initial commit of ebook 23377HEADmain

1 files changed, 4185 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/23377.txt b/23377.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..87e9043
--- /dev/null
+++ b/23377.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,4185 @@
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Lively Poll, by R.M. Ballantyne
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Lively Poll
+       A Tale of the North Sea
+
+Author: R.M. Ballantyne
+
+Release Date: November 6, 2007 [EBook #23377]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LIVELY POLL ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England
+
+
+
+
+The Lively Poll, by R.M. Ballantyne.
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+The scene opens with one of the many North Sea fishing fleets at work on
+its grounds.  One of the boats is commanded by a man who is called the
+Admiral of the fleet.  He commands the other boats as to when and where
+they are to start working with their trawl nets, for if such control
+were not imposed there would be chaos, with a hundred or more boats
+crossing each other's paths and consequently entangling their nets.
+
+After a night's fishing the fish are gutted, filleted, and boxed.  A
+steam vessel approaches, and takes their catches, so that they can be
+landed at the nearest fishing port, such as Yarmouth and Gorleston, and
+rushed to London and other great cities, to be fresh on tables the
+following day.
+
+But there is another type of vessel that trades with the "Lively Poll"
+and other ships of that fishing fleet--the Dutch "coper", bringing goods
+to trade for fish, including tobacco and schnapps, for the Demon Drink
+is the ruination of many a good man.  That is what this book is really
+all about, the ruination of some men, and the salvation of others, for
+even out at sea there are missionaries working to try and save souls.
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+THE LIVELY POLL, BY R.M. BALLANTYNE.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER ONE.
+
+THE FLEET.
+
+Manx Bradley was an admiral--"admiral of the fleet"--though it must be
+admitted that his personal appearance did not suggest a position so
+exalted.
+
+With rough pilot coat and sou'-wester, scarred and tarred hands, easy,
+rolling gait, and boots from heel to hip, with inch-thick soles, like
+those of a dramatic buccaneer, he bore as little resemblance to the
+popular idea of a lace-coated, brass-buttoned, cock-hatted admiral as a
+sea-urchin bears to a cockle-shell.  Nevertheless Manx was a real
+admiral--as real as Nelson, and much harder worked.
+
+His fleet of nearly two hundred fishing-smacks lay bobbing about one
+fine autumn evening on the North Sea.  The vessels cruised round each
+other, out and in, hither and thither, in all positions, now on this
+tack, now on that, bowsprits pointing north, south, east, and west, as
+if without purpose, or engaged in a nautical game of "touch."
+Nevertheless all eyes were bent earnestly on the admiral's vessel, for
+it was literally the "flagship," being distinguishable only by a small
+flag attached to its fore stay.
+
+The fleet was hovering, awaiting orders from the admiral.  A fine smart
+"fishing breeze" was blowing.  The setting sun sparkled on the
+wave-crests; thin fleecy clouds streaked the sky; everything gave
+promise of a satisfactory night, and a good haul of fish in the morning.
+
+With the quiet air of an amiable despot Manx nodded his venerable head.
+Up went the signal, and in a few minutes the fleet was reduced to order.
+Every smack swept round into position, and, bending over on the same
+tack, they all rushed like a shoal of startled minnows, away in the same
+direction--the direction signalled by the admiral.  Another signal from
+our venerable despot sent between one and two hundred trawl-nets down to
+the bottom of the sea, nets that were strong enough to haul up tons of
+fish, and rocks, and wreckage, and rubbish, with fifty-feet beams, like
+young masts, with iron enough in bands and chains to sink them, and so
+arranged that the beams were raised a few feet off the ground, thus
+keeping the mouths of the great nets open, while cables many fathoms in
+length held the gears to their respective vessels.
+
+So the North Sea Fishermen began the night's work--the _Nancy_, the
+_Coquette_, the _Rattler_, the _Truant_, the _Faith_, the _Playfellow_,
+the _Cherub_, and all the rest of them.  Of course, although the breeze
+was fresh, they went along slowly, because of the ponderous tails that
+they had to draw.
+
+Do you ask, reader, why all this order? why this despotic admiral, and
+all this unity of action? why not "every man for himself"?  Let me reply
+by asking you to think for a moment.
+
+Wind blowing in one direction, perhaps you are aware, does not
+necessarily imply vessels sailing in the same direction.  With variation
+of courses possible, nearly two hundred tails out astern, and no unity
+of action, there would arise the certainty of varied and striking
+incident.  The _Nancy_ would go crashing into the bows of the
+_Coquette_, the bowsprit of the _Rallier_ would stir up the cabin of the
+_Truant_, the tail of the _Faith_ would get entangled with that of the
+_Cherub_, and both might hook on to the tail of the _Playfellow_; in
+short, the awful result would be wreck and wretchedness on the North
+Sea, howling despair in the markets of Columbia and Billingsgate, and no
+fish for breakfast in the great metropolis.  There is reason for most
+things--specially good reason for the laws that regulate the fisheries
+of the North Sea, the fleets of which are over twelve in number, and the
+floating population over twelve thousand men and boys.
+
+For several hours this shoal of vessels, with full sails and twinkling
+lights, like a moving city on the deep, continued to tug and plunge
+along over the "banks" of the German ocean, to the satisfaction of the
+fishermen, and the surprise no doubt of the fish.  About midnight the
+admiral again signalled, by rocket and flares, "Haul up," and
+immediately, with capstan, bar, and steam, the obedient crews began to
+coil in their tails.
+
+It is not our intention to trouble the reader with a minute account of
+this process or the grand result, but, turning to a particular smack, we
+solicit attention to that.  She is much like the others in size and rig.
+Her name is the _Lively Poll_.  Stephen Lockley is her skipper, as fine
+a young fisherman as one could wish to see--tall, handsome, free,
+hearty, and powerful.  But indeed all deep-sea fishermen possess the
+last quality.  They would be useless if not physically strong.  Many a
+Samson and Hercules is to be found in the North Sea fleets.  "No better
+nursery or training-school in time of war," they say.  That may be true,
+but it is pleasanter to think of them as a training-school for times of
+peace.
+
+The night was very dark.  Black clouds overspread the sky, so that no
+light save the dim rays of a lantern cheered the men as they went tramp,
+tramp, round the capstan, slowly coiling in the trawl-warp.  Sheets of
+spray sometimes burst over the side and drenched them, but they cared
+nothing for that, being pretty well protected by oilskins, sou'-westers,
+and sea-boots.  Straining and striving, sometimes gaining an inch or
+two, sometimes a yard or so, while the smack plunged and kicked, the
+contest seemed like a doubtful one between _vis inertiae_ and the human
+will.  Two hours and a half it lasted, until the great trawl-beam came
+to the surface, and was got up on the vessel's side, after which these
+indomitable men proceeded to claw up the huge net with their fingers,
+straining and heaving with might and main.
+
+"Yo, ho!" cried the skipper, "heave her in, boys!"
+
+"Hoy!" growled Peter Jay, the mate, giving a tug that should have torn
+the net to pieces--but didn't!
+
+"Looks like as if we'd got hold of a lump o' wreck," gasped Bob Lumsden,
+the smack's boy, who was also the smack's cook.
+
+"No, no, Lumpy," remarked David Duffy, who was no respecter of names or
+persons, "it ain't a wreck, it's a mermaid.  I've bin told they weigh
+over six ton when young.  Look out when she comes aboard--she'll bite."
+
+"I do believe it's old Neptune himself," said Jim Freeman, another of
+the "hands."  "There's his head; an' something like his pitchfork."
+
+"It does feel heavier than I ever knowed it afore," remarked Fred
+Martin.
+
+"That's all along of your bein' ill, Fred," said the mate.
+
+"It may be so," returned Martin, "for I do feel queer, an' a'most as
+weak as a baby.  Come heave away!"
+
+It was indeed a huge mass of wreck entangled with sea-weed which had
+rendered the net so heavy on that occasion, but there was also a
+satisfactory mass of fish in the "cod-end," or bag, at the extremity of
+the net, for, when, by the aid of the winch, this cod-end was finally
+got inboard, and the cord fastening the bottom of it was untied, fish of
+all kinds gushed over the wet decks in a living cataract.
+
+There were a few expressions of satisfaction from the men, but not much
+conversation, for heavy work had still to be done--done, too, in the
+dark.  Turbot, sole, cod, skate, and all the other treasures of the
+deep, had to be then and there gutted, cleaned, and packed in square
+boxes called "trunks," so as to be ready for the steam-carrier next
+morning.  The net also had to be cleared and let down for another catch
+before daybreak.
+
+Now it is just possible that it may never have occurred to the reader to
+consider how difficult, not to say dangerous, must be the operation of
+gutting, cleaning, and packing fish on a dark night with a smack dancing
+a North Sea hornpipe under one's feet.  Among the dangers are two which
+merit notice.  The one is the fisherman's liability, while working among
+the "ruck," to run a sharp fish-bone into his hand, the other to gash
+himself with his knife while attempting to operate on the tail of a
+skate.  Either accident may be slight or it may be severe.
+
+A sudden exclamation from one of the men while employed in this cleaning
+and packing work told that something had happened.
+
+"There goes Martin," growled Joe Stubley; "you can always tell when it's
+him, 'cause he don't curse an' swear."
+
+Stubley--or Stubby, as his mates called him--did not intend this for a
+compliment by any means, though it may sound like one.  Being an
+irreligious as well as a stupid man, he held that all who professed
+religion were hypocritical and silly.  Manliness, in poor Jo's mind,
+consisted of swagger, quiet insolence, cool cursing, and general
+godlessness.  With the exception of Fred Martin, the rest of the crew of
+the _Lively Poll_ resembled him in his irreligion, but they were very
+different in character,--Lockley, the skipper being genial; Peter Jay,
+the mate, very appreciative of humour, though quiet and sedate; Duffy,
+jovial and funny; Freeman, kindly, though reckless; and Bob, the
+boy-cook, easy-going both as to mind and morals.  They all liked Martin,
+however, in spite of his religion, for he practised much and preached
+little.
+
+"What's wrong?" asked Lockley, who stood at the tiller looking out for
+lights ahead.
+
+"Only a bone into my left hand," replied Martin, going on with his
+somewhat dirty labours.
+
+"Well that it's no worse, boy," observed Freeman, "for we've got no
+medicine-chest to fly to like that lucky Short-Blue fleet."
+
+"That's true, Jim," responded Martin; "I wish we had a Gospel smack with
+our fleet, for our souls need repairing as well as our bodies."
+
+"There you go," growled Stubley, flinging down a just finished fish with
+a flap of indignation.  "A feller can't mention the name o' them mission
+craft without rousin' you up to some o' your hypocritical chaff.  For my
+part, if it wasn't for the medicine-chest and the mittens, I think we'd
+be better by a long way without Gospel ships, as ye call 'em.  Why, what
+good 'ave they done the Short-Blues?  I'm sure _we_ doesn't want
+churches, or prayin', or psalm-singin' or book--"
+
+"Speak for yourself, Jo," interrupted Puffy.
+
+"Although your head may be as thick as a three-inch plank, through which
+nothin' a'most can pass either from books or anything else, you mustn't
+think we've bin all built on the same lines.  I likes a good book
+myself, an', though I don't care about prayin' or psalm-singin', seein'
+I don't understand 'em, I say `good luck' to the mission smacks, if it
+was for nothin' else than the books, an' doctor stuff, an' mitts what
+the shoregoin' ladies--bless their hearts!--is so fond o' sendin' to
+us."
+
+"Ay, an the cheap baccy, too, that they say they're a-goin' to send to
+us," added Freeman.
+
+"P'r'aps they'll send us cheap grog at last," said Puffy, with a laugh.
+
+"They'll hardly do that," remarked Martin; "for it's to try an' keep us
+from goin' for our baccy to the _copers_ that they've started this new
+plan."
+
+"I wish 'em success," said Lockley, in a serious tone.  And there was
+good ground for that wish, for our genial and handsome skipper was
+peculiarly weak on the point of strong drink, that being to him a
+powerful, almost irresistible, temptation.
+
+When the fish-cleaning and packing were completed, the men went below to
+snatch a few hours' repose.  Wet, weary, and sleepy, but with a large
+stock of reserve strength in them, they retired to the little cabin, in
+which they could scarcely stand up without bumping their heads, and
+could hardly turn round without hitting their elbows on something or
+other.  Kicking off their long boots, and throwing aside oilskin coats
+and sou'-westers, they tumbled into their narrow "bunks" and fell asleep
+almost without winking.
+
+There was one among them, however, who did not sleep long that night.
+Fred Martin was soon awakened by the pain of his wound, which had begun
+to inflame, and by a feeling of giddiness and intense uneasiness with
+which he had been troubled for several days past.
+
+Turning out at last, he sat down in front of the little iron stove that
+served to cook food as well as to warm the cabin, and, gazing into the
+embers, began to meditate on his strangely uncomfortable sensations.
+
+"Hallo, Martin, anything wrong?" asked the mate, who descended at that
+moment to relight his pipe.
+
+"I believe there is, mate.  I never felt like this afore.  I've fowt
+against it till I can hardly stand.  I feel as if I was goin' to knock
+under altogether.  This hand, too, seems gittin' bad.  I do think my
+blood must be poisoned, or somethin' o' that sort.  You know I don't
+easily give in, but when a feller feels as if little red-hot wires was
+twistin' about inside of him, an' sees things goin' round as if he was
+drunk, why--"
+
+"Why, it's time to think of goin' home," interrupted Jay, with a laugh.
+"But let's have a look at you, Fred.  Well, there does seem to be some
+o' your riggin' slack.  Have you ever had the measles?"
+
+"Not as I knows of."
+
+"Looks like it," said the mate, lighting his pipe.  "P'r'aps it'll be as
+well to send you into dock to refit.  You'd better turn in again,
+anyhow, for a snooze would do you good."
+
+Fred Martin acted on this advice, while Jay returned to the deck; but it
+was evident that the snooze was not to be had, for he continued to turn
+and toss uneasily, and to wonder what was wrong with him, as strong
+healthy men are rather apt to do when suddenly seized with sickness.
+
+At grey dawn the admiral signalled again.  The order was to haul up the
+nets, which had been scraping the bottom of the sea since midnight, and
+the whole fleet set to work without delay.
+
+Martin turned out with the rest, and tried to defy sickness for a time,
+but it would not do.  The strong man was obliged to succumb to a
+stronger than he--not, however, until he had assisted as best as he
+could in hauling up the trawl.
+
+This second haul of the gear of the _Lively Poll_ illustrated one of
+those mishaps, to which all deep-sea trawlers are liable, and which are
+of frequent occurrence.  A piece of wreck or a lost anchor, or
+something, had caught the net, and torn it badly, so that when it
+reached the surface all the fish had escaped.
+
+"A night's work for nothing!" exclaimed Stephen Lockley, with an oath.
+
+"_Might_ have been worse," suggested Martin.
+
+By that time it was broad daylight, and as they had no fish to pack, the
+crew busied themselves in removing the torn net from the beam, and
+fitting on a new one.  At the same time the crews of the other smacks
+secured their various and varied hauls, cleaned, packed, and got ready
+for delivery.
+
+The smoke of the steam-carrier was seen on the horizon early in the
+forenoon, and all the vessels of the fleet made for her, as chickens
+make for their mother in times of danger.
+
+We may not pause here to describe the picturesque confusion that
+ensued--the arriving, congregating, tacking, crossing, and re-crossing
+of smacks; the launching of little boats, and loading them with
+"trunks;" the concentration of these round the steamer like minnows
+round a whale; the shipping of the cargo, and the tremendous hurry and
+energy displayed in the desire to do it quickly, and get the fish fresh
+to market.  Suffice it to say that in less than four hours the steamer
+was loaded, and Fred Martin, fever-stricken and with a highly inflamed
+hand and arm, started on a thirty-six hours' voyage to London.
+
+Then the fleet sheered off and fell into order, the admiral issued his
+instructions, and away they all went again to continue the hard,
+unvarying round of hauling and toiling and moiling, in heat and cold,
+wet and dry, with nothing to lighten the life or cheer the heart save a
+game at "crib" or "all fives," or a visit to the _coper_, that terrible
+curse of the North Sea.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWO.
+
+ACCIDENTS AFLOAT AND INCIDENTS ASHORE.
+
+Now, although it is an undoubted fact that the skippers of the North Sea
+trawling smacks are first-rate seamen, it is an equally certain fact
+that strong drink can render them unfit for duty.  One of the skippers
+was, if we may say so, unmanned by drink at the time the fleet sheered
+off from the steam-carrier, as stated in the last chapter.  He was named
+Georgie Fox--better known in the fleet as Groggy Fox.
+
+Unfortunately for himself as well as others, Skipper Fox had paid a
+visit to one of the _copers_ the day before for the purpose of laying in
+a stock of tobacco, which was sold by the skipper of the floating
+grog-shop at 1 shilling 6 pence a pound.  Of course Fox had been treated
+to a glass of fiery spirits, and had thereafter been induced to purchase
+a quantity of the same.  He had continued to tipple until night, when he
+retired in a fuddled state to rest.  On rising he tippled again, and
+went on tippling till his fish were put on board the steamer.  Then he
+took the helm of his vessel, and stood with legs very wide apart, an
+owlish gaze in his eyes, and a look of amazing solemnity on his visage.
+
+When a fleet sheers off from a steam-carrier after delivery of cargo,
+the sea around is usually very much crowded with vessels, and as these
+cross and re-cross or run past or alongside of each other before finally
+settling into the appointed course, there is a good deal of hearty
+recognition--shouting, questioning, tossing up of arms, and expressions
+of goodwill--among friends.  Several men hailed and saluted Fox as his
+smack, the _Cormorant_, went by, but he took no notice except with an
+idiotic wink of both eyes.
+
+"He's bin to the _coper_," remarked Puffy, as the _Cormorant_ crossed
+the bow of the _Lively Poll_.  "I say, Lumpy, come here," he added, as
+Bob Lumsden came on deck.  "Have 'ee got any o' that coffee left?"
+
+"No, not a drop.  I gave the last o't to Fred Martin just as he was
+goin' away."
+
+"Poor Fred!" said Puffy.  "He's in for suthin' stiff, I doubt, measles
+or mulligrumps, if not wuss."
+
+"A great pity," remarked Peter Jay, who stood at the helm, "that Martin
+couldn't hold out a week longer when our turn comes round to run for
+Yarmouth."
+
+"It's well we got him shipped off to-day," said Lockley.  "That hand of
+his would have made him useless before another day was out.  It's a long
+time for a man in his state to be without help, that run up to Lun'on.
+Port your helm a bit, Jay.  Is it the _Cormorant_ that's yawin' about
+there in that fashion?"
+
+"Ay, it's the _Cormorant_," replied Jay.  "I seed her just now a'most
+run foul o' the _Butterfly_."
+
+"She'll be foul of us.  Hi!  Look out!" cried Lockley, becoming excited,
+as he saw the _Cormorant_ change her course suddenly, without apparent
+reason, and bear straight down upon his vessel.
+
+There was, indeed, no reason for the strange movements of the smack in
+question, except that there was at the helm a man who had rendered his
+reason incapable of action.  With dull, fishy eyes, that stared
+idiotically at nothing, his hand on the tiller, and his mind asleep,
+Georgie Fox stood on the deck of the _Cormorant_ steering.
+
+"Starboard a bit, Jay," said Lockley, with an anxious look, "she'll
+barely clear us."
+
+As he spoke, Fox moved his helm slightly.  It changed the course of his
+vessel only a little, but that little sufficed to send the cutwater of
+the _Cormorant_ straight into the port bows of the _Lively Poll_ with a
+tremendous crash, for a smart breeze was blowing at the time.  The
+bulwarks were cut down to the deck, and, as the _Cormorant_ recoiled and
+again surged ahead, the bowsprit was carried away, and part of the
+topmast brought down.
+
+Deep and fierce was the growl that burst from Lockley's lips at this
+disaster, but that did not mend matters.  The result was that the
+_Lively Poll_ had to quit the fleet a week before her time of eight
+weeks afloat was up, and run to Yarmouth for repairs.  Next day,
+however, it fell calm, and several days elapsed before she finally made
+her port.
+
+Meanwhile Fred Martin reached London, with his feverish complaint
+greatly aggravated, and his undressed wound much worse.  In London he
+was detained some hours by his employers, and then sent on to Yarmouth,
+which he reached late in the afternoon, and ultimately in a state of
+great suffering and exhaustion, made his way to Gorleston, where his
+mother lived.
+
+With his mind in a species of wild whirl, and acute pains darting
+through his wounded hand and arm, he wended his way slowly along the
+road that led to his mother's house.  Perhaps we should style it her
+attic, for she could claim only part of the house in which she dwelt.
+From a quaint gable window of this abode she had a view of the sea over
+the houses in front.
+
+Part of Fred's route lay along the banks of the Yare, not far from its
+mouth.  At a spot where there were many old anchors and cables, old and
+new trawl-beams, and sundry other seafaring rusty and tarry objects, the
+young fisherman met a pretty young girl, who stopped suddenly, and, with
+her large blue eyes expressing unspeakable surprise, exclaimed, "Fred!"
+
+The youth sprang forward, seized the girl with his uninjured hand, and
+exclaimed, "Isa!" as he drew her towards him.
+
+"Fred--not here.  Behave!" said Isa, holding up a warning finger.
+
+Fred consented to behave--with a promise, however, that he would make up
+for it at a more fitting time and place.
+
+"But what is the matter!" asked Isa, with an anxious look, laying her
+pretty little hands on the youth's arm.
+
+Yes, you need not smile, reader; it is not a perquisite of ladies to
+have pretty little hands.  Isa's hands were brown, no doubt, like her
+cheeks, owing to exposure and sunshine, and they were somewhat roughened
+by honest toil; but they were small and well-shaped, with taper fingers,
+and their touch was very tender as she clasped them on her lover's arm.
+
+"Nothing serious," replied the youth lightly; "only an accident with a
+fish-bone, but it has got to be pretty bad for want of attention; an'
+besides I'm out o' sorts somehow.  No physic, you see, or doctors in our
+fleet, like the lucky dogs of the Short-Blue.  I've been knocked up more
+or less for some weeks past, so they sent me home to be looked after.
+But I won't need either physic or doctor now."
+
+"No? why not?" asked the girl, with a simple look.
+
+"Cause the sight o' your sweet face does away with the need of either."
+
+"Don't talk nonsense, Fred."
+
+"If that's nonsense," returned the fisherman, "you'll never hear me talk
+sense again as long as I live.  But how about mother, Isa?  Is she
+well!"
