uld have ridden out the gale handsomely.
Then we might have stowed ourselves away in the cabin as nice as could
be, and have been just as dry as we are here."

"And gone without supper," put in William, with a practical eye to the
creature comforts.

"Easy there, my lad," answered the Captain. "Do you think you catch an
ancient mariner on the water without 'a shot in his locker'?"

"Wouldn't it have been jolly,--eating supper in the cabin," exclaimed
William; "and then, Captain Hardy, would you have gone on with the
story?"

"To be sure I would," answered the Captain.

"Then I'm sorry we didn't stay there," replied William.

"Good," said the Captain. "But what says little Alice?"

"I'd rather hear the story where we are," was the reply. And as the
lightning flashed and the thunder rattled more and more, the little girl
crept closer to the old man's side.

"Then I'm glad we came away," replied the captain; "and we'll go right
on too, for I see you don't like listening to the storm."

"O, I'm dreadfully afraid!" said Alice.

"Go on, go on! Captain Hardy," exclaimed both the boys together.

"But where was I when we left off to run away, in such a lubberly
manner, from the storm?" inquired the Captain. "Let me see," and he put
his finger to his nose, looking thoughtful.

"You were just beginning to cry," put in William.

"To be sure I was, that's it; and so would you cry, too, my boy, if you
had an empty stomach under your belt, and nothing but a jack-knife in
it," answered the Captain.

"That I would," exclaimed William, "I should have cried my eyes out.
But, Captain Hardy,--if you'll excuse me,--was the jack-knife in the
empty stomach or in the belt?"

"Ah, you little rogue! I'll not mind _you_ any more," said the Captain,
laughing; "what would Fred have done?"

"I think I should have broke my heart," said Fred, promptly.

"That's not so easy done as crying," exclaimed the Captain. "But what
says little Alice; what would she have done?"

"I don't know," replied Alice, gently; "but I think I should have gone
and tried to get the poor boy to speak to me, and then I would have
tried to comfort him."

"That's it, my charming little girl; that's just exactly what I did. But
it wasn't so easy either, I can tell you; for the boy was still as dull
as ever. I tried to rouse him in every way I could think of; but he
would not arouse. I spoke to him, I called to him, I shouted to him; but
he would not answer