The Two Whalers | Page 5

appeared above the combings of the fore hatch. It might
have been a picturesque head, but was not pleasant-looking to my eyes.
On the top was an old party-coloured nightcap, beneath which stuck out
on all sides a mass of reddish hair resembling oakum or shavings, as
untwisted rope is called at sea; a pair of ferrety eyes, a snub nose, and a
huge mouth half concealed by a bushy beard, completed the
countenance of the individual who was addressing me. I need not
repeat what he said, but if his remarks were true I was among the
greatest reprobates this evil world has ever produced. I stood with my
hands by my side mutely gazing at him, for I had nothing to say for
myself. I was conscious that I had done something wrong, though not
meriting the remarks to which I was listening.
"Arrah, now spake, youngster, if you've a tongue belonging to you,"
cried the head. Still I said nothing. Presently, below the head a pair of
broad shoulders covered with a red shirt emerged from the hatchway,
and I had an unpleasant vision of a bear-like hand grasping a short
piece of knotted rope. The next instant a short thick-set man in tarry
trousers springing on deck advanced towards me, ominously
flourishing the piece of rope. I did not think of running, for I had

nowhere to run to, so I stood stock still. Down came the rope on my
shoulders. I tried hard not to cry out. A second and a third blow
followed. I had on a pretty thick jacket on account of the cold, so that I
was not so much hurt as I might have been; still, as I did not like the
treatment I was receiving, I tried to get out of my tormentor's way, and
in doing so fell over the chain flat on the deck, striking my nose in a
way which made the blood flow pretty quickly. He not noticing this
gave me another whack, which hurt more than all the others, as it was
on the part most exposed, and was about to repeat it, when I heard a
voice say "Hold fast there, Dan; enough of that. The boy hasn't been on
board an hour and you must needs get foul of him."
"Who are you that's afther spakin' to me in that way? Sure, if, I'm not
mighty mistaken, you're only an apprentice yourself," exclaimed Dan,
in an angry tone.
While he was speaking I crawled along the deck out of his way, and
looking up, I recognised my acquaintance on board the steamer,
Andrew Medley, who replied calmly, "Whether or not I am only an
apprentice, I'll not stand by and see a young boy ill-treated who hasn't
strength to defend himself."
The ruffian laughed hoarsely, but when he saw the blood streaming
down my face as Medley assisted me to get up, he looked somewhat
alarmed, for he remembered that we were not yet at sea, and that
although he might then treat me much worse with impunity it would be
prudent to avoid the risk of being summoned before a magistrate for an
assault.
"Are you much hurt, Jack?" asked Medley, as he led me aft.
"Only my nose bleeds; though the last cuts that man gave me were not
pleasant," I replied.
"If that's all, come below and we'll soon get you set to rights with some
cold water," said Medley. "I am glad I came in time to save you from
tasting more of Dan Hogan's colt. Though a bully, he is a good
boat-steerer, so the captain keeps him on, but, for my part, I think the

ship would be better without him."
"I should have been so, at all events, just now," I remarked, and I went
down with Medley to the half-deck.
With the help of a sponge and some cold water I was soon put to rights,
and except that I felt an unpleasant sensation in the back I was not
much the worse for the beating I had received. The first mate, Mr
Renshaw, however, who had heard of my performance from Hogan,
quickly sent for me, and after scolding me for my carelessness, ordered
me to draw a bucket of water. "I'll find something for you to do, depend
on that, youngster," he observed, and he was as good as his word.
I was not over successful in carrying out this my first piece of duty, for
in attempting to secure a rope to the bucket that I might lower it over
the side, I made a slippery hitch. To my dismay when I hauled in the
rope the bucket was not at the end. It had gone to the bottom. I fully
expected to get