REST AND PREPARATIONS 97 



Saunderson," declared the old man. **That is 

 what gave him the bent for the sea." 



One day James Cook went to see his father. 

 He was dressed in his Commander's uniform. 

 What a joy for his father, and what pride could 

 be seen in the eyes of the villagers! The man 

 of whom all England spoke was one of them- 

 selves. He had been educated on the forms of 

 the little school, which had not changed. It 

 was the good Cleveland soil that had bred in him 

 his energy, his pertinacity and his health. He 

 had become a sailor, but he was born a country- 

 man. 



On leaving Great Ayton Cook went to 

 Whitby. He traversed in a carriage part of the 

 road over which he had journeyed thirty years 

 before, over the high moorland. He recalled 

 the little boy that he was then, who set his face, 

 impatient and joyful, towards the sea which al- 

 ready reigned supreme in his childish dreams. 

 He felt once more the enthusiasm which had 

 filled his heart at the first sight of that wide- 

 spread field of grey. 



Some miles before reaching Whitby, where his 

 intended visit was expected. Cook saw a group of 

 men by the roadside. As he approached he 

 heard the sound of frantic cheering, mingled 

 with his own name. The chief men of Whitby 

 had shown him the delicate attention of coming 



