After this the whole party went up on deck for a promenade. The setting sun was striking a broad path of glorious light across from the western horizon to the bows of the ship.
“It seems the course of our voyage,” said Odalite. “We are sailing toward the setting sun, and just now in its path of flame.”
There were many more people on the forward deck; but after the sun had dropped below the horizon the wind gradually freshened and it grew very cold.
Then Mr. Force proposed that they should leave the deck.
They all went down to the saloon and gathered around one of the vacant tables, where the captain entertained them with sea yarns, and even sang a sea song.
There were many other groups of passengers gathered at the other tables, but they were still strangers to our party, when the old skipper began to sing his song with its roaring refrain of:
“Oh! what a row! what a rumpus! and a rioting!
They all endure, you may be sure,
Who—go—to—sea!”
Conversation stopped at all the tables, and all the people turned to listen.