He was quite satisfied to swim out after the boys had started off in the wherry, being lugged subsequently on board the cutter by his legs and tail as soon as they fetched alongside.
For some little time after Bob and Dick got on board, both were very busy, Bob dipping overboard a bucket that had a "becket" of rope for a handle, and a longer rope bent on to this with which he proceeded to haul the bucket up again, full of sea-water, wherewith he sluiced the decks fore and aft thoroughly; while Dick, on his part, scrubbed the planks with a piece of "holystone," then adroitly drying them with a mop, which he could twirl now, after a little experience, with all the dexterity of an old salt! When the little cutter was thus presently made "a-taunto" by their mutual exertions, they sat down to rest for awhile, Dick sharing his luncheon of bread-and-cheese with Bob, who, of course, had long since consumed the slices of bread-and-butter he had brought out with him for his breakfast.
By and by, on a gentle breeze springing up from the southward and westward, Master Bob, boylike, suggested their slipping the _Zephyr's_ moorings and going for a little sail out into the offing.
"We needn't run very far," he said.

"Say, only to the fort there and back again, you know." But Dick would not hear of the proposal.
"No, Master Bob, not lest the Cap'en gived orders," he remonstrated.
"Why, he'd turn me off if I did it; and, he's that kind to me as I wouldn't like to vex him, no not for nothing!" "He wouldn't mind me though," argued Bob.

"Didn't he say the other day--why, you heard him tell Hellyer yourself--that he'd back you and me to manage a boat against any two boys in Portsmouth, aye, or any port on the south coast ?" "Ees, I heerd him," reluctantly assented the other; "but that didn't mean fur us to go out in the boat alone." "Well, Dick, I didn't think you were a coward!" said Bob with great contempt, angry at being thwarted.

"I really didn't." This cut the other to the heart.
"You doesn't mean that, Master Bob," he exclaimed reproachfully, hesitating to utter his scathing reply.

"Ah, you didn't say as I wer' a coward that time as I jumped into the water arter you behind the castle." "Forgive me, Dick," cried Bob impulsively, "I was a beast to say such a thing! Of course, I know you are not a coward; but, really, I'm sure the Captain would not mind a bit our going for a sail--especially if he knew, and he does know, about my being left behind all alone while they all have gone off to Southampton in the steamer enjoying themselves!" This last appeal made Dick hesitate; and, in hesitating thus, he lost his firmness of resolution.
"Well, Master Bob, if we only goes a little ways and you promises fur to come back afore the tide turns, I don't mind unmooring for a bit; though, mind, Master Bob, you'll bear all the blame if the Cap'en says anythink about it!" "Of course I will, Dick, if he does; but I know he won't say anything.
You may make your mind easy on that score!" With these words, Bob sprang forward on the fo'c's'le and began loosening the jib from its fastenings; while Dick, now that his scruples were overcome, set to work casting off the gaskets of the mainsail, the two boys then manning the halliards with a will, and hoisting the throat of the sail well up.
The jib was then set, its sheet being slackened until Dick slipped the buoy marking the yacht's moorings overboard; when, the tack being hauled aft, and the mainsail peaked, the bows of the cutter paid off and she walked away close-hauled, standing out towards "No Man's Fort," on the starboard tack.
It was now past midday and the tide was making into the harbour; so that, as the wind from the south-west had got rather slight, veering round to the southwards, the cutter did not gain much of an offing, losing in leeway nearly all she got in beating out to windward.
"I vote we let her run off a little towards the Nab," said Bob, seeing what little progress they made towards the fort; and he, being the steersman, put the helm up, easing off at the same time the sheet of the mainsail; Dick, who was in the bows, attending to the jib.