Jack at Sea Part 15

"You think them all necessary?"

"I do, sir, unless you like to depend on steam; then you might knock off half-a-dozen, but you'd save nothing; coals at the depots abroad are very dear. Better trust to your sails and keep the men."

"Yes; I think you are right," said Sir John. "What do you say, Instow?"

"Quite," said the doctor.

"Very well then. Now about the crew; would they be willing: to engage to sail with me wherever I please, to bind themselves not to break their engagement without my leave till we return, even if it is for three years?"

"I could say yes, sir, for they'd follow me wherever I went, but I'll ask them."

"Do," said Sir John.

The captain touched a table gong, and the steward appeared promptly.

"Go and ask Mr Bartlett to pipe all hands aft," said the captain.

The man ascended, and the next minute the clear note of a whistle rang out, to be followed by the trampling of feet, and the captain rose, evidently satisfied at the prompt.i.tude with which his order was obeyed.

"They're waiting sir," he said.

Upon the party going on deck, there were the crew drawn up, quite as smart as men-o'-war's men, and all looking as eager as schoolboys to learn the meaning of their summons.

"'Tention!" said the captain; and, to use the old saying, the dropping of a pin could have been heard. "This gentleman, Sir John Meadows, Bart., is going to buy the _Silver Star_."

"Hurrah!" shouted a man.

"Steady there!" cried the captain sternly. "He means to sail right away east, through the Ca.n.a.l, and along the islands, to stop here and there where he likes--two or three years' cruise--and he wants to know if you will sign articles to go with him, and do your duty like men."

There was a dead silence, and as the men began directly after to whisper together, Jack, who but a minute before had felt in his misery and despair that he would give anything to hear the men refuse, now, by a strange perversity of feeling, grew indignant with them for seeming to hesitate about doing their duty to his father.

"Well, my lads, what is it?" said the captain sternly. "What are you whispering about? Can't you give a straightforward yes or no?"

There was another whispering, and the words "You speak", "No, you," came plainly to Jack's ears, followed by one man shouting--

"We want to know, sir, who's to be in command?"

"Why, I am, my lads, of course."

"Hooray!" came in a roar; and then--"All of us--yes, sir, we'll go," and another cheer.

"There's your answer, sir," said the captain; and then turning to the men--"Thankye, my lads, thankye."

"Yes, that's my answer," said Sir John, "and an endors.e.m.e.nt of my feeling that I am doing right."

"And thank you, sir," said the captain warmly. "We'll do our duty by you, never fear. Perhaps you'll say a word to Mr Bartlett, sir," he whispered. "Good man and true, and a thorough sailor."

"You will, I hope, keep your post, Mr Bartlett," said Sir John, turning to him.

"Oh yes, Sir John," said the mate; "I'm obliged to. Captain Bradleigh's kind enough to say I am his right hand."

"And I can't go without that, can I, young gentleman?"

Jack, who was feeling unduly thrilled and excited by the novel scene, was chilled again, and he only muttered something ungraciously.

"Mr Bartlett will join us at dinner, I hope," said Sir John; and this being promised, the men were ordered forward, the boat was manned, and, as the whole crew was watching every movement on the part of the visitors, Jack shook hands with captain and mate, and stepped down a little more courageously into the gig, but turned dizzy as he dropped into his seat.

The next minute it was pushed off, and the thrill of excitement ran through the lad again, as the crew suddenly sprang to the shrouds of the three masts, to stand there, holding on by one hand, waving their straw hats and cheering with all their might.

"Jump up, Jack, and give them a cheer back," cried the doctor.

There is something wonderful about a sharp order suddenly given.

In an instant Jack was on his feet, waving his white pith helmet in the air, and giving, truth to tell, a miserably feeble cheer, but the crew of the boat took it up and joined in.

Then, as it was answered from the yacht, Jack sank down in his seat again, looking flushed and abashed, and he glanced from one to the other to see if they were laughing at him; but n.o.body even smiled. Still the lad could not get rid of the false shame, and the feeling that there was something to be ashamed of after all.

CHAPTER SEVEN.

FIRST SNIFFS OF THE BRINY.

"He's beginning, Meadows," said the doctor, as they sat together in their room at the hotel, waiting for the guests of the evening.

"Think so?" said Sir John sadly.

"Of course I do," cried the doctor.

"But it's very pitiful to see a lad of his years shrinking like a timid girl, and changing colour whenever he is spoken to. He seems to have no spirit at all."

"He has though, and plenty, only it's crusted over, and can't get out; I noticed a dozen good signs to-day."

"A dozen?" said Sir John.

"Well, more or less. Don't ask me to be mathematical. You'll want to know the aliquot parts next," said the doctor snappishly.

"I see you want your dinner," said Sir John, with a smile.

"I do--horribly. This sea-air makes me feel ravenous. But, as I was going to say, there were abundant signs of the change beginning. He's ashamed of his--his--"

"Well, say it--cowardice," said Sir John sadly. "Yes, poor fellow! he is ashamed of it, as I well know."

"But he can't help it, weak and unstrung as he is. It will come all right, only let's get him out of his misery, as we used to call it. Get him to make his first plunge, and he'll soon begin to swim. Did you see what a brave fight he made of it over and over again to-day? There, I'm sure we're right; and, my word, what a chance over this yacht."

"Yes, it would have been folly to hesitate."

"But it's going to cost you a pretty penny, my friend."