Over the Waters

Front matter

i:v LIEUTENANT F. J. DAVIS, R.N.R. AUTHOR OF " FIFTY SAILORS' SONGS OR CHANTIES," "OCEANUS ; OR, ECHOES FROM AFLOAT," "MY EXPERIENCES AS A SAILOR," ETC. LONDON DIGBY, LONG & CO., Publishers iS BOUVERIE street, FLEET STREET, E.C. CONTENTS. CIIArTEK PAGE I.— Cast adrift, 7 II.— "The way of a man avith a maid," - - 19 III. — Drifting seawards, 35 IA*. — "Men were deceivers ever — one foot on sea, ONE FOOT ON SHORE," 49 V. — " I saw him do it," 62 VI.— Shadowed by fate, 76 VII. — Gone down to the sea, 90 VIII. — John elder "takes his revenue," - - - 102 IX. — "Business in great waters," - - - 114 X. — "Dead and alive— lost and found!" - - 130 XL — Captain windward tells a lie ! - - - 141 XII. — Crossing the line, 154 XIII.— In a fog, 170 XIV. — Tempest toss'd — "the way of a ship in the midst of the sea," 183 XV. — Love or passion ? 200 XVI. — "Say you will marry me, my pretty maid?"

" FOR LOVE OR FOR SYMPATHY, SIR? " SHE SAID, 221 XVII. — AA'EALTH WITHOUT THEE IS POVERTY, - - - 233 XVIII. — Cut down to the water's edge — " the way of a serpent on a rock," .... 249 XIX. — " Flotsam and jetsam," 259 XX. — " Like as two pieces of driftwood," - - 276 XXI. — "'Twas a sailor and his lass." "alas, for the love of a day," 2S8 XXII. — Tells of marriage, tells of love, and many other things, 312 XXIII. — " Save my honour, and i will save your life," 324 XXIA*. — In the dock — "guilty or not guilty?" - 336 XXV. — "Murder will out" — john elder's confession, 359 XXVI. — Anchored — safe in the haven of rest, • • TO HIS FRIEND AND COLLABORATOR, FERRIS TOZER, Mus. Bac, Oxon, WHO HELPED TO SAVE THE " CHANTIES " FROM OBLIVION, THIS VOLUME IS DEDICATED BY THE AUTHOR. WATERS.

Chapter I. Cast Adrift

" I'LL cut you off Avith a shilling, sir. You are a disgrace to your family, and were you not my brother's son I would turn you out into the Avorld without a penny. Don't ansAver me, sir. I A\-on't listen to you ! Don't make me lose my temper ! Do you hear me, sir?" — and so saying, the old captain jumped from the chair on which he AA-as sitting and shook his fist at his nephew, who Avas seated near the AvindoAv, apparently engaged in reading the "Morning Post" but really Avondering hoAV he Avas to appease his uncle's wrath, and get out of the Avorst scrape he had ever been in. The first speaker, Captain Montague, late R.N., Avas a splendid specimen of an English gentleman, and " a sailor, sir, to the marroAv of his bones," as his former coxsAvain used to say. Sixty years of age, tall, broad-shouldered, with high brow and clear-cut features, a clean-shaven face and a pro fusion of silver-grey locks, eyes of that peculiar steely-blue which seem to look right through you, a mouth which betokened strength of will and character, and a heart so full of the milk of human kindness that it was said, and truly said, " that he never turned a beggar from his door without money or food."

But now he Avas in a rage, a terrible rage, with his ne'er-do-weel nephew, Harry Montague, his late brother's only son. While he stood in the attitude already described the door opened, and his daughter, a fair girl of nineteen summers, entered the room. The scene Avhich met her gaze seemed to astonish her, and for a minute she paused, as if hesitating Avhat course to pursue ; the next moment, hoAvever, she had crossed the room, and placing one hand on the captain's outstretched arm, said, " Father, dear ! AA'hat is the matter ? " " Matter, my dear ? matter enough, when the lad I haA-e brought up as my own son, and whom I intended making my heir, has disgraced himself as your cousin has done ! " " Disgraced himself, father ? No, surely, not that ! you must be mistaken ? " AA'ATERS. 9 I am not mistaken, my dear !

