“Talking about, sir? Ah, you never knowed what it was to be a sailor, and when you are free never knowing for a moment how soon you may be pressed. Why, I don’t believe there was a man Jack on us as slept a wink last night with thinking about this morning.”
“What, for fear you would be pressed, after what uncle said?”
“Ay, ay, sir. Your uncle meant right enough, and he believed what he said, and that there lieutenant was civil enough; but a second lieutenant aren’t a first lieutenant, sir, and a first lieutenant aren’t a post-captain. We all talked a bit last night, and put that and that together, and Isaac Gregg, who aren’t a very wise chap—you see, sir, he’s got too much fat about him to leave room for anything else—but he said something smart last night. ‘Yes,’ he says, ‘my lads, that all sounds right enough, but suppose when that boat got back the captain says, Yes, he says, it’s all very well, and I dare say that there gent got leave from Government to man his schooner and come down here bottling sea-leeches and other insects of that kind; but I am short of men for the King’s ship, and that’s more consequence than what he’s doing of. So you just start back at daybreak in the boat with my compliments to Dr Robson, saying I’m very sorry, but he must please hand over six of the best lads he’s got.’”
“Oh, nonsense, Joe! The captain would be too much of a gentleman.”
“Being a gentleman, sir, is being a gentleman, but duty’s duty, and officers and sailors have to give up everything to that. Last night, whether we was on the watch, or turned in to our hot bunks, every man Jack of us felt that the Bun was right, and a bit envious of him, because, poor chap, he would have been safe. They wouldn’t have took him; but we all of us fully expected to see that boat coming back for us this morning. But not only aren’t there no boat, but the sloop’s slipped away in the night and gone.”
“Where’s she gone, then?”
“Well, that’s what we don’t know, sir, and we don’t care.”
“But are you sure, Joe? She may be lying off yonder in the mist.”
“Oh no, she aren’t, sir. Two on us have been up right aloft till we could lay our hands on the main truck; and when you are up there you are looking right over the fog. It’s wonderful how close it lies to the water. It’s all right, sir, and I believe we are safe. Aren’t you glad?”
“Of course I am, Joe.”