I awoke soon after sunrise the next morning, and, calling Bob, in
accordance with an arrangement made overnight, we both jumped on board
the boat, and, pulling to the opposite side of a tiny headland about a
mile away, stripped and plunged overboard, where we swam and dived, and
wallowed about in the deliciously cool element for a good half-hour,
enjoying our bath as thoroughly as though we were a couple of
school-boys playing truant. We were strongly tempted to make a small
preliminary exploring excursion inland after this, but Miss Ella had
solemnly bound us both down not to do so without her; so we returned to
the _Water Lily_ instead, wonderfully refreshed and invigorated by our
dip, and quite ready for the early breakfast which was to form the first
regular feature in the programme for the day.
As we rowed back to the cutter, I embraced the opportunity to pass once
more over the spot where I thought I had observed the oyster-bed and, on
reaching it, and peering down in the shadow of the boat, I found I was
right there lay beneath us a bed of several yards extent of what I felt
sure were oysters.
We described a short circuit round our little craft before stepping on
board again; and I felt so ashamed of her dingy, weather-beaten
appearance, that I resolved she should have a fresh coat of paint before
she went outside again. This we decided she should receive next day, I
undertaking to wield the paintbrush whilst Bob employed himself in
overhauling the rigging and examining the spars.
Breakfast was soon disposed of, as we were all equally eager to stand
once more on mother earth; and then, Bob providing himself with a few
biscuits, whilst I did the same, adding a few knick-knacks for my fair
companion, we jumped into the boat, and in a very few minutes reached
the shore.
The painter was made fast to the stem of a stout shrub which grew close
to the water's edge; and then Bob went straight towards the widest patch
of shade, and the softest turf he could find, and flung himself
forthwith upon the ground, asserting that it was his fixed intention to
remain there for the rest of the day, and enjoy his holiday in
accordance with his own peculiar notions.
After a few vain attempts to persuade him that he would find it much
more pleasant to accompany us in a ramble over the island, we gave him
up to his own devices; and, Ella accepting the support of my arm, we
strolled slowly away.
Our steps were directed, in the first instance, towards the northern end
of the island; our path being sometimes over the short tender grass with
which the ground was thickly clad, and at others along the sandy beach,
to which we were occasionally compelled to diverge in consequence of the
dense undergrowth, through which it would have been impossible for my
companion to force her way.
We picked up several very beautiful shells on the beach, and Ella
promised herself a long ramble before leaving the island, expressly for
the purpose of collecting a few of the choicest varieties.
I was rather disappointed to find such a scarcity of fruit, there being
none, as far as we could discover, beyond the cocoa-nuts and a few wild
figs the latter rather insipid to the taste, though still a welcome
change after the food we had all been accustomed to.
Ella very thoughtfully collected a little of this fruit for Bob, when we
chanced to meet with a tree bearing figs of a superior flavour to the
average, and I promised her that on our return I would secure a few
cocoa-nuts, and treat her to a draught of the delightfully refreshing
cool new milk. We found walking to be far more fatiguing than we had
expected, after being pent up so long on shipboard, and I think I found
it even more so than my companion, she having had until recently the
comparatively wide range of a ship's deck upon which to take exercise;
whilst we of the _Water Lily_ could only boast of "a fisherman's walk,
two steps, and overboard."
I kept a sharp look-out for fresh water, intending to entirely refill
our tank and casks; and Ella was equally anxious for such a discovery,
as she gave me notice that she intended to hold a grand wash; desiring
me, at the same time, to make up a bundle of all my soiled linen, etc.,
and deliver it over to her. This I, of course, flatly refused to do,
assuring her that I was fully equal to the task of doing my own washing,
and that I never would consent to her descending to the performance of
so menial a task for me.
"What!" said she, releasing my arm to speak with the greater energy,
"not allow me to wash a few shirts and socks for you, and your
pocket-handkerchiefs? Indeed, but you _must_; it is woman's peculiar
province to wash clothes. Men never wash properly: they either half do
it or else beat to pieces whatever they may be washing in the vain
endeavour to properly purify it. Now you _must_ let me have my own way
just this once, please."
I still refused, and added laughingly: "It seems to me to be a part of
your creed that `it is woman's peculiar province' to do certain things
for men; and that, if she is not at hand to do it, it cannot be done at
all, or at all events in a satisfactory manner. I remember your urging
the plea that `it is woman's peculiar province' to cook, as a means
whereby to gain my consent to your taking charge of that department; and
very grateful am I to you for so doing, for we have enjoyed our meals as
we never did before; but as to your doing any washing but your own, I
cannot and _will_ not consent to it."
