"A hundred things. Suppose the boiler should blow up, we run on a rock, take fire, or get struck by a squall----" "Or be carried away in a balloon," was the impatient exclamation. "One is just as likely to happen as the other." "Hardly--heigh-ho!" Howard at that moment had twined his feet around the neck of Terror, the Newfoundland, and the mischievous dog, springing suddenly to his feet, brought his master from his seat to the deck, which, as a matter of course, made both of the cousins laugh. "He did that on purpose," said Howard, recovering his position. "Of course he did. You have been pestering him for the last half-hour, and he is getting tired of it; but I may say, Howard, I shall hardly be able to sleep to-night, I am so anxious to see father and mother." "So am I; a few years makes such a difference in us, while I can't detect the least change in them." "Except a few more gray hairs, or perhaps an additional wrinkle or two. What's the matter with Tim?" "Tim! O nothing, he seems to be meditating and smoking. Fact is that is about all he has done since he has been with us." "It's been a grand time for Tim, and I have no doubt he has enjoyed the trip to and from California as much as either of us." The subject of these remarks was seated a few feet away, his arms folded, while he was looking with a vague, dreamy expression out upon the great Pacific, stretching so many thousand miles beyond them, rolling far off in each direction, until sky and ocean blended in great gloom. "Maybe he is looking for Asia," laughed Elwood in an undertone. "More likely he is hoping to get a glimpse of Ireland, for he would be as likely to look in that direction as any other. I say, Tim!" The Irishman did not heed the call until he was addressed the second time in a louder tone than before, when he suddenly raised his head. "Whisht! what is it?" "What are you thinking about?" "Nothin', I was dreaming." "Dreaming! what about?" "Begorrah but that was a qua'r dream, was that same one." "Let's hear it." "But it's onplaiasnt." "Never mind, out with it." "Well, thin, if I must tell yees, I was thinking that this owld staamer was all on fire, and all of us passengers was jumping around in the wather, pulling each other down, away miles into the sea, till we was gone so long there wasn't a chance iver to git up agin." A strange fear thrilled both of the boys at the mention of this, and they looked at each other a moment in silence. "What put that into your head, Tim?" "And it's just the question I was axing meself, for I never draamed of such a thing in my life before, and it's mighty qua'r that I should take a notion to do it now." "It ain't worth talking about," said Elwood, showing an anxiety to change the subject. "Be yees going to bed to-night?" "I don't feel a bit sleepy," replied Elwood. "I'd just as soon sit up half the night as not." "And so would I; it must be after eleven o'clock, isn't it?"