Old Gold Part 2

"Oh, but you couldn't sail far up that great river without seeing something interesting if you kept your eyes open," said the young man contemptuously.

"My eyes were wide open enough, my lad," said the captain, with a laugh.

"I don't shut 'em much when I'm in strange waters, I can tell you. Too fond of David Banes, Esquire. Never was skipper of a s.h.i.+p, was you, squire?"

"Never," said the young man, laughing.

"Then take my advice--never you do be. s.h.i.+ps are shes, as you well know, and they're about the most obstinate, awkward creatures to deal with there are. Let 'em have their heads to themselves for a few minutes, and they give their bowsprits a toss, and if they don't run on the first rock they can find they rush into some outrageous current, or else go straight ash.o.r.e, to get knocked to pieces by the breakers.

That's the sort o' character I give a s.h.i.+p. I'd a deal rather sit behind a wild horse without any reins than trust myself in a s.h.i.+p without a good man and true at the wheel."

"Yes, yes, that's all very right, Captain Banes," said Sir Humphrey drily, "but you'll excuse me: we are not talking business."

"I beg your pardon, sir, but we are," said the captain stoutly. "I suppose you'll own that you propose rather an outrageous thing?"

"I do not look upon it as outrageous, captain; but certainly it is wild and adventurous."

"Same thing, sir. Wants thinking about, and I'm thinking as hard as ever I can. It means risk of life to my men and me."

"I will pay well to balance the risks," said Sir Humphrey.

The captain smiled grimly.

"I don't want to drive a hard bargain, sir," said the captain, rather sternly now. "I only want to say that I don't know what pay you could offer me and my crew that would balance the loss of our lives. I s'pose you're a man of property?"

Sir Humphrey shrugged his shoulders, and smiled at his brother.

"Then look here, sir," said the captain, "if you'll reckon all you're worth, multiply it by ten, and then do that again and offer it to me for my life, I won't take it--there!"

"No, captain, I don't suppose you would," said Sir Humphrey, smiling.

"But if you feel disposed to undertake this journey, and in an honest business-like spirit set down what you consider would be a fair payment for the use of your brig and the services of yourself and crew, I have no doubt that I shall close with you at once."

"And about what we get during the voyage--gold and silver and precious stones?"

"Or more likely strange specimens of unknown animals, plants, and curiosities, captain. Well, of course they would belong to me."

"Yes," said the captain thoughtfully; "that would be only fair. But there's another thing, sir: I've got a medicine-chest, and I know how to mix up a powder or a draught for the men in an ordinary way; but I don't think anyone ought to go right up country like you talk of doing without having a doctor on board who could physic for fevers and stop holes and plaster up cuts, and deal with damages generally. It wouldn't be fair."

"You would have such a person on board, captain, for I have studied medicine and surgery, and practised for six years busily before I succeeded unexpectedly to my property and t.i.tle, and then determined to see more of the world in which we live."

"H'm!" said the captain, looking from one to the other thoughtfully; "I don't like knocking about in strange places begging for a cargo, and I don't like driving my brig through the sea light in ballast. You've took me at a weak time, sir."

"Stop!" said Sir Humphrey sternly. "I don't want to take advantage of any man at a weak time and bribe him into undertaking a task over which he would repent."

"I'm not that sort of chap, sir," said the captain shortly. "If I make a bargain I stick to it, and I answer for my lads."

"That is what I want," said Sir Humphrey. "There are plenty of foreign and native skippers that I could engage; but I want a staunch Englishman whom my brother and I can look upon as a trusty friend: one who, if it came to a pinch, would fight for us as we would fight for him: a good sailor, patient, enterprising, but at the same time cautious and thoughtful, while ready to take as well as give advice."

The captain smiled grimly at the younger man, and gave his head a jerk in the direction of Sir Humphrey.

"He wants a good deal for his money, young gentleman," he said, "and I'm afraid he won't get a skipper with all that stuff in him unless he has him made to order. Look here, sir," he continued, turning upon Sir Humphrey almost fiercely, "I'm a very ordinary sort of man, and I can't strike a bargain with you, promising all sorts of things of that kind.

I've got a well-found vessel, and if there's water enough I can make my crew sail her anywhere; but I've got a bit of a temper if people cut up rough with me, and don't do their duty honest. That's all I can say, I think. You want a superior sort of skipper altogether, and I don't like you any the worse for that. We've had a very pleasant chat or two, and it's been a pleasure to me to meet a couple of English gentlemen out here, and there's no harm done. I wish you and your brother good luck."

"Stop!" said Sir Humphrey; "let us understand one another. You refuse to enter into an engagement with me?"

"Yes, sir. I couldn't honestly promise to do all you want. I'm not such a perfect man as you've made up your mind to get."

"And you don't like the risk of such an expedition as I propose?"

"I never said so, sir," cried the captain bluffly. "It's what I should like."

"Then why not go?"

"Because, sir, I tell you I am not the sort of man you want. I dessay I could do a bit of fighting if I was put to it. Anyhow, I should try if anyone began to meddle with me or those who were with me, but--oh, no, you want too much."

"Brace," said Sir Humphrey, turning to his brother, "speak out frankly.

It is dangerous to be hasty in choosing one's companions, but I want to know what you think of Captain Banes."

"He's just the very man we want," cried the young man, flus.h.i.+ng.

"Thankye, my lad, thankye," said the captain, clapping the young fellow on the shoulder. "That's honest, for your eyes say it as well as your lips. But you're a pretty sort of fellow to drive a bargain! Why, you're asking me to raise my terms because you want me. That's not business."

"Never mind about that, captain," said Sir Humphrey, smiling. "Hullo, what's the matter?"

"I want to go and ask that tall thin yellow chap what he means by spying round this table and trying to hear what we're talking about."

"Let the man alone, captain, and take my advice. Don't quarrel with strangers in a foreign port."

"Advice taken, sir, and paid for," said the captain, stretching out a big brown hairy hand and gripping Sir Humphrey's firmly. "Quite right.

Thankye, sir. I like you better for that than I did ten minutes ago.

You make me feel half sorry that I can't come to terms with you. You want too much."

"No, he doesn't," cried Brace warmly. "We want you."

"But I'm not the sort of man for you at all, gentlemen."

"A man does not know himself so well as others know him," said Sir Humphrey, smiling. "Captain Banes, I shall be sorry if we do not come to terms, for I believe we should soon become firm friends."

"Well, I've some such idea as that, gentlemen," said the captain.

"Think it over for a couple of days, Captain Banes," said Sir Humphrey.

"I will wait till then."

"Nay," said the captain firmly; "a man wants to be careful, but he doesn't want two days to go s.h.i.+lly-shallying over such a thing as this; and if you gentlemen think that you can trust me--"

"There's my hand," said Sir Humphrey.

"And mine," said Brace, eagerly holding out his.

"And there are mine, gentlemen," said the captain bluffly; "if you think I'm your man, your man I am, and I'll stick to you both through thick and thin."