10 THE WHALE HUNTERS 



any guide, thought Jonathan, as he donned homespun 

 breeches and doublet several sizes too large for his boyish 

 frame, he must be quite a big fellow; but he was grateful 

 for the warmth they brought to his body. 



As he crouched over the fire warming his hands, Mrs. 

 Mather entered with a bowl of steaming soup which she 

 set on a wooden stool by his side. 



'There, Jonathan boy, drink that and you'll feel better,' 

 she said, *and when you've finished that you might like a 

 slice of baked cod. If you want me you'll find me in the 

 kitchen at the end of the passage. But here is Mr. 

 Mather with a jug of ale.' 



As she left the room she added, 'You'll have to grow a 

 bit yet to fill out those clothes of Joseph's.' 



Mr. Mather put the jug of ale on the flagstones of the 

 fireplace and seated himself opposite the boy in a large 

 rocking chair. He was a large robust man with a face 

 even more pink than his wife's. A small periwig sat 

 precariously on his bald head. 



'Is the soup to your liking?' he asked. 



'It is indeed welcome, sir,' replied Jonathan. 'But, but 

 I am unable to pay you, sir,' he stammered. 'I have no 

 money. I had forgotten that I lost everything when the 

 ship went down.' 



He put the soup bowl on the table and stood there 

 confused and embarrassed. 



'Sit down, my son, and do not trouble your mind with 

 such thoughts,' said the landlord and there was a kindness 

 in his tone that was intended to reassure the boy. 'It is 

 but a small thing, a meal and a board for a shipwrecked 

 mariner.' 



'But I am no true mariner,' said Jonathan, 'I am, or 

 was a passenger from England. I was travelling with 



my father and mother when the ' His gaze wandered 



to the fire and he swallowed hard to stifle the clutching 

 sensation in his throat. A tear trickled down his cheek 



