The captain reseated himself, while Grace exclaimed with a sigh of relief, "Oh, I am so glad it was but a false alarm! A collision would be so dreadful, either to us or to the people on the other vessel, and maybe to both."
"Oh, it was just you, was it, Cousin Ronald?" laughed Ned. "Please do some more."
At that instant there was a loud squeak, as of a mouse that seemed to be on his own shoulder, and he started to his feet with a loud scream: "Oh, take it off, papa! Quick, quick!"
Everybody laughed; and Lucilla said teasingly, "I'm afraid you are not fit to be a soldier yet, Neddie boy."
"Maybe I will be by the time I'm tall enough," he returned rather shamefacedly.
"Yes, son, I believe you will," said his father. "I don't expect a son of mine to grow up to be a coward."
"I might have known it was Cousin Ronald, and not a real mouse, on my shoulder," remarked the little fellow with a mortified air; "but I didn't think just the first minute."
"Cousin Ronald on your shoulder?" laughed Lucilla. "I don't think he could stand there; and his weight would be quite crushing to you."
"Of course it would. He couldn't stand there at all," laughed Ned.
"No," said Mr. Lilburn, "it would be much more sensible for me to take you on my shoulder."