“I’ll do it,” Polly declared, reaching for note paper at once. “I’ll do it now.”
Aunty Welcome put her head in at the door.
“Anybody hyar want banana fritters, an’ whipped cream?”
The meeting was broken up instantly, and the girls followed Welcome out to the arbor where the feast was spread. But Polly lingered until she had written the note of thanks to Mrs. Yates, and when it was completed she went to find the Admiral and get his opinion.
“Is that right, grandfather?” she asked, with one arm around his shoulders, as she knelt beside him at his desk.
“Seems to be all shipshape,” answered the Admiral, heartily. He smoothed Polly’s head tenderly. “How is the Naval Board of Special Inquiry?”
“Eating banana fritters, sir,” whispered Polly. “We’re going to sail Saturday morning sure.”
CHAPTER V
ON BOARD THE “HIPPOCAMPUS”
The morning of the sailing came quickly, it seemed to the little band of voyagers. Polly was up, and fully dressed by five, making her final arrangements, and the Admiral was “on lookout,” as he said, with Aunty Welcome’s nephew, Stoney, carrying the luggage down from the house to the boat-landing.