The Adventure Club Afloat

Academy. It was a particularly warm evening, the two windows were wide open and the green-shaded light on the study table in the centre of the room had been turned low-Sumner prided itself on

g anything more onerous than yawning, and the yawn which came from Perry Bush, didn't sound as though it cost much of an effort. It wa

gainst Joe's ribs, Steve Chapman, the third of the trio, reclined in a Morris chair. I use the word reclined advisedly, for Steve had lowered the back of the chair to its last notch, and to say that he was sitting would require a stretch of the imagination almost as long as Steve himself! Through the windows Steve could see the dark masses of the campus elm

come and ye

bb and se

'neath Wi

ing Summe

ne our brow

ilver tur

us betid

e'll reme

emories

dim in ev'n

ndships tha

the silence that had held them for sever

rts of the-um-sweet-voiced chori

under the bed? Gosh, some folks never want anyone to be happy!" He raised himself by painful effort and peered out and down into the gloom. "Sophs, I'll bet," he murmured, falling back again on

at as if we were all going to die the day afte

happens to me in vacation. It's all well enough for you fellows to laugh. You're goi

orrected Joe. "There will be some

impatiently. "You and Steve will be gone, a

ess hid the confusion and heightened colour that followed the confession. Steve and Joe charitably pretended not to have notice

Mother of

ardian of

owsill and bawled the command down into

y mumbled and relapsed into silence. Presently

uch ever does happen to a fellow in Summer. I believe I'v

I guess. We're always crazy to get home in June and just as crazy to get back to sc

same. My folks lug me off to the Water Gap and we stay there until it's time to come

," interpolate

pens," ended Perry despairingly. "Gee, I

is filled with swells, and about all they do is change their clothes, eat and sleep

I'd make a bully pirate. I'm naturally bloodthirsty and cruel. And I'

Perry grumbled. "We're too old to play kids' games and t

outh," Joe prompt

keeping my hands clean. And I'm tired of dabbing whitewash on my shoes! Didn't you fellows ever think that you'd like to get good and dirty a

rmured Joe. "He's bee

and I'm tired of dinner jackets, and I'm sick to death of hotel porches! Gee, a healthy chap never was

e, of course. Joe's a natural-born 'fusser.' He's never happier than when he's

with deep sarcasm. "If I wa

to his theme, "is adventure! I'd like to h

or two late,"

or hidden

oe. "Too much Roosevelt and Peary and Stevenson is your

chaps are just the same, on

ll," said Ste

um-this polished exterior there beats a h

llows, why not

what?" as

They say that all you ha

for years and I've never seen one yet." Pe

t to move around, son. You don't find them by sitting

ind them, then?

tired of the humdrum life of Summer resorts. What's to prevent our spending a couple of months together and finding some adventures? Of course, we can't go to Africa and shoot lions and wart-hogs-whatever they may be,-and we can't fit out an Arctic exploration party and discov

e liked!" sighed Perry ecs

My folks, for some unfathomable reason, think quite a lot of me, and I don't just s

for a Summer," said Perry. "Anyhow, let's make b

o break your neck driving an automobile sixty miles an hour. Let's really consider the scheme, fellows. I'm in earnest. I want to do it. What Perry said is just what I've been thinking without saying. Wh

iastically. "Revolution! A bas l

lood, old chap! I've always wanted to revolt about something, anyway. One of my ancestors helped throw the English breakfast

day of July," repl

re f

n, friends. Shall it

," sa

said

Adventures are more likely to be found on the water

easick you couldn't tempt me with any number of adventure

you," suggested Perry che

They don't do you any

ey! My gr

r! How do we go to sea,

. "She's a forty-footer and togged out like an oce

Perry. "The simple life for me. Let

sides, being seasick is rotten enough, anyhow, without having to roll around in the cock-pit of a two-

e the boat himself, and this Summer he's likely to be in the city more than ever

pif

nding or picking up a mooring. If we were all fairly good seamen it might be all right,

d a knockabou

s a sea captain," offered Joe encoura

into this," replied Steve. "How would it do if we gathered up

get?" asked

irleigh,

t Han?" o

ts to boss everythi

hat would make five of us, and five isn't too many. We can't afford to hire a cook, you k

e the disclaimer wit

id Joe cheerfully.

say any of us can fry an egg and make coffee; and

That's Ossie Brazier. Remember the time we camped at Mirr

hat sort of a chap is Brazier

s he doesn't have to," replied Joe. "If we could get him to come along and t

ughed Steve. "Well, we might have

s to me the more we have the less each of us will have to do. I mea

lking about it, fellows. I'm going to be disappointed whe

katoo without expense other than the cost of running her. If you and Joe can get your folks to let

rry incredulously. "Gee, I'll get perm

out you

manage it. How lon

he first of July, or as soon after

inquired Perry. "I'm not a

at's another reason for filling the boat up, though. The mo

y family these days. Let's make it a club, fellows. The

w and call it The Luck

ough," laughed Steve. "I'l

ho

venture