Among the peculiarities of Captain Brandon’s appearance was a very long nose, which, however useful it might be to the owner, was far from ornamental. Brandon was aware of the prominence of this feature, and felt sensitive about it. As a boy he had been annoyed by the jocose allusions of his school-fellows to it, and nothing disturbed his temper more now than any reference to it, or even a significant glance at it. Jack Rodman had observed this peculiarity in the captain, and determined to take advantage of it in order to get Harry into trouble.
One night, unobserved as he supposed, he drew with a piece of chalk a rude caricature of the captain’s face, in a part of the vessel where it would be likely to be seen by Brandon. The size of the nose was exaggerated, but there was also in the other features a general resemblance to the captain, so that it was quite evident who was meant.
Jack supposed that he was unobserved, and so he might have been but for the accidental approach of the supercargo.
Mr. Weldon glanced at what Jack was doing, and a smile came to his face. He was rather amused by the caricature, and, having no very particular regard for the captain, passed on in silence, not feeling called upon to interfere.
The next morning Captain Brandon, in pacing the deck, suddenly came face to face with the caricature, which had not been effaced.
Instantly the blood rushed to his face. He could see the resemblance himself; and that made the matter worse. He felt that it was an insult to him, and he determined to visit condign punishment upon the perpetrator of the insulting joke, if he could find him out.
“Who did this?” he roared out, at the top of his voice.
The vehemence of his tone attracted general attention. The sailors looked at one another, and exchanged sly glances indicative of amusement.
“Who did this?” exclaimed the captain, again, stamping in rage.