For the first three days the prognostications of the sailors, that
"something" was sure to happen because the voyage was commenced upon a
Friday, did not seem likely to be realized. The weather was fine, the
wind was fair, and every stitch of canvas was set. But the grumbling
did not cease, and for a very good reason. Scadbolt and the Lascar did
their best to keep the subject warm, and between them managed to
foment and increase the dissatisfaction. Captain Liddle, cognizant of
this, became stern and strict, and took but little rest. He did not
know who it was that was encouraging the men; he suspected Scadbolt,
and, estimating his second mate at his proper worth, he wanted but the
slightest confirmation of his suspicions to take prompt action against
the offender. By this time the passengers had recovered from their
sea-sickness, and begun to assemble on the deck. Stephen and Rachel
Homebush set to work vigorously in their task of reclaiming the
sinners, in which category every person but themselves on board was
included; but though they prayed (for others), and groaned (for
others), and "wrestled" (for others), their efforts were not crowned
with success. Indeed, the only person who tolerated them at all was
the man who had the worst character, and whom nearly everybody
avoided. Rough-and-Ready was a treasure to the pious couple. To him,
as the most illustrious sinner within their reach, they imparted the
knowledge of their own goodness and of everybody else's wickedness;
him they informed that their special mission (out of heaven) was to
lead him to the waters of grace, and that his special mission was to
be led thereto by them. They prayed for him wrathfully, in stony
voices, and would have wept over him, had he allowed them to do so.
And when they found that they made no impression upon him (for it was
only his good-nature that induced him to listen to them), they groaned
the louder, and prayed the longer, and wrestled the more, because of
the hardness of man's heart. It was a curious thing, seeing how good
they were and how bad he was, to observe the conduct of Little Emma,
Mrs. Pigeon's five-year-old daughter, towards the saints and the
sinner. The little child ran away from the saints, and cried and
struggled when Rachel Homebush took her hand; but when she saw the
sinner, she ran into his arms with perfect confidence, and submitted
to be tossed in the air and to be kissed by him very much as if she
liked it. But then children have no judgment.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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