Author: George Manville Fenn
Category: Nonfiction
Go to read content：https://onlinereadfreenovel.com/george-manville-fenn/page,4,8303-the_lost_middy__being_the_secret_of_the_smugglers_gap.html
CHAPTER FOUR.
"I didn't get my brill after all, Tom," said Aleck, as the sail filledout and the boat sped along over the little dancing waves.
"Never mind the flat fish, Master Aleck; we'll pick up a few bass as wego along through the race, and they'll be fresher than his brill."
"No, Tom," said Aleck, frowning; "no fishing to-day. I want to get backand have a proper wash and change my shirt and collar."
"Well, you did get a bit knocked about, Master Aleck. You see, he's ahard sort o' boy; awfully thick-headed chap."
"He is, and no mistake," said Aleck. "Look at my knuckles!"
"Ay, you have got 'em a bit chipped; but it'll all grow up again. Butwhat was it he said as made you bile over and get a-fighting that how?"
"Oh, never mind," said the boy, flushing. "It's all over now."
"Yes," said the sailor, knitting his brow, "it's all over now; but," headded, thoughtfully, as he let the sheet slip through his fingers andtightened it again, giving and taking as the sail tugged in answer tothe puffs of wind, "but it don't seem like you to get into action likethat, Master Aleck. You're generally such a quiet sort o' chap, anddon't mind the boys yelping about yer heels any more than as if they wasdogs."
"Of course, and I never for a moment thought that anything they couldsay would put me in such a passion. Oh, Tom, I felt once as if I couldkill him!"
"Monkey must ha' been up very much indeed, Master Aleck. I've beena-wondering what he could ha' called you to make you clear the decks andgo at him like that. You must have hit out and no mistake."
"Yes, I hit them as hard as ever I could--both of them."
"Both? Did you have two on 'em at yer at once?"
"Yes, part of the time."
"Then I am glad you licked 'em. It was just like a smart frigatelicking a couple of two-deckers. What did he call yer?"
"Oh, never mind, Tom; nothing."
"But he must have called yer, as I said afore, something very, very badindeed. Yer needn't mind telling me, my lad, for I seem to ha' been asort of sea-father to yer. I've heered a deal o' bad language at sea inmy time, and I should like to hear what it was that made you fly outlike that. Tell us what it was."
"No, no; don't ask me, Tom."
"Not ast yer, my lad? Well, I won't if yer say as I arn't to. But itmust ha' been something very bad indeed."
"It was, Tom, horribly bad; but--but he didn't call me anything. It wassomething he said made me so angry. I wouldn't have fought like thatfor anything he had called me."
"Ho!" said the sailor, thoughtfully. "Then it was about somebody else?"
"Yes, Tom," said the lad, frowning, and with his eyes flashing with theremains of his anger.
"Then it must have been something as he called me," said the sailor,naively. "Yes, I know he's got his knife into me. So you licked himwell for saying what he did, Master Aleck?"
"Yes," said the lad, thoughtfully, and with the frown deepening upon hisface.
"Then I says thankye, Master Aleck, and I won't forget it, for it wasvery hansum on yer."
"What was?" said the lad, starting.
"What was? Why, you licking that big ugly lout, my lad, for calling menames."
"No, no, no," cried Aleck, quickly; "it was not for that."
"Why, you said just now as you did, Master Aleck," said the sailor,blankly.
"Oh, no; you misunderstood me, Tom. It was not for that."
"Ho! Then what for was it, my lad?"
"I can't tell you, Tom," cried the boy, passionately. "Don't worry me.Can't you see I'm all in pain and trouble?"
"All right, sir; I don't want to worry yer. It don't matter. Icouldn't help wanting to know why you larruped him; but, as I saidafore, it don't matter. You did larrup him, and give it him well, andit strikes me as his father'll give him the rope's-end as well, as soonas he sees him for going back home with such a face as he's got on hisfront. My word, you did paint him up. His old man won't hardly knowhim."
"Tom!" cried Aleck, excitedly, as these last words impressed him deeply.
"Ay, ay, sir! Tom it is."
"Look at my face," said the lad, looking up sharply from where he hadbeen leaning over the gunwale scooping up the water in his hand andbathing the injuries he had received in his encounter. "Look at me. Ismy face much knocked about?"
The sailor shifted the hands which had held rudder and sheet, afterwardsraising that which held the latter and rubbing his mahogany brown nosewith the rope.
