"Morning sir. You are early."
"Early!" cried Jack angrily; "what do you mean by early?"
"Ten past six, sir."
"Nonsense! it must be nearly eight."
"Then all the clocks are wrong, sir, including my larum-scarum, for I
set it for half-past five, so as to be up early and try 'em on."
"And what do you mean by coming here dressed up in that Guy Fawkes
fashion?"
"Guy Fawkes! Oh, I say, Master Jack, don't be hard on a fellow."
"You look ridiculous."
"I say, sir! Why, they fit lovely, all but this pith helmet, as is two
sizes too large, and reg'larly puts one out. These came home late last
night. Just the thing, ain't they?"
"Go down and take them off, and bring me my hot water, and clothes and
boots."
"Why, they ain't cleaned yet, sir, and the kitchen fire ain't alight.
There's no hot water neither. You don't mean to get up now?"
Jack looked undecided, and ended by getting back into bed.
"I thought it was late," he said, in a somewhat apologetic tone.
"Not it, sir--extra early, sir. I say, Master Jack, this is a topper,
isn't it?" said the man, taking off the helmet. "A'most do for an
umbrella in a big shower."
"Preposterous!"
"Think so, sir. Oh, I don't know what sort o' thing people wear in hot
climates. But I have got a rig-out, sir, and a waterproof bag, a
bullock trunk, and I dunno what all--most as many things as you have."
"Don't bother me about your things: go down, if it's so early, and come
back and call me at the proper time."
"Yes, sir; cert'nly, sir," said the man, stealing a glance at himself in
the looking-glass, and then standing examining his pith helmet as he
held it upon his outstretched hand.
"Well, then, why don't you go?" cried Jack. "I was a-thinking, sir. I
say, as you are awake, and there's plenty of time, why don't you try on
some of your noo things?"
"Bah! because I don't want to make myself ridiculous," said the lad
peevishly.
"You wouldn't look ridiculous, sir. You try 'em, and if I was you I'd
go down to breakfast in 'em. Sir John would be as pleased as Punch to
see you begin to take a little more interest in going."
"Look here!" cried Jack, springing from his pillow to sit upright in
bed, "when I want any of your advice, sir, I will ask for it. Such
impertinence!"
"Oh, I beg your pardon, sir, but I only thought you might like to do
what Sir John would wish to see. I put 'em all straight last night, and
laid a suit of tweeds, with knickerbockers, brown plaid worsted
stockings, and high-laced brown shooting-boots, all ready for you."
"Then it was like your insolence, sir."
"Yes, sir, and the boots are lovely, sir; just the thing! Stout strong
water-tights as lace on right to the knee. Leather's as soft as velvet.
They'll be grand for you when you're going through the jungle where
there's leeches and poisonous snakes."
"Ugh!" ejaculated the boy with a shudder.
"Oh, you needn't mind them, sir; I've been reading all about 'em in the
Natural History Sir John's lent me. They always run away from you when
they can."
"And when they cannot they bite venomously," cried Jack.
"That's it, sir," said Edward, "if they can."
"And they can," said Jack.
"If you don't kill 'em first," said the man, laughing, "and that's the
proper thing to do. Kill everything that wants to kill you. Don't want
me then yet, sir?"
"Only to go," said Jack, throwing himself down again and drawing up the
coverings close to his ear.
"Yes, sir; I'll be back again at half-past seven."
Jack made no reply, and the man went off laughing to himself.
"He's getting stirred up," he said. "I never saw him take so much
notice before."
Jack lay perfectly still for another hour, apparently asleep, but really
thinking very deeply of his position, and of how hard it seemed to be
that he should be obliged to give up his calm quiet life among his books
to go upon a journey which, the more he thought of it, seemed to grow
darker and more repellent.
He was still thinking and wishing that he could find some way to escape
when Edward came into the room again, bearing clothes, boots, and
hot-water can.
"Half-past seven, sir," he said.
"Thank you."
"Very fine morning, sir," continued the man, arranging the things for
his young master's toilet, but there was no response.
"Looks as if it was going to be settled weather, sir."
Still no response.
"Just been to Sir John, sir, and he says that he forgot to tell me
Doctor Instow would be over to breakfast."
Jack did not move, and Edward went close to the bedside.
"Beg pardon, sir," he said loudly; "it's more than half-past seven."
"Will you go away, and not pester me," cried Jack, turning upon him
fiercely.
"Yes, sir; certainly, sir; beg pardon, sir, but you said I was never to
leave you till you were regularly woke up."
Jack said something inarticulate, and Edward went out once more
grinning.
