"Ladies first!" he cried. "Her ladyship first, I mean," he corrected.
Even on leaving what he believed to be a sinking ship, Kinney could not
forget his manners. But Mr. Aldrich had evidently forgotten his. I
heard him shout indignantly: "I'll be damned if I do!"
The voice of Lady Moya laughed.
"You'll be drowned if you don't!" she answered. I saw a black shadow
poised upon the rail. "Steady below there!" her voice called, and the
next moment, as lightly as a squirrel, she dropped to the thwart and
stumbled into my arms.
The voice of Aldrich was again raised in anger. "I'd rather drown!" he
cried.
Lord Ivy responded with unexpected spirit.
"Well, then, drown! The water is warm and it's a pleasing death."
At that, with a bump, he fell in a heap at my feet.
"Easy, Kinney!" I shouted. "Don't swamp us!"
"I'll be careful!" he called, and the next instant hit my shoulders and
I shook him off on top of Lord Ivy.
"Get off my head!" shouted his lordship.
Kinney apologized to every one profusely. Lady Moya raised her voice.
"For the last time, Phil," she called, "are you coming or are you not?"
"Not with those swindlers, I'm not!" he shouted.
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