+
+"Quite well.  I have just left her puzzling herself over a letter from
+abroad that's so ill-written that it would bother a schoolmaster to read
+it.  I tried to read it, but couldn't.  You're a good scholar, Fred, so
+you have come just in time to help her.  But won't she be surprised to
+see you!"
+
+Thus conversing, and walking rather slowly, the pair made their way to
+the attic of Mrs Martin, where the unexpected sight of her son threw
+the patient woman into a great flutter of surprise and pleasure.  We use
+the word "patient" advisedly, for Mrs Martin was one of those
+wholesome-minded creatures who, having to battle vigorously for the bare
+necessaries of life in the face of many adverse circumstances, carry on
+the war with a degree of hearty, sweet-tempered resolution which might
+put to shame many who are better off in every way.  Mrs Martin was a
+widow and a washerwoman, and had a ne'er-do-well brother, a fisherman,
+who frequently "sponged" upon her.  She also had a mother to support and
+attend upon, as well as a "bad leg" to endure.  True, the attendance on
+her mother was to the good woman a source of great joy.  It constituted
+one of the few sunbeams of her existence, but it was not on that account
+the less costly, for the old woman could do nothing whatever to increase
+the income of the widow's household--she could not, indeed, move a step
+without assistance.  Her sole occupation was to sit in the attic window
+and gaze over the sands upon the sea, smiling hopefully, yet with a
+touch of sadness in the smile; mouthing her toothless gums, and
+muttering now and then as if to herself, "He'll come soon now."  Her
+usual attitude was that of one who listens expectantly.
+
+Thirty years before Granny Martin had stood at the same attic window, an
+elderly woman even then, looking out upon the raging sea, and muttering
+anxiously the same words, "He'll come soon now."  But her husband never
+came.  He was lost at sea.  As years flew by, and time as well as grief
+weakened her mind, the old woman seemed to forget the flight of time,
+and spent the greater part of every day in the attic window, evidently
+on the look-out for some one who was to come "soon."  When at last she
+was unable to walk alone, and had to be half carried to her seat in the
+attic window by her strong and loving daughter, the sadness seemed to
+pass away, and her cheery spirit revived under the impression,
+apparently, that the coming could not be delayed much longer.  To every
+one Granny was condescendingly kind, especially to her grandchild Fred,
+of whom she was very fond.
+
+Only at intervals was the old woman's cheerfulness disturbed, and that
+was during the occasional visits of her ne'er-do-well son Dick, for he
+was generally drunk or "half-seas-over" when he came.  Granny never
+mentioned his name when he was absent, and for a long time Mrs Martin
+supposed that she tried to forget him, but her opinion changed on this
+point one night when she overheard her mother praying with intense
+earnestness and in affectionate terms that her dear Dick might yet be
+saved.  Still, however much or frequently Granny's thoughts might at any
+time be distracted from their main channel, they invariably returned
+thereto with the cheerful assurance that "_he_ would soon come now."
+
+"You're ill, my boy," said Mrs Martin, after the first greetings were
+over.
+
+"Right you are, mother," said the worn-out man, sitting down with a
+weary sigh.  "I've done my best to fight it down, but it won't do."
+
+"You must have the doctor, Fred."
+
+"I've had the doctor already, mother.  I parted with Isa Wentworth at
+the bottom o' the stair, an' she will do me more good than dozens o'
+doctors or gallons o' physic."
+
+But Fred was wrong.
+
+Not long afterwards the _Lively Poll_ arrived in port, and Stephen
+Lockley hastened to announce his arrival to his wife.
+
+Now it was the experience of Martha Lockley that if, on his regular
+return to land for his eight days' holiday, after his eight weeks' spell
+afloat, her handsome and genial husband went straight home, she was wont
+to have a happy meeting; but if by any chance Stephen first paid a visit
+to the Blue Boar public-house, she was pretty sure to have a miserable
+meeting, and a more or less wretched time of it thereafter.  A
+conversation that Stephen had recently had with Fred Martin having made
+an impression on him--deeper than he chose to admit even to himself--he
+had made up his mind to go straight home this time.
+
+"I'll be down by daybreak to see about them repairs," he said to Peter
+Jay, as they left the _Lively Poll_ together, "and I'll go round by your
+old friend, Widow Mooney's, and tell her to expect you some time
+to-night."
+
+Now Peter Jay was a single man, and lodged with Widow Mooney when on
+shore.  It was not, however, pure consideration for his mate or the
+widow that influenced Lockley, but his love for the widow's little
+invalid child, Eve, for whose benefit that North Sea skipper had, in the
+kindness of his heart, made a special collection of deep-sea shells,
+with some shreds of bright bunting.
+
+Little Eve Mooney, thin, wasted, and sad, sat propped up with dirty
+pillows, in a dirty bed, in a dirtier room, close to a broken and
+paper-patched window that opened upon a coal-yard with a prospect
+rubbish-heap beyond.
+
+"Oh, I'm _so_ glad it's you!" cried Eve, with flushed cheeks and
+sparkling eyes, as the fisherman entered.
+
+"Yes, Eve, my pretty.  I'm back sooner than I expected--and look what
+I've brought you.  I haven't forgot you."
+
+Joy beamed in the lustrous eyes and on every feature of the thin face as
+the sick child surveyed the treasures of the deep that Lockley spread on
+her ragged counterpane.
+
+"How good--how kind of you, Stephen!" exclaimed Eve.
+
+"Kind!" repeated the skipper; "nothing of the sort, Eve.  To please you
+pleases me, so it's only selfishness.  But where's your mother?"
+
+"Drunk," said the child simply, and without the most remote intention of
+injuring her parent's character.  Indeed, that was past injury.  "She's
+in there."
+
+The child pointed to a closet, in which Stephen found on the floor a
+heap of unwomanly rags.  He was unable to arouse the poor creature, who
+slumbered heavily beneath them.  Eve said she had been there for many
+hours.
+
+"She forgot to give me my breakfast before she went in, and I'm too weak
+to rise and get it for myself," whimpered Eve, "and I'm _so_ hungry!
+And I got such a fright, too, for a man came in this morning about
+daylight and broke open the chest where mother keeps her money and took
+something away.  I suppose he thought I was asleep, for I was too
+frightened to move, but I could see him all the time.  Please will you
+hand me the loaf before you go?  It's in that cupboard."
+
+We need scarcely add that Lockley did all that the sick child asked him
+to do--and more.  Then, after watching her till the meal was finished,
+he rose.
+
+"I'll go now, my pretty," he said, "and don't you be afeared.  I'll soon
+send some one to look after you.  Good-bye."
+
+Stephen Lockley was unusually thoughtful as he left Widow Mooney's hut
+that day, and he took particular care to give the Blue Boar a wide berth
+on his way home.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER THREE.
+
+THE SKIPPER ASHORE.
+
+Right glad was Mrs Lockley to find that her husband had passed the Blue
+Boar without going in on his way home, and although she did not say so,
+she could not feel sorry for the accident to the _Lively Poll_, which
+had sent him ashore a week before his proper time.
+
+Martha Lockley was a pretty young woman, and the proud mother of a
+magnificent baby, which was bordering on that age when a child begins to
+have some sort of regard for its own father, and to claim much of his
+attention.
+
+"Matty," said Stephen to his wife, as he jolted his daughter into a
+state of wild delight on his knee, "Tottie is becoming very like you.
+She's got the same pretty little turned-up nose, an' the same huge grey
+eyes with the wicked twinkle in 'em about the corners."
+
+"Don't talk nonsense, Stephen, but tell me about this robbery."
+
+"I know nothin' about it more than I've told ye, Matty.  Eve didn't know
+the man, and her description of him is confused--she was frightened,
+poor thing!  But I promised to send some one to look after her at once,
+for her drunken mother isn't fit to take care of herself, let alone the
+sick child.  Who can I send, think 'ee?"
+
+Mrs Lockley pursed her little mouth, knitted her brows, and gazed
+thoughtfully at the baby, who, taking the look as personal, made a face
+at her.  Finally she suggested Isabella Wentworth.
+
+"And where is she to be found?" asked the skipper.
+
+"At the Martins', no doubt," replied Mrs Lockley, with a meaning look.
+"She's been there pretty much ever since poor Fred Martin came home,
+looking after old granny, for Mrs Martin's time is taken up wi' nursing
+her son.  They say he's pretty bad."
+
+"Then I'll go an' see about it at once," said Stephen, rising, and
+setting Tottie down.
+
+He found Isa quite willing to go to Eve, though Mrs Mooney had stormed
+at her and shut the door in her face on the occasion of her last visit.
+
+"But you mustn't try to see Fred," she added.  "The doctor says he must
+be kep' quiet and see no one."
+
+"All right," returned the skipper; "I'll wait till he's out o'
+quarantine.  Good day; I'll go and tell Eve that you're coming."
+
+On his way to Mrs Mooney's hut Stephen Lockley had again to pass the
+Blue Boar.  This time he did not give it "a wide berth."  There were two
+roads to the hut, and the shorter was that which passed the
+public-house.  Trusting to the strength of his own resolution, he chose
+that road.  When close to the blue monster, whose creaking sign drew so
+many to the verge of destruction, and plunged so many over into the
+gulf, he was met by Skipper Ned Bryce, a sociable, reckless sort of man,
+of whom he was rather fond.  Bryce was skipper of the _Fairy_, an iron
+smack, which was known in the fleet as the Ironclad.
+
+"Hullo!  Stephen.  _You_ here?"
+
+"Ay, a week before my time, Ned.  That lubber Groggy Fox ran into me,
+cut down my bulwarks, and carried away my bowsprit an' some o' my
+top-hamper."
+
+"Come along--have a glass, an' let's hear all about it," said Bryce,
+seizing his friend's arm; but Lockley held back.
+
+"No, Ned," he said; "I'm on another tack just now."
+
+"What! not hoisted the blue ribbon, eh!"
+
+"No," returned Lockley, with a laugh.  "I've no need to do that."
+
+"You haven't lost faith in your own power o' self-denial surely?"
+
+"No, nor that either, but--but--"
+
+"Come now, none o' your `buts.'  Come along; my mate Dick Martin is in
+here, an' he's the best o' company."
+
+"Dick Martin in there!" repeated Lockley, on whom a sudden thought
+flashed.  "Is he one o' your hands?"
+
+"In course he is.  Left the Grimsby fleet a-purpose to j'ine me.  Rather
+surly he is at times, no doubt, but a good fellow at bottom, and great
+company.  You should hear him sing.  Come."
+
+"Oh, I know him well enough by hearsay, but never met him yet."
+
+Whether it was the urgency of his friend, or a desire to meet with Dick
+Martin, that shook our skipper's wavering resolution we cannot tell, but
+he went into the Blue Boar, and took a glass for good-fellowship.  Being
+a man of strong passions and excitable nerves, this glass produced in
+him a desire for a second, and that for a third, until he forgot his
+intended visit to Eve, his promises to his wife, and his stern resolves
+not to submit any longer to the tyranny of drink.  Still, the memory of
+Mrs Mooney's conduct, and of the advice of his friend Fred Martin, had
+the effect of restraining him to some extent, so that he was only what
+his comrades would have called a little screwed when they had become
+rather drunk.
+
+There are many stages of drunkenness.  One of them is the confidential
+stage.  When Dick Martin had reached this stage, he turned with a
+superhumanly solemn countenance to Bryce and winked.
+
+"If--if you th-think," said Bryce thickly, "th-that winkin' suits you,
+you're mistaken."
+
+"Look 'ere," said Dick, drawing a letter from his pocket with a maudlin
+leer, and holding it up before his comrade, who frowned at it, and then
+shook his head--as well he might, for, besides being very illegibly
+written, the letter was presented to him upside down.
+
+After holding it before him in silence long enough to impress him with
+the importance of the document, Dick Martin explained that it was a
+letter which he had stolen from his sister's house, because it contained
+"something to his advantage."
+
+"See here," he said, holding the letter close to his own eyes, still
+upside down, and evidently reading from memory: "`If Mr Frederick
+Martin will c-call at this office any day next week between 10 an' 12,
+h-he will 'ear suthin' to his ad-advantage.  Bounce and Brag,
+s'licitors.'  There!"
+
+"But _you_ ain't Fred Martin," said Bryce, with a look of supreme
+contempt, for he had arrived at the quarrelsome stage of drunkenness.
+
+"Right you are," said Martin; "but I'm his uncle.  Same name c-'cause
+his mother m-married her c-cousin; and there ain't much difference
+'tween Dick and Fred--four letters, both of 'em--so if I goes wi' the
+letter, an' says, `I'm Fred Martin,' w'y, they'll hand over the blunt,
+or the jewels, or wotiver it is, to me--d'ee see?"
+
+"No, I don't see," returned Bryce so irritatingly that his comrade left
+the confidential stage astern, and requested to know, with an affable
+air, when Bryce lost his eyesight.
+
+"When I first saw _you_, and thought you worth your salt," shouted
+Bryce, as he brought his fist heavily down on the table.
+
+Both men were passionate.  They sprang up, grappled each other by the
+throat, and fell on the floor.  In doing so they let the letter fall.
+It fluttered to the ground, and Lockley, quietly picking it up, put it
+in his pocket.
+
+"You'd better look after them," said Lockley to the landlord, as he paid
+his reckoning, and went out.
+
+In a few minutes he stood in Widow Mooney's hut, and found Isa Wentworth
+already there.
+
+"I'm glad you sent me here," said the girl, "for Mrs Mooney has gone
+out--"
+
+She stopped and looked earnestly in Lockley's face.  "You've been to the
+Blue Boar," she said in a serious tone.
+
+"Yes, lass, I have," admitted the skipper, but without a touch of
+resentment.  "I did not mean to go, but it's as well that I did, for
+I've rescued a letter from Dick Martin which seems to be of some
+importance, an' he says he stole it from his sister's house."
+
+He handed the letter to the girl, who at once recognised it as the
+epistle over which she and Mrs Martin had puzzled so much, and which
+had finally been deciphered for them by Dick Martin.
+
+"He must have made up his mind to pretend that he is Fred," said Isa,
+"and so get anything that was intended for him."
+
+"You're a sharp girl, Isa; you've hit the nail fair on the head, for I
+heard him in his drunken swagger boast of his intention to do that very
+thing.  Now, will you take in hand, lass, to give the letter back to
+Mrs Martin, and explain how you came by it?"
+
+Of course Isa agreed to do so, and Lockley, turning to Eve, said he
+would tell her a story before going home.
+
+The handsome young skipper was in the habit of entertaining the sick
+child with marvellous tales of the sea during his frequent visits, for
+he was exceedingly fond of her, and never failed to call during his
+periodical returns to land.  His love was well bestowed, for poor Eve,
+besides being of an affectionate nature, was an extremely imaginative
+child, and delighted in everything marvellous or romantic.  On this
+occasion, however, he was interrupted at the commencement of his tale by
+the entrance of his own ship's cook, the boy Bob Lumsden, _alias_ Lumpy.
+
+"Hullo, Lumpy, what brings you here?" asked the skipper.
+
+But the boy made no answer.  He was evidently taken aback at the
+unexpected sight of the sick child, and the skipper had to repeat his
+question in a sterner tone.  Even then Lumpy did not look at his
+commander, but, addressing the child, said--
+
+"Beg parding, miss; I wouldn't have come in if I'd knowed you was in
+bed, but--"
+
+"Oh, never mind," interrupted Eve, with a little smile, on seeing that
+he hesitated; "my friends never see me except in bed.  Indeed I live in
+bed; but you must not think I'm lazy.  It's only that my back's bad.
+Come in and sit down."
+
+"Well, boy," demanded the skipper again, "were you sent here to find
+_me_?"
+
+"Yes, sir," said Lumpy, with his eyes still fixed on the earnest little
+face of Eve.  "Mister Jay sent me to say he wants to speak to you about
+the heel o' the noo bowsprit."
+
+"Tell him I'll be aboard in half an hour."
+
+"I didn't know before," said Eve, "that bowsprits have heels."
+
+At this Lumpy opened his large mouth, nearly shut his small eyes, and
+was on the point of giving vent to a rousing laugh, when his commander
+half rose and seized hold of a wooden stool.  The boy shut his mouth
+instantly, and fled into the street, where he let go the laugh which had
+been thus suddenly checked.
+
+"Well, she _is_ a rum 'un!" he said to himself, as he rolled in a
+nautical fashion down to the wharf where the _Lively Poll_ was
+undergoing repairs.
+
+"I think he's a funny boy, that," said Eve, as the skipper stooped to
+kiss her.
+
+"Yes, he _is_ a funny dog.  Good-bye, my pretty one."
+
+"Stay," said Eve solemnly, as she laid her delicate little hand on the
+huge brown fist of the fisherman; "you've often told me stories,
+Stephen; I want to tell one to you to-night.  You need not sit down;
+it's a very, very short one."
+
+But the skipper did sit down, and listened with a look of interest and
+expectation as the child began--
+
+"There was once a great, strong, brave man, who was very kind to
+everybody, most of all to little children.  One day he was walking near
+a river, when a great, fearful, ugly beast, came out of the wood, and
+seized the man with its terrible teeth.  It was far stronger than the
+dear, good man, and it threw him down, and held him down, till--till it
+killed him."
+
+She stopped, and tears filled her soft eyes at the scene she had
+conjured up.
+
+"Do you know," she asked in a deeper tone, "what sort of awful beast it
+was?"
+
+"No; what was it?"
+
+"A Blue Boar," said the child, pressing the strong hand which she
+detained.
+
+Lockley's eyes fell for a moment before Eve's earnest gaze, and a flush
+deepened the colour of his bronzed countenance.  Then he sprang suddenly
+up and kissed Eve's forehead.
+
+"Thank you, my pretty one, for your story, but it an't just correct, for
+the man is not quite killed _yet_ and, please God, he'll escape."
+
+As he spoke the door of the hut received a severe blow, as if some heavy
+body had fallen against it.  When Isa opened it, a dirty bundle of rags
+and humanity rolled upon the floor.  It was Eve's mother!
+
+Lifting her up in his strong arms, Lockley carried her into the closet
+which opened off the outer room, and laid her tenderly on a mattress
+which lay on the floor.  Then, without a word, he left the hut and went
+home.
+
+It is scarcely necessary to add that he took the longer road on that
+occasion, and gave a very wide berth indeed to the Blue Boar.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER FOUR.
+
+HARDSHIPS ON THE SEA.
+
+Fly with us now, good reader, once more out among the breeze-ruffled
+billows of the North Sea.
+
+It was blowing a fine, fresh, frosty fishing breeze from the nor'-west
+on a certain afternoon in December.  The Admiral--Manx Bradley--was
+guiding his fleet over that part of the German Ocean which is described
+on the deep-sea fisherman's chart as the Swarte, or Black Bank.  The
+trawls were down, and the men were taking it easy--at least, as easy as
+was compatible with slush-covered decks, a bitter blast, and a rolling
+sea.  If we had the power of extending and intensifying your vision,
+reader, so as to enable you to take the whole fleet in at one stupendous
+glance, and penetrate planks as if they were plate glass, we might,
+perhaps, convince you that in this multitude of deep-sea homes there was
+carried on that night a wonderful amount of vigorous action, good and
+bad--largely, if not chiefly bad--under very peculiar circumstances, and
+that there was room for improvement everywhere.
+
+Strong and bulky and wiry men were gambling and drinking, and singing
+and swearing; story-telling and fighting, and skylarking and sleeping.
+The last may be classed appropriately under the head of action, if we
+take into account the sonorous doings of throats and noses.  As if to
+render the round of human procedure complete, there was at least one
+man--perhaps more--praying.
+
+Yes, Manx Bradley, the admiral, was praying.  And his prayer was
+remarkably brief, as well as earnest.  Its request was that God would
+send help to the souls of the men whose home was the North Sea.  For
+upwards of thirty years Manx and a few like-minded men had persistently
+put up that petition.  During the last few years of that time they had
+mingled thanksgiving with the prayer, for a gracious answer was being
+given.  God had put it into the heart of the present Director of the
+Mission to Deep-Sea Fishermen to inaugurate a system of evangelisation
+among the heretofore neglected thousands of men and boys who toil upon
+the North Sea from January to December.  Mission or Gospel smacks were
+purchased, manned by Christian skippers and crews, and sent out to the
+various fleets, to fish with them during the week, and supply them with
+medicine for body and soul, with lending libraries of wholesome
+Christian literature, and with other elevating influences, not least
+among which was a floating church or meeting-house on Sundays.
+
+But up to the time we write of, Manx Bradley had only been able to
+rejoice in the blessing as sent to others.  It had not yet reached his
+own fleet, the twelve or thirteen hundred men and boys of which were
+still left in their original condition of semi-savagery, and exposure to
+the baleful influences of that pest of the North Sea--the _coper_.
+
+"You see, Jacob Jones," said the admiral to the only one of his "hands"
+who sympathised with him in regard to religion, "if it warn't for the
+baccy, them accursed _copers_ wouldn't be able to keep sich a hold of
+us.  Why, bless you, there's many a young feller in this fleet as don't
+want no grog--especially the vile, fiery stuff the _copers_ sell 'em;
+but when the Dutchmen offers the baccy so cheap as 1 shilling 6 pence a
+pound, the boys are only too glad to go aboard and git it.  Then the
+Dutchmen, being uncommon sly dogs, gives 'em a glass o' their vile
+brandy for good-fellowship by way of, an' that flies to their heads, an'
+makes 'em want more--d'ee see?  An' so they go on till many of 'em
+becomes regular topers--that's where it is, Jacob."
+
+"Why don't the mission smacks sell baccy too?" asked Jacob, stamping his
+feet on the slushy deck to warm them, and beating his right hand on the
+tiller for the same purpose.
+
+"You're a knowing fellow," returned the admiral, with a short laugh;
+"why, that's just what they've bin considerin' about at the Head
+Office--leastwise, so I'm told; an' if they manage to supply the fleets
+wi' baccy at 1 shilling a pound, which is 6 pence less than the Dutchmen
+do, they'll soon knock the _copers_ off the North Sea altogether.  But
+the worst of it is that _we_ won't git no benefit o' that move till a
+mission smack is sent to our own fleet, an' to the half-dozen other
+fleets that have got none."
+
+At this point the state of the weather claiming his attention, the
+admiral went forward, and left Jacob Jones, who was a new hand in the
+fleet, to his meditations.
+
+One of the smacks which drew her trawl that night over the Swarte Bank
+not far from the admiral was the _Lively Poll_--repaired, and rendered
+as fit for service as ever.  Not far from her sailed the _Cherub_, and
+the _Cormorant_, and that inappropriately named _Fairy_, the "ironclad."
