carry you there tomorrow
myself in a boat."

"How long would it take you? " asked Joe, just a trifle doubtful as to
whether this boy
could do as much as he said he could.

"Only two or three hours if we have a fair wind."

"But we was all night comin' down in the steamer," remarked Joe,
quickly.

"That's nothin'," said the boy, contemptuously, "for this boat I'm
goin' to take you in can sail more'n four times as fast as any steamer
you ever saw. Why, she sailed right around Tom Stevens's boat the other
day, an' there wasn't any wind at all. I tell you what it is, just you
come up here with me an' see her, then you'll know what she can do."

There was no reason why the boys should not accept the offer, since
they had plenty of time at their disposal, and they started at once.

"What's your name?" asked Joe, thinking that perhaps it might be as
well to call the boy
by his right name, as to be obliged to attract his attention by "I
say," or "look here."

"Bartholomew West," was the prompt reply, as the boy looked around much
as if he expected they had heard of him, and would recognize the name.
at once. Not seeing the flush of joy he had expected would lighten up
the faces of his acquaintances when they knew who he was, he walked on