Say, Nat, what d'ye think o' whalin' life ?" "Safe as the National Bank, I guess, Job," promptly responded the individual addressed, Fritz's acquaintance the "deck hand," whose full name he now learnt was Nathaniel Washington Slater--usually addressed as "Nathaniel W Slater," or called familiarly "Nat" by his friends! "Thaar!" exclaimed the skipper, "what more d'ye want than thet, hey?
You see, mister, the _Pilot's Bride_ don't do whalin' up in Baffin's Bay an' further north, whar I'll allow the fishin' is a bit risky.

We only makes reg'ler trips once a year to the Southern Ocean, callin' in on our way at Saint Helena an' the Cape o' Good Hope.

Thaar, I guess, we meets a fleet of schooners thet do all the fishin' fur us 'mongst the islands.
We fetch 'em out grub, an' sich-like notions, an' take in return all the ile an' skins they've got to bring home.

In course, sometimes, we strike a fish on our own 'count; but, we don't make a trade of it, 'cept the black fins comes under our noses, so to speak! The b'y'll run no risk, you bet, if you're skeart about him." "No, not a bit, mister," corroborated Nat; "and it's a downright capital openin' for him, I guess, too.

Why, there are scores of people would give something handsome as a premium to get the cap'en to take their sons along o' him!" "Thet's a fact," said the skipper; "though I reckon I don't kinder like to be bothered with b'ys--'specially sich as are mother's darlin's.
They're gen'rally powerful sassy, or else white-livered do-nuthins! I've taken a fancy to this lad, howbeit; an' thet's the reason I wants fur to hev him with me." "Besides, Fritz," put in Eric, who had refrained from speaking as yet throughout the conversation, although so interested in it, "you must recollect what a sum mother paid for my outfit?
Well, I have lost every stitch of it, and shall not get the slightest return from the owners for what went down in the _Gustav Barentz_--merchant sailors have to run the risk of all such casualties, you know! Now, I should not like to go back on mother's hands again, like a bad penny, with nothing to bless myself with; but, here's a capital chance for me.