condensed novels-第14部分

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〃Ah！〃　said　Captain　Boltrope；　as　he　smiled　grimly；　〃under　the
circumstances；　Mr。　Breezy；　you　had　better　go　to　the　masthead　too。〃


CHAPTER　III。


At　the　masthead　I　made　the　acquaintance　of　two　youngsters　of　about
my　own　age；　one　of　whom　informed　me　that　he　had　been　there　three
hundred　and　thirty…two　days　out　of　the　year。

〃In　rough　weather；　when　the　old　cock　is　out　of　sorts；　you　know；　we
never　come　down；〃　added　a　young　gentleman　of　nine　years；　with　a
dirk　nearly　as　long　as　himself；　who　had　been　introduced　to　me　as
Mr。　Briggs。　　〃By　the　way；　Pills；〃　be　continued；　〃how　did　you　come
to　omit　giving　the　captain　a　naval　salute？〃

〃Why；　I　touched　my　hat；〃　I　said；　innocently。

〃Yes；　but　that　isn't　enough；　you　know。　　That　will　do　very　well　at
other　times。　　He　expects　the　naval　salute　when　you　first　come　on
boardgreeny！〃

I　began　to　feel　alarmed；　and　begged　him　to　explain。

〃Why；　you　see；　after　touching　your　hat；　you　should　have　touched　him
lightly　with　your　forefinger　in　his　waistcoat；　so；　and　asked；
'How's　his　nibs？'you　see？〃

〃How's　his　nibs？〃　I　repeated。

〃Exactly。　　He　would　have　drawn　back　a　little；　and　then　you　should
have　repeated　the　salute　remarking；　'How's　his　royal　nibs？'　asking
cautiously　after　his　wife　and　family；　and　requesting　to　be
introduced　to　the　gunner's　daughter。〃

〃The　gunner's　daughter？〃

〃The　same；　you　know　she　takes　care　of　us　young　gentlemen；　now　don't
forget；　Pillsy！〃

When　we　were　called　down　to　the　deck　I　thought　it　a　good　chance　to
profit　by　this　instruction。　　I　approached　Captain　Boltrope　and
repeated　the　salute　without　conscientiously　omitting　a　single
detail。　　He　remained　for　a　moment；　livid　and　speechless。　　At　length
he　gasped　out：

〃Boatswain's　mate？〃

〃If　you　please；　sir；〃　I　asked；　tremulously；　〃I　should　like　to　be
introduced　to　the　gunner's　daughter！〃

〃O；　very　good；　sir！〃　screamed　Captain　Boltrope；　rubbing　his　hands
and　absolutely　capering　about　the　deck　with　rage。　　〃O　dn　you！　　Of
course　you　shall！　　O　ho！　the　gunner's　daughter！　　O；　hll！　this　is
too　much！　　Boatswain's　mate！〃　　Before　I　well　knew　where　I　was；　I
was　seized；　borne　to　an　eight…pounder；　tied　upon　it　and　flogged！


CHAPTER　IV。


As　we　sat　together　in　the　cockpit；　picking　the　weevils　out　of　our
biscuit；　Briggs　consoled　me　for　my　late　mishap；　adding　that　the
〃naval　salute；〃　as　a　custom；　seemed　just　then　to　be　honored　more　in
the　BREACH　than　the　observance。　　I　joined　in　the　hilarity
occasioned　by　the　witticism；　and　in　a　few　moments　we　were　all
friends。　　Presently　Swizzle　turned　to　me：

〃We　have　been　just　planning　how　to　confiscate　a　keg　of　claret；
which　Nips；　the　purser；　keeps　under　his　bunk。　　The　old　nipcheese
lies　there　drunk　half　the　day；　and　there's　no　getting　at　it。〃

〃Let's　get　beneath　the　state…room　and　bore　through　the　deck；　and　so
tap　it；〃　said　Lankey。

The　proposition　was　received　with　a　shout　of　applause。　　A　long
half…inch　auger　and　bit　was　procured　from　Chips；　the　carpenter's
mate；　and　Swizzle；　after　a　careful　examination　of　the　timbers
beneath　the　ward…room；　commenced　operations。　　The　auger　at　last
disappeared；　when　suddenly　there　was　a　slight　disturbance　on　the
deck　above。　　Swizzle　withdrew　the　auger　hurriedly；　from　its　point　a
few　bright　red　drops　trickled。

