"Davy"—began the little boy, but before he could say another word the old Sea-Dog growled, "Right you are!" and, handing him a folded paper, trotted gravely away, swaggering, as he went, like a seafaring man.
The paper was addressed to "Davy Jones," and was headed inside, "Binnacle Bob: His werses;" and below these words Davy found the following story:—
To inactivity inclined Was Captain Parker Pitch's mind; In point of fact, 'twas fitted for A sedentary life ashore. His disposition, so to speak, Was nautically soft and weak; He feared the rolling ocean, and He very much preferred the land. A stronger-minded man by far Was gallant Captain Thompson Tar; And (what was very wrong, I think) He marked himself with India ink. He boldly sailed the "Soaking Sue" When angry gales and tempests blew, And even from the nor-nor-east He didn't mind 'em in the least. Now, Captain Parker Pitch's sloop Was called the "Cozy Chickencoop,"— A truly comfortable craft, With ample state-rooms fore and aft. No foolish customs of the deep, Like "watches," robbed his crew of sleep; That estimable lot of men Were all in bed at half-past ten. At seven bells, one stormy day, Bold Captain Tar came by that way, And in a voice extremely coarse He roared "Ahoy!" till he was hoarse. Next morning, of his own accord, This able seaman came aboard, And made the following remark Concerning Captain Pitch's bark:— "Avast!" says he, "Belay! What cheer! How comes this little wessel here? Come, tumble up your crew," says he, "And navigate a bit with me!" Says Captain Pitch, "I can't refuse To join you on a friendly cruise; But you'll oblige me, Captain Tar, By not a-taking of me far." At this reply from Captain Pitch, Bold Thompson gave himself a hitch, It cut him to the heart to find A seaman in this frame of mind. "Avast!" says he; "we'll bear away For Madagascar and Bombay, Then down the coast to Yucatan, Kamtschatka, Guinea, and Japan." "Stand off for Egypt, Turkey, Spain, Australia, and the Spanish Main, Then through the nor-west passage for Van Dieman's Land and Labrador."
Says Captain Pitch, "The ocean swell Makes me exceedingly unwell, And, Captain Tar, before we start, Pray join me in a friendly tart." And shall I go and take and hide The sneaking trick that Parker tried? Oh! no. I very much prefer To state his actions as they were: With marmalade he first began To tempt that bluff seafaring man, Then fed him all the afternoon With custard in a table-spoon. No mariner, however tough, Can thrive upon this kind of stuff; And Thompson soon appeared to be A feeble-minded child of three.
He cried for cakes and lollipops; He played with dolls and humming-tops; He even ceased to roar "I'm blowed!" And shook a rattle, laughed, and crowed. When Parker saw the seamen gaze Upon the captain's cunning ways, Base envy thrilled him through and through. And he became a child of two. Now, Parker had in his employ A mate, two seamen, and a boy; The mate was fond as he could be Of babies, and he says, says he,— "Why, messmates, as we're all agreed Sea-bathing is the thing they need, Let's drop these hinfants off the quarter!" (They did, in fourteen fathom water).
—and here the story came abruptly to an end.
Davy was quite distressed at this, particularly as the dreadful thought came into his mind that some babies do not know how to swim, and he was therefore very well satisfied when he saw that the old Sea-Dog had apparently changed his mind about going away, and was swaggering along toward him again.
"If you please," said Davy, as the surly creature came within hearing distance,—"if you please, sir, were the two little captains drowned?"