"Well, why don't you speak, Tom?" said the lad, pettishly.
"'Cause I was 'specting yer like, my lad--smelling yer over like, so asto think out what to say."
"Go on, then; only say something."
"So I will, sir, if yer really wants to hear."
"Why, of course I do. Does my face show much?"
"Well, yes, sir," said the sailor, gravely, as he went on rubbing oneside of his nose with the rope. "You've got it pretty tidy."
"Tell me what you can see."
The sailor grunted and hesitated.
"Go on," cried Aleck. "Here, my bottom lip smarts a good deal. It'scut, isn't it?"
"That's right, sir. Cut it is, but I should say as it'll soon grow uptogether again."
Aleck pressed the kerchief to his lip, and winced with pain.
"Arn't loosened no teeth, have yer, sir?"
Aleck shook his head.
"Go on," he said. "What about my nose? It's swollen, isn't it?"
"Well, yes, sir, it is a bit swelled like. Puffy, as yer might say;but, bless yer 'art, it's nothing to what Big Jem's is. I shouldn'tmind about that a bit now, for it have stopped bleeding. There'snothing like cold sea water for that, though it do make yer tingle abit. I 'member what a lot o' good it used to do when we'd been inaction and the lads had got chopped about in boarding the enemy. TheFrenchies used to be pretty handy with their cutlasses andboarding-pikes. They used axes too."
"Oh, I don't want to know about that," cried Aleck, pettishly. "There'sa scratch or something on my forehead, isn't there?"
"It's 'most too big and long to call it a scratch, sir. I should callthat a cut."
"Tut, tut, tut!" ejaculated Aleck.
"That'll soon be all right, sir," continued the sailor, cheerfully."Bit o' sticking plaster'll soon set that to rights. What I don't likeis your eyes."
"My eyes?" cried Aleck. "Yes, they do feel stiff when I wink them. Dothey look bad, then?"
The sailor chuckled softly.
"What do you mean by that?" cried the lad, angrily. "Are they swollentoo? I'm sure there's nothing to laugh at in that."
The sailor tried to look very serious, but failed. The laughingcrinkles were smoothed out of his face, but his eyes sparkled and dancedwith merriment as he said:
"I didn't mean no harm, Master Aleck, but you wouldn't say what you didif you could see your eyes. They do look so rum."
"Why? How?" cried Aleck, excitedly.
"Did yer see Benny Wiggs's eyes las' year after he took the bee swarm asgot all of a lump in Huggins's damsel tree?"
"No, of course I didn't," cried Aleck, impatiently.
"Ah, that's a pity, sir, because yourn looks just like his'n did. Yousee, they don't look like eyes!"
"Then what do they look like?" cried Aleck.
"Well, sir, I'll tell yer: they looks just like the tops o' bread loavesgoing to the oven."
"Like what?"
"I mean like the holes the missuses makes in the dough with theirfingers. Finishes off by giving a poke in the top with a finger, andthat closes up into a crinkly slit with a swelling around."
"Bah!" growled Aleck.
"Well, you would ask me, sir."
"Yes, of course. Something like Big Jem's?"
"Yes, sir; on'y more squeezed in like. Your eyes is allus handsome andbright like, but they arn't now. But, there, don't you mind that, sir.They turn nasty colours like for a bit, but, as I says, don't you mind.Big Jem's fa
ce was a reg'lar picter. I don't know what his father'llsay when he sees him."
"And I don't know what uncle will say when he sees me," said Aleck,despondently.
"Eh? The captain?" cried the sailor, in a startled tone of voice."Phe-ew!" he whistled. "I forgot all about him. I say, my lad, hewon't like to see you this how."
"No," said Aleck, dismally.
"Arn't got no aunts or relations as you could go and see for a fortnit,have you?"
"No, Tom; I have no relatives but Uncle Donne."
"That's a pity, sir. Well, I dunno what you'd better do."
"Face uncle, and tell him the whole truth."
"To be sure, sir. Of course. That's the way you'd better lay yourhead--to the wind like. And, look here, sir!"
"I can't look, Tom; my eyes feel closed up, and I can hardly see a bit."
"I mean look here with understanding, sir. I used to be with a skipperwho was a downright savage if we got beaten off, and threatened to flogus. But if we won, and boarded a ship and took her, he'd laugh at ourhurts and come round and shake hands and call us his brave lads."
"But what has that to do with uncle seeing me in this horrible state?"
