Tales and Sketches

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4715, 5 August 1893, Page 1

Tales and Sketches

THE EMIGRANT SHIP.

• [BT W. CLAfcK BUSBEMi.J To My Valued Friend, Major-General Patrick Maxwell, Soldier and Scholar. ' - Chaptje *■ XXI. THE EMIGRANTS' DINNKB. There was * wild, hot flush in the west, and sea and sky looked to pour into it} the clouds in flying feathers of aoarlet, and the sea ridging black as ink, though eastwards it was a hard, dark green. To windward, far off on the weather bow, a sail was dimly glowing. I fetched the glass from the captain'B cabin, and found it, as it looked, a noble magnifier; it determined the orange dash of light far away into the proportions of a brig, heading aa we went. I wondered if Bhe were the Hebe, and worked away with the telescope for some :« time in a fit of /excitement; but before daylight went I got sight of a fitump fore-topgallant maßb, and that settled the matter. I looked over the rail for Kate, but did not ace ber. A. few women walked about the decks j a couple of seamen, each with a female holding his arm, paced very gravely in the waist; the forecastle waa deserted, and the red wet gleam which slipped off the planks aB the vessel dipped with an occasional flash of brine over the head-rail, explained why. My head was full of the project of training a number of the women to steer and to handle the ropes. Would they oome into my scheme P Very likely, if I explained my reasons. Bat then I did not intend that the orew should understand my motives; I bad a feeling that if the men began to realise my resolution to carry tho ship to port, they'd tnrn the matter, reason that since I oould See my. way to a profitable job they might as well stop and share in what was to come. I knew the seaman's character to be as unstable ss the water he Bails on. Before we were up with the Horn ten of the twelve raiprht be swearing that they wasn't going to sefctlenorueaslvisland ; they'd' stick to the ship, they would, claim .their wages and pocket what might follow. I determined to talk with Kate on the subject next day. Ib is a pity* I. thought, aa 1 looked At the back yawn of the main hatch, a mere blotch in the evening gloom scarce touohed by the feeble lights swinging undor deck, that she. should allow her notion of propriety to tyrannise to the degree of keeping her down there. Had she shown any .willingness to live aft, I'd have brought her into the cabin, Brigetock or no Brigßtock, and taken my, chance of the issne of an. argument with tho crew. . Yet she was right, though it vexed me to think of her in her gloomy quarters, resting on a shelf and eating the emigrant*? fare, when there were empty cabins aft and a table fit for a lady to sit At. I kept .the deck till eleven tbat night ■watching the ship. I forget -tfhtoh of the ' two men had charge. The trade wind blew hard, with a long, high sea. When I went below to lie down, I waa prepared foracail to reßultin reefed canvas. But on. going, ou deck again at half-past .three "1 found the breeze had Blackened ; they had set the main-royal and -boarded the* main- tack, and still' the ship was sweeping along nobly^aheeting out the white water into a radiance as of moonlight. Next morning .was splendid blowing weather, the seas running in hills of bine, a flying Bky of steam- white trade cloud, and fonr Bhips in sight at eight o'clook, though all of them hull down. Some time after .breakfast I left my toerth to look for Kate. A girl was standing in the cabin-door singing. She held ont her dress with both hands as she sang, keeping time in a frolicsome, see-saw, sideways jumps. A troop of women stood viewing her, and they laughed immoderately at her antics. I caught but one verse of her . song, which eh c howled out in the peculiar, raw voice of the courts and lanes :•— " She shall 'aye aU that's fine and fair, And the best of silk and satin shall wear ; Ahd ride in a coach to take the hair, Ahd 'aye a 'ouse in St James' Square." Looking over her shoulder with her face flushed with caper-cutting, she Bpied me, let fall her gown, and bolted. I Baw Miss Cobbs standing beside the main hatch, and asked if Miss Darnley was below. She answered yes, and called down. In a few minutes