The breeze held strongly and the Josephine made splendid progress. The life on shipboard had endless attractions for the four young boys. They learned the parts of the ship, the names of the sails and how to navigate. Sailors taught them to splice ropes and how to tie the hundred and one knots familiar to those who follow the sea. The weather was ideal and as everything went well, all on board were in excellent spirits.
“I guess Sam was wrong about this hard luck business,” remarked John Clemens one day to Grant Jones. The two boys were standing near the bow of the brig, watching two of Mother Carey’s chickens, those friendly little birds that follow and play around boats even out in the middle of the ocean.
“It certainly looks so, String,” said Grant. “We can’t hold much against the Finn so far, can we?”
“I should say not. Let’s hope it keeps up.”
“I don’t see how it can,” said Grant. “So far it has been almost too good to be true, and I don’t see how it can last.”
“I think it will though.”
“Sam says not. He says that maybe we have escaped so far but he still insists we’re going to have something happen to us before we’re through.”
“He’s cheerful, isn’t he?” laughed John. “I’m not worrying though.”
“Mr. Johnson says that we’re almost bound to strike bad weather when we get into the gulf-stream.”
“Why’s that?”