Looking Seaward Again | Page 7

tried to

explode them the day after you left the port, and very few of them went
off. Things were kept a bit quiet, but I can always get to know what is
going on, and if the gunboats had been properly handled that night it
would have been all up with you."
"But," said the captain, "what on earth is the use of talking that way!
They were not properly handled, and here I am. And what I want to
know is this: do you think there will be any more about it, now the war
is over, and old Pumper Nichol [the Admiral] and his friends are not
here?"
"I don't know," said his friend. "You never can tell what these sly
rascals are thinking or doing; but I will know as soon as there are any
indications. If I had been you, I wouldn't have come out here so soon;
or, at least, have first made sure that all danger was over. But never
mind; we'll soon smuggle you off, if we can get the slightest hint. 'Palm
oil squares the yards,' as the old sailors used to say, and nobody has had
more experience of that than I."
"Does G----d and old J----b know about the affair?"
"I think they are bound to, though they may have forgotten. Anyhow,
they are absolutely loyal, and may be depended upon if their aid is
called into requisition. Do you know they had to clear out of the
country with their families, and nearly every English family had to do
the same?"
"Well, Patrovish C----," said the captain, "they may seize the steamer,
but they will never be allowed to seize me, even should it be legal to do
so, now the war is at an end."
"What do they care about what is legal," said Patrovish. "If it suits their
purpose, and those in authority learn what took place, there will be no
scruples about doing anything. My advice is to keep quiet and
cool-headed, and I feel almost certain you won't be interfered with. But
there comes Yaunie. Hear what he says."
This gentleman was a Greek pilot, who had previously been a
boatswain aboard a Greek sailing-vessel. He saw an excellent opening
at the beginning of the steamship era to add to his income, so
commenced a business which flourished so well that his riches were the
envy of a large residential public, to say nothing of the seafaring
itinerants who swarmed in and out of the port. He spoke English with a
Levantine accent. Physically, he was a fine-looking, well-built man,

who commanded attention and respect from everybody. He was on
excellent terms with the port authorities, and with sea captains, and
deemed it part of a well thought-out policy to share with popular
shrewdness a portion of his takings. His benevolence was more
partially shown towards the officials than to those from whom he
derived his income; but because of his geniality, and--mostly, I should
say--on account of his generosity, he was well liked by both sections of
people. He was quite uneducated, and, like most clever men who have
this misfortune, he had great natural gifts. His memory was prodigious,
and he invested his savings with the judgment of an expert, keeping
mental accounts with startling accuracy; but, notwithstanding this, his
memory never retained anything he conceived it to be policy to forget.
When asked his opinion as to whether there was any likelihood of
anything more being heard of the captain's running out of the harbour
and over the torpedoes, he suggestively put his finger to his mouth, and
said--
"I can know nothing, but I tink it is over." And shrugging his broad
shoulders, he 'cutely remarked, "Some dead, some maybe Siberia,
and"--with a significant smile he lowered his voice to a whisper--"some,
maybe, 'fraid to say anything because for many reason. Yes, I tink finis;
but if not, den you trust me to help. I knows these people, and some of
dem knows me."
Yaunie was taken fully into the confidence of the captain and Patrovish,
and when he took his leave they felt sure that to have him as a friend
was of great value in the event of the affair being resurrected. The
captain had renewed many old friendships, and spent his evenings in
the hospitable homes of an English colony whose kindness is
unequalled anywhere. Unlike most English families who settle in
foreign countries, they retained a great many of their national customs
in food, and also in their mode of life generally. Of course the extremes
of climate have to be considered, but all their homes preserve their
British atmosphere.
The Claverhouse had nearly completed loading, and the kindly
emissaries of her captain had reported nothing of a