Part 26 (1/2)
”That's what we was wondering. You see”--the bos'n became confidential--”some of us 'ave sailed in s.h.i.+ps where the skipper's 'ad 'is wife aboard, and it's generally she what's done the bossing. Of course we know you ain't this skipper's wife, but all the same we thought as 'ow you might be wanting to try your 'and like.”
”Well, you see the position now,” said the girl. ”Please explain it to the men, and let them understand that, while I am in charge of this s.h.i.+p, I am Captain and will be obeyed.”
Without quite realising it, she had copied Calamity's curt and decisive manner, and this, together with the fact that they were really helpless in the matter, was not without its effect on the men. After a short discussion with the bos'n, they trooped off to their quarters, some sullen, others pulling their forelocks as they pa.s.sed the girl.
”We'll carry out your orders, if you'll take the s.h.i.+p fair and square into Singapore,” said the bos'n.
”Then that's agreed; I'll do my part as long as the crew do theirs.”
”Very good, Miss,” answered the bos'n, and he went for'ad in the wake of the men.
Feeling decidedly relieved, Dora Fletcher was about to go on the bridge when she caught sight of McPhulach standing at the fiddley door, having apparently just come off watch. Seeing her, he came forward, rubbing his hands on a piece of oily cotton-waste.
”You must have been getting a rough time of it down below,” she said by way of greeting.
”Rough, d'ye ca' it,” he answered; ”if I wasna a guid Presbyterian like me fairther before me, I'd be a convairted sinner the noo. Bradlaugh himsel' wouldna hae denied h.e.l.l if he'd been below during the last four an' twenty hoors.”
The girl nodded sympathetically.
”I want to have a few minutes' chat with you, if you can spare the time,” she said.
”I'm at ye'r deesposal.”
”Then please come into the chart-room. I don't want to leave the bridge longer than I can help.”
”Leave the bridge!” echoed McPhulach in astonishment. ”D'ye----”
”Please come at once,” interrupted the girl, and led the way up to the bridge. After first ascertaining that Calamity was not there, the engineer followed, wondering, as well he might, what such an extraordinary invitation portended. When they had entered the chart-room the girl shut the door and pointed to a seat.
”Have you heard about the Captain?” she asked.
”Haird what?” inquired McPhulach.
”Then you haven't. He is down with a severe attack of malaria; and is quite incapable of doing anything.”
”Ye dinna say!”
”It's quite true, he had to be carried off the bridge half an hour ago.”
”Weel, weel,” murmured the engineer, ”he always was a michty quare mon.”
”And Smith, as I suppose you know, has broken his leg.”
”Aye, ane of the firemen was tellin' me.”
”Therefore,” she went on, ”I have decided to take command of the _Hawk_, since no one, except myself, is capable of navigating her.”
She had expected the engineer to show some sign of surprise, even resentment, and was prepared to combat it. But, for all the emotion McPhulach exhibited, she might have been telling him that she had decided to alter her time of getting up or going to bed. He did not even appear interested, but, stooping down, proceeded to take off one of his boots.
”It's verra bad policy to buy ye'r boots second-hand unless ye'r sairtain they'll fit,” he remarked, and then remained silently staring at a hole in his sock as though it were a subject for long and earnest meditation.