We are in these degenerate days singularly unfortunate in many ways. Our
means of excitement are nothing like what they used to be. The
Buccaneer's island was no exception to the general rule. Indeed time
seems to have handled him very roughly. Not that he was altogether free
from surprises. Occasionally an idiot obtained possession of a pistol,
and either tried to commit or did commit a murder. Then at times a man
was knocked down, kicked and robbed, whilst the mighty house-breaker
prowled about with pistol and crowbar in search of plunder. It is also
true that the Ojabberaways did all they could in the way of providing
excitement of a lively nature for the benefit of the old Buccaneer and
all his people; but gone were his highwaymen. The vulgar thief alone
remained. A mutiny at sea, with the murder of a crew, was a thing of the
past. Yet we have to relate a dark conspiracy, which will be for ever
known as the Cabal of the Cook's Caboose, and which might have been
productive of the gravest results. Mention has already been made of a
slight defection amongst a certain section of the crew.
It was past eight bells, and the midnight watch had been set
sufficiently long to allow all the look-out men to take up their
positions of repose. Not a sound was to be heard upon the old Ship of
State except the heavy breathing of the watchman aloft and the
monotonous tread of the look-out man aft, who had not as yet secured a
comfortable place to pass his watch in. The Church Hulk was wrapped in a
deep sleep and the Buccaneer's Chief Priest, with all his ecclesiastical
big guns, minor canons, able priests, and ordinary deacons, were fondly
locked in slumber's arms. They kept no visible look-out, but angels with
their silver wings, it was firmly believed by all devout Buccaneers,
hovered over that old ship at night and kept the devil and all his
minions away. It was only when the dusky mantle of midnight rested upon
the island that silence ever reigned supreme upon that old Church Hulk.
The look-out man on deck hailed the look-out man aloft. "What, ho
there!" he cried. "Watchman! what of the night?" The man up aloft had
evidently been deeply meditating, for something very like a yawn broke
the stillness of the air, but presently a voice came down laden with the
words: "All's well! The twinkling eyes of Heaven look down upon a world
wrapped in peaceful slumber. All's well!"
"All's well," went up from below in reply, and again there was a great
stillness. The eyes of all the houses on shore except one here and there
which sat watching for the setting out of some poor weary soul to the
regions that lie beyond the grave, were out. The dog that generally
breaks the stillness of the night on such occasions was also silent;
probably asleep. The wind even had folded her wings and had ceased to
sing her lullaby to the accompaniment of her many stringed lute.
Presently a crouching form was to be seen creeping stealthily under the
starboard side of the old Ship of State. The suspicious looking object
who was enveloped in the dark cloak and slouched hat usually worn by
conspirators and hired no doubt for the occasion, made for the cook's
galley, and in a voice scarcely above a whisper, exclaimed: "Pepper!"
"Is that you, Chips?" came from the caboose.
"The same," was the reply.
"Where are the rest?" asked the cook.
"They will be here directly," the carpenter said, as he darted into the
galley. Scarcely had he got well inside than his mate joined him, and
shortly afterwards the burly form of Billy Cheeks, the butcher, was seen
trying to conceal himself under the bulwarks. "Keep down, can't you?"
cried the cook. "You'll have the look-out man see you."
"Can't help it if he does; can't make myself any smaller than nature
made me," replied the butcher. "If I was as small as you, or a ringbolt
chaser like Chips, I might be able to do it." This was sarcasm. The
butcher loved sarcasm; but the cheery cook turned it off by saying that
Chips, and Chisel, his mate, must spokeshave Billy Cheeks down to the
ordinary and usual size of a conspirator. As the butcher did not see
anything funny in this he did not laugh; and so the joke fell like a
dead shell, quite harmless. But the cook, the carpenter, and his mate
said that Billy Cheeks was far too big for a conspirator.
All was pitch dark inside the cook's caboose. The fire had long since
been out, and it would not have been safe to strike a light. No doubt
they had their dark lanterns, for conspirators would not be fully
equipped without them, but for some reason best known to themselves,
they did not for the present produce them.
"Your programme!" cried the butcher, who generally came at once to the
point.
"Listen, my lads, and you shall hear," exclaimed the carpenter. "The old
man being away and the captain with him, we must make this the high tide
of our prosperity, and carry out as pretty a little scheme as ever
entered the head of man, although I say it, as should not. The old
coxswain is ashore amongst the landlubbers, so we have nothing to fear
from him. For the rest of the crew on board belonging to our watch,
well, if they will not join us, why, Billy, my man, you must do your
duty. First and foremost we must lighten ship."