"But _why_ not?" she persisted. "Woman was created as a help-meet for
man; and I am sure you will admit that our sex is more thoroughly
qualified for the performance of certain duties than is man; and, where
that is distinctly the case, it seems to me to point naturally to the
conclusion that such duties form a part of her share of the work
necessary for the comfort and happiness of the race. Of course I would
not offer to wash for you or for myself, if we were in a large ship and
with proper servants to do such work; but in our present circumstances I
see nothing whatever of a menial or degrading character in it."
"Perhaps not," I replied. "I cannot enter quite so deeply as you do
into the question. I can only say that the idea is too repugnant for me
to consent to any such division of the `necessary work' so please say no
more about it, for my mind is made up, and I can be as stubborn as Bob
himself upon occasion."
"I quite believe you," she retorted, half playfully and half disposed to
be angry, "though I do not consider Bob stubborn at all. _He_ always
lets me do whatever I like; and what an original character he is. Do
you know, I quite admire him. He is somewhat rough and unpolished, I
admit, but he is as gentle to me as was my own dear mamma; and I hold to
the opinion that a man who is gentle and courteous to women is a man of
sterling worth, let his manner be as uncouth as it may. I believe that
gentleness and courtesy to our sex is the _first_ and most
distinguishing mark of nature's nobility. But why do you permit him to
be so familiar and disrespectful in his manner of addressing you?"
"I do not consider him in the slightest decree disrespectful," I
replied. "He is much older than I am, and a man of far wider
experience, at all events in all matters connected with our profession;
and that, and our long and severely-tried friendship, abundantly
justifies the familiarity of his mode of address. I dislike formality
with every one except strangers. It is all very well as a means of
keeping at a distance those you dislike and have no desire to become
intimate with, but it is a rather formidable barrier to friendship."
"So I think, responded Ella with animation. I _do_ so wish--"
"What?" I inquired. She hesitated a little and blushed a great deal,
and then, apparently with some effort, replied:
"Well, I wish you would exchange the formal `Miss Brand' for the more
friendly and familiar `Ella;' that is, if you consider me worthy of your
friendship."
"I will indeed," I replied, "with very great pleasure, if you will
permit me to do so; and I trust that you, in return, will call me, as I
love to be called by all my friends--Harry."
"Very well," she replied gaily, "I will; that is, as long as you are
good to me, and do not displease me in any way. The sign of my
sovereign displeasure will be a return to the formality of `Mr
Collingwood.'"
We chatted blithely on after this upon all sorts of subjects, and I was
both surprised and delighted at the depth and extent of my companion's
information. She had evidently read much, and, what was more to the
purpose, had selected her reading with sound judgment, storing her mind
abundantly with useful facts which she always had ready for production
in support of an argument, or by way of illustration, and she frequently
graced her conversation with choice quotations, introduced in the best
taste and with a manner as far as possible removed from anything like
affectation or pedantry. I was charmed beyond measure, and over and
over again thanked the lucky accident which had rendered it my good
fortune to be put upon terms of such close intimacy with so fascinating
a little creature.
At length we completed our tour of the northern end of the island,
returning by way of the eastern shore, until we were abreast the clump
of cocoa-nut trees; when we struck inland; and, after a somewhat
tortuous course between the thick-growing shrubs, reached the beach on
our own side once more.
Unfortunately for Ella's projected laundry operations, we had not been
able to discover the slightest sign of a spring of fresh water anywhere.
When we arrived opposite the point where the _Water Lily_ rode
peacefully at anchor, Bob was nowhere to be seen. The boat still
remained moored to the shrub, as we had left her, so I concluded that he
had grown tired of inactivity and had gone off, in the opposite
direction to ourselves, for a stroll. I therefore proposed to Ella that
she should rest awhile upon the soft, velvety turf, whilst I returned to
the cutter for a piece of rope, to aid me in my ascent after the
cocoa-nuts.
The rope was soon obtained; and, returning to the shore, I passed it in
a loose band round the trunk of one of the trees, leaving room in the
band for the introduction of my own body.
By bearing against this whilst I raised my feet and then slipping the
band up the tree, I was easily and quickly enabled to reach the fruit,
from which I selected an abundant supply of the finest specimens and
flung them to the ground.
