e fellows say. Everybody believes that he has to go
there to see some friend who is sick."

"Where are we going, Mr. Briskett?" inquired Perth, as the head steward
came forward to take a look ahead.

"Going to sea," replied he.

"Where are we bound?"

"Bound to sea."

"But how long are we to be out?" persisted Perth.

"Well, I don't know; but I am fully of the opinion that we shall be out
till we go into port again."

"Won't you tell us, Mr. Briskett?" interposed Herman.

"Tell you what?"

"Where the vessel is going."

"Going to sea," answered the head steward, good-naturedly; for he
rather enjoyed the perplexity of the crew.

"Is there any secret about the ship's destination?"

"You must ask Mr. Fluxion. He is on the quarterdeck, and I dare say he
will be very happy to give you any information he thinks it is proper
for you to have."

Mr. Briskett, having taken his long look ahead, turned on his heel, and
went aft again.

"Where are we going, Mr. Bitts?" said Herman, to the carpenter, who had
been within hearing during the dialogue with the head steward.

"Going to sea."

"Yes; but where are we bound?"

"Bound to sea."

"But how long are we to be out?"

"Well, I've boxed the compass, taken an observation, worked up an
altitude, swung six and cast out nine,--and I've made up my mind that
we shall be out till we return to port again. I may be wrong, but you
can figure it up for yourself."

"O, come! Is there any secret about the vessel's destination?" added
Herman.

"There's Mr. Fluxion, wearing out the planks of the quarter-deck. He's
a good sailor, and a gentleman from his top-lights down to his keelson;
and if you ask him, he'll tell you all he has a mind to."

"If he's a gentleman, I hope the forward officers will take lessons of
him," added Herman, disgusted with the conduct of the carpenter.

"I shall, for one; for we have so many unlicked cubs on board now, that
I am afraid my manners have suffered by being among them," laughed
Bitts. "But do you really want to know where we are going, young
gentlemen?"

"I do, for one," replied Perth, promptly.

"You won't say a word if I tell you--eh?" added Bitts, very seriously.

"Not a word."

"Well, we are bound down to the coast of Africa to get a cargo of
gorillas. Mr. Fluxion is going into the show business."

"You get out!" exclaimed Perth, vexed to find himself "sold."

"I don't know but the plan was changed," continued the carpen