satisfaction. Bobsey ate until the passengers around him were
laughing, but he, with superb indifference, attended strictly to
business.

My wife whispered, "You must all eat enough to last a week, for I
sha'n't have time to cook anything;" and I was much pleased at the
good example which she and Mousie set us.

Both before and after supper I conducted Bobsey to the wash-room,
and he made the people laugh as he stood on a chair and washed his
face. But he was a sturdy little fellow, and only laughed back when
a man said he looked as though he was going to dive into the basin.

Mousie at last began to show signs of fatigue; and learning that it
would be several hours still before we could hope to arrive, so
severe was the storm, I procured the use of a state-room, and soon
Bobsey was snoring in the upper berth, and my invalid girl smiling
and talking in soft tones to her mother in the lower couch. Winnie,
Merton, and I prowled around, spending the time as best we could.
Occasionally we looked through the windows at the bow, and wondered
how the pilot could find his way through the tempest. I confess I
had fears lest he might not do this, and felt that I should be
grateful indeed when my little band was safe on shore. The people in
charge of the boat, however, knew their business.




CHAPTER XII