Jack at Sea: All Work and No Play Made Him a Dull Boy
by George Manville Fenn · English · Gutenberg #23375 · 709,801 chars · public domain (US)
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Title: Jack at Sea: All Work and No Play Made Him a Dull Boy
Author: George Manville Fenn
Illustrator: William Heysham Overend
Release date: November 6, 2007 [eBook #23375]
Most recently updated: February 1, 2009
Language: English
Other information and formats: www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/23375
Credits: Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JACK AT SEA: ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MADE HIM A DULL BOY ***
Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England
Jack at Sea; or, All Work and no Play made him a Dull Boy, by George
Manville Fenn.
________________________________________________________________________
We do seem to have rather a problem with this book, because the copy we
worked from had pages 15 and 16 missing (sheet was missing) and also the
bottom half of pages 283 and 284 has been torn out. Eventually, when I
can see another copy of the book I will be able to rectify this, but at
the moment there does not seem to be a copy in sight: it doesn't even
seem to be listed in the British Library Catalogue.
Jack is an academic and clever boy, who does not do much in the way of
sport and exercise. This worries his father who talks about it to the
local doctor. They decide that Jack has to be forced into the world
most of us inhabit, but the way they do it was surely a bit of an
over-kill, for Sir John (the father, who is a baronet), buys a yacht
capable of sailing round the world, and they all set off in it,
including Ned, one of the domestics from home. There is an excellent
crew and the skipper of the yacht is taken on for the trip.
Jack is pretty miserable at first, with seasickness, but gradually he
joins in with the daily activities, and as time goes on he becomes
indistinguishable from other boys who might have this opportunity. We
join in with Jack and Ned in various adventures, mostly in the Java
seas.
Apart from the minor blemish of the three missing texts, the book is
most enjoyable. There are the usual G M Fenn tight situations, but of
course the young men (as these boys would like to be called) manage to
get out of them.
________________________________________________________________________
JACK AT SEA; OR, ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MADE HIM A DULL BOY, BY GEORGE
MANVILLE FENN.
OR ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MADE JACK A DULL BOY.
CHAPTER ONE.
WHEN A BOY IS NOT A BOY.
"Fine morning, Jack; why don't you go and have a run?"
John Meadows--always "Jack," because his father's name was John--upon
hearing that father's voice, raised his dull, dreamy eyes slowly from
the perusal of the old Latin author over which he was bending, and
looked in Sir John's face, gazing at him inquiringly as if he had been
walking with Cicero in Rome--too far away to hear the question which had
fallen upon his ears like a sound which conveyed no meaning.
Father and son were as much alike as a sturdy sun-browned man of forty
can resemble a thin, pale youth of sixteen or so. In other words, they
possessed the same features, but the elder suggested an outdoor plant,
sturdy and well-grown, the younger a sickly exotic, raised in the hot
steaming air of the building which gardeners call a stove, a place in
which air is only admitted to pass over hot-water pipes, for fear the
plants within should shiver and begin to droop.
Sir John had just entered the handsome library, bringing with him a good
breezy, manly suggestion of having been tramping through woods and over
downs; and as soon as he had closed the door, he glanced at the large
fire near to which his son had drawn a small writing-table, said "Pff!"
unbuttoned his rough heather-coloured Norfolk jacket, raised his eyes to
the window as if he would like to throw it open, and then lowered them
and wrinkled up his forehead as he gazed at his son, carefully dressed
in dark-brown velvet, and wearing correctly fitting trousers and patent
leather shoes, a strong contrast to his own knickerbockers, coarse brown
knitted stockings, and broad-soled shooting-boots.
Sir John looked anxious and worried, and he stretched out a strong brown
hand to lay upon his son's shoulder, but he let it fall again, drew a
deep breath, and then very gently asked him the question about the walk.
"Did you speak to me, father?" said the lad vacantly.
"Speak to you!" cried Sir John, in an impatient, angry tone, "of course
I spoke to you. It worries me to see you so constantly sitting over the
fire reading."
"Does it, father?" said the lad, wincing at the tone in which these
words were spoken, and looking up in an apologetic way.
"I didn't mean to speak to you so sharply, my boy," continued Sir John,
"but I don't like to see you neglecting your health so. Study's right
enough, but too much of a good thing is bad for any one. Now, on a fine
morning like this--"
"Is it fine, father? I thought it was cold."
"Cold! Tut--tut--tut! The weather is never cold to a healthy, manly
boy."
"I'm afraid I'm not manly, father," said the lad.
"No, Jack, nor healthy neither; you are troubling me a great deal."
"Am I, father?" said the lad softly. "I'm very sorry. But I really am
quite well."
"You are not, sir," cried Sir John, "and never will be if you spend all
your time over books."
The lad gave him a sad, weary look.
"I thought you wanted me to study hard, father," he said reproachfully.
"Yes, yes, my boy, I do, and I should like to see you grow up into a
distinguished man, but you are trying to make yourself into the
proverbial dull boy."
"Am I? And I have worked so hard," said the lad in a weary, spiritless
way.
"Yes; it's all work and no play with you, Jack, and it will not do, boy.
When I was your age I was captain of our football club."
Jack shuddered.
"I often carried out my bat at cricket."
The lad sighed.
"I could stick on anything, from a donkey up to an unbroken colt; throw
a ball as far as any of my age, and come in smiling and ready for a good
meal after a long paper-chase."
Jack's pitiable look of despair was almost comical.
"While you, sir," cried Sir John angrily, "you're a regular molly, and
do nothing but coddle yourself over the fire and read. It's read, read,
read, from morning till night, and when you do go out, it's warm
wrappers and flannel and mackintoshes. Why, hang it all, boy! you go
about as if you were afraid of being blown over, or that the rain would
make you melt away."
"I am very sorry, father," said the youth piteously; "I'm afraid I am
not like other boys."
"Not a bit."
"I can't help it."
"You don't try, Jack. You don't try, my boy. I always had the best of
accounts about you from Daneborough. The reports are splendid. And,
there, my dear boy, I am not angry with you, but it is very worrying to
see you going about with lines in your forehead and this white face,
when I want to see you sturdy and--well, as well and hearty as I am.
Why, Jack, you young dog!" he cried, slapping him on the shoulder, and
making the lad wince, "I feel quite ashamed of myself. It isn't right
for an old man like I am."
"You old, father!" said the lad, with more animation, and a faint flush
came in his cheeks. "Why you look as well and young and strong as--"
"As you ought to be, sir. Why, Jack, boy, I could beat you at anything
except books--walk you down, run you down, ride, jump, row, play
cricket, shoot, or swim."
"Yes, father, I know," sighed the lad.
"But I'm ashamed to do anything of the kind when I see you moping like a
sick bird in a cage."
"But I'm quite well, father, and happy--at least I should be if you were
only satisfied with me."
"And I do want to see you happy, my boy, and I try to be satisfied with
you. Now look here: come out with me more. I want to finish my
collection of the _diptera_. Suppose you help me, and then we'll make
another collection--birds say, or--no, I know: we'll take up the British
fishes, and work them all. There's room there. It has never been half
done. Why, what they call roach vary wonderfully. Even in two ponds
close together the fish are as different as can be, and yet they call
them all roach. Look here--we'll fish and net, and preserve in spirits,
and you'll be surprised how much interest you will find in it combined
with healthy exercise."
"I'll come with you, father, if you wish it," said the lad.
"Bah! That's of no use. I don't want you to come because I wish it. I
want you to take a good healthy interest in the work, my boy. But it's
of no use. I am right; you have worked too hard, and have read till
your brain's getting worn out. There, I am right, Jack. You are not
well."
"Doctor Instow, Sir John," said a servant, entering.
"Humph! lost no time," muttered the baronet. "Where is he, Edward?"
"In the drawing-room, Sir John."
"I'll come. No; show him in here."
"Father," whispered the lad excitedly, and a hectic spot showed in each
cheek, "why has Doctor Instow come here?"
"Because I sent for him, my boy."
"But not to see me?" said the lad excitedly. "Indeed I am quite well."
"No, you are not, boy. Yes, he has come to see you, and try to set you
right, so speak out to him like a man."
At that moment steps were heard crossing the polished oak floor of the
great hall, and directly after a keen-eyed, vigorous-looking man of
about six-and-thirty entered the room in a quick, eager way.
CHAPTER TWO.
DOCTOR INSTOW'S PRESCRIPTION.
"How are you?" he cried, rather boisterously, to Sir John, shaking hands
warmly. "Well! no need to ask. And how are you, my Admirable
Crichton?" he said, turning to Jack to continue the hand-shaking.
"Well, no need to ask here either."
"No; I'm quite well, Doctor Instow."
"What! didn't they teach you to tell the truth at Daneborough, Jack
Meadows?"
"Yes, of course," said the lad sharply.
"Then why don't you tell it?" said the doctor.
"There, Jack, you see," said Sir John quickly.
"What! has he been saying that he is quite well?" cried the doctor.
"Yes; he persists in it, when--"
"Any one can see with half an eye that he is completely out of order."
"You hear, Jack?"
"Yes, father, I hear," said the boy; "but really I am quite, quite
well."
"`Quite, quite well,'" said the doctor, laughing merrily, as he sank
back in his chair. "Never felt better in your life, eh, Jack? Haven't
been so well since I doctored you for measles, ten years ago, when I was
a young man, just come to Fernleigh, eh?"
"I do not see anything to laugh at, Doctor Instow," said the lad
gravely.
"No? Well, I do, my dear boy--at the way in which you tell your anxious
father and his old friend that there is nothing the matter with you,
when the nature in you is literally shouting to every one who sees you,
`See how ill I am.'"
"Doctor Instow, what nonsense!" cried the lad.
"Indeed? Why, not ten minutes ago, as I drove towards the Hall, I met
the Rector, and what do you think he said?"
"I don't know," said Jack, fidgeting in his chair.
"Then I'll tell you, my lad. `Going to see young Jack?' he said. `I
don't know, but I expect so,' says your humble servant. `Well, I hope
you are, for I've felt quite concerned about his looks.'"
"But I can't help looking pale and delicate," cried Jack hurriedly.
"Plenty of other boys do."
"Of course they do; but in your case you can help it."
"But how?" said Jack fretfully.
"I'll tell you directly," said the doctor. "Look here, Meadows, am I to
speak out straight?"
"I beg that you will," said Sir John quickly. "I have sent for you
because I cannot go on like this. No disrespect to you, my dear Instow,
but I was thinking seriously of taking him up to some great specialist
in town."
"I'm very glad to hear you say so," cried the doctor. "If you had not,
before many days were over I should have sounded the alarm myself."
"Indeed!" cried Sir John.
"Yes; I should have presumed on our old intimacy, and told you what I
thought, and that it was time something was done. We'll take him up to
Doctor Lorimer, or Sir Humphrey Dean, or one of the other medical
big-wigs. You sent for me, then, to give you my opinion. Here it is
straight. It is the right thing to do, and before you start, I'll write
down my idea of the proper course of treatment, and I guarantee that
either of the fashionable physicians will prescribe the same remedies."
"Then," said Sir John eagerly, "you think you can see what is the matter
with him?"
"Think? I'm sure, sir."
"I am glad of it, for I had decided not to take him up to a physician."
"Thank you, father," said Jack, giving him a grateful look. "There
really is no need."
"Because," continued Sir John firmly, "I thought the matter over,"--and
he talked at his son--"and I said to myself that it is impossible that a
London doctor can in a visit or two understand the case half so well as
the medical man who has known and attended him from a child."
"Thank you, Meadows," said the doctor warmly. "I thank you for your
confidence. I do not want to boast of my knowledge, but, as I said
before, I am perfectly sure of what is the matter with Jack here."
"Yes? What is it?--or no, I ought not to ask you that," said the
father, with a hasty glance at his son.
"Oh yes, you ought. Why not? In this case it is quite right that he
should know. I am going to convince him that he is in a very bad way."
"You think so?" cried Sir John, leaning forward anxiously.
"Yes, sir, a very bad way, though the conceited young rascal is laughing
in his sleeve and mentally calling me a pretender."
"Indeed, no, Doctor Instow," cried Jack indignantly.
"What? Why you are saying to yourself all the time that you know better
than I."
"I only felt that I was right and you were wrong, doctor," said the lad
frankly.
"Same thing, my boy," cried the doctor, smiling. "Not the first time
two people have been of different opinions, and we shan't quarrel, Jack.
Know one another too well."
"Yes, yes," said Sir John impatiently. "But you said you thought he was
in a bad way."
"I said I was sure."
"Yes, yes; then what is to be done? We must get him out of the bad
way."
"The right treatment to a T," said the doctor.
"Then be frank, Instow," said Sir John; "what is the matter?"
Page missing, to be inserted when found.
Page missing, to be inserted when found.
fight again, but it has been fostered too much. Dad here, in his pride
of your attainments, has allowed you to go too far. He has thought it
was a natural weakness and tendency to bad health which kept you from
taking to outdoor life more, but neither he nor I had the least idea
that you carried it to such an extent, and it did not show so much till
you came home after this last half."
"No, not till now, my boy," said Sir John.
"The result of the grinding of the past four years is just coming out
with a rush," continued the doctor, "and if you went back to the school
you would break down by the next holidays."
"If I went back?" cried the boy. "If? Oh, I must go back. I am
expected to take some of the principal prizes next year."
"And lose the greatest prize that can be gained by a young man, my lad--
health."
"Hah!" sighed Sir John; "he is quite right, Jack, I am afraid."
"Right as right, my boy. Here in four years you have done the work of
about eight. It's very grand, no doubt, but it won't do."
"But what is to be done?" cried Sir John.
"Let the brain run fallow for the other four years, and give the body a
chance," said the doctor bluntly.
"What! do nothing for four years?" cried the lad indignantly.
"Who said do nothing?" said the doctor testily.
"Do something else. Rest your brain with change, and give your body a
fair chance of recovering its tone."
"Yes, Jack, my boy; he is quite right," cried Sir John.
"But, father, I should be wretched."
"How do you know?" said the doctor. "You have tried nothing else but
books. There is something else in the world besides books, my lad. Ask
your father if there is not. What's that about sermons in insects and
running stones in the brooks, Meadows? I never can recollect
quotations. Don't you imagine, my conceited young scholiast, that there
is nothing to be seen or studied that does not exist in books. But I'm
growing hoarse with talking and telling you the simple truth."
"Yes, Jack, my boy, it is the simple truth," said Sir John. "I was
saying something of the kind to you, as you know, when Doctor Instow
came; but all the time I was sure that you were ill--and you are."
"Oh yes, he's ill, and getting worse. Any one can see that."
"But I do not feel ill, father."
"Don't feel languid, I suppose?" said the doctor.
"Well, yes, I do often feel languid," said Jack, "when the weather is--"
"Bother the weather!" roared the doctor. "What business has a boy like
you to know anything about the weather? Your father and I at your age
would have played football, or cricket, or gone fishing in any weather--
eh, Meadows?"
"Yes, in any weather," said Sir John, smiling. "A British boy knowing
anything about the weather! Bosh! Do you think any of our old heroes
ever bothered their brains about the weather when they wanted to do
something? Look here! another word or two. You always go to sleep of
course directly you lay your head on the pillow, and want another snooze
when it's time to get up, eh?"
"No," said the lad sadly, "I often lie awake a long time thinking."
"Thinking!" cried the doctor in tones of disgust. "The idea of a
healthy boy thinking when he goes to bed! It's monstrous. An
overstrained brain, my lad. You are thoroughly out of order, my boy,
and it was quite time that you were pulled up short. Frankly, you've
been over-crammed with food to nourish the brain, while the body has
been starved."
"And now, my boy, we're going to turn over a new leaf, and make a fresh
start. Come, doctor, you will prescribe for him at once."
"What! jalap and senna, and _Pil. Hydrargerum_, and that sort of stuff,
to make him pull wry faces?"
"I do not profess to understand much of such matters; but I should
presume that you would give him tonics. What will you give him to
take--bark?"
"No: something to make him bite."
"Well, what?"
"Nothing!"
"Nothing?"
"Ah, you are like the rest of the clever people, Meadows. You think a
doctor is of no good unless he gives you pills and draughts. But don't
be alarmed, Jack, boy. I am not going to give you either."
"What then?"
"Nothing, I tell you. Yes, I am; fresh air--fresh water."
"Yes; and then?"
"More fresh air, and more fresh water. Look here, Meadows; food is the
best medicine for his case--good, wholesome food, and plenty of it as
soon as he can digest. I want to hear him say, `What's for dinner
to-day?' That's a fine sign of a boy being in good health."
"Well, Jack, what do you say to all this?" said Sir John.
"I don't know what to say, father," replied the lad. "I did not know I
was unwell."
"I suppose not," interposed the doctor. "But you are, and the worst of
it is that you will get worse."
"Then give your instructions," said Sir John, "and we will try and
follow them out--eh, Jack?"
"I will do anything you wish, father," said the boy, with a sigh.
"Yes, of course you will, my boy. Well, doctor, we are waiting. Let's
take the stitch in time."
"Ah! but we can't now," said Doctor Instow. "We shall have to take
nine, or eighty-one, or some other number in what our young philosopher
calls geometrical progression--that's right, isn't it, Jack, eh?"
"Yes, I suppose so," said the lad, smiling. "Well, then, thread the
needle for us, Instow," said Sir John merrily; "and we will begin to
stitch, and be careful not to neglect our health for the future. Now
then, we're both ready."
"Yes; but I'm not," said the doctor thoughtfully. "This is a ticklish
case, and wants ticklish treatment. You see I know my patient. He is
so accustomed to one particular routine, that it will be hard to keep
him from longing for his customary work and habits. Suppose I prescribe
outdoor work, riding, walking, cricket or football, according to the
season; I shall be giving him repellent tasks to do. I can't make him a
little fellow eager and longing to begin these things which he sees his
bigger school-fellows enjoying. He would be disgusted with games
directly, because others would laugh at him and call him a muff."
"Yes," said Sir John with a sigh, "the rent has grown very large, and I
don't see how we are to sew it up."
"Neither do I," said the doctor; "it's past mending. We must have a new
coat, Jack."
"You mean a new boy, Doctor Instow," said the lad, smiling sadly. "Had
you not better let me be?"
"No," cried Sir John, bringing his fist down heavily upon he table.
"That won't do, Jack. We've done wrong, taken the wrong turning, and we
must go back and start afresh--eh, Instow?"
"Of course," said the doctor testily, "and give me time. I've got
plenty of ideas, but I want to select the right one. Ah! I have it."
"Yes," cried Sir John eagerly, and his son looked at him in dismay.
"That's the very thing. Right away from books and the ordinary routine
of life--fresh air of the best, fresh people, fresh scenes, constant
change; everything fresh but the water, and that salt."
"Some country place at the seaside," said Sir John eagerly.
"No, no; bore the boy to death; make him miserable. Seaside! No, sir,
the whole sea, and get away from the side as soon as possible."
"A sea voyage!" cried Sir John; and his son's face contracted with
horror.
"That's the thing, sir. You have always been grumbling about the
narrowness of your sphere, and envying men abroad who send and bring
such fine collections home. Be off together, and make a big collection
for yourselves of everything you come across worth saving."
"Yes; but where?"
"Anywhere--North Pole; South Pole; tropics. Start free from all
trammels, open new ground away from the regular beaten tracks. You
don't want to go by line steamers to regular ports. Get a big
ocean-going yacht, and sail round the world. Here, what are you
grinning at, patient?"
"At your idea, sir. It is so wild."
"Wild to you, sir, because you are so tame. It may have seemed a little
wild for Captain Cook and Bougainville and the old Dutch navigators,
with their poor appliances and ignorance of what there was beyond the
seas. Wild too for Columbus; but wild now! Bah! I'm ashamed of you."
"You must recollect that Jack is no sailor," said Sir John, interposing.
"He was very ill when we crossed to Calais."
"Ill! A bit sea-sick. That's nothing."
"I am not sailor enough to manage a yacht."
"What of that? Charter a good vessel, and get a clever captain and
mate, and the best crew that can be picked. You can afford it, and to
do it well, and relieve yourself of all anxieties, so as to be free both
of you to enjoy your cruise."
"Enjoy!" said Jack piteously.
"But the responsibility?" said Sir John thoughtfully. "I should like it
vastly. But to take a sick lad to sea? Suppose he were taken worse?"
"Couldn't be."
"Don't exaggerate, doctor. Fancy us away from all civilised help, and
Jack growing far weaker--no medical advice."
"I tell you he would grow stronger every day. Well, take a few boxes of
pills with you; fish for cod, and make your own cod-liver oil, and make
him drink it--oil to trim the lamp of his waning life and make it burn.
He won't want anything of the kind--rest for his brain and change are
his medicines."
"I dare not risk it," said Sir John sadly, and Jack's face began to
light up.
"Well then, if you must do something foolish, take a doctor with you."
"Ah, but how to get the right man?"
"Pooh! Hundreds would jump at the chance."
Jack sighed, and looked from one to the other, while Sir John gazed hard
at the doctor, who said merrily--
"There, don't sit trying to bring up difficulties where there is nothing
that cannot be surmounted. What have you got hold of now?"
"I have not got hold of him. I am only trying to do so."
"What do you mean?"
"The doctor. Will you go with us, Instow?"
"I?" cried Doctor Instow, staring. "Only too glad of the chance. I'm
sick of spending all my days in the sordid practice of trying to make
money, when the world teems with wonders one would like to try and
investigate. If I did not know that I was doing some little good
amongst my fellow-creatures, my life would be unbearable, and I would
have thrown it all up long ago."
"Then if I decide to follow out your advice, you will come with us?"
"No," said the doctor firmly; "it would not do."
Jack brightened up again.
"Why would it not do?" said Sir John anxiously. "The plan is excellent,
and I am most grateful to you for the suggestion. Come with us, Instow,
for I certainly will go."
