think, as it was he who put you up to this, he must see that it would be

good for you to have someone to take care of you."

 

"I think he is much more likely to say that I shall have quite enough to

do to take care of myself, without having the bother of looking after you.

However, I will go and see him this morning. You had better call upon your

employers."

 

"Don't you think I had better go to Mr. Barnett with you, Harry?"

 

"Not as you are now anyhow, Bertie. Your appearance is positively

disgraceful. You evidently had on your worst suit of clothes when you were

wrecked, and I can see that they have not been improved by the experience.

Why, there is a split right down one sleeve, and a big rent in your

trousers!"

 

"I got them climbing on board, for I had no time to pick and choose, with

the _Stella_ sinking under my feet."

 

"Well, you may as well go as you are, but you had better borrow a needle

and thread from the landlady and mend up the holes. You really cannot walk

through the city in that state. I will see about getting you some more

clothes when we get back, for I cannot have you coming here in these in

broad daylight. Here are three guineas; get yourself a suit of pilot cloth

at some outfitter's at the East End. It will be useful to you anyhow,

whether you go with me or ship again here."

 

"There is a good deal in what you say, Harry," Mr. Barnett said when

Prendergast asked his opinion as to his taking his brother with him. "Two

years would not make any material difference in his career as a sailor; it

simply means that he will be so much older when he passes as mate. There

is no harm in that. Two or three and twenty is quite young enough for a

young fellow to become an officer, and I don't think that many captains

care about having lads who have just got their certificate. They have not

the same sense of responsibility or the same power of managing. Then, too,

Bertie will certainly have a good deal of knocking about if he spends a

couple of years in South America, and the knowledge he will gain of

Spanish will add to his value with any firm trading on that coast. As far

as you are concerned, I think it would be a great advantage to have him

with you. In a long expedition, such as you propose, it is a gain to have

a companion with you. It makes the work more pleasant, and two men can

laugh over hardships and disagreeables that one alone would grumble at;

but apart from this, it is very important in case of illness.

 

"A lonely man laid up with fever, or accidental injury, fares badly indeed