Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 11 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

rr —— no doubt of his zeal; for if the whole country had been at stake he could not have put himself in a greater passion.”’ “Then he did his duty; but depend upon it it was not a pleasant one to him: and I'll answer for it, when you meet him on board, he will be as friendly with you as if nothing had happened,”’ ‘*He told me that he’d soon make me know what a first EPS ill was: what did he mean by that?” in- ack, ‘“Yes, but he said that as soon as he got_on board ‘ he’d show me the difference between a first lieutenant and a midshipman.” ** All zeal.’ “He said my ignorance should be a little enlightened by-and by." 7 ea » B ] “And that he’d send a sergeant and marines to fetch me.”’ ‘All zeal.” ‘*That he would put my philosophy to the proof,” ‘* All zeal, Mr. Easy. Zeal will break out in this way; ——- Jolliffe. “ Brea fast for to-day _hours.”’ that there was another person in the berth—Mr. Jolliffe, the master’s mate, who had fixed his eye upon Jack, and to whom Jack returned the compliment. The first thing that Jack observed was that Mr. Jolliffe was very deeply pockmarked, and that he had but one eye, and that wasa piercer; it appeared like a little ball of fire, and as if it reflected more light from the solitary candle than the candle gave, “T don’t like your looks,” thought Jack; ‘‘we shall never be friends.”’ But here Jack fell into the common error of judging by appearances, as will be proved hereafter, ‘I’m glad to see you up again, youngster,” said Jolliffe; ** you’ve been on your beam-ends longer than usual, but those who are strongest suffer most-—you made your mind up butlate to come to sea, However, they say ‘ Better late than never.’”’ “T feel very much inclined to argue the truth of that saying,” replied Jack; “but it’s no use just now. I’m terribly hungry—when shall I get some breakfast?” “To-morrow morning at half-past eight,’’ replied Mr. as been over these two _ Midshipman Hasy. se 3 f _——_——_— —— —_ _— and the ship was slowly forging through the blue water. The captain and. first lieutenant were standing on the gangway in converse, and the majority of the officers were with their quadrants and sextants ascertaining the latitude at noon.. ‘The decks were white and clean the sweepers had just laid by their brooms, and thi men were busy coiling down the ropes. It was a scene _ of cheerfulness, activity, and order, which lightened his heart after the four days of suifering, close air and con, finement from which he had just emerged. The captain, who. perceived him, beckoned to bin, asked him. kindly how he felt; the first leutonant gtso smiled upon him, and, many of the oflicers, as wellas his messmates, congratulated him upon his recovery, The captain’s steward came up to him, touched his hat, and requéeSted the pleasure of his company to din- ner in the cabin, Jack was the essence of politeness, took off his hat, and accepted the invitation. Jack yas standing on a rope which a seaman was coiling down: the man touched his hat and requested he would be so kind as to take his foot off. Jack took his hat off Tis head in return, and his foot. off the rope., The master touched his hat, and reported twelve.o’clock to the.first lieutenant—the first lieutenant,touched his hat, and re- ported twelve o’clock to thé captain—the captain touched his hat, and told the first lieutenant to make it The officer of the watch touched his hat, and asked “But must I then go without?” “No; Ido notsay that, as we must make allowances for your illness; but it will not be breakfast.”’ but we should do nothing in the service without it. lecollect that I hope and trust one day to see you also a zealous officer.”’ Here Jack cogitated considerably, and gave no an- ; om ae AO oe ; ; . : ad - i + : ‘ swer. ‘You will, I am sure,’’ continued Captain Wilson, ‘** find Mr. Sawbridge one of your best friends.” ‘“* Perhaps so,”’ replied Jack, ** but I did not much ad- | mire our first acquaintance.”’ “Tt will peers be your unpleasant duty to find as much fault yourself; we are all equally bound todo bread; t a cup of tea, and ship’s biscuit and butter I order of the day, and every one has an eqnal respect our duty to our country. But, Mr. Easy, I sent for you Can desire the steward to get ready for you,” for ‘the other.” Jack stayed on deck, he peeped | to say that we shall sail to-morrow; and, as I shall send my things off this afternoon by the launch, you. had better send yours off also. At eight o'clock I shall go on board, and we can both go in the same boat.”’ To this Jack made no sort of objection, and having paid his bill at the Fountain, he sent his chest down to the boat by some of the crew who came up for it, and attended the summons of the captain toembark. By , nine’ o’clock that evening Mr. Jack Easy was safe on. boardghis majesty’s sloop Harpy. When Jack arrived on hohe tt was dark, and he did not know what to do with himself. The captain was. received by the officers on deck, who took off their hats to salute him. The captain returned the salute, and so did Jack very politely, after which the captain entered into conversation with the first lieutenant, and for a while Jack was left to himself. It was too dark to dis- tinguish faces, and to one who had never been on board of aship, too dark to move, so Jack stood where he \vas, Which was not far from the main bitts; but he did 1:0t stay long; the boat had been hooked on to the quarter davits, and the boatswain had called out: *“ Set taut, my lads!” And then with the shrill whistle, and “ Away with | her!” forward came galloping and bounding along the men with the tackles; and in the dark Jack was upset, and half a dozen marines fell upon him; the men, who had no idea that an officer was floored among the others, were pleased at the joke, and continued to danee over those who were down, until they rolled themselves out of the way. Jack, who did not under- stand this, fared badly, and it was not till the calls iped belay that he could recover his legs. after havin been trampled upon by half the starboard watch, and the breath completely jammed out of his body. Jack reeled to a carronade slide, when the officers, who had been laughing at the lark as well as the men, perceived | his situation—among others, Mr, Sawbridge, the first lieutenant. ‘Are you hurt, Mr, Easy?’ said he, kindly. we little,” replied Jack, catching his breath. ‘You've had but a rough welcome,” replied the first | lieutenant, ‘“‘but at certain times, on board ship, it is | every man for himself, and God for us all. Harpur,” | oe te down to the gun-room with you, an wi | pre A 4 . , able at all to send for me just now, anyhow, seeing how the praters are in the copper, and so many black- continued the first lieutenant to the doctor, down myself as soon asIcan, Where is Mr. Jolliffe?” “Here, sir,” copies Mr. Jolliffe, a master’s mate, coming aft from the booms, “There is a youngster come on board with the cap- | tain. Order one of the quarter-masters to get a ham-_ inock slung.” allow others to do so, unless it is necessary,” replied | notions, laughing the whole time that the conversation ~'” In the meantime Jack went down into the gun-room, Jolliffe; ‘‘ but this poor lad has eaten nothing since he was carried on. AB where a glass of wine somewhat recovered kim. He | has been on board, and is very hungry—you must get | It will be observed, that this day may be considered’ > . did not, stay there long, nor did he venture to talk much, him a little tea.” Pg as the first in which Jack really made his Se TealTs As soon as his hammock was ready Jack was ready to “Is it tay you mane, sir?—I guess, to make tay, in | on board, and it aiso was on this first day that Jae e and as he was much bruised he was _ not dis- made known, at the captain's table, his very peculiar out, . to b Farbéd the next morning till past nine o’clock. He then | dressed himself, went on deck, found that the sloop was just clear of the Needles, that he felt very queer, then very sick, and was conducted by a marine down below, put into his hammock, where he remained du- “Call it what you please,” replied Jack, “only pray So. desire the servants to give me something to eat... Dry toast or muffins—anything will do, but 1 should prefer coffee,”’ ‘You forget that you are off Finisterre, in a midship- man’s berth; coffee we have none—muflins we never “2 a toast cannot be made, as we have no soft yu ** Well, then,” replied Jack, “I will thank you to pro- cure me that.’ ‘“* Marine,’ cried Jolliffe, ‘* call Mesty.”’ “ Pass the word for Mesty,”’ called the marine—and the two syllables were handed forward until lost in the fore part of the vessel. The person so named must be introduced to the read- er. He was a curious anomaly—a black man who had been brought to America as a slave, and there sold, He was a very tall, spare-built, yet muscular form, and had. a face by no means common with his race. His head was long and narrow, high cheek-bones, from whence his face descended down to almost a point at the chin; his nose ies ht A small, but it was straight and almost Roman; his: mouth also was unusuaily small; and his lips thin for an African; his teeth very white, and filed to sharp points. He claimed the rank of prince in his own country, with what truth could not of course be substantiated. His master had settled at New York, and there Mesty had learned English, if it could be so called: the fact is, that all the emigrant laborers at New York being Irishmen, he had learned English with the strong brogue and peculiar phrase. ology of the sister kingdom dashed with a little Yan- keeism. Having been told that there was no slavery in Eng- land, Mesty had concealed himself on board an English merchant vessel, and escaped, On his arrival in ing- land he had entered on board