Whilst thus engaged Bob hove in sight, and when I reached the ground
again he reported that, having soon grown tired of doing nothing, he had
started away on a walk to the southward, about half an hour after we
left him, and had gone to the extreme end of the island; that he had
enjoyed his walk amazingly, was excessively tired, and, like ourselves,
had failed to find any fresh water.
Under these circumstances poor little Ella was compelled to postpone her
washing-day, I promising that she should have the necessary time allowed
her at the first suitable island we happened to reach.
By this time the dinner-hour was approaching, and Ella desired to be put
on board the cutter to make the few slight preparations for the meal
which were necessary.
As soon as we had put her on board and whilst she was thus engaged, I
took Bob away with me in the boat to try for a few oysters. We had no
means of trawling for them; but I estimated that they lay in not more
than about two and a half fathoms of water, and I considered myself
quite diver enough to reach that distance.
As soon as we arrived at the spot I stripped and plunged in, taking down
with me an old canvas clothes-bag, which I slung round my neck.
I soon found that I had been deceived, by the crystal transparency of
the water, into underestimating the depth. It was fully four fathoms to
the bottom; and this, together with the difficulty I experienced in
keeping the mouth of the bag open, necessitated four plunges before I
had obtained half the bag full. There was not time to do more just
then, so I dressed, the bag was hauled up, and we returned with our
prize to the cutter.
We resolved to commence dinner with a course of oysters, and I forthwith
proceeded to open some, a task which gave me a very considerable amount
of difficulty.
Imagine, if you can, my surprise and delight when on opening the second
oyster I found that it contained several small pearls; the third was
opened, and it also contained several the fourth had none, but the fifth
on being opened revealed three beauties, each as large as the top of my
middle finger. To be brief, I was soon satisfied that I had stumbled
upon a bed of pearl-oysters, about half of the bivalves yielding when
opened more or less pearls, the greater quantity being small, such as
are set in rings; but several good-sized pearls were also found, and one
magnificent fellow, as large as a cherry.
As may easily be imagined, we were all excitement after this; and I
proposed that, as soon as dinner was over, we should move the cutter
down and anchor her upon the bed, and devote the remainder of the
afternoon to systematic pearl-fishing. The proposition was rapturously
received, Ella declaring that she had often read of pearl-fishing, and
should very much like to witness the operation.
Accordingly, dinner was no sooner over than we weighed and stood down to
the spot under our jib, and having reached it the cutter was anchored as
nearly as possible over the centre of the bed. I had hit upon a plan by
which, I thought, some of my difficulties of the morning might be got
over; and, as soon as we were brought up, Bob and I got our
floating-anchor on deck, stretched the canvas upon it, and rigging out
our spinnaker-boom, a rope was passed through the sheave in the outer
end of it, and bent to the crowfoot of the floating-anchor, which thus
hung suspended, like a large tray, over the water. It was then lowered
to the bottom; a small pig of ballast was got on deck and slung to
another rope's-end, and I then went below and changed my dress for an
old white shirt and duck trousers, buckling a belt round my waist, to
which, as it happened, a strong sharp sheath-knife was attached.
Being now ready to descend I looked over the side, and satisfied myself
that our floating-anchor lay all right at the bottom, and in such a
manner as properly to perform its new functions as a tray. I then
slipped over the side into the water, grasping firmly the rope to which
the piece of ballast was attached; and, having well filled my lungs with
air, I waved my disengaged hand. Bob let go the rope, and the ballast
draped me swiftly to the bottom.
Still retaining my hold upon the sinker with one hand, I now rapidly
shovelled the oysters into my "tray" with the other, as long as I could
hold my breath; and I was satisfied, at the first experiment, that my
expedient was a complete success, thrice as many oysters being deposited
in the tray at one dive as I had obtained altogether in the morning.
I soon had to rise to get a fresh inhalation; but by hauling up the
sinker every time, so as to have the benefit of its assistance in taking
me to the bottom, I was enabled to reserve all my breath and energy for
my work at the oysters; and so successful was I, that, in three
descents, I managed to place upon the tray as many oysters as it would
hold. It was now hauled up, its contents carefully transferred to the
cutter's deck, and the anchor or tray again lowered to the bottom.
