In Greek Waters Part 3

Horace stood by the helm till the mate said:

"The chain is nearly up and down; now put the tiller gently to starboard."

As he spoke he ran up the jib, and as the boat's head payed off, fastened the sheet to windward.

"Now, Marco, round with the windla.s.s; that is right, the anchor is clear now; up with it."

As he spoke he ran up the foresail. "Slack off the main sheets, lad, handsomely; that is right, let them go free; slack off the mizzen sheets."

The wind had caught the jib now, and, aided by the tide, brought the boat's head sharply round. The jib and foresheets were hauled to leeward, and in less than a minute from the time the anchor had left the ground the boat was running down the river with her sheets well off before the wind.

"Helm a-port a little, Horace, so as to give us plenty of room in pa.s.sing that brig at anchor. That is enough. Steady! Now keep as you are. Marco, I will help you get the anchor on board, and then we will get up the topsail and set it."

In ten minutes the anchor was stowed, topsail set, and the ropes coiled down. Then a small triangular blue flag with the word "Surf"

was run up to the masthead.

"Properly speaking, Horace, flags are not shown till eight o'clock in the morning; but we will make an exception this time. Gently with the tiller, lad; you are not steering a fishing-boat now; a touch is sufficient for this craft. Keep your eye on the flag, and see that it flies out straight ahead. That is the easiest thing to steer by when you are dead before the wind. There is more care required for that than for steering close-hauled, for a moment's carelessness might bring the sail across with a jerk that would pretty well take the mast out of her. It is easy enough now in smooth water; but with a following sea it needs a careful helmsman to keep a craft from yawing about."

Marco had disappeared down the forecastle hatch as soon as he had finished coiling down the topsail halliard, and a wreath of smoke now came up through the stove-pipe.

"That is good," the mate said. "We shall have breakfast before long."

They ran three miles straight out, so as to get well clear of the land; then the sheets were hauled in, and the _Surf's_ head pointed east, and lying down to her gunwale she sped along parallel with the sh.o.r.e.

"We are going along a good seven knots through the water," the mate said. "She has got just as much sail as she wants, though she would stand a good deal more wind, if there were any occasion to press her; but as a rule, Horace, always err on the right side; there is never any good in carrying too much sail. You can always make more sail if the wind drops, while if it rises it is not always easy to get it in.

Give me the helm. Now go down to Marco and tell him to come up a few minutes before breakfast is ready. We will get the topsail off her before we sit down, and eat our breakfast comfortably. There is no fun in having your plate in your lap."

By half-past seven the topsail was stowed and breakfast on the table.

Marco took the helm, while the mate and Horace went down to breakfast.

Horace thought that it was the most delightful meal he had ever taken; and the mate said:

"That Greek of yours is a first-rate cook, Horace. An admiral could not want to sit down to a better breakfast than this. There is not much here to remind me of a midshipman's mess. You would have had very different food from this, youngster, if you had had your wish and gone to sea. That father of yours must be a trump; I drink his health in coffee. If he ever gets a bigger craft, and wants a captain, I am his man if he will send your Greek on board as cook. Does he care for the sea himself?"

"I think he used to like it. I have heard him talk about sailing among the Greek islands; but as long as I have known him he has never been away from home except for short runs up to London. He is always in his library."

"Fancy a man who could afford to keep a big craft and sail about as he likes wasting his life over musty old books. It is a rum taste, youngster. I think I would rather row in a galley."

"There are no such things as galleys now, are there?"

"Oh, yes, there are in Italy; they have them still rowed by convicts, and I fancy the Spanish gun-boats are rowed by prisoners too. It is worse than a dog's life, but for all that I would rather do it than be shut up all my life in a library. You seem to talk Greek well, youngster."

"Yes; Marco has always been with me since I was a child, and we have another Greek servant, his brother; and father generally talks Greek to me. His mother was a Greek lady, and that is what made him so fond of it at first. They say he is the best Greek scholar in England."

"I suppose it differs a lot from the Greek you learn at school?"

"Yes, a lot. Still, of course, my knowing it helps me tremendously with my old Greek. I get on first-rate at that, but I am very bad at everything else."

"Well, now we will go up and give Marco a spell," the mate said. Marco was relieved and went below. Horace took the helm; the mate lit a pipe and seated himself on the weather bulwark. "We shall be at Seaport before eleven if we go on like this," he said.

"Oh, do let us take a run out to sea, Mr. Martyn; it is no use our going in until four or five o'clock."

"Just as you like, lad; I am in no hurry, and it is really a glorious day for a sail. Put up the helm, I will see to the sheets."

As they got farther from the protection of the land the sea got up a bit, but the _Surf_ went over it lightly, and except that an occasional splash of spray flew over her bow, her decks were perfectly dry.

"Have you heard of a ship yet, Mr. Martyn?"

"Yes, I heard only yesterday of a berth as first-mate in a craft at Plymouth. The first-mate got hurt coming down channel, and a friend of my father's, learning there was a vacancy, spoke to the owners. She belongs there, and I am to join the day after to-morrow. She is bound up the Mediterranean. I shall be very glad to be off; I have had a dull time of it for the last four months except for this little job."

"I am afraid you won't get any vehicle to take you back to-night,"

Horace said.

"No, I didn't expect that; the coach in the morning will do very well.

I have nothing to do but just to pack my kit, and shall go on by coach next morning. I was thinking of sleeping on board here, if you have no objection."

"I am sure my father will be very glad to see you up at the house,"

Horace said eagerly.

"Thank you, lad, but I shall be much more comfortable on board. Marco said he would get dinner at two, and there is sure to be plenty for me to make a cold supper of, and as there is rum in the locker I shall be as happy as a king. I can smoke my pipe as I like. If I were to go up with you I should be uncomfortable, for I have nothing but my sea-going togs. I should put your father out of his way, and he would put me out of mine. So I think, on all accounts, I had much better remain in good quarters now I have got them. How far is it to the place where I catch the coach?"

"About four miles. We will send the carriage to take you there."

"Thank you, I would much rather walk. I have nothing to carry but myself, and a four miles' walk across the hills will be just the thing for me."

At four o'clock the _Surf_ entered the little harbour of Seaport; Horace was delighted with the surprise of the fishermen at the arrival of the pretty craft.

"You are sure you won't change your mind and come up with me to the house?"

"Quite certain, thank you, lad. Marco has put out everything I can possibly require. He offered to come down to get breakfast for me, but I prefer to manage that for myself, then I can have it at any time I fancy. I will lock up the cabin before I land. He will be there to take the key."

"I shall come down with him, of course, Mr. Martyn. I can't tell you how much I am obliged to you for what you have done for me, and I hope that some day we may have another sail together."

"If I am at home any time when you may happen to put in at Exmouth I shall be glad to take a cruise with you, Horace."

As the lad and Marco went up the hill to the house, Horace, to his surprise, met his father coming down with Zaimes.

"Well, Horace, so you have brought your yacht home. Zaimes routed me out from my work to come and look at her, and she really looks a very pretty little vessel."

"She is not little at all, father."

"Perhaps not in comparison, Horace; but did you and Marco bring her back by yourselves?"

"No, father; William Martyn, the officer who has seen to her fitting up, and who recommended her, you know, said he would come with us. So, of course, he has been in command, and Marco and I have been the crew.

He has been teaching me lots of things, just the same, he says, as if I had been a newly joined midshipman."

"But where is he now, Horace?"

"He is on board. He is going home by the coach to-morrow. I said that I was sure you would be glad if he would come up to the house; but he said he should feel more comfortable on board. Were you coming down to look at her, father?"