" " Listen. When your uncle died I promised him I Avould be a father to Harry, and I have tried to keep that promise. I had him educated as a gentle man, and sent him to sea as an officer in the Royal Navy. He took little or no interest in his profes sion, and when the time came for him to pass his examination for lieutenant he Avas unable to do so, and in consequence he had to leave the Navy. He then became Avild and reckless, spent his alloAvance in riotous living, and ran into debt ; then, instead of coming to me and telling the truth like a man, and asking me to help him, he got introduced to a vile money-lender, Avho, for a ' consideration,' ad vanced him a large sum of money, the 'consideration' being, my dear, that on my death the money should be returned Avith a hundred per cent. interest.

I heard of this by a mere accident. The usurer died, and Mr. Garey, my solicitor, happened to be the laAvyer called in to examine the accounts, etc., and collect the debts, and one of the first things to which his attention Avas drawn was a paper with my name on it ! " On examining it, he found that my precious nepheAV had been anticipating my death by drawing heavily on the estate — my estate, mind you, which he thinks will be his by and bye, but I will cut him off with a shilling, my dear ! The property shall never be his. That is not all he has done to offend me either, for he failed to pass his examination simply through inattention to Avork and sheer laziness, and now he can go to the devil for all the help he will for the suture get from me ! Do you hear me, sir ? " " Yes, sir, I hear you well enough, and when you have calmed yourself perhaps you will let me say a Avord or tAvo in self-justification."

" Self-justification indeed ! Can anything justify your behaviour to me after all the care and affec tion I have bestowed on you from a child ? No ! Hitherto you have depended almost entirely upon me for your living. In future you will provide for yourself as best you can. Heartless fellow that you are, you will leave this house the first thing to-morrow morning, and I don't wish to have you darken my doors again. Self-justification indeed !" So saying the captain left the room tremblingwith passion, and the two young people Avere left alone. Harry Montague threAV himself into the easy chair which he had occupied before his uncle's outburst of passion ; then, with a Avhistle, supposed to express indifference, said : " By George, Laura, I never saw the old boy in such a ra°-e before. Did you ?

" At these words the girl seated herself on a couch, and, burying her face in the cushions, sobbed violently for a few minutes. Her cousin sat looking at her for some time, then rising, he crossed the room, seated himself by her side, and taking her hand, said : " Don't cry, dear ; there's no great harm done after all." " Oh, Harry, Iioav can you speak so lightly ? Why did you do it? You knoAV father never refused you anything in his life, and if you had Avritten to him for an extra alloAvance he Avould haA*e given it to you ; and now you have done a very dishonourable thing indeed, and he'll never forgive you — neA*er, I am sure, and you haAe to go a\Aray, and — and — I shall never see you again." Her cousin tried to soothe her for some time, and eventually succeeded, by telling her that it Avas not really so serious as she thought it Avas.

Then, bidding her " dry her eyes, and take a walk with him in the fields and talk it over," she left the room, and quickly returned equipped in hat and cloak. A feAv seconds later they crossed the laAvn, and passing through the avenue into the road, climbed the stile almost immediately opposite the lodge gates, and took the path leading to Grayville, the nearest village to The Larches. They Avere a Avell-made couple, Harry Montague and his cousin. He, tall and well built, Avith curly, brown hair, Avell-trimmed beard, and good features, A\7as Avhat most of his friends called a " handsome young man." Laura, his cousin, Avas the acknoAv ledged belle of the district ! Very fair A\7as she, her head crowned with a Avealth of dark broAvn hair, her eyebrows Avere darker still, and tAvo lovely hazel eyes, fringed Avith long dark eye lashes, looked from beneath them.

