"You are to be received on board as a midshipman, Mr Ralph," said the
kind old man, in a sort of hesitating way. "There are two other
youngsters, I find, and as they wear uniforms, it is right that you
should be dressed like them. Mr S--will get you yours ready in a few
hours, and I can settle all about it some day with your mother, you
know."
"But I do not like to put my mother to the additional expense," said I,
drawing back.
Mr Ward almost gave me a hug, while a smile of satisfaction beamed
brightly on his countenance. "Never mind, my dear lad," he exclaimed.
"Mr S--is very liberal, and the whole matter will be arranged without
the slightest difficulty, or having to trouble your mother in any way.
You must have the uniform, and it would be a great disappointment to
have to give up the expedition because you would not get it."
I saw that there was no use disputing the point further, so wringing Mr
Ward's hand to show that I understood him, I let the tailor take my
measure. The cab, with my sea-chest on the top of it, and a
portmanteau, hat-box, and several other articles inside, was waiting at
the door.
"We will put your property on board, Mr Ralph, and ascertain at what
time the _Orion_ goes out of dock," observed Mr Ward. "You will have
plenty of time to come on shore again, and purchase any trifles you may
have forgotten. William Henley will tell us all about the matter."
We were somewhat of a cabful, as Henry Raymond observed, for though Mr
Ward said he would go outside, we would not let him, nor would he let
Henry go on the box. At last the cab reached the docks, and disgorged
its contents on the quay just before the _Orion_. While we watched over
my property, Mr Ward went on board. Soon a couple of seamen appeared,
and made very little difficulty in hauling my mighty chest on board.
Mr Henley then came and showed me a place between decks, near his and
the third mate's cabin, where I and the other first-class apprentices,
or midshipmen, were to swing our hammocks. It was a gloomy, very
unattractive spot, I thought; but I had made up my mind to be contented
with whatever was provided for me, so I did not even think of grumbling.
Herbert, however, whose tastes were very different from mine, shuddered
when he found that this low, confined spot, was to be my future abode
for so long a period.
"Horrible!" I heard him whisper to Henry Raymond. "Poor dear Ralph! it
is sad indeed that he should have to live in so dark a hole."
Henry laughed. "If no worse fate befall him, I do not think that he
should be unhappy," he answered.
We were all introduced to Captain Seaford, who had come on board to
visit the ship only, and we found that he was going on shore again, and
that she would after all not leave the docks for a couple of days. I
liked Captain Seaford's appearance very much. He was a fine,
gentlemanly-looking man, with a very kind expression of countenance; and
Mr Henley, who had before sailed with him, assured us that his
character was in accordance with his features. He looked unwell, and
complained of being ill when he left the ship. He told me as he went
away that I might, if I wished, remain on shore for at least forty-eight
hours longer, as there was nothing just then for me to do on board. I
scarcely knew whether to be glad or sorry at this. I should again see
my mother and sisters, but then there would be the parting to go through
once more.
"As you are to remain, we must try and get Mr Ward and Mr Henley to
come down and dine with us to-morrow," observed Herbert, who was always
thoughtful. "It will be a very great comfort to our mother to know one
of the officers of the ship you are to sail in, and it will be
gratifying to her to be able to thank Mr Ward for all his kindness to
you."
We accordingly agreed that we would give the invitation, although I was
afraid that Mr Ward, at all events, would not accept it. What was my
surprise, therefore, to find that he did so readily and cheerfully, and
he added that he was certain that William Henley would come if he could.
The reason why he now came so readily was this. He had so much tact
and consideration, and he knew that his so doing would gratify my
mother, and that having to entertain him would assist to keep up her
spirits, and prevent her from thinking too much of her forlorn
condition. Mr Ward would not let me go back to Blackheath till my
uniform was ready, when he made me put it on, not a little to my inward
satisfaction, and said that he would send my other things on board the
_Orion_. He made during the day many minute inquiries about my kit, and
the various articles I possessed; and in a list he showed me in his
lodgings, he made me point out what I did not possess, and insisted in
supplying the deficiency. He also added all sorts of odds and ends, and
many little articles which he said William Henley told him that I should
find useful.
The next day both he and Mr Henley came down to Blackheath to dine with
us. How gentle and kind they both were! That strong, weather-beaten,
dark-whiskered young man, who, from his appearance, I should have
expected to have a loud gruff voice, spoke on the contrary in the most
quiet, pleasant way; and in a very little time, after having at first
eyed him askance, the younger children collected round him, and were
soon listening eagerly to an account he was giving them of some of his
sea adventures, and which, when I overheard, I found he was exactly
adapting to their comprehensions. A very pleasant afternoon was spent.
My mother and sisters did their best to amuse Mr Ward, and to show him
how much they appreciated his kindness to me. They were also, as I knew
they would be, very much pleased with Mr Henley; and I am sure that the
kind old gentleman must have been satisfied with the result of his
unusual excursion. He asked my mother's leave, as he was wishing her
good-bye, to be allowed to call in occasionally to see if he could be of
use to her or to any of the little ones, and just to hear also if she
had received any news of Mr Ralph. From the diffident way in which he
spoke, it might have been supposed that she was a lady of rank and
wealth, and that he was a humble person asking some great favour. Yet
there was certainly no false humility in anything he said. I am very
sure that he felt as he spoke, and that my mother's loss of property
made no difference in his sight, but rather, from the way she bore it,
raised her still higher in his estimation.
