I gained the deck. Yan Bol stumped the planks. He was clad in heavy clothes, and his figure looked more than half its usual size. In fact, the further we drew south the more clothes did Yan Bol heap upon his back. His notion was that what was good to keep out the cold was good to keep out the heat. It was a Dutchman’s notion of apparel, like to the Frenchman’s idea of washing: “Why should I wash myself? I shall be dirty again.” Yan Bol came to a stand when I rose through the hatch. He wore a fur cap with flaps, which the wind shook about his ears. I did not choose to be in a hurry, though he seemed to guess my mission, and eyed me out of the flat expanse of his face with a civil, or at least unconscious, frown of expectation. I looked up at the canvas; I gazed round upon the sea; I walked very deliberately to the binnacle, and stood for some moments with my eyes upon the compass-card, observing the behavior of the brig as she was swung along her course by the quartering seas. I then leisurely approached Bol. “The captain,” said I, “has received the men’s Round Robin and has read it.” “Mr. Fielding, I like to learn vhat he tinks of her as a Roundt Robin?” exclaimed Bol. “Wouldn’t you first like to hear what his answer is?” “Yaw, certainly. But she vhas a first-class Roundt Robin, and I likes to know vhat der captain says to him.” “At four o’clock this afternoon you will pipe the crew aft, and the captain will then tell you all what errand this brig is bound on.” “Vell, dot vhas as he should be,” he exclaimed. “Ve like to know by dis time vhere ve vhas boun’. Did you read dot Roundt Robin?” “I did.” “Vhas she goodt?” “Good enough to make me laugh.” “She vhas serious, by Cott, Mr. Fielding. Vere could her laughter be? Dot is vhat I like to hear now.” “A Round Robin is not a thing to be criticised,” said I. “No man is supposed to have had a particular share in the manufacture of it. If you want me to praise this Round Robin I shall suppose you the author of it.” “Dot vhas right, but still I ox,” said he, in his deep voice, slouching his cap to scratch his head, “vere could her laughter be?” “You have the captain’s message,” said I, “and you will repeat it to the men.” I then took another leisurely look round, and returned to my berth, my pipe, and my book.