page 14

Chapter II.
Life on the Ocean Wave .

The A i clipper ship Netherby steadily pursued her way, though that was sometimes made twice as long as it need have been through the perverseness of the wind, compelling her to tack backwards and forwards by a devious course. Gilbert Langton, however, did not find life monotonous, but on the contrary a very pleasant change from anything he had previously experienced. He was one of those youths who delight in always picking up scraps of information of all kinds, and from all sources. He was therefore eager to learn as much about ships and navigation as he could. He found much to interest him too in watching the sea-birds, and the few natural objects which presented themselves to his observant notice. The stormy petrels became his especial favourites, and he often sat at the stern watching their busy movements as, searching for food in the wake of the ship, they skimmed the surface of the waves, as if they were, indeed, like their illustrious namesake page 15walking on the water, but with a greater degree of success than was accorded to him.

With such resources as these, and that never-failing refuge from dulness, a good book, to say nothing of games at quoits or chess with some of his fellow-passengers, time passed pleasantly enough with Gilbert.

It was somewhat different with Arthur Leslie, who already heartily repented him of his rash step, and wished he had never left home, for he found that life before the mast was anything but a bed of roses. The rough fare and the discomforts of the "fo'c'stle" were bad enough, but the menial duties he had to perform were galling in the extreme. Even the apprentices bullied him, and his position on board seemed to be considered such by every one that they might fairly make a butt of him. He attempted to rebel at first, but that only led to his being ordered aloft to grease the fore-topgallant mast, and kept there for a whole afternoon—a duty which was to him, at least, unused as he was to such an elevated position, not unattended with personal danger, so that he found rebellion would not answer.

Gilbert took every opportunity of conversing with Arthur, and doing what he could to make matters more easy for him. He lent him some of his books, that he might be able to spend the time more pleasantly when off duty; but, unfortunately for himself, Arthur Leslie had never taken kindly to books, and had never acquired a love of reading, so that now he page 16derived little pleasure from that source. When at school Leslie had always sighed for the time when, as he said, his "education would be finished," and laughed at Langton when he said in reply that he had always been taught to expect that his education never would be finished in this life. But had Leslie, poor fellow, possessed a little more of Gilbert's spirit and way of thinking, he certainly would not have found life on board the Netherby so intensely disagreeable as he did.

In due time the Tropic of Cancer was crossed, and notwithstanding the breeze which they still enjoyed, Gilbert found it advisable to follow the example of some of his fellow-passengers and don lighter clothing. Poor Mike found the heat of the galley intolerable, and was continually growling about it to any one who would listen to him; he did not, however, get much sympathy from the cook, who was a nigger, and seemed rather to enjoy the increased temperature himself. Mike kept clear of the galley as much as possible, and more than he ought; so that the cook, or the "black doctor," as he was most frequently called, could seldom get his Hibernian subordinate when he wanted him. This state of things finally culminated in blows; for on Mike's attempting to slip out one day, the "doctor" hit him on the head with such force, that he was driven against the side of the door, and his nose brought into such violent contact with the doorpost as to cause it to bleed. The first person Mike met was the page 17Captain, who, seeing his sorry plight, asked what was the matter.

"Oh, please, sir," said Mike, "it was the cook; he knocked my head, and my head came against my nose!"

This reply was too much for the Captain's gravity, and, greatly to the astonishment of the innocent Michael, he laughed heartily. The result, however, was what Mike most wished for; for, after a slight reprimand, he was liberated from his post in the galley, and Arthur Leslie appointed in his stead.

Gilbert now found many more natural objects to interest him. One day a land bird visited the ship, and after resting for some hours in the rigging, it again took to the wing. Next morning, on coming on deck, he was surprised to see what looked like a flight of sparrows flying from the ship close to the water, into which they suddenly dropped. He at once knew they must be flying fish, though he could hardly believe it, they flew so like birds. But he soon had an opportunity of making their closer acquaintance, as during the next night three of them flew on board. Their wings were cut off and dried, whilst their bodies were cooked; but so many were anxious to partake of them, that there was hardly enough for each one to do more than guess at their flavour. And, although flights of flying fish were frequently seen afterwards, none of them ever so far forgot themselves as to board the Netherby. Sometimes the sea was covered with beautiful little page 18medusæ, Portuguese men-of-war, and such like small denizens of the deep. Langton succeeded in catching one or two of them with a bucket let down by a rope, and pursued his investigations so far as to handle a captured man-of-war, getting his hand severely stung by the brilliant blue and red tentacles with which it was adorned. One of the sailors reported that he had seen a large shark, too; but as no one else had seen anything of it, he was not credited by the sceptically inclined. However, soon after an occurrence took place which converted some of them. The log had been heaved, and Mike was engaged in hauling in the line, when suddenly it was jerked almost out of his hand. He hauled and tugged at the line, but something in the sea held it fast, till Mike in desperation called out lustily, "Hi! leave go there," when immediately the line was slackened, and Mike went sprawling backwards on the deck, to the amusement of the bystanders. When the line was hauled in, it was found that the end was gone, so that some fish had undoubtedly caught hold of it. They tried to make fun of Mike for speaking to a fish, and by asking him if he thought "the fish about here spoke Irish?" but his invariable reply was, "Sure, thin, and didn't it do as I wanted?"

