“Ought you?”
“Yes, so as he could steer while a chap went to sleep; because sometimes you’d be a long way from the shore.”
Dexter sat very thoughtful and still, dreaming of the wonders of far-off places, such as could be reached by Bob Dimsted and his companion, the impracticability of such a journey never once occurring to him. Bob had been about all his life free to go and come, while he, Dexter, seemed to have been always shut up, as it were, in a cage, which had narrowed his mind.
“Some chaps would be glad of such a chance,” said Bob. “It’ll be a fine time. My, what fishing I shall have!”
“Shall you be gone long!” said Dexter, after a time.
“Long? Why, of course I shall; years and years. I shan’t come back till I’ve made a fortune, and am a rich man, with heaps of money to spend. Some chaps would be glad to go.”
“Yes, of course,” said Dexter dreamily.
“I want to get a mate who isn’t afraid of anything. Dessay we should meet lions sometimes, and big snakes.”
“What! in England!”
“England! Yah! Who’s going to stop in England? I’m going to sail away to wonderful places all over the world.”