human
Second natur', youngster, and that's use. Takes a long time to learn, and when you have larnt your lesson perfect as you think, you find that you don't know it a bit.
gpt
But you did know it, said Rodd.
human
You said that the storm would come on again, when it was beautiful and fine yesterday evening; and here it is.
gpt
Well, yes, my lad, if you goes on for years trying to hit something you must get a lucky shot sometimes.
human
Oh yes, but there's something more than that, said Rodd.
gpt
When I have been amongst the fishermen in Plymouth, and over in Saltash, I have wondered to find how exact they were about the weather, and how whenever they wouldn't take us out fishing they were always right. They seemed to know that bad weather was coming on.
human
Oh, of course, said the skipper.
gpt
Why, my lad, if you got your living by going out in your boat, don't you think the first thing you would try to learn would be to make it your living?
human
Why, of course,
gpt
Ah, you don't mean the same as I do. I mean, make it your living and not your dying.
human
Oh, I see.
gpt
You wouldn't want, continued the skipper,
human
No, said the boy, with something like a sigh.
gpt
I know what you mean. Ah, it has been very horrible sometimes, and all those little churchyards at the different villages about the coast with that regular `Drowned at sea' over and over and over again.
human
Right, my lad. Things go wrong sometimes; but that's what makes sailors and fishermen get to learn what the moon says and the sun and the clouds, and the bit of haze that gathers sometimes off the coast means. Why, if you'd looked out yesterday afternoon when the wind went down and the glint of sunshine come out, there was a nasty dirty look in the sky. You wait a bit and keep your eyes open, and put that and that together, and as you grow up you'll find that it isn't so hard as you'd think to say what the weather is going to be to-morrow. You'll often be wrong, same as I am.
gpt
Ah! then I shall begin at once, cried Rodd eagerly, as he looked sharply round.
human
Well, it can't go on pelting down like this with hail coming now and then in showers. Showers come and go.
gpt
Right!
human
Oh!
gpt
Hullo! Why, you don't mean to say that hurt?
human
Hurt! No, cried Rodd, shaking his head violently.
gpt
You shot a lot of cold water right up into my ear.
human
Oh, that will soon dry up. Well, what do you say the weather's going to be?
gpt
The storm soon over, and a fine day to-morrow.
human
Done?
gpt
Oh yes; but mind, that's only a try.
human
Then it's my turn now, youngster, so here goes. I say we shall have worse weather to-morrow than we have got to-day.
gpt
Oh, it can't be!
human
Well, cried the skipper, chuckling,
gpt
Oh, but I don't want for us to have to stop here in this French port.
human
More don't I, my lad, so we think the same there. You going to stop on deck?
gpt
Yes, till dinner-time,