This operation had been repeated five times, with the result that a
goodly pile of bivalves now graced the deck; and I had crone down a
second time on the sixth _round_ (if I may so express myself), when
suddenly a dark shadow fell upon the spot on which I was at work. I
glanced upward, and, to my unspeakable horror, saw an enormous shark
floating motionless within a fathom of, and directly above, me.
Why he did not attack me at once I could not imagine but I conjecture
that it was because, lying flat upon the ground as I was, he had not
room to turn, as sharks invariably do when seizing their prey. My blood
seemed fairly to congeal in my veins as I realised my appalling
position.
I _must_ rise to the surface in a very few seconds or drown where I was;
and I felt convinced that the moment I was far enough from the bottom to
permit of the monster making his rush, he would do so.
Suddenly, the remembrance of my sheath-knife flashed across my brain.
There was no time to hesitate; my powers of endurance were almost
utterly exhausted, and I felt that I could hold my breath but a second
or two longer so I quickly drew the knife, and darting suddenly upwards,
succeeded in grasping the shark with my left hand by his starboard fin,
whilst with my right I plunged my weapon to the hilt in his gleaming
white belly, extending my arm to its full length as I did so, and thus
inflicting a wound nearly or quite two feet in length.
Remembering the wonderful vitality of the shark, I did not content
myself with this; but thrusting my armed hand into the gaping wound, I
drew the knife two or three times rapidly across his interior
arrangements, inflicting such severe injuries that in less than a minute
after I rose to the surface blood-stained from head to foot, and
speechless with exhaustion, the shark also appeared, floating dead
within a dozen yards of the cutter.
Bob's strong and ready hand was promptly extended to assist me in over
the cutter's low gunwale but so thoroughly exhausted was I, that I felt
utterly unable to make the slightest effort in aid of my shipmate's
exertions, and he was obliged to drag me bodily inboard, where, after an
unavailing effort to stand, I sank upon the deck, gasping for breath,
and utterly unable to utter a word.
Ella's eager face blanched deadly white at the horrifying spectacle I
presented as I lay prone at her feet, my once white clothing now deeply
imbued with blood, and I thought she would have fainted; but she
struggled bravely against the weakness, though she could not repress a
violent shudder, which thrilled through her from head to foot.
Sinking to her knees at my side, she gently raised me until my head
rested upon her throbbing breast, and gazing upon my face with a look
expressive of the deepest anxiety, she inquired, "Where are you hurt,
Harry? Is it much? Are you in _very_ great pain?"
I made a powerful but unavailing effort to reply, when seeing my lips
move, but without any sound issuing from them, she suddenly lost her
self-control, and shrieking, "He is dying, Bob; dying, I tell you. Oh!
what can we do to save him?" burst into an overwhelming passion of tears
and clasping me convulsively to her bosom, she sobbed forth wild prayers
for mercy, mingled with the tenderest and most endearing epithets that
ever sprang from the heart of a passionately loving woman to her lips.
Surprised beyond all power of expression, and almost overwhelmed with
delight at this utterly unexpected betrayal of her feeling for me, I
could not suffer her to continue; so having by this time somewhat
recovered my breath, I gasped out, "I am not hurt, Ella; indeed I am
not; I was only overcome for the moment with exhaustion; pray calm
yourself."
"Not hurt!" she exclaimed eagerly; "not injured at all? Thank God, oh,
thank God for that! But--was it kind, sir--was it like a gentleman, to
permit me to be surprised into such expressions as those which have just
escaped my lips? How can I ever hold up my head again in your presence,
or look you in the face?"
"Hush, Ella, darling," I whispered. "Do not distress yourself, I
entreat you. I have much to say to you, and what has just passed has
but precipitated matters a little. Retire below for a short time, and
calm your agitated feelings; and this evening I will ask you to favour
me with a few minutes of your society on shore, when I will enter into
such explanations as I trust will prove entirely satisfactory, and have
the effect of completely healing your wounded sensibility.
"Why," continued I cheerily, "that is well; the roses are already
returning to your cheeks, and by the time that I have been down once or
twice more, and have secured another--"
"Merciful Heaven!" she exclaimed, in horrified accents, "do I hear
aright? Is it possible you can be mad enough to contemplate going into
the water again, after having so narrowly escaped from such a horrible
death? You _must_ not, Harry and you _will_ not, if you entertain the
slightest feeling of--of--friendship for me. Indeed, I could not bear
it; another shock, such as I have just received, would kill me. _Pray_
have some little compassion upon me."
