it is a comfort to have your advice. If we have bad weather round the

Horn, could I rely upon you to give me a helping hand should I need it? I

don't mean that you should keep watch or anything of that sort, but that

you should, as it were, stand by me. I have a new first mate, and there is

no saying how he may turn out. No doubt the firm would make every enquiry.

Still, such enquiries don't mean much; a master doesn't like to damn a man

by refusing to give him a good character I dare say he is all right.

Still, I should certainly feel very much more comfortable if I had a naval

officer with me. Now, sir, I pay the firm twelve pounds for each passenger

I take as his share of the cabin stores; you pay me that, and I will ask

for nothing for your passage. I cannot say fairer than that."

 

"You cannot indeed, Captain, and I feel very much obliged to you for the

offer--very much obliged. It will suit me admirably, and in case of any

emergency you may rely upon my aid; and if you have a spell of bad weather

I shall be quite willing to take a watch, for I know that in the long

heavy gales you meet with going round the Horn the officers get terribly

overtaxed."

 

"And how about your brother?" the captain said; "as he is to be a

supernumerary, I suppose that only means that the firm are willing that he

shall put in his time for his rating. I have never had a supernumerary on

board, but I suppose he is to be regarded as a passenger rather than one

of the ship's complement."

 

"No, Captain, he is to be on the pay-sheet; and I think he had much better

be put into a watch. He would find the time hang very heavy on his hands

if he had nothing to do, and I know he is anxious to learn his profession

thoroughly. As he is to be paid, there is no reason why he should not

work."

 

"Very well; if you think so we will say nothing more about it. I thought

perhaps you would like to have him aft with you."

 

"I am much obliged to you, but I think the other way will be best; and I

am sure he would feel more comfortable with the other apprentices than as

a passenger."

 

"Are you going out for long, may I ask you, Mr. Prendergast?"

 

"For a couple of years or so. I am going to wander about and do some

shooting and exploring and that sort of thing, and I am taking him with me

as companion. I speak Spanish fairly well myself, and shall teach him on

the voyage, if you will allow me to do so. A knowledge of that language

will be an advantage to him when he comes back into Prosser & Co.'s