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Updated: June 1, 2025
"Hullo!" cried Larkyns, who was signal midshipman and was looking at the stranger with a diminutive telescope screwed-up to his starboard eye. "She's hoisted the answering pen'ant under her ensign." "That means she's going to use the International Code," said the commander, overhearing him. "Signalman, keep a sharp lookout on her, and have your book handy to read her signal as soon as it goes up!"
After observing the sun's altitude, we were supposed to work out the reckoning for ourselves independently of each other; though, when the master sent us down to the gunroom to do this, the lazy hands amongst us, who were by a long way in the majority, cribbed from those who were readier at figures, like Larkyns and Ned Anstruther, both of whom arrived at the same result as Mr Quadrant, ay even in a shorter time, handing in their papers for inspection before I had well-nigh begun mine.
I settled him at once, however, by saying that a claret cask would do; there having been a joke current of his coming to see how the gunroom was getting on about luncheon time, at the time our wine cellar had been so sumptuously replenished by Larkyns, who, by the way, got his step to acting mate the same month that I was made midshipman.
"Very good so far," interposed Mr Stormcock again at this point, in an ironical tone. "Pray go on; it is most interesting!" "Glad you like it," said Larkyns, coolly, without turning a hair. "Well, then, to finish the story. Very unfortunately for these fond lovyers, a storm arose, like that bit of breeze we had t'other day.
But the appearance of Filcher reminded him that he was now an Oxford man, and he resolved to begin his career by calling upon Mr. Charles Larkyns. He found Mr. Larkyns lolling on a couch, in dressing-gown and slippers. Opposite to him was a gentleman whose face was partly hidden by a pewter pot, out of which he was draining the last draught. Mr.
"All right," said I, bolting as quickly as I could a piece of "plum duff" which Dobbs had just brought me. "Tell the doctor I'm coming." "By jingo, talk of the devil!" observed Larkyns, bursting into a laugh as Macan turned to go away. "Why, I was only just talking of that blessed Irish marine a minute ago, and here he has come on the scene in person, with his rum brogue." "Hush!" I said.
Larkyns turned his head, and saw dimly through the clouds of tobacco smoke that filled his room a tall, thin, spectacled figure, with a hat in one hand, and an envelope in the other. "It's no use," he said, "stealing a march on me in this way. I don't owe you anything; and if I did it is not convenient to pay it. Hang you Oxford tradesmen! You really make a man thoroughly bill-ious.
Here was a pretty to-do; and, he was just wondering whether he should solve the Gordian knot by cutting and running, when, luckily, a man without a hat rushed in breathlessly from a neighbouring store, and coming up to the auctioneer, asked him if the wine was sold yet. "You're a bit too late," replied the master of the rostrum, pointing out Larkyns to his astonished gaze.
"Ay, ay, sir," replied the man, who was, like Larkyns, squinting his best at the other ship, although with a much bigger glass. "Something's going up now, sir." "Yes, I see," said Commander Nesbitt, as a string of flags were run up to the French ship's main. "Have our answering pen'ant ready to hoist as soon as you can make it out. Look sharp, signalman! What does she say?"
"I have just knocked it down to this gentleman." "Indeed!" exclaimed the stranger. "At what?" "Twelve pounds, ten shillings." "Ah, that all?" cried the hatless individual; and, turning to Larkyns, he said with an entreating air, "I'll give you an advance of ten shillings a hogshead if you let me have it." Our caterer was quite bewildered.
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