In which I narrate what I consider the most fortunate Incident in
my Life; and Ben the Whaler confides to me a very strange History
Among the pensioners there was one with whom I must make the reader
acquainted, as he will be an important person in this narrative. His
name was Peter Anderson, a north countryman, I believe, from Greenock;
he had been gunner's mate in the service for many years, and, having
been severely wounded in an action, he had been sent to Greenwich. He
was a boatswain in Greenwich Hospital; that is, he had charge of a ward
of twenty-five men, and Ben the Whaler had lately been appointed one of
the boatswain's mates under him. He was a very good scholar, and had
read a great deal. You could hardly put any question to him, but you
would get from him a satisfactory sort of an answer; and he was
generally referred to in all points of dispute, especially in matters
connected with the service, which he had at his fingers' ends; and,
moreover, he was a very religious good man. I never heard him swear, but
correct all those who did so in his presence. He had saved some money in
the service, the interest of which, with his allowances as boatswain,
enabled him to obtain many little comforts, and to be generous to
others. Before Ben was shifted over to Anderson's ward, which he was
when he was appointed boatswain's mate under him, they had not been well
acquainted; but, since that time, they were almost always together; so
that now I knew Anderson, which I did not before, except by sight. He
was a very venerable looking old man, with gray locks curling down on
his shoulders, but very stout and hearty; and, as Ben had told him all
about me, he took notice of me, and appeared also to take an interest.
When I came back, after the providential escape I have mentioned in the
last chapter, Ben had narrated to him the conduct of my mother; and a
day or two afterward, when the frost had broken up, and they were both
sitting down, basking in the sun, which was shining bright, I went up to
them.
"Well, Jack," said old Ben, "are you ready for another trip down the
river?"
"I hope I shall earn my sixpence at an easier rate, if I do go," replied
I.
"It was wonderful that you were saved, boy," said Peter Anderson, "and
you ought to very thankful to the Omniscient."