The boys looked at each other, as if to pry into the thoughts of their neighbors.  There was a long silence, and it was in vain that Tony called for the opinions of the members; they did not seem to have any opinions on the subject.

“We will do just as you say, Mr. Chairman,” said Little Paul.

“So we will,” added Henry Brown.

“I shall not say,” replied Tony.  “It is a matter for you to decide.  George says we can put it in the Savings Bank, if we don’t divide it, and keep it till we find a use for it.  Perhaps, though, some of your parents may want it.  If they do, we had better give each his share.”

“Let us put it in the Savings Bank,” said Dick Chester.

But Henry Brown looked at Little Paul, whose father was a very poor man, and had not been able to work for several months.

“Perhaps we had better divide it,” suggested he.

“If you agree to divide it, each member shall have a thirteenth part of the whole four hundred dollars,” added Tony.

“That wouldn’t be right,” replied Little Paul.  “He gave a hundred to you; and certainly you are better entitled to a hundred than we are to a penny apiece.”

“I will not take more than my share.”

“We will only take what Mr. Walker awarded us,” said Henry.

“That we won’t,” added several members.

“No!” shouted the whole club.

“But you shall, my lads,” said Tony, stoutly.  “George and I have agreed to that.”

“But the commander of the ship ought to have a bigger share than the crew; besides, what could we have done without you?” argued Little Paul.

“And what could I have done without you?”

“It was your skill and courage, as the Mercury says, which did the business.”

“It was your prompt obedience that crowned our labors with success.  I tell you, boys, it is just as broad as it is long.  The money shall be equally divided.”

“Then we won’t divide it,” said Henry Brown.

“Very well; I will agree to that.  We shall be equal owners then,” replied Tony, with a smile of triumph; for in either case his point was gained.

“But what shall we do with it?  Four hundred dollars is a heap of money.  What’s the use of saving it up without having some idea of what we mean to do with it?”

“We can put it to a dozen uses.”

“What, for instance?”

“Why, enlarging our library; buying an apparatus, as the Zephyrs are going to do; giving it to the poor,” replied Tony.  “But I was thinking of something before the meeting.”

The boys all looked at the chairman with inquiring glances.

“Out with it,” said several of them.

“There are lots of fellows round here who would like to get into a boat club.”

“More than twenty,” added Little Paul.

“We have money enough to buy another boat.”

“Hurrah!” exclaimed several of the members, jumping out of their chairs in the excitement of the moment.  “Let us buy another boat!”