Charley Laurel: A Story of Adventure by Sea and Land

  CHAPTER SIX.

  CAPTAIN PODGERS.

  The _Dolphin_ under all sail was making rapid progress to the southward.

  I have not hitherto mentioned the fact that I was the little Charley Ihave been speaking of; indeed, so indistinct is my recollection of theearlier events I have described, that had it not been for Dick, I couldhave known very little about them. Dick soon recovered, and I wasdelighted when, on having made my way forward, I found myself again withhim. He scanned me all over, as if to ascertain whether any harm hadcome to me during our long separation. I assured him that I was allright, and was loud in my praise of Miss Kitty, though I was lesscomplimentary to Mrs Podgers and the captain.

  "They are not nice people," I observed; "drink nasty rum, quarrel andfight, and then kiss and hug; then quarrel and fight again."

  My description was a correct one. Mrs Podgers, indeed, had come to seasorely against her husband's will, simply because she would, and hadbrought Miss Kitty, who had just come from school, with her--to save theexpense of keeping her at home. Miss Kitty was evidently very unhappy,and did not at all like the life she had to lead. She was as refined inappearance, manners, and feelings, as Mrs Podgers was coarse in allthree; but the captain, though fat and addicted to rum-drinking in largequantities, and somewhat sulky in his cups, was not nearly as bad as hiswife. He was, moreover, greatly tried, both in the cabin by her, and ondeck by his unruly crew: the latter was, indeed, about as rough a set offellows as ever collected on board ship. The first and second mateswere not unfitted, by the ready use they made of their fists, to managethem, but the third mate, Edward Falconer, who had brought Dick and meon board, differed from them greatly. He was refined in his appearanceand manners, and gentle in his behaviour, though there was, at times, alook in his eye which showed that he was not lacking in spirit anddaring.

  The _Dolphin_, besides being bound on a whaling cruise, was a "Letter ofMarque," by which she had the right, without being considered a pirate,to take and plunder any of the enemy's ships she might fall in with; butwhen Mrs Podgers, with Miss Kitty, came on board, the crew, suspectingthat the captain intended to confine himself to the more pacific of thetwo occupations, were very indignant, and a mutinous and discontentedspirit arose among them.

  The captain never from the first took to me.

  "I am bothered enough with women, and don't want a brat in the cabininto the bargain," he growled out one day when angry with his wife.

  "Oh, but the little boy loves me so much," said Mrs Podgers, drawing metowards her. "Don't you, Charley?"

  "No, I can't say I do," I answered; for Dick had charged me always tospeak the truth. "But I love Miss Kitty, that I do, for she is sweetand pretty, and that's what you know you are not;" and I broke away fromher and ran up to the young lady.

  "Ungrateful little wretch!" exclaimed Mrs Podgers. "Then out of thecabin you shall go, and live with your equals forward."

  "Yes, let him go at once," said the captain, "or you will be changingyour mind."

  "Not likely, after what he has said to me," exclaimed Mrs Podgers. "Iwould pull his ears, as he deserves, that I would."

  Poor Kitty looked very much frightened, and held me close to her. "Oh,don't, Mrs Podgers, pray don't; the little boy did not intend to benaughty, and I will take care of him, and teach him better manners ifyou will let me."

  "No, Miss, I will do no such thing," answered Mrs Podgers, her anger inno way diminished.

  "Take him on deck at once, and tell the man who came with him to lookafter him. If he goes overboard that's his own fault, not mine. Iwould have been a mother to him, but I cannot stand ingratitude, and hehas no claim on my sympathy and affections, as you have, Kitty my dear."

  Poor Kitty gave no responsive glance to this remark, but turned away herhead, and taking me by the hand led me to the companion stair, whence wewent up on deck.

  Mr Falconer, who was officer of the watch, stepped up as she appeared.She told him with tears in her eyes what had occurred.

  "It is what might be expected," he observed; "but let me entreat you notto be anxious about the little boy. You shall see him as often as youwish, and I suspect that he will be as well off with the honest fellowwho had charge of him as he would with those people in the cabin."

  I did not understand at the time that there was anything peculiar in hisremarks, or that Miss Kitty seemed to place far more confidence in himthan she did in captain and Mrs Podgers. I only understood that I wasto go back to Dick, and of that I should have been heartily glad, hadnot my satisfaction been mitigated by the idea that I should be thusseparated from Miss Kitty, whose amiability and gentleness had greatlyattracted me.

  "Well, Charley, we will look after you," said Dick, when I went forward."There's a vacant berth next to mine, and I'll put your bedding in it.But I am afraid, boy, your manners won't be improved by your newshipmates."

