"What mean ye by this now,—what mean ye?"
"Sir," Adam murmured, glancing from this compelling hand to the threatening face above him, "have the goodness to loose me."
"Go then!" said Absalom, in choking voice, and strode away in a fury.
Then Adam sighed, shook his head and went in quest of Antonia and breakfast.
CHAPTER XIII
HOW ADAM SOUGHT TO BECOME A SEAMAN
Said Adam to his pupil, and both seated on a coil of rope in shady corner of the deck, for it was the drowsy afternoon hour:
"Now, Anthony, I will expound as best I may the true Philosophy of the Sword, more especially the rapier, this being the best, noblest and most deadly of all weapons."
"Nay but, Adam, how may any weapon be noble since 'tis but a tool for slaughter?"
Now at this heresy, Master eyes Pupil and shakes his head in shocked reproof, whereat Pupil nods hers, wholly unabashed and repeats with emphasis:
"An ugly tool, Adam, for cold and murderous slaughter!"
"Not so, Anthony, my faith—no! Your murdering tool is cowardly pistol or blundering musketoon whereby Brutish Ignorance may slaughter Learned Valour and from safe distance. But, as Mind is greater than mere Body so is the rapier greater than any other weapon, and its manage an exact science calling not only for the strict accordance of hand, eye and foot, but for an alertness o' the mind also. For, Anthony, he that would be a true sword-master must first be master of himself, then of his blade, so shall he be master of his adversary. You follow me, I hope?"
"No, Adam, you must be plainer. Tell me your Firstly first, as—how one must be master of himself?"
"By schooling himself to a reasoning calm, putting aside all fury of anger, heedless of taunts and all provocation. He must—— Are you attending, Anthony?" Here Pupil, whose bright glance has strayed from Master's small, serious visage, starts guiltily yet answers serenely:
"You may be sure I am."
"Then presently I shall describe and show the various lines, attacks and parries, though 'tis not quickness o' body shall make you a swordmaster so much as celerity o' mind,—to forethink your adversary and sense his intent and the line of his attack."
"Nay now, Adam, a mercy's sake! How shall any mere human forethink another except by spells and tricks o' magic witchcraft?"
At this, Master rises, the better to survey and admonish Pupil who instantly salutes him with graceful flourish of foil, saying:
"What then, have I shocked thee again, dear Adam?"
"Tricks?" he repeated, shaking reproachful head. "In this noble science there are nor tricks nor master-strokes though there be many ruffling knaves offer such at a price."
"Nay tell me, Adam, how do you forethink your adversary when you fight?"
"By anticipating his attack, luring it with a feint and, when it comes, meeting it with instant riposte which, as I've told you, is parry and counter-thrust in one,—or by volte, that is, turn o' body, letting it pass and take him with a time thrust to wound or end him as you will."
"On my soul now a most learned and bloodthirsty disquisition—or souse me for a gurnet!"
Glancing up, Adam beheld Absalom lolling on the carved poop-railing above.
"Damme, Adam, but thou'rt transforming this gentle, smock-faced brother o' thine into a perfect throat-slitting 'sdeath and blood bravo, a notable swashing, hell-fire, bully roarer, eh, Adam?"
"None o' these, sir!" he answered, narrowing his eyes on the speaker. "No, I do but make him so able in his own defence that none shall affront him with impunity."
"Oho! Affront, d'ye say?"
"Ay, I do!"
"As how? When? Where? By whom? Come, out with it."
Dumbly Adam turned from him, and thus finding Antonia had disappeared, tucked foil beneath his arm and hastened away down into the waist of the ship where stood Mr. Amos Perrin, the master, taking his daily observation of the sun. A lank person was Amos Perrin, mournful of aspect and dolorous of voice; just at present his woeful visage was twisted askew, one eye screwed up, the other glaring heavenward along an instrument such as Adam had never seen, wherefore he watched this with very lively attention.
"Sir," said he at last, unable to remain silent any longer, "Mr. Perrin, what do you?" The master turned, uttered sound like a groan and answered:
"Master Penfeather, oh dear me,—I take the sun his altitude."
"And what is that instrument?"
"Sir, 'tis called a—ah me—a backstaff, ay and a forestaff also."
"Pray, sir, how do you use it?"
"Master Penfeather, take and try for yourself. Ah, dearie me! Hold the flat o' the staff to corner o' your eye, let it rest on your eye-bone, sir, as near the corner o' your eye as may be, yet so it doth not hinder the sight. Now look at the upper end o' the cross for the sun and at the lower end for the horizon. Oh me! But if at the lower end you see all sky and no water, draw the cross nearer to you along staff,—if you see all water and no sky, slide the cross a little further from you till you see the centre o' the sun at the upper end o' the cross, then 'tis right for a true observation. Now look and see at what degree marked on the staff the cross rests and that will be the meridian altitude or its complement according to these words marked on the staff. Ah, dearie me!"
"And what, sir," enquired Adam, returning this instrument, "pray what means the word 'azimuth'?"
"'Tis an arc, Mr. Penfeather. The azimuth is an arc o' the horizon intercepted betwixt the meridian and the vertical circle, which passeth the centre of the sun, sir."
"Alas!" sighed Adam. "All this is far beyond my poor wit. How may I learn this science of navigation?"
"With pain, sir,—ah me—with pain o' laborious study. But if you be serious and intent to learn, I have books might instruct you."
"Then, do but show me how, and study I will," said Adam, "ay, and this right diligently. Will you be so good, sir?"
"Mr. Penfeather,—ah me,—I shall do my poor best for you, sir."
"Then, sir, I am so grateful I grieve to see you thus marvellous woeful and would fain comfort you."
"Impossible, Mr. Penfeather, I sorrow as I breathe, sir, 'tis so my nature since I was born a wailing babe into this Vale o' Sorrow. Go with me now and I'll lend you certain books and show ye how to use 'em."
And thus it was that Adam began his study of navigation, taking upon himself yet another labour, and one that was to tax all his resolution, and this mostly by night, for all day long he was pacing the decks and talking 'ship' with Captain Smy, or asking questions of Bo'sun Ben and other prime seamen. He sat for hours puzzling out the intricate craft of knotting and splicing; he clambered aloft to yards and crosstrees and more boldly now; he hauled on ropes and yo-hoed lustily with the men; he learned the use of compass and bittacle and therewith how to steer, thrilling with joy to the quiver of the great whipstaff that throbbed in his grasp like a live thing.
And thus for Adam, at least, time sped apace.
CHAPTER XIV
WHICH TELLS OF A WORDY PASSAGE OF ARMS
"'Tis pitiful!" exclaimed Antonia who, with coat off and white arms bare, was busied at a large bowl washing certain of their too few garments.
"What is?" enquired Adam, glancing up from his books and papers.
"That in this great ship is not one single, solitary thimble. Do none of all these sailormen ever use needle, Adam?"
"Oh yes, but 'stead of thimble they use a piece of leather and call it a 'palm'. Which reminds me," said he, fumbling in pocket, "I got one for you from Bo'sun Ned this afternoon,—ay, here it is!"