Fainter and fainter dwindled the shouts from the wharf, until the dense crowd of people vanished in the light mist that overhung the river.
Then, under the impulse of her powerful engines, the good ship gathered way and was fairly on her voyage.
"It seems too good to be true," exclaimed Tiny. "I hope I shan't wake up and find it's all a dream."
CHAPTER IV
"REGARDLESS OF THE RISK"
The two chums berthed in separate cabins. On account of Desmond's weak lungs he was compelled by the company's rules to sleep in a part of the ship set apart for persons suffering from pulmonary complaints.
Consequently Colin had to have another cabin-mate, since every available berth had been booked weeks before the Huldebras was due to sail.
When Colin went below to see to his cabin trunk, he found his future "opposite number" engaged upon the same errand—a tall, heavily-built bearded man of about forty years of age.
"Don't apologise," said the man. "You have as much right here as I have. We're cabin-mates, are we not? What is your name?"