"Why do they call this Table Bay, Ready?" said William.

"I suppose it's because they call that great mountain the Table
Mountain, Master William; you see how flat the mountain is on the top."

"Yes, it is quite as flat as a table."

"Yes, and sometimes you will see the white clouds rolling down over the
top of it in a very curious manner, and that the sailors call spreading
the tablecloth: it is a sign of bad weather."

"Then I hope they will not spread the tablecloth while we are here,
Ready," said William, "for I shall certainly have no appetite. We have
had bad weather enough already, and mamma suffers so much from it. What
a pretty place it is!"

"We shall remain here two days, sir," said Captain Osborn to Mr.
Seagrave, "if you and Mrs. Seagrave would like to go on shore."

"I will go down and ask Mrs. Seagrave," said her husband, who went down
the ladder, followed by William.

Upon the question being put to Mrs. Seagrave, she replied that she was
quite satisfied with the ship having no motion, and did not feel
herself equal to going on shore; it was therefore decided that she
should remain on board with the two younger children, and that, on the
following day, Mr. Seagrave should take William and Tommy to see Cape
Town, and return on board before night.