A BRIGHT PLEASANT EVENING AFTER A SQUALL, IN WHICH THE ART OF ANGLING IS
INTRODUCED IN A WAY WHICH WOULD HAVE ADDED TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF IZAAC
WALTON HIMSELF.
"I beg pardon, messmate," said Ben, as he and my father became more
sociable; "but may I make so bold as to ask you how you contrived to get
that seam across your figure-head? You did say something about a
Frenchman, if I heard right; and as the war is now of two years'
standing, I suppose you've had a rap or two at Mounseer."
"'Xpect I have," replied my father. "Well, old chap, I'll just wet my
whistle, and then I'll tell you all about it, and it won't take long
neither. The boats were ordered away--"
"Of what ship, messmate?"
"Very true, I began in the middle. Well, it was in the ship I now
belongs to, the Oudacious--we were with the squadron off Ferrol;--signal
made to chase south-east--clapt every stitch on her after two gun-boats
who were running down in-shore. Light winds--got well in for the land,
and then it fell calm. Gun-boats four miles off using their sweeps--our
boats in chase;--I was coxswain of the first pinnace--a devilish fast
boat, messmate, I can tell you, with a smart brass gun--pulled two feet
to their one, and came up with them hand-over-hand--both cutters and the
other pinnace well up with us--the old launch half a mile astern. Now
you see, sir, I've got the picture for you, haven't I?"
"Just exactly," replied old Ben.
"Well, then, it was a long pull; and that reminds me that I'll have a
long pull now, so hand me the porter, messmate." My father took a
tremendous long pull at the pewter, and then handing it to Ben, he
recommenced--
"We were soon within gun-shot, and they turned their heads towards us
and blazed away: very pretty shot they fired, for they cut away three of
our starboard oars before we were near enough to return the fire with
our small gun. However, the second pinnace and cutters came up and
shared the shot with us; and at last the old fat launch came grunting
along, for all the world like an old boar, pitching into them round and
grape. Now the first lieutenant was in the launch, and, of course,
commanded, and he ordered the boats to separate more, which was very
right, as it divided the shot; and then he passed the word that when he
sounded the bugle we were all to pull to the headmost gun-boat and board
her. D'ye understand, messmate?"
"Perfectly," replied Ben, taking his pipe out to reply.
"Well, then, just hand me the pot." My father drained it this time, and
told me to go for another.
"Then I shall lose the story," replied I.
"No, boy, you won't," replied Ben; "I'll answer for it--your father will
heave-to till you come back."
"So I will, Jack," replied my father. And having with every expedition
executed my task, my father then continued:--
"Well, there we all were, waiting for the bugle, each boat creeping on a
little every moment, so as to have a fair start, as they do in a race;
when at last the signal was given, and away we all went like smoke, with
our oars bending double. The first pinnace reached the gun-boat first;
then the cutters banged alongside of her--all three of us to windward--
while the second pinnace and launch took her to leeward. There's not
much climbing in getting on board of a gunboat; indeed, we were at it
before we were out of the boat, for the Frenchmen had pikes as long as
the spanker-boom; but we soon got inside of their points, and came to
close work. They stood a good tussle, I will say that, and so they
always do; we may laugh at 'em, and call 'em Johnny Crapows, but they
are a right brave nation, if they aren't good seamen; but that I
reckon's the fault of their lingo, for it's too noisy to carry on duty
well with, and so they never will be sailors till they larn English."
"I never heard them carry on duty in French," said Ben; "it quite beats
my comprehension how they can do it at all."
"Well, I have," replied my father; "and every word they use is as long
as the main-top bowling, and the mast is over the side before they can
get them out. Why, would you believe it? I once asked one of those
fellows what be called the foremast in his language, and what d'ye think
he said? Why, I'm blowed if he didn't call it a `_Mar-darty-marng_'
(and that's the only bit of French I know); but how is it possible to
work a ship in such gibberish?"
"Quite unpossible," replied Ben.
"Well, as I've yawed a little out of my course, suppose we have another
swig before I takes a fresh departure?"