"It's some, though," said Ned, "because it seems so real even when you do know—or guess—who it is that's doing it."
"Well, now, I'm glad you are so easily pleased and entertained, little fellow," said the voice from the state-room door. "Perhaps now the captain will let me pay my fare on the yacht by providing fun for his little son. That oldest one doesn't seem to need any; he gets enough talking with the ladies."
"Oh, do you, brother Max?" asked Ned, turning to him.
"Yes," laughed Max; "it's very good fun."
"Hello!" shouted a voice, apparently from the deck, "Mr. Raymond, sir, better come up here and see that we don't run foul of that big steamer—or she of us."
The captain started to his feet, but Max laughed, and said in a mirthful tone, "Never mind, father, it's a false alarm, given for Ned's amusement."
"Please don't scare anybody else to amuse me, brother Max," said Ned, with the air of one practising great self-denial.
"I don't think father was really very badly scared," laughed Lucilla; "and we may feel pretty safe with two good naval officers and a skilful crew to look out for threatening dangers and help us to avoid them."
"That's right, miss; no occasion for anxiety or alarm," said the man's rough voice that had spoken before.
"Thank you; I don't feel a particle of either," laughed Lucilla.