"'Tis great and noble spar this bolt-sprit, Ned."
"Why so it be, sir, and carries the sprit-sail, sprit top-sail and jackstaff, and its length be usually the same as the foremast."
"And what are these great timbers?"
"The cathead, sir, and yonder be the cat-hook for to trice up the anchor from the hawse to top o' the fo'c'sle."
"How many anchors hath a ship?"
"Well, there be these bow anchors, first and second bowers, for her to ride by. Then there's the kedge for calm weather or to kedge up and down a narrer river lest wind or tide drive her ashore. Then there be grapples, smallest of all anchors, wi' four flooks but no stock, for a boat to ride by or to heave aboard an enemy ship in close fight, to ketch hold o' gratings, rails and such, in order for to board her. Lastly there's the sheet anchor and greatest of all, only used of necessity, 'tis the last refuge in tempest against driving to death on a lee shore."
So they walked and talked together in eager question and instant reply until to them came John Fenn, the gunner, who, obedient to Adam's gesture of welcome, now joined them.
"Be you still learning the ship, sir?" he enquired.
"Ay, I am, Master Fenn, and was about to ask Ned if he could tell me aught concerning the azimuth, what it is?"
"Somewhat about the altitude o' the sun, ain't it, Ned?"
"Ar!" nodded the Bo'sun. "'Tis con-sarned with the sun sure-ly, also arks and merry deans, but pre-zackly how I dunno. I can lay a course true enough by dead reckoning, but these yere fancy ways goes beyond me. For this, Mr. Adam, you must ax any o' the navigation officers. I can tell ee all about a ship's tackling, sails, ropes, rigging cables, anchors, flags, pendants and the like, same as John here can larn ee all about guns and shot, sponges, rammers and ladles, but navigation ain't our consarn, d'ye see?"
"Then pray, John, show and tell me of your guns, their various names and powers,—if you will?"
"I'll be honoured, sir. And I'll best do it below on the gun-deck." So thither they went, and there John Fenn patted and explained his grim monsters on this wise:
"Sir, you must know there be guns o' many and divers sorts, and the greatest the cannon royal, as shall cast you a ball o' forty-eight pounds, then the serpent, forty-two,—the demi-cannon, thirty-two,—the cannon-petro, twenty-four,—the culverin, eighteen,—the basilisk, twelve,—demi-culverin, nine,—the saker, six,—and the minion, four. There be also swivels, called murdering-pieces, mounted above on the cubbridge heads to sweep the decks fore and aft."
"And do they all shoot ball?"
"No, sir, we've shot for all occasions, as case-shot, loaded with small bullets, nails, old iron and such in a case, for sweeping crowded decks, then there's chain and cross-bar shot to cut an enemy's rigging, there's likewise trundle and round shot."
"Why are your guns tied up in these ropes?"
"These be the breechings, sir, to hold 'em agin recoil and the pitch and roll of the deck, and tackle to work 'em."
"Where do you keep the powder?"
"In the hold till wanted, then here right handy in barrels amidship."
"Is there no danger from sparks?"
"Well—not so much, for in fight, on every tub must sit a powder boy to cover it with his latter-end, sir, and cover it, com-plete!"
"How many guns does this ship carry?"
"All too few since you ask me, sir. She's pierced for forty and mounts but twenty-five, culverins and basilisks alow here, sakers and minions aloft,—but twenty-five, and in these waters!"
"What of these waters, John?"
"Sir, on our larboard beam lays Africa,—the cursed Barbary Coast."
"You mean—pirates?"
"Ay I do. Sallee rovers, bloody barbarians and right desperate fighters all, 'tis win or die with 'em, and we under-gunned. Well, thank God, we've no women aboard."
"Women!" repeated Adam, softly. "Ha, John, now should these pirates attack us ... we must be more desperate than they, we also must win or die,—I for one."
"And myself for another, sir, for I know what——" He paused suddenly and stiffened to salute as towards them with leisured stride came Absalom.
Nodding to the gunner, he looked down on Adam with somewhat ironic smile, and seeing him so grim of face, bowed, saying:
"Good friend, will you be pleased to walk with me?"
So when Adam had thanked gunner John, he went with Absalom and both silent until they had reached the upper deck and this chancing to be deserted, for it was still early, Absalom spoke:
"You keep your distance these days, you and ... your brother,—eh, Adam?"
"And each with sufficient reason!" he retorted.
"Ay, that sorry business t'other day when you forced me, for sake of discipline, to do that would have shamed us both. You'll not soon forgive me this, eh, Adam?"
"Yes, heartily, for I brought it upon myself,—also it hath served me very well."
"Ay, you are great with the men, I've seen you confabulating with 'em frequently o' late."
"Every day," nodded Adam.
"You prefer fo'c'sle to poop 'twould almost seem?"
"Ay, I do indeed."
"Well, damme, but you speak plain enough!"
"'Tis so my endeavour."
"And what a plague do you there every day. Not thinking to raise a mutiny 'gainst me, eh, Adam?"
"Captain Troy, such base suspicion shames only yourself!"
"Then what do ye there day after day?"
"Do what I may to become a seaman."
Absalom chuckled, then shook comely head.
"'Tis poor trade, Adam, mostly."
"Yet manly one always. Someday, mayhap, I shall command ship o' my own."
"Hum!" quoth Absalom, cocking an eyebrow. "And in the meantime you learn—our Tony—pretty sword tricks, ha?"
"Not tricks but an art, a craft shall prove sufficingly deadly anon."
"'Tis an apt pupil—this Tony of ours, eh, Adam?"
"Ay, truly!"
"And becoming ever more—manly, eh, Adam?"
"I am glad you observe this, and trust you to bear yourself accordingly."
"Ay ay—how should I not?"
"How indeed?"
Now at this, Absalom glanced down almost furtively at his companion's small, set visage and finding it wholly inscrutable, took him by the arm, saying:
"How say'st thou to a noggin, shipmate?"
"No, thank you," answered Adam, freeing his arm, and though he did this gently enough, Absalom scowled.
"And I'm to believe you bear no least animosity against me, am I?" he demanded.
"Yes."
"Yet you refuse to drink with me,—ay or eat with me! Why must you forsake your place in the mess and feed alone—with your beloved brother, of course, 'stead o' joining our company in the great cabin?"
"By reason that I am not at ease in company, more especially at table. I eat little and drink less, and am happier doing this alone. As for Anthony——"
"Must bide with dear brother Adam, ay ay! Ha, well, the choice is your own. Keep yourselves to yourselves and be damned to it! Ay, do as ye will, but—mind this,—when you are with your friends o' the lower deck you shall infallibly sink to their level soon or late!"
"I'll remember," nodded Adam.
"Ay, and this also, to wit: Discipline aboardship must be maintained and enforced at all times and by all means, 'tis the first law at sea,—ay, and everywhere else, for that matter."
"Well now," answered Adam, looking up into his companion's face at last and meeting his scowl with one as dark and fierce, "I quarrel with no just law, Captain Absalom, more especially such law of stern honour as can aid a man to govern and discipline himself!" With this he turned and would have gone but that Absalom stayed him with powerful hand, saying angrily: