OUTWARD BOUND
Once more the white Malolo lay under Garden Island in fair Sydney
Harbour, with but three hands aboard to keep anchor watch, for there
were great doings at Mr. Biffen's house, which was lit up below and
aloft, and every hand who could be spared had gone ashore.
Two months had come and gone since the Adventurer and Malolo parted
company off the verdured hills of Fotuna Island, with cheer after cheer
from the crews, as the barque headed north-westward for the whaling
grounds, and the schooner stood southward for Sydney.
In the grounds of the merchant's house, which overlooked the Harbour,
Mr. Wallis was entertaining not only the crew of the Malolo, but that of
the Lady Alicia as well, for in the morning there had been a
wedding--Mr. William Henry Chester to Miss Solepa Tuisila. The ceremony
had been attended with what Mr. Brooker called 'tremendous fixins,' Mr.
Wallis giving the bride away, and Captain Samuel Hawkins acting as best
man to 'William Henry.' Among the guests, too, were old Foster and Kate
Gorman, who had come up to Sydney in the asthmatic old 'Puffing Billy'
to see Tom--only to bid him farewell again, for he was not returning to
Port Kooringa with his father and Jack. He had won his father's
consent, and was bound to Samoa in the Malolo as supercargo--much to the
delight of Maori Bill, who, to old Sam's sorrow, was also leaving in the
schooner, to become overseer on Captain Casalle's station at Leone Bay.
Charlie also had shipped on the Malolo, declaring that wherever Tom and
Bill went he would go too.
Upstairs, as red-haired, true-hearted Kate Gorman was clasping little
Nita to her ample bosom for the last time, and with fast-falling tears
singing her to sleep, as she had so often done before in the old house
at Port Kooringa, when her heart was almost breaking for Tom, the 'babby
that was her own darlin',' Tom himself came in.
'What, crying, Kate, old woman!' and he patted her cheeks with his rough
brown hands; 'come, don't cut up so. You'll see Nita again in less than
a year, for when we return we are coming to Port Kooringa in the Malolo
herself. Now put Nita to bed and come down-stairs; we all want you,
father and Jack, and Captain Casalle, and his brother, and Mrs. Casalle,
and everybody.'
Kate dried her tears. 'Shure I'll come, av it's only to kape that silly
ould man Foster quiet. It's dhrinkin' too much he is I'm shure.'
Old Sam, whose face was redder than ever, was making a speech embracing
a variety of subjects, from the good looks and faithful services of the
bride to the bridegroom's abilities as a pugilist and a seaman, the
remarkable career of the Lady Alicia, and something about a fight he had
had when he was a boy at school, all of which were interspersed with
sage reflections on the ways of Providence in bringing together husband
and wife, and brother and brother, and father and son, and indefinite
allusions to an Indian juggler he once saw at Rangoon. Then, turning to
Tom, who sat beside him, he clapped him on the shoulder, and brought his
speech to a conclusion in these words:
'And I'm sure Tom my boy that you have the makings of a good sailor in
you and that Captain Casalle will find it out in the same luminous
manner as me and poor Mr. Collier did not forgetting Mr. de Cann who
also remarked on your inset proclivities which is only right and proper
in a boy of British blood to whom salt water is his natural substance
meaning no disrespect to your brother Jack here who tells me he feels
more at home with a horse to which I am addicted myself if he is towing
a cart or other vesicule and may you have all the good luck in the world
ashore or elsewhere and in any position and old Sam Hawkins knows you
won't do anything that isn't fair square ship-shape and Bristol fashion.
To you also Mrs. Casalle I drink your health with the same sentiments as
those here set down and here's success to the Malolo and her captain and
officers and crew including the bride. William Henry you've deserted me
but you done it for a profound object which I admire secretly for if her
skin is dark her heart is true blue. Good luck go with you William and
I hope you'll be a good wife to him miss for you won't get another like
him no matter how precarious you may be positioned as a widow which I
trust may not occur to you under present circumstances.'
Vociferous applause from the Malolos and Lady Alicias, during which
Maori Bill, having been informed by Jack that he must respond to the
toast of the bride's health, promptly declined, and immediately went on
board and turned in, leaving the bride to fulfil her duties of nurse to
little Nita.
* * * * *
Again the merry clink of the windlass pawls, as the Malolo's anchor
comes underfoot to the rousing chanty of 'Outward Bound.' On the
after-deck are gathered Mr. Wallis, Jack, Foster, Kate Gorman, and old
Sam, the latter resplendent in his frock coat, shiny bell-topper, and
lavender kid gloves. They have all come to say farewell to Tom and the
Casalles--a farewell that has in it no touch of sadness, but is full of
bright hopes for the future.
The topsails are sheeted home, the tug steams ahead and tautens the
tow-line, and the beautiful schooner begins to move.
One parting hand-grasp all round, and the shore party go down the
gangway into the Customs launch. Mrs. Casalle and Solepa come to the
side, and Tom, seizing little Nita in his arms, carries her halfway up
the mizzen rigging, so that she may see the very last of Jack and his
father and Kate; and then, at a signal from Mr. Brooker, the crew, led
by Henry Casalle, come rushing aft and give three parting cheers.
And so, with the bright morning sun shining on her snowy canvas, the
Malolo heads eastward to the open sea, and Tom Wallis has his heart's
desire at last.
THE END
PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED,
LONDON AND BECCLES.