Читать книгу A Boy's Adventures Round the World - John Andrew Higginson - Страница 4

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At four bells, ten o'clock, the wheel and the lookout were relieved, the red and green sidelights were trimmed, and Jack took over the remaining half of time-keeping.

The heaving of the log showed a speed of eight knots an hour, and as the wind was only moderate such progress proved highly satisfactory.

Save one small lamp all lights in the saloon were extinguished, and only a few remained alight down below.

Captain Thorne came on deck for a few minutes before turning in, and all hands, save those on watch, were soon asleep.

The night passed uneventfully.

At midnight Mr. Sennit, the chief officer, and his men took over control, but although Archer and Sorter were also called neither of them seemed willing to leave their warm beds until fairly driven out by the mate.

Jack and Wilton were soon asleep, yet only a few moments seemed to have elapsed before they were again called to keep the morning watch.

Scarcely more than half awake both boys stumbled aft, and despite their warm jackets each felt the keen winter breeze sufficiently chilling.

'Ugh!' Wilton exclaimed, 'I thought our run down Channel was bad enough, but this is worse. Had I known that we should be compelled to stand watches at night, I should not have come. I'm almost sick of the life already.'

'Perhaps Captain Thorne will put you on a homeward-bound ship,' Jack laughingly replied; 'cheer up, lad! it is certainly quite different from what we have been accustomed to; but, like everything else that is strange and a little trying, you will soon get used to it. At anyrate, it is your first spell at the bell-ringing, and I shall sit on the companion stairs ready for a call.'

At five o'clock the cook sang out 'Coffee,' and when Jack had swallowed his allowance Wilton was relieved.

After that matters sensibly improved.

Dawn showed eastward, the male emigrants down below turned out to receive their daily allowances of fresh water, served by the purser, and at six o'clock the watch began the first duty of washing the decks fore and aft.

Assisted by a young ordinary seaman the boys were employed at filling the saloon water tank, and at eight o'clock both went below for breakfast.

To their astonishment all the occupants of the second cabin appeared greatly excited, and it presently turned out that a large box, which they had filled with certain food luxuries the ship did not supply, had been completely emptied during the night.

'Everything was quite safe when I locked the box last night and gave the key to that gentleman,' the perplexed steward cried, while indicating one of the passengers.

'And I have lost my watch!' a lady exclaimed.

'And I a fine revolver!' a young man added.

The losses were immediately reported to the captain, and searching investigation followed, but no trace of the thief could be obtained; and it was not until the voyage out had terminated that the mystery was cleared up.

Meanwhile, however, the unfortunate holder of the rifled box key determined to keep watch by night, hoping to catch the miscreant red-handed, and in that effort he was joined by the young man who had lost the revolver.

Both accordingly secreted themselves beneath the cabin table, but it was not long before another 'detective' of the watch on deck discovered them. The finder calling his mates, the crew set on their victims with such zeal that the whole ship was aroused, and much commotion ensued.

Some of the alarmed people cried 'Fire!' while others declared that the clipper had been in collision with a passing vessel, and it was with great difficulty that order was restored.

The 'Silver Crown' made steady progress southward. The breeze remained favourable, and the temperature slowly rose.

The Bay of Biscay was left far astern, and within a week the latitude of Madeira was reached.

There the first breath of the steady north-east trade wind was felt, and as it strengthened, all the topmast and topgallant studding-sail booms were sent aloft, and their gear was rove. The canvas was also 'bent,' or fastened to the yards, and to the ever-cheery sea chanty:

'What shall we do with the drunken sailor,

Early in the morning?

Put him in the tar pot till he gets sober,

Early in the morning,'

many young Irish emigrants seized the halyards, and with right good will tugged at them like horses. Ropes and patent blocks hummed to the strain. In great balloon-like clouds the studding-sails, far beyond the standing yardarms, swelled out magnificently in the fresh breeze.

Mr. Statten sang out 'Belay'; tacks and sheets were hauled taut, and, with two knots an hour added to the pace, the beautiful ship raced along like a yacht, with her head ever pointing southward.

The weather had now become delightful. The keen northern winds had disappeared, all day long a brilliant and unclouded sun filled ocean and sky with increasing warmth. All manner of amusements were now devised by the passengers to while away the long hours of daylight, and although most of the games proved very popular, none seemed to take such permanent hold as the 'evening concerts' given by the watch on deck when 'sucking the bilges dry' at the close of each day.

As many people as could find room at the pump brakes always assisted the sailors, yet none of the old sea songs ever proved so entertaining as one that was composed by the ship's poet, a young ordinary seaman, the first three verses of it being now made public. The song was named—

THE VOYAGE OF THE 'SILVER CROWN'

I

The 'Silver Crown' is our ship's name,

To Queensland she is bound,

With twice two hundred passengers

To cultivate the ground.

II

At early morn the purser cries,

'Fresh water, down below!'

With pots and pans men tumble up

To catch the limpid flow.

III

At eight o'clock it's breakfast time,

And then the fun begins,

To see the passengers all round

The galley with their tins.'