Page:Barbour--Joan of the ilsand.djvu/279

Rh "Let's get down to brass tacks, then," he said. "First of all, have you any place to go to?"

"The poor house!" Chester suggested with a grimace. "But I'm afraid we're too able-bodied to be eligible. We sold up everything when the guv'nor died and we left England."

"The Kestrel seems to me a fairly good boat in dirty weather."

"None better for her size," said Chester. "I've ridden out some bad gales in her."

"Well, how would you care to try trading for a while?"

"Trading! Why, I'd try it, but I haven't got a darned thing to trade with, and you know I'm no professional navigator."

"I know something about it, though," said Keith, "and if we make for Sydney we might find people there with whom we could negotiate for stock. It doesn't promise anything very brilliant in the way of cold cash, but if you have nothing better in view it would do to go on with."

"You're a brick to offer to come with us," said Chester. "We could make ends meet that way for a time, perhaps. What do you say, Joan? I'm afraid the life would be a bit rough for you, but if you found it so I dare say we could fix you up in Sydney till I have time to look round."

The girl faced the prospect bravely. All her hopes were crashing to the ground one after another.