Tales of the Sea | Page 9

who is that other boy?"
"The captain's son," I answered.
"Ah, I thought so, by his appearance," said the officer. "He shall be
taken into the cabin. You, my boy, will have a hammock on the lower
deck, and the hot grog you asked for. I'll visit you soon. I am the doctor

of the ship."
He then spoke to the men, and while Clement was carried aft, I was
lifted up and conveyed below by a couple of somewhat rough but not
ill-natured-looking seamen. I was more exhausted than I had supposed,
for on the way I fainted, and many hours passed by before I returned to
a state of half consciousness.

STORY ONE, CHAPTER 3.
In three days I was quite well, and the doctor sending me a suit of
seaman's clothes, I dressed and found my way up on deck. I looked
about eagerly for Clem, but not seeing him, I became anxious to learn
how he was. I could make none of the men understand me. Most of
them were Finns--big broad-shouldered, ruddy, light-haired, bearded
fellows; very good-natured and merry, notwithstanding the harsh
treatment they often received. Big as they were, they were knocked
about like so many boys by the petty officers, and I began to feel rather
uncomfortable lest I should come in for share of the same treatment, of
which I had had enough from the hands of old Growl. I determined,
however, to grin and bear it, and do, as well as I could, whatever I was
told.
I soon found that I was not to be allowed to eat the bread of idleness,
for a burly officer, whom I took to be the boatswain, ordered me aloft
with several other boys, to hand the fore royal, a stiff breeze just then
coming on. Up I went; and though I had never been so high above the
deck before, that made but little difference, and I showed that I could
beat my companions in activity. When I came down the boatswain
nodded his approval. I kept looking out for Clem. At last I saw my
friend the doctor, with several other officers, on the quarter-deck. I
hurried aft to him, and, touching my cap, asked him how Clem was.
The others stared at me as if surprised at my audacity in thus venturing
among them. "The boy is doing well," he answered; "but, lad, I must
advise you not to infringe the rules of discipline. You were, I
understand, one of the ship's boys, and must remain for'ard. He is a

young gentleman, and such his dress and appearance prove him to be,
will be allowed to live with the midshipmen."
"I am very glad to hear that," I answered; "but I am a gentleman's son
also, and I should like to live with the midshipmen, that I may be with
Clem."
"Your companion has said something to the same effect," observed the
doctor; "but the captain remarks that there are many wild, idle boys
sent to sea who may claim to be the sons of gentlemen; and as your
appearance shows, as you acknowledge was the case, that you were
before the mast, there you must continue till your conduct proves that
you are deserving of a higher rank. And now go for'ard. I'll recollect
what you have said." I took the hint. The seamen grinned as I returned
among them, as if they had understood what I had been saying.
I kept to my resolution of doing smartly whatever I was told, and
laughed and joked with the men, trying to understand their lingo, and to
make myself understood by them. I managed to pick up some of their
words, though they almost cracked my jaws to pronounce them; but I
laughed at my own mistakes, and they seemed to think it very good fun
to hear me talk.
Several days passed away, when at length I saw Clement come on deck.
I ran aft to him, and he came somewhat timidly to meet me. We shook
hands, and I told him how glad I was to see him better, though he still
looked very pale. "I am very glad also to see you, Jack," he said, "and I
wish we were to be together. I told the doctor I would rather go and live
for'ard than be separated from you; but he replied that that could not be,
and I have hopes, Jack, that by-and-by you will be placed on the
quarter-deck if you will enter the Russian service."
"What! and give up being an Englishman?" I exclaimed. "I would do a
great deal to be with you, but I won't abandon my country and be
transmogrified into a Russian."
"You are right, Jack," said Clem, with a sigh; "however,