A Story of the Sea.
BY
JAMES GRANT,
AUTHOR OF "ROMANCE OF WAR," ETC., ETC.
VOL. II.
LONDON:
W. H. ALLEN & CO., 13, WATERLOO PLACE,
PALL MALL, S.W.
1881.
(All rights reserved.)
LONDON:
PRINTED BY W. H. ALLEN AND CO., 13, WATERLOO PLACE.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.—"A Wet Sheet and a Flowing Sea"
CHAPTER II.—Turtle Island
CHAPTER III.—H.M.S. Holyrood
CHAPTER IV.—The Desire of the Moth for the Star"
CHAPTER V.—"Deeper than e'en Plummet sounded"
CHAPTER VI.—A Crushed Heart
CHAPTER VII.—Nemesis
DERVAL HAMPTON
(A STORY OF THE SEA.)
Another long spell of the sea, includingseveral voyages and some stirring adventures,was before Derval now, with a protractedabsence from Britain. The ship was notgetting ready for sea, so Captain Talbot wason shore, when a hansom cab depositedDerval and his belongings close by the gangwaythat led on board, where he was warmlywelcomed by Joe Grummet and Harry Bowline.
"So Girtline has left us, Hal?"
"Yes, in bad health."
"And what sort of fellow is his successor?"asked Derval as they descended to the cabin.
"He is simply horrid—a cad, a brute!"exclaimed Bowline. "He is in the hold justnow, and if a cask fell out of the slings onhis head, it would be a good thing for all onboard. He is so different from poor Girtline;he looks like an old pirate, and has stoppedour promotion; but you see, Hampton, theowners think us rather young for furtheradvancement yet. Steward, a couple ofgrogs; the sun is over the fore-yard!"
"When do we sail?"
"I don't exactly know, but I wish we sawBlue Peter up!"
"This Rudderhead—" began Derval, thinkingof the mysterious letter.
"You'll have enough of him in time, Idoubt not. He has already caused muchill-blood on board."
"How?"
"He plays the tyrant in the Captain'sabsence; he has stopped the men's grog fornext to nothing, though he is seldom quitesober himself; he sent two of the apprenticesaloft, and had them lashed to the topgallantshrouds, in sight of all the people; and, likea beast as he is, had the lashings wetted thatthey might shrink, a trick he must have pickedup in the Canton river! He refused JoeGrummet leave, and me too, though therewas no duty to do but the anchor-watch," saidBowline, referring to the two or three menappointed to look after a ship while at anchoror in port. "But hush! here he comeslumbering down the companion-ladder—screwed,I have no doubt."
Step by step he came down, his large splayfeet, thick legs, the broader part of his person,his great back, short neck, and bullet-likehead all appearing in succession. He lookedfull and scrutinisingly at the new-comer,