The attempt to make a sailor of Donovan was not more successful than the efforts of the "black doctor" had been to instruct him in the mysteries of a three-decker sea-pie, and such like triumphs page 19of his art. It was found quite impossible to drive into him the least idea of steering; and Langton one day thinking he could perhaps explain matters better, having so recently learned it himself, explained to Mike all about the compass. Mike listened attentively with both mouth and ears, and when Gilbert finished his discourse, he said to his pupil, "And now, Mike, tell me which way is the ship going?"

Donovan stared at the compass for some time, then looked at the sails, and then at the sea, and gravely answered, "Well, I should think right ahead, sir."

Gilbert smiled, but with exemplary patience went over all his explanation again, boxed the compass more than once, and again put the question. This time Mike was ready with his reply, and promptly answered, "North by south, sir."

"I fear you don't want to learn, or else you're a bigger fool than you look," said Gilbert, with some annoyance in his tone, as he left Mike to work out the problem.

"Well then," muttered Mike, "I don't know how a man can be bigger nor he looks; but they've got quare ways on board ship, and if ever I git to New Zealand, I'll go right away back to ould Ireland overland, as I have heard tell o' some gintlemen going, even though I've got to walk the whole road."

But Mike's experiences of life on board ship were page 20destined to be still further added to, and that before long. Next day the line would be crossed, and the sailors proposed conferring on all novices the freedom of the sea. That evening, at sundown, a strange, fantastically-dressed man appeared, no one knew whence, who introduced himself to the passengers as Neptune's postman, and without further ado he produced, from a leathern bag which he wore slung over his shoulder, letters addressed to the different passengers by their respective names.

Gilbert Langton—who, notwithstanding his blackened face and disguise, had recognised in this marine messenger one of the sailors popularly known on board as the Russian Finn—received a letter as well as the rest. Opening it he read as follows:—

"P.S.—You need not be afraid, all is in fun and for a lark."

Gilbert was amused with his summons to the regal presence of the King of the Sea, the postscript whereof afforded evidence that they were not punctilious in their language at the court of Neptune—a page 21circumstance calculated to allay any feelings of nervousness or anxiety which the thought of meeting such an august personage might have excited. The passengers were mostly on deck, discussing and criticising the notes which had just been delivered, while one or two of the steerage passengers were engaged in chaffing the postman, when Bradley, the third mate, suddenly exclaimed—

"My word! did you see that?" looking over the port bulwark. "There she goes!" he exclaimed again. Every one pressed forwards and gazed into the already gathering darkness. "Where is it?" "What was it?" was asked eagerly by half a dozen voices at once.

"Did you not see Neptune's car drawn by sea-horses, with a merman driving them?" said Bradley. "Called for the postman, I'll be bound;" he added.

Every one turned to look for the postman, but he was gone as mysteriously as he had come. "Aye, there they go," said Bradley again, pointing this time over the stern.

There was something to be seen now, at any rate; for a little way off in the wake of the ship a light was visible, apparently floating on the surface of the water.

"That's the gig lamp they've just lighted," said Bradley in explanation. "Old Nep only burns one; but it's a big 'un, as you see."

"And looks uncommonly like a cask with tarry page 22shavings, or something of that sort, in it," growled one of the steerage men, who along with some of the others had taken advantage of the excitement to find their way aft.

"You deserve credit for the way you managed that, Bradley," said Gilbert; "attracting our attention to the one side, while the affair was put over the other."

"I suppose because you didn't see the car when it was alongside, that I didn't see it either?" said Bradley. "But if it was not here, where's the postman gone?"

"By the powers," said Mike, "I belave Mr. Bradley's roight."

