EARLY YEARS 15 



"Give me his address, and I will write to him. 

 While I am waiting for his answer, you can 

 work here." 



His heart bursting with joy, James Cook left 

 Mr. Walker's office and went on to the quay, 

 where he soon found and thanked his new ac- 

 quaintance, Bill, who satisfied his young friend's 

 curiosity. He explained to him that he was a 

 hand on board the Freelove, a vessel of 450 tons, 

 engaged in the coal trade along the shores of the 

 North Sea. The Freelove belonged to Messrs. 

 John and Henry Walker, who owned besides a 

 number of other vessels, and who were among 

 the biggest merchants in Whitby. These two 

 brothers were Quakers, and, following the tenets 

 of this curious faith, drank no beer or rum and 

 never raised their hats to anybody, this honour 

 being due only to Jesus Christ. They were stern 

 men, but strictly just and genuinely good. No 

 sailing was done during the winter. The men 

 were employed in repairing and rigging Messrs. 

 Walker's ships. The cabin-boys stayed with 

 these gentlemen when they were on shore, and 

 were well off there. 



Three days later Mr. John Walker called 

 James Cook into his office. "I have received 

 your father's consent," he told him. "I will take 

 you on for three years as an apprentice. After- 