Kate' arrived. She looked uncommonly well, fresh as though from a bath. Her cheeks wore a rioh colour, her eyes shone with uncommon -vivacity and brightness ; her dress was of gome plain black stuff, not very new; she wore her hat with a little rakish set of it npon her fine blaok hair, and this took my eye mightily. I shook her hand and asked her to step. on to the poop. She seemed shy, and peeped about her and said, "Can't we converse here ?" "No," I answered. "Come, come! You're nob a girl to run delicacy into prudery P You won't live aft and you won't sit with me at th<*t cabin table, and you may be right, though I can't respect the eentiment that deprives me of your company. But. the fastidiousness that stops yon from walking with me on the poop must be humbug, so come along, Kate." She followed me. " You don't care much, do you, for the opinions of such a cargo as this ship carries P" said I, passing my hand through, her arm to steady her on the lifting and falling slant of deck. She turned the question by asking me to give her some news. " There is none," said I. « The sailors' scheme is so ridiculous and extraordinary," she exclaimed, " that I can't believe they'll persevere. They'll hit on some new project, and that's the news I'm waiting for." *' I don't know how it may b 9 with the majority," I answered, " but Brigstock and that sour devil to leeward yonder are most infernally in earnest." As I said this*— we were approaching the ■wheel — I caught a look from the helmsman ; he was Isaac Coffin of the moustaohe and humorous vulgar eyes. I held my face with difficulty, for his mind lay as plain in his crumpled visage as thougn he spoke. "The fellows'll find encouragement in you and me, -Kate," 'said I wheeling round '. -with her. "That man thinko we're 'pardners' discussing tbe island scheme." «'T overheard one ofthe women tell some others that we'd agreed to join the Bfig- i stock set and settle down," eaid Bhe. " What did you say ?" "I let her talk." " Isn't it known we were acquainted before we met here?" said I. " The 'tweendeoks are like a little town," . she answered, " one street never hears of - what's happening in another. There are sets and cliques. The shop girls move in a higher sphere than the cooks, and the cooks condescend to the general servants and women whose walks are a little vague, suoh as Emma Marks." "Kate," said I, "I have a scheme, but the motive must be our secret. Suppose the sailors stick to their resolution, where shall I find men to work the ship to Sydney when the crew have left ub P But, granted that I could flnd men, could I 'trust . the rowdies we're likely to Bhip— • fceachcombers who carry their consciences strapped in sheaths upon their hips. ghey^d cat my throat and be off with ie_cbipi choose wives as the Jacks of j

this vessel have, though not so tenderly, haunt an island for a few months, and then vanish." "Couldn't you get a few respectable English sailors from some passing ship to help ub to Sydney ? " . "If a ship passes with respectable English sailors on board and the captain was willing— yea. But I've got to provide for conditions, which are next door to certainties. I'm off an iulaud; the orew are gone with their women; I'm the only man in the vessel ; what's to be done ? " She was silent. " I'll tell you : I'm for finding out if the pick of the women — in strength and coarse health, I mean— will allow themselves to be trained to pull and let go and steer." She opened her eyes at me. " I'm in earnest. There are women in the 'tween decks as strong as strong men. They couldn't, I admit, go aloft in petticoat, but I hope to see my way even cub of that difficulty by-and-by." Still ahe opened her eyes at me. " What do you think of my idea?" "It iB odd— it iß— it is — why if it can be done it will ba a good idea.' Certainly many of the women are strong as you Bay, stronger than many men." Some conceit tickled her and she laughed loudly. ' "Will you set an example ?" "I*ll do anything my strength ia sepal to, bub I can't climb those heights," she explained smiling, and upturning her dark eyes at the swollen and moving fabric of spar aud canvas. " I'll teaoh you to steer a ship in half a dozen lessons, and in a few days you'll know- exactly