THE LAUNCHING OF THE YACHT. 25 



father. These his father willingly gave to him. Although so 

 old they were strong, and they were speedily converted into 

 sails for the yacht. Then the yacht was painted white, and a 

 small flat-bottomed punt with pointed bows was made to 

 accompany her, and all was ready for launching. 



By this time the land was green with spring, and the boys 

 had commenced their studies with Mr. Meredith the Rector, a 

 clever, sensible Welshman, just the man to attract and manage 

 three such boys as ours. 



Saturday, being a holiday, was fixed for the launching, and 

 the boys were at Bell's yard by six o'clock in the morning, 

 getting everything in readiness for the great event, and excited 

 with the thought of a long day's sail in a yacht of their own 

 making. 



It was a warm, bright morning. The hedges were shining 

 wMi a most brilliant green, and clothed in places with the 

 creamy white of the hawthorn blossoms. The broad lay still 

 and placid in the sunlight, and the pairing water-birds swam in 

 and out of its reed-fringed margin, and from one to another of 

 its dense 'ronds,' or islands of reeds. 



" There is not a breath of wind," said Frank, wetting his 

 finger, and holding it up, to feel if possible by the increased 

 coldness on one side or another, from which quarter the wind 

 was blowing. 



" I think there's a slight air from the south," he said. 



" Yes," replied Bell, " it will blow from the south or west to- 

 day, if it blows at all, and I think from the look of those 

 little fleecy clouds, that there will be a breeze before long." 



"Well, I am sure the ancient mariner never longed for a 

 breeze as much as we do now to try our beautiful boat with,'"' 

 said Frank ; " but by the way, what shall we call her ? We 

 have never thought of a name for her." Dick replied : 



" Call her the Swan, because like the Swan on ' sweet St. 

 Mary's Lake/ she will float double." 



" Bravo ! that is not bad. We will call her the Swan then ; 

 but come, let us launch her." 



They set to work with a will, and, aided by Bell, they 

 quickly had her on the water. Jumping on board, they felt 

 the delight of being on board their own handiwork. They 

 pushed the yacht along the narrow channel, which was barely 

 wide enough for it, until they came to its outlet into the 