of a man-of-war. Hav- ing no name, it was necessary to christen him on the ' ship’s books, and the first lieutenant, who had entered him, struck with his remarkable expression of counten- ance, and béing a German scholar, had narmed ‘hin Mephistopheles Faust, from whence his Christian name been razeed to Mesty, Mesty in other points was an eccentric character; at one moment, when he remem- bered his lineage, he was proud to excess, at others he was grave and almost sullen—but when nothing either in daily occurrences or in his mind ran contrary, he exhibited the drollery so often foundin his nation, with a spice of Irish humor, as if he had caught up the latter with his Irish brogue. Mesty was soon seen coming aft, but almgst double as he crouched under the beams, and taking large strides with his naked feet. ‘“ By the powers, Massa Yolliffe, but it is not season- guard Ya! cae all ready to change net for net, and better themselves by the same mistake, dam um.”’ ‘‘Mesty, you know I never send for you myself, or the first place I must ab water, and in the next must ab room in the galley to put the kettle on—and ‘pose you wanted to burn the tip of your little finger just now, it’s not in the galley that you find a berth for it—and den the water before seven bells. possible.” Ive a notion it’s just im- | captain, they were equally astonished at the cool, good- the captain whether they should pipe to dinuer—the¢ cope touched his hat, aud said, “If you please,” ‘he midshipman received his orders, and touched bis - hat, which he gave to the head boatsiain's mate, who touched his hat, and then the calls whistied cheerily. “Well,” thought Jack, “politeness secms to be the through the ports, which were open, and looked down into the deep. blué wave: he cast his eyes aiift, and watched the tall spars sweeping and tracing with their points, as it were, a small portion of the clear sky, as they acted in obedience to the motion of the vessel; he looked forward at the range of carronades which Imed the sides of the deck, and then he proceeded to climb one of the carronades, and lean over the hammocks to gaze on the distant land. | ‘Young gentleman, get off those hammocks,” cried the master, who. was officer of the watch, in a surly’” tone. Jack looked round, ‘Do you hear me, sir? I’m speaking to you,’ said the. - master again, Jack felt very indignant, and. he thought that polite- ness Was not quite so general as he supposed, It happened that Captain Wilson was upon deck, “Come here, Mr. I rule in the service that no one géts on the hammocks, unless in case of emérgency—l hever do—nor the Tirst lieutenant—nor any of the officers or men—therefore upon the principle of. equality, you must not do it either,” ‘* Certainly not, sir,’ replied Jack, “but stil T do not’ see why that officer in the shining hat should be so angry, and not Speak to me as if I were a gentleman,as well as himself.” ‘“T have already explained that to you, Mr. Basy.” ‘Oh yes, I recollect now, it’s zeal; but this zeal ap* pears to me to be the only unpleasant thing m the ser- vice. It’sa pity, as you said, that the service, cannot do without it.” Captain Wilson laughed, and walked away; and shortly afterward, as he turned up aud down. the deck With the master, he hinted to hitn, that he should not speak so sharply to.a lad Who had committed’ such ’a trifling error through ignorance.” Now Mr. Smailsole the master, who was 4 sttiy sort of a personage, and did not like even a hint ‘of disapprcbation of his con, duct; although very regardless of ube teclings of others, determined to pay this off on Jack, the very first con. — venient opportunity. Jack dined in the cabin,,and was very much pleased to find that. every one drank Witle with him, and that everybody at the captain’s table ap- * eared to be on an eguality. Before the dessert. had een on the table five. minutes, Jack becatne loquacious on his favorite topic; all the company stared with snr; »’ rise at such an unhéard-of doctrine being broached On’ ” ) board of a man-of-war; the captain’argued the pom, so as to controvert, without too much offending, Jeck’s - notions. If consisted of the second heterodox opinions being started in the presence of the — . - asy,”’ said: the captain; “it-is‘a™ @ conn pasty at the captain’s table, which’ 1 lieutenant, purser, Mr. Jolliffe” ~~ and one of the midshipmen, were astonished at such’ T 0 —) ring a gale of wind of three days, bewildered, con-| (' But he must have something, Mesty,” _humored ridicule with which they were received by. fused, puzzled, and every minute knocking his head “Never mind the tea, then,” replied Jack, “‘T'll take Captain Wilson. The remote of Jack’s bolduéss) and ®"* some milk.” every word and opinion that he had uttered (of ‘course '” ainst the beams with the pitching and tossing of the rey 3 “ee Rnd this is going to sea,”’ thought Jack, “no won- der no one interferes with another here, or talks about a