Part 5 (1/2)
”Yes, with you,” he answered, looking up in her face, ”but you'll let o and see dick whenever he wants me?”
”Oh, yes, as often as you like,” she answered; ”and I arateful to one who seerateful to our earthly friends, we are still less likely to be grateful to our heavenly Friend”
”I knoho to her ”dick has told me about Him; He took care of us all the tiht , and I shouldn't be happy if I didn't”
”I alad to hear of that,” observed Miss Kitty, pressing the boy's hand ”We shall be friends, Charley”
Honest dick, who hadthat Charley was in good hands, felt satisfied about hied the doctor to let him have a look at the boy as soon as possible, to assure hiht
CHAPTER SIX
CAPTAIN PODGERS
The _Dolphin_ under all sail was ress to the southward
I have not hitherto mentioned the fact that I was the little Charley I have been speaking of; indeed, so indistinct is my recollection of the earlier events I have described, that had it not been for dick, I could have known very little about the ain with him He scanned me all over, as if to ascertain whether any har separation I assured hiht, and was loud in h I was less coers and the captain
”They are not nice people,” I observed; ”drink nasty ru; then quarrel and fight again”
My description was a correct one Mrs Podgers, indeed, had coainst her husband's will, siht Miss Kitty, who had just co her at home Miss Kitty was evidently very unhappy, and did not at all like the life she had to lead She was as refined in appearance, ers was coarse in all three; but the captain, though fat and addicted to rue quantities, and somewhat sulky in his cups, was not nearly as bad as his wife He was, reatly tried, both in the cabin by her, and on deck by his unruly crew: the latter was, indeed, about as rough a set of fellows as ever collected on board shi+p The first and second mates were not unfitted, by the ready use they e theht dick and reatly He was refined in his appearance and h there was, at ti in spirit and daring
The _Dolphin_, besides being bound on a whaling cruise, was a ”Letter of Marque,” by which she had the right, without being considered a pirate, to take and plunder any of the eneers, with Miss Kitty, ca that the captain intended to confine himself to the nant, and athem
The captain never froh oain,” he growled out one day when angry with his wife
”Oh, but the little boy lovesme towards her ”Don't you, Charley?”
”No, I can't say I do,” I answered; for dick had charged me always to speak the truth ”But I love Miss Kitty, that I do, for she is sweet and pretty, and that's what you know you are not;” and I broke away frorateful little wretch!” exclaio, and live with your equals forward”
”Yes, let hi your mind”
”Not likely, after what he has said to ers ”I would pull his ears, as he deserves, that I would”
Poor Kitty looked very htened, and held ers, pray don't; the little boy did not intend to be naughty, and I will take care of him, and teach him better manners if you will let ,” answered Mrs Podgers, her anger in no way diminished
”Take him on deck at once, and tell the oes overboard that's his own fault, not mine I would have been a ratitude, and he has no claim on my sympathy and affections, as you have, Kitty lance to this re me by the hand led me to the companion stair, whence ent up on deck
Mr Falconer, as officer of the watch, stepped up as she appeared
She told him with tears in her eyes what had occurred
”It is what ht be expected,” he observed; ”but let me entreat you not to be anxious about the little boy You shall see him as often as you wish, and I suspect that he will be as well off with the honest felloho had charge of him as he would with those people in the cabin”