d.i.c.k Carleton was eager to know more of entomology, and set to work at once to read about it with an energy he had never displayed for anything before, and the father wrote off to his booksellers to order a newer and more reliable book upon the science than the one he possessed, to be given to d.i.c.k.

CHAPTER V.

Building the Yacht.--The Launch.--Great Crested Grebe's nest.-- A Floating Coot's nest.--Golden Crested Wrens.-- Their Migration.--The Flight of a Heron.

When d.i.c.k Carleton arrived at Mr. Merivale's to commence the visit which was to initiate the friendship of the boys, Frank and Jimmy were at the boat-house; and as soon as d.i.c.k had been welcomed by Mr. and Mrs.

Merivale, Mary took him off to the boat-house to introduce him to Frank and Jimmy, and see that he was shown their collections. When they opened the door they saw the two boys busy at the table, with sheets of paper and drawing instruments before them. d.i.c.k felt and looked rather shy and nervous, but Frank's hearty greeting put him at his ease. Mary proceeded to do the honour of the place, and walked d.i.c.k about from side to side of the room to show him their b.u.t.terflies and birds' eggs, stuffed birds, and the other natural history curiosities which the boys had collected, while they were followed by Frank and Jimmy, who smiled at her eagerness. They had a very fair collection of eggs, including most of the common kinds, but their collection of b.u.t.terflies was not so good, as neither Frank nor Jimmy cared so much for entomology as they did for ornithology.

"What are all these plans and drawings for?" said Mary, pointing to the litter on the table.

"Shall we tell her Jimmy?" said Frank.

"Yes, why not? She will know some time, so she may as well know now.

Besides, she can help us to make the sails, you know. We sha'n't do the sewing so well as the wood-work."

So the great project of the yacht was explained. Mary danced about the room in glee, and already fancied herself sailing about the broad. d.i.c.k said--

"If it can be done, it would be the nicest thing one could think of."

"It shall be done," said Frank decisively, and d.i.c.k looked up at him with admiring envy, and replied--

"Then I will help you all I can, and go shares with you in the expense."

"You are a brick," said Frank; "come and look at our plans, and see if you can make any suggestions."

Later on, when Frank and Jimmy were left alone, Frank said--

"He'll do, Jimmy."

Jimmy said, "Yes," but looked mournful.

"What's the matter, Jimmy?"

"Two are company, but three are none; and you may like him better than me."

Frank's hand descended heavily on his friend's shoulder, and he shook him roughly.

"Don't be a fool, Jimmy," was all that he said, but in spite of the rude speech and the rough action, Jimmy saw a meaning beyond, and was quite satisfied. His face grew bright again, and from that time forward a warm friendship existed between the three boys, and was never broken or disturbed by any twinge of jealousy.

[Ill.u.s.tration: BUILDING THE BOAT.]

They lost no time in commencing to build the boat. The first thing to be done was to make two long pontoons or floats, on which to erect the superstructure of the yacht. This was a comparatively easy matter. They made two long wooden boxes of the following sizes and dimensions. Each box was twenty-four feet long, four feet wide in the middle portion and tapering off at each end to a fine point, and two feet six inches deep.

It was made of one-inch deal, and strongly supported and fastened together by ribs and cross-pieces of wood in the interior. The seams were caulked with tow and a mixture of red and white lead, and then covered or protected by slips of wood nailed along them. These two pontoons were then laid on the ground side by side with a s.p.a.ce of three feet six inches between their centres. They were then joined together by strong pieces of wood fastened the whole way across, every two feet. On the top of these again, a flooring of planks was laid, and neatly finished off round the edges with a bulwark of rope stretched on iron uprights. On this was erected a cabin three feet six inches in height, nine feet long and seven feet wide. This was fitted with a door at the aft end, and a row of little windows along each side. Inside were two low broad seats, which were also intended to serve as beds when occasion should require.

Each pontoon was fitted with a rudder and a helm, and these were connected by a cross-piece of wood, so that both rudders were worked at once. On this cross-piece were two iron loops, that the steersman, holding on by them, might have greater power over the helm. Each pontoon had a strong keel about two inches deep to protect its bottom from injury. Such a keel was not sufficient to enable the boat to sail to windward, so two drop-keels or centre-boards were added, each about seven feet long and two feet six inches deep. These were fixed in a line along the centre two-thirds of the boat, and worked on strong pivots at their foremost corners, so that by means of chains attached to their aft corners and pa.s.sing through holes in the deck they could be let down to any required depth, or hauled up in the s.p.a.ce between the pontoons.

These were intended to give the yacht a greater hold on the water when beating to windward. The main-mast was stepped close to the bows. Its lower part was weighted with lead and iron, and was so arranged that if it were requisite to pa.s.s under low bridges, the mast could be lowered and raised with great facility, working on a fulcrum three feet six inches from the deck. There was no bowsprit, but the fore-stay was made fast to the cross-piece connecting the bows. The mizen-mast was attached to a cross-piece at the stern, and the mizen-sail was worked by a sheet rove through a block at the end of a fixed boom. The main-sail was a lug-sail with a large boom, and did not require to be dipped every time a tack was made.

The above is a description of the yacht when completed, but it must not be supposed that it was made straight off with no labour. On the contrary, it took an immensity of time and labour before it was completed. The three boys worked at it manfully, Frank taking the lead and doing the major portion of the work. Indeed, they would have given it up many times had it not been for his pluck and determination.

