But, Jim, you ought to have seen that hero! He peeled off his
ileskin-slicker--he'd kept it on all through the sunshine, but now, when
'twas rainin' and rainin' and wreckin' and thunderin', he shed it--and
jumped in and saved all hands and the ship's cat. 'Twas great business!
No wonder the life-savers set off fireworks! And thunder! Why, say, it
never stopped thunderin' in that storm except when somebody had to make
a heroic speech; then it let up and give 'em a chance. Most considerate
thunder ever I heard. And the lightnin'! and the way the dust flew from
the breakers! I was glad I went.... There!" appearing fully dressed from
behind the curtains. "I'm ready if you are. Did I talk your head off? I
ask your pardon; but that 'Heart of a Sailor' touched mine, I guess. I
know I was afraid I'd laugh until it stopped beatin'. And all around the
people were cryin'. It was enough sight damper amongst the seats than in
those cloth waves."
The pair walked over to Broadway, boarded a street car, and alighted
before the Metropolitan Opera House. Pearson's seats were good ones,
well down in the orchestra. Captain Elisha turned and surveyed the great
interior and the brilliantly garbed audience.
"Whew!" he muttered. "This is considerable of a show in itself, Jim.
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