“Why, didn’t you say that somebody—Why, I do believe I was half asleep.”
“I guess you were, and so was the cat. But there, it don’t matter. I mean to find that pile. If I don’t somebody else will, and then Barnaby Blunt won’t have it—eh?”
“Certainly not.”
“And when Barnaby Blunt does find it and does get it on board, then hurrah! for ’Frisco and my old woman ’Liza, and no more going to sea for me on this side the grave. Only, altho’ I must confess you ain’t the most inquisitive coon ever I came across, still I thought I’d tell you the strange story, and let you know where I was bearing up for, and the kind o’ notion Barnaby Blunt had in his long head.”
“Well, I’m much obliged, Captain Blunt, for your confidence in me; and all will, I hope, turn out well and for the best.”
It may as well be confessed here at once that Tom’s notions even now as to where the ship was going to were the most hazy imaginable.
All went well in the ’Liza Ann for two more weeks.
The men called her the lazy ’Liza; but certainly they appeared to enjoy the ship’s laziness very much. They were only ten all told, including Ginger Brandy; but dolce far niente was their motto, from Pebbles the mate all the way down.
The masts, as I have said, were not tall, and as there was patent reefing tackle they never had far aloft to go; so their work was very easy. But they kept the ship as clean as a new sovereign. They sang all day long, and danced in the evening—verily a happy-go-lucky crew.
Tom the cat was a favourite forward; indeed, this strange puss, being thoroughly up to the ways of ships and sailors, seemed happier now than ever he had been in his life.