Nobody knows anything about it. Dad bought it from the owner. It’s a peach. Jen, you’ll like it. I was with Dad when he tried it out, and it handles remarkably easy for a boat its size. It’s a forty-five footer, twin cabin. It sleeps six, besides crew’s quarters, and the extra upholstered seat on the bridge is big enough for one of the kids. Dad figured Try and I could use the crew’s bunks. It’s fully equipped and, of course, has quite a load of stuff from the other boat. Bathing suits and coats and things, besides some games we had the last time we were down, and some blankets Mother wanted to keep. You see, Dad was figuring on us all going down the six weeks or more this summer.”

Jennifer caught her breath again. That was bringing memories near again. If Dad could have known how they were doing down! She hastened to say something, anything so she wouldn’t cry again. “Are you sure it will be safe? Nobody will recognize us?”

“Well, I thought it would be as safe as anything. It’s a hideout for a couple of days, anyway, till we get our bearings. And, of course, if we see anyone who might tell where we are we can always run down the bay and land somewhere in a hurry.”

“Oh, Jerry, it will be wonderful!” said Jennifer with deep relief in her voice. “We can really get rested. And we can make some plans. I don’t know what, but some!”

“That’s what I thought,” said Jerry, “only I wasn’t sure how you’d take it. But it was the best thing I could think of on such short notice.”

“Oh yes, and it will be wonderful for the children not to be cooped up in the car all the time. But you said you could run down the bay. Are you sure you can run it?”

“Oh sure! Dad made me take the wheel part of the time and learn all the gadgets. It’s a pip, and no mistake. Dad got this particular boat so we could run it ourselves. He said he didn’t want a crew along when we went on a cruise. It’s something like the old boat only much larger, to take in the whole family at once. Say, we ought to be getting near there in a little while now.”

He snapped on the light and looked at the clock.

“Yes, it’s almost morning! Say, Jen, you slip over here and take this kid now and get a little more sleep yourself. You must be all in.”

“No,” said Jennifer, “I don’t feel like sleeping now. If this boat really materializes I can sleep when we get there. You sleep some more yourself.