"Well, Mike," said Gilbert, "if you don't find the postman in the fo'c'stle, you may be sure he's gone off in that blazing craft."

Mike went and looked in the "fo'c'stle," but found no one there but the Russian Finn, who was engaged in washing his face; and returned fully convinced that Neptune's car had called at the ship and taken, off the messenger; in fact, he began to think that he had caught a glimpse of the conveyance when Bradley pointed it out, and before the evening was over he felt quite sure that one of the horses was a piebald.

Next morning, when Gilbert came on deck for his bath, which consisted in getting the hose played on him for a few seconds when the men were washing the decks, he found that it was a dead calm, and page 23that the men had been busy making preparations for the event of the day. A large sail had been slung on the main-deck between the bulwarks and the deck-house, the ends of which were supported by spars and barrels, so that it formed a large basin, and into this they were hard at work pumping water.

When Gilbert returned to the deck from breakfast, he was surprised to see the surface of the sea covered with innumerable little bubbles. There were thousands of them all glancing in the morning sun, and often showing iridescent hues. Evidently they were no bubbles, but creatures of some sort, and he at once commenced to fish for them as he had done for the Portuguese men-of-war. After a long time he succeeded in capturing one, and found it to be a beautiful little gelatinous creature with a flat oblong body of a brilliant blue, having a fringe of tentacles of the same colour, and from this bright body the clear colourless sail which had attracted his attention rose like half a large gelatine lozenge. Gilbert noticed that they appeared to have the power of turning over, sail downwards, when they wished to sink. One of the passengers told him the name of these beautiful little creatures was velella, so called of course from the little sail.

Whilst he was, engaged admiring the beauties of his captive, Langton's ears caught the sound of a fiddle, and looking up he saw that the King of the Seas had arrived. A procession issued from the page 24 "fo'c'stle," marched along the main-deck, headed by a steerage passenger scraping vigorously on an old violin, followed by Neptune with his wife on his arm, behind whom there came a figure arrayed in huge paper collars, a chimney-pot hat, and otherwise resembling a negro melodist without his face blackened. He was accompanied by a lad somewhat similarly attired, carrying a tray on which were several bottles of various sizes. These were the doctor and his boy; they were followed by the barber and his mate, both dressed in white, the latter carrying a pole of the orthodox pattern; while the procession was closed by a number of the sailors dressed in divers costumes, who were to act as constables and bears. The part of Neptune was filled by a tall, good-looking sailor, with a long beard. He wore white trousers turned up to the knees, and a bright magenta flannel shirt. On his head he wore a pointed crown, made from a preserved meat tin, whence depended a fringe of rope yarns which reached nearly to his waist, round which he wore a girdle of the same material, from which there depended a second fringe. In his hand he carried a harpoon. His whole appearance was picturesque if not classical. Mrs. Neptune was a sailor with his whiskers shaved off, and dressed in woman's clothes, and his appearance was neither classical nor picturesque.

After marching round the deck, old Nep and his wife took their places, one at each end of the spar page 25supporting the rail, which had been filled with water in the morning. The constables immediately set to work to catch their victims. Poor Mike was the first who was seized by them. He was marched up to the doctor, who, after pummelling him rather severely, and making him swallow a lot of undiluted lime juice, pronounced him quite sound and fit to be made a freeman of the sea. He was then handed over to the tender mercies of the barber, who seated him on the spar between Mr. and Mrs. Neptune.

"What is your name?" asked Neptune.

Mike essayed to answer, but as soon as he opened his mouth the barber thrust the lather brush nearly down his throat. Mike roared lustily, but that only led to a repetition of the dose, so he found it advisable to confine his efforts to violent sputtering. After lathering him well the barber scraped him with a razor, the blade of which was about two feet long, and made of hoop-iron. When this operation was concluded Mrs. Neptune hugged him affectionately, and seemed to impress a kiss on his cheek, but as she held several pins in her teeth, Mike did not relish the endearment. Before he could recover himself he was caught by the legs and tilted backwards into the sail, where he was received by the bears, who ducked him repeatedly. At the first chance Mike attempted to scramble out of his enforced bath, but unfortunately he chose the side towards the sea, and in his desperation climbed page 26the bulwark. If he had not been dragged back by the bears he would certainly have gone overboard; and so, to amuse themselves for this extra trouble, they soused poor Mike again and again.

This operation was repeated till all the novices had undergone it; and though the Captain had issued orders that no passenger was to be interfered with against his will, Gilbert and several of the others joined in the fun. Some grog was served out to the sailors, when the proceedings terminated.

