We and the World: A Book for Boys. Part I

ll the ballads, he need not care who should make the laws of a na

rring ropes), when some orders rang out in Mr. Waters' voice, which I found had reference to something to be done to some of the sails. At last came the words "Away aloft!" which were responded to by a rush of several sailors, who ran and leaped a

ere. Fr

aye,

up with you. I hear he

ister lifted his face with a look of anxiety, that did as m

aloft-that's up, ye know-never mind your feet, but keep tight hold of the ratlins-so, with your ha

p, where I was allowed to creep through the "Lubber's Hole," and Francis swung himself ne

every wave, are quite different things. Then, in spite of warnings, I was fascinated by the desire to look down; and when I looked I felt more uncomfortable than ever; the ship's deck was

open, and never lose a grip by one hand somewhere. So long as you hold o

try,"

a voice from beneath, and Francis pricked his ears, and then suddenly

oung shaver," sai

ot touched the deck I staggered and fell. It was Mr. Johnson who picked me up by the neck of my slops, sayin

Them that has white ties and kid gloves can wear 'em; and them that's hout of sech articles must come as they can. Pick up that tar-pot, ye fool! Now are ye all c

conscience!" cried Dennis, over my shoulder, and then his arm was aroun

're mighty shaky on your feet, considering the festivities that

nt to a drawing-room visitor taking tea in the kitchen. "You know it's where the

's where I hope to meet the men t

but don't be cross. They'll

e captain in his cabin, to beg for the grog? And talking of beards, of all the

es

e chance of a bit of sociability. However, at last he called to that nice fellow-third mate, isn't he?-and gave orders for the rum. 'Two-water grog, Mr. Johnson,' says he. 'Ah, captain,' I said, 'don't be throwin

hear what the men tell about other

lor. And yet he won't be friendly, do what I will. As formal as you please-that's pride, I suppose-he's Scotch too, isn't he? Blarney's no go with him. Faith, it's like trying to butter short-bread with the thermometer at zero. By Jove, there he is ahe

grease," said I. "I saw Francis gi

! Have ye no eyes in the back

on, sir," said A

muttered Dennis, and added aloud

hed in spite

nd rubbing desperately at his fingers

o adorn them. On ye go; and mind ye keep near to us, and we

o a tuft of hay-coloured hair that stood cocked defiantly up on the Scotchman's crown that I was in all the agony he meant me to be for fear of detection, he chattered in my ear, "Jack, did ye ever study physiognomy, or any of the scie

bling over another on the road to the forecastle. Dennis himself was thrown

hind him, he seized Dennis by the legs and hoisted him on to his back as if he had been a child. In this fashion the hero of the occasion was

ennis, and to make room for others to join them, and then the enlarged circle puffed and kept silence as before. I was watching the colour come and go on the Irish boy's face,

as I could understand it) maintaining that "two-water grog" was the rule of the ships on their line, and the boatswain pleading that this being a "special issue" was apart from general rules, and that it would be more complimentary to the

orn, lamentable, and lengthy song, three qualities which alone would recommend it to any audience of Jack Tars, as I have since had many occasions to observe. The intense dolefulness of the ditty was not diminished by the fact that the cook had no musical ear,

think we'd do more justice to our accomplishments, and keep in tune,

t it would be upon the shelf, and there used to be a lump of resin and a spare string or two in an empty division of the spice-box. The whole kit had belonged to a former cook, a very

t except for one line which was rather witty as well as very nasty, there was nothing humorous about it, unless that it was funny that any one could have been indecent enough to write it, and any one else unblushing enough to sing it. I am ashamed to say I had heard

me by the shoulder, saying, in broader Scotch than usual, "Come awa' wi' ye, laddie! I'll no let ye stay. Come awa' oot of this accurst hol

the situation. The boatswain did, but before he could speak, Dennis O'Moore had sprung to the ground between them, and laying the fiddle over his

bo'sun tells me," he said, nodding t

aye,

d if it isn't Sa

s how to bring the hea

t Barbadoes. Did you ever foot the floor with a black washerwoman of eighteen s

ot, the

ned the fiddle, talking vehementl

, and no less, that he spoke. Come, bo'sun, who's a better judge of manners than yourself? We'd had enough and to spare of that, (Will ye keep quiet, ye canta

humour, which raised loud applause; Dennis commenting freely on the text, and filling up awkward pauses with flourishes on Sambo's fiddle. The boatswain's final suggestion that the ship's guest should re

our revenge, b

better, sir," replied the

! Mr. O'Moore!"

w old Irish songs

or ever!" cried

earest to us put up their hands to get silence. Sambo's fiddle was singing (as only voices and

la, la la la

la, la la la,

I heard that afore you were born, though I'm blesse

nightingales!" shouted Den

on only died away to let the song begin. Then the notes of Sambo's fiddle also dropped off, and I hear

of roses by Ben

e sings round it a

childhood 'twas

oses and hear t

nk the assembled company can have looked much like exiles from flowery haunts of the nightingale, but we a

nd its music

lone in the bl

nightingale sin

ill bright by th

were sighing like furnaces as the mel

on withered that

ere gathered while

tilled from their

e of summer when

seamen, this could not have elicited more nods of approbation. But we listened spell-bound and i

aws from deligh

t breathes of

y soul-as 'twas

the banks of th

se we made was enough to scare the

," said the boatswain. "You'd make

ad I didn't give ye y

ourite might have hesitated to sing after Dennis, so Aliste

ve been out-o'-way favoured as I may say, this voyage. We mustn't forget that there's two other little strangers aboard" (roars of laughter). "They 'olds their 'eads rather 'igh p'raps, for stowaways" ("Hear! hear!"), "but no doubt their talents bears 'em out" ("Hear,

-line, from which attitude no appeals could move him. I was very sorry for

ggested. But Alister shook his head. "I know one or two Scotch tunes," Dennis a

opped him. "Yon's th

" said

ker, man, and I'll

ere at the level of his knees, I could see them shaking, and pitied him none the less, that I was doubtful as to what might not be before me. Dennis had to make t

he least like Dennis, but he had a strong manly voice, and it had a ring that stir

hae wi' Wa

m Bruce ha

to your

vict

e never moved his eyes from the sea, and his face only grew

be a tra

ll a cowar

ase as be

turn a

ith ye!" which we did accordingly; but as Alister and Dennis were rolling Rs like the rattle of musket

e, waving us ba

er patriotism had seized upon us all. Englishmen, Scotchmen, and sons of Erin, we all shouted at the top of our voices, Sambo's fiddle not being silent.

cotland's

word will s

and, or fr

m on w