What a grand thing is truthsimple abstract truth! and yet how little do we appreciate it in regard to the inconceivably important matter of reasoning. We analyse our chemicals and subject them to the severest tests in order to ascertain their true properties;truth is all we aim at; but how many of us can say that we analyse our thoughts and subject our reasoning to the test of logic in order simply to ascertain the truth.
Smoke for ever! I say, Bill, open that there port a bit, else well be choked, cried a stentorian voice, as Guy entered the little apartment, where some dozen of noisy sailors were creating the cloud, which was a little too strong for them.
For some moments Guy glanced round inquiringly, unable to pierce the dim curtain that enshrouded everything, as with a veil of dirty gauze.
Lost your reckoning, I guess, drawled a Yankee skipper.
Never mind, let go your anchor, my lad, cried a voice from the densest quarter of the smoke, its not a bad berth, and good holdin ground.
Whatll you take to drink, my boy, supposin you gits the offer? inquired another man, giving him a facetious poke in the ribs.
Is John Bax here? inquired Guy.
Hallo, messmatehere you are, port your helm and heave a-headsteady! rocks to leeward; starboard hard! ah, I knew youd never clear these rocks without touchin, said Bax, as his young friend tripped over three or four spittoons, and plunged into the corner from which the sailors deep bass voice issued. There now, sit down; whatll you have?
Nothing, Bax; what a horrible hole to feed in! Couldnt you come out and talk with me in the fresh air?
It must indeed have been a wonderfully impure place when Guy could venture by contrast to speak of the air outside as being fresh.
Couldnt do it, my lad, replied Bax, with his mouth full. I havent had a bit since six oclock this morning, and Im only half through.
The fact was evident, for a large plate of biscuit and cheese stood on the small table before the seaman, with a tumbler of hot gin and water. So Guy sat down, and, observing that the waiter stood at his elbow, ordered half a pint of stout. Guy did not drink spirits, but he had no objection to beer, so he took occasion to remonstrate with Bax on his tendency to drink gin, and recommended beer instead, as it would do him more good. It did not occur to Guy that a young man in robust health does not require physical good to be done to him at all, beyond what food, and rest, and exercise can achieve, and that, therefore, artificial stimulant of any kind is unnecessary!
Skipper ahoy! shouted, a gruff voice in the doorway.
Ay, ay! cried several of the party in reply.
Is John Bax in this here port?
Here you are, replied the man in request, port your helm, old boy! rocks on the lee bow, look out!
Steady, so, said a fat burly seaman, as he steered in obedience to these sailing directions, and finally cast anchor beside our two friends.
How are ye, Captain Bluenose? said Bax, holding out his hand.
Same to you, lad, replied the Captain, seizing the offered hand in his own enormous fist, which was knotty and fleshy, seamed with old cuts and scars, and stained with tar. Hallo! Guy, is this you? he added, turning suddenly to the youth. Why, whod a thought to see you here? I do blieve I hant seen ye since the last time down at the coast. But, I say, Guy, my boy, you hant took to drinkin, have ye?
No, Captain, said Guy, with a smile, nothing stronger than beer, and not much of that. I merely came here to meet Bax.
Captain Bluenosewhose name, by the way, had no reference to his nose, for that was small and redscratched his chin and stared into vacancy, as if he were meditating.
Why, boy, he said at length, seems to me as if youd as good cause to suspec me of drinkin as I have to suspec you, cause were both here, dye see? Howsever, Ive been cruisin after the same craft, an so weve met, dye see, an thats natral, so it is.
Well, and now you have found me, what dye want with me? said Bax, finishing the bread and cheese, and applying to the gin and water.
Shipmet, Im goin home, and wants a berth a-board the Nancy, said Bluenose.
Couldnt do it, Captain, said Bax, shaking his head, gainst rules.
Ill go as a hextra handa suppernummerary, urged the Captain.
Why, Captain, said Guy, is it not strange that I should have come here to make the very same request? Come, Bax, youre a good fellow, and will take us both. I will guarantee that my uncle will not find fault with you.
Ah, that alters the case, said Bax, if you choose to take the responsibility on your own shoulders, Guy, youre welcome to the best berth a-board the old Nancy. Dye know, Ive a fondness for that old craft, though she is about as unseaworthy a schooner as sails out o the port of London. You see, shes the only craft bigger than a Deal lugger that I ever had command of. Shes my first love, is the old Nancy, and I hope we wont have to part for many a day.
Quite right, young man, said Captain Bluenose, nodding his head approvingly, and filling his pipe from a supply of tobacco he always carried in the right pocket of his capacious blue waistcoat. The Captain gazed with a look of grave solemnity in the manly countenance of the young sailor, for whom he entertained feelings of unbounded admiration. He had dandled Bax on his knee when he was a baby, had taught him to make boats and to swim and row when he became a boy, and had sailed with him many a time in the same lugger when they put off in wild storms to rescue lives or property from ships wrecked on the famous Goodwin Sands.
Quite right, young man, repeated the Captain, as he lighted his pipe, your sentiments does you credit. Wen a mans got his first love, dye see, an finds as how shes all trim and ship-shape, and taut, and well ballasted, and all that sort o thing, stick to her to the last, through thick and thin. Thats wot I say, dye see? Theres no two ways about it, for wots right cant be wrong. If it can, show me how, and then Ill knock under, but not before.
Certainly not, Captain, cried Bax, laughing, never give inthats my motto.
There, said Bluenose, gravely, youre wrongcause why? Youre not right, an wen a mans not right he ought always to give in.
But how is a fellow to know when hes right and when hes wrong? asked Bax.
Con-sideration, said Bluenose.
Bravo! Captain, cried Guy, with a laugh, if it be true that brevity is the soul of wit, you must be the wittiest fellow on Deal beach.
I dun-know, retorted the Captain, slowly, whether its the soul or the body o wit, an wots more, I dont care; but its a fact, dye see, that considerationll do it; least-wise if consideration wont, nothin will. See now, here it is,(he became very earnest at this point),wen a thing puzzles people, wot does people do? why, they begins right off to talk about it, an state their opinions afore they hant got no opinions to state. Praps they takes the puzzler up by the middle an talks wild about that part of it; then they give a look at the end of it, an mayhap theyll come back and glance at the beginnin, mayhap they wont, and then theyll tell you as grave as owls that theyve made up their minds about it, and so nail their colours to the mast.