If our staunch old ship can stand the
strain of these last few minutes so well she isn't going back on us
now, I'll swear!"
His voice broke a trifle, and he turned to his daughters, who were now
close together, their arms about each other.
"What shall I send from the cabin to you, girlies?" he whispered.
"Tegeloo shall bring you your treasures here."
"There's poor Texas, if he isn't killed already," said Hope.
"And Andy," added Faith, when suddenly out popped the monkey's head
from the reefer pocket, and, looking-glass still in hand, he scrambled
down into Faith's lap.
"Why--why!" cried the astonished captain, "Was it Andy? I thought
something wriggled once or twice, but concluded 'twas only imagination.
Well, I declare! Whose glass is that?"
"I don't know, papa. He had on Mrs. Campbell's dress hat, and
somebody's sash, but--"
A sudden distraction came in the shape of Janet Windemere, who burst
into their midst all excitement, followed by Mrs. Windemere, pallid and
weeping silently, as she wrung her hands in despair.
"Captain--Captain Hosmer!" cried the former in a rasping voice. "We
have been robbed! We've been getting our things together, and our
money's gone!"
"Robbed?" muttered the captain dazedly, then with indignation he broke
out, "I don't believe it! My men are all honest, and have been working
like Trojans, to the last man-Jack of them. There's some mistake--you
must have mislaid it."
"No, we always kept it in mother's dressing-case, but Laura carelessly
left it open and the whole glass is gone.
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