The next morning Jack Easy would have forgotten all about his engagement
with the captain, had it not been for the waiter, who thought that,
after the reception which our hero had given the first-lieutenant, it
would be just as well that he should not be disrespectful to the
captain. Now Jack had not, hitherto, put on his uniform, and he thought
this a fitting occasion, particularly as the waiter suggested the
propriety of his appearance in it. Whether it was from a presentiment
of what he was to suffer, Jack was not at all pleased, as most lads are,
with the change in his dress. It appeared to him that he was
sacrificing his independence; however, he did not follow his first
impulse, which was to take it off again, but took his hat, which the
waiter had brushed and handed to him, and then set off for the captain's
lodgings. Captain Wilson received him as if he had not been aware of
his delay in joining his ship, or his interview with his
first-lieutenant, but before breakfast was over, Jack himself narrated
the affair in a few words. Captain Wilson then entered into a detail of
the duties and rank of every person on board of the ship, pointing out
to Jack that where discipline was required, it was impossible, when duty
was carried on, that more than one could command; and that that one was
the captain, who represented the king in person, who represented the
country; and that, as the orders were transmitted from the captain
through the lieutenant, and from the lieutenant to the midshipmen, who,
in their turn, communicated them to the whole ship's company, in fact,
was the captain alone who gave the orders, and that every one was
_equally_ obliged to obey. Indeed, as the captain himself had to obey
the orders of his superiors, the admiral and the admiralty, _all_ on
board might be said to be _equally_ obliged to obey. Captain Wilson
laid a strong emphasis on the word _equally_, as he cautiously
administered his first dose; indeed, in the whole of his address, he
made use of special pleading, which would have done credit to the Bar;
for at the same time that he was explaining to Jack that he was entering
a service in which _equality_ could never for a moment exist, if the
service was to exist, he contrived to show that all the grades were
levelled, by all being equally bound to do their duty to their country,
and that, in fact, whether a seaman obeyed _his_ orders, or he obeyed
the orders of _his_ superior officer, they were in reality only obeying
the orders of the country, which were administered through their
channels.
Jack did not altogether dislike this view of the subject, and the
captain took care not to dwell too long upon it. He then entered upon
other details, which he was aware would be more agreeable to Jack. He
pointed out that the articles of war were the rules by which the service
was to be guided, and that everybody, from the captain to the least boy
in the ship, was _equally_ bound to adhere to them--that a certain
allowance of provisions and wine was allowed to each person on board,
and that this allowance was the same to all; the same to the captain as
to the boy: the same in quantity as in quality; every one _equally_
entitled to his allowance;--that, although there were, of necessity,
various grades necessary in the service, and the captain's orders were
obliged to be passed and obeyed by all, yet still, whatever was the
grade of the officer, they were _equally_ considered as gentlemen. In
short, Captain Wilson, who told the truth, and nothing but the truth,
without telling the whole truth, actually made Jack fancy that he had at
last found out that equality he had been seeking for in vain on shore,
when, at last, he recollected the language used by Mr Sawbridge the
evening before, and asked the captain why that personage had so
conducted himself. Now, as the language of Mr Sawbridge was very much
at variance with equality, Captain Wilson was not a little puzzled.
However, he first pointed out that the first-lieutenant was, at the time
being, the captain, as he was the senior officer on board, as would Jack
himself be if he were the senior officer on board; and that, as he
before observed, the captain or senior officer represented the country.
That in the articles of war, everybody who absented himself from the
ship, committed an error, or breach of those articles; and if any error
or breach of those articles was committed by any one belonging to the
ship, if the senior officer did not take notice of it, he then himself
committed a breach of those articles, and was liable himself to be
punished, if he could not prove that he had noticed it; it was therefore
to save himself that he was obliged to point out the error; and if he
did it in strong language, it only proved his _zeal_ for his country.
"Upon my honour, then," replied Jack, "there can be no doubt of his
zeal; for if the whole country had been at stake, he could not have put
himself in a greater passion."
"Then he did his duty; but depend upon it it was not a pleasant one to
him: and I'll answer for it, when you meet him on board, he will be as
friendly with you as if nothing had happened."
"He told me that he'd soon make me know what a first-lieutenant was:
what did he mean by that?" inquired Jack.
"All zeal."
"Yes, but he said, that as soon as he got on board, he'd show me the
difference between a first-lieutenant and a midshipman."
"All zeal."
"He said my ignorance should be a little enlightened by-and-by."
"All zeal."
"And that he'd send a sergeant and marines to fetch me."
"All zeal."
"That he would put my philosophy to the proof."
"All zeal, Mr Easy. Zeal will break out in this way; but we should do
nothing in the service without it. Recollect that I hope and trust one
day to see you also a zealous officer."
Here Jack cogitated considerably, and gave no answer.
"You will, I am sure," continued Captain Wilson, "find Mr Sawbridge one
of your best friends."
