crowd with astonishment. "I would tell you vat you vants to know," he
added, "but I pees von stranger in dose barts mineself."

Then the woman seemed to speak: "Come to de dable, mine frient, and eat
somedings mit us."

"Thank you, very much," returned Walter, "you are most kind and
hospitable, but I cannot think of intruding upon your hospitality." And
with a bow directed toward her and her spouse, he turned and left the
room, the rest of his party following and leaving the little crowd of
Germans gazing at each other and the waxen figures in wide-eyed,
open-mouthed astonishment.

"Papa," complained little Ned as they left the German quarter, "I'm so
tired and sleepy."

"Hungry, too, papa's boy, aren't you?" was the kindly enquiring rejoinder.
"Well, papa will take you back to our floating home, and leave you there
with your nurse to be fed and have a good, long nap. I think Elsie would
like to go too. Wouldn't you, daughter?"

The little girl gave a glad assent, and arranging with his wife and older
daughters where to meet them on his return, the captain set off with the
two little ones for the _Dolphin_.




CHAPTER VII.