Jack groaned.
"Look at him," cried the doctor. "There's spirit. The sooner you get
to sea the better."
"Yes, I have decided upon it, if you will come."
"No, no; impossible."
"Because of leaving your practice?"
"Oh no; I could arrange that by having a _locum tenens_--`local demon'
as the servant-girl in _Punch_ called him."
"Then what objection is there?"
"Why, it's just as if I had been planning a pleasure-trip for myself at
your expense."
"That's absurd, Instow, and an insult to an old friend. Look here, if
you will come I shall look upon it as conferring a great favour upon us.
We shall both be under a greater obligation to you than ever."
"I say, don't tempt me, Meadows. I'm not a bad doctor, but I'm a very
weak man."
"But I will tempt you," cried Sir John eagerly. "Come, you can't let
your old friend go without a companion, and stop here at home, knowing
that there will be times when you could help Jack there on his way to
health and strength."
"No, I can't--can I?" said the doctor, hesitating. "But no, no, it
wouldn't do."
"Here, Jack, come and help me press him to go with us."
"I can't, father; oh, I can't," cried the boy despairingly.
"Oh, that settles it!" said Doctor Instow, jumping up. "You've done it
now, Jack. You're worse than I thought."
"Then you will come?" cried Sir John, holding out his hand.
"I will," cried the doctor, "wherever you like to go;" and he brought
down his hand with a sounding slap into his friend's. "Here, Jack," he
cried directly after, "shake hands too. Come, be a man. In less than
six months those dull filmy eyes of yours will be flashing with health,
and you'll be wondering that you could ever have sat gazing at me in
this miserable woe-begone fashion. There, pluck up, my lad. You don't
know what is before you in the strange lands we shall visit. Why, when
your father and I were boys of your age, we should have gone wild with
delight at the very anticipation of such a cruise, and rushed off to our
bedrooms to begin packing up at once, and crammed our boxes with all
kinds of impossible unnecessaries--eh, Meadows?"
"Yes; our skates, cricket-bats--" cried Sir John.
"And fishing-rods, and sticks. I say, though, we must take a good
supply of sea and fresh-water tackle. Fancy trying some river or lake
in the tropics that has never been fished before."
"Yes, and a walk at the jungle edge, butterfly-catching," cried Sir John
eagerly.
"Yes, and a tramp after rare birds, and always in expectation of
bringing down one never yet seen by science," said the doctor.
"And the flowers and plants," said Sir John, "We must take plenty of
cases and preserving paste."
"And entomological boxes and tins."
"Plenty of spirits, of course, too," cried the doctor. "I say, my
little cooking apparatus I designed--it will be invaluable; and I shall
treat myself to a new double gun, and a rifle."
"No need, my dear boy; I have plenty. But we must have a thoroughly
good supply of fishing-tackle of all kinds."
"And cartridges," said the doctor. "What do you say to clothes for the
rough work?"
"We must have plenty, and flannels and pyjamas," said Sir John. "A
couple of small portable tents, too."
"And boots for the jungle--high boots. A deal depends on boots."
"No, not high," said Sir John, "they're a nuisance--good lace-up ankle
boots, with knickerbockers and leggings."
"Yes, I believe you are right. My word, old fellow, we've got our work
cut out to prepare."
"Yes; how soon would you go?"
"As soon as ever we can get away."
"That's the style. Nothing like striking while the iron is hot."
And, full of enthusiasm, the two friends sat throwing suggestions at one
another, nearly forgetting the presence of Jack, who did not catch a
spark of their excitement, but sat gazing at them with lack-lustre eyes,
and a weary, woe-begone expression of countenance, for it seemed to him
that all was over, that he was to be dragged away from his studious
pursuits to a dreary end. His father and their old friend the doctor
meant well, no doubt; but he knew that they were mistaken, and when the
doctor left at last, it was for Sir John to wake up to the fact that he
had never seen his son look so despondent before.
"Why, Jack, lad, what a face!" cried Sir John merrily.
The boy looked in his eyes, but said nothing. "Come, come, the doctor's
right. Put away the books, and help me to prepare for our cruise."
"Then you really mean for us to go, father?" said the lad.
"Yes; I have quite made up my mind." Jack sighed like a girl.
"But you will let me take a few boxes of books, father?"
"A few natural history works of reference, nothing more. Bah! don't be
so narrow-minded, boy. We shall be where Nature's own grand library is
always open before us to read. We shall want no books. Come, pluck up,
my lad; all this means ill health. Instow is perfectly right, and the
sooner we begin our preparations the better."
"Father!" cried the boy passionately, "it will kill me."
"No," said Sir John, taking the boy's hand, and laying his own right
affectionately upon his shoulder; "if I thought it would hurt you I
would not stir a step; but I feel that it is to bring you back to a
healthy life."
Jack sighed again, and shook his head.
"Ah," he argued to himself, "life and all that is worth living for--all
passing away."
CHAPTER THREE.
IN DOLEFUL DUMP.
"Beg pardon, sir."
Jack raised his head wearily from where it was resting upon his hand by
the fireside, and looked dreamingly at the footman who had entered the
warm library next morning.
"Head ache, sir?" said the man respectfully; and the well-built, fair,
freckled-faced, but good-looking fellow gazed commiseratingly at his
young master.
"My head ache, Edward? Yes, sadly, sadly."
"Begging your pardon, sir; it's because you sit over the fire too much."
"What!" cried Jack angrily; "have you got that silly idea in your head
too? How dare you!"
"Beg pardon, sir. Very sorry, sir. Don't be angry with me, sir. You
see I don't know any better."
"Then it's time you did."
"So it is, Master Jack, so it is; and I want to know better, if you'll
help me."
"How can I help you?" said Jack, staring at the man.
"Well, you see, sir, it's like this: I don't get no chance to improve my
mind. Up at six o'clock--No," cried the man emphatically, "I will speak
the honest truth if I die for it! It ain't much before seven when I
begin work, sir, for you see I have such a stiff beard, and it does grow
so, I'm obliged to shave reg'lar. Well, say quarter to seven I begin,
and it's boots and shoes. When they're done it's hard work to get my
knives done before breakfast. Then there's the breakfast cloth to lay,
and the toast to make, and after breakfast master's and your
dress-clothes to brush; and them done, my plate to clean. That brings
me up to laying the cloth for lunch, and--"
"Look here, Edward," cried Jack impatiently, "do you suppose I want to
learn all you do in a day?"
"No, sir, of course not. I only wanted you to understand why it is I've
no time to improve my mind."
"So much the better for you, Ned," cried Jack. "I've improved mine, and
Sir John and the doctor say that I've been doing wrong."
"Do they, sir, really? Well, they ought to know; but all the same I
feel as if I want to improve mine."
"Let it alone, Ned," said the boy drearily.
"No, sir, I can't do that, when there's such a chance in one's way."
"Chance! What for?" said Jack, whose interest was awakened by the man's
earnestness.
"That's what I'm telling you, sir, a chance to improve myself."
"How?"
"Well, you see, sir, I've got ears on my head."
"Of course you have."
"And can't help hearing, sir, a little of what's said."
"Look here, Ned," cried Jack, "I'm unwell; my head aches, and I'm very
much worried. Tell me what it is that you want as briefly as you can."
"Well, sir, begging your pardon, sir, I couldn't help hearing that Sir
John and you and the doctor's going abroad."
"Yes, Ned," said Jack moodily; "we're going abroad."
"Well, sir, I'd thank you kindly if you'd speak a word to master for
me."
"What, about a character? There is no need, Ned; you will stay here
till we come back--if ever we do," he added bitterly.
"Oh, you'll come back right enough, sir. But don't you see that's just
what I don't want, unless I can come back too."
"What do you mean, Ned? Can't you see that you are worrying me
dreadfully?"
"I am sorry, sir, for if there's a thing I can't abear, it's being
talked to when I've got one o' them stinging 'eadaches. But I keep on
explaining to you, sir. Don't you see? I want you to speak a word to
Sir John about taking me with you."
"You!" cried Jack. "You want to go with us round the world?"
"Now, Master Jack," cried the man reproachfully, "would you like to
spend all your days cleaning knives and boots and shoes, when it wasn't
plate and waiting at table?"
"No, of course not; but you must be mad to want to do such a thing as go
upon this dreadful journey."
"Dreadful journey! My word of honour, Master Jack, you talking like
that!" cried the man. "You talking like that!" he repeated. "A young
gent like you! Well, I'm about stunned. Do you know it would be about
the greatest treat a body could have?"
"No, I don't," said Jack shortly. "It means nothing but misery and
discomfort. A rough life amongst rough people; no chance to read and
study. Oh, it would be dreadful."
"Well!" exclaimed the man; and again, "Well! You do cap me, sir, that
you do. Can't you see it means change?"
"I don't want change," cried Jack petulantly.
"Oh, don't you say that, sir," cried Edward reproachfully; "because,
begging your pardon, it ain't true."
"What! Are you going to begin on that silly notion too? I tell you I
am not ill."
"No, sir, you're not ill certainly, because you don't have to take to
your bed, and swaller physic, and be fed with a spoon, but every bit of
you keeps on shouting that you ain't well."
"How? Why? Come now," cried the boy with more animation, as he
snatched at the opportunity for gaining an independent opinion of his
state. "But stop: has my father or Doctor Instow been saying anything
to you?"
"To me, sir? Not likely."
"Then tell me what you mean."
"Well, sir; you're just like my magpie."
"What!" cried Jack angrily.
"I don't mean no harm, sir; you asked me."
"Well, there, go on," cried Jack pettishly.
"I only meant you were like him in some ways. You know, sir, I give one
of the boys threppuns for him two years ago, when there was the nest at
the top of the big ellum."
"Oh yes, I've seen the bird."
"I wasn't sure, sir, for you never did take much notice of that sort of
thing. Why, some young gents is never happy unless they're keeping all
kinds of pets--pigeons and rabbits and hedgehogs and such."
"I wish you wouldn't talk quite so much," cried Jack sharply.
"There, sir, that's what it is. You want stirring up. I like that.
You haven't spoke to me so sharp since I don't know when."
"What, do you like me to scold you?"
"I'd like you to bully me, and chuck things at me too, sooner than see
you sit moping all day as you do, sir. That's what made me say you put
me in mind of my magpie. He sits on his perch all day long with his
feathers, set up, and his tail all broken and dirty, and not a bit o'
spirit in him. He takes the raw meat I cut up for him, but he doesn't
eat half of it, only goes and pokes the bits into holes and corners, and
looks as miserable and moulty as can be. It's because he's always shut
up in a cage, doing just the same things every day, hopping from perch
to perch that often--and back again over and over again, till he hasn't
got a bit of spirit in him. I'm just the same--it's boots and knives
and plate and coal-scuttles and answer the bells, till I get tired of a
night and lie abed asking myself whether a strong chap like me was meant
to go on all his life cleaning boots and knives; and if I was, what's
the good of it all? I'm sick of it, Master Jack, and there's been times
when I've been ready to go and 'list for a soldier, only I don't believe
that would be much better. The toggery's right enough, and you have a
sword or a gun, but it's mostly standing in a row and being shouted at
by sergeants. But now there's a chance of going about and seeing what
the world's like, and its works, and how it goes round, and you say you
don't want to go. Why, it caps me, it do, sir, really."
"Yes," cried Jack angrily; "and it `caps me,' as you call it, to hear a
good servant like you talk about giving up a comfortable place and want
to go on a long and dangerous voyage. Are you not well fed and clothed
and paid, and have you not a good bed?"
"Yes, sir; yes sir; yes, sir," cried Edward; "but a man don't want to be
always comfortable, and well fed, and to sleep on a feather bed. He's a
poor sort of a chap who does. I don't think much of him. It's like
being a blind horse in a clay mill, going round and round and round all
his life. Why, he never gets so much change as to be able to go the
other way round, because if he did the mill wouldn't grind."
"Pooh!" cried Jack sharply. "It is not true: you can have plenty of
change. Clean knives first one day, and boots first the next, and then
begin with the plate."
"Ha--ha! haw--haw! he--he!" cried the man, boisterously, laughing, and
in his enjoyment lifting up one leg and putting it down with a stamp
over and over again.
"Don't stand there laughing like an idiot!" cried Jack angrily. "How
dare you!"
"Can't help it, sir, really, sir; can't help it. You made me. But go
on, sir. Do. Chuck some books at me for being so impudent."
"I will," cried Jack fiercely, "if you don't leave the room."
"That's right, sir; do, sir; it's stirred you up. Why, you have got the
stuff in you, Master Jack. I do believe you could fight after all if
you was put to it. You, sir, actually, sir, making a joke about the
knives and boots. Well, I wouldn't have believed it of you."
"Leave the room, sir!"
"Yes, sir, directly, sir; but do please ask the governor to take me,
sir."
"Leave the room, sir!" cried Jack, starting to his feet.
"Certainly, sir, but if you would--"
_Whish_!--_Bang_!--_Jingle_!
In a fit of petulant anger Jack had followed the man's suggestion,
caught up a heavy Greek lexicon, and thrown it with all his might, or
rather with all his weakness, at the servant's head. Edward ducked
down, and the book went through the glass of one of the cases; and at
the same moment Sir John Meadows entered the library.
CHAPTER FOUR.
A READY-MADE MAN.
"What's the meaning of this?" cried Sir John angrily, as he stood
staring in astonishment at his son's anger-distorted, flushed face, then
at the footman, and back at his son.
"I--I--this fellow--this man--Edward was insolent, and--and--I--father--
I--ordered him--to leave the room--and--and he would not go."
"Oh, I beg pardon, Master Jack, sir," said Edward reproachfully. "I
said I'd go, and I was going."
"Silence, sir!" cried Sir John, frowning. "Now, Jack, he would not go?"
"I was angry, father--and--and--"
"And you threw this book at him, and broke the pane of glass?"
"Yes, father," said the boy, who was now scarlet, as he stood trembling
with excitement and mortification.
"Humph!" ejaculated Sir John, crossing to raise the very short skirt of
his brown velveteen Norfolk jacket, and stand with his hands behind him
in front of the fire. "Pick up that book, Edward."
"Yes, Sir John."
"And tell one of the housemaids to come and sweep up the pieces."
"Yes, Sir John," said the man, moving toward the door.
"Stop! What does that signal to Mr Jack mean?"
"Well, Sir John, I--"
"Wait a minute. Now, Jack, in what way was Edward insolent to you?"
"Only laughed, Sir John."
"Be silent, sir! Now, Jack!"
"He irritated me, father," said the lad hastily. "He came to worry me
with an absurd request, and--and when I ridiculed it, he burst out
laughing in a rude, insolent way."
"Beg pardon, Sir John," said the man respectfully.--"Not insolent,
Master Jack."
"Say Mr Jack."
"Certn'y, Sir John. _Mister_ Jack actually made a joke,--it wasn't a
good one, Sir John, but it seemed so rum for him to make a joke, and
then get in a passion, that I bust out larfin, Sir John, and I couldn't
help it really."
Sir John looked wonderingly at his son for an explanation.
"It was only a bit of petulant nonsense, father," stammered the lad.
"I'm very sorry."
"And pray what was the request Edward made?"
"Well, father, it was about this dreadful business."
"What dreadful business?"
Jack was silent for a few moments, but his father's stern eyes were
fixed upon him, and he stammered out--
"This going abroad."
"Oh!--Well?"
"He came to beg me to ask you to take him with you."
"With _us_," said Sir John.
"Ye-es, father, if we went."
"There is no _if_ about it, Jack," said Sir John quietly; "we are going.
Humph! and you wanted to go, Edward?"
"Yes, sir, please, Sir John," cried the man earnestly. "I'd give
anything to go."
Sir John looked at the man searchingly.
"Humph!" he said at last. "Well, I suppose it would sound attractive to
a young man of your age."
"Attractive ain't the word for it, Sir John," cried the man.
Sir John smiled.
"Some people differ in their opinions, my lad," he said, with a meaning
glance at his son.
"Yes, Sir John, meaning Master--Mister Jack; but he don't half
understand what it means yet."
"You are quite right, Edward. In his delicate state he does not quite
grasp what it means."
"Oh, father," cried the lad reproachfully; "don't speak like that. Once
more, indeed I am not ill."
"Humph!" said Sir John, smiling, "not ill? What do you think, Edward?"
"No, Sir John, not ill, cert'nly," said the man.
"There, father!" cried Jack excitedly, and with a grateful look at their
servant, but it faded out directly.
"He ain't no more ill than I am, Sir John, if I may make so bold. It's
only that he wants stirring up. He reads and reads over the fire till
he can't hardly see for the headache, and it's what I told him just now,
he's all mopey like for want of change."
"Humph! You told him that?" said Sir John sharply.
"Yes, Sir John," faltered the man. "I know it was not my place, and I
beg pardon. It slipped out quite promiskus like. I know now I
oughtn't. It made Master--Mister Jack angry, and he chucked the book at
me. Not as I minded the act, for I was glad to see he'd got so much
spirit in him."
"And so you would like to go with us?"
"Oh yes, Sir John," cried the man, flushing with excitement. "But you
wouldn't want me to go in livery, of course?"
"No," said Sir John quietly. "I should not want you to go in livery. I
cannot consent to take you at all."
"Oh, sir!" cried the man appealingly.
"I am not sorry to hear you make the application, for it shows me that
you are satisfied with your position as my servant. But the man I
should select to take with us must be a strong active fellow."
"That's me, Sir John. I haven't been neither sick nor sorry all the
five years I've been with you, 'cept that time when I cut my hand with
the broken decanter."
"An outdoor servant," continued Sir John, rather sternly, passing over
his man's interruption--"a man with something of the gamekeeper about
him--a man who can tramp through woods, carry rifles and guns, and clean
them; use a fishing-net or line; row, chop wood and make a fire; set up
a tent or a hut of boughs; cook, and very likely skin birds and beasts.
In short, make himself generally useful."
"And valet you and Mr Jack, Sir John," interposed the man.
"Certainly not, Edward; we shall leave all those civilised luxuries
behind. You see I want a thorough outdoor servant, not such a man as
you."
"Beg pardon, Sir John," cried the man promptly; "but it's me you do
want, I'm just the sort you said."
"You?" said Sir John, smiling rather contemptuously.
"Yes, Sir John. I was meant for an outdoor man, only one can't get to
be what one likes, and so I had to take to indoor."
Sir John shook his head.
"You are a very excellent servant, Edward," he said, "and I shall have
great pleasure in giving you a very strong recommendation for
cleanliness and thorough attention to your duties. I cannot recall ever
having to find fault with you."
"Never did, Sir John, I will say that; and do you think I'm going to
leave such a master as you and Mr Jack here, though he does chuck big
books at me!" he said with a grin. "Not me."
"I thank you for all this, Edward, but--"
"Don't, don't say no, Sir John--in a hurry," cried the man imploringly.
"You only know what I can do from what you've seen; and you know that
having a willing heart and 'and 's half-way to doing anything."
"Yes," said his master with a smile; "I know too that you're a very
handy person."
"Hope so, Sir John; but I'm obliged to stick up for myself, as there's
no one here to do it for me. There ain't nothing you want done that I
can't do. Father was a gamekeeper and bailiff and woodman, and when I
was a boy I used to help him, cutting hop-poles with a bill-hook,
felling trees with an axe, and I've helped him to make faggots, hurdles,
and stacks, and tents, and thatched. I've helped him many a time use
the drag and the cast-net, fishing. I can set night lines, and I had a
gun to use for shooting rabbits and varmint, and I learned to skin and
stuff 'em. We've got cases and cases at home. I used to wash out the
master's guns, and dry and oil them; and as for lighting fires and
cooking, why, I beg your pardon for laughing, Sir John, but my mother
was ill for years before she died, and I always did all the cooking.
Then I've had a turn at gardening and stable work; and as for the water,
I can row, punt, or sail any small boat. I don't say as I could tackle
a ship, but if there was no one else to do it, I'd have a try; and--beg
pardon, Sir John, there's the front-door bell."
"Go and answer it," said Sir John quietly.
"And if you would think it over, Sir John--"
"Go and answer the bell."
The man darted out, and Sir John turned to his son to gaze at him for a
time.
"You're a pretty good scholar for your age, Jack," he said; "but I wish
you possessed some of Edward's accomplishments."
"Oh, father!" cried the boy hastily.
"But you have more strength in your arm than I thought for. That is
plate glass."
"Doctor Instow," said Edward; and the doctor entered like a breeze.
"Morning!" he cried boisterously.
"Don't go, Edward," said Sir John; and the man stayed by the door,
looking white with excitement.
"I was obliged to run in," said the doctor. "Well, Jack. Why, hulloa!
You've got a bit more colour in your cheeks this morning, and your eyes
are brighter. Come, that's good. You're beginning to take then to the
idea?"
"No," said Jack firmly.
"Stop a moment, doctor," cried Sir John. "Here is some one of a
different opinion. This foolish fellow has been laying before us his
petition."
"Who? Edward?"
"Yes; he wants to go."
"Well," said the doctor; "we shall want a good smart handy man."
Edward's cheeks began to colour again.
"Yes; but what do you think? We want a strong fellow, not a fireside
servant."
"Quite right, but--Here, take off your coat, my man."
Edward's livery coat seemed to fly off, and displayed his white arms
with the shirt-sleeves rolled right above the elbows, spotted a little
with rouge from plate-cleaning.
"Hum! ha!" said the doctor, taking one arm and doubling it up so that
the biceps rose in a big lump. "Hard.--Stand still."
He laid one hand upon the man's chest and thumped it in different
places; laid his ear to it and pressed it close.
"Now breathe.--Again.--Now harder.--Hold your breath."
Then he rose and twisted the man round, and listened at his back between
the shoulder-blades before making him open his mouth, and ended by
looking into his eyes, while the father and son watched him.
