140 THE BOY CAPTAIN.

spending a pleasant evening in the cabin, that we were
becoming fast friends.”

« Still I am afraid if the weather had continued as bad,
we should have been strangers to each other in a short
time longer, regardless of how well we might previously
have been acquainted. How many days is it since I was
on deck, I wonder?”

«Just seven. I know very well, for I have kept strict
account, and this is really the first hour it has been fit for
a lady to come outside.”

«The sea is n’t running as high as I expected.”

“No, the squalls have been frequent, but not of such
duration as to kick up much of a bobbery with the water.
There has been more rain than wind, if you remember.”

“JT don’t think I ever experienced quite such a long
spell of bad weather at sea, without a regular gale at the
beginning or the close.”

«And we shall have one yet. So much disturbance
means something in the way of dirty weather, but this
night is as fair as the veriest fresh-water sailor could ask
for, so we’ll take advantage of it without troubling our-
selves about what may be going to happen.”

“T hope, for your sake, it will remain fair until morning.
I verily believe you have n’t been in your room during the
last week, except to get an instrument or a chart.”

“Well, I have n’t been there a great deal, that’s a fact,
and yet I’ve contrived to turn in about as often as was
necessary, although not very long at a time.”

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