Peter Biddulph | Page 9

and our two men. Both of these were
characters in their way. Old Bob Hunt had sailed with me for many
years in the coasting trade, and a trusty hand he was, but he knew no
more of the broad seas than the child unborn, or of geography either;
and when I told him that I was thinking of going out to New Holland,
he asked if I expected to make the place in a week or so, as he supposed
it wasn't very far from Old Holland, where the people speak Dutch.
And when I told him that the natives were as black as his shoe, and
spoke a language no Christian man could understand, he would
scarcely believe me.
"Never mind," he said, after a moment's thought, "no one shall say I
deserted you because you were bound on a long voyage; if we were to
be a year about getting there I would go with you. I shall leave behind
no more kith nor kin than you do, so that's settled."
Old Bob was a capital seaman, but what is strange, he never touched
liquor, nor smoked, nor over chewed tobacco. He ate, too, as little as
any man I ever saw at his meals; and as for sleeping, it was difficult to
find him with his eyes shut. The least noise would awake him, and if
the breeze freshened up a bit he was sure to be on deck in a moment to
see that all was right. He was a most invaluable hand, and worth any
two other men I ever had. In spite of his age Bob was active as a
monkey, and short and thin, and so occupied wonderfully little space in
the small craft; which was convenient, as also for another reason, for
his companion, Dick Nailor, was one of the biggest men I ever met, a
perfect giant, but gentle as a lamb, and with an excellent temper. He
used to say that he and Bob together only took up their fair amount of
room. If Bob was never seen asleep Dick was seldom found broad
awake, but he was keeping a bright look-out notwithstanding, and when

roused up he was active enough, and strong as a lion. The children were
very fond of him. He could take them all up in his arms and dance a
hornpipe with them hanging about him, as lightly as a young lady in
satin shoes.
My eldest boy, Peter, named after me, was one of the steadiest fellows I
ever met. At eighteen he was second officer of a ship, and might have
been entrusted with the command. I was sorry to take him away from
the line he was following, and yet it was a great thing to have all my
family together. He wished to come, and did not disappoint my
expectation.
Mark and John, my next boys, were always together, and yet very
different. Mark was one of the merriest chaps you ever saw, and up to
all sorts of harmless pranks. John looked like gravity itself, but that
arose from his eyes and the shape of his mouth; give him anything to
laugh at and he would indeed laugh heartily. Mark was his chief object
of admiration. He thought no one his equal, yet many people liked John
the most. He was so humble and gentle, and never thought a thing
about himself.
My eldest girl, Mary, was like her elder brother as to steadiness and
discretion, just what an elder sister should be; so good-natured and kind,
too, it was pleasant to see her standing all the bothering the young ones
gave her without a word of complaint. It was a valuable quality in a
person who was to be shut up for four or five months in a small craft
with a number of youngsters. She was next to Peter in age, and then
came Susan, as kind-hearted, industrious a little creature as ever lived,
not very bright, but wanting to do right; and then the two boys, and
then Margaret, a bright-eyed, fair child, such a little dear; then another
boy, Tommy, always in a mess because he didn't know how to keep out
of one; and one more girl, Sarah Ann, and there you have the whole lot
of them; they, with their mother, a good woman if any one ever
deserved the name, with the two men and myself, made up the
complement of the human souls embarked on board the May Flower.
Then we had a dog, Steadfast, and a cat, Duchess, the only thing of
much rank aboard us; two fine cocks and ten hens for laying eggs,

besides a couple of dozen other fowls, to be eaten by my wife and the
girls. We