"I wish so, too," she answered, in a low voice.
"But I've got to stay here, and grind away at this film," he said hopelessly.
"We'll see you to-night," she called to him, as she went out.
Paul Ardite waved to Alice as she "twinkled" her fingers at him. Paul was in a cowboy costume, playing a scene in the cowboy story, which seemed to be giving more and more trouble as it proceeded.
"This is the fifth time we've done that act," Paul called to Alice in an aside as she passed. "And all because Mr. Bunn is so fussy. They'll take him out, if he isn't careful. Where are you going, Alice?"
"Yes, she's a 'she' I suppose, and she's going to have a big part in a drama. I'll tell you about it later."
The _Mary Ellen_ certainly did not present a very trim appearance as the little party went aboard her at the dock in Erie Basin. The decks were cluttered up with an assortment of ropes, planks, casks, boxes and other things, so that it was impossible to move about without great care. On coming in sight of the craft Jack Jepson's face wore a look of expectancy.
"She might be the same _Mary Ellen_ that I was on," he said.
But when he saw that the craft had three masts, whereas the ship where the mutiny had occurred boasted of five, Jack shook his head.
Yet as he stepped on deck he gave a start, and an exclamation escaped his lips.
"What's the matter?" asked Alice, who was near him.
"Well, Miss, you may think it strange," he said, "but if I had my eyes shut, I'd say I was on my old ship--th' _Mary Ellen_ I was tellin' you about."
"But she had five masts, and this one----"
"Yes, I know, Miss Alice. But, masts or no masts there's somethin' about this craft that's strangely familiar. I'm sure I've been on her before, and yet--no, it can't be--three masts can't make five, no matter how you count."
"Well, this is the ship," said Mr. Pertell to his guests. "This will be our home when we get her fitted up in ship-shape. I don't know much about such things myself, so I've given Captain Brisco full charge. He is to get her in readiness."
"Well, if you were to ask me I should say it would take the greater part of a year to get this in ship-shape," said Ruth. "I never saw such confusion--never!" and she gazed about the deck.