The Voyage of the Arrow

ast-table that morning, but as soon as I came

o close aboard that I could have f

shade of the spanker. They appeared v

ed deep. At every roll of the swell I could see over her high t'gal

ot of her courses. Her tall spars and long, tapering yards made{117} stunsails unnecessary, and the brigh

lear that the eye could easily follow it down under her bilge, where it seemed to

and backed and filled with short, irregular jerks at the clew

nway. He wore a cap with a long visor, and a dark waistcoat flying loose and unbuttoned, which set off the se

where are

roll the{118} gear out of us," an

se, and the small skipper held up his hand as if to

as he advanced to the edge

uff response from somewher

e main-deck, and a shining bald head was furiou

oard, sir, and don't keep me waiting here all the morning. Jump, now, for I

ise and action on the ship. The men rushed for oars and tackles

favourite oaths, which had more power of expression

nd in another minute the boat

board again, and don't keep me waiting here, but get into that boat

swung himself over the rail and dropped into h

inquired the skipper, looki

ir," came

and water-brea

r, all safe

n case we lose our bearings

grub enough to

e 'navigator

a moment o

e to tell you, Mr. Garnett, never to start off on a cruise unt

below, reappearing in a moment with the

cried, as he droppe

en channels and stepped into the stern-sheets, while the stewar

the men let go and shoved clear of the vessel's

o oars clattered clums

e boat shot out from the shi

wan would think 'twas a man-o'-war sindin' out a bloomin' admiral. Now, b' th' faith av t

little skipper, as the boat with s

r the rail on to our main-deck

aved Garnett to stand back, and approac

of the Countess of Warwick," he{122} cried, as he

aughter, I see. Madam, I bow to you. It gives me most uncommon pleasure, miss; yes, I may even say delight. But now, sir," he

n amazement and stared with open-eyed wonder at the little man, while his features wo

Do you see that flag, sir?" and he pointed to the Br

if there's anything I can do for you, sing out. Don't stand there staring at me, sir. There's nothing aggravates me s

kins!" gasp

. Come, come, don't be afraid. But, ah! Maybe the subject will not bear discussion before the ladies, in which case we'll go below, sir; yes, sir

with O'Toole, had stood silently watching the skip

stove-in figurehead av yourn. Say, but I'm glad t' see ye again, messmate. My, how it brings back the times we windjammers used t' hav

is no more pious calling than a mate's, as you might know yourself. But by the eternal thunder! I wonder they allow a man with a head like

you're fo

turned

ld crowd. Seems like we'll have a spell o' weather, hey?" and the

ain, for, although he was an old man, he was active yet, and

So when old Bill Garnett-who had been mate with my father a score of years before-looked askance at me and

himself comfortably and took from his coat pocket a

ked O'Toole, who had seated himself opposite. He stared in wonde

unted Garnett, still snif

} yer owld age? 'Pon me whurd, 'twas a di

biggest liar I ever knew, for it does me a power o' good, 'specially at night. You see, I'm too old, anyway, to be cruising about much longer, and if it wasn't for the money to be gotten out of a cargo like we carry,

has an almighty Yankee smack to it. After all, when a man gets along toward his last cruise, like me, he has to take some things for gran

' medicine has virtue whin it kapes an owld memory alive like that. 'Sufferin's av others,' hey! Which goes t' show

t put in that way,-but if you mean to say I didn't make the

oat,-such as Tom, Bill, and the likes. You say that dapper chap there, talking to Johnson, is third mate? S'help me! I suppose old man Crojack will be shipping sky-pi

ng on the old mate's face. "But tell us how you came to be aboard an Englishman, and

is pocket and drew forth an enormous piece of plug tobacco. He bit off a couple of ounces and began to manipulate

egin his yarn, and squirted a huge mouthful

when I mar

o bloody Johnnie Bull, an' we don't make no pig-pen av the main-deck. But go ahead, messmate;

the swab; then, taking no further notice of