Aboard the Curlew.
They steamed along between low marshy banks for an hour or two, then
the river began to widen into an irregularly shaped bay. Sundry low
lying islands, covered with strange semi-tropic vegetation, rose up
seaward, and by and by a sound as of muffled thunder could be heard.
As they passed old Fort Pulaski, Ralph ventured to question the pilot
on the roof. This grizzled boatman was gruff, but obliging.
"It's the roar of the breakers, you hear," said he. "That is an old
fort. Good for a siege once--no good now. And yonder--do you see that
low lying, black schooner under the lee of Tybee light?"
"Where?" inquired Ralph, leaning out of the little pilot house window.
The pilot pointed, but it was quite a minute before the boy could
distinguish the vessel. When he did, all his unaccustomed eye could
make out, was a narrow dark line surmounted by a dim tracery of spars
that were barely relieved by the white beach behind.
Still further beyond rose the towering white lighthouse.
"I believe I do see it," he said at length.
"Well, that's the Curlew. She's a daisy on the wind, or for that
matter sailing free either. There ain't a sweeter looking
fore-an-after on this coast."
"Is that Captain Gary's ship?" asked Ralph, for he had not heard the
name of the vessel mentioned before.
"Well, you are an ignoramus. Don't know the name of the craft you're
shipping on."
The old pilot looked disgusted. "Where'd you get your trainin'?"
When Ralph explained that this was his first sight of salt water, and
that he had seen the captain for the first time that morning, the pilot
shook his grizzled head doubtfully.
"Captain Gary is a deep one, that's what he is. He was mighty milk and
watery, wasn't he? I thought so. Know where you're bound for?"
Ralph had not the least idea, but felt no uneasiness, as the captain
was so kind; had treated him almost like a son.
"Did eh! Well, now see here. It's none of my business, but I believe
in a fair shake." The pilot glanced round and noticing the boatswain
sauntering toward them, he bent forward and concluded in an undertone:
"When you get aboard and out to sea, you keep your eyes open and watch
out for squalls. D'ye hear. Watch out for squalls."
The boy heard but did not understand. The pilot's manner, however,
impressed him as unusual. He felt vaguely uncomfortable, as the old
man, after a knowing wink or two, fixed his eyes upon the course he was
steering, and thereafter ignored Ralph's presence entirely.
Bludson cast a searching glance at them both, then ordered Ralph to go
below and bring up his coat. The lad obeyed and when he returned, the
tug had forged past an island headland, disclosing to them a fine view
of the open ocean.
Ralph uttered an exclamation of wonder, and for five minutes or more he
leaned against the guard rail, feasting his eyes on the heaving expanse
of blue, foam dotted water near the inlet, where the rollers were
breaking upon the bar.
"It's the greatest sight I ever saw," he said turning to Bludson, who
merely grunted. "How blue it looks! I suppose those changing lines of
white are the breakers. Well, well! This beats the mountains. I wish
I was out there right now."
"You'd be wishing yourself ashore soon," returned Tom apathetically.
"Wait till 'e gets seasick."
"What is that? Does the sea make you sick?"
"I should say it do. But there's a mighty fine cure for all that.
Aye, 'tis a bracin', healthful cure."
"Tell me, Mr. Bludson. You know I might get seasick, too."
"Ye be bound to. Then cap'n 'e'll say lay forrid there and trice up
that fo'topmast stays'l brace; and there you is first 'e know fifty
feet above the fo' s'l boom, a takin' a good look of an hour or so at
old Neptune. Well, if that don't fetch 'e all right, cap'n 'e'll say
'Reeve a slip knot under his arms' which, no sooner done than overboard
you goes for a dip or two. That always brings 'em round."
"Looks like a queer way to cure a sick man," commented Ralph, who but
half comprehended the boatswain's lingo.
"It beats the doctor though all the same," said Tom with rather a
heartless grin. "But look round. What do 'e think of the Curlew now?
Ain't she a beauty?"
The tug had got near enough to enable the proportions of the vessel to
be seen quite distinctly.
Even to Ralph she was a graceful and pleasing sight. The long, low,
black hull exhibited curves as perfect as the flowing sweep of a
rainbow. The tall mast, the tapering tracery of spars, the snowy
canvas and the general trim and orderly air maintained, were all
attractive to the eye.
In a brief time, the tug was lying alongside and the stores transferred
to the schooner's hold in short order. A dozen or more catlike sailors
assisted the crew of the tug, and Ralph made himself useful.
When the tug sheered off, the boy leaning over the side of the
schooner, beheld the pilot shake his head in a doubtful way as he
answered Ralph's farewell wave of the hand.
