Mother Careys Chicken | Page 2

from India and Persia to make snug the floor.
"Strange things, wife! Well, of course I have a few. A man can't be at
sea thirty years without seeing something; but, generally speaking, a
sailor's life is one of terrible monotony. He is a seaman, and he sees the
sea day after day--day after day; rough seas and smooth seas, stormy
seas and sunny seas; and enough to do to keep his ship afloat and away
from rocks and lee shores. Here, what are you opening your eyes and
mouth for in that way, Mark? Do you expect I'm going to tell you about
the sea-serpent?"
"No, father," said the lad laughing. "It was because what you said was
so interesting."
"Interesting! Nonsense! A sailor's is a wearisome life, full of dangers."
"But you see strange countries, father, and all their wonders."

"No, I do not, boy," said the captain half angrily, "A sailor sees nothing
but his ship, and she's all anxiety to him from the time he goes aboard
till he comes back. We see strange ports, and precious little in them.
Why, Mark, if you were in some places on the other side of the world,
you'd find everything so English that you would hardly believe you had
left home. No, no, my lad. You be content to get on well with your
studies, and some day we'll make a doctor or a lawyer of you. Soldier,
if you like, but not a sailor."
"It's my turn to speak now," said Mrs Strong, smiling lovingly at her
frank, manly-looking son. "No soldiering."
"I don't want to be a soldier, mother," said Mark gloomily. "I want to
travel; and as I have kept to my books as father wished during his last
two voyages, and won my certificates, he might give me the prize I
worked for."
"Why, you ungrateful young dog," cried the captain, "haven't I given
you a first-class watch?"
"Yes, father; but that isn't the prize I want. I say: do take me with you."
"Take you with me!" cried the captain with an impatient snort such as a
sea-horse might give. "Here, mother, what have you been doing with
this boy?"
"Doing everything I could to set him against the sea, my dear," said
Mrs Strong sadly.
"And a nice mess you have made of it," growled the captain. "Pass my
tobacco. Well, Mark, my lad; I want my spell ashore to be happy and
restful, and when there's a rock ahead I must steer clear of it at once; so
here goes, my lad, I may as well say it and have done with it. I know so
much of the sea that I shall never consent to your being a sailor. Your
mother is with me there. Eh, my dear?"
"Yes, James, thoroughly," said Mrs Strong.

"Now, my lad, you've got to make the best of it."
"But if you would take me for one voyage only, father, I wouldn't ask
you to take me again."
"Won't trust you," said the captain. "Hallo, Bruff!" he continued,
patting the rough head of a great retriever dog which had just come
slouching into the room, carrying the said rough head hanging down as
if it were too heavy for its body, an idea endorsed by its act of laying it
upon the captain's knee. "Is it you who teaches your young master to be
so obstinate?"
The dog uttered a low growl as if of protest.
"Perhaps you'd like me to take you for a voyage, old chap," continued
the captain, pausing in his smoking to wipe the corners of the dog's
eyes with its ears. "You'd look well sea-sick in a corner of the deck, or
swung in a hammock."
Bruff showed the whites of his expressive eyes and uttered a dismal
howl.
"Don't be afraid, old fellow," said the captain. "I sha'n't take you, nor
your master neither, so you may both make the best of it."
"Don't say that, father," said Mark earnestly. "Take me this once. I do
so want to see China!"
"Here, mother," said the captain laughing; "take Mark up stairs and
show him your best tea-service, the one I brought home last year. Like
to see Japan, too, my lad?"
Mark frowned and bent his head over his book, while Mrs Strong
shook her head at her husband.
The captain rose once more, and laid his hand upon his son's shoulder.
"Come, come, my lad, don't fret over it," he said; "you have done well,
and I should like to give you a treat, but I can't take you to Hong-Kong

for many reasons. Your mother would not like it, I shouldn't like it, and
it would do you no good."
"But, father--" began Mark.
"Hear me out, my lad,"