” asked Frank.
“That the price will run up so high we
can’t touch her.”
The old captain smiled, as he led the way
on deck.
“We shall soon find that out,”” he said,
‘“for here comes the auctioneer.”
Not more than a score of people followed
the auctioneer as he came down the pier to
the place where the Pattie was moored. Ap-
parently, yachts were not in great demand,
and we took courage accordingly.
‘T'he auctioneer jumped upon a chair,which
a boy had brought for him, and began opera-
tions.
““ And now, gentlemen, I will call your at-
tention to this fine yacht,” he shouted, and
looked around impressively. “A finer boat
for the size than the Pattie doesn't float. As
you see, she is new. The gentleman who
owns her has never sailed her but once or
twice. Ile meant to use her fora pleasure
craft, but you all know, gentlemen, that he
has been unfortunate, andg hence this forced
sale. Idon't mind telling you, gentlemen,
that you could not build this yacht to-day at
any shipyard on the Delaware River for
twenty-five hundred dollars.””
I glanced at the sea-captain, and he nod-
ded approvingly. .
“That’s s0,”” he said.
‘“And now, gentlemen, what am I offered
for this splendid sloop yacht? Will some
one start it at twenty-five hundred? Come,
speak up! No? Well, then, two thousand,
fifteen hundred, one thousand. Come, make
yululr‘oflers, gentlemen ; the Pattie must be
sold.”
“There was a pause. My heart was beat-
ing pretty quickly just about this time, for I
was to do the bidding for the club.
“Come, come, gentlemen,”” cried the auc-
tioneer, impatiently ; *this won’t do at all.
Start it at something.”
‘* Eight hundred dollars.”
Everybody in the small crowd turned in-
stantly to the bidder. He was a stoutly-built
man, with a very red face.
“Eight hundred,” chattered the auc-
tioneer, rolling the words under his tongue
and jerking them out.
“Nine hundred,” said I, quietly
promptlf'.
And then everybody locked at me.
a “One thousand,” came from a third bid-
er.
And the auctioneer rubbed his hands,
and remarked that this was more like it.
There was a lull in the bidding, while
the auctioneer amused himself with a ccn-
stant repetition of the figures, and while the
red-faced man was sizing up his competitors.
‘“Eleven hundred,” said the red-faced
man, confidently.
“Twelve hundred,” said I, firmly.
‘The third bidder was not heard from.
had got to the end of his rope.
“Twelve hundred and fifty,” said the red-
faced man, scowling at me.
‘“Thirteen hundred.”
I met his bid prow.ptly.
My competitor was plainly getting wor-
ried. Ile scowled at me again, and then he
addressed the auctioneer,
“Look here,” he said, “this boy isn’t of
age. Ileisn’t responsible.”
The auctioneer stopped his chattering,
and look at me doubtfully.
and
e
“Perhaps I had better repeat the terms of |
sale,” he said. ‘“Three hundred dollars
down and the balance in five days.”
“Thirteen hundred dollars was my bid,”’
I replied, with as much dignity as I could
(l;(')rlm}mnrl. “I Dbelieve that is the highest
id.”
The stout man grew redder in the face as
he advanced fifty dollars; and hardly had
the words escaped his lips before I had add-
ed twenty-five.
“IIe’s not responsible—he’s not responsi-
ble,” muttered my rival, angrily.
“This sale means the full cash amount in
five days,” hesitated the auctioneer, again
looking doubtfully at me.
“You can have it in five hours, if you
want it,”” I replied. ‘ Thirteen hundred and
seventy-five is my bid.””
“Fourteen hundred,” the now thoroughly
angry bidder added.
“Fourteen hundred and fifty "
There was defiance in my voice, for 1 in-
tended to give him notice that I meant bu-
siness.
“Well, you can just take it,”” he growled,
as he turned on his heel,
“Going! going! going!” chattered the
auctioneer. ‘“‘Are you through, gentlemen ?
Going once, going twice, going three times—
and sold! What name, please ?”
“William Graham.”
And then the other members of the Trio
Club fell upon my neck and fairly hugged
me with joy. ven the old sea-captain
smiled grimly, while the book-keeper appa-
rently took as much interest as any of us.
“Three hundred dollars down,” said the
auctioneer’s clerk.
I took the check from my pocket and
handed it to him.
“Ilere, that won’t do!”” called out the red-
faced man, who thought he had scored a
point. “'T'his boy’s check is no good.”
The auctioneer took the check and looked
at it critically.
“You didn’t sign this ?”
“No, ’
““1s this
1t is.””
‘“That's all right,”” said the auctioneer.
“That firm is perfectly good.”
Just then Mr. Williams, the book-keeper,
stepped forward and announced who he
was.
‘I am instructed to have the papers made
out at once,” he said. “The moment you
can give a clear title, you shall have the
cash.”
“1 guess you are bowled out,” said the
auctioneer, with a smile, and nodding to the
red-faced man. ““The bo?' is the owner of
this yacht, and a splendid bargain he has got
of it, too.”
“ He’s right there,” said the captain. “The
Pattie, although small, is staunch enough to
stand anything short - of a hurricane, if
properly handled. She ought to Dbe easy to
manage, too. You three boys can sail her
without trouble.””
Well, the sale was over, and the sloop
yacht Pattie had pagsed into the possession
of the Trio Club.
We just ached to get aboard and sail her,
but there was yet a week of the school term,
and we had to worry through it as patiently
as possible.
We found time to run up to Philadelphia
and get measured for some yachting uni-
forms, but that was all, and when the final
“Break ranks!” came there was yet much
to be done before the cruise could begin.
So Chip and Frank went to their homes
for a few days, leaving me to make the final
preparations.
signature your father’s?’
CHAPTER IIL
TIE TRIO CLUB AFLOAT.
The next few days were busy ones for me.
The school term came to an end with the
dress parade of Friday afternoon. 1t took
us all of Saturday morning to get our things
together, so that when I bade my chums
good-by at the Broad Street Station in Phila-
delphia, the same afternoon, there was little
left of the day.
But Monday morning found me on the
yacht, and with the aid of one or two friends
} ran her down the river a few miles and
back again, just to try her.
The trial trip was a success_in every way.
She worked beautifully, and I was more de-
lighted than ever.
The preliminaries were quickly disposed
of, the purchase money was paid over, and
the papers were duly signed.
There remained the task of stocking her
for the cruise, and this was an easy task
comparatively.
Five hundred and fifty dollars remained to
us of our two thousand, and this sum was
much more than sufficient for our summer’s
fun, unless we were extravagant.
The first things that I put aboard were a
collection of kitchen utensils and chinaware
for the table. The collection was small, but
ample for all our needs.
Then I laid in a barrel of flour, plenty of
coffee and sugar, and other groceries, toge-
ther with potatoes and onions, and so on.
Indeed, when I had bought everything ne-
cessary, the little store-room looked like a
minjature grocery itself.
I had promised to get everything in readi-
ness in six days, and that promise was kept.
Chip and Frank got into town at the end
of the week, but too late to make a start be-
fore Monday morning.
1 had ordered all our uniforms_sent out to
the house, and that Saturday night we put
them on for the first time.
We were proud of them, and showed it to
the evident amusement of the entire house-
hold.
But our pride was pardonable, for the uni-
form was very meat. It consisted of blue
flannel trowsers and double-breasted jacket
of the same material. The two rows of but-
tons down the breast were gilt, and there
were two narrow bands of gold around the
cuffs.
The naval cap was white, with gold cord,
and bore in neat wmonogram the letters
w0
"I'his was the dress uniform. For bad wea-
ther and ordinary occasions we had a less
S