Newton Forster Part 49

"I've had the pleasure of reading Lieutenant Winterbottom's name several times this forenoon," observed Captain Oughton, as he returned the salute.

"You refer to my luggage, I'm afraid, Captain Oughton?"

"Why, if I must say it, I certainly think you have enough for a general."

"I can only reply, that I wish my rank were equal to my luggage: but it is a _general_ complaint every time I have the misfortune to embark. I trust, Captain Oughton, it will be the only one you will have to make of me during the pa.s.sage."

Major Clavering, who had waited during this dialogue, continued--

"Captain Majoribanks, whom I ought to apologise to for not having introduced first."

"Not at all, major: you just heard the brevet rank which Winterbottom's baggage has procured him."

"Not the first time a man has obtained rank through his 'baggage,'"

observed one of the officers, _sotto voce_.

"Mr Ansell, Mr Petres, Mr Irving."

The necessary bows were exchanged, and Mr Williams, the first-mate, desired to show the officers to their respective accommodations, when he would be able to ascertain what part of their luggage was required, and be enabled to strike the remainder down into the after-hold.

As the officers followed the first-mate down the companion-ladder, Captain Oughton looked at Mr Ansell, and observed to Newton, "That fellow would _peel_ well."

The Windsor Castle sailed, and in a few days was clear of the channel.

Newton, whose thoughts were of Isabel Revel, felt not that regret at quitting the country, usually attached to those who leave all dear to them behind. He knew that it was by following up his profession alone that he ever could have a chance of obtaining her; and this recollection, with the hopes of again beholding the object of his affections, lightened his heart to joy, as the s.h.i.+p scudded across the Bay of Biscay, before a North East gale. That he had little chance at present of possessing her, he knew; but hope leads us on, and no one more than the youth who is in love.

The table of Captain Oughton was liberally supplied, and the officers embarked proved (as they almost invariably do) to be pleasant gentlemanlike companions. The boxing-gloves were soon produced by Captain Oughton, who soon ascertained that in the officer who "would _peel_ so well," he had found his match. The mornings were pa.s.sed away in sparring, fencing, reading, walking the deck, or lolling on the hen-coops upon the p.o.o.p. The announcement of the dinner-hour was a signal for rejoicing; and they remained late at the table, doing ample justice to the captain's excellent claret. The evening was finished with cards, cigars, and brandy _p.a.w.nee_. Thus pa.s.sed the time away for the first three weeks of the pa.s.sage, during which period all parties had become upon intimate terms.

But the voyage is in itself most tedious, and more tedious to those who not only have no duty to perform, but have few resources. As soon as the younger officers thought they might take a liberty, they examined the hen-coops, and selecting the most promising looking c.o.c.ks, trimmed them for fighting; chose between themselves as their own property those which they most approved of, and for some days fed and sparred them to get them into wind, and ascertain the proper way in which they should be spurred. In the mean time, two pair of spurs were by their directions clandestinely made by the armourer of the s.h.i.+p, and when ready, they took advantage of the time when Captain Oughton was every day employed with the s.h.i.+p's reckoning, and the poulterer was at his dinner (viz, from twelve to one), to fight a main. The c.o.c.ks which were killed in these combats were returned to the hen-coops, and supposed by the poulterer, who very often had a gla.s.s of grog, to have quarrelled within the bars.

"Steward," said Captain Oughton, "why the devil do you give us so many fowls for dinner? the stock will never last out the voyage: two roast fowls, two boiled fowls, curried fowl, and chicken pie! What can you be thinking of?"

"I spoke to the poulterer on the subject, sir: he constantly brings me down fowls, and he tells me that they kill each other fighting."

"Fighting! never heard of fowls fighting in a coop before. They must be all game fowls."

"That they are, most of them," said Mr Petres; "I have often seen them fighting when I have been on the p.o.o.p."

"So have I," continued Ansell? "I have seen worse c.o.c.ks in the pit."

"Well it's very odd; I never lost a c.o.c.k this way in all my voyages.

Send the poulterer here; I must inquire about it."

"Yes, sir," replied the steward; and he quitted the cabin.

