"Very strange," said Lucilla, "very strange that a grave old man such as you should care for fun."
"Yes, but my sister Lu likes it, and she's older—a great deal older than I am," returned the little fellow, looking up into her face with eyes that sparkled with fun.
At that she laughed and gave him a kiss.
"Yes, I am a great deal older than you, and so you ought to treat me with great respect," she said.
"Ought I, papa?" he asked, turning to their father.
"It would be quite well to do so, if you want the reputation of being a little gentleman," replied the captain, regarding his little son with a smile of amusement.
But at that instant there came a sound as of a shrill whistle overhead, followed by a shout in stentorian tones: "Hello! look out there! Ship ahoy! Do you mean to run into us? If we get foul of each other somebody may be sent to Davy Jones' locker."
Everybody started, and the captain rose to his feet, a look of anxiety coming over his face.
But Cousin Ronald gave him a roguish look.
"I wouldn't mind it, captain," he said. "It's only a false alarm. I doubt if there is any vessel near us."