“I’m sorry that they did not call,” commented Aunt Sarah complacently; “but I suppose they were in a hurry, and Captain Brown will take care of them.”

“In a hurry!  No.  Captain Brown—­” but the remark was lost to his wife.  He cut short his eating, hurried to town, and, in faint hopes that it might be in time, sent a telegram to his brother in Liverpool which read: 

“Don’t sail with Captain Brown.  Will explain later.”

This telegram was delivered to Captain Brown’s housekeeper, who sent it to the steamship company’s office, where it was safely pigeon-holed.

The morning passed at Kildare Villa.  The telegram brought no reply.  In foolish desperation, hoping against hope, Uncle Gilbert took the first fast train northward, crossed by mail steamer to Holyhead, thence on to Liverpool, where he arrived too late.  The boat had sailed.  He went to the steamship company’s office in Water Street, and passed, without asking leave, into the manager’s office.  That official was alone, which was to Gilbert Strong’s purpose.

“Why did you permit my brother to sail with Captain Brown?” asked he abruptly.

“My dear Mr. Strong,” said the manager, “calm yourself.  I do not understand.”

“Yes, you do.  You know as well as I do that his ship is—­is not in the best condition.  You ought not to have allowed passengers at all.”

“Sit down, Mr. Strong.  The boat is good for many a trip yet, though it is true, as you know, that she is to go into dry dock for overhauling on her return.  Has your brother sailed on her?”

“He has, my brother, his daughter and her young man.  I suppose there were other passengers also?”

“Yes; a few—­perhaps twenty-five all told.  Don’t worry; Captain Brown will bring them safely through.”

“Yes,” said Gilbert Strong, as he left the office, “yes, if the Lord will give him a show—­but—­”

He could say no more, for did he not know full well that at a meeting of company directors at which he had been present, it had been decided to try one more trip with Captain Brown in command, and the fact that the boat was not in good condition was to be kept as much as possible from the captain.  A little tinkering below and a judicious coat of paint above would do much to help the appearance of matters, one of the smiling directors had said.  And so—­well, he would try not to worry.  Of course, everything would be well.  Such things were done right along, with only occasionally a disaster or loss—­fully covered by the insurance.

But for all his efforts at self assurance, when he went home to Aunt Sarah he was not in the most easy frame of mind.

* * * * *

The little company under Captain Brown’s care was having a delightful time.  The weather was so pleasant that there was very little sickness.  Chester again escaped and even his father and Lucy were indisposed for a day or two only.  After that the long sunny days and much of the starry nights were spent on deck.  The members of the company soon became well acquainted.  Captain Brown called them his “happy family.”