The Ocean Cat's Paw Part 24

"Oh, I see," said the skipper.

This was all said loud enough for Rodd and Uncle Paul to hear, and Rodd began to grin as he looked at his uncle, whose face a.s.sumed a perplexed aspect, one which increased to uneasiness as the captain came up to them at once.

"Just a word, sir," he said. "Did you order these men to go ash.o.r.e?"

"Oh no," cried Uncle Paul. "One of them came up to me, asking if I had any objections to their going ash.o.r.e, and I said, not the least. I supposed, of course, that they had got leave from you."

"Of course, sir. Bless 'em for a set of artful babies! They aren't learned discipline yet. You, Rumsey, go and tell your messmates that if they try that game again with me they'll stand a fine chance of not going ash.o.r.e for the rest of the voyage."

"Yes, sir, I'll tell them, sir," cried the man hurriedly; and he shuffled off as hard as he could to find those who had left him in the lurch.

"Here, you, Joe Cross," continued the captain, "you signal to that Frenchy boatman that he is not wanted."

"Ay, ay, sir!" cried Cross, hurrying to the side, where he began gesticulating angrily, in spite of which the boatman persisted in coming alongside and in voluble French declaring that he was ordered to come and would not go back until he was paid.

Meanwhile a little explanation was going on between the skipper and Uncle Paul.

"Don't want to be b.u.mptious, sir," said the former, "but there's only room on board a craft for one captain. Those fellows jump at any chance to get ash.o.r.e, and when they are there, there's no knowing when you'll get them on board again, besides which, they wouldn't be careful, and French and English don't get on very well together after all that's gone by. Here, Cross, tell that jabbering Frenchman if he isn't off, he'll have to go back with a hole through the bottom of his boat. No, stop.

Go and find Mr Craig. Tell him to set those six men something to do."

"Ay, ay, sir!" cried the sailor, hurrying off.

"There, it was all my fault, captain," said Uncle Paul, smiling. "I won't offend again. Here, Rodd, my boy, give that poor fellow a shilling for his trouble."

Rodd hurried to the side, hailed the man, and held out the coin, telling him in very bad French what it was for; but the fellow shook his head, held up four fingers, and began shouting "_Quatre_!" so loudly that the skipper heard.

"Cat, indeed!" he shouted. "Just what I should like to give him. Here, come away, Mr Rodd; he shan't have anything now."

But Rodd did not obey at once.

"One or nothing," he cried to the man, in French.

"_Quatre! Quatre_!" shouted the man.

Rodd shook his head and was turning away, but the boatman swarmed up the side, and reaching over the rail, shouted "_Quatre_!" again, till the skipper made so fierce a rush at him that he lowered his feet quickly down into his boat, catching the shilling that Rodd pitched to him, and then hurriedly pushing off for the landing-place.

"Oh, it's all right, Dr Robson," said the skipper, "only you must leave all this sh.o.r.e-going to me. I know my lads; you don't."

Just then Craig, the mate, came up on deck, looking very sour at having been awakened from a comfortable sleep, and did not scruple about setting the delinquents to work upon some very unnecessary task, to the great delight of their messmates, who, headed by Joe Cross, gave them pretty freely to understand what their opinion was of the scheme to get a run ash.o.r.e.

It was towards evening that, after a hasty meal, partaken of in peace in the still waters of the harbour, tempted by a few gleams of sunshine, and for Rodd's gratification, Uncle Paul and Rodd were rowed ash.o.r.e in the same boat as the skipper, who had business with the English Consul about his papers, the understanding being that the boat was to go back and meet them at nine o'clock.

"That's as long as we shall want to stay, Rodd," said Uncle Paul.

"Yes, sir," said the skipper; "and if I were you I'd turn in early for a good night's rest, for I'm thinking we shall have dirty weather again to-morrow, and there's no knowing how long it will last."

"But it looks so bright to-night," cried Rodd.

"Just here, sir," cried the skipper, "and it may be fine enough to tempt me off in the morning; but I don't feel at all sartain, and to-morrow night we may be having another knocking about."

They separated at the landing-place, and for the next two hours Rodd was making himself acquainted with the princ.i.p.al streets of the old seaport, time going very rapidly and the night coming on.

It was growing pretty dark, and after making two mistakes as to their direction, Rodd declared that he knew the way, and his uncle yielding to his opinion, the boy led on, till, turning a corner sharply, they almost came in contact with a couple of French officers walking in the opposite direction, the one a tall, stern, elderly-looking man, talking in a low excited tone to his young companion, whose attention was so much taken up as he deferentially listened to his elder, that he started back to avoid striking against Rodd, who also gave way.

It was now almost dark, and the next moment the French officers had pa.s.sed on, as Uncle Paul exclaimed--

"Yes, I believe you are right, Pickle. You are. Those are ships'

lights hoisted up to the stays. Well, don't you see?"

"Yes, uncle, but--"

The boy said no more, and Uncle Paul laid his hand upon his shoulder.

"What's the matter?" he cried. "Why don't you speak? Those are the lights in the harbour."

"Yes--yes. Yes, uncle, I see," said the boy hastily; "but--er--but-- er--"

"Why, what's the matter with you? Don't feel done up?"

"No, uncle," replied Rodd hurriedly. "I was only puzzled; it seemed so strange."

"You mean you seem so strange," said the doctor, laughing.

"Yes, uncle, I feel so."

"Well, come along, and let's make haste aboard. I don't want to keep the captain waiting. We have lost so much time by missing our way.

It's past nine, I'm sure."

"Yes, uncle," said the boy, speaking more like himself; "it must be.

But I felt so startled in coming suddenly upon those two officers."

"Why, there was nothing to startle you, my boy."

"No, uncle, I suppose not; but somehow I felt that I had been close to that one who nearly ran up against me before, and when he said '_Pardon_'--"

"I didn't hear him say '_Pardon_,'" said Uncle Paul.

"But he did, uncle, just in a low tone so that I could hardly hear him, and then I felt sure we had met before."

"Nonsense!" cried Uncle Paul. "Look here, my boy, how much sleep did you have last night?"

"Sleep, uncle!" cried the boy, in a voice full of surprise.

"Why, none at all. Who could sleep through that storm?"

"I'll answer for myself," said the doctor; "I could not. Well, you were completely tired out, and are half dreaming now. Come along; let's find the boat and get on board for a light supper and a good night's rest."

"Yes, uncle," said Rodd quietly; "but take care; we are on the wharf. I can make out the shipping plainly now;" and as he spoke a familiar hail came out of the darkness, while as they answered the captain strode towards them.