CHAPTER XI.
A SUNDAY AT SEA.
There is something in a Sunday at sea, in calm weather which mustimpress the most thoughtless. The clean, well-regulated ship seems totake on an air of extra self-respect, the men, in fresh attire, go morequietly about their duties, the well-dressed passengers are less noisyand demonstrative, even the steerage puts on a slightly brighter lookon Sunday morning, and for the time being the seeming calmness andcontent give one a delightful sense of rest.
Captain Hosmer, like most good sailors, had a deep reverence for hisMaker, and for that religion, "pure and undefiled," which inspirationteaches. No one living the precarious life of the seaman can well helpan abiding sense of personal dependence upon some Power greater thanthe most furious forces of the deep, and when this dependence becomeschildlike and sincere, rather than a mere superstition born of terror,it gives a man that spirit Christ so lovingly inculcated, in which thesoul rests, secure and still, within the bosom of the Father.
Though Captain Hosmer had some of the roughnesses born of anadventurous life, he was at heart a sincere believer, and in joy ordanger turned instinctively to his Maker in gratitude, or supplication.Though not brought up an Episcopalian, he followed the practicecustomary on board British vessels, and held service, reading from thePrayer-book every Sunday morning.
To-day, the passengers gathered in the handsome saloon were glad to seethe doors flung wide and the punkahs vigorously waving, for it was verywarm. Scarcely a person was absent; even Mr. Allyne, looking a bitpale and reserved, sat back in one corner, half screened by hiscompanion, and near the open doors and windows, clustered the servantsand such part of the crew as were off duty, their dark faces andturbaned heads forming an artistic contrast to the whiter-skinned racewho sat within.
At the precise hour named, the captain, exquisitely trim in his darkuniform, with his kindly, weatherbeaten, but clean-shaven face, tookhis place by one of the tables and looking gently around with his keen,pleasant eyes, began the slow, impressive reading of the specialprayers assigned to the seamen's service. Faith and Hope had neverseen him in this role before, and the former felt her eyes fill, whilethe latter suddenly put out a hand and clasped her twin's in a littleecstasy of admiring appreciation. Neither had even looked towardsyoung Allyne, nor Chester Carnegie. The latter, grave and attentive,sat near one of the open doors and followed the service without aglance about him. It was an hour of gentle solemnity, which affectedeven the lightest heart.
Allyne had wakened wretched, with a headache, only to be told by hisfriend of the grave misdemeanors of last night.
"And," added Donelson, "the captain came to ask me about it later, butyou were asleep, so we let you alone."
"Heavens! Did I make such a beast of myself, Jack? You certainlyexaggerate."
"Not a particle. Believe me, it's serious. The little girls werewhite as paper, and Carnegie looked like the marble gladiator. I tellyou, you're in a pickle."
Allyne groaned and turned over in his bunk.
"Why didn't you stop me in time?" he questioned fiercely, with an oath.
"Oh, you needn't swear at me, Tom Allyne! I'm not your keeper. Whenyou know what champagne does for you, why don't you stop yourself intime?"
"Why don't I? Because then I don't know enough to stop, idiot! Thefirst glass goes to my head, I tell you."
"Then you'd better not touch the first glass," returned Donelsonairily, as he vigorously plied his military brushes to his sleek brownpoll. "It's a misfortune to be so weak in the upper story, Tom."
"Humph! I'd rather be weak in liquor than when sober," was mutteredfrom the bunk.
Donelson turned quickly.
"See here, young man, if you want to quarrel with your best friend, allright! I've stood by you so far, and dragged you out of the deepestdanger, but if you get too abusive--good-by! You may shift foryourself.
"Well then, shut up and let me think, can't you? I know you're allright, Jack, but my head aches terribly, and this muss nearly drives memad. Why can't you be sympathetic and advise me, instead of harrowingme up so mercilessly."
The other laughed.
"Well, by gracious! I do feel for you, Tom. But what can I do aboutit?"
"Well, go and bring Carnegie here, for the first thing, can't you?"
"Bring Carnegie to you? I like that! Why, man alive, do you realizethat under that bashful girl-look of his there is a spirit thatwouldn't flinch at anything where honor is concerned? Watch his squarejaw and the set of his lips. Bring him to you! You'll have to go toCarnegie, and eat some humble-pie into the bargain, Tom."
"I don't believe it."
"All right! Perhaps I lie. Just the same, I'll not do any sucherrand, even for you, that's certain. I know my man, if you don't.And, now, I'm going to the barber-shop, and you can have all the timethere is to think it over."
So the situation rested when the parties concerned met under the sameroof to listen to, possibly in some cases, to join in solemn prayer toGod. It was a few minutes after the service when the two young menmost concerned met face to face in one of the dim and narrowpassageways connecting the saloons. Allyne stopped and Carnegie, afteran instant's hesitation, did likewise.
"I understand," began the former trying to laugh, "that you and I had alittle falling out, last night."
"You and I? Not at all," was the prompt answer. "Your quarrel is notwith me; you simply insulted Miss Hosmer who, fortunately, has a fatherto protect her. Make your peace with him."
Allyne flushed darkly.
"You don't mince your words, sir."
"I have no reason to--nor is there any reason for our talking the thingover. It is not my privilege to take it up, as I see plainly now; butif you are a man you will go straight to Captain Hosmer and apologize."
"Oh, I will? It's very easy to tell another man to put his head intothe lion's mouth, isn't it? If he does not know the whole, what's theuse of rousing him up? Better let it drop."