Dimpling cheeks, tinged with health's own hue, a rosebud mouth, and teeth so regular in shape, and white and pearly in appearance, that many a dentist had wished he could imitate them ! Her smile was like sunshine, and her's Avas one of those sweet dispositions that to knoAV is to loA*e ! Her cousin Avas very different, he was a " ne'er-do-Aveel " in the strictest sense of the word. As a boy he had exceptional advantages and opportunities for study had his inclinations turned that way, but they did not ! And it was only with a great deal of coaching that he managed to scrape through his examination for a naval cadet, and eventually passed out of H. M.S. Britannia as a midshipman. In the usual course of events he became actings o sub-lieutenant, but he never held higher rank than AA'ATERS. 13 that in the Navy, as when he appeared for exami nation for lieutenant he failed in every subject except seamanship, and consequently had to leave the Royal Navy.

The Board of Trade, however, on his application granted him a mate's certificate for the merchant service ; he, therefore, had something to fall back upon in case his uncle carried out the threat of cutting him off Avith a shilling. He did not really belieA*e the old gentleman to be in earnest; he Avas greatly mistaken, though, for the captain had never been more in earnest than A\7hen he spoke the Avords already recorded ; and things Avere much more serious than Harry Montague thought. The tAvo Avalked in silence for some time; at last Montague said : " By Jove ! Laura, if the old boy is in earnest, I am in a regular fix ! I OAve Scarmby & OAvem, my tailors, about -£200, and I have to meet bills next month of over -£500. If old Fleecem's executors find out through Garey that uncle has decided to cut me off, I shall be in a very unenviable position, and Henry Mon tague, late R.N., will figure prominently in the 'dailies.' HoAvev7er, 'sufficient for the day is the evil thereof.' But look, dear, Avho comes here?

" And as he spoke tAvo female forms could be seen coming along the path towards them. " Oh ! that's Rose WATERS. Lambert and her old nurse, Mrs. Earnest, but I forget, you don't knoAV Rose, do you ? She is such a pretty girl, and the daughter of an Australian millionaire ! Her mother died a feAv months ago. Rose is now living with her aunt, Mrs. Everitt, until she leaves for Australia, Avhich will be very shortly, I believe. I must introduce you." By this time they Avere Avithin a few paces of the young lady and her nurse. Laura was the first to speak, and after formally introducing her cousin, discovered that Miss Lambert Avas on her way to call at The Larches, so Montague and Laura decided to go back to the house with them. As the two girls seemed to have a great deal to talk about, Montague dropped behind Avith the nurse, so as to be the better able to study the young lady.

She was a sight worth studying, for she Avas indeed "a daughter of the gods, divinely tall, and most divinely fair ! " Her hair was of that delicate golden brown tint which " the great masters " loved to paint. Her eyebroAvs were of a darker broAvn, and large deep blue eyes gazed from beneath long " silky " eyelashes. Her complexion was of that lovely pink and AA7hite Avhich one seldom sees in a blonde, unless Art assists Nature, but in this case Nature was herself the artist, and Rose Lambert struck Montague as being one of the prettiest girls he had seen for some time. Her voice Avas very musical, and now and then, when she laughed, the mirth rippled forth so merrily that the listeners caught the infection, and laughed too. Rose " was a pretty girl, a jolly girl, and a girl with a mind of her OAvn ; " this was Montague's opinion, and it was a correct one.

Having criti cised the young lady, he proceeded to inspect the nurse, and this was his "summing up:" " Rather a pleasant woman in appearance, has been good looking once, tallish, very plump Avithal, and possessed, like her mistress, of a will of her own ; she is also very persevering. Dark hair tinged with grey, sharp features, grey eyes, fairly good teeth, but a devil of a temper ; unlike her mistress in that respect, though." And he was right here also, for his experience of Avomen had been gained in various parts of the world. A sailor sees many Avomen in his travels, and has Avonderful facilities for studying their natures and dispositions. While engaged in this study, a piercing shriek rang out from behind a hedge close by, and a gruff, angry voice Avas heard to say — " I'll wale yer 'till yer ain't got no more breath in yer body.

