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been playing that very morning。
It was the good old game of Rafts；a game that will be played till all
the oceans are dry and all the trees in the world are felledand after。 And
we were all crowded together on the precarious little platform； and Selina
occupied every bit as much room as I did； and Charlotte's legs didn't
dangle over any more than Harold's。 The pitiless sun overhead beat on us
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all with tropic impartiality； and the hungry sharks； whose fins scored the
limitless Pacific stretching out on every side； were impelled by an appetite
that made no exceptions as to sex。 When we shared the ultimate biscuit
and circulated the last water…keg； the girls got an absolute fourth apiece；
and neither more nor less； and the only partiality shown was entirely in
favour of Charlotte； who was allowed to perceive and to hail the saviour…
sail on the horizon。 And this was only because it was her turn to do so；
not because she happened to be this or that。 Surely； the rules of the raft
were the rules of life； and in what； then； did these visitor…ladies' grievance
consist？
Puzzled and a little sulky； I pushed open the door of the deserted
nursery； where the raft that had rocked beneath so many hopes and fears
still occupied the ocean…floor。 To the dull eye； that merely tarries upon
the outsides of things； it might have appeared unromantic and even
unraftlike； consisting only as it did of a round sponge…bath on a bald deal
towel…horse placed flat on the floor。 Even to myself much of the recent
raft…glamour seemed to have departed as I half…mechanically stepped
inside and curled myself up in it for a solitary voyage。 Once I was in；
however； the old magic and mystery returned in full flood； when I
discovered that the inequalities of the towel…horse caused the bath to rock；
slightly； indeed； but easily and incessantly。 A few minutes of this
delightful motion； and one was fairly launched。 So those women below
didn't want us？ Well； there were other women； and other places； that did。
And this was going to be no scrambling raft…affair； but a full…blooded
voyage of the Man； equipped and purposeful； in search of what was his
rightful own。
Whither should I shape my course； and what sort of vessel should I
charter for the voyage？ The shipping of all England was mine to pick
from； and the far corners of the globe were my rightful inheritance。 A
frigate； of course； seemed the natural vehicle for a boy of spirit to set out
in。 And yet there was something rather 〃uppish〃 in commanding a
frigate at the very first set…off； and little spread was left for the ambition。
Frigates； too； could always be acquired later by sheer adventure； and your
real hero generally saved up a square…rigged ship for the final achievement
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DREAM DAYS
and the rapt return。 No； it was a schooner that I was aboard ofa
schooner whose masts raked devilishly as the leaping seas hissed along
her low black gunwale。 Many hairbrained youths started out on a mere
cutter； but I was prudent； and besides I had some inkling of the serious
affairs that were ahead。
I have said I was already on board； and； indeed； on this occasion I was
too hungry for adventure to linger over what would have been a special
delight at a period of more leisurethe dangling about the harbour； the
choosing your craft； selecting your shipmates； stowing your cargo； and
fitting up your private cabin with everything you might want to put your
hand on in any emergency whatever。 I could not wait for that。 Out
beyond soundings the big seas were racing westward and calling me；
albatrosses hovered motionless； expectant of a comrade； and a thousand
islands held each of them a fresh adventure； stored up； hidden away；
awaiting production； expressly saved for me。 We were humming； close…
hauled； down the Channel； spray in the eyes and the shrouds thrilling
musically； in much less time than the average man would have taken to
transfer his Gladstone bag and his rugs from the train to a sheltered place
on the promenade… deck of the tame daily steamer。
So long as we were in pilotage I stuck manfully to the wheel。 The
undertaking was mine； and with it all its responsibilities； and there was
some tricky steering to be done as we sped by headland and bay； ere we
breasted the great seas outside and the land fell away behind us。 But as
soon as the Atlantic had opened out I began to feel that it would be rather
nice to take tea by myself in my own cabin； and it therefore became
necessary to invent a comrade or two； to take their turn at the wheel。
This was easy enough。 A friend or two of my own age； from among
the boys I knew； a friend or two from characters in the books I knew； and
a friend or two from No…man's…land； where every fellow's a born sailor；
and the crew was complete。 I addressed them on the poop； divided them
into watches； gave instructions I should be summoned on the first sign of
pirates； whales； or Frenchmen； and retired below to a well…earned spell of
relaxation。
That was the right sort of cabin that I stepped into； shutting the door
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behind me with a click。 Of course； fire…arms were the first thing I looked
for； and there they were； sure enough； in their racks； dozens of 'em
double…barrelled guns； and repeating…rifles； and long pistols； and shiny
plated revolvers。 I rang up the steward and ordered tea； with scones； and
jam in its native potsnone of your finicking shallow glass dishes； and；
when properly streaked with jam； and blown out with tea； I went through
the armoury； clicked the rifles and revolvers； tested the edges of the
cutlasses with my thumb； and filled the ca