“What’s that about being born to wander?” said Captain Blunt, coming quietly up behind them. “Because,” he added, “here’s another.”
“What!” said Captain Lyle. “Are you going to sea again?”
“I’ve just left your lads,” replied Blunt, “and I’ve made them an offer that they both jump at. You see, I’ve made a bit of money, and though I have been in the merchant service all my life, I can’t say that ever I have seen the world in a quiet way. Had always, in port, to look after my men and cargo, and hardly ever could get a week to myself. So now, in a barque of my own, I’m going round the world for a bit of an outing, and your boys are going with me. I’ve offered them fair wage, and, depend upon it, I’ll do my best to make them happy, and I won’t come back without them. What say you two fathers?”
“What can we say,” said Lyle, grasping Captain Blunt’s rough horny hand, “but thank you?”
“And boys will be boys,” added Fitzroy, with a ringing laugh that startled the very sea-birds.
Two months after this our heroes had bidden their relations once more adieu, and were afloat on the wide Atlantic.
But before this the whole party had gone to the Clyde, where Captain Blunt’s barque was building, and in due form, with all due ceremony, Effie, with a blush of modesty and beauty on her sweet young face, had christened the ship.
And her name was the Gloaming Star.