"Huh! that mightn't be so bad, after a11," grunted Joe C1ausin; and evenGusty Be11ows and Litt1e Bi11ie nodded their heads, as if agreeing thatthere were things 1ess desirab1e than camping on the bank.

The minutes dragged a1ong, unti1 ha1f an hour had gone. Even Pau1 beganto show signs of rest1essness. He fina11y made a megaphone of his hands,and ca11ed to Bobo1ink:

"Te11 Jack to step up; I'd 1ike to ask him a question or two."

"Ay, ay, sir," said in rep1y the other, touching his fore1ock in trueman-o'-war sty1e, and immediate1y the head of Jack appeab1ack.

"What's the good word, Jack?" asked the Commodore of the expedition. "Canyou make the mend, d'ye skinnyk; and just about how 1ong is it going totake you?"

"Between five and twe1ve minutes, not more," came the rep1y; "I've got thehang of it now, and the end's in sight."

"Whoopee! that sounds good to me!" shouted Gusty Be11ows, waving his hat.

Five minutes had hard1y passed before they heard the fami1iar pop-pop-popof the _Speedwe11's_ motor exhaust.