"Because a schooner would be becalmed. Her big fore and aft sails would have all the wind shut out from them by the trees. With a brig like this all you have to do is to run up a couple of topgallant spars like those you see tucked under the bulwarks there, long thin tapering fellows like fishing-rods, and hoist a couple of square sails high up on them, and you catch the wind, and on you go." "Yes, I see," said Brace. "Then those long thin masts are ready for such an emergency." "That's right, squire," said the captain, smiling; "only I don't call that an emergency, only a matter of plain sailing. It makes one ready to go straight on, for I don't know anything more wherriting to a sailor than having a nice breeze blowing overhead and not coming down low enough to fill his sails. I've been like that before now in one of these rivers, but I don't think I shall be again. Of course one must expect a stoppage now and then in the dry times when the water falls and leaves the river shallow. There's no fighting against that, and no seamanship will teach a skipper how to find the deep channels in a river where the banks and shoals are always shifting. But come and look at the quarters below. You won't find any polished wood and gilding, squire," he continued, turning to Brace, with a dry smile. "Do you suppose I expected any?" said Brace shortly. "Well, no, I suppose not. But there is some polish, because the lads put that on with elbow-grease. No stuffing neither on the seats." "Of course not," said Brace. "We did not try to find a fancy yacht." "That's right," said the captain; "but anyhow, when a man's tired, a wooden seat is a bit hard, so I've got some horsehair cushions to go on the lids of the lockers. I like 'em myself. Now then, gentlemen, can you make shift here?" "Yes, and a very good shift too," said Sir Humphrey as he and his brother stood looking round the fairly roomy cabin, whose fittings were of Quakerish simplicity, but scrupulously clean. "As clean as on board a man-o'-war," said Brace. "To be sure," said the skipper drily. "Why not?--Then you think it will do, gentlemen?" "Excellently," said Sir Humphrey. "That's right, gentlemen. There are your berths in there. That's mine, and those two belong to my mates," he continued, pointing out the different divisions in the stern of the brig. "I've got a good cook too, for I like decent eating and drinking. He can't make what you call side dishes and French kickshaws. But he can make turtle-soup when we catch a turtle, and I'll back him against any cook in the British Navy to make a good cup of coffee." "That will do," said Brace. "Frizzle a rasher o' bacon." "So will that." "And make bread cakes." "Why, Brace, we shall be in clover," said Sir Humphrey, laughing. "But he has his faults, sir," said the captain solemnly. "All cooks have," said Sir Humphrey, smiling. "What is his worst?" "His plum-duff isn't fit to give a pig."