"My word!" he muttered; "he is coming round."
"I don't get a bit of peace," cried the boy peevishly, and he sprang out
of bed, washed in hot water, shivered as he dried himself, and then
turned to begin dressing, and paused.
Which way should he go?
On two chairs a yard apart lay his clothes: on the left his things he
had worn the previous day; on his right, a suit specially made for the
life ashore that they were to live abroad; and after a little hesitation
he began to dress in that, finding everything feel strange, but
certainly very comfortable, and at last he stood there in garments very
much like those in which the man had come in, and he looked at himself
in the glass.
Nothing could have been more comfortable and suitable, as he was fain to
confess; but all the same the inclination was strong to take them off.
He resisted, however, and in due time went down, feeling strange and
half ashamed of being seen.
Sir John was in the breakfast-room, and he looked up from his newspaper
rather severely, but as soon as he caught sight of his son's altered
appearance, the paper dropped from his hands and he rose quickly.
"Thank you, Jack," he said warmly. "You did this to please me, and I am
more than pleased. It shows me that you are trying to make the brave
fight I expect of you, as my son should. Hah! you will see the truth of
it all before long."
He would have said more, but the doctor was heard in the hall, and
directly after he entered in his bluff fashion.
"Morning, morning," he cried; "splendid day for our trip. Why, bravo,
Jack! The very thing. Your get-up is splendid, my lad, and it makes me
impatient to be off. You are going with us of course?"
"I suppose so," said Jack with a sigh.
"I don't mean on our trip, but to see the vessel."
That sounded to the boy like a temporary reprieve, and he looked
inquiringly at the doctor.
"I had not said anything about it to him," said Sir John. "We have had
particulars from my agent of a large ocean-going steam yacht, my boy,
which sounds well. It is really a sailing vessel, but fitted with a
screw for occasional use in calm or storm. She is lying at Dartmouth,
and we are going down to see her to-day. Will you come?"
"Do you wish me to come, father?" said Jack.
"Of course I do, but what I do wish is to see you take an interest in
all our preparations."
"I am trying to, father."
"Yes, and succeeding," said the doctor, "or you would not have come out
like you are this morning."
"How soon do you start?" said Jack hurriedly, to escape the doctor's
allusions to his dress.
"In half-an-hour. We have to get up to town, and then go across to
Paddington."
"I'll hurry through my breakfast then, and go and change my things."
"What for?" cried the doctor. "You couldn't be better."
"But I should look so absurd, sir, dressed like this."
"Absurd?"
"The absurdity is only in your imagination, my boy," said Sir John. "Go
as you are."
Jack looked troubled, but he said nothing, for he was making a brave
fight to master his antipathy to his father's projects, and without
another word he went on with his breakfast, receiving the next time he
caught his father's eye a nod of approval which meant a good deal.
But the pith helmet was a severe trial just before the carriage came to
the door, and he stood in the hall with the round-topped head-piece
standing on the table, for it would recall Edward's extinguisher, and
his own remark that morning concerning the Guido-Fawkes-like aspect of
their man.
"Don't seem to like your topper, Jack, lad," said the doctor, smiling.
"Well, who could?" cried the boy sharply. "It looks so absurd."
"Because you are not used to it, and will probably not see any one else
wearing one. Now for my part, I think it the very reverse of absurd,
and a thoroughly sensible head-piece, light, well ventilated, and cool,
a good protection from the sun, and thoroughly comfortable."
"What, that thing?"
"Yes, that thing. It is a hot sunny day, and we shall be out of doors a
good deal when we get into Devonshire, so it is most suitable. Now
between ourselves, what would you have worn if left to yourself?"
"My black frock-coat and bat," said Jack quickly.
"Nice costume for a railway journey. Orchid in your button-hole of
course, and a pair of straw-coloured kid gloves, I suppose? I have
observed that those are your favourite colour."
Jack nodded.
"Bah! Try and be a little more manly, my lad," said the doctor kindly.
"A healthy young fellow does not want to be so self-conscious, and to
dress himself up so as to look pretty and be admired--or laughed at."
"I'm more likely to be laughed at dressed like this, and with a thing
like half an egg-shell on my head."
"Fools will laugh at anything," said the doctor dryly; "but no one whose
opinion is worth notice would laugh at a sensible costume. You would
have gone down in a tall glossy hat, ironed and brushed up till it
shines again. Hard, hot, uncomfortable, roughened at a touch, and
perfectly absurd in a shower of rain. But it is the fashion, and you
think it's right. Ladies study fashion, lad; look at them after they
have been caught in a shower. Now in that rig-out you could go through
anything."
