"I acknowledge that I was imprudent; but I thought it was safe there, because no one knew that I had it."
I told him enough of my story to enable him to understand my situation.
"It's a hard case; but you know it's no use to cry for spilt milk; only don't spill any more."
"But all my plans are defeated. I can't go to Europe without money."
"That's true; a man wants money in Europe, if he don't in America. Where did you say your mother was?"
"At Nice."
"Just so; you can go in my vessel to Palermo, and then to Genoa and Nice by the steamers. If you want to learn how to knot and splice, reef and steer, you shall go before the mast and work your passage. It will do you good, besides what you learn."
"But I shall have no money when I get to Nice," I suggested.
"What of that? You say your mother belongs to a rich family, and of course she has money enough."
This idea struck me very favorably. I had about sixty dollars in my pocket, which would more than pay my expenses from Palermo to Messina, where Mr. Gracewood would lend me a further sum. If I missed them, I could even go to Nice, where my mother would be glad to supply all my wants. I liked the plan, but I was not quite prepared to decide the matter. The Michigan would sail the next day, and I could at least think of it over night.