companionship with
such fellows. Observing this, I resolved to make known to him the cause
of my wretchedness, and to obtain his advice as to how I should act.

An opportunity soon offered--a chance of conversing with him unheard by
the rest of the crew.

There is a pleasant place out upon the bowsprit, particularly when the
foretop-mast stay-sail is hauled down, and lying along the spar. There
two or three persons may sit or recline upon the canvas, and talk over
their secrets without much risk of being overheard. The wind is seldom
dead ahead, but the contrary; and the voices are borne forward or far
over the sea, instead of being carried back to the ears of the crew. A
meditative sailor sometimes seeks this little solitude, and upon
emigrant ships, some of the more daring of the deck-passengers often
climb up there--for it requires a little boldness to go so high aloft
over the water--and pour into one another's ears the intended programme
of their trans-oceanic life.

Brace had a liking for this place; and often about twilight he used to
steal up alone, and sit by himself, either to smoke his pipe or give way
to meditation.

I wished to be his companion, but at first I did not venture to disturb
him, lest he might deem it an intrusion. I took courage after a time,
and joined him upon his perch. I saw that he was not dissatisfied--on
the contrary, he seemed pleased with my companionship.

One evening I followed him up as usual, resolved to reveal to him the
thoughts that were troubling me.

"Ben!" I said, in the familiar style in which all sailors address each
other. "Ben!"

"Well, my lad; what be it?"

He saw I had something to communicate, and remained attentively
listening.

"What is this ship?" I asked after a pause.

"She a'n't a ship at all, my boy--she be a barque."

"But what is she?"

"Why, a'n't I told you she be a barque."

"But what sort, I want to know?"

"Why, in course, a regular rigged barque--ye see if she were a ship the
mizen-mast yonder 'ud be carryin' squares'ls aloft, which she don't do
as ye see--therefore she's a barque and not a ship."

"But, Ben, I know all that, for you have already explained to me the
difference between a ship and a barque. What I wish to ascertain is
what kind of a vessel she is?"

"Oh! what kind; that's what you're after. Well, then, I should say a
faster sailer never set figure-head to the sea; she's got just one
fault, she be a little