With the exception of the major, who knew nothing of the circ.u.mstances, the officers thought it advisable to de-camp, that they might not be present when the _denouement_ took place. The poulterer made his appearance, was interrogated, and obliged in his own defence to criminate the parties, corroborating his a.s.sertions by producing a pair of spurs found upon a c.o.c.k, which had been killed, and thrown behind the coop in a hurry at the appearance of Captain Oughton on deck.

"I am sorry that my officers should have taken such a liberty," observed the major, gravely.

"O never mind, major, only allow me to be even with them; I shouldn't have minded if I had seen the fighting. I think you said that you would like to exercise your men a little this afternoon?"

"I did; that is, if not inconvenient."

"Not in the least, major; the quarter-deck is at your service. I presume you do not superintend yourself?"

"Yes, I generally do."

"Well, don't this time, but let all the officers; and then I shall be able to play them a little trick that will make us all square."

Major Clavering consented. The officers were ordered up to drill their men. Captain Majoribanks and Mr Irving had one party at the platoon exercise.

"Third man, your hand a little higher on the barrel of your musket. As you were; support--the word support is only a caution--arms,--too--too."

"Two and two make four," observed one of the seamen.

Lieutenant Winterbottom had another party on the lee-side of the quarter-deck. "Ram down--cartridge.--Number 12, slope your musket a little more--_too--too_--only two taps at the bottom of the barrel.

Return--ramrods. Number 4, why don't you draw up the heel of your right leg level with the other? Recollect now, when you shoulder arms, to throw your muskets up smartly.--Shoulder--as you were--the word shoulder is only a caution; shoulder--arms. Dress up a little Number 8, and don't stick your stomach out in that way."

Mr Ansell and Mr Petres had two fatigue parties on the p.o.o.p, without muskets. "To the right--face--to the right face. To the right--face-- to the right--face."

"It's a dead calm with them soldiers--head round the compa.s.s," said one of the seamen to another.

"To the left--face--quick march, to the left--turn--to the right--turn-- close files--mark time--right--left--right--left--forward."

"Them ere chaps legs all going together put one in mind of a centipee-- don't they, Tom?"

"Yes, but they don't get on quite so fast. Holloh, what pipe's that?--'All hands, air bedding.'"

The s.h.i.+p was hauled close to the wind, which was light. At the pipe, the sailors below ran up the hatchway, and those on deck threw down their work. In a minute every hammock was out of the netting, and every seaman busy at unlas.h.i.+ng.

"Now, major, we had better go into the cabin," said Captain Oughton, laughing. "I shall, I can a.s.sure you."

Beds and blankets which are not aired or shook more than once a month, are apt to be very full of what is termed _fluff_ and blanket _hairs_, and they have a close smell, by no means agreeable. The sailors, who had an idea that the order had been given inconsiderately, were quite delighted, and commenced shaking their blankets on the forecastle and weather gangway, raising a cloud, which the wind carried aft upon the parties exercising upon the quarterdeck.

"What the devil is all this?" cried Captain Majoribanks, looking forward with dismay. "Order--arms."

Lieutenant Winterbottom and half of his party were now seized with a fit of coughing. "Confound it!--shut--pans--handle--upon my soul I'm choked."

"This is most excessively disagreeable," observed Mr Petres; "I made up my mind to be _tarred_ when I came on board, but I had no idea that we should be _feathered_."

"Support--d.a.m.n it, there's no supporting this!" cried Captain Majoribanks. "Where's Major Clavering? I'll ask to dismiss the men."

"They are dismissing a great many little men, forward, I suspect," said the first-mate, laughing. "I cannot imagine what induced Captain Oughton to give the order: we never shake bedding except when the s.h.i.+p's before the wind."

This last very consoling remark made it worse than all; the officers were in an agony. There was not one of them who would not have stood the chance of a volley from a French regiment rather than what they considered that they were exposed to. But without Major Clavering's permission they could not dismiss their men. Captain Majoribanks hastened to the cabin, to explain their very un-pleasant situation, and received the major's permission to defer the exercise.

"Well, gentlemen," said Captain Oughton, "what is the matter?"

"The matter!" replied Ansell. "Why, my flesh creeps all over me. Of all the thoughtless acts, Captain Oughton, it really beats--"