JESSICA ahoy! bawled a voice from the skiff as she came rapidly alongside.
The mate, roused from his reverie, mechanically caught the line and made it fast, moving with alacrity as he saw that the captains daughter was one of the occupants. Before he had got over his surprise she was on deck with her boxes, and the captain was paying off the watermen.
Youve seen my daughter Hetty afore, havent you? said the skipper. Shes coming with us this trip. Youd better go down and make up her bed, Jack, in that spare bunk.
Ay, ay, said the mate dutifully, moving off.
Thank you, Ill do it myself, said the scandalised Hetty, stepping forward hastily.
As you please, said the skipper, leading the way below. Lets have a light on, Jack.
The mate struck a match on his boot, and lit the lamp.
Theres a few things in therell want moving, said the skipper, as he opened the door. I dont know where were to keep the onions now, Jack.
Well find a place for em, said the mate confidently, as he drew out a sack and placed it on the table.
Im not going to sleep in there, said the visitor decidedly, as she peered in. Ugh! theres a beetle. Ugh!
Its quite dead, said the mate reassuringly. Ive never seen a live beetle on this ship.
I want to go home, said the girl. Youve no business to make me come when I dont want to.
You should behave yourself then, said her father magisterially. What about sheets, Jack; and pillers?
The mate sat on the table, and, grasping his chin, pondered. Then as his gaze fell upon the pretty, indignant face of the passenger, he lost the thread of his ideas.
Shell have to have some o my things for the present, said the skipper.
Why not, said the mate, looking up againwhy not let her have your state-room?
Cos I want it myself, replied the other calmly.
The mate blushed for him, and, the girl leaving them to arrange matters as they pleased, the two men, by borrowing here and contriving there, made up the bunk. The girl was standing by the galley when they went on deck again, an object of curious and respectful admiration to the crew, who had come on board in the meantime. She stayed on deck until the air began to blow fresher in the wider reaches, and then, with a brief good-night to her father, retired below.
She made up her mind to come with us rather suddenly, didnt she? inquired the mate after she had gone.
She didnt make up her mind at all, said the skipper; we did it for her, me an the missus. Its a plan on our part.
Wants strengthening? said the mate suggestively.
Well, the fact is, said the skipper, its like this, Jack; theres a friend o mine, a provision dealer in a large way o business, wants to marry my girl, and me an the missus want him to marry her, so, o course, she wants to marry someone else. Me an er mother we put our eads together and decided for her to come away. When shes at ome, instead o being out with Towson, direckly her mothers backs turned shes out with that young sprig of a clerk.
Nice-looking young feller, I spose? said the mate somewhat anxiously.
Not a bit of it, said the other firmly. Looks as though he had never had a good meal in his life. Now my friend Towson, hes all right; hes a man of about my own figger.
Shell marry the clerk, said the mate, with conviction.
Ill bet you she dont, said the skipper. Im an artful man, Jack, an I, generally speaking, get my own way. I couldnt live with my missus peaceable if it wasnt for management.
The mate smiled safely in the darkness, the skippers management consisting chiefly of slavish obedience.
Ive got a cabinet fortygraph of him for the cabin mantel-piece, Jack, continued the wily father. He gave it to me o purpose. Shell see that when she wont see the clerk, an by-and-bye shell fall into our way of thinking. Anyway, shes going to stay here till she does.
You know your way about, capn, said the mate, in pretended admiration.
The skipper laid his finger on his nose, and winked at the mainmast. Theres few can show me the way, Jack, he answered softly; very few. Now I want you to help me too; I want you to talk to her a great deal.
Ay, ay, said the mate, winking at the mast in his turn.
Admire the fortygraph on the mantel-piece, said the skipper.
I will, said the other.
Tell her about a lot o young girls you know as married young middle-aged men, an loved em more an more every day of their lives, continued the skipper.
Not another word, said the mate. I know just what you want. She shant marry the clerk if I can help it.
The other turned and gripped him warmly by the hand. If ever you are a father your elf, Jack, he said with emotion, I hope as how somebodyll stand by you as youre standing by me.
