There was a sparring match between Jack Perkins and the boatswain for heavyweights, and between Dick Gray and Chippie Smith for lightweights. Then there was wrestling between Bertie Young and Ellsworth, and some “cock fighting” between the younger boys. After that the boatswain got out his fiddle, and half a dozen of the crew danced the hornpipe, both single and double—including the Captain, who, in addition to the hornpipe, performed the “skipping rope dance” for which he was especially famous, and which was the envy of all beholders.
“There isn’t a boy on the ship who is as lightfooted as the Captain,” remarked Mr. Wentworth.
“And there isn’t a man who has a better head on him,” said Jack Perkins. “Three cheers for Captain Goodfellow!—Cool and steady!—Always ready! Rah, Rah, Rah! Good-fel-low!”
As the cheers arose, all eyes looked around to find the Captain; but he had a way of disappearing when bouquets were handed around and didn’t turn up again until it was time for him to take his trick at the wheel.
Meantime, while all the merriment was going on, Billy Brown crept away from the crowd and went forward of the windlass to think a little by himself. He was feeling very badly; and, after a while, Dick, who happened to be standing by the starboard fore-rigging, noticed him there.
“What’s the matter, Billy?” he asked, and sat down on a coil of rope beside him.
Brown did not answer at first; and then, with some difficulty, muttered:
“Well—you see—Dick—it’s the swimming!”
And then, changing his manner, as if the floodgates of his grief or his anger were opened—he broke out in a torrent of words, and Dick hardly knew whether he was going to cry or challenge him to fight.
“What do you s’pose is the matter with me? I’m scared blue in the water, and I can’t seem to help it. The old man says I’ve got to get over it, but I don’t see how I’m going to! Blast you—how do you do it?”