TOM, delighted to find himself at last on board an outward-bound vessel, remained on deck until the schooner was fairly out of the harbor. He took his stand beside the captain, thrust his hands deep into his pockets, pushed his hat on one side, and watched the movements of the sailors, who ran about the deck executing the different orders, as if he perfectly understood the meaning of every command, and had long been accustomed to every thing he saw. Occasionally he turned his eyes toward the rapidly receding lights on the wharf, but, far from experiencing a single feeling of regret at leaving home, he felt like shouting for joy. In fact, according to Tom’s way of thinking, he had nothing to be sorry for. At home he was always unhappy, something was forever happening to trouble him; but in the life before him he saw nothing but sunshine. He was entering upon the easy and romantic life of a sailor. He would soon learn enough about seamanship and navigation to be intrusted with the command of a vessel; and, when he arose in the morning, instead of looking forward to six hours’ work at his arithmetic and geography lessons, he would find before him a day of uninterrupted enjoyment.
“Ah, this is glorious!” said Tom to himself, as the schooner, having cleared the harbor, began to move more rapidly over the waves. “This is fine! This is just the life for me! I’m a land-lubber no longer! I’m a sailor; and I wouldn’t be the least bit sorry if I should never see Newport.”
Tom’s soliloquy was interrupted by an event that was as sudden as it was unexpected. He had taken no pains to keep out of the way of the sailors; and, when the crew came aft to hoist the mainsail, he was so absorbed in his reverie that he took no notice of them until he was aroused by the exclamation: “Here you are! Always in the way! Get out o’ this!” accompanied by a violent push, which sent him at full length on the deck.
“Now, look here!” drawled Tom, as he hastily arose to his feet. “I’d like to know what you are about! I’ll tell the captain.”
Surprised and indignant at such treatment, he at once started off to find the skipper, whom he at length discovered standing in the waist.
“Captain!” he exclaimed. “Did you see that fellow push me down?”
“No!” replied the captain, in a tone which implied that he was not at all interested in the matter, “I didn’t see him.”
“Well, somebody did push me down, flat on the deck,” said Tom, angrily. “I want you to haul that man up for it, for I won’t stand it.”