I can be ready to-night if you wish it, Captain Samson, he said, with a flush on his usually pale face.
Beside Mrs Trench there sat a sturdy little boy. He was the bosom friend of Bena bright ruddy fellow of fourteen, overflowing with animal spirits, and with energy enough for three lads of his size. This youths countenance fell so visibly when Ben spoke of going away, that Mrs Trench could not help noticing it.
Why, whats the matter, Wilkins? she asked.
Oh, nothing! returned the boy, only I dont like to hear Ben speak of leaving us all and going to Australia. And I would give all the world to go with him. Wont you take me as a cabin boy, Captain Samson?
Sorry I cant, lad, said the captain, with a grin, got a cabin boy already.
Besides, your father would not let you, said Mrs Trench, and it would never do to go without his leave. Only misfortune could come of that.
Humph! its very hard, pouted the boy. I wanted him to get me into the navy, and he wouldnt; and now I want him to get me into the merchant service, and he wont. But Ill go in spite of him.
No, you wont, Watty, said Ben, laying his hand on his friends shoulder.
Yes, Ben, I will, returned little Wilkins, with such an air of determination that every one except Ben laughed.
Now, bailie, said the captain, rising, Im off. The truth is, I wouldnt have come if it had not been important to let you know at once to get your boy ready; but I had no one to send except Polly, and I wouldnt send her out at night by herself for all the wealth of Indy. Moreover, she wouldnt have let me out to-night for any consideration whatever. Shes very strict with me, is my little keeper. I wouldnt for the world she should wake and find me gone. So, good-night all.
Ten minutes more, and the guilty man entered his dwelling on tiptoe. In order to get into his hammock with extreme caution he forsook his ancient method of a spring, and mounted on an empty cask. The cask was not equal to the emergency. He went through the head of it with a hideous crash! Spurning it from him, he had just time to plunge into his place of repose and haul the clothes over him, when Polly emerged from her lair with wondering eyes.
What ever was that, father?
Nothin, my dear, nothin in partickleronly a cask I kicked over. Now, then, Poll, since youre keepin me awake in this fashion, its your dooty to soothe me with an extra panful, and another nor-westerso, up wi the pyramid; and after youve done it you must turn into your crib. Ill not want you again to-night; the coughs much better. Therethank ee. Pollyfy me nowthats right. Good-night.
Oh, base mariner! little did you merit such a pleasant termination to your evenings work; but you are not the only wicked man in this world who receives more than he deserves.
Two days after the incidents just related a noble ship spread her canvas to a favouring breeze, and bowing farewell to her port of departure, commenced the long long voyage to the Antipodes.
She was not a passenger ship, but a trader; nevertheless there were a few passengers on her quarter-deck, and among these towered the colossal figure of Captain Samson. Beside him, holding his hand, stood a fairy-like little creature with brown curls and pretty blue eyes. Not far from her, leaning over the bulwarks, Benjamin Trench frantically waved a handkerchief and wiped his eyes. The signal was responded to, with equal feeling, by the bailie, his wife, and little Susan. A good number of people, young and old, assembled at the pier-head, among whom many waved handkerchiefs, and hands, and scarfs, and hats to the crew.
Among the sailors who gazed wistfully towards the pier was one who made no farewell signal, and received no parting wave. Philosopher Jack had concealed his intention of going to sea from all his college chums, and a bitter feeling of loneliness oppressed his heart as he thought of his old father and mother, and the lowly cottage on the Border hills. He had not, indeed, acted in direct opposition to the wishes of his parents, but he had disobeyed the well-known Scripture command to do them honour, for he had resolved on his course of action without consulting them, or asking their advice. He felt that he had very selfishly forsaken them in their old age; in the hour of their sore distress, and at a time when they stood woefully in need of his strong muscles, buoyant spirit, and energetic brain. In short, Edwin Jack began to feel that he required all his philosophy, and something more, to enable him to face the future with the unflinching courage of a man.
So the ship moved slowly on, revealing on her stern the Lively Poll in letters of burnished goldpast the pier-head, down the broad river, out upon the widening firth, beyond lighthouse, buoy, and beacon, until at last the fresh Atlantic breezes filled her snowy sails.
