"You must be sure of your weather before you indulge yourself there," Cosden remarked. "They told us, coming down, of a dignified British admiral who was tempted to a plunge, but no sooner was he in the pool than a young cyclone struck the boat, and for twenty minutes he was thrown forwards and backwards and sideways in spite of the efforts of the stewards to get him out. As he weighed nearly three hundred pounds the situation became serious. Finally, when the water was drawn off, he was dragged upon the stone slabs more dead than alive and held there until the storm abated, indifferent to the dignity of his person or to the glory of the British navy."
"That ought to act as an excellent flesh-reducer," Huntington commented. "Perhaps it would serve in my efforts to alter my lines for speed."
"I don't see that you need it," Edith laughed; "but we'll all be down to give encouragement."
"About that time you'll be making love to your little brass bedstead," remarked Mrs. Thatcher.
Edith's face fell. "I forgot all about that!" she cried aghast. "You don't think it will be as rough going back as it was coming down, do you? Oh! I forgot all about that!"
"It's certain to be bad enough to make you feel 'very annoyed,'" Marian confirmed maliciously.
"Let's go on deck," Ricky Stevens said with a sudden show of interest; "it's so awfully stuffy down here!"
Edith gave him a glance of approval. "For once in your life, Richard Stevens, you have a real idea. I can feel the boat beginning to roll now."
"Nonsense!" Huntington laughed, "we're scarcely out of the harbor yet; but the deck is much the better place; we are passing close to the shore and this last view of the islands is beautiful. We shall have ample opportunity to inspect the boat later on."
"I've seen all I want to," Edith asserted, as they started back to the companion way. "It was silly of me to forget that awful experience coming down. I am sure the boat is rolling, in spite of your denials."