“No,” said Sir John, rousing himself from a reverie. “I intended to go from here through to Ceylon, then on to Singapore, and along the islands, touching here and there, till we reached some place at which we would like to stay.”
“Perhaps round by the Horn, touching at Monte Video, Rio, and the West Indies?” cried the captain excitedly.
“Perhaps,” said Sir John, smiling. “It depends.”
“That means a couple of years to do it well, sir.”
“I am not tied for time,” said Sir John.
“That’s a lot of money for a yacht,” said the doctor thoughtfully.
“Yes, sir, a pretty good sum, but she’s worth it, and whether you buy the Silver Star or no, I say, as an old seaman, don’t you undertake such a trip without a good boat under you, a man who knows his business for sailing her, and a good crew. If you mind that, weather permitting, you’ll have a pleasant voyage worth a man’s doing. With a clumsy craft, a bad captain, and a scraped together mutinous crew, it will be a misery to you from the day you start to the day you come back—if you ever do.”
“That is quite right,” said Sir John, rising, for the captain had risen and picked up his cap. “What time shall we come on board to-morrow?”
“Come now if you like, sir.”
“No, no; my son is tired. Will ten o’clock suit you?”