Part 59 (2/2)
Jack made no reply; his little sweetheart pouted a little, but said nothing; it was an evasion which she did not like. A few seconds of consultation then took place, as a matter of form. Each captain asked of the other if he was perfectly satisfied as to Mr Littlebrain's capabilities, and the reply was in the affirmative; and they were perfectly satisfied, that he was either a fool or a madman. However, as we have had both in the service by way of precedent, Jack was added to the list, and the next day was appointed lieutenant.
Our hero did his duty as lieutenant of the forecastle; and as all the duty of that officer is, when hailed from the quarter-deck, to answer ”_Ay, ay, sir_,” he got on without making many mistakes. And now he was very happy; no one dared to call him a fool except his uncle; he had his own cabin, and many was the time that his dear little ”S.W. and by W.
3/4 W.” would come in by the scuttle, and nestle by his side.
”You wo'n't see so much of me soon, dearest,” said she, one morning, gravely.
”Why not, my soft one?” replied Jack.
”Don't you recollect that the winter months are coming on?”
”So they are,” replied Jack. ”Well, I shall long for you back.”
And Jack did long, and long very much, for he loved his dear wind, and the fine weather which accompanied her. Winter came on, and heavy gales and rain, and thunder and lightning; nothing but double-reefed topsails, and wearing in succession; and our hero walked the forecastle, and thought of his favourite wind. The N.E. winds came down furiously, and the weather was bitter cold. The officers shook the rain and spray off their garments when their watch was over, and called for grog.
”Steward, a gla.s.s of grog,” cried one, ”and let it be strong.”
”The same for me,” said Jack; ”only I'll mix it myself.”
Jack poured out the rum till the tumbler was half full.
”Why, Littlebrain,” said his messmate, ”that is a dose, that's what we call a regular _Nor-wester_.”
”Is it?” replied Jack. ”Well then, Nor-westers suit me exactly, and I shall stick to them like cobbler's wax.”
And during the whole of the winter months our hero showed a great predilection for Nor-westers.
It was in the latter end of February that there was a heavy gale; it had blown furiously from the northward for three days, and then it paused and panted as if out of breath--no wonder; and then the wind s.h.i.+fted, and s.h.i.+fted again, with squalls and heavy rain, until it blew from every quarter of the compa.s.s.
Our hero's watch was over, and he came down and called for a ”Nor-wester” as usual.
”How is the wind, now?” asked the first lieutenant to the master, who came down dripping wet.
”S.S.W., but drawing now fast to the Westward,” said old Spunyarn.
And so it was; and it veered round until ”S.W. and by W. 3/4 W.,” with an angry gust, came down the sky-light, and blowing strongly into our hero's ear, cried--
”Oh! you false one!!”
”False!” exclaimed Jack. ”What! you here, and so angry too?--what's the matter?”
”What's the matter!--do you think I don't know? What have you been doing ever since I was away, comforting yourself during my absence with _Nor-westers_?”
”Why, you an't jealous of a Nor-wester, are you?” replied Littlebrain.
”I confess, I'm rather partial to them.”
”What!--this to my face!--I'll never come again,--without you promise me that you will have nothing to do with them, and never call for one again. Be quick--I cannot stay more than two minutes, for it is hard work now, and we relieve quick--say the word.”
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