I will ■" Montague, whatever may have been his other faults, was no coward, so he quickly forced his way through the hedge, to find that a man, dressed as a tramp, was standing over a young boy about ten years of age, Avho Avas evidently the object of his wrath. The man's arm Avielded a heavy stick, which was about to descend on the boy's head, when Montague interfered by knocking it out of his hand, much to the fellow's astonishment. " You hulking brute, you ! Why are you striking a child like that?" and as he spoke he brought the blackthorn he himself carried across the man's head with tAvo such ringing " AA'hacks " that the only wonder was the felloAA*'s skull Avas not broken. By this time the girls had pressed through the hedge, followed by Mrs. Earnest. The man, evidently thinking discretion the better part of A'alour, turned on his heel and ran a short distance, then stopping as suddenly he said — " Look 'ere, guv'nor, I shan't forget yer in an 'urry !

The man as 'its Jerry Wildsmith 'e don't do it for nothing ! I'll meet yer by and bye, so don't yer forget it ! The kid can take care of himself noAV, I'll finish the whackin' another time ! " He then jumped through a gap in the hedge and was quickly lost to view. The boy had all this time been sitting, or rather crouching, on the ground, as if afraid of another bloAV, but directly the man disappeared he gave one or two heavy sobs and then, overcome AA'ith pain and fatigue, fainted. Laura ran to a brook close by, and dipping her handkerchief in the water, returned Avith it and damped the boy's brow. Mrs. Earnest unbuttoned his little jacket, and Montague, Avho had a small pocket-flask containing brandy, took the cup, from the bottom of the flask, to the brook and filled it, then, mixing a little brandy Avith the water, poured it doAvn the boy's throat.

This revived the child, but he Avas too ill to Avalk, and as The Larches Avas the nearest house, it Avas settled that Montague should carry him thither, Avhere his needs could be attended to, and for fear that the man, Avho the boy said was his "father," should return and molest Miss Lambert or Mrs. Earnest on their way home, Montague Avas to escort them to Grayville later on. The boy Avas there fore lifted by Montague and carried by him to the house ; as he was very much Avorse by the time they arrived there, a doctor was sent for ; and by his advice the youngster was put to bed, after being bathed by the housekeeper, and having i; had his sores attended to. He was then given a sleeping draught, and was soon in profound slumber. By this time it was dusk, and Miss Lambert being anxious to get home with all possible despatch, left The Larches with Mrs. Earnest, and escorted by Montague, promising that she Avould return the next day to inquire after the boy's Avelfare.

After leaving the grounds, and Avhile walking leisurely along the high road to Grayville, which was about half a mile distant, a carriage, drawn by a pair of greys, and coming from the direction of the village, dreAV near them ; and Miss Lambert recognized it as her aunt's. When the carriage was abreast of them it stopped, and the footman informed her that Mrs. EA'eritt had sent the carriage to meet them, thinking they Avould take the high road on the Avay home. So, Avith thanks to Montague for his escort, she got into the carriage Avith Mrs. Earnest, and, Avith a smile and bow, Avas gone.

Chapter II

"THE WAY OF A MAN AVITH A MAID." EARLY the next morning a servant brought Harry Montague a letter from his uncle, telling him " to leave the house immediately he had breakfasted," and with a cheque enclosed for £50. The letter concluded thus : " I do not wish to see you again after what has occurred. I enclose you a cheque for £50, because I do not wish you to go out into the world penniless ; but this is the last money you will ever receive from me. Many a man has started in the world with less than this, and made a name for himself as an honourable man. Go and do the same — if you can — and then, perhaps? I may be inclined to believe in your < self-justification.' " Most young fellows on receiving such a letter Avould have sat down to think the matter out. Not so with Harry Montague. He proceeded at once to pack up his belongings, and long before the breakfast hour came 'round his boxes and portmanteaux were in the dog-cart on their way to the raihvay station, he himself, having deter mined to walk there, lea\-ing the house in time to catch the 10.15 train for London.

