s dreadfully alarmed
at the sound of a terrible concussion upon the side of the ship,
succeeded by a noise as of something breaking open in his state room,
and a rush of water which seemed to come pouring in there like a
torrent, and falling on the floor. Rollo's first thought was that the
ship had sprung a leak, and that she was filling with water, and would
sink immediately. Jennie, too, was exceedingly alarmed; while Maria, who
had been sound asleep all this time, started up suddenly in great
terror, calling out,--

"Mercy on me! what's that?"

"I'm sure I don't know," said Rollo, "unless the ship is sinking."

Maria put out her hand and rung the bell violently. In the mean time,
the noise that had so alarmed the children ceased, and nothing was heard
in Rollo's room but a sort of washing sound, as of water dashed to and
fro on the floor. Of course, the excessive fears which the children had
felt at first were in a great measure allayed.

In a moment the chambermaid came in with a light in her hand, and asked
what was the matter.

"I don't know," said Maria. "Something or other has happened in Rollo's
state room. Please look in and see."

The chambermaid went in, and exclaimed, as she entered,--

"What a goose!"

"Who's a goose?" said Rollo, following her.

"I am," said the chambermaid, "for forgetting to screw up your light.
But go back; you'll get wet, if you come here."

Rollo accordingly kept back in Jennie's state room, though he advanced
as near to the door as he could, and looked in to see what had happened.
He found that his little round window had been burst open by a heavy
sea, and that a great quantity of water had rushed in. His couch, which
was directly under the window, was completely drenched, and so was the
floor; though most of the water, except that which was retained by the
bedding and the carpet, had run off through some unseen opening below.
When Rollo got where he could see, the chambermaid was busy screwing up
his window tight into its place. It has already been explained that this
window was formed of one small and very thick pane of glass, of an oval
form, and set in an iron frame, which was attached by a hinge on one
side, and made to be secured when it was shut by a strong screw and
clamp on the other.

"There," said the chambermaid. "It is safe now; only you can't sleep
upon the couch any more, it is so wet. You must get into your berth
again. I will make you up a new bed on