When Elizabeth finished, every one cried “How” and Aunt Edith declared she was deeply affected by the vivid description—it almost made her seasick!
“Who was mate on that trip?” asked Uncle Tom.
“Fred was mate and I was the ‘hand’ but I won’t tell tales on the Captain—let him speak for himself,” laughed Elizabeth.
“Well, I was the passenger and I can swear to my feelings,” exclaimed Billy, looking at his Uncle Bill.
But Uncle Bill returned the look boldly and murmured: “From what you say, that sure must have been some sail!”
“Wah! Wah!” cried a number of voices and everyone laughed.
The poetry had to be judged for other virtues than mere fidelity of description, so the “palm” was awarded to the composer of “Mpret.”
Following this verse contest, Billy announced that he and two friends would produce a moving picture play depicting a jitney in distress. So many impromptu additions were shown that the rough and tumble “movie” was highly applauded by the other children.
This over, the Chief stood up. “For a change in the programme, I think we will call upon Pah-hlee-oh, The Moon Maid, to entertain us by dancing the Storm Cloud.”