He was
certainly a most luxurious person, for his room was new-fitted
with velvet and silver in a way which would have suited the yacht
of a noble better than a little West African trader.
So thought the mate, Mr. Burns, who could not hide his amusement
and contempt whenever he looked at it.
This fellow, a big, solid, red-headed Englishman, had the other
berth connected with the cabin. There was a second mate named
Turner, who lodged in the middle of the ship, and there were nine
men and one boy in the crew, three of whom, as I was informed by
Mr. Burns, were Channel Islanders like myself. This Burns, the
first mate, was much interested to know why I was coming with
them.
"I come for pleasure," said I.
He stared at me.
"Ever been to the West Coast?" he asked.
I said that I had not.
"I thought not," said he. "You'll never come again for that
reason, anyhow."
Some three days after my arrival we untied the ropes by which the
ship was tethered and we set off upon our journey. I was never a
good sailor, and I may confess that we were far out of sight of
any land before I was able to venture upon deck.
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