The fairy godmother strove manfully with his feelings.
Youll do now, said Joe. I aint got much, but what I have youre welcome to. He put his hand into his pocket and pulled out some loose coin. What have you got, mates?
With decent good will the other men turned out their pockets, and, adding to the store, heartily pressed it upon the reluctant Smith, who, after shaking hands gratefully, followed Joe on deck.
Youve got enough to pay your fare, said the latter; an Ive told the skipper you are going ashore to send off telegrams. If you send the money back to Dan, Ill never forgive you.
I wont, then, said Smith firmly; but Ill send theirs back to the other chaps. Good-bye.
Joe shook him by the hand again, and bade him go while the coast was clear, advice which Smith hastened to follow, though he turned and looked back to wave his hand to the crew, who had come up on deck silently to see him off; all but the philanthropist, who was down below with a stump of lead-pencil and a piece of paper doing sums.
A BLACK AFFAIR
I didnt want to bring it, said Captain Gubson, regarding somewhat unfavourably a grey parrot whose cage was hanging against the mainmast, but my old uncle was so set on it I had to. He said a sea-voyage would set its elth up.
It seems to be all right at present, said the mate, who was tenderly sucking his forefinger; best of spirits, I should say.
Its playful, assented the skipper. The old man thinks a rare lot of it. I think I shall have a little bit in that quarter, so keep your eye on the beggar.
Scratch Poll! said the parrot, giving its bill a preliminary strop on its perch. Scratch poor Polly!
It bent its head against the bars, and waited patiently to play off what it had always regarded as the most consummate practical joke in existence. The first doubt it had ever had about it occurred when the mate came forward and obligingly scratched it with the stem of his pipe. It was a wholly unforeseen development, and the parrot, ruffling its feathers, edged along its perch and brooded darkly at the other end of it.
Opinion before the mast was also against the new arrival, the general view being that the wild jealousy which raged in the bosom of the ships cat would sooner or later lead to mischief.
Old Satan dont like it, said the cook, shaking his head. The blessed bird hadnt been aboard ten minutes before Satan was prowling around. The blooming image waited till he was about a foot off the cage, and then he did the perlite and asked him whether hed like a glass o beer. I never see a cat so took aback in all my life. Never.
Therell be trouble between em, said old Sam, who was the cats special protector, mark my words.
Id put my money on the parrot, said one of the men confidently. Its ad a crool bit out of the mates finger. Where ud the cat be agin that beak?
Well, youd lose your money, said Sam. If you want to do the cat a kindness, every time you see him near that cage cuff his ed.
The crew being much attached to the cat, which had been presented to them when a kitten by the mates wife, acted upon the advice with so much zest that for the next two days the indignant animal was like to have been killed with kindness. On the third day, however, the parrots cage being on the cabin table, the cat stole furtively down, and, at the pressing request of the occupant itself, scratched its head for it.
The skipper was the first to discover the mischief, and he came on deck and published the news in a voice which struck a chill to all hearts.
Wheres that black devil got to? he yelled.
Anything wrong, sir? asked Sam anxiously.
Come and look here, said the skipper. He led the way to the cabin, where the mate and one of the crew were already standing, shaking their heads over the parrot.
What do you make of that? demanded the skipper fiercely.
Too much dry food, sir, said Sam, after due deliberation.
Too much what? bellowed the skipper.
Too much dry food, repeated Sam firmly. A parrota grey parrotwants plenty o sop. If it dont get it, it moults.
Its had too much CAT said the skipper fiercely, and you know it, and overboard it goes.
I dont believe it was the cat, sir, interposed the other man; its too soft-hearted to do a thing like that.
You can shut your jaw, said the skipper, reddening. Who asked you to come down here at all?
Nobody saw the cat do it, urged the mate.
The skipper said nothing, but, stooping down, picked up a tail feather from the floor, and laid it on the table. He then went on deck, followed by the others, and began calling, in seductive tones, for the cat. No reply forth coming from the sagacious animal, which had gone into hiding, he turned to Sam, and bade him call it.
No, sir, I wont ave no and in it, said the old man. Putting aside my liking for the animal, IM not going to ave anything to do with the killing of a black cat.
