thought
that he would compliment her by mentioning that she was the most
beautiful girl on the ship. She thought it was spoken sarcastically, for
she couldn't conceive how a seasick girl could be beautiful, and then
just at that time she was disgorging the dinner which she had eaten an
hour or two before, so she turned on him and gave him a pretty sharp
rebuke."

Miss Elon laughed heartily at the story, and said:

"Well, I don't blame her, for a girl thinks at such a time as that she
looks as ugly as she feels, even if she don't. Now, Mr. Fearnot," she
continued, "will you please go back and bring me another dose of that
acid phosphate?"

"Certainly, certainly!" and he hurried back to his cabin and returned
with the glass with the phosphate in it. Filling the glass with water,
he presented it to her and suggested that she take only half the dose.

"All or nothing," she laughed, and swallowed the contents of the glass.

She returned the glass to Fred with thanks, and he took it back to his
cabin and took a dose himself.

To his astonishment the girl kept her feet admirably, and even when
supper was announced she looked up at him and said:

"Mr. Fearnot, father and mother and sister have all retired. Will you
take me down to supper?"

"With the greatest of pleasure," he replied, with a smile. "You are a
strong, brave girl, and you must pardon me if I give utterance to my
admiration."

"Thank you. Thank you very much, Mr. Fearnot," and, taking his arm, she
accompanied him down into the dining-room, where she was the only lady
passenger present.

She ate rather a light supper, and so did Fred. The meal over, they went
back up on deck, for all people when seasick want to be out in the fresh
air, and if the wind blows strong and cold they are all the better for
it.

Of course, the air wasn't cold at that season of the year, but the wind
blew fresh and strong from over the sea.

They walked about on the deck until ten o'clock, and then she said:

"Mr. Fearnot, you will excuse me if I retire."

"All right," said he, "but tell me, do you feel the least bit seasick?"

"No, indeed. I did expect to be, but that acid phosphate seemed to have
been the very thing for me, and I thank you heartily for suggesting it
to me."

"Perhaps you had better take another dose before retiring. You may need
some, too, through the night; so you may take the bottle to the cabin
with you," and he got it and placed it in her hand.