A Queer Race: The Story of a Strange People — page 41: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

88 A QUEER RACE. of war,” I added, remembering the experience of poor Mr. Hare. ‘¢You think so because we have had such a pleasant voyage and made such good weather, so far,” returned the skipper, with a smile, ‘‘ and I am bound to say that sailing in these latitudes is pleasant. You would think differently, though, if you had ever faced a stiff gale in the North Atlantic, or tried to double Cape Horn in a snow-storm. And I don’t agree with you about there being no more danger at sea than ashore. <A landsman may live a jong life without being once exposed to seri- ous peril. A seaman can hardly make one long yoyage without running sericus risks. Not to speak of storms and cyclones, sunken rocks and unlighted shores, never a. night passes that does not bring the possibility of a col- lision. ‘he unexpected plays a far more important part at sea than ashore; so much so, that a prosperous, pleas- ant voyage always makes me a bit uneasy x ‘‘ Like this, for instance?” «Exactly. Like this. 1 cannot help thinking it ig too good to last, and that Fortune is preparing us some scurvy trick. Whocan tell? We may be run down in the night, or have foul weather before morning. All the same, [ hke my calling. Its very uncertainty is an at- traction; a true seaman likes it none the less for its ele- ment of danger; and I don’t know that I dislike an oc- casional storm. ‘There is real pleasure in commanding a stout, well-found, well-manned ship in a gale of wind.” ‘* | can well believe it—for a born sailor like you. You are of an adventurous disposition, I think, Captain Pey- ton.” “T was once. But I am too old now to seek advent- ures; they must seek me.” ‘Well, I begin to think I should like a few advent- ures. My life has been desperately tame so far.” ‘Has not somebody said that adventures are to the ad- venturous? You will, maybe, have a bellyful before you get back to Liverpool. Who knows?” | ‘““Ay, who knows? I hope they will be agreeable, though.” ‘i don’t thing I could undertake to guarantee that,” said the skipper, with alaugh. ‘‘ Adventures are like babies—you must take them as they come. Step into my “(eo aalKe JOO <SEGcOom