Bartholomew had assumed a confidential tone, much as if he were about
to impart some important secret; but evidently concluded not to, since
he stopped suddenly, and looked as if he had already betrayed too much.

" Why can't we go now? " asked Ned, who was growing more and more
homesick each moment.

"We can't start until to-morrow morning," said Bartholomew, decidedly,
"'cause we couldn't get the boat till then. You see some of the men
will be aboard of her pretty soon now."

" Couldn't get the boat? " repeated Joe, in surprise. "Why can't you
have her whenever you want her, if she's yours?"

" W ell- well - you see some other fellers are going to have her to-
day," said the. boy, in confusion.

"If she was my boat I wouldn't lend her to anybody," .said Ned, gazing
at the beautiful
yacht.

"I have to sometimes.," said Bartholomew; "but we can get her to-morrow
mornin' if we're down here early enough."

It never occurred to Joe that his new acquaintance intended to steal
the yacht; he had
no idea but that the boy owned her, although it did seem a little queer
that he did not offer
to take them on board then. "But what'll we do all dayan' to-night?" he