Presently several joined in the chorus and made the saloon ring again with melody.
At the close of the song the singer was loudly applauded; but he excused himself from repeating the experiment.
At ten o’clock supper was served for those who wished it; but as our party were not among that number they left the saloon and retired to their berths, where they were all soon rocked asleep by the motion of the ship.
And so ended their first day out.
CHAPTER IX
“THE SEA KING’S DAUGHTER”
The next day the passengers all arose early to go on deck; but most of them had to lie down again before they had finished dressing; and to remain in their staterooms, where they were attended by the stewardess.
The ship was approaching Queenstown.
All our party, however, came upon deck. Some of them were sick enough, but they all thought that the fine air of the upper deck was better for them than the close air of the staterooms, or even of the cabin.
The weather-beaten and weather-proof old skipper and his grandniece, little Rosemary Hedge, were the only ones who remained perfectly well, with a keen appetite for breakfast and a wholesome enjoyment of the sharp March morning.
“How is it with you, my girl?” inquired the skipper, when they all met in the bows and exchanged their morning greetings and compared notes about endured or threatened sickness. “How is it with you? You look as fresh and as bright as a brand new sixpence, and you are as steady on your pins as if you had been to sea all your life!”