Adele whispered mournfully to Herbert, "O, let us go below! It is so like going out in the Europa, with dear mamma, before she died in the wreck. O, Herbie, I cannot bear the cruel, cruel sea. Take me below." So Herbert and Adele went to the cabin, and Eric suggested to Nettie that they should follow. "No," said Nettie, "I like to stay here. Eric, see that boy look at you; I think he wants to speak." Eric looked around, and saw a boy of his own age steadfastly regarding him. When he caught Eric's eye, he bowed and hastened forward, holding out his hand. "Eric Hyde?" he said. "Yes," said Eric. "Do you know me?" "I never _saw_ you before; but I know you, for all that," said the boy. "How?" said Eric, astonished, and interested, too. "I knew you by your voice. I used to live next door to you in New York. I was blind then, and auntie sent me out to Hamburg, to the famous oculist Dr. Francis. He has given me my sight, and I am going home alone. Auntie doesn't know about it yet; she only knows that the operation was performed two months ago, and that Dr. Francis had no doubt of its success. Won't she be surprised to see me walk into the parlor, and to hear the whole story from me?" "Hurrah!" cried Eric, excitedly, tossing his cap high in the air. "I remember you well," said Nettie; "I am Nettie Hyde. Don't you, Eric?" "Yes," said Eric. "I used to pity you so! Isn't it just jolly!" "Do you know," said the boy, whose name was Allan Ramsdell, "I never saw a steamer before to-day! I have been blind so long, ever since I was four years old. I've got the key of my state-room here, but I don't know where to go to look for the room." "I'll show you," volunteered Eric. "And, Nettie, if you will go down for Adele and Herbie, we'll go all over the steamer." Nettie ran quickly into the cabin, eager to impart the news of their new acquaintance. Mrs. Hyde was glad of anything that would interest Adele, and urged her to go upon deck with Herbert. Mr. Nichols was resting from the fatigue of the ride. Mrs. Nichols, always feeble, did not feel equal to the exertion of climbing the companion way, the stairs from the upper deck to the cabin, and Mrs. Hyde wished to remain with her; so the children began their exploring expedition alone. The great steamship was now out in the blue sea. The wide decks were gradually being cleared of passengers as they sought their narrow state-rooms, and as the children were quiet and orderly, no one interfered with them. "This is the dining-hall," announced Eric, as the five heads peered in at the door of a long saloon, where tables were ranged for the accommodation of the passengers. Behind this saloon was the kitchen, a hot, steaming place, where men, mostly cooks, in dirty white jackets, rushed helter-skelter into each other and around the room.