“Well, uncle, I won’t say another word about it.”
“Ah! No sulking, sir! I command you to go on speaking at once.”
“Very well, uncle; but you did say that you would have everything of the best, and that nothing should be left undone, to hinder the expedition from being successful.”
“Did I say so, Rodd?”
“Why, yes, uncle, over and over again.”
“Well, well, I did mean it. But I am getting quite out of heart. Every day it seems as if there is something fresh to throw us back. Now it’s stores; now it’s something else wants painting; now one of the crew wants a holiday, just at a time too when things are so nearly ready that I might want to start at any moment.”
“Well, I shall be glad when we do get off now, uncle,” said the boy thoughtfully.
“Then you had better give up thinking about it, boy. It looks to me like another six months before we can be ready.”
“Oh no, uncle! Captain Chubb said to me yesterday that if I wanted to get anything else to take with me I must get it at once.”
“Then don’t you believe him, Rodd. He’s a dilatory old impostor. I don’t believe he means for me to go at all. By the way, did you have the men up and give them that big medicine chest?”