"That's where you'll make a huge mistake. I believe he knows all aboutit."
"Has he told you so?"
"Certainly not. We haven't discussed the matter. My belief comes fromanother source."
"Oh, Miss--"
"Don't finish! We'll have no names mentioned, if you please. You havesimply misunderstood the character of one or two people to an almostinexcusable extent. Settle your quarrel with him, then, if you wishit, and I'll ignore my part in it entirely. But if you act the cad--"
"Well, what then?"
"Then the matter is not ended."
"Indeed!" began Allyne, with a sneer, but a second look into theother's face, as he braced himself against the wall, even in the halfdarkness, convinced him that it would be better to let the affair dropfor the present, at least, as he could now note well not only thesquare jaw to which his friend had referred, but also a flash of theblue eyes that looked dangerous.
He turned away abruptly and with a "Very well," hurried onwards. Butas he went slowly out, crossed the forward deck, mounted thecompanionway to the upper deck, and continued still upwards to thebridge, where he could see the captain standing, the glass at his eyes,his thoughts were busy, and they were not pleasant thoughts, you may besure.
Captain Hosmer seemed too absorbed in something he was examiningthrough his binocular to notice him, however, and just as Allyne,somewhat reluctantly, spoke his name, the watch sang out,
"Sail on the port bow, sir."
"Is she anchored, or drifting, Ferris?" called back the captain.
"Drifting, I think, sir. Should judge it's a wreck."
"We must alter our course and make for her then," he said, turning tothe steersman. Then, with a swift look at Allyne who stood a stepbelow waiting,
"Anything particular, sir?"
"Only a word to explain--"
"Last night? Well," sternly, "what excuse have you to make?"
Allyne shrugged his shoulders.
"I was not myself, sir. Your
champagne was too heady."
"H'm! 'Twas made for men, I reckon. You did not exactly act the partof one, it seems to me. Her Majesty's officials ought to have at leastthe manners of a gentleman."
"You are hard on me, Captain Hosmer!"
"A man is apt to be hard where his daughters are lightly treated."
"I came to apologize. Do you wish me to see the young ladies inperson?"
"By no means! Keep as far from them as possible is all I ask. Theyhave their friends."
He turned quickly to an officer awaiting commands, and paid no furtherattention as Allyne moodily withdrew. The young man saw that the menwere about to launch one of the boats, and that some of the crew werenow making ready to raise the dingey to position on the davits, whileothers were hastening to take their seats within it. The passengers,getting wind of some excitement, were hurrying sternwards, and hepushed along with them, glad to forget his sore feelings for a minute.
Carnegie, followed by Dwight, pushed past him, alert and eager, and hesaw the twins with a group of ladies, watching with all their eyes.Even his own chum, Donelson, was chatting at ease with two East Indianofficials, absorbed and forgetful. Tom Allyne felt decidedly left out,and it was not a pleasant sensation to one who had been accustomed toconsidering himself a good fellow and desirable companion.
He leaned against the bulwark, a lonely figure in the midst of all thislively bustle, and wished impotently that he could have let well enoughalone--and by well enough he doubtless meant both the champagne andMrs. Campbell--thus preserving the pleasant relations of yesterday. Asteamship soon becomes the world itself to its passengers, and thelittle events of each day assume an exaggerated importance. To be atodds with one's fellows on board means a rather desolate position forthe young person fond of society, and this one moodily wished themiserable voyage over as he blinked in the sunshine, with his back tothe rest.
The dingey, with its human freight, was smoothly lowered to the water'sedge, and rowed swiftly away, the captain, standing straight and tallin the stern, turning back to touch his cap with a smile, as the cheersresounded, but his eyes were upon two young faces who forgot to wavehandkerchiefs, even, so absorbed were they to catch his slightestglance. The boat looked a slender thing to breast the might of thatgreat sea, if only half aroused, and though it was far from heavyto-day an occasional puff of wind sent the waves up in little swirls offoam, and seemed ready to drown it in spray. As the fires were bankedto stay the ship's course, the swarthy Seedees swarmed out for a breathof air, and all who could find a glass, among crew or passengers, werelooking towards one spot. They could distinguish the floating hulkwith the naked eye, but only those with powerful lenses could saypositively that there seemed no life about it. After watching thedingey until it melted into the outlines of the larger hull, theyformed into groups beneath the awnings, to speculate upon this wreckand to hear yarns of others, each more thrilling than the last, tillthe sisters began to fear they should never see their father safe again.
Allyne, happening to turn from his sullen survey, saw that theWindemere girls, Mrs. Campbell, and two or three of the men were seatedclose by. As he turned, Mrs. Campbell said pleasantly, but withsomething of sarcasm in her tone,
"Aren't you well, Mr. Allyne? This is the first time I've seen youto-day."
"Yes, thank you, I'm well except for a headache."
"Headache? Indeed!" She laughed lightly, and her manner made him wince.
"You seem to find it amusing," he said resentfully.
She laughed outright.
"Why, you're really _cross_! Is that the way a generous dinner affectsyou? Now, roast pig never goes to my head at all--does, it Janet?"
Her mocking angered him in his present mood, but he had learned cautionfrom last night and, simply bowing, walked off without a reply. Underhis breath, however, he anathematized a woman who could so easily leada man into trouble, only to make merry over his discomfiture.
All Aboard: A Story for Girls Page 11
