The Boy Captain of the Black Swallow — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

2 THE BOY CAPTAIN OF THE “BLACK SWALLOW.” feminine voice within the hut, which contained two apartments, separated by a partition reaching two-thirds to the raftered ceiling, one containing two low beds, the other being the main room of the dwelling. In the centre, op- posite the door, was a huge fireplace, the sides composed of flat stones unskilfully put together. Over the chimney, blackened with smoke, hung fishing-pikes, oars, broken spars, fishing-poles, nets, and other apparatus of the hardy fisher- man, and about the room, on nails driven into the face. of the logs, were old storm-worn and time-worn garments, such as_ pea-jackets, tarred trousers, oilskin hats, and a red, woollen eap. Baskets, coarsely woven, to contain ale- wives, and small canvas sacks of salt, for cur- ing the fish taken, stood upon a shelf, Over the mantelpiece was a conical-shaped sea-shell, in which was stuck the remnant of a tallow candle, and half a dozen clam-shells, ar- ranged upon it, were evidently used as plates, for upon the table was one of the kind in which were the remains of a broiled fisb, while another held three or four potatoes. Two spoons (shells with wooden handles affixed) were also upon the mantel; and also two well- used pipes, and a little tobacco open in a paper. By the table were two chairs with straw bottoms, a wooden bench, a barrel, a candle box, and a rocking-chair. The floor was composed of rough boards, loosely laid, and the hearth, which was spacious and comfortable-looking, was paved with shells. Everything bespoke the poverty of the in- nates, A fire of pinewood was burning brightly in the chimney, and in an iron pot over it hung cooking a mess of fish. Seated in the low rocking-chair, superintending ~it, was the woman who had spoken. She was about forty years of age, stout and well-looking, notwith- standing the tan of suns and winds had given her complexion the hue of a gipsy. Her features were regularly shaped, strongly defined, and expressed firmness and bene- volence. Her large, hazel eyes were finely formed and well set beneath a strong but handsome brow. Her dark hair had here and there a silver line of grey and was copiously long and full, being gathered in a large knot under a small, cotton cap. In her ears were pendent a pair of very slender gold rings, and upon the third finger of her left hand was a plain gilt ring, These were her only ornaments, and not to have had something in the shape of jewellery, even in her poverty, would verily haye been denying herself to be ® woman. In her hand she held a Jadle, the spoon of which was a deep shell. At intervals, she would stir the savoury mess upon the fire, and then glance towards the door where her son stood. He had just risen from a hasty repast on the plea of having to row up to town be- ‘ore dark. His appearance was as striking as that of his mother. He was about twenty years of ace, and though under the usual height, he was symmetrically made. He had a fine, manly chest, developed to its fullest breadth without undue massiveness. His dress was. @ grey fustian jacket, buttoned close to the chin, and a pair of fisher’s trousers. He wore stout shoes, whitened with salt water, and upon his head a tarpaulin, with a narrow brim and a small top, a sort of Jack-Tar head-piece which sat very jauntily upon the back of his head, and was very becoming. His hair fell in shining masses to his shoulders, after the fashion of the men of his class at that day. His features had the same noble cast, the same firm outline and decision of expression as his mother’s. His open brow, his fine, large hazel eyes, full of fire and feeling, his nose slightly eagle-beaked, his thin, well-cut, flexible lips and curving chin, presented a profile of the firmest character. The carriage of his head was free. and his attitude cold, if not some- what proud. He looked like one who, if called to act in a perilous time, would be quick ito resolve and fearless to execute. But, as we have seen, he lingered and gazed now moodily upon the decsying shipping at the wharves, at the distant town, and upon the deserted schooner before his own door. Ags he repeated his mutterings, his mother bent forward and addressed him. “Did you speak to me, Arthur ?” “No, mother,” answered the youth, without turning his head, yet speaking with due defer- ence. “ What troubles you, boy ?” “ How can you ask me that, mother?” he queried, in a quick tone, glancing towards her. “ Well, well, I suppose you do feel bad about the war. We all feel it, and I dare say a great many suffer quite as much as we do. But all your complaining, Arthur, won’t put an end to it, and bring us peace again.” ‘‘J shall complain no more!” he answered, resolutely. ‘I have idly complained long enough, till grass has grown upon _ the schooner’s decks, and her keel has well-nigh sent out roots into the mud, But I have resolved now to act !” | “To act! What can you do? You must abide peaceably at home, and fish in the river as you have done the last summer, and all other fishermen have to do, until the war ends,” “The war shall end for me at once. I will no longer remain ignobly here, Are we not made so poor by this war that we searcely have means to live? Fishin the river? Yes, and who will buy? We fish only that we may eat, and no more. I am resolved that I will not remain shut up here in the river three days longer.” ‘You are mad, boy,” said the woman, rising and coming to him. ‘ You have, the last week, looked and acted strangely. J am beginning to fear, dear boy, that——” ‘“ Dear mother, do not let any tears fill your eyes from any apprehension that I am going mad,” he said, partly with a smile, partly with a serious air, at the same time taking both her oO Comichboo Si (©)