“And he bragged of it,” Peter went on; “came back to us, and bragged of it, and laughed at the old man and the officers. Said he ’d been threatened, and he ’d show the old man yet. Mr. Snow ’s afraid of him, to speak plainly, and he ’s got the idea that the others are too, at heart. And he ’s got the men discontented and grumbling. It ’s my idea that he thinks they ’ll be ready soon for anything he proposes. I don’t know why the old man don’t do something about it. He must know.”
I checked the reply which was on my lips, for Smith was approaching at that moment. He always contrived to pass when Peter and I were talking. He was suspicious, very likely, but did not show it. He gave us a smile and a pleasant word.
“Come on, then,” said Peter, turning to go forward, “and I ’ll get it.”
I followed, and waited by the foremast while Peter dived below. He emerged in a minute, holding the model in his hand.
“I hope you ’ll like it, lad,” he said, “and it may give you some pleasure to look at it now and again, and remind you of the years you spent in the old ship.”
“Oh, Peter!” I said. “Oh, Peter! Like it!” It was a fairy thing, with its ivory sails so thin that you could almost see through them, and the tiny boats complete down to the smallest thing in them, every oar, lance, harpoon, and keg in its proper place. There were even ivory knives on the cleats. And the model of the ship itself had every rope and block, and every ring-bolt in the deck; and the deck showed each plank, even to the worn places in the actual deck.
I had not seen the model for some time, and had not expected that it would be so faithful; but I should have known Peter better.
He was smiling with gratification. “It ’s not likely that it ’ll give you the pleasure it has me,” he said. “I ’ve been slow at it, but I ’ve been doing a thing or two along with it, and what ’s a little time? Take it along, Timmie. I ’ll make you a case for it, so ’s you can pack it in your chest.”
“Thank you, Peter,” I began. “I ’ll keep it always.” So I have kept it. The ivory is now much yellowed by time, but it is the same delicate, fairy-like thing, and as perfect as ever. I should have said more, and was smiling and hesitating, not knowing what to say, when the watch was sent aloft to shorten sail.
“What ’s that for, Peter?” I asked in surprise. We were not cruising, and normally we should not have shortened sail.