THE "EAGLE" SAILS Bob had often been on railroad journeys, so there was nothing especially interesting about the first part of his trip.

But his mind was so taken up with what was to follow that even the familiar scenes as the train sped on out of the village seemed full of delight to him.
"Well, I s'pose you've been pretty steady since I've been gone, haven't you, Bob ?" asked the captain, following a rather long pause.
"Well, pretty good, I guess.

I only played one joke." "What was It ?" Bob related the circumstances of the step-ladder, the cook and the hired man.
"Hum," remarked the commander of the _Eagle_ reflectively.

"So they came down in a heap, eh, and the water splashed all over 'em ?" "Yes," replied Bob, trying not to chuckle at the recollection.
"Hum," remarked the captain again, and he seemed to be having some difficulty with his breathing.

Bob wondered if his friend was choking, he was so very red in the face, but he did not know that the mariner was trying hard not to laugh.