CHAPTER VII.

JACK BOBSTAY SPINNING YARNS.

OW would you like to have

me unwind a skein of yarn?”
asked Jack Bobstay one day, his
“blue lights” twinkling.

“ A story?” replied Ralph.

Jack nodded his head.

“QO just let me get Rick and see
if Siah can’t come too,” pleaded
Ralph.

WALRUS. There was an abundance of help

 

in the care of the furnaces, and Siah was granted a brief fur-
lough. Rick was always ready for any promising digression.

In a short time Ralph and Rick were curled up inside a big
coil of vope, making two round lumps, like two pumpkins in a
basket. :

On one side of this coil, squat upon the deck, was Siah, and on
the right was Jack Bobstay.

Jack began: “I have followed the sea more than these thirty
years, but the toughest weather that I ever saw was on a whalin’
voyage.” ;

“You been to the North Pole?” asked Ralph.

“Pretty well up, my boy, but not jest to the peakit end. of it,”

‘replied Jack.
| BG