"Ay, ay."

"Young geese are the greatest cacklers."

"I'll tell you what," retorted the lad, drawing himself up with some

dignity, and reddening to the eyes, "I may be but a boy; but have the

goodness to remember, that every oak was a sapling, and every sapling an

acorn. If men trample on the acorn, it will never grow to be the oak;

for, little as it is, the spirit of the oak is in it.--D'ye read my

riddle?"

A good-humoured burst of approbation followed Springall's speech, which

was hushed by some one of the party saying, "Here comes our Captain, and we can form no plan till he is present."

The door accordingly opened after the hand, applied at last to the

latch, had evidently wandered over the panel, seeking the fastening

which at first it could not discover, and making outside a noise

resembling the scratching of a cat.

No race of beings so decidedly differ from every other in the world as

sailors: no matter whether they belong to a king's ship, to a smuggler,

or a merchantman. Though there may be shades among them, yet the grand

distinction between men of the sea and men of the land endures,--it is

impossible to confound them together. A seaman is ever so easily amused,

so reckless of consequences, so cheerful amid difficulties, so patient

under privations. His blue jacket is a symbol of enterprise and good

humour. Even his nondescript hat--black, small, and shining as a

japanned button, adhering to the back of his head by a kind of

supernatural agency, with which landsmen are unacquainted--can never be

seen by a true-born Englishman without feelings of gratitude and

affection, which, at all events, no other hat in the world can command.

Although the crew of the Fire-fly would have been looked upon by your

genuine seaman as a set of half-castes, which they really were, yet they

had, if possible, more recklessness of character than ever belonged to

any number of persons so congregated together; they had so often jested

at, and with death, in all its shapes, that it was little more than

pastime; and they had in their own persons experienced so many

hairbreadth 'scapes that they looked upon Springall's great and very

natural anxiety for the fate of the ship he loved, as a species of

madness which a little experience would soon cure him of. The elder ones

certainly knew that there was little use in their forming plans or

projects, as their commander would as usual adopt his own, and adhere to

them without their council or approval. It must be confessed that

lately they regarded his lying so constantly off so exposed a coast, a

proof of want of energy and forethought they had never noticed before;

but his prompt punishment of Jeromio had set his character again on a

firm footing; for, as Roupall said; "It proved that the Captain was

still himself."




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