"That is easily done," said the cook, "by flinging overboard bodily the
old man's Upper Chamber." It is wonderful what a hatred the cook had for
this room in the after part of the old ship. He himself said it was on
account of their ignorance, want of intelligence, class prejudice, and
the airs and graces they gave themselves.
"As you all know, my mates," continued the carpenter, "things ain't as
they ought to be on board this old craft; she is much too slow for the
times. When a coat becomes too old to wear, what do we do? why, chuck it
away."
The jolly little cook now had his say. "Without a doubt the old ship is
too bluff bowed for the rapid times we live in, and is more fit to drive
piles than to make way against the swift current of events. So, my lads,
I am for seizing the ship, and my little game--"
"What is that?" cried the butcher, as he laid his trembling hand upon
the carpenter's arm.
"What is what?" exclaimed the carpenter, slightly startled. "Can't you
give Pepper time to explain himself. Hurry no man's cattle, is an old
and good proverb."
"I heard a noise outside, as if someone was moving," said the butcher.
"Then take a look round, Billy," said the carpenter.
"I am too big," said the butcher, with a sneer, which was felt, though
on account of the darkness it was not seen. "Let Pepper go; he is the
smallest; no one will see him, and if they do they will take no notice."
This was veiled sarcasm, but the cook thought it better not to notice
it, because he knew the butcher could not help it.
"Let every man stick to his trade," said the cook, "my place is inside
the galley and not out."
Then up spoke the doughty carpenter. "What, my lads! is quaking fear
going to be present at our councils? Look at me. I am not afraid." As it
was pitch dark, of course nobody could see. "Chisel, my lad," he said,
addressing his mate, "show these fellows the stuff you are made of."
"And why should I do what others won't?" replied Chisel. "It is no more
my business than it is the cook's, and every man to his trade, say I,
too."
"Why don't you take a look round yourself?" cried the butcher.
"Of course I will. Thus!" exclaimed the carpenter, "does conscience make
cowards of ye all." Having delivered himself of the quotation, he took a
hasty glance through the little square hole that acted as a window in
the back part of the galley, and said there was nothing. "I knew that,"
said the cook. "That is why I did not take the trouble to look; but this
is a grievous waste of precious time." "Well, my lads," the carpenter
continued, ignoring the fact that the cook was, as the saying is, in
possession of the house, or rather, galley. "First and foremost we must
seize this old craft, run her ashore, break her up, and build a spic and
span new one, upon entirely new lines. We will take a hint here and a
hint there. In such a thing our friend Jonathan would not be a bad man
to go by. Then we will board the old ship alongside, and make her
disgorge, for the general good, some of her accumulated plunder. She is
worth a pretty plum I can tell you. Been hoarding up for ages, and yet
she is always crying out poverty. Bah! there must be something wrong
somewhere, or where does all the money go? She does not apparently give
too much of it amongst the poorer part of her crew; but as she renders
no accounts we are all in the dark, my lads. It is a busy buzzing hive
of drones, though."
"As you say, Master Chips," said the cook. "She does not seem to give
much of her stored up wealth to her poor brethren, and Heaven knows that
the priestly gabardine too often covers an empty stomach, while others
amongst them lead the lives of a Dives. Does poverty and penury find
clothing or food out of her riches? Not a bit of it. Too many of her
crew, are they not proud? Have they not made an exclusive and an
aristocratic high-cast priesthood of themselves?"
"So wags the world, my mates; so wags the world," cried the carpenter.
"While one suffers from repletion, another starves. But that old Hulk is
now out of date, and she will cut up well you may be sure. Having
plundered her, and given every ecclesiastical dog a bone--no offence to
the sacred calling--we will bore a hole in her and let her sink. Then,
when we are well across the bridge that connects her with this old
craft, Chisel, my mate, shall saw the bridge through, and thus lay a
trap for the rats; let them either sink or swim."
"Rats, they say," remarked the cook, as he handled his three-pronged
toasting-fork, "always leave a sinking ship, and the ecclesiastical rat
will prove, I expect, no exception to the rule."
"Honest Pepper!" cried the carpenter, "you speak, as you always do, like
a book."
"I've some doubt on my mind, which I should like cleared up before we go
any further," said the butcher.
