14 CAPTAIN COOK 



"Yes, I want to go away in one of those ships." 



"You mean it?" 



"You bet, mister!" 



"All right. Come with me." And Bill leads 

 the lad who has thus accosted him at a leisurely 

 pace to a narrow street, not far from the quay- 

 side. He stops before a door to which is affixed 

 a shining copper plate, bearing the inscription 

 "Messrs. John and Henry Walker, Merchants." 

 He knocks and goes in, followed by James Cook, 

 for Bill's new acquaintance is none other than 

 Mr. Saunderson's runaway assistant. 



A gentleman with a severe expression sits at a 

 long table, littered with maps and papers. He 

 raises his head and says curtly, "What do you 

 want, Bill?" 



"I've got a lad here, sir, who tells me he wants 

 to be a cabin-boy. He looks as if he meant it, so 

 I brought him along." 



"Very well, thank you." And as the sailor 

 departs, Mr. John Walker looks searchingly at 

 the boy. 



The examination appeared favourable. "You 

 know that it's a hard life that you mean to take 

 up?" 



"Yes, sir, but I shall love it." 



"Have you your father's consent?" 



"No, sir, but he will not refuse to give it to 



me. 



