"One always enjoys," said Mr. Punch, "a bit of singing by moonlight on the water. Hi remember when I was a lad--" "Why don't you sing for us yourself?" said Toby. "Oh, do!" cried several of the others. Mr. Punch looked down at the deck bashfully. "Hi should be wery glad to oblige," said he, "but I 'ave a slight cold, and besides, Hi only know one song." "What is the name of it?" said Aunt Amanda. "Kathleen Mavourneen," said Mr. Punch. "That's a very good song," said Aunt Amanda. "Sing it." "Wait a minute," said Mr. Mizzen, "and I'll get the guitar. I can play it." While he was gone, and while the others were talking, Freddie felt a hand on his arm, and looking down saw the Cabin-boy sitting on the deck beside his chair, and winking up at him with a strange excited look on his face. The Cabin-boy pulled Freddie's head down, and whispered in his ear. "S-s-s-sh! K-k-keep your eyes o-o-ope-open! Something's going to happen to-to-tonight! You'll see! Down with M-m-mizzen and M-m-marmaduke!" Freddie gazed at the Cabin-boy in some alarm, and was about to ask a question, when Mr. Mizzen returned with the guitar. "Now we're ready," said he, taking his seat and putting Marmaduke on the rail of the ship. "Here's the chord. All right, Mr. Punch." "Hi really 'ave such a cold--" said Mr. Punch. "That's understood," said Toby. "Now then, strike up." Mr. Punch cleared his throat very loud, and coughed once or twice, and began to sing: "Kathleen Mavourneen, the gr'y dorn is bryking, The 'orn of the 'unter is 'eard on the 'ill." "Ha! ha! ha! ha!" roared Toby. "The 'orn of the 'unter! Blamed if I ever hear the like of that before! My stars! What's the matter, Mr. Punch, can't you put in a little 'h' now and then? The 'orn of the 'unter! Oh my stars! Ha! ha! ha! ha!" Mr. Punch was deeply offended. "Hit is quite sufficient," said he. "Hi shall sing no more." And nothing that anybody could say could induce him to go on. "Toby Littleback," said Aunt Amanda, "it's just like you, all over. Now you ask Mr. Punch's pardon, right this minute." Toby apologized, and Mr. Punch said that it was of no consequence whatever; but he would not sing. "Then I guess you'll have to sing for us yourself, Mizzen," said Toby. "Right-o," said Mr. Mizzen, thrumming on his guitar. "What'll it be?" The Cabin-boy sniffed and spoke in an undertone close to Freddie's ear. "He'll be s-s-singing on the other s-s-side of his f-f-face before this night's o-o-over, you mark m-m-m-my wo-wo-words!" "Lady and gentlemen"--began Mr. Mizzen. "Ker-choo!" sneezed the parrot. "A wet sh-sh-sheet and a f-f-flowing s-s-s-sea! Three cheers f-f-for the--Ker-choo! Three cheers f-f-for hay f-f-fe-fever!" "Down with b-b-b-both of 'em!" whispered the Cabin-boy fiercely in Freddie's ear. "Suppose you sing us something about yourself," said Aunt Amanda.