Unforeseen difficulties fast presented themselves, and cost them no little thought to overcome. When they had got the two pontoons and the flooring done, they fell short of cash, and for two or three days they went about very disconsolately, until d.i.c.k informed them that his father's gardener was about to demolish a summer-house in the garden, and that they might have the wood. This enabled them to make the cabin, and by dint of keeping their eyes open, and picking up every sc.r.a.p of wood or iron, and every nail or screw which they came across, they got along pretty well until Frank's quarter-day came, and he received his allowance of pocket-money. Mr. Merivale, who of course soon found out what they were after, laughingly said that they went about with such greedy eyes, and looked so suspiciously at everything, that he was afraid they might take a fancy to some part of him, as being useful for some part of their boat.

[Ill.u.s.tration: A YARMOUTH YAWL.]

At last they had everything ready but the sails, and then they had an unexpected stroke of good luck. d.i.c.k discovered in an old lumber loft, a complete set of sails belonging to a yawl-rigged yacht which was formerly the property of his grandfather. These his father willingly gave to him. Although so old they were strong, and they were speedily converted into sails for the yacht. Then the yacht was painted white, and a small flat-bottomed punt with pointed bows was made to accompany her, and all was ready for launching.

By this time the land was green with spring, and the boys had commenced their studies with Mr. Meredith the Rector,--a clever, sensible Welshman, just the man to attract and manage three such boys as ours.

Sat.u.r.day, being a holiday, was fixed for the launching, and the boys were at Bell's yard by six o'clock in the morning, getting everything in readiness for the great event, and excited with the thought of a long day's sail in a yacht of their own making.

It was a warm, bright morning. The hedges were shining with a most brilliant green, and clothed in places with the creamy white of the hawthorn blossoms. The broad lay still and placid in the sunlight, and the pairing water-birds swam in and out of its reed-fringed margin, and from one to another of its dense 'ronds,' or islands of reeds.

"There is not a breath of wind," said Frank, wetting his finger, and holding it up, to feel if possible by the increased coldness on one side or another, from which quarter the wind was blowing.

"I think there's a slight air from the south," he said.

"Yes," replied Bell, "it will blow from the south or west to-day, if it blows at all, and I think from the look of those little fleecy clouds, that there will be a breeze before long."

"Well, I am sure the ancient mariner never longed for a breeze as much as we do now to try our beautiful boat with," said Frank; "but by the way, what shall we call her? We have never thought of a name for her."

d.i.c.k replied:

"Call her the _Swan_, because like the Swan on 'sweet St. Mary's Lake,'

she will float _double_."

"Bravo! that is not bad. We will call her the _Swan_ then; but come, let us launch her."

They set to work with a will, and, aided by Bell, they quickly had her on the water. Jumping on board, they felt the delight of being on board their own handiwork. They pushed the yacht along the narrow channel, which was barely wide enough for it, until they came to its outlet into the broad, and then they found their progress barred. A little promontory of rushes ran out across the d.y.k.e, and on the end of this promontory was a coot's nest containing eight eggs. It was necessary to cut away the promontory before the boat could pa.s.s into the open broad.

They were loath to destroy the nest, so they carefully moved it from its position; and as it was very large and substantial, they allowed it to float, thinking the old bird would come and fix it herself. Then with beating hearts they hoisted their sails. Frank went to the helm, Jimmy took the main-sail sheet, and d.i.c.k the mizen sheet, while Bell sat on the cabin and whistled for a wind.

"I am sure the leaves of the trees are rustling a little bit," said d.i.c.k.

"And I think I see a ripple on the water," said Jimmy.

Frank looked back and saw that they were already fifty yards from the sh.o.r.e, and that they were rapidly increasing the distance.

"Why, look! she sails fast, without any wind at all," he said; but then they became sensible that there was a slight zephyr from the south, which increased as they got out more into the open water. A ripple arose on the water, and the yacht sailed faster. A cheer broke from the boys as they saw their efforts were crowned with success. The breeze increased, and they sped along more quickly, pa.s.sing over acres of shallow water that sparkled as clear as gla.s.s over the bright yellow gravel. Immense shoals of bream and perch, and many large pike, darted away from them as they sailed on, and the _Swan_ slipped as softly through the water as they could desire. They went the whole length of the broad, and then Frank cried out--

"Stand by, we are going about; haul in her sheet;" and putting the helm over, the yacht swung round like a top, and went across on the port tack up the broad.

They put about again across to the reed bed, and after one more tack they came within hail of the boat-house, where they could see Mary and Florrie waiting for them, and waving their handkerchiefs. Frank took his "line" steadily, and ran her up in the wind's eye within ten yards of the boat-house; and d.i.c.k took the punt ash.o.r.e for the two girls, who were loud in their expressions of delight and amazement. With this addition to their party they cruised about the broad for some hours, learning how to handle their craft, and gaining confidence in her.

Towards noon it came on to blow very hard, and they landed Mary and Florrie, and set to work to enjoy themselves the more thoroughly as the breeze grew stronger. The boat behaved admirably. She was as steady as a rock, heeling over but very slightly even when the breeze blew strong on her beam. She came about well, and if she hung fire or was in danger of missing stays they had only to haul on the mizen-sheet, and her head went round "in a jiffy." She drew little more than a foot of water, so could, when her keels were drawn up, pa.s.s over the shallowest part of the broad in safety.

"I say, this is fine," said Jimmy, rubbing his hands. Frank said nothing, but his kindling eye and satisfied look showed how thoroughly he enjoyed it all.

While making a long tack across the broad, they ran across a straggling bed of rushes at a shallow portion. They offered but little resistance to their pa.s.sage, but as they charged through them, Frank cried out--