shore, find their canoes, or
make new ones, and return to their own land if they choose."

"But, uncle," said Alf, who was by no means as reckless as his brother,
"don't you think it's rather risky to go off into an unknown sea in open
boats, for no one knows how long, to go no one knows exactly where?"

"Why, Alf," returned the Captain with a laugh, "if you were as stupid
about your scientific pursuits as you are about geographical affairs,
you would not be worth your salt. A sea's a sea, isn't it, whether
known or unknown, and the laws that affect all seas are pretty much
alike. Of course it is risky. So is going on a forlorn hope. So is
shooting with a set of fellows who don't know how to manage their guns.
So is getting on a horse, for it may kick you off or run away. So is
eating fish, for you may choke yourself. Everything, almost, is more or
less risky. You _must_ risk something if you'd discover the North Pole,
which has baffled adventurers from the days of Adam till now. And you
are wrong in saying that we shall go off for no one knows how long. The
distance from this island to the Pole is pretty nearly 200 miles. If
our kites carry us along at the rate of ten miles an hour, we shall
cover the distance in 20 hours. If we have calms or contrary winds we
may take 20 days. If storms come, we have not much to fear, for the
weather is warm,--so, too,--is the water. Then, our boats are
lifeboats--they cannot sink. As to not knowing where exactly we are
going, why, man, we're going to the North Pole. Everybody knows where
that is, and we are going to the home of Chingatok, which cannot be very
far from it."

"There, Alf, I hope you are sufficiently answered," said Leo, as he
undid the locking-gear of the kite, which by that time lay prone on its
face, as peaceful as a lamb.

The next three days were spent in flying the other kites, tying them on
the boats, acquiring experience, and making preparations for the voyage.
It was found that, with a moderate breeze, the kites towed the boats at
the rate of ten miles an hour, which was beyond the most sanguine hopes
of the Captain. Of course they could not beat to windward with them,
but they could sail with a considerable slant, and they prevented the
boats, while thus advancing, from making much leeway by means of deep
_leeboards_, such as are used even at the present day by Dutch ships.

"But I can't understand," said Benjy, after several trials had bee