Part 47 (1/2)

”What! you all got tipsy upon Riga balsam?”

”All that could; so I just give you a hint.”

”I'm much obliged to you, Swinburne; I certainly never should have suspected it. I believe seamen would get drunk upon anything.”

The next morning we anch.o.r.ed at Spithead, and found the convoy ready for sea. The captain went on sh.o.r.e to report himself to the admiral, and, as usual, the brig was surrounded with b.u.m-boats and wherries, with people who wished to come on board. As we were not known on the Portsmouth station, and had no acquaintance with the people, all the b.u.m-boats were very anxious to supply the s.h.i.+p; and as this is at the option of the first lieutenant, he is very much persecuted until he has made his decision. Certificates of good conduct from other officers were handed up the side from all of them: and I looked over the books at the capstan. In the second book the name struck me; it was that of Mrs Trotter, and I walked to the gangway, out of curiosity, to ascertain whether it was the same personage who, when I was a youngster, had taken such care of my s.h.i.+rts. As I looked at the boats, a voice cried out, ”Oh, Mr Simple, have you forgot your old friend? don't you recollect Mrs Trotter?” I certainly did not recollect her; she had grown very fat, and, although more advanced in years, was a better looking woman than when I had first seen her, for she looked healthy and fresh.

”Indeed, I hardly did recollect you, Mrs Trotter.”

”I've so much to tell you, Mr Simple,” replied she, ordering the boat to pull alongside; and as she was coming up, desired the man to get the things in, as if permission was quite unnecessary. I did not counter-order it, as I knew none of the others, and, as far as honesty was concerned, believed them all to be much on a par. On the strength, then, of old acquaintance, Mrs Trotter was admitted.

”Well, I'm sure, Mr Simple,” cried Mrs Trotter, out of breath with climbing up the brig's side; ”what a man you've grown,--and such a handsome man, too! Dear, dear, it makes me feel quite old to look at you, when I call to mind the little boy whom I had charge of in the c.o.c.kpit. Don't you think I look very old and ugly, Mr Simple?”

continued she, smiling and smirking.

”Indeed, Mrs Trotter, I think you wear very well. Pray how is your husband?”

”Ah, Mr Simple, poor dear Mr Trotter--he's gone. Poor fellow, no what with his drinking, and his love for me--and his jealousy--(do you recollect how jealous he was, Mr Simple?)--he wore himself out at last.

No wonder, considering what he had been accustomed to, after keeping his carriage and dogs with everybody, to be reduced to see his wife go a _b.u.mming_. It broke his heart, poor fellow! and, Mr Simple, I've been much happier ever since, for I could not bear to see him fretting.

Lord, how jealous he was--and all about nothing! Don't you want some fresh meat for the gun-room? I've a nice leg of mutton in the boat, and some milk for tea.”

”Recollect, Mrs Trotter, I shall not overlook your bringing spirits on board.”

”Lord, Mr Simple, how could you think of such a thing? It's very true that these very common people do it, but the company I have kept, the society I have been in, Mr Simple! Besides, you must recollect, that I never drank anything but water.”

I could not exactly coincide with her, but I did not contradict her.

”Would you like the Portsmouth paper, Mr Simple?” taking one out of her pocket; ”I know gentlemen are fond of the news. Poor Trotter used never to stir from the breakfast-table until he had finished the daily paper-- but that was when we lived in very different style. Have you any clothes to wash, Mr Simple,--or have any of the gentlemen?”

”I fear we have no time, we sail too soon,” replied I; ”we go with the convoy.”

”Indeed!” cried Mrs Trotter, who walked to the main hatchway and called to her man Bill. I heard her give him directions to sell nothing upon trust in consequence of the intelligence of our immediate sailing.

”I beg your pardon, Mr Simple, I was only desiring my head man to send for your steward, that he might be supplied with the best, and to save some milk for the gun-room.”

”And I must beg your pardon, Mrs Trotter, for I must attend to my duty.” Mrs Trotter made her curtsy and walked down the main ladder to attend to _her duty_, and we separated. I was informed she had a great deal of custom, as she understood how to manage the officers, and made herself generally useful to them. She had been a b.u.mboat woman for six years, and had made a great deal of money. Indeed, it was reported, that if a _first lieutenant_ wanted forty or fifty pounds, Mrs Trotter would always lend it to him, without requiring his promissory note.

The captain came on board in the evening, having dined with the admiral, and left directions for having all ready for unmooring and heaving short at daylight. The signal was made from the frigate at sunrise, and before twelve o'clock we were all under weigh, and running past St.

Helen's with a favourable wind. Our force consisted of the _Acasta_ frigate, the _Isis_ s.h.i.+p, sloop, mounting twenty guns, the _Reindeer_, eighteen, and our own brig. The convoy amounted to nearly two hundred.

Although the wind was fair, and the water smooth, we were more than a week before we made Anholt light, owing to the bad sailing and inattention of many of the vessels belonging to the convoy. We were constantly employed repeating signals, firing guns, and often sent back to tow up the sternmost vessels. At last we pa.s.sed the Anholt light, with a light breeze; and the next morning, the mainland was to be distinguished on both bows.

CHAPTER FIFTY EIGHT.

HOW WE Pa.s.sED THE SOUND, AND WHAT Pa.s.sED IN THE SOUND--THE CAPTAIN OVERHEARS AGAIN A CONVERSATION BETWEEN SWINBURNE AND ME.

I was on the signal chest abaft, counting the convoy, when Swinburne came up to me.

”Have you been here before, with a convoy, Swinburne?”