“Yes, that’s certain,” said I, looking at him hard. “And I may make bold to guess that you, sir, are Mr Carr.”
“You are right in your guess, Jack;—that is to say, I have been Captain Carr for some years past. I am glad to have fallen in with you, for I am fitting out a ship for a long voyage, and I like to have men with me whom I know and can trust.”
“Glad to have your good opinion, sir, and without another question I’ll ship with you,” I answered. “Where are you bound for?”
“A South-Sea whaling-voyage,” he answered. “I have been at it for some years now, both as mate and master, and I tell you there’s nothing like it for excitement and novelty. There’s our craft, Jack; the Drake is her name. Look at her. Not a finer ship for her size sails out of Liverpool—measures five hundred tons, and carries forty hands. You’ll like the life, depend on it; and I say, if you fall in with any good men, let me know. I like to have trustworthy men serving with me.”
I promised to do as he desired, and then went on board to have a look at the ship. I found her everything I could wish, and felt perfectly satisfied with the arrangement I had made. Having set my mind at ease on that point, I began to consider how I should pass my time till the Drake was ready to receive her crew on board, for she was still in the hands of the carpenters. I bethought me, then, that I would run across to Dublin, to try and find out my old captain. I found a large smack—a regular passage vessel—just sailing, so I went aboard, and in two days we reached that port. On landing I inquired for Captain Helfrich, for I had forgotten where he lived. “There he goes along the quays,” answered the person I had addressed; and I saw a gentleman whom, from his figure, I did not doubt was him.
“Captain Helfrich, sir, I beg pardon; but I’m glad to see you looking so well. I’m Jack Williams,” I exclaimed, running after him.
“That’s my name; but I do not remember you, my man,” he answered.
“I served my apprenticeship with you, and you were very kind to me, sir,” I replied; but as I spoke I looked more narrowly in his face, and saw a much younger man than I expected to meet.
“Ah! you take me for my father, as others have done,” he remarked, laughing. “He has given up the sea long ago, but he will be glad to meet an old shipmate; and now I think of it, I have to thank you for the model of his old craft the Rainbow. Come along by all means; I’m going to his house. You’ll find him much changed, though.”
So I did, indeed, and it made me reflect how many years of my life had passed away. I found my old captain seated before the fire in a large arm-chair, with a book and spectacles on a table by his side, and a handkerchief over his knees. His hair was long and white as snow, and his cheeks thin and fallen in about the mouth; but still the hue of health had not altogether fled. He received me kindly and frankly, and seemed much pleased at my coming so far to see him. He desired to hear all about me, and was greatly moved at the account I gave him of the Rainbow’s loss. He was sorry to find that all the time I had been at sea I had not improved my condition in the world. I confessed that it was owing to my idleness and unwillingness to learn.