On his return to the hut, he told his mother of the arrival of the frigate.
“She comes as a friend, I hope,” remarked the widow; “it is not many years ago that I have seen vessels in this bay, which came with very different intentions.”
No one was seen, however, to land from the strange frigate, but the widow, on further consideration, resolved to pay a visit on board, in the hopes of disposing of the fish they had just caught, calculating that a further supply might be obtained for the castle the following day.
Dermot was glad of an excuse for going on board: as it was now too late to visit her, it was arranged that they should go off the first thing on the following morning. Although he and his mother could manage the boat by themselves, he did not know how she might be received on board; he therefore invited his Uncle Shane to accompany them, advising him to carry a supply of his own fish for sale.
Early the next morning the boat was alongside the frigate. The vendors of fish are generally welcomed by men-of-war’s-men, and they very quickly disposed of all they possessed; the only complaint of the sailors being, that they had not brought off enough vegetables and other fresh productions.
Dermot was invited on board, and as he showed his curiosity in all he saw, he was allowed to go over the whole of the ship. Great was his wonder as he examined her polished guns, the decks, white as snow, one below the other, the ropes on the upper deck so beautifully flemished down. The men were at breakfast, between decks. The tin mess utensils were spread out before them. Dermot was shown how the hammocks were hung up at night, and where they were stowed in the hammock-nettings in the day time. He gazed aloft at the symmetrical yards and ropes, and wondered at the perfect order which reigned around; so different to what he had been accustomed to in the small fishing-vessels and coasters, the only craft with which he was acquainted.
“Would you like to come to sea, lad?” said a rough sailor, putting his hand on Dermot’s shoulder; “you would make an active young topman in a few years. There’s something in you, I see. What do you say? Will you ship aboard us? I can answer for it you would get a berth, for our captain likes such as you.”
Dermot was pleased with the compliment paid him, though uttered in a rough way.
“Ah! if I had my heart’s wish, I would do as you say,” he answered; “but there’s one I cannot leave, and I do not think you would if you were in my place.”
“Who’s that?” asked the sailor.