"So I must look out for squalls, must I?" he reflected. "I wonder what
the man meant. Never mind. I am young, stout, and I'm not afraid. So
I guess I won't worry. So nice a man as Captain Gary won't see a boy
put upon, I know."
A heavy hand came down on his shoulder.
"Come now! We don't want no idlin' or staring over the side on this
craft. Come along and stow your kit and sling your hammock. Then
we'll eat a bite--you and me."
Thus roused, he followed Tom Bludson into the forecastle, where a low
but roomy apartment was lighted both by a swinging lamp and the
daylight streaming through the narrow companionway. There was a double
row of bunks on either hand and overhead were hooks to swing hammocks
in the space between.
Bludson unslung a hammock from the wall and tossed it to Ralph. There
was a blanket inside.
"Wrap your clothes in that blanket and give the hammock a turn or
two--so." The boatswain accompanied his words by showing Ralph how a
hammock is folded and slung to the hooks overhead when not in use.
"Now," he added, "it's stowed for the day. When bedtime comes you must
unsling and hang it as the rest do. You see there's not enough bunks
for the crew, so some has to use hammocks."
After that Tom led the way to the cook's galley, a mere closet of a
place just abaft the foremast. In entering one went down two or three
steps. Here they found Neb (short for Nebraska), the cook, a short,
fat jolly looking negro, who with his stove and cooking utensils so
completely filled up the place that Ralph was puzzled to see how the
man ever managed to cook at all. Every bit of space was utilized,
however. There were drawers and lockers under shelves and tables,
while overhead were swinging racks for dishes and provisions.
"Hi, Marse Tom, who be dat yo' got dar? One er dese yere shore kids?"
"Yes, he's a shore kid, Neb. Him and me haven't had any dinner. Can't
you shake us up a bit of something. Salt horse and skilly will do, if
nothin' else is handy."
Neb was acquiescent and the boatswain and his charge were soon
discussing a hearty meal with molasses, vinegar and water for a
beverage instead of coffee.
After that Bludson took Ralph aft and introduced him to the second
mate, Mr. Duff, a slim, active, pleasant looking young man of four and
twenty, who was superintending the coiling of a spare cable in a cuddy
hole beneath the wheel.
"New boy, eh," said he, giving Ralph a brief but keen inspection. "I
thought the captain swore that he wanted no more boys, after Bunty gave
him the slip."
Bunty, Ralph afterward learned, had run away at a foreign port with a
small sum of money not his own.
"Cap'n's changed his mind then, sir," returned Tom, "He said as 'e
wanted p'tickler care taken of this kid, and he was to wait in the
cabin till 'e gets his sea legs on so to speak."
"What' your name?" To Ralph, then turning to the men: "Easy there. Lay
her even, can't you."
Ralph replied and Bludson added:
"Blest if the kid's ever seen the ocean before. He don't know a brace
from a marlin spike."
"I can learn, I reckon," said Ralph so heartily that Mr. Duff took a
second look at the boy, then smiled to himself.
"Run down to the cabin and fetch me up the doctor," said the mate.
"Yon's the way."
He pointed towards the companionway.
Ralph, somewhat puzzled, started down, but fancied he heard a sound of
smothered laughter as he passed from sight.
"They're making fun of me," thought he. "I don't believe there is any
doctor here."
The two men having finished with the cable went forward, just as Ralph
reappeared bearing a box of patent pills he had found below.
"That's the nearest thing to a doctor I could find," said he.
The mate roared with laughter, while Long Tom grinned broadly, and the
sailors snickered.
"I guess you'll do, my lad," exclaimed Mr. Duff in high good humor.
"Come with me and I will show you what the doctor is. Bludson, have
that peak block on the foresail gaff slung a little higher. I think
she will hoist easier."
"Aye, aye, sir," returned the boatswain, while Ralph, following the
mate, again descended to the cabin.
The cabin was roomy, well carpeted, and contained a stationary table
through the center of which ran the mainmast of the schooner. At the
stern were two staterooms; one for the captain and the other for the
two mates. Lockers and drawers were scattered about, and a mirror with
a picture or two was attached to the walls.
On a cushioned seat at one side lay a large white cat.
"That's Doctor," said the mate. "He's a great pet, and while you are
aft you must see that he wants for nothing."
The mate showed Ralph a small closet where were sundry brooms, brushes
and other implements for cleaning up.
"As you are to be cabin boy, for a while at least," said Mr. Duff, "you
might as well begin by tidying up the cabin a bit. We want to have
things shipshape by the time the captain comes aboard."
For an hour or so Ralph busied himself accordingly, until a commotion
on deck led him to look out at one of the stateroom windows.