In Greek Waters

nlimited amount of money, was busy all the evening getting crockery, cooki

e fitting out a

et some provisions, two or three bottles of rum for bad weather, or when we have visitors on board, and then we shall be complete. Mr. Martyn said he would see to th

ng late, Marco. I don't thi

since seven this morning. I shall have to pu

ad laid his head on the pillow; he woke soon after daylight, dropped off to sleep se

t up: if you do not, it is I

uarter to six. As the clock struck

ooks as if we are going to have a grand day. There is a nice little breeze, and I fancy it will freshen a good bit later on. Now, then, tumble into the d

were on board,

n those slippers you bought; we have got the deck fairly white, and we must not spoil it

es and stockings. Horace put on the slippers, and the mat

ot the mainmast and mizzen up. Now, Marco, you take the peak halliards, and I will take the main. Now, then, up she goes; ease off the sheet a bit. Horace, we must top the boom a bit; that is high enough. Marco, make fast; now up with the mizzen; that is right. Now, Horace, before you do anything else always look round, see that everything is right, the halliards properly coiled up and turned over so as to run freely, in case you want to lower or reef sail, the sheets ready to slacken out,

y the helm til

and down; now put the ti

nd as the boat's head payed off,

ndlass; that is right, the anc

the main sheets, lad, handsomely; that is right

he jib and foresheets were hauled to leeward, and in less than a minute from the time the anchor

brig at anchor. That is enough. Steady! Now keep as you are. Marco, I will he

d the ropes coiled down. Then a small triangular blue

t. 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

as he had finished coiling down the topsail halliard,

e said. "We shall have

d; then the sheets were hauled in, and the Surf's head pointed east,

e, 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 g

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

shipman'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 h

e Greek islands; but as long as I have known him he has never been away f

ut as he likes wasting his life over musty old books. It is a

h things as galle

gun-boats are rowed by prisoners too. It is worse than a dog's life, but for all that I would

his brother; and father generally talks Greek to me. His mother was a Greek lady, and that

a lot from the Greek

me tremendously with my old Greek. I get on first-r

nd went below. Horace took the helm; the mate lit a pipe and seated himself on the we

ea, Mr. Martyn; it is no use our g

nd it is really a glorious day for a sail.

a bit, but the Surf went over it lightly, and except that an occasi

d of a ship ye

f 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 bou

any vehicle to take you b

ave nothing to do but just to pack my kit, and shall go on by coach next m

very glad to see you up at th

e 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

will send the carria

hing to carry but myself, and a four miles' walk

of Seaport; Horace was delighted with the surprise

hange your mind and come

to come down to get breakfast for me, but I prefer to manage that for myself, then I can have it

l you how much I am obliged to you for what you have done for m

happen to put in at Exmouth I shall be

to the house, Horace, to his surprise,

aimes routed me out from my work to come and look at

little at

orace; but did you and Marco

, said he would come with us. So, of course, he has been in command, and Marco and I have been the crew. H

is he now

ure you would be glad if he would come up to the house; but he said he should

te a wonderful event my being

like her, and then, perhaps, you will come sailing sometimes; I do think,

nce come out I may do so again; I am not sure tha

the village. Personally his tenants did not suffer from the cessation of his visits, for his steward had the strictest injunctions to deal in all respects liberally with them, to execute all necessary repairs, to accede to any reasonable request; while in case of illness or

t that their landlord himself held so entirely aloof from them. Men touched their hats, the women curtsied as he came down the street, look

that had passed since he was last in the village; the years had gone by altoget

now most of thei

em, I thin

ng they want as far as I can do for them; still, I ought to come. In your mother's time I did come sometimes. I must try to do it in future. Zaimes, you mus

l not say, as you always do to me when I beg you to go out: 'I must pu

l indeed. I think this is a duty.

the Surf, which was lying the picture of neatness and good order among the fishing-boats, with every rope in i

does great credit to your choice, Marco, and I should think she is a good sea-boat. Why, Zaimes, this almost seems to take one back to the old tim

in, master; even I long to have my foot on the

to be an old m

imes, after being shut up for days, you look old-who would not when the s

te and thin. His eyes were generally soft and dreamy, but at the present moment they were bright and alert. His figure was scarcely that of a student, for the frame was large, and there was at present none of the stoop habitual to

ee," he said; "let us go on board

mate's head appeared above the companion. "My father is coming on board, Mr. Martyn. Will you please bring

