GETTING READY Captain Spark's ship, the _Eagle_, was a large craft, and in her he had made many voyages.

At present the vessel was docked at a seaport town not many miles from Moreville.
The day it was announced to Bob that he was to make a sea voyage, the captain left the village to visit the _Eagle_ at the dock and see how the loading of the cargo was progressing.
"I want to sail as soon as possible," he said, "and though I left a good mate in charge, still I like to look after certain matters myself.

I'll be back in a few days and let you know, Bob, the exact date for sailing.

In the meanwhile you can be getting ready." "Aye, aye, sir," answered the boy, trying, as he had read of sailors doing, to pull a lock of his reddish hair, but finding it too short.
He had decided to adopt all the sea practices he had ever read about.
"Get your bag ready," went on the captain, "have your mother put some needles and thread in, for you'll have to mend your own clothes at sea, and I'll look it over when I get back." "Aye, aye, sir." The captain laughed at Bob's sudden enthusiasm for the sea and ship terms, but he was not displeased.
As for Bob, he thought the time would never pass until he would find himself aboard the _Eagle_.

That very day he began to sort over his clothes, trying to decide which he should take, and he had such a miscellaneous collection of garments that, when his mother saw them, she laughed.
"Bob!" she exclaimed.