The snores stopped. Ay, ay! said a sleepy voice. Whats the matter, master?
Matter! repeated the other, choking violently. Aint you going to sail to-night?
To-night! said another voice, in surprise. Why, I thought we wasnt going to sail till Wensday.
Not trusting himself to reply, so careful was he of the morals of his men, the skipper went and leaned over the side and communed with the silent water. In an incredibly short space of time five or six dusky figures pattered up on to the deck, and a minute or two later the harsh clank of the windlass echoed far and wide.
The captain took the wheel. A fat and very sleepy seaman put up the side-lights, and the little schooner, detaching itself by the aid of boat-hooks and fenders from the neighbouring craft, moved slowly down with the tide. The men, in response to the captains fervent orders, climbed aloft, and sail after sail was spread to the gentle breeze.
Hi! you there, cried the captain to one of the men who stood near him, coiling up some loose line.
Sir? said the man.
Where is the mate? inquired the captain.
Man with red whiskers and pimply nose? said the man interrogatively.
Thats him to a hair, answered the other.
Aint seen him since he took me on at eleven, said the man. How many new hands are there?
I bleeve were all fresh, was the reply. I dont believe some of em have ever smelt salt water afore.
The mates been at it again, said the captain warmly, thats what he has. Hes done it afore and got left behind. Them what cant stand drink, my man, shouldnt take it, remember that.
He said we wasnt going to sail till Wensday, remarked the man, who found the captains attitude rather trying.
Hell get sacked, thats what hell get, said the captain warmly. I shall report him as soon as I get ashore.
The subject exhausted, the seaman returned to his work, and the captain continued steering in moody silence.
Slowly, slowly darkness gave way to light. The different portions of the craft, instead of all being blurred into one, took upon themselves shape, and stood out wet and distinct in the cold grey of the breaking day. But the lighter it became, the harder the skipper stared and rubbed his eyes, and looked from the deck to the flat marshy shore, and from the shore back to the deck again.
Here, come here, he cried, beckoning to one of the crew.
Yessir, said the man, advancing.
Theres something in one of my eyes, faltered the skipper. I cant see straight; everything seems mixed up. Now, speaking deliberate and without any hurry, which side o the ship do you say the cooks galleys on?
Starboard, said the man promptly, eyeing him with astonishment.
Starboard, repeated the other softly. He says starboard, and thats what it seems to me. My lad, yesterday morning it was on the port side.
The seaman received this astounding communication with calmness, but, as a slight concession to appearances, said Lor!
And the water-cask, said the skipper; what colour is it?
Green, said the man.
Not white? inquired the skipper, leaning heavily upon the wheel.
Whitish-green, said the man, who always believed in keeping in with his superior officers.
The captain swore at him.
By this time two or three of the crew who had over-heard part of the conversation had collected aft, and now stood in a small wondering knot before their strange captain.
My lads, said the latter, moistening his dry lips with his tongue, I name no namesI dont know em yetand I cast no suspicions, but somebody has been painting up and altering this ere craft, and twisting things about until a man ud hardly know her. Now whats the little game?
There was no answer, and the captain, who was seeing things clearer and clearer in the growing light, got paler and paler.
I must be going crazy, he muttered. Is this the SMILING JANE, or am I dreaming?
It aint the SMILING JANE, said one of the seamen; leastways, he added cautiously, it wasnt when I came aboard.
Not the SMILING JANE! roared the skipper; what is it, then?
Why, the MARY ANN, chorused the astonished crew.
My lads, faltered the agonised captain after a long pause. My lads He stopped and swallowed something in his throat. Ive been and brought away the wrong ship, he continued with an effort; thats what Ive done. I must have been bewitched.
Well, whos having the little game now? inquired a voice.
Somebody elsell be sacked as well as the mate, said another.
We must take her back, said the captain, raising his voice to drown these mutterings. Stand by there!
The bewildered crew went to their posts, the captain gave his orders in a voice which had never been so subdued and mellow since it broke at the age of fourteen, and the Mary Ann took in sail, and, dropping her anchor, waited patiently for the turning of the tide.