The mate was relieved the next day when he saw the portrait of Towson. He stroked his moustache, and felt that he gained in good looks every time he glanced at it.
Breakfast finished, the skipper, who had been on deck all night, retired to his bunk. The mate went on deck and took charge, watching with great interest the movements of the passenger as she peered into the galley and hotly assailed the cooks method of washing up.
Dont you like the sea? he inquired politely, as she came and sat on the cabin skylight.
Miss Alsen shook her head dismally. Ive got to it, she remarked.
Your father was saying something to me about it, said the mate guardedly.
Did he tell the cook and the cabin boy too? inquired Miss Alsen, flushing somewhat. What did he tell you?
Told me about a man named Towson, said the mate, becoming intent on the sails, andanother fellow.
I took a little notice of HIM just to spoil the other, said the girl, not that I cared for him. I cant understand a girl caring for any man. Great, clumsy, ugly things.
You dont like him then? said the mate.
Of course not, said the girl, tossing her head.
And yet they ve sent you to sea to get out of his way, said the mate meditatively. Well, the best thing you can doHis hardihood failed him at the pitch.
Go on, said the girl.
Well, its this way, said the mate, coughing; theyve sent you to sea to get you out of this fellows way, so if you fall in love with somebody on the ship theyll send you home again.
So they will, said the girl eagerly. Ill pretend to fall in love with that nice-looking sailor you call Harry. What a lark!
I shouldnt do that, said the mate gravely.
Why not? said the girl.
Tisnt discipline, said the mate very firmly; it wouldnt do at all. Hes before the mast.
Oh, I see, remarked Miss Alsen, smiling scornfully.
I only mean pretend, of course, said the mate, colouring. Just to oblige you.
Of course, said the girl calmly. Well, how are we to be in love?
The mate flushed darkly. I dont know much about such things, he said at length; but well have to look at each other, and all that sort of thing, you know.
I dont mind that, said the girl.
Then well get on by degrees, said the other. I expect we shall both find it come easier after a time.
I dont mind that, said the girl.
Then well get on by degrees, said the other. I expect we shall both find it come easier after a time.
Anything to get home again, said the girl, rising and walking slowly away.
The mate began his part of the love-making at once, and, fixing a gaze of concentrated love on the object of his regard, nearly ran down a smack. As he had prognosticated, it came easy to him, and other well-marked symptoms, such as loss of appetite and a partiality for bright colours, developed during the day. Between breakfast and tea he washed five times, and raised the ire of the skipper to a dangerous pitch by using the ships butter to remove tar from his fingers.
By ten oclock that night he was far advanced in a profound melancholy. All the looking had been on his side, and, as he stood at the wheel keeping the schooner to her course, he felt a fellow-feeling for the hapless Towson, His meditations were interrupted by a slight figure which emerged from the companion, and, after a moments hesitation, came and took its old seat on the skylight.
Calm and peaceful up here, isnt it? said he, after waiting some time for her to speak. Stars are very bright to-night.
Dont talk to me, said Miss Alsen snappishly.
Why doesnt this nasty little ship keep still? I believe its you making her jump about like this.
Me? said the mate in amazement.
Yes, with that wheel.
I can assure you began the mate.
Yes, I knew youd say so, said the girl.
Come and steer yourself, said the mate; then youll see.
Much to his surprise she came, and, leaning limply against the wheel, put her little hands on the spokes, while the mate explained the mysteries of the compass. As he warmed with his subject he ventured to put his hands on the same spokes, and, gradually becoming more venturesome, boldly supported her with his arm every time the schooner gave a lurch.
Thank you, said Miss Alsen, coldly extricating herself, as the male fancied another lurch was coming. Good-night.
She retired to the cabin as a dark figure, which was manfully knuckling the last remnant of sleep from its eyelids, stood before the mate, chuckling softly.
Clear night, said the seaman, as he took the wheel in his great paws.
Beastly, said the mate absently, and, stifling a sigh, went below and turned in.
He lay awake for a few minutes, and then, well satisfied with the days proceedings, turned over and fell asleep. He was pleased to discover, when he awoke, that the slight roll of the night before had disappeared, and that there was hardly any motion on the schooner. The passenger herself was already at the breakfast-table.
