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ute growling at the stay being so short.
It was horrible, he said, when they touched at Colombo not to be able to go and see what the country was like.
He repeated his words at Singapore; so did the captain, but with this addition:
"Only one more port to stop at, and then I shall have you off my hands."
"But shan't we stop at Java or any of the beautiful islands?"
"Not if I can help it, my lad," said the captain. "Beautiful islands indeed! Only wish I could clear some of 'em off the map."
So Carey Cranford, eager to see everything that was to be seen, had to content himself with telescopic views of the glorious isles scattered along the vessel's course, closing the glass again and again with an ejaculation signifying his disgust.
"Islands!" he said. "I believe, doctor, half of them are only clouds. I say, I wish the captain wouldn't go so fast."
"Why?" said his companion, an eager-looking manly fellow of about twice the speaker's age.
"I should like to fish, and stop and explore some of the islands, and shoot, and collect curiosities."
"And drive all the passengers mad with vexation because of the delay."
"Oh! old people are so selfish," said the lad, pettishly.
"And the young ones are not," said the young doctor, drily.
The boy looked up sharply, coloured a little through the brown painted by the sun on his skin, and then he laughed.
"Well, it's all so new and fresh," he said. "I should like to see a storm, though. One of those what do you call 'ems--tycoons--no, typhoons."
"You're getting deeper into the mire," said the doctor, smiling. "Carey--why, we ought to nickname you Don't-Care-y, to have such a wish as that."
"Why? It would be a change."
"A storm! Here, in this rock and shoal-dotted sea, with its dangerous currents and terrible reefs, where captains need all their skill to pilot their vessels safe to port!"
"Never thought of that," said the lad. "Let's see, what