That's what _I_ call an adventure."
"Smith," called the skipper quietly, "come and take the helm a bit."
The seaman obeyed, and Lewis, accompanied by the girl, walked forward.
At the bear's cage he stopped, and, fumbling in his pocket for the key,
steadily regarded the brute as it lay gnashing its teeth, and trying in
vain to bite the ropes which bound it.
"You're afraid," said the girl tauntingly; "you're quite white."
The captain made no reply, but eyed her so steadily that her gaze fell.
He drew the key from his pocket and inserted it in the huge lock, and
was just turning it, when a soft arm was drawn through his, and a soft
voice murmured sweetly in his ear, "Never mind about the old bear."
And he did not mind.
THE COOK OF THE "GANNET"
All ready for sea, and no cook," said the mate of the schooner Gannet,
gloomily. "What's become of all the cooks I can't think."
"They most on 'em ship as mates now," said the skipper, grinning. "But
you needn't worry about that; I've got one coming aboard to-night. I'm
trying a new experiment, George."
"I once knew a chemist who tried one," said George, "an' it blew him out
of the winder; but I never heard o' shipmasters trying 'em."
"There's all kinds of experiments," rejoined the other, "What do you say
to a lady cook, George?"
"A WHAT?" asked the mate in tones of strong amazement.
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