As I had been sensible enough to make the most of my opportunities at
sea, I was both a crack seaman and a first-rate navigator; I needed
therefore no very great amount of coaching to enable me to pass my
examination; and a month later saw me a full-fledged master, with a
certificate in my pocket, which empowered me to take the command of a
passenger-ship, if I could obtain it.
Meanwhile, I had been keeping a quiet lookout for such a ship as I had
in my mind's eye, and indeed had looked at several, but had hitherto
found nothing to suit me. I had also called two or three times at the
office of my late owners, to inquire how the matter of the salvage was
progressing, and had been informed on the last occasion that there was
every prospect of a speedy settlement. This had been a week previous to
the obtaining of my certificate. That last week had been a busy as well
as a somewhat anxious one for me; but I was now free; my troubles, so
far as the examination was concerned, were over; and on the eventful
afternoon, when I received the intimation that I had "passed with flying
colours," I mentally resolved to pay another visit of inquiry after the
salvage the first thing the next morning.
When the next morning came, however, my plans for the day suddenly
underwent an alteration; for as I sat in my frowsy lodgings at a rather
later breakfast than usual, devouring my doubtful eggs, munching my
tough toast, and sipping my cold coffee, with an advertisement page of
the _Shipping Gazette_ propped up before me on the table, the following
advertisement caught my eye.
"For Sale, at Breaking-up Price.--The exceptionally fast and handsome
clipper barque _Esmeralda_, 326 tons B.M., A1 at Lloyd's. Substantially
built of oak throughout; coppered, and copper-fastened. Only 8 years
old, and as sound as on the day that she left the stocks. Very light
draught (11 feet, fully loaded), having been designed and built
especially for the Natal trade. Can be moved without ballast. Has
accommodation for twelve saloon and eight steerage passengers.
Unusually full inventory, including three suits of sails (one suit never
yet bent), 6 boats, fully equipped; very powerful ground-tackle;
hawsers, warps; spare topmasts and other spars, booms, etcetera,
etcetera, complete. Ready for sea at once. Extraordinary bargain;
owners adopting steam. For further particulars apply to, etcetera,
etcetera."
Now, this was exactly the kind of craft I had had in my mind, from the
moment when I first thought of purchasing--that is, if the _Esmeralda_
only happened to bear a reasonable resemblance to her description.
This, unfortunately, did not always happen--at all events, in the case
of vessels for sale; my own experience, hitherto, had been that it was
the exception, rather than the rule, for I had found that if indeed the
advertisement did not contain some gross mis-statement, it was almost
always so cunningly worded as to convey an impression totally at
variance with the reality. In this case, however, I was somewhat more
hopeful, for these Natal clippers were not wholly strange to me. The
ship to which I had lately belonged had loaded her outward cargo in the
same dock with one or another of them on more than one occasion, and I
had noticed them as being exceptionally smart-looking little craft; and
I had frequently heard them spoken of in highly favourable terms, by men
who had sailed in them. I knew, moreover, that, until very lately, a
strong feeling of rivalry had existed between the owners whose ships
were in that particular trade--especially those who made a speciality of
passenger-carrying--each owner striving his utmost to earn for his own
ships the reputation of being the fastest and most comfortable in the
trade. I was therefore in hopes that, if the _Esmeralda_ had indeed
been especially built for a Natal liner, she might not prove so
hopelessly unlike her description as had been most of the ships I had
taken the trouble to inspect; and I therefore determined to have a look
at her forthwith, lest so eligible a craft as she seemed to be--on
paper--should slip through my fingers.
The place at which it was necessary to apply for further particulars was
in Fenchurch Street; and upon making my way thither, I discovered that
it was the office of the owners. I stated my business to one of the
clerks, and was immediately turned over to a keen-looking elderly man
who at once invited me into his private sanctum, and, as a preliminary,
showed me a half-model of the vessel. It was a very plainly got up
affair, intended merely to exhibit the general shape and mould of the
hull; but I had no sooner taken it into my hands and cast a critical
glance or two at the lines of the entrance and run, than I decided
conclusively that I had never in my life set eyes upon a more handsome
craft. The model showed her to be shallow and very beamy of hull; but
her lines were as fine as those of a yacht, and indeed the entire shape
of the hull was yacht-like in the extreme. Having expressed, in
becomingly moderate terms, my satisfaction, so far, I was next given the
specification to look through; and a careful perusal of this document
convinced me that, if the craft had been built up to it, she was
undoubtedly as staunch a ship as wood and metal could make her.
The next question was that of price; and though, when it was named, a
disinterested person might perhaps have been disposed to consider the
expression "breaking-up price" as somewhat poetic and imaginative, the
figure was still a very decidedly moderate one, if the craft only proved
to be in somewhat as good condition as she was represented to be. This
also meeting with my carefully qualified approval, it was suggested
that, as the craft herself was lying in the East India Docks, I should
run down and look at her. My new friend and I accordingly took train,
and in due time arrived alongside.
