CHAPTER XI
My First Day at Sea
Captain Jeremy Miles was standing under the break of the poop, his sunburnt face darkened to a brick-red colour with anger.
"What d'ye mean, you rascal, stowing yourself aboard my ship?"
I must have looked a pitiable object, for, in addition to my soot-blackened face, my clothes were covered with dust and tar, the former from the roads, the latter from the timbers of the hold, though, until I came on deck, I was unaware of it.
My garments were also rent in several places, my hands were bleeding from the result of the rats' bites, and my left eye was becoming rapidly closed, by reason of the blow I had received when flung across the cable tier.
Receiving no answer, the Captain repeated the question with increased emphasis, stamping his foot violently on the deck.
I gave a rapid glance to windward. About a mile away I saw a line of chalk cliffs, ending off in two remarkable pinnacles, and backed by a lofty down, regular in outline and destitute of trees; while astern lay the sand dunes that marked the entrance to Poole Harbour. No other craft was in sight, so I concluded that, whatever else might happen, I should not be put ashore.
"Captain Jeremy," I exclaimed, "don't you know who I am?"
"I don't know, and, what is more, I don't care."
"But you do, sir; I am Clifford Hammond."
Had a musket exploded under his very nose, the Captain would not have jumped back more than he did. Then his eyes opened to their fullest extent, and his jaw dropped till almost every tooth in his head was revealed. Those of the crew who had formed the forlorn group in the cave in Brockenhurst Heath gave a mingled shout and cheer of welcome.
"Good heavens, lad!" exclaimed the Captain, when he had partly recovered himself, "you here? Sink me! Come to my cabin."
He led the way to a low yet snug apartment in the stern of the vessel, well lighted by the square ports I had before noticed, and plainly but service ably furnished. A thick red carpet covered the floor, and curtains of similar colour partially concealed a recess that served as a sleeping bunk. A table, secured to the floor by two light chains, occupied most of the available space, its polished top being littered with charts and papers. Two muskets, a hanger, and a brace of pistols were fixed in a rack, above which was a small bookshelf. Against the side of the bulkhead stood a small portable stove, but, the day being warm, it was unlighted. On either side of the stove-pipe hung several nautical instruments, including a quadrant, a telescope, and other gear; while below these, and in fact in every angle of the cabin, were neatly contrived lockers.
This much I saw in a rapid glance, for Captain Jeremy seemed anxious to speak his mind.
"You are a young rascal," said he, though in the same kindly manner as of yore. "You've outwitted me, my lad, though I must confess I am not altogether sorry. But now, look at the other side of the business. Here you are, inexperienced in the hardships of a sailor's life, about to engage in a hazardous enterprise that may last for years. I am saddled with the responsibility of looking after you, and this, in a measure, ties my hands."
"I'll try not to give you any trouble," I exclaimed.
"That I can quite understand; but trouble or no trouble, the responsibility remains, d'ye see? However, least said, soonest mended. Do your duty, my lad, for I'll warrant you'll not be kept idle, and trust to One above to keep you when in danger and adversity."
He opened the cabin door and called to a man, desiring him to tell the cook to bring in some food.
"Meanwhile," he continued, "I'll look you out some suitable apparel, and do you go for'ard, where you'll find a bucket of water. My faith! You'll be all the better for a good wash."
I did as he ordered, and walking along the heaving deck between groups of men, who stood respectfully aside for me to pass ('Enery having explained that I was the son of one of the owners--not knowing of my father's death), I gained the shelter of a canvas screen underneath the fo'c'sle ladder.
Here I removed the thick deposit of soot and dirt, and having been rinsed down by several buckets of water thrown over me by the seaman who brought the promised garments, I proceeded to dress.
The clothes fitted me fairly well as far as my height went, for I was almost full-grown in stature, but they were somewhat loose about the body, yet comfortable withal; and on returning to Captain Jeremy's cabin I found myself arrayed in serviceable breeches--baggy at the knees, 'tis true--a grey flannel doublet, and a short coat with slashed sleeves. Hat and stockings I was not as yet provided with, neither did I require them; but on my feet I wore a pair of pumps, or heelless shoes.
"Stow that away as fast as you can," said Captain Jeremy, pointing to a tempting display of food placed at one end of the table. "And don't forget to make the best of it, for the fresh stuff won't last long, and you'll have to fall back on real seaman's fare--hard tack and salt pork--before many days are over."
While I was ravenously devouring my food (for I was completely famished), a seaman was busily engaged in fixing some planks round the sides of one of the lockers I had previously noticed.
"He's knocking up a bunk for you," explained the kindly Captain. "I think you'll be able to stretch out on it."
"But you don't mean me to sleep in your cabin, sir?" I exclaimed. "I'm quite ready to sleep in a hammock, like the rest of the crew."
"That's part of my responsibility," he replied, shaking his finger at me; "so there's an end on 't. Jeremy Miles has always prided himself on being a man of his word, and sink me if I fail to carry out this matter to the satisfaction of my principles."
Thus I found myself installed in the Captain's cabin of the brig Golden Hope, which was more than I expected and more than I deserved.
"Sixty men we carry," remarked the Captain. "None too many, but the most we can reasonably afford. Most of them have been shipmates with me in times past, and I'll warrant they'll be a tough nut for any man to crack, be he Turk, Algerine, or buccaneer. It does my heart good to see them do the cutlass drill, or man the ordnance. Our master gunner, Master Silas Touchstone, has seen much service 'gainst the Dutch, and, forsooth, he's a tower of strength to the brig. Would you could have seen them when we beat to quarters on our way down channel."
"Were you attacked?" I asked eagerly.
"Nay, 'twas but practice, yet 'tis what we must accustom ourselves to, for I doubt not that we shall smell powder in real earnest ere we see Poole once again."
Just then 'Enery, who, I discovered, was the bos'n, knocked at the cabin door and reported that the wind was freshening considerably, whereat Captain Jeremy hastened on deck.
Having finished my meal, I bethought me that I ought to go on deck also, and tying a scarf round my head in place of a hat, I ran up the ladder and gained the poop.
The wind was howling through the rigging and driving the spray in white showers across our weather bow, while ahead and as far to larboard as the eye could reach regular combers, with crested tops, showed how the surface of the sea had changed during the last hour.
On our starboard hand a wide expanse of milk-white foam betokened the presence of the dreaded Race of Portland, the bluff headland that gives it its name being plainly visible over our lee bow.
Beyond the heights of Portland the sun was setting in a pale, watery sky, which was fast becoming obscured by rapidly drifting grey patches of ragged clouds--a sure sign of bad weather.
Captain Jeremy neglected no precautions to ensure the safety of his vessel. The fore and main topsails were close-reefed, the storm stay-sails and jib set, and the guns, boats, and hatches properly secured.
"You had best turn in," he shouted, his lusty voice barely audible above the shrieking of the wind. "We'll be in the thick of it before long."
Tired out with my exertions and lack of sleep during my night's journey, I retired to the cabin, and, in spite of the incessant rolling and pitching of the vessel, and the thunder of the waves as they poured over her bows, I fell into a deep slumber.
How long I slept I had no idea till I was roughly wakened by 'Enery shaking my shoulder and exclaiming: "'Tis three bells [9.30 a.m.], Master Hammond. You'd best come on deck, for there's a strange sail bearing down on us."
"What is it?" I asked. "Is it a pirate?"
"That I know not; 'tis, I fear, no law-abiding craft, and if we come to close action every man jack'll have his work to do."
By this time I had sprung out of my bunk, and was making for the deck.