"Oh, sir, that is good of you!"
"Not at all. You don't suppose that we are going to remain here quietly, knowing that close by there are white people in the hands of those scoundrels. We shall want you to act as our guide. We are going to take a saw with us and cut away the wood round that hole you escaped by, and hope to get your friends out without the negroes seeing us. If they do, so much the worse for them. Now, will you sit down while the steward lays the cloth for lunch?—it will be ready in two or three minutes; then I will bring the other two officers down to introduce them to you." He raised his voice: "Sam! luncheon as soon as possible."
The young negro was expecting the order, and ran in at once with a table-cloth and a plate-basket, and in two or three minutes the table was laid; then he went out and returned with the plates.
"Eberyting ready, sah; me bring down de soup when you gib de word."
"Give my compliments to Mr. Turnbull and Mr. Lippincott, and ask them to come down to lunch."
The girl looked anxious and shy as she heard the footsteps coming down the companion, but an expression of relief came over her face as she saw that they were even younger than the officer she had already seen.
"These are my officers, mademoiselle—Mr. Turnbull and Mr. Lippincott. Their French is not of the best, but you must make allowance for them."
The girl smiled and held out her hand to the two middies. The news that her parents and sister might yet be rescued had already greatly raised her spirits.
"I do look funny, do I not?" she said.
"I am sure you look very nice," Turnbull replied. "It is quite a novelty for us to have a lady on board."