“That’s true philosophy, Jack.  I have never had to dig anything for myself, having rich folks who always looked after me.  Perhaps it would have been better for me if I had had to do more for myself.”

“Well, you are not a spoiled child, Dick,” said Jack, “as some sons of rich parents are.  You are not idle nor vicious, and you know the value of money.  You will do for yourself when you leave school.  You are going through a training now, that will do you good later.”

“Yes, I suppose so, but your having to do for yourself has made you a stronger, more self-reliant fellow than I will ever be.”

“Oh, I don’t know,” returned Jack, half laughing, half seriously.  “I am not patting myself on the back, Dick.”

“No, you never would.”

The two boys were great friends, and were the leading spirits in the Academy, having a great many friends, and being looked up to by the greater part of the boys, and especially by the younger ones, who took them as models.

Dick was somewhat older than Jack, and was farther along in his classes, having had more advantages, but Jack was studious and ambitious, and bade fair to catch up with his older companion and schoolmate before many months had passed, having already in the few months he had been at the Academy greatly shortened the lead which Percival had in the beginning.

Two days later the yacht was in much pleasanter waters, and the air was quite warm and balmy, the boys going around in lighter clothing than before, wearing mostly white flannel or duck, canvas shoes and caps, and no waistcoats, some wearing only white trousers and shirts, and belts around their waists, so as to get the most comfort they could.

They were among the islands now, and expected to make a landing in a day or so, when they were farther down the Spanish main than they were at that time, the islands in the lower latitudes being more interesting in the doctor’s opinion than the larger and better known ones.

It was a pleasant afternoon; none of the boys felt any touches of seasickness now, and many of them were walking up and down the deck, some taking their comfort under awnings spread aft near the cabin companion, and some being on the bridge watching the steersman or looking out to sea in search of sails or noting the flight of the gulls and other seabirds or studying the movements of the dolphins playing around the bow, there being many of these lively creatures about.

Dick and Jack were on the bridge whence they could obtain a full view of the deck and look all about them, ahead and astern, and on all sides, Jack greatly enjoying gazing out upon the wide expanse and searching the horizon for sails or a hazy view of some distant island.

Below, on the quarter deck, which was guarded by a low rail only, was young Jesse W. Smith, who took great pride in his full name and always insisted upon being called by it, for whom primarily this expedition had been gotten up, strutting up and down in sailor’s trousers and shirt, seeming to feel as if he were the commander of the entire southern fleet.