"Perhaps so," replied Jack: "but I did not much admire our first
acquaintance."
"It will perhaps be your unpleasant duty to find as much fault yourself;
we are all equally bound to do our duty to our country. But, Mr Easy,
I sent for you to say that we shall sail to-morrow: and, as I shall send
my things off this afternoon by the launch, you had better send yours
off also. At eight o'clock I shall go on board, and we can both go in
the same boat."
To this Jack made no sort of objection, and having paid his bill at the
Fountain, he sent his chest down to the boat by some of the crew who
came up for it, and attended the summons of the captain to embark. By
nine o'clock that evening, Mr Jack Easy was safe on board his Majesty's
sloop _Harpy_.
When Jack arrived on board, it was dark, and he did not know what to do
with himself. The captain was received by the officers on deck, who
took off their hats to salute him. The captain returned the salute, and
so did Jack very politely, after which the captain entered into
conversation with the first-lieutenant, and for a while Jack was left to
himself. It was too dark to distinguish faces, and to one who had never
been on board of a ship, too dark to move, so Jack stood where he was,
which was not far from the main bitts; but he did not stay long; the
boat had been hooked on to the quarter davits, and the boatswain had
called out:
"Set taut, my lads!"
And then with the shrill whistle, and "Away with her!" forward came
galloping and bounding along the men with the tackles; and in the dark
Jack was upset, and half a dozen marines fell upon him; the men, who had
no idea that an officer was floored among the others, were pleased at
the joke, and continued to dance over those who were down, until they
rolled themselves out of the way. Jack, who did not understand this,
fared badly, and it was not till the calls piped belay, that he could
recover his legs, after having been trampled upon by half the starboard
watch, and the breath completely jammed out of his body. Jack reeled to
a carronade slide, when the officers, who had been laughing at the lark
as well as the men, perceived his situation--among others, Mr
Sawbridge, the first-lieutenant.
"Are you hurt, Mr Easy?" said he kindly.
"A little," replied Jack, catching his breath.
"You've had but a rough welcome," replied the first-lieutenant, "but at
certain times, on board ship, it is every man for himself, and God for
us all. Harpur," continued the first-lieutenant to the doctor, "take
Mr Easy down in the gun-room with you, and I will be down myself as
soon as I can. Where is Mr Jolliffe?"
"Here, sir," replied Mr Jolliffe, a master's mate, coming aft from the
booms.
"There is a youngster come on board with the captain. Order one of the
quartermasters to get a hammock slung."
In the meantime Jack went down into the gun-room, where a glass of wine
somewhat recovered him. He did not stay there long, nor did he venture
to talk much. As soon as his hammock was ready, Jack was glad to go to
bed--and as he was much bruised he was not disturbed the next morning
till past nine o'clock. He then dressed himself, went on deck, found
that the sloop was just clear of the Needles, that he felt very queer,
then very sick, and was conducted by a marine down below, put into his
hammock, where he remained during a gale of wind of three days,
bewildered, confused, puzzled, and every minute knocking his head
against the beams with the pitching and tossing of the sloop.
"And this is going to sea," thought Jack; "no wonder that no one
interferes with another here, or talks about a trespass; for I'm sure
any one is welcome to my share of the ocean; and if I once get on shore
again, the devil may have my portion if he chooses."
Captain Wilson and Mr Sawbridge had both allowed Jack more leisure than
most midshipmen, during his illness. By the time that the gale was
over, the sloop was off Cape Finisterre. The next morning the sea was
nearly down, and there was but a slight breeze on the waters. The
comparative quiet of the night before had very much recovered our hero,
and when the hammocks were piped up, he was accosted by Mr Jolliffe,
the master's mate, who asked, "whether he intended to rouse and bit, or
whether he intended to sail to Gibraltar between his blankets."
Jack, who felt himself quite another person, turned out of his hammock
and dressed himself. A marine had, by the captain's orders, attended
Jack during his illness, and this man came to his assistance, opened his
chest, and brought him all that he required, or Jack would have been in
a sad dilemma.
Jack then inquired where he was to go, for he had not yet been in the
midshipmen's berth, although five days on board. The marine pointed it
out to him, and Jack, who felt excessively hungry, crawled over and
between chests, until he found himself fairly in a hole infinitely
inferior to the dog-kennels which received his father's pointers.
"I'd not only give up the ocean," thought Jack, "and my share of it, but
also my share of the _Harpy_, unto any one who fancies it. Equality
enough here! for every one appears equally miserably off."
As he thus gave vent to his thoughts, he perceived that there was
another person in the berth--Mr Jolliffe, the master's mate, who had
fixed his eye upon Jack, and to whom Jack returned the compliment. The
first thing that Jack observed was, that Mr Jolliffe was very deeply
pockmarked, and that he had but one eye, and that was a piercer; it
appeared like a little ball of fire, and as if it reflected more light
from the solitary candle than the candle gave.
