be
otherwise than a gentleman by birth; while there are several of the
passengers, aft, whose talk and methods of expression are by no
means up to the level of yours."

"I should feel uncomfortable myself," Reuben said, "even if I
didn't make other people uncomfortable. So I think that, with all
gratitude for the offer, I would very much rather remain as I am.
Accustomed as I have been to hard work, during my apprenticeship,
the life here appears to be exceedingly easy."

"Then we will say no more about it," Captain Wilson said. "It would
have been a pleasure, both to me and the Hudsons, to have you aft,
and I am sure you would be well received by all the passengers.
However, as you think you would not be comfortable, we will let the
matter drop.

"However, as to your work in the colony, we must have a say in
that; and I hope that, when I thoroughly understand your wishes, we
shall be able to help you forward there."

"For that I shall be extremely obliged, sir. It would be a great
thing, indeed, for anyone on landing to have gentlemen ready to
assist him, and push him forward. This is so at home, and is of
course still more the case in a strange country. I am very anxious
to get on, and am ready to work my hardest, to deserve any kindness
that may be shown me."

"Well, we shall have plenty of time to think it over before we
arrive.

"I fancy," Captain Wilson went on, looking upwards at the sky,
"that our wonderful run of good luck, with regard to the weather,
is likely to end shortly, and that we are in for a gale."

"Do you think so, sir?"

"I do, indeed; and if we do get a gale, it is likely to be a
serious one. The Cape, you know, was much feared for its terrible
storms by the Portuguese, and it has kept up its reputation ever
since. I think it is going to give us a taste of its quality."

Chapter 8: A Gale.

"Wilson tells me he thinks we are going to have a gale, Bill."

"Ay, ay, Reuben; anyone with half an eye could see that."

"Which way is it likely to come?"

"Most likely from the north or northwest. At least that's the
quarter it's likely to settle into; but there ain't no saying which
way it may take us. I thought things had been going on too smooth
to last. Now you are going to see what a storm is, my lad. You
thought it was blowing when we went down the Channel."

"Is it likely to be much heavier than that, Bill?"

"Heavier!" the sailor repeated scornfully. "Why, there's as much