He joined my laugh, and we shook hands on it.
“I’m going to give you absolute freedom, Grey,â€� said he, “even to ‘shore leave.’ Fact is, after breakfast, you can do as you like, and we’ll——â€�
“Bleakfas’, sir!� announced the Jap, Saki, at his elbow, and the sentence wasn’t finished as we strode, hunger-whetted, to the dining saloon.
CHAPTER XVI.
A PICNIC.
Both Stella Stroth and Stevens were already at table, and the girl seemed to be in the highest sort of spirits.
From the very second of my arrival she kept me jump[Pg 49]ing from subject to subject in a sparkling joy of life. Little showed of that pensive mood of last night’s moonlight.
Stroth and Stevens soon became engrossed in plans for the refitting of the schooner, no small task under the circumstances; but little of the more serious talk got to me, for the girl kept me busy.
Presently she burst out with:
“Oh, daddy, have you still got my canoe aboard?�
Not a trace of annoyance at her interruption showed in the father’s manner as he replied: