follow a route as little traveled as possible.

The glaring sun, bright skies, and even trade winds of these regions
were like a new world to Ralph. At night the extreme brilliancy of the
stars, framed in new and strange constellations, and the vivid play of
phosphorescent waves, kept him on deck with Mr. Duff at times for hours.

These two, though so widely separated by rank, were congenial in a
furtive way. Perhaps the mutual knowledge that both so heartily
disapproved of the object of the voyage, was a subtle link between them.

Though awkward enough at first, Ralph persevered so faithfully in
acquiring a knowledge of his new duties, that he slowly won the
approval of every one on board, unless it might have been the captain.
Gary preserved a sphinx-like attitude, never sparing the boy, never
praising him, nor manifesting by any sign an atom of that feminine
graciousness of manner that had on shore first won the lad over.

But Ralph's growing proficiency in a seaman's tasks was such, that on
Rucker's advice, he was put before the mast altogether, after one of
the sailors had broken several ribs by falling from aloft during a
squall. The injured man, as soon as he was able, took Ralph's place in
the cabin.

As they approached the African coast, alternate fogs and calms delayed
their progress somewhat. The fogs were a protection from prying
vessels, but the calms proved to be an unmitigated nuisance.

The ocean would be like shining glass beneath a vertical shower of the
sun's rays that, at times, rendered the deck almost unendurable.