Part 15 (1/2)

”You think them all necessary?”

”I do, sir, unless you like to depend on steam; then you might knock off half-a-dozen, but you'd save nothing; coals at the depots abroad are very dear. Better trust to your sails and keep the men.”

”Yes; I think you are right,” said Sir John. ”What do you say, Instow?”

”Quite,” said the doctor.

”Very well then. Now about the crew; would they be willing: to engage to sail with me wherever I please, to bind themselves not to break their engagement without my leave till we return, even if it is for three years?”

”I could say yes, sir, for they'd follow me wherever I went, but I'll ask them.”

”Do,” said Sir John.

The captain touched a table gong, and the steward appeared promptly.

”Go and ask Mr Bartlett to pipe all hands aft,” said the captain.

The man ascended, and the next minute the clear note of a whistle rang out, to be followed by the trampling of feet, and the captain rose, evidently satisfied at the prompt.i.tude with which his order was obeyed.

”They're waiting sir,” he said.

Upon the party going on deck, there were the crew drawn up, quite as smart as men-o'-war's men, and all looking as eager as schoolboys to learn the meaning of their summons.

”'Tention!” said the captain; and, to use the old saying, the dropping of a pin could have been heard. ”This gentleman, Sir John Meadows, Bart., is going to buy the _Silver Star_.”

”Hurrah!” shouted a man.

”Steady there!” cried the captain sternly. ”He means to sail right away east, through the Ca.n.a.l, and along the islands, to stop here and there where he likes--two or three years' cruise--and he wants to know if you will sign articles to go with him, and do your duty like men.”

There was a dead silence, and as the men began directly after to whisper together, Jack, who but a minute before had felt in his misery and despair that he would give anything to hear the men refuse, now, by a strange perversity of feeling, grew indignant with them for seeming to hesitate about doing their duty to his father.

”Well, my lads, what is it?” said the captain sternly. ”What are you whispering about? Can't you give a straightforward yes or no?”

There was another whispering, and the words ”You speak”, ”No, you,” came plainly to Jack's ears, followed by one man shouting--

”We want to know, sir, who's to be in command?”

”Why, I am, my lads, of course.”

”Hooray!” came in a roar; and then--”All of us--yes, sir, we'll go,” and another cheer.

”There's your answer, sir,” said the captain; and then turning to the men--”Thankye, my lads, thankye.”

”Yes, that's my answer,” said Sir John, ”and an endors.e.m.e.nt of my feeling that I am doing right.”

”And thank you, sir,” said the captain warmly. ”We'll do our duty by you, never fear. Perhaps you'll say a word to Mr Bartlett, sir,” he whispered. ”Good man and true, and a thorough sailor.”

”You will, I hope, keep your post, Mr Bartlett,” said Sir John, turning to him.