"Nay, I was thinkin' it mysel'," said Jessie, "when I saw the barque lying near the Holms. High masts are good, I will allow, for carrying a heap o' sails, but our whaling ships never have masts so high as yours."
"Well, but you must understand," urged the sailor, "that we are not bound for Davis Straits as your whalers are that went out today. In the tropical seas, where there is often a calm lasting several days, we need high masts and widespread sails, Miss Ericson."
"Yes, I ken that well enough," argued Jessie. "But I have seen many a good ship wrecked on the Black Craigs in the spring time, and I can aye tell when a ship will come back safe to Stromness."
Captain Gordon seemed to treat my sister's criticism of his ship very lightly; but as events turned out, her warning was perhaps justifiable.
When we turned into the Anchor Close, we found my father standing at the house door, smoking his pipe and looking out for us.
"Where has the lad been?" he asked of Jessie before he greeted the captain.
"I found him up at the dominie's," she explained.
And then she held out her hand to Mr. Gordon.
"Fare ye well, Captain Gordon!" she said; "fare ye well, and a good voyage to you!"
And she glided past him into the house.