Chapter IV: Jack Staynton

ACTING on Captain Cleat's so-called order, I told my mother of his proposal to take me as 'prentice. Although glad of the offer, since the question of a premium was a weighty one, she did not at once give her consent, but made inquiries of Master Roger Staynton concerning his old comrade.

"'I faith, Mistress Roy," he replied, "what would ye have me say? Captain Cleat has been my boon companion divers times past, and though he is rough in manner and speech, I wot that he is good-hearted and just withal. Certainly he is a man of many parts and many peculiarities, but I would not tarry to send mine own son to sea with him. Yet--and I look upon it as one of the Captain's whims--he straightway refused him."

With this qualified recommendation my mother sought fit to accede to Captain Hannibal Cleat's demand, and it was decided that, should the Captain put to sea in the _Damsel of Lyme_, I was to be bound apprentice to him for six years, to learn the art and mystery of a seaman in consideration of the sum of five pounds.

At length the day appointed for the sale came round, and early in the morning Jack and I went aboard the _Damsel of Lyme_, where, in company with about a score of other lads, we swarmed up the rigging in spite of the efforts of the tipstaffs to dislodge us.

Beneath we could see Captain Cleat as he paced the deck with a self-confident manner, as if he were already in command; yet we noticed that he shrewdly took stock of each newcomer, viewing in him a possible rival for the possession of the _Damsel of Lyme_.

Just before the hour of eleven the Mayor, his assistants, and a score of burgesses arrived on the scene, attended by the sergeant-at-mace, the town clerk, two scriveners, the crier, and a guard of javelin men.

At the quay-side they waited, the Mayor looking with ill-concealed annoyance in the direction of the Governor's house, for ere the sale could commence, being partly a State affair, 'twas necessary that the Governor or his representative should attend in person.

It was quite ten minutes past the hour when the roll of drums announced the arrival of Sir Henry Radclyffe. Attended by a half-company of archers and pikemen, with several captains, the master-gunner and master-bowyer in his train, the Governor strode with measured step to the quay-side, where he gravely received and returned the salute of the representatives of the borough.

Then at a sign from the Mayor a tall, gaunt man, dressed in sober russet, mounted upon a rostrum, and proceeded to give a voluminous description of the confiscated pinnace.

"Cut it short! Cut it short!" I heard Captain Cleat mutter impatiently. Several of those whose business it was to bid for the _Damsel of Lyme_ began to cough, with the same idea of curtailing the speaker's verbosity, but all to no purpose. The man was not to be gainsaid, and though he undoubtedly heard the muttered interruptions, he sonorously continued his discourse.

At length the bidding began, Captain Cleat taking no active part during the first five offers. Then the bids seemed to hang fire, in spite of the official's urgent appeals to the sound judgment of his audience.

Planting his legs firmly apart, as was his wont, Captain Hannibal Cleat tapped his well-filled wallet, then folded his massive arms across his chest.

"Enough of this child's play, my masters!" he exclaimed. "I mean to bid and bid hard, so if there be a man worthy to be called a man let him bid against me. Only mark well lest I let him have the pinnace at a long price," and straightway the Captain bid a pound more than the last offer.

The challenge was taken up by a ship-master of Poole, but after a while, fearing that the Captain would avail himself of his threat, and leave the pinnace on his hands at a high price, the Dorset man fell out, leaving Captain Cleat to buy the _Damsel of Lyme_ for the sum of thirty-four pounds.

For the next three days the Captain worked from morn till night on his new purchase. He had shipped two hands--rough-looking men they seemed to me--and the task of refitting the pinnace proceeded amain.

Yet he found time to accompany my mother and me to the house of Master Owen Tottye, a former mayor and magistrate of the town. By him I was formally bound 'prentice to Captain Cleat, and a copy of the indenture handed to my mother.

This done, Master Tottye gave me a short homily on the necessity for obedience, and exhorted me to strive to make my way in the world.

The magistrate was in truth well qualified to give advice, for he had risen himself. When first he came to Portsmouth he set up as a glover, but "not being free," had been presented and fined eleven times. Yet in spite of persecution--for 'twas nought else--Master Owen Tottye succeeded in being elected a burgess. Nor was he content to remain such, for ere long he became mayor's assistant and finally mayor. 'Tis said that he hoped again to receive the honour of being elected mayor at the hands of his fellow-townsmen.

