Billy thought of thanking French, but somehow or other felt that his gratitude would not be appreciated,—or else that he had better show it by making progress rather than by words,—so he drew himself up straight and waited to see what was going to happen next. Just then the boatswain’s call sounded out sharp for prayers, and they all went down the companionway to the berth deck.
Billy’s locker and bunk were not far from Dick’s, and after “tattoo” they undressed together and talked about a number of things that had aroused Billy’s curiosity. They were interrupted by the sounding of “taps”; and a minute after Bertie Young, the master-at-arms, made his rounds to see that all were in their bunks and that everything was quiet.
“He knows mighty little about a vessel,” thought Dick, as he turned over in his bunk, “but he’s a great one for asking questions, and I shouldn’t wonder if he knew the whole thing before long.”
In the next bunk but one, Billy lay thinking about the farm and the home folks. “I wonder,” thought he, “whether Roger has remembered the special feed for the calf.” Then, in another minute, he was thinking of the ship again, and of his present surroundings, and wondered how he could have come into so entirely different a world within only fifty miles of the world he had left behind him. “There are lots of things on board this ship,” thought he, “that I never heard of in my life; but I’ll do my best to learn every one of them, and won’t the boys at home be surprised!”
CHAPTER XIV
The Key of the Keelson
The next morning, much to every one’s disappointment, the ship’s departure was delayed by a dead calm, and so the “routine at anchor” continued uninterrupted. Meantime Mr. Jackson was making the most of his opportunities for observing the life on board. After following the instruction of the four sections from one o’clock to half-past two, he promised himself to have a good talk with the Chairman and the Captain when the boys should have gone ashore for their liberty and everything on board would be comparatively quiet.
Billy had his first experience of going over the masthead that morning; and, as he was rather a sedentary boy, the thought of it made him feel a little queer. He did not like climbing or high places particularly, but he simply used his common sense, and told himself that the thing had to be done and that there was no use thinking any more about it. Dick managed to get up just behind him so that he could watch him and give him a word of encouragement, if necessary, and things went on all right until they got nearly to the crosstrees. Then Dick noticed that Billy hesitated, and he reached his own arm well up beside him and whispered to him just where to put his hands and feet. The sound of Dick’s voice was all that little Bill needed, and he rallied immediately and climbed to the top, and then stepped across and began going down the other side.
In the afternoon Mr. Jackson watched the string of white hats and jumpers disappear down the cabin companionway, as the boys went to get some of their money before going ashore; and then the inspection of the same string drawn up in line on deck before they got into the boats at three o’clock. He watched them row away from the ship with the “long boat” a little in advance,—their white hats and jumpers like so many dots, and their oar blades sparkling in the afternoon sun.
As he turned his head away from this cheerful scene, he noticed the Chairman standing by his side and looking in the same direction.
“They’re not a bad lot of youngsters,” said the latter, “and there’s just mischief enough in them to keep us busy.”