"Well, Bob has many friends in the village--many boy-chums--and I
think he would object very strongly to leaving them, and going off
among a lot of strange men in a ship."

"I wouldn't be a stranger to him."

"No, you would not, but the others would be. And I think he would
be somewhat afraid."

"Afraid? What's there to be afraid of on the ocean, with a stout
deck beneath your feet? The ocean is the safest place in the world.
I'm frightened half out of my wits every time I come on land. There
are so many chances of accidents. The train may run off the track,
steam-boilers may blow up, there may be an earthquake, a wild bull
may chase you, you may fall down a coal-hole and break your neck, or
a building may topple over on you while you're walking peacefully
along the street. No such things as those can happen to you on the
ocean."

"No, perhaps not, but there are others as bad, or worse, captain."

"Nonsense! It may blow a bit, now and then, but all you've got to
do is mind your helm and you'll come out all right."

"I am glad you think so. I should be very glad to have Bob make a
trip with you. I think it would do him good, but I fear he will
object to it."

"I don't think so. We'll propose it to him in the morning."