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It is a shorter voyage from Cardiff to Algiers than an American skipper pricks off on his chart when he takes his steamer from New York to New Orleans or Galveston. This coastwise trade may lack the romance of the old school of the square-rigged ship in the Roaring Forties, but it has always been the more perilous and exacting.
The obstinate craft having at length consented to back her topsail, Courtenay was sent away in the gig, with the crew fully armed, to give her an overhaul. He remained on board nearly half an hour, and when he returned he brought the skipper of the schooner, a negro, with him.
The French were congregated in a compact group amidships, our party being divided into two, one of which had been led on board aft by the skipper, while the other had followed Mr Sennitt forward; the French were consequently between us and the lieutenant's party.
"Then everything is arranged," said Skipper Ed. "Abel says there are plenty of fish for all of us around Itigailit Island. Perhaps, then, we'd better go home, Partner, and put things in shipshape for an early start in the morning." And so they parted in high glee, Bobby to the cabin to break the good news to Mrs. Abel, and Skipper Ed down the trail toward his own cabin, with Jimmy at his heels.
Old Mildmay, the master, was conning the ship; but of course in such a fog it was all guess-work, and the old fellow was terribly nervous and anxious, as indeed was also Captain Vernon. It struck me that the ship might be better conned from aloft, and I stepped up to the skipper and with due modesty mentioned my idea. "A very happy thought," exclaimed the master, who happened to overhear me.
"Is there any immediate prospect of bad weather?" asked McKay. He and the sailing-master were by this time pretty good friends. "I don't much like the look of the glass. It's rather jumpy; if anything, inclined to go back." "What should you do if it came on dirty?" the skipper was asked. "Up stick, and run out to get an offing. It would be our only chance, with this coast to leeward."
"But it's my opinion," suggested Little Stubbs, "that the skipper's opinion on that point will have to be found out first, Swinton, for it's of more importance than yours. You ain't skipper yet, you know." "That's so, Stubbs," said Squill, with a nod. "Let your tongues lie still," retorted Swinton, in an undertoned growl.
"Is everybody ready?" inquired my father. A general "Ay, ay," was the response. Ella took the bottle of wine in her hand, and Winter and I poised our hammers. "Then knock away with a will, lads!" exclaimed the skipper.
Her machinery sounded like a chapter of accidents and was always out of order, but she got along all the same, provided the steersman kept her off the bank. Her skipper was a young man, who looked more like a drover than a sailor, and the crew bore a greater resemblance to the unemployed than to any other body we know of, except that they looked a little more independent.
"That was fine!" said the Skipper, nodding sagely. "That was well done, Colorado! But here we come to trouble, do you see? for I that speak to you I am a Malay pirate!" The boy started violently and looked up, expecting he knew not what sudden and awful change in the face that bent down over him; but no! it was the same quiet, dark face, only there was a bright gleam in the eyes.
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