The church bells in Wapping and Rotherhithe were just striking the hour of mid-day, though they were heard by few above the noisy din of workers on wharves and ships, as a short stout captain, and a mate with red whiskers and a pimply nose, stood up in a watermans boat in the centre of the river, and gazed at each other in blank astonishment.
Shes gone, clean gone! murmured the bewildered captain.
Clean as a whistle, said the mate. The new hands must ha run away with her.
Then the bereaved captain raised his voice, and pronounced a pathetic and beautiful eulogy upon the departed vessel, somewhat marred by an appendix in which he consigned the new hands, their heirs, and descendants, to everlasting perdition.
Ahoy! said the waterman, who was getting tired of the business, addressing a grimy-looking seaman hanging meditatively over the side of a schooner. Wheres the Mary Ann?
Went away at half-past one this morning, was the reply.
Cos heres the capn an the mate, said the waterman, indicating the forlorn couple with a bob of his head.
My eyes! said the man, I spose the cooks in charge then. We was to have gone too, but our old man hasnt turned up.
Quickly the news spread amongst the craft in the tier, and many and various were the suggestions shouted to the bewildered couple from the different decks. At last, just as the captain had ordered the waterman to return to the shore, he was startled by a loud cry from the mate.
Look there! he shouted.
The captain looked. Fifty or sixty yards away, a small shamefaced-looking schooner, so it appeared to his excited imagination, was slowly approaching them. A minute later a shout went up from the other craft as she took in sail and bore slowly down upon them. Then a small boat put off to the buoy, and the Mary Ann was slowly warped into the place she had left ten hours before.
But while all this was going on, she was boarded by her captain and mate. They were met by Captain Bing, supported by his mate, who had hastily pushed off from the Smiling Jane to the assistance of his chief. In the two leading features before mentioned he was not unlike the mate of the Mary Ann, and much stress was laid upon this fact by the unfortunate Bing in his explanation. So much so, in fact, that both the mates got restless; the skipper, who was a plain man, and given to calling a spade a spade, using the word pimply with what seemed to them unnecessary iteration.
It is possible that the interview might have lasted for hours had not Bing suddenly changed his tactics and begun to throw out dark hints about standing a dinner ashore, and settling it over a friendly glass. The face of the Mary Anns captain began to clear, and, as Bing proceeded from generalities to details, a soft smile played over his expressive features. It was reflected in the faces of the mates, who by these means showed clearly that they understood the table was to be laid for four.
At this happy turn of affairs Bing himself smiled, and a little while later a ships boat containing four boon companions put off from the Mary Ann and made for the shore. Of what afterwards ensued there is no distinct record, beyond what may be gleaned from the fact that the quartette turned up at midnight arm-in-arm, and affectionately refused to be separatedeven to enter the ships boat, which was waiting for them. The sailors were at first rather nonplussed, but by dint of much coaxing and argument broke up the party, and rowing them to their respective vessels, put them carefully to bed.
CONTRABAND OF WAR
A small but strong lamp was burning in the focsle of the schooner Greyhound, by the light of which a middle-aged seaman of sedate appearance sat crocheting an antimacassar. Two other men were snoring with deep content in their bunks, while a small, bright-eyed boy sat up in his, reading adventurous fiction.
Here comes old Dan, said the man with the anti-macassar warningly, as a pair of sea boots appeared at the top of the companion-ladder; better not let him see you with that paper, Billee.
The boy thrust it beneath his blankets, and, lying down, closed his eyes as the new-comer stepped on to the floor.
All asleep? inquired the latter.
The other man nodded, and Dan, without any further parley, crossed over to the sleepers and shook them roughly.
Eh! whas matter? inquired the sleepers plaintively.
Git up, said Dan impressively, I want to speak to you. Something important.
With sundry growls the men complied, and, thrusting their legs out of their bunks, rolled on to the locker, and sat crossly waiting for information.
I want to do a pore chap a good turn, said Dan, watching them narrowly out of his little black eyes, an I want you to help me; an the boy too. Its never too young to do good to your fellow-creatures, Billy.
I know it aint, said Billy, taking this as permission to join the group; I helped a drunken man home once when I was only ten years old, an when I was only
The speaker stopped, not because he had come to the end of his remarks, but because one of the seamen had passed his arm around his neck and was choking him.
