ped round the muzzle, on
which one sat, thrilled and ecstatic, while the great guns rose slowly
to extreme elevation and descended again to mundane levels.

There were pennies for the venturesome, to be extracted at great
personal risk from an electric dip; in a dark casemate a green light
shivered in a little glass tube; you placed your hand in front of it,
and on a white screen a skeleton hand appeared in a manner at once
ghostly and delightful. Cornelius James returned to the quarter-deck
as one who had brushed elbows with the Black Arts. "But I wish I could
see right froo my own tummy," he confided, sighing, to the First
Lieutenant.

The First Lieutenant, however, was rather _distrait_; he glanced
constantly upwards at the bellying awning overhead and then walked to
the gangway to look out upon the tumbling grey sea and lowering sky.
Once or twice he conferred with a distinguished-looking gentleman who
had not joined in the revels, but, carrying a telescope and wearing a
sword-belt, remained aloof with a rather worried expression. This was
the Officer of the Watch.

"We'll furl it while they're having tea," said the First Lieutenant.
"But how the deuce they're going to get ashore the Lord knows. I'll
have to hoist in the boats if it gets any worse. Keep an eye on the
compass and see we aren't dragging." The Captain came across the deck.

"You must furl the awning, Hornby; we're in for a blow." He looked
round regretfully at the laughing throng of youngsters.

"Yes, sir. And I think we ought to send the children ashore while
there's still time." As he spoke a wave struck the bottom of the
accommodation ladder and broke in a great cloud of spray.

"Too late now, I'm afraid. They'll have to stay till it moderates.
The wind has backed suddenly. Get steam on the boat-hoist and hoist in
the boats. You'd better top-up the ladders. Pretty kettle of fish,
with my wife and all these children on board."

3

Tea had passed into the limbo of things enjoyed, if not forgotten, and
the guests had gathered in the after-cabin. "Children!" cried the
mother of Georgina, Jane, and Cornelius James, "a visitor has come on
board to see you!" As she spoke, a gaunt apparition appeared in the
doorway. He wore a gilt paper crown, and was dressed in a robe of the
brightest green. Seaweed hung in festoons from his head and shoulders,
oyster-shells clashed as he walked; in one hand he carried a trident,
and on his b