Page:Harry Castlemon - The Steel Horse.djvu/157

 shook the branches of the trees that shaded the road on both sides. "Are you going to the city with me?"

"I can't leave the island until I put the hands to work in the morning," replied Willis. "But I will give you a good crew and a stanch boat. You'll go over all right. You are not afraid of a capful of wind, I hope?"

"No, but I am afraid of a gale. I am used to smooth water, and don't at all relish the idea of being out in a storm."

"Oh, it isn't going to storm. But if get frightened after you are out a little way, tell the men to bring you back or to put you aboard some coaster, bound in. Here we are."

As Willis said this he turned off the road and led the way down the bank and to the beach, where Roy found a boat and two men who were evidently waiting for him.

"Here he is," said Willis, laying his hand on the boy's shoulder. "He doesn't much like the idea of going out in this breeze—"

"The breeze don't blow to hurt anything," growled one of the men, pulling his sou'wester