The stout trading brig _Amity_, Samuel Mudge master and part owner, was
gliding up Plymouth Sound on a summer's evening towards her accustomed
berth in Catwater, a few years before the termination of the last war
between England and France. She had no pilot on board; indeed, her crew
averred that the old craft could find the way in and out of the harbour
by herself; at all events, her master knew it better than most men
trading from the port, as did his young mate, Ralph Michelmore.
The last rays of the setting sun were glancing on the topgallant
mast-heads of the brig when her anchor was dropped, and by the time her
sails were furled and all was made snug the gloom of night had settled
down on the Pool, and twinkling lights began to appear from the houses
on shore.
"You'll be wishing to go on shore, my boy," said the old master, as
Ralph, the duties for the day over, came into the cabin to join him at
tea, which the boy had just placed on the table. "There'll be some one
who'll be right glad to see thee, lad;" and the speaker looked up at the
mate, whose handsome countenance beamed with pleasure, a slight blush
rising on it as he answered--
"Thank you, sir; thank you heartily. I should very much like to pay
Mistress Treviss--and--and her granddaughter a visit. I had few
opportunities of seeing them when we were last in port, and as we have
been long on this trip they may be anxious about us. But would not you
prefer going on shore yourself, captain? It's my duty to remain on
board."
"No, do you go, as I tell ye," replied the kind old master. "I'll stay
on board and look after the ship. But I say, lad, take your protection
with you. The press-gangs are sure to be out, and you may chance to
fall in with one of them."
"Thank you, sir, I have it here," said Ralph, producing a tin case from
his pocket; and hurriedly swallowing his tea without sitting down, he
went into his cabin to rig himself in his shore-going suit.
Ralph's father, the commander of a merchant vessel, and an old friend
and shipmate of Captain Mudge, had been lost at sea, washed from the
deck in a heavy gale, leaving his wife and young child but ill provided
for. The widow, a truly Christian woman, exerted herself to the utmost
of her strength to support and educate her boy, but when he was about
fourteen years of age her health gave way, and she died, committing him
to the charge of good Captain Mudge.
Ralph, who had set his heart on going to sea, was taken as an apprentice
on board the _Amity_ the next voyage she made. By his steadiness,
intelligence, and activity, he soon became a prime seaman. When on
shore he studied navigation, and as soon as his time was out, Captain
Mudge, the berth being vacant, made him his mate. Most of the crew
heartily congratulated Ralph on his promotion, for they acknowledged
him, young as he was, to be the best seaman among them. The only one
who grumbled was Dick Bracewell, who had also been an apprentice on
board the _Amity_, and being a year older than Ralph, and a very fair
sailor, considered that he had superior claims to promotion.
"I'm not going to quarrel with you about the matter, Ralph," he said,
though he looked very much inclined to do so. "If the skipper chooses
to favour you that's not your fault; but you can't expect me, as good a
man as yourself you'll allow, to be jumping here and there at your
orders; and so as soon as we get back to Plymouth I shall take my chest
and clear out of the old ship for good. I shall easily get a berth as
mate on board another craft, and if we meet again we shall be as good
friends as ever, I hope."
"No doubt about that, Dick," answered Ralph; "I am sorry, however, that
you have made up your mind to leave us; still it's but natural, I own."
"Ay, I should think so," said Dick, walking forward.
Dick might have been as active and bold a seaman as Ralph, but the
captain had, notwithstanding, ample reason for refusing to make him his
mate, for he was known to be wild on shore, and was often far from
attentive to his duty on board; while, though he professed to have
learned navigation, his calculations were not to be depended on. Still,
being good-natured and brave as need be, he was liked by the rest of the
crew, in spite of being thoughtless and inclined to give way to temper.
Ralph had a sincere regard for him. He saw his shipmate's errors, but
believed him possessed of redeeming good qualities, and hoped that he
would in time amend his bad ways.
Dick kept to his intention, and on reaching Plymouth bade his old
captain and shipmates good-bye. This occurred about a couple of years
before the time we are speaking of, and since then Ralph had heard
nothing of Dick Bracewell.
No sailor takes long to dress. Ralph was quickly ready, and a fine
young fellow he looked as he stepped back into the cabin habited in what
the old captain called his "shore-going toggery." Promising to be on
board again before midnight, he jumped into a boat which had just come
alongside, and told the waterman to pull for the landing-place.
"You must keep a sharp look-out not to fall in with the press-gangs,
master," observed the latter. "They are out every night, and are in no
ways particular on whom they lay hands."
"Thank you," answered Ralph; "I've no cause to fear them, and am not
going where they are likely to be looking for their prey."
Ralph had proceeded a few paces after landing, when he heard steps
behind him and felt a hand placed on his shoulder. Turning round he saw
a sailor-like man, who exclaimed, "What, Ralph Michelmore, old chum!