+
+In the little box of the _Lively Poll_--which out of courtesy we shall
+style the cabin--Jim Freeman and David Duffy were playing cards, and
+Stephen Lockley was smoking.  Joe Stubby was drinking, smoking, and
+grumbling at the weather; Hawkson, a new hand shipped in place of Fred
+Martin, was looking on.  The rest were on deck.
+
+"What's the use o' grumblin', Stub?" said Hawkson, lifting a live coal
+with his fingers to light his pipe.
+
+"Don't `Stub' me," said Stubley in an angry tone.
+
+"Would you rather like me to stab you?" asked Hawkson, with a
+good-humoured glance, as he puffed at his pipe.
+
+"I'd rather you clapped a stopper on your jaw."
+
+"Ah--so's you might have all the jawin' to yourself?" retorted Hawkson.
+
+Whatever reply Joe Stubley meant to make was interrupted by Jim Freeman
+exclaiming with an oath that he had lost again, and would play no more.
+He flung down the cards recklessly, and David Duffy gathered them up,
+with the twinkling smile of a good-natured victor.
+
+"Come, let's have a yarn," cried Freeman, filling his pipe, with the
+intention of soothing his vanquished spirit.
+
+"Who'll spin it?" asked Duffy, sitting down, and preparing to add to the
+fumes of the place.  "Come, Stub, you tape it off; it'll be better
+occupation than growlin' at the poor weather, what's never done you no
+harm yet though there's no sayin' what it may do if you go on as you've
+bin doin', growlin' an' aggravatin' it."
+
+"I never spin yarns," said Stubley.
+
+"But you tell stories sometimes, don't you?" asked Hawkson.
+
+"No, never."
+
+"Oh! that's a story anyhow," cried Freeman.
+
+"Come, I'll spin ye one," said the skipper, in that hearty tone which
+had an irresistible tendency to put hearers in good humour, and
+sometimes even raised the growling spirit of Joe Stubley into something
+like amiability.
+
+"What sort o' yarn d'ee want, boys?" he asked, stirring the fire in the
+small stove that warmed the little cabin; "shall it be comical or
+sentimental?"
+
+"Let's have a true ghost story," cried Puffy.
+
+"No, no," said Freeman, "a hanecdote--that's what I'm fondest of--
+suthin' short an' sweet, as the little boy said to the stick o'
+liquorice."
+
+"Tell us," said Stubley, "how it was you come to be saved the night the
+_Saucy Jane_ went down."
+
+"Ah! lads," said Lockley, with a look and a tone of gravity, "there's no
+fun in that story.  It was too terrible and only by a miracle, or
+rather--as poor Fred Martin said at the time--by God's mercy, I was
+saved."
+
+"Was Fred there at the time!" asked Duffy.
+
+"Ay, an' very near lost he was too.  I thought he would never get over
+it."
+
+"Poor chap!" said Freeman; "he don't seem to be likely to git over this
+arm.  It's been a long time bad now."
+
+"Oh, he'll get over that," returned Lockley; "in fact, it's a'most quite
+well now, I'm told, an' he's pretty strong again--though the fever did
+pull him down a bit.  It's not that, it's money, that's keepin' him from
+goin' afloat again."
+
+"How's that?" asked Puffy.
+
+"This is how it was.  He got a letter which axed him to call on a lawyer
+in Lun'on, who told him an old friend of his father had made a lot o'
+tin out in Austeralia, an' he died, an' left some hundreds o' pounds--I
+don't know how many--to his mother."
+
+"Humph! that's just like him, the hypercrit," growled Joe Stubley; "no
+sooner comes a breeze o' good luck than off he goes, too big and mighty
+for his old business.  He was always preachin' that money was the root
+of all evil, an' now he's found it out for a fact."
+
+"No, Fred never said that `money was the root of all evil,' you
+thick-head," returned Duffy; "he said it was the _love_ of money.  Put
+that in your pipe and smoke it--or rather, in your glass an' drink it,
+for that's the way to get it clearer in your fuddled brain."
+
+"Hold on, boys; you're forgettin' my yarn," interposed Lockley at this
+point, for he saw that Stubley was beginning to lose temper.  "Well, you
+must know it was about six years ago--I was little more than a big lad
+at the time, on board the _Saucy Jane_, Black Thomson bein' the skipper.
+You've heard o' Black Thomson, that used to be so cruel to the boys
+when he was in liquor, which was pretty nigh always, for it would be
+hard to say when he wasn't in liquor?  He tried it on wi' me when I
+first went aboard, but I was too--well, well, poor fellow, I'll say
+nothin' against him, for he's gone now."
+
+"Fred Martin was there at the time, an' it was wonderful what a hold
+Fred had over that old sinner.  None of us could understand it, for Fred
+never tried to curry favour with him, an' once or twice I heard him when
+he thought nobody was near, givin' advice to Black Thomson about drink,
+in his quiet earnest way, that made me expect to see the skipper knock
+him down.  But he didn't.  He took it well--only he didn't take his
+advice, but kep' on drinkin' harder than ever.  Whenever a _coper_ came
+in sight at that time Thomson was sure to have the boat over the side
+an' pay him a visit.
+
+"Well, about this time o' the year there came one night a most
+tremendous gale, wi' thick snow, from the nor'ard.  It was all we could
+do to make out anything twenty fathom ahead of us.  The skipper he was
+lyin' drunk down below.  We was close reefed and laying to with the
+foresail a-weather, lookin' out anxiously, for, the fleet bein' all
+round and the snow thick, our chances o' runnin' foul o' suthin' was
+considerable.  When we took in the last reef we could hardly stand to do
+it, the wind was so strong--an' wasn't it freezin', too!  Sharp enough
+a'most to freeze the nose off your face.
+
+"About midnight the wind began to shift about and came in squalls so
+hard that we could scarcely stand, so we took in the jib and mizzen, and
+lay to under the foresail.  Of course the hatchways was battened down
+and tarpaulined, for the seas that came aboard was fearful.  When I was
+standin' there, expectin' every moment that we should founder, a sea
+came and swept Fred Martin overboard.  Of course we could do nothing for
+him--we could only hold on for our lives; but the very next sea washed
+him right on deck again.  He never gave a cry, but I heard him say
+`Praise the Lord!' in his own quiet way when he laid hold o' the
+starboard shrouds beside me.
+
+"Just then another sea came aboard an' a'most knocked the senses out o'
+me.  At the same moment I heard a tremendous crash, an' saw the mast go
+by the board.  What happened after that I never could rightly
+understand.  I grabbed at something--it felt like a bit of plank--and
+held on tight, you may be sure, for the cold had by that time got such a
+hold o' me that I knew if I let go I would go down like a stone.  I had
+scarce got hold of it when I was seized round the neck by something
+behind me an' a'most choked.
+
+"I couldn't look round to see what it was, but I could see a great black
+object coming straight at me.  I knew well it was a smack, an' gave a
+roar that might have done credit to a young walrus.  The smack seemed to
+sheer off a bit, an' I heard a voice shout, `Starboard hard!  I've got
+him,' an' I got a blow on my cocoanut that well-nigh cracked it.  At the
+same time a boat-hook caught my coat collar an' held on.  In a few
+seconds more I was hauled on board of the _Cherub_ by Manx Bradley, an'
+the feller that was clingin' to my neck like a young lobster was Fred
+Martin.  The _Saucy Jane_ went to the bottom that night."
+
+"An' Black Thomson--did he go down with her?" asked Duffy.
+
+"Ay, that was the end of him and all the rest of the crew.  The fleet
+lost five smacks that night."
+
+"Admiral's a-signallin', sir," said one of the watch on deck, putting
+his head down the hatch at that moment.
+
+Lockley went on deck at once.  Another moment, and the shout came
+down--"Haul!  Haul all!"
+
+Instantly the sleepers turned out all through the fleet.  Oiled frocks,
+sou'-westers, and long boots were drawn on, and the men hurried on the
+decks to face the sleet-laden blast and man the capstan bars, with the
+prospect before them of many hours of hard toil--heaving and hauling and
+fish-cleaning and packing with benumbed fingers--before the dreary
+winter night should give place to the grey light of a scarcely less
+dreary day.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER FIVE.
+
+THE TEMPTER'S VICTORY.
+
+"I wouldn't mind the frost or snow, or anything else," growled Joe
+Stubley, pausing in the midst of his labours among the fish, "if it
+warn't for them sea-blisters.  Just look at that, Jim," he added,
+turning up the hard sleeve of his oiled coat, and exposing a wrist which
+the feeble rays of the lantern showed to be badly excoriated and
+inflamed.
+
+"Ay, it's an ugly bracelet, an' I've got one myself just begun on my
+left wrist," remarked Jim Freeman, also suspending labour for a moment
+to glance at his mate's wound.  "If our fleet had a mission ship, like
+some o' the other fleets, we'd not only have worsted mitts for our
+wrists, but worsted helmets for our heads an' necks--to say nothin' of
+lotions, pills an' plasters."
+
+"If they'd only fetch us them things an' let alone tracts, Bibles, an'
+religion," returned Stubley, "I'd have no objection to 'em, but what's
+the use o' religion to a drinkin', swearin', gamblin' lot like us?"
+
+"It's quite clear that your notions about religion are muddled," said
+David Duffy, with a short laugh.  "Why, what's the use o' physic to a
+sick man, Stubs?"
+
+"To make him wuss," replied Stubs promptly.
+
+"You might as well argify with a lobster as with Joe Stubs," said Bob
+Lumsden, who, although burdened with the cares of the cooking
+department, worked with the men at cleaning and packing.
+
+"What does a boy like you know about lobsters, 'cept to cook 'em?"
+growled Stubley.  "You mind your pots an' pans.  That's all your brains
+are fit for--if you have brains at all.  Leave argification to men."
+
+"That's just what I was advisin' Duffy to do, an' not waste his breath
+on the likes o' you," retorted the boy, with a grin.
+
+The conversation was stopped at this point by the skipper ordering the
+men to shake out a reef, as the wind was moderating.  By the time this
+was accomplished daybreak was lighting up the eastern horizon, and ere
+long the pale grey of the cold sea began to warm up a little under the
+influence of the not yet visible sun.
+
+"Goin' to be fine," said Lockley, as he scanned the horizon with his
+glass.
+
+"Looks like it," replied the mate.
+
+Remarks were few and brief at that early hour, for the men, being pretty
+well fagged, preferred to carry on their monotonous work in silence.
+
+As morning advanced the fleet was clearly seen in all directions and at
+all distances around, holding on the same course as the _Lively Poll_.
+Gradually the breeze moderated, and before noon the day had turned out
+bright and sunny, with only a few thin clouds floating in the wintry
+sky.  By that time the fish-boxes, or trunks, were all packed, and the
+men availed themselves of the brief period of idleness pending the
+arrival of the steam-carrier from Billingsgate to eat a hearty
+breakfast.
+
+This meal, it may be remarked, was a moveable feast, depending very much
+on the duties in hand and the arrival of the steamer.  To get the fish
+ready and shipped for market is always regarded as his first and
+all-important duty by the deep-sea trawler, who, until it is performed,
+will not condescend to give attention to such secondary matters as food
+and repose.  These are usually taken when opportunity serves.  Pipes and
+recreation, in the form of games at cards, draughts, dominoes, and
+yarns, are also snatched at intervals between the periods of severe
+toil.  Nevertheless, there are times when the fisherman's experience is
+very different.  When prolonged calms render fishing impossible, then
+time hangs heavily on his hands, and--in regard to the fleet of which we
+write and all those similarly circumstanced--the only recreations
+available are sleeping, drinking, gambling, and yarn-spinning.  True,
+such calms do not frequently occur in winter, but they sometimes do, and
+one of them prevailed on the afternoon of the particular winter's day,
+of which we treat.
+
+After the departure of the carrier that day, the wind fell so much that
+the admiral deemed it advisable not to put down the nets.  Before long
+the light air died away altogether, and the fleet was left floating
+idly, in picturesque groups and with flapping sails, on the glassy sea.
+
+Among the groups thus scattered about, there was one smack which had
+quietly joined the fleet when the men were busy transhipping or
+"ferrying" the fish to the steam-carrier.  Its rig was so similar to
+that of the other smacks that a stranger might have taken it for one of
+the fleet but the fishermen knew better.  It was that enemy of souls,
+that floating grog-shop, that pirate of the North Sea, the _coper_.
+
+"Good luck to 'ee," muttered Joe Stubley, whose sharp, because
+sympathetic, eye was first to observe the vessel.
+
+"It's bad luck to _you_ anyhow," remarked Bob the cook, who chanced to
+pass at the moment.
+
+"Mind your own business, Lumpy, an' none o' your sauce, if you don't
+want a rope's-endin'," retorted the man.
+
+"Ain't I just mindin' my own business?  Why, wot is sauce but part of a
+cook's business?" returned the boy.
+
+"I _won't_ go to her," thought Stephen Lockley, who overheard the
+conversation, and in whose breast a struggle had been going on, for he
+also had seen the _coper_, and, his case-bottle having run dry, he was
+severely tempted to have it replenished.
+
+"Would it not be as well, skipper, to go aboard o' the _coper_, as she's
+so near at hand!" said the mate, coming aft at the moment.
+
+"Well, no, Peter; I think it would be as well to drop the _coper_
+altogether.  The abominable stuff the Dutchmen sell us is enough to
+poison a shark.  You know I'm not a teetotaller, but if I'm to be killed
+at all, I'd rather be killed by good spirits than bad."
+
+"Right you are," replied Jay, "but, you see, a lot of us are hard up for
+baccy, and--"
+
+"Of course, of course; the men must have baccy," interrupted the
+skipper, "an' we don't need to buy their vile brandy unless we like.
+Yes, get the boat out, Jay, an' we'll go."
+
+Stephen Lockley was not the first man who has deceived himself as to his
+motives.  Tobacco was his excuse for visiting the floating den of
+temptation, but a craving for strong drink was his real motive.  This
+craving had been created imperceptibly, and had been growing by degrees
+for some years past, twining its octopus arms tighter and tighter round
+his being, until the strong and hearty young fisherman was slowly but
+surely becoming an abject slave, though he had fancied himself
+heretofore as free as the breezes that whistled round his vessel.  Now,
+for the first time, Lockley began to have uncomfortable suspicions about
+himself.  Being naturally bold and candid, he turned sharply round, and,
+as it were, faced _himself_ with the stern question, "Stephen, are you
+sure that it's baccy that tempts you aboard of the _coper_?  Are you
+clear that schnapps has nothing to do with it?"
+
+It is one of the characteristics of the slavery to which we refer, that
+although strong-minded and resolute men put pointed questions of this
+sort to themselves not unfrequently, they very seldom return answers to
+them.  Their once vigorous spirits, it would seem, are still capable of
+an occasional heave and struggle--a sort of flash in the pan--but that
+is all.  The influence of the depraved appetite immediately weighs them
+down, and they relapse into willing submission to the bondage.  Lockley
+had not returned an answer to his own question when the mate reported
+that the boat was ready.  Without a word he jumped into her, but kept
+thinking to himself, "We'll only get baccy, an' I'll leave the _coper_
+before the lads can do themselves any harm.  I'll not taste a drop
+myself--not a single drop o' their vile stuff."
+
+The Dutch skipper of the _coper_ had a round fat face and person, and a
+jovial, hearty manner.  He received the visitors with an air of
+open-handed hospitality which seemed to indicate that nothing was
+further from his thoughts than gain.
+
+"We've come for baccy," said Lockley, as he leaped over the bulwarks and
+shook hands, "I s'pose you've plenty of that?"
+
+"Ya," the Dutchman had "plenty tabac--ver sheep too, an' mit sooch a
+goot vlavour!"
+
+He was what the Yankees would call a 'cute fellow, that Dutchman.
+Observing the emphasis with which Lockley mentioned tobacco, he
+understood at once that the skipper did not want his men to drink, and
+laid his snares accordingly.
+
+"Com'," he said, in a confidential tone, taking hold of Lockley's arm,
+"com' b'low, an' you shall zee de tabac, an' smell him yourself."
+
+Our skipper accepted the invitation, went below, and was soon busy
+commenting on the weed, which, as the Dutchman truly pointed out, was
+"_so_ sheep as well as goot."  But another smell in that cabin
+overpowered that of the tobacco.  It was the smell of Hollands, or some
+sort of spirit, which soon aroused the craving that had gained such
+power over the fisherman.
+
+"Have some schnapps!" said the Dutch skipper, suddenly producing a
+case-bottle as square as himself, and pouring out a glass.
+
+"No, thank 'ee," said Stephen firmly.
+
+"No!" exclaimed the other, with well-feigned surprise.  "You not drink?"
+
+"Oh yes, I drink," replied Lockley, with a laugh, "but not to-day."
+
+"I not ask you to buy," rejoined the tempter, holding the spirits a
+little nearer to his victim's nose.  "Joost take von leetle glass for
+goot vellowship."
+
+It seemed rude to decline a proposal so liberally made, and with such a
+smiling countenance.  Lockley took the glass, drank it off and went
+hurriedly on deck, followed by the Dutchman, with the case-bottle in one
+hand and the glass in the other.  Of course the men had no objection to
+be treated.  They had a small glass all round.
+
+"That's the stuff for my money!" cried Stubley, smacking his lips.  "I
+say, old chap, let's have a bottle of it.  None o' your thimblefuls for
+me.  I like a good swig when I'm at it."
+
+"You'd better wait till we get aboard, Joe, before you begin," suggested
+Lockley, who was well aware of Joe's tendencies.
+
+Joe admitted the propriety of this advice, but said he would treat his
+mates to one glass before starting, by "way o' wetting their whistles."
+
+"Ya, joost von glass vor vet deir vistles," echoed the Dutchman, with a
+wink and a look which produced a roar of laughter.  The glass was
+accepted by all, including Lockley, who had been quite demoralised by
+the first glass.
+
+The victory was gained by the tempter for that time at least.  The
+fishermen who went for baccy, remained for schnapps, and some of them
+were very soon more than half drunk.  It was a fierce, maddening kind of
+spirit, which produced its powerful effects quickly.
+
+The skipper of the _Lively Poll_ kept himself better in hand than his
+men, but, being very sociable in disposition, and finding the Dutchman a
+humorous and chatty fellow, he saw no reason to hurry them away.
+Besides, his vessel was close alongside, and nothing could be done in
+the fishing way during the dead calm that prevailed.
+
+While he and his men were engaged in a lively conversation about nothing
+in particular--though they were as earnest over it as if the fate of
+empires depended on their judgment--the Dutch skipper rose to welcome
+another boat's crew, which approached on the other side of the _coper_.
+So eager and fuddled were the disputants of the _Lively Poll_ that they
+did not at first observe the newcomers.
+
+It was the _Fairy's_ boat, with Dick Martin in charge.
+
+"Hallo, Dick, mein boy; gif me your vlipper."
+
+A sign from Martin induced the Dutchman to lean over the side and speak
+in lower tones.
+
+"Let's have a keg of it," said Dick, with a mysterious look.  "Ned Bryce
+sent me for a good supply, an' here's _fish_ to pay for it."
+
+The fish--which of course belonged to the owner of the _Fairy_, not to
+Ned Bryce--were quickly passed up, and a keg of spirits passed down.
+Then the Dutchman asked if Dick or his men wanted tabac or schnapps for
+themselves.
+
+"I vill take jersey, or vish, or sail, or boots, or vat you please in
+exchange.  Com' aboard, anyhow, an' have von leetle glass."
+
+Dick and his men having thus smartly transacted their chief business,
+leaped on deck, made fast their painter, let the boat drop astern, and
+were soon smoking and drinking amicably with the crew of the _Lively
+Poll_.  Not long afterwards they were quarrelling.  Then Dick Martin,
+who was apt to become pugnacious over his liquor, asserted stoutly that
+something or other "was."  Joe Stubley swore that it "_was not_,"
+whereupon Dick Martin planted his fist on Joe Stubley's nose and laid
+its growly owner flat on the deck.
+
+Starting up, Joe was about to retaliate, when Lockley, seizing him by
+the neck thrust him over the side into the boat, and ordered his more or
+less drunken crew to follow.  They did so with a bad grace, but the
+order was given in a tone which they well understood must not be
+disobeyed.
+
+As they pushed off, Stubley staggered and fell into the sea.  Another
+moment and he would have been beyond all human aid, but Lockley caught a
+glimpse of his shaggy black head as it sank.  Plunging his long right
+arm down, and holding on to the boat with his left, he caught the
+drowning man by the hair.  Strong and willing arms helped, and Stubley
+was hauled inboard--restored to life, opportunity, and hope--and flung
+into the bottom of the boat.
+
+The oars were shipped, and they pulled for the _Lively Poll_.  As they
+rode away they saw that other boats were proceeding towards the _coper_.
+The men in them were all anxious to buy baccy.  No mention was made of
+drink.  Oh dear no!  They cared nothing for that, though, of course,
+they had no sort of objection to accept the wily Dutchman's generous
+offer of "von leetle glass vor goot vellowship."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER SIX.
+
+THE POWER OF SYMPATHY.
+
+One fine afternoon, not long after the visit to the _coper_, Bob
+Lumsden, _alias_ Lumpy, was called from his culinary labours to assist
+in hauling in the net.
+
+Now it is extremely interesting to note what a wonderful effect the
+power of loving sympathy can have on a human being.  Lumpy was a human
+being--though some of his mates insisted that he must have been
+descended from a cod-fish, because his mouth was so large.  No doubt it
+was, and when the boy laughed heartily he was, indeed, apt to remind one
+of that fish; nevertheless it was a good, well-shaped mouth, though
+large, with a kindly expression about it, and a set of splendid white
+teeth inside of it.  But, whether human or fishy in his nature, Bob
+Lumsden had been overwhelmed by a flood of sympathy ever since that
+memorable day when he had first caught a glimpse of the sweet, pale face
+of the little invalid Eve Mooney.  It was but a brief glimpse, yet it
+had opened a new sluice in Lumpy's heart, through which the waters of
+tenderness gushed in a wild torrent.
+
+One of the curious results of this flood was that Bob was always more
+prompt to the summons to haul up the trawl than he had ever been before,
+more energetic in clawing the net inboard, and more eager to see and
+examine the contents of the cod-end.  The explanation is simple.  He had
+overheard his skipper say how fond Eve was of shells--especially of
+those which came from the bottom of the North Sea, and of all sorts of
+pretty and curious things, wherever they came from.