Go on, said the man calmly; Ive got him. Spit it out, Dan, and none of your sermonising.
Well, its like this, Joe, said the old man; heres a pore chap, a young sojer from the depot here, an hes cut an run. Hes been in hiding in a cottage up the road two days, and he wants to git to London, and git honest work and employment, not shooting, an stabbing, an bayoneting
Stow it, said Joe impatiently.
He darent go to the railway station, and he dursent go outside in his uniform, continued Dan. My art bled for the pore young feller, an Ive promised to give im a little trip to London with us. The people hes staying with wont have him no longer. Theyve only got one bed, and directly he sees any sojers coming he goes an gits into it, whether hes got his boots on or not.
Have you told the skipper? inquired Joe sardonically.
I wont deceive you, Joe, I ave not, replied the old man. Hell have to stay down here of a daytime, an only come on deck of a night when its our watch. I told im what a lot of good-arted chaps you was, and how
How much is he going to give you? inquired Joe impatiently.
Its only fit and proper he should pay a little for the passage, said Dan.
How MUCH? demanded Joe, banging the little triangular table with his fist, and thereby causing the man with the antimacassar to drop a couple of stitches.
Twenty-five shillings, said old Dan reluctantly; an Ill spend the odd five shillings on you chaps when we git to Limehouse.
I dont want your money, said Joe; theres a empty bunk he can have; and mind, you take all the responsibilityI wont have nothing to do with it.
Thanks, Joe, said the old man, with a sigh of relief; hes a nice young chap, youre sure to take to him. Ill go and give him the tip to come aboard at once.
He ran up on deck again and whistled softly, and a figure, which had been hiding behind a pile of empties, came out, and, after looking cautiously around, dropped noiselessly on to the schooners deck, and followed its protector below.
Good evening, mates, said the linesman, gazing curiously and anxiously round him as he deposited a bundle on the table, and laid his swagger cane beside it.
Whats your height? inquired Joe abruptly. Seven foot?
No, only six foot four, said the new arrival, modestly. Im not proud of it. Its much easier for a small man to slip off than a big one.
It licks me, said Joe thoughtfully, what they want em back forI should think theyd be glad to git rid o suchhe paused a moment while politeness struggled with feeling, and added, skunks.
Praps Ive a reason for being a skunk, praps I havent, retorted Private Smith, as his face fell.
Thisll be your bunk, interposed Dan hastily; put your things in there, and when you are in yourself youll be as comfortable as a oyster in its shell.
The visitor complied, and, first extracting from the bundle some tins of meat and a bottle of whiskey, which he placed upon the table, nervously requested the honour of the present company to supper. With the exception of Joe, who churlishly climbed back into his bunk, the men complied, all agreeing that boys of Billys age should be reared on strong teetotal principles.
Supper over, Private Smith and his protectors retired to their couches, where the former lay in much anxiety until two in the morning, when they got under way.
Its all right, my lad, said Dan, after the watch had been set, as he came and stood by the deserters bunk; I ve saved youIve saved you for twenty-five shillings.
I wish it was more, said Private Smith politely.
The old man sighedand waited.
Im quite cleaned out, though, continued the deserter, except fipence hapenny. I shall have to risk going home in my uniform as it is.
Ah, youll get there all right, said Dan cheerfully; and when you get home no doubt you ve got friends, and if it seems to you as you d like to give a little more to them as assisted you in the hour of need, you wont be ungrateful, my lad, I know. You aint the sort.
With these words old Dan, patting him affectionately, retired, and the soldier lay trying to sleep in his narrow quarters until he was aroused by a grip on his arm.
If you want a mouthful of fresh air you d better come on deck now, said the voice of Joe; its my watch. You can get all the sleep you want in the daytime.
Glad to escape from such stuffy quarters, Private Smith clambered out of his bunk and followed the other on deck. It was a fine clear night, and the schooner was going along under a light breeze; the seaman took the wheel, and, turning to his companion, abruptly inquired what he meant by deserting and worrying them with six foot four of underdone lobster.