Don't you know me? I am Dick Bracewell. I'm sure I can't be mistaken
in you, for I saw the _Amity_ come in at sunset, and hoped to fall in
with you, though I'd no fancy to go on board, do you see."
"And I'm right glad to meet you, Dick," said Ralph, grasping the other's
proffered hand. "Where have you been all these years?"
"Knocking about in one craft or another, and seeing something more of
the world than you have in your jog-trot old tub, I fancy," answered
Bracewell, with a laugh. "I've just come back from a voyage to the West
Indies, with my pockets full of shiners, which I'm going to try and get
rid of in enjoying myself. Come along, Ralph, and help me. I only
stepped on shore for the first time just as you did, so I've not begun
yet."
"Thank you, Dick; you mean it kindly, but I'm on my way to see some
friends, and have promised to be on board again to-night," said Ralph,
as they walked on together.
"What, not take a glass or two of grog with an old shipmate!" cried Dick
in an aggrieved tone. "Come, come, man, just for once be social."
"Even if I ever took liquor, which I don't, I haven't time to stay with
you," said Ralph, firmly; adding, after a moment's reflection, in the
hope of preventing his companion from committing the folly he meditated,
"Instead of doing as you propose, come along with me to see an old lady
and her granddaughter. They are great friends of mine, and will welcome
you for my sake; indeed, I'll confess that I hope some day to marry the
little girl."
"No, no, my boy; I should be left to do the polite to the old dame,
while you make love to the young one," answered Dick, with a hoarse
laugh, which Ralph did not like. "That sort of thing is not to my
taste; still, to please you, if you'll come in here and do as I want
you, I'll think about it." The door of a public-house stood temptingly
open. Dick endeavoured to drag in Ralph, who however resisted manfully,
and tore his arm away from his companion's grasp.
"Once more hear me, Dick," he said, unwilling to abandon his old friend
without another effort to save him. "If you take one glass you'll take
another and another, till you won't know what you are about, and then
ten to one you'll fall into the hands of crimps who'll fleece you of
every shilling in your pocket, or you'll get picked up by a press-gang
and be carried on board a man-of-war, not to regain your liberty for
years to come."
"Don't preach to me, Ralph; I know how to take care of myself; so if you
go on I'll follow you, and you shall see that I'm as sober as a judge,"
answered Dick, and with a laugh he darted into the public-house.
Ralph, though eager to be with his friends, waited a minute or more in
the hope that he might come out, and then, as he did not appear,
reluctantly walked on. At length, having passed through the town, he
reached a small cottage in the outskirts, with a few yards of garden in
front. Passing through the wicket-gate he stopped for a moment at the
door. The window was partly open, and he could hear a sweet voice
reading. He caught the words; they were from the Book of Books, which
he had learned to know and value. He was unwilling to interrupt the
reader. She stopped, however, having come to the end of the chapter.
He knocked. "May I come in?" he asked. "Oh, granny, it is Ralph!" The
words were uttered by the same person who had just ceased reading, but
in a very different tone. He well knew the sweet voice. His heart beat
quick. He heard the speaker come flying to the door. In a moment it
was opened. "Jessie, my own dear Jessie!" he exclaimed, as he pressed
the hand of a fair blooming girl, who welcomed him with a bright smile.
"I hoped that you might come to-day, and yet as the hours drew on I
began to fear that I might again be disappointed," she said, as she
looked up affectionately into his face. "How slow the _Amity_ must have
sailed!"
"She is like other craft, not able to make way without wind, and we had
scarcely a cup-full all the voyage round from the Thames; besides which,
we were detained there much longer than usual; but she has safely
reached port at last," he answered; adding, as he advanced into the room
towards a neatly-dressed old lady in a high mob-cap, seated in an
arm-chair, with knitting-needles in her hands and spectacles on her
nose,--"And how is Mrs Treviss?"
"Ever glad to see thee, dear Ralph," answered the old lady, trying, not
without difficulty, to rise, till the young man springing forward
quietly made her sit down again. "In spiritual health I am well--the
Lord be praised for all His mercies; but bodily infirmities creep on
apace with old age, and remind me that my earthly course is well-nigh
run."
"I hope that you will live many years to be a blessing to us, granny,"
said the young sailor, affectionately, taking her hand.
"I am ready to remain if it is the Lord's will," she answered. "And now
tell me, Ralph, how is good Captain Mudge? I hope that he will pay me a
visit before he sails again, as I want much to talk to him on a matter
of importance."
"He is tough and hearty as ever; he will, I am sure, come and see you,"
said Ralph.