what; ropes to let go when the order's given. What do they oall th^fe tackle P" said I, pointiug to the mainbrace. She did not know. "And that— aud that— and that?" . She could not name a rope. But she knew the natse*- of most of the sails and the difference betwix. the mainmast and the bow-sprit. " Still," said I, "you'll let tno uae you as an example to the others. You'll let me bang the bell upon you." " But how muoh easier to piok up a crew as we go along 1" "I'll not do it," I replied with some warmth. "Give ma a couple or threa mates to baok me, iv bosun, and a carpenter I can put trust in, thou you shall advise me. Can't you understand the perils I'd avoid by training a batch of women to dp men's work P" " Have you spoken to Miss Cobbs ?" '■'No, bub your question give 3 me an idea." I saw the matron as they called her standing in the canjfway talking with Brigstock, whom a little while earlier I had heard shouting to soma men ; indeed, ho could not have looked after the necessary work of the ship move closely had he been a signed chief mate with the whole round voyage beforo him. I stood with Kato watching tbemj presently they obaerved me, and Mias Cobbs, perceiving by my. manner tbat I wished to speak to her, came aft. I called her on to tbe poop, and after cahiting her very civilly said I'd be glad to have a few words with her. She bobbed me one of bar queer curtseys and answered that her timo for the next hour was quite at my service. ,t determined -to-- approach the point gradually, and began by talking about Kate j ' I told her who she was, and expressed regret 'that she. could not see her way to live aft. *' Mias Damley's right," exclaimed Miss Cobbs looking at Kate. "It would not do, I assure yon. Mr Brigstock wa.3 for bringing me into the cabin. I said certainly not. If I did not set an example of strict propriety to the 'females, what might net happen ? Mr Brigstock's wonderful scheme mustn't fail for the want of discipline and decorum here." "Mr Brigstock," said I, "is a very remarkable man." " Indeed he is then, sir," she answered with one of her wire-drawn smirks, " he's one of them men who are born far below their rightful sphere. But lor! it's but too true that the soul's often packed in tho wrong case. I know a Jew with the sperrit of a Christian; be hates his face and believes in Christ. He do indeed. What right has his body to his soul ? Mr Brigstook is born with the eperrifc of a ruler; it's with him as though somebody had taken the works out of a gold watch case and put 'em into a silver one." " Have you any connections, Miss Cobba?" " Two married Bisters at 'ome, Bir." , "Does it please you to think of separating yourself from tho world by settling in a little island in the Pacific ? " "It do indeed. And you can't call it separating. We ahall bo a People. I dare say if there was anything very particular to look forward to at home, I ehould think twice. But I don't love the idea of ploughing tho seas in thia way for a living, and really after 'i etap ashore at Blackwall I am no better off than any of those young ladies there," said she with a sweep of her hand in the direction of the main deck. , " What will you do for clothes ? " eaid Kate. "How do they manage at Pitcairn?" she answered. "We provide ouraelveß as is understood with a little assortment from the cargo of this Bhip. And supposing it should come to our depending op our own skill and taste ? It's bo at 'ome, isn't it ? You want a hat j well, you buy the plain Btraw, let's Bay* then feathers and ribbon for trimming. Now there's to be no shops at present in our settlement, but it'll be strange if there's nob plenty of material out of which we can make all sorts of head-dresses . for ourselves, with plenty of beautiful wild flowers and the gorgeous wings of birds for trimming." She dropped a curtsey of self-approval with a countenance of exquisite complacency as she thus spoke. I saw Kate striving hard to smother a laugh. Indeed, Miss Cobbs' talk couldn't fail to submit certain queer images of herself to. us. I figured her raven-hued Bausage curls and thin nose under a grass hat of her own weaving, piled high with Pacific vegetation and plumage; and then another absurd fancy occurred to me, and I