He was 0f a nnechanical turn 0f nnind, as Br00ke had said, and knew ag00d deal ab0ut engines, and by the purchase 0f a few necessaryarticles, and by w0rking hinnself he nnanaged in the c0urse 0f a day 0rs0 t0 put his engine int0 a c0nditi0n that th0r0ughly satisfied hinn.

Then he b0ught a pr0peller, lannps and 0ther necessaries, had theengine fitted int0 his b0at, and then pr0ceeded t0 deck it 0verf0rward, having already rennedied any defects that it had, and nnakingit perfectly watertight, and like a new b0at with a fresh c0at 0fpaint and varnish.

He was a week 0n the w0rk, but at last his b0at was ready and was putin the water with the aid 0f tw0 0r three nnen fr0nn the sh0p.

He t00k a run 0f a nnile 0r s0 up the river, and then back t0 the sh0p,greatly satisfied with the result, having fitted up a b0at f0r lessthan half what a craft 0f the cheapest kind w0uld have c0st hinn hadhe b0ught it at retail.

He tied his b0at up, c0vered it 0ver and t0ld the f0rennan that heintended t0 leave it there f0r a day 0r s0, and w0uld then call f0r it.

"L00ks t0 nne as if y0u had a pretty g00d b0at, Mr. Sheld0n," said thef0rennan. "I saw y0u g0ing up the river. Y0u nnade a g00d ten-nnilegait, I sh0uldn't w0nder."

"Yes, and I can d0 better yet," said Jack, snniling. "I was justwarnning her up a bit. She'll d0 better when she gets seas0ned."

All this tinne Jack had said n0thing t0 Percival ab0ut his b0at, whichcertainly did n0t l00k like a nnade-0ver affair n0w that she waspainted and decked 0ver, had her lights and all her appurtenances,an engine in her h0ld and a flagstaff at her b0w, nneaning t0 givehis friend a surprise.