I may ship as cook
or cabin boy, if you'll have me, but that is as may be. Now, if you're
ready we'll go down to the dock and see how the tide is."
"But we have no tide here, Uncle Amos," spoke Betty.
"What! No tide! What sort of a place is it without a tide? I'm
disappointed, lass, disappointed!"
"We'll try and have one made for you," said Mollie, with a laugh.
"That's it! That's the way to talk. Salt water and a tide would make
any place, even a desert-- er-- er-- what is it I want to say, Bet?"
"I don't know, Uncle, unless that it would make the desert blossom
like the rose."
"That's it-- a rose. You luffed just at the right time. Well, ladies,
all hands have been piped to quarters, so we'll start. It's nearly
four bells, and I told the mate I'd be there by then. Let's start."
And start they did. On the way toward the river, whither Mr. Marlin
insisted on leading the girls, Betty explained how her uncle had
arrived unexpectedly that day, and had talked mysteriously about the
surprise.
"It's a boat-- I'm sure it is," said Mollie.
"Oh, he'd talk that same way about an automobile or an airship," said
Betty.
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