in search of the castaways-第8章

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n　somewhere　in　the　hold　of　the　DUNCAN　rather　than　be　left　behind。　　He　would　willingly　have　gone　as　cabin…boy；　like　Nelson。　　It　was　impossible　to　resist　a　little　fellow　like　that；　and；　indeed；　no　one　tried。　He　would　not　even　go　as　a　passenger；　but　must　serve　in　some　capacity；　as　cabin…boy；　apprentice　or　sailor；　he　did　not　care　which；　so　he　was　put　in　charge　of　John　Mangles；　to　be　properly　trained　for　his　vocation。　〃And　I　hope　he　won't　spare　me　the　'cat…o…nine…tails'　if　I　don't　do　properly；〃　said　Robert。　〃Rest　easy　on　that　score；　my　boy；〃　said　Lord　Glenarvan；　gravely；　he　did　not　add；　that　this　mode　of　punishment　was　forbidden　on　board　the　DUNCAN；　and　moreover；　was　quite　unnecessary。　To　complete　the　roll　of　passengers；　we　must　name　Major　McNabbs。　　The　Major　was　about　fifty　years　of　age；　with　a　calm　face　and　regular　featuresa　man　who　did　whatever　he　was　told；　of　an　excellent；　indeed；　a　perfect　temper；　modest；　silent；　peaceable；　and　amiable；　agreeing　with　everybody　on　every　subject；　never　discussing；　never　disputing；　never　getting　angry。　He　wouldn't　move　a　step　quicker；　or　slower；　whether　he　walked　upstairs　to　bed　or　mounted　a　breach。　　Nothing　could　excite　him；　nothing　could　disturb　him；　not　even　a　cannon　ball；　and　no　doubt　he　will　die　without　ever　having　known　even　a　passing　feeling　of　irritation。　This　man　was　endowed　in　an　eminent　degree；　not　only　with　ordinary　animal　courage；　that　physical　bravery　of　the　battle…field；　which　is　solely　due　to　muscular　energy；　but　he　had　what　is　far　nobler　moral　courage；　firmness　of　soul。　　If　he　had　any　fault　it　was　his　being　so　intensely　Scotch　from　top　to　toe；　a　Caledonian　of　the　Caledonians；　an　obstinate　stickler　for　all　the　ancient　customs　of　his　country。　This　was　the　reason　he　would　never　serve　in　England；　and　he　gained　his　rank　of　Major　in　the　42nd　regiment；　the　Highland　Black　Watch；　composed　entirely　of　Scotch　noblemen。　As　a　cousin　of　Glenarvan；　he　lived　in　Malcolm　Castle；　and　as　a　major　he　went　as　a　matter　of　course　with　the　DUNCAN。　Such；　then；　was　the　PERSONNEL　of　this　yacht；　so　unexpectedly　called　to　make　one　of　the　most　wonderful　voyages　of　modern　times。　From　the　hour　she　reached　the　steamboat　quay　at　Glasgow；　she　completely　monopolized　the　public　attention。　　A　considerable　crowd　visited　her　every　day；　and　the　DUNCAN　was　the　one　topic　of　interest　and　conversation；　to　the　great　vexation　of　the　different　captains　in　the　port；　among　others　of　Captain　Burton；　in　command　of　the　SCOTIA；　a　magnificent　steamer　lying　close　beside　her；　and　bound　for　Calcutta。　　Considering　her　size；　the　SCOTIA　might　justly　look　upon　the　DUNCAN　as　a　mere　fly…boat；　and　yet　this　pleasure　yacht　of　Lord　Glenarvan　was　quite　the　center　of　attraction；　and　the　excitement　about　her　daily　increased。　The　DUNCAN　was　to　sail　out　with　the　tide　at　three　o'clock　on　the　morning　of　the　25th　of　August。　　But　before　starting；　a　touching　ceremony　was　witnessed　by　the　good　people　of　Glasgow。　　At　eight　o'clock　the　night　before；　Lord　Glenarvan　and　his　friends；　and　the　entire　crew；　from　the　stokers　to　the　captain；　all　who　were　to　take　part　in　this　self…sacrificing　voyage；　left　the　yacht　and　repaired　to　St。　Mungo's；　the　ancient　cathedral　of　the　city。　This　venerable　edifice；　so　marvelously　described　by　Walter　Scott；　remains　intact　amid　the　ruins　made　by　the　Reformation；　and　it　was　there；　beneath　its　lofty　arches；　in　the　grand　nave；　in　the　presence　of　an　immense　crowd；　and　surrounded　by　tombs　as　thickly　set　as　in　a　cemetery；　that　they　all　assembled　to　implore　the　blessing　of　Heaven　on　their　expedition；　and　to　put　themselves　under　the　protection　of　Providence。　　The　Rev。　Mr。　Morton　conducted　the　service；　and　when　he　had　ended　and　pronounced　the　benediction；　a　young　girl's　voice　broke　the　solemn　silence　that　followed。　It　was　Mary　Grant　who　poured　out　her　heart　to　God　in　prayer　for　her　benefactors；　while　grateful　happy　tears　streamed　down　her　cheeks；　and　almost　choked　her　utterance。　　The　vast　assembly　dispersed　under　the　influence　of　deep　emotion；　and　at　ten　o'clock　the　passengers　and　crew　returned　on　board　the　vessel。