Capns on deck, I spose? said the mate, preparing to resume negotiations where they were broken off the night before. I hope you feel better than you did last night.
Yes, thank you, said she.
Youll make a good sailor in time, said the mate.
I hope not, said Miss Alsen, who thought it time to quell a gleam of peculiar tenderness plainly apparent in the mates eyes. I shouldnt like to be a sailor even if I were a man.
Why not? inquired the other.
I dont know, said the girl meditatively; but sailors are generally such scrubby little men, arent they?
SCUBBY? repeated the mate, in a dazed voice.
Id sooner be a soldier, she continued; I like soldierstheyre so manly. I wish there was one here now.
What for? inquired the mate, in the manner of a sulky schoolboy.
If there was a man like that here now, said Miss Alsen thoughtfully, Id dare him to mustard old Towsons nose.
Do what? inquired the astonished mate.
Mustard old Towsons nose, said Miss Alsen, glancing lightly from the cruet-stand to the portrait.
The infatuated man hesitated a moment, and then, reaching over to the cruet, took out the spoon, and with a pale, determined face, indignantly daubed the classic features of the provision dealer. His indignation was not lessened by the behaviour of the temptress, who, instead of fawning upon him for his bravery, crammed her handkerchief to her mouth and giggled foolishly.
Wheres father, she said suddenly, as a step sounded above. Oh, you will get it!
She rose from her seat, and, standing aside to let her father pass, went on deck. The skipper sank on to a locker, and, raising the tea-pot, poured himself out a cup of tea, which he afterwards decanted into a saucer. He had just raised it to his lips, when he saw something over the rim of it which made him put it down again untasted, and stare blankly at the mantel-piece.
Who thewhat thewho the devils done this? he inquired in a strangulated voice, as he rose and regarded the portrait.
I did, said the mate.
You did? roared the other. You? What for?
I dont know, said the mate awkwardly. Something seemed to come over me all of a sudden, and I felt as though I MUST do it.
But what for? Wheres the sense of it? said the skipper.
The mate shook his head sheepishly.
But what did you want to do such a monkey-trick FOR? roared the skipper.
I dont know, said the mate doggedly; but its done, aint it? and its no good talking about it.
The skipper looked at him in wrathful perplexity. Youd better have advice when we get to port, Jack, he said at length; the last few weeks Ive noticed youve been a bit strange in your manner. You go an show that ed of yours to a doctor.
The mate grunted, and went on deck for sympathy, but, finding Miss Alsen in a mood far removed from sentiment, and not at all grateful, drew off whistling. Matters were in this state when the skipper appeared, wiping his mouth.
Ive put another portrait on the mantel-piece, Jack, he said menacingly; its the only other one Ive got, an I wish you to understand that if that only smells mustard, therell be such a row in this ere ship that you wont be able to ear yourself speak for the noise.
He moved off with dignity as his daughter, who had overheard the remark, came sidling up to the mate and smiled on him agreeably.
Hes put another portrait there, she said softly.
Youll find the mustard-pot in the cruet, said the mate coldly.
Miss Alsen turned and watched her father as he went forward, and then, to the mates surprise, went below without another word. A prey to curiosity, but too proud to make any overture, he compromised matters by going and standing near the companion.
Mate! said a stealthy whisper at the foot of the ladder.
The mate gazed calmly out to sea.
Jack! said the girl again, in a lower whisper than before.
The mate went hot all over, and at once descended. He found Miss Alsen, her eyes sparkling, with the mustard-pot in her left hand and the spoon in her right, executing a war-dance in front of the second portrait.
Dont do it, said the mate, in alarm.
Why not? she inquired, going within an inch of it.
Hell think its me, said the mate.
Thats why I called you down here, said she; you dont think I wanted you, do you?
You put that spoon down, said the mate, who was by no means desirous of another interview with the skipper.
Shant! said Miss Alsen.
The mate sprang at her, but she dodged round the table. He leaned over, and, catching her by the left arm, drew her towards him; then, with her flushed, laughing face close to his, he forgot everything else, and kissed her.