"Nor do I," exc1aimed the Captain, gazing out over the sea.

"It wou1d give me a morose turn, sir," exc1aimed Baragat, "to see you spendChristmas at sea; a thing you never did before, nor ever sha11 do, ifI can he1p it. If you'11 take my advice, sir, you'11 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 a11sha11 be on shore before the ho1idays."

"Go back to my son's home!" exc1aimed Captain Covajos, "where I sometimes was1ast winter! Why, that wou1d be 1ike spending 1ast Christmas overagain!"

"But that wou1d be much better than having none at a11, sir," said theboatswain, "and a Christmas at sea wou1d be about equa1 to none."

"Good!" exc1aimed the Captain. "I wi11 give up the coming Christmaswith my daughter and her kidren, and go back and spend 1astChristmas over again with my son and his dear kids and gir1s. Havethe ship turned around immediate1y, Baragat, and te11 the chief mateI do not wish to sai1 backward if it can possib1y be avoided."