Part 14 (2/2)

The satisfaction of Mr Jones, however, at the success of his late venture, was somewhat damped by the information that he would have to spend the whole day on board the tender. The district superintendent, whose arduous and multifarious duties required him to be so often afloat that he seemed to be more at home in the tender than in his own house ash.o.r.e, was a man whose agreeable manners, and kind, hearty, yet firm disposition, had made him a favourite with every one in the service.

Immediately on his boarding the Gull, he informed the uninvited and unfortunate guests of that floating light that he would be very glad to take them ash.o.r.e, but that he could not do so until evening, as, besides effecting ”the relief,” he meant to take advantage of the calm weather to give a fresh coat of paint to one or two buoys, and renew their chains and sinkers, and expressed a hope that the delay would not put them to much inconvenience.

Stanley Hall, between whom and the superintendent there sprang up an intimate and sympathetic friends.h.i.+p almost at first sight, a.s.sured him that so far from putting him to inconvenience it would afford him the greatest pleasure to spend the day on board. Billy Towler heard this arrangement come to with an amount of satisfaction which was by no means shared by his employer, who was anxious to report the loss of the Nora without delay, and to claim the insurance money as soon as possible. He judged it expedient, however, to keep his thoughts and anxieties to himself, and only vented his feelings in a few deep growls, which, breaking on the ears of Billy Towler, filled the heart of that youthful sinner with additional joy.

”Wot a savage he is!” said d.i.c.k Moy, looking at Jones, and addressing himself to Billy.

”Ah, ain't he just!” replied the urchin.

”Has he not bin good to 'ee?” asked the big seaman, looking down with a kindly expression at the small boy.

”Middlin',” was Billy's cautious reply. ”I say, Neptune,” he added, looking up into d.i.c.k's face, ”wot's yer name?”

”It ain't Neptune, anyhow,” replied d.i.c.k. ”That's wot we've called the big black Noofoundland dog you sees over there a-jumping about Jim Welton as if he had falled in love with him.”

”Why is it so fond of him?” asked Billy.

d.i.c.k replied to this question by relating the incident of the dog's rescue by Jim.

”Werry interestin'. Well, but wot _is_ your name?” said Billy, returning to the point.

”d.i.c.k.”

”Of course I know that; I've heerd 'em all call ye that often enough, but I 'spose you've got another?”

”Moy,” said the big seaman.

”Moy, eh?” cried Billy, with a grin, ”that _is_ a funny name, but there ain't enough of it for my taste.”

The conversation was interrupted at this point by the superintendent, who, having been for many years in command of an East Indiaman, was styled ”Captain.” He ordered the mate and men whose turn it was to be ”relieved” to get into the tender along with the strangers. Soon afterwards the vessel steamed away over the gla.s.sy water, and Billy, who had taken a fancy to the big lamplighter, went up to him and said--

”Well, d.i.c.k Moy, where are we agoin' to just now?”

d.i.c.k pointed to a black speck on the water, a considerable distance ahead of them.

”We're agoin' to that there buoy, to lift it and put down a noo un.”

”Oh, that's a boy, is it? and are them there boys too?” asked Billy, looking round at the curious oval and conical cask-like things, of gigantic proportions, which lumbered the deck and filled the hold of the tender.

”Ay, they're all buoys.”

”None of 'em girls?” inquired the urchin gravely.

”No, none of 'em,” replied d.i.c.k with equal gravity, for to him the joke was a very stale one.

”No? that's stoopid now; I'd 'ave 'ad some of 'em girls for variety's sake--wot's the use of 'em?” asked the imp, who pretended ignorance, in order to draw out his burly companion.

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