+
+From that hour Bob Lumpy became a diligent collector of marine
+curiosities, and the very small particular corner of the vessel which he
+called his own became ere long quite a museum.  They say that sympathy
+is apt to grow stronger between persons of opposite constitutions.  If
+this be so, perhaps it was his nature--his bold, hearty, gushing,
+skylarking spirit, his strong rugged frame, his robust health, his
+carroty hair, his appley cheeks, his eagle nose, his flashing eyes--that
+drew him so powerfully to the helpless, tender little invalid, with her
+delicate frame and pale cheeks, straight little nose, bud of a mouth,
+and timid, though by no means cowardly, spirit.
+
+On another occasion Bob overheard Lockley again talking about Eve.  "I'm
+sorry for the poor thing," he said to Peter Jay, as they paced the deck
+together; "she's got such a wretched home, an' her mother's such a
+drunken bru--"
+
+Lockley checked himself, and did not finish the sentence.
+
+"The doctor says," he resumed, "that if Eve had only a bath-chair or
+suthin' o' that sort, to get wheeled about in the fresh air, she'd very
+likely get better as she growed older--specially if she had good
+victuals.  You see, small as she is, and young as she looks, she's over
+fifteen.  But even if she had the chair, poor thing! who would wheel it
+for her?  It would be no use unless it was done regular, an' her mother
+can't do it--or won't."
+
+From that hour Bob Lumpy became a miser.  He had been a smoker like the
+rest of the crew, but he gave up "baccy."  He used to take an occasional
+glass of beer or spirits when on shore or on board the _copers_, but he
+became a total abstainer, much to his own benefit in every way, and as a
+result he became rich--in an extremely small way.
+
+There was a very small, thin, and dirty, but lively and intelligent boy
+in Yarmouth, who loved Bob Lumsden better, if possible, than himself.
+His name was Pat Stiver.  The affection was mutual.  Bob took this boy
+into his confidence.
+
+One day, a considerable time after Bob's discovery of Eve, Pat, having
+nothing to do, sauntered to the end of Gorleston Pier, and there to his
+inexpressible joy, met his friend.  Before he had recovered sufficiently
+from surprise to utter a word, Bob seized him by the arms, lifted him
+up, and shook him.
+
+"Take care, Lumpy," cried the boy, "I'm wery tender, like an over-young
+chicken.  You'd better set me down before I comes in pieces."
+
+"Why, Stiver, you're the very man I was thinkin' of," said Lumpy,
+setting the boy on the edge of the pier, and sitting down beside him.
+
+Stiver looked proud, and felt six inches taller.
+
+"Listen," said Bob, with an earnest look that was apt to captivate his
+friends; "I want help.  Will you do somethin' for me?"
+
+"Anything," replied the boy with emphasis, "from pitch and toss to
+manslaughter!"
+
+"Well, look here.  You know Eve Mooney?"
+
+"Do I know the blessedest angel in all Gorleston?  In course I does.
+Wot of her?"
+
+"She's ill--very ill," said Lumpy.
+
+"You might as well tell me, when it's daytime, that the sun's up,"
+returned Pat.
+
+"Don't be so awful sharp, Stiver, else I'll have to snub you."
+
+"Which you've on'y got to frown, Bob Lumpy, an' the deed's done."
+
+Bob gave a short laugh, and then proceeded to explain matters to his
+friend: how he had been saving up his wages for some time past to buy a
+second-hand bath-chair for Eve, because the doctor had said it would do
+her so much good, especially if backed up with good victuals.
+
+"It's the wittles as bothers me, Stiver," said Bob, regarding his friend
+with a puzzled expression.
+
+"H'm! well," returned the small boy seriously, "wittles has bothered me
+too, off an' on, pretty well since I was born, though I'm bound to
+confess I does get a full blow-out now an'--"
+
+"Hold on, Stiver; you're away on the wrong tack," cried Bob,
+interrupting.  "I don't mean the difficulty o' findin' wittles, but how
+to get Eve to take 'em."
+
+"Tell her to shut her eyes an' open her mouth, an' then shove 'em in,"
+suggested Pat.
+
+"I'll shove you into the sea if you go on talking balderdash," said Bob.
+"Now, look here, you hain't got nothin' to do, have you!"
+
+"If you mean in the way o' my purfession, Bob, you're right.  I purfess
+to do anything, but nobody as yet has axed me to do nothin'.  In the
+ways o' huntin' up wittles, howsever, I've plenty to do.  It's hard
+lines, and yet I ain't extravagant in my expectations.  Most coves
+require three good meals a day, w'ereas I'm content with one.  I begins
+at breakfast, an' I goes on a-eatin' promiskoously all day till arter
+supper--w'en I can get it."
+
+"Just so, Stiver.  Now, I want to engage you professionally.  Your
+dooties will be to hang about Mrs Mooney's, but in an offhand, careless
+sort o' way, like them superintendent chaps as git five or six hundred a
+year for doin' nuffin, an' be ready at any time to offer to give Eve a
+shove in the chair.  But first you'll have to take the chair to her, an'
+say it was sent to her from--"
+
+"Robert Lumsden, Esquire," said Pat, seeing that his friend hesitated.
+
+"Not at all, you little idiot," said Bob sharply.  "You mustn't mention
+my name on no account."
+
+"From a gentleman, then," suggested Pat.
+
+"That might do; but I ain't a gentleman, Stiver, an' I can't allow you
+to go an' tell lies."
+
+"I'd like to know who is if you ain't," returned the boy indignantly.
+"Ain't a gentleman a man wot's gentle?  An' w'en you was the other day
+a-spreadin' of them lovely shells, an' crabs, an' sea-goin' kooriosities
+out on her pocket-hankercher, didn't I _see_ that you was gentle?"
+
+"I'll be pretty rough on you, Pat, in a minit, if you don't hold your
+jaw," interrupted Bob, who, however, did not seem displeased with his
+friend's definition of a gentleman.  "Well, you may say what you like,
+only be sure you say what's true.  An' then you'll have to take some
+nice things as I'll get for her from time to time w'en I comes ashore.
+But there'll be difficulties, I doubt, in the way of gettin' her to take
+wittles w'en she don't know who they comes from."
+
+"Oh, don't you bother your head about that," said Pat.  "I'll manage it.
+I'm used to difficulties.  Just you leave it to me, an' it'll be all
+right."
+
+"Well, I will, Pat; so you'll come round with me to the old furnitur'
+shop in Yarmouth, an' fetch the chair.  I got it awful cheap from the
+old chap as keeps the shop w'en I told him what it was for.  Then you'll
+bring it out to Eve, an' try to git her to have a ride in it to-day, if
+you can.  I'll see about the wittles arter.  Hain't quite worked that
+out in my mind yet.  Now, as to wages.  I fear I can't offer you none--"
+
+"I never axed for none," retorted Pat proudly.
+
+"That's true Pat; but I'm not a-goin' to make you slave for nuthin'.
+I'll just promise you that I'll save all I can o' my wages, an' give you
+what I can spare.  You'll just have to trust me as to that."
+
+"Trust you, Bob!" exclaimed Pat, with enthusiasm, "look here, now; this
+is how the wind blows.  If the Prime Minister o' Rooshia was to come to
+me in full regimentals an' offer to make me capting o' the Horse Marines
+to the Hemperor, I'd say, `No thankee, I'm engaged,' as the young woman
+said to the young man she didn't want to marry."
+
+The matter being thus satisfactorily settled, Bob Lumsden and his little
+friend went off to Yarmouth, intent on carrying out the first part of
+their plan.
+
+It chanced about the same time that another couple were having a quiet
+chat together in the neighbourhood of Gorleston Pier.  Fred Martin and
+Isa Wentworth had met by appointment to talk over a subject of peculiar
+interest to themselves.  Let us approach and become eavesdroppers.
+
+"Now, Fred," said Isa, with a good deal of decision in her tone, "I'm
+not at all satisfied with your explanation.  These mysterious and long
+visits you make to London ought to be accounted for, and as I have
+agreed to become your wife within the next three or four months, just to
+please _you_, the least you can do, I think, is to have no secrets from
+_me_.  Besides, you have no idea what the people here and your former
+shipmates are saying about you."
+
+"Indeed, dear lass, what do they say?"
+
+"Well, they say now you've got well they can't understand why you should
+go loafing about doin' nothin' or idling your time in London, instead of
+goin' to sea."
+
+"Idlin' my time!" exclaimed Fred with affected indignation.  "How do
+they know I'm idlin' my time?  What if I was studyin' to be a doctor or
+a parson?"
+
+"Perhaps they'd say that _was_ idlin' your time, seein' that you're only
+a fisherman," returned Isa, looking up in her lover's face with a bright
+smile.  "But tell me, Fred, why should you have any secret from _me_?"
+
+"Because, dear lass, the thing that gives me so much pleasure and hope
+is not absolutely fixed, and I don't want you to be made anxious.  This
+much I will tell you, however: you know I passed my examination for
+skipper when I was home last time, and now, through God's goodness, I
+have been offered the command of a smack.  If all goes well, I hope to
+sail in her next week; then, on my return, I hope to--to take the
+happiest.  Well, well, I'll say no more about that, as we're gettin'
+near mother's door.  But tell me, Isa, has Uncle Martin been worrying
+mother again when I was away?"
+
+"No.  When he found out that you had got the money that was left to her,
+and had bought an annuity for her with it, he went away, and I've not
+seen him since."
+
+"That's well.  I'm glad of that."
+
+"But am I to hear nothing more about this smack, not even her name?"
+
+"Nothing more just now, Isa.  As to her name, it's not yet fixed.  But,
+trust me, you shall know all in good time."
+
+As they had now reached the foot of Mrs Martin's stair, the subject was
+dropped.
+
+They found the good woman in the act of supplying Granny Martin with a
+cup of tea.  There was obvious improvement in the attic.  Sundry little
+articles of luxury were there which had not been there before.
+
+"You see, my boy," said Mrs Martin to Fred, as they sat round the
+social board, "now that the Lord has sent me enough to get along without
+slavin' as I used--to do, I takes more time to make granny comfortable,
+an' I've got her a noo chair, and noo specs, which she was much in want
+of, for the old uns was scratched to that extent you could hardly see
+through 'em, besides bein' cracked across both eyes.  Ain't they much
+better, dear?"
+
+The old woman, seated in the attic window, turned her head towards the
+tea-table and nodded benignantly once or twice; but the kind look soon
+faded into the wonted air of patient contentment, and the old head
+turned to the sea as the needle turns to the pole, and the soft murmur
+was heard, "He'll come soon now."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER SEVEN.
+
+A RESCUE.
+
+Never was there a fishing smack more inappropriately named than the
+_Fairy_,--that unwieldy iron vessel which the fleet, in facetious
+content, had dubbed the "Ironclad," and which had the honour of being
+commanded by that free and easy, sociable--almost too sociable--skipper,
+Ned Bryce.
+
+She was steered by Dick Martin on the day of which we now write.  Dick,
+as he stood at the helm, with stern visage, bloodshot eyes, and
+dissipated look, was not a pleasant object of contemplation, but as he
+played a prominent part in the proceedings of that memorable day, we are
+bound to draw attention to him.  Although he had spent a considerable
+portion of the night with his skipper in testing the quality of some
+schnapps which they had recently procured from a _coper_, he had
+retained his physical and mental powers sufficiently for the performance
+of his duties.  Indeed, he was one of those so-called seasoned casks,
+who are seldom or never completely disabled by drink, although
+thoroughly enslaved, and he was now quite competent to steer the _Fairy_
+in safety through the mazes of that complex dance which the deep-sea
+trawlers usually perform on the arrival of the carrying-steamer.
+
+What Bryce called a chopping and a lumpy sea was running.  It was
+decidedly rough, though the breeze was moderate, so that the smacks all
+round were alternately presenting sterns and bowsprits to the sky in a
+violent manner that might have suggested the idea of a rearing and
+kicking dance.  When the carrier steamed up to the Admiral, and lay to
+beside him, and the smacks drew towards her from all points of the
+compass, the mazes of the dance became intricate, and the risk of
+collisions called for careful steering.
+
+Being aware of this, and being himself not quite so steady about the
+head as he could wish, Skipper Bryce looked at Martin for a few seconds,
+and then ordered him to go help to launch the boat and get the trunks
+out, and send Phil Morgan aft.
+
+Phil was not a better seaman than Dick, but he was a more temperate man,
+therefore clearer brained and more dependable.
+
+Soon the smacks were waltzing and kicking round each other on every
+possible tack, crossing and re-crossing bows and sterns; sometimes close
+shaving, out and in, down-the-middle-and-up-again fashion, which, to a
+landsman, might have been suggestive of the 'bus, cab, and van throng in
+the neighbourhood of that heart of the world, the Bank of England.
+
+Sounds of hailing and chaffing now began to roll over the North Sea from
+many stentorian lungs.
+
+"What cheer? what cheer?" cried some in passing.
+
+"Hallo, Tim! how are 'ee, old man!  What luck?"
+
+"All right, Jim; on'y six trunks."
+
+"Ha! that's 'cause ye fished up a dead man yesterday."
+
+"Is that you, Ted?"
+
+"Ay, ay, what's left o' me--worse luck.  I thought your mother was goin'
+to keep you at home this trip to mind the babby."
+
+"So she was, boy, but the babby fell into a can o' buttermilk an' got
+drownded, so I had to come off again, d'ee see?"
+
+"What cheer, Groggy Fox?  Have 'ee hoisted the blue ribbon yet?"
+
+"No, Stephen Lockley, I haven't, nor don't mean to, but one o' the fleet
+seems to have hoisted the blue flag."
+
+Groggy Fox pointed to one of the surrounding vessels as he swept past in
+the _Cormorant_.
+
+Lockley looked round in haste, and, to his surprise, saw floating among
+the smaller flags, at a short distance, the great twenty-feet flag of a
+mission vessel, with the letters MDSF (Mission to Deep-Sea Fishermen) on
+it, in white on a blue ground.
+
+"She must have lost her reckoning," muttered Lockley, as he tried to
+catch sight of the vessel to which the flag belonged--which was not
+easy, owing to the crowd of smacks passing to and fro between it and
+him.
+
+Just at that moment a hearty cheer was heard to issue from the Admiral's
+smack, the _Cherub_.  At the same time the boat of the _Lively Poll_ was
+launched into the sea, Duffy and Freeman and another hand tumbled into
+her, and the skipper had to give his undivided attention to the
+all-important matter of transhipping the fish.
+
+Dozens of boats were by that time bobbing like corks on the heaving sea,
+all making for the attendant steamer.  Other dozens, which had already
+reached her, were clinging on--the men heaving the fish-boxes aboard,--
+while yet others were pushing off from the smacks last arrived to join
+the busy swarm.
+
+Among these was the boat of the _Fairy_, with Dick Martin and two men
+aboard.  It was heavily laden--too heavily for such a sea--for their
+haul on the previous night had been very successful.
+
+North Sea fishermen are so used to danger that they are apt to despise
+it.  Both Bryce and Martin knew they had too many trunks in the boat,
+but they thought it a pity to leave five or six behind, and be obliged
+to make two trips for so small a number, where one might do.  Besides,
+they could be careful.  And so they were--very careful; yet despite all
+their care they shipped a good deal of water, and the skipper stood on
+the deck of the _Fairy_ watching them with some anxiety.  Well he might,
+for so high were the waves that not only his own boat but all the others
+kept disappearing and re-appearing continually, as they rose on the
+crests or sank into the hollows.
+
+But Skipper Bryce had eyes for only one boat.  He saw it rise to view
+and disappear steadily, regularly, until it was about half-way to the
+steamer; then suddenly it failed to rise, and next moment three heads
+were seen amid the tumultuous waters where the boat should have been.
+
+With a tremendous shout Bryce sprang to the tiller and altered the
+vessel's course, but, as the wind blew, he knew well it was not in his
+power to render timely aid.  That peculiar cry which tells so
+unmistakably of deadly disaster was raised from the boats nearest to
+that which had sunk, and they were rowed towards the drowning men, but
+the boats were heavy and slow of motion.  Already they were too late,
+for two out of the three men had sunk to rise no more--dragged down by
+their heavy boots and winter clothing.  Only one continued the struggle.
+It was Dick Martin.  He had grasped an oar, and, being able to swim,
+kept his head up.  The intense cold of the sea, however, would soon have
+relaxed even his iron grip, and he would certainly have perished, had it
+not been that the recently arrived mission vessel chanced to be a very
+short distance to windward of him.  A slight touch of the helm sent her
+swiftly to his side.  A rope was thrown.  Martin caught it.  Ready hands
+and eager hearts were there to grasp and rescue.  In another moment he
+was saved, and the vessel swept on to mingle with the other smacks--for
+Martin was at first almost insensible, and could not tell to which
+vessel of the fleet he belonged.
+
+Yes, the bad man was rescued, though no one would have sustained much
+loss by his death; but in Yarmouth that night there was one woman, who
+little thought that she was a widow, and several little ones who knew
+not that they were fatherless.  The other man who perished was an
+unmarried youth, but he left an invalid mother to lifelong mourning over
+the insatiable greed of the cold North Sea.
+
+Little note was taken of this event in the fleet.  It was, in truth, a
+by no means unusual disaster.  If fish are to be found, fair weather or
+foul, for the tables on land, lives must be risked and lost in the
+waters of the sea.  Loss of life in ferrying the fish being of almost
+daily occurrence, men unavoidably get used to it, as surgeons do to
+suffering and soldiers to bloodshed.  Besides, on such occasions, in the
+great turmoil of winds and waves, and crowds of trawlers and shouting,
+it may be only a small portion of the fleet which is at first aware that
+disaster has occurred, and even these must not, cannot, turn aside from
+business at such times to think about the woes of their fellow-men.
+
+Meanwhile Dick Martin had fallen, as the saying is, upon his feet.  He
+was carried into a neatly furnished cabin, put between warm blankets in
+a comfortable berth, and had a cup of steaming hot coffee urged upon him
+by a pleasant-voiced sailor, who, while he inquired earnestly as to how
+he felt, at the same time thanked the Lord fervently that they had been
+the means of saving his life.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER EIGHT.
+
+TELLS OF MORE THAN ONE SURPRISE.
+
+"Was that your boat that went down?" shouted Groggy Fox of the
+_Cormorant_, as he sailed past the _Fairy_, after the carrying-steamer
+had left, and the numerous fishing-smacks were gradually falling into
+order for another attack on the finny hosts of the sea.
+
+They were almost too far apart for the reply to be heard, and possibly
+Bryce's state of mind prevented his raising his voice sufficiently, but
+it was believed that the answer was "Yes."
+
+"Poor fellows!" muttered Fox, who was a man of tender feelings, although
+apt to feel more for himself than for any one else.
+
+"I think Dick Martin was in the boat," said the mate of the _Cormorant_,
+who stood beside his skipper.  "I saw them when they shoved off, and
+though it was a longish distance, I could make him out by his size, an'
+the fur cap he wore."
+
+"Well, the world won't lose much if he's gone," returned Fox; "he was a
+bad lot."
+
+It did not occur to the skipper at that time that he himself was nearly,
+if not quite, as bad a "lot."  But bad men are proverbially blind to
+their own faults.
+
+"He was a cross-grained fellow," returned the mate, "specially when in
+liquor, but I never heard no worse of 'im than that."
+
+"Didn't you?" said Fox; "didn't you hear what they said of 'im at
+Gorleston?--that he tried to do his sister out of a lot o' money as was
+left her by some cove or other in furrin parts.  An' some folk are quite
+sure that it was him as stole the little savin's o' that poor widdy,
+Mrs Mooney, though they can't just prove it agin him.  Ah, he is a bad
+lot, an' no mistake.  But I may say that o' the whole bilin' o' the
+Martins.  Look at Fred, now."
+
+"Well, wot of him?" asked the mate, in a somewhat gruff tone.
+
+"What of him!" repeated the skipper, "ain't he a hypocrite, with his
+smooth tongue an' his sly ways, as if butter wouldn't melt in his mouth,
+an' now--where is he?"
+
+"Well, _where_ is he!" demanded the mate, with increasing gruffness.
+
+"Why, in course nobody knows where he is," retorted the skipper; "that's
+where it is.  No sooner does he get a small windfall--leastwise, his
+mother gets it--than he cuts the trawlers, an' all his old friends
+without so much as sayin' `Good-bye,' an' goes off to Lunnon or
+somewheres, to set up for a gentleman, I suppose."
+
+"I don't believe nothin' o' the sort," returned the mate indignantly.
+"Fred Martin may be smooth-tongued and shy if you like, but he's no
+hypercrite--"
+
+"Hallo! there's that mission ship on the lee bow," cried Fox,
+interrupting his mate, and going over to the lee side of the smack,
+whence he could see the vessel with the great blue flag clearly.  "Port
+your helm," he added in a deep growl to the man who steered.  "I'll give
+her a wide berth."
+
+"If she was the _coper_ you'd steer the other way," remarked the mate,
+with a laugh.
+
+"In course I would," retorted Fox, "for there I'd find cheap baccy and
+brandy."
+
+"Ay, bad brandy," said the mate; "but, skipper, you can get baccy
+cheaper aboard the mission ships now than aboard the _coper_."
+
+"What! at a shillin' a pound?"
+
+"Ay, at a shillin' a pound."
+
+"I don't believe it."
+
+"But it's a fact," returned the mate firmly, "for Simon Brooks, as was
+in the Short-Blue fleet last week, told me it's a noo regulation--
+they've started the sale o' baccy in the Gospel ships, just to keep us
+from going to the _copers_."
+
+"That'll not keep _me_ from going to the _copers_," said Groggy Fox,
+with an oath.
+
+"Nor me," said his mate, with a laugh; "but, skipper, as we are pretty
+nigh out o' baccy just now, an' as the mission ship is near us, an' the
+breeze down, I don't see no reason why we shouldn't go aboard an' see
+whether the reports be true.  We go to buy baccy, you know, an' we're
+not bound to buy everything the shop has to sell!  We don't want their
+religion, an' they can't force it down our throats whether we will or
+no."
+
+Groggy Fox vented a loud laugh at the bare supposition of such treatment
+of his throat, admitted that his mate was right, and gave orders to
+launch the boat.  In a few minutes they were rowing over the still
+heaving but now somewhat calmer sea, for the wind had fallen suddenly,
+and the smacks lay knocking about at no great distance from each other.
+
+It was evident from the bustle on board many of them, and the launching
+of boats over their bulwarks, that not a few of the men intended to take
+advantage of this unexpected visit of a mission vessel.  No doubt their
+motives were various.  Probably some went, like the men of the
+_Cormorant_, merely for baccy; some for medicine; others, perhaps, out
+of curiosity; while a few, no doubt, went with more or less of desire
+after the "good tidings," which they were aware had been carried to
+several of the other fleets that laboured on the same fishing-grounds.
