Going into my room, I bethought me that I would take my cutter down to
the river and give her a sail. It took me some time, however, to step
the mast and set up the rigging. As soon as this was done, not thinking
it necessary to see Aunt Deb first, I started off, carrying the little
vessel under my arm. The boys in the streets, I thought, admired her
exceedingly. It made me feel that I was a nautical character amid the
seafaring population. Though I didn't exactly recollect the way, after
making various turnings, I found myself at the quay where the "Emu" lay.
"Now," I thought to myself, "I'll go on board, and if I can't see the
captain, I'll have a talk with the crew. They'll perceive by my cutter
that I'm not a greenhorn, and I can offer to show them what I know by
explaining how I sail her." With more confidence than I had felt on the
previous day, I walked up the plank. I could nowhere see the captain,
nor any other officer, and therefore turned towards the spot where the
men were at work taking in the cargo.
"Well, boy, what do you want?" inquired a rough, surly-looking old
seaman, who was handling a large case?
"I have come to see the ship; and as I like her, I think of getting the
captain to take me as an officer," I answered, with as much confidence
as I could assume.
"Officer!" the old sailor answered, with a hoarse laugh. "You an
officer, jackanapes; why we should want a cow on board to give you
milk."
"What is your name?" I asked, determined not to be put down.
"Gregory Growles," answered the seaman.
"Well, look, Gregory Growles, if that's your name, I understand sailing
this cutter as well as you do," and I began to explain how I was wont to
navigate her according to Riddle's instructions. I then announced the
names of the ropes and sails.
Gregory Growles, with his arms akimbo, and several of the other seamen,
stood listening to me, evidently highly amused. When I had finished,
they all laughed in chorus.
"You know the ABC, maybe, of seamanship; but, look here, just tell us
the names of some of the ropes and spars of this ship."
I looked about exceedingly puzzled, for I could not give the name of one
of them.
"I thought so," said Growles. "You had better go to school again, and
learn a little more before you think of topping the officer over us."
"I only want to become a midshipman," I said; "I could soon learn when I
got to sea."
"We have no midshipmen on board the `Emu,'" said Growles.
"Come, youngster, clear out of this, for we have to go on working, and
you're in the way."
Abashed, I retired to the after part of the deck, followed by the
derisive laughter of the seamen, who went on, as before, hauling and
hoisting in the cargo. I walked about, examining various things on the
deck, and looking into the cabin, and thinking what a fine place it was,
for it was handsomely furnished, and how I should like to be its
occupant. No one took any further notice of me, and at last I
unwillingly returned on shore. I looked out for a place to sail my
vessel, but the landing-place was crowded with boats, and it struck me
that if I let her go I should find it impossible to recover her. I had,
therefore, to carry her about all day without any advantage, and my arms
ached, though I held her sometimes under one arm and sometimes under
another, and occasionally placed her on my shoulder. Several boys asked
me what I would take for her, and one or two begged that I would let
them examine her. At last one biggish fellow snatched her off my
shoulder. I tried to recover her, but another tripped me up. Getting
up, I made chase, but the thief, turning sharp round the corner,
disappeared. I shouted in vain for him to come back. My cutter was
gone. There was no one to whom I could appeal for help--no watchman, no
constable. Some persons I met said it was a great shame, but they
didn't help me. Others only laughed, and observed that such things were
very common. I waited about. A number of boys joined me and shouted
"Thief! Thief!" but, as may be supposed, I could not find him, and had
to return home very disconsolate at my loss. That evening, much to my
satisfaction, Aunt Deb had a bad headache, and could not make her
appearance at dinner. This gave me an opportunity of speaking to Mr
Butterfield.
"I should be happy to further your views, my lad, but I have promised
your Aunt Deborah to take you into my counting-house, and I have only
been waiting a day or two until a boy has left, whose place I intend you
to fill. You'll begin low down, but by perseverance and industry you
will, in the course of a few years, rise to a respectable position.
Many lads fancy they would like to go to sea, and bitterly repent it
afterwards. You will have a far more comfortable life on shore, and the
position of an English merchant is as honourable a one as a man could
desire to follow."
These remarks didn't at all suit my taste. I thanked Mr Butterfield,
but told him that my heart had long been set on going to sea, and that I
didn't expect to be happy in any other calling.
"That's what many lads say, but afterwards find out that they have made
a very great mistake," he remarked.
"But they don't all do that, or we should have no sailors," I argued. I
then told him that I had been on board the "Emu," which, I concluded,
would sail in a few days, and that I should much like to go in her.
"She's not my vessel," he answered, "though I know something of the
captain. He is a good sailor, though he is not the man under whom I
should wish to place a lad. However, when your aunt is better, I'll
talk the matter over with her; and should she consent, then I'll see
what can be done."
I fancied that I had made some way; and, in spite of the loss of my
cutter, I went to bed more contented in my mind than I had been for some
time.