'Mr. Oakum, good morning to you; you will excuse me for omitting your
title; although, if you must have it, I should prefer the one which
your old friend Peter has adopted, and call you Captain Sam. I am glad
to see you, sir; walk in.'
All this was said at the door of the Commodore's office, and while he
was shaking the hand of the young man with great cordiality. This office
was a small addition to his handsome mansion, jutting out from one end,
and into which was an entrance externally and independent of the passage
in the main building.
Sam had made the call at the office door, and was met with the greeting
as stated above.
There was a great disparity in their personal appearance, and yet either
of them would have been handsome models to represent their different
ages and standing in society. The Commodore's large, full, portly form,
ruddy face, dark-gray eyes and powdered hair, would well represent the
retired commander of sixty-five: while the trim and agile frame, the
sun-burnt face, the raven locks, the sparkling, hazel, deep-set and
deeply-shaded eye, would have answered well the idea of a young
adventurer, ready to commence the untried dangers of the deep. Sam was
decidedly a handsome fellow; and whether his sisters had been fixing him
out that morning, I cannot say, but he was dressed with much care; too
much, some might think, for his calling. It was, however, of the true
sailor fashion; and if, when engaged in his work, he was a whole man, we
can leave such matters to his fancy.
'You will excuse me, Mr. Oakum, for requesting you to call upon me, or
for the inquiries I may put to you; as I have a plan in view, which I
should think would be more congenial to a young man of your abilities,
than dodging back and forth in that little sloop.'
'I am very happy, sir, to wait upon you, and will very thankfully listen
to any views you may please to communicate.'
'First, then, I wish you to state what are your plans for the future. I
have heard through Peter--I give you my authority--that you design to
leave your present business. If you have no objections, my young friend,
make a clean breast to me; I want to hear all about you.'
Sam smiled. 'Why, sir, to tell you the truth, I am really tired, as you
say, of "dodging about in the sloop;" but hitherto duty has kept me at
the helm very much against my inclination.'
'Glad to hear you say so. Duty, sir, is a glorious master, although
sometimes he drives us sadly against our wills. Then you have resolved
to start upon a new course?'
'I have, sir.'
'But the sea will be a new business for you. Your cruise along shore
cannot have fitted you for what you will meet with there.'
'I have anticipated that, sir; and have already made three short
voyages.'
Sam saw that the Commodore appeared much pleased with this information.
'Since you have so kindly requested me, sir, to tell you my past doings
and present plans, I will presume upon the permission, and do so.'
'That is just what I wish, sir.'
'The sloop, which seems of late to have been a trouble to many of my
good friends, besides the kind-hearted old Peter (Major Morris had not
been backward to drop some broad hints in reference to it), was once the
object of my highest ambition; but like many objects when attained,
seemed only as a stepping-stone to something after which my imagination
panted, and for which, I must confess, I have been at times too
restless. But an end I had in view, and which I saw I could accomplish
by retaining my situation in the sloop, has enabled me to continue at my
post, although I must say against my fancy.'
'Yes, yes; and let me tell you, my young friend, it was a noble end, and
you will be a gainer, a great gainer by it in the long-run; but'--seeing
that Sam was blushing very much, and apparently getting into a state of
confusion--'pardon me for interrupting you; please go on, and tell me
the whole story.'
'Intending, so soon as that object was accomplished, to launch forth and
push my way upon the ocean, I embraced an opportunity afforded me,
during a season of the year when our navigation is obstructed, to make a
short voyage. Three several times I have been, and the last was of
peculiar advantage to me; for, experiencing a hurricane just after we
left Havana, the captain and chief mate were washed overboard by a heavy
sea that swept our decks, and the second mate did not know enough to
keep the reckoning; so at the request of all hands, I took charge of the
brig, and, although we encountered two severe gales, brought her safely
into port.'
The Commodore rose, and walking across the room, turned, and fixed his
keen eye full on Sam.
'You ought to have been handsomely rewarded for that, sir. Was no notice
taken of it by the owners or the under writers?'
'Oh, yes, sir'--and Sam drew forth a fine gold watch--'this is their
token, but I should have preferred the offer of the brig; she was a fine
vessel, but I suppose they had friends who laid a stronger claim than I
could.'
'Thus, you have no hesitation as to your ability to take sole command of
a vessel to any quarter of the world?'
'I have not, sir.'
'And you are willing to do so?'
'I am very anxious to do so, sir, if I can find any owners willing to
trust me.'
The Commodore resumed his seat.
'Mr. Oakum, you must be well aware that our country is at present in a
critical situation. War is inevitable. I think so--I am confident of it.
The danger, then, in commercial navigation, will be of a very serious
nature. I am, as you know, somewhat engaged in the trade to China; two
of my vessels are now on the way there; one of these will not return for
some time, and the other is to receive a cargo in the usual manner, and
will probably be back a little short of one year; but I fear, that
before six months come round, we shall be at war. I must make what
preparation I can to secure my personal interest against an evil which I
foresee. My design is to hasten the return of one of my ships with her
cargo, by all possible means. You know that I have just completed a
beautiful schooner; she will sail like a witch. I have resolved to send
her express to China, and I now offer you the command of her.'
Sam arose, and was about to thank the Commodore for the generous offer.
'Please be seated, Mr. Oakum, you have not heard the end of the story
yet. I have business of importance to be attended to in China, and the
captain of the ship I design to order back must remain there, and you,
sir, will take his place. On your arrival out, you will find yourself
master of as fine a ship as swims the ocean.'
Sam could contain himself no longer; he arose from his seat.
'Commodore Trysail, I know not how to express the deep sense I feel of
obligation to you--it is the happiest moment of my life, sir.'
The Commodore grasped the hand of the young and ardent sailor, and was
delighted to see the flash of joy and pride that sparkled forth from his
bright eye.
'You may thank yourself, Mr. Oakum, and the manly efforts you have made
to improve your advantages.'
Just then the office door was gently opened, and a shaggy head appeared,
nodding very significantly, but saying nothing.
'Well, Peter, any thing new stirring?'
'Why, I thought your honor would be pleased to know that the Major had
arrived, and the young lady.'
'What, has Major Morris returned, and Susie with him? that is good
news.'
Peter's head was immediately withdrawn, and he was heard stumping it
away at a rapid rate.
'It will be no child's play, Mr. Oakum, as you will find, bringing that
vessel home; for I am determined, war or no war, that you must get her
into port at all hazards, and if I did not think that you would prove a
man in the hour of extremity, depend upon it, sir, I should never
confide such a trust to you. The risk of loss I expect to run; and after
you have done your best, should you fall into the enemies' hands, you
will not be in the least to blame. The management of every thing in
reference to this matter I leave entirely to yourself. My schooner is
ready for you. She is under your command; select your own crew, and
hands enough to make a double crew for the ship on her return.'