"Ha! that will do," said the doctor dryly. "Sleep well, I suppose?"
"Oh yes, sir."
"And you can eat and drink well?"
The man's face expanded in a broad smile.
"Goes without saying. There, put on your coat."
Edward began to put it on.
"Sound as a bell," said the doctor. "Strong as a horse."
"Yes, but we want something besides a healthy man."
"Of course: a good handy, willing fellow, who would not want to come
home as soon as he had to rough it and do everything."
"There ain't anything I wouldn't do, gentlemen," cried Edward. "If you
take me, Sir John, I'll serve you faithful, and you shan't repent it.
May I tell the doctor, Sir John, what I can do?"
"There is no need. He boasts, Instow."
"Beg pardon, Sir John, it ain't boasting, it's honest truth."
"Yes, Edward, I believe you feel that it is. Well, Instow, he says he
has been accustomed to outdoor life with his father from boyhood. His
father was a gamekeeper and woodman. That he can shoot, fish, clean
guns, manage nets, ride, sail boats, punt and row. Do everything,
including building huts and cooking."
"Don't want any cooking. I shall do that myself."
"In addition, he can skin birds and beasts."
"Ha!" ejaculated the doctor. "Well, if we engage a stranger, we don't
know how he'll turn out, and it would be very awkward to have a man who
would turn tail at the first bit of discomfort. Look here, sir, it will
be a rough life."
"If you only knew, doctor, how hungry I am for a bit of rough outdoor
time, you'd put in a word for me," cried the man excitedly.
"And suppose we get in a hot corner, and have to fight for our lives
against black fellows?"
There was a grim look in the man's face at once--a regular British
bull-dog aspect, as he tightened his lips, and made wrinkles at the
corners, as if putting his mouth in a parenthesis, and then he began to
tuck up his cuffs and double his fists.
"That will do, Edward," said the doctor quietly. "We know him, Meadows,
for a steady, straightforward fellow, sound in wind and limb, who has
never given me a job since he tried to cut his hand off with a bit of
glass. What he don't know he'd soon learn; and I should say that we are
not likely to get a more suitable fellow if we tried for six months."
Edward's face was a study, as he glanced at Jack, and then turned to
gaze imploringly at his master as if he were a judge about to utter
words upon which his life depended.
"That will do, Edward, you may leave the room."
A look of despair came across the man's face, as in true servant fashion
he turned to obey orders, and went straight to the door.
"Stop," said Sir John. "That way of obeying orders has quite convinced
me that you will be our man. You shall see about your outfit at once."
"And go, Sir John?" faltered the man, as if he could not believe his
luck.
"Yes."
"Hoo--"
He was going to add "ray!" but he recollected himself, and went quickly
and promptly out of the room.
"The very fellow, Meadows," said the doctor.
"Yes," said Sir John. "He'll do."
"Then one knot is solved," cried the doctor. "I had come in to consult
you upon that very point."
"A man?"
"Yes; and here he is ready-made and proved."
"Not yet."
"Oh," said the doctor, "I'll answer for that."
CHAPTER FIVE.
THE "SILVER STAR."
A busy fortnight followed, during which Jack Meadows accompanied his
father and the doctor up to town pretty well every day, to visit
tailors, hatters, hosiers, gunsmiths, fishing-tackle-makers,
naturalists, provision dealers, and help to spend money at a liberal
rate upon the many necessaries for a long voyage. To do the lad
justice, he tried hard to hide his distaste for all that was being done,
and assumed an interest in the various purchases, making Sir John appear
pleased, while Doctor Instow patted his shoulder, and told him that he
looked brighter already. But when alone at night his depression came
back, and there were moments when, tired out, he told himself that he
could not bear it all, and that he must tell his father the next morning
that it was impossible--he could not go.
But when the morning; came he said nothing, for on rising the matter did
not look so black and gloomy by daylight, after a night's rest; and he
felt that it would be too cowardly to make such a declaration, when his
father was doing everything and going to so great an expense entirely
for his sake.
"Because he thinks me weak and ill," he said to himself; "and nothing
will persuade him that I am not."
That very morning, after a good sound night's rest, the boy woke with
the sun shining brightly into his bedroom, and he got up thinking he had
over-slept himself, but on looking round he found that his hot-water can
had not been brought in, nor his freshly-brushed boots and clothes, so
he rang impatiently.
"Disgraceful!" he said peevishly. "Ned thinks of nothing now but the
voyage, and everything is neglected."
But all the same his bell was not neglected, for in a very short time
there was a sharp tap at the door, and as the lad stood by his bedside
in his dressing-gown, the white top of a pith helmet appeared slowly,
followed by the lower part of a grinning face, a dark-brownish coarse
canvas jacket, or rather a number of pockets stuck one above another,
and attached to a pair of canvas sleeves; and next, a pair of leather
breeches, ditto leggings, and to support all a very stout pair of
lace-up boots.
As soon as all were inside the door, a familiar voice said--
"Morning sir. You are early."
"Early!" cried Jack angrily; "what do you mean by early?"
"Ten past six, sir."
"Nonsense! it must be nearly eight."
"Then all the clocks are wrong, sir, including my larum-scarum, for I
set it for half-past five, so as to be up early and try 'em on."
"And what do you mean by coming here dressed up in that Guy Fawkes
fashion?"
"Guy Fawkes! Oh, I say, Master Jack, don't be hard on a fellow."
"You look ridiculous."
"I say, sir! Why, they fit lovely, all but this pith helmet, as is two
sizes too large, and reg'larly puts one out. These came home late last
night. Just the thing, ain't they?"
"Go down and take them off, and bring me my hot water, and clothes and
boots."
"Why, they ain't cleaned yet, sir, and the kitchen fire ain't alight.
There's no hot water neither. You don't mean to get up now?"
Jack looked undecided, and ended by getting back into bed.
"I thought it was late," he said, in a somewhat apologetic tone.
"Not it, sir--extra early, sir. I say, Master Jack, this is a topper,
isn't it?" said the man, taking off the helmet. "A'most do for an
umbrella in a big shower."
"Preposterous!"
"Think so, sir. Oh, I don't know what sort o' thing people wear in hot
climates. But I have got a rig-out, sir, and a waterproof bag, a
bullock trunk, and I dunno what all--most as many things as you have."
"Don't bother me about your things: go down, if it's so early, and come
back and call me at the proper time."
"Yes, sir; cert'nly, sir," said the man, stealing a glance at himself in
the looking-glass, and then standing examining his pith helmet as he
held it upon his outstretched hand.
"Well, then, why don't you go?" cried Jack. "I was a-thinking, sir. I
say, as you are awake, and there's plenty of time, why don't you try on
some of your noo things?"
"Bah! because I don't want to make myself ridiculous," said the lad
peevishly.
"You wouldn't look ridiculous, sir. You try 'em, and if I was you I'd
go down to breakfast in 'em. Sir John would be as pleased as Punch to
see you begin to take a little more interest in going."
"Look here!" cried Jack, springing from his pillow to sit upright in
bed, "when I want any of your advice, sir, I will ask for it. Such
impertinence!"
"Oh, I beg your pardon, sir, but I only thought you might like to do
what Sir John would wish to see. I put 'em all straight last night, and
laid a suit of tweeds, with knickerbockers, brown plaid worsted
stockings, and high-laced brown shooting-boots, all ready for you."
"Then it was like your insolence, sir."
"Yes, sir, and the boots are lovely, sir; just the thing! Stout strong
water-tights as lace on right to the knee. Leather's as soft as velvet.
They'll be grand for you when you're going through the jungle where
there's leeches and poisonous snakes."
"Ugh!" ejaculated the boy with a shudder.
"Oh, you needn't mind them, sir; I've been reading all about 'em in the
Natural History Sir John's lent me. They always run away from you when
they can."
"And when they cannot they bite venomously," cried Jack.
"That's it, sir," said Edward, "if they can."
"And they can," said Jack.
"If you don't kill 'em first," said the man, laughing, "and that's the
proper thing to do. Kill everything that wants to kill you. Don't want
me then yet, sir?"
"Only to go," said Jack, throwing himself down again and drawing up the
coverings close to his ear.
"Yes, sir; I'll be back again at half-past seven."
Jack made no reply, and the man went off laughing to himself.
"He's getting stirred up," he said. "I never saw him take so much
notice before."
Jack lay perfectly still for another hour, apparently asleep, but really
thinking very deeply of his position, and of how hard it seemed to be
that he should be obliged to give up his calm quiet life among his books
to go upon a journey which, the more he thought of it, seemed to grow
darker and more repellent.
He was still thinking and wishing that he could find some way to escape
when Edward came into the room again, bearing clothes, boots, and
hot-water can.
"Half-past seven, sir," he said.
"Thank you."
"Very fine morning, sir," continued the man, arranging the things for
his young master's toilet, but there was no response.
"Looks as if it was going to be settled weather, sir."
Still no response.
"Just been to Sir John, sir, and he says that he forgot to tell me
Doctor Instow would be over to breakfast."
Jack did not move, and Edward went close to the bedside.
"Beg pardon, sir," he said loudly; "it's more than half-past seven."
"Will you go away, and not pester me," cried Jack, turning upon him
fiercely.
"Yes, sir; certainly, sir; beg pardon, sir, but you said I was never to
leave you till you were regularly woke up."
Jack said something inarticulate, and Edward went out once more
grinning.
"My word!" he muttered; "he is coming round."
"I don't get a bit of peace," cried the boy peevishly, and he sprang out
of bed, washed in hot water, shivered as he dried himself, and then
turned to begin dressing, and paused.
Which way should he go?
On two chairs a yard apart lay his clothes: on the left his things he
had worn the previous day; on his right, a suit specially made for the
life ashore that they were to live abroad; and after a little hesitation
he began to dress in that, finding everything feel strange, but
certainly very comfortable, and at last he stood there in garments very
much like those in which the man had come in, and he looked at himself
in the glass.
Nothing could have been more comfortable and suitable, as he was fain to
confess; but all the same the inclination was strong to take them off.
He resisted, however, and in due time went down, feeling strange and
half ashamed of being seen.
Sir John was in the breakfast-room, and he looked up from his newspaper
rather severely, but as soon as he caught sight of his son's altered
appearance, the paper dropped from his hands and he rose quickly.
"Thank you, Jack," he said warmly. "You did this to please me, and I am
more than pleased. It shows me that you are trying to make the brave
fight I expect of you, as my son should. Hah! you will see the truth of
it all before long."
He would have said more, but the doctor was heard in the hall, and
directly after he entered in his bluff fashion.
"Morning, morning," he cried; "splendid day for our trip. Why, bravo,
Jack! The very thing. Your get-up is splendid, my lad, and it makes me
impatient to be off. You are going with us of course?"
"I suppose so," said Jack with a sigh.
"I don't mean on our trip, but to see the vessel."
That sounded to the boy like a temporary reprieve, and he looked
inquiringly at the doctor.
"I had not said anything about it to him," said Sir John. "We have had
particulars from my agent of a large ocean-going steam yacht, my boy,
which sounds well. It is really a sailing vessel, but fitted with a
screw for occasional use in calm or storm. She is lying at Dartmouth,
and we are going down to see her to-day. Will you come?"
"Do you wish me to come, father?" said Jack.
"Of course I do, but what I do wish is to see you take an interest in
all our preparations."
"I am trying to, father."
"Yes, and succeeding," said the doctor, "or you would not have come out
like you are this morning."
"How soon do you start?" said Jack hurriedly, to escape the doctor's
allusions to his dress.
"In half-an-hour. We have to get up to town, and then go across to
Paddington."
"I'll hurry through my breakfast then, and go and change my things."
"What for?" cried the doctor. "You couldn't be better."
"But I should look so absurd, sir, dressed like this."
"Absurd?"
"The absurdity is only in your imagination, my boy," said Sir John. "Go
as you are."
Jack looked troubled, but he said nothing, for he was making a brave
fight to master his antipathy to his father's projects, and without
another word he went on with his breakfast, receiving the next time he
caught his father's eye a nod of approval which meant a good deal.
But the pith helmet was a severe trial just before the carriage came to
the door, and he stood in the hall with the round-topped head-piece
standing on the table, for it would recall Edward's extinguisher, and
his own remark that morning concerning the Guido-Fawkes-like aspect of
their man.
"Don't seem to like your topper, Jack, lad," said the doctor, smiling.
"Well, who could?" cried the boy sharply. "It looks so absurd."
"Because you are not used to it, and will probably not see any one else
wearing one. Now for my part, I think it the very reverse of absurd,
and a thoroughly sensible head-piece, light, well ventilated, and cool,
a good protection from the sun, and thoroughly comfortable."
"What, that thing?"
"Yes, that thing. It is a hot sunny day, and we shall be out of doors a
good deal when we get into Devonshire, so it is most suitable. Now
between ourselves, what would you have worn if left to yourself?"
"My black frock-coat and bat," said Jack quickly.
"Nice costume for a railway journey. Orchid in your button-hole of
course, and a pair of straw-coloured kid gloves, I suppose? I have
observed that those are your favourite colour."
Jack nodded.
"Bah! Try and be a little more manly, my lad," said the doctor kindly.
"A healthy young fellow does not want to be so self-conscious, and to
dress himself up so as to look pretty and be admired--or laughed at."
"I'm more likely to be laughed at dressed like this, and with a thing
like half an egg-shell on my head."
"Fools will laugh at anything," said the doctor dryly; "but no one whose
opinion is worth notice would laugh at a sensible costume. You would
have gone down in a tall glossy hat, ironed and brushed up till it
shines again. Hard, hot, uncomfortable, roughened at a touch, and
perfectly absurd in a shower of rain. But it is the fashion, and you
think it's right. Ladies study fashion, lad; look at them after they
have been caught in a shower. Now in that rig-out you could go through
anything."
"Ready?" said Sir John, taking a soft wide-awake from the hat-stand.
"Yes, and waiting," said the doctor; and they entered the carriage,
which was driven off, Jack's last glance on leaving being at Edward on
the doorsteps, as he patted his head, evidently in allusion to his young
master's pith helmet.
"Oh, if I had only been behind him!" thought the lad indignantly; which,
being analysed, meant that a most decided change was taking place, for a
month earlier Jack Meadows could not by any possibility have harboured
the thought of kicking any one for a mocking gesture.
In good time the terminus was reached, and soon after the fast train was
whirling along, leaving the busy town behind, and off and away through
the open country with gathering speed. Father and friend chatted away
to the lad, but he was listless and dull, refusing to be interested in
anything pointed out; and at last a meaning look passed between his
companions, the doctor's eyes saying plainly enough--"Let him be: he'll
come round by and by."
But this did not seem likely to be the case, Jack not even being
attracted by the first glimpse of the beautiful estuary of the Dart when
it was reached in the evening, and they looked down from the heights as
the train glided along, at the town nestling up the slopes upon the
other side of the water.
He did turn sharply once when the doctor said suddenly: "There are the
two training ships for the naval cadets," and pointed at the old
men-of-war with their tiers of ports, moored in midstream; and was
feeling a strange sense of pity for the lads "cooped up," as he mentally
called it, in the narrow limits of a ship, when the doctor suddenly
exclaimed, "Look, look! both of you. I'll be bound to say that's our
yacht."
Jack glanced sharply at what seemed in comparison with the huge
men-of-war, and seen at a distance, a little three-masted, white-looking
vessel with a dwarfed funnel, lying at anchor, but he turned pale and
listless again, utterly wearied out with his journey, nor did he revive
over the comfortable dinner of which he partook without appetite.
Sir John looked uneasy, but the doctor gave him a meaning nod.
"You won't care about going to look over the yacht this evening, Jack?"
he said.
"I!" said the lad, almost imploringly. "No, not to-night."
"No; we're all tired," said the doctor. "I did not say anything to you,
Meadows; but I thought we had done enough, so I sent off word to the
captain to say that we had come down, and I shouldn't be surprised if he
comes over to the hotel by and by."
It fell out just as the doctor had said, for about half-an-hour later
the waiter came into the room to say that Captain Bradleigh would be
glad to see Sir John Meadows; and Jack looked up curiously as a ruddy,
tan-faced, rather fierce-looking man, with very crisp hair, beard
sprinkled with grey, and keen, piercing grey eyes, shaded by rather
shaggy brows, entered, glanced quickly round as he took off his
gold-braided yachting cap, and at once addressed Sir John, as if quite
sure that he was the principal.
"Sir John Meadows?" he said courteously, but with a ring of authority in
his words.
"Yes; will you sit down. This is my friend, Doctor Instow; my son."
The captain shook hands with the two elders, giving them a firm, manly
grip, short and sharp, as if he meant business; but his pressure of
Jack's thin, white hand was gentle, and he retained it in his strong,
firm palm as he said--
"Ah! father--doctor--you have been ill, young gentleman?"
"I? No," said Jack, with a look of resentment.
"Unwell, not bad," said the captain kindly. "Only want a sea-trip to do
you good;" and he smiled pleasantly, looking like an Englishman full of
firmness and decision, such a one as people would like to trust in a
case of emergency.
"I got your message, gentlemen," he said, as he took a chair, "and I
came on at once."
"Thank you," said Sir John.
"The agent wrote me a long letter, saying you might come down; but I did
not think much of it, for I have had so many from him that have come to
nothing."
"People don't like the yacht then?" said Sir John, rather anxiously.
"Oh yes, sir, they like the yacht," said the captain, with a little
laugh. "No one could help liking her. They don't like the price."
"Ah, the price," said Sir John quietly; and the captain gave him a
searching look.
"Yes, sir, the price; and it is a pretty good round sum; but I give you
my word it is just one-third of what it cost Mr Ensler."
"Oh! you know what it cost?" said Sir John.
"Well, I ought to, sir," said the captain, smiling, a peculiarly frank,
pleasant smile. "When he came over from New York five years ago, I was
recommended to him, and he trusted me fully. She was built under my
eyes, up in the Clyde, and I watched everything, as she was fitted up of
the very best material, regardless of expense. The cheques all passed
through my hands, so I think I ought to know."
"Yes, of course. The agent told me the yacht was built expressly for an
American gentleman."
"That's right, sir. He's one of these millionaires who don't know how
rich they are, for the money comes on rolling in. Restless, nervous
sort of men who must be doing something, and then they want to do
something else, and get tired of the idea before they've begun. He had
an idea that it would be a fine thing to imitate Brassey, but do it
better, and sail round the world. So the _Silver Star_ was built,
rigged and finished in style. I selected as good a crew of fifteen
picked, sea-going fellows as were procurable, and just a year ago we
started."
Jack began to grow interested.
"But you see, gentlemen, he was disappointed in her from the first."
"Hah!" said the doctor sharply; "now frankly, captain, what was her
failing?"
"Failing, sir?" said the captain, turning in his chair, and fixing the
doctor with his clear eyes. "I tell you as a man, I can't find a
failing in her, except perhaps there's a little too much French polish
about the saloon cabin, more in the stuffed cushion line than I quite
care for. You see, for an ocean-going boat I think you want to study
strength and sound workmanship more than show; but that's a matter of
fancy."
"Of course," said Sir John, who was watching the captain very narrowly.
"Well, sir, I did my very best, what he called level best, and when she
was done I was as proud of her as--as--well, as your young son here
might have been of a new plaything."
Jack winced, and looked indignant.
"But Mr Ensler didn't like her: said she was a miserable little
cock-boat, and not fit for a long voyage."
"And frankly, between man and man, isn't she?" said the doctor sharply.
"Well, gentlemen," said the captain, showing his regular white teeth in
a smile, "that's a matter of opinion. I'm not interested in the matter.
I'm in command with a good crew on board, and we have our pay regular
as clockwork. She may be sold, or she may not; but I can only say what
I think. I did all that a man who has been at sea pretty well
everywhere for thirty years could do, and I say this: if you gentlemen
like to buy her and engage me--mind, with a good picked crew--I'll sail
her wherever you like. If, on the other hand, you like to pick your own
man, I can tell him as a brother sailor that he can't get a better found
boat in either of the yacht squadrons or in Her Majesty's navy."
"But Mr Ensler was dissatisfied with her."
"He? Yes," said the captain contemptuously. "He has been coming and
going for years in the Cunard and the American liners, and his ideas
were built on one of those floating palaces. As I told him, it was
absurd. He wanted an ocean-going gentleman's yacht, and there she lies.
I'd trust my life in her anywhere a deal sooner than I would in one of
those coal-swallowing monsters. She's as light as a cork, easy to
manage from her fore and aft rig, with a small picked crew, and has a
magnificent engine with the best kind of boilers, which get up steam
quickly, ready for any emergency; for of course as a yacht she's a boat
in which you would depend most upon your sailing."
"Exactly," said Sir John, "that is what I meant."
"Then she'd suit you to a tittle, sir."
"Has she made any long voyages?" said the doctor.
"No, sir, but she has been in some rough weather. I brought her round
from Glasgow in the dirtiest weather I was ever in on our coast; and
from here we sailed to Gib, and right away through the Mediterranean,
meaning to go through the Canal and on to Ceylon; but long before we'd
got to Alexandria he was sick of it, and pitched it all. I must say
that we did have rather a nasty time, but, as I told him, it only showed
what a beautiful boat she was. It was wonderful how we danced over the
waves with close-reefed canvas. But he'd had enough, gave me my orders
to bring her here to Dartmouth, and he went back to Marseilles by one of
the Messageries Maritimes, and across home. When we got back, first
thing I saw was the advertisement that she was for sale."
"You have a good crew on board then?" said Sir John thoughtfully.
"As good a crew as I could pick, sir, and they are well up to their
work. For I'm rather a hard man, young gentleman," continued the
captain, turning to look sharply at Jack, "as stern about discipline as
they are in the Royal Navy; but work done, I like to see my men play,
and somehow I think they get on very well with me. But of course,
gentlemen, if you bought the yacht, you are not bound to take the
captain and crew."
