Happy Jack, and Other Tales of the SeaKingston, William Henry Giles
General
Happy Jack, and Other Tales of the Sea
Kingston, William Henry Giles
Sea stories
"Ah, I thought so, by his appearance," said the officer. "He shall be
taken into the cabin. You, my boy, will have a hammock on the lower
deck, and the hot grog you asked for. I'll visit you soon. I am the
doctor of the ship."
He then spoke to the men, and while Clement was carried aft, I was
lifted up and conveyed below by a couple of somewhat rough but not
ill-natured-looking seamen. I was more exhausted than I had supposed,
for on the way I fainted, and many hours passed by before I returned to
a state of half consciousness.
CHAPTER THREE.
ON THE RUSSIAN FRIGATE.
In three days I was quite well, and the doctor sending me a suit of
seaman's clothes, I dressed and found my way up on deck. I looked about
eagerly for Clem, but not seeing him, I became anxious to learn how he
was. I could make none of the men understand me. Most of them were
Finns--big broad-shouldered, ruddy, light haired, bearded fellows; very
good-natured and merry, notwithstanding the harsh treatment they often
received. Big as they were, they were knocked about like so many boys
by the petty officers, and I began to feel rather uncomfortable lest I
should come in for share of the same treatment, of which I had had
enough from the hands of old Growl. I determined, however, to grin and
bear it, and do, as well as I could, whatever I was told.
I soon found that I was not to be allowed to eat the bread of idleness,
for a burly officer, whom I took to be the boatswain, ordered me aloft
with several other boys, to hand the fore royal, a stiff breeze just
then coming on. Up I went; and though I had never been so high above
the deck before, that made but little difference, and I showed that I
could beat my companions in activity. When I came down the boatswain
nodded his approval. I kept looking out for Clem. At last I saw my
friend the doctor, with several other officers, on the quarter-deck. I
hurried aft to him, and, touching my cap, asked him how Clem was. The
others stared at me as if surprised at my audacity in thus venturing
among them. "The boy is doing well," he answered; "but, lad, I must
advise you not to infringe the rules of discipline. You were, I
understand, one of the ship's boys, and must remain for'ard. He is a
young gentleman, and such his dress and appearance prove him to be, will
be allowed to live with the midshipmen."
"I am very glad to hear that," I answered; "but I am a gentleman's son
also, and I should like to live with the midshipmen, that I may be with
Clem."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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