hard cash-第38章

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　a　single　danger　occurred　between　this　and　the　Cape；　except　to　a　monkey；　which　I　fear　I　must　relate；　on　account　of　its　remoter　consequences。　One　fine　afternoon；　everybody　was　on　deck　amusing　themselves　as　they　could：　Mrs。　Beresford；　to　wit；　was　being　flattered　under　the　Poop　awning　by　Kenealy。　The　feud　between　her　and　Dodd　continued；　but　under　a　false　impression。　The　lady　had　one　advantage　over　the　gentler　specimens　of　her　sex；　she　was　never　deterred　from　a　kind　action　by　want　of　pluck；　as　they　are。　Pluck？　Aquilina　was　brimful　of　it。　When　she　found　Dodd　was　wounded；　she　cast　her　wrongs　to　the　wind；　and　offered　to　go　and　nurse　him。　Her　message　came　at　an　unlucky　moment；　and　by　an　unlucky　messenger：　the　surgeon　said　hastily；　〃I　can't　have　him　bothered。〃　The　stupid　servant　reported；　〃He　can't　be　worried；〃　and　Mrs。　Beresford；　thinking　Dodd　had　a　hand　in　this　answer；　was　bitterly　mortified；　and　with　some　reason。　She　would　have　forgiven　him；　though；　if　he　had　died；　but；　as　he　lived；　she　thought　she　had　a　right　to　detest　him；　and　did；　and　showed　her　sentiments　like　a　lady；　by　never　speaking　to　him；　nor　looking　at　him；　but　ignoring　him　with　frigid　magnificence　on　his　own　quarter…deck。

Now；　among　the　crew　of　this　ship　was　a　favourite　goat；　good…tempered；　affectionate；　and　playful；　but　a　single　vice　counterbalanced　all　his　virtues：　he　took　a　drop。　A　year　or　two　ago　some　light…hearted　tempter　taught　him　to　sip　grog；　he　took　to　it　kindly；　and　was　now　arrived　at　such　a　pitch　that　at　grog…time　he　used　to　butt　his　way　in　among　the　sailors；　and　get　close　to　the　canteen；　and；　…by　arrangement；　an　allowance　was　always　served　out　to　him。　On　imbibing　it；　he　passed　with　quadrupedal　rapidity　through　three　stages；　the　absurd；　the　choleric；　the　sleepy；　and　was　never　his　own　goat　again　until　he　awoke　from　the　latter。　Now　Master　Fred　Beresford　encountered　him　in　the　second　stage　of　inebriety；　and；　being　a　rough　playfellow；　tapped　his　nose　with　a　battledore。　Instantly　Billy　butted　at　him；　mischievous　Fred　screamed　and　jumped　on　the　bulwarks。　Pot…angry　Billy　went　at　him　there；　whereupon　the　young　gentleman；　with　all　eldrich　screech；　and　a　comparative　estimate　of　perils　that　smacked　of　inexperience；　fled　into　the　sea；　at　the　very　moment　when　his　anxious　mother　was　rushing　to　save　him。　She　uttered　a　scream　of　agony；　and　would　actually　have　followed　him；　but　was　held　back；　uttering　shriek　after　shriek；　that　pierced　every　heart　within　hearing。

But　Dodd　saw　the　boy　go　overboard；　and　vaulted　over　the　bulwark　near　the　helm；　roared　in　the　very　air；　〃Heave　the　ship　to！〃　and　went　splash　into　the　water　about　ten　yards　from　the　place。　He　was　soon　followed　by　Vespasian；　and　a　boat　was　lowered　as　quickly　as　possible。　Dodd　caught　sight　of　a　broad　straw　hat　on　the　top　of　a　wave；　swam　lustily　to　it；　and　found　Freddy　inside：　it　was　tied　under　his　chin；　and　would　have　floated　Goliath。　Dodd　turned　to　the　ship；　saw　the　poor　mother　with　white　face　and　arms　outstretched　as　if　she　would　fly　at　them；　and　held　the　urchin　up　high　to　her　with　a　joyful　〃hurrah。〃　The　ship　seemed　alive　and　to　hurrah　in　return　with　giant　voice：　the　boat　soon　picked　them　up；　and　Dodd　came　up　the　side　with　Freddy　in　his　arms；　and　placed　him　in　his　mother's　with　honest　pride　and　deep　parental　sympathy。

Guess　how　she　scolded　and　caressed　her　child　all　in　a　breath；　and　sobbed　over　him！　For　this　no　human　pen　has　ever　told；　nor　ever　will。　All　I　can　just　manage　to　convey　is　that；　after　she　had　all　but　eaten　the　little　torment；　she　suddenly　dropped　him；　and　made　a　great　maternal　rush　at　Dodd。　She　flung　her　arms　round　him；　and　kissed　him　eagerly；　almost　fiercely：　then；　carried　away　wild　by　mighty　Nature；　she　patted　him　all　over　in　the　strangest　way；　and　kissed　his　waistcoat；　his　arms；　his　hands；　and　rained　tears　of　joy　and　gratitude　on　them。

