Though the captain of the corvette politely pressed us to stop for dinner, and offered to send for Captain Hake, I was glad that Captain Bland declined his proposals. Directly we got on board, the boat being hoisted in, we made sail for Payta, where we shortly arrived. The appearance of Captain Bland and his boat’s crew caused no little astonishment on board the “Lady Alice,” for both officers and men had given them up for lost. I went into the cabin to break the news to Mrs Bland and Mary. They guessed at once by my countenance that Captain Bland had returned. He quickly followed me. “I knew that you would come back, father. I was sure that God would take care of you,” exclaimed Mary, as, half-weeping and half-laughing, she clung round his neck. How blessed it is to possess a perfect confidence in our Heavenly Father’s protecting care over those we love!
Chapter Six.
Our stay at Payta was shorter than we had expected. The “Lady Alice,” with the assistance of the English commander of the corvette, obtained more speedily than would otherwise have been the case all the repairs she required, and Captain Bland secured several good hands from among the crew of a merchantman wrecked further down the coast. Captain Hake gave the larboard watch of our ship leave on shore to make amends for their disappointment at Tumbez, but they did no credit to our country, for after quarrelling with the natives, during which one of them was stabbed, they were brought off in the last stage of brutal intoxication, from which it took them several days to recover.
I paid frequent visits to the “Lady Alice,” which lay close alongside us. Captain Hake did not object to my doing that, but when Captain Bland again asked him for the loan of me (as he put it) my captain assumed the glummest of glum looks, and replied, “I thought that I had settled that matter before. The lad came out in this ship, and he goes home in her, if I have my will.”
Though disappointed when Captain Bland told me this I had much reason to be thankful that I was able to enjoy, even at intervals, the civilising influences of female society. How different my lot to that of many poor lads away for four long years from any one who takes the slightest interest in their moral welfare, or attempts to raise their minds above the grovelling existence of their brutal associates. I should be ungrateful if I did not mention, in addition to other advantages, the benefit I derived from the society of Medley, who was truly a friend to be prized.
It was a great consolation to me to find that the two ships were to cruise in company, though I might possibly not be able for many weeks together to visit the “Lady Alice.” On leaving Payta we steered westward for the usual cruising ground. We had each at the end of ten days taken a couple of whales, when one Sunday morning a number appeared in different directions. The “Eagle’s” boats were quickly in chase, but those of the “Lady Alice” remained hanging from the davits.
“What can the old man be about?” I heard the captain remark to the first mate as they were about to shove off. “It cannot be that he doesn’t see the whales. The owners will be down upon him if he doesn’t look after their interests better.”
He said something to the same effect as he passed under our consort’s stern.