My reflections were anything but pleasant, for never had I been so
mortified in my life. All my fine dreams of reefing topsails, and
seeing foreign lands, had been dissipated in a period of less than ten
minutes. All my plans completely frustrated.
My first feeling was that of extreme humiliation and shame. I fancied
that the passers-by must all be aware of what had transpired, and of the
precise situation in which I stood. I saw, moreover, the heads of
several of the sailors as they stood looking at me over the bulwarks,
and upon their faces I could perceive a derisive expression. Some of
them were still laughing loudly.
I could bear it no longer, and without hesitation I hurried away from
the spot.
Near at hand were large boxes, barrels, and bales of merchandise lying
upon the wharf. They were not piled together, but scattered about, with
spaces between them. Into one of those spaces I glided, and was soon
out of sight of everybody, while everybody was equally hidden from my
sight. I felt almost as if I had got clear of some danger; so pleasant
is it to escape from ridicule, even though one may feel that he has not
deserved it.
There was a little box among the others, just big enough for a seat, and
upon this I sat down, and gave way to reflection.
What had I best do? Yield up all thoughts of the sea, and return to the
farm, and my crabbed old uncle?
You will say that this would have been the wisest course for me to have
pursued, as well as the most natural. Perhaps so; but the thought of
doing so scarcely entered my mind. I did certainly entertain the
thought, but as quickly abandoned it.
"No," said I to myself, "I am not yet conquered; I shall not retreat
like a coward. I have made one step, and I shall follow it up, if I
can. What matters it if they refuse to take me in this big proud ship?
There are others in port--scores of others. Some of them may be glad to
have me. I shall try them all before I give up my design."
"Why did they refuse me?" I asked myself, continuing my soliloquy.
"Why? They gave no reason; what could it have been? Ha! my size it
was! They compared me to a marlin-spike, and a belaying-pin. I know
what a marlin-spike is, and a belaying-pin, too. Of course, they meant
by this insulting comparison to insinuate that I am too small to be a
sailor. But a boy-sailor--surely I am big enough for that? I have
heard of sailor boys not so old as I am. What size am I? How tall, I
should like to know? Oh! if I only had a carpenter's rule I would soon
settle that point! How thoughtless of me not to have measured myself
before leaving home! Can I not do it here? I wonder if there is no way
of finding out how tall I am."
The current of my reflections was at this moment broken in upon, by my
observing on one of the boxes some figures roughly scratched with chalk,
and on closer inspection I made out the cipher to be "4 foot." I saw at
once that it referred to the length of the box, for its height could not
have been so much. Perhaps it had been thus marked by the carpenter who
made the case, or it may have been put on to guide the sailors in lading
the vessel.
Be that as it may, it gave me an idea; and in less than three minutes I
knew my stature to an inch.
I ascertained it in the following manner: I laid myself down alongside
the box, and close in to its edge. Having placed my heels on a level
with one end, I stretched myself out to my full length. I then felt
with my hand whether the crown of my head came flush with the other end
of the case. It did not, though there was scarce an inch wanting to
make me as long as the box; but wriggle and stretch my joints as I
might, I could not get more than square with it. Of course, it made no
difference--as far as determining my height was concerned: if the box
was four feet long, I could not be quite four feet; and as I knew a boy
of only four feet in height was but a very small boy indeed, I rose to
my legs, considerably mortified by the knowledge I had gained.
Previous to this measurement, I really had no idea I was of such short
stature. What boy _does_ think himself much less than a man? But now I
was convinced of my littleness. No wonder Jack Waters had called me a
sprat, and his comrades had compared me to a marlin-spike and a
belaying-pin.
The knowledge I had gained of my Lilliputian stature put me all out of
heart with myself, and my designs now assumed a more gloomy aspect. I
felt almost sure that none of the ships would receive me; for I
remembered that I had never heard of boy-sailors so small as I was.
Certainly I had never seen any; but, on the contrary, some nearly as
large as men, who were nevertheless called "boys" on board the brigs and
schooners that frequented our little harbour. It would be hopeless,
then, for me to offer myself. After all, I should have to go home
again.
I once more sat down upon the box, and proceeded to re-consider the
situation. My mind is rather of an inventive turn, and it had a bent
that way even in earliest youth. It was not long before a plan offered
itself that promised to relieve me from my dilemma, and enable me to
carry out my original intention to its full extent.
I was aided by memory in the conception of this plan. I remembered
having both heard and read of boys--and men as well--concealing
themselves aboard ships, and being thus carried out to sea; and then
crawling forth from their hiding-places, when the vessels were too far
from land for them to be sent back.
The recollection of these daring adventurers had scarcely crossed my
mind, before I had formed the resolution to follow their example. Quick
almost as the thought, I had made my resolve. I could hide myself on
board a ship--perhaps that very ship from which I had been so
ignominiously expelled. She was the only one that appeared to be
getting ready to sail; but, to tell the truth, had there been a dozen
others starting at the same time, I should have selected her before them
all.
You may be surprised at my saying so, but it is easily explained. I was
so piqued at the people on board, especially the mate, on account of the
uncivil treatment he had shown me, that I felt at the time it would be a
sort of revenge to play them this trick. I knew that they would not
throw me overboard; and with the exception of the mate himself, I had
not noted any symptoms of a cruel disposition among the sailors. Of
course it was natural they should have enjoyed a joke at my expense; but
I remembered, also, that some of them had uttered expressions of
sympathy when they heard from me that I was an orphan.
In the big ship, then, was I determined to have passage--spite of mate,
captain, and crew!