"I guess so," said Mr. Bloxford, dryly. "That waster Jackman, for

instance, won't forget that tap you've given him. He'll lay for you some

day, mark my words. I've wanted to go for him many times myself;

but"--he was going to say, "I'm not big enough," but he drew himself up

to the top of his few inches and expanded his chest--"I haven't the

time. Here! The business seems to come handy and easy to you. I'll

appoint you chucker-out; in other words, I'll make you deputy-manager,

Mr. Green. I've had my eye on you, and I'll tell you, in strict

confidence, that it's very little that escapes this eye of mine." He

twisted both glittering eyes till they looked like those of an acute

monkey. "You seem as if you could hold your own, and it wants holding

with this gang. Deputy-manager--two pounds a week. How will that suit

you?"

"It suits me very well, thank you, Mr. Bloxford," said Dene, and away

went his hand to the talisman in his pocket.

"Then fix it so," said Mr. Bloxford. "And mind and keep your eye on

Jackman," he added, as he trotted off.

Derrick's new and exalted position relieved him of a great deal of the

drudgery he had previously performed, but it kept him on the continual

spring, and burdened him with fresh responsibilities; for it was

necessary that he should be all over the ship at once, so to speak. All

the details of the daily life on board passed under his supervision; all

the multitudinous cares, disputes, arrangements, were referred to him;

and, strangely enough, though most of the men in the company must have

envied him, their envy was not accompanied by ill-feeling, for Derrick's

value was admitted by all of them.

One of the first things he did was to rearrange the women's and

children's quarters, and render them more comfortable, for which the

benefited ones blessed him and loved him all the more intensely. Then he

set to work to cleanse the ship, which during the spell of bad weather

had become almost unendurable. The crew, and some of the company,

grumbled at the increased work and Derrick's drastic regulations, but

they all enjoyed the results of his despotism.

Derrick had less time than before to spend in friendly interchanges with

those who had become attached to him, and the two girls, Isabel and

Alice, watched him wistfully as he moved rapidly within their sight, and

hungered for a word, a smile; and presently they taught the children,

when they were with them, to waylay him, and had to be content with the

scraps of kindness which fell from the children's table.




readonlinefreebook.com Copyright 2016 - 2024