+
+Whatever the reasons, it was evident that a goodly number of men were
+making for the vessel with the great blue flag.  Some had already
+reached her; more were on their way.  The _Cormorant's_ boat was among
+the last to arrive.
+
+"What does MDSF stand for?" asked Skipper Fox, as they drew near.
+
+"Mission to Deep-Sea Fishermen," answered the mate, whose knowledge on
+this and other points of the Mission were due to his intercourse with
+his friend Simon Brooks of the Short-Blue.  "But it means more than
+that," he continued.  "When we are close enough to make 'em out, you'll
+see little letters _above_ the MDSF which make the words I've just told
+you, an' there are little letters _below_ the MDSF which make the words
+Mighty Deliverer, Saviour, Friend."
+
+"Ay!  That's a clever dodge," observed Groggy Fox, who, it need hardly
+be said, was more impressed with the ingenuity of the device than with
+the grand truth conveyed.
+
+"But I say, mate, they seems to be uncommonly lively aboard of her."
+
+This was obviously the case, for by that time the boat of the
+_Cormorant_ had come so near to the vessel that they could not only
+perceive the actions of those on board, but could hear their voices.
+The curiosity of Skipper Fox and his men was greatly roused, for they
+felt convinced that the mere visit of a passing mission ship did not
+fully account for the vigorous hand-shakings of those on the deck, and
+the hearty hailing of newcomers, and the enthusiastic cheers of some at
+least of the little boats' crews as they pulled alongside.
+
+"Seems to me as if they've all gone mad," remarked Groggy Fox, with a
+sarcastic grin.
+
+"I would say they was all drunk, or half-seas over," observed the mate,
+"if it was a _coper_, but in a Gospel ship that's impossible, 'cause
+they're teetotal, you know.  Isn't that the boat o' the Admiral that's
+pullin' alongside just now, skipper?"
+
+"Looks like it, mate.  Ay, an' that's Stephen Lockley of the _Lively
+Poll_ close astarn of 'im--an' ain't they kickin' up a rumpus now!"
+
+Fox was right, for when the two little boats referred to ranged
+alongside of the vessel, and the men scrambled up the side on to her
+deck, there was an amount of greeting, and hand-shaking, and exclaiming
+in joyful surprise, which threw all previous exhibitions in that way
+quite into the shade, and culminated in a mighty cheer, the power of
+which soft people with shore-going throats and lungs and imaginations
+cannot hope to emulate or comprehend!
+
+The cheer was mildly repeated with mingled laughter when the crowd on
+deck turned to observe the arrival of the _Cormorant's_ boat.
+
+"Why, it's the skipper o' the _Ironclad_!" exclaimed a voice.  "No, it's
+not.  It's the skipper o' the _Cormorant_," cried another.
+
+"What cheer? what cheer, Groggy Fox?" cried a third, as the boat swooped
+alongside, and several strong arms were extended.  "Who'd have looked
+for _you_ here?  There ain't no schnapps."
+
+"All right, mates," replied Fox, with an apologetic smile, as he
+alighted on the deck and looked round; "I've come for _baccy_."
+
+A short laugh greeted this reply, but it was instantly checked, for at
+the moment Fred Martin stepped forward, grasped the skipper's horny
+hand, and shook it warmly, as well as powerfully, for Fred was a
+muscular man, and had fully recovered his strength.
+
+"You've come to the right shop for baccy," he said; "I've got plenty o'
+that, besides many other things much better.  I bid you heartily welcome
+on board of the _Sunbeam_ in the name of the Lord!"
+
+For a few seconds the skipper of the _Cormorant_ could not utter a word.
+He gazed at Fred Martin with his mouth partially, and his eyes wide,
+open.  The thought that he was thus cordially received by the very man
+whose character he had so lately and so ungenerously traduced had
+something, perhaps, to do with his silence.
+
+"A-are--are _you_ the skipper o' this here wessel!" he stammered.
+
+"Ay, through God's goodness I am."
+
+"A _mission_ wessel!" said Fox, his amazement not a whit abated as he
+looked round.
+
+"Just so, a Gospel ship," answered Fred, giving the skipper another
+shake of the hand.
+
+"You didn't mistake it for a _coper_, did 'ee?" asked David Duffy, who
+was one of the visitors.
+
+The laugh which followed this question drowned Groggy Fox's reply.
+
+"And you'll be glad to hear," said Fred, still addressing Fox, "that the
+_Sunbeam_ is a new mission ship, and has been appointed to do service
+for God in _this_ fleet and no other; so you'll always be able to have
+books and baccy, mitts, helmets, comforters, medicines, and, best of
+all, Bibles and advice for body and soul, free gratis when you want
+'em."
+
+"But where's the doctor to give out the medicines," asked Fox, who began
+to moderate his gaze as he recovered self-possession.
+
+"Well, mate," answered Fred, with a bashful air, "I am doctor as well as
+skipper.  Indeed, I'm parson too--a sort of Jack-of-all-trades!  I'm not
+full fledged of course, but on the principle, I fancy, that `half a loaf
+is better than no bread,' I've been sent here after goin' through a
+short course o' trainin' in surgery--also in divinity; something like
+city missionaries and Scripture-readers; not that trainin', much or
+little, would fit any man for the great work unless he had the love of
+the Master in his heart.  But I trust I have that."
+
+"You have, Fred, thank God!" said the Admiral of the fleet.
+
+"And now, Skipper Fox," continued Fred facetiously, "as I'm a sort of
+doctor, you must allow me to prescribe something for your complaint.
+Here, boy," he added, hailing one of his crew, "fetch Skipper Fox a
+draught o' that physic--the brown stuff that you keep in the kettle."
+
+"Ay, ay, sir," answered a youthful voice, and in another minute Pat
+Stiver forced his way through the crowd, bearing in his hand a large cup
+or bowl of coffee.
+
+"It's not exactly the tipple I'm used to," said Fox, accepting the cup
+with a grin, and wisely resolving to make the best of circumstances, all
+the more readily that he observed other visitors had been, or still
+were, enjoying the same beverage.  "Howsever, it's not to be expected
+that sick men shall have their physic exactly to their likin', so I
+thank 'ee all the same, Dr Martin!"
+
+This reply was received with much approval, and the character of Groggy
+Fox immediately experienced a considerable rise in the estimation of his
+comrades of the fleet.
+
+Attention was drawn from him just then by the approach of another boat.
+
+"There is some genuine surgeon's work coming to you in that boat, Fred,
+if I mistake not," remarked Stephen Lockley, as he stood beside his old
+friend.
+
+"Hasn't that man in the stern got his head tied up?"
+
+"Looks like it."
+
+"By the way, what of your uncle, Dick Martin?" asked the Admiral.  "It
+was you that picked him up, wasn't it?"
+
+This reference to the sad event which had occurred that morning
+solemnised the fishermen assembled on the _Sunbeam's_ deck, and they
+stood listening with sympathetic expressions as Fred narrated what he
+had seen of the catastrophe, and told that his uncle was evidently
+nothing the worse of it, and was lying asleep in the cabin, where
+everything had been done for his recovery and comfort.
+
+In the boat which soon came alongside was a fisherman who had met with a
+bad accident some days before.  A block tackle from aloft had fallen on
+his head and cut it severely.  His mates had bound it up in
+rough-and-ready fashion; but the wound had bled freely, and the clotted
+blood still hung about his hair.  Latterly the wound had festered, and
+gave him agonising pain.  His comrades being utterly ignorant as to the
+proper treatment, could do nothing for him.  Indeed, the only effectual
+thing that could be done was to send the poor man home.  This sudden and
+unexpected appearance of one of the mission ships was therefore hailed
+as a godsend, for it was well-known that these vessels contained
+medicines, and it was believed that their skippers were more or less
+instructed in the healing art.  In this belief they were right; for in
+addition to the well-appointed medicine-chest, each vessel has a skipper
+who undergoes a certain amount of instruction, and possesses a practical
+and plain book of directions specially prepared under the supervision of
+the Board of Trade for the use of captains at sea.
+
+One can imagine, therefore, what a relief it was to this poor wounded
+man to be taken down into the cabin and have his head at last attended
+to by one who "knew what he was about."  The operation of dressing was
+watched with the deepest interest and curiosity by the fishermen
+assembled there, for it was their first experience of the value, even in
+temporal matters, of a Gospel ship.  Their ears were open, too, as well
+as their eyes, and they listened with much interest to Fred Martin as he
+tried, after a silent prayer for the Holy Spirit's influence, to turn
+his first operation to spiritual account in his Master's interest.
+
+"Tell me if I hurt you," he said, observing that his patient winced a
+little when he was removing the bandage.
+
+"Go on," said the man quietly.  "I ain't a babby to mind a touch of
+pain."
+
+The cabin being too small to hold them all, some of the visitors
+clustered round the open skylight, and gazed eagerly down, while a few
+who could not find a point of vantage contented themselves with
+listening.  Even Dick Martin was an observer at that operation, for,
+having been roused by the bustle around him, he raised himself on an
+elbow, and looking down from his berth, could both hear and see.
+
+"There now," said Fred Martin, when at last the bandage was removed and
+the festering mass laid bare.  "Hand the scissors, Pat."
+
+Pat Stiver, who was assistant-surgeon on that occasion, promptly handed
+his chief the desired instrument, and stood by for further orders.
+
+"I'll soon relieve you," continued Fred, removing the clotted hair,
+etcetera, in a few seconds, and applying a cleansing lotion.  "I cut it
+off, you see, just as the Great Physician cuts away our sins, and washes
+us clean in the fountain of His own blood.  You feel better already,
+don't you?"
+
+"There's no doubt about that," replied the patient looking up with a
+great sigh of relief that told far more than words could convey.
+
+We will not record all that was said and done upon that occasion.  Let
+it suffice to say that the man's wound was put in a fair way of recovery
+without the expense and prolonged suffering of a trip home.
+
+Thereafter, as a breeze was beginning to blow which bid fair to become a
+"fishing breeze," it became necessary for the visitors to leave in
+haste, but not before a few books, tracts, and worsted mittens had been
+distributed, with an earnest invitation from the skipper of the
+_Sunbeam_ to every one to repeat the visit whenever calm weather should
+permit, and especially on Sundays, when regular services would be held
+on deck or in the hold.
+
+On this occasion Bob Lumpy and Pat Stiver had met and joined hands in
+great delight, not unmingled with surprise.
+
+"Well, who'd ever have expected to find _you_ here?" said Bob.
+
+"Ah, who indeed?" echoed Pat.  "The fact is, I came to be near _you_,
+Bob."
+
+"But how did it happen?  Who got you the sitivation?  Look alive!  Don't
+be long-winded, I see they're gittin' our boat ready."
+
+"This is 'ow it was, Bob.  I was shovin' Eve about the roads in the
+bath-chair, as you know I've bin doin' ever since I entered your
+service, w'en a gen'lem'n come up and axed all about us.  `Would ye like
+a sitivation among the North Sea fishermen?' says he.  `The very
+ticket,' says I.  `Come to Lun'on to-night, then,' says he.
+`Unpossible,' says I, fit to bu'st wi' disappointment; `'cos I must
+first shove Miss Eve home, an' git hold of a noo shover to take my
+place.'  `All right,' says he, laughin'; `come when you can.  Here's my
+address.'  So away I goes; got a trustworthy, promisin' young feller as
+I've know'd a long time to engage for Miss Eve, an' off to Lun'on, an'--
+here I am!"
+
+"Time's up," cried the Admiral at this point, shaking hands with Fred
+Martin; while Bob Lumsden sprang from the side of his little friend, and
+there was a general move towards the boats.
+
+"Good-bye, mate," said Skipper Fox, holding out his hand.
+
+"Stop, friends," cried Fred, in a loud voice; "that's not the way we
+part on board o' the _Sunbeam_."
+
+Taking off his hat and looking up,--a sign that all understood, for they
+immediately uncovered and bowed their heads,--the missionary skipper, in
+a few brief but earnest words, asked for a blessing on the work which he
+had been privileged that day to begin, that Satan might be foiled, and
+the name of Jesus be made precious among the fishermen of the North Sea.
+
+Thereafter the boats scattered towards their various smacks, their crews
+rejoicing in this latest addition to the fleet.  Even Groggy Fox gave it
+as his opinion that there might be worse things after all in the world
+than "mission wessels!"
+
+
+
+CHAPTER NINE.
+
+BEGINNING OF THE GOOD WORK.
+
+The breeze which had begun to blow freshened as the day advanced, and
+the Admiral, directing his course to the nor'-east, made for the
+neighbourhood of the Dogger Bank.  Having reached what he deemed
+suitable fishing-ground, he changed his course and gave the signal to
+"put to."  With the precision of well-trained troops the smacks obeyed,
+and let down their trawls.  The _Sunbeam_ also let down her net, and
+shaped her course like the rest, thus setting an example of attention to
+secular duty.  She trawled for fish so as to help to pay expenses, until
+such time as suitable weather and opportunity offered for the main and
+higher duty of fishing for men.
+
+The first haul of the mission vessel was a great success, prophetic of
+the great successes in store, thought her skipper, as the cod-end was
+finally swung inboard in an almost bursting condition.  When the lower
+end was opened, and the living fountain of fish gushed over the deck,
+there was a general exclamation of satisfaction, mingled with
+thanksgiving, from the crew, for fishes great and small were there in
+abundance of every sort that swims in the North Sea.
+
+"All sorts and conditions of men" leaped into Fred Martin's mind, for he
+was thinking of higher things at the moment.  "A good beginning and a
+good omen," he murmured.
+
+"_Wot_ a haul!" exclaimed Pat Stiver, who was nearly swept off his legs,
+and to whom the whole thing was an entirely new experience.
+
+"Use your eyes less and your hands more, my boy," said Fink, the mate,
+setting the example by catching hold of a magnificent turbot that would
+have graced a lord mayor's feast, and commencing to clean it.
+
+Pat was by no means a lazy boy.  Recovering from his surprise, he set to
+work with all the vigour of a man of purpose, and joined the rest of the
+crew in their somewhat disagreeable duty.
+
+They wrought with such goodwill that their contribution of trunks to the
+general supply was the largest put on board the steamer next day.
+
+Calm and storm sometimes succeed each other rapidly on the North Sea.
+It was so on the present occasion.  Before the nets could be cleared and
+let down for another take, the breeze had died away.  The weather that
+was unsuited, however, for fishing, was very suitable for "ferrying" to
+the steamer; and when that all-important duty was done, the comparative
+calm that prevailed was just the thing for the work of the _Sunbeam_.
+
+Well aware of this, Manx Bradley and other like-minded skippers, kept
+close to the mission ship, whose great blue flag was waving welcome to
+all.  Boats were soon pulling towards her, their crews being influenced
+by a great variety of motives; and many men who, but for her presence,
+would have been gambling or drinking, or oppressed with having nothing
+to do, or whistling for a breeze, found an agreeable place of meeting on
+her deck.
+
+On this occasion a considerable number of men who had received slight
+injuries from accidents came on board, so that Fred had to devote much
+of his time to the medical part of his work, while Fink, his mate,
+superintended the distribution of what may be styled worsted-works and
+literature.
+
+"Hallo, Jim Freeman!" said Fred, looking round from the medicine shelves
+before which he stood searching for some drug; "you're the very man I
+want to see.  Want to tempt you away from Skipper Lockley, an' ship with
+me in the _Sunbeam_."
+
+"I'm not worth much for anybody just now," said Freeman, holding up his
+right hand, which was bound in a bloody handkerchief.  "See, I've got
+what'll make me useless for weeks to come, I fear."
+
+"Never fear, Jim," said Fred, examining the injured member, which was
+severely bruised and lacerated.  "How got ye that?"
+
+"Carelessness, Fred.  The old story--clapped my hand on the gunwale o'
+the boat when we were alongside the carrier."
+
+"I'd change with 'ee, Jim, if I could," growled Joe Stubley, one of the
+group of invalids who filled the cabin at the time.
+
+There was a general laugh, as much at Joe's lugubrious visage as at his
+melancholy tone.
+
+"Why, what's wrong with _you_, Stubs?" asked Fred.
+
+"DT," remarked the skipper of the _Cormorant_, who could hardly speak
+because of a bad cold, and who thus curtly referred to the drunkard's
+complaint of _delirium tremens_.
+
+"Nothin' o' the sort!" growled Joe.  "I've not seed a _coper_ for a week
+or two.  Brandy's more in your way, Groggy Fox, than in mine.  No, it's
+mulligrumps o' some sort that's the matter wi' me."
+
+"Indeed," said Fred, as he continued to dress the bruised hand.  "What
+does it feel like, Stubs?"
+
+"Feel like?" exclaimed the unhappy man, in a tone that told of anguish,
+"it feels like red-hot thunder rumblin' about inside o' me.  Just as if
+a great conger eel was wallopin' about an' a-dinin' off my witals."
+
+"Horrible, but not incurable," remarked Fred.  "I'll give you some
+pills, boy, that'll soon put you all to rights.  Now, then, who's next?"
+
+While another of the invalids stepped forward and revealed his
+complaints, which were freely commented on by his more or less
+sympathetic mates, Fink had opened out a bale of worsted comforters,
+helmets, and mitts on deck, and, assisted by Pat Stiver, was busily
+engaged in distributing them.  "Here you are--a splendid pair of mitts,
+Jack," he said, tossing the articles to a huge man, who received them
+with evident satisfaction.
+
+"Too small, I fear," said Jack, trying to force his enormous hand into
+one of them.
+
+"Hold on! don't bu'st it!" exclaimed Pat sharply; there's all sorts and
+sizes here.  "There's a pair, now, that would fit Goliath."
+
+"Ah, them's more like it, little 'un," cried the big fisherman.  "No
+more sea-blisters now, thanks to the ladies on shore," he added, as he
+drew the soft mittens over his sadly scarred wrists.
+
+"Now then, who wants this?" continued Fink, holding up a worsted helmet;
+"splendid for the back o' the head and neck, with a hole in front to let
+the eyes and nose out."
+
+"Hand over," cried David Duffy.
+
+"I say, wot's this inside?" exclaimed one of the men, drawing a folded
+paper from one of his mittens and opening it.
+
+"Read, an' you'll maybe find out," suggested the mate.
+
+"`God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy,'" said the fisherman,
+reading from the paper.
+
+"Just so," said Fink, "that's what the lady as made the mitts wants to
+let you know so's you may larn to think more o' the Giver than the
+gifts."
+
+"I wish," said another of the men testily, as he pulled a tract from
+inside one of his mitts, and flung it on the deck, "I wish as how these
+same ladies would let religion alone, an' send us them things without
+it.  We want the mitts, an' comforters, an' helmets, but we don't want
+their humbuggin' religion."
+
+"Shame, Dick!" said David Duffy, as he wound a comforter round his thick
+neck.  "You shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth.  We're bound to
+take the things as they've been sent to us, an' say `Thank 'ee.'"
+
+"If it wasn't for what you call `humbuggin' religion,'" remarked Fink,
+looking Dick straight in the face, "it's little that we'd see o'
+comforters, or books, or mission ships on the North Sea.  Why, d'ee
+think that selfishness, or greed, or miserliness, or indifference, or
+godlessness would ever take the trouble to send all them things to us?
+Can't you understand that the love of God in the heart makes men and
+women wish to try to keep God's commandments by bein' kind to one
+another, an' considering the poor, an' feedin' the hungry, an' clothin'
+the naked?"
+
+"Right you are, Fink," said Lockley, with a nod of approval, which was
+repeated by several of those around.
+
+"But, I say, you spoke of books, mate," remarked Bob Lumsden, who came
+forward at the moment, much to the satisfaction of his little friend Pat
+Stiver; "you han't showed us any books yet."
+
+"One thing at a time, boy," returned the mate.
+
+"We've got lots o' books too.  Go below, Pat, an' ask the skipper to
+send up that big case o' books; say I've about finished givin' out the
+mitts an' mufflers."
+
+"Just so, boy," put in his friend Bob; "say that the mate has
+distributed the soft goods, an' wants some hard facts now."
+
+"Don't be cheeky, you young rascal!" cried the mate, hitting Bob on the
+nose with a well aimed pair of mittens.
+
+"Thankee!  On'y them things was meant for the hands not for the nose.
+Howsever, I won't quarrel with a gift, no matter what way it comes to
+me," retorted Bob, picking up the mitts and putting them in his pocket.
+
+While he was speaking two men brought on deck a large box, which was
+quickly opened by the mate.  The men crowded around with much interest
+and curiosity, for it was the first batch of books that had ever reached
+that fleet.  The case was stuffed to the lid with old periodicals and
+volumes, of every shape, and size, and colour.
+
+"W'y, they've bin an' sent us the whole British Museum, I do believe!"
+exclaimed David Duffy, whose younger brother chanced to be a porter in
+our great storehouse of literature.
+
+"Here you are, lads!" cried Fink, going down on his knees and pulling
+out the contents.  "Wollum of _The Leisure Hour, Sunday Magazine_, odd
+numbers o' _The Quiver_, wollum of _The Boy's Own Paper, Young England,
+Home Words_, and _Good Words_ (to smother our bad words, you know).
+There you are, enough to make doctors or professors of every man Jack o'
+you, if you'll on'y take it all in."
+
+"Professors!" growled Joe Stubley, who had come on deck, still suffering
+from his strange internal complaint.  "More like to make fools on us.
+Wot do _we_ want wi' books and larnin'!"
+
+"Nothin' wotsumdever," answered Pat Stiver, with a look of the most
+patronising insolence.  "You're right, Joe, quite right--as you always
+are.  Smacksmen has got no souls, no brains, no minds, no hintellects."
+
+"They've got no use for books, bless you!  All they wants is wittles an'
+grog--"
+
+The boy pulled up at this point, for Stubley made a rush at him, but Pat
+was too quick for him.
+
+"Well said, youngster; give it him hot," cried one of the men
+approvingly, while the others laughed; but they were too much interested
+in the books to be diverted from these for more than a few seconds.
+Many of them were down on their knees beside the mate, who continued in
+a semi-jocular strain--"Now then, take your time, my hearties; lots o'
+books here, and lots more where these came from.  The British public
+will never run dry.  I'm cheap John!  Here they are, all for nothin',
+_on loan_; small wollum--the title ain't clear, ah!--_The Little Man as
+Lost his Mother_; big wollum--_Shakespeare; Pickwick_; books by Hesba
+Stretton; Almanac; Missionary Williams; _Polar Seas an' Regions;
+Pilgrim's Progress_--all sorts to suit all tastes--Catechisms, Noo
+Testaments, _Robinson Crusoe_."
