W. W. Jacobs
More Cargoes / 1897
SMOKED SKIPPER
Wapping Old Stairs? said the rough individual, shouldering the brand-new sea-chest, and starting off at a trot with it; yus, I know the place, captin. Fust vyge, sir?
Ay, ay, my hearty, replied the owner of the chest, a small, ill-looking lad of fourteen. Not so fast with those timbers of yours. Dye hear?
All right, sir, said the man, and, slackening his pace, twisted his head round to take stock of his companion.
This aint your fust vyge, captin, he said admiringly; dont tell me. I could twig that directly I see you. Ho, whats the use o trying to come it over a poorard-working man like that?
I dont think theres much about the sea I dont know, said the boy in a satisfied voice. Starboard, starboard your helium a bit.
The man obeying promptly, they went the remainder of the distance in this fashion, to the great inconvenience of people coming from the other direction.
And a cheap arf-crowns worth, too, captin, said the man, as he thoughtfully put the chest down at the head of the stairs and sat on it pending payment.
I want to go off to the Susan Jane, said the boy, turning to a waterman who was sitting in his boat, holding on to the side of the steps with his hand.
All right, said the man, give us a hold o your box.
Put it aboard, said the boy to the other man.
A right, captin, said the man, with a cheerful smile, but Ill ave my arf-crown fust if you dont mind.
But you said sixpence at the station, said the boy.
Two an sixpence, captin, said the man, still smiling, but Im a bit usky, an praps you didnt hear the two arf a crowns the regler price. We aint allowed to do it under.
Well, I wont tell anybody, said the boy.
Give the man is arf-crown, said the waterman, with sudden heat; thats is price, and my fares eighteen pence.
All right, said the boy readily; cheap too. I didnt know the price, thats all. But I cant pay either of you till I get aboard. Ive only got sixpence. Ill tell the captain to give you the rest.
Tell oo, demanded the light porter, with some violence.
The captain, said the boy.
Look ere, you give me that arf-crown, said the other, else Ill chuck your box overboard, an you after it.
Wait a minute, then, said the boy, darting away up the narrow alley which led to the stairs, Ill go and get change.
Es goin to change arf a suvren, or praps a suvren, said the waterman; youd better make it five bob, matey.
Ah, an you make yours more, said the light-porter cordially. Well, Im Well of all the
Get off that box, said the big policeman who had come back with the boy. Take your sixpence an go. If I catch you down this way again
He finished the sentence by taking the fellow by the scruff of the neck and giving him a violent push as he passed him.
Watermans fare is threepence, he said to the boy, as the man in the boat, with an utterly expressionless face, took the chest from him. Ill stay here till he has put you aboard.
The boy took his seat, and the waterman, breathing hard, pulled out towards the vessels in the tier. He looked at the boy and then at the figure on the steps, and, apparently suppressing a strong inclination to speak, spat violently over the side.
Fine big chap, aint he? said the boy.
The waterman, affecting not to hear, looked over his shoulder, and pulled strongly with his left towards a small schooner, from the deck of which a couple of men were watching the small figure in the boat.
Thats the boy I was going to tell you about, said the skipper, and remember this ere ships a pirate.
Its got a lot o pirates aboard of it, said the mate fiercely, as he turned and regarded the crew, a set o lazy, loafing, idle, worthless
Its for the boys sake, interrupted the skipper.
Whered you pick him up? inquired the other.
Hes the son of a friend o mine what Ive brought aboard to oblige, replied the skipper. Hes got a fancy for being a pirate, so just to oblige his father I told him we was a pirate. He wouldnt have come if I hadnt.
Ill pirate him, said the mate, rubbing his hands.
Hes a dreadful andful by all accounts, continued the other; got his ed stuffed full o these ere penny dreadfuls till theyve turned his brain almost. He started by being an Indian, and goin off on is own with two other kids. When he wanted to turn cannibal the other two objected and gave im in charge. After that he did a bit o burgling, and it cost is old man no end o money to hush it up.
Well, what did you want him for? grumbled the mate.
Im goin to knock the nonsense out of him, said the skipper softly, as the boat grazed the side. Just step forard and let the hands know whats expected of em. When we get to sea it wont matter.
