Part 58 (2/2)
winds vary, but, at all events, we of the S.W. are considered the mildest and most beneficent. Do you understand me?”
”Not altogether. You're going right round the compa.s.s, and I never could make it out, that's a fact. I hear what you say, but I cannot promise to recollect it; I can only recollect S.W. and by W. 3/4 W.”
”I care only for your recollecting me; if you do that, you may forget all the rest. Now you see we South Wests are summer winds, and are seldom required but in this season; I have often blown over your s.h.i.+p these last three months, and I always have lingered near you, for I loved you.”
”Thank you--now go on, for seven bells have struck some time, and I shall be going to turn in. Is your watch out?”
”No, I shall blow for some hours longer. Why will you leave me--why wo'n't you stay on deck with me?”
”What, stay on deck after my watch is out! No, if I do, blow me! We mids.h.i.+pmen never do that--but I say, why can't you come down with me, and turn in my hammock; it's close to the hatchway, and you can easily do it.”
”Well, I will, upon one promise. You say that you love me, now I'm very jealous, for we winds are always supplanting one another. Promise me that you will never mention any other wind in the compa.s.s but me, for if you do, they may come to you, and if I hear of it I'll blow the masts out of your s.h.i.+p, that I will.”
”You don't say so?” replied Jack, surveying her fragile, trembling form.
”Yes, I will, and on a lee sh.o.r.e too; so that the s.h.i.+p shall go to pieces on the rocks, and the Admiral and every soul on board her be drowned.”
”No, you wouldn't, would you?” said our hero, astonished.
”Not if you promise me. Then I'll come to you and pour down your windsails, and dry your washed clothes as they hang on the rigging, and just ripple the waves as you glide along, and hang upon the lips of my dear love, and press him in my arms. Promise me, then, on no account ever to recollect or mention any other wind but me.”
”Well, I think I may promise that,” replied Jack, ”for I'm very clever at forgetting; and then you'll come to my hammock, wo'n't you, and sleep with me? you'll be a nice cool bedfellow these warm nights.”
”I can't sleep on my watch as mids.h.i.+pmen do; but I'll watch you while you sleep, and I'll fan your cheeks, and keep you cool and comfortable, till I'm relieved.”
”And when you go, when will you come again?”
”That I cannot tell--when I'm summoned; and I shall wait with impatience, that you may be sure of.”
”There's eight bells,” said Jack, starting up; ”I must go down and call the officer of the middle watch; but I'll soon turn in, for my relief is not so big as myself, and I can thrash him.”
Littlebrain was as good as his word; he cut down his relief, and then thrashed him for venturing to expostulate. The consequence was, that in ten minutes he was in his hammock, and ”S.W. and by W. 3/4 W.” came gently down the hatchway, and rested in his arms. Jack soon fell fast asleep, and when he was wakened up the next morning by the quarter-master, his bedfellow was no longer there. A mate inquiring how the wind was, was answered by the quarter-master that they had a fresh breeze from the N.N.W., by which Jack understood that his sweetheart was no longer on duty.
Our hero had pa.s.sed such a happy night with his soft and kind companion, that he could think of nothing else; he longed for her to come again, and, to the surprise of everybody, was now perpetually making inquiries as to the wind which blew. He thought of her continually; and in fact was as much in love with ”S.W. and by W. 3/4 W.” as he possibly could be. She came again--once more did he enjoy her delightful company; again she slept with him in his hammock, and then, after a short stay, she was relieved by another.
We do not intend to accuse the wind of inconstancy, as that was not her fault; nor of treachery, for she loved dearly; nor of violence, for she was all softness and mildness; but we do say, that ”S.W. and by W. 3/4 W.” was the occasion of Jack being very often in a sc.r.a.pe, for our hero kept his word; he forgot all other wind, and, with him, there was not other except his dear ”S.W. and by W. 3/4 W.” It must be admitted of Jack, that, at all events, he showed great perseverance, for he stuck to his point.
Our hero would argue with his messmates, for it is not those who are most capable of arguing who are most fond of it; and, like all arguers not very brilliant, he would flounder and diverge away right and left, just as the flaws of ideas came into his head.
”What nonsense it is your talking that way,” would his opponent say, ”Why don't you come to the point?”
”And so I do,” cried Jack.
”Well then, what is your point?”
”S.W. and by W. 3/4 W.,” replied our hero.
Who could reply to this? But in every instance, and through every difficulty, our hero kept his promise, until his uncle Sir Theophilus was very undecided, whether he should send him home to be locked up in a Lunatic Asylum, or bring him on in the service to the rank of post-captain. Upon mature consideration, however, as a man in Bedlam is a very useless member of society, and a tee-total non-productive, whereas a captain in the navy is a responsible agent, the Admiral came to the conclusion, that Littlebrain must follow up his destiny.
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