The chief part of his time, out of school, was now spent on board the Two Pollys; and in the course of a month he was nearly as well acquainted with every part of the vessel—knew the name of every mast and sail, of the ropes and the yards, and understood their management nearly as well as an ordinary mariner of half a dozen years’ standing. But the climax to George’s enjoyment was yet to come. One evening his father received a call from Captain Seaward, accompanied by his son Dick. Mr. Fayerweather, although somewhat surprised, gave his guest a very cordial reception, and ordered out his best wine. The captain took the glass, and after the accustomed “My sarvice to you,” drank off the wine and smacked his lips; then clearing his throat he opened his business. “I come to ax a favor of you, Mr. Fayerweather; d’ye see, Captain Brayton sets sail to-morrow, if the wind’s fair, on a v’yage to the West Ingees, and he’ll touch at New York going out, to see a vessel of his’n, that’s laying there, and only waiting for his orders to come home. Now, Captain Bob Stimpson and I, and one or two more of us old fellows, think of taking the trip with him as far as New York, and coming back in his vessel. I’m going to take my boy here with me, and I want you to let your son George go. I ha’n’t said nothing to him about it, bethinking myself, as how if you wa’n’t willing he’d be disappinted, and I knew he wouldn’t go without your leave, and I’m sure I shouldn’t think o’ taking him. We expect to be gone three days.” Mr. Fayerweather was pleased with the honest bearing and hearty good-will of his weather-beaten guest, but he hesitated about letting George go; the company not being altogether exactly such as he would have chosen to trust his son with for so long a time; although all who were named bore the character of worthy men. He was endeavoring to frame a refusal that would not wound the captain’s feelings, when his son entered the room. On hearing his old friend’s errand from Dick, George expressed so much delight at the proposed expedition, that the fond parent prevailed over the prudent one, and the consent was given. Captain Seaward took his leave, with a charge to George to be ready by two o’clock next morning, if called for. We pass over his mother’s expostulations, and Vi’let’s evil prognostics, who said she had seen Nanny Boynton that very day, “sowing seed in the ground backward, and talking to herself all the while, when she went over to scold Dinah for not bringing home the brass kettle she had borrowed.” George was deaf to all. He was up and dressed next morning by one o’clock; the wind, however, had no mind to be hurried, and did not choose to set fair till day-break, when Dick appeared with his summons, and off the two lads set in high spirits.