The Two Whalers | Page 4

and to try and perform it to the best of my power. I next asked my new
friend his name, supposing that, though he looked young, he might be
one of the mates.
"Andrew Medley," he answered. "I am still an apprentice, as you are
about to become, so we shall be messmates; and if you are wise, I hope
that we shall get on well together."
"I hope so," I replied, with confidence, liking his looks. Just then my
father came up, and hearing that Medley was to be my messmate,
shook hands with him. Presently he sent me off on some excuse or
other, and drawing Medley aside, had a short, earnest talk with him.
What it was about I did not at the time know.
"I am thankful that you have got so right-minded a young man for a
messmate," observed my father shortly afterwards. "He will, I hope,

prove a true friend to you."
I must not stop to describe my astonishment at the crowded
thoroughfares we passed along on our way to the inn where we lodged
for the night. The next morning we went to the office of the owners in
Old Broad Street, where I was, by the signing of certain papers, bound
apprentice for four years on board the good ship "Eagle," South Sea
whaler, Captain Hake commander. This done, we made our way to the
river, and getting into a wherry proceeded in her to the dock, in which
my ship lay getting ready for sea. On going on board I looked round for
Medley, but could nowhere see him, and presently my father took me
up to Captain Hake, who was standing aft, giving his orders in a sharp,
ringing voice, which showed that he was accustomed to be obeyed.
"If he is the man his appearance betokens, he is a very fine fellow
indeed," I thought to myself. He was of good height, with broad
shoulders, an open countenance, well-bronzed, large blue eyes, and a
thick bushy beard. I don't know if he formed as good an opinion of me
as I did of him, but he looked down good-naturedly as he said, "I'll do
my best to make a seaman of the lad, Mr Kemp, and I'll keep an eye on
him, as I do on all the youngsters under my charge."
He then invited us into the cabin and gave us some luncheon, after
which my father took his leave. I accompanied him to the side. Pressing
my hand, with a trembling voice he said, "We may never meet again,
Jack. You have chosen a perilous profession, and may at any moment
be called away; but, my dear boy, seek always so to live that you may
be ready to go when summoned."
I watched him as he pulled away till his wherry was lost to sight among
the shipping, and at first felt very sad; but I soon recovered my spirits,
and having got one of the few seamen who had joined to stow my chest
away for me on the half-deck, where he told me the apprentices slept, I
set out to make an exploring expedition round the ship. I should have
been wiser had I waited for Medley, or, at all events, avoided touching
anything with the use of which I was not acquainted.
Among other novelties which I examined was the windlass, which had

the handles shipped, but I did not observe that on the top of it was
coiled a large quantity of iron chain out of the way to allow of the deck
being scraped. I saw that the big thing was intended to go round, so I
thought that I would try if I could move it by myself. I pressed with all
my force against one of the handles, when, to my infinite satisfaction,
the windlass began to revolve, but as it did so, to my still greater
dismay, down came the chain rattling on to the deck. In vain I tried to
stop it. I then made a desperate effort to replace it, but as it had taken
probably two men some time to put it up I had not the slightest chance
of succeeding. My task was something like that of Sisyphus, a man of
ancient days, who had to roll a huge stone to the top of a mountain, but
which always came down again as soon as he got it there.
I had not been long engaged in my hopeless undertaking when my ears
were assailed by such a volley of abuse as I had never before heard in
my life. As I turned round, letting go the chain, which came rattling
down again on deck, I discovered that it proceeded from a head that
had suddenly