In the Wilds of Africa | Page 7

my cousin close the old man's eyes as I took Natty by the hand
and led him to the main cabin. I thought I would tell him at once what
had happened; but a choking sensation came into my throat, and I could
not utter a word.
"Is father not getting better," he asked, after a time. "Why did he not
speak to me just now?"
"I am afraid he is not getting better," I replied; "but come on deck." The
idea struck me that I would get one of the young ladies to speak to him,
as they would tell him of his loss with more gentleness than any one
else. When we reached the deck he saw Leo, who ran up to him, and
took him aft to show him a large shark he had been watching
swimming about close astern. I seized the opportunity of speaking to
Miss Rowley, and told her what had happened.

"Oh, no, no; I am sure I cannot speak to the child. I should not know
what to say," she answered. "Just tell him yourself. I do not suppose
boys are likely to be much affected by such an occurrence."
I could not help giving her a look expressive of the surprise and pain I
felt. Could that elegant young lady be so heartless and indifferent to the
sorrow of others? My cousin Kate was sitting a little further off, out of
hearing of her brother and Natty.
"The captain is dead," I said, in a low voice; "but his poor boy does not
know it."
"Is the kind old man really gone?" she exclaimed, looking up into my
face, and a tear starting into her eye. "Oh, how sad for poor Natty! But
he must be told; and yet he will feel it dreadfully."
"Will you tell him then, Kate?" I asked. "It is necessary to do so at once,
and yet it is hard to wound his feelings."
"Yes," she said; "I will try, even though it would greatly pain me. Yes
yes!" she continued. "Come here, Natty, and sit down by me.--You
need not be afraid, Andrew, I will speak gently to him."
I was sure she would. Her sweet countenance showed me how much
she felt for the boy. I did not hear what she said, but she took his hand,
and looked kindly into his face. He saw the tears in her eyes as she
went on talking, and then, at length, he seemed to comprehend the truth,
and began to sob violently. I saw her take both his hands, and cast on
him a look of sympathy, of more avail just then than any words she
could have uttered. Directly after he started up, as if to run to the cabin
where his dead father lay; but she held him back by gentle force; and
then he sat quiet, and sobbed and sobbed as if his young heart would
break; and she again began to speak so soothingly to him, looking so
kindly into his face, her tears falling fast, that I knew he was gaining
the comfort he needed.
The mate meantime, hearing what had happened, went into the cabin,
as if to satisfy himself. When he returned on deck, I saw that he could

scarcely conceal his satisfaction as he looked about with an air of
authority.
"Men," he said--for the crew had come up, a rumour having reached
them of what had occurred--"I am now captain of this brig, and you
will have to obey my orders. You understand me. I am not going to
have any of the nonsense we had before; what I say I'll have done, and
if there's any slackness, look out for squalls."
Captain Page, I should have said, had been accustomed to have prayers
every morning and service on Sunday--a practice not common, I am
sorry to say, in those days aboard merchantmen. The good old customs
of our forefathers had long been given up, when, rough as seamen
might have been, there were far more God-fearing men among them
than at present; so I have read. I am afraid Kydd alluded to this practice
of the captain's, as well as to the kind and gentle way in which he ruled
his crew. The men touched their hats in recognition of his authority, but
I saw from the looks they cast at him, that they held him in very
different estimation to their late master. A stricter captain, perhaps,
might have kept them in better order. Many of them were somewhat
rough hands; but still his kindness had won their hearts, and, rough as
they were, they now showed unmistakable signs of sorrow for his
death.
When the mate ceased speaking, and turned aft with a conceited air, I