"Don't you feel like pacing the deck with measured tread?" I asked.
And she got up as if she had been sitting on a spring, and we paced the deck in solemn silence behind those other two.
Captain Fergus turned suddenly. "This young man ought to have a uniform," he said. "I've got one that he could wear. Steward!"
And the steward, having come instantly and received his instructions, vanished below, and immediately reappeared, bearing an ensign's coat and cap. These were fitted upon my son. They were too large, but he could wear them.
"But, Captain Fergus," said Elizabeth, laughing, "the regulations!"
"Jigger the regulations!" remarked Captain Fergus, smiling. "I pay mighty little attention to regulations when I'm on my own vessel. Pukkie's my first officer."
My little son beamed at this, and turned to show me his uniform.
"When you command that yacht of Mr. Goodwin's," said Elizabeth, "you'll have to pay some attention to the regulations."
"Have to sleep in my uniform, like as not," Captain Fergus growled. "According to the order we are not to unbutton a button of the coat on any occasion. If that doesn't mean sleep in your uniform, what does it mean?"
"You can't have Pukkie for your first officer then," Elizabeth pursued. "Can you?"