one of terrible monotony. He is a seaman, and he sees
the sea day after day--day after day; rough seas and smooth seas, stormy
seas and sunny seas; and enough to do to keep his ship afloat and away
from rocks and lee shores. Here, what are you opening your eyes and
mouth for in that way, Mark? Do you expect I'm going to tell you about
the sea-serpent?"

"No, father," said the lad laughing. "It was because what you said was
so interesting."

"Interesting! Nonsense! A sailor's is a wearisome life, full of
dangers."

"But you see strange countries, father, and all their wonders."

"No, I do not, boy," said the captain half angrily, "A sailor sees
nothing but his ship, and she's all anxiety to him from the time he goes
aboard till he comes back. We see strange ports, and precious little in
them. Why, Mark, if you were in some places on the other side of the
world, you'd find everything so English that you would hardly believe
you had left home. No, no, my lad. You be content to get on well with
your studies, and some day we'll make a doctor or a lawyer of you.
Soldier, if you like, but not a sailor."

"It's my turn to speak now," said Mrs Strong, smiling lovingly at her
frank, manly-looking son. "No soldiering."

"I don't want to be a soldier, mother," said Mark gloomily. "I want to
travel; and as I have kept to my books as father wished during his last
two voyages, and won my certificates, he might give me the prize I
worked for."

"Why, you ungrateful young dog," cried the captain, "haven't I given you
a first-class watch?"

"Yes, father; but that isn't the prize I want. I say: do take me with
you."

"Take you with me!" cried the captain with an impatient snort such as a
sea-horse might give. "Here, mother, what have you been doing with this
boy?"

"Doing everything I could to set him against the sea, my dear," said
Mrs Strong sadly.

"And a nice mess you have made of it," growled the captain. "Pass my
tobacco. Well, Mark, my lad; I want my spell ashore to be happy and
restful, and when there's a rock ahead I must steer clear of it at once;
so here goes, my lad, I may as well say it and have done with it. I
know so much of the sea that I shall never consent to your being a
sailor. Your mother is with me there. Eh, my dear?"

"Yes, James, thoroughly," said Mrs Strong.

"Now, my lad, you've got to make the best of it."

"But if you would take me for one voyage only, father, I wouldn't