Jack at Sea Part 14

"Yes, a healthy man," said the doctor.

"Ah, doctor," said the captain merrily, "there's a beautifully fitted medicine-chest in that cupboard, with plenty of physic and books of instructions for that, and a bit of surgery; and I've had to dabble in it a little myself. We captains often have to do that out away abroad.

Why, sir," he continued, with a queer humorous look at Jack, "I'd back myself to give a pill to any man against all the doctors in Christendom."

Jack looked disgusted.

"But," said the captain, "I was going to say, if our young friend here goes off with his father on a voyage, he won't want you or any other doctor, sir."

"And a good job too, captain," cried Doctor Instow, "for I like a bit of travel and rest as well as any man. But you are quite right. It is what I prescribed. Two or three years' voyage and travel."

"Well, gentlemen," said the captain, as they rose from the lunch-table; "Mr Ensler wished everything to be straightforward and above-board; is there anything else I can show you?"

"Well, yes," said Sir John, after exchanging glances once more with the doctor; "I have come down on purpose to inspect this yacht, and I should feel obliged if you would show me over it again."

"Certainly, sir," said the captain bluffly; "I have nothing else to do, I'm sorry to say. Here I am at your service."

"And in the evening," continued Sir John, "I hope you will give me the pleasure of your company to dinner at the hotel."

"Well, sir," said the captain, in rather a hesitating way, "I'm not much of a dining-out sort of man, and besides, I should like you to go about the town a bit, and make a few inquiries about me and my princ.i.p.al and the yacht. Seaside people are pretty knowing, and you'll soon hear a boat's character if you begin to ask questions."

"Oh yes, of course," said Sir John; "but we should like to know a little more of you personally, Captain Bradleigh."

"Well, that's very kind of you, sir," said the captain bluffly. "Thank you then, I'll come. But perhaps you gentlemen would like to go over the yacht alone? I want to write a letter or two. You go about and talk to my boys. They're not primed, gentlemen."

"Well, I think we will," said the doctor quickly, "Eh, Meadows?"

"Yes, Captain Bradleigh," said Sir John; "one does not decide upon a thing like this in a minute."

"Certainly not, sir. You go and have a good rummage, she'll bear it, and you jot down in your log-book anything you see that you'd like to draw attention to. Call any of the men to move or overhaul anything you wish."

For the next three hours, to Jack's great dismay, his father and Doctor Instow roamed and hunted over the yacht. Nothing seemed too small for the doctor to pounce upon, though he devoted most attention to the magazine-room, amongst the sporting implements; but one way and another they thoroughly overhauled the yacht from stem to stern, even to examining the cable-tier and the well, and having several long talks with the men, before, to Jack's great satisfaction, as he sat against the aft bulwarks, his father came to him and said--

"Tired, my boy?"

"Wearied out, father," was the reply.

"Well, we have done now. What do you think of the yacht?"

"Nothing, father;" and then hastily, as he saw the look of trouble in Sir John's eyes, "I don't understand anything."

"Humph! No. Of course not. Well, come down into the saloon."

The captain looked up from where he was writing, having carefully abstained from joining them since lunch.

"Well, gentlemen," he said, smiling, and a quiet triumphant look beaming on his face, "done?"

"Yes," said the doctor, wiping his forehead; "I haven't worked so hard for months."

"Like the look of her, sir?"

"Very much indeed," said Sir John quietly; and a pang of misery shot through the boy.

"Ah, you don't know her yet, sir; but I'm glad you think well of her."

Sir John took a seat and was silent for a few moments, Doctor Instow watching him with an inquiring look, while Jack was in agony.

"Look here, Captain Bradleigh," said Sir John at last, "I do not profess to be a judge of such matters, but everything here seems to me to speak for itself, and I can fairly say that I never saw a vessel in such perfect trim before."

"That's a high compliment to pay me, sir," replied the captain, "and I thank you for it. Well, I'm glad to have met you, sir, and it is a break in rather a monotonous life. Don't apologise, sir, I know it is a very heavy price for the craft, and of course it is on account of her having fittings that not one gentleman in ten would think of putting in a yacht. You were quite welcome to see her, and as for anything I have done--"

"I do not quite understand you," said Sir John.

"No, sir? Well, I take it that what you say is to smooth down that the craft will not quite suit you."

"You are entirely wrong," said Sir John; "I think she would suit me admirably, and save me a great deal of labour in preparation."

"Oh!" cried the captain; "then I was on the wrong tack."

"Decidedly. Now, Captain Bradleigh, about yourself. I judge you to be a perfectly straightforward, honourable man."

"Thank you, sir," said the captain, smiling. "I hope for my own sake that you are a good judge."

"I hope so too. Now, Captain Bradleigh, between man and man, will you give me your word of honour that this yacht is thoroughly sound, and one that you would advise a man you esteemed to buy?"

"That I will, sir, straight," cried the captain, holding out his hand, and giving Sir John's a tremendous grip. "She's as perfect as the best builders and fitters can make her, out of the best stuff. But you, if you think of buying her, get down a couple of the best men you can to overhaul her, and if they give a straightforward report, buy her you will."

"I don't see any need for so doing," said Sir John quietly. "I would rather have your opinion than any man's."

"But you don't know me, sir."

"I think that any observant man would know you, Captain Bradleigh, in half-an-hour."

The captain reddened.

"Well, sir," he said, "I didn't know I had my character written on my face."

"Perhaps not," said Sir John quietly; "but now about yourself. I don't wish to spend more money than I can help, and I am not an American millionaire, only a quiet country gentleman rather devoted to natural history and a love of collecting."

"That's better than being a millionaire, sir. Money isn't everything, though it's very useful."

"Exactly. Well, if I buy the yacht, will you go with me wherever I wish to sail?"

"That I will, sir, with all my heart, and do my duty by you as a man."

"Thank you," said Sir John; "and now about the crew. It is rather a large one."

"Twice too big in fair weather, sir, but not a man too many in foul."