The mate moved off grumbling, as the small fare stood on the thwarts and scrambled up over the side. The waterman passed up the chest and, dropping the coppers into his pocket, pushed off again without a word.
Well, youve got here all right, Ralph? said the skipper. What do you think of her?
Shes a rakish-looking craft, said the boy, looking round the dingy old tub with much satisfaction; but wheres your arms?
Hush! said the skipper, and laid his finger on his nose.
Oh, all right, said the youth testily, but you might tell me.
You shall know all in good time, said the skipper patiently, turning to the crew, who came shuffling up, masking broad grins with dirty palms.
Heres a new shipmate for you, my lads. Hes small, but hes the right stuff. The newcomer drew himself up, and regarded the crew with some dissatisfaction. For desperadoes they looked far too good-tempered and prone to levity.
Whats the matter with you, Jem Smithers? inquired the skipper, scowling at a huge fair-haired man, who was laughing discordantly.
I was thinkin o the last party I killed, sir, said Jem, with sudden gravity. I allers laugh when I think ow he squealed.
You laugh too much, said the other sternly, as he laid a hand on Ralphs shoulder. Take a lesson from this fine fellow; he dont laugh. He acts. Take im down below an show him is bunk.
Will you please to follow me, sir? said Smithers, leading the way below. I dessay youll find it a bit stuffy, but thats owing to Bill Dobbs. A regler old sea-dog is Bill, always sleeps in is clothes and never washes.
I dont think the worse of him for that, said Ralph, regarding the fermenting Dobbs kindly.
Youd best keep a civil tongue in your ed, my lad, said Dobbs shortly.
Never mind im, said Smithers cheerfully; nobody takes any notice o old Dobbs. You can it im if you like. I wont let him hurt you.
I dont want to start by quarreling, said Ralph seriously.
Youre afraid, said Jem tauntingly; youll never make one of us. It im; I wont let him hurt you.
Thus aroused, the boy, first directing Dobbs attention to his stomach by a curious duck of his head, much admired as a feint in his neighborhood, struck him in the face. The next moment the forecastle was in an uproar and Ralph prostrate on Dobbs knees, frantically reminding Jem of his promise.
Thus aroused, the boy, first directing Dobbs attention to his stomach by a curious duck of his head, much admired as a feint in his neighborhood, struck him in the face. The next moment the forecastle was in an uproar and Ralph prostrate on Dobbs knees, frantically reminding Jem of his promise.
All right, I wont let him urt you, said Jem consolingly.
But he is hurting me, yelled the boy. Hes hurting me now.
Well, wait till I get im ashore, said Jem, his old woman wont know him when Ive done with him.
The boys reply to this was a torrent of shrill abuse, principally directed to Jems facial short-comings.
Now dont get rude, said the seaman, grinning.
Squint eyes, cried Ralph fiercely.
When youve done with that ere young gentleman, Dobbs, said Jem, with exquisite politeness. I should like to ave im for a little bit to teach im manners.
E dont want to go, said Dobbs, grinning as Ralph clung to him. He knows whos kind to him.
Wait till I get a chance at you, sobbed Ralph, as Jem took him away from Dobbs.
Lord lumme, said Jem, regarding him in astonishment. Why, hes actooaly cryin. Ive seen a good many pirates in my time, Bill, but this is a new sort.
Leave the boy alone, said the cook, a fat, good-natured man. Here, come ere, old man. They dont mean no arm.
Glad to escape, Ralph made his way over to the cook, grinding his teeth with shame as that worthy took him between his knees and mopped his eyes with something which he called a handkerchief.
Youll be all right, he said kindly. Youll be as good a pirate as any of us before youve finished.
Wait till the first engagement, thats all, sobbed the boy. If somebody dont get shot in the back it wont be my fault.
The two seamen looked at each other. Thats wot hurt my and then, said Dobbs slowly. I thought it was a jack-knife.
He reached over, and unceremoniously grabbing the boy by the collar, pulled him towards him, and drew a small, cheap revolver from his pocket. Look at that, Jem.
Take your fingers orf the blessed trigger and then I will, said the other, somewhat sourly.
Ill pitch it overboard, said Dobbs.
Dont be a fool, Bill, said Smithers, pocketing it, thats worth a few pints o anybodys money. Stand out o the way, Bill, the Pirit King wants to go on deck.