Upon entering the breakfast-room he found his cousin there, and when he told her of his uncle's decision the poor girl became almost frantic with grief, and would not be consoled. Then, for the first time in his life, Harry Mon tague realised that Laura cared more for him than for a brother. Love's unseen mantle had fallen upon her, and she shoAved, all unconsciously, that she loA*ed him. For very pity's sake he tried to console her, but she Avould not be comforted. The burden of her cry was : " Oh, Harry, I shall neA'er see you again. I shall never, never see you again." Was it to be wondered at that her grief Avas so keen ? Had not Harry been her baby playmate, her child hood's companion, her girlhood's friend ? And now — yes, she knew it at last — her heart's idol. And throwing herself on the couch in the very abandon of despair, she gave vent to her grief in a flood of tears.

Harry Montague was nothing unless he Avas practical. Therefore, muttering to himself, " I ex pect she'll be better after a good cry. Perhaps the rattle of the cups and saucers will bring her to a calmer frame of mind." He went to the table, helped himself to a cup of coffee and an egg, and began his breakfast. The " rattle of the cups and saucers" had the desired effect, and the tender thoughtfulness of the Avoman for her lover's com fort overcame the selfishness of her grief, and she came to the table asking forgiveness for not having attended to his Avants sooner. The breakfast was more or less a failure, although it Avas not the fault of the cook. The greatest epicure could not have found fault Avith the cook ing ; the trouble lay in the hearts of the eaters, Avho were both looking as if a hard crumb, Avhich they Avere in vain trying to SAvalloAV, had stuck in their throats.

Montague, after aAvhile, told Laura of his plans, which were briefly that he intended trying to get an appointment as an officer in a passenger vessel running to Australia. " Why not join the P. and Q. Company or some other large mail service then ? " said his cousin. " The P. and Q. Company Avould not suit me, especially under present circumstances. It is all A'ery well for a man Avith plenty of money at his back, Avhich he is willing to spend to keep up the so-called ' dignity of the company,' " replied he ; " but the pay is too small to my mind, and it must be a difficult thing for a junior officer to live on his pay in such a big mail service. Fancy, a chief officer in one of the largest ships of that company, a vessel of about 8000 tons, carrying hundreds of lives and millions of pounds in specie, mails, and cargo, receiving from £130 to -£160 a year !

Why, I could do better than that in some colliers ! If I' joined that company my pay at first as a junior officer would be about -£50 a year. Fancy that ! a year ! Why, it Avould not pay my Avine account. No, Laura; no P. and O. for me. P. for 'poverty' and Q. for 'Queer Street,' or that is Avhat it Avould spell for me, I think! I'm poor enough as it is, goodness knoAvs ! What I must really do, is to get a ship bound for Australia, and go to that country until this affair has blown over, or until your father thinks sit to overlook it. I must be off noAV, for I Avant to catch this train. Don't cry, dear! I promise to let you know all my doings, and I will come doAvn and see you some times. Uncle won't be so hard as to forbid my seeing you, even if it is only outside the house, iioav and then.

If he .does I must see you in secret ; but to save worry I'll send my letters under cover addressed to Mrs. Elmont, the housekeeper." With this remark he put his arm 'round her AA-aist, dreAv the fair head on to his shoulder, and kissed her check. There was nothing strange in his doing this, or that he should say in his tenderest tones, "Good-bye, Laura, my more than sister!" He had often gone aAvay before, and had ahvays kissed her when saying good-bye ; but then he had left to go and do his duty, but he had never at any time called her his "more than sister," and her heart beat at the thought of what this might mean. But iioav he Avas going away an outcast, and disoAvned by her father. It seemed too terrible. It was, indeed, a painful parting — most painful. Once or twice Harry Montague thought how very easy it would be for him to revenge himself on his uncle by per suading his cousin to come to London later on and marry him ; but he thought of all the old man's kindness in past days, and felt that he had deserved the captain's censure.

