i8 CAPTAIN COOK 



industrious, he continued to teach himself with 

 admirable tenacity and perseverance. 



The years rolled by, filled with a strenuous 

 round of voyages and long winters on shore, 

 when he toiled steadily in the sheds at Whitby. 

 Cook sailed in several ships. In 1750 he trav- 

 ersed the Baltic in the Maria, a trading-ship be- 

 longing to Mr. John Wilkinson of Whitby, 

 whose captain was a relation of the Walkers. 



One morning in the year 1752 James Cook 

 was called into the presence of Mr. John 

 Walker, in the same office which he had entered 

 ten years earlier, rich in his dream and strong 

 of will. "James Cook," said Mr. Walker 

 solemnly, "your conduct has always been good 

 since you came here for the first time. I have 

 never had any fault to find with you. By your 

 efforts and your perseverance you have made of 

 yourself a true sailor. James Cook, my brother 

 and I have decided to appoint you mate of the 

 Friendship." 



And Mr. Walker held out his hand to the 

 young man of twenty-four who stood before him, 

 too deeply moved to be able to express his 

 immense delight and infinite gratitude. 



For three years James Cook performed the 

 functions of mate of the Friendship, a collier of 

 400 tons, with authority and competence. 



In June 1755 the vessel was lying at anchor 



