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He would be able to make himself as useful to them as he is to you, and you would be at no cost." Mr Fluke, however, only gave Kezia the same reply he had to Captain Aggett. "I tell you, before long he'll leave the place vacant whether you like it or not," observed Kezia in a firm voice, looking sternly at her master.
"I'll send him on board the ships in the river; that will do him good perhaps." The very next day Owen was despatched with a letter on business to Captain Aggett of the ship "Druid," then discharging cargo in the Thames. Owen had seen Captain Aggett at the office; he was a tall, fine-looking man, with a pleasant expression of countenance. He recognised Owen as he came on board.
Owen, from the first set to work to learn the names of all the sails and ropes, indeed of everything onboard. There were several other boys apprentices of whom two were called midshipmen, although they had to do the same duty as the rest. Captain Aggett had entered Owen as an apprentice, but he was looked upon as the captain's guest, and only mixed with the others when on duty.
In a few minutes the door opened, and a fine-looking seafaring man, evidently the master of a ship, came out. As he passed by he gave a glance at Owen, who heard him addressed by Mr Tarwig as Captain Aggett. "What a pleasant look he has," thought Owen; "I should like to be under him. I wonder if he can give me anything to do?"
He naturally told Kezia of his visit to Captain Aggett, and of the invitation he had received. "Although I should be very sorry to have you go away from here, Owen, I am sure that the captain is right. It is just what you want; a sea voyage would set you up, and make a man of you, and if you remain in the office you'll grow into just such another withered thing as the old man.
He would see if the boy could be spared; he was very useful in the office, and it would be difficult to get any one to supply his place. "I will come for a reply to-morrow," said Captain Aggett, as he took his departure. "Well, are you going to let our Owen make a voyage?" asked Kezia when Mr Fluke came home. "There are plenty of captains who would be ready to take the boy.
How Captain Aggett had consented to his becoming first mate it was difficult to say; perhaps he thought that his excellence as a seaman would make up for his imperfect knowledge of navigation. He was also a good disciplinarian, and, by mixing freely with the men, while still maintaining his own position, he was well able to manage them.
That she might be able to do so, Captain Aggett, as soon as the ship was fairly at sea, exercised the men daily at the guns, by which means he gave them plenty of employment, the best plan for keeping a ship's company in good order. Owen took a pleasure in learning the gun exercise, as he did in acquiring a knowledge of all the other duties of a sailor.
Owen had one evening entered the cabin shortly before the time for taking a lunar observation, in order to ascertain the longitude. Mr Grey had just before gone on deck with his sextant. "Is the weather clear?" asked Captain Aggett. "Yes, sir. There are but few clouds, and I think we shall get a good observation." "I must go on deck and take one," said the captain, attempting to rise.
Owen found him in his berth, and gave him the captain's message. "Dying, is he? That's the lot of all men," observed the mate in an indifferent tone. Owen saw that, although not tipsy, he had been drinking, but hoped that the captain's last words would have a good effect. He therefore said "Come, sir, quickly, or I fear that Captain Aggett may be dead before you get to him."
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