Part 15 (1/2)

”Because a boy has just come to sea, and is ignorant of his profession, it appears to be a custom--which I shall take care shall not be followed up--to play him all manner of tricks, and tell him all manner of falsehoods. Now, sir, what have you to say for yourself?”

”Mr Green and I have both just come to sea, sir, and the mids.h.i.+pmen all play us so many tricks,” replied I, humbly, ”that I hardly know whether what I do is right or wrong.”

”But, sir, it was you who played this trick to Mr Green.”

”Yes, sir, I told him so for fun, but I didn't think he was such a fool as to believe me. I only said that you were a freemason, and that freemasons were kind to each other, and that you gave one another signs to know one another by; I heard you say you were a freemason, sir, when I dined in the gun-room.”

”Well, sir, I did say so; but that is no reason for your teaching him to be impudent.”

”He asked me for the signs, sir, and I didn't know them exactly; so I gave him the signs that Mr Dott and I always make between us.”

”Mr Dott and you--a pretty pair, as I said before. I've a great mind to put you in Mr Green's place--at all events, I shall report your conduct when the captain comes from London. There, sir, you may go.”

I put on a penitent face as I went out wiping my eyes with the back of my hands. After I went out, I waited a few seconds at the gun-room door, and then the officers, supposing that I was out of hearing, gave vent to their mirth, the first lieutenant laughing the loudest.

”Cross is right,” thought I, as I went up the ladder; a minute afterwards, Mr Green was set free, and, after a severe reprimand, was allowed to return to his duty.

”You are well out of that trick, my hearty,” said Bob Cross; ”the first lieutenant won't say a word to the captain, never fear; but don't try it again.”

But an event occurred a few hours afterwards which might have been attended with more serious consequences. The s.h.i.+p was, during the day, surrounded by sh.o.r.e boats of all descriptions, containing Jews, sailors'

wives, and many other parties, who wished to have admittance on board.

It was almost dusk, the tide was running strong flood, and the wind was very fresh, so that there was a good deal of sea. All the boats had been ordered to keep off by the first lieutenant, but they still lingered, in hope of getting on board.

I was looking over the stern, and perceived that the boat belonging to the b.u.mboat woman, who was on board of the s.h.i.+p, was lying with her painter fast to the stern ladder; the waterman was in her, as well as one of the sailors' wives, who had left her own wherry in hopes of getting on board when the waterman went alongside to take in the articles not sold, when the b.u.mboat woman left the s.h.i.+p, which would be in a few minutes, as it was nearly gun-fire for sunset. The waterman, who thought it time to haul alongside, and wished to communicate with his employer on board, was climbing up by the stern ladder.

”That's against orders, you know,” cried I to the man.

”Yes, sir; but it is so rough, that the boat would be swamped if it were to remain alongside long, and I hope you won't order me down again; there's some nice cakes in the boat, sir, just under the stern sheets, if you would like to have them, and think it worth while to go down for them.”

This was a bribe, and I replied, ”No, I don't want your cakes, but you may come up.”

The man thanked me, and walked forward as soon as he had gained the deck. On second thoughts, I determined that I would have the cakes; so I descended by the stern ladder, and desiring the woman who was left in the boat to haul upon the rope, contrived to get into the boat.

”What is it you want, my dear?” said the woman.

”I come for some of those cakes under the stern sheets,” replied I.

”Well, I'll soon rummage them out,” said she, ”and I hope you will let me slip on board when the boat is alongside. Mind, sir, how you step, you'll smash all the pipes. Give me your hand. I'm an old sailor.”

”I should not think so,” replied I, looking at her. I could hardly make out her face, but her form was small, and, if an old sailor, she certainly was a very young woman.

We had a good many articles to remove before we could get at the cakes, which were under the stern sheets; and the boat rocked and tossed so violently with the sea which was running, that we were both on our knees for some little while before we obtained the basket: when we did, to our surprise, we found that the boat's painter, somehow or another, had loosened, and that during our search we had drifted nearly one hundred yards from the s.h.i.+p.

”Mercy on me!--why, we are adrift,” exclaimed the woman. ”What shall we do? It's no use hailing, they'll never hear us; look well round for any boat you may see.”

”It is getting so dark that we shall not see far,” replied I, not much liking our position. ”Where shall we go to?”

”Go to!--clean out to St. Helen's, if the boat does not fill before we get there; and further than that too, if I mistake not, with this gale of wind. We may as well say our prayers, youngster, I can tell you.”

”Can't we make sail upon her?” replied I. ”Can't we try and pull on sh.o.r.e somewhere? Had we not better do that, and say our prayers afterwards?”