"Ready?" said Sir John, taking a soft wide-awake from the hat-stand.
"Yes, and waiting," said the doctor; and they entered the carriage,
which was driven off, Jack's last glance on leaving being at Edward on
the doorsteps, as he patted his head, evidently in allusion to his young
master's pith helmet.
"Oh, if I had only been behind him!" thought the lad indignantly; which,
being analysed, meant that a most decided change was taking place, for a
month earlier Jack Meadows could not by any possibility have harboured
the thought of kicking any one for a mocking gesture.
In good time the terminus was reached, and soon after the fast train was
whirling along, leaving the busy town behind, and off and away through
the open country with gathering speed. Father and friend chatted away
to the lad, but he was listless and dull, refusing to be interested in
anything pointed out; and at last a meaning look passed between his
companions, the doctor's eyes saying plainly enough--"Let him be: he'll
come round by and by."
But this did not seem likely to be the case, Jack not even being
attracted by the first glimpse of the beautiful estuary of the Dart when
it was reached in the evening, and they looked down from the heights as
the train glided along, at the town nestling up the slopes upon the
other side of the water.
He did turn sharply once when the doctor said suddenly: "There are the
two training ships for the naval cadets," and pointed at the old
men-of-war with their tiers of ports, moored in midstream; and was
feeling a strange sense of pity for the lads "cooped up," as he mentally
called it, in the narrow limits of a ship, when the doctor suddenly
exclaimed, "Look, look! both of you. I'll be bound to say that's our
yacht."
Jack glanced sharply at what seemed in comparison with the huge
men-of-war, and seen at a distance, a little three-masted, white-looking
vessel with a dwarfed funnel, lying at anchor, but he turned pale and
listless again, utterly wearied out with his journey, nor did he revive
over the comfortable dinner of which he partook without appetite.
Sir John looked uneasy, but the doctor gave him a meaning nod.
"You won't care about going to look over the yacht this evening, Jack?"
he said.
"I!" said the lad, almost imploringly. "No, not to-night."
"No; we're all tired," said the doctor. "I did not say anything to you,
Meadows; but I thought we had done enough, so I sent off word to the
captain to say that we had come down, and I shouldn't be surprised if he
comes over to the hotel by and by."
It fell out just as the doctor had said, for about half-an-hour later
the waiter came into the room to say that Captain Bradleigh would be
glad to see Sir John Meadows; and Jack looked up curiously as a ruddy,
tan-faced, rather fierce-looking man, with very crisp hair, beard
sprinkled with grey, and keen, piercing grey eyes, shaded by rather
shaggy brows, entered, glanced quickly round as he took off his
gold-braided yachting cap, and at once addressed Sir John, as if quite
sure that he was the principal.
"Sir John Meadows?" he said courteously, but with a ring of authority in
his words.
"Yes; will you sit down. This is my friend, Doctor Instow; my son."
The captain shook hands with the two elders, giving them a firm, manly
grip, short and sharp, as if he meant business; but his pressure of
Jack's thin, white hand was gentle, and he retained it in his strong,
firm palm as he said--
"Ah! father--doctor--you have been ill, young gentleman?"
"I? No," said Jack, with a look of resentment.
"Unwell, not bad," said the captain kindly. "Only want a sea-trip to do
you good;" and he smiled pleasantly, looking like an Englishman full of
firmness and decision, such a one as people would like to trust in a
case of emergency.
"I got your message, gentlemen," he said, as he took a chair, "and I
came on at once."
"Thank you," said Sir John.
"The agent wrote me a long letter, saying you might come down; but I did
not think much of it, for I have had so many from him that have come to
nothing."
"People don't like the yacht then?" said Sir John, rather anxiously.
"Oh yes, sir, they like the yacht," said the captain, with a little
laugh. "No one could help liking her. They don't like the price."
"Ah, the price," said Sir John quietly; and the captain gave him a
searching look.
"Yes, sir, the price; and it is a pretty good round sum; but I give you
my word it is just one-third of what it cost Mr Ensler."
"Oh! you know what it cost?" said Sir John.
"Well, I ought to, sir," said the captain, smiling, a peculiarly frank,
pleasant smile. "When he came over from New York five years ago, I was
recommended to him, and he trusted me fully. She was built under my
eyes, up in the Clyde, and I watched everything, as she was fitted up of
the very best material, regardless of expense. The cheques all passed
through my hands, so I think I ought to know."
"Yes, of course. The agent told me the yacht was built expressly for an
American gentleman."
