"How do you like the state-room?" inquired the skipper, who was at the
wheel.
"Pretty fair," replied Miss Cooper. "It's a big name for it though,
ain't it? Oh, what a large ship!"
She ran to the side to gaze at a big liner, and as far as Gravesend
besieged the skipper and mate with questions concerning the various
craft. At the mate's suggestion they had tea on deck, at which meal
William Henry Cooper became a source of much discomfort to his host by
his remarkable discoveries anent the fauna of lettuce. Despite his
efforts, however, and the cloud under which Evans seemed to be
labouring, the meal was voted a big success; and after it was over they
sat laughing and chatting until the air got chilly, and the banks of the
river were lost in the gathering darkness. At ten o'clock they retired
for the night, leaving Evans and the mate on deck.
"Nice gal, that," said the mate, looking at the skipper, who was leaning
moodily on the wheel.
"Ay, ay," replied he. "Bill," he continued, turning suddenly towards
the mate. "I'm in a deuce of a mess. You've got a good square head on
your shoulders. Now, what on earth am I to do? Of course you can see how
the land lays?"
"Of course," said the mate, who was not going to lose his reputation by
any display of ignorance.
Pages:
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251