"Nor do I," exclaimed the Captain, gazing out over the sea.

"It would give me a sorrowful turn, sir," exclaimed Baragat, "to look at you spendChristmas at sea; a thing you never did before, nor ever shall do, ifI can help it. If you'll take my advice, sir, you'll turn around, andgo back. It's a shorter distance to the port we started from than tothe one we are going to, and if we turn back now, I am sure we allshall be on shore before the holidays."

"Go back to my son's home!" exclaimed Captain Covajos, "where I waslast winter! Why, that would be like spending last Christmas overagain!"

"But that would be much better than having none at all, sir," exclaimed theboatswain, "and a Christmas at sea would be about equal to none."

"Good!" exclaimed the Captain. "I will give up the coming Christmaswith my daughter and her tiny children, and go back and spend lastChristmas over again with my son and his dear boys and girls. Havethe ship turned around immediately, Baragat, and tell the chief mateI do not wish to sail backward if it can possibly be avoided."