CHAPTER THREE.
A VOYAGE--THE MARINERS' RETURN.
"I say, old fellows, don't you find this rather slow?" exclaimed Hearty,as one morning Carstairs, Bubble, and I sat at breakfast with him onboard the "Frolic." "What say you to a cruise to the westward, over tothe coast of France and the Channel Islands, just for ten days or afortnight or so?"
"Agreed, agreed, agreed!" we all answered.
"Well, then, to-morrow or next day we sail," said Hearty. "But how canyou, Carstairs, tear yourself away from your pretty widow? Bubble, youdon't mean to say that you can leave sweet May Sandon without a sigh?"
"A little absence will try the widow; it will teach her to miss me, andshe will value me more when I return," was Carstairs' answer. "But you,Bubble, what do you say?" for he did not answer.
Will was guilty of blushing, for I saw the rosy hue appearing eventhrough his sunburnt countenance, though the others did not.
"That is the best thing we can do," he answered, with a loud laugh."Hurrah for the broad seas, and a rover's free life!"
"I thought so--I thought there was nothing in it," said Hearty. "Happydog!--you never fall in love; you never care for any one."
"Ah, no: I laugh, sing, and am merry!" exclaimed Bubble. "It's all verywell for you fellows with your five or ten thousand a year to fall inlove; you have hope to live on, if nothing else--no insurmountableobstacles; but for poverty-stricken wretches, like me and a dozen more Icould name, it can only bring misery: yet I don't complain of poverty--no cares, no responsibilities; if one has only one's self to look after,it matters little; but should one unhappily meet with some being who toone's eye is lovely, towards whom one's heart yearns unconsciously, andone longs to make her one's own, then one begins to feel what povertyreally is--then the galling yoke presses on one's neck. Can you then besurprised that I, and such as I, throw care away, and become the lightfrivolous wretches we seem? Hearty, my dear fellow, don't you squanderyour money, or you will repent it!"
Bubble spoke with a feeling for which few would have given him credit.He directly afterwards, however, broke into his usual loud laugh,adding,--
"Don't say that I have been moralising, or I may be suspected ofincipient insanity."
"Will Bubble has made out a clear case that he cannot be in love, for noone accuses him of being overburdened with the gifts of fortune," Iobserved; for I saw that he was more in earnest than he would havewished to be supposed. "But do you, Hearty, wish to desert Miss Seaton,and leave the stage clear for Loring?"
"Oh, I never enter the lists with a man who can sing," answered Hearty."Those imitators of Orpheus have the same winning way about them whichtheir great master possessed. But, at the same time, I'll bet ten toone that the fair Jane never becomes Mrs Loring. I had a little confabthe other day with Madame la Mere, and faith, she's about as fierce ashe-dragon as ever guarded an enchanted princess from the attempts ofknights-errant to rescue her."
"I'll take your bet, and for once stake love against lucre!" exclaimedBubble, and the bet was booked.
But enough of this. We bade our friends farewell; and, in spite of alltheir attempts to detain us, we laid in a stock of provisions to last usfor a month, and with a fine breeze from the northward, actually foundour way through the Needles just as the sun was tinging the topmostpinnacles of those weather-worn rocks.
As soon as we were through the passage, we kept away, and shaped acourse for Havre de Grace. The wind shifted round soon afterwards tothe westward, and I shall not forget the pure refreshing saltness of thebreeze which filled our nostrils, and added strength and vigour to ourlimbs. What a breakfast we ate afterwards! There seemed no end to it.Our caterer had done well to lay in a store of comestibles. Our perfecthappiness lasted till nearly noon, and then the wind increased and thesea got up in a not unusual manner. We went below to take luncheon, andwe set to in first-rate style, as if there was no such thing as thecentre of gravity to be disturbed. Carstairs began to look a littlequeer.
"`Thus far into the bowels of the earth have we marched on withoutimpediment,' Shakespeare, hum"--he began. He was going to give us thewhole speech, but instead, he exclaimed, "O ye gods and little fishes!"and bolted up on deck.
Hearty, the joyous and free, followed. They declared that they felt asif the cook had mixed ipecacuanha in the sausages they had eaten forbreakfast. Bubble laughed, lighted a cigar, and sat on thecompanion-hatch with one leg resting on the deck, the other carelesslydangling down, with the independence of a king on his throne, pityingthem. Oh, how they envied him; how they almost hated him, as cigarafter cigar disappeared, and still there he sat without a sign ofdiscomposure! At dark we made the Havre light, and an hour afterwards,and an hour afterwards, the tide being high, we ran in and dropped ouranchor in smooth water. Wonderful was the change which quietude workedon all hands!
"Supper, supper!" was the cry. Even Will and I did justice to it,though we had had a quiet little dinner by ourselves in the midst of ourfriends' agony, off pickled salmon and roast duck, with a gooseberrytart and a bottle of champagne.