Rubbish! said the skipper.
Very good, sir, said Sam, shrugging his shoulders, you know best, o course. Youre eddicated and Im not, an praps you can afford to make a laugh o such things. I knew one man who killed a black cat an he went mad. Theres something very pecooliar about that cat o ours.
It knows more than we do, said one of the crew, shaking his head. That time youI mean weran the smack down, that cat was expecting of it ours before. It was like a wild thing.
Look at the weather weve adlook at the trips weve made since hes been aboard, said the old man. Tell me its chance if you like, but I KNOW better.
The skipper hesitated. He was a superstitious man even for a sailor, and his weakness was so well known that he had become a sympathetic receptacle for every ghost story which, by reason of its crudeness or lack of corroboration, had been rejected by other experts. He was a perfect reference library for omens, and his interpretations of dreams had gained for him a widespread reputation.
Thats all nonsense, he said, pausing uneasily; still, I only want to be just. Theres nothing vindictive about me, and Ill have no hand in it myself. Joe, just tie a lump of coal to that cat and heave it overboard.
Not me, said the cook, following Sams lead, and working up a shudder. Not for fifty pun in gold. I dont want to be haunted.
The parrots a little better now, sir, said one of the men, taking advantage of his hesitation, hes opened one eye.
Well, I only want to be just, repeated the skipper. I wont do anything in a hurry, but, mark my words, if the parrot dies that cat goes overboard.
Contrary to expectations, the bird was still alive when London was reached, though the cook, who from his connection with the cabin had suddenly reached a position of unusual importance, reported great loss of strength and irritability of temper. It was still alive, but failing fast on the day they were to put to sea again; and the focsle, in preparation for the worst, stowed their pet away in the paint-locker, and discussed the situation.
Their council was interrupted by the mysterious behaviour of the cook, who, having gone out to lay in a stock of bread, suddenly broke in upon them more in the manner of a member of a secret society than a humble but useful unit of a ships company.
Their council was interrupted by the mysterious behaviour of the cook, who, having gone out to lay in a stock of bread, suddenly broke in upon them more in the manner of a member of a secret society than a humble but useful unit of a ships company.
Wheres the capn? he asked in a hoarse whisper, as he took a seat on the locker with the sack of bread between his knees.
In the cabin, said Sam, regarding his antics with some disfavour. Whats wrong, cookie?
What d yer think Ive got in here? asked the cook, patting the bag.
The obvious reply to this question was, of course, bread; but as it was known that the cook had departed specially to buy some, and that he could hardly ask a question involving such a simple answer, nobody gave it.
It come to me all of a sudden, said the cook, in a thrilling whisper. Id just bought the bread and left the shop, when I see a big black cat, the very image of ours, sitting on a doorstep. I just stooped down to stroke its ed, when it come to me.
They will sometimes, said one of the seamen.
I dont mean that, said the cook, with the contempt of genius. I mean the idea did. Ses I to myself, You might be old Satans brother by the look of you; an if the capn wants to kill a cat, let it be you, I ses. And with that, before it could say Jack Robinson, I picked it up by the scruff o the neck and shoved it in the bag.
What, all in along of our bread? said the previous interrupter, in a pained voice.
Some of yer are ard ter please, said the cook, deeply offended.
Dont mind him, cook, said the admiring Sam. Youre a masterpiece, thats what you are.
Of course, if any of youve got a better plansaid the cook generously.
Dont talk rubbish, cook, said Sam; fetch the two cats out and put em together.
Dont mix em, said the cook warningly; for youll never know which is which agin if you do.
He cautiously opened the top of the sack and produced his captive, and Satan, having been relieved from his prison, the two animals were carefully compared.
Theyre as like as two lumps o coal, said Sam slowly. Lord, what a joke on the old man. I must tell the mate o this; hell enjoy it.
Itll be all right if the parrot dont die, said the dainty pessimist, still harping on his pet theme. All that bread spoilt, and two cats aboard.
Dont mind what he ses, said Sam; youre a brick, thats what you are. Ill just make a few holes in the lid o the boys chest, and pop old Satan in. You dont mind, do you, Billy?
Of course he dont, said the other men indignantly.
