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"There were chests of 'em down below where I lay," said Jimpny eagerly. "I could smell 'em strong all the time." "Smell them?" cried Mr Gregory. "Yes, sir, onion phosphory smell, you know." "Hurrah!" cried the first-mate excitedly. "Axes, my lad, and lanterns. We know now."
On the 12th of October I sailed on the barque 'Polly' from Bombay to Mauritius. As the 'Polly' was a slow sailer, the passage lasted thirty-seven days. On board this barque was a William Lawrence Farquhar hailing from Leith, Scotland in the capacity of first-mate.
He looked more like a respectable skipper or first-mate than a country gentleman. Passing rapidly through the streets of Athenbury, he soon reached the docks, where he made inquiry for the Sailors' Home. He found it in a retired street, near the principal wharf. A group of seamen were collected round the door, smoking their pipes and spinning yarns.
Mark Strong felt his heart at rest, for, as he saw the effect of his father's words upon the chief mate, he knew once and for all who was the real captain of the ship. "Of course we shall not be able to sail at the time down," said the first-mate rather huffily. "Of course we shall, Gregory," said the captain quietly. "Morgan, I'm sorry you've had such a job as this.
"Well," said Gregory slowly, "I'm for the fight. We've got some weapons now, and hang me if I'm going to strike to a set of treacherous pirates like this." The captain grasped his hand and began smoking. "Quiets the pain a bit," he whispered. "An ugly wound; but I don't think the kris was poisoned." "Why, Strong," said the first-mate sympathetically, "we ought to give up and escape."
For several days the ship heeled to and fro, till the wind, coming fair, she once more stood on her course, and entered the bright waters of the Pacific. Peter observed that the captain felt greatly the loss of the brave mate and his companions. His health had been for some time failing. One morning, when the lofty Andes had just appeared in sight, he summoned his first-mate to his bedside.
"It seems down here at one time, and then more forward there," said Mark. "Yes, it does now," said the first-mate. "Here, Billy Widgeon, Small, you come and try." The boatswain and the little sailor both lay down in different places on the cases and bales and listened, but only to rise up and declare that the sound came from quite a different direction.
The only first-class passengers in addition to C and myself were two old maiden ladies, the Misses Hunt, who, with the doctor and his wife, the captain and first-mate, comprised our cabin party. In the second-class were three passengers T. Smith, whose name will frequently appear in these pages, and two brothers called Leach, going out to join a rich cousin, a sheep farmer in Canterbury.
Mr Morgan relieved us at three, and I've had five hours' sleep since then. Here they come." Mr Gregory and Mr Morgan entered the cabin directly, both looking as calm and comfortable as if nothing had disturbed them. After the first greetings the first-mate began to look round the cabin. "What's wrong, Gregory?" said the captain. "Wrong!" said the first-mate. "Nothing.
Moreover, the fog had dispersed in all directions, and the frigate neared them fast. "Blast the cutter!" said the first-mate: "we shall pay dearly for our `lark'." "This is confoundedly unlucky," replied McElvina; "she brings the wind down with her, and won't part with a breath of it. However `faint heart never won fair lady. Keep her away two points more. Clap everything on her.
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