In
the darkness I could not see his face, but I was sure he was still
vaguely smiling. "Worse than a foot-ball night!" he exclaimed; "worse
than Mafeking night!"
His sister pointed to the yawl.
"This gentleman is going to bring that boat here and take us away in
it," she told him. "We had better go when we can!"
"Right ho!" assented Stumps cheerfully. "How about Phil? He's just
behind me."
As he spoke, only a few yards from us a peevish voice pierced the
tumult.
"I tell you," it cried, "you must find Lord Ivy! If Lord Ivy--"
A voice with a strong and brutal American accent yelled in answer: "To
hell with Lord Ivy!"
Lady Moya chuckled.
"Get to the lower deck!" I commanded. "I am going for the yawl."
As I slipped my leg over the rail I heard Lord Ivy say: "I'll find Phil
and meet you."
I dropped and caught the rail of the deck below, and, hanging from it,
shoved with my knees and fell into the water. Two strokes brought me to
the yawl, and, scrambling into her and casting her off, I paddled back
to the steamer. As I lay under the stern I heard from the lower deck the
voice of Kinney raised importantly.
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