The South Sea Whaler | Page 2

you, and try to get at
the why and wherefore of everything. Many fail to be worth much at
sea as well as on shore, because they are too proud to learn their A B C.
Just think of that, my son."

"I will do my best, father, to follow your advice," answered Walter, a
fine lad between fourteen and fifteen years of age. His sister Alice was
two years younger,--a fair, pretty-looking girl, with the hue of health on
her cheeks, which showed that she was well able to endure the
vicissitudes of climate, or any hardships to which she might possibly be
subjected at sea.
When Captain Tredeagle resolved to take his children with him, he had
no expectation of exposing them to dangers or hardships. He had been
thirty years afloat, and had never been wrecked, and he did not suppose
that such an occurrence was ever likely to happen to him. He forgot the
old adage, that "the pitcher which goes often to the well is liable to be
broken at last." He had lost his wife during his previous voyage, and
had no one on whom he could rely to take care of his motherless
children while he was absent from home. Walter had expressed a strong
wish to go to sea, so he naturally took him; and with regard to Alice, of
two evils he chose that which he considered the least. He had seen the
dangers to which girls deprived of a mother's watchful care are exposed
on shore, and he knew that on board his ship, at all events, Alice would
be safe from them. Having no great respect for the ordinary female
accomplishments of music and dancing, he felt himself fully competent
to instruct her in most other matters, while he rightly believed that her
mind would be expanded by visiting the strange and interesting scenes
to which during the voyage he hoped to introduce her. "As for
needle-work and embroidery, why, Jacob and I can teach you as well as
can most women; and our black fellow Nub will cut out your dresses
with all the skill and taste of a practised mantua-maker," he had said
when talking to Alice on the subject of her going.
Alice was delighted to accompany her father, and hoped to be a real
comfort to him. She would take charge of his cabin and keep it in
beautiful order, and repair his clothes, and take care that a button was
never wanting; and would pour out his coffee and tea, and write out his
journal and keep his accounts, she hoped. And should he fall sick, how
carefully she would watch over him; indeed, she flattered herself that
she could be of no slight use. Then, she might be a companion to
Walter, who might otherwise become as rough and rude as some

ship-boys she had seen; not that it was his nature to be rough, she
thought, but she had often written in her copy-book, "Evil
communications corrupt good manners," and Walter's truly good
manners might deteriorate among the rough crew of the whaler. Alice
also intended to be very diligent with her books, and she could learn
geography in a practical way few young ladies are able to enjoy. And,
lastly, she had a sketch-book and a colour-box, by means of which she
hoped to make numberless drawings of the scenery and people she was
to visit. Altogether, she was not likely to find the time hang heavy on
her hands.
In many respects she was not disappointed in her expectations. As soon
as the ship was clear of the Channel and fairly at sea, her father began
the course of instruction he intended to pursue during the voyage. Mr
Jacob Shobbrok the mate, and Nub, delighted to impart such feminine
accomplishments as they possessed; and it amused her to see how
deftly their strong hands plied their needles.
Nub, as the black steward was generally called, had been for the best
part of his life at sea with her father. He had been christened Nubia,
which name was abridged into Nub; and sometimes she and Walter,
when they were little children, had been accustomed, as a term of
endearment, to call him "Nubby," and even now they frequently so
called him. He was truly devoted to his captain's children, but more
especially were the affections of the big warm heart which beat in his
black bosom bestowed upon Alice. It is no exaggeration to say that he
would gladly have died to save her from harm.
Alice, indeed, was perfectly happy, not feeling the slightest regret at
having left England. The weather was fine, the sea generally smooth,
and the ship glided so rapidly on her course that Alice persuaded
herself she was