Dodd　was　quite　overpowered。　〃No！　no！〃　said　he。　〃Don't　now；　pray；　don't！　There！　there！　I　know；　my　dear；　I　know；　I'm　a　father。〃　And　he　was　very　near　whimpering　himself；　but　recovered　the　man　and　the　commander；　and　said；　soothingly；　〃There！　there！〃　and　he　handed　her　tenderly　down　to　her　cabin。

All　this　time　he　had　actually　forgotten　the　packet。　But　now　a　horrible　fear　came　on　him。　He　hurried　to　his　own　cabin　and　examined　it。　A　little　salt　water　had　oozed　through　the　bullet…hole　and　discoloured　the　leather；　but　that　was　all。

He　breathed　again。

〃Thank　Heaven　I　forgot　all　about　it！〃　said　he：　〃it　would　have　made　a　cur　of　me。〃

Lady　Beresford's　petty　irritation　against　Dodd　melted　at　once　before　so　great　a　thing：　she　longed　to　make　friends　with　him；　but　for　once　felt　timid。　It　struck　her　now　all　of　a　sudden　that　she　had　been　misbehaving。　However；　she　caught　Dodd　alone　on　the　deck；　and　said　to　him　softly；　〃I　want　so　to　end　our　quarrel。〃

〃Our　quarrel；　madam！〃　said　he；　〃why；　I　know　of　none：　oh；　about　the　light　eh？　Well；　you　see　the　master　of　a　ship　is　obliged　to　be　a　tyrant　in　some　things。〃

〃I　make　no　complaint；〃　said　the　lady　hastily；　and　hung　her　head。　〃All　I　ask　you　is　to　forgive　one　who　has　behaved　like　a　fool；　without　even　the　excuse　of　being　one；　andwill　you　give　me　your　hand；　sir？〃

〃Ay；　and　with　all　my　heart；〃　said　Dodd　warmly；　enclosing　the　soft　little　hand　in　his　honest　grasp。

And　with　no　more　ado　these　two　highflyers　ended　one　of　those　little　misunderstandings　petty　spirits　nurse　into　a　feud。


The　ship　being　in　port　at　the　Cape；　and　two　hundred　hammers　tapping　at　her；　Dodd　went　ashore　in　search　of　Captain　Robarts；　and　made　the　_Agra_　over　to　him　in　the　friendliest　way；　adding　warmly　that　he　had　found　every　reason　to　be　satisfied　with　the　officers　and　the　crew。　To　his　surprise；　Captain　Robarts　received　all　this　ungraciously。　〃You　ought　to　have　remained　on　board；　sir；　and　made　me　over　the　command　on　the　quarter…deck。〃　Dodd　replied　politely　that　it　would　have　been　more　formal。　〃Suppose　I　return　immediately；　and　man　the　side　for　you：　and　then　you　board　her；　say；　in　half…an…hour？〃

〃I　shall　come　when　I　like；〃　replied　Robarts　crustily。

〃And　when　will　you　like　to　come？〃　inquired　Dodd；　with　imperturbable　good…humour。

〃Now；　this　moment：　and　I'll　trouble　you　to　come　along　with　me。〃

〃Certainly；　sir。〃

They　got　a　boat　and　went　out　to　the　ship：　on　coming　alongside；　Dodd　thought　to　meet　his　wishes　by　going　first　and　receiving　him。　But　the　jealous；　cross…grained　fellow；　shoved　roughly　before　him　and　led　the　way　up　the　ship's　side。　Sharpe　and　the　rest　saluted　him：　he　did　not　return　the　salute；　but　said　hoarsely；　〃Turn　the　hands　up　to　muster。〃

When　they　were　all　aft；　he　noticed　one　or　two　with　their　caps　on。　〃Hats　off　and　be　　to　you！〃　cried　he。　〃Do　you　know　where　you　are？　Do　you　know　who　you　are　looking　at？　If　not；　I'll　show　you。　I'm　here　to　restore　discipline　to　this　ship：　so　mind　how　you　run　athwart　my　hawse：　don't　you　play　with　the　bull；　my　men；　or　you'll　find　his　horns　　sharp。　Pipe　down！　Now；　you；　sir；　bring　me　the　log…book。〃

He　ran　his　eye　over　it；　and　closed　it　contemptuously：　〃Pirates；　and　hurricanes！　_I_　never　fell　in　with　pirates　nor　hurricanes：　I　have　heard　of　a　breeze；　and　a　gale；　but　I　never　knew　a　seaman　worth　his　salt　say　'hurricane。'　Get　another　log…book；　Mr。　Sharpe；　put　down　that　it　begins　this　day　at　noon；　and　enter　that　Captain　Robarts　came　on　deck；　found　the　ship　in　a　miserable　condition；　took　the　command；　mustered　the　officers　and　men；　and　stopped　the　ship's　company's　grog　for　a　week　for　receiving　him　with　hats　on。〃

Even　Sharpe；　that　walking　Obedience；　was　taken　aback。　〃Stopthe　ship's　company'sgrogfor　a　week；　sir？〃

