Part 2 (2/2)
I cried very much, for I was shocked at the narrow escape which I had had, and mortified at having fallen in his good opinion. He asked me how I had employed my time since I had been at Portsmouth, and I made an acknowledgment of having been made tipsy, related all that the mids.h.i.+pmen had told me, and how I had that morning fought a duel.
When I had finished, he said, ”Mr Simple, I can no longer trust you on sh.o.r.e until you are more experienced in the world. I shall desire my c.o.xswain not to lose sight of you until you are safe on board of the frigate.”
Altogether I did not feel sorry when it was over. I saw that the captain believed what I had stated, and that he was disposed to be kind to me, although he thought me very silly. The c.o.xswain, in obedience to his orders, accompanied me to the Blue Post. I packed up my clothes, paid my bill, and the porter wheeled my chest down to the Sally Port, where the boat was waiting.
”Come, heave a-head, my lads, be smart. The captain says we are to take the young gentleman on board directly. His liberty's stopped for getting drunk and running after the Dolly Mops!”
”I should thank you to be more respectful in your remarks, Mr c.o.xswain,” said I with displeasure.
”Mister c.o.xswain! thanky, sir, for giving me a handle to my name,”
replied he. ”Come, be smart with your oars, my lads!”
”La, Bill Freeman,” said a young woman on the beach, ”what a nice young gentleman you have there. He looks like a sucking Nelson. I say, my pretty young officer, could you lend me a s.h.i.+lling?”
I was so pleased at the woman calling me young Nelson, that I immediately complied with her request. ”I have not a s.h.i.+lling in my pocket,” said I, ”but here is half-a-crown, and you can change it, and bring me back the eighteen-pence.”
”Well you are a nice young man,” replied she, taking the half-crown; ”I'll be back directly, my dear.”
The men in the boat laughed, and the c.o.xswain desired them to shove off.
”No,” observed I, ”you must wait for my eighteen-pence.”
”We shall wait a devilish long while, then, I suspect. I know that girl, and she has a very bad memory.”
”She cannot be so dishonest or ungrateful,” replied I. ”c.o.xswain, I order you to stay--I am an officer.”
”I know you are, sir, about six hours old; well then, I must go up and tell the captain that you have another girl in tow, and that you won't go on board.”
”O no, Mr c.o.xswain, pray don't; shove off as soon as you please, and never mind the eighteen-pence.”
The boat then shoved off, and pulled towards the s.h.i.+p, which lay at Spithead.
CHAPTER FIVE.
I AM INTRODUCED TO THE QUARTER-DECK, AND FIRST LIEUTENANT, WHO p.r.o.nOUNCES ME VERY CLEVER--TROTTED BELOW TO MRS. TROTTER--CONNUBIAL BLISS IN A c.o.c.k-PIT--MRS. TROTTER TAKES ME IN, AS A MESSMATE.
On our arrival on board, the c.o.xswain gave a note from the captain to the first lieutenant, who happened to be on deck. He read the note, looked at me earnestly, and then I overheard him say to another lieutenant, ”The service is going to the devil. Here's another of the fools of a family made a present of to the country--another cub for me to lick into shape. Well, I never saw the one yet I did not make something of. Where's Mr Simple?”
”I am Mr Simple, sir,” replied I, very much frightened at what I had overheard.
”Now, Mr Simple,” said the first lieutenant, ”observe and pay particular attention to what I say. The captain tells me in this note that you have been shamming stupid. Now, sir, I am not to be taken in that way. I have looked attentively at your face and I see at once that you are _very clever_, and if you do not prove so in a very short time, why--you had better jump overboard, that's all. Perfectly understand me. I know that you are a very clever fellow, and having told you so, don't you pretend to impose upon me, for it won't do.”
I was very much terrified at this speech, but at the same time I was pleased to hear that he thought me clever, and I determined to do all in my power to keep up such an unexpected reputation.
”Quarter-master,” said the first lieutenant, ”tell Mr Trotter to come on deck.”
The quarter-master brought up Mr Trotter, who apologised for being so dirty, as he was breaking casks out of the hold. He was a short, thickset man, about thirty years of age, with a nose which had a red club to it, very dirty teeth, and large black whiskers.
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