“Well, we can sew two or three of them together. They’re good, strong sheets, and they’ll do very well for the boat. As for a mast, why, we can find a very good one here in the woods in five minutes.”
“But what direction should we take?”
“Well, that’s a question that requires a good deal of careful consideration.”
“My opinion is,” said Tom, “that it is by far the best to sail east. If we sail west, we could scarce hope to meet with any one till we got to the Bay of Islands; and we’d have to double Cape Bay,—which is altogether too dangerous a thing for a little boat like this. But if we go east, we’ll have more chances of shelter in case of storms, and we’ll be sure to reach some sort of settlement, either St. Pierre or some fishing stations on the main land, or in Fortune’s Bay.”
“East, then, is the course,” said Bart. “And now, who of us shall go? We’d better not all go.”
“Well, no; I suppose not.”
“Of course not,” said Bruce. “The boat isn’t large enough. Two will be plenty. The rest of us can stay here.”
“If the boat goes,” said Arthur, “those of us who stay behind won’t be able to go on board the ship.’ Shall we stay aboard or ashore?”
“For my part,” said Pat, “I won’t put a fut aboard that ship again as long as I live.”
“I’ll stay here, or else go in the boat,” said Phil. “I’m ready to do either.”