Phineas grinned. "I never axed 'em, ma'am," he said.
The Miraflame carried them swiftly down the cove, or harbor, of Sokennet and out past the light. The sea was comparatively calm, but the surf roared against the rocks which hedged in the sand dunes north of the harbor's mouth. It was in this direction that Phineas steered the launch, and for ten miles the craft spun along at a pace that delighted the whole party.
"We're just skimming the water!" cried Tom Cameron. "Oh, Nell! I'm going to coax father till he buys one for us to use on the Lumano."
"I'll help tease," agreed his twin, her eyes sparkling.
Nita, the runaway, looked from brother to sister with sudden interest. "Does your father give you everything you ask him for?" she demanded.
"Not much!" cried Tom. "But dear old dad is pretty easy with us and—Mrs. Murchiston says—gives in to us too much."
"But, does he buy you such things as boats—right out—for you just to play with?"
"Why, of course!" cried Tom.
"And I couldn't even have a piano," muttered Nita, turning away with a shrug. "I told him he was a mean old hunks!"
"Whom did you say that to?" asked Ruth, quietly.
