But Tom did not believe that. He had read about boys but little older than himself being masters of vessels, and if he wasn’t as smart as they were, he would like to know the reason why.
Tom ate but very little breakfast that morning, for the joy he experienced in receiving his father’s permission to go to sea had taken away all his appetite. He hastily swallowed a few mouthfuls, and then, catching up his cap, started toward the wharf to communicate the good news to the captain of the Savannah. Tom was well acquainted with all the officers and some of the crew of the schooner, and he looked upon them as the finest men in the world. The captain, especially, was his beau ideal of a sailor. He always wore wide pants, a tremendous neck-tie, and, when he walked, he rolled from side to side, like a vessel in a gale of wind—a style of locomotion that Tom had more than once vainly endeavored to imitate. With the older members of the crew he had always been a great favorite. Whenever they returned from a voyage, they always brought something for Tom; and, besides, they invariably spoke of him as “Our young skipper,” a title which pleased the boy exceedingly.
Tom had long ago decided that his first voyage to sea should be made in the Savannah, and, for a time, it had been the height of his ambition to obtain the command of a vessel exactly like her. But now he had set his mark higher; a topsail schooner was not good enough for him—he wanted a full-rigged ship. However, the Savannah would answer his purpose just then, for he considered that it would be much pleasanter to go to sea with friends who would always treat him with the respect due the son of the owner of the vessel, than to make his first voyage in company with total strangers. He had often talked to the captain about going out with him, and that gentleman, with all a sailor’s fondness for his chosen calling, had spoken so encouragingly to him, and had appeared to take so much interest in his affairs, that Tom concluded he would be happy to know that he was to have a new cabin-boy. Toward the wharf, then, he went at the top of his speed, and reaching the Savannah, he clambered over the rail, and ran down into the cabin, where the captain was eating his breakfast.
“It’s all right, now!” shouted Tom, as the skipper shook hands with him. “It’s all right! I am going out with you!”
“I am glad to hear that,” said the captain, “for I am always happy to have good company. You are going out just for the fun of the thing, I suppose?”
“Yes, I expect to see plenty of fun, but I’m going to ship as boy. I want you to teach me all you can, for I intend to be master of a ship one of these days. Now, captain,” he added, glancing at the doors of the different state-rooms in the cabin, “which is my room?”
“Why, if you ship as boy,” said the captain, “you’ll have to sleep with the sailors in the forecastle.”
“Will I?” exclaimed Tom in astonishment. “Not if I know it. Do you suppose that I am going to bunk with the hands? No, sir! I’m going to have one of these rooms, and mess with you.”
“I understood you to say that you wanted to learn all about the vessel!” said the captain.
“So I do!” replied Tom. “I want to be the best navigator and seaman that ever sailed salt water!”