And ever as she rose and sank upon the rolling waves, their swish and thud fell strangely on the ear of one who lay deep down in the recesses of the hull, whereamong barrels of pork, and casks of tar, and cans of oil, and coils of rope, and other unsavoury storeshe consorted with rats and mice and an uneasy conscience, in thick darkness. This was a stowaway. He was a sturdy, bright, ruddy little fellow of fourteen. Down in that unwholesome place, with a few ship-biscuits and a bottle of water to keep him alive, he would have looked like a doubled-up overgrown hedgehog if there had been light enough to reveal him.
Thus, with its little world of hopes and fears, its cares and pleasures, and its brave, trembling, trusting, sorrowing, joyful, anxious, reckless hearts, the good ship passed from the shores of Britain, until her sails quivered like a petrels wings on the horizon, and then vanished into the boundless bosom of the mighty sea.
Chapter Two
Tells of a Ghost and an Overwhelming Disaster
It may seem strange, nevertheless it is true, that ignorance is a misfortune which now and then results in good. Of course we do not make this remark in commendation of ignorance, but if Baldwin Burr had not been ignorant and densely stupid, Philosopher Jack would not have had the pleasure of instructing him, and the seaman himself would not have enjoyed that close intimacy which frequently subsists between teacher and pupil. Even Polly Samson derived benefit from Baldwins want of knowledge, for, being remarkably intelligent for her years, and having been well taught, she took great pleasure in enlightening his darkness.
How is it, she asked one day, while sitting on the cabin skylight and looking up in the mans rugged countenance, how is it that you are so stupid?
Burr, who was steering, gave the wheel a turn, looked up at the mast-head, then round the horizon, then down at his questioner with a bland smile, and said
Well now, Miss Polly, dee know, thats wot I cant exactly tell. Praps its cause of a natral want of brains, or, maybe, cause the brains is too much imbedded in fatfor Im a fleshy man, as you seeor, praps its cause I never went to school, my parients bein poor, uncommon poor, though remarkably honest. Ive sometimes thought, wen meditatin on the subject, that my havin bin born of a Friday may have had somethin to do with it.
Oh, Baldwin, said Polly with a little laugh, surely you cant believe that. Father says its all nonsense about Friday being an unlucky day.
Praps it is, an praps it aint, returned the cautious seaman. I regard your father, my dear, as a deeply learned man, and would give in, if I could, to wotever he says, but facts is facts, and opinions is opinions, you cant change that, nohow you fix it. Wots the capns opinions, now, as to ghosts?
He dont believe in em at all, was Pollys prompt answer. No more do I, for father knows everything, and hes always right.
Hes a lucky man to have you, Polly, and theres a lucky boy knockin about the world somewheres lookin out for you. A good daughter, its said, inwariably makes a good wife; which you dont understand just now, but youll come to in course of time. Howsever, as I wos observin, Ive been of the same opinion as your father till two nights ago, when I heard a ghost right under the deck, it seemed to me, blow my hammock, where theres nothin but ships stores and rats.
Heard a ghost! exclaimed Polly, with opening eyes.
Ay, an seed im too, said Burr. Night before yesterday I heerd im as plain as I hear myself. He wos groanin, an its quite impossible that a tar-barrel, or a cask, or a rat, could groan. The only thing that puzzled me wos that he seemed to snore; more than that he sneezed once or twice. Now, I never heard it said that a ghost could sleep or catch cold. Did you, Polly?
Polly laughed and said that she never did, and asked eagerly what the ghost was like.
It was wery much like an ornary man of small size, said the seaman, but it were too dark to make out its face. I know the figure of every soul in the ship by this time, an I could swear before a maginstrate, or a bench of bishops, that the ghost is neither one of the crew nor a passenger.
Why didnt you speak to it? asked Polly.
So I did speak to it, but it wouldnt answer; then I made a grab at it, but it was as active as a kitten, dodged round the mainmast, flew fored on inwisible wings, and went slap down the fore-scuttle, head first, with a crash that would have broke the neck of anything but a ghost.
At this interesting point the conversation was interrupted by Edwin Jack, whose turn it was to relieve the man at the wheel. He nodded to Polly as he came up, took his post, and received the ships course from Burr, who thrust his hands into his pockets, and left the quarter-deck.
Edwin was by this time a considerably changed man, although but a few days at sea. The rough blue trousers, guernsey, and pea-jacket, took as naturally to his strong limbs as if he had been born and bred a sailor; and already some huge blisters, a few scars, and not a little tar, had rendered his hands creditable.
Steering at the time was a mere matter of form, as a dead calm prevailed. Our philosopher therefore amused himself and Polly with commentaries on the ghost-subject which Burr had raised.