〃Yes；　sir；　for　a　week；　and　if　you　fling　my　orders　back　in　my　face　instead　of　clapping　on　sail　to　execute　them；　I'll　have　you　towed　ashore　on　a　grating。　Your　name　is　Sharpe；　well　my　name　is　Dammedsharpe；　and　so　you'll　find。〃

In　short；　the　new　captain　came　down　on　the　ship　like　a　blight。

He　was　especially　hard　on　Dodd：　nothing　that　commander　had　done　was　right；　nor；　had　he　done　the　contrary；　would　that　have　been　right：　he　was　disgracefully　behind　time；　and　he　ought　to　have　put　in　to　the　Isle　of　France；　which　would　have　retarded　him：　his　rope　bulwarks　were　lubberly：　his　rudder　a　disgrace　to　navigation：　he；　Robarts；　was　not　so　green　as　to　believe　that　any　master　had　really　sailed　sixteen　hundred　miles　with　it；　and　if　he　had；　more　shame　for　him。　Briefly；　a　marine　criticaster。

All　this　was　spoken　_at_　Dodda　thing　no　male　does　unless　he　is　an　awful　snoband　grieved　him；　it　was　so　unjust。　He　withdrew　wounded　to　the　little　cabin　he　was　entitled　to　as　a　passenger；　and　hugged　his　treasure　for　comfort。　He　patted　the　pocket…book；　and　said　to　it；　〃Never　_you_　mind！　The　greater　Tartar　he　is；　the　less　likely　to　sink　you　or　run　you　on　a　lee　shore。〃

With　all　his　love　of　discipline；　Robarts　was　not　so　fond　of　the　ship　as　Dodd。

While　his　repairs　were　going　on　he　was　generally　ashore；　and　by　this　means　missed　a　visit。　Commodore　Collier；　one　of　the　smartest　sailors　afloat；　espied　the　Yankee　makeshift　from　the　quarter…deck　of　his　vessel；　the　_Salamanca；_　fifty　guns。　In　ten　minutes　he　was　under　the　_Agra's_　stern　inspecting　it；　then　came　on　board；　and　was　received　in　form　by　Sharpe　and　the　other　officers。　〃Are　you　the　master　of　this　ship；　sir？〃　he　asked。

〃No；　commodore。　I　am　the　first　mate：　the　captain　is　ashore。〃

〃I　am　sorry　for　it。　I　want　to　talk　about　his　rudder。〃

〃Oh；　_he_　had　nothing　to　do　with　that；〃　replied　Sharpe；　eagerly：　〃that　was　our　dear　old　captain：　he　is　on　board。　Young　gentleman！　ask　Captain　Dodd　to　oblige　me　by　coming　on　deck！　Hy！　and　Mr。　Fullalove　too。〃

〃Young　gentleman？〃　inquired　Collier。　〃What　the　devil　officer　is　that？〃

〃That　is　a　name　we　give　the　middies；　I　don't　know　why。〃

〃Nor　I　neither；　ha！　ha！〃

Dodd　and　Fullalove　came　on　deck；　and　Commodore　Collier　bestowed　the　highest　compliments　on　the　〃makeshift。〃　Dodd　begged　him　to　transfer　them　to　the　real　inventor；　and　introduced　Fullalove。

〃Ay；〃　said　Collier；　〃I　know　you　Yankees　are　very　handy。　I　lost　my　rudder　at　sea　once；　and　had　to　ship　a　makeshift；　but　it　was　a　cursed　complicated　thing；　not　a　patch　upon　yours；　Mr。　Fullalove。　Yours　is　ingenious　and　_simple。_　Ship　has　been　in　action；　I　see：　pray　how　was　that；　if　I　may　be　so　bold？〃

〃Pirates；　commodore；〃　said　Sharpe。　〃We　fell　in　with　a　brace　of　Portuguese　devils；　lateen…rigged；　and　carrying　ten　guns　apiece；　in　the　Straits　of　Gaspar：　fought　'em　from　noon　till　sundown；　riddled　one；　and　ran　down　the　other；　and　sunk　her　in　a　moment。　That　was　all　your　doing；　Captain：　so　don't　try　to　shift　it　on　other　people；　for　we　won't　stand　it。〃

〃If　he　denies　it；　I　won't　believe　him；〃　said　Collier；　〃for　he　has　got　it　in　his　eye。　Gentlemen；　will　you　do　me　the　honour　to　dine　with　me　to…day　on　board　the　flag…ship？〃

Dodd　and　Fullalove　accepted。　Sharpe　declined；　with　regret；　on　the　score　of　duty。　And　as　the　cocked　hat　went　down　the　side；　after　saluting　him　politely；　he　could　not　help　thinking　to　himself　what　a　difference　between　a　real　captain；　who　had　something　to　be　proud　of；　and　his　own　unlicked　cub　of　a　skipper　with　the　manners　of　a　pilot…boat。　He　told　Robarts　the　next　day：　Robarts　said　nothing；　but　his　face　seemed　to　turn　greenish；　and　it　embittered　his　hatred　of　Dodd　the　inoffensive。

It　is　droll；　and　sad；　but　true；　that　Christendom　is　full　of　men　in　a　hurry　to　hate。　And　a　fruitful　cause　is　jealous