Part 39 (1/2)
”The doctor, then?” said old Jonas, with his eyes twinkling maliciously.
”What, to knock my boy down, Uggleston? No, thank you, sir. I've little things at home that will put him to bed for a fortnight and keep him quiet without giving myself a job to mend his broken bones.”
He looked at Bob, and I saw my school-fellow turn yellow and shudder as if he were about to take a dose of some horribly nauseous medicine.
Just then Bob caught my eye, and I suppose he saw that I was amused, for he doubled his fist, and showed his teeth in a snarl just like a disagreeable dog who had been threatened by a stranger with a stick.
”My faith, gentlemen,” said the French skipper, ”ze boys is brave boys and make fine sailor. Zey fight zis bad storm. Zey vin ze storm, and behold me here ve are!”
”Captain Gualtiere,” said my father, holding out his hand, ”as an old sailor, sir, to one of the same n.o.ble profession, I thank you for your kindness to my son.”
”Mon capitaine, I you embrace with my heart whole!” cried the French skipper. ”It is vell, Capitaine Ugglees-stone. Ve vill land ourselves.
Mon vieux brave--to your home, and trink von 't.i.t verre of ze bon spee-reete vis ze friens. Come.” Jonas Uggleston nodded his head and exchanged a peculiar look with the Frenchman.
”Let's get ash.o.r.e,” he said. ”You, Bill, I'll come out again by and by.
Get her fast to the buoy.”
Binnacle Bill growled and crept behind us boys to watch his opportunity, and give us each a nod, a wink, and a furtive shake of the hand.
Then the boat was hauled alongside, we descended, and Bigley pulled us ash.o.r.e, where, almost in silence, and evidently a very uncomfortable party, we walked up to the cottage where Mother Bonnet was in waiting, and her first act was to rush at Bigley, hug him, kiss him soundly on both cheeks, and burst into tears.
I was afraid it was coming my way, and drew back; but it was of no use, for the old woman seized me, and I had to be kissed in the same way, while Bob Chowne submitted to the same operation with a worse grace than mine.
”Not a wink of sleep--not a wink of sleep--not a wink of sleep all night!” the old woman kept on sobbing over and over again. ”Master Bigley--Master Bigley, I was afraid I should never see you any more!”
”Brave vomans? Ha, ha! Brave vomans!” cried the Frenchman.
”Look here, Duncan!” said the doctor. ”I don't think we'll trouble Mr Uggleston any more. We want to get back home.”
”Yes,” said my father; ”but--”
He made a movement with his head towards the French skipper.
”Oh, come along, Captain Duncan,” growled old Jonas surlily. ”You must drink a gla.s.s with him. I won't poison you this time.”
”Thanks, Uggleston,” said my father quietly; and, intimate as I was with Bigley, school-fellows and companions as we were, I could not help noticing the difference, and how thoroughly my father was the gentleman and Jonas Uggleston the commonplace seafaring man.
”Here, Mother Bonnet!” cried old Jonas, ”the boys want something. You see to them.”
The old woman took us into her kitchen, as she called it, and attended to our wants; but I could hear what went on in the other room, and the French skipper's words as they all partook of something together.
Ten minutes after, my father called me by name, and I found him waiting with the doctor outside, the Frenchman beaming on all in turn.
”Ve are ze old amis, le vieux--ze old Jonas and myselfs. Sare, I am been glad I receive ze boys on my sheep.”
”And I thank you, captain,” replied my father. ”You have saved my boy's life. Will you accept this in remembrance? It is old but good.”
My father drew out his plain gold watch, and I saw the Frenchman's eyes glisten as he stretched out a not very clean hand.
But he s.n.a.t.c.hed it back directly.