"Have you got a
painter long enough?"
"I'm afraid not," replied Fred.
"Then we'll toss you a rope."
The captain at once responded to the word of the man who had been
speaking to Fred and in a brief time a rope was thrown on board
the little motor-boat.
"Are you all ready?" called the man from the deck.
"Yes, sir," replied Fred heartily, for by this time he and his
friends had made the rope fast and were prepared to start.
"All right then, captain, go ahead."
The Caledonia at once resumed her way and the Black Growler
obediently followed about twenty-five feet behind the larger
boat.
Before they arrived at Rome other people, in addition to the man
who assisted the boys, were seen on the deck of the Caledonia. It
was evident that the party had not followed the example of the Go
Ahead boys in spending any nights at hotels. They slept on board
and the port-holes of what undoubtedly were beautiful little
cabins were plainly seen along the sides of the yacht.
It was manifest too that the story of the misfortunes of the Go
Ahead boys was speedily told, for a party of five young people in
addition to the older ones assembled in the stern of the
Caledonia and laughingly greeted the boys in the boat that was
being towed.
A short time afterward the boats entered the little city of Rome.
When they arrived at a place where a landing safely could be made
Fred shouted to the people on the Caledonia, "We'll cast off now.
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