"Out with it, Billy, my man, out with it," exclaimed the carpenter.
"Your chest is big, but no doubt it will be the better for being
lightened, and an empty house is better than a bad tenant, any day of
the week."
"Well, you talked about running this craft ashore, and then turning your
attention to the Church Hulk; but if you do that, what is the use of
sawing the bridge in two. The bridge would be the plank we should have
to walk; with nothing but a drop of some fathoms deep into the pit we
had dug for ourselves."
"Or rather the water, Billy," said the cook, who loved his joke.
"That little error can easily be rectified by our settling with the
Church Hulk first; but these are mere details. The workers, my lads,
shall have their reward; and the clerical Lazarus shall sit down at the
same table as the clerical Dives."
"But robbing a church," said the butcher, "is about the last thing a
fellow ought to do, is it not?"
"The end, Billy, will justify the means," the carpenter remarked.
"Our master, the Buccaneer," said the cook, "was not above robbing a
church once, and who will say he did wrong? Of course his
conscience-healers will find justification for the act if he pays them
well, and as they read history by the light of faith, and not altogether
by facts, they can prove all things entirely to their own satisfaction,
and what would have been an act of robbery in others, would be, when
they were concerned, a most laudable action. Faith, as is well known, my
mates, can work wonders, and it can overcome a mountain of the most
obstinate facts with the greatest ease."
"But suppose they turn to and curse us," asked the butcher, who
evidently had some qualms of conscience.
"And suppose they do," cried the cook. "Are we a lot of old women to be
frightened by such things. Know you not the saying, Billy, that curses
come home to roost? Let them curse then."
"Where is Chisel?" the carpenter asked.
"I am here," a voice said out of the darkness.
"Not hearing you, mate, I thought you must have slipped away."
"It appears to me," replied the carpenter's mate, "that there is little
need for me to say much, considering that I am expected to do all the
dirty work."
"Who will say that anything is dirty work?" replied the cook. "The
worker purifies and elevates the work." Pepper was a philosopher. The
carpenter continued, "Mates, rest assured of this; if it suits the
Buccaneer to sacrifice his Church Ship, he will do it, for he has an
elastic conscience, which he will satisfy by saying prayers before and
after the act. And as for Dogvane, well, he will wait to see which way
the cat jumps. If he sees the time has come, why, then, the State Church
will be cast adrift. It is not the first time that old William has
robbed a church. I am not the man to say he did a wrong. Why should the
Church Hulk be kept moored alongsides of the old craft? All well enough
when she ruled the roast; but now more than two hundred sects are
outside her jurisdiction, and the Chief Priest and other officers under
him cannot at all times keep the unruly crew in order. They have their
mutinies, and their interior economy does not seem to be just as it
should be; so, my lads, she will either have to mend her ways or end
them, as has been said of another of our master's ancient
establishments."
"Which, my mates," said the cook, "you may leave to me. I will have my
knife into the Upper Chamber yet."
"After duty comes pleasure," continued the carpenter. "Having settled
the Church Hulk we must turn our attention to old Squire Broadacre. His
house is in a terrible state, and must be put in order. We must pare
down his property a bit, for there is a family called Hodge, a good,
decent, honest, and industrious, though perhaps ignorant lot, who are
but poorly off. It is the squire's duty to look after this family; but,
mates, it is well known that selfishness fills hell."
"But do you suppose that the Buccaneer is going to allow all this to be
done?" exclaimed the butcher.
"It appears to me, mates," replied the carpenter, "that our friend Billy
is going to throw cold water on all our plans."
"What is the use of our assembling here," asked the butcher, "if we are
not allowed to speak?"
"Who wants to stop your speaking?" exclaimed the carpenter. "I certainly
am not going to undertake the task, I can tell you. Our master must be
talked and wheedled over, and as for old Dogvane, well, we all know that
he has a damned tender conscience. (The oath must be pardoned. The best
of carpenters, and all sailors, swear at times.) Look here, mates, I
fancy I know as much about Captain Dogvane as most men. If he wants a
thing done, and if so be that he has set his heart upon it, bang goes
his conscience in that direction. Never was there a conscience under
better control. It says to the captain's inclination, 'which way does my
master want me to go, so that his servant may obey him?' Never yet did
Dogvane's conscience prove him wrong, and he is at all times on the best
of terms with it. Look you, our captain will say neither yea nor nay,
and he will use so many words in saying so, that everyone will be at
loggerheads, quarrelling over what he means, when in all probability he
means nothing; but is only waiting to see which way the wind is going to
blow."
