"Petticoats always do knock the pluck out of a man."
As they rowed alongside of the Mariella, day had dawned and the boys could distinguish Miss Juanita, Mason, and Washington leaning over the rail. Little Mason swung his cap and shouted in his joy.
At this point Washington seized him and dragged him back, at the same time placing his finger on his own lips to indicate that he should be quiet.
"O, bother," grunted Mason, "who's afraid now the cap's back?"
Miss Juanita greeted them warmly as they came over the side. She took a hand of each boy and kissed it with a pretty little courtesy. Washington was so jubilant that he could not refrain from a few steps of a double shuffle on the deck.
"Ah guessed Massa Cap'n Dynamite'd bring 'em all back all right, all right, an' ah ain't such a mucher at guessin' either," he said, with a wide grin.
The boys, quite abashed by Miss Juanita's demonstrative thanks, stammered a few words in reply and turned to greet their eager companion.
"Say, fels, tell me all about it," said the Midget, dragging them off to the forward part of the deck.
"First got to go to the galley with George Wash Jenks and get some coffee and bite to eat. Ah bet you suah hungry, Misser Harry an' Misser Bert."
"We suah are, Washington. What have you got to eat in there?"