Although Neptune had taken advantage of the calm morning to hold his court, the line was not crossed till late in the afternoon; and Langton was rather amused by hearing one of the children on board ask Mike where the line was, to which query that worthy's answer was that he supposed it was slack that day! Whether slack or taut, it had been crossed, and Gilbert felt as though the first stage of his journey had been accomplished.

A few days subsequent to this, the Netherby again lay becalmed, and Langton, pretending to read, but in reality dreaming of home as he watched the idle sails beat listlessly against the masts, was lolling on a rug spread on deck beneath the awning, when he was aroused by the cry of "A shark! a shark!" He started to his feet, and running to the stern saw the dorsal fin of the monster projecting from the calm surface of the water about a cable's length from the ship. A hook baited with a great junk of salt pork was procured and thrown over the stern, page 27but nothing more was seen of the shark. By and by, however, it turned up again, and this time close under the vessel. Its cold, cruel eye seemed as though the ravenous creature would like to make short work of some of its human enemies. Presently it surveyed the pork suspiciously, then turning slowly on its side took the bait into its capacious jaws, but either it felt the hook, or was not hungry, for it made no attempt to swallow the tempting morsel, but immediately rejected it, and could not afterwards be induced to do more than look at it. Every one was greatly disappointed by this, but none more so than Mike Donovan, who vented his displeasure in exclaiming, "Begorra! why did the spalpeen show his ugly mug, if he didn't mane to let us catch him! I've hardly been able to sleep since I came on board for draming I'd been drowned; but now I'm sure that if I am drowned, I'll be kilt and eaten too, by that ugly baste."

They were now favoured with a long continuance of fair winds, which carried them rapidly southwards towards "the land of frost and snow," and albatrosses, Cape pigeons, and other winged inhabitants of the southern ocean were met with, Gilbert admired the black and white plumage of the Cape pigeons greatly, and hearing they were easily caught with a light line let out over the stern, he made the experiment, although rather sceptical of success. His line had not been out long, however, when one page 28of the birds in flying past the vessel struck the cord with its wings, became entangled, and was captured. Just as Gilbert drew the bird on board, Mr. Spanker came on deck, and so soon as he saw what Gilbert was about, stepped up to him, and snatching the bird from his hand, liberated it.

"You don't know what you are doing," said Spanker apologetically, for he saw from Gilbert's face that he resented the interference.

"I beg your pardon," replied Gilbert stiffly, "I know very well what I am about; your remark, I think, applies to yourself."

"There now, don't get huffy; but you evidently don't know that it is unlucky to catch these birds. To do so brings a head wind to a certainty."

Gilbert laughed at Spanker's superstition, but as he was tired of his bird-fishing, he gave it up for the present at any rate.

A couple of hours afterwards the wind, which had been fair for days, went right round to the opposite quarter, and Mr. Spanker was exultant.

"There now! didn't I tell you how it would be! A head wind before twenty-four hours were over."

Wondering if such an idea was prevalent amongst even the officers of the ship, Langton turned to the Captain, and, telling what had occurred, asked his opinion on the matter.

"You don't mean to say, Spanker, that you really believe that sort of thing?" said he. "But page 29as the Cape pigeons cannot know which way we are going, I should say the best thing we can do is to catch another of them and then the wind will go round again. Lend me your line, Langton."

Gilbert did so, and in a few minutes an unfortunate Cape pigeon flew to its destruction and was drawn on board.

"Would you like to let this one go, Mr. Spanker?" asked the Captain with ironical politeness.

Spanker looked as if he would; but, before he could reply almost, Captain Seebon twisted the poor bird's neck and gave it to a passenger, who was anxious to secure the skin.

"It is a humane superstition, at least," said the mate, "that is, if it is only a superstition—but I think there is something in it, after all."

It so happened that during the afternoon the wind veered round again to its old direction, and poor Spanker had to stand not a little "chaff" and badinage about the want of perception on the part of his friends, the Cape pigeons, in not being fully posted up as to the desired movements of the Netherby.

Varied by such trivial occurrences as these, life passed pleasantly enough on board the ship, and some of the passengers even went the length of saying, they would be sorry when the voyage came to an end; but the majority, amongst whom was Arthur Leslie, wished eagerly for the promised land page 30of New Zealand to rise to view. The Captain declared his intention of carrying Leslie back to England, and Arthur as often vowed to himself that he would do nothing of the sort, with what result the subsequent chapter will show.