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.  QUESTIONS:

Q1:
1. Who was sitting by themselves?
2. What was the name of the person that sat alone?
3. Who sat in solitude?
Q2:
1. Where was Dick sitting?
2. Where did Dick sit down alone?
3. What was Dick's location as he sat alone?
Q3:
1. What was Dick sitting on?
2. What had Dick taken a seat on?
3. Where had Dick sat down?
Q4:
1. When did Dick take a seat?
2. When did Dick sit down on the quarter deck?
3. At what point did Dick take a seat on the quarter deck?
Q5:
1. What did Dick sit down near?
2. What was by Dick when he sat down?
3. What was Dick sitting in close proximity to?
Q6:
1. How was Dick able to see the water?
2. What enabled Dick to see the water?
3. What made it possible for Dick to see the water?
Q7:
1. Was the weather cold?
2. Was it a chilly day?
3. Were there cold temperatures outside?
Q8:
1. What was the band like?
2. What sort of band that was playing?
3. How could the performing band be described?
Q9:
1. What was the band playing?
2. What did the band perform?
3. What was the musical group putting on a performance of?
Q10:
1. What was on the deck below?
2. What was going on on the below deck?
3. What event was taking place on the below deck?
