Chasing the Sun | Page 2

him, at the same desk, sat a small fat boy with a round red face, and no chin to speak of. The man was writing busily--the boy was drawing a caricature of the man, also busily.
Passing these, Bob Bowie entered the inner office, where a dozen clerks were all busily employed, or pretending to be so. Going straight onward like a homeward-bound ship, keeping his eyes right ahead, Bob was stranded at last in front of a green door, at which he knocked, and was answered with a hearty "Come in."
The porter went in and found Fred Temple seated at a table which was covered with books and papers.
"Oh! I sent for you, Bowie, to say that I want you to go with me to Norway to-morrow morning."
"To Norway, sir!" said Bowie in surprise.
"Ay, surely you're not growing timid in your old age, Bob! It is but a short voyage of two or three days. My little schooner is a good sea-boat, and a first-rate sailor."
"Why, as for bein' timid," said the porter, rubbing the end of his nose, which was copper-coloured and knotty, "I don't think I ever knowed that there feelin', but it does take a feller aback to be told all of a suddent, after he's reg'larly laid up in port, to get ready to trip anchor in twelve hours and bear away over the North Sea--not that I cares a brass fardin' for that fish-pond, blow high, blow low, but it's raither suddent, d'ye see, and my rig ain't just seaworthy."
Bowie glanced uneasily at his garments, which were a cross between those of a railway-guard and a policeman.
"Never mind the rig, Bob," cried Fred, laughing. "Do you get ready to start, with all the underclothing you have, by six to-morrow morning. We shall go to Hull by rail, and I will see to it that your top-sails are made all right."
"Wery good, sir."
"You've not forgotten how to make lobscouse or plum-duff, I dare say?"
Bob's eyes brightened as he replied stoutly, "By no manner o' means."
"Then be off, and, remember, sharp six."
"Ay, ay, sir," cried the old seaman in a nautical tone that he had not used for many years, and the very sound of which stirred his heart with old memories. He was about to retire, but paused at the threshold of the green door.
"Beg parding, sir, but if I might make so bold as to ax--"
"Go on, Bob," said Fred encouragingly.
"I heerd ye say to our cashier, sir, that you wos goin' for to chase the sun. Wot sort of a chase may that be, sir?"
"Ha! Bowie, that's a curious chase, but not a wild goose one, as I hope to show you in a month or two. You know, of course, that in the regions of the earth north of the Arctic Circle the sun shines by night as well as by day for several weeks in summer?"
"In coorse I do," answered Bob; "every seaman knows that or ought for to know it; and that it's dark all day as well as all night in winter for some weeks, just to make up for it, so to speak."
"Well, Bob, I am very desirous to see this wonderful sight with my own eyes, but I fear I am almost too late of setting out. The season is so far advanced that the sun is setting farther and farther north every night, and if the winds baffle us I won't be able to catch him sitting up all night; but if the winds serve, and we have plenty of them we may yet be in time to see him draw an unbroken circle in the sky. You see it will be a regular chase, for the sun travels north at a rapid pace. D'you understand?"
Bob Bowie grinned, nodded his head significantly, retired, and shut the door.
Fred Temple, left alone, seized a quill and scribbled off two notes,-- one to a friend in Scotland, the other to a friend in Wales. The note to Scotland ran as follows:--
"MY DEAR GRANT,--I have made up my mind to go to Norway for three months. Principal object to chase the sun. Secondary objects, health and amusement. Will you go? You will find my schooner comfortable, my society charming (if you make yourself agreeable), and no end of salmon-fishing and scenery. Reply by return of post. I go to Hull to-morrow, and will be there a week. This will give you ample time to get ready.
"Ever thine, FRED TEMPLE."
The note to Wales was addressed to Sam Sorrel, and was written in somewhat similar terms, but Sam being a painter by profession, the beauty of the scenery was enlarged on and held out as an inducement.
Both of Fred's friends had been prepared some time before for this proposal, and both of them