Here the cook spoke: "I have great faith in the old man; but if he does
not go with us, what then? All the talent is not in one head, and as for
his first lieutenant, and one or two others, we can afford to lose them.
They are too slow for the times."
"Lads, in cases like this," cried the carpenter, "we must not mince
matters; and if the worst comes to the worst Billy Cheeks must do his
duty."
The paleness of the butcher at these ominous words was concealed. There
was a terrible hidden meaning in what the carpenter said, and it made
the butcher's flesh creep and his blood run cold.
"I am at all times prepared to do my duty," the butcher said, "at
fly-flapping the tail end of a Tory cockerel, or at stopping the cackle
of the older birds, I will give way to no man; but I love the old
captain, and I would not injure a hair of his venerable head on any
account. As we all know, he is but lightly covered."
"Who wants you to injure his hair?" cried the carpenter. "Do you think
we want you to be ship's barber as well as ship's butcher?" The
carpenter, who began to fear that he had gone too far, thought it best
to trim a bit, and therefore he advised the butcher not to be so sharp
in coming to conclusions. "Of course," he said, "it's natural that you
should put a professional aspect on things."
"There!" cried the butcher in alarm, "I heard the noise again."
"Then go and see what it is," the carpenter said in disgust.
"Ah! It makes no difference to me," the butcher replied. "If you other
fellows did not hear it, I must have been mistaken." The cook, the
carpenter, and Chisel his mate were extremely gratified at this generous
admission on the part of the butcher, and they one and all said they
never could remember the time when Billy Cheeks had owned himself in the
wrong before. The carpenter was quite softened. Even Pepper was touched,
and they all hoped that it augured no ill to the butcher, for sudden
changes in disposition and character are often the unwelcome harbingers
of speedy dissolution. They strongly advised Billy Cheeks to consult his
medical man. This painful episode for the time quite damped the spirits
of the conspirators. "If anything happens to you, Billy, where would you
like to be buried?" the cook asked. They left the butcher to think the
matter over, and after a while the carpenter continued: "Having got
possession of everything, we will all live happily together ever
afterwards." The butcher, who had recovered himself asked, "How about
the old lion which keeps watch over the Buccaneer's affairs?"
"Your hand, Billy," cried the carpenter groping about in the dark, "I
see you are better, and have taken up your character again of Chief
Obstructionist. If you don't like to join our party, go over to the
other watch. They are in want of men of substance."
"Why do you catch one up so precious sharp?" cried the butcher,
irritated. "I suppose there is no harm in asking a simple question? Who
wants to go over to the other watch? Haven't I always stood by you and
Pepper, and defended you when you were both blackguarded and abused? One
would think you two were the Buccaneer's darlings, but you are neither
of you liked, though people may laugh at you, Pepper. What is the use of
my being here, if I am to keep my mouth shut? Chisel may act the part of
a dummy if he likes, but I will not."
"Messmate, your hand," cried the carpenter again. "No offence, old man.
We are in the same boat, therefore we must pull together. There is an
old adage that applies to us."
"It is no use our quarrelling over trifles," said the cook. "The old
lion is asleep: or out of wind, and he is just about as harmless as if
he were stuffed with hair or straw, and no one fears him now let him
roar ever so loud."
"But to ease your mind, Billy," said the carpenter, "my mate shall draw
his teeth and cut his claws."
"And pray why should I have all the dirty and dangerous work to do?"
said Chisel again.
"What!" exclaimed the carpenter, in evident surprise. "Are you going to
take a leaf out of the butcher's book, mate! It seems we commented upon
your silence too soon; but if you are afraid to do the work; well let
his teeth and claws remain. Thus the difficulty is got over with ease.
After all, it is only a detail, and we will not come to loggerheads over
a detail."
"There it is again," cried the butcher, "I swear I saw something like a
hand spread out fan-shape towards me. The thumb was from me, and seemed
attached to a human nose."
This was very terrible, and the conspirators felt a creepy sensation all
over them. But the cook reassured them all, by saying, that very often
people, whose stomachs were out of order, suffered from optical
delusions. He said he felt sure Billy Cheeks must have eaten something
that had disagreed with him; so they took no further notice, and
proceeded with the business of the evening.
"Of course we shall want assistance; but we can count upon the
Ojabberaways, they are always ready for anything in the shape of a row.
