than of accident. Let us below."

Elizabeth rose up and readjusted her ruff, which in the excitement of
the moment had been forced to assume a position about her forehead
which gave one the impression that its royal wearer had suddenly
donned a sombrero.

"Very well," she said. "Let us below; but oh, for the axe!"

"Bring the lady an axe," cried Xanthippe, sarcastically. "She wants
to cut somebody."

The sally was not greeted with applause. The situation was regarded
as being too serious to admit of humor, and in silence they filed
back into the billiard-room, and, arranging themselves in groups,
stood about anxiously discussing the situation.

"It's getting rougher every minute," sobbed Ophelia. "Look at those
pool-balls!" These were in very truth chasing each other about the
table in an extraordinary fashion. "And I wish I'd never followed
you horrid new creatures on board!" the poor girl added, in an agony
of despair.

"I believe we've crossed the bar already!" said Cleopatra, gazing out
of the window at a nasty choppy sea that was adding somewhat to the
disquietude of the fair gathering. "If this is merely a joke on the
part of the Associated Shades, it is a mighty poor one, and I think
it is time it should cease."

"Oh, for an axe!" moaned Elizabeth, again.