Late that night, when the stars were shining in a cloudless sky, and winking at their reflections in the glassy ocean, the ghost appeared to Edwin Jack. It was on this wise:
Jack, being one of the watch on deck, went to the port bulwarks near the foremast shrouds, leant over, and, gazing down into the reflected sky, thought sadly of past, present, and future. Tiring at last of his meditations, he went towards a man who appeared to be skulking under the shadow of the long-boat and remarked that it was a fine night, but the man made no reply.
A most enjoyable night, shipmate, he said, going closer.
Im glad you think so, said the ghost, its anything but enjoyable to me. The state of the weather hasnt much effect, either one way or another, on a fellow who is half-dead with hunger, half-choked with a cold caught among the rats and stores, and half-killed by a tumble down the fore-scuttle, or whatever may be the name of that vile ladder that leads to the regions below.
Surely, exclaimed Jack in surprise, seizing the ghost by the shoulders and looking close into its face, I have heard your voice before now, and, eh?no, I dont know you.
Yes, Philosopher Jack, you do know me, returned the ghost; Ive had the honour of playing cricket with you on the green, though youve forgotten me, and no wonder, for Ive suffered much from bad air and sea-sickness of late. My name is Walter, more familiarly Watty Wilkins.
Little Wilkins! exclaimed Jack, in surprise, well, you are changed; you dont mean to say that youve run away from home?
Thats just what Ive done, said the poor lad in a tone of despondency; but youve no occasion to shake your head at me so solemnly, for, to all appearance, you have run away too.
No, Wilkins, you are wrong, I have walked away, being my own master, and I have done it openly, though I admit somewhat hastily
Jack was interrupted at that moment by Ben Trench laying a hand on his shoulder.
It strikes me, he said, in some surprise, that I recognise the voice of a townsmanMister Jack, if I mistake not?
No, sir, replied the philosopher, not Mister, only Edwin Jack, seaman aboard the Lively Poll. You are right, however, in styling me townsman. Allow me to introduce you to another townsman, Mr Watty Wilkins, stowaway on board of the same vessel!
Trench had not, in the darkness, recognised his friend. He now seized him by both shoulders, and peering into his face, said
O Watty, Watty, have you really done it? I had thought better of you.
I said I would do it, and Ive done it, returned the little youth somewhat testily; and now I want to know what is to be done next.
Report yourself and take the consequences, said Jack, promptly.
This advice being seconded by Ben Trench, Watty Wilkins went aft to the captain, who had just come on deck, touched his cap, and confessed himself.
For some moments the captain spoke not a word, but looked at the young culprit with a portentous frown. Then, uttering something like a deep bass growl, he ordered the lad to follow him into his private cabin. When there, Captain Samson seated himself on a locker, and with a hand on each knee, glared at his prisoner so long and so fiercely from under his shaggy brows, that Watty, in spite of his recklessness, began to feel uneasy.
So, youngster, youve run away? he said at length, in deep solemnity.
Yes, sir, replied Wilkins.
And you think yourself a fine clever fellow, no doubt?
No, sir, I dont, said Watty, with much humility.
I knew your father, boy, continued the captain, assuming a softer and more serious tone, and I think he is a good man.
He is, sir, returned the boy promptly.
Ay, and he is a kind man; he has been kind to you, I think.
Watty hung his head.
He has fed you, clothed you, educated you since you was a babby; nursed you, maybe, in sickness, and prayed for you, no doubt that God would make you a good, obedient and loving son.
The boys head drooped still lower.
And for all this, continued the captain, you have repaid him by running away. Now, my lad, as you have made your bed you shall lie on it. Ill clap your nose to the grindstone, and keep it there. Steward!
A smart little man answered to the call.
Take this boy fored, and teach him to clean up. Dont spare him.
In obedience to this order the steward took little Wilkins forward and introduced him to the cook, who introduced him to the coppers and scrubbing brushes. From that day forward Master Watty became deeply versed in the dirty work and hard work of the ship, so that all the romance of a sea life was driven out of him, and its stern realities were implanted. In less than three weeks there was not a cup, saucer, or plate in the ship that Watty had not washed; not a brass that he had not polished and re-polished; not a copper that he had not scraped; not an inch of the deck that he had not swabbed. But it must not be supposed that he groaned under this labour. Although reckless, hasty, and inconsiderate, he was not mean-spirited. Making up his mind to do his best in the circumstances, he went cheerfully to his dirty work, and did it well.