THE CALL OF THE SEA ii 



came down into the shop, his head still heavy 

 from last night's potations in the parlour of the 

 "Cod and Lobster." His expression was even 

 more threatening than usual. His apprentice 

 had better look out! The stick would not be 

 idle to-day. Suddenly Mr. Saunderson's angry 

 voice was heard. "James! Thief, scum, lazy 

 swine, where are you?" The only answer to 

 these endearments was silence. Mr. Saunderson, 

 his stick in his hand, raged within the walls of 

 his shop like a tamer in a lion's cage. But the 

 lion had vanished. James Cook had run away, 

 as all Mr. Saunderson's apprentices had run 

 away one by one before him, unable to resist 

 the mysterious call of the sea. 



