"Ten knots an hour," said she.

"Very good speed," returned the captain. "I do not think we shall be able
to take an observation to-day, as it is rather cloudy."

Sailors "take observations" at noon, if the sun is out, by means of a
sextant, with which they measure the distance from the sun to the
southern horizon. In this way the captain can tell the exact latitude of
the ship; but Miss Percival made believe there was a storm coming up; so
it was not possible to take an observation.

"It is two bells," said she: "the wind is out; there will be a fearful
storm. I would advise the passengers to turn into their berths."

The children lay down upon the floor. "There, there," said Miriam Lake,
who was playing Jennie Holiday; "my poor little kitty is just as
seasick! Her head keeps going round and round."

"_My_ head has did it too," chimed in Katie, rolling herself into a ball;
"it keeps yocking yound and yound."

"I pitch about so in my berth," said Octavia, who was Rollo, "that next
thing I shall be out on the floor. Hark! How the water is pouring in! I'm
afraid the ship has sprung a leak; and if it has I must call the
chambermaid."

Mrs. Clifford, who stood looking on, was quite amused at the idea of
calling the chambermaid to stop a leak in the ship.

"Man the pumps!" said the captain. The girls tugged away at a pole in one