"And who are you that dares to say such saucy things to our company?" asked Ned, looking sharply round toward the spot from which the voice had seemed to come.
"Somebody that has a tongue of his own and a right to use it," returned the voice, but the speaker was still invisible.
"Well, whoever you are you've no business here on my father's yacht without an invitation," cried Ned, hurrying toward the spot from which the strange voice seemed to come.
"You silly, impudent youngster! I'm not here without an invitation," said the voice, seeming to come from a greater distance than before.
"Not?" exclaimed Ned; "then who invited you?"
"The captain and owner of the vessel."
Ned turned to his father. "Did you invite him, papa, and who is he?" Then, perceiving a look of amusement on every face, "Oh, I know! Why didn't I think before? It's just Cousin Ronald playing he's somebody else."
"Yes, laddie, and he's rather an auld mon to be playing at anything," returned the old gentleman pleasantly. "Dinna ye think so?"
"No, sir; and it's good of you to make a little fun for us youngsters."
"As well as for us older folks," added his mother in a sprightly tone.