Sail Ho! | Page 9

passenger I saw was Mr Preddle, who came out of his cabin twice a day, looking miserably ill, and having hard work to stand; but Hampton the sailor and I used to help him go right forward to attend to his fish and then help him back again.
"It's so good of you," he used to say; "I'm not used to the sea, and if I get worse, do please go and see to my poor fish."
"Yes, they shan't be neglected," I said. "But I think the sea's going down, and you'll be all right, sir, then."
He shook his head sorrowfully, and when I helped him to lie down again-- no easy task, for he was so big--he shut his eyes and whispered, "How is our sick friend?" he said.
"What, Walters, my messmate?"
"No, no, the passenger, Mr Denning."
"I haven't seen him, but the steward said he seemed pretty well, sir."
"Impossible. In such a delicate state of health. Have you seen the lady?"
"No, she has not been on deck."
"No. It would be too rough," sighed the poor fellow. "What's that?" he cried, excitedly, "something wrong?"
"I'll go and see," I said; for there had reached us the sound of an angry voice, and then a noise as of something falling overhead, and as I hurried out and on deck, I could hear the captain storming furiously, evidently at one of the men.
CHAPTER FIVE.
"And sarve him jolly well right," growled Hampton, looking at me as I hurried forward to where Captain Berriman was following up one of the sailors, who, with his hand to his bleeding cheek, was gazing fiercely at his officer and backing away toward the forecastle.
"Yes," shouted the captain, "get down below and don't show yourself to me again to-day, you scoundrel. Call yourself a sailor, and haven't learned the first line of a sailor's catechism--obedience to his officer."
The captain's face was flushed and the veins in his brow were knotted, but the aspect of his countenance changed directly, as in backing away from him the man did not allow for the heaving of the ship, and the consequence was that he stumbled, tried to save himself, and then fell heavily and rolled over into the lee-scuppers, but picked himself up and then hurried forward and out of sight.
As I looked back at the captain, it was to see his rugged face twinkling now with mirth, and he turned to Mr Frewen the doctor, who had hurried on deck at the noise.
"There, doctor," he said, "you see the old Burgh Castle wouldn't rest easy, and see her skipper insulted. Pitched the scoundrel off his legs. That comes of having these mongrel sort of fellows aboard. He's half a Frenchman. Shipped in a hurry. An insolent dog. Got my blood up; for as long as I walk this deck, right or wrong, I'll be obeyed. Perhaps I ought to have put him in irons though, instead of being so handy with my fists. You'll have to go and stick half-a-yard of plaster on his cheek: it's cut."
"What was the matter?" said the doctor, as soon as the captain gave him an opportunity.
"Brymer told him and another of the men to go up aloft, and he refused. I heard him, and ordered him to go at once, and he said, loud enough for Miss Denning to hear--never mind what. Here she comes;--and I knocked him down."
"Ah, my dear young lady," he continued, taking off his cap, "I apologise to you for that scene. But a captain must be master of his ship."
"I am very sorry too," she replied sadly. "It seemed so shocking for you to strike the man."
"Now, now, now, my dear, don't you scold me, an old fellow who has to play the part of father to you and your brother on this voyage. It was a pity perhaps, but I was obliged. But there, there, it's all over now."
"Hope it be," grumbled a voice behind me, and I turned sharply to see that Hampton was close alongside. "Yes, sir," he said again, "I hope it be, but chaps who wears earrings has got tempers like spiteful women, and that chap Jarette arn't the sort to forget a blow."
"Did the captain hit him very hard?" I said, after a glance over my shoulder, to see that the officers were walking aft talking to Miss Denning.
"Hard? Did the skipper hit him hard, sir? What says you, Barney, and you, Neb Dumlow?"
This was to the two sailors who were generally pretty close to his heels, all three men being thorough messmates, and having, as I afterwards learned, sailed together for years.
"Did he hit him hard?" said Barney, slowly, and giving his mouth a rub with the back of his hand.
"That's what I said, messmate; don't get chewin' o' my words over five hundred