THE BOY THE FATHER OF THE MAN.
(A Chapter from a Sea Story of the future.)
"Lash the lubber to the top-gallant yard and give him five hundred with the cat o' ninetails!" shouted the pirate Captain, blue with passion.
There was a murmur amongst his crew. Because their messmate had forgotten to touch his cap, it seemed hard to their poor untutored minds he should receive so heavy a punishment.
"What, mutiny!" cried the ruffian skipper, "here take this and this and this!" and he distributed the contents of his revolver amongst the sailors aft.
In the meanwhile, the poor wretch was hanging to the topgallant yard, expecting every moment to be his last.
"A sail, Sir," said the boatswain, saluting, as he mounted to the quarter-deck.
"Get ready the torpedoes, and serve out per man a hundredweight of smokeless powder cartridges. We shall have rough work." Then he added, "By the way, what is the time?"
"About half-past two, Sir," returned the other, and then, as his Captain made an unsuccessful grab, he muttered, "No you don't!"
The ship in pursuit came on apace, and soon the two vessels were yard-arm to yard-arm engaged in mortal combat. For a while the confusion was so great that it was impossible to say what would be the upshot. But a fortunate torpedo sent the pirate craft to the bottom, and of all her crew, only the skipper survived. He was brought (loaded with chains) before his conqueror.
"Well, you scoundrel," said the British Captain, "have you anything to urge in your defence before we prepare you for your execution?"
"What would be the good?" was the sulky reply. "I know my fate."
"That voice, those husky tones," exclaimed the epauletted representative of the English Admiralty; "surely I know them. They bring back painful recollections. Show your face, Sirrah!"
"Why should I?" queried the conquered Chief. "It won't do me any good!"
But at a gesture of the British Captain, his prisoner was seized, and his face forcibly washed.
"What, BILLY TOMPKINS!" murmured the Briton, "and we meet again like this!"
"Yes," answered the other, "and it can't be helped. You have your duty to perform, and so have I. Do your worst!"
"But, BILLY, you were not always like this!"
"No, JACK, I was not. Once I used to prattle at my mother's knee. I was beloved by my brothers and sisters, and I was the pride of the nursery!"
And then the strong man broke down, and wept bitterly.
"But have you not fallen very low?" asked the British Captain, gently.
"Indeed I have! I am a thief, a liar, a scoundrel—and, in fact, a blackguard!"
"With such surroundings," returned the Officer R.N., pointing to the debris of the pirate craft, "it is difficult to dispute your contention. Indeed, you are a blackguard! But to what cause do you owe your fall?"
"To my early training."
"I do not comprehend you. Your early training! Where were you trained?"
"In the Britannia!"
And then the British Captain completely understood the situation.
