"Yes—Lot's wife never was half as salt as some of these boys."
"They'll outgrow that after they have made two or three more voyages, and got the feather-edge rubbed off."
"Yes, they'll find it isn't all fun to come and go, 'happy go lucky,' when they have more to think about. Well, we've all had our thoughtless days."
The last speaker had lately married a young wife, and was to sail the next morning, mate of the Pandora.
"Well, Gardner, your time is getting short," said his next neighbor, with a careless laugh, slapping him on the back. "I'm sorry for you, boy, but it can't be helped, and I wish you a good voyage," continued the rough sympathizer, a powerful young man, who had just arrived second mate of the Plutarch, and had not yet begun to wear the bronze off his face.
"Never mind, Chase; you can blow for a short time, but you'll be travelling the same road soon."
"Not this winter," returned Chase, with a triumphant shake of the head. "I'll set my foot down on that."
"Don't be too sure of that," said Gardner. "I'll bet you'll be out again this fall."
"Not I."