按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃No … I heard the steward say something outside about the foremast。〃
〃We have lost five of our smartest and best men … Wilson was washed overboard； Fennings and Masters struck dead with the lightning； and Jones and Emery crushed by the fall of the foremast。 You are young； Master Willy； but you cannot think too early of your Maker； or call to mind what they say in the burial service； … 'In the midst of life we are in death'。〃
〃Thank you； Ready； for the lesson you have given my son；〃 said Mr。 Seagrave； 〃and； William； treasure it up in your memory。〃
〃Yes； William； they are the words of an old man who has seen many and many a one who was full of youth and spirits called away before him； and who is grateful to God that he has been pleased to preserve his life； and allow him to amend his ways。〃
〃I have been thinking；〃 said Mr。 Seagrave； after a silence of a minute or two； 〃that a sailor has no right to marry。〃
〃I've always thought so； sir；〃 replied Ready； 〃and I dare say many a poor deserted sailor's wife； when she has listened to the wind and rain in her lonely bed； has thought the same。〃
〃With my permission；〃 continued Mr。 Seagrave； 〃my boys shall never go to sea if there is any other profession to be found for them。〃
〃Well； Mr。 Seagrave； they do say that it's no use baulking a lad if he wishes to go to sea； and that if he is determined； he must go： now I think otherwise … I think a parent has a right to say no； if he pleases； upon that point； for you see； sir； a lad； at the early age at which he goes to sea； does not know his own mind。 Every high…spirited boy wishes to go to sea … it's quite natural； but if the most of them were to speak the truth； it is not that they so much want to go to sea； as that they want to go from school or from home； where they are under the control of their masters or their parents。〃
〃Very true； Ready； they wish to be； as they consider they will be； independent。〃
〃And a pretty mistake they make of it； sir。 Why； there is not a greater slave in the world than a boy who goes to sea； for the first few years after his shipping： for once they are corrected on shore； they are punished ten times at sea； and they never again meet with the love and affection they have left behind them。 It is a hard life； and there have been but few who have not bitterly repented it； and who would not have returned； like the prodigal son； and cast themselves at their fathers' feet； only that they have been ashamed。〃
〃That's the truth； Ready； and it is on that account that I consider that a parent is justified in refusing his consent to his son going to sea； if he can properly provide for him in any other profession。 There never will be any want of sailors； for there always will be plenty of poor lads whose friends can do no better for them； and in that case the seafaring life is a good one to choose； as it requires no other capital for their advancement than activity and courage。〃
Chapter VI
Mr。 Seagrave and William went down below into the cabin； where they found that there was plenty of employment； the steward had brought a basin of very hot pea…soup for the children。 Tommy； who was sitting up in the bed…place with his sister； had snatched it out of Juno's left hand； for she held the baby with the other； and in so doing； had thrown it over Caroline； who was screaming； while Juno； in her hurry to assist Caroline； had slipped down on the deck with the baby； who was also crying with fright； although not hurt。 Unfortunately； Juno had fallen down upon Vixen the terrier； who in return had bitten her in the leg； which had made Juno also cry out； while Mrs。 Seagrave was hanging her head out of her standing bed…place； frightened out of her wits at the accident； but unable to be of any assistance。 Fortunately； Mr。 Seagrave came down just in time to pick up Juno and the baby； and then tried to comfort little Caroline； who after all was not much scalded； as the soup had had time to cool。
〃Massa Tommy is a very naughty boy；〃 cried Juno； rubbing her leg。 Master Tommy thought it better to say nothing … he was duly admonished … the steward cleaned up the mess； and order was at length restored。
In the meantime； they were not idle upon deck； the carpenter was busy fixing a step for one of the spare topmasts instead of a mainmast； and the men were fitting the rigging； the ship unfortunately had sprung a leak； and four hands at the pumps interfered very much with their task。 As Ready had prophesied； before night the gale blew； the sea rose again with the gale； and the leaking of the vessel increased so much； that all other labour was suspended for that at the pump。 For two more days did the storm continue； during which time the crew were worn out with fatigue … they could pump no longer： the ship； as she rolled； proved that she had a great deal of water in her hold … when； melancholy as were their prospects already； a new disaster took place； which was attended with most serious results。 Captain Osborn was on the forecastle giving some orders to the men； when the strap of the block which hoisted up the main…topgallant yard on the stump of the foremast gave way； the yard and sail came down on the deck； and struck him senseless。 As long as Captain Osborn commanded them； the sailors had so high an opinion of his abilities as a seaman； and were so encouraged by his cheerful disposition； that they performed their work well and cheerfully； but now that he was； if not killed； at all events senseless and incapable of action； they no longer felt themselves under control。 Mackintosh was too much disliked by the seamen to allow his words to have any weight with them。 They were regardless of his injunctions or requests； and they now consulted among themselves。
〃The gale is broke； my men； and we shall have fine weather now；〃 observed Ready； going up to the sailors on the forecastle。 〃The wind is going down fast。〃
〃Yes；〃 replied one of the men； 〃and the ship is going down fast； that's quite as certain。〃
〃A good spell at the pumps would do us some good now；〃 replied Ready。 〃What d'ye say； my lads？〃
〃A glass of grog or two would do us more；〃 replied the seaman。 〃What d'ye say； my boys？ I don't think that the captain would refuse us； poor fellow； if he could speak。〃
〃What do you mean to do； my lads？〃 inquired Mackintosh： 〃not get drunk； I hope？〃
〃Why not？〃 observed another of the men； 〃the ship must go down soon。〃
〃Perhaps she may … I will not deny it；〃 said Mackintosh； 〃but that is no reason why we should not be saved： now； if you get drunk； there is no chance of any one being saved； and my life is precious to me。 I'm ready to join with you in anything you please； and you may decide what is to be done； but get drunk you shall not； if I can help it； that's certain。〃
〃And how can you help it？〃 replied one of the seamen； surlily。
〃Because two resolute men can do a great deal … I may say three； for in this instance Ready will be of my side； and I can call to my assistance the cabin passenger … recollect the firearms are all in the cabin。 But why should we quarrel？ … Say at once what you intend to do； and if you have not made up your minds； will you listen to what I propose？〃
As Mackintosh's cou