They have their price, then we shall have the Hodges, and the Sikes with
us. They are all ripe for action. Now another thing presents itself. We
must have a head, no body can get along without a head."
"Some seem to get along very well without such a thing," said the cook.
This also was sarcasm. The cook loved it, and his tongue it was said was
as sharp as needles. "Well, my mates," he continued, "of course we must
have a head; but mind you, let us have no hereditary fool to fill the
office; and no baubles in the shape of crowns and court paraphernalia,
no court flunkies, my lads, to eat the bread of idleness, no court
pimps. I am dead against crowns. They are expensive articles, no matter
upon whose head they rest. Kings too often are little better than blood
suckers, and blood spillers, and all by the grace of God forsooth."
The subject of a head for the new commonwealth, or whatever it was to be
called, was of so grave a nature that for some few minutes not one of
the conspirators spoke. Evidently each one was revolving in his own mind
as to upon whom the selection ought to fall, and no doubt each could
have solved the momentous question to his own entire satisfaction; but
modesty kept their thoughts locked up. Presently the carpenter spoke.
"It's a detail," he said. They all agreed, and so the matter dropped,
not, however, before there had been a slight passage of arms between the
carpenter and the cook. "Of course," said Chips, "you are out of the
question, Pepper?"
"And why so, pray?" was the indignant reply. "I didn't say I would take
the post if it were offered me; for I am not like some people I could
mention, of an ambitious turn of mind. No matter who falls, so long as
they mount." This must have hit the carpenter very hard.
"Whoever heard of a cook being made a ruler?" the carpenter asked.
"For the matter of that, whoever heard of a carpenter?" said the cook.
"Why Pepper, my lad, where's your schooling? Does not a carpenter's son,
and one who was a carpenter himself rule the whole Christian World? But
that is neither here nor there. You are too small; you would not command
respect."
"Now I am surprised to hear a man of your ability, Chips, talk such
utter nonsense. You seem to judge men as a butcher does his meat, by the
pound. That is the sort of thing perhaps a woman might do. If that is to
be your little game, you had better hoist Billy Cheeks up at once; he is
not exactly a skeleton, and, no doubt, he would fill the place as well
as any one else."
"No offence, Pepper, no offence, mate; it is a detail," said the
carpenter.
"Then let it be a detail; and I care not who you hoist over us, so long
as our head is neither expensive nor too highly gilded. But mind you,
the lumber room must go."
They all agreed that this was a sensible way of looking at things, and
to appease the cook, no doubt, they would there and then have lightened
the ship by flinging over the whole of the Buccaneer's House of Lords,
but the heavy tread of the watchman aft made them abandon the idea for
the present; but as that ancient hereditary institution had fallen under
the cook's displeasure, it was not likely that it could survive such a
thing for long.
"What are we to do with our foreign relations?" asked the carpenter's
mate.
"Ah! Chisel, my lad, you are coming to the front," said the carpenter.
"What have we to do with foreign relations?" the cook asked. "Let them
mind their own business, and we will mind ours."
"The unfortunate thing is," said the butcher, "that they won't mind
their own business; no people will." The butcher gave another start and
declared he heard the mysterious sound at the back of the galley.
"Well, Billy!" the carpenter exclaimed, "for a big man, you have about
the smallest heart of any man I ever met."
Thus did the conspirators settle the affairs of the Buccaneer's nation.
But now another and most unmistakable sound saluted their ears. A cock
crowed loud and long. It is a well-known fact that neither spirits nor
conspirators can stand this sort of thing. "Ah!" cried the carpenter,
"there goes the shrill herald of the morn." Conspirators generally speak
in this florid manner. "The day has returned too soon. You have much to
answer for, Billy; for by your incessant interruptions you have
squandered our precious time. But no matter. My lads, one little thing
before we part. We shall want money. We cannot get on without the
needful. It is money that makes the old mare go."
"I have a scheme here," cried the cook, "of raising the necessary wind."
"Quick, Pepper, my man, where is that lamp of yours you are so fond of
flaunting before the eyes of people in the broad light of day. The torch
of Truth you call it."
"Ah! Master Chips, the light of that lamp is only shed on other people's
business. It would never do here."
It could never for a moment be supposed that these conspirators had not
their dark lanterns; and presently one was produced from the ample folds
of somebody's cloak, and they all stooped down as the cook unrolled his
plan and the light from the dark lantern fell upon the eager faces of
Billy Cheeks, the carpenter, his mate, and the cook.