"Why, don't you see, sir?" cried the sailor, eagerly. "He's a captain,and a fighting man."
Aleck frowned, but the sailor did not notice it, and went on:
"You ups and tells him that Big Jem and the pack o' blackguard riff-raffcome and 'sulted yer and said what you wouldn't tell me. The captainwouldn't want you to put up with that. I know the captain 'most as wellas you do. `Hullo!' he says; `what ha' you been doing--how did you getin that condition?' he says--just like that. Then you ups and tells himyou had it out with Big Jem and the rest. `What for, sir?' he says--just like that. `For saying,'--you know what, sir--you says, and tellshim right out, though you wouldn't tell me. `And you let that big,ugly, blackguardly warmint thrash you like that?' he says, in his fierceway--just like that. Then your turn comes, and you ups and says, 'mostas chuff as he does: `No, uncle,' you says, `I give him the orflestleathering he ever had in his life.' `Did you, Aleck?' he says, rubbinghis hands together, joyful like. `Well done, my boy,' he says; `I likethat. I wish I'd been there to see. Brayvo!--Now go and wash your faceand brush your clothes and 'air.'"
"Think he would, Tom?"
"Sure on it, sir. I wouldn't ha' answered for him if you'd gone backwith your tail between your legs, reg'larly whipped; but seeing how youcan go back and cry cock-a-doodle-doo!--"
"Like a dog, Tom?" said Aleck, grimly, with a feeling of amusement atthe way in which his companion was mixing up his metaphors.
"Like a dog, sir? Tchah! Dogs can't crow. You know what I mean.Seeing how you can go back with your colours flying, the captain'll feelproud on yer, and if he's the gentleman I take him for he'll cut yer abit o' sticking plaster himself. What you've got to do is to gostraight to his cabin and speak out like a man."
"Yes, Tom, I mean to--but, Tom--" continued the lad, in a hesitatingway.
"Ay ay, sir; what is it?"
"Did you ever hear any of the fishermen say anything against my uncle?"
"Eh? Oh, I've heered them gawsip and talk together when they've beenleaning theirselves over the rail in the sun, gawsiping like, as you maysay; but I never took no notice. Fishermen when they're ashore chattertogether like old women over the wash-tubs, but I never takes no heed towhat they says. The captain's been a good friend to me, and so I shutsmy ears when people say nasty things."
"Then you know that they do say nasty things about him?" said Aleck.
"Oh, yes, sir, and 'bout everyone else too. They lets out about mesometimes, I've heered, and about my losing my legs; but I don't mind.I say, though, Master Aleck, sir! Haw--haw--haw! Think o' meforgetting all about 'em and saying that being at sea never did me noharm! It was a rum 'un!"
Aleck was silent and thinking about his own troubles, making hiscompanion glance at him uneasily, waiting for the lad to speak; but ashe remained silent the sailor turned the state of affairs over in hisown mind till he hit upon what he considered to be a very happy thought.
"I say, Master Aleck."
"Eh? Yes, Tom."
"I've been a-thinking that as a reg'lar thing I'm a bit skeart o' thecaptain. He's such a fierce, cut-you-off-short sort of a gentleman thatI'm always glad to get away when I've been up to the Den to do anythingfor yer--pitching the boat's bottom or mending holes, or overhauling thetackle; but I tell you what--"
"Well, what, Tom?" said Aleck, for the sailor stopped short and crossedhis two dwarf wooden legs in the bottom of the boat, and then, as if notsatisfied, crossed them the other way on.
"I was thinking, Master Aleck, that you and me's been messmates like,ever since I come back from sea."
"Yes, Tom."
"I mean in a proper way, sir," cried the man, hurriedly. "I don't meanshoving myself forrard, because well I know you're a young gen'leman andI'm on'y a pensioned-off hulk as has never been anything more than aAB."
"I don't know what you're aiming at, Tom," said Aleck, querulously, ashe went on bathing his bruised face again. "Of course we've been likemessmates many a time out with the boat, but what has that to do withthe trouble I'm in?"
"Well, just this here, sir. Messmates is messmates, and ought to helpone another when there's rocks ahead."
"Of course, Tom."
"Well, then, as I've been thinking, suppose I come ashore with yer andfollers yer right up to the captain, and lie close by when he begins tosort o' keelhaul yer?"
"What good would that do, Tom?"
