"Course it is. But, oh, I'll tell you. They'll be goin' out to breakfast presently, then let's go down thar where the goodies is, and help, ourselves."
"Yes, let's."
Everybody in the saloon had stopped talking and seemed to be listening in surprise to the colloquy of the two stowaways—for such they apparently were—but now Ned broke the silence: "Why, how did they get on board? Must be stowaways and have been in the hold all this time. Oh, I guess they are hungry enough by this time; so no wonder they want the candies and things."
"Perhaps Cousin Ronald can tell us something about them," laughed Lucilla.
"Acquaintances of mine, you think, lassie?" sniffed the old gentleman. "Truly, you are most complimentary. But I have no more fancy for such trash than have you."
"Ah, well, now, cousin, I really don't imagine those remarks were made by any very bad or objectionable fellows," remarked Captain Raymond, in a tone of amusement.
"No," said Mr. Dinsmore, "we certainly should not be hard on them if they are poor and hungry."
"Which they must be if they have been living in the hold ever since we left our native shores," laughed Violet.
"Oh, now, I know, it was just Cousin Ronald, and not any real person," cried Ned, dancing about in delight.
"And so I'm not a real person?" said Mr. Lilburn, in a deeply hurt tone.