The next morning Herbert accompanied me and Solon once more on board the
_Orion_. She was just then getting ready to move out of dock, it being
close upon high water. Captain Seaford was not on board. He was still
ill, and it was understood that he would join us at Gravesend. Mr Ward
was on board, according to promise, to see me off.
"I wish, my dear Mr Ralph, that you would make me your banker," he
said, after shaking hands, and leading me aside. I was not aware that
he had already paid a considerable sum towards the premium required by
the owners, though in my case they liberally lowered it.
I told him that I hoped to get assistance from my grandfather in the
Mauritius, and that I ought not to take further advantage of his
kindness.
"It is you who do me the favour. Mr Ralph," he answered warmly. "You
may, indeed you are certain to want money at the Cape or elsewhere. You
cannot carry out your object without it, depend on that, and so you see
I have already directed William Henley to honour your drafts on me; and
here, my dear Mr Ralph, I know that you will pardon an old man who made
all he possesses through your father's means, take this little bag, it
contains only twenty sovereigns--a mere trifle. Sew it up carefully in
a belt about you; very likely you may find them useful. Sovereigns go
everywhere, remember. They are just bright from the bank, and full
weight. Oh no, no; don't thank me--there's a good boy--just take them,
and stow them away at once. That matter is settled; not another word--
not another word."
Thus he liberally and delicately made me a present which I could not
help feeling might be of the greatest service to me. I shall have to
mention several valuable and expensive presents which I afterwards found
he had made me.
"But I thought that you suffered as did my father when the bank failed."
"Ah, well, I did lose something, certainly," he answered quickly; "but
that would be but a bad excuse for not trying to do as much good as I
can with the remainder which Providence has allowed me to retain. Ah,
yes, I know people do make it an excuse, but it is a very bad one, and
will not prove valid, I suspect, in the day of judgment. That is the
time we should always be looking forward to, Mr Ralph; and we should
ask ourselves, whatever we are doing, How will this stand the test on
that great day? They have begun, sir, to cast off the wharfs.
Good-bye, dear Mr Ralph. May you be preserved from all danger, and be
successful in your search. Mr Herbert will go with you to Gravesend,
and I shall esteem it a favour if he will come and let me know how you
were, and how you got on at the last."
Saying this, the kind, generous old man wrung my hand and burned on
shore. When I looked at the vast crowd of mighty ships as well as
smaller craft of all sorts with which we were surrounded, it seemed
impossible that the _Orion_ could ever be got clear of them; yet by a
proper application of hawsers, and by due pulling and hauling, she was,
in a wonderfully short time, warped clear of all impediments, and then a
steam-tug taking her in tow, away she went, aided by the ebb, down the
stream, and past many of the scenes with which I was so familiar.
Solon and I looked our last on the old _Dreadnought_, the hospital ship
for seamen of all nations, which lies just above Greenwich. I had more
than once visited her with my father, who was a warm supporter of the
institution. What a noble employment for a green old age, like that, I
believe, of many a gallant sailor who, having fought the battles of his
country in his youth, now employs himself by going about among his
humble fellow-creatures, and doing all the good he can to their bodies
and their souls! I have heard of several such men, admirals and others
of high rank, who have thus happily occupied their declining years, just
as the old ship is employed in receiving all who come to be cured of
sickness and disease. Then I gazed at Greenwich Hospital--a building I
could never look at without the greatest interest. I knew so many of
the old inmates, and so many pleasant hours had been passed there. What
a blessing it has proved to thousands of England's brave tars, who would
otherwise in their decrepitude have been cast helpless on the cold
world! Above the hospital is another magnificent institution connected
with it, I believe, where the sons of naval officers, as well as seamen,
receive a first-rate nautical education. I thought as I looked over the
ship's side that I recognised some of my old acquaintances, and then
there were some white handkerchiefs waved by some ladies in black. I
felt certain that my mother and sisters had come to take a last glance
at me. I waved and waved in return, and Solon stretched out his neck
and barked in a low, significant way; for Henry Raymond was with them, I
guessed, and the dog recognised him. The incident, however, very nearly
unmanned me. Blackwall was next passed, and Woolwich, where several
men-of-war were fitting out; but I will not further describe our voyage
down the Thames.
Herbert and I continued our walk on the quarter-deck, with Solon pacing
up and down between us. No one had told me to do any duty; and as
Herbert was with me, I naturally did not ask what I was to do, as I
should have thus been separated from him. Suddenly, however, I heard a
gruff, harsh voice hailing me from the poop.
"Hillo, youngster, what are your dog and you come aboard here to do, I
should like to know?" These words were spoken by Mr Grimes, the first
mate. "That dog of yours will be hove overboard if he misbehaves
himself, and that gold lace cap and those black kid gloves will follow,
unless you can find something to do with your hands, let me tell you."
I looked up and caught the very unpleasant glance of the mate fixed on
me. He was a tall, thin, light-haired man, with a freckled complexion--
wiry and bony--his eyes were large and grey, but bleared, with a
remarkably hard, sinister expression in them. I had read about people
in whose eyes the light of pity never shone, and as I looked up at that
man's, I could not help feeling that he belonged to that miserable
class. I had been too well trained both at home and at school not to
answer properly.
"I am ready to do anything I am ordered, sir," I replied promptly,
taking off my gloves and putting them in my pocket, while I whispered to
Herbert to take Solon out of the way.
The ill temper of the mate was disarmed for the moment. However, a
minute afterwards, as I stood where he had at first addressed me, I
heard him sing out--
"What's your name, youngster?"