"Oh, I was so frightened, Unky dear, but I is so happy now!" cried Pansy.
"Bless my soul and body," cried Staysail at last, "how did all this happen?"
Then he went forward a few paces, the little ones clinging to him all the time, and Veevee racing round the deck like a live muff.
"Tom, you young rascal, jump down here at once. This is all your work. Now, give a full account of it, sir."
"Oh, I do hope, Uncle, you'll forgive me, but Frank and little Pansy and Aralia did want to come with us so much, that—that—!"
"That you took them as stowaways, eh?"
"I'm afraid that's it, sir."
The captain pretended to be awfully angry, and said he would put about and land the lot at Aberdeen.
"In the meantime, go below, children, and get yourselves washed; the steward will see to you. Steward!"
"Ay, ay, sir, I'se heah, sah."