and he spoke. [Pg 73] [Pg 73] ‘Salutation, shipmate.’ Then we unclasped, and he returned to his post by the fireplace with the same exaggeration of action as before. The old man broke a short silence. ‘Well, Marmaduke, why have you brought this boy here?’ The Captain motioned me to a seat, which I took, and sat back himself in his former place. ‘Because the boy is going with me, and I thought that you might have something to say to him before he went.’ ‘Something to say to him?’ The old man repeated the words like a sneer, then he faced on me again and addressed me with an unmoving face. ‘Yes, I have something to say to you. Young man, you are going on a fool’s errand.’ Captain Marmaduke laughed a little at this, but I could see that he was not pleased. ‘Come, brother, don’t say that,’ he said. ‘But I do say it,’ the old gentleman repeated. ‘A fool’s errand it is, and a fool’s errand it will be called; and it shall not be said of Nathaniel Amber that he saw his brother make a fool of himself without telling him his mind.’ [Pg 74] [Pg 74] ‘I can always trust you for that, Nathaniel,’ said the Captain gravely. The old man went on without heeding the interruption. ‘A fool’s errand I call it, and shall always call it. What a plague! can a man find moneys and a tall ship and stout fellows, and set them to no better use than to found a Fool’s Paradise with them at the heel of the world? Ships were made for traffic and shipmen for trade, and not for such whimsies.’ The Captain frowned, but he said nothing, and tapped the toes of his crossed boots with his malacca. But Cornelys
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