"That's right, sir. He's one of these millionaires who don't know how
rich they are, for the money comes on rolling in. Restless, nervous
sort of men who must be doing something, and then they want to do
something else, and get tired of the idea before they've begun. He had
an idea that it would be a fine thing to imitate Brassey, but do it
better, and sail round the world. So the _Silver Star_ was built,
rigged and finished in style. I selected as good a crew of fifteen
picked, sea-going fellows as were procurable, and just a year ago we
started."
Jack began to grow interested.
"But you see, gentlemen, he was disappointed in her from the first."
"Hah!" said the doctor sharply; "now frankly, captain, what was her
failing?"
"Failing, sir?" said the captain, turning in his chair, and fixing the
doctor with his clear eyes. "I tell you as a man, I can't find a
failing in her, except perhaps there's a little too much French polish
about the saloon cabin, more in the stuffed cushion line than I quite
care for. You see, for an ocean-going boat I think you want to study
strength and sound workmanship more than show; but that's a matter of
fancy."
"Of course," said Sir John, who was watching the captain very narrowly.
"Well, sir, I did my very best, what he called level best, and when she
was done I was as proud of her as--as--well, as your young son here
might have been of a new plaything."
Jack winced, and looked indignant.
"But Mr Ensler didn't like her: said she was a miserable little
cock-boat, and not fit for a long voyage."
"And frankly, between man and man, isn't she?" said the doctor sharply.
"Well, gentlemen," said the captain, showing his regular white teeth in
a smile, "that's a matter of opinion. I'm not interested in the matter.
I'm in command with a good crew on board, and we have our pay regular
as clockwork. She may be sold, or she may not; but I can only say what
I think. I did all that a man who has been at sea pretty well
everywhere for thirty years could do, and I say this: if you gentlemen
like to buy her and engage me--mind, with a good picked crew--I'll sail
her wherever you like. If, on the other hand, you like to pick your own
man, I can tell him as a brother sailor that he can't get a better found
boat in either of the yacht squadrons or in Her Majesty's navy."
"But Mr Ensler was dissatisfied with her."
"He? Yes," said the captain contemptuously. "He has been coming and
going for years in the Cunard and the American liners, and his ideas
were built on one of those floating palaces. As I told him, it was
absurd. He wanted an ocean-going gentleman's yacht, and there she lies.
I'd trust my life in her anywhere a deal sooner than I would in one of
those coal-swallowing monsters. She's as light as a cork, easy to
manage from her fore and aft rig, with a small picked crew, and has a
magnificent engine with the best kind of boilers, which get up steam
quickly, ready for any emergency; for of course as a yacht she's a boat
in which you would depend most upon your sailing."
"Exactly," said Sir John, "that is what I meant."
"Then she'd suit you to a tittle, sir."
"Has she made any long voyages?" said the doctor.
"No, sir, but she has been in some rough weather. I brought her round
from Glasgow in the dirtiest weather I was ever in on our coast; and
from here we sailed to Gib, and right away through the Mediterranean,
meaning to go through the Canal and on to Ceylon; but long before we'd
got to Alexandria he was sick of it, and pitched it all. I must say
that we did have rather a nasty time, but, as I told him, it only showed
what a beautiful boat she was. It was wonderful how we danced over the
waves with close-reefed canvas. But he'd had enough, gave me my orders
to bring her here to Dartmouth, and he went back to Marseilles by one of
the Messageries Maritimes, and across home. When we got back, first
thing I saw was the advertisement that she was for sale."
"You have a good crew on board then?" said Sir John thoughtfully.
"As good a crew as I could pick, sir, and they are well up to their
work. For I'm rather a hard man, young gentleman," continued the
captain, turning to look sharply at Jack, "as stern about discipline as
they are in the Royal Navy; but work done, I like to see my men play,
and somehow I think they get on very well with me. But of course,
gentlemen, if you bought the yacht, you are not bound to take the
captain and crew."
"Oh no, of course not," said Sir John quietly.
"There, gentlemen, I've been doing all the talking: Perhaps now you
would like to ask me a few questions."
"I think we might defer most of them till we have seen the yacht, eh,
Meadows?" said Doctor Instow.
"Yes, certainly, unless anything occurs in our conversation with Captain
Bradleigh."
"Anything you like, gentlemen, though there is very little that I could
say more than I have said. She's a splendid craft in every respect.
There is only one fault in her from a buyer's point of view."
"What is that?" said the doctor sharply.
"Price, sir."
"But to a man of means, who would give his cheque down, Mr Ensler would
take considerably less?"
The captain shook his head.