"Oh no, of course not," said Sir John quietly.
"There, gentlemen, I've been doing all the talking: Perhaps now you
would like to ask me a few questions."
"I think we might defer most of them till we have seen the yacht, eh,
Meadows?" said Doctor Instow.
"Yes, certainly, unless anything occurs in our conversation with Captain
Bradleigh."
"Anything you like, gentlemen, though there is very little that I could
say more than I have said. She's a splendid craft in every respect.
There is only one fault in her from a buyer's point of view."
"What is that?" said the doctor sharply.
"Price, sir."
"But to a man of means, who would give his cheque down, Mr Ensler would
take considerably less?"
The captain shook his head.
"No, sir, I don't believe he would. He don't want money, and I have
always lived in the hope that he would take a fresh sea-going trip; but
it does not come off. He has had several offers for the boat, but sent
a sharp answer back that he had fixed his price."
Sir John sat tapping the table with his finger-tips, watching his son,
who seemed to be brightening up, evidently in the hope that the
transaction would fall through.
"So you are going to have a few cruises, young gentleman," said the
captain, turning to Jack, for the doctor too was looking very
thoughtful, and was nibbling at his nails as he glanced at Sir John. "I
suppose so," said the lad coldly. "Do you good," said the captain.
"Fine thing the pure sea-air. Why a trip round the coast for a few
weeks, and you'd be quite a new man. Like the sea?"
"I? Like the sea?" said Jack with a shiver. "My son thinks he will not
like it at all," said Sir John, smiling.
"Thinks, sir," said the captain, laughing. "Ah, he don't know. Not
like the sea! My word, what a weary world this would be if there were
no sea. Storm or calm it's grand or beautiful. There's nothing like
the sea. Oh, he don't know yet. You mean a short cruise or two, sir,
or a trip round the island from port to port. She's a little too big
for that."
"No," said Sir John, rousing himself from a reverie. "I intended to go
from here through to Ceylon, then on to Singapore, and along the
islands, touching here and there, till we reached some place at which we
would like to stay."
"Perhaps round by the Horn, touching at Monte Video, Rio, and the West
Indies?" cried the captain excitedly.
"Perhaps," said Sir John, smiling. "It depends."
"That means a couple of years to do it well, sir."
"I am not tied for time," said Sir John.
"That's a lot of money for a yacht," said the doctor thoughtfully.
"Yes, sir, a pretty good sum, but she's worth it, and whether you buy
the _Silver Star_ or no, I say, as an old seaman, don't you undertake
such a trip without a good boat under you, a man who knows his business
for sailing her, and a good crew. If you mind that, weather permitting,
you'll have a pleasant voyage worth a man's doing. With a clumsy craft,
a bad captain, and a scraped together mutinous crew, it will be a misery
to you from the day you start to the day you come back--if you ever do."
"That is quite right," said Sir John, rising, for the captain had risen
and picked up his cap. "What time shall we come on board to-morrow?"
"Come now if you like, sir."
"No, no; my son is tired. Will ten o'clock suit you?"
"Any hour you like to name, sir."
"Ten then," said Sir John. "Of course we can easily find a boatman to
take us off?"
"At ten o'clock, sir, a boat will be waiting for you at the pier end,"
said the captain in a sharp businesslike tone. "Good-evening,
gentlemen. Weather seems to be settling down for fine. My glass is
very steady."
"Hah!" said the doctor, "I rather like that man."
"I don't," said Jack sharply. "He is insufferable. He treated me as if
I were a child."
Sir John raised his brows a little in surprise to hear his son speak so
sharply.
"Don't judge rashly, Jack," he said. "You don't know the man yet;
neither do I; but he impressed me as being a very frank, straightforward
fellow, one of Nature's rough gentlemen."
"Would you mind my going to bed, father?" said Jack hastily. "I am very
tired."
"Go then, and have a good long night's rest."
"Yes," said the doctor; "and I say, Jack, leave your window open.
Sea-air is a splendid tonic."
"Good-night," said Jack shortly; and, shaking hands quickly, he hurried
out of the room, and went to bed, after carefully seeing that the window
was closely shut.
"That's a pile of money for a yacht, Meadows," said the doctor, as they
sat together to watch the moon rise over the hills in front of the hotel
away across the estuary.
"Yes, it is a heavy sum, Instow, but if it answers the captain's
description the yacht must be worth the money."
"Yes, if it does. Seems to be an honest sort of fellow, and he's right
about having a good ship and crew for such a voyage."
"Of course."
"But it's a deal to pay down."
"I'd pay ten times as much down to-morrow to see my poor boy hale and
hearty--a frank, natural lad with an English boy's firmness and
strength."
"Instead of a weak, irritable, sickly, overstrained, nervous fellow, who
would give me the horrors if I did not know that I can put him right."
"You do feel this, Instow?"
"Of course I do. Why look at him to-night. He is tired, and speaks
sharply, and almost spitefully; but already he is showing twice as much
spirit, though it is in the way of opposition."
"Yes; the feeling that he is to exert himself is beginning to show
itself," said Sir John musingly. "He'll come round if he is given
something to call out his energy."
They sat very silent till bed-time, and on saying good-night, Sir John
turned quickly upon his old friend.
"This is a chance, Instow," he said, "and if the vessel comes up to his
description I shall close at once."
CHAPTER SIX.
JACK BEGINS TO WAKE.
The waters of the Dart were dancing merrily in the bright sunshine next
morning, when, nervous and so anxious that his breakfast had been
spoiled, Jack walked between his father and the doctor toward the pier,
wondering what sort of a vessel the _Silver Star_, which had been
finished too finely for the captain's taste, would prove.
"There she is," said the doctor suddenly. "That must be the yacht, for
there is nothing else in sight at all answering her description."
"Yes, that is she, the one we saw as we came in yesterday. Why she must
be quite half-a-mile away."
"Are we to go off to the yacht in a small boat?" asked Jack nervously.
"Yes, my boy," said Sir John. "You heard that the captain, said one
would be waiting for us at ten, and it is now nearly that time. Look,
there's a man-o'-war gig coming towards the pier. How well the men look
in their white duck shirts and straw hats, and with the naval officer in
the stern sheets. Those men row splendidly."
They stopped to look at the beautiful little boat glistening and brown
in its varnish, with its three little fenders hanging on either side to
protect it from chafing against boat-side or pier, and its rowlocks of
highly polished gun-metal, and then lost sight of it behind the pier.
"Bringing the officer to land, I suppose," said Sir John. "I dare say
she comes from the _Britannia_."
"No," said the doctor suddenly. "Why that's our captain and our boat."
"Oh no," said Sir John quickly. "That was a regular man-o'-war craft."
"I don't care; it was ours," said the doctor. "You'll see."
He proved to be right, for as they went on to the pier, they saw Captain
Bradleigh climb up from a boat lying out of sight close in, and he came
to meet them.
"Morning, gentlemen," he said. "You are punctuality itself. It's
striking ten. This way. We'll go off at once, while the tide is with
us, and save the lads' arms."
He led them to the end of the pier, where the so-called man-o'-war boat
lay just beneath them, one of the sailors holding on by a boat-hook,
while the other three smart-looking fellows sat quietly waiting on the
thwarts. The gig was in the trimmest of conditions, and looked
perfectly new, while it was set off by a gay scarlet cushion in the
stern sheets, contrasting well with the brown varnished grating ready
for the sitters' feet.
"But we are never going to the yacht in that crazy little boat?"
whispered Jack nervously.
"The sailors came to shore in it," said Sir John quietly, "so why should
we mind?"
"But it seems so slight and thin," faltered the boy to his father.
"Are you afraid, Jack?" asked Sir John gravely. "If so you had better
stay on the pier while we go."
The lad was silent. That he was afraid was plainly written in his
face--plainly, that is, to those who knew him. To a stranger it would
have seemed to be the pallor of his complexion.
Sir John said no more, but made way for Doctor Instow to step down into
the boat, and at a sign he descended and held out his hand to Jack.
"I can manage, thank you," said the lad, and he jumped down on to one of
the thwarts, and then, without assistance, took his place in the stern
sheets; his father and the captain followed, the latter gave a short,
sharp order, the boat was vigorously thrust away into the stream, and
the next minute the four men were sending her along with a regular
stroke which seemed to make the slightly-built boat throb and quiver.
For a few minutes the utterly foreign sensation was absolutely painful
to the boy; and as the land appeared to glide away from them, a
sensation of giddiness attacked him as he sat hearing conversation going
on, but understanding nothing, till, as he turned his eyes in the
captain's direction, he saw that this gentleman was watching him
curiously.
A pang shot through him, and the blood began to rise to his white
cheeks, as he made a tremendous effort to master the miserable sensation
of abject fear which troubled him, and succeeded so far that in a minute
or two he was able to give himself the appearance of looking about him,
as if examining the boats they passed.
"There, young gentleman," said the captain suddenly, "there's the
_Silver Star_. What do you say to her? Doesn't she sit the water like
a sea-bird?"
Jack looked at the graceful curve and taper spars of the vessel, and
began to wonder at the way in which she seemed to grow as they drew
nearer; or was it that the boat in which he was gliding onward was
shrinking?
He had not much more time for examination of the delicate lines traced
upon the sky by the yards and cordage, for the boat was cleverly run
close up, the oars tossed on high, and as the bowman hooked on to a
ring-bolt the boat was drawn beneath a side ladder.
Jack felt the tremor returning as he thought of the danger of such an
ascent, when his father said in a low voice--
"You did that very bravely, my boy; now make another effort."
Jack was on his feet in an instant. He stepped forward, seized the
lines on either side of the ladder, and climbed up very clumsily, but
managed to reach the deck without accepting the assistance of the mate
and one of the men, who stood in the gangway and made room for him to
step for the first time in his life upon the deck of a ship.
Sir John and the doctor followed, and the captain remained silent, while
his visitors stood gazing about the clean white deck, where everything
was in the most perfect order, ropes coiled down so that at a distance
they looked like pieces of engine turning, the hand-rails of polished
brass and the ship's bell glistening in the sunshine, and the pair of
small guns seeming to vie with them. The sails furled in the most
perfect manner, and covered with yellowish tarpaulins, yards squared,
and every rope tight and in its correct place and looking perfectly new,
while the spare spars and yards were lashed on either side by the low
bulwarks, smooth and polished till they were like ornaments.
"Well," said the doctor at last, "I am not a sailor, Captain Bradleigh,
but everything here appears to be in the most perfect condition."
"I hope so, sir. My men are proud of our vessel, and we do our best."
Sir John glanced at the men, who were all at their stations, and felt a
thrill of satisfaction as he noticed that they well deserved the term of
"picked," being the smart, athletic, frank, manly-looking fellows we are
accustomed to see in the Royal Naval Reserve.
The captain then led the way to the cabins, which were thoroughly in
keeping with what had been seen on deck, elegantly decorated and
furnished, and with every inch so contrived that the greatest of
convenience was given in the smallest space. Berths, steward's room,
cook's galley, all were inspected in turn, and then the captain opened a
door with a smile.
"I don't know whether you gentlemen care for sport, but Mr Ensler had
this little magazine fitted up, and it is well furnished."
The contents seemed nothing to Jack; but the doctor and Sir John
exchanged glances of surprise, as they saw on each side the sliding
glass doors in which, in the most perfect order, were ranged double and
single fowling-pieces, rifles from the lightest express to the heaviest
elephant guns, as well as a couple of large bore for wild-fowl shooting
and one with its fittings for discharging shells or harpoons. Lances,
lines, nets, dredges, sounding-lines, patent logs, everything that a
scientific sportsman or naturalist could desire.
"There's a good magazine forward, gentlemen," said the captain, "which I
will show you by and by, with, I should say, an ample supply of
cartridges of all kinds--the best. Cartridge and ball for the big guns,
and many chests of empty brass cases, canisters of powder, and bags of
all-sized shot, and the like, so that I may say the yacht is well found
in that respect."
"But these are Mr Ensler's," said Sir John, who appeared thoroughly
interested, while his son looked on and listened in a careless way.
"Well, yes, sir, his, of course; but they go with the boat."
"At a valuation?" said the doctor.
"Oh no," replied the captain, smiling. "Everything in the yacht--
stores, provisions, extra tackle, spare anchors, cables and sails--and
I'll show you directly, gentlemen, the stores are well worth looking
at--go with the yacht at the price named. I wouldn't be answerable for
the state of some of the tinned provisions, of course, for they've been
on board some time, but they were of the best, and I have had them gone
over, and only found a few cases to condemn."
Sir John said nothing, and the captain led them on, showing them the
store-rooms, the place devoted to provisions, and then the magazine,
which he pointed out as being solidly constructed at the bottom and
sides, but exceedingly light overhead.
"So you see, gentlemen," said Captain Bradleigh, "the powder and
cartridges are so divided, that if there were an explosion it would be a
small one, though of course it would be followed by others; but with the
light construction overhead the force would fly upwards, and there would
be no fear of our going to the bottom."
There was no farther progress to be made forward, a strong iron bulkhead
lined with woodwork dividing the yacht here in two; and after the
magazine had been carefully closed, the captain opened a couple of
arm-chests, in which were rifles, bayonets, and cutlasses, the belts and
cartouche boxes hanging in a row from pegs.
"Men are all well-drilled, sir," continued the captain, "and have
regular small-arm practice, for Mr Ensler said there was no knowing
where we might find ourselves; and there's no mistake about it,
gentlemen, there's plenty of piracy out in the East still, specially in
the Malay and Chinese waters."
Jack was interested now, and he gave the captain so sharp a look of
inquiry that he smiled and nodded.
"Oh yes, young gentleman, there are plenty of cut-throat scoundrels out
there, as I know well, who would be a deal better out of the world. Now
we'll go back on deck, please."
They followed him up, and he went forward, taking them to see the engine
and stoke-hole, then down into the cable-tiers and another store-room,
where the extra tackle and various appliances were kept. Then into the
carpenter's and smith's workshops, and lastly into the forecastle, and
the men's cook's galley, the former being well-fitted, ventilated, and
supplied with a case of books. Finally, after quite three hours'
inspection, Captain Bradleigh led the way back to the saloon, where
quite an elegant lunch had been spread, and the steward and his mate
were in attendance.
"Oh, there was no need for this," said Sir John hastily.
"I am only obeying instructions, sir," said the captain, smiling. "Mr
Ensler said that if any gentlemen took the trouble to come all the way
to Dartmouth to see the yacht, the least we could do was to give them
some refreshments. I think I've shown you everything, gentlemen, as far
as I could, but of course if you thought anything of the yacht you would
have her thoroughly gone over by a trustworthy marine surveyor."
Sir John and the doctor exchanged glances again.
"Oh, there's one thing I did not show you, gentlemen," cried the
captain. "It may interest our young friend here. We have no
figure-head."
"Is the man mad?" said Jack to himself, giving him a look full of
contempt. "What interest could I possibly have in a ship's
figure-head?"
"It was a whim, a fad of Mr Ensler's. He went to a lot of expense over
it. I don't suppose you noticed it, but just out over the cut-water
close to the bowsprit, there's a great cut-glass silver star, fitted
inside with a set of the most wonderful silver reflectors, parabolic
they call them, and when the big lamp inside is lit it sends rays out in
all directions, so that when you are a way off, it looks just like the
evening star shining out over the water. Going back to-night,
gentlemen?"
"No," said Sir John quietly; "I shall not return to-night."
Jack winced and looked troubled.
"Then as soon as it's dusk, young gentleman, I'll have the star lit up.
It's of no particular use except as a bow-light, but it looks mighty
pretty, as good as the fireworks you've let off on fifth o' Novembers
many a time, I'll be bound."
"Ha! ha! ha!" roared the doctor, turning to Jack merrily.
"I!" cried the lad, impatiently, and giving the captain a scornful look;
"I never let off a firework in my life."
"I have," said the captain dryly, "many a one, and made them too. But
boys--some of 'em--are a bit different to what they were when I was
young."
"Oh, they're the same as ever, captain," said Sir John, smiling
thoughtfully, as if in recollection of the past. "As a rule, a boy is a
boy, but no rule is without an exception, you know."
"That's right, sir."
"And my son has been delicate, and has always led a studious, indoor
life."
"Ah, I see, sir, and now you are going to let him rough it a bit, and
make a man of him."
"Yes, a healthy man," said the doctor.
"Ah, doctor," said the captain merrily, "there's a beautifully fitted
medicine-chest in that cupboard, with plenty of physic and books of
instructions for that, and a bit of surgery; and I've had to dabble in
it a little myself. We captains often have to do that out away abroad.
Why, sir," he continued, with a queer humorous look at Jack, "I'd back
myself to give a pill to any man against all the doctors in
Christendom."
Jack looked disgusted.
"But," said the captain, "I was going to say, if our young friend here
goes off with his father on a voyage, he won't want you or any other
doctor, sir."
"And a good job too, captain," cried Doctor Instow, "for I like a bit of
travel and rest as well as any man. But you are quite right. It is
what I prescribed. Two or three years' voyage and travel."
"Well, gentlemen," said the captain, as they rose from the lunch-table;
"Mr Ensler wished everything to be straightforward and above-board; is
there anything else I can show you?"
"Well, yes," said Sir John, after exchanging glances once more with the
doctor; "I have come down on purpose to inspect this yacht, and I should
feel obliged if you would show me over it again."
"Certainly, sir," said the captain bluffly; "I have nothing else to do,
I'm sorry to say. Here I am at your service."
"And in the evening," continued Sir John, "I hope you will give me the
pleasure of your company to dinner at the hotel."
"Well, sir," said the captain, in rather a hesitating way, "I'm not much
of a dining-out sort of man, and besides, I should like you to go about
the town a bit, and make a few inquiries about me and my principal and
the yacht. Seaside people are pretty knowing, and you'll soon hear a
boat's character if you begin to ask questions."
"Oh yes, of course," said Sir John; "but we should like to know a little
more of you personally, Captain Bradleigh."
"Well, that's very kind of you, sir," said the captain bluffly. "Thank
you then, I'll come. But perhaps you gentlemen would like to go over
the yacht alone? I want to write a letter or two. You go about and
talk to my boys. They're not primed, gentlemen."
"Well, I think we will," said the doctor quickly, "Eh, Meadows?"
"Yes, Captain Bradleigh," said Sir John; "one does not decide upon a
thing like this in a minute."
"Certainly not, sir. You go and have a good rummage, she'll bear it,
and you jot down in your log-book anything you see that you'd like to
draw attention to. Call any of the men to move or overhaul anything you
wish."
For the next three hours, to Jack's great dismay, his father and Doctor
Instow roamed and hunted over the yacht. Nothing seemed too small for
the doctor to pounce upon, though he devoted most attention to the
magazine-room, amongst the sporting implements; but one way and another
they thoroughly overhauled the yacht from stem to stern, even to
examining the cable-tier and the well, and having several long talks
with the men, before, to Jack's great satisfaction, as he sat against
the aft bulwarks, his father came to him and said--
"Tired, my boy?"
"Wearied out, father," was the reply.
"Well, we have done now. What do you think of the yacht?"
"Nothing, father;" and then hastily, as he saw the look of trouble in
Sir John's eyes, "I don't understand anything."
"Humph! No. Of course not. Well, come down into the saloon."
The captain looked up from where he was writing, having carefully
abstained from joining them since lunch.
"Well, gentlemen," he said, smiling, and a quiet triumphant look beaming
on his face, "done?"
"Yes," said the doctor, wiping his forehead; "I haven't worked so hard
for months."
"Like the look of her, sir?"
"Very much indeed," said Sir John quietly; and a pang of misery shot
through the boy.
"Ah, you don't know her yet, sir; but I'm glad you think well of her."
Sir John took a seat and was silent for a few moments, Doctor Instow
watching him with an inquiring look, while Jack was in agony.
"Look here, Captain Bradleigh," said Sir John at last, "I do not profess
to be a judge of such matters, but everything here seems to me to speak
for itself, and I can fairly say that I never saw a vessel in such
perfect trim before."
"That's a high compliment to pay me, sir," replied the captain, "and I
thank you for it. Well, I'm glad to have met you, sir, and it is a
break in rather a monotonous life. Don't apologise, sir, I know it is a
very heavy price for the craft, and of course it is on account of her
having fittings that not one gentleman in ten would think of putting in
a yacht. You were quite welcome to see her, and as for anything I have
done--"
"I do not quite understand you," said Sir John.
"No, sir? Well, I take it that what you say is to smooth down that the
craft will not quite suit you."
"You are entirely wrong," said Sir John; "I think she would suit me
admirably, and save me a great deal of labour in preparation."
"Oh!" cried the captain; "then I was on the wrong tack."
"Decidedly. Now, Captain Bradleigh, about yourself. I judge you to be
a perfectly straightforward, honourable man."
"Thank you, sir," said the captain, smiling. "I hope for my own sake
that you are a good judge."
"I hope so too. Now, Captain Bradleigh, between man and man, will you
give me your word of honour that this yacht is thoroughly sound, and one
that you would advise a man you esteemed to buy?"
"That I will, sir, straight," cried the captain, holding out his hand,
and giving Sir John's a tremendous grip. "She's as perfect as the best
builders and fitters can make her, out of the best stuff. But you, if
you think of buying her, get down a couple of the best men you can to
overhaul her, and if they give a straightforward report, buy her you
will."
"I don't see any need for so doing," said Sir John quietly. "I would
rather have your opinion than any man's."
"But you don't know me, sir."
"I think that any observant man would know you, Captain Bradleigh, in
half-an-hour."
The captain reddened.
"Well, sir," he said, "I didn't know I had my character written on my
face."
"Perhaps not," said Sir John quietly; "but now about yourself. I don't
wish to spend more money than I can help, and I am not an American
millionaire, only a quiet country gentleman rather devoted to natural
history and a love of collecting."
