Aralia and Pansy reached the quarter-deck before anyone could say “knife”, and, black as they were, sprang right into Captain Staysail’s arms, hugging him and kissing him.

“What!—­what!—­what!—­” He tried to get out a sentence, but failed.

“Oh, I was so frightened, Unky dear, but I is so happy now!” cried Pansy.

“Bless my soul and body,” cried Staysail at last, “how did all this happen?”

[Illustration]

Then he went forward a few paces, the little ones clinging to him all the time, and Veevee racing round the deck like a live muff.

“Tom, you young rascal, jump down here at once.  This is all your work.  Now, give a full account of it, sir.”

“Oh, I do hope, Uncle, you’ll forgive me, but Frank and little Pansy and Aralia did want to come with us so much, that—­that—!”

“That you took them as stowaways, eh?”

“I’m afraid that’s it, sir.”

The captain pretended to be awfully angry, and said he would put about and land the lot at Aberdeen.

“In the meantime, go below, children, and get yourselves washed; the steward will see to you.  Steward!”

“Ay, ay, sir, I’se heah, sah.”

“Let Miss Aralia and Pansy have that spare cabin near mine.  I’ll talk to you afterwards, Tom.”

Tom hung his head in sorrow—­so it seemed,—­but it really was to hide a smile.

He got near enough to his sisters to say:  “Keep up your pecker, Pansy, for there won’t be any Aberdeen about it.”

In the spare cabin stood a big box that nobody had noticed before.  Tom had smuggled it on board, and it contained his sisters’ best things, and a full rig-out for them for the Arctic regions.

Sly old Tom!

He now stole into their cabin and gave them their clothes, and when Staysail came down to dinner at twelve, with his spy-glass under his arm, no wonder he cried:  “Hillo!  Hillo!”

For here were the three children, all mirth and smiles, seated beside Pete, and Tom, with head bowed down, waiting to take his seat.

“Hillo!  Hillo!  But what will your father and mother think, my dears?”

“Oh,” cried Tom, “we made that all right!  Father gave his consent, and he’ll easily manage Mother.”

“Steward!” shouted the captain, and Jake came running.  “Put the other half-leaf in the table to-night, and lay covers for three more, for these young ragamuffins must mess with us in future.”

There was no more word about ghosts now, and the kind professor forgave the Finlander.  He was set free and sent to duty, and now for weeks and weeks there wasn’t a much happier vessel afloat than the brave ship Valhalla bound for the Frozen North.

The two dogs became great friends, but, strangely enough, both disliked Broomberg, and kept out of his way whenever they could.  Once, indeed, when the man bent down to stroke Veevee, Briton stood guard over his little friend and growled.