"No, sir, I don't believe he would. He don't want money, and I have
always lived in the hope that he would take a fresh sea-going trip; but
it does not come off. He has had several offers for the boat, but sent
a sharp answer back that he had fixed his price."
Sir John sat tapping the table with his finger-tips, watching his son,
who seemed to be brightening up, evidently in the hope that the
transaction would fall through.
"So you are going to have a few cruises, young gentleman," said the
captain, turning to Jack, for the doctor too was looking very
thoughtful, and was nibbling at his nails as he glanced at Sir John. "I
suppose so," said the lad coldly. "Do you good," said the captain.
"Fine thing the pure sea-air. Why a trip round the coast for a few
weeks, and you'd be quite a new man. Like the sea?"
"I? Like the sea?" said Jack with a shiver. "My son thinks he will not
like it at all," said Sir John, smiling.
"Thinks, sir," said the captain, laughing. "Ah, he don't know. Not
like the sea! My word, what a weary world this would be if there were
no sea. Storm or calm it's grand or beautiful. There's nothing like
the sea. Oh, he don't know yet. You mean a short cruise or two, sir,
or a trip round the island from port to port. She's a little too big
for that."
"No," said Sir John, rousing himself from a reverie. "I intended to go
from here through to Ceylon, then on to Singapore, and along the
islands, touching here and there, till we reached some place at which we
would like to stay."
"Perhaps round by the Horn, touching at Monte Video, Rio, and the West
Indies?" cried the captain excitedly.
"Perhaps," said Sir John, smiling. "It depends."
"That means a couple of years to do it well, sir."
"I am not tied for time," said Sir John.
"That's a lot of money for a yacht," said the doctor thoughtfully.
"Yes, sir, a pretty good sum, but she's worth it, and whether you buy
the _Silver Star_ or no, I say, as an old seaman, don't you undertake
such a trip without a good boat under you, a man who knows his business
for sailing her, and a good crew. If you mind that, weather permitting,
you'll have a pleasant voyage worth a man's doing. With a clumsy craft,
a bad captain, and a scraped together mutinous crew, it will be a misery
to you from the day you start to the day you come back--if you ever do."
"That is quite right," said Sir John, rising, for the captain had risen
and picked up his cap. "What time shall we come on board to-morrow?"
"Come now if you like, sir."
"No, no; my son is tired. Will ten o'clock suit you?"
"Any hour you like to name, sir."
"Ten then," said Sir John. "Of course we can easily find a boatman to
take us off?"
"At ten o'clock, sir, a boat will be waiting for you at the pier end,"
said the captain in a sharp businesslike tone. "Good-evening,
gentlemen. Weather seems to be settling down for fine. My glass is
very steady."
"Hah!" said the doctor, "I rather like that man."
"I don't," said Jack sharply. "He is insufferable. He treated me as if
I were a child."
Sir John raised his brows a little in surprise to hear his son speak so
sharply.
"Don't judge rashly, Jack," he said. "You don't know the man yet;
neither do I; but he impressed me as being a very frank, straightforward
fellow, one of Nature's rough gentlemen."
"Would you mind my going to bed, father?" said Jack hastily. "I am very
tired."
"Go then, and have a good long night's rest."
"Yes," said the doctor; "and I say, Jack, leave your window open.
Sea-air is a splendid tonic."
"Good-night," said Jack shortly; and, shaking hands quickly, he hurried
out of the room, and went to bed, after carefully seeing that the window
was closely shut.
"That's a pile of money for a yacht, Meadows," said the doctor, as they
sat together to watch the moon rise over the hills in front of the hotel
away across the estuary.
"Yes, it is a heavy sum, Instow, but if it answers the captain's
description the yacht must be worth the money."
"Yes, if it does. Seems to be an honest sort of fellow, and he's right
about having a good ship and crew for such a voyage."
"Of course."
"But it's a deal to pay down."
"I'd pay ten times as much down to-morrow to see my poor boy hale and
hearty--a frank, natural lad with an English boy's firmness and
strength."
"Instead of a weak, irritable, sickly, overstrained, nervous fellow, who
would give me the horrors if I did not know that I can put him right."
"You do feel this, Instow?"
"Of course I do. Why look at him to-night. He is tired, and speaks
sharply, and almost spitefully; but already he is showing twice as much
spirit, though it is in the way of opposition."
"Yes; the feeling that he is to exert himself is beginning to show
itself," said Sir John musingly. "He'll come round if he is given
something to call out his energy."
They sat very silent till bed-time, and on saying good-night, Sir John
turned quickly upon his old friend.
"This is a chance, Instow," he said, "and if the vessel comes up to his
description I shall close at once."