e. And Mungo is
remembered forever because he died with a laugh. Not that I'm saying
anything against them, wee Shane; better men will never be seen. But
Daniel Donelly's name is remembered because he beat Cooper in a fight,
and songs were made about it. And I'll be remembered only when some old
librarian dusts a forgotten book. And I was supposed to be the wise pup
o' the litter, with my books and my study. And all I have now is a
troubled mind in my latter days. Aye, the books!..."

"Shall I go to sea, sir?"

"Is it up to me? And how about your mother, laddie?"

"Oh, there's little warmth within her for me, sir. She's a bitter woman.
She does na like my father's breed."

"Are you your father's breed through, wee caddie? Are you Campbell all?
Here, gi' us a look at your face. Aye, the eyes, the nose, the proud
throw to the head of you. I'm afeared there's little of your mother in
you, laddie; afeared there's none at all."

"I'm no' ashamed o' my kind, sir."

"And you're set on going to sea?"

"I'd like it fine, sir."

"And if it does na turn out the way you thought it would, you're not
going to cry or turn sour?"

"I thought you knew me better nor that, Uncle Robin."

"I do." The big man laid his hand on the boy's shoulder and smiled at
the shipmaster. "Take him, Raghery man!"

Section 11

Though all was wonder to wee Shane, there was so much of it that it
flicked through his head like a dream: the hazy September afternoon; the
long, lean vessel like a greyhound; the sails white as a swan's wing;
the cordage that rattled like wood; the bare-footed, bearded sailors;
the town of Carrickfergus in the offing; the _lap-lap-lap_ of water; the
silent man at the wheel; the sudden transition of the friendly Raghery
man into a firm, authoritative figure, quick as a cat, rapping out
commands like a sergeant-major.

The town of Carrickfergus began to slip by as if drawn by horses. The
mate ran up the ladder of the poop.

"Topsails, McCafferty!" the Raghery man ordered.

"Topsails, sir."

A minute later there came the mate's voice from amidships:

"Sheet home the topsails--and put your backs into it!"

Patter of feet. An accordion began to whine like a tinker. Creak and
strain. Faster lapping of water. A song raised in chorus:

As I came a-tacking down Paradise Street--
Yo-ho! Blow the man down!
As I came a-tacking down Paradise Street--
Give us some time till we blow the man down!

A tri