+
+"Hold on there, mate; let's have a look at that!" cried Bob Lumsden
+eagerly--so eagerly that the mate handed the book to him with a laugh.
+
+"Come here, Pat," whispered Bob, dragging his friend out of the crowd to
+a retired spot beside the boat of the _Sunbeam_, which lay on deck near
+the mainmast.  "Did you ever read _Robinson Crusoe_?"
+
+"No, never--never so much as 'eard of 'im."
+
+"You can read, I suppose?"
+
+"Oh yes; I can read well enough."
+
+"What have you read?" demanded Bob.
+
+"On'y bits of old noospapers," replied Pat, with a look of contempt,
+"an' I don't like readin'."
+
+"Don't like it?  Of course you don't, you ignorant curmudgeon, if
+noospapers is all you've read.  Now, Pat, I got this book, not for
+myself but a purpus for _you_."
+
+"Thankee for nothin'," said Pat; "I doesn't want it."
+
+"Doesn't want it!" repeated Bob.  "D'ee know that this is the very best
+book as ever was written?"
+
+"You seems pretty cock-sure," returned Pat, who was in a contradictory
+mood that day; "but you know scholards sometimes differ in their
+opinions about books."
+
+"Pat I'll be hard upon you just now if you don't look out!" said Bob
+seriously.  "Howsever, you're not so far wrong, arter all.  People
+_does_ differ about books, so I'll only say that _Robinson Crusoe_ is
+the best book as was ever written, in _my_ opinion, an' so it'll be in
+yours, too, when you have read it; for there's shipwrecks, an' desert
+islands, an' savages, an' scrimmages, an' footprints, an'--see here!
+That's a pictur of him in his hairy dress, wi' his goat, an' parrot, an'
+the umbrellar as he made hisself, a-lookin' at the footprint on the
+sand."
+
+The picture, coupled with Bob Lumsden's graphic description, had the
+desired effect.  His little friend's interest was aroused, and Pat
+finally accepted the book, with a promise to read it carefully when he
+should find time.
+
+"But of that," added Pat, "I ain't got too much on hand."
+
+"You've got all that's of it--four and twenty hours, haven't you?"
+demanded his friend.
+
+"True, Bob, but it's the _spare_ time I'm short of.  Howsever, I'll do
+my best."
+
+While this literary conversation was going on beside the boat, the
+visitors to the _Sunbeam_ had been provided with a good supply of food
+for the mind as well as ease and comfort for the body, and you may be
+very sure that the skipper and his men, all of whom were Christians, did
+not fail in regard to the main part of their mission, namely, to drop in
+seeds of truth as they found occasion, which might afterwards bear fruit
+to the glory of God and the good of man.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TEN.
+
+THE FIRST FIGHT AND VICTORY.
+
+There was on board the _Sunbeam_, on this her first voyage, a tall,
+broad-shouldered, but delicate-looking young man, with a most woebegone
+expression and a yellowish-green countenance.  To look at him was to
+pronounce him a melancholy misanthrope--a man of no heart or
+imagination.
+
+Never before, probably, did a man's looks so belie his true character.
+This youth was an enthusiast; an eager, earnest, hearty Christian, full
+of love to his Master and to all mankind, and a student for the
+ministry.  But John Binning had broken down from over-study, and at the
+time we introduce him to the reader he was still further "down" with
+that most horrible complaint, sea-sickness.
+
+Even when in the depth of his woe at this time, some flashes of
+Binning's true spirit gleamed fitfully through his misery.  One of those
+gleams was on the occasion of Dick Martin being rescued.  Up to that
+period, since leaving Yarmouth, Binning had lain flat on his back.  On
+hearing of the accident and the rescue he had turned out manfully and
+tried to speak to the rescued man, but indescribable sensations quickly
+forced him to retire.  Again, when the first visitors began to sing one
+of his favourite hymns, he leaped up with a thrill of emotion in his
+heart, but somehow the thrill went to his stomach, and he collapsed.
+
+At last however, Neptune appeared to take pity on the poor student.  His
+recovery--at least as regarded the sea-sickness--was sudden.  He awoke,
+on the morning after the opening of the case of books, quite restored.
+He could hardly believe it.  His head no longer swam; other parts of him
+no longer heaved.  The first intimation that Skipper Martin had of the
+change was John Binning bursting into a hymn with the voice of a
+stentor.  He rose and donned his clothes.
+
+"You've got your sea legs at last, sir," said Fred Martin, as Binning
+came on deck and staggered towards him with a joyful salutation.
+
+"Yes, and I've got my sea appetite, too, Mr Martin.  Will breakfast be
+ready soon?"
+
+"Just goin' on the table, sir.  I like to hear that question.  It's
+always a sure and good sign."
+
+At that moment Pat Stiver appeared walking at an acute angle with the
+deck, and bearing a dish of smoking turbot.  He dived, as it were, into
+the cabin without breaking the dish, and set it on the very small table,
+on which tea, bread, butter, and a lump of beef were soon placed beside
+it.  To this sumptuous repast the skipper, the student, and the mate sat
+down.  After a very brief prayer for blessing by the skipper, they set
+to work with a zest which perhaps few but seafaring men can fully
+understand.  The student, in particular, became irrepressible after the
+first silent and ravenous attack.
+
+"Oh!" he exclaimed, "the sea! the sea! the open sea!  If you are ill, go
+to sea.  If you are fagged, go to sea!  If you are used up, seedy,
+washed-out, miserable, go to sea!  Another slice of that turbot, please.
+Thanks."
+
+"Mind your cup, sir," said the skipper, a few minutes after, in a
+warning voice; "with a breeze like this it's apt to pitch into your lap.
+She lays over a good deal because I've got a press of sail on her this
+morning."
+
+"More than usual?" asked Binning.
+
+"Yes.  You see I'm trying to beat a _coper_ that's close ahead of us
+just now.  The _Sunbeam_ is pretty swift on her heels, an' if the breeze
+holds--ha! you've got it, sir?"
+
+He certainly had got it, in his lap--where neither cup, saucer, nor tea
+should be.
+
+"You are right, skipper, and if your ready hands had not prevented it I
+should have got the teapot and sugar-basin also.  But no matter.  As
+I've had enough now, I'll go on deck and walk myself dry."
+
+On deck a new subject of interest occupied the mind of the rapidly
+reviving student, for the race between the _Sunbeam_ and the _coper_ was
+not yet decided.  They were trying which would be first to reach a group
+of smacks that were sailing at a considerable distance ahead on the port
+bow.  At first the _coper_ seemed to have the best of it, but afterwards
+the breeze freshened and the _Sunbeam_ soon left it far astern.  Seeing
+that the race was lost, the floating grog-shop changed her course.
+
+"Ah, she'll steer for other fleets where there's no opposition,"
+remarked the skipper.
+
+"To win our first race is a good omen," said John Binning, with much
+satisfaction.  "May the _copers_ be thus beaten from every fleet until
+they are beaten from the North Sea altogether!"
+
+"Amen to that," said Fred Martin heartily.  "You feel well enough now,
+sir, to think of undertaking service to-morrow, don't you?"
+
+"Think of it, my friend!  I have done more than think," exclaimed the
+student; "I have been busy while in bed preparing for the Sabbath, and
+if the Master sends us calm weather I will surely help in the good work
+you have begun so well."
+
+And the Master did send calm weather--so calm and so beautiful that the
+glassy sea and fresh air and bright blue sky seemed typical of the quiet
+"rest that remaineth for the people of God."  Indeed, the young student
+was led to choose that very text for his sermon, ignoring all his
+previous preparation, so impressed was he with the suitability of the
+theme.  And when afterwards the boats of the various smacks came
+trooping over the sea, and formed a long tail astern of the _Sunbeam_,
+and when the capacious hold was cleared, and packed as full as possible
+with rugged weather-beaten men, who looked at the tall pale youth with
+their earnest inquiring gaze, like hungering men who had come there for
+something and would not be content to depart with nothing, the student
+still felt convinced that his text was suitable, although not a single
+word or idea regarding it had yet struggled in his mind to get free.
+
+In fact the young man's mind was like a pent-up torrent, calm for the
+moment, but with tremendous and ever-increasing force behind the
+flood-gates, for he had before him men, many of whom had scarcely ever
+heard the Gospel in their lives, whose minds were probably free from the
+peculiar prejudices of landsmen, whose lives were spent in harsh, hard,
+cheerless toil, and who stood sorely in need of spiritual rest and
+deliverance from the death of sin.  Many of these men had come there
+only out of curiosity; a few because they loved the Lord, and some
+because they had nothing better to do.
+
+Groggy Fox was among them.  He had come as before for "baccy,"
+forgetting that the weed was not sold on Sundays, and had been prevailed
+on to remain to the service.  Dick Martin was also there, in a retired
+and dark corner.  He was curious to know, he remarked, what the young
+man had to talk about.
+
+It was not till after prayer had been offered by the student that God
+opened the flood-gates.  Then the stream gushed forth.
+
+"It is," said the preacher--in tones not loud, but so deep and
+impressive that every soul was at once enthralled--"it is to the
+servants of the devil that the grand message comes.  Not to the good,
+and pure, and holy is the blessed Gospel or good news sent, but, to the
+guilty, the sin-stricken, the bad, and the sin-weary God has sent by His
+blessed Spirit the good and glorious news that there is deliverance in
+Jesus Christ for the chief of sinners.  Deliverance from sin changes
+godless men into the children of God, and there is _rest_ for these.  Do
+I need to tell toilers of the deep how sweet rest is to the tired-out
+body?  Surely not, because you have felt it, and know all about it
+better than I do.  But it _is_ needful to tell you about rest for the
+soul, because some of you have never felt it, and know not what it is.
+Is there no man before me who has, some time or other, committed some
+grievous sin, whose soul groans under the burden of the thought, and who
+would give all he possesses if he had never put out his hand to commit
+that sin?  Is there no one here under the power of that deadly monster--
+strong drink--who, remembering the days when he was free from bondage,
+would sing this day with joy unspeakable if he could only escape?"
+
+"Yes," shouted a strong voice from a dark corner of the hold.  "Thank
+God!" murmured another voice from a different quarter, for there were
+men in that vessel's hold who were longing for the salvation of other as
+well as their own souls.
+
+No notice was taken of the interrupters.  The preacher only paused for
+an instant as if to emphasise the words--"Jesus Christ is able to save
+to the _uttermost_ all who come to God through Him."
+
+We will not dwell on this subject further than to say that the prayer
+which followed the sermon was fervent and short, for that student
+evidently did not think that he should be "heard for his much speaking!"
+The prayer which was thereafter offered by the Admiral of the fleet was
+still shorter, very much to the point, and replete with nautical
+phrases, but an uncalled-for petition, which followed that, was briefest
+of all.  It came in low but distinct tones from a dark corner of the
+hold, and had a powerful effect on the audience; perhaps, also, on the
+Hearer of prayer.  It was merely--"God have mercy on me."
+
+Whatever influence might have resulted from the preaching and the prayer
+on that occasion, there could be no doubt whatever as to the singing.
+It was tremendous!  The well-known powers of Wesleyan throats would have
+been lost in it.  Saint Paul's Cathedral organ could not have drowned
+it.  Many of the men had learned at least the tunes of the more popular
+of Sankey's hymns, first from the Admiral and a few like-minded men,
+then from each other.  Now every man was furnished with an
+orange-coloured booklet.  Some could read; some could not.  It mattered
+little.  Their hearts had been stirred by that young student, or rather
+by the student's God.  Their voices, trained to battle with the tempest,
+formed a safety-valve to their feelings.  "The Lifeboat" was,
+appropriately, the first hymn chosen.  Manx Bradley led with a voice
+like a trumpet, for joy intensified his powers.  Fred Martin broke forth
+with tremendous energy.  It was catching.  Even Groggy Fox was overcome.
+With eyes shut, mouth wide open, and book upside down, he absolutely
+howled his determination to "leave the poor old stranded wreck, and pull
+for the shore."
+
+But skipper Fox was not the only man whose spirit was touched on that
+occasion.  Many of the boats clung to the mission vessel till the day
+was nearly past, for their crews were loath to part.  New joys, new
+hopes, new sensations had been aroused.  Before leaving, Dick Martin
+took John Binning aside, and in a low but firm voice said--"you're
+right, sir.  A grievous sin _does_ lie heavy on me.  I robbed Mrs
+Mooney, a poor widdy, of her little bag o' savin's--twenty pounds it
+was."
+
+The latter part of this confession was accidentally overheard by Bob
+Lumsden.  He longed to hear more, but Bob had been taught somehow that
+eavesdropping is a mean and dishonourable thing.  With manly
+determination, therefore, he left the spot, but immediately sought and
+found his little friend Pat Stiver, intent on relieving his feelings.
+
+"What d'ee think, Pat?" he exclaimed, in a low whisper, but with
+indignation in his eye and tone.
+
+"I ain't thinkin' at all," said Pat.
+
+"Would you believe it, Pat?" continued Bob, "I've just heerd that
+scoun'rel Dick Martin say that it _was_ him as stole the money from Mrs
+Mooney--from the mother of our Eve!"
+
+"You _don't_ say so!" exclaimed Pat, making his eyes remarkably wide and
+round.
+
+"Yes, I does, an' I've long suspected him.  Whether he was boastin' or
+not I can't tell, an' it do seem strange that he should boast of it to
+the young parson--leastwise, unless it was done to spite him.  But now
+mark me, Pat Stiver, I'll bring that old sinner to his marrow-bones
+before long, and make him disgorge too, if he hain't spent it all.  I
+give you leave to make an Irish stew o' my carcase if I don't.  Ay, ay,
+sir!"
+
+The concluding words of Bob Lumsden's speech were in reply to an order
+from Skipper Lockley to haul the boat alongside.  In a few minutes more
+the mission ship was forsaken by her strange Sabbath congregation, and
+left with all the fleet around her floating quietly on the tranquil sea.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER ELEVEN.
+
+A CONSULTATION, A FEAST, AND A PLOT.
+
+There was--probably still is--a coffee-tavern in Gorleston where, in a
+cleanly, cheerful room, a retired fisherman and his wife, of temperance
+principles, supplied people with those hot liquids which are said to
+cheer without inebriating.
+
+Here, by appointment, two friends met to discuss matters of grave
+importance.  One was Bob Lumsden, the other his friend and admirer Pat
+Stiver.  Having asked for and obtained two large cups of coffee and two
+slices of buttered bread for some ridiculously small sum of money, they
+retired to the most distant corner of the room, and, turning their backs
+on the counter, began their discussion in low tones.
+
+Being early in the day, the room had no occupants but themselves and the
+fisherman's wife, who busied herself in cleaning and arranging plates,
+cups, and saucers, etcetera, for expected visitors.
+
+"Pat," said Bob, sipping his coffee with an appreciative air, "I've
+turned a total abstainer."
+
+"W'ich means?" inquired Pat.
+
+"That I don't drink nothin' at all," replied Bob.
+
+"But you're a-drinkin' now!" said Pat.
+
+"You know what I mean, you small willain; I drink nothin' with spirits
+in it."
+
+"Well, I don't see what you gains by that, Bob, for I heerd Fred Martin
+say you was nat'rally `full o' spirit,' so abstainin' 'll make no
+difference."
+
+"Pat," said Bob sternly, "if you don't clap a stopper on your tongue,
+I'll wollop you."
+
+Pat became grave at once.  "Well, d'ee know, Bob," he said, with an
+earnest look, "I do b'lieve you are right.  You've always seemed to me
+as if you had a sort o' dissipated look, an' would go to the bad right
+off if you gave way to drink.  Yes, you're right, an' to prove my regard
+for you I'll become a total abstainer too--but, nevertheless, I _can't_
+leave off drinkin'."
+
+"Can't leave off drinkin'!" echoed Bob.
+
+Pat shook his head.  "No--can't.  'Taint possible."
+
+"Why, wot _do_ you mean?"
+
+"Well, Bob, I mean that as I've never yet begun to drink, it ain't
+possible for me to leave it off, d'ee see, though I was to try ever so
+hard.  Howsever, I'll become an abstainer all the same, just to keep
+company along wi' you."
+
+Bob Lumsden gave a short laugh, and then, resuming his earnest air,
+said--
+
+"Pat, I've found out that Dick Martin, the scoun'rel, has bin to Mrs
+Mooney's hut again, an' now I'm sartin sure it was him as stole the
+'ooman's money--not because I heerd him say so to Mr Binning, but
+because Eve told me she saw him flattenin' his ugly nose against her
+window-pane last night, an' recognised him at once for the thief.
+Moreover, he opened the door an' looked into the room, but seein' that
+he had given Eve a terrible fright, he drew back smartly an' went away."
+
+"The willain!" exclaimed Pat Stiver, snapping his teeth as if he wanted
+to bite, and doubling up his little fists.  It was evident that Bob's
+news had taken away all his tendency to jest.
+
+"Now it's plain to me," continued Bob, "that the willain means more
+mischief.  P'r'aps he thinks the old 'ooman's got more blunt hid away in
+her chest, or in the cupboard.  Anyhow, he's likely to frighten poor Eve
+out of her wits, so it's my business to stop his little game.  The
+question is, how is it to be done.  D'ee think it would be of any use to
+commoonicate wi' the police?"
+
+The shaking of Pat Stiver's head was a most emphatic answer.
+
+"No," said he, "wotiver you do, have nothin' to do wi' the p'leece.
+They're a low-minded, pig-headed set, wi' their `move on's,' an' their
+`now then, little un's;' an' their grabbin's of your collars, without no
+regard to w'ether they're clean or not, an' their--"
+
+"Let alone the police, Pat," interrupted his friend, "but let's have
+your adwice about what should be done."
+
+After a moment's consideration, the small boy advised that Mrs Mooney's
+hut should be watched.
+
+"In course," he said, "Dick Martin ain't such a fool as to go an' steal
+doorin' the daytime, so we don't need to begin till near dark.  You are
+big an' strong enough now, Bob, to go at a man like Dick an' floor him
+wi a thumpin' stick."
+
+"Scarcely," returned Bob, with a gratified yet dubious shake of his
+head.  "I'm game to try, but it won't do to risk gettin' the worst of it
+in a thing o' this sort."
+
+"Well, but if I'm there with another thumpin' stick to back you up,"
+said Pat, "you'll have no difficulty wotsumdever.  An' then, if we
+should need help, ain't the `Blue Boar' handy, an' there's always a lot
+o' hands there ready for a spree at short notice?  Now, my adwice is
+that we go right off an' buy two thumpin' sticks--yaller ones, wi' big
+heads like Jack the Giant Killer--get 'em for sixpence apiece.  A heavy
+expense, no doubt, but worth goin' in for, for the sake of Eve Mooney.
+And when, in the words o' the old song, the shades of evenin' is closin'
+o'er us, we'll surround the house of Eve, and `wait till the brute rolls
+by!'"
+
+"You're far too poetical, Pat, for a practical man, said his friend.
+Howsomediver, I think, on the whole, your adwice is not bad, so well try
+it on.  But wot are we to do till the shades of evenin' comes on?"
+
+"Amoose ourselves," answered Pat promptly.
+
+"H'm! might do worse," returned his friend.  "I s'pose you know I've got
+to be at Widow Martin's to take tea wi' Fred an' his bride on their
+return from their weddin' trip.  I wonder if I might take you with me,
+Pat.  You're small, an' I suppose you don't eat much."
+
+"Oh, don't I, though?" exclaimed Pat.
+
+"Well, no matter.  It would be very jolly.  We'd have a good blow-out,
+you know; sit there comfortably together till it began to git dark, and
+then start off to--to--"
+
+"Go in an' win," suggested the little one.
+
+Having thus discussed their plans and finished their coffee, the two
+chivalrous lads went off to Yarmouth and purchased two of the most
+formidable cudgels they could find, of the true Jack-the-Giant-Killer
+type, with which they retired to the Denes to "amoose" themselves.
+
+Evening found them hungry and hearty at the tea-table of Mrs Martin--
+and really, for the table of a fisherman's widow, it was spread with a
+very sumptuous repast; for it was a great day in the history of the
+Martin family.  No fewer than three Mrs Martins were seated round it.
+There was old Granny Martin, who consented to quit her attic window on
+that occasion and take the head of the table, though she did so with a
+little sigh, and a soft remark that, "It would be sad if he were to come
+when she was not watching."  Then there was widow Martin, Fred's
+mother--whose bad leg, by the way, had been quite cured by her legacy.
+
+And lastly, there was pretty Mrs Isa Martin, Fred's newly-married wife.
+
+Besides these there were skipper Lockley of the _Lively Poll_, and his
+wife Martha--for it will be remembered Martha was cousin to Isa, and
+Stephen's smack chanced to be in port at this time as well as the
+_Sunbeam_ and the _Fairy_, alias the _Ironclad_, which last circumstance
+accounts for Dick Martin being also on shore.  But Dick was not invited
+to this family gathering, for the good reason that he had not shown face
+since landing, and no one seemed to grieve over his absence, with the
+exception of poor old granny, whose love for her "wandering boy" was as
+strong and unwavering as was her love to the husband, for whose coming
+she had watched so long.
+
+Bob Lumsden, it may be remarked, was one of the guests, because Lockley
+was fond of him; and Pat Stiver was there because Bob was fond of _him_!
+Both were heartily welcomed.
+
+Besides the improvement in Mrs Martin's health, there was also vast
+improvement in the furniture and general appearance of the attic since
+the arrival of the legacy.
+
+"It was quite a windfall," remarked Mrs Lockley, handing in her cup for
+more tea.
+
+"True, Martha, though I prefer to call it a godsend," said Mrs Martin.
+"You see it was gettin' so bad, what wi' standin' so long at the tub,
+an' goin' about wi' the clo'es, that I felt as if I should break down
+altogether, I really did; but now I've been able to rest it I feel as if
+it was going to get quite strong again, and that makes me fit to look
+after mother far better.  Have some more tea, granny!"
+
+A mumbled assent and a pleased look showed that the old woman was fully
+alive to what was going on.
+
+"Hand the butter to Isa, Pat.  Thankee," said the ex-washerwoman.  "What
+a nice little boy your friend is, Bob Lumpy!  I'm so glad you thought of
+bringin' him.  He quite puts me in mind of what my boy Fred was at his
+age--on'y a trifle broader, an' taller, an stouter."
+
+"A sort of lock-stock-an'-barrel difference, mother," said Fred,
+laughing.
+
+"I dun know what you mean by your blocks, stocks, an' barrels," returned
+Mrs Martin, "but Pat is a sight milder in the face than you was, an I'm
+sure he's a better boy."
