4 CAPTAIN COOK 



He was the first to speak. "Hullo, young man, 

 where are you going to?" he shouted to the lad, 

 who stood in the road looking at him. 



"To Staithes, over there, by the sea," replied 

 the boy, pointing towards the east. "How far 

 is it?" 



"Eight miles yet, my lad. Are you tired?" 



"Tired? Not I!" 



"Eh, but you're determined! Never mind, 

 climb up just the same. I'm going to Staithes, 

 too. Come on, look sharp! You can thank me 

 as you go." 



With this fresh load on board, the trap started 

 off again, bumping over the uneven surface of 

 the primitive road. Although uncommunicative 

 and incurious, like all North-countrymen, the 

 man could not help looking at his young com- 

 panion, whose air of decision and open counte- 

 nance interested him. "Where are you from?" 

 he asked. 



"From Great Ayton," was the answer. "You 

 know, alongside the Cleveland hills, seven miles 

 from here." 



"Oh, yes, I know it. What's your name?" 



"James Cook." 



"Wait a bit. James Cook, James Cook — I 

 know something of that name. Doesn't your 

 father or one of your relations live at Marton? 

 I often used to go there once, to see a cousin 



