A west-nor’-west course brought the Greenock off Saint Catharine’s Point; but the evening had drawn in too much for Teddy to see anything of the Isle of Wight, and when he woke up next morning the ship was abreast of the Start Point.
From thence, he had a fair view of the Devon and Cornish coasts in the distance all the way to the Lizard, the scene being like an ever-changing panorama, with plenty of life and movement about in the vessels the Greenock was continually passing either outwards or homewards bound; while the little trawlers and fishing-boats clustered in groups here and there, and there was the occasional smoke from some steamer steaming along the horizon, like a dark finger-post above the level of the sea in the distance.
He enjoyed it all, as, although he had found his bunk in the cabin rather close and stuffy after his nice airy bed-room at the vicarage, he was still not sea-sick; and, as he leant over the taffrail, watching the creamy wake the ship left behind her, spreading out broader and broader until it was lost in the surrounding waste of waters, what with the sniff of the saline atmosphere and the bracing breeze, he began to feel hungry, longing for breakfast-time to come and wondering when he would hear the welcome bell sound to tell that the meal was ready.
No one was on deck, at least on the poop, when he came up, save the helmsman, and Mr Capstan, the latter walking up and down briskly on the windward side and exchanging a word now and again with the pilot on the bridge; so Teddy felt a little forlorn.
Presently, the second-mate, taking a longer turn in his quarterdeck walk, came up and spoke to him.
“Well, young shaver,” he said, “how are you getting on?”
“Very well, thank you, sir,” replied Teddy, touching his cap, as Uncle Jack had told him he must always do to his superior officer.
“Ah! you’re like a young bear, and have all your troubles before you,” the other next remarked consolingly, adding immediately afterwards the query: “Seen any of your messmates yet?”
“No, sir,” replied Teddy, looking a bit puzzled—“that is, excepting yourself and the captain, and Uncle Jack, of course. Are there any other midshipmen like myself?”
“Aye, if you call the apprentices so, young shaver,” said Mr Capstan with an ironical grin which did not improve his rather ugly face. “There are two more of you; and the lazy young hounds must be snoozing below, for they haven’t shown a leg yet. However, I’ll soon rouse ’em up!”