Charlie Codman's Cruise

ard the Bouncing Betsey, on what he supposed to be a brief visit,

ing at the wharf surrounded by other vessels, and the disturbance and vigorous resistance which Charlie would be apt

r feet upon deck, when the

is finger to his lips in token of silence, at the same time saying, "A lad

ime," said the captain, with a grim smile. "Do

harlie, promptly, "I

y n

8

ed of seeing the

d get use

l as the land. Besides, I shou

said the captain, with a wicked glance at Randall, "I

affable and polite, though, to be sure, his appeara

nice man," said he to Randall, a

ryly, "a very fine man the cap

sea a long time?

een ever since

ou li

[83] now. I shouldn't be willing to

begin ver

sixteen. How

. I shall be fou

ry good size

g himself up to his full height. Like most boy

te a large man," a

re him. They were imprinted more vividly upon his memory, because he felt that it was these very adva

hearing indistinctly the word

to show you something about the[84] vessel.

s,

they ca

rlie, promptly, "and the others are c

suppose the masts

lie, stretching his neck to

to go aloft?" said Randall, playing

I could. It wou

than you think for, i

, doubtfully. "Do the boys on b

when I w

t you a

t that didn't do any

8

afraid of los

clings to the ropes with a pretty tight grip. But after he gets used to it—and it doesn't seem an

deck and are instantly kill

rogress it leans a good deal, so that

et dro

ecially if they can't swim. Sometimes their fall is broken by th

in various ways. They did not appear to notice the mate and his young companion when they passed, but Charlie, chan

t this not very polite, but di

om the clothing-store already refer

ouncing Betsey, isn

ered one of

bring this ch

is it

Rand

ubber. Why don't you pu

's for

ny such boy aboar

ships of this n

ever hee

87] shall I stow this chest? I've g

te about it. There he stands. Mayhap

er walke

o you?" he asked, l

es

wasn't fo

sly. "It is for a nephew of mine

leman?" asked the porte

ew," said Randall, smilin

ut the ship a little," he answered. "He d

dn't know but he

certain

eave the c

below. Here," summoning one of the sailor

ng to sea," said Charl

es

nk he shall

ve he thinks m

ge a boy

u. Yes, come to think of it, I don't believ

ne, as Charlie found t

on boar

ction from where Charlie was standing. "But I think he will be

" said

just about my nephew's size. Have you

unusual attire. Accordingly he went below, and was soon dressed in full sailor rig. I

is it not?" a

nt," sai

nt for you," said Randall, with a smile, whi