"Did you hear what I said?" angrily shouted the carpenter.
"Yes, sir," I answered.
"Then why do you not start, and do what I told you?"
I stole a sly glance at Stormy Jack, and seeing upon his face a smile,
approving of what I did, I made bold to answer, in a somewhat brusque
manner, that I had other work on hand, and, moreover, it was not my
business to wait upon him.
The carpenter dropped his adze, caught up his measuring rule, and
advanced towards me.
He was suddenly stopped by the strong hand of Stormy placed firmly on
his shoulder.
"Avast!" said the sailor, "don't you molest that boy at his work. If
you do, I am the one to teach you manners."
The carpenter was a man who knew "how to choose an enemy," and with such
wisdom to guide him, he returned to his own work, without resenting in
any way the check he had thus met with.
The fact that I had refused to obey the carpenter, and that Stormy Jack
had interceded in my behalf, became known amongst the others who had
been hitherto bullying me, and I was afterwards permitted to go about
the ship, without being the slave of so many masters.
Some time after the incident above related, Stormy Jack chanced to be
standing near me, and commenced a conversation which was as follows:
"You are a boy of the right sort," said he, "and I'll not see you
mistreated. I heard what you said to the lubber as brought you aboard,
and I always respects a boy as respects his mother. I hope that man in
the boat was not your father."
"No," I answered, "he is my step-father."
"I thought as much," said Stormy, "by his appearing so pleased to get
rid of you. It's my opinion no one ought to have more than one father;
but you must brace up your spirits, my lad. Two or three voyages will
make a man of you, and you will then be able to go back home, and teach
the lubber manners, should he forget 'em. Do the best you can aboard
here to larn your duty, and I'll keep an eye on you. If any one goes to
boxing your compass, when you don't deserve it, I'll teach him manners."
I thanked Stormy for his kind advice, and promised to do all I could to
merit his protection.
After having made a friend of Stormy, and an enemy of the carpenter, I
began to be more at home on the ship, and took a stronger interest in
its mysteries and miseries. Familiarity does not with all things breed
contempt. That it should not is a wise provision of Nature, for the
accommodation of the majority of mankind--whose necessity it is to
become familiar with many cares, annoyances, and disagreeable
circumstances.
Second nature, or habit, is only acquired by familiarity, and seamen
become so familiar with all that is disagreeable in a life on the sea,
that they are never satisfied long with any home, but a floating one.
The mind of youth soon becomes reconciled to circumstances, however
unpleasant, much sooner than that of an older person, and this was
probably the reason why, although greatly dissatisfied at the beginning
of the voyage, I soon became so contented with a life on the sea, that I
preferred it to one on land--at least in a home with Mr Leary as my
master.
Upon occasions, Stormy Jack permitted the storm in his soul to rage a
little too wildly. One of these occasions occurred about two weeks,
before we reached New Orleans. He had got into a dispute with the
second mate about the setting of a sail, and both becoming intemperate
in the use of the Queen's English, words were used which had to be
resented with violence.
The first assault was made by the mate, who soon found that he was but a
child in the hands of Stormy Jack.
The first mate happened to be on deck smoking his pipe, as also the
carpenter, and, as in duty bound, both ran to the relief of their
brother officer. Poor Stormy was knocked down with the carpenter's
mallet, his hands were tied behind him, and he was dragged below.
The next day I was allowed to take him his dinner, and found him well
pleased with his situation. I was expecting to see him in great grief
over his misfortune--which to me appeared very serious--and was
agreeably surprised to find him in better spirits than I had ever seen
him before.
"It's all right, Rowley, my boy," said he. "If they can afford to keep
me in idleness, and pay me wages for doing nothing, I'm not the one to
complain. I'm glad this has happened, for I never liked the first
breezer, nor yet Chips, and now I've got an opportunity for letting them
know it. I'm going to leave the ship, and when I've done so, I'll teach
them manners."
I expressed the opinion, that it could not be very pleasant to be kept
so long in a dark place and alone.
"That's no punishment," said Stormy. "Can't I sleep? I've been served
worse than this. On a voyage to India I refused duty on the second week
out. I was put in a pen along with some turkeys and geese, and was told
whenever I would go to my duty, I should be taken out. I never gave in,
and finished the voyage in the turkey coop. That was far worse than
this, for the noise on deck, with the conversation between my
companions, the turkeys and geese, often used to keep me from sleep.
That was a queer plan for teaching a fellow manners, but I did not let
it succeed.
"I was going to say one place was as good as another, but it a'nt. This
ship is no place for me. After we reach New Orleans I shall leave it,
and if ever I come across eyther the first breezer, or carpenter,
ashore, they'll both larn what they never knew afore, and that's
manners. When two men are fighting, another has no right to interrupt
either of 'em with a blow of a mallet, and the man who does so has no
manners, and wants teachin'."
I was pleased to hear Stormy say that he intended to leave the ship, for
the idea of doing so myself had often entered my thoughts, and had been
favourably entertained.
I had no great hopes of finding a better home than I had on board the
ship, but I had been placed there by Leary, and that was sufficient
reason for my wishing to leave her. He had driven me from my own home,
and I would not live in one of his choosing.
I resolved, therefore, to take leave of the ship if Stormy would allow
me to become his companion, and even if he should not, I had more than
half determined upon running away.
Volume One, Chapter IV.