r. Martyn, and to thank you for the kindness you have shown my son

"I was knocking about Exmouth with nothing to do

"the dinghy won't carry us all. You ca

on board. Mr. Beveridge was warm i

cept for a little more head-room, but after all that is of no great consequence, one does not want to walk about below. It is a place to eat and to sleep i

y jolly having you out. I don't see much of you,

he resist very earnestly Mr. Beveridge's pressing invitation. His host differed widely

whatever to smoke; indeed, I used to smoke myself when I was in Greece as a young man-everyone

et your cigar out after smoking two or three whiffs,

your smoking will in no way incomm

there spent a very pleasant evening. He had in the course of his service sailed for some time in Gr

that she lies dead under the tyranny of the Turks I

hing to be said against the country or the islands, except that there are p

racter. Slaves are seldom trustworthy, and I own that they are not as a rule to be relied upon. Having no honourable career open to

ef whatever in any section of

"and when she does she will astonish Europe. The old spirit

s," William Martyn said gravely as he thought of the many instance

of a naturally impetuous and passionate character enslaved by a people alien in race and in religion. Yes, I fear it will be so at the com

been simply to shoot down an enemy from behind the shelter of rocks. I would as lief undertake to discipline an army of Malays

it would be a resurrection, accomplished, no doubt, after vast pains and many troubles, the more so since the Greeks are a composite people among whom the descendants of the veritable Greek of old are in a great minority. The majority are of Albanian and Suliot blood, races whic

another on the left shoulder, both reminiscences of an attack that had been made upon him by half a dozen ruffians one night in th

a few days. It is some years since I had a visitor here, and I can assure you that I am surprised at the pleasure it gives me. However, I hope that wh

yacht. Marco had gone down into the village early, had seen Tom Burdett, and in his master's name arranged for him to take charge of the Surf, and to engage a lad to sail w

so you are go

t cabin is a wonderful lot better than the fo'castle of a fish

id as the boat came alongside the yach

may be called skipper; but I ain't going to be called captain. Now, Dick, run that flag up to the mast-head. That is yachting fashion, you know, Master Horace, to run t

father got it to please me, and very good of him

er says as how Mr. Horace is to be regarded as owner of this 'ere craft whenever he

very jolly, i

tured a little prize, and they had put a young midshipmite in command and se

o you think we are goin

s there will be more of it. It has gone round four p

think we had bette

w it would be first-rate

ead-beat back, Tom; we shoul

r said as how there were no occasion to be back to-

us go to Dartmouth; to-morrow we can start

wind will be somewhere round to the south by to-morrow morning; that wi

and lent a hand, and in the course of three minutes the sails were up,

n would want to see. I do like to see things done smart if it is only on a little craft like this, and with three of us we ought to get all her lower sail on her in no time. That Greek chap knows what he is about. Of course he has often bee

a fishing-boat whe

of those Mediterranean chaps are, whether they are Greeks or Italians or Spaniards, when it comes on to blow really hard, and there is land under your lee, and no port to run to. When it comes to a squeak like that they lose their nerve and begin to pray to the saints, and wring th

to get up the

t-draft craft. When we get to know her we shall be able to calculate what she will carry in all weathers; but there is no hurry about that. I have seen spars carried away afore now, from young commanders cracking on sail on craft they knew nothing about. This boat can run, there is no mistake about that. Look at that fishing-boa

as the sea had got up a good deal, and the Surf yawed so much before the fol

fast. Now get the mizzen off her, she will steer easier without it, and it

ter rolling about in those fishing-boats when they are ha

t, as sick as a dog on board a frigate, and I have seen the first lieutenant of a man-of-war knocked right over while lying off a bar on b

e, and to Horace's delight they pass

will generally hold her own in a light wind, because why, she carries more sail in proportion to her tonnage. When the big ship has got as much as she can do with, the little one has to reef down and half her sails are taken off her. Another t

le time, but he had not liked leaving the deck, for rolling, as she sometimes did, it would have been impossible to eat comfortably. As soon as he dined, the others took their meal in the fo'castle, Marco having insisted on w

owered, two reefs put in the main-sail and one in the mizzen, and a small jib substituted for that carried on the previous day. Showers of spray fell on the deck as they put out from the mouth of the river; but once

craft her size would have behaved so well in a tumble like this. You see this is more trying for her than a big sea would be. She would take it easier if the waves were longer, and she had more time to take them one after the other. That is why you hear

e to heel over

er over to that; but when she is there it takes a wonderful lot to bring her any further. You see there is a lot of sail we could take off her yet, if the wind wer

st worn out after the struggle with the wind and waves; when he landed his knees were strangely weak, but he felt an im