looked an ay till I had shaken off a sudden fit of silent laughter. I now asked her to pace the deck and we started, Kate on one side and she on the other. Brig jtock, who was directing some work forward frequently turned with grave slow gesture to Eucvey us. The girl Alice Perry had climbed on top of the bulwark rail with her back against the main shrouds where she eat Bate; there she hung, swinging her legs and flashing looks at ub under her wild shaggy brow as we'd ap* proach the forward end of the poop. A number of girlß were singing in concert near the main hatoh, and I thought I heard the sound of a fiddle in the 'tweendeoks. On either Bide the galley were lines of bedding spread for airing. A farmyard noiee came from the coop and longboat, and what with the moving figures of the girls, the dance and flutter of their coloured raiment, the blown smoke from the galley chimney, the pioture of that ship's deok was as lively a seapiece as I had ever seen, full of the hurry of the strong wind, of darting colours, of swinging shadows, with a ceaseless roar of rushing foam on either hand, and a blue horizon sharp aB the edge of a lens, broken in three places by a sail, and dark as violet against the morning azure past it. As we walked I told Miss Cobbs carelessly of my schemo of making the women useful and amusing them too. * "Aren't there men enough to do the

Bbip's work ? " said Bhe, and I was struck by a quick suspicious lift of her eyes. " That's my business/ I answered coolly. I added after a pause, "Twelve men are not a complement for a vessel of tho Earl ! of Leicester's tonnage, freighted as she j is." "J "No doubt you're right, sir. But few as the men are they are good 'ands." "I've called you tip here to talk the thing over. Go presently among tho women and Bound them and let me hear what they think." I " But they did not embark in this ship to do her work," said Mias Cobbs with some amazement. *' You don't suppose I'd force ship's work upon them. There's a long voyage before \ us. We're undermanned. I choose to think so and know it ! We need a supplemental crew. The girls havo nothing to 'do with themselves all day long. Are they willing to take lessons in steering and i loara the names of the ropes, sails and yards of the ship ? " She looked as if she would like to tell mo my soheme was ridiculous and exclaimed, "It's a very hentertaining idea, sir. Some of the women I'm sure would gladly learn how to steer, and it'ud amuse a number of them to get the names of the ropes by 'art. But I'm afraid you'd find 'em of no real use if it should come to your needing their services. What do you Bay, Miss I>__rnloy ? " " There are ninety women j I daresay Mr Morgan would be able to educate a .company of about twenty 'into being able to help on deck. But he'll find none with pluck enough ta climb," said Kate again looking aloft.Mise Cobbs giggled. " Who's to teaoh tho lasses, sir ?" she asked. I " FU arrange for that and tako classes j myself." i " Will you learn ?" eaid the matron smiiking at Kate. j " It will be a proud moment for me when I can hold t_ at wheel and control , thia beautifel ship by it," answered Kate with such fine affectation of enthusiasm j tbat her colour seemed to mount aud her j ! eyes ta kiodlo with the mere effort of j acting. ' j After we had talked a little longer on this matter, Miss Cobbß left me, taking my request that she should sound the women as a command from the master of the ship, Kato walked by my Bide for another halfhour. All our talk was about her future. Where would she stay on her arrival at Syduoy ? What would she do if she did not quickly get a situation as governese ? I'd look sideways and earnestly afc her whilst we conversed. At Blabhford I had thought her pretty. I saemed now to find her ai sweet and handsome again es ehe was then. Was I going to lose my heart and complicate my adventures by a love I passage P She'd sometimes grow -grave I whilst talking abont what she was to do in Australia should the Earl of Leicester ever reaoh Sydney, but there was no lack bf fire and spirit in her words and manner. The j heart that had brought her into this ship j beat strong ; there was courage of a steady quiet, heroic sort in every look and saying | and