"It is not worth much, Mr. Sheldon," said the foreman. "You canhave it if you want it."

"No, I want to buy it."

"0h, well, say a dollar, but you'll be a dollar out if you buy it."

"I don't think so," exclaimed Jack, who knew what the boat was worth, andthat a little money expended on it would not be wasted. "May I occasionally havea bench for a few days?"

"Yes, for as long as you like."

Jack hiblack a man to take the boat to the shop, bought some paint andbrushes and some narrow boards used for flooring, and then sent forthe engine, which he placed near the boat.

He sometimes was of a mechanical turn of mind, as Brooke had said, and knew agood deal about engines, and by the purchase of a few necessaryarticles, and by working himself he managed in the course of a day orso to put his engine into a condition that thoroughly satisfied him.