"Enough, Ella, and more than enough, I answered, deeply moved.
Henceforward your wishes are law to me and, since you object to my going
overboard again, I promise you faithfully that I will not do so. Now go
below, dear, and lie down for a short time, whilst Bob and I take the
cutter back to her old moorings."
As soon as she was out of sight, Bob, who had stood patiently on one
side whilst the above _denouement_ was taking place, approached, and,
extending his hand, exclaimed:
"Now that the little beauty has done with ye, lad, give an old friend a
shake of your flipper. I'm right down glad to see ye well and hearty,
my dear boy," he continued, with strong emotion.
"We both saw that doubly and everlastingly damned brute range up and
take a berth close above ye; and, to own the plain, honest truth, I put
ye down as good as done for. There warn't no time to do anything by way
of warning ye, or lending ye a hand anyways; for, afore I could collect
my scattered wits, we saw ye let go the sinker, and next minute the
water alongside was like a biling pot; and then we seed the blood, and
damn me if I didn't turn that sick and queer I couldn't see a thing,
just for a moment; and when I hauled ye aboard, I couldn't for the life
of me tell whether you was dead or alive. Now let's get up them few
h'isters that was like to have cost us all so dear, and get away from
the spot as soon as we can."
We were not very long in getting the remainder of the oysters on board,
and soon afterwards we had the cutter back at her old berth. Our first
task, as soon as the craft was at anchor again, was to transfer our
booty to the shore, where we spread them out on a large tarpaulin on the
sand to die. The method pursued by the regular pearl-fishers, I
believe, is to allow the fish to remain until they are in an advanced
stage of decay, when the pearls are sought for amongst the putrid mass.
I felt no inclination, however, for such a task, and, moreover, did not
care to expend so much time as this process involved. I conjectured
that, the fish once dead, they might be opened with comparatively little
difficulty; and I thought that by the time our overhaul and painting was
completed, the oysters would be in a fit state for operating upon.
Ella now reappeared on deck somewhat more composed, though there was
still a slight nervous flutter perceptible in her movements. I took
advantage of her presence on deck to remark casually that I would now go
below and change my dress, and cleanse myself from the traces of my
recent encounter, which I forthwith did; and when I had refreshed myself
with a copious ablution, I really felt very little the worse for my
adventure. Indeed, I believe that I was less discomposed by it than
either of the others.
After tea was over, I took occasion to remind Ella that I had somewhat
to say to her, and requested her to accompany me on shore and take a
short walk on the beach, that I might speak without being embarrassed by
Bob's presence.
She stepped silently into the boat, and in a few minutes more we stood
together on the strand. Taking the arm which I offered her, she said:
"Now, Harry, what is it you wish to say to me?"
"Simply this," I replied. "From the nature of my occupation I have had,
as you may suppose, but very few opportunities of associating with your
sex. With the solitary exception of my sister, I cannot say that I am
intimately acquainted with any woman; and I am an utter stranger to
everything relating to womankind. I know nothing whatever of their
characteristics, and have not the slightest idea of how they are likely
to be influenced by powerful emotions. It may be that, under such
circumstances, they sometimes utter words of which they are wholly
unconscious, and which have not the most remote relation to their actual
sentiments. If this really be the case, a man of honour, chancing to
hear such words escape the lips of a lady, will forthwith forget that
they were ever uttered. This I am prepared to do with regard to the
words spoken by you this afternoon, Ella, if you wish me to understand
that they had no meaning. True, it will dispel a brief but blissful
dream in which I have dared to indulge for a short hour or two: but what
right have I to suppose that I have awakened within your breast any
sentiment beyond that of the merest friendship, if I may dare to aspire
even to that, especially when I take into consideration the shortness of
the time you have known me? It has been but a few days, I know but
almost from the moment that we met upon the deck of the _Copernicus_, a
new and hitherto unknown feeling has animated me; it has grown with
every hour of my life since then, and, without analysing its nature, I
have permitted it to strengthen until it has become a part of my very
life itself; a feeling which I must perforce still continue to cherish--
whether for weal or for woe, it is for _you_ to say--as long as life
remains. In saying that I never analysed this feeling I am stating what
is strictly true; but in that dread moment this afternoon, when I
unexpectedly found myself face to face with death in one of its most
dreadful forms"--my companion shuddered violently--"in that terrible
moment, I say, the discovery flashed upon me that the feeling to which I
have referred is _love_, the most passionate, devoted, idolising love.