〃Huzza！　send　her　up　again！〃　cried　Lankey。

The　auger　was　again　applied。　　This　time　a　shriek　was　heard　from　the
purser's　cabin。　　Instantly　the　light　was　doused；　and　the　party
retreated　hurriedly　to　the　cockpit。　　A　sound　of　snoring　was　heard
as　the　sentry　stuck　his　head　into　the　door。　　〃All　right；　sir；〃　he
replied　in　answer　to　the　voice　of　the　officer　of　the　deck。

The　next　morning　we　heard　that　Nips　was　in　the　surgeon's　hands；
with　a　bad　wound　in　the　fleshy　part　of　his　leg；　and　that　the　auger
had　NOT　struck　claret。


CHAPTER　V。


〃Now；　Pills；　you'll　have　a　chance　to　smell　powder；〃　said　Briggs　as
he　entered　the　cockpit　and　buckled　around　his　waist　an　enormous
cutlass。　　〃We　have　just　sighted　a　French　ship。〃

We　went　on　deck。　　Captain　Boltrope　grinned　as　we　touched　our　hats。
He　hated　the　purser。　　〃Come；　young　gentlemen；　if　you're　boring　for
french　claret；　yonder's　a　good　quality。　　Mind　your　con；　sir；〃　he
added；　turning　to　the　quartermaster；　who　was　grinning。

The　ship　was　already　cleared　for　action。　　The　men；　in　their
eagerness；　had　started　the　coffee　from　the　tubs　and　filled　them
with　shot。　　Presently　the　Frenchman　yawed；　and　a　shot　from　a　long
thirty…two　came　skipping　over　the　water。　　It　killed　the
quartermaster　and　took　off　both　of　Lankey's　legs。　　〃Tell　the　purser
our　account　is　squared；〃　said　the　dying　boy；　with　a　feeble　smile。

The　fight　raged　fiercely　for　two　hours。　　I　remember　killing　the
French　Admiral；　as　we　boarded；　but　on　looking　around　for　Briggs；
after　the　smoke　had　cleared　away；　I　was　intensely　amused　at
witnessing　the　following　novel　sight：

Briggs　had　pinned　the　French　captain　against　the　mast　with　his
cutlass；　and　was　now　engaged；　with　all　the　hilarity　of　youth；　in
pulling　the　captain's　coat…tails　between　his　legs；　in　imitation　of
a　dancing…jack。　　As　the　Frenchman　lifted　his　legs　and　arms；　at　each
jerk　of　Briggs's；　I　could　not　help　participating　in　the　general
mirth。

〃You　young　devil；　what　are　you　doing？〃　said　a　stifled　voice　behind
me。　　I　looked　up　and　beheld　Captain　Boltrope；　endeavoring　to　calm
his　stern　features；　but　the　twitching　around　his　mouth　betrayed　his
intense　enjoyment　of　the　scene。　　〃Go　to　the　mastheadup　with　you；
sir！〃　he　repeated　sternly　to　Briggs。

〃Very　good；　sir；〃　said　the　boy；　coolly　preparing　to　mount　the
shrouds。　　〃Good　by；　Johnny　Crapaud。　　Humph！〃　he　added；　in　a　tone
intended　for　my　ear；　〃a　pretty　way　to　treat　a　hero。　　The　service　is
going　to　the　devil！〃

I　thought　so　too。


CHAPTER　VI。


We　were　ordered　to　the　West　Indies。　　Although　Captain　Boltrope's
manner　toward　me　was　still　severe；　and　even　harsh；　I　understood
that　my　name　had　been　favorably　mentioned　in　the　despatches。

Reader；　were　you　ever　at　Jamaica？　　If　so；　you　remember　the
negresses；　the　oranges；　Port　Royal　Tomthe　yellow　fever。　　After
being　two　weeks　at　the　station；　I　was　taken　sick　of　the　fever。　　In
a　month　I　was　delirious。　　During　my　paroxysms；　I　had　a　wild
distempered　dream　of　a　stern　face　bending　anxiously　over　my　pillow；
a　rough　hand　smoothing　my　hair；　and　a　kind　voice　saying：

〃Bess　his　'ittle　heart！　　Did　he　have　the　naughty　fever？〃　　This　face
seemed　again　changed　to　the　well…known　stern　features　of　Captain
Boltrope。

When　I　was　convalescent；　a　packet　edged　in　black　was　put　in　my
hand。　　It　contained　the　news　of　my　father's　death；　and　a　sealed
letter　which　he　had　requested　to　be　given　to　me　on　his　decease。　　I
opened　it　tremblingly。　　It　read　thus：