+
+The subject of this remark cocked his ears and winked gently with one
+eye to his friend Bob, with such a sly look that the blooming bride, who
+observed it, went off into a shriek of laughter.
+
+"An' only to think," continued Mrs Martin, gazing in undisguised
+admiration at her daughter-in-law, "that my Fred--who seems as if on'y
+yesterday he was no bigger than Pat, should have got Isa Wentworth--the
+best lass in all Gorleston--for a wife!  You're a lucky boy!"
+
+"Right you are," responded Fred, with enthusiasm.  "I go wi' you there,
+mother, but I'm more than a lucky boy--I'm a highly favoured one, and I
+thank God for the precious gift; and also for that other gift, which is
+second only to Isa, the command of a Gospel ship on the North Sea."
+
+A decided chuckle, which sounded like a choke, from granny, fortunately
+called for attentions from the bride at this point.
+
+"But do 'ee really think your mission smack will do much good?" asked
+Martha Lockley, who was inclined to scepticism.
+
+"I am sure of it," replied Fred emphatically.  "Why, we've done some
+good work already, though we have bin but a short time wi' the fleet.  I
+won't speak of ourselves, but just look at what has bin done in the way
+of saving drunkards and swearers by the _Cholmondeley_ in the short-Blue
+Fleet, and by the old _Ensign_ in the Fleet started by Mr
+Burdett-Coutts, the _Columbia_ fleet, and in the other fleets that have
+got Gospel ships.  It is not too much to say that there are hundreds of
+men now prayin' to God, singin' the praises o' the Lamb, an' servin'
+their owners better than they ever did before, who not long ago were
+godless drunkards and swearers."
+
+"Men are sometimes hypocrites," objected Martha; "how d'ee know that
+they are honest, or that it will last?"
+
+"Hypocrites?" exclaimed Fred, pulling a paper hastily from his pocket
+and unfolding it.  "I think you'll admit that sharp men o' bussiness are
+pretty good judges o' hypocrites as well as of good men.  Listen to what
+one of the largest firms of smack-owners says: `Our men have been
+completely revolutionised, and we gladly become subscribers of ten
+guineas to the funds of the Mission.'  Another firm says, `What we have
+stated does not convey anything like our sense of the importance of the
+work you have undertaken.'"
+
+"Ay, there's something in that," said Martha, who, like all sceptics,
+was slow to admit truth.
+
+We say not this to the discredit of sceptics.  On the contrary, we think
+that people who swallow what is called "truth" too easily, are apt to
+imbibe a deal of error along with it.  Doubtless it was for the benefit
+of such that the word was given--"Prove all things.  Hold fast that
+which is good."
+
+Fred then went to show the immense blessing that mission ships had
+already been to the North Sea fishermen--alike to their souls and
+bodies; but we may not follow him further, for Bob Lumsden and Pat
+Stiver claim individual attention just now.
+
+When these enterprising heroes observed that the shades of evening were
+beginning to fall, they rose to take their leave.
+
+"Why so soon away, lads?" asked Fred.
+
+"We're goin' to see Eve Mooney," answered Bob.  "Whatever are the boys
+goin' to do wi' them thick sticks?" exclaimed Martha Lockley.
+
+"Fit main an fore masts into a man-o'-war, I suppose," suggested her
+husband.
+
+The boys did not explain, but went off laughing, and Lockley called
+after them--
+
+"Tell Eve I've got a rare lot o' queer things for her this trip."
+
+"And give her my dear love," cried Mrs Fred Martin.
+
+"Ay, ay," replied the boys as they hurried away on their self-imposed
+mission.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWELVE.
+
+THE ENTERPRISE FAILS--REMARKABLY.
+
+The lads had to pass the "Blue Boar" on their way to Widow Mooney's hut,
+and they went in just to see, as Bob said, how the land lay, and whether
+there was a prospect of help in that quarter if they should require it.
+
+Besides a number of strangers, they found in that den of iniquity Joe
+Stubley, Ned Bryce, and Groggy Fox--which last had, alas! forgotten his
+late determination to "leave the poor old stranded wreck and pull for
+the shore."  He and his comrades were still out among the breakers,
+clinging fondly to the old wreck.
+
+The boys saw at a glance that no assistance was to be expected from
+these men.  Stubley was violently argumentative, Fox was maudlinly
+sentimental, and Bryce was in an exalted state of heroic resolve.  Each
+sought to gain the attention and sympathy of the other, and all
+completely failed, but they succeeded in making a tremendous noise,
+which seemed partially to satisfy them as they drank deeper.
+
+"Come, nothin' to be got here," whispered Bob Lumsden, in a tone of
+disgust, as he caught hold of his friend's arm.  "We'll trust to
+ourselves--"
+
+"An' the thumpin' sticks," whispered Pat, as they reached the end of the
+road.
+
+Alas for the success of their enterprise if it had depended on those
+formidable weapons of war!
+
+When the hut was reached the night had become so nearly dark that they
+ventured to approach it with the intention of peeping in at the front
+window, but their steps were suddenly arrested by the sight of a man's
+figure approaching from the opposite direction.  They drew back, and,
+being in the shadow of a wall, escaped observation.  The man advanced
+noiselessly, and with evident caution, until he reached the window, and
+peeped in.
+
+"It's Dick," whispered Bob.  "Can't see his figure-head, but I know the
+cut of his jib, even in the dark."
+
+"Let's go at 'im, slick!" whispered Pat, grasping his cudgel and looking
+fierce.
+
+"Not yet.  We must make quite sure, an' nab him in the very act."
+
+As he spoke the man went with stealthy tread to the door of the hut,
+which the drunken owner had left on the latch.  Opening it softly, he
+went in, shut it after him, and, to the dismay of the boys, locked it on
+the inside.
+
+"Now, Pat," said Bob, somewhat bitterly, "there's nothin' for it but the
+police."
+
+Pat expressed strong dissent.  "The p'leece," he said, "was useless for
+real work; they was on'y fit to badger boys an' old women."
+
+"But what can we do?" demanded Bob anxiously, for he felt that time was
+precious.  "You an' I ain't fit to bu'st in the door; an' if we was,
+Dick would be ready for us.  If we're to floor him he must be took by
+surprise."
+
+"Let's go an' peep," suggested the smaller warrior.
+
+"Come on, then," growled the big one.
+
+The sight that met their eyes when they peeped was indeed one fitted to
+expand these orbs of vision to the uttermost, for they beheld the thief
+on his knees beside the invalid's bed, holding her thin hand in his,
+while his head was bowed upon the ragged counterpane.
+
+Bob Lumsden was speechless.
+
+"Hold me; I'm a-goin' to bu'st," whispered Pat, by way of expressing the
+depth of his astonishment.
+
+Presently Eve spoke.  They could hear her faintly, yet distinctly,
+through the cracked and patched windows, and listened with all their
+ears.
+
+"Don't take on so, poor man," she said in her soft loving tones.  "Oh, I
+am _so_ glad to hear what you say!"
+
+Dick Martin looked up quickly.
+
+"What!" he exclaimed, "glad to hear me say that I am the thief as stole
+your mother's money! that I'm a low, vile, selfish blackguard who
+deserves to be kicked out o' the North Sea fleet--off the face o' the
+'arth altogether?"
+
+"Yes," returned Eve, smiling through her tears--for she had been
+crying--"glad to hear you say all that, because Jesus came to save
+people like you; but He does not call them such bad names.  He only
+calls them the `lost.'"
+
+"Well, I suppose you're right, dear child," said the man, after a pause;
+"an' I do think the Blessed Lord has saved me, for I never before felt
+as I do now--hatred of my old bad ways, and an _awful_ desire to do
+right for His sake.  If any o' my mates had told me I'd feel an' act
+like this a week ago, I'd have called him a fool.  I can't understand
+it.  I suppose that God must have changed me altogether.  My only fear
+is that I'll fall back again into the old bad ways--I'm so helpless for
+anything good, d'ee see."
+
+"You forget," returned Eve, with another of her tearful smiles; "He
+says, `I will never leave thee nor forsake thee'--"
+
+"No, I don't forget that," interrupted Dick quickly; "that is what the
+young preacher in the mission smack said, an' it has stuck to me.  It's
+that as keeps me up.  But I didn't come here to speak about my thoughts
+an' feelin's," he continued, rising and taking a chair close to the bed,
+on which he placed a heavy bag.  "I come here, Eve, to make
+restitootion.  There's every farthin' I stole from your poor mother.  I
+kep' it intendin' to go to Lun'on, and have a good long spree--so it's
+all there.  You'll give it to her, but don't tell her who stole it.
+That's a matter 'tween you an' me an' the Almighty.  Just you say that
+the miserable sinner who took it has bin saved by Jesus Christ, an' now
+returns it and axes her pardon."
+
+Eve gladly promised, but while she was yet speaking, heavy footsteps
+were heard approaching the hut.  The man started up as if to leave, and
+the two boys, suddenly awakening to the fact that they were
+eavesdropping, fled silently round the corner of the hut and hid
+themselves.  The passer-by, whoever he was, seemed to change his mind,
+for the steps ceased to sound for a few moments, then they were heard
+again, with diminishing force, until they finally died away.
+
+A moment later, and the key was heard to turn, and the door of the hut
+to open and close, after which the heavy tread of the repentant
+fisherman was heard as he walked quickly away.
+
+The boys listened in silence till all was perfectly still.
+
+"Well, now," said Bob, drawing a long breath, "who'd have thought that
+things would have turned out like this?"
+
+"Never heard of sich a case in _my_ life before," responded Pat Stiver
+with emphasis, as if he were a venerable magistrate who had been trying
+"cases" for the greater part of a long life.  "Why, it leaves us nothin'
+wotiver to do!  Even a p'leeceman might manage it!  The thief has gone
+an' took up hisself, tried an' condemned hisself without a jury,
+pronounced sentance on hisself without a judge, an' all but hanged
+hisself without Jack Ketch, so there's nothin' for you an' me to do but
+go an' bury our thumpin' sticks, as Red Injins bury the war-hatchet,
+retire to our wigwams, an' smoke the pipe of peace."
+
+"Wery good; let's go an' do it, then," returned Bob, curtly.
+
+As it is not a matter of particular interest how the boys reduced this
+figurative intention to practice, we will leave them, and follow Dick
+Martin for a few minutes.
+
+His way led him past the "Blue Boar," which at that moment, however,
+proved to be no temptation to him.  He paused to listen.  Sounds of
+revelry issued from its door, and the voice of Joe Stubley was heard
+singing with tremendous energy--"Britons, never, never, never, shall be
+slaves," although he and all his companions were at that very moment
+thoroughly--in one or two cases almost hopelessly--enslaved to the most
+terrible tyrant that has ever crushed the human race!
+
+Dick went on, and did not pause till he reached his sister's house.  By
+that time the family party had broken up, but a solitary candle in the
+attic window showed that old Granny Martin was still on her watch-tower.
+
+"Is that you, Dick?" said his sister, opening to his tap, and letting
+him in; but there was nothing of welcome or pleasure in the widow's
+tone.
+
+The fisherman did not expect a warm welcome.  He knew that he did not
+deserve it, but he cared not, for the visit was to his mother.  Gliding
+to her side, he went down on his knees, and laid his rugged head on her
+lap.  Granny did not seem taken by surprise.  She laid her withered hand
+on the head, and said: "Bless you, my boy!  I knew you would come,
+sooner or later; praise be to His blessed name."
+
+We will not detail what passed between the mother and son on that
+occasion, but the concluding sentence of the old woman was significant:
+"He can't be long of coming _now_, Dick, for the promises are all
+fulfilled at last, and I'm ready."
+
+She turned her head slowly again in the old direction, where, across the
+river and the sands, she could watch the moonbeams glittering on the
+solemn sea.
+
+Three days later, and the skipper of the _Sunbeam_ received a telegram
+telling him to prepare for guests, two of whom were to accompany him on
+his trip to the fleet.
+
+It was a bright, warm day when the guests arrived--a dozen or more
+ladies and gentlemen who sympathised with the Mission, accompanied by
+the Director.
+
+"All ready for sea, Martin, I suppose?" said the latter, as the party
+stepped on board from the wharf, alongside of which the vessel lay.
+
+"All ready, sir," responded Fred.  "If the wind holds we may be with the
+fleet, God willing, some time to-morrow night."
+
+The _Sunbeam_ was indeed all ready, for the duties on board of her had
+been performed by those who did their work "as to the Lord, and not to
+men."  Every rope was in its place and properly coiled away, every piece
+of brass-work about the vessel shone like burnished gold.  The deck had
+been scrubbed to a state of perfect cleanliness, so that, as Jim Freeman
+said, "you might eat your victuals off it."  In short, everything was
+trim and taut, and the great blue MDSF flag floated from the masthead,
+intimating that the Gospel ship was about to set forth on her mission of
+mercy, to fish for men.
+
+Among the party who were conducted by Fred and the Director over the
+vessel were two clergymen, men of middle age, who had been labouring
+among all classes on the land: sympathising with the sad, rejoicing with
+the glad, praying, working, and energising for rich and poor, until
+health had begun to give way, and change of air and scene had become
+absolutely necessary.  A week or so at the sea, it was thought, would
+revive them.
+
+And what change of air could be more thorough than that from the smoke
+of the city to the billows of the North Sea?  The Director had suggested
+the change.  Men of God were sorely wanted out there, he said, and,
+while they renewed their health among the fresh breezes of ocean, they
+might do grand service for the Master among the long-neglected
+fishermen.
+
+The reasoning seemed just.  The offer was kind.  The opportunity was
+good, as well as unique and interesting.  The land-worn clergymen
+accepted the invitation, and were now on their way to the scene of their
+health-giving work, armed with waterproofs, sou'westers, and sea-boots.
+
+"It will do you good, sir, both body and soul," said Skipper Martin to
+the elder of the two, when presented to him.  "You'll find us a strange
+lot, sir, out there, but glad to see you, and game to listen to what
+you've got to say as long as ever you please."
+
+When the visitors had seen all that was to be seen, enjoyed a cup of
+coffee, prayed and sung with the crew, and wished them God-speed, they
+went on shore, and the _Sunbeam_, hoisting her sails and shaking out the
+blue flag, dropped quietly down the river.
+
+Other smacks there were, very much like herself, coming and going, or
+moored to the wharves, but as the visitors stood on the river bank and
+waved their adieux, the thought was forced upon them how inconceivably
+vast was the difference between those vessels which laboured for time
+and this one which toiled for eternity.
+
+Soon the _Sunbeam_ swept out upon the sea, bent over to the freshening
+breeze, and steered on her beneficent course towards her double
+fishing-ground.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER THIRTEEN.
+
+THE TIDE BEGINS TO TURN, AND DEATH STEPS IN.
+
+Let us now, good reader, outstrip the _Sunbeam_, and, proceeding to the
+fleet in advance of her, pay a night visit to one or two of the smacks.
+We are imaginative creatures, you see, and the powers of imagination
+are, as you know, almost illimitable.  Even now, in fact, we have you
+hovering over the dark sea, which, however, like the air above it, is
+absolutely calm, so that the numerous lanterns of the fishing-vessels
+around are flickering far down into the deep, like gleams of
+perpendicular lightning.
+
+It is Saturday night, and the particular vessel over which we hover is
+the _Lively Poll_.  Let us descend into her cabin.
+
+A wonderful change has come over the vessel's crew since the advent of
+the mission smack.  Before that vessel joined the fleet, the chief
+occupation of the men during the hours of leisure was gambling,
+diversified now and then with stories and songs more or less profane.
+
+On the night of which we write almost universal silence pervaded the
+smack, because the men were profoundly engaged with book and pamphlet.
+They could all read, more or less, though the reading of one or two
+involved much spelling and knitting of the brows.  But it was evident
+that they were deeply interested, and utterly oblivious of all around
+them.  Like a schoolboy with a good story, they could not bear to be
+interrupted, and were prone to explosive commentary.
+
+David Duffy, who had fallen upon a volume of Dickens, was growing purple
+in the face, because of his habit of restraining laughter until it
+forced its way in little squeaks through his nose.  Stephen Lockley, who
+had evidently got hold of something more serious, sat on a locker, his
+elbows resting on his knees, the book in his hands, and a solemn frown
+on his face.  Hawkson was making desperate efforts to commit to memory a
+hymn, with the tune of which he had recently fallen in love, and the
+meaning of which was, unknown to himself, slowly but surely entering
+deep into his awakening soul.  Bob Lumsden, who read his pamphlet by the
+binnacle light on deck, had secured an American magazine, the humorous
+style of which, being quite new to him, set him off ever and anon into
+hearty ripples of laughter.
+
+But they were not equally persevering, for Joe Stubley, to whom reading
+was more of a toil than a pleasure, soon gave in, and recurred to his
+favourite game of "checkers."  The mate, Peter Jay, was slowly pacing
+the deck in profound meditation.  His soul had been deeply stirred by
+some of the words which had fallen from the lips of John Binning, and
+perplexities as well as anxieties were at that time struggling fiercely
+in his mind.
+
+"Well done, little marchioness!" exclaimed David Duffy, with eyes
+riveted on his book, and smiting his knee with his right palm, "you're a
+trump!"
+
+"Shush!" exclaimed Lockley, with eyes also glued to his book, holding up
+his hand as if to check interruption.  "There's somethin' in this,
+although I can't quite see it yet."
+
+A roar of laughter on deck announced that Bob Lumsden had found
+something quite to his taste.  "First-rate--ha! ha!  I wonder if it's
+all true."
+
+"Hold your noise there," cried Hawkson; "who d'ee think can learn off a
+hymn wi' you shoutin' like a bo'sun's mate an' Duffy snortin' like a
+grampus?"
+
+"Ah, just so," chimed in Stubley, looking up from his board.  "Why don't
+you let it out, David?  You'll bu'st the b'iler if you don't open a
+bigger safety-valve than your nose."
+
+"Smack on the weather beam, that looks like the Gospel ship, sir," said
+the mate, looking down the hatchway.
+
+The skipper closed his book at once and went on deck, but the night was
+so dark, and the smack in question so far off, that they were unable to
+make her out among the numerous lights of the fleet.
+
+In another part of that fleet, not far distant, floated the _Cormorant_.
+Here too, as in many other smacks, the effects of the _Sunbeam's_
+beneficent influence had begun to tell.  Groggy Fox's crew was noted as
+one of the most quarrelsome and dissipated in the fleet.  On this
+particular Saturday night, however, all was quiet, for most of the men
+were busy with books, pamphlets, and tracts.  One who had, as his mate
+said, come by a broken head, was slumbering in his berth, scientifically
+bandaged and convalescent, and Groggy himself, with a pair of
+tortoiseshell glasses on his nose, was deep in a book which he
+pronounced to be "one o' the wery best wollums he had ever come across
+in the whole course of his life," leaving it to be inferred, perhaps,
+that he had come across a very large number of volumes in his day.
+
+While he was thus engaged one of the men whispered in his ear, "A
+_coper_ alongside, sir."
+
+The skipper shut the "wery best wollum" at once, and ordered out the
+boat.
+
+"Put a cask o' oysters in her," he said.
+
+Usually his men were eager to go with their skipper, but on this night
+some of them were so interested in the books they were reading that they
+preferred to remain on board.  Others went, and, with their skipper, got
+themselves "fuddled" on the proceeds of the owner's oysters.  If oysters
+had not been handy, fish or something else would have been used instead,
+for Skipper Fox was not particular--he was still clinging to "the poor
+old stranded wreck."
+
+It was dawn when, according to their appropriate phrase, they "tumbled"
+over the side of the _coper_ into their boat.  As they bade the Dutchman
+good night they observed that he was looking "black as thunder" at the
+horizon.
+
+"W-wat's wrong, ol' b-boy?" asked Groggy.
+
+The Dutchman pointed to the horizon.  "No use for me to shtop here, mit
+_dat_ alongside!" he replied.
+
+The fishermen turned their drunken eyes in the direction indicated, and,
+after blinking a few seconds, clearly made out the large blue flag, with
+its letters MDSF, fluttering in the light breeze that had risen with the
+sun.
+
+With curses both loud and deep the Dutchman trimmed his sails, and
+slowly but decidedly vanished from the scene.  Thus the tide began to
+turn on the North Sea!
+
+The light breeze went down as the day advanced, and soon the mission
+vessel found herself surrounded by smacks, with an ever-increasing tail
+of boats at her stern, and an ever-multiplying congregation on her deck.
+It was a busy and a lively scene, for while they were assembling, Fred
+Martin took advantage of the opportunity to distribute books and
+medicines, and to bind up wounds, etcetera.  At the same time the
+pleasant meeting of friends, who never met in such numbers anywhere
+else--not even in the _copers_--and the hearty good wishes and shaking
+of hands, with now and then expressions of thankfulness from believers--
+all tended to increase the bustle and excitement, so that the two
+invalid clergymen began at once to experience the recuperative influence
+of glad enthusiasm.
+
+"There is plenty to do here, both for body and soul," remarked one of
+these to Fred during a moment of relaxation.
+
+"Yes, sir, thank God.  We come out here to work, and we find the work
+cut out for us.  A good many surgical cases, too, you observe.  But we
+expect that.  In five of the fleets there were more than two thousand
+cases treated last year aboard of the mission smacks, so we look for our
+share.  In fact, during our first eight weeks with this fleet we have
+already had two hundred men applying for medicine or dressing of
+wounds."
+
+"Quite an extensive practice, Dr Martin," said the clergyman, with a
+laugh.
+
+"Ay, sir; but ours is the medical-missionary line.  The body may be
+first in time, but the soul is first in importance with us."
+
+In proof of this, as it were, the skipper now stopped all that had been
+going on, and announced that the _real_ work of the day was going to
+begin; whereupon the congregation crowded into the hold until it was
+full.  Those who could not find room clustered on deck round the open
+hatch and listened--sometimes craned their necks over and gazed.
+
+It was a new experience for the invalid clergymen, who received another
+bath of recuperative influence.  Fervour, interest, intelligence seemed
+to gleam in the steady eyes of the men while they listened, and thrilled
+in their resonant voices when they sang.  One of the clergymen preached
+as he had seldom preached before, and then prayed, after which they all
+sang; but the congregation did not move to go away.  The brother
+clergyman therefore preached, and, modestly fearing that he was keeping
+them too long, hinted as much.
+
+"Go on, sir," said the Admiral, who was there; "it ain't every day we
+gets a chance like this."