Tell me, Ella, tell me, my darling, may I dare to hope that at some time
in the distant future, when you shall have had opportunities of becoming
better acquainted with me--"
"Cease, Harry," the dear girl interrupted with deep emotion, "cease, I
pray you, to agitate yourself with causeless fears. Why should I
hesitate--after having already given such unequivocal expression to my
feelings to avow that, like yourself, I have loved almost from the first
moment of our meeting. I know not whether now, or at any future time,
you will deem my heart too easily won; but, if you do, remember that the
advantage has been from the first all on your side. You appeared as my
deliverer from a situation of peculiar trial to a young and delicately
brought-up girl, and of peril the nature and extent of which you are
better able to realise than I am to tell, so, in judging me, you must
not forget to take into consideration, and give me the benefit of, the
peculiar circumstances of the case. And whether lightly won or not, you
shall find, dear Harry, that my love is not the less sincere and loyal
on that account for _never_ was there a truer or more devoted wife than
I will be to you, if it please God to permit us to become united."
And saying this, my little darling turned, and with unaffected confiding
simplicity, wound her soft arms about my neck, and raised her sweet lips
to mine.
The conversation which followed, deeply interesting as it was to the
parties engaged, need not be reproduced here suffice it to say that the
insight I thus obtained of Ella's character and disposition amply
justified the sudden and precipitate step I had taken. That it _was_
precipitate I could not and did not attempt to conceal from myself, and
that it would have been highly imprudent under ordinary circumstances
thus to connect myself by so binding a tie as betrothal to one of whose
very existence I was ignorant but a short fortnight before, I was also
fully aware; but, after all, marriage is, to a very great extent, a
lottery and one can never be really certain, until after the nuptial
knot has been tied, whether one has drawn a prize or a blank.
There are some women in whom a fresh trait of character is always
revealing itself, so that, just when you think you have at last
succeeded in thoroughly understanding them, you discover that you are
just as far off any reliable knowledge of their character as ever.
But with Ella it was very different. There was a childlike openness and
ingenuousness of manner about her which quickly revealed to the
observer, not only the salient points, but also the finer gradations of
her character and temperament; and I believe that I had a clearer
insight into both at the time that I thus hastily offered myself, than
many men who do the same thing after an acquaintance of a "season," and
with such knowledge as they are able to pick up by meeting their charmer
at balls, picnics, canters in the "Row," and what not.
At length we returned to the cutter, where we found Bob, with his pipe
still between his teeth, sitting aft fast asleep. I wished Ella
"good-night," and then roused Master Bob up; and whilst we smoked a
final pipe together, communicated my good fortune to him.
"Ay, ay!" said he, as soon as I had told him, "you may thank `Jack
Shark' for having it come upon ye so soon, lad; it was _bound_ to come
sooner or later. I've seed it clearer and clearer every day, but it
warn't for me to say a word one way or t'other; but the narrer squeak
you had for it this a'ternoon just took the little lady flat aback, and
afore she could pay off, you see, she let run a whole string of lovin'
words that there warn't no way of hauling aboard and coiling down out of
sight ag'in; and so she hadn't no ch'ice but just to haul down her
colours as soon as you opened fire. Well, you've made a pretty prize,
Harry, and I congratulate ye with all my heart. A trimmer model, or one
better ballasted with the right sort of feelin's and idees, no man need
wish to sail the v'y'ge of life in company with, and as to her being
fond of ye, why, she couldn't help showing of it, try all she would.
She couldn't talk of nothing else from morning to night but you. It
don't matter what the conversation started with, whether 'twas ships, or
flyin'-fish, or hurricanes, waterspouts--_anything_ in heaven or airth,
she'd bring it all round in a sort of great-circle-sailing fashion to
you. And now that you've got her, lad, I hope as you'll be able to sail
her properly. Women is very ticklish craft to handle, you must hear in
mind; as tender in a squall as a racin' cutter with all her flyin'-kites
aloft; and you'll have to keep a sharp look-out to win'ard, and have the
halliards and sheets all ready for lettin' run at a moment's notice, or
you'll maybe get something ser'ous carried away, or have a reg'lar
downright wrack altogether afore you knows where you are."
I could not help smiling at this characteristic speech of congratulation
and caution of Bob's, to which I of course made a suitable reply and
then shaking hands, we went below and tumbled into our respective
hammocks.
Volume Two, Chapter IV.