"
MATED
The schooner Falcon was ready for sea. The last bale of general cargo
had just been shipped, and a few hairy, unkempt seamen were busy putting
on the hatches under the able profanity of the mate.
"All clear?" inquired the master, a short, ruddy-faced man of about
thirty-five. "Cast off there!"
"Ain't you going to wait for the passengers, then?" inquired the mate.
"No, no," replied the skipper, whose features were working with
excitement. "They won't come now, I'm sure they won't. We'll lose the
tide if we don't look sharp."
He turned aside to give an order just as a buxom young woman,
accompanied by a loutish boy, a band-box, and several other bundles,
came hurrying on to the jetty.
"Well, here we are, Cap'n Evans," said the girl, springing lightly on to
the deck. "I thought we should never get here; the cabman didn't seem to
know the way; but I knew you wouldn't go without us,"
"Here you are," said the skipper, with attempted cheerfulness, as he
gave the girl his right hand, while his left strayed vaguely in the
direction of the boy's ear, which was coldly withheld from him. "Go down
below, and the mate'll show you your cabin. Bill, this is Miss Cooper, a
lady friend o' mine, and her brother."
The mate, acknowledging the introduction, led the way to the cabin,
where they remained so long that by the time they came on deck again the
schooner was off Limehouse, slipping along well under a light wind.
Pages:
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250