Nor did Master Tottye's kindness end with words of cheer, for ere we left his house he gave me an order on his neighbour Jennyns for two ells of russet cloth and three ells of blue serge, so that I might be suitably apparelled in my new condition in life.

I now entered upon my duties as Captain Cleat's 'prentice, and was soon well acquainted with the tar-brush, the caulking-iron, the serving mallet, and divers other implements used by seamen when refitting their craft. But though the Captain worked me hard, I had no cause to complain, since he himself worked as hard as any of us.

At length the day appointed for the departure of the _Damsel of Lyme_ came round. She was bound for the Coast of Guinea, there to trade with the negroes or blackamoors, and on this account the pinnace was well armed. Certain busybodies went so far as to say that Captain Cleat's close friendship with the master-gunner stood him in good stead, but of the truth of the report I knew nothing. But many expressed their opinion openly and freely that the _Damsel of Lyme_ was undermanned for such an enterprise. This coming to the ears of Captain Cleat caused him to swear so roundly that even I, knowing his failings in that direction, was mightily astonished.

The _Damsel of Lyme_ was to sail at tide-time, which happened to be at three in the afternoon, so that full advantage of the down Channel stream could be taken.

At noon, the Captain having gone ashore for dinner, and the two hands being below, I saw Jack Staynton standing on the edge of the quay.

"Hist!" he exclaimed in a low voice, for he was aware that the hatch of the forepeak was open, and that the two seamen were below, "I want to speak with you, Ralph."

Without waiting I crossed the gangplank, and stood beside him. I must have looked a fine scarecrow, being unkempt, in my rough clothing and smothered with iron rust and tar, while he was neatly attired in white doublet, plum-coloured breeches, and dark blue hose, with pinch-beck shoes mounted with polished steel buckles.

"Has Captain Cleat taken another 'prentice yet?" he asked.

"Nay, nor is he likely to," I replied.

"Then, Ralph, I'm coming with you----"

"Gracious----"

"Nay, give not vent to wonderment, but rather give me your help. The coast is clear let me hide in the hold, and then, Ralph, we'll still be comrades together."

Overjoyed at his proposal, and counting not the cost of our ill-advised action, I led Jack down the after-companion. But to my surprise the hold was battened down, and secured by an iron padlock. Why that should be so was beyond my understanding, since I knew that 'twas only partly filled with sea-stores, it being the Captain's intention to lower three hogshead of flour into it ere we set sail.

"I have it," I whispered. "I'll stow you in the Captain's cabin. When he finds you 'twill matter little once we are at sea, since he is so beholden to your father."

To this Jack agreed, and treading softly aft we gained the cabin without interruption.

Here we cast about to find a safe hiding-place, but without success, till I espied a ring-bolt set in the floor betwixt the table and the stern window. By our united efforts we succeeded in raising a trap-door, that at first sight looked like part of the deck, disclosing a dark opening.

"'Twill be the very thing," whispered Jack.

"But be careful, it may be deep down," I added, as my companion prepared to lower himself into the hole. "Stay while I procure a lantern."

"There is no need," he replied. "My feet already touch the bottom. 'Tis sand or something of that sort. Now, Ralph, put the cover on."

"But you will die for want of air," I objected.

"Needs be as needs must," he replied nonchalantly. "Should it be necessary I'll heave my back against the cover and raise it."

I had hardly hidden my daring friend and returned to my task--which was that of tarring the dead-eyes--when I saw Captain Cleat returning across the quay.

He had several heavy packages under his arm, and declining my offer to help him, bore them into his cabin. There he remained for some considerable time, while I waited in fear and trembling lest the Captain should place his chair on top of Jack's place of concealment, and thus unwittingly cause him to die of suffocation, or at least compel him to make himself known, and so frustrate our plot.

Presently Captain Cleat reappeared, glanced at the wind-vane, and gave orders for sail to be set. 'Twas a full hour before high water, but the breeze was favourable. Unfortunately for me this hurried departure prevented me from seeing my mother, who was to have come down to the quay to bid me God-speed. There was one consolation: I had already bidden her farewell in the privacy of our own home.

Nimbly the two seamen sprung aloft and set the foresail. Captain Cleat at the tiller shouted to me to haul first on one sheet then on another, till in the confusion I was unaware that our voyage had really commenced.

But 'twas so, and soon the _Damsel of Lyme_ was curtsying to the short steep waves, with my fellow-voyager, Jack Staynton, still undiscovered in his cramped and dismal retreat.