"Of course he can't eat it," she whispered to herself. "And he doesn't
give it to the eagle. Who ever heard of an eagle eating pound cake with
raisins and citron in it? And I saw Russ take a piece of that.
"But he didn't eat much himself. I wonder if he is sick and is hiding it
from Mother and Daddy?"
She watched her brother very closely. After a time he seemed more
cheerful, and they ran races on the open deck. They knew many of the
passengers by this time to speak to. And there were some few other
children of about their own ages, too. They talked with these other
boys and girls, found out where they lived when they were at home, and
learned where they were going to, when they left the _Kammerboy_ at
Charleston or Savannah.
Just the same Rose knew that her brother was disturbed in his mind.
Daddy Bunker's words to her had been sufficient, and Rose said nothing.
But she began to believe that she should sympathize with Russ instead of
being vexed with him. He did look so serious when he was not talking.
The evening wore on. The moon rose and silvered the almost pond-like sea
through which the _Kammerboy_ steamed. Even the children were impressed
by the beauty of the seascape. Far, far away against the rising moon
appeared a fairylike ship sailing across its face, each spar and mast
pricked out as black as jet.
"Just like those silhouettes Aunt Jo cut out for us," declared Rose.
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