"That's better than being a millionaire, sir. Money isn't everything,
though it's very useful."
"Exactly. Well, if I buy the yacht, will you go with me wherever I wish
to sail?"
"That I will, sir, with all my heart, and do my duty by you as a man."
"Thank you," said Sir John; "and now about the crew. It is rather a
large one."
"Twice too big in fair weather, sir, but not a man too many in foul."
"You think them all necessary?"
"I do, sir, unless you like to depend on steam; then you might knock off
half-a-dozen, but you'd save nothing; coals at the depots abroad are
very dear. Better trust to your sails and keep the men."
"Yes; I think you are right," said Sir John. "What do you say, Instow?"
"Quite," said the doctor.
"Very well then. Now about the crew; would they be willing: to engage
to sail with me wherever I please, to bind themselves not to break their
engagement without my leave till we return, even if it is for three
years?"
"I could say yes, sir, for they'd follow me wherever I went, but I'll
ask them."
"Do," said Sir John.
The captain touched a table gong, and the steward appeared promptly.
"Go and ask Mr Bartlett to pipe all hands aft," said the captain.
The man ascended, and the next minute the clear note of a whistle rang
out, to be followed by the trampling of feet, and the captain rose,
evidently satisfied at the promptitude with which his order was obeyed.
"They're waiting sir," he said.
Upon the party going on deck, there were the crew drawn up, quite as
smart as men-o'-war's men, and all looking as eager as schoolboys to
learn the meaning of their summons.
"'Tention!" said the captain; and, to use the old saying, the dropping
of a pin could have been heard. "This gentleman, Sir John Meadows,
Bart., is going to buy the _Silver Star_."
"Hurrah!" shouted a man.
"Steady there!" cried the captain sternly. "He means to sail right away
east, through the Canal, and along the islands, to stop here and there
where he likes--two or three years' cruise--and he wants to know if you
will sign articles to go with him, and do your duty like men."
There was a dead silence, and as the men began directly after to whisper
together, Jack, who but a minute before had felt in his misery and
despair that he would give anything to hear the men refuse, now, by a
strange perversity of feeling, grew indignant with them for seeming to
hesitate about doing their duty to his father.
"Well, my lads, what is it?" said the captain sternly. "What are you
whispering about? Can't you give a straightforward yes or no?"
There was another whispering, and the words "You speak", "No, you," came
plainly to Jack's ears, followed by one man shouting--
"We want to know, sir, who's to be in command?"
"Why, I am, my lads, of course."
"Hooray!" came in a roar; and then--"All of us--yes, sir, we'll go," and
another cheer.
"There's your answer, sir," said the captain; and then turning to the
men--"Thankye, my lads, thankye."
"Yes, that's my answer," said Sir John, "and an endorsement of my
feeling that I am doing right."
"And thank you, sir," said the captain warmly. "We'll do our duty by
you, never fear. Perhaps you'll say a word to Mr Bartlett, sir," he
whispered. "Good man and true, and a thorough sailor."
"You will, I hope, keep your post, Mr Bartlett," said Sir John, turning
to him.
"Oh yes, Sir John," said the mate; "I'm obliged to. Captain Bradleigh's
kind enough to say I am his right hand."
"And I can't go without that, can I, young gentleman?"
Jack, who was feeling unduly thrilled and excited by the novel scene,
was chilled again, and he only muttered something ungraciously.
"Mr Bartlett will join us at dinner, I hope," said Sir John; and this
being promised, the men were ordered forward, the boat was manned, and,
as the whole crew was watching every movement on the part of the
visitors, Jack shook hands with captain and mate, and stepped down a
little more courageously into the gig, but turned dizzy as he dropped
into his seat.
The next minute it was pushed off, and the thrill of excitement ran
through the lad again, as the crew suddenly sprang to the shrouds of the
three masts, to stand there, holding on by one hand, waving their straw
hats and cheering with all their might.
"Jump up, Jack, and give them a cheer back," cried the doctor.
There is something wonderful about a sharp order suddenly given.
In an instant Jack was on his feet, waving his white pith helmet in the
air, and giving, truth to tell, a miserably feeble cheer, but the crew
of the boat took it up and joined in.
Then, as it was answered from the yacht, Jack sank down in his seat
again, looking flushed and abashed, and he glanced from one to the other
to see if they were laughing at him; but nobody even smiled. Still the
lad could not get rid of the false shame, and the feeling that there was
something to be ashamed of after all.
CHAPTER SEVEN.
FIRST SNIFFS OF THE BRINY.
"He's beginning, Meadows," said the doctor, as they sat together in
their room at the hotel, waiting for the guests of the evening.
"Think so?" said Sir John sadly.
"Of course I do," cried the doctor.
"But it's very pitiful to see a lad of his years shrinking like a timid
girl, and changing colour whenever he is spoken to. He seems to have no
spirit at all."
"He has though, and plenty, only it's crusted over, and can't get out; I
noticed a dozen good signs to-day."
"A dozen?" said Sir John.
"Well, more or less. Don't ask me to be mathematical. You'll want to
know the aliquot parts next," said the doctor snappishly.
"I see you want your dinner," said Sir John, with a smile.
"I do--horribly. This sea-air makes me feel ravenous. But, as I was
going to say, there were abundant signs of the change beginning. He's
ashamed of his--his--"
"Well, say it--cowardice," said Sir John sadly. "Yes, poor fellow! he
is ashamed of it, as I well know."
"But he can't help it, weak and unstrung as he is. It will come all
right, only let's get him out of his misery, as we used to call it. Get
him to make his first plunge, and he'll soon begin to swim. Did you see
what a brave fight he made of it over and over again to-day? There, I'm
sure we're right; and, my word, what a chance over this yacht."
"Yes, it would have been folly to hesitate."
"But it's going to cost you a pretty penny, my friend."
"I do not grudge it, Instow, if we can bring him back well. We'll be
off as soon as I can get the preliminaries settled."
"These things don't take long when a man has the money."
"Hush!" said Sir John; "here he is. Don't say anything to upset him."
Jack came in, looking sad and dispirited.
"Ah, Jack, my boy, ready for dinner?"
"No, father."
"Hah! chance for the doctor," cried that gentleman merrily. "Let me
administer an appetiser."
"No, no, Doctor Instow; I'm sure it would do no good."
"Wait till you hear what it is, O man of wisdom, and be more modest.
You don't know everything yet. Now then: prescription--take a walk as
far as the kitchen door, wait till it is opened, and then take four
sniffs quickly, and come back. That will give you an appetite, my boy,
if you want one; but I don't believe you do, for you have a lean and
hungry look, as Shakespeare calls it. It's the sea-air, Jack; I'm
savage."
"Some one coming," said Sir John, and a minute later the waiter showed
in the two guests.
Jack did not notice it himself, but others did: he ate about twice as
much as he was accustomed to, and all the while, after looking upon the
dinner and the visitors as being an infliction, he found himself
listening attentively to Captain Bradleigh, who was set going by a few
questions from the doctor, and proved to be full of observation.
"Oh no," he said, "I'm no naturalist, but I can't help noticing
different things when I am at sea, and ashore, and if they're fresh to
me, I don't forget them. Let me say now, though, Sir John Meadows, how
glad I am that you will buy the yacht and go on this cruise. The lads
are half wild with excitement, for we've all been, as the Irishmen call
it, spoiling for something to do. It has seemed to be clean and polish
for no purpose, but I told them they ought to feel very glad to have had
the yacht in such a state. I trust, Sir John, that you will never have
cause to regret this day's work."
"I have no fear," said that gentleman. "I shall be glad, though, as
soon as you receive notice of the transfer to me, if you will do
everything possible toward getting ready for sea."
"Getting ready for sea, sir? She is ready for sea. Fresh water on
board, coal-bunkers full. Nothing wanted but the provisions--salt,
preserved, and fresh--to be seen to, and that would take very little
time. As soon as you have done your business with the owner, send me my
orders, and there'll be no time lost, I promise you."
Jack bent over his plate, and was very silent, but he revived and became
attentive when the doctor changed the subject, and began to question the
captain about some of his experiences, many of which he related in a
simple, modest way which spoke for its truth.
"I suppose," said Sir John merrily, after glancing at his son, "you have
never come across the sea serpent?"
The captain looked at him sharply, then at the mate, and ended by
raising his eyebrows and frowning at his plate.
"That's a sore point for a ship captain, sir," he said at last, "one
which makes him a bit put out, for no man likes to be laughed at. You
see, we've all been so bantered about that sea serpent, that when a
mariner says he has seen it, people set him down for a regular Baron
Munchausen, so now-a-days we people have got into the habit of holding
our tongues."
"Why, you don't mean to say that you have ever seen it, captain?" cried
the doctor.
"Well, sir, I've seen something more than once that answered its
description pretty closely."
"I always thought it was a fable," said Sir John.
"No, sir, I don't think it is," said the captain quickly. "As I tell
you, I've seen a great reptile sort of creature going along through the
sea just after the fashion of those water-fowl that are shot in some of
the South American rivers."
"The darters," said Sir John; "_Plotius_."
"Those are the fellows, sir; they swim with nearly the whole of their
body under the surface, and look so much like little serpents that
people call them snake birds. Well, sir, twice over I've seen such a
creature--not a bird but a reptile."
"And they are wonderfully alike in some cases," said the doctor quietly.
"So I've heard, sir, from people who studied such things. Mine was
going along six or seven knots an hour, with its snake-like head and
neck carried swan-fashion, and raised fifteen or twenty feet out of the
water as near as I could judge, for it was quite half-a-mile away. It
was flat-headed, and as I brought my spy-glass to bear upon it, I could
see that it had very large eyes. I kept it in sight for a good ten
minutes, and could not help thinking how swan-like it was in its
movements. Then it stretched out its neck, laid it down upon the water,
and went out of sight."
"And you think it was a sea serpent?"
"Something of that kind, gentlemen. Bartlett saw it too, and he was
sure it was a great snake."
"Yes, I feel sure it was," said the mate quietly.
"Very strange," said Sir John, who noted how Jack was drinking it all
in.
"Strange, sir, because we don't often see such things. That was in my
last long voyage, a year before I was introduced to Mr Ensler, but I
don't look upon it as particularly strange. Why, I hope that before
very long we shall be sailing through bright clear waters where I can
show you snakes single, in pairs, and in knots of a dozen together
basking at the surface in the sunshine."
"What, huge serpents?" said Jack shortly.
"No," replied the captain, turning upon him with a pleasant smile, while
the doctor kicked at Sir John's leg under the table, but could not reach
him. "They are mostly quite small--four, five, or six feet. The
biggest I ever saw was seven feet long, but I've heard of them being
seen eight feet."
"Yes, I saw one once seven feet nine. It was shot by a passenger on his
way to Rangoon, and they got it on board," said the mate quietly.
"Oh, but that's nothing of a size," said Jack.
"No, Mr Meadows," replied the captain; "but we know it as a fact that
there are plenty of sea serpents of that size, just as we know that
there are adders and rattlesnakes on land."
"Yes, poisonous serpents," said Jack.
"So are these, sir, very dangerously poisonous. I have known of more
than one death through the bite of a sea snake. But, as I was going to
say, we know of adders and rattlesnakes, and we know too that there are
boas and pythons and anacondas running up to eight-and-twenty and thirty
feet long on land. There's a deal more room in the sea for such
creatures to hide, so why should there not be big ones as well as small
there?"
"That's a good argument," said Sir John, "and quite reasonable."
"And you think then," said the doctor, "that yours which you saw were
great serpents swimming on the surface?"
"No, sir, I thought they were something else."
"What?" said Jack, with a certain amount of eagerness.
"They struck me as being those great lizard things which they find
turned into fossils out Swanage and Portland way. I dare say you've
seen specimens of them in the British Museum."
"No," said Jack, colouring a little, "I have never taken any interest in
such things."
"No?" said the captain wonderingly. "Ah, well, perhaps you will. Now
it struck me that these things were--were--Do either of you gentlemen
remember the name of them?"
"Plesiosaurus. Lizard-like," said Sir John.
"That's it, sir," cried the captain, glancing at the speaker, and then
looking again at Jack. "And I tell you how it struck me, and how I
accounted for their being so seldom seen."
"Yes!" said Jack, who had laid down his knife and fork, and was leaning
forward listening attentively. "How did you judge that?"
"From its large eyes."
"What had that to do with it?"
"It meant that it was a deep-sea living creature. You'll find, if you
look into such matters, sir, that things which live in very deep water
generally have very large eyes to collect all the light they can."
"But yours were living on the top of the water," said Jack.
"To be sure," cried the doctor, giving Sir John a sharp glance. "Come,
captain, that's a poser for you."
"Well, no, sir," replied the captain modestly, and with a quiet smile;
"I think I can get over that. Perhaps you know that fish which live in
very deep water, where the pressure is very great, cannot live if by any
chance they are brought to the surface. The air-vessels in them swell
out so that they cannot sink again, and they get suffocated and die."
"But if it was their natural habit to live in deep water," said Jack,
"they would not come to the surface."
"If they could help it, sir," said the captain; "but when a creature of
that kind is ill it may float toward the surface, and turn up as you see
fishes sometimes. I fancy that my great lizard things are still
existing in some places in the mud or bottom of the sea, that they are
never seen unless they are in an unnatural state, and then they soon
die, and get eaten up by the millions of things always on the look-out
for food, and their bones sink."
"I should like to see one," said Jack thoughtfully.
"And I should like to show you one, sir," said the captain. "There's no
knowing what we may see if we cruise about. Well, I'll promise you
sea-snakes and whales and sharks. I can take you too where there are
plenty of crocodiles for you to practise at with a rifle. Good practice
too to rid the world of some of its dangerous beasts."
Jack shuddered, and wanted to say that he did not care to see anything
of the kind, but he did not speak, and just then the captain rose from
the table, drew up the blind, and looked out.
"There you are, sir," he said. "Come and look. The lads were ready
enough when I told them to light up to-night. Looks nice, don't she?"
Jack followed to the window, to see that it was a glorious night, with
the sky and sea spangled with gold, while out where he knew the yacht
lay, there shone forth with dazzling brilliancy what seemed to be a
silver star, and dotted about it, evidently in the rigging of the yacht,
were about thirty lanterns of various colours, but only seeming to be
like the modest beams of moons in attendance upon the pure white
dazzling silver star.
The boy gazed in silence, impressed by the beauty of the scene, as the
captain now quietly opened the window to admit the soft warm air from
off the sea, while faintly heard came the sound of music from some
passing boat.
"How beautiful!" said Sir John, who had come unheard behind them.
"Yes, sir," said the captain quietly, "with the simple beauty of home;
but you will have to see the grand sunrises and sunsets of tropic lands
to fully understand the full beauty of God's ever-changing ocean. But
even now, Mr Meadows, I think you can hardly say you don't like the
sea."
Jack made no reply, but drew a deep breath which sounded like a sigh.
"Well, Jack," said Sir John, when they were about to retire that night,
"what do you think of Captain Bradleigh?"
"I liked him better this evening, father," said the boy thoughtfully.
"He did not treat me as if I were a child, and he left off calling me
`young gentleman.'"
"Good-night, Meadows," said the doctor, a short time after; "I wish you
weren't going to spend so much money, but Jack has had his first dose of
medicine."
"Yes," said Sir John; "and it has begun to act."
CHAPTER EIGHT.
NED FEELS THE MOTION OF THE VESSEL.
All aboard after the preliminaries had been arranged in the most
satisfactory way, Sir John's arrangements made, and Jack, like a
dejected prisoner, taken down to Dartmouth one day, following Edward,
who had gone on in advance with the last of the luggage.
He was waiting in the station when the train came in, looking as eager
and excited as a boy, and as full of delight as his young master was
depressed. Captain Bradleigh was there too, and one of the yacht's
cutters hanging on at the pier, ready for rowing the party on board the
_Silver Star_.
"The luggage, Edward?" said Sir John.
"All aboard, Sir John, and things ready in the cabins," said the man.
"Then see that our portmanteaus are placed in the boat."
"All in, Sir John. I set the porters to get 'em from the van."
"Come along then, Jack, let's take our plunge."
Jack gave a wild look round, his eyes full of despair, but he said
nothing, only felt that he was bidding good-bye to home, land, ease, and
comfort for ever, and followed his father to the boat.
Two hours after they were standing out to sea, with Jack, Sir John, and
the doctor watching the receding shore, the two latter feeling some
slight degree of compunction at the last; but Edward was below
inspecting the cabins once more, and as soon as he had done this, in
spite of the yacht beginning to heel over so that the cabin floor was a
good deal higher on one side than the other, he folded his arms,
frowned, set his teeth, and began the first steps of a hornpipe, but
before he had gone far a lurch sent him head-first toward the port
bulkhead. Here he saved himself by thrusting out his hands, turned, and
began again.
"Very well, uphill if you like," he cried, and he danced from port
toward starboard. But this time his legs seemed to have turned wild,
and he staggered to right.
"Wo-ho! heave-ho! you lubbers!" he cried, and giving a lurch to right,
but with desperate energy he saved himself from a fall, and tried to
begin again.
"Now then," he cried, "from the beginning! Wo-ho! No, I mean yo-ho!"
he muttered. "Why, it's like trying to dance on horseback. Here goes
again. Tiddly-um-tum-tum! Tiddle-liddle-iddle iddle-liddle
iddle-rum-tum!"--"_Bang_."
Edward crashed against one of the little state-room doors, cannoned off,
and came down sitting on the cabin floor.
"Oh, that's it, is it?" cried the man. "Well, if you're going to dance
it, I'll wait till you've done."
"Anything the matter?" said a voice, and the steward came in.
"Nothing particular," said Sir John's man, "unless it's the yacht gone
mad."
"Oh, this is nothing," said the steward. "A bit lively after being at
anchor so long."
"Oh, that's it, is it?" said Edward, rising. "You'll soon get used to
it. Not much of a sailor I suppose?"
"Not a bit of one, but mean to be. I say, who are you?"
"Steward, and I suppose you are to be my mate?"
"Oh, am I?" said Edward; "very well, anything for a change."
The steward turned and left the cabin, for there were steps, and
directly after Jack appeared at the door, tried to walk steadily to a
seat, but a sudden careening over sent him to port, and he would have
fallen heavily if the man had not made an effort to save him, when they
went down together, the man undermost.
"Quite welcome, sir," said Edward, struggling up and helping Jack to a
seat. "Sorry I ain't a bit fatter, sir; only if I was you I'd hold on
till I get used to it, in case I'm not always there to be buffer."
"Oh!" groaned Jack, whose face was ghastly.
"Why, Mr Jack, sir, don't look like that. You fight it down. Feel a
bit queer?"
"Horrible, Ned. Help me to get to my berth."
"Oh, I wouldn't cave in, sir. It'll soon go off."
"Will it?" groaned Jack. "I was afraid to come down for fear they
should see and laugh at me. Oh, how bad I am! Why did we come?"
"I dunno, sir. It was the guv'nor's doing. But you try and keep up."
"It is impossible. You don't know how bad I feel."
"No, sir, but I know how bad I feel."
"You!" said Jack dismally. "Surely you are not going to be ill?"
"Why not, sir? I feel just as if my works had gone all wrong, but I
haven't got time to be ill. Come on deck, sir."
"No. Help me to my berth."
"Right, sir," said the man; and waiting till the vessel seemed steadier,
he took tightly hold of his young master's arm, helped him to his legs,
and tried to guide him across the cabin to his little state-room; but at
the first step Jack made a dive, and they went down together.
"Please, sir, this ain't swimming lessons."
"Let me crawl," groaned Jack.
"No, sir, don't do that. Here, give me your hand again. Up you gets.
That's the way. This time does it. Told you so. Here we are."
"Don't, please don't talk to me," said Jack in a low voice. "Help me
into the berth.--Yes, thank you. Now go away and leave me."
"Won't roll out, will you, sir?"
"Don't--don't talk to me. Please go."
"Poor chap!" muttered Edward. "I do wish he'd got just a little bit o'
pluck in him. But it do make you feel a bit queer. S'pose I go and
shake it off on deck."
He went up, saw that the gentlemen were right aft, and he walked forward
to where the crew were busy here and there, and nodded first to one and
then another in the most friendly way, as if he had known them all his
life. Then he thrust his hands in his pockets, trying to look perfectly
unconcerned, and balanced himself so as to try and give and take with
the vessel.
But it was no good; he fought against the inevitable as long as he
could, and finally staggered to the cabin hatch and descended to where
Jack was lying. "Here's a go, sir," he cried. "I thought it only
wanted a bit of pluck, and it would be all right."
"Oh, go away," groaned Jack. "Don't bother me. I'm dying."
"I'm worse than that, sir," said the man piteously. "What's to be done,
sir?"
"Oh, go to your hammock or berth. I can't bear to be bothered now."
"But it will be dinner-time soon, sir, and I shall have to help wait at
table. I couldn't carry the soup or fish, sir. I couldn't carry
myself. What will the guv'nor say?"
"Ned, will you please to go!" said Jack with a groan.
"Certainly, sir; directly, sir; but I can't move."
"Nonsense!"
"Yes, sir, that's what I thought about you, and that you'd only got to
make a try; but it isn't to be done."
"Go away," groaned Jack.
"Wish I could, sir. I oughtn't to have come. It's all through being so
jolly cock-sure that I could do anything, and I can't. Wish I was at
home cleaning the plate. Oh, Master Jack, can you feel how the boat's
a-going on?"
"Yes, it's dreadful," sighed Jack.
"Is it going to be like this always, sir?"
"Don't! pray don't bother me. Can't you see how ill I am?"
"No, sir, not now. I can only see how bad poor miserable me is. Oh
dear! did you feel that, sir? she give a regular jump, just as if she
went over something.--Master Jack!"