Bill moved aside as the boy went to the ladder, and, allowing him to get up four or five steps, did the rest for him with his shoulder. The boy reached the deck on all fours, and, regaining a more dignified position as soon as possible, went and leaned over the side, regarding with lofty contempt the busy drudges on wharf and river.
They sailed at midnight and brought up in the early dawn in Longreach, where a lighter loaded with barrels came alongside, and the boy smelt romance and mystery when he learnt that they contained powder. They took in ten tons, the lighter drifted away, the hatches were put on, and they started once more.
It was his first voyage, and he regarded with eager interest the craft passing up and down. He had made his peace with the seamen, and they regaled him with blood-curdling stories of their adventures in the vain hope of horrifying him.
Es a beastly little rascal, thats wot e is, said the indignant Bill, who had surprised himself by his powers of narration; fancy larfin when I told im of pitchin the baby to the sharks.
Es all right, Bill, said the cook softly. Wait till youve got seven of em.
What are you doing here, boy? demanded the skipper, as Ralph, finding the seamens yarns somewhat lacking in interest, strolled aft with his hands in his pockets.
Nothing, said the boy, staring.
Keep the other end o the ship, said the skipper sharply, an go an elp the cook with the taters.
Ralph hesitated, but a grin on the mates face decided him.
I didnt come here to peel potatoes, he said, loftily.
Oh, indeed, said the skipper politely; an wot might you ave come for, if it aint being too inquisitive?
To fight the enemy, said Ralph shortly.
Come ere, said the skipper.
The boy came slowly towards him.
Now look ere, said the skipper, Im going to try and knock a little sense into that stupid ed o yours. Ive eard all about your silly little games ashore. Your father said he couldnt manage you, so Im goin to have a try, and youll find Im a very different sort o man to deal with to wot e is. The idea o thinking this ship was a pirate. Why, a boy your age ought to know there aint such things nowadays.
You told me you was, said the boy hotly, else I wouldnt have come.
Thats just why I told you, said the skipper.
But I didnt think youd be such a fool as to believe it. Pirates, indeed! Do we look like pirates?
You dont, said the boy with a sneer; you look more like
Like wot? asked the skipper, edging closer to him. Eh, like wot?
I forget the word, said Ralph, with strong good sense.
Dont tell any lies now, said the skipper, flushing, as he heard a chuckle from the mate. Go on, out with it. Ill give you just two minutes.
I forget it, persisted Ralph.
Dustman? suggested the mate, coming to his assistance. Coster, chimbley-sweep, mudlark, pickpocket, convict washer-wom
If youll look after your dooty, George, instead o interferin in matters that dont concern you, said the skipper in a choking voice, I shall be obliged. Now, then, you boy, what were you going to say I was like?
Like the mate, said Ralph slowly.
Dont tell lies, said the skipper furiously; you couldnt ave forgot that word.
I didnt forget it, said Ralph, but I didnt know how youd like it.
The skipper looked at him dubiously, and pushing his cap from his brow scratched his head.
And I didnt know how the mate ud like it, either, continued the boy.
He relieved the skipper from an awkward dilemma by walking off to the galley and starting on a bowl of potatoes. The master of the Susan Jane watched him blankly for some time and then looked round at the mate.
You wont get much change out of im, said the latter, with a nod; insultin little devil.
The other made no reply, but as soon as the potatoes were finished set his young friend to clean brass work, and after that to tidy the cabin up and help the cook clean his pots and pans. Meantime the mate went below and overhauled his chest.
This is where he gets all them ideas from, he said, coming aft with a big bundle of penny papers. Look at the titles of emThe Lion of the Pacific, The One-armed Buccaneer, Captain Kidds Last Voyage.
He sat down on the cabin skylight and began turning them over, and, picking out certain gems of phraseology, read them aloud to the skipper. The latter listened at first with scorn and then with impatience.
I cant make head or tail out of what youre reading, George, he said snappishly. Who was Rudolph? Read straight ahead.
Thus urged, the mate, leaning forward so that his listener might hear better, read steadily through a serial in the first three numbers. The third instalment left Rudolph swimming in a race with three sharks and a boat-load of cannibals; and the joint efforts of both men failed to discover the other numbers.