exercise book, showing what might be expected and should be prepared
for in a career like the captain's. I divided it under certain heads:
Hardships, Dangers, Emergencies, Wonders, &c. These were subdivided
again thus: Hardships--I, Hunger; 2, Thirst; 3, Cold; 4, Heat; 5, No
Clothes; and so forth. I got all my information from Fred, and I read
my lists over and over again to get used to the ideas, and to feel
brave. And on the last page I printed in red ink the word "Glory."

And so the half went by and came to an end; and when the old Doctor
gave me my three prizes, and spoke of what he hoped I would do next
half, my blushes were not solely from modest pride.

The first step of our runaway travels had been decided upon long ago.
We were to go by barge to London. "And from London you can go
anywhere," Fred said.

The day after the holidays began I saw a canal-boat lading at the
wharf, and finding she was bound for London I told Fred of it. But he
said we had better wait for a barge, and that there would be one on
Thursday. "Or if you don't think you can be ready by then, we can wait
for the next," he added. He seemed quite willing to wait, but
(remembering that the captain's preparations for his longest voyage
had only taken him eighteen and a half minutes by the chronometer,
which was afterwards damaged in the diving-bell accident, and which I
had seen with my own eyes, in confirmation of the story) I said I
should be ready any time at half-an-hour's notice, and Thursday was
fixed as the day of our departure.

To facilitate matters it was decided that Fred should invite me to
spend Wednesday with him, and to stay all night, for the barge was to