not think, my boy, you
have chosen badly? Come, Nat, speak out. I will not call you a coward,
for it would only be natural for you to refuse to go. Come, speak to me
frankly. What do you say?"

"Was it dangerous to come out to-day, uncle, in this little boat?"

"Decidedly, my boy. You heard what that old boatman said."

"Yes, uncle. Then why did you come?"

He stared at me for a moment or two, and then said quietly to me,
leaning forward so that he could look straight into my eyes.

"To give you a lesson, my boy."

"But you knew you could manage the boat, uncle?"

"Yes, my boy. I have had a good deal of experience in boat-sailing on
the great American rivers, and on the sea."

"And you would not mind coming out at a time like this, uncle?"

"No, my boy, certainly not. I have been out years ago with the Yarmouth
boatmen in very rough seas indeed."

There was a pause for a time, and then he said again, "Well, Nat, will
you give up?"

"No, uncle," I said excitedly, "I don't feel half so frightened. I
couldn't help it then."

"You'd have been a strange boy, Nat, if you had helped it," he said
laughing; "and I am very glad we came. Now, let me tell you that we are
in a very small boat in water quite rough enough to be very dangerous;
but knowing what I do, possessing, as I do, the knowledge which is
power, Nat, there is not the least danger whatever, and you may rest
perfectly assured that we will get back quite safe."

"Then I've been terribly cowardly, and afraid for nothing, uncle," I
said, as I felt horribly ashamed.

"Yes, my boy, but that is generally the case," he said smiling. "You
were afraid because you were ignorant. Once you know well what you are
about, you feel ashamed of your old cowardice."

"But it's very shocking to be like that, uncle," I said.

"Not at all, my boy. It is the result of ignorance. The more ignorant
and uncultivated people are, the greater cowards they seem. They are
superstitious, and believe in ghosts and goblins and imps and fairies;
and as for savages in far-off regions, they are sometimes the greatest
cowards under the sun."

"I feel very much ashamed of myself, uncle," I said, and the tears stood
in my eyes.

He looked at me very kindly as I spoke.

"I wish I was not so ignorant."

"For my part, Nat," he said, "I feel very proud of you, my boy; and let
me tell you that you have no cause to be ashamed at all. Now take hold
of the sheet here, an