Next morning we sailed with the wind back again to the north-east, and,notwithstanding the little inconveniences we had suffered on the passageacross, we stood to the westward, and heroically determined to runthrough the Race of Alderney, to pay a visit to Jersey. There was anice breeze, and I must say we were glad there was no more of it, as weran through the passage between Alderney and the French coast. Thewater seemed possessed; it tumbled and leaped and twisted and danced ina most extraordinary and unnatural manner; and several seas toppledright down on our decks, and we could not help fancying that some hugefish had jumped on board. However, with a fair wind and a strong tidewe were soon through it, nor was there danger of any sort; but from thespecimen we had we could judge what it would be in a strongish gale.The wind had got round to the southward of west, and before we hadmanaged to weather Cape Gronez the tide turned against us. Cape Gronezis the north-west point of Jersey, and bears a strong similarity to thenose of Louis Philippe, as his portrait used to be represented in"Punch." We had an opportunity of judging of it, for, for upwards of anhour did we beat between it and those enticing rocks called veryproperly the Paternosters, for if a ship once strikes on them, it is tobe hoped that the crew, being Roman Catholics, will, if they have time,say their Paternosters before they go to the bottom.
At last it came on very thick, we ran back and anchored in a mostromantic little cove called Bouley Bay, where we remained all night,hoping the wind would not shift to the northward, and send us on shore.I should advise all timid yachtsmen to keep clear of Jersey, for whatwith the rapid tides, and rocks innumerable, it is a very ticklishlocality. The next morning we got under way at daybreak, and brought upoff Elizabeth Castle, which guards the entrance of the harbour of St.Heliers. I have not time to describe Jersey. I can only recommend allwho have not seen it, and wish to enjoy some very beautiful scenery, togo there. Two days more saw us crossing to Torbay, which we reached onthe morning of the regatta. Had an artist been employed to carve thecliffs on which Torbay is situated, he could scarcely have made themmore picturesque, or added tints more suitable, except perhaps that theyare a little more red than one might wish. However, it is a verybeautiful place, and admirably adapted for a regatta.
The bay before the town was crowded with yachts, and I counted no lessthan fourteen large schooners, among which I remember the "Brilliant,"which, however, should be called a ship, "Gypsy Queen," "Dolphin,""Louisa," and a vast number of cutters, a large proportion of which weregayly dressed up with flags. The course is round the bay, so that theyachts are in sight the whole time--an advantage possessed by few otherplaces. The "Heroine," "Cygnet," and "Cynthia," sailed, but the racewas not a good one, as the "Heroine," driven to windward by herantagonist, ran her bowsprit into one of the mark boats, and another ofthem, the "Cynthia," making a mistake, did not go round her at all.Notwithstanding this, the sight was as beautiful of its kind as I eversaw. There
was a ball at night, to which we went, and we flatteredourselves that four dancing bachelors were not unwelcome. We met anumber of acquaintances. Hearty lost his heart for the tenth time sincehe left London. The Gentle Giant, as the Miss Rattlers calledCarstairs, looked out for a charmer, but could find none to surpass MrsSkyscraper. Bubble laughed with all but sighed with none, though Heartyaccused him of flirtations innumerable; and I never chronicle my owndeeds, however fond I may be of noting those of my friends. However, ifwe did not break hearts, we passed a very pleasant evening. Heartyinvited everybody he knew to come on board the next morning, and we wentas far as Dartmouth, and a beautiful sail back we had by moonlight, tothe great delight of the romantic portion of the guests. They were avery quiet set of ladies and gentlemen, and more than one sigh washeaved when they had gone on shore for our fast friends at Cowes.
We were present at the Plymouth Regatta, and were going to several otherplaces, when, one day after dinner, Hearty thus gave utterance to histhoughts. We were about a quarter of the way across channel on ourpassage to the French coast, with a stiffish breeze from the westward,and a chopping sea:--
"It seems to me arrant folly that we four bachelors should keep turningup the salt water all the summer, and boxing about from place to placewhich we don't care to visit, when there are a number of fair ladies atCowes who are undoubtedly pining for our return."
"My own idea," exclaimed Carstairs.
"Your argument is unanswerable," said Bubble.
I nodded.
"All agreed--then we'll up stick for the Wight," said Hearty joyfully."The wind's fair. We shall be there some time to-morrow. Hillo, Jack!beg the master to step below."
This was said to a lad who waited at table and assisted the steward.
Old Snow, the master, soon made his appearance. He had been a yachtsmanfor many years, and previously, if his yarns were to be believed, asmuggler of no mean renown. He was a short man, rather fat, for goodliving had not been thrown away on him, and very neat and clean in hisperson, as became the master of a yacht.
"We want to get back to Cowes, Snow," said Hearty.
"Yes, sir," answered the skipper, well accustomed to sudden changes inthe plans of his yachting masters.
"How soon can we get there?" asked Hearty.
"If we keeps away at once, and this here wind holds, early to-morrow;but, if it falls light, not till the afternoon, maybe; and, if it chopsround to the eastward, not till next morning," replied Snow.
"By all means keep away at once, and get there as fast as you can," saidHearty; and the master disappeared from the cabin.
