They thought he was mad."

"Is that true, Carlton?" asked the Englishman.

"Something like it," said the American, except that I didn't
ask them if it was raining in London. I asked them for a
drink, and it was they who were mad. They thought I was
drowning, and slowed up to lower a boat, and when they found
out I was just swimming around they were naturally angry.

"Well, I'm glad you didn't bet with me," said the captain,
with a relieved laugh.

That evening, as the Englishman was leaving the smoking-room,
and after he had bidden Carlton good-night, he turned back and
said: "I didn't like to ask you before those men this
morning, but there was something about your swimming adventure
I wanted to know: Did you get that drink?"

"I did," said Carlton--"in a bottle. They nearly broke my
shoulder."

As Carlton came into the breakfast-room on the morning of the
day he was to meet the Princess Aline at dinner, Miss Morris
was there alone, and he sat down at the same table, opposite
to her. She looked at him critically, and smiled with evident
amusement.

"`To-day,'" she quoted, solemnly, "`the birthday of my life has come.'"