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Luke appeared to be very miserable and seasick。
They explained to the Doctor that after they had settled down to live
together in the little shack out on the fens； so many people came to visit
them （having heard about the great trial） that life became impossible； and
they had decided to escape from Puddleby in this manner for they had no
money to leave any other wayand try to find some new place to live
where they and their story wouldn't be so well known。 But as soon as the
ship had begun to roll Mrs。 Luke had got most dreadfully unwell。
Poor Luke apologized many times for being such a nuisance and said
that the whole thing had been his wife's idea。
The Doctor； after he had sent below for his medicine…bag and had
given Mrs。 Luke some sal volatile and smelling…salts； said he thought the
best thing to do would be for him to lend them some money and put them
ashore at Penzance with Matthew。 He also wrote a letter for Luke to take
with him to a friend the Doctor had in the town of Penzance who； it was
hoped； would be able to find Luke work to do there。
As the Doctor opened his purse and took out some gold coins I heard
Polynesia； who was sitting on my shoulder watching the whole affair；
mutter beneath her breath；
〃There he goeslending his last blessed pennythree pounds ten all
the money we had for the whole trip！ Now we haven't the price of a
postage…stamp aboard if we should lose an anchor or have to buy a pint of
tarWell； let's； pray we don't run out of food Why doesn't he give them
the ship and walk home？〃
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Presently with the help of the map the course of the boat was changed
and； to Mrs。 Luke's great relief； we made for Penzance and dry land。
I was tremendously interested to see how a ship could be steered into a
port at night with nothing but light…houses and a compass to guide you。 It
seemed to me that the Doctor missed all the rocks and sand…bars very
cleverly。
We got into that funny little Cornish harbor about eleven o'clock that
night。 The Doctor took his stowaways on shore in our small row…boat
which we kept on the deck of the Curlew and found them rooms at the
hotel there。 When he got back he told us that Mrs。 Luke had gone straight
to bed and was feeling much better。
It was now after midnight； so we decided to stay in the harbor and wait
till morning before setting out again。
I was glad to get to bed； although I felt that staying up so tremendously
late was great fun。 As I climbed into the bunk over the Doctor's and pulled
the blankets snugly round me； I found I could look out of the port…hole at
my elbow； and； without raising my head from the pillow； could see the
lights of Penzance swinging gently up and down with the motion of the
ship at anchor。 It was like being rocked to sleep with a little show going on
to amuse you。 I was just deciding that I liked the life of the sea very much
when I fell fast asleep。
THE FOURTH CHAPTER
OUR TROUBLES CONTINUE
THE next morning when we were eating a very excellent breakfast of
kidneys and bacon； prepared by our good cook Bumpo； the Doctor said to
me；
〃I was just wondering； Stubbins； whether I should stop at the Capa
Blanca Islands or run right across for the coast of Brazil。 Miranda said we
could expect a spell of excellent weather nowfor four and a half weeks at
least。〃
〃Well；〃 I said； spooning out the sugar at the bottom of my cocoa…cup；
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〃I should think it would be best to make straight across while we are sure
of good weather。 And besides the Purple Bird…of…Paradise is going to keep
a lookout for us； isn't she？ She'll be wondering what's happened to us if we
don't get there in about a month。〃
〃True； quite true； Stubbins。 On the other hand； the Capa Blancas make
a very convenient stopping place on our way across。 If we should need
supplies or repairs it would be very handy to put in there。〃
〃How long will it take us from here to the Capa Blancas？〃 I asked。
〃About six days；〃 said the Doctor〃Well； we can decide later。 For the
next two days at any rate our direction would be the same practically in
either case。 If you have finished breakfast let's go and get under way。〃
Upstairs I found our vessel surrounded by white and gray seagulls who
flashed and circled about in the sunny morning air； looking for food…scraps
thrown out by the ships into the harbor。
By about half past seven we had the anchor up and the sails set to a
nice steady breeze； and this time we got out into the open sea without
bumping into a single thing。 We met the Penzance fishing fleet coming in
from the night's fishing； and very trim and neat they looked； in a line like
soldiers； with their red…brown sails all leaning over the same way and the
white water dancing before their bows。
For the next three or four days everything went smoothly and nothing
unusual happened。 During this time we all got settled down into our
regular jobs； and in spare moments the Doctor showed each of us how to
take our turns at the wheel； the proper manner of keeping a ship on her
right course； and what to do if the wind changed suddenly。 We divided the
twenty…four hours of the day into three spells； and we took it in turns to
sleep our eight hours and be awake sixteen。 So the ship was well looked
after； with two of us always on duty。
Besides that； Polynesia； who was an older sailor than any of us； and
really knew a lot about running ships； seemed to be always awake except
when she took her couple of winks in the sun； standing on one leg beside
the wheel。 You may be sure that no one ever got a chance to stay abed
more than his eight hours while Polynesia was around。 She used to watch
the ship's clock； and if you overslept a half…minute； she would come down
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to the cabin and peck you gently on the nose till you got up。
I very soon grew to be quite fond of our funny black friend Bumpo；
with his grand way of speaking and his enormous feet which some one
was always stepping on or falling over。 Although he was much older than I
was and had been to college； he never tried to lord it over me。 He