to the bed and takes off the spread, and lays out to air the three sheets in the wind! And here I be," concluded the Able Seaman, "all ready for orders." And he looked very hard at Freddie.
"Well!" said Aunt Amanda, gasping. "I never in my life heard such a——"
"I'll tell you what it is, Mr. Mizzen," said Toby. "It's about Correction Island, on the Spanish Main."
"Ay, ay, sir!" said Mr. Mizzen. "Would you like to go there?"
"Ah!" said everyone at once, except Mr. Hanlon, who nodded his head.
"No trouble at all," said Mr. Mizzen. "Just step into The Sieve, and we'll be off. A sweet little bark is The Sieve, provided there's plenty of dippers; but we always go well provided. Is the whole party going?"
"One moment, if you please," said the Sly Old Codger. "There is one little point on which I—that is to say—Will there be any expense?"
"Not a penny," said Mr. Mizzen. "Everything's found. Orders from the skipper. What he says goes."
"Ah!" said the Sly Old Fox. "The Spanish Main! With all the little parrots and monkeys flitting about in the branches of the upas trees!—I think I will join."
"I reckon we're all going," said Mr. Toby. "Is everybody agreed? All right. It's settled. And my vote is, to go right now, while we've got hold of our Able Seaman here."