To do him justice, he really cared for Laura too much to take her into a life of poverty. So he said to himself, " I'll bide my time, and may be I'll yet be able to shoAV the old boy I'm not so black as he thinks, and perhaps he will relent by and bye." Then, he gave his cousin another kiss and Avith a promise to write soon, he Avas gone. While passing through the hall he met Mrs. Elmont, the housekeeper. The old lady Avas on her Avay to the breakfast-room to report to Miss Laura that the young boy had passed a very fair night, but was still feverish. Harry thought this Avould be a good opportunity of taking the good lady into his confidence, so asking for a feAv minutes' private conversation, he briefly told her his tale, or as much of it as he really thought desirable. Mrs. Elmont had been Captain Montague's housekeeper when Harry first came to The Larches, and she had showered all the love of her heart on the little orphan boy, and now, although she Avas a very attentive listener, the news came as a severe shock to her.

She shed a feAv tears, and then, with an effort, brightened up and said, " It Avill all be right again soon, I hope. Your uncle will forgive you, I am sure, and Ave shall have you back again with us before long. But Avhatever Miss Laura will do without you I am sure I don't know." " Well, that's just what I want to talk to you about," said he, "for I Avant your help in the matter. I mean to write to Laura occasionally, and shall enclose the letters in an em-elope addressed to you, and I Avant you to give them to her for me. Perhaps uncle Avould not like to knoAV I was writing to her." " I will help you in this matter, certainly, although as your uncle has not prohibited your writing to Miss Laura I don't see why you should not send your letters to her direct ; but perhaps it may be better to let the captain remain in ignorance of your doings for a time.

Anyhow7, I'll deliver your letters." Then with a hearty shake of the hand, and a " good-bye and God bless you," Montague passed out of the house. Assuming a jaunty step very little in accord with his sad heart, he crossed the laAvn and reached the end of the avenue Avhich led to the lodge gates, then stopping for a moment, he turned to take a last look at the house. It AA'as a pretty sight that met his gaze. The old house, built in the Tudor style, stood on a slight eminence in the centre of what appeared to be a large lawn, but consisted of grassy slopes on three sides with a shrubbery at the back. In the centre was a carriage road leading to the hall door, and branching from this a broad gravel path ran nearly all 'round the house, Avith a feAv Avell laid-out fknver-beds at the sides. Connect ing with the shrubbery at the back of the house on one side was a large floAver garden — with con servatory, hot-houses, etc. — every bed laid out in the most tasteful manner.

On the other side of the shrubbery was an excellent kitchen and fruit garden. As Montague was looking at the house, he saw his cousin Laura come to the breakfast-room window and stand gazing out upon the green- SAvard. When she saw him she at once waved her hand, and he waved his in return, then Avith a muttered exclamation of disgust at his stupidity in having trot himself into such a mess Avith his uncle, he entered the avenue. A feAv minutes" brisk walking brought him to the lodge gates, and he was just about to pass through them when his attention was arrested by a hand some collie dog which ran from the lodge, frisked about, and fawned upon him Avith every sign of delight. He stopped to pat the head of the affectionate brute, and to speak a few words of kindness to it, and Avas about to continue on his way when the lodge door opened, and Nellie King, the keeper's daughter, came running out.

Looking cautiously about, as if afraid of being seen " speaking to the young master," and evidently satisfied that they were unobserved, she went up to him and said : " Why didn't you tell me last night that you Avere going aAvay to-day ? I saw your baggage go by in the dog-cart not long ago." " I really did not know it myself, Nellie, until this morning — I assure you I did not. The fact is I have had a row with the old man, and he — well, ■27 he has thrown me OA-erboard to sink or SAvim as best I can — and — Avell, I don't think I deserve it altogether." " Do you mean that the captain has turned you out ? Oh ! I can't believe that to be true." " I can assure you, Nellie, that it is perfectly true ; only too true. I can't stop to tell you all about it now, as I Avant to catch the next train to London, and" — looking at his watch — " I have only just time to do the walk to the station in — but put on your hat and jacket, Nell, and bring a small basket on your arm as though you were going to Grayville shopping, and Avalk across the fields with me.