  Dick was right, for while I was rapidly increasing my vocabulary ofEnglish words, I learned to use some of the expressions constantlyissuing from the sailors' mouths, without knowing their meaning, orhaving any idea of their vileness.

  At length, one day, when seated in the forecastle with Dick, I utteredseveral in succession, highly pleased with my own proficiency. Dicklooked at me hard.

  "Charley, do you know those are very bad words you are saying?" heexclaimed; "I didn't think you knew such."

  "Why, Dick, I heard you say them yourself the other day," and I remindedhim of several occasions on which he had uttered some of the words I hadmade use of.

  "Did I, Charley? are you sure of it?" he asked, evidently consideringwhether I had brought a true or false accusation against him.

  "Certain sure, Dick," I said.

  "Well, now, I am very sorry for that, and mind, Charley, though you hearother people say what is bad, or see them do what is bad, it is noreason that you should say or do the same; and for my part, Charley, Imust clap a preventer-brace on my tongue, and bowse it taut, or thosesort of words will, I know, be slipping out. I mind that my good motherused to tell me that I must never take God's name in vain, and that'swhat I am afraid I have been doing, over and over again. Remember,Charley, if I ever hear you, I'll punish you, and I'll try and break themen of it; it's a shame that they should set such a bad example to alittle chap like you, though I am afraid it will be a hard job to stopthem."

  Dick was as good as his word. From that day forward I never heard himutter an oath, though several times a round one rose to his lips. I atfirst was not so careful, but the rope's-ending he gave me made merecollect for the future. The men cried shame when they saw him beatingme, and were not a little astonished when he told them that it was theirfault, and that of course if they swore the little chap would swearalso. After this, I really believe that several of them, rough as theywere, restrained themselves when I was within hearing, though thegreater number went on as before.

  Both on and after crossing the line the _Dolphin_ was frequentlybecalmed for several days at a time, which did not improve the captain'stemper, nor that of the crew either. The voyage therefore was greatlyprolonged. I was more with Miss Kitty than I had expected, for thecaptain and his wife very frequently, after indulging in potations longand deep, fell asleep in the cabin. On such occasions she used to makeher escape on deck. She never seemed tired of watching the flying-fishskimming over the ocean, or the dolphins swimming by, or the sea-birdswhich passed in rapid flight overhead, or watching the magnificentfrigate-bird as it soared on high, and then shot down into the ocean tograsp its finny prey.

  Sometimes, however, I used to wonder what she could be looking at whenEdward Falconer was by her side gazing with her over the ocean. To besure, there were the stars glittering above, or the moon with her pathof silvery light cast across the vast expanse of water, and she and heseemed never tired of gazing at it. Sometimes on such occasions sheheld me by her hand, and seemed always to wish to have me near her. Iat first was not able to understand what she and the young mate w
eretalking about, but in time, as I learned more English, I perhapscomprehended more than they supposed.

  "I have been a wild, wayward, careless fellow, Kate," I heard MrFalconer say one evening as he stood by Miss Kitty's side. "Instead ofremaining at college, and taking advantage of the opportunities Ipossessed of rising in the world, I spent all my means, and then, to thegrief of an excellent father, shipped on board a merchantman as a sailorbefore the mast. My knowledge of mathematics soon enabled me to becomea better navigator than the captain himself, while I rapidly acquired aknowledge of seamanship, as from having been accustomed all my life toboating and yachting, I was at once perfectly at home. I soon became amate, but I spent all my pay, and was glad to ship on board the_Dolphin_, the first vessel I could find which had a vacant berth. HadI known the character of the master and the officers with whom it was tobe my lot to associate, I should certainly, as you may suppose, haveavoided her. I had already found, like the prodigal son, that I had dryhusks alone to eat, and bitterly mourning my folly, had, even before theship sailed, contemplated returning home on the first opportunity andseeking my father's forgiveness, when you came on board and I began tobreathe a new existence."

  "You need not tell me more, Edward," said Kitty. "I cannot bear thethoughts of having prevented you from doing what you considered right,and right it was, I am sure. You must not think of me; oh, let me urgeyou to go home, and occupy the position which from your education andfamily you should properly enjoy, for surely your father will receiveyou thankfully, and forgive your offences. As for me--humanlyspeaking--I am helpless; but I am not without hope--for I know in whom Itrust. Were I not confident that God watches over and takes care of allwho have faith in that love which induced Him to give us the greatestgift He could bestow on perishing sinners, I should indeed bemiserable."

  Much more was said which I did not hear. Mr Falconer and Kitty tookseveral turns on deck together, and I ran about near them.

  Their conversation was interrupted by the sudden appearance of MrsPodgers' head at the companion-hatch, as in an angry tone she summonedthe young lady below. The mate walked aft, and I scampered forward torejoin Dick.