Part 43 (1/2)
Captain Hawkins came on board and gave me an order-book, saying, ”Mr Simple, I have a great objection to written orders, as I consider that the articles of war are quite sufficient to regulate any s.h.i.+p. Still, a captain is in a very responsible situation, and if any accident occurs he is held amenable. I therefore have framed a few orders of my own for the interior discipline of the vessel, which may probably save me harmless, in case of being _hauled over the coals_; but not with any wish that they should interfere with the comforts of the officers, only to guard against any mischance, of which the _onus_ may fall upon myself.”
I received the order-book, and the captain went ash.o.r.e. When I went down into the gun-room, to look through it, I at once perceived that if rigidly conformed to, every officer in the s.h.i.+p would be rendered uncomfortable; and if not conformed to, I should be the party that was answerable. I showed it to Webster, who agreed with me, and gave it as his opinion that the captain's good nature and amiability were all a blind, and that he was intending to lay hold of us as soon as it was in his power. I therefore called all the officers together, and told them my opinion. Webster supported me, and it was unanimously agreed that the orders should be obeyed, although not without remonstrance.
The major part of the orders, however, only referred to the time that the brig was in harbour; and, as we were about to proceed to sea, it was hardly worth while saying anything at present. The orders for the sailing of the brig came down, and by the same post I received a letter from my sister Ellen, stating that they had heard from Captain Fielding, who had immediately written to Bombay, where the regiment was stationed, and had received an answer, informing him that there was no married man in the regiment of the name of Sullivan, and no woman who had followed that regiment of that name. This at once put an end to all our researches after the wet-nurse, who had been confined in my uncle's house. Where she had been sent, it was of course impossible to say; but I gave up all chance of discovering my uncle's treachery; and, as I thought of Celeste, sighed at the little hope I had of ever being united to her. I wrote a long letter to O'Brien, and the next day we sailed for our station in the North Sea.
The captain added a night order-book to the other, and sent it up every evening, to be returned in the morning, with the signature of every officer of the night watches. He also required all our signatures to his general order-book, that we might not say we had not read them. I had the first watch, when Swinburne came up to me.
”Well, Mr Simple, I do not think we have made much by our exchange of captains; and I have a shrewd suspicion we shall have squalls ere long.”
”We must not judge too hastily, Swinburne,” replied I.
”No, no--I don't say that we should; but still, one must go a little by looks in the world, and I'm sure his looks wouldn't help him much. He is just like a winter's day, short and dirty; and he walks the decks as if plank were not good enough for his feet. Mr William says, he looks as if he were 'big with the fate of Cato and of Rome:' what that means I don't know--some joke, I suppose, for the youngsters are always joking.
Were you ever up the Baltic, Mr Simple? Now I think of it I know you never were. I've seen some tight work up there with the gun-boats; and so we should now, with Captain O'Brien; but as for this little man, I've an idea 'twill be more talk than work.”
”You appear to have taken a great dislike to the captain, Swinburne. I do not know whether, as first lieutenant, I ought to listen to you.”
”It's because you're first lieutenant that I tell it you, Mr Simple. I never was mistaken, in the main, of an officer's character, when I could look him in the face, and hear him talk for half-an-hour; and I came up on purpose to put you on your guard: for I feel convinced, that towards you he means mischief. What does he mean by having the greasy-faced sergeant of marines in his cabin for half-an-hour every morning? His reports as master-of-arms ought to come through you, as first lieutenant; but he means him as a spy upon all, and upon you in particular. The fellow has began to give himself airs already, and speaks to the young gentlemen as if they were beneath him. I thought you might not know it, Mr Simple, so I thought it right to tell you.”
”I am much obliged to you, Swinburne, for your good wishes; but I can do my duty, and why should I fear anything?”
”A man may do his duty, Mr Simple; but if a captain is determined to ruin him, he has the power. I have been longer in the service than you have, and have been wide awake: only be careful of one thing Mr Simple; I beg your pardon for being so free, but in no case lose your temper.”
”No fear of that, Swinburne,” replied I.
”It's very easy to say 'no fear of that,' Mr Simple: but recollect you have not yet had your temper tried as some officers have. You have always been treated like a gentleman; but should you find yourself treated otherwise, you have too good blood in your veins not to speak--I am sure of that. I've seen officers insulted and irritated, till no angel could put up with the treatment--and then for an unguarded word, which they would have been _swabs_ not to have made use of, sent out of the service to the devil.”
”But you forget, Swinburne, that the articles of war are made for the captain as well as for everybody else in the s.h.i.+p.”
”I know that; but still, at court-martials captains make a great distinction between what a superior says to an inferior, and what an inferior says to a superior.”
”True,” replied I, quoting Shakespeare:--
”'That's in the captain but a choleric word, Which in the soldier is rank blasphemy.'”
”Exactly my meaning--I rather think,” said Swinburne, ”if a captain calls you no gentleman, you mustn't say the same to him.”
”Certainly not,” replied I; ”but I can demand a court-martial.”
”Yes; and it will be granted; but what do you gain by that? It's like beating against a heavy gale and a lee tide--thousand to one if you fetch your port; and if you do, your vessel is strained to pieces, sails worn as thin as a newspaper, and rigging chafed half through, wanting fresh serving: no orders for a refit, and laid up in ordinary for the rest of your life. No, no, Mr Simple; the best plan is to grin and bear it, and keep a sharp look-out; for depend upon it, Mr Simple, in the best s.h.i.+p's company in the world, a spy captain will always find spy followers.”
”Do you refer that observation to me, Mr Swinburne?” said a voice from under the bulwark. I started round, and found the captain, who had crept upon deck, unperceived by us, during our conversation.
Swinburne made no reply, but touched his hat, and walked over to leeward.
”I presume, Mr Simple,” said the captain, turning to me, ”that you consider yourself justified in finding fault, and abusing your captain, to an inferior officer, on His Majesty's quarter-deck.”
”If you heard the previous conversation, sir,” replied I, ”you must be aware that we were speaking generally about court-martials. I do not imagine that I have been guilty of any impropriety in conversing with an officer upon points connected with the service.”
”You mean then to a.s.sert, sir, that the gunner did not refer to me when he said the words, 'spy captain.'”