"I don't like your looks," thought Jack--"we shall never be friends."
But here Jack fell into the common error of judging by appearances, as
will be proved hereafter.
"I'm glad to see you up again, youngster," said Jolliffe; "you've been
on your beam ends longer than usual, but those who are strongest suffer
most--you made your mind up but late to come to sea. However, they say,
`Better late than never.'"
"I feel very much inclined to argue the truth of that saying," replied
Jack; "but it's no use just now. I'm terribly hungry--when shall I get
some breakfast?"
"To-morrow morning at half-past eight," replied Mr Jolliffe.
"Breakfast for to-day has been over these two hours."
"But must I then go without?"
"No, I do not say that, as we must make allowances for your illness; but
it will not be breakfast."
"Call it what you please," replied Jack. "Only pray desire the servants
to give me something to eat. Dry toast or muffins--anything will do,
but I should prefer coffee."
"You forget that you are off Finisterre, in a midshipman's berth: coffee
we have none--muffins we never see--dry toast cannot be made, as we have
no soft bread; but a cup of tea, and ship's biscuit and butter, I can
desire the steward to get ready for you."
"Well then," replied Jack, "I will thank you to procure me that."
"Marine," cried Jolliffe, "call Mesty."
"Pass the word for Mesty," cried the marine--and the two syllables were
handed forward until lost in the fore part of the vessel.
The person so named must be introduced to the reader. He was a curious
anomaly--a black man who had been brought to America as a slave, and
there sold.
He was a very tall, spare-built, yet muscular form, and had a face by no
means common with his race. His head was long and narrow, high
cheek-bones, from whence his face descended down to almost a point at
the chin; his nose was very small, but it was straight and almost Roman;
his mouth also was unusually small; and his lips thin for an African;
his teeth very white, and filed to sharp points. He claimed the rank of
prince in his own country, with what truth could not of course be
substantiated. His master had settled at New York, and there Mesty had
learned English, if it could be so called: the fact is, that all the
emigrant labourers at New York being Irishmen, he had learned English
with the strong brogue and peculiar phraseology of the sister kingdom
dashed with a little Yankeeism.
Having been told that there was no slavery in England, Mesty had
concealed himself on board an English merchant vessel, and escaped. On
his arrival in England he had entered on board of a man-of-war. Having
no name, it was necessary to christen him on the ship's books, and the
first lieutenant, who had entered him, struck with his remarkable
expression of countenance, and being a German scholar, had named him
Mephistopheles Faust, from whence his Christian name had been razeed to
Mesty. Mesty in other points was an eccentric character; at one moment,
when he remembered his lineage, he was proud to excess, at others he was
grave and almost sullen--but when nothing either in daily occurrences or
in his mind ran contrary, he exhibited the drollery so often found in
his nation, with a spice of Irish humour, as if he had caught up the
latter with his Irish brogue.
Mesty was soon seen coming aft, but almost double as he couched under
the beams, and taking large strides with his naked feet.
"By the powers, Massa Yolliffe, but it is not seasonable at all to send
for me just now, anyhow, seeing how the praters are in the copper, and
so many blackguard 'palpeens all ready to change net for net, and better
themselves by the same mistake, `dam um.'"
"Mesty, you know I never send for you myself, or allow others to do so,
unless it is necessary," replied Jolliffe; "but this poor lad has eaten
nothing since he has been on board, and is very hungry--you must get him
a little tea."
"Is it tay you mane, sir?--I guess, to make tay, in the first place I
must ab water, and in the next must ab room in the galley to put the
kettle on--and 'pose you wanted to burn the tip of your little finger
just now, it's not in the galley that you find a berth for it--and den
the water before seven bells. I've a notion it's just impassible."
"But he must have something, Mesty."
"Never mind the tea, then," replied Jack, "I'll take some milk."
"Is it milk massa manes, and the bumboat woman on the oder side of the
bay?"
"We have no milk, Mr Easy; you forget that we are on blue water,"
replied Jolliffe, "and I really am afraid that you'll have to wait till
dinner-time. Mesty tells the truth."
"I tell you what, Massa Yolliffe, it just seven bells, and if the young
gentleman would, instead of tay, try a little out of the copper, it
might keep him asy. It but a little difference, _tay_ soup and _pay_
soup. Now a bowl of that, with some nuts and a flourish of pepper will
do him good, anyhow."
"Perhaps the best thing he can take, Mesty; get it as fast as you can."
In a few minutes the black brought down a bowl of soup and whole peas
swimming in it, put before our hero a tin bread-basket full of small
biscuit, called midshipmen's nuts, and the pepper-castor. Jack's
visions of tea, coffee, muffins, dry toast, and milk, vanished as he
perceived the mess; but he was very hungry, and he found it much better
than he expected; and he moreover found himself much the better after he
had swallowed it. It struck seven bells, and he accompanied Mr
Jolliffe on deck.