You know, I never am sea-sick never ! And I wondered if the rest of you would think that my indisposition might be an attack of the unpleasant sensations which generally prostrate inexperienced seafarers. It was rather disconcerting that this attack of nervous trouble should return the first day out at sea. Elizabeth now glanced around at the faces about her. She felt a bit piqued at the hardly controlled expressions of one or two of them.
Eleanor, with her blunt honesty and impatience with any form of subterfuge, blurted out unexpectedly: I, too, was indisposed, Elizabeth; but the wise young doctor informed me that I never could be sea-sick my trouble was eating too much candy, and the volume of water which
was playing fast and loose with the yacht. He gave me this dark brown medicine to take, and assured me that the moment the gale subsided my nausea would disappear.
As Eleanor spoke she took a small bottle from her bag and held it out in plain view of Elizabeth and the others in the amused circle of friends.
Elizabeth looked in dismay, recognized the color of the medicine, then glanced about at the smiling faces of those who also had taken the doctors medicine.
Is this a joke you wish to play on me? demanded she.
It wasnt a joke last night, I can tell you, Elizabeth, exclaimed Polly, bringing her vial to view and shaking her head deploringly as she studied the brown liquid. If every one on this ship felt as I did, theyd never have thought of a doctor or medicine, let alone any licorice water.
The laugh caused by Pollys admission failed to soothe Elizabeth. She was furious, but managed to demand: Who of this group was ill? In this manner she thought to detect the ones who had taken such amusement in fooling their friends.
One after another in the circle admitted the truth, but Mrs. Courtney confessed to having spent her evening with Polly and Eleanor. That left Mr. Dalken alone. He smiled as he said: Well, I am forced to confess that I am the guilty one. I prescribed the doctor and his doses.
As Elizabeth could not very well denounce her father for having played this practical joke on his friends as well as on herself, she merely tossed her head and turned her back upon him. He smiled to himself, then caught Pollys glance which told him she understood the cause of his daughters annoyance. Also he read a sympathy in her heart for the misunderstanding so deliberately displayed by the girl.
Fortunately for the situation the boy now came forward and began preparations to serve tea. Having arranged the wicker table in front of Mrs. Courtney, without a look or word to Mrs. Fabian or Mrs. Ashby who were in the circle, he left again to fetch the tea service. Directly behind the well-bred young servant came an uncouth Scandinavian youth carrying a heavy tray of viands.
Mr. Dalken had not seen nor had anything to do with engaging the individuals in the crew on his yacht, as that was part of his Captains work. And up to this moment Mr. Dalken had never seen this great overgrown Swede. But the blonde giant had no intentions of being ignored, as he soon made plain.
He planked his tray forcibly upon the table beside the tea service wagon, and then turned to Mr. Dalken. No introduction was needed for him. He was too disturbed to consider aught but his injured feelings.
Dot tea what yun Shink meks me fer supper, Oi not drink. Oi tek cuffee er Oi go home! exclaimed he with ire.
Several of the voyagers had been quietly admiring the low-lying banks of soft cirrus clouds, and some had been engaged in absent-mindedly watching the man servant arrange the tea table, when the Swede exploded his complaint in a loud thunderous tone.
Mr. Dalken gave a start. He was too surprised at the unlooked for complaint to control the nervous action. He frowned at the ponderous youth, then waved him away. Turning to the other man he told him to serve; then he followed the wondering Swede down the promenade deck to the culinary quarters.
As Mr. Dalken disappeared to view, Elizabeth smiled a tantalizing smile and remarked, to no one in particular: Dear me! I cannot understand why Daddy engages such inexperienced servants. He always did neglect important things.
An ominous silence followed this information from Elizabeth, then Mr. Ashby gayly proposed a diversion which interested his friends till Mr. Dalken rejoined the group.
Not having heard his daughters criticism Mr. Dalken reseated himself and smiled as he began: I investigated the cause of that young chaps complaint, because I could not very well consent to his walking back home not on the water, you know. And I discovered a most amusing affair back in the kitchen. Want to hear the tale?
Every one but Elizabeth signified eagerly a desire to hear the story. She pretended indifference to her father and his experience in the kitchen. But he did not see her face and laughingly began his narrative.
I learned that the Chef treats the crew with unusual consideration by serving the same quality tea that we drink. That poor Scandinavian lad had never before sailed with a decent crew, it seems. In the past he has been the butt for all the deep-sea sailors who sailed from their Swedish ports on tramp steamers or fishing boats.