There was no reply.
"Master Jack!" groaned the man. "Oh, please, sir, don't say you're
dead."
"Will you go away and leave off bothering me!" cried the boy angrily.
"Wish I could, sir; I'd be glad to."
There was a pause, during which the yacht bounded along before a fine
fresh breeze. Soon Edward began again.
"Mr Jack!"
No answer.
"Mr Jack, sir!"
"Ned! will you go!"
"I can't, sir. 'Strue as goodness, sir, I can't."
"Where are you?" moaned the boy, who was lying on his back staring with
lack-lustre eyes up at the ceiling just above his head.
"I dunno, sir; I think I'm lying on the carpet, sir, close to the shelf
I put you on."
"Then go away somewhere; you make me feel as if I could kill you."
"Wish you would, sir," groaned the man. "I'd take it kindly of you."
"Oh, don't talk such nonsense," sighed Jack. "Oh, my head, my head!"
"Oh, mine, sir, and it ain't nonsense at all. It's real earnest. Why
was I such a fool as to come, and why did I grin at you, and say as you
was a poor-plucked 'un? It's like a judgment on me. But I always was
so conceited."
"Call some one to help you to your berth."
"I dursn't, sir. If I did, those sailor chaps would see as it was all
over with me and pitch me overboard."
"Ned, you are torturing me," said Jack; and he turned himself a little
to look down at the miserable being on the floor.
"Very sorry, sir, but something's torturing me. Do you think we've got
as far as France yet?"
"Oh, I don't know."
"Do you think, if I give master warning, he'd have me set ashore at
once?"
"No," said Jack, with a touch of exultation in his words; "I'm sure he
wouldn't. You'll have to go with us now."
"I couldn't, sir, I couldn't really. Why, I couldn't go round this
room--cabin, or whatever you call it. Oh dear! oh dear! to think of me
turning all of a sudden like this! It's awful."
"Here, Jack! Jack, lad! Aren't you coming on deck?" cried a voice down
through the cabin skylight.
"Oh, there's the doctor," groaned Edward. "Why don't he come down?"
"Jack! are you there? It's splendid. Come up."
"Come down, sir, please," groaned the man.
"Hullo!" said the doctor to himself. "Why surely they're not--Oh! they
can't be so soon."
He hurried down the cabin steps, and came breezily into the cabin, to
see at a glance the state of affairs.
"Why, Jack, my lad, this is cowardly," he cried.
"Don't, sir, don't," groaned Edward. "I said something like that.
Don't you, sir, or you may be took bad too."
"Why you ought to be able to stand a little sea-going, my man," said the
doctor; "this is a break down. Here, make an effort and go to your
berth."
"Make an effort, sir? I couldn't do it even if the ship was a-sinking."
"Nonsense!"
"It's true. I'm afraid it's all over, and Sir John will want another
man."
"There, jump up and go to your berth. You share the same cabin as the
cook and steward, don't you?"
"I was to, sir, and it was a very small place, but there'll be more room
for them now."
"Nonsense, I tell you; jump up."
"Jump, sir!" groaned the man; "did you say jump?"
"Well then, crawl. Here, steward!" cried the doctor, "come and help
this man to his cabin."
"Can't you give me something to put me out of my misery, sir?" groaned
the man.
"Absurd! There, try and get on your legs. I'll help you." For the
steward had come in promptly, smiling at the state of affairs, and poor
Edward was set upon his legs.
"Come, stand up," said the steward, for Edward's knees gave way like the
joints of a weak two-foot rule.
"Yes, stand up," cried the doctor; "don't be so weak, man."
"'Tain't me, sir, it's my legs," said the man faintly. "Don't seem to
have no bones now."
"Why, Edward, I thought you were a smart manly fellow," cried the
doctor.
"That's just what I always thought of myself, sir, but it wasn't a bit
true. Would you mind asking Sir John, sir, to have the yacht stopped
and me put ashore?"
"Of course I would. It's absurd."
"But I shan't be a bit of use, sir; I shan't indeed. I'm ashamed of
myself, but I can't help it."
"There, I know," said the doctor kindly; "get to your berth and lie
still for a few hours. You'll be ready to laugh at your weakness before
long."
"Laugh, sir? laugh? No, I don't think I shall ever laugh again."
The door swung to after the man's exit, and the doctor returned to
Jack's cabin.
"Well," he said, "feel very queer?"
"Can't you see, doctor?" said the boy, giving him a piteous look.
"Yes, of course I can, my lad; but lie still, and you'll soon get over
it. Some people do get troubled this way. Haven't you read that Lord
Nelson used to have a fit whenever he went to sea?"
Jack made no reply, for he was in that condition which makes a sufferer
perfectly indifferent about everything and everybody, and when it is no
satisfaction to know that the greatest people in the world suffered in a
similar way. All they can think of then is self.
Sir John came down soon after, and sat with his son for awhile, trying
to encourage him, but poor Jack hardly answered him, and at last he
began to be anxious, and went to join the doctor, who was on deck
chatting with the captain.
"I wish you'd go down and see to the boy," he said; "he looks so white,
I feel anxious."
The doctor shrugged his shoulders and went below, to come back at the
end of five minutes.
"Well?" said Sir John anxiously.
"Usual thing; nothing to fidget about. Your man's worse."
"What, Edward?" cried Sir John, staring. "I saw him forward there
chatting with the sailors not long ago."
"Yes, and now he's in his berth talking to himself about what a donkey
he was to come. Who knows! perhaps it will be our turn next."
But it was not, although it began to blow hard from the west, and the
sea crew rougher as the yacht dashed on.
But the next evening Edward was about again, looking rather pale, but
very proud and self-satisfied, as he went to Jack's berth.
"Don't you feel any better yet, sir?" he said.
"No; can't you see how ill I am?" replied Jack faintly.
"Ah, that's because you don't try to master it. Hasn't Doctor Instow
told you that you ought to try and get the better of it?"
"Yes; but what is the use of telling me that?" groaned Jack, with his
eyes shut; but he opened them directly and gazed discontentedly at the
man, as if feeling that it was hard and unfair of fate to let the
servant recover while the master was so ill. "Are you quite well
again?"
"Me, sir? Oh yes, sir," said Edward carelessly.
"And I--I feel as if I shall never live to go far."
"Ah, that's the way of it, sir, I felt just like that; but you'll come
all right again before you know where you are. Like me to get you a bit
of anything, sir? The kitchen place is splendid, and the cook would
knock you up something nice in no time. What do you say to an omelet,
sir?"
Jack ground his teeth at the man, and then closed his eyes and feebly
turned his back.
"Poor chap, he has got it bad," muttered the convalescent, as he went
out of the cabin on tip-toe. "But I don't think he's quite so bad as I
was, after all."
CHAPTER NINE.
"WHEN THE RAGING SEAS DO ROAR."
Jack Meadows started up in his berth with a great fear upon him, and he
started down again with the great fear turned for the moment into a
great pain, caused by his having struck his forehead sharply, for about
the tenth time, against the top of his berth.
"Am I never going to recollect what a miserable, narrow, boxed-up place
it is," he said to himself angrily.
Then the fear came back, and he rolled out feeling confused and
horrified.
He had turned in over-night without undressing, further than taking off
jacket, waistcoat, and boots, so that he was almost dressed, for he had
lain down in terror to rest himself so as to be quite ready if an alarm
was given that the yacht was sinking; and he knew now that he must have
been asleep, for it was early morning by the pale grey light which stole
in through the glass. The weather seemed to be worse, the yacht
pitching and tossing, and there was a dull, creaking, horrible sound
which kept on, but was smothered out at intervals by a tremendous bump,
which was always followed by a sound as if the vessel had sailed up the
rapids of Niagara river and then beneath the falls.
The confusion increased with the noise, and, holding on with one hand,
Jack pressed the other to his forehead as he stared straight before him
at a big tin box which appeared to his sleep-muddled brain to be walking
about the saloon table, when he opened the tiny state-room door.
Yes, there was no mistake about it; that box was alive, just as
frightened as he was by the fearful storm, and was trying to escape, for
all of a sudden, after edging its way to the end of the table, it made a
bound, leaped to the floor, and began to creep and jump toward the door
at the foot of the cabin stairs.
"What did it all mean?" thought Jack, and he tried hard to collect
himself. Yes, they came on board three or four days before, he was not
sure which. He remembered that. He had been frightfully ill, and oh,
so sick. He remembered that too. Then he recalled about preparing for
the worst last night, when the storm increased, and thinking as he lay
down in his berth, weak as a baby, that it was very grand to be able to
act as his father and Doctor Instow did, for they were perfectly
resigned, and he had seen them sitting down playing a game of chess with
a board full of holes into which the chess-men stuck like pegs.
Then in full force his brain seemed to assert itself. The worst had
come, and it was his duty to awaken his father and Doctor Instow, so
that they might all save themselves by taking to one of the boats or a
raft.
_Boomp! Splash. U-r-r-r-r_!
A wave striking the yacht's bows--the water deluging the deck.
A spasm of fear shot through him, and he made a dash to catch up his
yachting cap and pea-jacket with gilt anchor buttons which he had had on
the previous night; but as soon as he quitted his hold, he was literally
at sea, and the floor of his little state-room rising up, he seemed to
be pitched head-first into his berth as if diving, but he managed to
save himself from injury, and dropped on to the floor, crawled to his
jacket, slipped it on, and then out into the saloon, to see that the tin
box--one which the doctor had had brought on board full of necessaries
for their fishing and collecting trips--had reached the saloon door, but
could get no further.
But what was a box to a man? Jack crept to his father's door, beat upon
it, and then dragged it open to find the berth empty.
"Gone and left me," groaned the lad in his misery and despair. "How
horrible! No; he is making a raft, and will come and fetch me soon.--
Oh!"
He clutched at the door to save himself, for the yacht suddenly made a
dive, and he felt that they were going down into the vast depths of the
sea; but he did not save himself, for the door played him false and
helped to shoot him right across the saloon, and he was brought up by
the door of the doctor's tiny room.
Recovering himself he desperately clutched at the handle, dragged the
door open, and as the yacht prepared for another dive, he shot in
against the berth, punching its occupant heavily in the ribs, and
snatching at the clothes as he held on.
The doctor uttered a deep grunt, but did not stir. "Doctor! doctor!"
panted Jack. "Wake up! Quick! We're sinking."
"Eh? All right!" came in a deep muffled voice. "Oh, wake up, wake up!"
cried Jack. "I can't leave him to drown. Doctor! doctor!"
"All right!" came fiercely, as Jack seized the sleeper by the shoulders.
"Tell 'em--only jus' come abed."
"Doctor! doctor!"
"Tell 'em--give--warm bath--mustard."
"But we're sinking," cried Jack wildly. "Eh? Whose baby is it? What's
matter--Jack? Taken ill?"
"No, no. Quick! Come on deck."
"Just won't," growled the doctor; and he turned his back and uttered a
deep snore.
Jack stared in horror, and then dropped on all fours to crawl to the
foot of the cabin stairs, and fetch help to drag the drowning man on
deck, being fully imbued with the idea that Doctor Instow had taken some
drug in his despair, so that he might be unconscious when the yacht went
down.
In passing he saw that the captain's and the mate's berths were both
empty, and, how he knew not, he crawled up the cabin stairs, looked on
deck, and saw that his father was standing by the weather bulwark, and
the captain close by.
There was the man at the wheel, and a couple more forward in shiny
yellow tarpaulins; and as he gazed at them wildly, there was a thud and
a beautiful curve over of a wave which deluged the deck and splashed the
two men, but they did not stir.
He saw no more then, for the yacht careened over from the pressure on
the three great sails, and it seemed to the lad that the next moment
they would be lying flat upon the water, so he clung to the hatchway
fittings for dear life. But the next moment the _Silver Star_ rose from
the wave in front, and literally rushed on, quivering from stem to stern
like a live creature, the waves parting and hissing to form an
ever-widening path of foam astern.
Jack caught the full fresh breeze in his teeth as he struggled on deck,
and breathlessly staggered to the side, looking as if he were going to
leap overboard; then clinging to the rail, he crept hand-over-hand to
where his father now stood with the captain.
"That you, Jack?" cried Sir John. "Good-morning. Well done! Come,
this is brave."
"Splendid!" cried Captain Bradleigh. "Why you have soon come round."
Jack woke fully to the fact now that it was a false alarm, and strove
hard to get rid of the scared look with which he had come on deck for
help to drag Doctor Instow up. But still he was not quite assured, for
he started suddenly as, _plosh_! there came another rush of water over
the bows. "What's that?" he cried.
"Sea having a game with the yacht," said the captain merrily.
"Splashing her nose. Look how she rises and glides over that wave.
Regular racer, isn't she?"
"Yes, going so fast," panted Jack breathlessly. "But--but is there no
danger--of her sinking?"
"Just about as much as there would be of a well-corked-up bottle, my
lad. The more you pushed her under, the more she'd bob up again. Oh
no, she won't sink."
"I'm glad you came up," said Sir John. "This breeze is glorious, and I
never saw the sea more beautiful; look how the waves glisten where the
moon falls upon them on one side, and how they catch the soft pearly
light from the east on the other. It is a lovely effect."
"Yes, father, very beautiful," said the boy sadly. "Are we far from
land, Captain Bradleigh?"
"Yes, and getting farther every minute. Don't want any steam with this
breeze. If it holds, we shall regularly race across the bay."
"Bay?" said Jack, feeling that he must say something to keep them from
seeing how nervous he was. "Mount's Bay?"
"Mount's Bay?" said the captain, smiling, "No; the Bay of Biscay. We
passed Mount's Bay three days ago, while you were lying so poorly in
your berth. Oh, that's nothing to mind," he added quickly. "I was
horribly bad for a week in smoother water than you've had; you've done
wonders to get over it so soon."
"Yes, you've done well, Jack," said Sir John, who looked gratified by
the way in which his son was behaving. "Mind! keep tight hold of the
rail."
For just then the yacht made a dive, rose, shook herself, and then,
after seeming to hang poised on the summit of a green hillock, she
started again with a leap.
"Yes; better hold tight till you feel more at home. One easily gets a
heavy fall and bruises at first. But you'll soon find your sea-legs,
and give and swing with the vessel just as if you belonged to her."
"Why didn't you bring the doctor up?" said Sir John; "he is losing a
glorious sight."
"I tried hard to wake him," replied the lad, "but he was too sleepy."
"Yes; he likes his morning sleep," said Sir John.
The captain walked forward to speak to the two men of the watch, and an
intense longing came over the boy to undeceive his father, who had not
grasped the true reason of his appearance on the deck. But try hard as
he would, shame kept him silent, and he began to give way again to the
nervousness which oppressed him.
"Don't you think," he began; but his father checked him.
"Look--look--Jack!" he said; and he pointed to something about a quarter
of a mile away.
For a few moments, as it appeared and disappeared, the lad could not
catch sight of it; but at last he did.
"A serpent--a huge serpent," he cried. "Is it coming this way?"
"It, or rather they are not coming in this direction, but going on the
same chase, my boy. No, it is not a serpent; serpents do not travel up
and down in that fashion, though some people think they do, but undulate
their bodies right and left."
"But look, father," cried Jack, forgetting his nervousness in the
interest of what he saw. "It must be a great snake, you can make out
its folds as it goes along."
"No, you look--take a good long look, and don't come on deck again
without your binocular. That is a little shoal of seven or eight
porpoises. They follow one another like that, and keep on with that
rising and falling manner, coming up to breathe, and curling over as
they dive down again. They do strangely resemble a great snake."
"But breathe, father?" said Jack; "fish breathe?"
"Those are not classed as fish, my lad. They cannot exist without
coming up to get air. A fish finds enough in the water which passes
over its gills."
"Yes, I've read that," said Jack; "but I had forgotten."
"Well, gentlemen, looking at the porpoises?" said the captain, coming up
behind them. "Nice little school of them. They always go along like
that. I used to think when I first saw them that they were like a troop
of boys running along and leaping posts. They're after a shoal of fish;
mackerel perhaps. Well, Sir John, how do you think the yacht runs with
this breeze?"
"Splendidly," said Sir John.
"Breeze! Splendidly!" said Jack to himself, as he tried to restrain a
shudder, for the breeze had seemed to him a storm.
"Well, sir, she's good on every tack. I can do anything with her; I
never felt a boat answer the helm as she does. But I like to hear you
talk about it; I feel a sort of vanity about her, seeing she is like a
child of mine, and I want to be quite convinced that you are satisfied
with your hasty bargain."
"Once for all then, Captain Bradleigh, be satisfied on that point; for I
feel myself most fortunate," said Sir John.
"Thank you, sir, thank you!" cried the captain warmly. "That will do
then; I will not refer to it again. By the way, Mr Jack, now you are
getting your sea-legs, you will have to begin your education."
"My education?" said the lad, staring. "Yes, sir; you must not go on a
two or three years' cruise without making a thorough sailor of yourself,
so as soon as you feel yourself fit, I'm ready to teach you to box the
compass, and a little navigation."
"Oh, thank you," said Jack coldly, and the tips of his horns, that,
snail-like, were beginning to show signs of coming out, disappeared.
The captain gave Sir John a meaning look, and went on.
"You gentlemen will find Bartlett a capital fellow, and very useful.
He's quite at home over all kinds of sea-fishing, and you had better
begin to give him a hint, Mr Jack, that you'll want a good deal of his
help. Capital knowledge of sea-fish; not book knowledge, but practical.
It's of no use now with the yacht going at this rate, but when we get
into calmer waters."
"Shall we soon get into calmer water?" said Jack anxiously.
"Oh yes. We're going due south now, and shan't be long first. I dare
say by the time we have passed Cape Finisterre, and are running down the
Spanish coast, you will find it smooth enough. Like an early cup of
tea, gentlemen?"
"I? No," said Sir John, "I'll wait for breakfast. What do you say,
Jack?"
Jack said nothing, but looked disgusted.
"Don't like the idea of taking anything of course, sir," said the
captain; "but wait a little, I'm quite a doctor over these troubles, and
I'll give you some good news."
"I'm sure he will be grateful for it," said Sir John, for Jack was
silent.
"Here it is then," said the captain bluffly; "and you may believe it,
for I know. You've had a sharp little spell since we left port; but
it's over now, and, as we say, you're quite well, thank you."
"I quite well?" cried the lad indignantly; "I feel wretchedly bad."
"And think me very unfeeling for talking to you like this," said the
captain, smiling; "but I'm nothing of the kind. Of course you feel
wretchedly ill. Faint and weak, and as if you could never touch food
again. That's why I wanted you to let the steward bring you a cup of
tea. Human nature can't go without food for three or four days without
feeling bad."
"Of course not," said Sir John.
"But now look here, Mr Jack, I talked about good news, and told you
that you were well now. Here's the proof. There's a nice stiff breeze
on, the water's very lively, and the yacht's dancing about so that we
shall have to mind how we handle our breakfast-cups; and look at you!
You are holding on because you haven't learned to give and take with the
springs in your legs, but you are taking it all quite calmly. Why, the
other day as soon as we began to careen over a bit, the doctor had to
take you below. Now do you see the difference?"
"No," said Jack. "You cannot tell how ill I feel."
"My dear lad, I know exactly," said the captain. "Come, pluck up your
courage; we're going to have a glorious day, and the wind will drop
before noon. Take my advice: go below to have a good tubbing, and dress
yourself again, and by breakfast-time you'll be beginning to wonder that
you should have felt so queer; and mind this, sea-sickness isn't a
disease: it's a--well, it's a--Ah, here's the doctor. Morning, Doctor
Instow, you're just in time. What is sea-sickness?"
"A precious nuisance for those who are troubled with it," said the
doctor heartily. "Morning. Morning, Meadows. Why, Jack, lad, this is
grand. You've quite stolen a march on me. I say, you mean you're over
your bit of misery then. My word, what a jolly morning. Hullo! going
below?"
"Yes," said Jack quietly, as he began to move toward the cabin hatch.
"Take my arm, Mr Jack," said the captain kindly.
"No, thank you," said the lad. "I want to get to be able to balance."
Sir John said nothing, but stood with the others watching the lad's
unsteady steps till he disappeared.
"He'll do now, sir," said the captain.
"Do?" cried the doctor; "I should think he will. Why, Meadows, he has
got all the right stuff in him: it only wants bringing out. Nothing
like the sea for a lad, is there, captain?"
"Nothing, sir," said that gentleman. "It makes a boy manly and
self-reliant. He may turn out a bit rough, but it's rough diamond. Sir
John, pray don't you think from what I say that I'm one of those
carneying, flattering sort of chaps who ought to be kicked all round the
world for the sneaks they are. What I say is quite honest. That's a
fine lad of yours: he's as nervous now as a girl, and no wonder, seeing
how weak and delicate he is, but I watched him this morning, and he's
fighting it all down like a fellow with true grit in him, at a time too
when he's feeling downright bad. You won't hardly know him in a month."
Sir John nodded and walked away, to go and stand by himself looking out
to sea.
"Whew!" whistled the captain, turning to the doctor. "I hope I haven't
offended our chief."
"Offended him? no," said the doctor, taking his arm and walking him off
in the other direction. "It's all right, captain. You spoke out the
truth, and he'll tell you before the day's out that he is obliged. Poor
fellow! he is very tender-hearted about his boy. Lost the lad's mother,
you see, and he worships him. But you're quite right, my plan's good,
and I shall bring him back a healthy man."
"You shall, doctor, for we'll all try and help you; there!"
CHAPTER TEN.
JACK BEGINS TO COME ROUND.
"Oh dear, I do feel so ashamed of myself," said the doctor at breakfast
that morning. "Edward, bring me another egg, and some more of that
ham."
"Well, sir, if you do," said the captain, smiling, "I ought to be, but
I'm not. More coffee, Sir John?"
