"I'm very discouraged, Stubbins, very. I've tried the mussels
and the clams, the oysters and the whelks, cockles and scallops;
seven different kinds of crabs and all the lobster family. I
think I'll leave it for the present and go at it again later on."

"What will you turn to now?" I asked.

"Well, I rather thought of going on a voyage, Stubbins. It's
quite a time now since I've been away. And there is a great deal
of work waiting for me abroad."

"When shall we start?" I asked.

"Well, first I shall have to wait till the Purple
Bird-of-Paradise gets here. I must see if she has any message for
me from Long Arrow. She's late. She should have been here ten
days ago. I hope to goodness she's all right."

"Well, hadn't we better be seeing about getting a boat?" I said.
"She is sure to be here in a day or so; and there will be lots of
things to do to get ready in the mean time, won't there?"

"Yes, indeed," said the Doctor. "Suppose we go down and see your
friend Joe, the mussel-man. He will know about boats."

"I'd like to come too," said Jip.

"All right, come along," said the Doctor, and off we went.