CHAPTER　VI　AN　UNEXPECTED　PASSENGER

THE　ladies　passed　the　whole　of　the　first　day　of　the　voyage　in　their　berths；　for　there　was　a　heavy　swell　in　the　sea；　and　toward　evening　the　wind　blew　pretty　fresh；　and　the　DUNCAN　tossed　and　pitched　considerably。　But　the　morning　after；　the　wind　changed；　and　the　captain　ordered　the　men　to　put　up　the　foresail；　and　brigantine　and　foretopsail；　which　greatly　lessened　the　rolling　of　the　vessel。　Lady　Helena　and　Mary　Grant　were　able　to　come　on　deck　at　daybreak；　where　they　found　Lord　Glenarvan；　Major　McNabbs　and　the　captain。　〃And　how　do　you　stand　the　sea；　Miss　Mary？〃　said　Lord　Glenarvan。　〃Pretty　well；　my　Lord。　　I　am　not　very　much　inconvenienced　by　it。　Besides　I　shall　get　used　to　it。〃　〃And　our　young　Robert！〃　〃Oh；　as　for　Robert；〃　said　the　captain；　〃whenever　he　is　not　poking　about　down　below　in　the　engine…room；　he　is　perched　somewhere　aloft　among　the　rigging。　　A　youngster　like　that　laughs　at　sea…sickness。　Why；　look　at　him　this　very　moment！　Do　you　see　him？〃　The　captain　pointed　toward　the　foremast；　and　sure　enough　there　was　Robert；　hanging　on　the　yards　of　the　topgallant　mast；　a　hundred　feet　above　in　the　air。　　Mary　involuntarily　gave　a　start；　but　the　captain　said：　〃Oh；　don't　be　afraid；　Miss　Mary；　he　is　all　right；　take　my　word　for　it；　I'll　have　a　capital　sailor　to　present　to　Captain　Grant　before　long；　for　we'll　find　the　worthy　captain；　depend　upon　it。〃　〃Heaven　grant　it；　Mr。　John；〃　replied　the　young　girl。　〃My　dear　child；〃　said　Lord　Glenarvan；　〃there　is　something　so　providential　in　the　whole　affair；　that　we　have　every　reason　to　hope。　We　are　not　going；　we　are　led；　we　are　not　searching；　we　are　guided。　And　then　see　all　the　brave　men　that　have　enlisted　in　the　service　of　the　good　cause。　　We　shall　not　only　succeed　in　our　enterprise；　but　there　will　be　little　difficulty　in　it。　　I　promised　Lady　Helena　a　pleasure　trip；　and　I　am　much　mistaken　if　I　don't　keep　my　word。〃　〃Edward；〃　said　his　wife；　〃you　are　the　best　of　men。〃　〃Not　at　all；〃　was　the　reply；　〃but　I　have　the　best　of　crews　and　the　best　of　ships。　　You　don't　admire　the　DUNCAN；　I　suppose；　Miss　Mary？〃　〃On　the　contrary；　my　lord；　I　do　admire　her；　and　I'm　a　connoisseur　in　ships；〃　returned　the　young　girl。　〃Indeed！〃　〃Yes。　　I　have　played　all　my　life　on　my　father's　ships。　He　should　have　made　me　a　sailor；　for　I　dare　say；　at　a　push；　I　could　reef　a　sail　or　plait　a　gasket　easily　enough。〃　〃Do　you　say　so；　miss？〃　exclaimed　John　Mangles。　〃If　you　talk　like　that　you　and　John　will　be　great　friends；　for　he　can't　think　any　calling　is　equal　to　that　of　a　seaman；　he　can't　fancy　any　other；　even　for　a　woman。　　Isn't　it　true；　John？〃　〃Quite　so；〃　said　the　captain；　〃and　yet；　your　Lordship；　I　must　confess　that　Miss　Grant　is　more　in　her　place　on　the　poop　than　reefing　a　topsail。　But　for　all　that；　I　am　quite　flattered　by　her　remarks。〃　〃And　especially　when　she　admires　the　DUNCAN；〃　replied　Glenarvan。　〃Well；　really；〃　said　Lady　Glenarvan；　〃you　are　so　proud　of　your　yacht　that　you　make　me　wish　to　look　all　over　it；　and　I　should　like　to　go　down　and　see　how　our　brave　men　are　lodged。〃　〃Their　quarters　are　first…rate；〃　replied　John；　〃they　are　as　comfortable　as　if　they　were　at　home。〃　〃And　they　really　are　at　home；　my　dear　He