You've got a good six hours to get your gear together, and then you'll have time to snatch a sleep on board before the crew joins in the morning." "It was easy enough for him to talk of getting ready in six hours for a voyage that was not to exceed two years.

He hadn't to do that trick himself, and with his sea-chest locked up in an outhouse the key of which had been mislaid for a week as I remembered.

But neither was I much concerned.

The idea that I was absolutely going to sea at six o'clock next morning hadn't got quite into my head yet.

It had been too sudden.
"Mr.Powell, slipping the Articles into a long envelope, spoke up with a sort of cold half-laugh without looking at either of us.
"Mind you don't disgrace the name, Charles." "And the skipper chimes in very kindly: "He'll do well enough I dare say.