As for Joe and Fuz, they were compelled to overcome a strong inward inclination to cast the boat loose.

Such a good joke it would have been! But Ham Morris was in the way of it, so long as he stood at the tiller.
"The Swallow" was steady enough to inspire even Annie Foster with a feeling of confidence; but Ford carefully explained to her the difference between slipping over the little waves of the landlocked bay, and plunging into the gigantic billows of the stormy Atlantic.
"I prefer this," said Annie.
"But I wouldn't have missed the other for any thing," replied Ford.
"Would you, Dick ?" Mr.Richard Lee had taken his full share in the work of starting, and had made himself singularly useful; but, if all the rest had not been so busy, they would surely have noticed his remarkable silence.

Hardly a word had he uttered that anybody could remember; and, now he was forced to say something, his mouth opened slowly, as if he had never tried to speak before, and was not quite sure he knew how.
"No--Mr .-- Foster,--I--would--not--have--missed--that--trip--for--a--good -- deal." Every word came out by itself, "afoot and alone," and as different from Dick's ordinary speech as a cut stone is from a rough one.

Ham Morris opened his eyes wide, and Ford puckered his lips into the shape of a still whistle; but Annie caught the meaning of it quicker than they did.
"Dick," she said at once, "are we to fish to-day ?" "May--be,--but--that--depends--on--Mr.Morris." Every word was slowly and carefully uttered, a good deal in the manner of a man counting over a lot of money, and looking out sharp for counterfeits.
"Look here, Dick," suddenly exclaimed Dab Kinzer, "I give it up: you can do it.

But don't you try to keep it up all day.