Directly afterwards we heard him call the hands aft to case off themain-sheet, the square-sail and gaff-topsail were set, and, by thecomparatively easy motion, we felt that we were running off before thewind. Not a little did it contribute to our comfort in concluding ourdinner.
The next day, at noon, saw us safely anchored in Cowes Roads.
"There's Mr Hearty and the Gentle Giant, I declare," exclaimed themelodious voice of Miss Susan Rattler, from out of a shrubbery, as mytwo friends were pacing along on the road towards Egypt, to call on LadyCardiff.
"Oh, the dear men! you don't say so, Susan!" replied her sister.
Bubble and I were close under them, a little in advance, so they did notsee us, though we could not avoid hearing what was said.
"Yes, it's them, I vow; we must attack them about the pic-nicforthwith," said Susan.
"Don't mention Jane Seaton, or poor Ned will be too much out of spiritsto do any thing," observed her sister.
"Trust me to manage all descriptions of he-animals," replied Rattlerminima. "Ah, how d'ye do?--how d'ye do? Welcome, rovers, welcome!" sheexclaimed, waving her handkerchief as they approached.
"Lovely ladies, we once more live in your presence," began Hearty.
"`Oh that I were a glove upon that hand!'" shouted Carstairs.
"Oh, don't, you'll make us blush!" screamed Susan, from over the bushes."But seriously, we're so glad you're come, because now we can have thepic-nic to Netley you promised us."
"I like frankness--when shall it be?" said Hearty.
"To-morrow, by all means,--never delay a good thing."
"`If 'twere done, 'twere well 'twere done quickly,'" observed thecaptain.
"That's what Shakespeare says about a beef-steak," cried Susan. "But Isay then, it's settled--how nice!"
"What? that we are to have beef-steaks?" asked Hearty. "They are verynice when one's hungry."
"No, I mean that we are to have a pic-nic to-morrow," said the fairRattler.
"That depends whether those we invite are willing to join it," observedHearty.
"`I can summon spirits from the vasty deep; but will they come,cousin?'" exclaimed Carstairs.
"Oh, yes, in these parts, often," cried Rattler maxima; "the revenueofficers constantly find them, I know."
"Capital--capital!" ejaculated Hearty. "You must bring that out againon board the `Frolic.' You deserve a pic-nic for it; it's so original.You must consider this only as a rehearsal."
"How kind--then it's all settled!" exclaimed both young ladies in abreath. "There's Mary Masthead, I know, is dying to go, and so is MrsTopgallant, and I dare say, if Captain Carstairs presses MrsSkyscraper, she'll go, and the Sandons and Cardiffs, and all our set; Idon't think any will refuse."
"Well, then, we've no time to lose," we exclaimed, and off we set tobeat up for recruits.
We were not, however, without our disappointments. Lady Cardiff couldnot go, and without a correct chaperone she could not let her daughterbe of the party--the thing was utterly impossible, dreadfully incorrect,and altogether unheard of. Mrs Skyscraper was a great deal too young,and being a widow had herself to look after. If Mrs Topgallant wouldgo, she would see about it; so we tried next to find the lady inquestion, but she had gone to Carisbrooke Castle, and would not be backtill late. Mrs Sandon was next visited, but she had a cold; and ifLady Cardiff would not let her daughter go without a chaperone, neithercould she. We by chance met Mrs Seaton with the fair Jane, lookingvery beautiful, but mamma never went on the water if she could help it.She could not come to the island without doing so; but once safe there,she would not set her foot in a boat till she had to go away again.Sooth to say, that was not surprising; the good dame was unsuited by herfigure for locomotion. Every thing depended on Mrs Topgallant; neverwas she in so much request. The gentlemen being able to come withoutchaperones, more readily promised to be present. We fell in with SirFrancis Futtock, Lord Lorimer, Harry Loring, and young Flareup, and ayoung Oxonian, who had lately taken orders, and created a greatsensation among the more sensitive portion of his audience by hisexquisite preaching, and the unction by which he privately recommendedauricular confession and penance.
The Rev Frederick Fairfax was a pink-faced young man, and hadnaturally a round, good-natured countenance, but by dint of shaving hiswhiskers, elongating his face, and wearing a white cravat without gills,and a stand-up collar to his coat, he contrived to present a no badimitation of a Jesuit priest. The Miss Rattlers called him the ParagonPuseyite, or the PP, which they said would stand as well for parishpriest. How Hearty came to invite him I don't know, for he detested thesilly clique to whom the youth had attached himself. We had just leftthe young gentleman when we met the two merry little Miss Masons. Atfirst they could not possibly go, because they had no chaperone; butwhen they heard that the Rev Frederick was to be of the party, alltheir scruples vanished. With such a pastor they might go anywhere.They had only lately been bitten, but had ever since diligently appliedthemselves to the study of the "Tracts of the Times;" and though not aword did they understand of those works (which was not surprising by theby), they perceived that the Rev Fred's voice was very melodious, thathe chanted to admiration, and looked so pious that they could not bewrong in following his advice. At last the hearts of all were made gladby the appearance of Mrs Topgallant, who, without much persuasion,undertook to chaperone as many young
ladies as were committed to hercharge.