"Sharp sailing that, boy," observed the elder, as the youth panted at
his side.
"Ay, ay, sir," replied Springall, wiping his face with the sleeve of his
jacket. "Take a drop, master," he continued, drawing a tin bottle from
his bosom, "'twill warm ye after such a cursed cruise."
The Skipper nodded as he accepted the flask, "I hope you are as well
armed on all points as on this; but don't take in too great a reef, or
it will make you a heavy sailor before your time: drop anchor now, and
keep watch here till further orders."
"Keep watch here, sir!" said Springall, in a mournful tone. "And did ye
bring me ashore, and up that devil's rope-ladder, to leave me to watch
here?"
The Captain looked upon him angrily for a moment. "I am rightly served
for taking man or boy out of the canting hulks that lag on the water.
Did ye ever chance to hear such a sound on board the ship Providence as
'Silence, and obey orders?' Let not your walk, youngster, extend beyond
that point, from which, at daybreak, you can catch a view of the court
tree, where, if ancient habits are not all put off, there will be
revelries ere long: the old church at Minster will be also within your
sight, while the sea between us and the Essex coast, and for miles along
the Northern ocean, can scarcely bear a sail that your young eyes will
not distinguish. Watch as if your life--as if a thousand lives hung upon
the caution of a moment; and remember, while the blue light revolves,
which you now see in the vessel's bow, all things abroad go on well. You
also know the pass-word for our friends, and the reception for our
enemies. If you should be at all afraid, three loud notes on your
whistle will summon Jeromio, and a single flash of your pistol will
bring the long-boat off, and into the creek in five minutes. You can
then tumble down the devil's rope-ladder, as you call it, and send the
less timid Italian to keep watch till my return--you understand me." So
saying he strode onwards, leaving the youth, who had not yet passed
eighteen summers, to his discontented solitude and ill-temper.
"Understand you! I wonder who does, ever did, or ever will; perched up
here like a sea-mew, and not having touched land for five weeks! 'Beyond
that point!' I'll be even with him, for I wo'n't walk to that point:
I'll just stay in the one spot." With this resolution, he flung himself
upon a bank of early wild thyme, that filled the air with its
refreshing odour. Long after his master was out of sight, he continued
pulling up tufts of the perfumed herb, and flinging them over the cliff.