Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 89: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

109 quickly leave me. If we are seen together it may be the ruin of us both.” Voices were heard, Juan, not wishing to be seen in his present dis- ordered state, quitted Gonzalvo, saying— “T leave you now, but we shall shortly meet again,” The voices sounded nearer. Several servants who had been in quest of Gon- zalvo approached. They informed him that he was waited for at the mansion. He followed them, and was conducted into the presence of Donna Inez and her father, surrounded by many noble guests, before whom the marriage ceremony was performed. CHAPTER XLVI. PETER MOPER’S PROPHECY. THE ‘ Avenger” lay off Rio de Janeiro two days longer, when the wind veered round to the north- west, and she put to sea, A tide took them through the Sweyn, and they came to anchor fora short time off a picturesque island, Next morning the wind was again favourable, and the “‘ Avenger” cut through the water gaily. The crew were congratulating themselves on the favourable weather which they now experienced, when they observed Peter Moper coming slowly towards them, with his usual countenance. “Well, Peter, how fare you, old chap?” asked Clem, Cleats. ‘Kine breeze of wind right aft; canvas well filled, going at the rate of ten knots ; soon overhaul the pirates, eh?” ‘‘T wish we may,” replied Peter, with his usual doubtful look, ‘I wish we may; but I fear the wind won't last long in that quarter.”’ ‘““What, more omens ?” cried his messmates, with a general leer. “ Yes, more omens,” reiterated Peter, with a look of rebuke. ‘‘ That cussed cargo of pigs will spoil all. If the captain couldn't dine without pork at his table, why couldn’t he have it ready killed? Pigs, at the best of times, are not lucky. Now, only look at that ugly porker with his nose pointed right ahead. What do you suppose he is looking at so intently ?” ‘‘ By my shoul I can't tell,” said O'Kasey. * Ah, you ignorant Inbber, I thought so,” replied Peter. ‘‘ He's looking at the wind, to be sure; he sees it plain enough—wind right abead. We shall have it slap in our teeth before two hours are over.’ The crew laughed at Peter’s prophecy; but it was not quite such a hearty laugh as was the general custom. That pigs see the wind was not altogether dis- believed, and that the pig’s snout was pointed right ahead was beyond a doubt. Hour after hour succeeded, but the wind still kept aft. Evening came, wind still favourable. Peter and several others went below to get their og oO ‘Kasey, who smarted under Peter's rebuke, couldn’t forbear having a fling at him. ‘‘ Where's the wind now?” roared O'Kasey, with a Jaugh, and a mischievous glance of the eye. “Tn the north,” replied Peter, drily. ‘ And the pig’s nose is to the south |’’ exclaimed Pat. ‘Blood and turf, it’s impossible, man! How can the pig keep his nose to the south, and see the wind from the north—unless, to be sure, he might squint a trifle?” Peter looked mysterious, and, with a solemn countenance, disdainfully eyed Pat O’Kasey, as he Said, “What can you expect from an Irishman but.a blunder? Now, to show you you have no more brains than our stern-post, I’1l just explain matters a little. I have been at sea many years, and have always paid strict attention to signs of changes of the weather, and such like ; and that a pig sees the wind is more than all your philosophers and astrology chaps can deny. This pig of ours, as you all know, pointed due south, and we should have had the wind from that quarter in less than two hours had it not been for a scheme which for- tunately entered my head at the moment,” “ And what scheme was that?” “Why,” said Peter, “I lifted the pig in my arms, and turned him right round with his nose to the north’ard,.” Pat and the crew burst into a loud fit of laughter. “ Ay, ay, laugh away,” cried Peter, with a sneer, “but depend upon it, if it hadn’t been for this ex- pedient we should have been blown back a hundred miles by day-break, And you, Master Pat O’Kasey, you’re a pretty lubber to go to attempt to overhaul my grammatics and my larning, a’nt you? What a pretty mess you made of it when our vessel was new-rigged, and we were so pestered with company. that our brave young captain was obliged to excuse himself from allowing any more strangers aboard till we got out of the harbour ; a pretty bull you made of it then, sure enough.” “The devil a bit of bull was there about it, Mister Peter,’’ said Pat; “but I gave a clane, dacent, off-hand answer toa plain question, as my messmates here shall decide. Our ship lay along- side the pier; all the crew were on shore, except the captain, myself, and the mate. Thecaptain and mate were down below, overhauling a chart, and I remained on deck to give answers to any inquiries, Presently there comes a great big gentleman, with his head as thickly powdered as ‘if Katty Maloney had emptied her flour-tub over him. ‘I want to come on board, and see the ship,’ sayshe. ‘You can’t do that thing just now,’ says I. ‘And why not?’ says he. ‘ Because there’s nobody aboard but the captain, and he’s just gone ashore,’ says I. Now where's the bull in that, messmates ?” A roar of laughter followed, and the crew pro- mised themselves a good cargo of mirth as long as they could set Peter and the Irishman foul of each other. St. Iago was now but a few miles distant, and they brought up in order to take on board two military officers who wished to accompany the captain, to whom they were related. They shortly set sail again. The wind was blowing astiff breeze from N.N.E. ; Peter was at the helm ; “they were running through a narrow channel, sounding, and Peter knew that extreme attention was necessary on account of the number o. shoals which were close to them, Hal Hethe:.=¢ton was standing near the binnacle carelessly looking round, while ‘he was whistling ‘* Rule Britannia.” Peter looked at him once or twice with a coun- tenance somewhat tinged with dissatisfaction, till, not able to contain himself any longer, he turned to him, saying, ‘Don’t whistle, if you please, sir.’ “Not whistle |” ejaculated Hal. “My good fellow, what harm can there be in whistling ?”’ en mana ake (COA HK SLO OXOL. SCO) ——————— oe nnn ROVING JACK, THE PIRATE HUNTER.