"Seeing, my dear Bertha, that if you get off you will be drowned, I am afraid you will have to endure the annoyance."
"But why go out to sea? Have I not had enough sea?"
"My dear Bertha——"
"Don't dear Bertha me!" and the little beauty stamped her foot. "You ought to get to land as quickly as you can, and not fly into greater danger."
The heavy boom of a gun startled her.
"Take me back to America, won't you, Mr. Tempest?"
"I would like to; but there is some fighting before us, I am afraid."
He went on deck, not waiting to hear what new objection she would raise, or fresh obstacle interpose.
To his great joy he found that there was a likelihood of a very dark night, and neither British nor American would care about a night engagement at sea.