"Thanks, no, I'm taking tea. Jack, my boy, will you try another cup?"
The lad hesitated for a moment, and then drew aside for Edward to refill
his cup, with which he had been eating sparingly of some well-made
toast.
"Find that rather stale, Mr Jack?" said the captain.
"No; it is very nice," said the lad. "Ah, the toasting takes it off.
Four days out. That's as long as we go with the same bread. Begin
making our own to-morrow."
Just then Edward handed Doctor Instow a goodly rasher of broiled ham,
upon which was a perfectly poached egg; and directly after the man came
round behind Jack, and quietly placed before him, with a whisper of
warning that the plate was very hot, another rasher of ham, and at the
first sight of it the lad began to shrink, but at the second glance,
consequent upon a brave desire not to show his repugnance, he saw that
it was a different kind of rasher to the doctor's, and that there was no
egg. It was small and crisp and thin, of a most beautiful brown, with
scarcely any fat, and showing not a drop in the hot plate. There was a
peculiar aroma, too, rising from it, grateful and appetising, and after
sipping at his fresh hot cup of tea--the second--twice, Jack broke off
another fragment of his crisp toast and ate it slowly.
A minute passed away, his four companions eating in sea-going fashion,
which is rather costly to the person that caters, and they were talking
aloud meantime, but every one present made a point of not taking the
slightest notice of the sensitive lad.
That hot tea at the first mouthful of the first cup was nauseating, and
Jack glanced toward the door and waited before venturing upon a second.
But that second mouthful was not so bad, and it seemed to him that the
captain certainly had good tea provided. Then Jack had broken off a
scrap of the brown toast and eaten it, feeling at the end of a minute or
two that he had never before known what well-made toast was like.
And so he had gone on very slowly, but certainly surely, till that piece
of broiled ham--just such a piece as might tempt an invalid--was placed
before him by Edward, who winked afterwards at the steward.
Jack would have resisted with scorn the suggestion that he was an
invalid, and he was in utter ignorance of the doctor having entered into
a conspiracy with the steward and cook just before they sat down; but
that triumvirate had conspired all the same, and the result was that dry
toast and that thin shaving of brown ham, which from the moment it was
placed under his nose began to tempt him.
What wonder! Three days lying in a berth aboard ship, three days of
hardly touching food; and now at last sitting at a pleasant
breakfast-table in an exasperating appetite-sharpening atmosphere, which
came in through the open window along with the bright sunshine, while
four people were cheerily chatting and eating away like men who knew how
good breakfast can be.
Then, too, there was that insidious preparation--that sending in of
skirmishers of dry toast to attack the enemy before a bold advance was
made with the ham.
Was it strange then that after another glance round, and telling himself
that it was really to keep the others from thinking him too squeamish,
Jack daintily cut off a tiny brown corner of the fragrant, saline,
well-flavoured ham, and placed it in his mouth?
No: it did not disgust him in the least, and he ate it, and then glanced
half-guiltily at the doctor, who was bending over his plate and gilding
one of his own ham fragments with yolk of egg; but the doctor had very
heavy eyebrows, and from behind them he had been watching the lad's
acts, and as he saw him begin to cut another piece a little browner than
the last, he winked to himself twice, and then burst out with--
"I say, captain; I suppose when we get into smoother water we might get
a bit of fresh fish for the table?"
"Oh, yes, something of the mackerel kind; eh, Bartlett?"
The mate entered into the conversation directly, and in a quiet, modest
way chatted about the possibilities of success, but advised waiting
until the yacht was gliding steadily before a light breeze.
Still nobody turned to say a word to Jack, who sat and listened, growing
by degrees a little interested over some remarks that were made about
"the grains," which gradually began to take shape before him as a kind
of javelin made on the model of Neptune's trident, and which it seemed
had a long thin line attached to its shaft, and was thus used to dart at
large fish when they were seen playing about under the vessel's counter,
though what a vessel's counter was, and whether it bore any resemblance
to that used in a shop, the lad did not know.
It was somewhere about the time of the last remarks being made by the
mate, in which "the grains" were somehow connected with the bobstay,
that Jack proceeded to cut another fragment of that crisp juicy ham; but
he did not cut it, for the simple reason that there was none left to
utilise the knife and fork, which he laid together in his plate with a
sigh.
And somehow just the most filmy or shadowy idea of the possibility that
the steward might ask him if he would take a little more crossed his
mind, along with a kind of wondering thought that if the man did, what
he would say in reply.
But the man did not ask, and Jack glanced at the toast-rack, which was,
like his tea-cup, empty.
There was a pause now in the conversation, the captain looked
inquiringly round, and then tapped the table lightly and said grace.
"Like to see how we take observations by and by, Mr Jack?" he said.
"With a telescope?" said Jack quickly, feeling relieved that no one
asked him how he felt now.
"Well, yes, we do use a little glass in the business attached to the
sextant. But you thought I meant observations of the land?"
"Yes."
"No, we are far away from land now. We take our observations from the
sun at twelve o'clock, and then I can give you the exact spot where we
are upon the chart."
"That's curious," said Jack.
"Yes, sir; curious, but quite commonplace now. It's worth noticing
though how cleverly scientific men have worked it out for us, and what
with our instruments, the chronometer, and the nautical almanac, we only
want a bit of sunshine to be able to find out our bearings and never
feel afraid of being lost."
"I'll come and see how it's done."
"Do, sir, at noon; and you'll like to see the heaving of the log as
well."
The captain was right; the wind dropped--and quite suddenly--a good hour
before noon, and Jack found himself beginning to feel a little hungry
and hollow inside just about the time when the sextant was brought out,
but he felt interested in what was being done, and found himself
beginning to think that perhaps after all there might be something
during the voyage to compensate for the deprivations he was to suffer
with respect to his regular studies and his books.
It was curious, too, how little he began to think of the rising and
falling of the vessel, as she glided over the waves, which were rough
enough, and sparkled brilliantly in the sunshine; but the fore-part of
the deck was dry now and warm, while the yacht looked picturesque and
cheery, with the crew busy over various matters connected with the
navigation.
But nobody made the slightest allusion now to his having been ill, or
asked how he felt, and the colour came into the lad's cheeks once as he
caught his father's eyes, which somehow seemed to wear a more contented
and satisfied look, but he only said quietly--
"I say, Jack, lad, do you think we could sit down in a chair now without
being shot out?"
Jack felt obliged to reply, so he said--
"Let's try."
CHAPTER ELEVEN.
Jack's eyes begin to open.
"No," said Sir John, in reply to a question addressed to him by the
captain, one beautiful moonlight evening, as they were running down
within sight of the coast of Portugal; "unless it is necessary, or my
son wishes to see the towns, I should prefer going steadily on eastward.
For my part I want to get away from civilisation, and see Nature
unspoiled or unimproved, whichever it is."
"And that depends upon individual taste, eh, Jack?" said the doctor.
"I suppose so," said the lad.
"Bah! he's going back again," said the doctor to himself.
"Would you like to stop at Gibraltar and see the Rock and its
fortifications, Jack?"
"No, father, thank you," said the lad.
Sir John looked disappointed, but he said quietly--
"Then we'll go right on, captain, according to your plans. Let's see,
what were they?"
"If you wish to get right away to the East, then I propose that we just
touch at Gib, and stay long enough to fill up our water-tanks and take
in fresh provisions and vegetables, run straight on to Naples, do the
same there again, and then make for the Canal, unless you would care to
see Vesuvius. Naples and its surroundings are very fine."
"Yes, very," said Sir John.
"Oh yes," growled the doctor; "but the place swarms with visitors. I
want to get where we can land on some beautiful coast with our guns and
collecting tackle, where we shouldn't see a soul, unless it's a naked
savage."
"So do I," said Sir John. "What do you say, Jack?"
"Wherever you like, father," said the boy resignedly; and he rose and
walked right forward to where a couple of the men were on the look-out,
and Mr Bartlett was walking slowly up and down with a glass under his
arm.
Sir John sighed, and there was perfect silence for a few minutes.
"It is very disappointing," he said at last.
"What is?" cried the doctor sharply. "Rome wasn't built in a day."
"But he seems to take it all as a duty, and as if he was compelled to
obey me."
"And a good thing too," cried the doctor sharply. "What's better than
for a son to feel that he is bound to obey his father? If I had been a
married man instead of a surly bachelor, and I had had a son, I should
have expected him to obey me and do what I thought was for his good; eh,
captain?"
"Yes, sir, of course; and on your part, tried to be reasonable."
"Of course. Well, we--I mean Sir John--is reasonable. No, he isn't
now. He wants Rome built in a day with the fresh paint on as well, and
a grand procession of big drums and trumpets and soldiers with flags to
march through the principal streets."
"Come, not quite so bad as that, Instow. Don't be cross."
"Then don't make me so. Now, I appeal to the captain here. Has not the
boy been wandering about the deck all day with Bartlett, asking him
questions about the sails, and talking to the men, and using his glass
whenever there was a good bit of the land to see?"
"Well, yes."
"Well yes, indeed! What more do you want? We can only go on two legs,
we men; we can't fly."
"Captain Bradleigh seems of a different opinion with this yacht. He
makes us swim and pretty well fly."
"Yes, but what was Jack a month ago? Going about the house like a boy
in a nightmare, or else with his hands supporting his heavy head, while
he was A plus B-ing, squaring nothing, and extracting roots, or building
up calculations with logs. He isn't like the boy he was when he came on
board."
"That's true," said the captain quietly. "His interest is being
awakened, and something else too--his appetite."
"Yes; he certainly eats twice as much, and is not so particular as to
what it is."
"There!" cried the doctor triumphantly. "And what does that mean?"
"That the sea-air makes him hungry."
"Bah! that isn't all. It means that Nature keeps on asking for more
bricks and mortar to go on building up the works that were begun years
ago and not finished--muscle and bone and nerve, sir, so as to get him a
sound body; and mind you, a sound body generally means a sound brain.
Everything in a proper state of balance."
"I suppose you are right," said Sir John.
"Right? of course I am. Only give him time."
"Where is he now?"
"Along with Bartlett," said the captain.
"Yes, I can see him. They're examining something over the bows. Found
something fresh. Isn't that a healthy sign? He was only a bit tired
and bored just now. Look here, Meadows, you and I must not be too
anxious, and keep on letting him see that we are watching him. Why,
look at the other morning when he was just up from his sea-sickness. Do
you think if I had begged him to eat that rasher of ham he would have
touched it? Not he. Let him alone, and he'll soon be coming to us."
"Certainly that will be the best course. I should like to see though
what he is doing now?"
"Better leave him alone. Sensitive chap like that, with a body like a
little boy and a head like an old man, don't want to feel that he is
being led about by a nurse. But there, I must humour you, I suppose.
Come away."
The doctor set the example by rising, and they walked slowly forward,
hearing Jack talking in an animated way as they drew nearer, and, as if
in obedience to an order, one of the sailors trotted by them.
As they reached the port bows Jack turned round where he was leaning
over the starboard side, as if to look for the man who had gone on some
errand, and he caught sight of his father.
"Come and look here, father," he cried. "Something so curious."
"Eh? What is it?" said Sir John coolly, and, followed by the doctor, he
crossed to where his son stood with the mate.
"Look over here, straight down into the black water," said Jack.
"Hah! Yes, very beautiful, looks as if we were sailing through a sea of
liquid pale gold."
"And it's all black where it is not disturbed. As soon as the yacht's
prow rushes through, everything is flashing out with phosphorescent
light, and you can see myriads of tiny stars gliding away."
"Yes, beautiful," said Sir John. "Grand," cried the doctor.
"And Mr Bartlett here says it is nothing compared to what he has seen
off Java and the other islands. Look now! it's just as if the sea as
deep down as we can pierce was full of tiny stars. Oh, here's the
pail."
The sailor had returned, and way was made for him to drop the bucket at
the end of a rope down into one of the brightest parts, and bring it up
full of the phosphorescent water.
Just then the doctor gave Sir John a dig in the ribs with his elbow, as
much as to say, "Now, who's right?" While mentally agreeing that his
friend was, Sir John moved out of the way, so as not to receive another
poke.
Then followed rather a learned discourse from the doctor on the
peculiarities of the wonderful little creatures which swarmed in the
bucket, whose contents in the light seemed to be so much clear
sea-water, but which in the darkness flamed with light as soon as it was
disturbed by a hand being passed quickly through.
"Why, it makes my hand tingle and smart just slightly," said Jack.
"Oh yes," said the mate. "If you bathe in a sea like this you can feel
quite an irritation of the skin, while the large jelly-fish sting like a
nettle."
"Then are these jelly-fish?"
"Yes, almost invisible ones," replied the doctor.
"But it seems so strange. Why is it?" said Jack.
"Well, we know that fish prey upon these things wholesale, and my theory
is that the tiny things have the stinging power as a defence by day, and
the ability to light up to make the fish think they will burn their
mouths at night and leave them alone. Sounds absurd, eh? But I believe
that's it."
Jack spent an hour having bucketfuls of water drawn up from the spots
where the luminous cold fire seemed to burn most fiercely, the mate and
Edward, called in to assist, entering into the business with the
greatest of enthusiasm, and helping, after Sir John and the doctor had
gone, in another way, fetching tumblers and a glass globe from the
steward, Edward having to carry these well-filled into the cabin, where,
chuckling to himself, the doctor brought out his small microscope, and
using a tiny water-trough designed for the purpose, proceeded to examine
these little wonders of the world.
Gibraltar was reached a couple of days later, and a very brief stay
made, Jack contenting himself with watching the huge mass of rock with
his binocular. Then away over the rather rough sea, with a favourable
wind, they ran for Naples, where it grew calmer, and at night the slow
from the summit of the burning mountain was seen reflected on the
clouds, while by day these clouds could be seen to be of smoke.
On again for the Canal, and the doctor confided to Sir John his belief
that he was a little anxious now.
"It will be so tremendously hot down the Red Sea, that I'm afraid it
will upset the lad; so as you are getting up steam for the run through
the Canal, if the wind is light or contrary, I should use the screw till
we get to Aden."
"And make up our coal-bunkers there," said the captain. "Yes; good
advice, sir, for that is about the hottest place I know; but it's not
often we get a contrary wind for the _Silver Star_. She'll sail closer
to the wind's eye than anything I ever saw."
"But I feel disposed to say, steam through to Aden," said Sir John
anxiously, "for if the wind is north-west, we shall have it like a
furnace from the African desert."
"Yes, sir," said the captain, smiling, "but, according to my experience,
it isn't much better from the Arabian side. There's no getting over it:
the Red Sea might almost be called the Red-hot sea."
The business going on in the engine-room seemed to be a break in what so
far had been rather a monotonous voyage, and, to the father's great
satisfaction the following morning, he came suddenly upon Jack ascending
to the deck, wiping his face, and followed by the mate, just as they
were slowly steaming into the Canal.
Sir John said nothing, but noted that the lad went with the mate right
aft, where they stood leaning over and gazing down at where the screw
was churning up the water, the mate explaining its fish-tail-like action
and enormous power in propelling the yacht.
"Have an eye upon him, Instow," said Sir John; "the heat is getting
intense, and it can't be good for him to go down into that engine-room."
"Just as if I ever had my eyes off him," replied the doctor. "You let
me be."
"But he seemed to be dripping with perspiration."
"Best thing for him. Open his pores, which have been shut up all his
life. Grand thing for him. He couldn't be going on better. I was
afraid that the heat would depress him, and lay him on his back: don't
you see that so long as he keeps active he will not feel it so much?"
"I am not a doctor," said Sir John simply. "I suppose you are right."
"Well, give me a fair chance, old fellow. You've had your turn with the
bow, and made an old man of him."
"Not I--his masters."
"Well, let me now try if I can't make a boy of the old man. Look at
him. Can you believe it?"
Jack walked by them, in his white duck suit and pith hat, just then,
with the mate.
"Find it too hot, father? Shall I fetch your white umbrella?"
"No, no, thank you, my boy; I'm going to sit under the awning and watch
the shipping. But--er--don't expose yourself to the heat too much; the
sun has great power."
"Yes, it is hot," said Jack quietly, "but I like it."
"Yes, Mr Jack, sir," said Edward, who had overheard his master's
remarks, "and so do I like it; but it's a sort of country where you feel
as if you would like to have a great deal of nothing to do, and lie
about on the sand like the niggers. I've just been watching 'em, and it
seems to me that they don't eat much, nor drink much. You see 'em
nibbling a few dates, or swallowing lumps of great green pumpkins."
"Melons, Ned," said Jack, correcting him.
"Melons, sir? Yes, I know they call 'em melons, but they're not a bit
better than an old pumpkin at home, or an old vegetable marrow gone to
seed. I know what a melon is, same as Mackay grows at home, red-fleshed
and green-fleshed, and netted. They're something like; but as for
these--have you tried one, sir?"
"No."
"Then you take my advice, sir. Just you don't try 'em, for they're
about the poorest, moshiest-poshiest things you ever tasted."
"But the people here seem to like them."
"Oh yes, they like 'em, sir. They seem as if they'd eat anything, and I
suppose that's why their skins are so black. But, as I was saying, they
don't seem to want beef, or mutton, or pickled pork, and yet they get
fat. It's the sunshine, I believe. They go on swallowing that all day
long. I mean to try how it acts as soon as I get a good chance."
"You're quite lazy enough without doing that," said Jack, laughing.
"Now I do call that 'ard, Mr Jack, sir--reg'lar out an' out hard. I'm
sure I never neglects anything. You don't want, nor Sir John neither,
anything like so much valeting as you do at home. There's no boots to
brush, nor clothes neither. I'm sure, sir, I never neglected you, only
just for that little bit when I seemed to be standing on my head because
my legs wouldn't hold me up--now, have I, sir?"
"Oh no. You've always been very attentive, Ned."
"Then that's why I call it 'ard, sir. Ever since you've been growing
sharp and quick, and wanting to do something else besides read, you've
been getting 'arder to me, sir, and I don't like it."
"Oh, nonsense. I've only laughed at you sometimes."
"Well, sir, look at that. You never used to laugh at me at home, nor
you usen't to order me about, nor you usen't to--well, you never used to
do nothing, sir, but read."
Jack frowned, and reddened a little.
"I put out your clothes and boots for you, and you put 'em on--just what
I liked to put for you. You used to get up when I called you, and you'd
have eat anything that was put before you, and said nothing. While now
you're getting particular about your food even, and you order me about--
and I won't say bully me, because it ain't quite true; but you've said
lots o' sharp things to me, and I feel 'mazed like sometimes to hear
you, for it don't sound like you at all. It's just as if you'd got
yourself changed, sir."
"Perhaps I have, Ned, for I feel changed," said the boy.
"Yes, sir, you are changed a lot, and I hope it's right."
"I hope so, Ned," said Jack, and he walked away.
"Don't even use his legs like he did a month ago. I can't quite
understand it, but it ain't my business. Couldn't have been right for
him to be always sitting over a book, and when he got up, looking as if
he was still all among the Romans and Greek 'uns. But it seems so
sudden like, and as if he might go back again. But I s'pose we shall
see."
Jack at Sea--by George Manville Fenn
CHAPTER TWELVE.
A FINNY PRIZE.
The run through the Canal did not seem monotonous to Sir John, for a new
feeling of satisfaction was growing within him, and everything looked
bright. The crew appeared contented, and the work went on with an ease
and regularity that was pleasant to see. The various objects of
interest were pointed out, but Jack paid very little attention to them,
his attention being principally taken up by the working of the yacht,
and he was, in spite of the heat, up and down several times, the engine,
with its bright machinery and soft gliding movements, so full of
condensed power, having a strange fascination for him.
Then they were out in the Red Sea, with its sandy and sun-baked
mountains, and the water flashing like molten silver.
Here it was perfectly calm, and Jack watched when the speed was
increased; and as the captain wished to show Sir John what the yacht
could do under pressure, the order for full speed ahead was given by the
touch of an index, and they cut through the dazzling water, sending up
an arrow-shaped wave of displacement, and for the next two miles going
at a tremendous rate.
Then all at once the captain began to give orders, and the neatly-furled
canvas was cast loose and hoisted, for puffs of air came from the
northeast like as if from a furnace mouth, and away they glided once
more. The fires were drawn, the steam blown off, and their rate
decreased, though it was not far behind that of one of the great
steamers which passed them on its way to China.
Once well on their way, lines were brought out from the little magazine
and furnished with sinkers of lead selected by the mate to suit the
speed at which glittering silvered artificial baits were thrown out to
drag forty or fifty yards behind; but though every kind of lure on board
was tried, hours and hours went by without a touch. But long before
this Jack had turned to the mate, who was leaning over the stern on the
opposite side.
"Isn't this very stupid?" he said.
"Oh no," said Mr Bartlett merrily. "It's a capital practice for
patience."
"I don't know that I want to practise patience," said the lad
thoughtfully. "But I say, I felt it when we started. Surely the fish
will not be stupid enough to bite at these baits."
"It does not seem like it," said the mate, smiling.
"They will sometimes when the water's a bit rougher and we're going
fast, but they are too clever for us to-day."
"Then we can give up," said Jack with a sigh of relief.
"Give up? No, that will never do. If we could only catch one fish, we
could use it to cut up for bait."
"Ugh! the cannibals," cried Jack.
"Yes, plenty of fish are; but as we haven't one, and don't seem as if we
can catch one, I'll go below and see if the cook can help me to a bit of
pork skin to cut into a bait or two."
He made his line fast and went forward, while, standing now in the
shadow cast by the great sail behind him, Jack held the line in a quiet
listless way, gazing at the distant mountains and wondering at the
beauty of the colour with which they glowed in the pure air. He felt
calm and restful, and the soft sensuous warmth of the wind was pleasant.
