The Castaways | Page 4

blue, and gold; and it was furnished with three
tables--one on either side of the cabin, running fore-and-aft, with a
good wide gangway between, and one athwartships and abaft the other
two, with seats on the after side of it only, so that no one was called
upon to turn his or her back upon those sitting at the other two tables.
The tables were gleaming with snow-white napery, crystal, and silver;
and were further adorned with handsome flowering plants in painted
china bowls, placed at frequent intervals; the deck was covered with a

carpet in which one's feet sank ankle deep; the sofas were upholstered
in stamped purple velvet; and the whole scene was illuminated by the
soft yet brilliant light of three clusters of three lamps each suspended
over the centres of the several tables. Abaft the aftermost table I caught
a glimpse of a piano, open, with some sheets of music upon it, as
though someone had already been trying the tone of the instrument.
Conducted by the steward, I presently found myself installed in a chair,
between two ladies, one of whom was seated alongside the skipper, on
his right. This lady was young--apparently about twenty-one or
twenty-two years of age, above medium height--if one could form a
correct judgment of her stature as she sat at the table--a rich and
brilliant brunette, crowned with a wealth of most beautiful and
luxuriant golden-chestnut hair, and altogether the most perfectly lovely
creature that I had ever beheld. I felt certain, the moment my eyes
rested upon her, that she must certainly be the subject of my friend the
waterman's enthusiastic eulogies. The other lady--she who occupied the
seat on my right--was stout, elderly, grey-haired, and very richly attired
in brocade and lace, with a profusion of jewellery about her. She was
also loud-voiced, for as I passed behind her toward my seat she shouted
to the elderly, military-looking man on her right:
"Now, Pat, don't ye attempt to argue wid me; I shall be ill to-morrow,
no matther what I ait, or don't ait; so I shall take a good dinner and
injoy mesilf while I can!"
Captain Dacre--a very fine-looking, handsome, whitehaired man,
attired in a fairly close imitation of a naval captain's uniform, and
looking a thorough sailor all over--was already seated; but upon seeing
me he rose, stretched out his hand, and remarked:
"Lieutenant Conyers, I presume? Welcome, sir, aboard the City of
Cawnpore; and I hope that when next you see Gravesend you will have
fully recovered the health and strength you are going to sea to look for.
It is not often, Mr Conyers, that I have a brother sailor upon my
passenger list, so when I am so fortunate I make the most of him by
providing him--as in your case--with a berth at the table as nearly
alongside me as possible. Allow me to make you known to your

neighbours. Miss Onslow, permit me to introduce Lieutenant Conyers
of our Royal Navy. Lady O'Brien--General Sir Patrick
O'Brien--Lieutenant Conyers."
Miss Onslow--the beauty on my left--acknowledged the introduction
with a very queenly and distant bow; Lady O'Brien looked me keenly
in the eyes for an instant, and then shook hands with me very heartily;
and the general murmured something about being glad to make my
acquaintance, and forthwith addressed himself with avidity to the plate
of soup which one of the stewards placed before him.
Presently, having finished his soup, the general leaned forward and
stared hard at me for a moment. Then he remarked:
"Excuse me, Conyers--it is no use being formal, when we are about to
be cooped up together on board ship for the next two months, is it?--are
you the man that got so shockingly hacked about at the capture of that
piratical slaver, the--the--hang it all, I've forgotten her name now?"
"If you refer to the Preciosa, I must plead guilty to the soft
impeachment," answered I.
"Ah!" he exclaimed, "hang me if I didn't think so when I heard your
name, and saw that scar across your forehead. Wonderfully plucky
thing to do, sir; as plucky a thing, I think, as I ever heard of! I must get
you to tell me all about it, some time or another--here, steward, hang it
all, man, this sherry is corked! Bring me another bottle!"
I am rather a shy man, and this sudden identification of me in
connection with an affair that I had already grown heartily tired of
hearing referred to, and that I fondly hoped would now be speedily
forgotten by my friends, was distinctly disconcerting; I therefore seized
upon the opportunity afforded me by the mishap to the general's sherry
to divert the conversation into another channel, by turning to my lovely
left-hand neighbour with the inquiry: