matter of further action afterwards," suggested Shakespeare, and it was
this suggestion that made the members unanimous upon the necessity for
immediate action, for when the assembled spirits called for their various
favorite beverages it was found that there were none to be had, it being
Sunday, and all the establishments wherein liquid refreshments were
licensed to be sold being closed--for at the time of writing the local
government of Hades was in the hands of the reform party.

"What!" cried Socrates. "Nothing but Styx water and vitriol, Sundays? Then
the House-boat must be recovered whether Xanthippe comes with it or not.
Sir Walter, I am for immediate action, after all. This ruffian should be
captured at once and made an example of."

"Excuse me, Socrates," put in Lindley Murray, "but, ah--pray speak in
Greek hereafter, will you, please? When you attempt English you have a
beastly way of working up to climatic prepositions which are offensive to
the ear of a purist."

"This is no time to discuss style, Murray," interposed Sir Walter.
"Socrates may speak and spell like Chaucer if he pleases; he may even part
his infinitives in the middle, for all I care. We have affairs of greater
moment in hand."

"We must ransack the earth," cried Socrates, "until we find that boat. I'm
dry as a fish."

"There he goes again!" growled Murray. "Dry as a fish! What fish I'd like
to know is dry?"

"Red herrings," retorted Socrates; and there was a great laugh at the