Mrs Treviss, however, did not entirely occupy the young sailor's
attention. He and Jessie had a good deal to say to each other of
especial interest to themselves as they sat side by side, Jessie's hands
having found their way into those of Ralph. At last Mrs Treviss
reminded her that their guest might possibly be hungry, and that it was
full time for supper, which she, in obedience to her grandmother, got up
to place on the table. "How neat-handed and graceful in all her
movements she is!" thought Ralph, as his eyes followed her about the
room; and they were seldom off the door watching for her return when she
went into the kitchen to warm up the old dame's posset and prepare some
other viands. Mrs Treviss took the opportunity of her absence to speak
to Ralph on a subject which he found especially interesting. "If I was
younger and stronger I would not give you this advice I am about to do,"
she said. "I would say, wait for a few years till you have the command
of a ship, and Jessie is older and better able than now to keep house
and have the cares of a family, but as I fear my poor son-in-law, her
father, Captain Flamank, will never more be heard of, and I may ere long
be called to my rest, she will have no one in this world to protect her
but you; and so it's my wish that you should marry as soon as you can
manage to spend a few weeks on shore."
"Then that may be at once," exclaimed the young lover, delighted. "The
_Amity_ requires some repairs, and the captain is much in a mind, unless
a good freight offers, to go into dock, and his wish to serve me may
settle the matter. I little thought when I came up this evening what
good news you had in store for me; I can never thank you enough."
"Nay, Ralph, though I love you, it's my grandchild's welfare I have at
heart, for I can with perfect confidence confide her to you," said the
old lady, taking Ralph's hand and looking him earnestly in the face.
"You will cherish her and watch over her, and guard her from all evil."
"Indeed I will, if health and strength is given me," he answered
solemnly.
"For that we must trust to God," said Mrs Treviss. "All we can do is
to exercise the sense He has given us, and guard against the dangers we
know may occur. I have therefore made my will, and left the very small
property I possess to Jessie; but most of my income, as the widow of a
warrant-officer killed in action, ceases at my death, so that as a
single woman she would be but poorly off, though she will have something
to help keep house."
"I would as willingly marry her if she had not a sixpence," exclaimed
Ralph, warmly. "More willingly I could not, but it would be a
satisfaction to know that I was saving her from poverty or from having
to toil for her living."
"I know you will, Ralph, and I believe you, so say no more about that,"
observed Mrs Treviss. "If your good captain settles to put the _Amity_
into dock, you may perhaps marry some day next week. You can ask
Jessie, and I don't think she will say you nay."
Ralph was pouring out his thanks from the bottom of his heart, with all
the ardour of a young sailor, when Jessie returned. He would at once
have broached the subject had not Mrs Treviss given him timely warning
that by so doing he would considerably interfere with the supper
arrangements. Jessie therefore went back to the kitchen and returned
several times, unaware of the interesting conversation which had taken
place, though she might have observed the animated expression of her
lover's countenance. When all was ready and they sat down to table
Ralph ate so little that Jessie began to fear he was unwell, and she at
last could not help looking up affectionately in his face and asking him
if such was the case.
"Oh no, I never felt better in my life, Jessie; and so happy!" he
answered.
Perhaps she herself might just then have had some suspicion of the
truth, for she forgot to eat any more; and shortly afterwards her
granny, getting up, hobbled out of the room. The young people were
alone, and, as may be supposed, Ralph did not lose much time in telling
Jessie what Mrs Treviss had said, and asking her if she would consent
to the arrangement. Jessie was as ready to obey her granny's wishes as
Ralph could desire, and as he told her there would be no difficulty in
obtaining a licence she consented to fix the following Monday for their
wedding-day, if he could, as he hoped, remain in Plymouth. He was
naturally very sanguine in the expectation of being able to obtain a
holiday. He even thought that, should the _Amity_ be offered a freight
which could not be refused, Captain Mudge would propose getting another
mate for the voyage, as it was summer time; not that he should like him
to do that. Jessie thought that Captain Mudge would not hesitate about
having the _Amity_ repaired. How could he, when so important an event
depended on his decision! At length granny came back into the room,
with a smile on her countenance, and, sitting down in her arm-chair,
looked up at the tall clock in the corner, which had gone "tick! tick!
tick!" unheeded for an hour or more since supper.
"Well, my dears, is it all settled?" she asked.
"Yes," answered Ralph. "Jessie has promised to make me the happiest
young fellow alive next Monday--though I am wonderfully happy for that
matter at present,"--and jumping up he kissed granny's hand and thanked
her again and again for the gift she had bestowed on him, and then he
ran back to Jessie's side.
At that instant there came several thundering blows on the door from a
heavy cudgel, and a gruff voice cried out, "Open in the King's name;"
while another was heard to say, in a lower tone, "Go round to the back
and look out that he does not escape by that way."