input: Make use of the article to answer the questions. CHAPTER XXIV

THE ALTERED SAILING LIST

When dinner was over, Dick sat by himself in a quiet spot on the liner's quarter-deck. There was a tall, iron bulwark beside him, but close by this was replaced by netted rails, through which he caught the pale shimmer of the sea. The warm land-breeze had freshened and ripples splashed against the vessel's side, while every now and then a languid gurgle rose from about her waterline and the foam her plates threw off was filled with phosphorescent flame. A string band was playing on the poop, and passengers and guests moved through the intricate figures of a Spanish dance on the broad deck below. Their poses were graceful and their dress was picturesque, but Dick watched them listlessly.

He was not in a mood for dancing, for he had been working hard at the dam and his thoughts were disturbed. Clare had refused him, and although he did not accept her decision as final, he could see no way of taking her out of her father's hands, while he had made no progress towards unraveling the latter's plots. Kenwardine was not on board, but Dick had only seen Clare at some distance off across the table in the saloon. Moreover, he thought she must have taken some trouble to avoid meeting him.

Then he remembered the speeches made by the visitors at dinner, and the steamship officers' replies. The former, colored by French and Spanish politeness and American wit, eulogized the power of the British navy and the courage of her merchant captains. There was war, they said, but British commerce went on without a check; goods shipped beneath the red ensign would be delivered safe in spite of storm and strife; Britannia, with trident poised, guarded the seas. For this the boldly-announced sailing list served as text, but Dick, who made allowances for exuberant Latin sentiment, noted the captain's response with some surprise. 1. who sat alone?
2. where?
3. on what?
4. when?
5. what was nearby?
6. how was he able to see the water?
7. was it cold out?
8. what kind of band was there?
9. where were they performing?
10. who was below?
numbered_answers: 1. It was Dick
2. In a quiet spot
3. On a liner's quarter-deck.
4. When his dinner was over.
5. A tall, iron bulwark
6. throught the netted rails
7. No
8. It was a string band
9. They were playing on the poop
10. Spanish dancing

input: Make use of the article to answer the questions. CHAPTER XXV

MARCHING ORDERS

A silence followed. To Mike, lying in bed, holding his breath, it seemed a long silence. As a matter of fact it lasted for perhaps ten seconds. Then Mr. Wain spoke.

"You have been out, James?"

It is curious how in the more dramatic moments of life the inane remark is the first that comes to us.

"Yes, sir," said Wyatt.

"I am astonished. Exceedingly astonished."

"I got a bit of a start myself," said Wyatt.

"I shall talk to you in my study. Follow me there."

"Yes, sir."

He left the room, and Wyatt suddenly began to chuckle.

"I say, Wyatt!" said Mike, completely thrown off his balance by the events of the night.

Wyatt continued to giggle helplessly. He flung himself down on his bed, rolling with laughter. Mike began to get alarmed.

"It's all right," said Wyatt at last, speaking with difficulty. "But, I say, how long had he been sitting there?"

"It seemed hours. About an hour, I suppose, really."

"It's the funniest thing I've ever struck. Me sweating to get in quietly, and all the time him camping out on my bed!"

"But look here, what'll happen?"

Wyatt sat up.

"That reminds me. Suppose I'd better go down."

"What'll he do, do you think?"

"Ah, now, what!"

"But, I say, it's awful. What'll happen?"

"That's for him to decide. Speaking at a venture, I should say----"

"You don't think----?"

"The boot. The swift and sudden boot. I shall be sorry to part with you, but I'm afraid it's a case of 'Au revoir, my little Hyacinth.' We shall meet at Philippi. This is my Moscow. To-morrow I shall go out into the night with one long, choking sob. Years hence a white-haired bank-clerk will tap at your door when you're a prosperous professional cricketer with your photograph in _Wisden_. That'll be me. Well, I suppose I'd better go down. We'd better all get to bed _some_ time to-night. Don't go to sleep." 1. Where was Mike lying?
2. What was he doing?
3. What did this seem like?
4. A long or short one?
5. How long did it go on?
6. Who said something after it?
7. Was he surprised by something?
8. By what?
9. Where did he want to talk to Wyatt?
10. What did Wyatt do after he left the room?
11. Did he do this for a while?
12. Where did he plop down?
13. How long did Mike say the man had been sitting there?
14. Where were the guys to meet?
15. What did one of the boys say they would go out in the night with?
16. What kind?
17. Who will knock at the door?
18. What kind?
19. What did one of the guys tell the other not to do?
20. How was Wyatt trying to get in?
numbered_answers:
1. In bed
2. Holding his breath
3. Silence
4. Long
5. Perhaps ten seconds.
6. Mr. Wain
7. Yes
8. That Wyatt said he'd been out
9. In his study
10. Began to chuckle
11. Yes
12. On his bed
13. About an hour
14. Philippi
15. A sob
16. Long, choking
17. Bank-clerk
18. A white-haired one
19. Go to sleep.
20. Quietly