Part 5 (2/2)
I did not understand at the ti peculiar in his remarks, or that Miss Kitty seemed to place far ers I only understood that I was to go back to dick, and of that I should have been heartily glad, had not ated by the idea that I should be thus separated froreatly attracted me
”Well, Charley, ill look after you,” said dick, when I went forward
”There's a vacant berth next toin it
But I am afraid, boy, your manners won't be iht, for while I was rapidly increasing lish words, I learned to use so fro, or having any idea of their vileness
At length, one day, when seated in the forecastle with dick, I uttered several in succession, highly pleased with my own proficiency dick looked at me hard
”Charley, do you know those are very bad words you are saying?” he exclaimed; ”I didn't think you knew such”
”Why, dick, I heard you say them yourself the other day,” and I reminded him of several occasions on which he had uttered some of the words I had made use of
”Did I, Charley? are you sure of it?” he asked, evidently considering whether I had brought a true or false accusation against him
”Certain sure, dick,” I said
”Well, now, I ah you hear other people say what is bad, or see them do what is bad, it is no reason that you should say or do the same; and for ue, and bowse it taut, or those sort of words will, I know, be slipping out I ood mother used to tell me that I must never take God's na, over and over again Remember, Charley, if I ever hear you, I'll punish you, and I'll try and break the men of it; it's a shame that they should set such a bad exah I am afraid it will be a hard job to stop theood as his word Froh several times a round one rose to his lips I at first was not so careful, but the rope's-ending he gave me made me recollect for the future Theme, and were not a little astonished when he told them that it was their fault, and that of course if they swore the little chap would swear also After this, I really believe that several of theh as they were, restrained thereater nu the line the _Dolphin_ was frequently becalmed for several days at a time, which did not improve the captain's tereatly prolonged I was more with Miss Kitty than I had expected, for the captain and his wife very frequently, after indulging in potations long and deep, fell asleep in the cabin On such occasions she used tothe flying-fish ski by, or the sea-birds which passed in rapid flight overhead, or watching the h, and then shot down into the ocean to grasp its finny prey
So at when Edward Falconer was by her side gazing with her over the ocean To be sure, there were the stars glittering above, or the ht cast across the vast expanse of water, and she and he see at it Sometimes on such occasions she held me by her hand, and seemed always to wish to have me near her I at first was not able to understand what she and the young lish, I perhaps comprehended more than they supposed
”I have been a wild, ard, careless fellow, Kate,” I heard Mr Falconer say one evening as he stood by Miss Kitty's side ”Instead of ree of the opportunities I possessed of rising in the world, I spent all rief of an excellent father, shi+pped on board a e of ator than the captain hie of sea been accusto, I was at once perfectly at holad to shi+p on board the _Dolphin_, the first vessel I could find which had a vacant berth Had I known the character of the master and the officers hom it was to be my lot to associate, I should certainly, as you may suppose, have avoided her I had already found, like the prodigal son, that I had dry husks alone to eat, and bitterlymy folly, had, even before the shi+p sailed, conte an to breathe a new existence”
”You need not tell hts of having prevented you froht it was, I ao home, and occupy the position which from your education and family you should properly enjoy, for surely your father will receive you thankfully, and forgive your offences As for --I am helpless; but I am not without hope--for I knohom I trust Were I not confident that God watches over and takes care of all who have faith in that love which induced Hiift He could bestow on perishi+ng sinners, I should indeed be miserable”
Much more was said which I did not hear Mr Falconer and Kitty took several turns on deck together, and I ran about near them
Their conversation was interrupted by the sudden appearance of Mrs Podgers' head at the co lady below The mate walked aft, and I scampered forward to rejoin dick
CHAPTER SEVEN
THE FIRE
The _Dolphin_ being greatly in want of water, put into the Falkland Islands to obtain it, as well as beef, which the captain understood could be obtained for the trouble of catching the animals on whose backs it existed
The shore of the harbour in which we lay was rocky, but beyond it was a wide expanse of partly level, and partly undulating ground, reaching far away in the distance
dick told me he would takeone of the men appointed to shoot the cattle
Mounted Spaniards, or Indians, with their bolas and lassoes, would have killed them with perfect ease; but, aro off, the chances were very great against the desired beef being obtained Just as we had shoved off, the captain, seeingalready begun to give way, pretended not to hear hi distance of the shi+p In a short ti us After we had landed, who should step out of her but Miss Kitty and Mr Falconer; he had a gun on his shoulder, but had not intended co till he found that she wanted to have a walk on shore Whether or not she had asked leave of Mrs Podgers, I do not know; she did not always consider that necessary when she had a fancy for doing anything