The cat Muffie did not seem to mind the wild storm now raging and rushing the sloop before it, with many a dull thud that shook her from stem to stern.
Pussy was singing herself to sleep, with half-closed eyes that refused to keep awake.
Having lit the lamp, Antonio put the fiddles[4] on the table, and over this spread the table-cloth.
In the nests thus formed, and in front of each child, he placed a handful of nuts and apples.
Then he said, “Good-bye, dearies. Laugh and be happy. By-and-by I’ll be down to play and sing to you.”
“Oh,” cried Teenie, “that will be nice!”
She clapped her hands, and so did the others.
. . . . . .
There was still light enough on deck to see well around one; but Pandoo now, at his master’s command, lit a huge hurricane lantern, and hoisted it to the masthead.
The faithful fellow had discarded his turban, and was fain to encase himself in an oilskin coat and wear a big sou’-wester, in which costume, it must be confessed, his brown but handsome face did not show out to any great advantage.