“So he did and here it is,” said Ray, holding up the metal vessel.
“I’m mighty glad, Ray, fer I repented throwin’ t’ thing away more than once lately,” said the swordfisherman.
This made Ray fairly tremble with happiness, for he had been hoping that his uncle would not catch sight of the model for fear it would bring back his old animosity. But it had quite the opposite effect. Vance Carroll picked the metal boat up and examined it. Then turning to Mr. Warner he demanded:
“Think? Why I think it’s bully,” said Mr. Warner.
“An’ that’s what I been thinkin’ too. A lifeboat what won’t sink ner turn over could be a mighty handy thing. If we’d had one on board t’ _Fish Hawk_ instead o’ dories, which we was afraid t’ trust, we could have left her long before she struck, and perhaps saved all o’ t’ crew.”
“By hookey, that’s right,” said Ray, whose eyes were sparkling now. Then he added, “This is going to be great, Uncle Vance, and Mr. Warner is going to help me patent it, and perhaps sell it for me so’s I can earn money enough to go to school.”
“Well, he needn’t if he don’t want to, fer I’m goin’ t’ send you to school on my own money. I’ve got enough fer that, an’ besides I guess I owe it to you.”
“Yes, ye can go t’ school’s long es ye want. I don’t set much store by schoolin’ usually, but I’ve been so blasted mean to ye that I figger I owe ye t’ right o’ lettin’ ye hev yer own way fer a while. Sure, go to school wherever you want an’ es long es ye want. I’ll foot t’ bill. Guess ye earned enough money fer me t’ make accounts square in the end.”
“Whoop-e-e, hear that, Jack!” cried Ray, scarcely able to control his emotions. “I’m to go to school anywhere I want and--”
“And, of course, you’ll come to Drueryville, and be our full-back next year,” added the delighted Jack.
“Will I? Well, you bet your boots I will!” shouted Ray, and just because they did not know of a better way to express their pleasure, the two excited lads shook hands again and again.
And while Jack and Ray were talking, Vance Carroll picked up the model lifeboat and, beckoning to Mr. Warner and Old Mitchell, left the room for the outer office. There the three remained for a good two hours, discussing the feasibility of organizing a company to build metal lifeboats, for each one of the three men seemed eager to invest his money in Ray’s invention.