Roger Willoughby | Page 9

of whom you speak," said the
Captain. "I know that my uncle Thomas was made prisoner in the fight
at Worcester, and afterwards cruelly shot. My father escaped with the
help of a friend, and remained concealed with my mother and their
family, living in the humblest way, till King Charles the Second was
restored to the throne. Through the influence of some friends my father
obtained a small office connected with the Ordnance in the Tower,
which brought him in sufficient to feed and clothe his family in a
simple fashion. I was young, and used to what might be called penury,
and I well knew that I must seek my fortune in the world, and work
hard. I had an early taste for the sea, for we lived near the Thames, and
I often used to make trips with the watermen, among whom I was a
favourite. When I was old enough to make myself useful they paid me
for the assistance I gave them, looking after boats, sometimes bringing
them a fare from the shore, and often taking an oar. I was just ten years
old when the present King came to the throne, and I might perchance
have joined one of his ships, but from the way I heard my friends the
watermen say that men were treated on board them, I had no fancy for
joining a man-of-war. Soon after the time I speak of, an old friend of
my father's got him an appointment in the Tower, which brought him in
indeed but 80 pounds a year; yet as that was more than our family had
had to live on for many a long year, it was a cause of much rejoicing
and thanksgiving. Still it was not enough to allow any of us who could
work to live in idleness, and I determined to try what I could do. I was
one day looking out for a fare for an old waterman, John Cox by name,
who had engaged my services, I being an especial favourite of his,
when a sailor-like man came down and said he wanted to be put on
board the Rainbow frigate lying in the stream. `John Cox will put you
on board,' says I; `there's his boat. I'll hail him, and he will be down in a
moment.'

"`That will do,' said the stranger, and he stepped on board the boat.
"`Are you the old man's son?' he asked.
"`No, sir; I am the son of Colonel Benbow, who has got an office in the
Tower.'
"`What! his son thus employed!' exclaimed the stranger. `Is he going to
bring you up as a waterman?'
"`An please you, sir, I am bringing myself up to gain an honest
livelihood as best I can,' I answered.
"`Would you like to go to sea and visit foreign countries?' asked the
stranger.
"`That I would, sir, with all my heart,' I answered.
"`What will you say if I offer to take you?' he asked, looking at me.
"`That I will accept your offer, and serve you faithfully,' I said.
"`Then, lad, you shall come with me aboard the Rainbow. We will go
back and see your father. I would not take you without his sanction; but
if he approves, we shall have time to get such an outfit as you require,
for I do not sail till to-morrow.'
"John Cox and I put Captain Downing, for such was his name, on board
the Rainbow. He told us to wait alongside for him. After some time he
again stepped into the boat, and ordered John Cox to pull for the Tower
Stairs.
"On landing, he bade me conduct him to my father's lodgings, which I
gladly did. My father, as it happened, had met Captain Downing, and
knew him to be a man of probity. Thanking the Captain for his offer, he
without hesitation gave me leave to accompany him as cabin-boy. It did
not take long to get an outfit, and bidding my old father and my kind
mother and brothers and sisters farewell, I went on board the Rainbow.
We dropped down the Thames the next day, but it was nearly a week

before we were fairly at sea. The moment I stepped on board, having
determined to become a sailor, I set to work to learn everything I could.
The Captain helped me in every way. I observed especially the manner
he treated his men. He spoke kindly to them, took care that they had
plenty of good provisions, and never demanded more work of them
than he knew they could perform. Thus the same crew sailed with him
voyage after voyage, and I said to myself, `Whenever I get command of
a ship, I will treat my men in the same