On and on puffed the Swallow, over the deep blue sea, drawing nearer to the island where they hoped to find Jack Nelson.
“But it will take us some little time to get there, even if nothing happens,” said Cousin Jasper, as they all sat down to dinner in the cabin a little later. The meal was a good one, and Nan and her mother were quite surprised that so much could be cooked in the little kitchen, or “galley,” as Captain Crane called it, for on a ship that is the name of the kitchen.
One of the members of the crew was the cook, and he also helped about the boat, polishing the shiny brass rails, and doing other things, for there is as much work about a boat as there is about a house, as Nan’s mother said to her.
“Yes, Mother, I can see that there is a lot of work to do around a boat like this, especially if they wish to keep it in really nice style,” said Nan. “The sailors have to work just about as hard as the servants do around a house.”
“Yes, my dear, and they have to work in all sorts of weather, too.”
“Well, we have to work in the house even in bad weather.”
“That’s true. But the sailors on a boat often have to work outside on the deck when the weather is very rough.”
“And that must be awfully dangerous,” put in Bert.
“It does become dangerous at times, especially when there is a great storm on.”
“Do you think we’ll run into a storm on this trip?” Nan questioned.