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Updated: May 17, 2025
"I would not have had it happen for worlds. We flying the old Union jack, too, that boasts of never passing either friend or foe when in danger and asking aid." He spoke still more bitterly, as if he had not heard their excuses. "But hang it, cap'en," cried Mr Fosset, "I tell you " Captain Applegarth waved him aside.
"Well, Fosset, I'm hanged if I know where we are, after the bucketting- about we've had since last Friday!" said the skipper, who now came into the saloon, where I, already dressed, was hurriedly having a cup of cocoa and bite of biscuit Weston had just brought me in from the pantry.
But, stranger still, Mr Fosset could not see her, when there she was as plain as the sun setting in the west awhile ago at least to my eyes; and, as she approached nearer yet in some unaccountable way, for her bows were pointed from us and the wind, of course, was blowing in the opposite direction, she being on our lee, I declare I could distinctly see a female figure, like that of a young girl with long hair, on the deck aft; and beside her I also noticed a large black dog, jumping up and down!
As he said this, Mr Fosset, who was still on the bridge conning the old barquey, having at once ported our helm, on the skipper holding up his cutlass, taking this for a signal, we came broadside-on, slap against the hull of the other ship with a jolt that shook her down to her very kelson, rolling a lot of the darkies, who were grouped aft, off their legs like so many ninepins.
I heard Mr Fosset sing out next morning outside the door of the skipper's state room, which opened out of the saloon, close to my berth, when he went to call him at four bells, in obedience to orders given overnight. "The gale has completely blown itself out, and there's only a little cat's-paw of a breeze from the south'ard." "Humph!" yawned the skipper from within. "That's a good job, Fosset.
"Well, Fosset," he cried at length, unable to restrain himself any longer. "What do you make it?" "39° 20 minutes north latitude sir, and 47° 15 minutes west longitude." "Faith, an' I make it the same, sir," also put in Garry O'Neil, the twain having worked out the reckoning long before the poor skipper. "Both of us agree to the virry minnit, sure, lavin' out the sicconds, sir!"
"Ahoy there, forrad!" he shouted in stentorian tones that rang fore and aft like a trumpet. "Bo'sun, send the hands aft." "Say, cap'en," sang out Mr Fosset from the bridge, "shall I call up the fellows down below in the stoke-hold, sir?" "Aye. Ring the engine-room gong. I want every man-jack on deck that Mr Stokes can spare; tell him so."
I shall be in my own rooms till the people begin to arrive; and I want to see you when Fosset has put her finishing touches to your dress." Clarissa promised to present herself before her kind patroness. She was really pleased with her dress, and sincerely grateful to the giver. Lady Laura was a person from whom it was easy to accept benefits.
A short delay ensued from our clocks being fast on account of our having drifted to the eastward, of where they had last been set. Then all at once Mr Fosset sang out. "It's just noon, sir, now. The sun's crossing the meridian!" "All right, make it so," replied the skipper. "Bos'un, strike eight bells."
"Why, sir, we haven't even the dinghy left intact after that clean sweep we had from the wave that pooped us!" "Oh, aye, I know that well enough," said the skipper drily. "But, look alive now, Fosset, with that tackle, and don't be a month of Sundays over the job! Send down two of the cutter's crew to overrun the falls and drop down into the boat.
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