The Two Whalers | Page 7

alarm, for he
was a kind-hearted man, and fully believed that I should have been
killed or terribly injured. When he saw that I was safe he rated me
soundly for my carelessness, and told me never to play the same trick
again. I saw, however, that he was not really angry, and I fancy that I
gained some credit with him by the way I had sprung on to the backstay.
Had I missed it I should have been dashed to pieces.
At length we brought up in the Downs, with two anchors down, the
wind blowing a heavy gale at south-west. The sea was the colour of
pea-soup, tumbling and foaming and hissing, the wind roared and
whistled through the rigging, and ships were driving in all
directions--some threatening to come down upon us. To be ready for
any emergency the hands were kept on deck, and "Old More Yet" stood
with his keen eyes watching them, prepared to give the order to veer
away the cables should it be necessary. We escaped all accidents,
however, and the weather began to moderate.
The captain or the mates found employment for me from morning till
night. I was indeed, as the youngest on board, at every one's beck and
call; but I did not complain. I had come to sea to do my duty, and I
knew that that was to obey those over me in all things lawful. One of
my tasks was to keep the captain's cabin in order. I was one day
engaged in sweeping it when I heard outside a voice I knew. It was my
father's. He looked somewhat surprised at finding me thus employed,

but at once saw that I took it as a matter of course, and was in good
heart. My younger brother Dick was with him. I was very glad to see
them, and having finished my job I asked them to come down on the
half-deck, where, while they were seated on Medley's and my chests, I
regaled them with bread and cheese.
"Won't you give it up and come on shore with us?" asked Dick,
thinking that I must be leading a very hard life.
"No, thank you," I answered. "Matters are improving. I got a thrashing
the first day and have never had one since. It has been blowing pretty
hard till now, but we shall have fine weather in time, and I shall like the
life very well. It is better to begin with the rough and to end with the
smooth than the other way."
"Rightly said, Jack," observed my father, well pleased to see me so
contented.
I sent many loving messages to my mother and sisters, not forgetting
Mary and Captain Bland, and after he had had a short conversation with
Medley and another with the captain he returned on shore. I felt
somewhat sad while I watched him and Dick as they pulled away, and
had I then been asked to go with them I should have said yes; however,
the feeling soon wore off and I went on with my ordinary duties as if
home and all I held dear were not almost in sight.
Again we were under weigh, but it came on to blow as hard as ever
from the old quarter. Still we kept at it, beating down channel with the
seas breaking over our bows. I was just going along the deck with some
of the cabin dinner when, the ship diving into a heavier sea than usual, I
found myself washed clean over the windlass, a piece of boiled beef
flying in one direction, a dumpling in another, and potatoes and turnips
scattered on every side. I rushed here and there to save as many as I
could, and, helped by the cook and Medley, I collected the greater
portion, but the captain looked very blue when I placed the food all
cold and sodden on the table. It spoke well for him that he did not blow
me up; but he knew that it was not from my fault that his dinner was
spoilt, and I dare say that the same thing had occurred to him when he

was a youngster.
I had just returned on deck, where the first mate, shouting "Helm's
alee!" was in the act of putting the ship about, when, as I was going
forward, I saw Medley with two other men, one of whom was John
Major, an ordinary seaman, standing a short distance from me.
Suddenly I heard a dull thud as if a heavy blow had been struck,
followed by a piercing shriek. The clew of the mainsail was lashing
about wildly in the gale. I saw a body lifted from the deck and carried
over the bulwarks. It was