"Cheer yer up, my lad. I once went ashore with a messmate to help himlike when he was going to have a tooth out as had been jigging horridfor two days. He said it did him no end o' good to have me there. Sos'pose I come, sir. It strikes me as the captain won't say half so muchto yer p'raps with me standing by."
"Oh, no, no, no, Tom," cried Aleck, quickly.
"It's very good of you, and I'm much obliged, but I'd rather go straightin and face my uncle quite alone. I'm sure he'd think I brought youbecause I was too cowardly to come alone."
"Would he, sir?"
"I feel sure he would, Tom."
"Well, Master Aleck, I dessay you knows best, but come I will if you'dlike me to, sir."
"Yes, I know that, Tom," cried the boy, warmly, "but it would be betterfor me to go in alone."
"Think so, sir?"
"Yes, I'm sure of it."
"Well, p'raps you're right, sir. It seems more brave British seaman toface the enemy straightforward like. Not as I mean, sir, as thecaptain's a enemy, but on'y just standing for one till the row's over.D'yer see?"
"Yes, I see, Tom, and I've been thinking, too, that it will be enoughfor me to go in and face uncle at once, and for you not to wait to bepaid for this journey."
"Oh, I don't want no paying, my lad, for a little job like this. Thinkof the times when you've give me pretty nigh all the fish you'vecaught!"
"But uncle said you were to be paid, Tom."
"Very well, sir. Let him pay me then nex' time he sees me. That'll beall right. You'll be sending a rock through the boat's planks aforelong, and I shall have to come over and put a bit o' noo planking in.The captain will pay me then. I say, it's time we put her about. Wecan make a good bit this reach. Strikes me that the wind's more abeamthan when we started."
"Is it?" said Aleck, drearily, and he felt that it would have been farmore satisfactory for it to be dead ahead, or to be blowing so fiercelythat they would be compelled to put back to Rockabie, and his returnhome deferred to another day.
As it was, it became more and more favourable, and an easy passage wasmade round the great promontory, while the current that rushed round thepoint and raced outward was so calmed down by the tide being just at theturn that the boat glided round and into smooth water, the stack rockssoon after coming into sight, and, with what seemed to the lad likehorrible rapidity, they ran in under the rocks and passed the regular
rookery of sea-birds, whose cries were deafening when they were closein.
"Say when," cried the sailor, who had given up the tiller to Aleck andstepped forward ready to lower the sail.
"Now!" cried the lad, dismally, a few minutes later; and down came thesail, while in obedience to the rudder the boat glided in between thetwo walls of perpendicular rock, running in for some little distancebefore it became necessary for the sailor to help her along by means ofthe boat-hook and guide her right into her little haven.
Here Tom Bodger was quite at home, and as active as the boat's owner,stumping about inside, and then hopping off one of the thwarts on to therocks, ready to take mast, yard, oars, and boat-hook up into theirplaces, securing the boat's painter to the big ring-bolt, and thentaking one side while Aleck took the other and swinging her right up onto the rocks.
"There we are, then," said the sailor, a few minutes later; "allship-shape and snug. Shall I put them baits back in the coorge?"
"No, no, Tom," said Aleck, dismally; "empty the bucket into the sea, andgive them a chance for their lives."
"Ay, that's right, Master Aleck, for they begin to look as if they'dbeen too long in the bucket."
This latter was emptied, and then the couple began to ascend the gaptowards the opening into the sunk garden. Tom stopped after gettingover the stones like the rock-hopper penguin.
"I'll slip off now, Master Aleck, case the captain may be out in thegarden," whispered the sailor.
"Yes, you'd better go now, Tom. Do I look so very bad?"
"Tidy, sir, tidy; but don't you mind that. Go right at him, and let himknow as soon as you can that you beat. You'll be all right then. Maybehe'll let out at you at first, but all the time he'll be beginning tofeel that you leathered a big hulking chap as is the worst warmint inRockabie, and you'll come out all right. Day, Master Aleck!"
"Good day, Tom, and thank you. I'll remind uncle about your shillingsif he forgets."
"He won't forget, sir; the captain's a gen'leman as never forgetsnothing o' that sort. Now then, sir, ram your little head down and layyourself aboard him. Nothing like getting it over. Head first and outof your misery, same as when I learned you to swim."
Tom Bodger shut one eye, gave the lad a frown and a knowing look, andthen away he went up a rugged staircase-like pathway to the top of thecliff, looking every moment, while Aleck watched, as if he would slipoff, but never slipping once, and finally turning at the top to take offand wave his hat, and then he was gone.