Grace Drever had some instructions to give me regarding the taking
away of her cat, and when I left her my sister Jessie and Captain
Gordon were already walking together down the brae. I soon overtook
them. Jessie was questioning the captain about his ship.

"Father was saying she's a very good ship," said she; "but I think
mysel' that her masts are ower high; and if ye were taken in one o'
the spring gales off the Orkneys you'd find that they are, Mr.
Gordon."

"Did the pilot say that our masts are too high, Miss Ericson?"
asked the captain.

"Nay, I was thinkin' it mysel'," said Jessie, "when I saw the
barque lying near the Holms. High masts are good, I will allow, for
carrying a heap o' sails, but our whaling ships never have masts so
high as yours."

"Well, but you must understand," urged the sailor, "that we are not
bound for Davis Straits as your whalers are that went out today. In
the tropical seas, where there is often a calm lasting several
days, we need high masts and widespread sails, Miss Ericson."

"Yes, I ken that well enough," argued Jessie. "But I have seen many
a good ship wrecked on the Black Craigs in the spring time, and I
can aye tell when a ship will come back safe to Stromness."

Captain Gordon seemed to treat my sister's criticism of his ship
very lightly; but as events turned out, her warning was perhaps
justifiable.