trespass; for I'm sure any ove is welcome to my rime of = ocean; and if I oar get on shore again the devil may have my portion e chooses, Captain Wilson #. Mr. Sawbridge had both allowed Jack more leisure than most midshipmen, enrine his illness, By the time that the gale was over the sloop was off Cape Finisterre. The next mornin the sea was nearly down, and there was but a slight breeze on the waters. The comparative quiet of the night before jiad very much recovered our hero, and when the ham- 1nocks were piped up he was accosted by Mr. Jolliffe the master’s mate, who asked, “whether he intended to rouse and bit, or whether he intended to sail to Gib- raltar between his blankets.” Jack, who felt himself quite another person, turned out of his hammock and himself. A marine had, by the captain’s orders, attended Jack during his ness, and this man came to his assistance, opened his chest. and brought him all he required, or Jack would have been in a sad dilemma. Jack then inquired where he was to go, for he had not been in the midshipmen’s berth, although five da “Is it milk massa manes, and the bumboat woman on the oder side of the bay?” “We have no milk, Mr. Easy; you forget that we are on blue water,” replied Jolliffe, ‘* and I really am afraid that you'll have to wait till dinner-time. Mesty tells the truth,”’ “I tell you what, Massa Yolliffe, it just seven bells, | and if the young gentleman would, instead of tay, try a little out of the coppar, it might keep him asy. Tt but a little difference, tay soup and pay soup, Now a bowl of that, with some nuts, and a flourish of pepper, will do _him good, anyhow.” ‘* Perhaps the best thing he can take, Mesty; get it'as fast as you can,” In a few minutes the black brought down a bowl of soup and whole peas swimming in it, put before our hero atin bread-basket full of small biscuit, called mid- shipmen’s nuts, and the pepper-castor. Jack's visions of tea, coffee, muffins, dry toast, and milk, vanished as he perceived the mess; but he was very hungry, and he found it much better than he expected; and he more- over found himself much the better after he had swal- lowed it. It struck seven bells, and he accompanied Mr. Jolliffe on deck. much magnified), was circulated that evening through . the whole ship; it was canvassed in the gun-room by the officers; it.was descanted upon by the midshipmen as they walked the deck; the captain’s steward held a levee abreast of the ship’s funnel, in which he‘naérrated this new doctrine. opinion in his birth, that it was damnable: officers, till the grog was all gone, and then dismissed it as too dry a subject: and it was the general opinion: Of the ship’s company, that as Scon as théy arrived Gibraltar Bay, our hero would bid ndieu t6 thé’ either by being sentenced to death by a cot or by being dismissed, and towed on shore-on'® Others, who had more of the wisdom of the and who had been inforimed by Mr. Sawbridge that our’ hero was a lad who would inherit a large property; argued differently, and considered that Cap tai son had very good reasons for being so lenient—and among them was the second lieutenant. There were but’ ' four who were well inclined toward Jack,—to-wit, the” captain, the first ientenant, Mr. Jolliffe, the oree master’s mate, and Mephistopheles, the blagk! whd,” paving heard that Jack had uttered such setitiments; |’ loved him with ail his heart aid soul. . The sergeant of marites Pave’ his.’ swain talked over the matter with the other Warrant’ ' : “ ’ u L : vice. its on board. The marine pointed it out to him, and Jack, CHAPTER X, | We have referred to the second lieutenant; Mri ase" >> who felt excessively hungry, crawled over and between | SHOWING HOW JACK TRANSGRESSES AGAINST HIS | ik This young man had’ a very high res A Pee) TLRs OWN PHILOSOPHY, | birth, and particularly for money, of which he bad very" ~ h until he found himself fairly in a hole infinitel peer to the. dog-kennels which received his father's| Wen Jack Fasy had gained the deck, he found the sun shining gayly, a sott air blowing from the shore, and | a I'd not only give up the ocean,” thought Jack. “and | the whole of the and every part of the ship my share of it, but also my share of the vy, unto loaded with the shirts, trowsers, and jackets of the sea- one who fancies it. Equality enough ere, for men, which had been wetted during the heavy gale, Oo . little. He was the son of an eminent merchant who, during the time that he was a midshipmian, had” allowed him a much larger sum for his expenses than Was necessary or proper ; and, during his career; he found that his full pocket procured him consequence, ° - = * Nee ery one appears equally , and were now hanging up todry; all the wet were not only among his own mess-mateés, but ‘also with Ore be tha gave vent to his : hts, he perceived | also spread on the booms or triced up in the rigging, many of the officers of the ships that he sailed in. Eomicbooks (E()