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 on the hatches, watching the coast of New South Wales slide past.

"I was thinking of it," Dave replied.

"What about a run in one of those trading vessels through the South Sea Islands?" Tempest suggested. "There's nothing like it in the wide world. They poke about buying that dried cocoanut stuff they call copra, and other things, from the natives, going from one island to the other till they get a full cargo. I know the skippers of two or three of the ships, and we could be almost certain of getting a berth. Like to come?"

"I'd like to, of course," Dave said. The romance of the South Sea Islands had always appealed to him greatly. "About how long should we be away?"

"Between two and three months, I guess. It depends on what sort of luck the captain has in picking up a cargo."

"I might not get a chance again in years," Dave said thoughtfully. "Perhaps Dad would n't