Mother Careys Chicken | Page 5

wouldn't I heave you overboard fust chance!" cried the sailor.
"What did you do to the dog?" said the captain angrily.
"I never did nothing at all, sir. I only wanted my umbrella as I stood up in the corner. Soon as I went to take it he come at me, and if I hadn't done Jacko and nipped up there he'd have had a piece out of my leg."
As he spoke he went to take the umbrella from the corner, when, looking upon the movement as an attempt to carry out a robbery, Bruff uttered another savage growl aid struggled to get free.
"All, would yer!" cried Billy Widgeon, snatching up his umbrella and holding it by the toe in cudgel-fashion. "Now, then, youngster, lot him go. Come on, you ugly big-headed lubber. I'm ready for you now."
As he spoke Billy Widgeon did Jacko, as he termed it, again, hopping about, flourishing his weapon, and giving it a bang down upon the floor after the fashion of a wild Irishman with his shillelagh.
It was a risky proceeding, for it infuriated the dog, who began to struggle fiercely, while Mark laughed so heartily that he could hardly retain his hold.
"That will do, Widgeon," said the captain, wiping his eyes. "Here, Mark, make that dog friends with him."
"Here, give me the umbrella," said the lad.
"Nay, if I do you'll let him go at me," said the sailor doubtingly.
"Nonsense, man! Give him the umbrella," cried the captain.
The sailor obeyed; and as Mark took it he held it down before the dog, and then returned it to its owner.
Bruff did not say "All right!" but he gave three pats on the oil-cloth with his long bushy tail, a sign that he accepted the position, and then he was allowed to get up.
"Who's afeard!" cried Billy Widgeon, looking from one to the other. "I say, I was too many for him, sir."
"Yes," said the captain; "and what about my Indian jar?"
"Ah! that was the dog's fault, cap'n," said the man earnestly.
"Dog's fault!" said Captain Strong. "You knocked it down and broke it, and I shall stop the cost out of your pay."
Billy Widgeon stood for a moment looking solemn. Then, as if he had suddenly been engaged as a dentist's specimen, he bared all his fine white teeth in the broadest of broad grins.
"Nay, skipper," he said, "you wouldn't do that. Me and my shipmets wouldn't want to make another v'yge with you if you was that sort o' capt'n. I'll buy you another one when we gets to Chany. Here's off!"
He nodded to all in turn, went out of the door, rattled his umbrella on the iron railings in front, making Bruff utter a low discontented growl, and then, as the door was closed, the growl became a deeply-drawn breath like a sigh, while putting his nose to the crack at the bottom, he stood with his ears twitching, giving forth a faint whine now and then, apparently not quite satisfied as to whether he had done his duty, and uneasy in his mind about that umbrella. "You will have to be careful with that dog, Mark," said the captain. "He must be tamed down, or we shall have worse mischief than a broken jar."
"He thought the man was stealing the umbrella," pleaded Mark on behalf of his favourite.
"Then he must be taught to think sensibly, my lad. Billy Widgeon's one of my best fore-mast men, and I can't afford to have my sailors used to feed your dog."
"You're joking, father."
"Ah! but that would be no joke," said the captain. "I should not approve of his devouring the lowest and most worthless class of tramp, or a savage; but when it comes to sailors--"
"What nonsense, father!" cried Mark.
"Why, Mark, my boy, what a good idea! I think I'll borrow that dog and take him to sea."
"Take him to sea, father?"
"Yes: he would be a treasure at clearing the deck of unwelcome visitors--Chinamen or Malays."
"What, pirates?"
"Well, men who would be pirates if they dared: the low-class scoundrels who haunt some of the ports."
"All right, father! you shall have him," said Mark.
"Then I will, my boy," said the captain, looking at his son curiously, for he could not understand his willingness to part with his ugly favourite. "He shall be well treated so long as he behaves himself."
"But you can't take the dog without his master," said Mark, smiling.
"Oh, that's it! is it?" said the captain. "I thought there was something behind. Well, that was news for you," he continued.
"News?"
"Yes, that Billy Widgeon brought. I was afraid that we should be crowded in the cabin and I was beginning to regret my promise to take you; but Mr Gregory writes me word that a gentleman and his wife and daughter who were coming with us as far as