Part 2 (1/2)
”The 'Crusader,' Captain Westerway,” answered the master.
”Ay, ay, Captain Westerway, you are an old friend of mine, and I am sure you will welcome me on board,” sang out some one, apparently from beneath the bows.
”Who are you?” asked the captain.
”Daddy Neptune, to be sure,” answered the voice. ”Don't you know that?
Your s.h.i.+p is just over my parlour windows, and shutting out the light, so that my wife and children can scarcely see to eat their porridge.”
”I beg your pardon, but that is not my fault, as your Majesty well knows,” answered Captain Westerway. ”However, you are welcome on board.” As he spoke, some strange figures were seen coming over the bows, one with a crown on his head, a trident in his hand, and a huge nose and brownish beard, which flowed over his breast. He was evidently Daddy Neptune himself. His companions were in sea-green dresses, with conch sh.e.l.ls in their hands, and among them were half-a-dozen strange-looking fish, who came walloping about the deck as if they supposed themselves still to be swimming in the water.
”Well, Captain Westerway, as you are an old friend, I will grant any favour you like to ask; so just out with it, and don't stand on ceremony,” said Neptune, in a familiar, easy way.
The captain replied, ”As my pa.s.sengers here are leaving their native sh.o.r.e, and are about to settle in a strange country, I must beg that, after you have mustered all hands, your Majesty will allow them to pa.s.s without the ceremonies which those who cross the line for the first time have usually to go through.”
The pa.s.sengers were accordingly called up on deck, when most of them, in acknowledgment of his courtesy, presented Daddy Neptune with a fee, which he forthwith handed to an odd-looking monster whom he took care to introduce as his treasurer. Mr Job Mawson, however, kept out of the way, evidently determined to pay nothing. Neptune, who had been eyeing him for some time, now turned to his attendants. Four of them immediately sprang forward, when Mr Mawson, suspecting their intentions, took to flight. Round and round the deck he ran, pursued by the tritons, to escape from whom he sprang below; but in his fright he went down forward, so that he could not reach his own cabin, and he was soon hunted up again and chased as before, till at length, exhausted, and nearly frightened out of his wits, he was caught beneath the p.o.o.p.
”Let him alone,” exclaimed Neptune; ”he is beneath our notice, after all.”
Instead of the rough amus.e.m.e.nts often carried on on board s.h.i.+ps crossing the line, a drama was acted by Neptune and his attendants, he being shortly afterwards joined by his wife and children, who had by this time, he observed, finished their breakfasts, and had come to pay their respects to their old friend, Captain Westerway.
CHAPTER FOUR.
A SEAMAN'S SUPERSt.i.tION.
”RANGER” TAKES A SOUTHERLY COURSE--ALBATROSSES APPEAR ASTERN--HOLT PREPARES HIS RIFLE--MISS MORLEY PLEADS FOR THE BIRDS--HOLT KILLS AN ALBATROSS--A SUPERSt.i.tION OF SEAMEN--THE FATE OF THE ANCIENT MARINER-- MRS RUMBELOW'S OPINIONS ON THE SUBJECT--SERJEANT RUMBELOW--MUSIC HEARD OVER THE OCEAN--A s.h.i.+P Pa.s.sED AT NIGHT--A HAIL FROM THE ”RANGER”-- BLOWING HARD--MRS RUMBELOW COMFORTS THE SICK--THE COLONEL CAUTIONS THE COMMANDER--LOOK-OUT FOR ICEBERGS--THE COLONEL'S WIFE AND DAUGHTERS--THE COLONEL'S PRACTICAL RELIGION--A CALM.
The lofty height of Table Mountain sank lower and lower in the blue ocean as the ”Ranger” stood towards the south.
”I propose taking the short circle on our voyage eastward,” said Commander Newcombe to Colonel Morley. ”We may experience somewhat cold weather; but, at this time of the year we may hope to escape heavy gales, and it is important, with so many men on board, to make a quick pa.s.sage. If, too, our water should run scarce, we may obtain a supply from the icebergs, with which it is not impossible we may fall in now and then.”
”I hope we may not run foul of one,” observed Colonel Morley.
”No fear of that, colonel, if we have our eyelids open, and our wits about us,” answered the commander of the ”Ranger.”
The sea was calm, the wind light, and the ”Ranger” glided proudly over the smooth sea. The ladies and most of the other pa.s.sengers were on deck. Two or three of the lieutenants and ensigns brought up their rifles and proposed shooting at the albatrosses, which, with expanded wings, floated around the s.h.i.+p, now rising high in the air, now darting down on the sc.r.a.pings of the mess tins which had been thrown overboard.
Ensign Holt had just loaded his rifle.
”I think I can hit that fellow,” he exclaimed, pointing at a magnificent bird which, at the instant, came swooping down near the stern.
”Oh! do not be so cruel,” exclaimed Miss Morley, who observed him. ”I could not suppose that anybody with right feeling would wish to deprive so beautiful a creature of its joyous existence. How delightful it must be to fly at freedom through the clear blue air, and remain thus, for days and weeks together, away from the heat and dust of the sh.o.r.e.”
The ensign reddened, and lowered his weapon from his shoulder, and the albatross swept off to a distance, far out of range of his rifle.
”I was only thinking of the good practice they would give us,” he observed; ”but your interference, Miss Morley, has saved the bird's life.”
”That is to say, Holt, it prevented you from firing,” observed Lieutenant Dawson; ”it does not follow that the bird would have been the sufferer.”
Lieutenant Hickman and Ensign Gonne laughed heartily, for Holt was not celebrated for his shooting. The magnificent birds continued as before, hovering about the s.h.i.+p, not aware of the evil intentions harboured against them by the young officers.
Ensign Holt was nettled, and, notwithstanding Miss Morley's remark, was longing for an opportunity of exhibiting his skill. She soon afterwards went below, when he again prepared, as he said, to bring down an albatross. He and his brother officers, however, fired several shots without producing any effect. A rifle ball at length striking one of the birds, the white feathers were seen flying from its breast; upwards it soared, making several wide circuits, then once more darted towards the surface of the water, apparently not in any way the sufferer.