THE CALL OF THE SEA 7 



and swung. The wind blew from seaward, 

 bringing with it a tang of salt, which young 

 Cook breathed in with all the force of his lungs. 



Suddenly he stood up, as though impelled by 

 a spring. Far away in front of him lay spread 

 an expanse of greyish blue, on which the slanting 

 rays of a pale sun drew circles of light. "Ah, 

 isn't it lovely!" he cried with a youthful en- 

 thusiasm which made his companion smile. 



As the trap proceeded, he could make out a 

 line of high white cliffs, seamed with valleys, 

 on the sides of which tiny cottages clustered. 

 The dull roar of the sea began to make itself 

 heard, the wind became keener, the road dipped 

 and took a sudden turn. Red roofs came in 

 sight. Soon they were in a steep and narrow 

 street. One more turning, and they saw in 

 front of them a little bay, in which lay a fleet 

 of fishing-smacks. A row of low, grey stone 

 houses ran along the shore of the bay. The trap 

 came to a halt. 



"Here we are," said the countryman. 



James Cook leapt to the ground and thanked 

 his companion, who, by way of farewell, shouted 

 to him sarcastically, "Hope the sea will bring 

 you luck!" 



The lad looked at the houses on the quay. 

 Upon one of them he saw the inscription for 

 which he was searching: "William Saunderson, 