〃My　dear　Boy：I　regret　to　inform　you　that　in　all　probability　you
are　not　my　son。　　Your　mother；　I　am　grieved　to　say；　was　a　highly
improper　person。　　Who　your　father　may　be；　I　really　cannot　say；　but
perhaps　the　Honorable　Henry　Boltrope；　Captain　R。　N。；　may　be　able　to
inform　you。　　Circumstances　over　which　I　have　no　control　have
deferred　this　important　disclosure。

〃YOUR　STRICKEN　PARENT。〃


And　so　Captain　Boltrope　was　my　father。　　Heavens！　　Was　it　a　dream？
I　recalled　his　stern　manner；　his　observant　eye；　his　ill…concealed
uneasiness　when　in　my　presence。　　I　longed　to　embrace　him。
Staggering　to　my　feet；　I　rushed　in　my　scanty　apparel　to　the　deck；
where　Captain　Boltrope　was　just　then　engaged　in　receiving　the
Governor's　wife　and　daughter。　　The　ladies　shrieked；　the　youngest；　a
beautiful　girl；　blushed　deeply。　　Heeding　them　not；　I　sank　at　his
feet；　and；　embracing　them；　cried：

〃My　father！〃

〃Chuck　him　overboard！〃　roared　Captain　Boltrope。

〃Stay；〃　pleaded　the　soft　voice　of　Clara　Maitland；　the　Governor's
daughter。

〃Shave　his　head！　he's　a　wretched　lunatic！〃　continued　Captain
Boltrope；　while　his　voice　trembled　with　excitement。

〃No；　let　me　nurse　and　take　care　of　him；〃　said　the　lovely　girl；
blushing　as　she　spoke。　　〃Mamma；　can't　we　take　him　home？〃

The　daughter's　pleading　was　not　without　effect。　　In　the　mean　time　I
had　fainted。　　When　I　recovered　my　senses　I　found　myself　in　Governor
Maitland's　mansion。


CHAPTER　VII。


The　reader　will　guess　what　followed。　　I　fell　deeply　in　love　with
Clara　Maitland；　to　whom　I　confided　the　secret　of　my　birth。　　The
generous　girl　asserted　that　she　had　detected　the　superiority　of　my
manner　at　once。　　We　plighted　our　troth；　and　resolved　to　wait　upon
events。

Briggs　called　to　see　me　a　few　days　afterward。　　He　said　that　the
purser　had　insulted　the　whole　cockpit；　and　all　the　midshipmen　had
called　him　out。　　But　he　added　thoughtfully：　〃I　don't　see　how　we　can
arrange　the　duel。　　You　see　there　are　six　of　us　to　fight　him。〃

〃Very　easily；〃　I　replied。　　〃Let　your　fellows　all　stand　in　a　row；
and　take　his　fire；　that；　you　see；　gives　him　six　chances　to　one；　and
he　must　be　a　bad　shot　if　he　can't　hit　one　of　you；　while；　on　the
other　hand；　you　see；　he　gets　a　volley　from　you　six；　and　one　of
you'll　be　certain　to　fetch　him。〃

〃Exactly〃；　and　away　Briggs　went；　but　soon　returned　to　say　that　the
purser　had　declined；〃like　a　dd　coward；〃　he　added。

But　the　news　of　the　sudden　and　serious　illness　of　Captain　Boltrope
put　off　the　duel。　　I　hastened　to　his　bedside；　but　too　late；an
hour　previous　he　had　given　up　the　ghost。

I　resolved　to　return　to　England。　　I　made　known　the　secret　of　my
birth；　and　exhibited　my　adopted　father's　letter　to　Lady　Maitland；
who　at　once　suggested　my　marriage　with　her　daughter；　before　I
returned　to　claim　the　property。　　We　were　married；　and　took　our
departure　next　day。

I　made　no　delay　in　posting　at　once；　in　company　with　my　wife　and　my
friend　Briggs；　to　my　native　village。　　Judge　of　my　horror　and
surprise　when　my　late　adopted　father　came　out　of　his　shop　to
welcome　me。

〃Then　you　are　not　dead！〃　I　gasped。

〃No；　my　dear　boy。〃

〃And　this　letter？〃

My　fatheras　I　must　still　call　himglanced　on　the　paper；　and
pronounced　it　a　forgery。　　Briggs　roared　with　laughter。　　I　turned　to
him　and　demanded　an　explanation。

〃Why；　don't　you　see；　Greeny；　it's　all　a　joke；a　midshipman's
joke！〃

〃But〃　I　asked。

〃Don't　be　a　fool。　　You've　got　a　good　wife；be　satisfied。〃

I　turned　to　Clara；　and　was　satisfied。　　Although　Mrs。　Maitland