It was hard work to restrain the expressions of admiration and delight
that sprang to my lips when my eyes first rested upon her, for she was a
little beauty indeed. Dirty as she was, and disordered and lumbered-up
as were her decks, it was impossible for the professional eye to
overlook her many excellencies; and before I had even stepped on board
her I had already mentally determined that if her hull were only sound,
the little barkie should be mine, and that in her I would seek for Dick
Saint Leger's long-lost treasure. For she not only came up to but far
surpassed in appearance the ideal craft upon which I had set my mind.
She was as handsome as a picture; with immensely taunt and lofty spars;
and though her hold was absolutely empty, her royal yards were across,
and the strong breeze that happened to be blowing at the time made
scarcely any perceptible impression upon her. She carried a small
topgallant forecastle forward, just large enough to comfortably house
two pig-pens, which in this position were not likely to prove an
annoyance to people aft; and the accommodation below for the crew was
both roomy and comfortable. Abaft the foremast, and between it and the
main hatch, stood a deck-house, the fore part of which constituted the
berthage for the steerage passengers, while the after-part consisted of
a commodious galley fitted with a large and very complete cooking-range.
The after-part of the deck was raised some two and a half feet, forming
a fine roomy half-poop, pierced only by the saloon companion, the saloon
skylight, and two small skylights immediately abaft it, which lighted a
pair of family cabins situated abaft the main saloon. The wheel was a
handsomely carved mahogany affair, elaborately adorned with brasswork;
the binnacle also was of brass, with a bronze standard representing
three dolphins twisted round each other; and the belaying-pins also were
of brass, fore and aft. These, and a few other details that caught my
eye, seemed to indicate that no expense had been spared in the
fitting-out of the ship.
While we were walking round the decks, making a leisurely inspection of
such matters as would repay examination in this part of the ship, a very
respectable, seaman-like fellow came on board, and was first accosted by
my companion and then introduced to me as "Captain Thomson, our late
skipper of the _Esmeralda_; now looking after the ship until she finds a
purchaser. Mr Saint Leger," my companion continued explanatorily, "has
come on board to inspect the ship, with some idea of buying, if he finds
her satisfactory."
"I am very glad to hear it," answered Thomson, "for she is altogether
too good to be laid up idle. As to her being satisfactory--why, that of
course depends upon what Mr Saint Leger wants; the ship may be either
too large or too small for him; but I'll defy any man to find a _fault_
in her. She's a beauty, sir," he continued, turning to me, "and she's
every bit as good as she looks."
My unknown friend here pulled out his watch and looked at it anxiously.
"I wonder," he said, "whether you will consider me very rude if I
propose to run away, and leave Captain Thomson to do the honours of the
ship in my stead? I should like to remain with you; but the fact is
that I have rather an important meeting to attend in the City; and I see
that I have no time to lose if I am to be punctual. And Thomson really
knows a great deal more about the ship than I do; consequently he will
be able to give you more reliable information than I can."
I of course begged that he would not put himself to the slightest
inconvenience on my account, and expressed myself as being perfectly
satisfied at being left in the hands of the skipper of the ship;
whereupon he turned to Thomson and said--
"Let Mr Saint Leger see everything without reserve, Thomson; and tell
him anything he wishes to know, if you please. We have no desire
whatever to sell the ship by means of misrepresentation of any sort.
Good-bye," he continued, turning to me, and offering his hand; "I hope
we shall see you again, and be able to do business with you."
He raised his hat, stepped briskly along the gang-plank, and was soon
lost sight of in the crowd.
"Who is that gentleman?" I inquired of Thomson, as the figure vanished.
"That is Mr Musgrave, the junior partner of the firm, and as nice a
gentleman as ever stepped," was the reply.
"Have you been long in the employ?" was my next question.
"For the last eighteen years--in fact, ever since I first took to the
sea--and hope to end my days with them. They are now building a steamer
for me; and as soon as this craft is sold I am to go and supervise the
work upon her."
"Ah," I remarked, "an excellent arrangement. And now, captain, tell me,
as between man and man, have you ever discovered any faults in the
_Esmeralda_--anything you would like to have had altered in her, had
such alteration been possible? You have commanded her for some time, I
suppose?"
"Ever since she was launched," was the reply, "and a sweeter little
vessel, in every way, doesn't float. As to faults, she has none, to my
thinking. She is not a great cargo-carrier, it is true; in fact, her
lines are so fine that the amount of her register tonnage, in dead
weight, just puts her down to Plimsoll's mark. Some men would no doubt
consider this a serious fault; but I do not, for what she wants in
carrying capacity she more than makes up in speed; so that when the
whole thing comes to be worked out, putting her earnings against her
expenses, she carries her tonnage at a less cost than any other ship I
happen to be acquainted with."
"Is she tight?"