Lem never forgot that ball. The teacher found him a nook from which he overlooked the entire floor; and he never tired of recounting to the always newly impressed settlement, the glories of the pageant. How "ther Jedge led ther parade an’ was ther biggest toad in ther hull puddle." How "two fiddles an’ er pianer an’ er horn kep er goin’ all ter oncet. An’ clothes—ther Nisqually hedn’t never seed sech clothes. Why, ther schoolmarm herself was fixed ter beat ther band, in er dress as soft an’ thin as tons o’ tissue paper, an’ er gold chain, fine as er thread, clamped ’ith shiny little stones; an’ she hed er mighty fine an’ sassy feather—he couldn’t fur ther life of him tell off’n what bird—stuck in her hair. An’ pretty, land, ther wa’n’t a girl there could hold er candle to her. An’ ther boys all knew it; some of ’em, Mr. Stratton fur one, ’lowed they wouldn’t dance ’ith nobody ef it couldn’t be her; an’ ther minute ther fiddles struck up somebody was on hand ter streak her off. Gee, they’d orter seen her. She jest picked up er handful o’ white goods, an’ her little feet went chasin’ in an’ out like er couple o’ chipmunks foolin’ in er holler cedar stump." But if the ball was unforgettable, the cruise on the _Phantom_, the following day, marked an epoch in Lem’s life. "I think," said the teacher, as they approached the water front, "we shall come back at flood-tide with a fine, choppy sea." Her eyes caught the sparkle of the waves, and she inhaled the salt air in deep, full breaths. There was the noise of running water about the piers, and the flat kerthug of the _Phantom_ as she rose and dipped uneasily; but no whitecaps as yet, though the Sound, whipped by passing gusts, darkened and ruffled fitfully. "Oh," said Stratton, who had joined the little party, "you will come back in the teeth of a gale, I promise you." Philip stood regarding Lem with quizzical gravity. "I never knew it to fail with a new hand aboard, and this time I believe we’re shipping a Jonah." Stratton laughed softly, and handed the ladies aboard. Lem watched the feat with growing concern. "There was once a man from Missouri," said Kingsley seriously, "who had to be lassoed the first time, and brought aboard." "I’ll resk it," and Lem pushed hastily forward, setting his feet on the gangplank and reaching for the Captain’s hand. "That’s right, my boy; and it may encourage you to know that Missourian lived to be our mayor in time." The _Phantom_ swung out with a lurch, and, slipping into the seat next the teacher, Lem grasped firm hold. Stratton took the helm and Philip went to the shrouds. The sails swelled to a scurrying gust, then flapped loosely. They filled again from another quarter and the yacht careened to the swinging boom. Lem’s clutch tightened. Alice covered his hand with her palm. "Isn’t it fine?" she asked.