+
+A murmur of assent followed, and the preacher went on; but we will not
+follow him.  After closing with the hymn, "How sweet the name of Jesus
+sounds in a believer's ear," they all went on deck, where they found a
+glory of sunshine flooding the _Sunbeam_, and glittering on the still
+tranquil sea.
+
+The meeting now resolved itself into a number of groups, among whom the
+peculiar work of the day was continued directly or indirectly.  It was
+indeed a wonderful condition of things on board of the Gospel ship that
+Sunday--wheels within wheels, spiritual machinery at work from stem to
+stern.  A few, whose hearts had been lifted up, got out an accordion and
+their books, and "went in for" hymns.  Among these Bob Lumsden and his
+friend Pat Stiver took an active part.  Here and there couples of men
+leaned over the side and talked to each other in undertones of their
+Saviour and the life to come.  In the bow Manx Bradley got hold of Joe
+Stubley and pleaded hard with him to come to Jesus, and receive power
+from the Holy Spirit to enable him to give up all his evil ways.  In the
+stern Fred Martin sought to clear away the doubts and difficulties of
+Ned Bryce.  Elsewhere the two clergymen were answering questions, and
+guiding several earnest souls to a knowledge of the truth, while down in
+the cabin Jim Freeman prevailed on several men and boys to sign the
+temperance pledge.  Among these last was Groggy Fox, who, irresolute of
+purpose, was still holding back.
+
+"'Cause why," said he; "I'll be sure to break it again.  I can't keep
+it."
+
+"I know that, skipper," said Fred, coming down at the moment.  "In your
+own strength you'll _never_ keep it, but in God's strength you shall
+conquer _all_ your enemies.  Let's pray, lads, that we may all be
+enabled to keep to our good resolutions."
+
+Then and there they all knelt down, and Skipper Fox arose with the
+determination once again to "Leave the poor old stranded wreck, and pull
+for the shore."
+
+But that was a memorable Sunday in other respects, for towards the
+afternoon a stiff breeze sprang up, and an unusually low fall in the
+barometer turned the fishermen's thoughts back again to wordly cares.
+The various boats left the _Sunbeam_ hurriedly.  As the _Lively Poll_
+had kept close alongside all the time, Stephen Lockley was last to think
+of leaving.  He had been engaged in a deeply interesting conversation
+with one of the clergymen about his soul, but at last ordered his boat
+to be hauled alongside.
+
+While this was being done, he observed that another smack--one of the
+so-called "ironclads"--was sailing so as to cross the bows of his
+vessel.  The breeze had by that time increased considerably, and both
+smacks, lying well over, were rushing swiftly through the water.
+Suddenly some part of the ironclad's tackling about the mainsail gave
+way, the head of the vessel fell to leeward; next moment she went
+crashing into the _Lively Poll_, and cut her down to the water's edge.
+The ironclad seemed to rebound and tremble for a moment, and then passed
+on.  The steersman at once threw her up into the wind with the intention
+of rendering assistance, but in another minute the _Lively Poll_ had
+sunk and disappeared for ever, carrying Peter Jay and Hawkson along with
+her.
+
+Of course several boats pushed off at once to the rescue, and hovered
+about the spot for some time, but neither the men nor the vessel were
+ever seen again.
+
+There was a smack at some distance, which was about to quit the fleet
+next morning and return to port.  The skipper of it knew well which
+vessel had been run down, but, not being near enough to see all that
+passed, imagined that the whole crew had perished along with her.
+During the night the breeze freshened to a gale, which rendered fishing
+impossible.  This vessel therefore left the fleet before dawn, and
+carried the news to Gorleston that the _Lively Poll_ had been run down
+and sunk with all her crew.
+
+It was Fred Martin's wife who undertook to break this dreadful news to
+poor Mrs Lockley.
+
+Only those who have had such duty to perform can understand the struggle
+it cost the gentle-spirited Isa.  The first sight of her friend's face
+suggested to Mrs Lockley the truth, and when words confirmed it she
+stood for a moment with a countenance pale as death.  Then, clasping her
+hands tightly together, the poor woman, with a cry of despair, sank
+insensible upon the floor.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER FOURTEEN.
+
+THE LAST.
+
+But the supposed death of Stephen Lockley did not soften the heart of
+his wife.  It only opened her eyes a little.  After the first stunning
+effect had passed, a hard, rebellious state of mind set in, which
+induced her to dry her tears, and with stern countenance reject the
+consolation of sympathisers.  The poor woman's heart was breaking, and
+she refused to be comforted.
+
+It was while she was in this condition that Mrs Mooney, of all people,
+took it into her head to visit and condole with her neighbour.  That
+poor woman, although a sot, was warm-hearted, and the memory of what she
+had suffered when her own husband perished seemed to arouse her
+sympathies in an unusual degree.  She was, as her male friends would
+have said, "screwed" when she knocked at Mrs Lockley's door.
+
+The poor creature was recovering from a burst of passionate grief, and
+turned her large dark eyes fiercely on the would-be comforter as she
+entered.
+
+"My dear Mrs Lockley," began Mrs Mooney, with sympathy beaming on her
+red countenance, "it do grieve me to see you like this--a'most as much
+as wen my--"
+
+"You're drunk!" interrupted Mrs Lockley, with a look of mingled
+sternness and indignation.
+
+"Well, my dear," replied Mrs Mooney, with a deprecatory smile, "that
+ain't an uncommon state o' things, an' you've no call to be 'ard on a
+poor widdy like yourself takin' a little consolation now an' then when
+she can get it.  I just thought I'd like to comfort--"
+
+"I don't want no comfort," cried Mrs Lockley in a sharp tone.  "Leave
+me.  Go away!"
+
+There was something so terrible in the mingled look of grief and anger
+which disturbed the handsome features of the young wife, that Mrs
+Mooney, partly awed and partly alarmed, turned at once and left the
+house.  She did not feel aggrieved, only astonished and somewhat
+dismayed.  After a few moments of meditation she set off, intending to
+relieve her feelings in the "Blue Boar."  On her way she chanced to meet
+no less a personage than Pat Stiver, who, with his hands in his pockets
+and his big boots clattering over the stones, was rolling along in the
+opposite direction.
+
+"Pat, my boy!" exclaimed the woman in surprise, "wherever did you come
+from?"
+
+"From the North Sea," said Pat, looking up at his questioner with an
+inquiring expression.  "I say, old woman, drunk again?"
+
+"Well, boy, who denyses of it?"
+
+"Ain't you ashamed of yourself?"
+
+"No, I ain't.  Why should I?  Who cares whether I'm drunk or sober?"
+
+"Who cares, you unnat'ral old bundle o' dirty clo'es?  Don't Eve care?
+An' don't Fred Martin an' Bob Lumpy care?  An' don't _I_ care, worse
+than all of 'em put together, except Eve?"
+
+"You, boy?" exclaimed the woman.
+
+"Yes, me.  But look here, old gal; where are you goin'?  To have a
+drink, I suppose?"
+
+"Jus' so.  That's 'xactly where I'm a-steerin' to."
+
+"Well, now," cried Pat, seizing the woman's hand, "come along, an' I'll
+give you somethin' to drink.  Moreover, I'll treat you to some noos
+as'll cause your blood to curdle, an' your flesh to creep, an' your eyes
+to glare, an your hair to stand on end!"
+
+Thus adjured, and with curiosity somewhat excited, Mrs Mooney suffered
+herself to be led to that temperance coffee-tavern in Gorleston to which
+we have already referred.
+
+"Ain't it comf'r'able?" asked the boy, as his companion gazed around
+her.  "Now then, missis," he said to the attendant, with the air of an
+old frequenter of the place, "coffee and wittles for two--hot.  Here,
+sit down in this corner, old lady, where you can take in the beauties o'
+the place all at one squint."
+
+Almost before he had done speaking two large cups of hot coffee and two
+thick slices of buttered bread lay before them.
+
+"There you are--all ship-shape.  Now drink, an' no heel-taps."
+
+Mrs Mooney drank in dumb surprise, partly at the energy and cool
+impudence of the boy, and partly at the discovery that there was more
+comfort in hot coffee than she had expected.
+
+"You've heard, in course, that the _Lively Poll_ is at the bottom of the
+North Sea?" said Pat.
+
+Mrs Mooney set down her cup with a sigh and a sudden expression of woe
+mingled with reproof, while she remarked that there was no occasion to
+be lighthearted on such a subject.
+
+"That's all _you_ know," retorted Pat.  "Of course we was told the
+moment we came alongside the wharf this mornin', that somebody had bin
+blowin' half a gale o' lies about it, but Stephen Lockley ain't
+drownded, not he, an' don't mean to be for some time.  He was aboard of
+the _Sunbeam_ at the time his wessel went down an' all the rest of 'em,
+except poor Jay an' Hawkson, an' we've brought 'em all ashore.  You see
+we got so damaged in a gale that came on to blow the wery next day that
+we've bin forced to run here for repairs.  Skipper Lockley's away up at
+this here minit to see his wife--leastwise, he's waitin' outside till
+one o' the parsons goes and breaks the noos to her.  The skipper didn't
+see no occasion for that, an' said he could break the noos to her
+hisself, but the parson said he didn't know what the consikences might
+be, so Stephen he gave in, an'--.  Now, old girl, if you keep openin' of
+your mouth an' eyes at that rate you'll git lockjaw, an' never be able
+to go to sleep no more."
+
+There was, indeed, some ground for the boy's remark, for his "noos" had
+evidently overwhelmed Mrs Mooney--chiefly with joy, on account of her
+friend Mrs Lockley, to whom, even when "in liquor", she was tenderly
+attached.  She continued to gaze speechless at Pat, who took advantage
+of the opportunity to do a little private business on his own account.
+
+Taking a little bit of blue ribbon with a pin attached to it from his
+pocket, he coolly fixed it on Mrs Mooney's breast.
+
+"There," said he gravely, "I promised Bob that I'd make as many conwerts
+as I could, so I've conwerted _you_!"
+
+Utterly regardless of her conversion, Mrs Mooney suddenly sprang from
+her seat and made for the door.
+
+"Hallo, old gal! where away now!" cried the boy, seizing her skirt and
+following her out, being unable to stop her.
+
+"I'm a-goin' to tell Eve, an' _won't_ she be glad, for she was awful
+fond o' Lockley!"
+
+"All right, I'm with 'ee.  Cut along."
+
+"Mother!" exclaimed Eve, when the poor woman stood before her with eager
+excitement flushing her face to a ruddy purple.  "Have you _really_ put
+on the blue ribbon?"
+
+The poor child's thin pretty little race flushed with hope for a moment.
+
+"Oh, it ain't that, dear," said Mrs Mooney, "but Lockley ain't drownded
+arter all!  He's--he's--"
+
+Here Pat Stiver broke in, and began to explain to the bewildered girl.
+He was yet in the midst of his "noos," when the door was flung open, and
+Mrs Lockley hurried in.
+
+"Forgive me, Mrs Mooney," she cried, grasping her friend's hand, "I
+shouldn't have spoke to you as I did, but my heart was very sore.  Oh,
+it is breakin'!"
+
+She sat down, covered her face with both hands, and sobbed violently.
+Her friends stood speechless and helpless.  It was obvious that she must
+have left her house to make this apology before the clergyman who was to
+break the news had reached it.  Before any one could summon courage to
+speak, a quick step was heard outside, and Lockley himself entered.  He
+had been waiting near at hand for the clergyman to summon him, when he
+caught sight of his wife entering the hut.
+
+Mrs Lockley sprang up--one glance, a wild shriek, but not of despair--
+and she would have fallen to the ground had not her husband's strong
+arms been around her.
+
+It is believed that joy seldom or never kills.  At all events it did not
+kill on this occasion, for Mrs Lockley and her husband were seen that
+same evening enjoying the hospitality of Mrs Martin, while their little
+one was being fondled on the knees of the old granny, who pointed
+through the attic window, and tried to arouse the child's interest in
+the great sea.
+
+When Mrs Mooney succeeded in turning her attention to the blue ribbon
+on her breast, she laughed heartily at the idea of such a decoration--
+much to the sorrow of Eve, who had prayed for many a day, not that her
+mother might put on that honourable badge, but that she might be brought
+to the Saviour, in whom are included all things good and true and
+strong.  Nevertheless, it is to be noted that Mrs Mooney did not put
+the blue ribbon off.  She went next day to have a laugh over it with
+Mrs Lockley.  But the fisherman's wife would not laugh.  She had found
+that while sorrow and suffering may drive one to despair in regard to
+God and self and all terrestrial things, joy frequently softens.
+
+Surely it is the "goodness of God that leadeth to repentance."  This
+life, as it were, from the dead proved to be life from death to herself,
+and she talked and prayed with her drunken friend until that friend gave
+her soul to Jesus, and received the Spirit of power by which she was
+enabled to "hold the fort,"--to adopt and keep the pledge of which her
+ribbon was but the emblem.
+
+Although we have now described the end of the _Lively Poll_, it must not
+be supposed that the crew of that ill-fated smack was dispersed and
+swallowed up among the fishing fleets of the North Sea.  On the
+contrary, though separated for the time, they came together again,--ay,
+and held together for many a long day thereafter.  And this is how it
+came about.
+
+One morning, a considerable time after the events we have just narrated,
+Stephen Lockley invited his old comrades to meet him in the Gorleston
+coffee-tavern, and, over a rousing cup of "hot, with," delivered to them
+the following oration:
+
+"Friends and former messmates.  I ain't much of a speaker, so you'll
+excuse my goin' to the pint direct.  A noble lady with lots o' tin an' a
+warm heart has presented a smack all complete to our Deep-Sea Fishermen
+Institootion.  It cost, I'm told, about 2000 pounds, and will be ready
+to start as a Gospel ship next week.  For no reason that I knows on,
+'xcept that it's the Lord's will, they've appointed me skipper, with
+directions to choose my own crew.  So, lads, I've got you here to ask if
+you're willin' to ship with me."
+
+"_I'm_ willin', of _course_," cried Pat Stiver eagerly, "an so's Bob
+Lumpy.  I'll answer for him!"
+
+There was a general laugh at this, but Bob Lumsden, who was present,
+chose to answer for himself, and said he was heartily willing.  So said
+David Duffy, and so also said Joe Stubley.
+
+"I on'y wish," added the latter, "that Jim Freeman was free to j'ine,
+but Fred Martin's not likely to let _him_ go, for he's uncommon fond of
+him."
+
+"He's doin' good work for the Master where he is," returned Lockley,
+"and we'll manage to catch as true and able a man among the North Sea
+fleets afore long.  There's as good fish in the sea, you know, as ever
+came out of it.  Our mission smack is to be called the _Welcome_."
+
+"At this rate," observed Dick Martin, who was one of the party, "we'll
+soon have a mission ship to every fleet in the North Sea; that'll please
+our Director, won't it?"
+
+"Ay, it will," said Lockley.  "All the same, I heard the Director say
+only the other day, he wished people would remember that the mission
+needed funds to keep the smacks a-goin' as well as to build an' launch
+'em.  Howsever, we've no need to fear, for when the Master sends the men
+and the work, He's sure to find the means."
+
+Two weeks after the date on which this harmonious meeting was held, a
+new vessel, laden with spiritual treasure, unfurled her sails, shook out
+her MDSF ensign, and, amid the good wishes, silent prayers, and ringing
+cheers of sympathetic friends on shore, went forth as a beacon of love
+and light and hope to irradiate the toilers on the dark North Sea.
+
+Among those cheering and praying ones were Mrs Mooney--a brand plucked
+from the burning--and fragile Eve, with her weak, thin, helpless body
+and her robust heart, chosen to do herculean and gladiator service of
+sympathy and rescue in the Master's cause.  And you may be sure that
+blooming Isa Martin was there, and her friend Martha Lockley; Manx
+Bradley, the Admiral, who, with other fishermen, chanced to be having
+their spell on shore at that time, was also there.  Even old Granny
+Martin was there, in a sense, for she could see from her attic the great
+blue flag as it fluttered in the breeze, and she called her unfailing--
+and no longer ailing daughter to come to the window and look at it and
+wish it God-speed; after which she turned her old eyes again to their
+wonted resting-place, where the great sea rolled its crested breakers
+beyond the sands.
+
+It remains but to add that the _Welcome_ was received by the fleet to
+which she was sent with an enthusiasm which fully justified her name,
+and that her crew found her thenceforth, both as to her sea-going
+qualities and the nature of her blessed work, a marvellous improvement
+on their former home, the _Lively Poll_.
+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+Note.  The Office of the Mission to Deep-Sea Fishermen is 181 Queen
+Victoria Street, London, EC, at the date of publication of this book.
+
+THE END.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Lively Poll, by R.M. Ballantyne
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LIVELY POLL ***
+
+***** This file should be named 23377.txt or 23377.zip *****
+This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
+        http://www.gutenberg.org/2/3/3/7/23377/
+
+Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England
+
+Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions
+will be renamed.
+
+Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no
+one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation
+(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without
+permission and without paying copyright royalties.  Special rules,
+set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to
+copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to
+protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark.  Project
+Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you
+charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission.  If you
+do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the
+rules is very easy.  You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose
+such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and
+research.  They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do
+practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks.  Redistribution is
+subject to the trademark license, especially commercial
+redistribution.
+
+
+
+*** START: FULL LICENSE ***
+
+THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE
+PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK
+
+To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free
+distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work
+(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at
+http://gutenberg.org/license).
+
+
+Section 1.  General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic works
+
+1.A.  By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to
+and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property
+(trademark/copyright) agreement.  If you do not agree to abide by all
+the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy
+all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession.
+If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the
+terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or
+entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.
+
+1.B.  "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark.  It may only be
+used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who
+agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement.  There are a few
+things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
+even without complying with the full terms of this agreement.  See
+paragraph 1.C below.  There are a lot of things you can do with Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement
+and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.  See paragraph 1.E below.
+
+1.C.  The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation"
+or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works.  Nearly all the individual works in the
+collection are in the public domain in the United States.  If an
+individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are
+located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from
+copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative
+works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg
+are removed.  Of course, we hope that you will support the Project
+Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by
+freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of
+this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with
+the work.  You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by
+keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others.
+
+1.D.  The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern
+what you can do with this work.  Copyright laws in most countries are in
+a constant state of change.  If you are outside the United States, check
+the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement
+before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or
+creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project
+Gutenberg-tm work.  The Foundation makes no representations concerning
+the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United
+States.
+
+1.E.  Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
+
+1.E.1.  The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate
+access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently
+whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the
+phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed,
+copied or distributed:
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+1.E.2.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived
+from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is
+posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied
+and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees
+or charges.  If you are redistributing or providing access to a work
+with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the
+work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1
+through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the
+Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or
+1.E.9.
+
+1.E.3.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted
+with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution
+must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional
+terms imposed by the copyright holder.  Additional terms will be linked
+to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the
+permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.
+
+1.E.4.  Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this
+work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm.
+
+1.E.5.  Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this
+electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without
+prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with
+active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm License.
+
+1.E.6.  You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary,
+compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any
+word processing or hypertext form.  However, if you provide access to or
+distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than
+"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version
+posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org),
+you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a
+copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon
+request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other
+form.  Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.
+
+1.E.7.  Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying,
+performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works
+unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
+
+1.E.8.  You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing
+access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided
+that
+
+- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from
+     the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method
+     you already use to calculate your applicable taxes.  The fee is
+     owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he
+     has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the
+     Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.  Royalty payments
+     must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you
+     prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax
+     returns.  Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and
+     sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the
+     address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to
+     the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation."
+
+- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies
+     you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he
+     does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+     License.  You must require such a user to return or
+     destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium
+     and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of
+     Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any
+     money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the
+     electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days
+     of receipt of the work.
+
+- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free
+     distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+1.E.9.  If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set
+forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from
+both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael
+Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark.  Contact the
+Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below.
+
+1.F.
+
+1.F.1.  Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable
+effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread
+public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm
+collection.  Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain
+"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or
+corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual
+property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a
+computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by
+your equipment.
+
+1.F.2.  LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right
+of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all
+liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal
+fees.  YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT
+LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE
+PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3.  YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE
+TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE
+LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR
+INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
+DAMAGE.
+
+1.F.3.  LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a
+defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can
+receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a
+written explanation to the person you received the work from.  If you
+received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with
+your written explanation.  The person or entity that provided you with
+the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a
+refund.  If you received the work electronically, the person or entity
+providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to
+receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund.  If the second copy
+is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further
+opportunities to fix the problem.
+
+1.F.4.  Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth
+in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER
+WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
+WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
+
+1.F.5.  Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied
+warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages.
+If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the
+law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be
+interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by
+the applicable state law.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any
+provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions.
+
+1.F.6.  INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the
+trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone
+providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance
+with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production,
+promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works,
+harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees,
+that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do
+or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm
+work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any
+Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause.
+
+
+Section  2.  Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of
+electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers
+including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers.  It exists
+because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from
+people in all walks of life.
+
+Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the
+assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's
+goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will
+remain freely available for generations to come.  In 2001, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure
+and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations.
+To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
+and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4
+and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org.
+
+
+Section 3.  Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive
+Foundation
+
+The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit
+501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the
+state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal
+Revenue Service.  The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification
+number is 64-6221541.  Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at
+http://pglaf.org/fundraising.  Contributions to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent
+permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws.
+
+The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S.
+Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered
+throughout numerous locations.  Its business office is located at
+809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email
+business@pglaf.org.  Email contact links and up to date contact
+information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official
+page at http://pglaf.org
+
+For additional contact information:
+     Dr. Gregory B. Newby
+     Chief Executive and Director
+     gbnewby@pglaf.org
+
+
+Section 4.  Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide
+spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of
+increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be
+freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest
+array of equipment including outdated equipment.  Many small donations
+($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt
+status with the IRS.
+
+The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating
+charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United
+States.  Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a
+considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up
+with these requirements.  We do not solicit donations in locations
+where we have not received written confirmation of compliance.  To
+SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any
+particular state visit http://pglaf.org
+
+While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we
+have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition
+against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who
+approach us with offers to donate.
+
+International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make
+any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from
+outside the United States.  U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
+
+Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation
+methods and addresses.  Donations are accepted in a number of other
+ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations.
+To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate
+
+
+Section 5.  General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.
+
+Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm
+concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared
+with anyone.  For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project
+Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support.
+
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed
+editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S.
+unless a copyright notice is included.  Thus, we do not necessarily
+keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.
+
+
+Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility:
+
+     http://www.gutenberg.org
+
+This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm,
+including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary
+Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to
+subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.