Page:Chetyates00yateiala.pdf/157

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to something on the deck, a little way beyond us. Every one else had got up after the scrabble, and taken chairs where they could hold on to something; but there, on the floor, sat a fat, middle-aged man with a heavy, fleshy face and small, gray eyes. He sat flat upon the deck with his feet straight out before him and his hands resting, palm downward, on each side of him, to steady himself from the rolling of the boat. He sat perfectly still, as if glued to the deck, his face chalky white, his lower lip hanging loose and his eyes staring straight before him. He was the perfect picture of fright, and didn't seem to be conscious of anything but the terror that had hold of him.

"Why, the man's fairly paralyzed with fear," said Uncle Fred.

"How foolish!" I said. "He's in no more danger than the rest of us. Couldn't he take the captain's word for it?" And just then I—saw why Aunt Fannie had pointed at him, and I gave a groan; for that abominable heavy gentleman was sitting squarely upon our lunch-box! I could recognize it by the blue paste-board and a couple of cream-puffs which had escaped