t I was just thinking that now that we have two
ventriloquists here, we might have some fun--for so far as I know the
folks from Pleasant Plains don't know anything about the extraordinary
powers of Cousins Ronald and Hugh--and I hoped you weren't too tired to
enjoy it."

"I don't believe I am," she laughed; "and I think I shall enjoy it if papa
doesn't send me to bed too soon. It was very good in you to think of me,
Walter."

"Was it, when you are the girl that always thinks of everybody else?"

"Not always, Walter. I am afraid I very often think of myself first."

"Do you? I never knew it before," he laughed; then hurrying to old Mr.
Lilburn's side, whispered something in his ear.

The old gentleman smiled, and gave a nod of assent. "I like to please you,
laddie," he said in an undertone. "So does Hugh, and mayhap atween us we
can accomplish something worth while."

"Oh, thank you," returned Walter. "I do think, cousin, that a little fun
would do us all good. We've been dining heartily--at least I have--and I
think a good laugh assists digestion."

Hugh sat near, chatting with Captain Raymond. Walter now turned to him
with a whispered request which he seemed to grant as readily as his father
had the one made of him.

At that Rosie and Lucilla, who were watching Walter with apparent interest
in his proceedings, exchanged a glance of mingled amusement and
satisfaction, while Grace, whose eyes were following his movements,
laughed softly to herself; for she was in the mood for a bit of fun, and
saw in all this the promise of some.

"Dear me, what a lot o' folks! and all lookin' so comfortable-like.
They've had a good dinner,--or supper, whichever they call it--you bet,
Joe, while we're as hungry as bears," said a rough, masculine voice which
seemed to come from a spot close in Captain Raymond's rear.

Before the sentence was half finished every other voice was hushed and all
eyes were turned in the direction from which the sound seemed to come.
Everyone was startled for an instant, but by the time the sentence was
finished the captain looked perfectly calm and cool.

"Who are you? and how did you come aboard the vessel?" he asked.

"In the boat, sir; same as the rest o'e company," was the reply in the
same voice.

"Without waiting for an invitation, eh?"

"Humph! might 'a' missed it if we'd waited. Say, capting, are you mean
enough to let us fellows go hungry when you have a vessel full o' good
things fo