“But it knows any friend it has met once before;
It never will look at a bribe;
And in charity meetings it stands at the door
And collects—though it does not subscribe.”
“Plain Jane and Ellen, I am just as glad to see you as though you hadn’t waked me up. Come, salute me.”
Both girls made a dash for their disheveled friend.
“Well, get out of Daddy’s bunk and tell Ellen the tragedy of the Snark while I take Jane into your little stateroom and show her where she can scrouge in her clothes,” commanded Mabel.
Frances crawled out of the bunk and began, “Well, my poor little ignorant friend, it is this way: The Snark was a fabulous creature of great value, so great in fact that a band of worthy gentlemen set out to catch it. This band was headed by the noble Bellman who was much respected by the others. One of these gentlemen was a Baker and was unfortunate enough to vanish in thin air after the Snark was caught, because it proved to be a Boojum. Now it is all nice and clear, isn’t it, my priceless child?”
“About as clear as mud,” laughed Ellen. “I’ll get a copy and read it so I’ll know what you lunatics are talking about. Anyway, I’m glad I know where Mr. Wing got that ridiculous name for this lovely boat.”
Mabel had taken Jane into a tiny stateroom with two narrow little bunks, one over the other.