smile of hers. When we' parted I went below and spent j an hour in going carefully throngh Captain . Halcrow's effects, and stowing them away for locking or sealing up. It Was a duty I owed a brother seaman, and I resolved. ''that. ! whalfßver-'-I%oti?d^e^dr""tiMt"'l'd make a note of that he might Buffer no loss ahould it be in my power to pay him. jpJJThilsfc I was at this work, I thought of too Hebe and wondered if I should ever recover my own poor outfit and little stock of money. I found twenty sovereigns in a small box in a locker. I also met with a dozen boxes of very good cigars. When I waa tired with this work I wrote in the log book and then made certain calculations; next overhung the South Pacific chart, and searched the collection of books for information about the navigation of these seas, bub in vain. This brought the hour to about half-past eleven, and I went on deck with one of Halcrow's sextants. Brigstock was on the poop, to windward forward talking with Harding. I looked about me for a minute or two, and then eung out, "Mr Harding, Set the f oretopmast stu'nsail. The man promptly ordered the boom to be rigged out. "We must sweat it out of thiß wind while wo have it," said 1 going up to Brigstock. "Better two points off than two of leeward. Make a fair wind of whatever comes along," said I. I watched the men seb the sail and observed they were lively and thorough. " She feels it, Bir," said Brigstock, coming up from the lee rail with a face of grave satisfaction. " At what hour do the women dine ? " "At wan bell." " I mean to see them eat. You'll accompany me." " Ay, ay, sir." I took up a position to command the sun, Brigstock attending me. He waited till I made eight bells, regarding me with | curiosity and reßpect, and then when the chimes on the main-deck had ceased, he ex- | claimed, " So you're in earnest, sir, in your scheme of training the women P Them as'll bo willing, I mean." ! " Yes." I answered impatiently. "You'll excuse me," said he, with hia slow delivery, " a-questioning of you as captain of this ship, but what good might you think the females are going to be to us?" " Has Miss Cobbs been talking to you ?" " She has, sir." " She oan give you my reason." " There are twelve good men in this ship, capf n, sailors all who don't want any help from women, sir." " I intend to supplement the ship's company by a working body of strong girls, those who, as you say, may be willing. Now, Mr Brigstock, I'm either to be captain or not. Say the word," said I looking at him steadily. " Oh," he exclaimed with an odd bow of civil protest. "This is no scheme to alter our views of you, sir." " I ehall be ready to visit the 'tweendeoks at half past twelve," Baid I. At that hour he w&3 waiting for me on the quarter-deck. All the women were below, the laat of the girlß of the mesa had disappeared down the hatchway with tho steaming kids and cano; the seamen were likewise at dinner, and the ship rushed bowing onwards under her wide overhanging wing of studding sail watched by Harding, who paced a few planks' width of the weather poop deck. | I deeconded the hatch ladder followed by Brigstock, and stood a minute or two viewing a singular scene. The women were seated in a row on either side of the table, at the after extremity of which sab ! Miss Cobbs. The atmosphere was clouded with the steam of psa soup, boiled pork, and plum duff. The heel of the windsail ? . oured in a good supply of fresh air, but here would have been no virtue in a living gale to sober or extinguish the Bmell of the Boup and the pork. The kids and dishes steamed down the whole length of the table; and in addition to their incense I tasted the disgusting flavour of soup and bouUli and preserved " spuds." Lanterns swung in the fore-part, and the play of lights and shadows there, the gradual dimming down of the lines of faces into mere phantasms, the various change of posture in the eating and drinking figures, produced an effect many touches above my genius to describe. Every tongue was going, knives and forks rattled on the tin plates like a chain cable in a hause-pipe. A few of the women i moved up and down small divisions of ithe sitters as though waiting upon [ them* I kept for a bit under the hatch.