It was restful too this gliding over the sea, with the yacht gently
rising and falling and careening over to the breeze. The trouble of the
days to come seemed farther off, and for a few moments the germs of a
kind of wonderment that he should have looked upon this voyage as a
trouble began to grow in his mind.
Then he was roused from his pleasant musings as if by an electric shock
attended by pain. The line he had coiled round his hand suddenly
tightened with a jerk which wrenched at his shoulder and cut into his
fingers, and he uttered a shout for help which made the man at the wheel
turn to look. A big black-haired fellow, who was busy with a
marline-spike and a piece of rope, dropped both and ran to the lad's
help, but not before he had brought his left hand up to help his right,
taking hold of the fishing-line and holding on with the feeling that the
next minute he would be dragged overboard, but too proud to loose his
hold all the same.
"Got him, sir?" said the sailor. "I've got something," panted Jack.
"It's horribly strong."
"They are in here. Let him go."
"What!" cried Jack indignantly; "certainly not."
"I don't mean altogether, sir. Let him run, or the hook will break
out."
"But how?"
"You've plenty of line on the winch, sir; let him have some loose to
play about and tire himself."
"Oh yes, I see; but it's jerking dreadfully." The man picked up the big
wooden winch upon which the line was wound and held it fast.
"Now, sir, hold on tight with your left hand, while you untwist the line
from your right. That's the way. Now catch hold tight and let the
wheel run slowly. There's a hundred yards more here. It will let him
tire himself. That's it, he won't go very far; then you can wind in
again--giving and taking till he leaves off fighting."
"Hallo! here, Mr Meadows," cried the mate; "this is hardly fair. Why
you're the best fisherman after all. That's it, let him go every time
he makes a dart like this: now he's slacking again. Wind up, sir, wind
up."
Jack obeyed very clumsily, for it wanted practice to hold the big wooden
winch steady with one hand while he wound with the other, and before he
had recovered ten yards the fish made a fresh dart, not astern, but away
nearly at right angles with the course of the ship, tiring itself by
having to drag the now curved line through the water.
"Now again," cried the mate; "wind--wind."
Jack's inclination said, "Give the line over to the man who understands
it," but pride said "No"; and he wound away till the wheel was nearly
jerked from his hands by a fresh dart made by the captive.
And so it went on for some minutes, till the fish began to show symptoms
of becoming exhausted; so did Jack, upon whose face the perspiration was
standing in beads.
"Here, Lenny," cried the mate, "go and get the big gaff-hook. We shall
have this fellow."
The man ran forward, and Jack, with eyes fixed, began to play his fish
with a little more _nous_, but it was terribly hard work.
"Tell me when you're tired," said the mate.
"Now."
"Shall I play him for you?"
"No, no! Don't touch it," cried Jack, who was unaware for some moments
that he had an audience to look on.
"Oh no, I won't touch till you tell me," said the mate.
"Bravo!" cried the doctor; "capital. Well done, Jack, that's the way.
I ought to have been here. Why you've got hold of a thumper."
So it proved, for the fish showed no sign of giving in for another
quarter of an hour, and various were the comments made as to the
probability of its being got on deck; but at last the darts grew shorter
and shorter, and far astern they saw a gleam from time to time of
something silvery and creamy as there was a wallowing and rolling on the
surface, and now the mate took hold of the keen hook attached to a light
ten-foot ash pole.
"Perhaps you'd like to gaff him, Doctor Instow," said the mate.
"No, no," replied the doctor. "Fair play. You two were fishing. Land
him yourself."
"What shall I do now?" said Jack, who was panting with his exertions.
"Let the winch go down on the deck, and haul the fish in hand over hand
till you get him close in."
Jack followed his instructions, and the captive, completely exhausted,
now came in fast enough, proving to be far larger than any of those
present had expected to see, but about a tenth of what Jack had imagined
from the strength the creature had displayed. In fact there had been
moments when the lad had again been calculating whether at one of the
fiercest rushes he would not have to let go and so escape being dragged
over the rail.
But now, half drowned by being drawn through the water, the fish came in
slowly and quietly, the lad having all the hauling to himself, till,
leaning over, the mate made a dart and a snatch with the great
gaff-hook, the weight on Jack's arms suddenly ceased, and, helped by the
big dark sailor, Mr Bartlett hauled the prisoner quickly in over the
rail, for it to lie beating the white boards with sounding slaps of its
crescent-moon-shaped tail.
"Well done!" cried Sir John. "What brilliant colours!"
"Hah! yes," cried the doctor. "This is something like fishing. What is
it, captain?"
"Oh, one of the great mackerel tribe fellows they have in the
Mediterranean. It isn't a bonito, for it's too big, but just as bright
in its colours. Can't be a small tunny come down through the Canal, can
it?"
"I'm puzzled," said the mate, bending over the beautiful prize. "It may
be; but whatever it is, Mr Meadows here has had a fine stroke of luck,
and we shall have fish for dinner."
Jack flushed with the excitement of the capture, and stood looking on at
the beauty of the creature's colours in the bright sunshine, while the
mate placed the end of the gaff-pole between its jaws before attempting
to extract the great triple hook which hung by a swivel beneath the
silvered shining bait.
"I should say it is one of the bonitos," said the doctor thoughtfully.
"It has that slimness just before the tail fin spreads out, and there
are plenty of flying fish here, of course."
"Plenty, sir," said the captain. "I dare say if you go forward you'll
see them beginning to skip out of the water, startled by the yacht.
Seen any yet, Mr Jack?"
"Not yet," was the reply.
"Yes," said the doctor, "I think that's what it is. They chase the
flying fish, and this fellow must have taken your long spoon-bait for
one of them. Don't you think so, Bartlett?"
"Yes, sir, you are right; but without exaggeration I never saw so fine a
one as this. Why," he continued, clasping his hands round the thin part
near the tail and raising the fish for a few moments before letting it
fall back on the white boards, "it is very little short of forty
pounds."
"It must be quite that," cried the doctor. "Well, it's always the way,
the new beginner catches the biggest fish. I should have liked to hook
that fellow. Did he pull much, Jack?"
"Dreadfully. My arms feel strained by the jerks it gave."
"I congratulate you, my boy," said Sir John. "It is a beauty."
Then the captain spoke:
"When you've done admiring it, gentlemen, there is some one else would
like to have a word. I mean the cook. This fellow is fresh now, but
they go off at a tremendous rate, and it will be worthless in a few
hours. Pass the word there for the cook."
The word was passed, and the worthy in question came up smiling.
"What do you say to him?" said the captain. "Too big and coarse?"
"Oh no, sir," cried the man. "I'll answer for it I can send some
cutlets off it that will be excellent, and make plenty for the crew as
well."
It seemed a pity to Jack for the beautifully coloured prize to be handed
over, but already some of the bright tints were fading, and as soon as
it was borne off the mate made a sign to Lenny, who brought a swab and a
bucket to remove the wet and slime.
"What do you say to another turn, Mr Meadows?" said the mate, smiling.
Jack smiled and began to rub his shoulder, so the tackle was hung in
loops to dry, and the lad went forward to watch the flying fish spin out
of the water and glide along upon their transparent wing-like fins; and
he returned to watch the beautiful little creatures again and again as,
evidently taking the hull of the yacht for some huge pursuing fish, they
darted up from under her counter to drop back far away after their
forced journey, and swim on till they gathered force and with
swallow-like skim took another flight.
"Isn't it near dinner-time?" he said at last to the doctor, who was by
his side watching the flights.
"Must be, I should say," was the reply, as that gentleman glanced at his
watch. "Yes: close upon it. Glad of it, for I begin to feel a bit
peckish in spite of this heat. I wonder what your fish will be like."
He soon learned, for the cook was right, and all pronounced it
excellent; but there was something more than ordinary flavour about the
fish from the Red Sea, and the doctor gave Sir John a meaning look, one
to which Jack's father responded by a short nod.
Edward had had his opinions too, about his young master--opinions which
sometimes made him look pleased, at others shake his head.
"Young governor's going it," he muttered, as he stood near watching the
fishing. "Fancy him getting excited over hooking a fish, and holding on
by the line. Beats anything I ever knew of before. There, you never
know what's in a boy till you begin to get it out of him. Why that line
must have cut his hands awful, but he never reg'larly 'owled about it,
only rubbed the places a bit when he got a chance. Wonder whether the
doctor's giving him some kind of physic as makes him come out like this.
If he is, I should like to have a dose or two to bring me up to the
mark. It's wonderful what a change he's made."
Edward ceased for a few moments.
"Wonder how he gives it him, and what he takes it in. He don't know
he's taking it, that's for certain. It must be on the sly, or I should
have seen it, and the glass and spoon. That's it. He puts it in his
coffee; I'll be bound to say that's it--in his coffee. I'll be on the
watch."
"Dunno why I should though," said the man, after a few moments' musing.
"'Tain't my place to know anything about it, and if it does him good,
where's the harm? And it is doing him good, that's for certain; but I
should like to know what it is, and when he gives it."
CHAPTER THIRTEEN.
BEGINNING TO GROW BACKWARD.
"Regular volcanic cinder heap, Jack," was Sir John's not new opinion of
sun-scorched Aden, where, while the coal-bunkers were filled up again,
the lad had amused himself by inspecting the place with his glass as he
sat contentedly under the awning, preferring to submit to the infliction
of the flying coal-dust to a hot walk through the arid place. Then he
leaned over the side and half-contemptuously threw threepenny-bits and
sixpences into the clear water in response to the clamouring young
rascals who wanted to scramble for them far below and show their
swimming and diving powers.
"Come on board," cried the doctor, blowing his nose hard and coughing to
get rid of the black dust. "Sacks counted, iron stopper put back in the
pavement, and the wagon's gone, Jack."
The lad looked up at him as if wondering whether he had gone out of his
senses.
"What are you staring at, sober-sides?" cried the doctor. "I know it's
poor joking, but I'd have done better if I could. Hallo! what's the
matter?" he continued, as, in what seemed to be a motiveless way, the
boy threw sixpence over the side. "Got too much money?"
"No: look!" said Jack.
The doctor glanced over the rail to where the bright piece of silver was
sinking fast and flashing as it turned over, while two merry little
young scamps were diving down after it, racing to see which would get
first to the coin. This soon disappeared in the disturbed water, while
the figures of the boys grew more and more shadowy and distorted by the
varying refraction.
"My word!" cried the doctor, "how the little niggers can dive! Look:
here they come again."
It was curious to see them rising with the water growing more still as
their frantic struggles ceased, and their forms grew plain as they rose
quickly, one dark head suddenly shooting up like a cork on a pike line
after the fish had rejected the bait, and its owner showing a
brilliantly white set of teeth as he shouted, "Nurrer! nurrer!"
The next moment a second head shot into the brilliant sunshine, the
boy's lips opening into a wide grin of delight as he showed his white
clenched teeth with the captured sixpence held between them.
"Tell him to put it in his pocket, Jack," cried the doctor. "Puzzle
him, eh? Hold your noise, you chattering young ruffians," he shouted.
"Come, a dozen of you. Here, Jack, I'm going to waste a shilling, for
it won't do the young vagabonds any good. It's only encouraging them to
run risks of asphyxiating themselves or getting caught some day by the
sharks."
He held up a shilling as he spoke, and quite a dozen boys of all sizes
splashed in out of canoes, and left the pieces of wood and one old boat
to which they clung. They came swimming about near where the doctor and
Jack looked over, shouting, splashing each other, and generally
clamouring for the piece of money to be thrown in.
"Ah! we must have a race for this," said the doctor, and he drew himself
up and made a feint of throwing the shilling.
There was a rush like a pack of black water spaniels going after a
thrown stick, but the boys had been tricked too often by passengers
stopping at Aden in the regular steamers, and they did not go far, but
turned round, treading water and shouting.
"Come back then," cried the doctor. "Here, close to the yacht."
In all probability the boys did not comprehend a word, but the gestures
made with the hand containing the shilling brought them all back, and
they ranged themselves in a line close in, and shouted and splashed away
till the doctor, whose left hand had been in his pocket, threw the
shilling shining and twinkling through the sunny air as far as he could.
Away went the boys with a tremendous rush, making the water foam, and
naturally the biggest and strongest took the lead, leaving three little
fellows well behind.
The doctor had anticipated this, and drew their attention with a shout,
at the same time holding up another shilling, and as they turned to swim
back, he suddenly dropped the coin about six feet away from the yacht's
side, where the water was still.
_Plop_! down went one little fellow, who rose up, turned over, sent his
heels gleaming in the sunshine, and disappeared, as _plop! plop_! down
went the two others.
"Just like a lot of dabchicks," cried the doctor; "now we shall see them
race for it. See the shilling, Jack?"
"Yes; here it goes."
"Yes, and here they come. Look at them. Why, they go down faster than
the coin. It's wonderful."
Wonderful it was, for the dark little figures glided through the crystal
water like seals, and every motion could be followed till the coin was
reached and ceased to twinkle as it sank. Then once more the dark
figures grew plainer and rose and rose, but somehow more and more
astern, and Jack looked startled.
"Why, there must be a tremendous current here," he cried. "They're
being swept away. A boat! a boat!"
The doctor looked as much startled as his companion, but a very gentle
vibration enlightened them the next moment, for the engine was once more
in motion, the screw revolving slowly, and the _Silver Star's_ prow was
gradually coming round in answer to the helm, till she pointed straight
for the open sea, where the throbbing and quivering of the vessel
increased as she went easily ahead, and then faster still over the
perfectly calm water, for there was not a breath of air.
Then away and away through the burning sunshine the yacht glided, with
the sea glistening like damascened steel frosted with silver, till the
mountains above the coaling port grew distant; and away over the burning
Afric sands there was a wondrous orange glow which deepened into fire,
vermilion, crimson, purple, and gold of the most refulgent hues, and
soon after it was night. It seemed to Jack as he stood gazing forward
that they were gliding on between two vast purply black basins studded
with stars, which were larger and brighter than any he had seen before,
while deeper and deeper in the wondrous depths there were more and more,
till the farthest off seemed like clusters and patches of frosted gold.
There was not a breath of air when they went on deck after dinner, and
with the exception of the throbbing and humming of the engine and
propeller, and soft whish of the sea as it was divided and swept along
the sides, all was wonderfully still. But the silence was soon after
broken by a sharp call from somewhere forward, a clear musical voice
rang out, and then, sounding very sweet and melodious on the soft air,
the men began glee-singing, showing that they had good voices among them
and no little knowledge of singing in parts. They were simple old glees
and madrigals, and no doubt the surroundings helped, but Jack sat
listening and thinking he had never heard music so sweet and beautiful
before.
"Why, captain," said Sir John, "this is a surprise."
"Is it, sir? Hope you don't mind."
"Mind?" echoed Sir John and the doctor in a breath.
"Bartlett's fond of a bit of music, and he has a good voice too, but he
is so precious modest you can't get him to sing alone; he's singing with
the men though now. He trains them a bit when we're not busy, and they
like it. Nothing pleases men like them more than singing in chorus; you
see, they're most of them Cornish and Devon lads, and they take
naturally to it. Many's the time I've heard the fishermen going out on
calm evenings to their fishing-ground singing away in parts, so that
you'd think that they had been well taught, and perhaps not one of them
knowing a note of music."
The glee-singing went on for about an hour, and ceased as suddenly as it
had begun. Then the watch was set, and after standing leaning over the
bows gazing at the glittering stars reflected in the deep water, and
seeing the phosphorescent creatures add to the lustre as they were
disturbed by the yacht's prow, or some large fish darting away, Jack
heaved a deep sigh and turned to go aft to the cabin.
"Unhappy, my boy?" said a voice at his elbow, which made the lad start
and remain silent for a few moments, utterly unable to give expression
to his feelings, before he said softly--
"No, father, not unhappy, but low-spirited and sad."
"Sad, my boy?" said Sir John.
"No, it isn't sad, because somehow, father, it makes me feel happy,
and--and I can't explain it, but I never felt that I cared to stand and
look at the sea and sky like this before. It seems so grand and
beautiful, and as if--as if--"
"The great book of Nature was being opened to you for the first time, my
boy. Yes; this wonderful soft air, this glorious star-lit heaven, and
the silence of the ocean through which we are gliding, impress me too in
a way I cannot explain. But tell me now, my boy, are you sorry we
came?"
"Sorry!" cried Jack excitedly, as he caught at his father's arm. "No;
glad."
That night the melody of one of the old West-country ditties the men had
sung in parts seemed to lull Jack Meadows to rest, and he slept one of
those deep healthy slumbers which give us the feeling when we awake on a
bright sunny morning, that a strange vigour is running through our
veins, and that it is a good thing to live.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN.
DOCTOR INSTOW PAINTS A PICTURE--WITH HIS TONGUE.
A quick run with a favourable wind across to Colombo, a very brief stay,
and then on again. There were baffling winds and a sharp storm, during
which it was found necessary to get up steam, but the yacht was as good
in foul weather as in fair, and to Jack's great satisfaction he found
that, in spite of the pitching and tossing of the vessel, he was not
ill, but found a strange pleasure in being on deck in mackintosh and
leggings, watching the yacht careen over and race through the foam.
Every now and then a wave would appear gliding along like some huge bank
of water, ready to roll over them and sweep the deck, but the
well-trained hands at the wheel sent her racing up the watery slope, to
hang poised for a few moments and then rush down again.
"Isn't it glorious, Jack, my lad?" said the doctor, wiping the spray out
of his eyes and off his beard, just in the height of the storm. "I
don't know how you find it, but it excites me."
"I like it," said Jack quietly; "it seems so grand, and as if the yacht
was laughing at the waves and tossing them off to right and left. I
wonder whether Captain Bradleigh would let me steer."
"I hope not," said the doctor, with a droll look of puzzledom in his
face. "Why, what's come to you, you reckless young scamp? No, thank
you. If you're going to be indulged in any luxuries of that kind, I'm
going to land at Penang or Singapore, and make my way home by the next
boat that touches."
Jack laughed.
"Don't believe it," he said. "But doesn't it seem as if it would be
nice to have full command of the yacht like that, and send her here and
there just as one liked?"
"Can't say that my desires run in that groove, Jack, my lad; I'm quite
content to play the part of looker-on. But this storm is grand, and
it's splendid to see how the little vessel shakes the water off her and
rushes through it all. But I did want some calmer weather; we haven't
done a bit of fishing since we left the Red Sea, and I meant to try
every day. Well, captain, how long is this going to last?"
"Another twelve hours, I should say," replied the captain, "and then we
shall have calm weather all the way to Singapore, and with the exception
of a few thunderstorms, light winds among the islands."
It turned out exactly as the captain had said. The weather calmed
rapidly, and their run down to the equator, between the Malay peninsula
and Sumatra, was in brilliant hot weather all through the morning; while
early in the afternoon, with wonderful regularity, there came on a
tremendous thunderstorm, with peals heavier and lightning more vivid
than anything Jack had ever encountered, and then at the end of a couple
of hours all was clear again, and the evening was comparatively cool and
beautifully fine.
Singapore was so fresh and attractive that of necessity a few days were
spent there, before a fresh start was made for a cruise through the
islands in the region which was now exciting Jack's expectations. Soon
after they were passing great heavy-looking junks with their Celestial
crews, or light Malay prahus with their swarthy, coffee-coloured sailors
in tartan skirts, in whose folds at the waist the formidable wavy dagger
known as a kris was worn, the handle, like the butt of a pistol in form,
carefully covered by the silk or cotton sarong to indicate peace.
"If you see one of them with the handle bare," said the mate to Jack,
"one has to look out, for it means war."
Malay prahus were so thoroughly connected in the lad's reading with
piracy, that he looked curiously at the first they encountered, and
eagerly scanned the calm, rather scornful faces of the men who
apathetically stood about the bamboo deck, and watched the passing of
the swift, white-sailed yacht, while they distorted their cheeks by
slowly chewing something within.
"What's that fellow doing?" said Jack, handing his double glass to the
mate, who gave a quick glance through and handed it back. "Look for
yourself."
Jack resumed his inspection of the prahu's deck, for it was not above
forty yards away.
"Doing something with a bit of--I don't know what, which he has taken
out of a little bag."
"Betel-nut from one of the palms which grow in these parts," said the
mate.
"Now he has slowly taken a leaf out of the same bag."
"Sirih leaf; a kind of creeping pepper plant which runs up trees," said
the mate.
"And now he is opening a little brass box, which has something that
looks like a white paint."
"Lime," said the mate, "lime of a very fine kind, made by burning
shells."
"And he is spreading some of it with one finger upon the leaf."
"Yes! See what he does next."
"Rolled the piece of nut in it and put it in his mouth."
"Yes," said the mate; "all the Malays do this betel-chewing."
"What for?"
"It is a habit like our sailors chewing tobacco. The Malays think it is
good for them, and keeps off all choleraic attacks."
"Does it?" asked Jack.
"Ah, that I can't say. You must take the doctor's opinion."
But Jack was too much interested in watching the prahu, which, in spite
of only having matting sails, sped along over the calm water at a rapid
rate, and he went on questioning his companion.
"They seem fierce-looking fellows, and as if they could do a deal of
mischief. Are they such terribly bloodthirsty people?"
"Certainly not," said the mate. "I have always found the better-class
Malays simple, gentlemanly, and courteous if they are properly treated;
but if injured, I believe they can be treacherous and relentless."
"But I remember once reading how bloodthirsty the Malay pirates are."
"I don't think the English, Spanish, or French pirates were much
better," said the mate, laughing. "Pirates are generally the scum of
the ports they sail from; reckless, murderous ruffians. But I should
say that of all pirates out in the East, the gentle, placid,
mild-looking Chinaman makes the worst; for he thinks nothing of human
life, his own or any one else's."
"But there are no pirates now, of course," said Jack quietly.
The mate turned and looked him in the eyes.
"Do you want me to tell you some murderous narrative?"
"Oh no; I don't care for such things. I know, of course, th
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