"Or be carried away in a balloon," was the impatient exclamation. "One is just as likely to happen as the other."
"Hardly—heigh-ho!"
Howard at that moment had twined his feet around the neck of Terror, the Newfoundland, and the mischievous dog, springing suddenly to his feet, brought his master from his seat to the deck, which, as a matter of course, made both of the cousins laugh.
"He did that on purpose," said Howard, recovering his position.
"Of course he did. You have been pestering him for the last half-hour, and he is getting tired of it; but I may say, Howard, I shall hardly be able to sleep to-night, I am so anxious to see father and mother."
"So am I; a few years makes such a difference in us, while I can't detect the least change in them."
"Except a few more gray hairs, or perhaps an additional wrinkle or two. What's the matter with Tim?"
"Tim! O nothing, he seems to be meditating and smoking. Fact is that is about all he has done since he has been with us."
"It's been a grand time for Tim, and I have no doubt he has enjoyed the trip to and from California as much as either of us."
The subject of these remarks was seated a few feet away, his arms folded, while he was looking with a vague, dreamy expression out upon the great Pacific, stretching so many thousand miles beyond them, rolling far off in each direction, until sky and ocean blended in great gloom.