Beyond the City - Page 27/92

The Admiral jumped out of his chair with an evil word in his throat.

"There, there, ma'am," he cried. "Drop it for a time. I have heard

enough. You've turned me a point or two. I won't deny it. But let it

stand at that. I will think it over."

"Certainly, Admiral. We would not hurry you in your decision. But we

still hope to see you on our platform." She rose and moved about in her

lounging masculine fashion from one picture to another, for the walls

were thickly covered with reminiscences of the Admiral's voyages.

"Hullo!" said she. "Surely this ship would have furled all her lower

canvas and reefed her topsails if she found herself on a lee shore with

the wind on her quarter."

"Of course she would. The artist was never past Gravesend, I swear. It's

the Penelope as she was on the 14th of June, 1857, in the throat of the

Straits of Banca, with the Island of Banca on the starboard bow, and

Sumatra on the port. He painted it from description, but of course, as

you very sensibly say, all was snug below and she carried storm sails

and double-reefed topsails, for it was blowing a cyclone from the

sou'east. I compliment you, ma'am, I do indeed!"

"Oh, I have done a little sailoring myself--as much as a woman can

aspire to, you know. This is the Bay of Funchal. What a lovely frigate!"

"Lovely, you say! Ah, she was lovely! That is the Andromeda. I was a

mate aboard of her--sub-lieutenant they call it now, though I like the

old name best."

"What a lovely rake her masts have, and what a curve to her bows! She

must have been a clipper."

The old sailor rubbed his hands and his eyes glistened. His old ships

bordered close upon his wife and his son in his affections.

"I know Funchal," said the lady carelessly. "A couple of years ago I had

a seven-ton cutter-rigged yacht, the Banshee, and we ran over to Madeira

from Falmouth."

"You ma'am, in a seven-tonner?"

"With a couple of Cornish lads for a crew. Oh, it was glorious! A

fortnight right out in the open, with no worries, no letters, no

callers, no petty thoughts, nothing but the grand works of God, the

tossing sea and the great silent sky. They talk of riding, indeed, I am

fond of horses, too, but what is there to compare with the swoop of a

little craft as she pitches down the long steep side of a wave, and then

the quiver and spring as she is tossed upwards again? Oh, if our souls

could transmigrate I'd be a seamew above all birds that fly! But I keep

you, Admiral. Adieu!"

The old sailor was too transported with sympathy to say a word. He could

only shake her broad muscular hand. She was half-way down the garden

path before she heard him calling her, and saw his grizzled head and

weather-stained face looking out from behind the curtains.