"Time, mates, is short, so I come to the point. This is a bill of sale."
"So, so, a bill of sale," they all said in a low tone as they eyed the
piece of paper.
"We will have an auction," said the cook; "our foreign relations we have
decided to let go; for we get more kicks than half-pence from them; but
our colonies we will sell."
"Ha, ha!" laughed the butcher, hoarsely; "mind they don't sell you."
"At it again, Billy," said the cook; "but it shows you're recovering
from your nervous attack. Lot No. 1. The Buccaneer's well-known property
of India. A rich possession comprizing over 200,000,000 of faithful
subjects, together with forts and garrisons fully armed and equipped,
and a most lucrative trade."
"The Eastern Bandit no doubt will bid for that lot or perhaps he'll take
it," said the carpenter's mate.
"Proceed, Pepper," cried the carpenter.
"That cock won't fight," remarked the butcher. "You don't suppose our
master will allow his dusky princess to be bought or taken by his old
enemy, the Bandit."
"Go on, Pepper," cried the carpenter; "Billy's state of health is
rapidly improving. Haste, my lad, for the silver foot of day is
advancing. In a short time his eye will be over yonder house-tops, and
if he looks upon us plotting in the cook's caboose, then farewell to our
plan and perhaps to our liberty as well."
"Lot 2. Egypt. We may expect bidders for that country and 'caveat
emptor' say I. That is a country replete with articles of virtu, the
only thing is to find them. It is the proud possessor of an ancient
history. With this lot will go a discontented, harassed and
poverty-stricken people, and one or more high military reputations, and
may the devil fly away with the whole lot, say I. There are a few
others--things scarcely worth mentioning--such as the royal robes, crown
jewels, and other court paraphernalia."
Here the discussion was suddenly put a stop to by the butcher, who gave
such a start that he knocked the carpenter's mate up against the cook,
who in turn nearly overturned Chips. The lantern was upset and the light
was put out.
"What the devil is up now!" cried the cook, recovering himself.
"I saw it again," said the butcher, in a terrified whisper. They all
pitied the butcher and declared that he was, without exception, about as
uncomfortable a member of a conspiracy as could possibly be found. There
was something almost uncanny about his behaviour, and no doubt less
doughty men would have been scared. It was now too late to continue with
their plans. They one and all said that the scheme was good and wanted
scarcely for anything except the carrying of it out, which they agreed
was a mere matter of detail. They complimented the cook upon his
suggested method of raising the necessary wind. They were all very well
pleased one with another, and as the carpenter dismissed them, he said:
"Bless ye, my lads! Away to your bunks, my honest fellows. The silver
king treads close upon the heels of the sable queen, so away and snatch
a few hours of repose. Then arise and buckle to your work. Mix well
amongst the people ashore. Sow broadcast the seeds of discontent, and so
prepare the way for action. The womb of time is big with great events.
Be civil, my mates, to the wild Ojabberaways, for at times it is
necessary to hold the candle to the devil himself. If we do not square
them, the other watch will."
"The greedy office grabbers," cried the cook, "will leave no stone
unturned to get the helm; but we must dish them. For my part I have
always found the Ojabberaways a merry and clever lot of gentlemanly
devils."
"To their many wants then," exclaimed the carpenter, "lend a kindly ear;
but keep your own counsel. Be thrifty of your words unless you use them
as our noble captain does, to conceal your thoughts. Away then, my lads!
What, does no one move? It is too late for ghosts to prowl about, and of
other things what have you to fear?"
"Who is afraid, Master Chips?" the cook asked indignantly, "I was only
thinking."
"Vast heaving, my hearties, while the cook thinks," cried the carpenter.
"In the meantime I will take a look round, the watchman may be about."
Chips drew his cloak round him and pulled his slouched hat well down
over his eyes; then with the stealthy walk peculiar to conspirators he
took a look round. Just as he reached the back of the cook's galley, he
heard what sounded like a splash in the water. It made him start; and
his heart beat hard against his side, his hair stood on end, and he had
to lean against the water-butt for support. "Pshaw!" he cried as he
shivered in the chill morning air, "I am getting as bad as Billy
Cheeks." The look-out man from aloft cried out, "All's well." Thus
reassured, the carpenter told his companions that the coast was clear,
so with cloaks well wrapped round them and hats well slouched they
sneaked away to their beds.