Matters being thus agreeably arranged, Sam got a gimlet, and prepared the chest for the reception of its tenant, who, convinced that he was being put out of the way to make room for a rival, made a frantic fight for freedom.
Now get something eavy and put on the top of it, said Sam, having convinced himself that the lock was broken; and, Billy, put the noo cat in the paint-locker till we start; its home-sick.
The boy obeyed, and the understudy was kept in durance vile until they were off Limehouse, when he came on deck and nearly ended his career there and then by attempting to jump over the bulwark into the next garden. For some time he paced the deck in a perturbed fashion, and then, leaping on the stern, mewed plaintively as his native city receded farther and farther from his view.
Whats the matter with old Satan? said the mate, who had been let into the secret. He seems to have something on his mind.
Hell have something round his neck presently, said the skipper grimly.
The prophecy was fulfilled some three hours later, when he came up on deck ruefully regarding the remains of a bird whose vocabulary had once been the pride of its native town. He threw it overboard without a word, and then, seizing the innocent cat, who had followed him under the impression that it was about to lunch, produced half a brick attached to a string, and tied it round his neck. The crew, who were enjoying the joke immensely, raised a howl of protest.
The Skylarkll never have another like it, sir, said Sam solemnly. That cat was the luck of the ship.
I dont want any of your old womans yarns, said the skipper brutally. If you want the cat, go and fetch it.
He stepped aft as he spoke, and sent the gentle stranger hurtling through the air. There was a plomp as it reached the water, a bubble or two came to the surface, and all was over.
Thats the last o that, he said, turning away.
The old man shook his head. You cant kill a black cat for nothing, said he, mark my words!
The skipper, who was in a temper at the time, thought little of them, but they recurred to him vividly the next day. The wind had freshened during the night, and rain was falling heavily. On deck the crew stood about in oilskins, while below, the boy, in his new capacity of gaoler, was ministering to the wants of an ungrateful prisoner, when the cook, happening to glance that way, was horrified to see the animal emerge from the focsle. It eluded easily the frantic clutch of the boy as he sprang up the ladder after it, and walked leisurely along the deck in the direction of the cabin. Just as the crew had given it up for lost it encountered Sam, and the next moment, despite its cries, was caught up and huddled away beneath his stiff clammy oilskins. At the noise the skipper, who was talking to the mate, turned as though he had been shot, and gazed wildly round him.
Dick, said he, can you hear a cat?
Cat! said the mate, in accents of great astonishment.
I thought I heard it, said the puzzled skipper.
Fancy, sir, said Dick firmly, as a mewing, appalling in its wrath, came from beneath Sams coat.
Did you hear it, Sam? called the skipper, as the old man was moving off.
Hear what, sir? inquired Sam respectfully, without turning round.
Nothing, said the skipper, collecting himself. Nothing. All right.
The old man, hardly able to believe in his good fortune, made his way forward, and, seizing a favourable opportunity, handed his ungrateful burden back to the boy.
Fancy you heard a cat just now? inquired the mate casually.
Well, between you an me, Dick, said the skipper, in a mysterious voice, I did, and it wasnt fancy neither. I heard that cat as plain as if it was alive.
Well, Ive heard of such things, said the other, but I dont believe em. What a lark if the old cat comes back climbing up over the side out of the sea to-night, with the brick hanging round its neck.
The skipper stared at him for some time without speaking. If thats your idea of a lark, he said at length, in a voice which betrayed traces of some emotion, it aint mine.
Well, if you hear it again, said the mate cordially, you might let me know. Im rather interested in such things.
The skipper, hearing no more of it that day, tried hard to persuade himself that he was the victim of imagination, but, in spite of this, he was pleased at night, as he stood at the wheel, to reflect on the sense of companionship afforded by the look-out in the bows. On his part the look-out was quite charmed with the unwonted affability of the skipper, as he yelled out to him two or three times on matters only faintly connected with the progress of the schooner.
The night, which had been dirty, cleared somewhat, and the bright crescent of the moon appeared above a heavy bank of clouds, as the cat, which had by dint of using its back as a lever at length got free from that cursed chest, licked its shapely limbs, and came up on deck. After its stifling prison, the air was simply delicious.