Part 22 (1/2)
The man took off his nightcap and scratched his head.
”As to health,” said he, ”I agree with you. But there have been as big rascals walked the decks of s.h.i.+ps as any they've ever bred ash.o.r.e. I remember when I sailed my last voyage in the 'Champion,' we had a skipper that was as great a villain as ever robbed his employers.”
At the mention of the vessel's name, Ezra became more attentive.
”The 'Champion'?” said he. ”What owners?”
”Prentiss & Son, Boston.”
Scarlett gave Ezra a quick look. The boy regarded the innkeeper with interest.
”I recall the old 'Champion' very well. Her timbers are now rotting on a reef in the South Pacific,” said he.
”h.e.l.lo,” said the man with the rings in his ears. He peered at the boy through the candle-light. ”And who might you be?”
”My name is Prentiss,” answered the lad. ”I am the son of James Prentiss, one of the 'Champion's' owners.”
The man thrust out a great broad hand.
”Young gentleman,” said he, ”if you'll do me the honor, I'd like to shake your hand.”
Ezra smiled and gripped the big paw.
”Your father,” continued the other, ”was the finest man in this colony.
I've sailed for many owners, but he was the best of them all. Your grandfather now,” and the ex-sailor's expression of admiration greatly changed, ”was a most excellent merchant. But he expected much and gave but little. That little was, to be sure, regularly and promptly paid; but that is the best I can say.
”But James Prentiss was different. He had a heart in his body for a sailorman. And if one went out of his way to serve him, he'd see to it that he was properly rewarded.”
”A good quality,” commented Scarlett, approvingly. ”It is a proof of appreciation and also encourages effort.”
”Quite so, comrade,” replied the host. ”It does that very thing; and I can prove it to you. On the last voyage of the 'Champion,' she had for her master a Hingham man named Pickering. I was her first mate and she carried a mixed cargo for trading among the islands. Pickering was a man who believed in handspikes and belaying pins in his treatment of the crew, and he was not long out before they were all but in a state of mutiny.
”This proved a fortunate thing for Prentiss & Son,” continued the landlord. ”We ran on the reef one moonlight night with a light wind blowing and Pickering at the wheel. So when he proposed to abandon s.h.i.+p and cargo without an effort to save either, I objected.”
”He must have been a coward as well as a bully,” spoke Ezra.
”No, he was a knave. I'd never suspected the true reason of it all if it hadn't been for the bos'n. He'd noticed the same sail hanging in our wake for three days, and he spoke to me of it. Then I saw the real truth. Pickering had laid the 'Champion' on the rocks deliberately. Then his plan was for all hands to make away; the stranger was to approach, quietly take in our cargo, and Prentiss & Son would be the poorer for a fortune.”
”A very complete rascal, indeed,” said Scarlett. ”What did you do?”
”Clapped him in irons and warned the strange vessel off with a show of six-pounders. Afterward I got a brig at Valparaiso, put the cargo into her, and disposed of it to good advantage in the regular way. For that service old Seth Prentiss paid me a first mate's wages; but his son,”
turning to Ezra, ”your father, was more open-handed. It was through him that I could at last afford to give up the sea and buy out the 'Jolly Rover.'”
They talked in the same strain for a while longer. But a patrol, knocking loudly at the door and bidding them extinguish the light, at last put an end to it.
The seaman innkeeper led his guests to their rooms.
”I can give you no light,” said he, ”and I'm main sorry for it. But you can manage to sleep without it, I'm sure.”
He had said good-night to both, when he knocked at Ezra's door and reopened it.