Old Gold | Page 9

on board?"
"Some time this afternoon, gentlemen. I shall warp in alongside the wharf so as to get it under hatches easily. The sooner it's aboard the better. I'll give orders to the mate, and he'll see to that while I arrange about what fresh stores are necessary. That won't take long."
"Then you propose sailing soon?" said Sir Humphrey.
"Yes, sir, as soon as you like. We can settle our little business affairs in five minutes, or I can take your word. That's enough for me."
"Thank you, Captain Banes," said Sir Humphrey gravely; "but I should prefer you to draw up a business letter that would be binding upon us both."
"Very well, sir: it shall be done."
"But what about your mate and the crew?" said Brace.
"Oh, I had a talk to them last night, sir."
"You mean that they are willing to come?"
"They all look upon it as a holiday, sir, and are as pleased as can be."
"But they've not seen us yet," said Sir Humphrey.
"What, sir?" cried the captain, laughing. "They all came ashore as soon as I'd told 'em about you, and crept up to the open window of the room where you two gentlemen sat talking by the lighted lamp."
"Indeed?" cried Brace. "I did not hear them."
"Only came one at a time, sir, and they'd no shoes on."
"Well, what did they say?" cried Brace.
"Like to hear, gentlemen?"
"Of course," cried Brace.
"They're good trusty lads, gentlemen, but, like all British sailors, a bit plain-spoken. P'raps Sir Humphrey here mightn't like it, though I answer for 'em that they meant no harm."
Brace looked merrily at his brother as if asking a question.
"Oh, yes, speak out, captain," he said.
"Well, gentlemen, they all agreed that they thought Mr Brace here would turn out a regular trump as it would be a treat to follow."
"Come, that's a good character," cried Brace; "eh, Free?"
"The poor fellows don't know you yet, Brace, my boy," said Sir Humphrey drily.
"Oh, my chaps aren't far wrong, sir," cried the captain, smiling.
"Well, what did they say about me?" asked Sir Humphrey.
The captain's eyes twinkled, and he cocked one of his eyes at Brace; but he did not speak.
"Was their report so very bad?" said the young man.
"Yes, sir; pretty tough," replied the captain.
"Never mind," said Sir Humphrey, "so long as it was honest. What did they say, captain?"
"Said they didn't quite know what to make of you, sir; but they all agreed that you looked a bit hard in the mouth, and bull-doggy--that's what they called it. The first mate said, too, that he quite agreed with them, for he could see that if ever it came to a fight with any of the natives, two-foots or four-foots, you'd never flinch."
"I hope not," said Sir Humphrey; "but I also hope we may never be put to the test."
"But--"
The captain stopped.
"Oh, there's a but," said Brace merrily. "It would have been quite a decent character if it had not been for that but."
"What was the but, captain?" asked Sir Humphrey.
"He couldn't say how you'd come up to the scratch if it was trouble with the long twisters that swarm up the rivers and in the damp forests of these parts."
"Snakes?" suggested Brace.
"That's right, sir: boa constructors, as the showman said they was called, because they constructed so many pleasing images with their serpentile forms."
"Well," said Sir Humphrey, "to be perfectly frank, I don't know myself how I should behave under such circumstances, for I have a perfect dread of serpents of all kinds. The poisonous ones are a horror to me."
"Or anyone else, sir," growled the captain. "I'd rather have a set-to with one of the tigers here."
"Tigers!" cried Brace; "there are no tigers in the New World."
"They call 'em tigers here, sir, though they've got spots instead of stripes. Jaggers I suppose is the proper name. Fierce beasts they are too. But poisonous snakes--ugh! They give me the creeps. But there, these things always get away from you if they can."
"Let us change the subject," said Sir Humphrey; "I am quite satisfied with your men's judgment, Captain Banes, and I daresay we shall become very good friends."
"Of course, sir," said the bluff man addressed. "I'll answer for them, as I told them I'd answer for you two gents. By the way, I hear the Yankee chap wants to charter a vessel for some such a voyage as you gentlemen mean to make."
"Yes," said Sir Humphrey; and the brothers related their interviews of the morning.
"Want'll have to be his master," said the captain, who had listened, smiling grimly during the narration. "I don't see myself going on such a trip with him. I took a dislike to that chap as soon as I saw him. Well, I wish him luck. Then if it's all the same to you, gentlemen, I'll have your stores