out near the shoulders!"

"These are some of our old dresses," said Rebecca. "They was made in
1891, an' we thought they'd prob'bly be more in the fashion back in 1892
when we get there than our newer dresses."

"Never mind our dresses, Mr. Droop," said Phoebe. "Where can we put
down all these things? My arms are breakin' off."

"Right here, Cousin Phoebe."

Droop bustled over to the state-rooms, opening both the doors at once.

"Here's a room apiece fer ye. Take yer choice."

"Oh, but where'll you sleep?" said Phoebe. "P'raps Rebecca and I'd
better have one room together."

"Not a bit of it," said Droop. "I'll sleep on one o' them settles under
the windows. They're real comfortable."

"Well--just as you say."

The sisters entered their rooms and deposited their bundles, but
Phoebe returned at once and called to Droop, who had started down the
stairs.

"Mr. Droop, you've got to start right straight off. Mrs. Allen knows 't
you've carried off the trunk and she's comin' after us with Si Pray an'
a gun."

Just then they heard the loud barking of a dog. He was apparently
running rapidly down the lane.

"Sakes alive!" cried Phoebe, in alarm. "Slam to that door, Copernicus
Droop! Si has let his dog loose an' he's on your tracks!"

The baying was repeated--now much nearer. Droop clattered frantically
down the stairs, and shut the door with a bang. At the next moment a
heavy body leaped against it, and a man's voice was heard close at hand.

"Sic um, Touser, sic um! Where is he, boy?"

Up the stairs went Copernicus two steps at a time. He dashed into the
anteroom, pale and breathless.

"Lie down on the floor!" he shouted. "Lie down or ye'll get throwed
down. I'm agoin' to start her!"

By this time he had opened the engine-room door.

The two women promptly lay flat on their backs on the carpet.

Droop braced himself firmly and had just grasped the starting lever when
a cry from Rebecca arrested him.

"Copernicus Droop--hold on!" she cried.

He turned to her, his face full of anxious fear. Rebecca lay on her back
with her hands at her sides, but her head was raised stiffly from the
floor.

"Copernicus Droop," she said, solemnly, "hev ye brought any rum aboard
with ye? 'Cause if ye have I won't----"

She never concluded, for at this moment her head was jerked back sharply
against the floor by a tremendous upward leap of the machine.

There was a hissing roar as of a thousand rockets, and even as Reb