Part 3 (2/2)
”If he said so, then of course we shall go to work,” replied Carnes.
”I'm tired of waiting,” added Wilton. ”I think this is a stupid kind of life. We are not even tied to a bell rope here.”
”You will get discipline enough as soon as the crew are organized.”
”I suppose we shall. Do you think we shall go to sea to-morrow?”
”Go to sea to-morrow!” exclaimed Carnes.
”Shuffles said so.”
”How can we go to sea to-morrow? The crew don't know the mainmast from a handspike. They couldn't do anything with the s.h.i.+p now; they don't know the ropes.”
”You do, Carnes.”
”Well, I know something about a s.h.i.+p,” replied the dignified young gentleman, who had made one voyage up the Mediterranean with his uncle.
”I was pretty sure we should get out into blue water by to-morrow.”
”Nonsense!”
”Shuffles said so.”
”He is mistaken.”
”What are we going to do?”
”I don't know? I'm content to wait till orders come.”
”I don't want to wait any longer,” added Wilton.
”What are you talking about, fellows?” asked Shuffles, joining them, as they walked forward.
”Didn't you say we were going to sea to-morrow, Shuffles?” asked Wilton.
”Of course we are.”
”Who says so?” demanded Carnes.
”All the fellows say so.”
”It can't be true.”
”Why not? We are not going to stay here forever.”
”In my opinion, we shall stay here some weeks, if not some months,”
added Carnes.
”What for?”
”To pursue our studies, in the first place, and to learn our duty as seamen, in the second.”
<script>