Part 33 (1/2)

”Hullo! hullo!” cried Ray. ”Oh! it's you, is it, Row? Is breakfast all ready, old man?”

”Ray, arise, you lazy dog!” continued Row, shaking him by the shoulder.

”This is May-morning, Ray, and I'm to be Queen of the May, my boy, I'm to be Queen of the May!”

At half-past eight our heroes, Captain McBain included, went on deck in a body, and this was the time for the crew to cl.u.s.ter up the rigging, man the yards, and give voice to a ringing cheer; nay, not one cheer only, but three times three; and hardly had the sound died away ere it was taken up and re-echoed back by the crew of the _Canny Scotia_. It seemed that Captain Cobb's c.o.c.kle-sh.e.l.l was not to be left out of the fun either, for the crew of even that tiny craft must man the rigging and cheer, though after the l.u.s.ty roar that had gone up from the other s.h.i.+ps, their voices sounded like that of a chicken learning to crow.

After this, while the men went to work to rig a great platform on the upper deck, Peter, arrayed in fullest Highland costume, played pibroch after pibroch, and wild march after wild march, as he went strutting up and down the quarter-deck.

The decks were cleared of everything that could be removed, and a great tent erected from mizen to foremast; when this was lined with flags there was but little light, but lamps in cl.u.s.ters were hung here and there, and a stove was brought up to give heat, so that the whole place was as gay as could be, and comfortable as well.

At one end of the tent a platform was erected. There the piano was placed all handy, and Rory's fiddle and the doctor's flute, as well as several armchairs and a kind of a throne, the use of which will soon be seen. On the stage at one side was an immense tub nearly filled with cold, icy water; two steps led up to it, and on the edge thereof was a revolving chair. Very comfortable it looked indeed, but, on touching a spring, backwards it went, and whoever might be sitting on it had the benefit of a beautiful bath. My readers already guess what this is for.

Yes, for May-day in Greenland is not only a day of fun and frolic, but the self-same kind of performance takes place as on southern s.h.i.+ps while crossing the line.

The day itself was dedicated to games on the ice, for not until towards evening would the real fun begin. The seals had a rest to-day, and so had the sharks; even the terrible zugaena wasn't once thought of, and Bruin himself might sit on one end licking his chops and looking on, so long as he kept at a respectful distance. The games were both Scotch and English, a happy medley in which all hands joined. The morning saw cricket and football matches in full swing, the afternoon golf--and golf played on hummocky ice _is_ golf--and hockey. Peter was the band, and right well he played; but when, tired of march quadrille, or pibroch, he burst into a Highland reel, and the crews began to dance--well, the scene on the snow grew exciting indeed. It was grotesque enough, too, in all conscience, for everybody, without exception, was dressed in fancy costume.

No wonder, too, that c.o.c.kie, whom his master had brought on deck to look down on them from the bulwarks, lost all control of himself, and shouted, ”Go on--go on--keep it up--keep it up.” Then when c.o.c.kie began to throw his head back and shriek with laughter, the men couldn't resist it any longer; they joined in that laugh, and laughed till sides ached and eyes ran water, and many had to roll in the snow to prevent catastrophes. But the louder the men laughed, all the louder laughed c.o.c.kie, till Freezing Powders was obliged to run below with him at last.

”Oh!” said his master, as he restored the cage to its corner, ”I tell you all day, c.o.c.kie, you eat too much hemp. It's drefful, c.o.c.kie, to hear you laugh like all dat.”

Suddenly from the bows of the _Arrandoon_ a big gun is fired, and the revel stops. Then comes a hail from the crow's-nest,--

”Below there?”

”Ay, ay!” roared McBain.

”A procession coming along over the snow, sir, towards the s.h.i.+p.”

A consultation was at once held, and it was resolved to march forth to meet them.

”It is Neptune, I know,” said McBain, ”for a s...o...b..rd this morning brought me a note to say he'd dine with us.”

It wasn't long before our friends came in sight of the royal party. It was Neptune, sure enough, trident and all, both his trident and he looking as large as life.--He was drawn along in a sledge by a party of naiads, and Amazon jades they looked. On one side of him walked his wife, on the other the c.o.c.k o' the North, while behind him came the barber carrying an immense razor and a bucket of lather. Silas Grig, I may as well mention, played Neptune, and Seth his wife--and a taller, skinnier, bristlier old lady you couldn't have imagined; and her attempts to act the lady of fas.h.i.+on, and her airs and graces, were really funny. The c.o.c.k o' the North was Ted Wilson. He was dressed in feathers from top to toe, with an immense bill, comb, and wattles, and acted his part well. He was introduced by Neptune as--

”One who ne'er has been to school, But keeps us fat--in fact, our fool; A fool, forsooth, yet full of wit As he can stand, or lie, or sit.”

After the usual introduction, salaams, and courtesies, Neptune made his speech in doggerel verse, with many an interruption both from his wife and his fool, telling how ”his name was Neptune”--”though it might be Norval,” added the c.o.c.k o' the North. How--

”From east to west, from pole to pole, Where'er waves break or waters roll, _My_ empire is--”

_His Wife_--”And _you_ belong to _me_.”

_c.o.c.k o' the North_.--”All hail, great monarch of the sea!”

_Neptune_--”The clouds pay tribute, and streams and rills Come singing from the distant hills.”

_His Wife_.--”_Do_ stop, my dear; you're _not_ a poet, And never were--”

_Neptune_.--”Good sooth, I know it.

But now lead on, our blood feels cold, For truth to tell, we're getting old.

We and our wife have seen much service, Besides--the dear old thing is nervous, So to the s.h.i.+p lead on, I say, We'd see some fun on this auspicious day.

My younger sons I fain would bless 'em.”

_His Barber_.--”And I can shave.”

_His Wife (rapturously_).--”And I can kiss 'em.”