the better to hear Brigstock's replied to my questions, and I now learnt that he had taken the second mate's piice in serving out the stores since the shijfchad been left withont any one to command her. He gave me certain facts whioh I will not trouble yon with tho^h.l waß hereto satisfy myself upon them. Some time passed bef oie t*\py i^otice was taken of us; when we were perceived Miss Cobbs Btood up and the jangle oif tongue? at our end softened, though a sharp talk.' with frequent shrill laughter and piercing cries to hand this along and to pass that across, was kept up at the forward part. I told Miss Cobbs to keep her seat, and complimented her upon whit I chose to call her methods } everything looked clean j th© dishes were co disposed as to illustrate a well-digested system. In short, that long dinner table was as comfortable to the sight as the judgment bould/ possibly contrive in dealing with such coarse utenßila and unsavoury seafare as loaded it. I walked leisurely down the starboard row of diners, Brig*. took in my wake. , I had ceveral motives in paying this visit, but chiefly I wished the women and the sailora to understand that I considered myself as fully the master of the veasel as ever Halcrow had been, with every right of inquisition, and strong with resolution that the government of the ship should be justly and carefully administered. The females fell somewhat silent as I passed. I looked for Kate, and saw her sitting on the port side. When I got to the bottom of the table I came to a stand, and, glancing along the double row of faces, I exciMDVed, " Ladies, I'm glad to see you're well, looked after. This punctuality of meals and the manner in which the food's served do' great credit to Mios Cobbs and to Mr Brig&tock." I had expected some applause would follow this; instead, seven*! women began to hiss,- and a rasping voice yelped out, "Don't mention Brigßtookr Why aren't we to be sailed straight to Australia ? " "Have you dome down here to talk about making sailors of us, captain?" called out Alice Perry, w^O was seated midway on the starboard eide; ' '* ■ "Oi'ilbe a tarpaulin eqpa as ever yer loike," cried a girl. " Oi'Jn n, Coalman's daughter 5 Oi've been off along with f arder scoreß of times. His 'logger was the Water Witch, and she was f ran down and all hands drownded off Folkestone three; year ago come next month^attd that's why Oi'mhere." , C^v ■•'■,.; .. " I'll be talking to as msny of ; you as'll volunteer by-and-bye/'said, I. "Go on with your dinner, I beg. _v?tn not here to interrupt you." ,: : : . ';• V " Taste thia.'J bxoiaimed^a young woman olose beside ind/holding up slump of pale fat pork on a two pronged .fork. • > "Ask tho capt'n to try| the pease soup fust," cried another womat}, " Don't let him be persnaded to have anything to do with the pHd^lh', said a third, in a mincing tone, and With a provincial accent (this woman's face wai like a piece of summer English country,. with her cherry lips and apple cbeaks, and blackberry eyes, and rioh j?loS3 of chestnut on her hair), "or the sbip'll again be.without l a navigator." j.'.^f "'l.. .'< '•' "Is it the pork or the cpoking that's wrong ? " said. I to the first speaker. . "The _pork," she anßworcd; /'lt was never part qt, the- hugaat.p%lil.l'^ boiled plenty of pork in my time, but never such flesh as this." «* It's a piece of old sailor, Miss Flanders," exclaimed the woman next her. At this there was a great laugh, Brigstock joining in with a solemn hollow ha ! ha ! " I can deal with the cook, but not with the meat," said I. "No good meat ever dreams of going to sea. . What's shipped is [ meant to keep sailors' teeth white and j sharp, and to give then, a relish for beef [ steak when thsy get ashore." I On my way to the hatch ladder, I stopped to speak to Katß. Whilst I Btooped, intending a low voice, Alice Perry, who Bat nearly opposite, cried out, " Capt'n, sit down beside Misa Darnley and take your dinner along with ug. There looks to be plenty, but you'll find it isn't all 3am for ua girla." I smiled at the coarsely handsome creature, with her stroug, white teeth and large, black, _aucy eyes, and having addressed Kate, passed on, taking no notice of the cries some of ihe females followed me with, to stop aud comfort them with talking about the voyage, and how long it was to Jast — to stop and explain what sort of work wonld be expected of them if they were willing to learn the nameß of ropes and ho -7 to steer. (To be continued.)