Part 5 (1/2)
Long ago Captain Morgan had learned that wealth is power. His own s.h.i.+p had cost a million or more, and England's millions enabled his government to control the globe. Not only was he keenly alive to the fact that capital and brains guided most human events, but naturally he possessed the instincts of a gentleman, and besides he was a true Briton. His ancestors for generations had followed the sea for a livelihood and fame.
Some had served conspicuously in the navy, and others like himself had spent long lives in the commercial marine.
In Lucille's eyes Captain Morgan was an ideal hero of the sea. He was over six feet in height, and robust of form, weighing not less than 250 pounds. His face was round and bronzed by the exposure of over three hundred ocean pa.s.sages. His closely cropped beard and hair were iron gray, and his mild blue eyes and shapely hands told of inbred qualities.
That he was possessed of rare traits of character, it was easy to discover. Loyalty to the great trusts confided to him, was noticeable in his every movement. ”Safety of s.h.i.+p, pa.s.sengers, and cargo,” were words often repeated, whether the skies above him were blue or black.
Captain Morgan addressing Mrs. Harris said, ”We shall miss very much your husband's presence aboard s.h.i.+p. Nowadays managers of great enterprises ash.o.r.e, involving the use of large amounts of capital, encounter quite as many stormy seas as we of the Atlantic.”
”Yes,” replied Mrs. Harris, ”and the causes of financial disturbances are fully as difficult to divine or control.”
”It was fortunate, however, Mrs. Harris,” said the captain, ”that word reached the steamer in time to intercept the Colonel so that he could return at once and a.s.sume command of his business. Aboard our s.h.i.+p, you must all dismiss every anxiety as to matters at home or on the ”Majestic.” With your permission, Colonel Harris's family shall be mine for the pa.s.sage. Please command my services at all times.”
”Thank you,” said Alfonso, and the captain's cordial words, like suns.h.i.+ne, dispelled the clouds.
”Captain,” inquired Leo, ”do you think we shall have a pleasant voyage?”
”Yes, I hope so, for the sake of those aboard who are making this their first voyage, otherwise we may not have the pleasure of much of their company.”
”Captain Morgan, then you really promise a smooth pa.s.sage?” said Lucille.
”Oh no, Miss Harris, we never promise in advance good weather on the ocean. Smooth water for us old sailors is irksome indeed, yet I always consider it very fortunate for our pa.s.sengers, if Old Probabilities grant us a day or two of fair skies as we leave and enter port. With gentle breezes the pa.s.sengers gradually get possession of their 'sea legs' as sailors term it, and later brisk breezes are welcomed.”
”Captain, have you a panacea for seasickness?” inquired Mrs. Harris.
”Oh, yes,” he replied, ”take as vigorous exercise on the s.h.i.+p as is taken ash.o.r.e, eat wisely, observe economy of nerve-force, and be resolved to keep on good terms with Old Neptune. Don't fight the steamer's movements or eccentricities, but yield gracefully to all the boat's motions. In a word, forget entirely that you are aboard s.h.i.+p, and the victory is yours.”
”This is Wednesday, Captain, and do you really think you will land us in the Mersey by Monday evening?” Lucille enquired earnestly.
”Monday or Tuesday if all goes well,” the captain answered. Captain Morgan drank his coffee, excused himself, and returned to his duty on the bridge.
”What a gallant old sea-dog the captain is,” said Mrs. Harris. ”We shall feel perfectly safe in his keeping. How cheery he is away from home.”
”How do you know he has a home, mother?”
”Perhaps not, my dear, for he seems really married to his s.h.i.+p.”
The Harrises and Leo joined the pa.s.sengers who had now left the dining saloon. The light winds had freshened and the skies were overcast and gave promise of showers, if not of a storm. After walking a few times around the promenade deck, most of the pa.s.sengers went below, some to the library, some to the smoking room, and some to their staterooms, perhaps thinking discretion the better part of valor. The steamer's chairs were taken from the deck and only a few persons remained outside. Some of them were clad in warm ulsters. They walked the usual half-hour. Most of these promenaders were men of business who were required to make frequent ocean pa.s.sages. They were as familiar with moistened decks, cloudy skies, and heavy seas as the land-lubbers are with stone pavements and hotel corridors.
CHAPTER V
DISCOMFITURES AT SEA
The green and red lights on the starboard and port sides and the white light on the foremast now burned brightly. The boatswain's shrill whistle furled the sails snugly to every spar, leaving the sailors little time or spirit for their usual song, as barometer-like they too sensed the approaching storm. The s.h.i.+p's watch forward was increased as the wind grew strong, and the weather ahead had become thick and hazy.
The captain quickly left the table when the steward placed in his hand a bit of writing from the first officer, which read, ”The barometer is falling rapidly.” Captain Morgan and an officer paced the bridge with eyes alert. Heavy clouds of smoke from the triple stacks revealed that a hundred glowing furnaces were being fed with fuel, a.s.sistant engineers were busily inspecting, and oilers were active in lubricating the ponderous engines that every emergency might be promptly met.
Ports were closed and every precaution taken. The anxiety of officers and sailors and the increased agitation of the sea was soon noticed by the s.h.i.+p's gay company. Before ten o'clock most of the pa.s.sengers were glad of the good-night excuse for retiring. The smoking room, however, was crowded with devotees to the weed. Old-timers were busy with cards, or forming pools on the first day's run from Sandy Hook, or speculating as to the time of arrival at Queenstown.
The atmosphere of the room was as thick as the weather outside. It is no wonder that a club man of New York, making his first trip to Europe, inquired of his Philadelphia friend, ”Why do Americans smoke so continually?”